Gabrielle Aplin’s The Power Of Love helps John Lewis to first Official

Retailer John Lewis will be celebrating today as 20 year old Gabrielle Aplin delivers the department store chain its first ever chart topper.

Gabrielle Aplin’s haunting cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s 1984 hit, The Power Of Love, as featured in John Lewis’s current TV ad campaign, has climbed and climbed up the Official Singles Chart over the last month, before hitting the Number 1 spot today.

The heartwarming festive ad campaign centres around a snowman who embarks on an epic journey to find the perfect gift for his snowwoman. The Christmas ad is the latest execution in the retailer’s much talked about series of ads in recent years that have been soundtracked by cover versions of classic records. The biggest selling featured recording to date being Ellie Goulding’s 2010 cover of Elton John’s Your Song, which peaked at Number 2, selling 729,000 copies to date. 

However, it is Wiltshire singer/songwriter Gabrielle Aplin who brings home the first coveted Official Singles Chart Number 1. The single has sold over 220,000 copies since its release last month.  

John Lewis’ Marketing Director, Craig Inglis, says:"Music is an integral part of John Lewis' TV advertising, and we've had some great success over the last few years, but our first Number 1 with Gabrielle is truly fantastic. She is a very special artist and we hope that she goes on from strength to strength after this incredible achievement."

Aplin’s The Power Of Love finishes the week in pole position, with Bruno Mars’ Locked Out Of Heaven (Number 2) leapfrogging Olly Murs’ Troublemaker (3) since midweek to land in second place, just 1,500 copies behind Aplin. 

The Top 5 is completed by former chart toppers Labrinth’s Beneath Your Beautiful FT Emeli Sande (4) and Rihanna’s Diamonds (5).

New Entries And Highest Climbers

Pitbull FT TJR claim the highest new entry of the week as Don’t Stop The Party ends at Number 16, giving the Miami rapper his ninth Top 40 hit as a lead artist, while Tulisa’s Sight Of You (Number 18), the third single from her debut solo album, The Female Boss, slips six places since Wednesday’s Official Chart Update.

The week’s highest climbers come courtesy of festive favourites, Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody (35) and Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? (37), both surging 45 places to re-enter the Official Top 40.  But it is The Pogues’ classic Fairytale Of New York that leads the seasonal pack at Number 15 today.

The Official Singles Chart Chart Top 10 is as follows. See the full Top 100 here after 7pm.

© 2012 The Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.