The release of "Lift Me Up" last week marked the conclusion of Rihanna's years-long absence from the music scene.
"Lift Me Up" by the Barbadian singer is featured in the upcoming Marvel film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
The second-ranked song based on sales and streaming data from the first 48 hours of the chart cycle is "Life Me Up." Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero," which debuted at No. 1 last Friday (October 28) for T. Swift's second U.K. chart-topper, is the early frontrunner.
According to the Official Charts Company, the race to No. 1 is "very tight," with "Unholy" by Sam Smith and Kim Petras at No. 3 on the First Look survey.
In the second half of the week, fewer than 300 chart sales separate the top three positions. If "Lift Me Up" reaches the top, it will be Rihanna's 10th U.K. No. 1 and her first since "Wild Thoughts" with DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller in 2017.
It will very probably be Rihanna's 31st top 10 single in the United Kingdom. In addition, "Miss You" by Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz, "Hide & Seek" by Stormzy (No. 6), and "Mess In Heaven" by Venbee & Goddard are all aiming for new highs inside the U.K. top 10. (No. 10). "Shirt," SZA's own comeback track, might debut in the top 20. It is slated for a No. 15 debut.
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The OCC states that "Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor is the greatest gainer on the chart explosion, rising 28-18. This Friday, the Official U.K. Singles Chart will be published, revealing all.
The song, which was co-written by Tems and released yesterday (October 28), is the first taste of original work from the superstar (as a lead artist) since the release of her "ANTI" album in 2016. Clearly, the demand for new Rihanna material is at an all-time high.
Due to the fact that 'Lift Me Up' is smashing records left and right. On US radio, the song has reached a staggering 26.61 million listeners across all formats. In doing so, it achieves the highest debut on American radio so far this year. It is also the most successful radio debut of Rihanna's career.
As a memorial to the late "Black Panther" actor Chadwick Boseman, Rihanna, Tems, Oscar winner Ludwig Goransson, and "Black Panther" director Ryan Coogler composed the song.
Boseman passed away at the age of 43 in 2020 after a private struggle with colon cancer. There are already numerous responses to the song on social media, including a tweet predicting that it will win an Oscar.
The soundtrack album "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Music From and Inspired By" will be released on November 4, followed by the release of the film a week later.
