Alex Warren scores longest-running number one this decade

Alex Warren, a young American singer, has achieved a remarkable milestone with his hit song 'Ordinary,' which has remained at number one on the UK music charts for 12 consecutive weeks. This achievement marks the longest run at the top of the charts since Ed Sheeran's 'Shape of You' held the position in 2017. The song, which Alex wrote for his wife following their wedding last year, has been streamed over 107 million times in the UK alone, according to the Official Charts Company. This impressive streaming count has allowed 'Ordinary' to break a 70-year-old record previously held by Slim Whitman, whose song 'Rose Marie' was number one for 11 weeks in 1955. The song's popularity shows no signs of fading, as it continues to dominate Spotify's UK daily rankings with 33% more streams than its closest competitor.

Alex Warren first gained fame as one of the founders of the Hype House, a group of TikTok creators who lived together in Los Angeles and entertained millions of teenagers during the pandemic. His initial success came with the song 'Carry You Home,' which reached the top 10 last year. However, it was 'Ordinary' that truly launched his career as a heartfelt folk-pop singer-songwriter. The song is also currently number one in the US, highlighting its international appeal. Music blogger James Masterton described 'Ordinary' as a crossover hit that appeals to a wide range of listeners, from younger audiences to older generations. It was played on both Radio 1 and Radio 2, stations known for catering to different age groups, although it has since been replaced by Alex's newer single on those playlists. The song has also become a popular choice for weddings, with a special Wedding Version released by Alex's record label. This romantic quality links 'Ordinary' to other famous long-running hits like Bryan Adams' '(Everything I Do) I Do It For You' and Wet Wet Wet's 'Love Is All Around.

Despite its massive success, 'Ordinary' has not become a universal cultural phenomenon in the way some past hits did. In earlier decades, songs that stayed at number one for many weeks were widely recognized by the public, partly because media was less fragmented. Today, with many different platforms and ways to consume music, it is harder for a single song to capture the attention of a large, unified audience. Nevertheless, 'Ordinary' stands out as the longest-running number one since chart rules were updated in 2017 to prevent older songs from clogging the top 40. These rules automatically lower the ranking of songs that have declining streams for three weeks in a row, but 'Ordinary' has maintained steady popularity to avoid this fate. This success reflects both the song's broad appeal and Alex Warren's growing influence in the music industry.