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There’s a surprise at the top of the charts. The surprise being that this hasn't actually been done before. The idea of assembling all the finalists from a TV talent show to record an ensemble charity record was first used in America back in 2003. The Top 10 contestants from the second series of American Idol were assembled for a rendition of 'God Bless The USA' which dutifully landed at Number 4 on the Hot 100 and was the biggest selling single in the nation for the best part of the next two months. Five and a half years later the idea is transported back to Britain with the result being that the Number One single this week is the heavily marketed and promoted 'Hero' as performed by all 12 of this years X Factor Finalists with all proceeds going to the British Legion's 'Help For Heroes' charity campaign.

As you might expect, with the charity single having long been scheduled, virtually nobody else thought it worthwhile releasing any big new singles this week, the direct result being a singles chart largely devoid of any other new action. The only other new Top 10 arrival is 'Another Way To Die' which as predicted in these pages weeks ago, finally catches fire now that it can be heard in the context of the Bond film and so moves 18-10 for Alicia Keys and Jack White. It is Keys' fourth Top 10 hit single, her first since 'No One' made Number 6 almost a year ago whilst for White it is his sixth appearance in the upper reaches, his last visit coming in the summer of 2007 when the White Stripes' 'Icky Thump' reached Number 2. 'Another Way To Die' is now the third Bond theme in a row to reach the Top 10, following in the footsteps of Madonna's 'Die Another Day' in 2002 and Chris Cornell's 'You Know My Name' back in 2006.

The most prolific chart star of the week turns out to be Akon who has not one but two singles march up the chart to land Top 30 places. Leading the way is 'Dangerous' on which he duets with Kardinal Offishall which moves 32-21. It is only the second every chart appearance in this country for Canadian hip-hop star Offishall, his only previous brush with fame coming at the tail end of 2003 when he guested on 'Carnival Girl' by Texas which hit Number 9. Thanks to Akon's smooth vocals, 'Dangerous' is that rare beast of a rap single that works on a pop level as well as at its roots, making its prospects of going Top 10 within the next couple of weeks very strong indeed. All good news for the executive producer of the album of course, one Aliaune 'Akon' Thiam.

The second Akon track to chart is his own 'Right Now (Na Na Na)' which arrives on the Top 40 at Number 23 after two weeks stuck just outside. After a year which he has spent appearing as the "featured" star on an array of chart singles (Michael Jackson, Plies, Nelly and of course Kardinal Offishall to name but a few) this is his first hit single as a lead artist since 'Sorry, Blame It On Me' was a Number 22 hit at the end of 2007. 'Right Now' is the first single release from his new album 'Freedom' although he is using a promotional tactic very common in the USA at present and actually pushing two tracks from the album as singles simultaneously, just to see which one wins out. Hence the presence lower down the chart of 'I'm So Paid' which appears to have wound up the loser on these shores, slumping to Number 72 after debuting at Number 59 last week. Whilst such dual release tactics may well be appropriate for America, especially if the two tracks are different enough in style to appeal to a broader section of radio stations, in this market it is really a waste of time. Radio and TV will get behind just the one track, whichever one happens to sound the most commercial, leaving the other to flounder and be lost.

Also new to the Top 30 are Kings Of Leon who despite the continuing Top 5 success of 'Sex On Fire' are already doing business with the follow up. Hence 'Use Somebody', not "officially" the next single until the start of December, but already with a chart presence as an album cut, the track advancing 50-30 this week. This you may not is its second Top 40 appearance after it spent a fortnight at Number 29 in the wake of the albums release.

Finally it has little to do with Halloween, but the Bellamy Brothers' 1976 hit 'Let Your Love Flow' also makes an unexpected chart appearance at Number 48. TV commercials are to blame for this one. Thank you Barclaycard!

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