U.K. MIDWEEKS: SAM & NORMANI DANCE TO #3

Sam Smith and Normani’s new single, “Dancing With a Stranger” (Capitol), has started at #3 on the U.K.’s Official Singles midweek chart, while Ava Max holds onto the top spot and The Greatest Showman does the same on albums.

“Dancing With a Stranger” is #6 on Spotify’s U.K. Top 50 today and #2 on iTunes. Should the track stay in the Official Charts Top 5 by Friday, Smith will claim his ninth Top 5 hit, while former Fifth Harmony member Normani will collect her first as a soloist.

Max leads today’s midweek update with “Sweet But Psycho” (Atlantic), while Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus are on track for a new peak with “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” (Columbia) currently up one place to #2.

Two other new entries could have an impact on Friday’s Top 10: Westlife’s first single in eight years, “Hello My Love” (Virgin EMI), currently #7, and Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man’s “Giant” (Columbia) at #8.

On the Official Albums midweeks, it’s a very quiet week for new album entries with none in today’s Top 40. Instead, The Greatest Showman (Atlantic) is heading for a 27th week at #1 with nearly double the sales of #2, George Ezra’s Staying at Tamara’s (Columbia).

Alongside George, two fellow BRIT Album of the Year nominees appear in this week’s update: A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (Dirty Hit/Polydor) by The 1975 is up two at #22, and Speak Your Mind (Atlantic) by Anne-Marie may re-enter the Top 40 after rising five to #37.

Paloma Faith’s The Architect (RCA) lifts seven spots to #23, and David Bowie’s Legacy (Parlophone) ascends 14 to #30 following what would have been the late musician’s 72nd birthday on 1/8.