Kneecap take on Mel C and Michael Jackson in chart battle

Kneecap take on Mel C and Michael Jackson in chart battle3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNaomi HollandBBC News NIGetty ImagesWhat do an Irish language rap group, Sporty Spice and the King of Pop have in common?They are all battling it out for the number one spot in the official UK album chart on Friday.The three-way contest between Kneecap, Melanie C and Michael Jackson emerged in the midweek chart update with the Official Charts Company saying Kneecap were currently leading the way.The album Fenian dropped earlier this month and could be the first ever number one album on the UK charts for the trio, known as Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. Kneecap's last release, 2024's Fine Art, went to number 43 in the UK and number two in the Republic of Ireland.It could also be a first for former Spice Girl Melanie C who has never had a solo UK number one album.The LP Sweat is her ninth studio album and her best ever solo performance on the charts was her debut in 1999, Northern Star.None of the former Spice Girls have managed to hit the top spot with a solo album…. yet.Michael Jackson was no stranger on the UK album charts, having secured the top spot nine times in his life and once after his death in 2009 when The Essential Michael Jackson spent seven weeks at number one.That album's re-entry and rapid rise up the charts has been linked to the success of the film Michael, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson.It scored the highest opening weekend ever for a biopic, taking $217m (£160m) globally.According to the Official Charts Company earlier this week, less than 3000 units were separating Michael Jackson in third place from Kneecap in the top spot.After the chart company released the midweek data, Kneecap claimed on social media that Fenian could be "the first ever Irish language album" to top the charts in the UK.BBC News NI asked Official Charts if this would be the case, but so far they have not been able to verify the cl...