0 March 3, 2021 13:37 by Nila Varman
Hannah Sutton
Despite being in and out of lockdowns for nearly a year now, online retail shopping habits have not decreased for the UK. In 2020, 87% of UK households made online orders, with clothing purchases making up the highest numbers of packages delivered.
With the rapid increase of music streaming and downloads since the beginning of the pandemic, various artists have inspired new styles and trends. From eccentric animal print to oversized co-ords – this article will be looking at 2021’s top album covers, pulling out iconic style trends inspired by several artists, and suggest student-budget friendly recreations.
Two years ago, Duncan Laurence was selected to represent The Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.
With emotional ballad Arcade - the first song he ever released - he went on to take the win for his home country for the first time in 44 years, scoring 498 points and beating tough competition from Italy, Russia and Switzerland.
Following his win, Arcade entered the UK s Official Singles Chart at Number 67, and went to Number 1 in several European countries including Belgium, Iceland, Estonia and the Netherlands. It wasn t until a year and a half later however, at the end of 2020, that the song truly blew up - when TikTok worked its magic once more.
Barry Gibb claims the highest new entry on this week’s Official Irish Albums Chart with Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook (Vol. 1).
The legendary Bee Gees vocalist’s latest album, a collection of americana reworkings of he and his brothers’ biggest hits in collaboration with the likes of Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile and Keith Urban, debuts at Number 18 following his appearance on RTÉ One’s The Late Late Show last week.
Greenfields was the physically purchased album of the past seven days, and marks Barry’s first Irish Top 50 appearance as a solo artist in his 60-year career.
At Number 1 on the chart for a 23
The Sea Shanty Tik Tok craze which has Grimsby connections
With its strong maritime history the town is strongly linked to more than a couple of shanties
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This year has already sprung a few surprises suggesting it might be every bit as unusual as 2020 - including the entry of Sea Shanties into the UK Top 40.
In amongst some of the more worrying and serious news happening at the moment, seeing traditional seafaring songs are making a return using the social media power of Tik Tok has a heart-warming edge to it.