The Beatles are the most successful band in U.K. history, and though they’ve been broken up for decades, the country that birthed them still adores them. They’re still so popular to this day that it seems almost certain that the group is about to chart a very, very unlikely No. 1 hit in the nation.
“Now and Then” is headed straight for the No. 1 spot on the U.K. singles chart, according to the Official Charts Company. The country’s version of Billboard predicts that the tune will rise to the summit next frame with ease.
The Beatles’ latest single—and their last, according to the remaining members—is a hit right out of the gate, as it’s performing spectacularly. The Official Charts Company reports that “Now and Then” is outselling the next four top tunes in the U.K. combined, so it reaching the No. 1 spot seems all but certain.
“Now and Then” is already present on the U.K. singles chart, but nowhere near No. 1. The track was released midday on Thursday, November 2—at the tail end of the tracking week, which finishes at the end of that day. Due to intense sales and streaming activity in just a few hours, the single opens just outside of the top 40 on this week’s chart.
If—or more likely, when—“Now and Then” soars to No. 1, it will mark The Beatles’ eighteenth leader in the country. They hold the record for the most champions among all groups, and they’ll extend their lead with the new smash. The only act that has accrued more No. 1s is Elvis Presley, who managed 21 during both his lifetime and afterward.
