The Fear (song) - Commercial Performance

Commercial Performance

In the United Kingdom, "The Fear" debuted at number one hundred and sixty eight on the UK Singles Chart on 25 January 2009 ― for the week ending dated 31 January 2009. The following week, the song climbed 167 places to reach number one, thwarting Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" from the summit of the chart. Gaga commented on this, saying "I'm very familiar with Lily's music and good job Lily for knocking me off. There always deserves to be a female on top and I don't want to be the only one to do it. I think generally that pop music is making an enormous comeback and I'm actually very pleased with Lily Allen's new record as it's decidedly pop". The song managed to remain on top for four weeks, throughout the whole of February, until it was dethroned by Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You". It thus earned Allen's second chart-topper, since her debut single, "Smile", achieved the feat in July 2006. On the single's third week stay at number one, its parent album, It's Not Me, It's You topped the UK Albums Chart, having a chart double, to which Allen said: "It's great being at the top of both charts, especially in the same week as the Brit Awards are once again celebrating the best of British music." It shared similar success in Australia, where it peaked at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart and stayed eight consecutive weeks in the top ten, and was certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association. In Ireland, "The Fear" entered at thirty nine on the Irish Singles Chart, making a slow rise to number five, where it remained for one week after descending the chart. The song became a success in Europe, having entered the top 20 in most of its countries, which resulted in a peak of three on the European Hot 100. Also, in New Zealand, Allen scored her fourth top 40 hit with the song placing itself at a peak of fourteen on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

In North America, "The Fear" shared moderate success, charting at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Allen's only second entry in the U.S. Despite low positions in the main chart, the single managed to become the singer's first Hot Dance Club Play number-one single, topping it for one week. In Canada, it debuted at 57 in late 2008, afterwards leaving the chart for seven weeks; it returned in 2009, peaking at 33. It was certified Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association for shipments of over 20,000 copies.