Bowie Comeback Song Makes Top 10

David Bowie's surprise comeback track made it to number six in the UK singles chart, despite fears it might not even make the top 40.

The song, Where Are We Now?, created a buzz around the world on Tuesday when it appeared without warning, and soon topped the download charts on iTunes.

But, the Official Charts Company had warned that sales of the song would not count towards this week's top 40 because many were tied to orders for his new album.

However, they were eventually able to break the sales down further, allowing it to reach sixth place.

Will.i.am secured his second UK number one single as a lead artist as Scream and Shout - featuring Britney Spears - climbed from number two.

Bowie's first song for 10 years was released on the musician's 66th birthday, which his official website said was a "timely moment for such a treasure to appear as if out of nowhere".

Where Are We Now?, which was produced by long-term collaborator Tony Visconti, was written by Bowie and was recorded in New York.

The single is accompanied by a haunting video directed by Tony Oursler which harks back to Bowie's time in Berlin.

He lived in West Berlin between 1976 and 1979 due to his interest in the burgeoning German music scene. Bowie worked with Brian Eno while sharing an apartment in Schoneberg with Iggy Pop.

The new video shows Bowie watching footage of the car repair shop beneath the apartment he lived in along with stark images of the city at the time and a lyric constantly raising the question Where Are We Now?.

The single will be followed by a new album, The Next Day, in March.

Bowie has not performed live since 2006 and has rarely been seen in public since then, prompting speculation over the state of his health.