Chart Commentary (Past and Present)

JUNE 10, 2023

GOOD “KARMA”

Taylor Swift’s “Karma” vaults from No. 27 to No. 2 on the Hot 100. After it originally spent a week in the top 10, at No. 9, upon its debut last November (concurrent with the chart start of parent album Midnights), the song hits a new high following the May 26 release of its remix with Ice Spice, and the wide premiere of its official video May 27.

“KARMA” BY THE NUMBERS

…MOST TOP FIVES

Swift achieves her 25th top five Hot 100 entry, solely claiming the fifth-most such hits since the chart began in August 1958.

Most Top Five Hot 100 Hits:

35, Drake

29, The Beatles

28, Madonna

27, Mariah Carey

25, Taylor Swift

24, Janet Jackson

24, Rihanna

21, Elvis Presley (whose career began before the chart originated)

20, Justin Bieber

20, Michael Jackson

20, Stevie Wonder

…MOST TOP TWOS

Swift boasts the sixth-most top two Hot 100 hits: 17, with nine having hit No. 1 and eight having reached No. 2.

The Beatles (23; 20 No. 1s, three No. 2 hits)

Mariah Carey (23; 19 No. 1s, four No. 2 hits)

Drake (20; 11 No. 1s, nine No. 2 hits)

Rihanna (18; 14 No. 1s, four No. 2 hits)

Madonna (18; 12 No. 1s, six No. 2 hits)

Midnights has now generated three top two Hot 100 songs: “Anti-Hero” became Swift’s longest-leading No. 1, for eight weeks in November-January, and “Lavender Haze” debuted at its No. 2 peak in November, as 10 tracks from the album blanketed the top 10 in the set’s starting frame and Swift made history as the first artist to rank at each spot in the top 10 in a single week.

The album is Swift’s second to produce a trio of top two Hot 100 hits, after 1989 yielded three No. 1s in 2014-15: “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood” (featuring Kendrick Lamar).

Midnights is the first album by any act with three top two Hot 100 hits since The Weeknd’s After Hours spun off three No. 1s in 2019-21: “Heartless,” “Blinding Lights” and “Save Your Tears,” the lattermost remixed with Ariana Grande – who, prior to that LP, posted three top two hits, including two No. 1s, from Thank U Next in 2018-19. Earlier in 2018, Drake rung up four, including three No. 1s, from his album Scorpion.

THRICE NICE ICE SPICE

Ice Spice is now credited on “Karma” on the Hot 100, as the remix accounts for over half the song’s consumption in the tracking week. She notches her third top 10 – and highest-charting hit – following “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” with PinkPantheress (No. 3, March), and “Princess Diana,” with Nicki Minaj (No. 4, April).

A BOUQUET OF “FLOWERS”

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” becomes the first song by a woman to have spent its first 20 weeks on the Hot 100 in the top three. Overall, only one song has had a better such start: Harry Styles’ “As It Was” ranked in the top three in its first 29 weeks on the chart.

“CALM DOWN” CALMS DOWN

Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” retreats to No. 5 on the Hot 100, from its No. 4 high.

A NOTABLE FACT AMONGST PEERS…

Despite Swift, Cyrus and Gomez having all first hit the Hot 100 in the second half of the 2000s – Cyrus in August 2006 [via her former Hannah Montana alter ego]; Swift that September; and Gomez in January 2009 – the three artists appear in the top five together for the first time this week.

JUNE 3, 2023

“ONE THING” ABOUT HIS ALBUM…

Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” adds an eighth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. “Last Night” parent album One Thing at a Time dominates the Billboard 200 for a 12th week, encompassing its entire stay on the chart so far. It boasts the most weeks in a row at No. 1 since the Titanic soundtrack linked 16 in 1998. Meanwhile, One Thing at a Time is just the second album to spend its first 12 weeks on the chart on top, after Stevie Wonder’s classic Songs in the Key of Life led in its first 13 weeks in 1976-77. Plus, the dozen weeks atop the Billboard 200 for One Thing at a Time mark the most for a country album since Billy Ray Cyrus’ Some Gave All, sparked by its own crossover smash, “Achy Breaky Heart,” ruled for 17 weeks in 1992.
CONTINUING TO “KILL” IT

SZA’s “Kill Bill” lifts 4-3 on the Hot 100, after it became her first No. 1, for a week in April.  On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the No. 1 run of “Kill Bill” is historic, as the song passes Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring the aforementioned Billy Ray Cyrus, for the longest command since the chart became an all-encompassing genre survey in 1958.
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:
21, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23
20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019
18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22
18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016
16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006
“SHE GOES” TOP 10

Bad Bunny’s “Where She Goes” bounds onto the Hot 100 at No. 8.  The Spanish-language song arrives as the star’s 10th top 10, and second this year, after “Un x100to,” with Grupo Frontera, hit No. 5 earlier in May.

MAY 27, 2023

MAKING IT “LAST”

Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” concurrently leads the Hot Country Songs chart, which uses the same methodology as the Hot 100, for a 15th week. It became just the 20th song to have topped both charts – and having now ruled the Hot 100 for seven weeks, it claims outright the longest Hot 100 reign among those 20 hits, surpassing Kenny Rogers’ “Lady” and Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans,” which spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1980 and 1959, respectively.

As previously reported, parent album One Thing at a Time dominates the Billboard 200 for an 11th week, encompassing its entire stay on the chart so far. It boasts the most weeks in a row at No. 1 since the Titanic soundtrack linked 16 in 1998. One Thing at a Time is also the first album to spend its first 11 weeks on the chart on top since Whitney Houston’s Whitney also ruled in its first 11 frames in 1987; the only other title to tally as many or more weeks at No. 1 from a debut is Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life (13 in 1976-77), dating to the chart’s 1956 launch.

LIVING THE HIGH “LIFE”

Lil Durk’s “All My Life,” featuring J. Cole, soars onto the Hot 100 at No. 2, tying a career-best rank for each artist.  Both artists match their best career Hot 100 placements. Lil Durk lands his third top 10 – and first in a lead role – following his featured turns on Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” (No. 2, August 2020) and “In the Bible” (No. 7, September 2021), the latter also featuring Giveon. J. Cole tallies his 11th top 10 (and first as a featured artist); he previously hit No. 2 with “my.life,” with 21 Savage and Morray, in May 2021.

“FAST” CLIMBING

Luke Combs’ faithful remake of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” zooms to the Hot 100’s top 10, accelerating 11-9.  Combs claims his third Hot 100 top 10, following “The Kind of Love We Make” (No. 8, October 2022) and “Forever After All” (No. 2, November 2020).

“Fast Car,” which Chapman solely wrote, hit No. 6 on the Hot 100 in August 1988 and went on to win the singer-songwriter the Grammy Award for best female pop vocal performance in 1989. Combs’ cover marks the first remake (not including samples or interpolations) of an ‘80s Hot 100 top 10 to also reach the region since Artists for Haiti’s “We Are the World 25: For Haiti” hit No. 2 in 2010, after USA for Africa’s original “We Are the World” dominated for four weeks in 1985.

THE “HERO” STAYS

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” keeps at No. 10. The song became her sole longest-leading No. 1, for eight weeks in November-January. It adds a 28th week in the top 10, likewise extending her longest stay in the bracket.

MAY 20, 2023

MORGAN 2 X 10

Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” claims a sixth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.  As previously reported, parent album One Thing at a Time tops the Billboard 200 for a 10th week. As Wallen’s last LP, Dangerous: The Double Album, also reigned for 10 frames, he becomes the first male soloist ever with back-to-back 10-week No. 1s, dating to the chart’s 1956 launch.

SZA AT 20

SZA’s “Kill Bill” keeps at No. 2 on the Hot 100, three weeks after it became her first No. 1. It rules the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a 20th week.  It makes history, as it ties Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, for the longest No. 1 run since the chart became an all-encompassing genre survey in 1958.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:

20, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23

20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019

18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22

18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016

16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013

15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006

YOUR “FAVORITE SONG” HITS THE TOP 10

“Favorite Song” surges from No. 11 to No. 8 on the Hot 100, where it becomes the first top 10 for Toosii, born Nau’Jour Grainger in Syracuse, N.Y., where he was raised before relocating to Raleigh, N.C., and pursuing a music career.   “Favorite Song” is the whopping 43rd Hot 100 top 10 with the word “song” in its title. The list began with The Chipmunks’ “The Chipmunk Song” with David Seville (No. 1 for four weeks in 1958-59), and was most recently bolstered by … a fellow Yuletide standard, Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You),” which reached the region for the first time over the latest holiday season (No. 9). Just before that, Post Malone’s “I Like You (A Happier Song)” featuring Doja Cat, hit No. 3 last October.

TAYLOR CONTINUES

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” keeps at No. 10. The song became her sole longest-leading No. 1, for eight weeks in November-January. It adds a 27th week in the top 10, likewise extending her longest stay in the tier.

MAY 13, 2023

ABOUT “LAST NIGHT”

“Last Night” concurrently leads the Hot Country Songs chart for a 13th week. It became just the 20th song to have topped both charts. As it has now ruled the Hot 100 for five weeks and Hot Country Songs for 13, among those 20 songs, its 18 combined weeks atop the rankings mark the most, surpassing Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans,” which spent six and 10 weeks at No. 1, respectively, in 1959.

Songs to Have Topped Both the Hot 100 & Hot Country Songs Charts:

Combined Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Year(s), Weeks atop Hot 100/Hot Country Songs

18 – “Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, 2023 – 5/13

16 – “The Battle of New Orleans,” Johnny Horton, 1959 – 6/10

13 – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift, 2012-13 – 3/10

10 – “Amazed,” Lonestar, 1999-2000 – 2/8

9 – “El Paso,” Marty Robbins, 1959-60 – 2/7

8 – “Honey,” Bobby Goldsboro, 1968 – 5/3

7 – “Lady,” Kenny Rogers, 1980 – 6/1

7 – “Convoy,” C.W. McCall, 1975-76 – 1/6

7 – “Big Bad John,” Jimmy Dean, 1961 – 5/2

5 – “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Glen Campbell, 1975 – 2/3

5 – “The Most Beautiful Girl,” Charlie Rich, 1973 – 2/3

4 – “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift, 2021 – 1/3

4 – “Islands in the Stream,” Kenny Rogers, duet with Dolly Parton, 1983 – 2/2

3 – “I Love a Rainy Night,” Eddie Rabbitt, 1981 – 2/1

3 – “9 to 5,” Dolly Parton, 1981 – 2/1

3 – “Southern Nights,” Glen Campbell, 1977 – 1/2

3 – “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” Freddy Fender, 1975 – 1/2

2 – “I’m Sorry,” John Denver, 1975 – 1/1

2 – “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” John Denver, 1975 – 1/1

2 – “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” B.J. Thomas, 1975 – 1/1

SZA STAYS PUT

SZA’s “Kill Bill” keeps at No. 2 on the Hot 100, two weeks after it became her first No. 1. It concurrently commands the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a 19th week. On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, “Kill Bill” claims the sole second-longest No. 1 run – and moves to within a week of tying the record for the longest.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:

20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019

19, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23 to date

18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22

18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016

16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013

15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006

“DOWN” GOES UP

Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” rises 6-5 on the Hot 100.  Rema hits the Hot 100’s top five with his first entry on the chart. Gomez adds her fourth top five hit, as “Calm Down” joins “Lose You To Love Me” (No. 1, one week, November 2019), “Same Old Love” (No. 5, January 2016) and “Good for You,” featuring A$AP Rocky (No. 5, October 2015). 

THE “HERO” CONTINUES

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” keeps at No. 10. The song became her sole longest-leading No. 1, for eight weeks in November-January. It adds a 26th week in the top 10, likewise extending her longest run in the region.

MAY 6, 2023

“LAST”ING ALL “NIGHT”

Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” returns to No. 1, from No. 2, for a fourth total week atop the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. It first ruled in March, becoming the country singer-songwriter’s initial leader on the list.  “Last Night” concurrently tops the Hot Country Songs chart for a 12th week.   “Last Night” became just the 20th song to have topped both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs. As it has now ruled the former for four weeks and the latter for 12, among those 20 songs, its 16 combined weeks atop the charts ties for the most, matching Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans,” which spent six and 10 weeks at No. 1, respectively, in 1959.

Songs to Have Topped Both the Hot 100 & Hot Country Songs Charts (from most recent):

“Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, 2023 – 4 weeks atop the Hot 100 / 12 weeks atop Hot Country Songs

“All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift, 2021 – 1 week / 3 weeks

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift, 2012-13 – 3 weeks / 10 weeks

“Amazed,” Lonestar, 1999-2000 – 2 weeks / 8 weeks

“Islands in the Stream,” Kenny Rogers, duet with Dolly Parton, 1983 – 2 weeks / 2 weeks

“I Love a Rainy Night,” Eddie Rabbitt, 1981 – 2 weeks / 1 week

“9 to 5,” Dolly Parton, 1981 – 2 weeks / 1 week

“Lady,” Kenny Rogers, 1980 – 6 weeks / 1 week

“Southern Nights,” Glen Campbell, 1977 – 1 week / 2 weeks

“Convoy,” C.W. McCall, 1975-76 – 1 week / 6 weeks

“I’m Sorry,” John Denver, 1975 – 1 week / 1 week

“Rhinestone Cowboy,” Glen Campbell, 1975 – 2 weeks / 3 weeks

“Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” John Denver, 1975 – 1 week / 1 week

“Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” Freddy Fender, 1975 – 1 week / 2 weeks

“(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” B.J. Thomas, 1975 – 1 week / 1 week

“The Most Beautiful Girl,” Charlie Rich, 1973 – 2 weeks / 3 weeks

“Honey,” Bobby Goldsboro, 1968 – 5 weeks / 3 weeks

“Big Bad John,” Jimmy Dean, 1961 – 5 weeks / 2 weeks

“El Paso,” Marty Robbins, 1959-60 – 2 weeks / 7 weeks

“The Battle of New Orleans,” Johnny Horton, 1959 – 6 weeks / 10 weeks

“KILL”ING IT SOFTLY ON THE R&B CHART

SZA’s “Kill Bill” slips to No. 2 on the Hot 100 a week after it became her first No. 1. It concurrently crowns the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for an 18th week.

On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, “Kill Bill” extends the longest reign for a song by a woman in a lead role since the survey became an all-encompassing genre chart in 1958, having passed Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” (15 weeks, 2006). Overall, “Kill Bill” ties for the second-longest Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs command.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (since 1958):

20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019

18, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23

18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22

18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016

16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013

15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006

VIVA LA MEXICO!

A week after Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma scored the Hot 100’s first top five regional Mexican hit, Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny add the second. The former pairing retains the mark for the highest-charting song ever for the genre, as “Ella Baila Sola” rises 5-4, while the latter leaps 15-5 with “Un x100to.”  Regional Mexican sextet Grupo Frontera, from Texas, achieves its first Hot 100 top 10, among six career entries dating to its first last October, while Bad Bunny adds his ninth.

Here’s a Hot 100 fact: “Un x100to” is the first top 10, among over 5,000 top 10s in the Hot 100’s history, with “100” in its title. Special shout-outs to Gene McDaniels’ “A Hundred Pounds of Clay” (No. 3 peak, 1961) and “Somebody’s Been Seeping” by 100 Proof Aged in Soul (No. 8, 1970).

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

TAYLOR MADE

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Taylor Swift rewrites her longest run in the Hot 100’s top 10, as “Anti-Hero” spends a 25th week in the region, re-entering at No. 10, surpassing the 24-week top 10 stay of “Shake It Off” in 2014-15.  The song became her sole longest-leading No. 1, for eight weeks in November-January, surpassing the seven-week reign of “Blank Space” in 2014-15. Now, with a 25th week in the top 10, it bests “Shake It Off” (24 weeks, 2014-15) for her longest run in the bracket. Next up in her catalog, “Blank Space” totaled 17 weeks in the top 10, also in 2014-15, followed by (each with 16), “I Knew You Were Trouble.” (2012-13) and “You Belong With Me” (2009).

APRIL 29, 2023

THE SZA STORY

NO LONGER A BRIDESMAID

SZA slices her way to her first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, as “Kill Bill” jumps from No. 4 to the top spot, following eight non-consecutive weeks at its prior No. 2 high.  Since this is her highest ranking of her seven Top 10 hits, let’s take a look at her tally…

No. 1, one week, to-date, April 29, 2023, “Kill Bill”

No. 3, July 10, 2021, “Kiss Me More” (Doja Cat feat. SZA)

No. 7, Dec. 18, 2021, “I Hate U”

No. 7, March 3, 2018, “All the Stars” (with Kendrick Lamar)

No. 9, Feb. 6, 2021, “Good Days”

No. 9, Nov. 25, 2017, “What Lovers Do” (Maroon 5 feat. SZA)

No. 10, Dec. 24, 2022, “Nobody Gets Me”

EIGHT WAS ENOUGH

“Kill Bill” tops the Hot 100 after eight nonconsecutive weeks at No. 2. It debuted at No. 3 on the Dec. 24, 2022 chart.

The song ties for the second-most weeks spent at No. 2 on the Hot 100 before rising to No. 1 at last:

9 weeks at No. 2 on Hot 100 before hitting No. 1, “Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish, hit No. 1 Aug. 24, 2019

8, “Kill Bill,” SZA, April 29, 2023

8, “Starboy,” The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk, Jan. 7, 2017

8, “Sorry,” Justin Bieber, Jan. 23, 2016

8, “The Way You Move,” OutKast feat. Sleepy Brown, Feb. 14, 2004

7, “Havana,” Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug, Jan. 27, 2018

7, “Sexy and I Know It,” LMFAO, Jan. 7, 2012

6, “Girls Like You,” Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B, Sept. 29, 2018

6, “All of Me,” John Legend, May 17, 2014

“KILL”ER NUMBER ONES

As SZA takes out all chart competition in her way, she notches the fourth Hot 100 No. 1 (out of a total of 1,149) with “kill” (or any form of the word) in its title:

“Kill Bill,” one week at No. 1, to-date, April 29, 2023

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Kelly Clarkson, three weeks, beginning Feb. 18, 2012

“A View to a Kill,” Duran Duran, two, July 13, 1985

“Killing Me Softly With His Song” Roberta Flack, five, Feb. 24, 1973

Meanwhile, “Kill Bill” is the second Hot 100 No. 1 of the four above that doubles as a movie title, as it’s an ode to the 2003 Quentin Tarantino-directed, and likewise revenge-focused, martial arts favorite (subtitled Volume 1) starring Uma Thurman, among others (including David Carradine in the role of Bill). Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill” is the theme from the same-named 1985 James Bond movie, and the only one from the franchise to have topped the Hot 100.

…ELSEWHERE ON THE CHART…

TWICE ICE SPICE IS VERY NICE

Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj’s “Princess Diana” launches at No. 4 on the Hot 100, marking the second top 10 for the former rapper and the 22nd for the latter – extending her record for the most among women rappers.  The song starts as Ice Spice’s second Hot 100 top 10 – her first, “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” with PinkPantheress, drops 8-10, after reaching No. 3.

“SHE DANCES” INTO THE TOP 5

Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” vaults 10-5 on the Hot 100. It becomes the first regional Mexican top five hit in the chart’s archives, a week after it became the list’s initial top 10 for the genre.  “Ella Baila Sola” translates to “She Dances Alone.”

APRIL 22, 2023

“LAST”ING EFFECT

“Last Night” concurrently leads the Hot Country Songs chart for a 10th week. It became just the 20th song to have topped both lists – and the first by a solo male unaccompanied by any other acts since Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Love a Rainy Night” ruled Hot Country Songs for a week and the Hot 100 for two weeks in 1981.

As “Last Night” has now ruled Hot Country Songs for 10 weeks and the Hot 100 for three, it’s the first song among those that have topped both charts with that many weeks atop that pair of tallies since Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” also ran up 10 and three weeks at No. 1, respectively, in 2012-13.

DOING THE RE“SEARCH”

Drake’s “Search & Rescue” bounds onto the Hot 100 at No. 2.  This is his record-extending 68th Hot 100 top 10, and first of 2023.

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

68, Drake

40, Taylor Swift

38, Madonna

34, The Beatles

32, Rihanna

30, Michael Jackson

29, Elton John

28, Mariah Carey

28, Stevie Wonder

27, Janet Jackson

“Search & Rescue” is also Drake’s record-padding 35th top five Hot 100 hit (distancing himself further from runners-up The Beatles’ 29); his 174th top 40 hit (ahead of Taylor Swift, second with 105); and his 294th entry overall (with the Glee Cast second with 207). (He adds his 20th top two hit; The Beatles and Mariah Carey lead with 23 each.)

“Search & Rescue” is the highest-charting Hot 100 hit with “search” in its title, surpassing Survivor’s No. 4-peaking love song “The Search Is Over” in 1985. (Honorable mention to the No. 3 classic “Love Potion Number Nine,” in 1965, by The Searchers.) Drake’s new hit is also the highest charting with “rescue” in its name. It bests The Rolling Stones’ “Emotional Rescue” (No. 3, 1980), followed by “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass (No. 4, 1965).

REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC MAKES SOME NOISE

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” soars 17-10.  Quartet Eslabon Armado, from California, and Peso Pluma, from Mexico, each reach the Hot 100’s top for the first time – as “Ella Baila Sola” makes history as the first regional Mexican song ever to hit the Hot 100’s top 10. The genre has surged this decade, thanks in part to exposure on TikTok and other social media, with Gera MX and Christian Nodal’s “Botella Tras Botella” having become the first regional Mexican Hot 100 hit in May 2021, peaking at No. 60.

After “Ella Baila Sola,” Peso Pluma also has the second-highest-charting regional Mexican Hot 100 hit: “La Bebe,” with Yng Lvcas, rises to a new No. 17 best on the latest, April 22-dated chart. The next-highest-peaking such hits: Yahritza y Su Esencia’s “Soy El Unico” (No. 20, April 2022 – it debuted at that rank, the highest entrance for a regional Mexican song) and Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera’s “Bebe Dame” (No. 25, this January).

Among Latin genres, regional Mexican’s arrival in the Hot 100’s top 10 follows that of Latin pop, which, after English-language hits by Gloria Estefan in the 1980s (plus Los Lobos’ “La Bamba,” in Spanish) surged in the late ‘90s and beyond thanks to songs (in varying degrees of English and Spanish) by Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, among other stars. At the same time, Marc Anthony helped tropical break through on the chart. In more recent years, Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi’s pop-centered, mostly-Spanish-language “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, spent a then-record-tying 16 weeks at No. 1 in 2017, while, this decade, Bad Bunny, with Spanish-language songs, has carried the torch for Latin rhythm in the top 10.

As for Latin music overall, Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma earn the Hot 100’s third Spanish-language top 10 this year, following two Latin pop hits: Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” (No. 9, January) and Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” (No. 7, March).

APRIL 15, 2023

THE “LAST” COUNTRY/POP CONNECTION

“Last Night” concurrently leads the Hot Country Songs chart for a ninth week. It became just the 20th song to have topped both tallies – and the first by a solo male unaccompanied by any other acts in over 42 years, since Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Love a Rainy Night” ruled Hot Country Songs for a week in January 1981 and the Hot 100 for two weeks that February-March.

As “Last Night” has now ruled Hot Country Songs for nine weeks and the Hot 100 for two, it’s the first song with multiple weeks atop each chart since Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (10 and three weeks at No. 1, respectively) in 2012. It’s the first such hit by a solo male and no accompanying acts since Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” (three and two weeks, respectively) in 1975. The only other titles by unaccompanied solo males to have topped Hot Country Songs and the Hot 100 for multiple weeks each: Charlie Rich’s “The Most Beautiful Girl” (1973), Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey” (1968), Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John” (1961), Marty Robbins’ “El Paso” (1959-60) and Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New Orleans” (1959).

“BILL” PASSES MARY J.

SZA’s “Kill Bill” rises 4-2 on the Hot 100, adding an eighth week at its No. 2 high.  “Kill Bill” simultaneously dominates the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B Songs charts for a 16th week each. On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it passes Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” (15 weeks at No. 1 in 2006) for the longest reign for a song by a woman in a lead role since the survey became an all-encompassing genre chart in 1958.

TAYLOR’S 23

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” reverses course, 9-8, on the Hot 100, following a personal-best eight weeks at No. 1 in November-January. It has spent 23 weeks in the top 10 – one week shy of Swift’s longest stay in the region, set by “Shake It Off” in 2014-15.

JIMIN DROPS

After debuting at #1 last week with “Like Crazy,” Jimin not only falls out of the Top 10 but is evicted from the Top 40 in his second week!  Freefalling and landing at #45, he is now the owner of the record for the biggest drop from #1.  Barring holiday songs, here are the ten biggest drops from the #1 slot…

FROM 1 TO…	SONG	ARTIST(S)	DATE
45	Like Crazy	Jimin	4/15/23
38	Willow	Taylor Swift	1/2/21
34	Trollz	6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj	7/4/20
28	Life Goes On	BTS	12/12/20
25	Franchise	Travis Scott featuring Young Thug and M.I.A.	10/17/20
17	Heartless	The Weeknd	12/21/19
17	Butter	BTS	9/18/21
15	Nothing from Nothing	Billy Preston	10/26/74
15	Then Came You	Dionne Warwicke and the Spinners	11/2/74
13	Stuck with U	Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber	5/30/20

APRIL 8, 2023

“CRAZY” DEBUTING ASIAN a/k/a THE STORY OF JIMIN

Jimin’s “Like Crazy” blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, marking his first leader – and the first for a member of superstar South Korean pop group BTS. He’s also the first South Korean solo artist to lead the list.  It’s the 66th title to premiere at the summit and the first by a South Korean solo artist.  Previously among South Korean solo artists, PSY reached a No. 2 best with “Gangnam Style” for seven weeks in 2012.  The history of Asian acts atop the Hot 100 dates back to the chart’s early years, as Japanese-born Kyu Sakamoto became the first to lead, with “Sukiyaki” for three weeks in 1963. In 2010, Far*East Movement reigned with “Like a G6,” with the act’s lineup at the time including two members of Korean heritage.

NUMBER ONE DEBUTS AS A MEMBER OF A GROUP AND AS A SOLOIST

Jimin makes history as the first soloist to score a solo Hot 100 debut breaking out of a group that has also debuted at No. 1 on the chart.  Here’s a rundown of the BTS leaders (5) to Jimin’s (1):

Jimin, “Like Crazy,” one week at No. 1 (to-date), April 8, 2023

Coldplay & BTS, “My Universe,” one, Oct. 9, 2021

BTS, “Permission To Dance,” one, July 24, 2021

BTS, “Butter,” 10, June 5, 2021

BTS, “Life Goes On,” one, Dec. 5, 2020

“Dynamite,” three weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 5, 2020

Jimin and BTS join the ranks of soloists and groups each with Hot 100 No. 1s.  Cementing this point before this week, Beyoncé reigned with “Break My Soul” for two weeks last August.  With Destiny’s Child, they tallied four No. 1s.

THE SEVEN FACES OF BTS

Jimin scores not only the first Hot 100 No. 1 by a BTS member solo, but the first top 10, or even top 20, hit on the chart. Plus, of the four solo top 40 hits by the group’s members, Jimin has two.

Here’s a recap of all 15 Hot 100 entries so far by BTS members apart from the group, ranked by peak position. All seven of the act’s members have reached the chart with solo songs: J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jung Kook, RM, Suga and V.

Peak Pos., Date, Artist, Title:

No. 1 (one week to-date), April 8, 2023, Jimin, “Like Crazy”

No. 22, July 9, 2022, Charlie Puth feat. Jung Kook, “Left and Right”

No. 29, Dec. 25, 2021, Juice WRLD & Suga, “Girl of My Dreams”

No. 30, April 1, 2023, Jimin, “Set Me Free, Pt. 2”

No. 51, Nov. 12, 2022, Jin, “The Astronaut”

No. 60, March 18, 2023, J-Hope with J. Cole, “On the Street”

No. 76, Jan. 28, 2023, TAEYANG feat. Jimin, “Vibe”

No. 76, June 6, 2020, Agust D (Suga’s alternate billing), “Daechwita”

No. 79, Jan. 8, 2022, V, “Christmas Tree”

No. 80, May 14, 2022, PSY feat. Suga, “That That”

No. 81; Oct. 12, 2019, J-Hope feat. Becky G, “Chicken Noodle Soup”

No. 82; July 16, 2022, J-Hope, “More”

No. 83; Dec. 17, 2022, RM with Youjeen, “Wild Flower”

No. 95; Feb. 26, 2022, Jung Kook, “Stay Alive”

No. 96; July 30, 2022, J-Hope, “Arson”

A LOT TO “LIKE”…

“Like Crazy” is the 21st Hot 100 No. 1 (out of a total of 1,148 #1s) with the word “like” in its title.  Here are the others in reverse order…

Girls Like You/Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B beginning 9/29/18 (7 weeks)

I Like It/Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin , 7/7/18 (1)

That’s What I Like/Bruno Mars, 5/13/17 (1)

Someone Like You/Adele, 9/17/11 (5)

Moves Like Jagger/Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, 9/10/11 (4)

Like a G6/Far East Movement featuring the Cataracs and Dev, 10/30/10 (3)

Whatever You Like/T.I., 9/6/08 (7)

Drop It Like It’s Hot/Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, 12/11/04 (3)

A Moment Like This/Kelly Clarkson, 10/5/02 (2)

I Like the Way (the Kissing Game)/Hi-Five, 5/18/91 (1)

Like a Prayer/Madonna, 4/22/89 (3)

Walk Like an Egyptian/the Bangles, 12/20/86 (4)

Like a Virgin/Madonna, 12/22/84 (6)

(Just Like) Starting Over/John Lennon, 12/27/80 (5)

Looks Like We Made It/Barry Manilow, 7/23/77 (1)

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing/Leo Sayer, 1/15/77 (1)

That’s the Way (I Like It)/KC and the Sunshine Band, 11/22/75 (2)

He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You)/Tony Orlando and Dawn, 5/3/75 (3)

Feel Like Makin’ Love/Roberta Flack, 8/10/74 (1)

Walk Like a Man/the Four Seasons, 3/2/63 (3)

…WHEN COMPARED TO “CRAZY”

“Like Crazy” is the 6th Hot 100 No. 1 (out of a total of 1,148 #1s) with the word “crazy” in its title.  Here are the others in reverse order…

Crazy in Love/Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, 7/12/03 (8)

She Drives Me Crazy/Fine Young Cannibals, 4/15/89 (1)

Crazy for You/Madonna, 5/11/85 (1)

Let’s Go Crazy/Prince and the Revolution, 9/29/84 (2)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love/Queen, 2/23/80 (4)

(Honorable mention: Crazy Town ruled the Hot 100 with “Butterfly” in 2001.)

APRIL 1, 2023

SMILEY MILEY MAKES IT EIGHT

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” adds an eighth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.  The song, from Cyrus’ new album Endless Summer Vacation, debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 dated Jan. 28 and spent its first six weeks on the chart at the summit; it then ranked at No. 2 for two weeks and has since logged its latest two frames on top.

PLAY ON “PLAYERS”

Coi Leray’s “Players” surges 12-9 on the Hot 100 earning her her first Top 10.  Leray, who was born in Boston and raised in Hackensack, N.J. posts her first Hot 100 top 10, following two top 40 entries: “Blick Blick!,” with Nicki Minaj (No. 37, April 2022), and “No More Parties,” featuring Lil Durk (No. 26, March 2021).  “Players” samples Grandmaster Flash’s classic “The Message,” which hit No. 4 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (and No. 62 on the Hot 100) in 1982.

A “HARD” CLIMB TO THE TOP 10

Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place” lifts 11-10 becoming his first top 10 among three top 40 hits.  The track hits the top 10 in its 41st week on the Hot 100 – rewriting the record for the longest climb to the top 10 for a song by a soloist in the chart’s history. Among all acts, only Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” took longer, reaching the tier in its 42nd week in November 2021. Now in third place overall, Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange,” Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)” (both this January) and Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” (2007) all completed 38-week trips to the top 10.

“Rock and a Hard Place” becomes the Louisville, Ind., native’s second No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart, after “Fall in Love” led for a week in December. Notably, his three-month, three-week span between his first two Country Airplay leaders is the quickest for any act’s first two in nearly a quarter-century – since The Chicks took three months between “There’s Your Trouble” and “Wide Open Spaces” in August-November 1998.

MARCH 18, 2023

I WANT TO RETURN THESE “FLOWERS”…

…to the #1 spot!  Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” rebounds for a seventh week atop the Billboard Hot 100. The song debuted at No. 1 and spent its first six weeks on the chart in charge before ranking at No. 2 the last two weeks, as The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” and then Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” took turns at the summit.

“CALM DOWN” MOVES UP

Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” bounds 19-8 on the Hot 100, besting its prior No. 15 high set two weeks earlier.  Nigeria native Rema (real name: Divine Ikubor) released the original version of “Calm Down” in February 2022 as a single from his debut solo LP, Rave & Roses. Its remix with Gomez arrived Aug. 26, and that version’s official video premiered Sept. 7. He hits the Hot 100’s top 10 with his first entry on the chart.

Gomez lands her ninth Hot 100 top 10. “Calm Down” follows “Lose You to Love Me” (one week at No. 1, November 2019); “It Ain’t Me,” with Kygo (No. 10, May 2017); Charlie Puth’s “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” on which she’s featured (No. 9, October 2016); “Hands to Myself” (No. 7, February 2016); “Same Old Love” (No. 5, January 2016); “Good for You,” featuring A$AP Rocky (No. 5, October 2015); “The Heart Wants What It Wants” (No. 6, December 2014); and “Come & Get It” (No. 6, May 2013).

WE’RE REVISITING DISNEYWORLD

Gomez and Cyrus, both of whom broke through on Disney Channel shows, on Wizards of Waverly Place and Hannah Montana, respectively, share space in the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time in nearly 10 years; on the July 20, 2013, tally, Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” ranked at No. 3 and Gomez’s “Come & Get It” placed at No. 9.

MARCH 18, 2023

WE’RE GONNA TALK ABOUT MORGAN WALLEN, ONE THING AT A TIME

First off, Morgan Wallen’s album, One Thing at a Time, debuts atop the Billboard 200 the same week his single, “Last Night,” leaps from 5-1.  

He is the first country solo male artist to hit #1 since “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbitt 42 years ago(!) in February/March 1981.

Wallen notches the first Hot 100 No. 1 for a contestant from NBC’s The Voice, which has run for 23 seasons, dating to its April 2011 premiere. (Its latest season began March 6, 2023.) He competed in the series’ sixth season, in 2014, and was eliminated in playoff rounds.

TOPPING BOTH THE HOT 100 AND THE COUNTRY CHART

As “Last Night” leads the Hot Country Songs chart, which uses the same methodology as the Hot 100, for a fifth week, it becomes just the 20th song to have topped both tallies.

“Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, 2023

“All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift, 2021

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift, 2012

“Amazed,” Lonestar, 1999-2000

“Islands in the Stream,” Kenny Rogers, duet with Dolly Parton, 1983

“I Love a Rainy Night,” Eddie Rabbitt, 1981

“9 to 5,” Dolly Parton, 1981

“Lady,” Kenny Rogers, 1980

“Southern Nights,” Glen Campbell, 1977

“Convoy,” C.W. McCall, 1975-76

“I’m Sorry,” John Denver, 1975

“Rhinestone Cowboy,” Glen Campbell, 1975

“Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” John Denver, 1975

“Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” Freddy Fender, 1975

“(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” B.J. Thomas, 1975

“The Most Beautiful Girl,” Charlie Rich, 1973

“Honey,” Bobby Goldsboro, 1968

“Big Bad John,” Jimmy Dean, 1961

“El Paso,” Marty Robbins, 1959-60

“The Battle of New Orleans,” Johnny Horton, 1959

Of the 20 songs listed above, 12 were concentrated in 1973-83. Meanwhile, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and Swift are the only acts with two songs each that have crowned both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts.

BIG WEEK FOR MORGAN’S LABELS

Big Loud Records achieves its first Hot 100 No. 1 with Wallen’s “Last Night.” The Nashville-based label formed in 2011.

Mercury Records tops the Hot 100 for the first time since Taio Cruz’s “Break Your Heart” ruled for a week in March 2010. The label, whose history dates to 1945, first led over 64 years ago, with The Platters’ “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” in January 1959.

Republic Records, meanwhile, succeeds itself atop the Hot 100, a week after The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” surged to No. 1. Republic, which began in 1995, wrapped at No. 1 on the 2022 Hot 100 Labels recap and has earned the distinction in nine of the last 11 years.

FIVE OUT OF TEN AIN’T BAD

Wallen ups his career count of Hot 100 top 10s from five to eight, as he stockpiles half the Hot 100’s top 10, with “Last Night” at No. 1 followed by “Thought You Should Know” (13-7); “You Proof” (21-8, after hitting No. 5 last October); “Thinkin’ Bout Me” (No. 9 debut); and “One Thing at a Time,” the new LP’s title cut (51-10).  He becomes a member of an elite club – and the only country act – of those who’ve had a minimum of five Top 10s in a single week, and only the sixth act overall to achieve the feat. (Drake has posted three such weeks and The Beatles, who inaugurated the exclusive club in 1964, two.)

10, Taylor Swift, Nov. 5, 2022

9, Drake, Sept. 18, 2021

8, Drake, Nov. 19, 2022

7, 21 Savage, Nov. 19, 2022

7, Drake, July 14, 2018

5, Morgan Wallen, March 18, 2023

5, Juice WRLD, July 25, 2020

5, The Beatles, April 11, 1964

5, The Beatles, April 4, 1964

SAVING THE “LAST” FOR BEST; A LOT OF TOP “NIGHT”S

Occasionally, “last” shall be first on the Hot 100. Wallen’s “Last Night” is just the fifth song with “last” in its title to lead the list. Here’s a recap:

“Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, one week to-date, March 18, 2023

“Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” Katy Perry, two weeks, beginning Aug. 27, 2011

“Save the Best for Last,” Vanessa Williams, five weeks, beginning March 21, 1992

“Last Train to Clarksville,” The Monkees, one week, Nov. 5, 1966

“Save the Last Dance for Me,” The Drifters, No. 1 for three weeks, beginning Oct. 17, 1960

We love reign-y “night”s: “Last Night” also marks the first “night”-titled Hot 100 No. 1 since Maroon 5’s “One More Night,” which led for nine weeks in 2012. Wallen scores the 30th such No. 1 (including variations “nights,” “midnight” and “tonight” in song titles).

MARCH 11, 2023

SPENDING THE WEEKND WITH ARIANA GRANDE

LONGEST TRIP TO #1

The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” bounds from No. 6 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, after Grande joined for its remix. The song reigns after it was originally released on The Weeknd’s album Starboy in 2016, before it was revived in recent months thanks in part to interaction on TikTok, which helped spark new promotion to radio and streaming services.  As Starboy opened atop the Billboard 200 dated Dec. 17, 2016, “Die for You” concurrently debuted at No. 43 on the Hot 100. The song spent three weeks on the chart that month.  It returned to the Hot 100 dated Sept. 3, 2022. In October, it reached the Hot 100’s top 40 and this January it hit the top 10.  The song completes the longest trip to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in terms of time from a debut to scaling the summit. Notably, The Weeknd and Grande claim two of the six longest such journeys.   Here’s the list…

6 years, 2 months, 3 weeks, “Die for You,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (2016-23)

5 years, 8 months, 2 weeks, “When I’m With You,” Sheriff (1983-89)

4 years, 8 months, 2 weeks, “Red Red Wine,” UB40 (1984-88; the pop/reggae classic and Sheriff’s love song above were revived, in part, by adventurous radio exec Guy Zapoleon)

1 year, 2 months, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals (2021-22)

1 year, 1 month, “Save Your Tears,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (2020-21)

If you include holiday songs, here’s what leads…

19 years, 11 months, 2 weeks, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey (2000-19; originally released in 1994, the carol ultimately first led 25 years after its release)

Meanwhile, “Die for You” tops the Hot 100 in its 31st total week on the tally, the fourth-longest such climb. “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals reigned when it wrapped a record 59-week ascent.

LUCKY 7

The Weeknd and Grande earn a seventh Hot 100 No. 1 each. Here’s a recap of their leaders.

The Weeknd’s Hot 100 No. 1s:

“Can’t Feel My Face,” three weeks at No. 1, beginning Aug. 22, 2015

“The Hills,” six weeks, Oct. 3, 2015

“Starboy,” feat. Daft Punk, one week, Jan. 7, 2017

“Heartless,” one week, Dec. 14, 2019

“Blinding Lights,” four weeks, April 4, 2020

“Save Your Tears,” with Ariana Grande, two weeks, May 8, 2021

“Die for You,” with Grande, one week to-date, March 11, 2023

Notably, Starboy now boasts two Hot 100 leaders, as “Die for You” joins the set’s title cut after over six years.

Ariana Grande’s Hot 100 No. 1s:

“Thank U Next,” seven weeks at No. 1, beginning Nov. 17, 2018

“7 Rings,” eight weeks, Feb. 2, 2019

“Stuck With U,” with Justin Bieber, one week, May 23, 2020

“Rain on Me,” with Lady Gaga, one week, June 6, 2020

“Positions,” one week, Nov. 7, 2020

“Save Your Tears,” with The Weeknd, two weeks, May 8, 2021

“Die for You,” with The Weeknd, one week to-date, March 11, 2023

Grande simultaneously adds her milestone 20th Hot 100 top 10. “Die for You” became The Weeknd’s 16th top 10 – his first such hit was also with Grande, as their “Love Me Harder” reached No. 7 in November 2014.

IT TAKES TWO

The Weeknd and Grande become the latest pair of solo acts that have teamed up for multiple Hot 100 No. 1s. Here’s a look at the acts that might want to consider making their collaborations more frequent, given their repeat success rates. (Drake and Rihanna have achieved the feat thanks to two pairings apiece.)

Acts That Have Teamed for Multiple Hot 100 No. 1s:

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande: “Save Your Tears,” 2021; “Die for You,” 2023

Drake & Future: “Way 2 Sexy” (Drake feat. Future & Young Thug), 2021; “Wait for U” (Future feat. Drake & Tems), 2022

Rihanna feat. Drake: “What’s My Name?,” 2010; “Work,” 2016

Eminem feat. Rihanna: “Love the Way You Lie,” 2010; “The Monster,” 2013-14

Nelly Furtado & Timbaland: “Promiscuous” (Furtado feat. Timbaland), 2006; “Give It to Me” (Timbaland feat. Furtado & Justin Timberlake), 2007

Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule: “I’m Real,” 2001; “Ain’t It Funny,” 2002

TWO MEN, THREE ALBUMS, MULTIPLE #1s

The Weeknd joins Michael Jackson as the only other male soloist to have three albums spinoff multiple Number One singles.

The Weeknd

Beauty Behind the Madness: “the Hills” and “Can’t Feel My Face” (2015)

Starboy: “Starboy” (2017) and “Die for You (with Ariana Grande)” (2023)

After Hours: “Heartless” (2019), “Blinding Lights” (2020), and “Save Your Tears (with Ariana Grande)” (2021)

Michael Jackson

Off the Wall: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (1979) and “Rock with You” (1980)

Thriller: “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” (1983)

Bad: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (with Siedah Garrett)” and “Bad” (1987), “the Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror,” “Dirty Diana” (1988)

ELSEWHERE IN THE TOP 10…

SHAKIRA REVISITED

Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” soars onto the Hot 100 at No. 7, marking the former’s first top 10 and the latter’s sixth – and second this year, following a nearly 16-year break from the region, since “Beautiful Liar,” with Beyoncé, rose to No. 3 in April 2007.  While Shakira’s lengthy break from the Hot 100’s top 10 only to return with two such hits in relatively quick succession is rare, it’s not unprecedented: Elton John went over 24 years after 1998 before revisiting the tier with “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” with Dua Lipa (No. 7, 2021), and “Hold Me Closer,” with Britney Spears (No. 6, 2022). Plus, a shout out to Santana’s wait of over 28 years after 1971 before bounding back with two No. 1s in 1999-2000 – “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, and “Maria Maria,” featuring The Product G&B – along with two more top 10s in 2002-03. (All such examples reflect acts teaming with artists who followed in their footsteps, capitalizing on multi-generational appeal.)

Just so you know, “TQG” is an acronym for “Te Quedó Grande” – which when translated from Spanish to English, roughly means “I’m too good for you.”

TO “DIE FOR/4”In a chart rarity, the Hot 100 is bookended by two songs that are to die for.  The Weeknd and Ariana Grande with “Die for You” leaps to #1 while Halsey debuts at #100 with “Die 4 Me.”

MARCH 4, 2023

A HALF DOZEN “FLOWERS”

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” leads the Billboard Hot 100 for a sixth week, encompassing its full run on the chart so far, dating to its debut at No. 1.

SPICE GIRL DUO

PinkPantheress and Ice Spice’s “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” climbs 4-3 on the Hot 100, a week after it became each act’s first top 10.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

FIVE WEEKS OF “FLOWERS”

Miley Cyrus‘ “Flowers” rules the Billboard Hot 100 for a fifth week, encompassing its entire run on the chart so far, dating to its debut at No. 1.

NOT A LIE…

PinkPantheress and Ice Spice each make their first appearance in the Hot 100’s top 10 as “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” bounds from No. 14 to No. 4.  Notably, “Liar” leaps to the Hot 100’s top 10 in just its second week on the chart. It’s the first duet by two acts each making a first top 10 appearance since Nicky Youre and Dazy hit No. 4 with “Sunroof” last September. That song took 10 weeks to hit the top 10.  “Liar” is the first song between two acts each scoring a first top 10 to reach the region in two weeks or fewer since Lil Tjay’s “Calling My Phone,” featuring 6LACK, debuted at its No. 3 peak in February 2021.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

“FLOWERS” “WRECKING” PERSONAL BEST

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” tops the Billboard Hot 100 for a fourth week, encompassing its entire run on the chart so far, dating to its debut at No. 1. As it extends its reign, it passes the three-week command of her prior leader, “Wrecking Ball,” in 2013.

MORGAN’S BEST “NIGHT”

Following its first full week of tracking, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” surges from No. 27 to No. 3 on the Hot 100 becoming his fifth top 10 and highest-charting hit.  It’s preceded by “7 Summers” (No. 6 peak, August 2020), “Wasted on You” (No. 9, January 2021), “Don’t Think Jesus” (No. 7, April 2022) and “You Proof” (No. 5, October 2022). Meanwhile, his three most recent top 10s are all on One Thing at a Time – as the set becomes the first country album with as many as three top 10s since Taylor Swift’s Red spun off four in 2012-13. (Country albums are defined as those that have hit or are eligible for Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.)

BEYONCE “CUFFS” GRAMMY RECORD

Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” charges 15-6 for a new Hot 100 high, besting its prior No. 10 peak.  Also boosting Beyoncé’s buzzy profile, and the song’s, during the tracking week: with four more Grammy Awards Feb. 5, she upped her count to a record-breaking 32 wins, including best R&B song for “Cuff It.”

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

“FLOWERS” TIES “BALL”

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” leads the Billboard Hot 100 for a third week, encompassing its entire run on the chart so far, dating to its launch at No. 1. With its continued command, it ties the three-week rule of her prior leader, “Wrecking Ball,” in 2013.

“ROCK” ON, UZI

Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock” jumps 12-10.  The rapper lands their seventh Hot 100 top 10 with the stand-alone single, following their featured turn on Migos’ “Bad and Boujee” (three weeks at No. 1, 2017) and their own “XO TOUR Llif3” (No. 7, 2017), “Futsal Shuffle 2020” (No. 5, 2019), “Baby Pluto” (No. 6, 2020), “Lo Mein” (No. 8, 2020) and “Silly Watch” (No. 9, 2020).

Rock on: “Just Wanna Rock” is the first Hot 100 top 10 with “rock” in its title since … well, just last month, when two holiday classics decorated the tier: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee, and “Jingle Bell Rock,” by Bobby Helms, ranked at their respective Nos. 2 and 3 peaks. One other such song has rolled to the top 10 in the ’20s: DaBaby’s “Rockstar,” featuring Roddy Ricch, reigned for seven weeks beginning June 2020. Not that “Just Wanna Rock” is considered a rock song (having not appeared on any of Billboard’s rock-based charts; it holds at its Nos. 2 and 5 highs on Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, respectively). The last rock chart hit with “rock” in its title to hit the Hot 100’s top 10? Nickelback’s “Rockstar” smashed its way to No. 6 in 2007.

FEBRUARY 4, 2023

“HOUR” TIME

“Golden Hour” becomes the first top 10 for Rhode Island native JVKE (born Jake Lawson).

Small state, big hits: Other acts to score chart success with Rhode Island origins include Bill Conti, whose Rocky theme song “Gonna Fly Now” topped the Hot 100 for a week in 1977; John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, whose “On the Dark Side,” from the film Eddie and the Cruisers, rose to No. 7 in 1984; and Blu Cantrell, whose “Hit ‘Em Up Style [Oops!]” reached No. 2 in 2001.

JANUARY 28, 2023

“FLOWERS” GROW AT #1

Miley Cyrus plants “Flowers” at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart in its debut week. Her new single soars in as her second leader, after “Wrecking Ball” reigned for three non-consecutive weeks beginning September 2013.  “Flowers” is the 65th title to roar in at No. 1 in the Hot 100’s history. It’s the 1,145th leader overall, and the first new No. 1 of 2023.

Cyrus ends a break of nine years, one month and two weeks between Hot 100 No. 1s, the longest between leaders since Coldplay went 13 years, three months and two weeks from “Viva La Vida” in 2008 to “My Universe,” with BTS, in 2021.

Cyrus also adds her 11th Hot 100 top 10 and first since The Kid LAROI’s “Without You” (which she joined for a remix) hit No. 8 in May 2021. Her previous top 10s, in order of peak date, including one under her Hannah Montana alter ego: “See You Again” (No. 10, 2008); “7 Things” (No. 9, 2008); “The Climb” (No. 4, 2009); “He Could Be the One” (Hannah Montana; No. 10, 2009); “Party in the U.S.A.” (No. 2, 2009 – it debuted at that spot, marking her top start until “Flowers”); “Can’t Be Tamed” (No. 8, 2010); “We Can’t Stop” (No. 2, 2013); “Wrecking Ball”; and “Malibu” (No. 10, 2017).

Cyrus’ “Flowers” blooms as the third Hot 100 No. 1 with that word in its title. Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond’s virtual duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” reigned for two weeks in December 1978 and Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)” ruled for a week in January 2019.

Some dirt on similarly-themed Hot 100 No. 1s: “Roses Are Red (My Love),” by Bobby Vinton, led in 1962; “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” by Poison, in 1988-89; and “Kiss From a Rose,” by Seal, in 1995. (We can also give flowers to past leading acts David Rose, Rose Royce, Guns N’ Roses, and Iggy Azalea.)

SHAKIRA, SHAKIRA

Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” charges onto the Hot 100 at No. 9.  The diss track to her ex sung completely in Spanish marks her fifth Hot 100 top 10, and first since 2007, following “Whenever, Wherever” (No. 6, 2001), “Underneath Your Clothes” (No. 9, 2002), “Hips Don’t Lie,” featuring Wyclef Jean (No. 1, two weeks, 2006), and “Beautiful Liar,” with Beyoncé (No. 3, 2007). She ends a 15-year and nine-month break between top 10s, the longest outside holiday titles since Elton John waited 23 years, 11 months and two weeks between 1998 and 2022, when he returned to the tier with “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” with Dua Lipa.

JANUARY 21, 2023

EIGHT IS GREAT

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, logging an eighth total week on top. With its latest frame at No. 1, Swift rewrites her longest Hot 100 reign, surpassing the seven weeks at the summit for “Blank Space” in 2014-15.  Here’s a look at the weeks at No. 1 for each of her nine leaders:

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Date Reached No. 1:

8, “Anti-Hero,” Nov. 5, 2022

7, “Blank Space,” Nov. 29, 2014

4, “Shake It Off,” Sept. 6, 2014

3, “Look What You Made Me Do,” Sept. 16, 2017

3, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Sept. 1, 2012

1, “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Nov. 27, 2021

1, “Willow,” Dec. 26, 2020

1, “Cardigan,” Aug. 8, 2020

1, “Bad Blood,” feat. Kendrick Lamar, June 6, 2015

“Anti-Hero” debuted atop the Hot 100 as Swift made history as the first artist to infuse the chart’s entire top 10 in a single week (November 5, 2022), with all tracks all from her album Midnights.

“KILL”ING IT

SZA’s “Kill Bill” rises 3-2 for its highest Hot 100 rank yet.  SZA earns a new career-best Hot 100 placement, among seven top 10s; prior to “Kill Bill,” she reached a No. 3 high as featured on Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More” in July 2021.

“ORANGE” YOU GLAD YOU MADE THE TOP 10

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” rises 11-10.  The track, which Bryan wrote solo and is from his major-label debut album American Heartbreak, is his first Hot 100 top 10, after it became his first entry on the chart in May. It ties for the second-longest trip to the top 10 – 38 chart weeks – matching the journeys of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” in 2006-07 and Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You),” the latter over a whopping 11 on-and-off runs from its 1960 debut to the latest holiday season. Just one song has taken longer to reach the top 10, by total time on the tally: Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves”: 42 weeks in 2021.

A little more color: “Orange” brings that hue to the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time. The previous best? Lemon Pipers’ “Jelly Jungle (Of Orange Marmalade)” hit No. 51 in 1968. In third place is another song on the current chart: Megan Moroney’s “Tennessee Orange” holds at its No. 58 high. (And to squeeze in an honorable mention, Oran ‘Juice’ Jones’ “The Rain” reached No. 9 in 1986.)

JANUARY 14, 2023

HOLDING OUT FOR A “HERO”

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” rebounds to No. 1 this week, from No. 8, on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a seventh total week on top. As “Anti-Hero” tops the Hot 100 for a seventh week, Swift matches her longest reign: “Blank Space” dominated for seven frames in 2014-15. Here’s a look at the weeks at No. 1 for her nine leaders:

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Date Reached No. 1:

7, “Anti-Hero,” Nov. 5, 2022

7, “Blank Space,” Nov. 29, 2014

4, “Shake It Off,” Sept. 6, 2014

3, “Look What You Made Me Do,” Sept. 16, 2017

3, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Sept. 1, 2012

1, “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Nov. 27, 2021

1, “Willow,” Dec. 26, 2020

1, “Cardigan,” Aug. 8, 2020

1, “Bad Blood,” feat. Kendrick Lamar, June 6, 2015

A “GOOD” LEAP

David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” roars 19-4 on the Hot 100, surpassing its prior No. 7 high. Guetta ties his best career rank, previously established by “Without You,” featuring Usher, in 2011 and “Turn Me On,” featuring Nicki Minaj, in 2012. Guetta has also hit the top five with “Sexy Chick,” featuring Akon (No. 5, 2010). Rexha adds her second top five entry, following “Meant to Be,” with Florida Georgia Line (No. 2, 2018).  Notably, “Good” bests the Hot 100 peak of the song that it interpolates for its basis: Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” which hit No. 6 in January 2000.

“IT WAS” HERE

Harry Styles’ “As It Was” soars 31-7, following 15 weeks at No. 1 beginning last April, the fourth-longest reign in the chart’s history.

A LONG WAIT TO “DIE”

The Weeknd’s “Die for You” vaults 26-8 on the Hot 100.  The song hits the Hot 100’s top 10 over six years after its original release on The Weeknd’s album Starboy, sparked by interaction on TikTok (which does not presently contribute to Billboard‘s charts).

The Weeknd ups his career count to 16 Hot 100 top 10s, while Starboy generates its third, after the title cut topped the chart for a week in January 2017, becoming his third of six No. 1s, and “I Feel It Coming” hit No. 4 that April, with both songs featuring Daft Punk.

OFF THE “CUFF”

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” soars 38-10.  Beyoncé achieves her 21st Hot 100 top 10 as a soloist. She scores her second from her latest album, Renaissance, after “Break My Soul” spent two weeks at No. 1 beginning in August. The set is her first to spin off multiple top 10s since I Am…Sasha Fierce yielded four in 2008-09: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (No. 1, four weeks), “If I Were a Boy” (No. 3), “Halo” (No. 5) and “Sweet Dreams” (No. 10).

Notably, Destiny’s Child, with Beyoncé as a member, tallied 10 Hot 100 top 10s, in 1998-2005. When “Break My Soul” hit the tier in August, the superstar joined elite company among acts with at least 20 solo top 10s and 10 in a group – and became the first woman to achieve the feat. Michael Jackson notched 30 solo top 10s and 11 in Jackson 5/The Jacksons, while Paul McCartney boasts 23 solo (including his output with Wings) and 34 in The Beatles. (In a reverse of the feat, The Supremes scored 20 top 10s, including six billed as by Diana Ross & The Supremes, and Ross went on to tally 12 as a soloist.)

JANUARY 7, 2023

THE CAREY CHRONICLES: FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON…?

“ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS”…MORE PERSONAL BESTS

ON THE THIRD YEAR OF CHRISTMAS, MY FANBASE GAVE TO ME…

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” extends the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest, to over three years and two weeks (Dec. 21, 2019-Jan. 7, 2023).

ON THE FOURTH WEEK OF CHRISTMAS, MY FANBASE GAVE TO ME…

Carey’s “Christmas”  first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 in December 2017 and first hit the top five in the 2018 holiday season, before leading over the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three) and this season (a single-season-best four).  With a current 12 total weeks, Carey’s “Christmas” expands its record for the most time atop the Hot 100 for a holiday song. The only other seasonal single to lead, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent, as noted above, four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

The two songs now share the mark for the most consecutive frames atop the Hot 100 – four each – for a Yuletide title, as well as the most in any singular holiday season.

ON THE FIFTH YEAR OF CHRISTMAS, MY FANBASE GAVE TO ME…

With this week’s Hot 100 dated Jan. 7, 2023, Carey’s “Christmas” is the first song to lead Hot 100 charts dated in five distinct years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and now 2023). No other song has reigned in more than two individual years.

ON THE TWELFTH WEEK OF CHRISTMAS, MY FANBASE GAVE TO ME…

Carey becomes the second artist, and first woman, with three songs that have topped the Hot 100 for 12 or more weeks each. She joins Boyz II Men for the honor – with Carey and the group having teamed for one song contributing to the feat:

Mariah Carey:

16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, 1995-96

14 weeks, “We Belong Together,” 2005

12 weeks (to-date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-22

Boyz II Men:

13 weeks, “End of the Road,” 1992

14 weeks, “I’ll Make Love to You,” 1994

16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Carey, 1995-96

“Christmas” is the 22nd title to command the Hot 100 for 12 or more weeks, a run that under just 2% of all 1,144 No. 1s have achieved.

ON THE 19TH YEAR OF CHRISTMAS, MY FANBASE GAVE TO ME…

Carey has now placed at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in a record-extending 19 distinct years (per Hot 100 chart dates): 1990-2000, 2005-06, 2008 and, thanks to “Christmas,” 2019-23.

Next up are three acts that have each spent time atop the Hot 100 in 10 individual years: Paul McCartney/Wings (1971, 1973-76, 1978, 1980, 1982-84; additionally, The Beatles, with him as a member, led in seven years: 1964-70); Michael Jackson (1972, 1979-80, 1983-84, 1987-88, 1991-92, 1995; additionally, The Jackson 5, with him in the group, led in 1970); and Madonna (1984-87, 1989-92, 1995, 2000).

ON THE 32ND YEAR OF CHRISTMAS, MY FANBASE GAVE TO ME…

The latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” stretches Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart to 32 years and five months, dating to her first week atop the list dated Aug. 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

ON THE 91ST WEEK OF CHRISTMAS, MY FANBASE GAVE TO ME…

With “Christmas,” Carey adds her record-extending 91st week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:

91, Mariah Carey

60, Rihanna

59, The Beatles

54, Drake

50, Boyz II Men

47, Usher

43, Beyoncé

37, Michael Jackson

34, Adele

34, Elton John

34, Bruno Mars

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week on top with “Vision of Love.” “Christmas” is additionally the only title to have led in four separate runs on the survey.

OTHER HOLIDAY “CHESTNUTS”…

WHAM!  BAM!  NEW PEAK, MA’AM

Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” from 1984, rises to a new No. 4 best, from No. 5, after it hit the top five for the first time a week earlier.

“WONDERFUL” FOR ANDY

Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” from 1963, keeps at No. 6 on the Hot 100; it hit a No. 5 high during the 2020 holidays. The song’s latest week in the top 10 extends the late singer’s record for the longest span of an act appearing in the tier to nearly 63 years and three months, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Lonely Street” in October 1959.

SEVEN CAROLS CAROLLING

Holiday hits shine like ornaments in the Hot 100’s top seven spots for the first time in the chart’s history.

OLD KING COLE RETURNS TO THE TEN

Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)” climbs from its prior No. 11 Hot 100 high (first reached over the 2018 holidays) to No. 9, with 27.4 million streams (down 4%), 15.5 million in airplay audience (down 30%) and 1,000 sold (down 41%).

The song, which Cole first recorded while fronting the King Cole Trio in 1946, becomes his third Hot 100 top 10, following “Ramblin’ Rose” (No. 2, 1962) and (opposite in theme from “Christmas”) “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer” (No. 6, 1963). Cole, who passed away in 1965, places in the top 10 for the first time in 59 years, six months and a week, rewriting the record for the longest break between hits in the region set last holiday season by The Ronettes, whose “Sleigh Ride” led the group back to the top 10 after a wait of 58 years and two months.

Before this week, Cole last ranked in the top 10 of the Hot 100 dated June 29, 1963. That week, Kyu Sakamoto’s “Sukiyaki” spent its third and last week at No. 1 and other enduring top 10s included Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party” (No. 2), The Chiffons’ “One Fine Day” (No. 7) and Jan & Dean’s “Surf City” (No. 10).

(After August 1966, Cole was not credited on a Hot 100 hit until “Christmas” returned over the 2013 holidays. He was, however, heard on daughter Natalie Cole’s virtual duet with him, “Unforgettable,” which reached No. 14 in 1991 and won, among other Grammy Awards, Record of the Year in 1992.)

Plus, Cole’s “Christmas” wraps the longest ascent to the Hot 100’s top 10, dating to its debut on the Dec. 12, 1960, chart. Its odyssey of 62 years and 26 days narrowly surpasses that of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” (62 years and 18 days) for the most time a song has taken to hit the top 10 from its debut; “Rudolph” arrived in 1958 and lit up the top 10 at last over the 2020 holidays.

OTHER HOLIDAY MUSINGS

In this week’s Top 40, there are 29 holiday songs.  Most likely, this will be their last week…until December.  This means that the boomerang effect of a whole host of hits will rocket back into the Top 40 next week.  I cannot wait to see what lands where! 

DECEMBER 31, 2022

MORE MARIAH FOOTNOTES

A MINIMUM OF 11 REQUIRED

With “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at #1 again this week, Mariah Carey becomes the second artist, and first woman, with three songs that have topped the Hot 100 for 11 or more weeks each. She joins Boyz II Men for the honor – with Carey and the group having teamed for one song contributing to the feat:

Mariah Carey:

16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, 1995-96

14 weeks, “We Belong Together,” 2005

11 weeks (to-date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-22

Boyz II Men:

13 weeks, “End of the Road,” 1992

14 weeks, “I’ll Make Love to You,” 1994

16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Carey, 1995-96

“Christmas” is the 28th title to command the Hot 100 for 11 or more weeks, a run that under just 2% of all 1,144 No. 1s have achieved. (Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” solely held the record for the chart’s longest reign for over 21 years, until Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, matched it with 16 weeks on top in 2017. The songs now share the second-longest No. 1 stay, after Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, ruled for 19 weeks in 2019.)

SPANNING THE TOP

Carey’s “Christmas” extends the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest, to over three years and a week (Dec. 21, 2019-Dec. 31, 2022).

Plus, the latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” extends Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart: 32 years and nearly five months, dating to her first week at No. 1 on the list dated Aug. 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”  Carey’s “Christmas” expands its record for the most time atop the Hot 100 for a holiday song.

CAREER WEEKS AT #1

With “Christmas,” Carey adds her record-extending 90th week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958 inception.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:

90, Mariah Carey

60, Rihanna

59, The Beatles

54, Drake

50, Boyz II Men

47, Usher

43, Beyoncé

37, Michael Jackson

34, Adele

34, Elton John

34, Bruno Mars

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades (90s, 00s, 10s, 20s), dating to her first week at the summit with “Vision of Love.” The song is additionally the only title to have led in four separate runs on the survey. 

NOT THEIR “LAST” TOP 5

Wham!’s “Last Christmas” dashes to a new best Hot 100 rank, rising 6-5, after the 1984 release first reached the top 10 during the 2020 holidays and, until this holiday season, hit a prior No. 7 high over last year’s holidays.

The duo of George Michael (who died in 2016, on Christmas Day) and Andrew Ridgeley adds its sixth top five Hot 100 hit, among seven top 10s, after charting its first six top 10s in 1984-86: the No. 1s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Careless Whisper” and “Everything She Wants”; the No. 3 hits “Freedom” and “I’m Your Man”; and the No. 10-peaking “The Edge of Heaven.”

Wham! appears in the Hot 100’s top five for the first time since the Feb. 8, 1986-dated chart (the last week in the top five for “Man”); Michael subsequently notched nine solo top five hits, including seven No. 1s, among 14 solo top 10s, through 1996; he last ranked in the top five as a soloist on the Feb. 15, 1992, list with former leader “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” with Elton John. Meanwhile, a song written by Michael places in the top five for the first time since former No. 1 “Praying for Time” ranked at No. 3 on the Oct. 20, 1990, chart.

DECEMBER 24, 2022

THE CAREY CHRONICLES

3 WITH A 10-WEEK MINIMUM

Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” tops the Billboard Hot 100 for a 10th week. With its latest frame at No. 1, Carey becomes the third artist – and first woman – with three songs that have reigned for double-digit weeks.  Here’s a recap of the elite three acts to have earned the honor – with Carey and Boyz II Men having teamed for one song below. Boyz II Men initiated the club in 1996 and Drake became its second member in 2018.

Mariah Carey:

16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, 1995-96

14 weeks, “We Belong Together,” 2005

10 weeks (to-date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-22

Drake:

10 weeks, “One Dance,” featuring WizKid & Kyla, 2016

11 weeks, “God’s Plan,” 2018

10 weeks, “In My Feelings,” 2018

Boyz II Men:

13 weeks, “End of the Road,” 1992

14 weeks, “I’ll Make Love to You,” 1994

16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Carey, 1995-96

“Christmas” is the 43rd song to command the Hot 100 for 10 or more weeks, a feat that under just 4% of all 1,144 No. 1s have achieved. (Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” solely held the record for the chart’s longest reign for over 21 years, until Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, matched it with 16 weeks on top in 2017. The songs now share the second-longest No. 1 stay, after Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, dominated for 19 weeks in 2019.)

#1 ON “CHRISTMAS” EVE AND DAY

Among its 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, Carey’s “Christmas” has led lists dated Dec. 24 (this year) and Dec. 25 (2021). It, fittingly, becomes the only song to have topped Hot 100 charts dated both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

A PAIR OF SZAs

SZA scores two debuts in the Hot 100’s top 10 – “Kill Bill,” at No. 3, and “Nobody Gets Me,” at No. 10 – both from her new album, S.O.S.  SZA ups her career total to seven Hot 100 top 10s and, with the entrance of “Kill Bill,” ties her highest rank, establishes a new highest placement as a lead act and makes her strongest debut. Her previous top 10s: as featured on Maroon 5’s “What Lovers Do” (No. 9, November 2017); with “All the Stars,” with Kendrick Lamar (No. 7, March 2018), and “Good Days” (No. 9, February 2021); as featured on Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More” (No. 3, July 2021); and with “I Hate U” (No. 7, December 2021). (SZA previously debuted at a No. 7 best with both “Kiss Me More” and “I Hate U.”)

“LAST” BUT NOT LEAST

Wham!’s “Last Christmas” hits a new best Hot 100 rank, jingling 9-6, after the 1984 release first reached the top 10 during the 2020 holidays and hit a prior No. 7 high last holiday season.

DECEMBER 17, 2022

UNWRAPPING “CHRISTMAS” (or the MARIAH STORY, PART 6)

Like Santa setting off on his annual airborne sleigh ride, Mariah Carey makes her ascent back to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The modern carol logs its ninth total week atop the Hot 100 and becomes the first song to have led in four distinct runs on the ranking.  The song was first released on Carey’s album Merry Christmas in 1994 and, as streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, it hit the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time in December 2017 and the top five for the first time in the 2018 holiday season.

Carey’s “Christmas” first topped the Hot 100 dated Dec. 21, 2019, and led again on the next two lists, dated Dec. 28, 2019, and Jan. 4, 2020.  The following holiday season, it returned to No. 1 on the chart dated Dec. 19, 2020, and, after a week at No. 2, topped the Jan. 2, 2021-dated tally.  As “Christmas” returned to rule the Dec. 25, 2021-dated chart, it became the first song in the Hot 100’s now-64-year history to lead in three distinct chart runs. It held atop the charts dated Jan. 1 and 8, 2022, and now becomes the first title to have led in four separate stays on the ranking.

Carey’s “Christmas” extends the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest: three years (Dec. 21, 2019-Dec. 17, 2022).

Plus, the latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” extends Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart: 32 years, four months and three weeks, dating to her first week at No. 1 on the list dated Aug. 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

Notably, when “Christmas” first hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2019, Carey passed Cher, whose solo leaders span 27 years and five months, from “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” (from its first week at No. 1 in 1971) through “Believe” (through its last week on top in 1999). (If Cher’s career as half of duo Sonny & Cher were combined with her solo output, her No. 1 span would cover 33 years, seven months and two weeks, from the twosome’s “I Got You Babe,” which hit the top spot in 1965, through “Believe.”)

With its ninth week atop the Hot 100, Carey’s “Christmas” expands its record for the most time at No. 1 for a holiday song. The only other seasonal single to lead, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

With “Christmas,” Carey adds her record-extending 88th week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception.

Most Career Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:

88, Mariah Carey

60, Rihanna

59, The Beatles

54, Drake

50, Boyz II Men

47, Usher

43, Beyoncé

37, Michael Jackson

34, Adele

34, Elton John

34, Bruno Mars

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades (90’s, 00’s, 10’s, and 20’s) dating to her first week at the summit with “Vision of Love.”

BOOMIN INTO THE 10

Metro Boomin blasts in with two songs in the Hot 100’s top 10, as “Creepin’,” with The Weeknd and 21 Savage, debuts at No. 5 and “Superhero (Heroes & Villains),” with Future and Chris Brown, opens at No. 8.

Metro Boomin hits a new Hot 100 best and doubles his career top 10 total as a billed recording artist, as he previously debuted and peaked at Nos. 9 and 10, respectively, with “Runnin” (with 21 Savage) and “Mr. Right Now” (with 21 Savage and featuring Drake) in October 2020.  Thanks to “Creepin’,” The Weeknd adds his 15th Hot 100 top 10 and 21 Savage, his 14th. With “Superhero,” Future and Chris Brown stretch their top 10 totals to 10 and 17, respectively.

DECEMBER 10, 2022

“SPACE” FOR A “HERO”…?

As “Anti-Hero” tops the Hot 100 for a sixth week, Swift moves to within a week of her longest reign: “Blank Space” dominated for seven weeks in 2014-15.

Meanwhile, of the 64 singles that have debuted atop the Hot 100, “Anti-Hero” is just the 10th to have spent at least its first six weeks on the chart at No. 1.

Singles to Spend Their First Six Weeks on the Hot 100 at No. 1:

Title, Artist, Year(s), Weeks at No. 1 from debut (marking titles’ total weeks at No. 1 unless otherwise noted)

“Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift, 2022 (six, to-date)

“Butter,” BTS, 2021 (seven / 10 weeks at No. 1 total)

“Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo, 2021 (eight)

“God’s Plan,” Drake, 2018 (11)

“Hello,” Adele, 2015-16 (10)

“Born This Way,” Lady Gaga, 2011 (six)

“Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” 1997-98 (14)

“I’ll Be Missing You,” Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112, 1997 (11)

“One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, 1995-96 (16)

“Fantasy,” Mariah Carey, 1995 (eight)

DECEMBER 3, 2022

FIVE AT ONE

As “Anti-Hero” tops the Hot 100 for a fifth week, Taylor Swift solely scores her second-longest reign, passing the four-week rule of “Shake It Off” in 2014. Among her nine No. 1s, the two songs are bested only by the seven-week dominance of “Blank Space” in 2014-15.  Also, among the 64 singles that have debuted atop the Hot 100, “Anti-Hero” is just the 12th to have spent at least its first five weeks on the chart at No. 1, and the first since BTS’ “Butter” led in its first seven weeks in June-July 2021 (before pushing its total to 10 nonconsecutive weeks in the top spot).

CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE

Four holiday classics jingle all the way back to the Hot 100’s top 10: Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” up from No. 25 to No. 5; Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (41-6); Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (50-9); and Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (a re-entry at No. 10 – as it becomes the first holiday song, and ninth song overall, to re-enter the Hot 100 in the top 10).

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

FOUR “ANTI-HEROS” AND COUNTING…Taylor Swift‘s “Anti-Hero” notches a fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, encompassing its entire run on the ranking so far.  Swift ties her second-longest Hot 100 rule, as “Shake It Off” led for four weeks in 2014. Among her nine No. 1s, the two hits are bested only by the seven-week reign of “Blank Space” in 2014-15.

DRAKE’S FINAL FOURA week after Drake flooded the Hot 100’s top 10 with eight songs, all debuts, including seven with 21 Savage, the pair places four tracks in the region: “Rich Flex” logs a second week at No. 2, followed by “Major Distribution” (3-6); “Spin Bout U” (5-9); and “On BS” (4-10).

BOOMERANGING BACK INTO THE TOP 10Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” rebounds 10-3 on the Hot 100 (as longer-established hits ascend amid the waning of Swift and Drake’s recent top 10 onslaughts), after it topped the Oct. 29-dated chart.  
Also bouncing back into the Top 10 is Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” which jumps 13-4 on the Hot 100, following three weeks at No. 1 in October.
Harry Styles’ “As It Was” climbs 17-5 on the Hot 100, after 15 weeks at No. 1 beginning in April, the fourth-longest reign in the chart’s history.

Elsewhere in the Hot 100’s top 10, Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” leaps 22-8, two weeks after it debuted at No. 2. The ballad is from the soundtrack to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which premiered in theaters Nov. 11.“BLUE” IS “GOOD”David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” bounds 20-7 on the Hot 100.  The song interpolates Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” which hit No. 6 on the Hot 100 in 2000. (The original is the latest 2000s top 10 to appear in the region in a new form this year; notably, Jack Harlow’s “First Class,” which led for three weeks in April-May, reimagines Fergie’s 2007 two-week No. 1 “Glamorous,” featuring Ludacris.)

NOVEMBER 19, 2022

HER LOSS IS DRAKE’S GAIN

Drake blasts in with eight debuts in the Hot 100’s top 10, including seven with 21 Savage, as the pair’s collaborative LP Her Loss launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

With Drake having claimed nine of the Hot 100’s top 10 spots on the chart for a week in September 2021 (concurrent with the chart start of his album Certified Lover Boy), he is now the only artist to have logged at least eight songs in the top 10 twice.  Plus, Drake extends his record total to 67 career Hot 100 top 10s, dating to his first top 10, “Best I Ever Had,” in 2009 over the chart’s 64-year history.

Here’s a recap of the eight tracks new in the Hot 100’s top 10 – all by Drake and 21 Savage unless otherwise noted:

No. 2, “Rich Flex”

No. 3, “Major Distribution”

No. 4, “On BS”

No. 5, “Spin Bout U”

No. 6, “Pussy & Millions” (feat. Travis Scott)

No. 7, “Privileged Rappers”

No. 8, “Circo Loco”

No. 9, “BackOutsideBoyz” (Drake)

Notably, of his 67 Hot 100 top 10s, Drake has notched a likewise-record 49 as a lead artist. (Swift has been credited as the lead artist on all 40 of her top 10s, while Madonna ranks third with 38 top 10s, also all as a lead act.)

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

67, Drake

40, Taylor Swift

38, Madonna

34, The Beatles

32, Rihanna

30, Michael Jackson

29, Elton John

28, Mariah Carey

28, Stevie Wonder

27, Janet Jackson

26, Justin Bieber

25, Lil Wayne

25, Elvis Presley (with the start of Presley’s career having predated the Hot 100’s inception)

Meanwhile, Drake becomes the only artist to have logged at least eight songs in the Hot 100’s top 10 twice, plus as many as seven concurrent top 10s in three distinct weeks. Prior to this week’s haul of eight top 10s courtesy of Her Loss, he posted nine alongside the chart arrival of his album Certified Lover Boy in 2021 and seven as Scorpion made its chart entrance in 2018.

Also thanks to Her Loss, 21 Savage boasts the fourth-most simultaneous Hot 100 top 10s.

Most Simultaneous Hot 100 Top 10s:

10, Taylor Swift, Nov. 5, 2022

9, Drake, Sept. 18, 2021

8, Drake, Nov. 19, 2022

7, 21 Savage, Nov. 19, 2022

7, Drake, July 14, 2018

5, Juice WRLD, July 25, 2020

5, The Beatles, April 11, 1964

5, The Beatles, April 4, 1964

In the rundown above, the Hot 100 has sported six instances of acts having amassed five or more simultaneous top 10s since July 2018, after only The Beatles had achieved the feat in two distinct weeks in 1964. As streaming has ascended in prominence in recent years, the select acts above have run up such lofty totals in weeks that high-profile albums of theirs have arrived. The model contrasts with prior decades, when acts generally promoted one single at a time in the physical-only marketplace and on radio. That shift in consumption also helps explain certain acts having swelled their career top 10 totals to historic highs over relatively short spans in recent years.

21 Savage more than doubles his career Hot 100 top 10 total, from six to 13. He logged his most recent top 10 before this week as featured on Drake’s “Jimmy Cooks,” which became his second No. 1 and Drake’s 11th, and latest, leader upon its debut in July.

Thanks to his featured turn on the chart’s sixth-biggest song, Travis Scott earns his 11th Hot 100 top 10.

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

“UP” WHERE SHE BELONGS

Rihanna roars onto the Hot 100 at No. 2 with “Lift Me Up.” The song is her 32nd top 10, first since 2017 AND the fifth-most in the chart’s history.

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

59, Drake

40, Taylor Swift

38, Madonna

34, The Beatles

32, Rihanna

30, Michael Jackson

29, Elton John

28, Mariah Carey

28, Stevie Wonder

27, Janet Jackson

26, Justin Bieber

25, Lil Wayne

25, Elvis Presley (with the start of Presley’s career having predated the Hot 100’s inception). 

Rihanna earns her first Hot 100 top 10 since 2017, when DJ Khaled’s “Wild Thoughts,” on which she and Bryson Tiller are featured, peaked at No. 2 for seven weeks that July-September. She first reached the top 10 with her debut hit “Pon De Replay,” which rose to No. 2 in July 2005. She boasts 14 No. 1s, the third-most after The Beatles’ 20 and Mariah Carey’s 19.

With “Lift Me Up,” Rihanna ties her best career Hot 100 entrance, and makes her best arrival as a lead artist, after Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie,” on which she’s featured, debuted at No. 2 in July 2010 (and went on to reign for seven weeks).

NOVEMBER 5, 2022

SHE STRUCK “SWIFT”LY AT MIDNIGHT(S) or HOW TAYLOR SWIFT MADE CHART HISTORY!

Taylor Swift scores one of the most historic weeks in the 64-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as she becomes the first artist to claim the survey’s entire top 10 in a single frame.  All 10 songs in the Hot 100’s top tier are from Swift’s new LP Midnights, which, released Oct. 21 on Republic Records, blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with the biggest week for any release in seven years.

Her hit list is as follows…

No. 1, “Anti-Hero”
No. 2, “Lavender Haze”
No. 3, “Maroon”
No. 4, “Snow on the Beach,“ feat. Lana Del Rey
No. 5, “Midnight Rain”
No. 6, “Bejeweled”
No. 7, “Question…?”
No. 8, “You’re on Your Own, Kid”
No. 9, “Karma”

No. 10, “Vigilante Shit”

With her total takeover of the Hot 100’s top 10 (with assistance from Lana Del Rey at No. 4), Swift passes Drake, who claimed nine of the top 10 (all except for No. 6) on the chart dated Sept. 18, 2021, when nine songs, all from his album Certified Lover Boy, bounded into the region, led by “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future and Young Thug, at No .1, as the set opened atop the Billboard 200.

Meanwhile, Swift passes Drake and The Beatles for the most titles from the top of the Hot 100 in a single week. Before Drake’s top five tally on Sept. 18, 2021, The Beatles held Nos. 1-5 on the chart dated April 4, 1964.

Leading the way for Swift on the Hot 100, “Anti-Hero” launches at No. 1, marking her ninth career leader.

#9 #1s

Here’s a recap of Swift’s nine Hot 100 No. 1s, notched over a span of just over 10 years:

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” three weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 1, 2012

“Shake It Off,” four weeks, beginning Sept. 6, 2014

“Blank Space,” seven weeks, beginning Nov. 29, 2014

“Bad Blood,” feat. Kendrick Lamar, one week, June 6, 2015

“Look What You Made Me Do,” three weeks, beginning Sept. 16, 2017

“Cardigan,” one week, Aug. 8, 2020

“Willow,” one week, Dec. 26, 2020

“All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” one week, Nov. 27, 2021

“Anti-Hero,” one week to-date, Nov. 5, 2022

Swift becomes one of 16 acts with nine or more Hot 100 No. 1s, and one of seven solo women, joining Mariah Carey (19), Rihanna (14), Madonna (12), Whitney Houston (11), Janet Jackson (10) and Katy Perry (nine). The Beatles lead all acts with 20 Hot 100 No. 1s.

#5 #1 DEBUTS

Swift debuts atop the Hot 100 with a fifth title, as “Anti-Hero” (the 64th single to enter at No. 1) follows the chart-topping premieres of “Shake It Off,” “Cardigan,” “Willow” and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version).” With her latest, she ties Ariana Grande for the most No. 1 entrances among women.

Overall, Drake leads with seven No. 1 Hot 100 debuts, followed by BTS, Grande, Swift (five each) and Justin Bieber (four).

SIMULTANEOUS #1 SONG & ALBUM DEBUTS

Thanks to Midnights and “Anti-Hero,” Swift is the first artist to have debuted atop the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously as many as four times. (The Billboard 200 began on March 24, 1956, and the Hot 100, on Aug. 4, 1958.)

Swift became the first act to launch with such a double when Folklore and “Cardigan” began atop the Billboard 200 and Hot 100, respectively, on Aug. 8, 2020. She repeated the feat with Evermore and “Willow” (Dec. 26, 2020) and Red (Taylor’s Version) and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” (Nov. 27, 2021).

Drake, with two, is the only other act with multiple such simultaneous starts on the surveys.

TAYLOR’S TOP 10 TOTALS

By instantly adding 10 Hot 100 top 10s, Swift now sports the second-most, 40, in the chart’s history. Previously tied with Michael Jackson, Swift leapfrogs Madonna – as she now claims the most top 10s among women – The Beatles and Rihanna.

Swift first hit the Hot 100’s top 10 with “Change” on the chart dated Aug. 30, 2008.

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

59, Drake

40, Taylor Swift

38, Madonna

34, The Beatles

31, Rihanna

30, Michael Jackson

29, Elton John

28, Mariah Carey

28, Stevie Wonder

27, Janet Jackson

26, Justin Bieber

25, Lil Wayne

25, Elvis Presley (with the start of Presley’s career having predated the Hot 100’s inception)

Similar to Swift’s timeline, Drake earned the first of his record 59 top 10s in July 2009 and most recently ranked in the bracket this August.

MOST TOP 10s FROM AN ALBUM

Upon its chart start, Swift’s Midnights becomes the first album to generate as many as 10 Hot 100 top 10s. It passes Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, which landed nine, likewise all in the same week (Sept. 18, 2021) that the set started atop the Billboard 200.

Swift previously ran up a personal-best five Hot 100 top 10s from an album, via 1989 in 2014-15.

Janet Jackson leads with three albums that have each yielded at least five Hot 100 top 10s, while Drake and now Swift are the only acts with at least two such sets. (Jackson plays into the success of Midnights: “Snow on the Beach” includes the lyric: “I’m all for you like Janet.”)

LANA’S LOFTY PEAK

As “Snow on the Beach” debuts at No. 4 on the Hot 100, Lana Del Rey, featured on the song (which she co-wrote with Swift and Antonoff), lands her highest Hot 100 placement. She scored one prior top 10: “Summertime Sadness,” with Cedric Gervais, hit No. 6 in September 2013.

HOLDING OUT FOR A “HERO”

“Anti-Hero” is the third Hot 100 No. 1 with “hero” in its title, and the first since Mariah Carey’s “Hero” in 1993-94.

Here’s a look at the highest-charting such Hot 100 hits:

No. 1 (one week to-date), “Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift, 2022

No. 1 (four), “Hero,” Mariah Carey, 1993-94

No. 1 (two), “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero,” Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, 1974

No. 2, “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome),” Tina Turner, 1985

No. 2, “Theme From ‘Greatest American Hero’ (Believe It or Not),” Joey Scarbury, 1981

No. 3, “Hero,” Chad Kroeger feat. Josey Scott, 2002

No. 3, “Hero,” Enrique Iglesias, 2001

Now that the Midnights bomb has exploded, let’s see who returns back into the Top 10…

OCTOBER 29, 2022

AN “UNHOLY” ALLIANCE

Sam Smith and Kim Petras‘ “Unholy” ascends to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, marking each artist’s first leader on the list.  Smith collects their 20th entry on the chart and Petras with her first. Smith had previously reached a No. 2 top peak with “Stay With Me” in 2014, among seven total top 10s.

Smith and Petras are the first publicly non-binary and transgender soloists, respectively, to top the Hot 100.

“I just really don’t want to be the last,” Petras told Billboard. “There’s always been incredible and talented trans artists. I’m just happy that Sam gave me the chance to shine here. It feels like people are finally ready for us to succeed, and that fills me with a lot of joy.”

Smith also recently shared with Billboard, “People understanding us… is just the best feeling in the world. Because there’s nothing bad happening here, it’s all love. No one’s taking anything from anyone. People are just trying to live in their own skin on this earth.”

CAPITOL & EMI RECLAIM #1 STATUS

Thanks to “Unholy,” Capitol Records notches its first Hot 100 No. 1 since Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” began a three-week reign on the chart dated Nov. 2, 1019.

Meanwhile, the EMI imprint appears atop the Hot 100 for the first time since EMF’s “Unbelivable” led for a week in July 1991. (EMI also ruled the chart for a week in May 1991 via Roxette’s “Joyride.”) EMI was revived in 2020 and had since released two Hot 100 top 10s prior to “Unholy,” both by Elton John: “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” with Dua Lipa (on Rocket/EMI/Mercury/Interscope; No. 7 peak in January), and “Hold Me Closer,” with Britney Spears (EMI/Mercury/Interscope; No. 6 debut and peak to-date, September).

A BIG BRIT YEAR

With Smith born in London, “Unholy” is the third Hot 100 No. 1 this year by a British act in a lead role, following Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves.” (Petras is from Germany.)

2022’s trio of Hot 100 No. 1s by lead British acts marks the most in a year since 1989, when six such songs reigned (Phil Collins’ “Two Hearts” and “Another Day in Paradise”; Mike + The Mechanics’ “The Living Years”; Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Good Thing”; and Simply Red’s “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”). (With the ’80s a strong period for British acts, a single-year record 13 such hits ruled in 1985.)

STILL STYLIN’

Harry Styles’ “As It Was” holds at No. 3 on the Hot 100, after 15 weeks at No. 1 – the fourth-longest reign in the chart’s history. Still, the song, which debuted at No. 1 on the April 16-dated list, extends its record for the most weeks, 29, logged in the top three, encompassing its entire run on the chart so far.

LIL BABY HAS TRIPLETS

Due to his current album bomb, Lil Baby launches three songs in the Hot 100’s top 10 – “California Breeze”; “Forever,” featuring Fridayy; and “Real Spill” – at Nos. 4, 8 and 10, respectively, upping his count to 13 career top 10s. All three tracks are from his new album It’s Only Me, which bounds in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.  Lil Baby notches his 11th, 12th and 13th Hot 100 top 10s while Fridayy earns his first Hot 100 top 10, in his second appearance, following his featured turn (with Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and John Legend) on DJ Khaled’s “God Did” (No. 17, September).

LIL BABY’S ALBUM BOMB

Lil Baby charts a whopping 25 songs on the latest, Oct. 29-dated Billboard Hot 100, including all 23 tracks from his new album It’s Only Me.

In the 64-year history of the Hot 100, Lil Baby is just the third act to have his fingerprint on at least a quarter of the chart, after Drake, who placed a one-week record 27 songs on the July 14, 2018, survey, concurrent with the release of his LP Scorpion, and Taylor Swift, who sent 26 songs onto the Nov. 27, 2021-dated chart, as Red (Taylor’s Version) simultaneously made its chart arrival, with both sets having opened atop the Billboard 200 albums tally.

With 20 debuts, Lil Baby ups his career total to 131 Hot 100-charting songs, passing Chris Brown (113) and Nicki Minaj (125) for the seventh-most. Drake leads all acts with 278, followed by the Glee Cast (207), Lil Wayne (183), Taylor Swift (168), Future (152) and Kanye West (141).

Upon the rapper’s latest achievement, here’s a look at every week in which an act has charted at least 20 songs on the Hot 100:

Most Concurrent Hot 100-Charting Songs:

27, Drake, July 14, 2018

26, Taylor Swift, Nov. 27, 2021

25, Lil Baby, Oct. 29, 2022

24, Drake, July 21, 2018

24, Drake, April 8, 2017

23, Kanye West, Sept. 11, 2021

22, Bad Bunny, May 21, 2022

22, Lil Uzi Vert, March 28, 2020

22, Lil Wayne, Oct. 13, 2018

21, Drake, Sept. 18, 2021

21, Drake, April 15, 2017

20, Bad Bunny, May 28, 2022

20, Lil Uzi Vert, March 21, 2020

20, Drake, May 21, 2016

Meanwhile, Lil Baby has now charted 40 songs on the Hot 100 in 2022 alone, passing YoungBoy Never Broke Again (30) for the most among all acts this year. Lil Uzi Vert holds the record for the most entries in a calendar year among soloists, with 46 in 2020. The Glee Cast holds the overall yearly record, with 80 in 2010.

A “BABY” BROKE THE “GLASS”

With Lil Baby taking up at least 25 new spots on the chart, he has effectively ended the record setting 91-week chart run of “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals.  Maybe, they’ll revisit the Hot 100 as year-end surveys begin but I doubt it.  With Taylor Swift’s album bomb next week and the re-entry of recurring Christmas music starting after Thanksgiving, I think they may have to settle for 91 weeks.

OCTOBER 22, 2022

STYLES EXTENDED

Harry Styles “As It Was” is steady at No. 3 on the Hot 100, after 15 weeks at No. 1 – the fourth-longest reign in the chart’s history. Still, the song, which debuted at No. 1 on the April 16-dated list, extends its record for the most weeks, 28, tallied in the top three, encompassing its entire run on the chart so far.

“PROOF” OF A HIT

Morgan Wallen’s “You Proof” rises 7-5 for a new Hot 100 high, becoming the country star’s first top five hit, among four top 10s.

GAMBLING ON “VEGAS”

Doja Cat climbs 11-10 with “Vegas.” The song, from the hit Elvis movie soundtrack, adds her sixth Hot 100 top 10. Prior to “Vegas” and “I Like You,” she tallied “Say So,” featuring Nicki Minaj (No. 1, one week, May 2020); “Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA (No. 3, July 2021); “Need to Know” (No. 8, November 2021); and “Woman” (No. 7, this May). She boasts the most top 10s among women this decade, surpassing Taylor Swift’s five since the start of 2020 (although with Swift appearing primed to reignite that race thanks to her LP Midnights, due this Friday).

“Vegas” samples Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog,” a Billboard R&B chart No. 1 for the blues legend (who passed away in 1984) nearly 70 years ago. Written by Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Elvis Presley’s version crowned multiple Billboard charts in 1956. (The Hot 100 began Aug. 4, 1958.)

THE ”HEAT” CONTINUES

With its 91st week on the chart, the Glass Animals passes the record 90-week mark set by The Weeknd in 2021 with “Blinding Lights.”  In August of 2021, the all-time mark for longest run on the Hot 100 was set by The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” passing the previous mark of 87 (held by Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive”) and ultimately holding on for 90 weeks total. This week, on the Hot 100 dated Oct. 22, the benchmark is once again passed — this time by U.K. alt-pop outfit Glass Animals, with their first-ever Hot 100 entry, the global smash “Heat Waves.” 

Most Weeks Spent on the Billboard Hot 100:

91, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals

90, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd

87, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons

79, “Sail,” AWOLNATION

77, “Levitating,” Dua Lipa

76, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz

69, “Save Your Tears,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande

69, “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes

68, “Counting Stars,” OneRepublic

68, “Party Rock Anthem” LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock

As “Heat Waves” adds a new record to its repertoire, here is a breakdown of the song’s biggest stats, as of Billboard charts dated Oct. 22, 2022.

91: Record number of weeks that “Heat Waves” has spent on the Hot 100, dating to its debut on the chart dated Jan. 16, 2021.

37: Number of weeks “Heat Waves” spent in the top 10 of the Hot 100, the fifth-most all-time, after “Blinding Lights” (57 weeks in the region), The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” (44), Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” (41) and Post Malone’s “Circles” (39).

57: Number of weeks “Heat Waves” logged in the top 20 of the Hot 100, tied for the fourth-most with “Stay,” after “Blinding Lights” (80 weeks in the tier), “Levitating” (62) and “Circles” (60).

76: Number of weeks “Heat Waves” has tallied in the top 40 of the Hot 100, the second-most after “Blinding Lights” (86).

59: The record number of weeks that “Heat Waves” took to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100, as it began a five-week domination in March.

12: The number of U.S.-specific Billboard charts on which “Heat Waves” has hit No. 1. It topped the Hot 100, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, Hot Rock Songs, Hot Alternative Songs, Radio Songs, Alternative Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay, Alternative Streaming Songs, Alternative Digital Song Sales, Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts.

37: Number of weeks that “Heat Waves” spent at No. 1 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, Hot Rock Songs and Hot Alternative Songs charts. Only Panic! At the Disco’s “High Hopes” has spent more time atop Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs (65 weeks on both). “Heat Waves” holds the record on the Hot Alternative Songs, which launched in June 2020.

11: Number of countries in Billboard‘s international charts menu in which “Heat Waves” has hit No. 1: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic/Czechia, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Slovakia and Switzerland.

2: Weeks that “Heat Waves” has not appeared on the Hot 100, dating to its debut. The song entered at No. 100 on Jan. 16, 2021, and fell off the ranking for two weeks, before re-entering at No. 91 that Feb. 6. The song has, thus, appeared on the Hot 100 over a span of 93 weeks since its debut. (It was released in June 2020.)

28: Total number of songs that have topped the Hot 100 since “Heat Waves” debuted on Jan. 16, 2021 (excluding “Heat Waves”). In chronological order, the leaders are 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring iann dior (which was in its eighth and final week at No. 1); Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License,” Drake’s “What’s Next”; Cardi B’s “Up”; Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon; Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”; Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open”; Polo G’s “Rapstar”; The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Tears”; Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U”; BTS’ “Butter” and “Permission To Dance”; The Kid LAROI and Bieber’s “Stay”; Drake’s “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future and Young Thug; Coldplay and BTS’ “My Universe”; Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby”; Adele’s “Easy On Me”; Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”; Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and Encanto Cast’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”; Harry Styles’ “As It Was” (which dethroned “Heat Waves” upon its debut); Future’s “Wait for U,” featuring Drake and Tems; Harlow’s “First Class”; Drake’s “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage; Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”; Beyonceì’s “Break My Soul”; Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl”; and Steve Lacy’s current leader “Bad Habit.”

1,266: Total number of songs that have charted on the Hot 100 alongside “Heat Waves” since its debut.

4: Total number of No. 1 hits that Drake has earned on the Hot 100 since “Heat Waves” debuted on Jan. 16, 2021, the most among all acts in that span. BTS has earned three leaders in that window, while Bieber, Future, Harlow, Lil Nas X and Rodrigo have each earned two.

60: Total number of entries that Lil Durk has tallied on the Hot 100 since “Heat Waves” debuted, the most among all acts. Drake is next with 53, followed by Lil Baby (49), YoungBoy Never Broke Again (48) and Taylor Swift (41).

66: Total number of weeks that “Heat Waves” spent on the Hot 100 alongside The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Tears,” the most of any song over the former’s run on the chart. Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” follows with 64 shared weeks, then The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” (63).

12: Total number of songs to debut at No. 100 on the Hot 100 and hit No. 1. They are: Wilbert Harrison’s “Kansas City” (in 1959); Mark Dinning’s “Teen Angel” (1960); The Highwaymen’s “Michael” (1961); Steve Lawrence’s “Go Away Little Girl” (1963); Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves A Woman” (1966); Vicki Lawrence’s “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” (1973); UB40’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (1993); Chris Brown’s “Kiss Kiss,” featuring T-Pain (2007); Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again,” featuring Charlie Puth (2015); “Heat Waves”; and, as of two weeks ago, Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit.”

3: Total number of songs to chart in the Hot 100’s history with “heat wave” in their titles. Martha & The Vandellas’ “Heat Wave” was the first in 1963 (No. 4 peak), followed by Linda Ronstadt’s cover of that classic (No. 5, 1975) before Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves.”

134 degrees Fahrenheit: The hottest recorded heat wave in history. Furnace Creek Ranch in California’s Death Valley recorded a high temperature of 134.1°F (or 58°C) on July 10, 1913, the highest ambient air temperature recorded on earth, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

OCTOBER 15, 2022

AN “UNHOLY” ALLIANCE

Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” rises 3-2 in its second week on the Hot 100, equaling Smith’s best rank among their seven Hot 100 top 10s, first established by “Stay With Me” in August 2014. Petras rises to the runner-up spot with her first entry on the chart.

Also notably, “Unholy” is the first song to debut in the Hot 100’s top three and rise in rank in its second week (and gain in overall chart points) in nearly a decade, since Eminem’s “The Monster,” featuring Rihanna, also pushed 3-2 in its second frame (Nov. 23, 2013), on its way to a four-week No. 1 run beginning that December.

(Devil is in the details: “Unholy” is now solely the highest-charting Hot 100 hit with “holy” in its title, as it one-ups Justin Bieber’s No. 3-peaking “Holy,” featuring Chance the Rapper, in 2020; before that, Jay Z’s “Holy Grail,” featuring Justin Timberlake, hit No. 4 in 2013.)

“IT” STILL “WAS”

Harry Styles “As It Was” descends 2-3 on the Hot 100, after 15 weeks at No. 1 – the fourth-longest reign in the chart’s history. Still, the song, which debuted at No. 1 on the April 16-dated list, extends its record for the most weeks, 27, tallied in the top three, encompassing its entire run on the chart so far.

OCTOBER 8, 2022

STEVE LACY HAS DONE A FEW “BAD” THINGS

FIRST HIT, FIRST #1

Steve Lacy‘s “Bad Habit” ascends to No. 1, after four weeks at No. 2, on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.  Lacy notches his first Hot 100 No. 1, with his first entry on the chart. The song is the third leader this year by acts in their first visit to the survey, following “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals (five weeks at No. 1, beginning in March) and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast (five weeks, starting in January).

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE’RE HERE

As “Bad Habit” debuted at No. 100 on the Hot 100, the track wraps a rare 100-to-1 journey.

Here’s a recap of all 12 singles that have topped the Hot 100 after they started at the bottom (with 2022 the first year with two such treks completed).

Hot 100 No. 1s That Debuted at No. 100:

“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy, hits No. 1 on the chart dated Oct. 8, 2022

“Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, March 12, 2022

“See You Again,” Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, April 25, 2015

“Black and Yellow,” Wiz Khalifa, Feb. 19, 2011

“Kiss Kiss,” Chris Brown feat. T-Pain, Nov. 10, 2007

“Can’t Help Falling in Love,” UB40, July 24, 1993

“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” Vicki Lawrence, April 7, 1973

“When a Man Loves a Woman,” Percy Sledge, May 28, 1966

“Go Away Little Girl,” Steve Lawrence, Jan. 12, 1963

“Michael,” The Highwaymen, Sept. 4, 1961

“Teen Angel,” Mark Dinning, Feb. 8, 1960

“Kansas City,” Wilbert Harrison, May 18, 1959

ALL THE “BAD” #1s

Lacy sends the 14th song to the top of the Hot 100 with the word “bad” in its title:

“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy, hits No. 1 on the chart dated Oct. 8, 2022

“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish, Aug. 24, 2019

“Bad and Boujee,” Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert, Jan. 21, 2017

“Bad Blood,” Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, June 6, 2015

“Bad Day,” Daniel Powter, April 8, 2006

“U Got It Bad,” Usher, Dec. 15, 2001

“Bad Medicine,” Bon Jovi, Nov. 19, 1988

“Bad,” Michael Jackson, Oct. 24, 1987

“You Give Love a Bad Name,” Bon Jovi, Nov. 29, 1986

“Bad Girls,” Donna Summer, July 14, 1979

“Bad Blood,” Neil Sedaka, Oct. 11, 1975

“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” Jim Croce, July 21, 1973

“One Bad Apple,” The Osmonds, Feb. 13, 1971

“Big Bad John,” Jimmy Dean, Nov. 6, 1961

It’s a good week not just for “Bad Habit” but also Bad Bunny, whose Un Verano Sin Ti adds a 12th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

RCA RETURNS TO THE TOP

RCA Records rules the Hot 100 for the first time since Doja Cat’s “Say So,” featuring Nicki Minaj, topped the May 16, 2020-dated chart.

Lacy is the first artist on RCA to lead the Hot 100 in a first visit to the chart since Mark Ronson, whose “Uptown Funk!,” featuring Bruno Mars, dominated for 14 weeks starting in January 2015.

”IT WAS” 26 WEEKS…

Harry Styles “As It Was” descends to No. 2 on the Hot 100, after 15 weeks at No. 1 – the fourth-longest reign in the chart’s history.  Notably, “As It Was” extends its record for the most weeks spent in the Hot 100’s top two positions, having logged 25 weeks, of its 26 total weeks on the chart, in the top two, from its April 16 debut at No. 1 through the newest, Oct. 8-dated survey. The song also extends its mark for the most weeks, 26, tallied in the Hot 100’s top three in the chart’s history – and is the first single ever to spend its first 26 weeks, or half a year, on the list all in the top three.

AN ”UNHOLY” DEBUT

Sam Smith and Kim Petras unleash “Unholy” at No. 3 on the Hot 100.  “Unholy” arrives as Smith’s seventh Hot 100 top 10, following their featured turn on Disclosure’s “Latch” (No. 7 peak, 2014) and Smith’s own “Stay With Me” (No. 2, 2014), “I’m Not the Only One” (No. 5, 2014), “Lay Me Down” (No. 8, 2015), “Too Good at Goodbyes” (No. 4, 2017) and “Dancing With a Stranger” (with Normani; No. 7, 2019).

Petras achieves her first Hot 100 entry, after reaching various Billboard charts beginning in 2012. (Notably, she makes the highest debut with an act’s first Hot 100 hit since Zayn’s “Pillowtalk,” his first charted single outside One Direction, premiered at No. 1 in February 2016. Before that, Baauer bowed on top with his first entry, the then-viral “Harlem Shake,” in March 2013.)

NOT “TOMORROW” NOW!

GloRilla and Cardi B’s “Tomorrow 2” bounds onto the Hot 100 at No. 9.  GloRilla (born Gloria Woods in Memphis, Tenn.) claims her first Hot 100 top 10, in her second trip to the chart, after “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” with Hitkidd, reached No. 42 in September.

Cardi B adds her 11th Hot 100 top 10 and first since her featured billing on Lizzo’s “Rumors,” which debuted and peaked at No. 4 in August 2021. Before that, she boosted her No. 1 count to five with “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion (August 2020), and “Up” (March 2021).

OCTOBER 1, 2022

HARRY: STYLIN’ & PROFILIN’

HARRY IS NOW 4^th IN LINE

“As It Was” now solely boasts the fourth-longest reign in the Hot 100’s history, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception. It has achieved the longest command since Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (also on Columbia), ruled for a record 19 weeks in 2019.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100:

19, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, beginning April 13, 2019

16, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, May 27, 2017

16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Dec. 2, 1995

15 (to date), “As It Was,” Harry Styles, April 16, 2022

14, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, Jan. 17, 2015

14, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas, July 11, 2009

14, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 2005

14, “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John, Oct. 11, 1997

14, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, Aug. 3, 1996

14, “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 27, 1994

14, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston, Nov. 28, 1992

Further, “As It Was” breaks out of a tie for the longest Hot 100 domination among singles by artists with no accompanying acts, as it passes the 14-week leaders above by The Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Los Del Rio, Boyz II Men and Whitney Houston.

BRITISH RULES

With Styles from Redditch, Worcestershire, England, “As It Was” surpasses Ronson and John’s hits listed above for the longest Hot 100 rule ever by a British artist.

(In the rundown below, * denotes British artists on songs with multiple acts.)

Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by British Artists:

15 (to date), “As It Was,” Harry Styles, beginning April 16, 2022

14, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson* featuring Bruno Mars, Jan. 17, 2015

14, “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John, Oct. 11, 1997

12, “Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran, Jan. 28, 2017

10, “Easy on Me,” Adele, Oct. 30, 2021

10, “One Dance,” Drake featuring WizKid & Kyla*, April 23, 2016

10, “Hello,” Adele, Nov. 14, 2015

10, “We Found Love,” Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris*, Nov. 12, 2011

10, “Physical,” Olivia Newton-John, Nov. 21, 1981

9, “Hey Jude,” The Beatles, Sept. 28, 1968

UH-ONE, AND-A-TWO, AND-A-THREE

Most Weeks Ever in Hot 100’s Top Two & Top Three

“As It Was” extends its record for the most weeks spent in the Hot 100’s top two positions, having logged 24 weeks, of its 25 total weeks on the chart, in the top two, from its April 16 debut at No. 1 through the newest, Oct. 1-dated survey.

The song also extends its mark for the most weeks, 25, tallied in the Hot 100’s top three in the chart’s history.

“As It Was” is additionally the first song ever to spend its first 25 weeks on the Hot 100 all in the top three.

15 OVER 25 = FUNKY MATH

“As It Was” has now topped the Hot 100 for 15 weeks over a span of 25 weeks, from its debut through the current chart. (In its other 10 weeks on the list, it ranked at No. 2 for nine weeks and No. 3 for one frame.) The song extends the longest span of a title leading the list in a single release cycle. (Overall, Mariah Carey’s 1994 carol “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds the record for the longest stretch from a song’s first to its most recent week at No. 1: two years and three weeks [Dec. 21, 2019-Jan. 8, 2022]).

#1 SONG AND #1 MOVIE SIMULTANEOUSLY

Meanwhile, Styles can celebrate having the top song and starring in the top movie in the U.S. While “As It Was” holds atop the Hot 100, Don’t Worry Darling premiered with a weekend-winning $19.2 million domestically in theaters.

Such a double domination is rare, with Styles following such notable examples as Prince, whose five-week Hot 100 reign in 1984 with “When Doves Cry” coincided with the rule in theaters of Purple Rain, and Eminem, whose “Lose Yourself” controlled the Hot 100 for 12 weeks in 2002-03, aligning with his box office-topping acting debut in parent film 8 Mile.

(Going back to Back to the Future, Huey Lewis made a comical cameo in the 1985 blockbuster, which reigned as the top movie as his and The News’ “The Power of Love” [not Marty McFly’s version …] led the Hot 100.)

TWO TOP TEN COUNTRY CROSSOVERS

“PROOF” OF COUNTRY “LOVE”

Thanks to Wallen’s “You Proof” and Combs’ “The Kind of Love We Make,” two top 10 Hot Country Songs hits place in the Hot 100’s top 10 together. The tracks rank at No. 1 (for a sixth week, as noted above) and No. 2 on Hot Country Songs (after four weeks on top), respectively.

The songs combine for the fourth such double-up in just over two years – after none had occurred in over 20 years, since May 13, 2000, when Faith Hill’s “Breathe” and Lonestar’s “Amazed” ranked at Nos. 3 and 10 on the Hot 100, respectively.

Here’s a recap of the five most recent instances of Hot Country Songs top 10s sharing space in the Hot 100’s top 10, with Wallen, Combs and Gabby Barrett factoring into two each:

Oct. 1, 2022: “You Proof,” Morgan Wallen (No. 6 on the Hot 100), “The Kind of Love We Make,” Luke Combs (No. 8)

Nov. 27, 2021: “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift (No. 1), “Fancy Like,” Walker Hayes (No. 10)

Nov. 7, 2020: “Forever After All,” Combs (No. 2), “I Hope,” Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth (No. 6)

Aug. 29, 2020: “7 Summers,” Wallen (No. 6), “I Hope” (No. 10)

May 13, 2000: “Breathe,” Faith Hill (No. 3), “Amazed,” Lonestar (No. 10)

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022

“WAS” 14 THE LUCKY NUMBER…?

Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” adds a 14th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. The song’s latest frame at the summit marks another milestone, as it ties for the fourth-longest command in the chart’s 64-year history.

It boasts the longest command since Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (also on Columbia), ruled for a record 19 weeks in 2019.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100:

19, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, beginning April 13, 2019

16, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, May 27, 2017

16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Dec. 2, 1995

14 (to date), “As It Was,” Harry Styles, April 16, 2022

14, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, Jan. 17, 2015

14, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas, July 11, 2009

14, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 2005

14, “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John, Oct. 11, 1997

14, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, Aug. 3, 1996

14, “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 27, 1994

14, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston, Nov. 28, 1992

Notably, “As It Was” ties for the longest Hot 100 domination among singles by artists with no accompanying acts. (Of those seven songs above with 14-week commands, “As It Was” is one of four by solo artists, joining the hits listed by Mariah Carey, Elton John and Whitney Houston.)

Most Weeks Ever in Hot 100’s Top Two & Top Three

“As It Was” extends its record for the most weeks spent in the Hot 100’s top two positions, having logged 23 weeks, of its 24 total weeks on the chart, in the top two, from its April 16 debut at No. 1 through the newest, Sept. 24-dated survey.

Meanwhile, the song passes The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay,” beginning in July 2021, for the most weeks, 24, tallied in the Hot 100’s top three in the chart’s history.

Further, “As It Was” is the first song ever to spend its first 24 weeks on the Hot 100 all in the top three.

No. 1 on Hot 100 for 14 Weeks Over 24 Weeks

“As It Was” has now placed atop the Hot 100 for 14 weeks over a span of 24 weeks, from its debut through the current chart. (In its other 10 weeks on the list, it ranked at No. 2 for nine weeks and No. 3 for one frame.) The song extends the longest span of a title leading the list in a single release cycle. (Overall, Mariah Carey’s 1994 carol “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds the record for the longest stretch from a song’s first to its most recent week at No. 1: two years and three weeks [Dec. 21, 2019-Jan. 8, 2022]).

A ”HAPPIER” TOP 5

Post Malone’s “I Like You (A Happier Song),” featuring Doja Cat, climbs 6-5 for a new best. Post Malone notches his eighth top five Hot 100 hit, and first since “Circles,” which led for three weeks in 2019-20, while Doja Cat claims her third and first since “Kiss Me More” (No. 3 peak, July 2021).

“PROOF” OF A HIT

Aided by the Sept. 9 premiere of its official video, Morgan Wallen returns to his highest Hot 100 rank, as “You Proof” jumps 10-6, its peak first set upon its debut on the May 28-dated chart. It concurrently rules the multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart for a fifth week. Wallen first hit a No. 6 Hot 100 high with the launch of “7 Summers” in August 2020.

GLASS ANIMALS WON’T BREAK

Glass Animals‘ former five-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Heat Waves” continues its impressive run on the survey, as it ties Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” for the second-most weeks spent on the chart in the list’s history.  “Heat Waves” spends an 87th total week on the latest Hot 100 (dated Sept. 24), at No. 17, matching the stay of “Radioactive,” in 2012-14.

The only song with more time spent on the Hot 100 is The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” which ran up 90 weeks in 2019-21. Of those 90 frames, four were spent at No. 1; a record 43 in the top five; a record 57 in the top 10; a record 80 in the top 20; and a record 86 in the top 40. Its longevity eventually helped it earn the distinction as the No. 1 title on Billboard‘s Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs chart.

“Heat Waves” debuted at No. 100 on the Hot 100 on Jan. 16, 2021. The No. 1 song that week was Taylor Swift’s “Willow.” Since then, an additional 25 songs (excluding “Heat Waves”) have reached the summit. From the Jan. 16, 2021-dated Hot 100 to the current Sept. 24, 2022, chart, “Heat Waves” has ranked alongside a whopping 1,241 other songs.

Of the 87 weeks that “Heat Waves” has spent on the Hot 100, 66 weeks were shared with The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Tears,” the most of any song. Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” follows with 64 shared weeks, then The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” (62).

Notably, “Heat Waves” already holds a key longevity record on the Hot 100: the longest climb to No. 1. The song reached the summit on the March 12, 2022, tally in its 59th week on the chart, far surpassing the 35 chart weeks needed for Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

“TALKING” STYLES

Harry Styles’ follow-up single, “Late Night Talking,” along with his 13 nonconsecutive week #1, “As It Was,” becomes the first artist with two songs in the chart’s top three spots simultaneously this year.  He’s the first since Drake dominated with a record nine simultaneous top 10s, including the entire top five, on the Sept. 18, 2021, chart.

LUCKY NUMBER 13

“As It Was” becomes one of just 13 songs in the Hot 100’s history, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception, to reign for at least 13 weeks. It boasts the longest command since Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, ruled for a record 19 weeks in 2019.

19: Old Town Road/Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (2019)

16: One Sweet Day/ Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men (1995-96)

16: Despacito/Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber (2017)

14: I Will Always Love You/Whitney Houston (1992-93)

14: I’ll Make Love to You/Boyz II Men (1994)

14: Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)/Los del Rio (1996)

14: Candle in the Wind 1997 / Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Elton John (1997-98)

14: We Belong Together/Mariah Carey (2005)

14: I Gotta Feeling/the Black Eyed Peas (2009)

14: Uptown Funk!/Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (2015)

13: End of the Road/Boyz II Men (1992)

13: the Boy Is Mine/Brandy & Monica (1998)

13: As It Was/Harry Styles (2022 and counting)

TOP 2 HOLDOUTS

“As It Was” breaks the record for the most weeks spent in the Hot 100’s top two positions, having logged 22 of its 23 weeks on the chart in the top two, from its April 16 debut through the newest, Sept. 17-dated survey.

Most Weeks in the Hot 100’s Top Two:

22: As It Was/Harry Styles, beginning April 16, 2022 (13 weeks at No. 1, 9 weeks at No. 2)

21: Stay/the Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, Aug. 14, 2021 (7, 14)

19: Old Town Road/Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, April 13, 2019 (19, 0)

18: Uptown Funk!/Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, Jan. 17, 2015 (14, 4)

17: Despacito/Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, May 27, 2017 (16, 1)

“AIN’T WORRIED”

OneRepublic‘s “I Ain’t Worried” jumps from No. 14 to No. 8 on the Hot 100, marking the band’s fourth top 10 and first since 2014. The Ryan Tedder-fronted act also becomes the latest to have notched top 10s in the 2000s, ’10s and ’20s, and one of just three groups to earn the honor following Maroon 5 and Aerosmith (‘70s, ‘80s, 90s, and ‘00s)

The band notches its fourth Hot 100 top 10 and first since 2014, when “Counting Stars” hit No. 2. The group also reached No. 8 with “Good Life” (2011) and No. 2 as featured on its breakthrough hit “Apologize” by Timbaland (2007). OneRepublic becomes the 18th act with top 10s in the 2000s, ’10s and ’20s – and one of just three groups in those ranks, joining Coldplay and Maroon 5.

“Worried” is the first Hot 100 top 10 from the Top Gun: Maverick Soundtrack, released in May; the set’s “Hold My Hand” by Lady Gaga reached No. 49 in June. (The original Top Gun soundtrack yielded Berlin’s No. 1 ballad “Take My Breath Away,” which led the list dated Sept. 13, 1986, plus Kenny Loggins’ No. 2-peaking “Danger Zone” and Loverboy’s No. 12 hit “Heaven in Your Eyes” the same year.)

SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

LIVING IN HARRY’S HOUSE Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” rules the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a 12th week. The song claims outright the longest stay at the summit this decade, breaking out of a tie with Roddy Ricch’s “The Box,” which led for 11 weeks in 2020.

“As It Was” boasts the longest Hot 100 domination since Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, reigned for a record 19 weeks in 2019.
Here’s a recap of the longest commands so far this decade:
12 weeks at No. 1, “As It Was,” Harry Styles, beginning April 16, 2022
11, “The Box,” Roddy Ricch, Jan. 18, 2020
10, “Easy on Me,” Adele, Oct. 30, 2021
10, “Butter,” BTS, June 5, 2021
8, “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo, Jan. 23, 2021
8, “Mood,” 24kGoldn feat. iann dior, Oct. 24, 2020
Notably, four of the six songs above were released on Columbia (with “The Box” on Atlantic Records and “Drivers License” on Interscope Records). (“Old Town Road,” as noted above, is also a Columbia release.)Most weeks ever in Hot 100’s top two
In addition to logging the longest Hot 100 rule of the 2020s so far, “As It Was” ties the record for the most weeks spent in the chart’s top two positions over the list’s entire 64-year history, having logged 21 of its 22 weeks on the chart in the top two, from its April 16 debut through the newest, Sept. 10-dated survey.
Here’s a look at the titles to post the most weeks in the Hot 100’s top two spots:

21 weeks in the top two, “As It Was,” Harry Styles, beginning April 16, 2022 (12 weeks at No. 1, 9 weeks at No. 2)
21, “Stay,” The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, Aug. 14, 2021 (7, 14)
19, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, April 13, 2019 (19, 0)
18, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, Jan. 17, 2015 (14, 4)
17, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, May 27, 2017 (16, 1)
16, “Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran, Jan. 28, 2017 (12, 4)
16, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas, July 11, 2009 (14, 2)
16, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 2005 (14, 2)
16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Dec. 2, 1995 (16, 0)
The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” added its 21st week in the Hot 100’s top two on the chart dated this April 9, a week after becoming the first song to spend 20 weeks in the top two. 
ELTON & BRITNEY ARE “CLOSER”Elton John and Britney Spears‘ “Hold Me Closer” bounds onto the chart at No. 6. The latter, the latest mash-up of John classics, marks his 29th Hot 100 top 10 and Spears’ 14th, and her first in nearly 10 years. Earlier this year, John added his first top 10 since 1998, when his previous multi-song reworking of his own catalog, “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” with Dua Lipa, reached No. 7.  The new mash-up blends the chorus of his 50-year-old “Tiny Dancer” and the verses of his 30-year-old “The One.” It also includes elements of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” his four-week 1976 Hot 100 No. 1 with Kiki Dee.  While not outranking “Breaking,” “Hold Me Closer,” upon its No. 6 start, marks new Hot 100 highs for the songs that make up the bulk of the mash-up: “Tiny Dancer” fell a spot shy of the top 40, reaching No. 41 in April 1972, and “The One” rose to No. 9 in September 1992.  
“The One,” meanwhile, marks John’s impressive fifth song to have hit the Hot 100’s top 10 via two interpretations each.

John has logged the seventh-most Hot 100 top 10s. Among solo males, he has earned the third-most, after Drake and Michael Jackson, as he breaks out of a tie with (his good friend) Stevie Wonder.

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

59, Drake
38, Madonna
34, The Beatles
31, Rihanna
30, Michael Jackson
30, Taylor Swift
29, Elton John
28, Mariah Carey
28, Stevie Wonder
27, Janet Jackson
John sports his highest Hot 100 rank since the chart dated Jan. 24, 1998, when his “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” placed at No. 5 after 14 weeks at No. 1. Additionally, John has now achieved two top 10s in a single year for the first time since 1992 (with “The One” from that year playing into his latest top 10, as well; see below).

John also expands his span of Hot 100 top 10s to 51 years, seven months and three weeks, dating to his first frame in the top 10 with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971) – the longest such span among all acts not involving holiday titles.

Meanwhile, Spears achieves her 14th Hot 100 top 10 and her first since “Scream & Shout,” with will.i.am, hit No. 3 in 2013. She first appeared in the top 10 on the chart dated Dec. 12, 1998, when her debut smash “…Baby One More Time” surged 18-9 (before becoming her first of five No. 1s). Overall, Spears places on the Hot 100 for the first time since the chart dated Dec. 10, 2016.
Spears also joins John and 10 other stars with Hot 100 top 10s in at least four decades, padding her résumé to include top 10s in the 1990s, 2000s, ’10s and now ’20s. The other acts in the exclusive (and eclectic) club: Aerosmith, Mariah Carey, Cher, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Madonna, Snoop Dogg, Barbra Streisand and Andy Williams.  Of those artists, Carey, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and now Spears have all tallied Hot 100 top 10s in the ’90s, ’00s, ’10s and ’20s.
John charts his fourth top 10 duet, and his fifth top 10 collaboration, on the Hot 100, as “Hold Me Closer” follows “Cold Heart”; “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” with George Michael (No. 1 for one week, 1992); and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” He also led for four weeks in 1986 with “That’s What Friends Are For,” credited to Dionne & Friends, the foursome of Dionne Warwick, John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.

Spears scores her fourth accompanied Hot 100 top 10, after “Scream & Shout”; “Till the World Ends,” featuring Nicki Minaj and Kesha (No. 3, 2011); and her featured turn on Rihanna’s “S&M” (No. 1, one week, 2011).

SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

BOOMERANG #1 Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” returns to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, rebounding from No. 2 for an 11th total week at No. 1. It claims the longest stay at the summit since Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” also ran up 11 weeks at No. 1 in January-March 2020. No song has led longer since Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, ruled for a record 19 weeks in April-August 2019.

Meanwhile, “As It Was” logs its unprecedented fifth distinct run at No. 1 on the Hot 100, after it first reigned upon its debut in April. It has since yo-yoed among the top three spots and last led, until the latest list, in July.  Here’s a recap of the titles to top the tally dating to the song’s debut. (In every week that it wasn’t No. 1 in the weeks noted below, the track ranked at No. 2, except for on the Aug. 13 chart, when it placed at No. 3.)

April 16, “As It Was,” Harry Styles

April 23, “First Class,” Jack Harlow

April 30, “As It Was”

May 7, “As It Was”

May 14, “Wait for U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems

May 21, “First Class”

May 28, “First Class”

June 4, “As It Was”

June 11, “As It Was”

June 18, “As It Was”

June 25, “As It Was”

July 2, “Jimmy Cooks,” Drake feat. 21 Savage

July 9, “As It Was”

July 16, “As It Was”

July 23, “As It Was”

July 30, “About Damn Time,” Lizzo

Aug. 6, “About Damn Time”

Aug. 13, “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé

Aug. 20, “Break My Soul”

Aug. 27, “Super Freaky Girl,” Nicki Minaj

Sept. 3, “As It Was”

With “As It Was” having now made five distinct runs atop the Hot 100, beginning on, as noted above, the charts dated April 16, April 30, June 4, July 9 and now Sept. 3, it surpasses three songs that each logged four separate No. 1 stints: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (from December 2019 through this January); 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring Iann Dior (2020-21); and Drake’s “Nice for What” (2018).

AUGUST 27, 2022

NICKI’S “SUPER” #1

“Super Freaky Girl” by Nicki Minaj bows as the 1,141st No. 1 in the Hot 100’s 64-year history. It’s the 63rd to enter on top, and the first by a woman in a lead role this year. Notably, it’s the first No. 1 debut for a hip-hop song by a solo female and no accompanying acts since Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998.

Minaj earns her first Hot 100 No. 1 as an unaccompanied artist and her third overall. She previously reigned with her 6ix9ine collab “Trollz,” which bounded in at No. 1 on the June 27, 2020, chart, and her featured turn on Doja Cat’s “Say So,” which topped the May 16, 2020, tally.

“Super Freaky Girl” is additionally Minaj’s 21st Hot 100 top 10, and her second this year, after “Do We Have a Problem?,” with Lil Baby, debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Feb. 19-dated chart.

Minaj posts her 124th overall Hot 100 entry, dating to her first in February 2010. She boasts the seventh-most appearances in the chart’s archives.

SLICK RICK RETURNS

Rick James’ “Super Freak,” which “Super Freaky Girl” samples, hit No. 3 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in September 1981, while M.C. Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” which also samples James’ original, spent a week at No. 1 in June 1990. On Hot Rap Songs, which originated in 1989, “Touch” reached No. 2. (Among other notable reimaginations of “Super Freak,” Jay-Z’s “Kingdom Come” hit No. 52 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 98 on the Hot 100 in 2006 and Gucci Mane’s “Freaky Gurl” rose to Nos. 19 and 62 on the respective charts in 2007.)

LADIES FIRST

“Super Freaky Girl” follows Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” which led the Aug. 13 and 20-dated Hot 100 charts, and Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” which topped the July 30 and Aug. 6 tallies. The tracks combine for the first streak of three songs each hitting No. 1 for the first time by solo women and no accompanying artists since Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” and Swift’s “Blank Space” in September 2014-January 2015. (Before that, Katy Perry’s “Roar,” Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” and Lorde’s “Royals” reigned consecutively in September-December 2013.)

4 OUT OF 5 ARE WOMENWith Nicki Minaj at #1, Lizzo at #3, 

Beyoncé at #4 and Kate Bush rounding out the Top 5 with “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” the Top 5 is ruled by solo female artists.

While researching to find out the last time that solo women had this much control on the Top 5, I did uncover the fact that the Top 5 was dominated by eight(!) women.  During the week ending November 1, 2014, the chart read like this…

1 1 ALL ABOUT THAT BASS –•– Meghan Trainor -15 (1) (7 Weeks at #1)
2 2 SHAKE IT OFF –•– Taylor Swift -9 (1) (2 Weeks at #1)
3 5 BANG BANG –•– Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj -12 (3)
4 3 BLACK WIDOW –•– Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora -16 (3)
5 4 HABITS (STAY HIGH) –•– Tove Lo -21 (4)

AUGUST 20, 2022

“STAYING ALIVE” RESUSCITATES

DJ Khaled’s “Staying Alive,” featuring Drake and Lil Baby, bounds onto the Hot 100 at No. 5.  The song interpolates the Bee Gees’ classic “Stayin’ Alive,” which topped the Hot 100 for four weeks in 1978 (while reworkings by N-Trance and Wyclef Jean featuring Refugee Allstars hit No. 62 in 1996 and No. 45 in 1997, respectively). All three Bee Gees – Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb – wrote the original and Barry and the late Robin receive their first writing credits on a Hot 100 top 10 since Destiny’s Child’s version of “Emotion” – originally a No. 3 hit in 1978 for Samantha Sang – reached No. 10 in December 2001. (The Bee Gees’ original “Stayin’ Alive” was released from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which ruled the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks in 1978; Samantha Sang’s “Emotion” was recorded for the film but ultimately not included.)  The late Maurice Gibb, meanwhile, draws his first Hot 100 top 10 credit as a writer since the Bee Gees’ last of 15 top 10s as a recording act, “One,” which all members of the trio wrote, hit No. 7 in September 1989.

DRAKE BREAKS (AND EXTENDS) RECORDS

On the Hot 100, Drake achieves his record-extending 59th top 10, Lil Baby logs his 10th and DJ Khaled earns his seventh. (The first top 10 among the three together, “Staying Alive” is the fourth shared top 10 between DJ Khaled and Drake, as well as the fourth between Drake and Lil Baby.)

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

59, Drake

38, Madonna

34, The Beatles

31, Rihanna

30, Michael Jackson

30, Taylor Swift

28, Mariah Carey

28, Elton John

28, Stevie Wonder

27, Janet Jackson

Plus, “Staying Alive” marks Drake’s landmark 30th top five Hot 100 hit – as he breaks out of a tie with The Beatles for the most in the chart’s 64-year history.

Most Top Five Billboard Hot 100 Hits:

30, Drake

29, The Beatles

28, Madonna

27, Mariah Carey

24, Janet Jackson

23, Rihanna

21, Elvis Presley (with the start of his career predating the Hot 100’s inception)

20, Justin Bieber

20, Michael Jackson

20, Stevie Wonder

SNOOP’S NOT SO “BAD DECISIONS”

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, benny blanco, BTS and Snoop Dogg’s “Bad Decisions” roars in at No. 10.  The track starts as Snoop Dogg’s 12th Hot 100 top 10, BTS’ 10th – as the group becomes the first South Korean act with at least 10 Hot 100 top 10s – and benny blanco’s second (after “Eastside,” with Halsey and Khalid; No. 9, 2019). 

Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg has now notched Hot 100 top 10s in the 1990s (two), 2000s (six), ’10s (three) and ’20s (one). He joins Mariah Carey and Jay-Z in having ranked in the top 10 in each of the past four decades. (Carey reached the milestone thanks to the annual resurgence of her holiday chestnut “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; additionally, Beyonceģ has appeared in the top 10 in each of the last four decades, although in the ’90s as a member of Destiny’s Child, followed by top 10s – and No. 1 ranks, like Carey – in the ’00s, ’10s and ’20s as a soloist.)

Snoop Dogg tallies his first Hot 100 top 10 as a lead artist in over 10 years, since his and Wiz Khalifa’s “Young, Wild & Free,” featuring Bruno Mars, hit No. 7 in March 2012. He first reached the region with his own “What’s My Name?” (No. 8, January 1994) and, until this week, had last ranked in the tier in August 2014 as featured on Jason Derulo’s “Wiggle,” which hit No. 5 that June.

Further, Snoop Dogg extends his span of Hot 100 top 10s to 28 years, seven months and three weeks (Dec. 25, 1993-Aug. 20, 2022) – now the longest among rappers in the chart’s history, surpassing Jay-Z’s (24 years, five months and three weeks; March 29, 1997-Sept. 18, 2021).

AUGUST 13, 2022

THE RENAISSANCE BEGINS (A/K/A THE BEYONCE SHOW)…

8^th #1 AND TOTAL WEEKS COUNTING

Beyonceì lands her eighth Hot 100 No. 1 as a soloist. Here’s a recap:

“Crazy in Love,” feat. Jay-Z, eight weeks at No. 1, beginning July 12, 2003

“Baby Boy,” feat. Sean Paul, nine, Oct. 4, 2003

“Check on It,” feat. Slim Thug, five, Feb. 4, 2006

“Irreplaceable,” 10, Dec. 16, 2006

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” four, Dec. 13, 2008

“Perfect” (Ed Sheeran duet with Beyonceì), five (on which she was credited; the song led for six weeks total), Dec. 23, 2017

“Savage” (Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyonceì), one, May 30, 2020

“Break My Soul,” one week to-date, Aug. 13, 2022

Additionally, Destiny’s Child, with Beyonceì as a member, notched four Hot 100 No. 1s: “Bills, Bills, Bills” (for one week in 1999); “Say My Name” (three weeks, 2000); “Independent Women (Part 1)” (11, 2000-01); and “Bootylicious” (two, 2001).

Beyonceì boasts the seventh-most weeks spent atop the Hot 100, as “Soul” ups her count to 43 in her solo career.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:

87, Mariah Carey

60, Rihanna

59, The Beatles

54, Drake

50, Boyz II Men

47, Usher

43, Beyonceì

37, Michael Jackson

34, Adele

34, Elton John

34, Bruno Mars

Further, Destiny’s Child spent 17 weeks at No. 1 among their four Hot 100 leaders, making for 60 weeks at the summit for Beyonceì if we were to combine her solo and the group’s songs. (Among the acts above, Paul McCartney [89 weeks total; 30 solo], both George Harrison and John Lennon [65; six] and Ringo Starr [61; two] would also sport higher sums of weeks at No. 1 mixing their solo leaders and those by The Beatles with them as members, while Michael Jackson’s total would extend to 47, thanks to 10 weeks at No. 1 for the Jackson 5.)

SPANNING THE #1s

From the first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for “Crazy in Love” through, now, the coronation of “Soul,” Beyonceì spans 19 years and one month of appearing atop the chart – the ninth-best mark in the ranking’s archives.

Longest Spans of Hot 100 No. 1s:

Mariah Carey – 31 years, five months, one week (Aug. 4, 1990-Jan. 8, 2022)

Cher – 28 years, five months (Nov. 6, 1971-April 3, 1999)

Elton John – 24 years, 11 months, one week (Feb. 3, 1973-Jan. 10, 1998)

Beach Boys – 24 years, four months (July 4, 1964-Nov. 5, 1988)

Michael Jackson – 22 years, 10 months, three weeks (Oct. 14, 1972-Sept. 2, 1995)

Stevie Wonder – 22 years, six months (Aug. 10, 1963-Feb. 8, 1986)

Rod Stewart – 22 years, four months (Oct. 2, 1971-Feb. 5, 1994)

Aretha Franklin – 19 years, 10 months, two weeks (June 3, 1967-April 18, 1987)

Beyonceì – 19 years, one month (July 12, 2003-Aug. 13, 2022)

George Harrison – 17 years, three weeks (Dec. 26, 1970-Jan. 16, 1988)

Madonna – 15 years, nine months, one week (Dec. 22, 1984-Oct. 7, 2000)

Notably, in looking at acts’ group and solo careers combined, Beyonceì’s span of appearing atop the Hot 100 stretches over 23 years and three weeks, from the first week at No. 1 for Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills” (July 17, 1999) through this week’s takeover on top for “Soul.” Similarly among the acts above, Cher’s career span including Sonny & Cher and her solo No. 1s would encompass (a record) 33 years, seven months and two weeks (1965-99); Michael Jackson’s Jackson 5 and solo output would span 25 years, seven months and a week (1970-95); and George Harrison’s time with The Beatles and as soloist would amount to a No. 1 span of 23 years, 11 months and two weeks (1964-88).

Meanwhile (as first noted when Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” featuring Beyonceì, hit No. 1), Beyonceì and Mariah Carey are the only acts to place atop the Hot 100 in four distinct decades – the 1990s, 2000s, ’10s & ’20s for both – thanks to the former’s runs at No. 1 with Destiny’s Child in the ’90s and solo in the ’00s-’20s, and Carey’s reigns in each decade, including in the ’10s and ’20s with “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

WAITS BETWEEN #1s

With “Soul,” Beyonceì scores her first Hot 100 No. 1 in a lead role in 13 years and seven months, since “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” in 2009. That gap marks the longest among acts with lead billing on both bookending leaders since Cher, whose “Believe” ascended to the top of the chart in March 1999, a record 10 days shy of 25 years since she’d last led with “Dark Lady” in March 1974.

“BREAK”-ING DOWN “SOUL” MUSIC AT #1

Beyonceì’s new Hot 100 No. 1 marks the latest with the words “break” or “soul” in a song title. Here’s a recap of each:

“Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You,” Connie Francis, 1962

“Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” Neil Sedaka, 1962

“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” Elton John & Kiki Dee, 1976

“Un-Break My Heart,” Toni Braxton, 1996-97

“Heartbreaker,” Mariah Carey feat. Jay-Z, 1999

“Break Your Heart,” Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris, 2010

“Break My Soul,” Beyonceì, 2022

(Beyonceì joins husband Jay-Z for the distinction.)

“(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” The Righteous Brothers, 1966

“Crank That (Soulja Boy),” Soulja Boy Tell’em, 2007

“Break My Soul,” Beyonceì, 2022

(Beyonceì is, thus, the … sole … woman with a Hot 100 No. 1 with “soul” in its title, with all due … respect … to the Queen of Soul.)

AUGUST 6, 2022

AROUND THE CHART IN 80 WEEKS

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” descends 8-10, following five weeks at No. 1 starting in March. Notably, it logs its 80th week on the chart, becoming just the third title in the chart’s 64-year history to reach the milestone (and is the only one of those hits to have ranked in the top 10 as late as its 80th frame).

Most Weeks Totaled on the Billboard Hot 100:

90, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, No. 1 peak (for four weeks), beginning April 4, 2020

87, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons, No. 3, July 6, 2013

80, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, No. 1 (five weeks), beginning March 12, 2022

79, “Sail,” AWOLNATION, No. 17, Oct. 12, 2013

77, “Levitating,” Dua Lipa, No. 2, May 22, 2021

76, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, No. 6, Sept. 20, 2008

69, “Save Your Tears,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, No. 1 (two weeks), beginning May 8, 2021

69, “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes, No. 2, Dec. 13, 1997

68, “Counting Stars,” OneRepublic, No. 2, Jan. 18, 2014

68, “Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock, No. 1 (six weeks), beginning July 16, 2011

JULY 30, 2022

INTERPOLATING IT’S “ABOUT” “DAMN” “TIME”

Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” becomes the 1,139th Hot 100 No. 1 in the chart’s nearly 64-year history after completing a 14-week ascent to the summit, after it debuted at No. 50 on the April 30-dated chart. 

Noting that her new No. 1 brings the word “damn” to the summit for the first time. Previously, YoungBloodz, featuring Lil Jon, reached a No. 4 best with “Damn!” in 2003. Honorable mention to rock group Damn Yankees, which hit No. 3 with “High Enough” 1991. Lizzo scores the first No. 1 with “about” in its title since … just March, when the ensemble Encanto hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” spent its fifth and final week on top. Much more time passed between No. 1s with “time” in their titles: Lizzo achieves the first such leader since Ja Rule’s “Always on Time,” featuring Ashanti, ruled for two weeks in 2002.

Also notably, “Time” interpolates “Hey! DJ,” which the World’s Famous Supreme Team took to No. 15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1984 and has now been reimagined in two Hot 100 No. 1s: prior to “Time,” Mariah Carey’s “Honey,” which samples “Hey! DJ,” notched three weeks in the lead in September 1997.

“HILL” CLIMBING

“Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” Kate Bush’s first Hot 100 top 10 which moves up a notch to #3, wraps the longest run to the chart’s top three in terms of years from a debut on the chart to the top five – 36 years, 10 months and three weeks – for a non-holiday hit in the list’s history, and the third-longest such rise overall.

Longest Climbs to the Billboard Hot 100’s Top Three (from debut date):

61 years, two weeks: “Jingle Bell Rock,” Bobby Helms, Dec. 22, 1958-Jan. 4, 2020

59 years, one week: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Brenda Lee, Dec. 12, 1960-Dec. 21, 2019

36 years, 10 months, three weeks: “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” Kate Bush, Sept. 7, 1985-July 30, 2022

19 years: “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey, Jan. 8, 2000-Jan. 5, 2019

16 years, four months, one week: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen, Jan. 3, 1976-May 9, 1992

Three of the songs above are holiday tracks, spurred in recent years by the growth of streaming, while Queen’s classic, like Bush’s, benefited from its own sync, in the 1992 hit Saturday Night Live spinoff film Wayne’s World.

FEEL THE “HEAT”

Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” dips 7-8 on the Hot 100, following five weeks at No. 1 starting in March. It logs its 79th week on the chart, tying for the third-longest run in the list’s history (and is the only one of those hits to have ranked in the top 10 as late as its 79th frame).

Most Weeks Totaled on the Billboard Hot 100:

90, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, No. 1 peak (for four weeks), beginning April 4, 2020

87, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons, No. 3, July 6, 2013

79, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, No. 1 (five weeks), beginning March 12, 2022

79, “Sail,” AWOLNATION, No. 17, Oct. 12, 2013

77, “Levitating,” Dua Lipa, No. 2, May 22, 2021

76, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, No. 6, Sept. 20, 2008

JULY 23, 2022

THE 10+ CLUB

“As It Was” becomes the 42nd song in the history of the Hot 100, which launched on Aug. 4, 1958, to reign for at least 10 weeks, a feat that just 4% of all No. 1s (1,138 total) have achieved.

While “As It Was” marks Styles’ first Hot 100 leader of at least 10 weeks (after his other No. 1, “Watermelon Sugar,” ruled for a week in August 2020) – it’s the 10th for Columbia Records, the most among all labels over the chart’s history. Arista and Atlantic follow with five such No. 1s each.

Here’s a recap of Columbia’s 10 Hot 100 No. 1s to reign for at least 10 weeks, with the label having logged the last three, as Adele and BTS’ latest leaders preceded Styles’ command:

“One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, 16 weeks at No. 1, beginning Dec. 2, 1995

“Independent Women Part I,” Destiny’s Child, 11, Nov. 18, 2000

“Irreplaceable,” Beyonceì, 10, Dec. 16, 2006

“Happy,” Pharrell Williams, 10, March 8, 2014

“Hello,” Adele, 10, Nov. 14, 2015

“Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, 12, Sept. 3, 2016

“Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, a record 19, April 13, 2019

“Butter,” BTS, 10, June 5, 2021

“Easy on Me,” Adele, 10, Oct. 30, 2021

“As It Was,” Harry Styles, 10, April 16, 2022

DRAKE’S NEAR MISSES

Honestly, Nevermind now ups Drake’s count to peaks at 91 rungs on the Hot 100. The only ranks at which he hasn’t peaked so far? Nos. 31, 43, 46, 59, 77, 93, 96, 98 and 99. He’s peaked at every position between Nos. 1 and 30, and every number in the top 40 except 31.

Plus, Drake has ranked at every position on the Hot 100, even if he hasn’t peaked at each spot.

Meanwhile, as of the latest, July 16-dated Hot 100, Drake has placed a record 276 total entries on the chart, 157 in the top 40 and 58 in the top 10.

THE “HILLS” ARE ALIVE

With Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” having risen to No. 4 on the Hot 100, helped by its placement in Stranger Things, it has passed “Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran and “The Fool on the Hill” by Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 as the second-highest-charting song with “hill” (or “hills”) in its title. “Castle” hit No. 6 in 2017 and “Fool” peaked at No. 6 in September 1968 (after The Beatles first recorded the song for their 1967 Magical Mystery Tour album).

The only higher-charting such hit? The Weeknd’s “The Hills,” which logged six weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2015.

Hills have made for a popular motif in music over the years, with their built-in inspirational imagery of aspiring to higher ground, of any kind. Here are the highest-charting Hot 100 hits with “hill” (or “hills” or any other variation) in their titles.

No. 1 (six weeks), 2015, “The Hills,” The Weeknd
No. 4, 2022, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” Kate Bush
No. 6, 2017, “Castle on the Hill,” Ed Sheeran
No. 6, 1968, “The Fool on the Hill,” Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66
No. 7, 2022, “Silent Hill,” Kendrick Lamar & Kodak Black
No. 10, 2005, “Beverly Hills,” Weezer
No. 10, 1981, “The Theme From Hill Street Blues,” Mike Post feat. Larry Carlton (an instrumental, although not always)
No. 15, 1969, “Cherry Hill Park,” Billy Joe Royal
No. 19, 2001, “Purple Hills,” D12
No. 20, 1961, “I Dreamed of a Hill-Billy Heaven,” Tex Ritter
No. 23, 2022, “Churchill Downs,” Jack Harlow feat. Drake
No. 25, 1995, “Sugar Hill,” AZ
No. 28, 2021, “hunger.on.hillside,” J. Cole & Bas
No. 36, 1980, “King of the Hill,” Rick Pinette & Oak
No. 40, 2010, “Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins
No. 40, 2008, “Violet Hill,” Coldplay

JULY 16, 2022

ANIMALS RUNNING LONG

Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” lifts 9-8 on the Hot 100, following five weeks at No. 1 starting in March. It adds its 77th week on the chart, tying for the fourth-longest run in the list’s history, which dates to August 1958 (and is the only one of those hits to have ranked in the top 10 as late as a 77th frame).

Most Weeks Totaled on the Billboard Hot 100:
90, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, No. 1 peak (for four weeks), beginning April 4, 2020
87, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons, No. 3, July 6, 2013
79, “Sail,” AWOLNATION, No. 17, Oct. 12, 2013
77, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, No. 1 (five weeks), beginning March 12, 2022
77, “Levitating,” Dua Lipa, No. 2, May 22, 2021
76, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, No. 6, Sept. 20, 2008

Plus, “Heat Waves” spends a 34th week in the Hot 100’s top 10, passing Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You,” featuring Cardi B, for the most among groups. Overall, “Heat Waves” has now solely logged the fourth-most top 10 weeks, after The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” (57), The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” (44) and Lipa’s “Levitating” (41).

JULY 9, 2022

BOOMERANG #1

Harry Styles’ “As it Was” scores its record-tying fourth distinct stay atop the Hot 100, after it debuted at No. 1 on the April 16 chart; led again on April 30 and May 7; and added four more weeks on top on the charts dated June 4, 11, 18 and 25, ahead of its return to No. 1 on the new, July 9, ranking. (The songs that have interrupted its reign: Jack Harlow’s “First Class,” April 23 and May 21 and 28; Future’s “Wait for U,” featuring Drake and Tems, May 14; and Drake’s “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage, July 2.) “As It Was” is the fourth to log as many as four separate No. 1 stints, after Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (2019-22), 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring Iann Dior (2020-21), and Drake’s “Nice for What” (2018).

“BREAK MY” 20

With “Break My Soul,” Beyonceì banks her landmark 20th solo Hot 100 top 10 and first since Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” on which she’s featured, became her seventh No. 1 in May 2020. Beyonceì notches her first top 10 in a lead role since “Formation” debuted and peaked at No. 10 in May 2016.

Here’s an updated rundown of the elite 23 artists with 20 or more Hot 100 top 10s, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception:

58, Drake

38, Madonna

34, The Beatles

31, Rihanna

30, Michael Jackson

30, Taylor Swift

28, Elton John

28, Mariah Carey

28, Stevie Wonder

27, Janet Jackson

26, Justin Bieber

25, Elvis Presley (with his career having predated the Hot 100’s start)

25, Lil Wayne

23, Whitney Houston

23, Paul McCartney

23, The Rolling Stones

22, Eminem

22, Jay-Z

20, Beyonceì

20, Chicago

20, Nicki Minaj

20, The Supremes

20, Kanye West

Beyonceì first appeared in the Hot 100’s top 10 as a soloist when Jay-Z’s “’03 Bonnie & Clyde,” on which she’s featured, rose 11-8 on the Dec. 7, 2002, tally.

Meanwhile, Beyonceì now has twice as many top 10s as Destiny’s Child, the group in which she broke through: the act notched 10 top 10s (including four No. 1s) in 1998-2005.

Also impressively, Beyonceì joins select company among artists with at least 20 solo top 10s and 10 as a member of a group. The exclusive club, of which she’s the first female member: Paul McCartney, with 23 solo top 10s (including his work with Wings), in addition to 34 with The Beatles; Michael Jackson, with 30 solo top 10s along with 11 as a member of the Jackson 5/Jacksons; and, now, Beyonceì (20 solo, 10 with Destiny’s Child).

“HEAT” RISES

Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” rises 10-9 on the Hot 100, following five weeks at No. 1. It adds its 76th week on the chart, tying for the fifth-longest run in the list’s history (and is the only one of those hits to have ranked in the top 10 as late as a 76th frame).

Most Weeks Totaled on the Billboard Hot 100:

90, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, No. 1 peak (for four weeks), beginning April 4, 2020

87, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons, No. 3, July 6, 2013

79, “Sail,” AWOLNATION, No. 17, Oct. 12, 2013

77, “Levitating,” Dua Lipa, No. 2, May 22, 2021

76, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, No. 1 (five weeks), beginning March 12, 2022

76, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, No. 6, Sept. 20, 2008

JULY 2, 2022

“JIMMY COOKS” AS DRAKE EXTENDS RECORDS

Drake‘s “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage, blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. The collaboration marks Drake’s 11th Hot 100 No. 1 and 21 Savage’s second.  The track (seemingly an ode to the character of Jimmy Brooks that Drake portrayed on the CTV drama Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001-08) arrives as the 1,138th No. 1 in the Hot 100’s 63-year history, and the 62nd to enter on top.

Drake adds his 11th Hot 100 No. 1. He ties Whitney Houston for the seventh-most leaders among all acts and passes Stevie Wonder to claim the second-most among male soloists.

Most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s:

20, The Beatles

19, Mariah Carey

14, Rihanna

13, Michael Jackson

12, Madonna

12, The Supremes

11, Drake

11, Whitney Houston

10, Janet Jackson

10, Stevie Wonder

Meanwhile, here’s a recap of Drake’s 11 Hot 100 No. 1s:

“What’s My Name?,” Rihanna feat. Drake (one week at No. 1, beginning Nov. 20, 2010)

“Work,” Rihanna feat. Drake (nine weeks, beginning March 5, 2016)

“One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla (10 weeks, beginning May 21, 2016)

“God’s Plan” (11 weeks, beginning Feb. 3, 2018)

“Nice for What” (eight weeks, beginning April 21, 2018)

“In My Feelings” (10 weeks, beginning July 21, 2018)

“Toosie Slide” (one week, April 18, 2020)

“What’s Next” (one week, March 20, 2021)

“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake feat. Future and Young Thug (one week, Sept. 18, 2021)

“Wait for U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems (one week, May 14, 2022)

“Jimmy Cooks,” Drake feat. 21 Savage (one week to-date, July 2, 2022)

Plus, “Jimmy Cooks” is Drake’s record-extending seventh song to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100, following “God’s Plan,” “Nice for What,” “Toosie Slide,” “What’s Next,” “Way 2 Sexy” and “Wait for U.”

For those keeping score at home, this is Drake’s 54^th career week at #1 (…and counting).

87, Mariah Carey

79, Elvis Presley

60, Rihanna

59, the Beatles

54, Drake

50, Boyz II Men

47, Usher

42, Beyonce

37, Michael Jackson

34, Adele

34, Elton John

34, Bruno Mars

Further, Drake ties The Beatles for the most top five Hot 100 hits: 29 each. Madonna (28) and Mariah Carey (27) follow.

21 Savage previously topped the Hot 100 as featured on Post Malone’s “Rockstar,” which reigned for eight weeks beginning in October 2017.

Simultaneous Artist Debuts Atop the Billboard 200 & Hot 100

As Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind opens atop the Billboard 200 concurrent with the Hot 100-topping entrance of “Jimmy Cooks,” he makes the eighth-such double debut – and becomes the first male soloist to score the honor twice. Taylor Swift first achieved the feat in August 2020 and has made a record three such starts.

Drake: Honestly, Nevermind & “Jimmy Cooks,” feat. 21 Savage, July 2, 2022

Future: I Never Liked You & “Wait for U,” feat. Drake & Tems, May 14, 2022

Taylor Swift: Red (Taylor’s Version) & “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Nov. 27, 2021

Drake: Certified Lover Boy & “Way 2 Sexy,” feat. Future & Young Thug, Sept. 18, 2021

Justin Bieber: Justice & “Peaches,” feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon, April 3, 2021

Taylor Swift: Evermore & “Willow,” Dec. 26, 2020

BTS: BE & “Life Goes On,” Dec. 5, 2020

Taylor Swift: Folkore & “Cardigan,” Aug. 8, 2020

Drake up to 58 Hot 100 top 10s

As “Sticky” debuts at No. 6 and “Falling Back” bows at No. 7 on the Hot 100, respectively, Drake, thanks to those tracks and “Jimmy Cooks,” pads his record career count to 58 top 10s.

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

58, Drake

38, Madonna

34, The Beatles

31, Rihanna

30, Michael Jackson

30, Taylor Swift

28, Mariah Carey

28, Elton John

28, Stevie Wonder

27, Janet Jackson

JUNE 18, 2022

KEEP “RUNNING”

Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” bounds to No. 4 on the Hot 100, a week after it re-entered at No. 8 – blasting past its prior No. 30 high, reached in 1985 when it was first released – fueled by its sync in Netflix’s Stranger Things. The fourth season of the ’80s-set show, which premiered May 27, incorporates the song in multiple episodes. (Bush is a fan of the series, and, in a rare move for her music, approved the song’s usage in it.)

Notably, “Hill” wraps the longest run to the Hot 100’s top five in terms of years from a debut on the chart to the top five – 36 years, nine months and two weeks – for a non-holiday hit in the list’s 63-year history, and the third-longest such rise overall.

Longest Climbs to the Hot 100’s Top Five (from debut date):

61 years, two weeks: “Jingle Bell Rock,” Bobby Helms, Dec. 22, 1958-Jan. 4, 2020

59 years, one week: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Brenda Lee, Dec. 12, 1960-Dec. 21, 2019

36 years, nine months, two weeks: “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” Kate Bush, Sept. 7, 1985-June 18, 2022

19 years: “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey, Jan. 8, 2000-Jan. 5, 2019

16 years, three months, two weeks: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen, Jan. 3, 1976-April 18, 1992

Three of the songs above are holiday tracks, spurred in recent years by the growth of streaming, while Queen’s classic, like Bush’s, benefited from its own sync, in the 1992 box office hit Wayne’s World.

Meanwhile, as Bush solely wrote, produced and performs “Hill,” the song is the first top five Hot 100 hit by a solo singer, writer and producer and no accompanying credited talents since Hozier’s “Take Me to Church,” which hit No. 2 in December 2014. Before that, Pharrell Williams’ self-performed, -penned and -produced “Happy” dominated for 10 weeks beginning in March 2014. “Hill” is the first such top five hit by a female artist in nearly 18 years, since Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” which reached No. 4 in July 2004.

A ”HAPPIER” MALONE

Post Malone’s “I Like You (A Happier Song),” featuring Doja Cat, debuts at No. 9 on the Hot 100.  Post Malone adds his 11th Hot 100 top 10 while Doja Cat adds her fifth.

JUNE 11, 2022

“RUNNING UP THAT HILL” TO A TOP 10 HIT

After almost 37 years and major inclusion in the fourth season of “Stranger Things,” Kate Bush lands her first top 10 – and her highest charting American hit – as “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” re-enters the entire chart at #8! 

The English singer-songwriter, who first appeared on Billboard‘s charts in 1979, hit #30 on the Nov. 30, 1985 survey. (That week, Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin’s “Separate Lives” rose to No. 1, dethroning Starship’s “We Built This City”; Eddie Murphy’s “Party All the Time” hit the top 10; Wham!’s “I’m Your Man” scored the list’s highest debut, at No. 55; and Madonna’s “Dress You Up” rounded out the chart at No. 100.)

The song, which Bush solely wrote and produced, completes the longest journey from a title’s Hot 100 debut to its first week in the top 10 – 36 years, nine months and a week – since Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” jingled to the tier in the 2020 holiday season after a record wait of 62 years and two weeks. Among non-holiday catalog songs this decade, the resurgence of “Hill” is similar to that of Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 No. 1 “Dreams,” which returned to the Hot 100, reaching No. 12, in October 2020 as it went viral on TikTok.

“STAY” RETURNS

The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” returns to the region (12-10). It adds a 44th week in the top 10, second only to The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” (57 weeks, 2020-21) for the most in the chart’s history; “Stay” spent its first 43 weeks on the tally in the top 10, a record for the most time spent in the bracket consecutively from a song’s debut.

JUNE 04, 2022

STYLIN’ & PROFILIN’

Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” rebounds for a fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. It soared in at the summit seven weeks earlier.  Concurrently, three other songs from Harry’s House debut in the Hot 100’s top 10: “Late Night Talking” (No. 4), “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” (No. 8) and “Matilda” (No. 9).  Styles is the first British soloist to chart as many as four songs in the Hot 100’s top 10 simultaneously. Among all British acts, he joins only The Beatles, who achieved the feat for five weeks in 1964, including two frames in which they logged five each.

As Styles becomes the first British soloist with four concurrent Hot 100 top 10s, he’s the 12th act overall to land the honor, following Drake (a record nine on the Sept. 18, 2021, chart), Juice WRLD (five, July 25, 2020), The Beatles (five, April 4 and 11, 1964), Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Future, J. Cole, Post Malone, Lil Wayne, T-Pain and 50 Cent (highs of four each).

“TIME” FOR LIZZO

Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” reaches the Hot 100’s top five, leaping 9-5. All four of her top 10s have now reached the top five, as her latest follows “Truth Hurts” (seven weeks at No. 1, beginning in September 2019), “Good as Hell” (No. 3, November 2019) and “Rumors,” featuring Cardi B (No. 4, August 2021).

May 28, 2022

4 FOR LAMAR

Kendrick Lamar debuts four songs in the Hot 100’s top 10, led by “N95” at No. 3, as it opens from his new album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers: “Die Hard,” with Blxst and Amanda Reifer, at No. 5; “Silent Hill,” with Kodak Black, at No. 7; and “United in Grief,” at No. 8.

Lamar logs the eighth week in which an act has posted four or more concurrent top 10 Hot 100 debuts – and the third in a row, a week after Bad Bunny bowed with four and two weeks after Future arrived with a quartet. Before that, Drake bounded in with a record nine top 10 chart entrances (Sept. 18, 2021), after J. Cole (May 29, 2021), Juice WRLD (July 25, 2020), Lil Wayne (Oct. 13, 2018) and Drake (July 14, 2018) each debuted four tracks in the top 10 simultaneously.

Lamar ups his Hot 100 top 10 total to 12. Blxst and Reifer each appear in the chart’s top tier for the first time and Kodak Black adds his fourth top 10.

4 FOR WALLEN

Morgan Wallen’s “You Proof” roars in at No. 6 on the Hot 100. The song was released May 13 – Wallen’s birthday.  Wallen notches his fourth Hot 100 top 10, all of which have debuted in the bracket, and ties “7 Summers,” which bowed and peaked at No. 6 in August 2020, for his highest placement. He returned to the top 10 with “Wasted on You,” which started at its No. 9 best in January 2021, and “Don’t Think Jesus,” which began at its No. 7 peak on the April 30, 2022, chart.

2022’s NEW MUSIC CRAWL

After a slow start for new music this year – as only two of the 26 songs to appear in the Hot 100’s top 10 between January and the April 9 chart were released in 2022 – a robust 17 top 10s released this year have reached the region in the seven weeks since, by Harry Styles, Jack Harlow, Wallen, Future, Lizzo, Bad Bunny and Lamar.

May 21, 2022

BAD BUNNY DOES GOOD

Bad Bunny debuts four songs on the Hot 100 in the top 10 paced by “Moscow Mule” at No. 4. It’s followed in the bracket by “Tití Me Preguntó” at No. 5, “Después De La Playa” at No. 6 and “Me Porto Bonito,” with Chencho Corleone, at No. 10.  Bad Bunny’s four new Hot 100 top 10s are historic, as four all-Spanish-language songs rank in the region simultaneously for the first time in the chart’s 63-year history. 

The Puerto Rico native doubles his top 10 Hot 100 total to eight – all of which have debuted in the region – after he previously hit the top 10 with “I Like It,” with Cardi B and J Balvin (one week at No. 1, July 2018); “MIA,” featuring Drake (No. 5, October 2018); “Dákiti,” with Jhay Cortez (No. 5, December 2020); and “Yonaguni” (No. 10, June 2021). Corleone collects his first Hot 100 top 10.

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny logs the seventh week in which an act has posted four or more concurrent top 10 Hot 100 debuts, a week after Future arrived with four. Before that, Drake blasted in with a record nine top 10 chart entrances (Sept. 18, 2021), after J. Cole (May 29, 2021), Juice WRLD (July 25, 2020), Lil Wayne (Oct. 13, 2018) and Drake (July 14, 2018) each debuted four songs in the top 10 simultaneously.

“DAMN” LIZZO

Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” vaults 19-9.  She lands her fourth Hot 100 top 10, following “Truth Hurts” (seven weeks at No. 1 beginning in September 2019), “Good as Hell” (No. 3, November 2019) and “Rumors,” featuring Cardi B (No. 4, August 2021).

May 14, 2022

2:10:1

The #1 debut of “Wait for U” becomes the second chart topper for Future (his first as a lead), the tenth for Drake (more on him below), and the first for Nigerian born Tems.

Future was featured on Drake’s #1 debut from September 2021 when “Way 2 Sexy” led on the 9/18/21 chart – along with Young Thug.

FUTURE HITS

Along with debuting at #1, Future has a total of four songs in the Top 10.  The track joins three others from the set that debut in the Hot 100’s top 10: “Puffin on Zootiez,” at No. 4, and “712PM,” at No. 8, and “I’m Dat N***a,” at No. 10.

Future logs the sixth week in which an act has posted four or more concurrent top 10 Hot 100 debuts, and the first since Drake bounded in with a record nine top 10 chart entrances (Sept. 18, 2021). Before that, J. Cole (May 29, 2021), Juice WRLD (July 25, 2020), Lil Wayne (Oct. 13, 2018) and Drake (July 14, 2018) each debuted four songs in the top 10 simultaneously.

Future’s I Never Liked You blasts in atop the Billboard 200, with his eighth leader, concurrent with the Hot 100-topping entrance of “Wait for U.” He makes the seventh such double debut; Taylor Swift first achieved the feat in August 2020 and, with three such starts, is the only artist to earn the honor multiple times.

Simultaneous Artist Debuts Atop the Billboard 200 & Hot 100

Future: I Never Liked You & “Wait for U,” feat. Drake & Tems, May 14, 2022

Taylor Swift: Red (Taylor’s Version) & “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” Nov. 27, 2021

Drake: Certified Lover Boy & “Way 2 Sexy,” feat. Future & Young Thug, Sept. 18, 2021

Justin Bieber: Justice & “Peaches,” feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon, April 3, 2021

Taylor Swift: Evermore & “Willow,” Dec. 26, 2020

BTS: BE & “Life Goes On,” Dec. 5, 2020

Taylor Swift: Folklore & “Cardigan,” Aug. 8, 2020

THE CHART ACCORDING TO DRAKE

This is Drake’s…

10^th Number 1

55^th Top 10

146^th Top 40

261^st Overall Chart Entry

The last three categories are record-extending totals.

Drake solely claims the record for the most No. 1 debuts on the Hot 100, as “Wait for U” is his sixth. He one-ups BTS and Ariana Grande, each with five.

First #1:  What’s My Name/Rihanna featuring Drake (1 week in November 2010)

First #1 as a lead:  One Dance/Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla (10 weeks beginning March 2016)

Drake becomes the 10th act in the Hot 100’s history with at least 10 No. 1s (an elite club that last inducted Rihanna, thanks to her 10th leader, of 14 to-date, “S&M,” featuring Britney Spears, on the chart dated April 30, 2011). Among solo males, Drake joins only Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder for the achievement.

Most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s

20, The Beatles

19, Mariah Carey

14, Rihanna

13, Michael Jackson

12, Madonna

12, The Supremes

11, Whitney Houston

10, Drake

10, Janet Jackson

10, Stevie Wonder

WORTH THE “WAIT”

After a bit of a wait, Future, Drake and Tems bring the third song with “wait” in its title to No. 1 on the Hot 100. “Wait for U” follows “Right Here Waiting,” by Richard Marx (for three weeks in August 1989), and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” by Aretha Franklin and George Michael (two weeks, April 1987).

Notably, 20 weeks into 2022, sparked by Future’s four arrivals joining Harry Styles and Jack Harlow’s hits (“As It Was” and “First Class,” respectively), the Hot 100 hosts six songs in the top 10 that were released in 2022, marking the first week that more than half the top 10 consists of songs released this year.

April 30, 2022

“IT WAS” AN EXTENDED STAY

Harry Styles‘ “As It Was” rebounds to No. 1 after dipping to No. 2 last week.  Styles claims his first multi-week Hot 100 No. 1, after his prior leader, “Watermelon Sugar,” reigned for a week in August 2020.  He’s the first soloist from One Direction with a No. 1 to dominate for multiple weeks; beyond Styles’ two toppers, former 1D member Zayn has also led solo, for a week with “Pillowtalk” upon its debut in February 2016.

“JESUS” CHARTS

Morgan Wallen’s “Don’t Think Jesus” debuts at No. 7 on the Hot 100. Wallen adds his third Hot 100 top 10, and third to debut in the bracket, after “7 Summers” bowed and peaked at No. 6 in August 2020 and “Wasted on You” started at its No. 9 high in January 2021.

April 23, 2022

“FIRST” THINGS FIRST

“First Class” – which interpolates Fergie’s 2007 two-week Hot 100 No. 1 “Glamorous,” featuring Ludacris – starts as Jack Harlow’s second Hot 100 leader and first on his own, as well as his first to debut at No. 1, after Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby,” with Harlow, ascended to the summit for a week in October 2021.

“First Class” interpolates Fergie’s “Glamorous,” which became her second of three Hot 100 No. 1s, for two weeks beginning on the March 24, 2007, chart. (She also made three trips to the summit as a member of The Black Eyed Peas in 2009-10.)

“First Class” is the first Hot 100 No. 1 to rework another former leader – since Drake’s “Way 2 Sexy,” which ruled the Sept. 18, 2021, chart in its debut week; the latter reimagines Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy,” which reigned for three weeks in February 1992.

“FIRST” SONGS FIRST

“First Class” is the fourth Hot 100 No. 1 with, aptly, the word “first” in its title. Here’s an updated rundown, with the … first … having led just over 50 years ago:

“First Class,” Jack Harlow, one week to-date at No. 1, beginning April 23, 2022

“The First Night,” Monica, five weeks, beginning Oct. 3, 1998

“The First Time,” Surface, two weeks, beginning Jan. 26, 1991

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Roberta Flack, six weeks, beginning April 15, 1972

April 16, 2022

ONLY ONE DIRECTION

“As It Was” by Harry Styles is the first song to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100 by any act in 2022.

“As It Was” follows “Watermelon Sugar” as Styles’ second Hot 100 No. 1 – which completed a 20-week trip to the top on the Aug. 15, 2020, chart.  Styles adds his fourth Hot 100 top 10. “Sign of the Times” bounded in at No. 4 (his previous best starting point), its peak, in April 2017 and “Adore You” climbed to No. 6 in April 2020.

Thanks to “As It Was” and “Watermelon Sugar,” Styles is the first member of One Direction to tally multiple Hot 100 No. 1s. He one-ups Zayn, whose “Pillowtalk” ruled in its debut week (Feb. 20, 2016).  Styles and Zayn make One Direction the first group with two members that have debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 with solo songs.

One Direction, which Zayn departed in 2015 and is on an indefinite break, has charted six Hot 100 top 10s, reaching a No. 2 high with “Best Song Ever” in August 2013.

THE BRITISH ARE HERE!

Styles — born in Redditch, Worcestershire, England — and Glass Animals, who formed in Oxford, England, combine for the first set of back-to-back Hot 100 No. 1s by British acts in lead roles in over 30 years. They follow George Michael and Elton John, whose “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down Me” topped the Feb. 1, 1992, chart and was supplanted by Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy,” which began a three-week reign on the Feb. 8 survey.

Meanwhile, British acts hold the top two spots on the Hot 100 simultaneously for the first time in over five years, with the last such occurrence also invoking a One Direction member gone solo. On the March 4, 2017, chart, Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” notched its fourth of 12 weeks at No. 1 and Zayn’s “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker),” with Taylor Swift, rose to its No. 2 peak.

“STAY” WON’T GO

The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” slips 2-4 on the Hot 100, after seven weeks at No. 1. As the track has spent all 39 of its weeks on the Hot 100 in the top 10, dating to its entrance at No. 3 on the July 24, 2021, chart, it passes Post Malone’s “Circles” for the longest consecutive run in the top 10 from a debut; “Circles” logged its first 38 weeks on the list in the tier in 2019-20.

April 9, 2022

HIGH 5 FOR GLASS ANIMALS

With its fifth week atop the Hot 100, “Heat Waves” becomes one of only nine No. 1s by British groups to reign for at least that long in the chart’s archives (with five involving Paul McCartney, via The Beatles or Wings). The song boasts the longest command by a British group since UB40’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” which led for seven weeks in 1993.

9, “Hey Jude,” The Beatles, Sept. 28, 1968

8, “Every Breath You Take,” The Police, July 9, 1983

8, “Night Fever,” Bee Gees, March 18, 1978

7, “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” UB40, July 24, 1993

7, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles, Feb. 1, 1964

5, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, March 12, 2022

5, “Silly Love Songs,” Wings, May 22, 1976

5, “Get Back,” The Beatles (with Billy Preston), May 24, 1969

5, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” The Beatles, April 4, 1964

(The Bee Gees were born on the Isle of Man and moved to the U.K. proper, Australia and back to the U.K.; The Police and Wings featured British frontmen and British and American members.)

Among all British acts (duo/groups and soloists), Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!” (featuring American Bruno Mars) and Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” share the longest Hot 100 domination: 14 weeks each, in 2015 and 1997-98, respectively.

“STAY” JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER

The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” holds at No. 2 on the Hot 100, after seven weeks at No. 1.  As the track has spent all 38 of its weeks on the Hot 100 in the top 10, dating to its entrance at No. 3 on the July 24, 2021, chart, it ties Post Malone’s “Circles” for the longest consecutive run in the top 10 from a debut; “Circles” logged its first 38 weeks on the list in the tier in 2019-20. 

This song also hold ever-increasing record for most weeks ever at Nos. 1 and 2 Combined on the Hot 100.  Here’s the current breakdown…

21, “Stay,” The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber (7 weeks at No. 1/14 weeks at No. 2), 2021-22 (through the April 9, 2022, chart)

19, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (19/0), 2019

18, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars (14/4), 2015

17, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber (16/1), 2017

16, “Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran (12/4), 2017

16, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas (14/2), 2009

16, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey (14/2), 2005

16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16/0), 1995-96

15, “Rockstar,” Post Malone feat. 21 Savage (8/7), 2017-18

15, “Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey (12/3), 2016

15, “All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor (8/7), 2014

15, “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men (14/1), 1994

15, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston (14/1), 1992-93

(As all those songs reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, two titles share the mark for the most weeks at No. 2 without rising to the top spot: Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott’s “Work It” and Foreigner’s “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” each of which spent 10 weeks peaking at No. 2, in 2002-03 and 1981-82, respectively.)

“ENERGY” ABOUNDS

Latto leaps to her first Hot 100 top 10, as “Big Energy” vaults 11-3.  The song bounds following the March 28 arrival of the song’s remix with Mariah Carey and featuring DJ Khaled. (Carey and DJ Khaled are not listed on “Big Energy” on the Hot 100, as the remix did not account for the majority of the song’s overall consumption during the tracking week.) Carey sings a portion of her 1995 eight-week No. 1 “Fantasy” in the remix; both songs interpolate Tom Tom Club’s classic “Genius of Love,” which hit No. 31 on the Hot 100 in April 1982.

DRAGON THEIR WAY TO ANOTHER TOP 5

Imagine Dragons and JID’s “Enemy” advances 7-5. Imagine Dragons notch their fourth top five Hot 100 hit (among five top 10s), following “Radioactive” (No. 3, July 2013); “Believer” (No. 4, August 2017); and “Thunder” (No. 4, December 2017). Rapper/singer JID earns his first top five hit on the chart.

April 4, 2022

4 AND COUNTING

Notably, with its fourth week atop the Hot 100, “Heat Waves” ties for the ninth-longest reign among songs by British groups in the chart’s 63-year history. The song boasts the longest command by a British group (since its second week at No. 1) since Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” also led for four weeks just over 25 years ago.

Longest-Leading Hot 100 No. 1s by British Groups

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1

9, “Hey Jude,” The Beatles, Sept. 28, 1968

8, “Every Breath You Take,” The Police, July 9, 1983

8, “Night Fever,” Bee Gees, March 18, 1978

7, “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” UB40, July 24, 1993

7, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles, Feb. 1, 1964

5, “Silly Love Songs,” Wings, May 22, 1976

5, “Get Back,” The Beatles (with Billy Preston), May 24, 1969

5, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” The Beatles, April 4, 1964

4, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, March 12, 2022

4, “Wannabe,” Spice Girls, Feb. 22, 1997

4, “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II),” Pink Floyd, March 22, 1980

4, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” Queen, Feb. 23, 1980

4, “Stayin’ Alive,” Bee Gees, Feb. 4, 1978

4, “My Love,” Paul McCartney and Wings, June 2, 1973

4, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?,” Bee Gees, Aug. 7, 1971

4, “Honky Tonk Women,” The Rolling Stones, Aug. 23, 1969

4, “Yesterday,” The Beatles, Oct. 9, 1965

4, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” The Rolling Stones, July 10, 1965

(The Bee Gees’ members were born on the Isle of Man and moved to the U.K. proper, Australia and back to the U.K.; The Police and Wings featured British frontmen and British and American members.)

Among all British acts (duo/groups and soloists), Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!” (featuring American Bruno Mars) and Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” share the longest Hot 100 domination: 14 weeks each, in 2015 and 1997-98, respectively.

20 FOR THE BIEBS

Justin Bieber’s “Ghost” rises 6-5 for a new Hot 100 high, becoming his landmark 20th top five hit. He’s only the 10th act to reach the threshold.

Most Top Five Hot 100 Hits

29, The Beatles

28, Madonna

27, Mariah Carey

27, Drake

24, Janet Jackson

23, Rihanna

21, Elvis Presley (with the start of his career having predated the chart’s inception)

20, Justin Bieber

20, Michael Jackson

20, Stevie Wonder

19, Whitney Houston

19, Elton John

19, Taylor Swift

Meanwhile, with “Stay” and “Ghost,” Bieber is the first artist with two songs in the Hot 100’s top five simultaneously in over six months, since Drake, on the Sept. 18, 2021, chart, when he joined The Beatles as the only acts ever to infuse the entire top five in a single week.

5 FOR THE CAT

Doja Cat’s “Woman” hits the Hot 100’s top 10, climbing 12-9.  The song is Doja Cat’s fifth Hot 100 top 10 and third from her 2021 album Planet Her, following “Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA (No. 3, July 2021), and “Need to Know” (No. 8, November 2021). She previously reached the region with “Say So,” featuring Nicki Minaj (No. 1, one week, May 2020), and as featured, with Megan Thee Stallion, on Ariana Grande’s “34+35” (No. 2, January 2021).

March 26, 2022

A CONTINUING “HEAT WAVE”

As “Heat Waves” reigns in its 61st total week on the Hot 100, it ties as the fifth-longest-charting No. 1 in the list’s history (and is almost assured of moving into second place within two months).

Longest-Charting Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s

90 weeks on Hot 100 (an overall record), “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd (2019-21; four weeks at No. 1)

68 weeks, “Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock (2011-12; six weeks at No. 1)

65 weeks, “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele (2010-12; seven weeks at No. 1)

63 weeks, “Save Your Tears,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (2020-22; two weeks at No. 1; still on chart)

61 weeks, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals (2021-22; three weeks at No. 1 to-date; still on chart)

61 weeks, “Circles,” Post Malone (2019-20; three weeks at No. 1)

60 weeks, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio (1995-97; 14 weeks at No. 1)

“STAY” A LITTLE BIT LONGER

The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” rebounds 5-2 on the Hot 100, after seven weeks at No. 1.  The track has spent all 36 of its weeks on the Hot 100 in the top 10, dating to its entrance at No. 3 on the July 24, 2021, chart; only Post Malone’s “Circles” has linked a longer consecutive run in the top 10 from a debut: 38 weeks, in 2019-20.

IMAGINE YOUR “ENEMY” MOVING

Imagine Dragons and JID’s “Enemy” surges 12-8 on the Hot 100.  The song is showcased at the beginning of each episode of Netflix’s animated series Arcane: League of Legends, which premiered Nov. 6, 2021.

Imagine Dragons notch their fifth Hot 100 top 10, following “Radioactive” (No. 3, July 2013); “Demons” (No. 6, December 2013); “Believer” (No. 4, August 2017); and “Thunder” (No. 4, December 2017) – interestingly enough, all one word titles. Rapper/singer JID earns his first top 10.

March 19, 2022

60 AND COUNTING

In its second week at #1, “Heat Waves” becomes just the 20th title to have spent 60 or more weeks on the Hot 100 (among around 30,000 total entries since the chart originated in August 1958).

It’s the seventh No. 1 to chart for 60 or more weeks, joining…

The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” (an overall-record 90)

LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock (68)

Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” (65)

The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Tears” (62; still charting)

Post Malone’s “Circles” (61)

Los Del Rio’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (60).

And while not hitting #1, this song became the #1 song of 2021.  “Levitating” by Dua Lipa peaked at #2 and is currently in its 70^th week on the chart.

BRITISH GROUPS AT #1

Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” is the first song by a British group to have topped the Hot 100 for multiple weeks in just over 25 years: since Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” led for four weeks beginning Feb. 22, 1997. (In between, the only other British group to reign – Coldplay – notched two No. 1s that led for a week each: “Viva La Vida,” in June 2008, and “My Universe,” with BTS, in October 2021.)

Among all British acts prior to Glass Animals, Adele most recently dominated for 10 weeks beginning in October with “Easy on Me.”

March 12, 2022

SHATTERED “GLASS”

Just a heads up that the bulk of this week’s trivia is going to be based on the British group, Glass Animals.  They formed in Oxford, England in 2010 and are currently up for Best New Artist at this year’s Grammys – which will be held on Sunday, April 3.

MARATHON RUN TO NUMBER ONE

“Heat Waves” tops the Hot 100 in its 59th week on the chart, soaring past the prior mark (almost by six months) for the lengthiest climb to No. 1.

59 weeks, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, hit No. 1 March 12, 2022

35 weeks, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey, Dec. 21, 2019

33 weeks, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, Aug. 3, 1996

31 weeks, “Amazed, Lonestar, March 4, 2000

30 weeks, “All of Me,” John Legend, May 17, 2014

27 weeks, “With Arms Wide Open,” Creed, Nov. 11, 2000

26 weeks, “Everything You Want,” Vertical Horizon, July 15, 2000

25 weeks, “Red Red Wine,” UB40, Oct. 25, 1988

All eight songs above except for “With Arms Wide Open” and “Everything You Want” logged their journeys to No. 1 over interrupted runs. “Heat Waves” debuted on the Jan. 16, 2021-dated Hot 100; after two weeks off the chart, the song returned on the Feb. 6 survey and has remained on since.

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM, NOW WE HERE!

As “Heat Waves” debuted on the Jan. 16, 2021-dated Hot 100 at No. 100, the track completes a rare 100-to-1 odyssey on the Hot 100.

Here’s a recap of all 11 singles that have summited the chart after starting on the first step (an eclectic list whose previous two entries, coincidentally, belong to Wiz Khalifa).

“Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, hit No. 1 March 12, 2022

“See You Again,” Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, April 25, 2015

“Black and Yellow,” Wiz Khalifa, Feb. 19, 2011

“Kiss Kiss,” Chris Brown feat. T-Pain, Nov. 10, 2007

“Can’t Help Falling in Love,” UB40, July 24, 1993

“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” Vicki Lawrence, April 7, 1973

“When a Man Loves a Woman,” Percy Sledge, May 28, 1966

“Go Away Little Girl,” Steve Lawrence, Jan. 12, 1963

“Michael,” The Highwaymen, Sept. 4, 1961

“Teen Angel,” Mark Dinning, Feb. 8, 1960

“Kansas City,” Wilbert Harrison, May 18, 1959

TAKING THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE TO NUMBER ONE

Meanwhile, “Heat Waves” is just the 10th Hot 100 No. 1 to have topped Alternative Airplay, dating to the latter list’s launch in September 1988.  The song is the first to have topped both tallies since Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” which led the Alternative Airplay charts dated Aug. 10 and 17, 2019, and the Hot 100 dated that Aug. 24. Before Eilish, Lorde led both lists with “Royals” in 2013. 

Until this week, no group had ruled Alternative Airplay and the Hot 100 with the same song since fun., with “We Are Young” in 2012. (That track topped the Hot 100 before Alternative Airplay; “Heat Waves” is the first song by a group to lead Alternative Airplay and, subsequently, the Hot 100 since Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me” in 2001.)

“Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, 2021-22

“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish, 2019

“Royals,” Lorde, 2013

“We Are Young,” fun. feat. Janelle Monae, 2012

“Somebody That I Used to Know,” Gotye feat. Kimbra, 2012

“Viva La Vida,” Coldplay, 2008

“How You Remind Me,” Nickelback, 2001-02

“Butterfly,” Crazy Town, 2001

“One Week,” Barenaked Ladies, 1998

“Nothing Compares 2 U,” Sinead O’Connor, 1990

BRITISH NUMBER ONES

Glass Animals continue a recent trend of British artists leading the Hot 100. Half of the last six No. 1s, dating to October, include British acts, as “Heat Waves” follows Adele’s “Easy on Me,” which reigned for 10 weeks, and “My Universe,” by England’s Coldplay and South Korea’s BTS, a one-week No. 1.

SOMETHING ABOUT “GLASS” AND “HEAT” AND “WAVES”

Thanks to Glass Animals, the word “glass” shines atop the Hot 100 in an act’s name for the second time: Looking Glass led with “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” nearly 50 years ago, on the Aug. 26, 1972, chart.

Let’s also not gloss over the three songs with “glass” in their titles to top the Hot 100: “Judy in Disguise (With Glasses),” by John Fred and the Playboys, in 1968; “Heart of Glass,” by Blondie, in 1979; and “Raise Your Glass,” by P!nk, in 2010.

Meanwhile, another Glass-named animal act almost hit No. 1 on the Hot 100: Glass Tiger leapt to No. 2 with “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” in 1986. Also, Martha & the Vandellas’ “Heat Wave” hit No. 4 in 1963, while Linda Ronstadt’s cover rose to No. 5 in 1975. Plus, famed R&B group Heatwave notched three Hot 100 hits in 1977-78: “Boogie Nights” (No. 2), “Always and Forever” (No. 18) and “The Groove Line” (No. 7).

This week also marks the first in which a song with the word “heat” in its title is hottest on the Hot 100.

March 5, 2022

5 FOR “BRUNO”

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from Disney’s hit animated film Encanto, rules the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a fifth week.

The song, by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast (all singing as the characters that they voice in the movie), extends its mark for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 ever for a hit from a Disney movie – and now claims more weeks on top than the other two leaders from Disney movies combined…  Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s “A Whole New World,” from Aladdin, led for a week in 1993 plus the three weeks for “All For Love,” by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting, from the live action The Three Musketeers, led for three weeks in 1994.

SOLO SONGWRITERS

Notably, the top two songs on the Hot 100 were written by a single writer each: as noted above, Lin-Manuel Miranda penned “Bruno,” while Glass Animals’ frontman Dave Bayley wrote “Heat Waves.” A week earlier, the songs marked the first solo-authored titles in the top two simultaneously since Matchbox Twenty’s “Bent,” written by the band’s Rob Thomas, and Vertical Horizon’s “Everything You Want,” written by the group’s Matt Scannell, placed at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, on the chart dated July 29, 2000.

SPANNING THE “HEART”

Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” also revisits the region (12-10), after it hit No. 7. John expands his span of top 10s to 51 years, one month and one week, dating to his first appearance in the top 10 with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971), the longest among all acts not involving holiday songs.

February 26, 2022

DISNEY SUPREMO

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from Disney’s hit animated film Encanto, leads the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a fourth week.  The ensemble song – by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast (all singing as the characters that they voice in the movie) – claims outright the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 ever for a hit from a Disney movie, animated or live action, as it passes the three-week reign of “All for Love,” by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting, from The Three Musketeers, in 1994.

Peak position, Year Title, Artist, Disney production (* denotes live-action film) (Label)

No. 1 (four weeks to-date), 2022, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast, Encanto (Walt Disney)

No. 1 (three weeks), 1994, “All for Love,” Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting, The Three Musketeers* (A&M)

No. 1 (one), 1993, “A Whole New World,” Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle, Aladdin (Columbia)

No. 4, 2009, “The Climb,” Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie* (Walt Disney/Hollywood)

No. 4, 2006, “Breaking Free,” Zac Efron, Andrew Seeley & Vanessa Anne Hudgens, High School Musical* (Walt Disney)

No. 4, 1995, “Colors of the Wind,” Vanessa Williams, Pocahontas (Hollywood)

No. 4, 1994, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” Elton John, The Lion King (Hollywood)

No. 5, 2014, “Let It Go,” Idina Menzel, Frozen (Walt Disney)

NUMBER ONE SOUNDTRACK/ALBUM AND SONG SIMULTANEOUSLY

As “Bruno” tops the Hot 100 for a fourth week, its parent album, the Encanto soundtrack, leads the Billboard 200 albums chart for a sixth week (and fifth in a row).

Encanto and “Bruno” mark the first soundtrack and corresponding song to have led the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously for at least four weeks in 29 years, since Whitney Houston’s soundtrack to The Bodyguard and “I Will Always Love You” lined up atop the respective rankings for 12 weeks (Dec. 12, 1992-Feb. 27, 1993; coincidentally, “Always” was dethroned by “A Whole New World”).

Beyond soundtracks, Encanto and “Bruno” are the first album and corresponding song overall to have topped the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously for as many as four weeks since Drake’s Scorpion and “In My Feelings” on the charts dated July 21-Aug. 11, 2018.

“HEAT” RISES

Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” ascends 4-2 for a new Hot 100 best (after it charted as high as No. 3). The song reaches the runner-up spot in its 57th week on the chart, shattering the mark for the longest climb to the top two, previously held by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (35 weeks, over multiple seasonal runs until the 1994 classic hit No. 1 for the first time in December 2019).

HE “WANTS” A TOP 10

Lil Nas X’s “Thats What I Want” returns to the Hot 100’s top 10, advancing 12-9 for a new high. The song debuted at its previous No. 10 best on the Oct. 2, 2021, chart as parent album Montero opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The track has remained in the Hot 100’s top half each week since its debut.

February 19, 2022

THREE FOR “BRUNO”

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from Disney’s hit animated film Encanto, tops the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a third week.

The ensemble song – by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast (all singing as the characters that they voice in the movie) – ties for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 ever for a hit from a Disney movie, animated or live-action, matching the three-week reign of “All for Love,” by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting, from The Three Musketeers, in 1994.

Here’s a recap of the highest-charting Hot 100 hits from Disney movies, animated and live-action combined:

Peak position, Year Title, Artist, Disney production (* denotes live-action film) (Label)

No. 1 (three weeks to-date), 2022, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast, Encanto (Walt Disney)

No. 1 (three weeks), 1994, “All for Love,” Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting, The Three Musketeers* (A&M)

No. 1 (one), 1993, “A Whole New World,” Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle, Aladdin (Columbia)

No. 4, 2009, “The Climb,” Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie* (Walt Disney/Hollywood)

No. 4, 2006, “Breaking Free,” Zac Efron, Andrew Seeley & Vanessa Anne Hudgens, High School Musical* (Walt Disney)

No. 4, 1995, “Colors of the Wind,” Vanessa Williams, Pocahontas (Hollywood)

No. 4, 1994, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” Elton John, The Lion King (Hollywood)

No. 5, 2014, “Let It Go,” Idina Menzel, Frozen (Walt Disney)

Encanto and “Bruno” mark the first soundtrack and corresponding song to have led the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously for at least three weeks in over 26 years, since Dangerous Minds and Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” featuring L.V., aligned atop the respective rankings dated Sept. 9, 16 and 23, 1995.

NICKI AND BABY’S “PROBLEM”

Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby’s “Do We Have a Problem?” bounds onto the Hot 100 at No. 2. 

Minaj adds her 20th Hot 100 top 10. She’s the 22nd artist to reach the milestone over the chart’s history (which dates to 1958), and the seventh woman, after Madonna (38), Rihanna (31), Taylor Swift (30), Mariah Carey (28), Janet Jackson (27) and Whitney Houston (23). Drake leads all acts with 54 top 10s.

In Minaj’s two most recent trips to the Hot 100’s top 10 before “Problem,” she earned her first two No. 1s: as featured on Doja Cat’s “Say So,” which topped the May 16, 2020-dated chart, and with 6ix9ine on “Trollz,” which bowed atop the June 27, 2020, chart.

Lil Baby notches his ninth Hot 100 top 10 and ties his best rank and debut: he previously began at No. 2 as featured on two Drake tracks: “Wants and Needs” (March 2021) and “Girls Want Girls” (September 2021).

THE “GHOST” OF JUSTIN BIEBER

Justin Bieber’s “Ghost” reaches the Hot 100’s top 10, rising 12-9.  As it enters the Hot 100’s top 10 in its 20th week on the chart, it completes his longest trek to the tier, surpassing the 18-week journey of Skrillex and Diplo’s No. 8-peaking “Where Are Ü Now,” featuring Bieber, in 2015. Bieber banks his 26th Hot 100 top 10, pushing him into a solo share of the 11th-most top 10s in the chart’s history. (Of Bieber’s 26 top 10s, 17 have debuted in the top 10.)

February 12, 2022

WE’RE STILL TALKING ABOUT “BRUNO”

2 and Counting

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from Disney’s Encanto, casts its spell atop the chart for a second week.

The ensemble song – by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast (all singing as the characters that they voice in the movie) – becomes the first song from a Disney animated film to lead the Hot 100 for multiple weeks. It one-ups the only other such song to have reigned: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s Aladdin theme “A Whole New World,” which spent a week at No. 1 in 1993.

Meanwhile, “Bruno” is now the first soundtrack song to top the Hot 100 for multiple weeks since Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again,” featuring Charlie Puth, from Furious 7, tallied 12 weeks at No. 1 in April-July 2015. In between, three soundtrack hits led for a week each: Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” from Trolls (May 28, 2016); Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower,” from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Jan. 19, 2019); and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow,” from A Star Is Born (March 9, 2019).

BOTH Soundtrack AND Single at #1

As “Bruno” crowns the Hot 100 for a second week, its parent album, the Encanto soundtrack, tops the Billboard 200 albums chart for a fourth week. 

Encanto and “Bruno” mark the first soundtrack and corresponding song to have led the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously for multiple weeks in over 19 years, since 8 Mile and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” ruled the respective rankings dated Jan. 11 and 18, 2003. Before that, the last such multi-week double domination belonged to Titanic and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” on the charts dated Feb. 28 and March 7, 1998.

An Encanto Sandwich

Encanto music bookends the latest Hot 100, as Carlos Vives’ “Colombia, Mi Encanto” debuts at No. 100. The song by the venerable star – like Gaitán and Castillo, from Colombia – is the eighth from the Encanto soundtrack to hit the Hot 100.

“STAY”ING IN THE TOP 10

The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” holds at No. 4 on the Hot 100, after seven weeks at No. 1. The collab has spent its first 30 weeks on the chart in the top 10, becoming just the fifth song to achieve the feat; Post Malone’s “Circles” set a record by logging its first 38 weeks on the Hot 100 in the top 10.

February 5, 2022

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRUNO!!!

“World” Meet “Bruno”

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” becomes only the second Hot 100 No. 1 from a Disney animated film. It follows Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s Aladdin theme “A Whole New World,” which topped the March 6, 1993, chart.

Most Credited Artists on a #1

The billing of Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast outpaces the quintet of DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne, whose “I’m the One” topped the May 20, 2017, chart. Gaitán, Castillo, Adassa, Feliz, Guerrero and Beatriz each lead the Hot 100 for the first time. They voice Encanto characters, and Madrigal family members, Pepa, Félix, Dolores, Camilo, Isabela and Mirabel, respectively.

Notably, the superstar-infused “We Are the World,” which topped the Hot 100 for four weeks in 1985, was billed as by USA for Africa.

Single Writer on a #1 Single

“Bruno” was written by Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who achieves his first No. 1 writing credit on the Hot 100.  The song is the first Hot 100 No. 1 by only one writer in over four years, since Ed Sheeran’s self-penned “Perfect” wrapped its six-week reign in January 2018.  “Bruno,” is the first No. 1 of the 2020s by a single writer, follows four in the ’10s and nine in the ’00s.

Disney Soundtrack & Song BOTH at #1

As “Bruno” crowns the Hot 100, its parent album, the Encanto soundtrack, tops the Billboard 200 albums chart for a third week.  Notably, the Aladdin soundtrack, from which “A Whole New World” was released, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, in February 1993.  Thus, this week marks the first frame that a soundtrack to a Disney animated movie and one of its songs simultaneously lead the Billboard 200 and Hot 100, respectively.

Until this week, no soundtrack and corresponding song at all had led the charts simultaneously since A Star Is Born and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow” ruled the respective rankings dated March 9, 2019.

Otras siete canciones de Encanto (or Seven other songs from Encanto)

John Leguizamo voices Encanto‘s Bruno Madrigal. While his character is the subject of the Hot 100’s new No. 1 and he’s not one of its singers, the acclaimed (and socially-conscious) veteran actor is scaling the chart with his first entry thanks to another Encanto song, “All of You.”

Seven Encanto tracks, all written solely by Miranda and produced by Miranda and Mike Elizondo, place on the Feb. 5 Hot 100, and all reach new highs:

No. 1, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast

No. 9, “Surface Pressure,” Jessica Darrow

No. 20, “The Family Madrigal,” Beatriz, Olga Merediz & Encanto Cast

No. 27, “What Else Can I Do?,” Guerrero & Beatriz

No. 36, “Dos Oruguitas,” Sebastián Yatra (up from No. 44, as the song, shortlisted for a best original song Oscar nomination, brings Yatra to the Hot 100’s top 40 in his first appearance on the chart)

No. 48, “Waiting On a Miracle,” Beatriz

No. 82, “All of You,” Beatriz, Merediz, John Leguizamo, Adassa, Maluma & Encanto Cast

Disney Giant Slayers

Just as “A Whole New World” dethroned a long-leading ballad (Whitney Houston’s 14-week No. 1 “I Will Always Love You”) atop the Hot 100, “Bruno” succeeds Adele’s “Easy on Me,” which ranks at No. 2 after 10 weeks on top.

“HEART” KEEPS ROLLING…

Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” (9-10) expands his span of top 10s to 51 years and two weeks, dating to his first appearance in the top 10 with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971), the longest such stretch among all acts not involving holiday songs.

January 29, 2022

MAKING IT LOOK “EASY”

Adele’s “Easy on Me” claims its 10^th non-consecutive week at Number One.  She equals her longest reign, previously established by the 10-week command of her 2015-16 smash “Hello.”

“Easy on Me” becomes the 41st single in the Hot 100’s 63-year history to spend 10 or more weeks at No. 1. It’s the first since BTS’ “Butter” logged 10 weeks on top in June-September 2021.

She is the seventh artist with at least two No. 1s that have each ruled for double-digit weeks, joining…

Boyz II Men (3)

1992: End of the Road (from “Boomerang”) – 13 weeks

1994: I’ll Make Love to You – 14 weeks

1995: One Sweet Day (with Mariah Carey) – 16 weeks

Drake (3)

2016: One Dance (featuring WizKid & Kyla) – 10 weeks

2018: God’s Plan – 11 weeks

2018: In My Feelings – 10 weeks

The Black Eyed Peas (2)

2009: Boom Boom Pow – 12 weeks

2009: I Gotta Feeling – 14 weeks

Mariah Carey (2)

1995: One Sweet Day (with Boyz II Men) – 16 weeks

2005: We Belong Together – 14 weeks

Santana (2)

1999: Smooth (featuring Rob Thomas) – 12 weeks

2000: Maria Maria (featuring the Product G&B) – 10 weeks

Pharrell Williams (2)

2013: Blurred Lines (Robin Thicke featuring T.I.) – 12 weeks

2014: Happy – 10 weeks

Cumulative Weeks @ #1

Adele ties for the ninth-most cumulative weeks spent at No. 1 on the Hot 100, as she has totaled 34 frames on top among her five leaders; before “Easy on Me” and “Hello,” she reigned with “Rolling in the Deep” (seven weeks, 2011), “Someone Like You” (five, 2011) and “Set Fire to the Rain” (two, 2012).

1. Mariah Carey – 87 weeks
2. Rihanna – 60
3. The Beatles – 59
4. Drake – 52
5. Boyz II Men – 50
6. Usher – 47
7. Beyoncé – 41
8. Michael Jackson – 37
9. Adele – 34

tie. Elton John – 34
tie. Bruno Mars – 34

CONTINUING THE “TALK ABOUT BRUNO”

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast, ascends 4-2 for a new Hot 100 high.  “Bruno “solely boasts the second-highest rank for a song from a Disney animated film, dating to the chart’s August 1958 start. It trails only Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s “A Whole New World,” from Aladdin, a No. 1 for one week in March 1993.

“COLD” SPAN

Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” rebounds 10-9 on the Hot 100, after reaching No. 7. John expands his span of top 10s to 51 years and a week, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971), the longest such stretch among all acts not involving holiday songs.

“PRESSURE” TO BE THE FIRST

Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Encanto track “Surface Pressure” by Jessica Darrow darts 14-10.  Darrow, who voices Encanto character Luisa Madrigal, scores a Hot 100 top 10 in her first visit to the chart. 

Meanwhile, thanks to “Bruno” and “Pressure” (both solo written by Lin-Manuel Miranda), Encanto becomes the first soundtrack from a Disney animated film to have yielded multiple Hot 100 top 10s. (The Lion King previously came closest to the achievement: Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” roared to No. 4 and follow-up “Circle of Life” reached No. 18 in 1994.)

January 22, 2022

“EASY” 9

“Easy on Me” moves to within a week of Adele’s longest Hot 100 domination: “Hello” reigned for 10 weeks in 2015-16.

LET’S “TALK ABOUT BRUNO”

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast, ascends 5-4 for a new Hot 100 highpoint.  It is now tied for the second-highest rank for a song from a Disney animated film, dating to the list’s August 1958 start. It trails only Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s “A Whole New World,” from Aladdin (No. 1, one week, March 1993), and matches the No. 4 highs for Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” from The Lion King (August 1994), and Vanessa Williams’ “Colors of the Wind,” from Pocahontas (August 1995). One other song from a Disney animated film has hit the top five: Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go,” from Frozen (No. 5, April 2014).

“PUSHIN” ON THE CHART @ #7

Gunna and Future’s “Pushin P,” featuring Young Thug, bounds onto the Hot 100 at No. 7.  Gunna earns his third Hot 100 top 10, and first to debut in the region, following “Drip Too Hard,” with Lil Baby (No. 4 peak, October 2018), and “Lemonade,” with Internet Money and featuring Don Toliver and NAV (No. 6, November 2020).

Future and Young Thug add their fifth and sixth Hot 100 top 10s, respectively; it’s their second shared top 10, after Drake’s “Way 2 Sexy,” on which they’re both featured, roared in atop the Sept. 18, 2021, chart.

January 15, 2022

With this week’s chart, we have packed away the tree, ornaments and the Christmas music.  We’ll begin to retrieve them from the attic sometime in late November.  And with the removal of 20 holiday songs, we’re flush with a combination of 20 re-entries and new songs into the 40.  And with this flurry of activity, some songs have achieved new peaks.  Let’s take a look, shall we…?

“EASY” RETURN

Adele’s “Easy on Me” returns to the top spot for her eighth non-consecutive week.  She breaks the seven week tie with “Rolling in the Deep” (2011) to become her second longest #1, just behind “Hello” (2015-16) which reigned for ten weeks.

“STAY” ISN’T LEAVING

The Kid LAROI/Justin Bieber collab has spent their first 26 weeks (or, six months) on the chart in the Top 10.  “Stay,” which rebounds back to #2 (after spending seven non-consecutive weeks at #1), is just the sixth song to achieve the feat; Post Malone’s “Circles” set a record by logging its first 38 weeks on the Hot 100 in the top 10.

“HEAT WAVES” SIZZLES

Heat Waves/Glass Animals move to #3 passing their prior #7 peak.  By doing this, they complete a record 51-week ascent on the chart to the top five; the single (which debuted at No. 100 on the Jan. 16, 2021, tally) bests the 45-week trek for Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope,” featuring Charlie Puth, in 2020.

SHEERAN “SHIVERS”

“Shivers” by Ed Sheeran warm up to the #4 slot besting its former #5 peak – where it debuted.

LET’S “TALK ABOUT BRUNO”

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” from the Disney animated film, Encanto, is credited to Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast, blasts 50-5 in its second week on the Hot 100; all six soloists are among the Encanto voice cast and earn their first top 10 placements on the chart.  Notably, Encanto is just the sixth animated film soundtrack to top the Billboard 200 since the chart began publishing weekly in March 1956. Meanwhile, “Bruno” is only the fifth song from a Disney animated film to reach the Hot 100’s top five, dating to the list’s August 1958 inception. It follows Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s “A Whole New World,” from Aladdin (No. 1, one week, 1993); Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (No. 4, 1994), from The Lion King; Vanessa Williams’ “Colors of the Wind” (No. 4, 1995), from Pocahontas; and Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go” (No. 5, 2014), from Frozen.

WELCOME BACK, ELTON

Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” roars 20-7 on the Hot 100, reaching the top 10 for the first time (and surpassing its prior No. 11 high).  “Cold Heart” brings elements of four John songs to the Hot 100’s top 10, including one that previously ranked in the region: In the mash-up, John sings part of his No. 18 1990 hit “Sacrifice” and Lipa reprises his No. 6-peaking 1972 classic “Rocket Man” and his No. 25-reaching 1983 hit “Kiss the Bride,” while his 1976 track “Where’s the Shoorah?” serves as its coda. The new combination also credits trio Pnau’s co-writing and co-production.

John achieves his 28th Hot 100 top 10 and first since “Candle in the Wind”/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” marked his ninth No. 1 in October 1997 through January 1998. As he had last appeared in the top 10 on the chart dated Jan. 31, 1998, he ends a break of 23 years, 11 months and two weeks between top 10s. While lengthy, it’s not a record: two weeks ago, The Ronettes’ wrapped a 58-year, two-month gap when “Sleigh Ride” dashed to No. 10, becoming the group’s first top 10 since “Be My Baby” in 1963. The seven longest breaks between top 10s all ended via holiday songs, and all since 2018; among nonseasonal hits (as with “Cold Heart”), Dobie Gray ranks first with a wait of 30 years, two months and a week between his original version of “Drift Away” in 1973 and Uncle Kracker’s remake, featuring Gray, in 2003.

John also ties Mariah Carey (atop last week’s Hot 100 with “All I Want for Christmas Is You”) and Stevie Wonder (his recent duet partner) for the seventh-most Hot 100 top 10s in the chart’s history:

Most Hot 100 Top 10s

1. Drake (54)

2. Madonna (38)

3. The Beatles (34)

4. Rihanna (31)

5. Michael Jackson (30)

5. Taylor Swift (30)

7. Mariah Carey (28)

7. Elton John (28)

7. Stevie Wonder (28)

10. Janet Jackson (27)

Plus, John now boasts Hot 100 top 10s in four distinct decades: the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s and 2020s. He’s the 10th act to have placed in the top 10 in at least four separate decades; Michael Jackson became the first artist to have ranked in the bracket in as many as five decades, from the ’70s through the ’10s (and that’s not including his tenure in the Jackson 5, who first hit the top 10 in the ’60s), and Andy Williams joined him, thanks to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Hot 100 Top 10s in Four or More Decades

’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’10s, ’20s: Andy Williams

’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, 10s: Michael Jackson

’90s, ’00s, ’10s, ’20s: Mariah Carey

’90s, ’00s, ’10s, ’20s: Jay-Z

’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’20s: Elton John

’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’20s: Andy Williams

’80s, ’90s, ’00s, ’10s: Whitney Houston

’80s, ’90s, ’00s, ’10s: Madonna

’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s: Aerosmith

’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s: Cher

’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s: Barbra Streisand

As for his span of Hot 100 top 10s, John expands it to 51 years, 11 months and three weeks, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971). The stretch is the longest among all acts not involving holiday songs, surpassing Jackson’s (42 years, six months and a week); a week ago, thanks to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Andy Williams’ record for the longest top 10 span overall was extended to 62 years and three months, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Lonely Street,” on the chart dated Oct. 12, 1959.

4 for DUA

“Cold Heart” marks Lipa’s fourth Hot 100 top 10, after “New Rules” (No. 6, February 2018); “Don’t Start Now” (No. 2, March 2020); and “Levitating” (No. 2, May 2021).

3 on BLACK

Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” surges 16-10 for its first week in the tier.  He earns his third Hot 100 top 10, following “Tunnel Vision” (No. 6, March 2017) and “ZEZE,” featuring Travis Scott and Offset (No. 2, October 2018).

January 8, 2022

MARIAH CAREY: THE EXTENDED “CHRISTMAS” REMIXES

This week, Mariah Carey extends her already robust trivia count in the following ways – courtesy of “All I Want for Christmas Is You”…

Most weeks at #1 for a Holiday hit: 8

Career weeks @ #1: 87

Longest span atop the Hot 100: From this song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest: two years and 18 days (Dec. 21, 2019-Jan. 8, 2022).

Longest span @ #1 from the very first week: 31 years, five months and a week, dating to her first week at No. 1 on the chart dated Aug. 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

Fifth for eighth: Carey claims her fifth Hot 100 No. 1 to rule for eight weeks or more, tying her with Drake for the most such leaders. She matches the mark thanks to “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men (16 weeks, 1995-96); “We Belong Together” (14, 2005); “Christmas” (eight, 2019-22); “Fantasy” (eight, 1995); and “Dreamlover” (eight, 1993).

STILL “WONDERFUL”

Andy Williams’ 1963 classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” extends his record for the longest span of appearing in the Top 10 to 62 years and three months, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Lonely Street,” on the chart dated Oct. 12, 1959.

January 1, 2022

MORE MARIAH TRIVIA…

5×7

Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. The carol, released in 1994, adds its seventh total week on top, after notching three weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 2019 and two more starting in December 2020, before it returned to the summit a week ago.  “Christmas” is Carey’s fifth Hot 100 No. 1 to rule for seven weeks or more, tying her with Drake for the most such leaders. Adele, Beyoncé, Boyz II Men and Rihanna follow with three each.

#1 @ 50

As it spends its 50th week on the Hot 100, Carey’s “Christmas” is the first song to lead in as late as its 50th frame on the survey. A week earlier, when it reigned in its 49th week, it passed Los Del Rio’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” which led through its 46th week on the chart in November 1996. (The latter also logged multiple runs on the Hot 100, first running up 20 weeks in September 1995-January 1996 before it resurged and returned in May 1996 and lasted on the list through February 1997.)

EXTENDING SEVERAL SPANS

Carey’s “Christmas” extends its mark for the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest: two years and 11 days (Dec. 21, 2019-Jan. 1, 2022).

Plus, the latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” extends Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart: 31 years and five months, dating to her first week at No. 1 on the chart dated Aug. 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

When “Christmas” first hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 dated Dec. 21, 2019, Carey passed Cher, whose solo No. 1s span 27 years and five months, from “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” from its first week at No. 1 in 1971, through “Believe,” through its last week on top in 1999. (If Cher’s career as half of duo Sonny & Cher were combined with her solo output, her No. 1 span would cover 33 years, seven months and two weeks, from Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe,” which reached the top in 1965, through “Believe.”)

ANOTHER YEAR IN THE BOOKS

Carey has now placed at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in a record-extending 18 distinct years (per Hot 100 chart dates): 1990-2000, 2005-06, 2008 and, thanks to “Christmas,” 2019-22.

Next up are three acts that have each spent time atop the Hot 100 in 10 individual years: Paul McCartney/Wings (1971, 1973-76, 1978, 1980, 1982-84; additionally, The Beatles, with him as a member, led in eight years: 1964-70); Michael Jackson (1972, 1979-80, 1983-84, 1987-88, 1991-92, 1995); and Madonna (1984-87, 1989-92, 1995, 2000).

MOST WEEKS @ #1 FOR A HOLIDAY HIT

With its seventh week atop the Hot 100, Carey’s “Christmas” extends its record for the most time at No. 1 among holiday songs. The only other seasonal single to reign, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four weeks on top beginning in December 1958.

OTHER NON-MARIAH CHRISTMAS-RELATED STOCKING STUFFERS

SLEIGH RIDING

The Ronettes‘ “Sleigh Ride,” moves up from No. 13 to No. 10 to make its first Top 10 appearance. The track was originally released in 1963, just after the group posted its lone top 10: its classic “Be My Baby,” which hit No. 2. The act’s return to the top 10 is record-breaking, as it ranks in the region after a break of 58 years and two months.  The act (whose original three members reportedly did not record together after the ’60s) rewrites the record for the longest gap between top 10s, previously held by Burl Ives, who went 56 years, seven months and two weeks from “Funny Way of Laughin’ ” in 1962 to “Holly Jolly Christmas,” which hit the top 10 for the first time during the 2018-19 holiday season.

In between top 10s, and despite the original lineup’s dissolution, The Ronettes maintained a notable pop culture presence, particularly via “Be My Baby.” The song was interpolated, spotlighting lead singer Ronnie Spector’s “oh-oh-oh-oh … be my little baby” signature lines, in Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight,” which hit No. 4 on the Hot 100 in November 1986. The next year, “Be My Baby” received prominent placement in the blockbuster film Dirty Dancing, and on its soundtrack which topped the Billboard 200 for 18 weeks in 1987-88.

IT’S WONDERFUL

The late Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” rises 7-6 on the Hot 100. Originally released in 1963, it hit a No. 5 high last holiday season. With the song’s latest week in the top 10, Williams’ record for the longest span of appearing in the tier is extended to 62 years, two months and three weeks, dating to his first week in the top 10 with “Lonely Street,” on the chart dated Oct. 12, 1959.

7 WHAMS A WHAMMING

Wham!’s “Last Christmas” jingles 9-7 for a new Hot 100 high. A year ago this week, the song, released in 1984, hit the top 10 for the first time, becoming the seventh top 10 for the duo of George Michael (who died Dec. 25, 2016) and Andrew Ridgeley. The pair charted its first six top 10s, including three No. 1s, in 1984-86; Michael subsequently notched 14 solo top 10s, including seven No. 1s, through 1996.

FELIZ FELICIANO

José Feliciano’s 1970 holiday chestnut “Feliz Navidad” returns to the Hot 100’s top 10, dashing 11-8. It hit a No. 6 high last holiday season, two weeks after becoming his second top 10.

December 25, 2021

A CHRISTMAS “CAREY” a/k/a “MARIAH” CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!

So, if you haven’t guessed, this installment of weekly trivia tips is centered around Mariah Carey.  So, here we go…

TOP 10 CHRISTMAS RECORDS

It’s not what you think.  In the rock era, along with this week, there have been nine other occasions where the week ending chart actually was dated December 25.  Here’s a list of those who had a Number One record in their stockings…

1960: Are You Lonesome Tonight?/Elvis Presley

1965: Over and Over/Dave Clark Five

1971: Brand New Key/Melanie

1976: Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)/Rod Stewart

1982: Maneater/Daryl Hall & John Oates

1993: Hero/Mariah Carey

1999: Smooth/Santana featuring Rob Thomas

2004: Drop It Like It’s Hot/Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell

2010: Firework/Katy Perry

2021: All I Want for Christmas Is You/Mariah Carey

If you notice, Mariah is the only one to have done this twice.

BOOKENDING 2021

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the only song in the rock era to be Number One the first (week ending January 2, 2021) and last (December 25, 2021) weeks of any calendar year.

#1 IN THREE SEPARATE CHART RUNS

Carey’s “Christmas” first topped the Hot 100 dated Dec. 21, 2019, and led again on the next two lists, dated Dec. 28, 2019, and Jan. 4, 2020.

The following holiday season, it returned to No. 1 on the chart dated Dec. 19, 2020, and, after a week at No. 2 (below Taylor Swift’s “Willow”), topped the Jan. 2, 2021, dated tally.

As “Christmas” rules the latest, Dec. 25, 2021-dated chart, it claims its sixth total week at No. 1 in its third seasonal run at the summit, becoming the first song in the Hot 100’s 63-year history to lead in three distinct chart runs. The track has re-entered the survey each November or December dating to 2012.

BOOMERANG VISITS TO #1

As “Christmas” has made four interrupted climbs to the top of the Hot 100, on charts dated Dec. 21, 2019, Dec. 19, 2020, Jan. 2, 2021, and now Dec. 25, 2021, it ties 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring iann dior, beginning in October 2020, and Drake’s “Nice for What,” in 2018, as the only songs with four separate ascents to No. 1; unlike “Christmas,” the latter two tracks logged their four distinct rises to No. 1 over unbroken chart stays.

LONGEST SPAN ATOP THE HOT 100

Carey’s “Christmas” now boasts the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest: two years and four days (Dec. 21, 2019-Dec. 25, 2021).

It passes the only other song to lead the Hot 100 over multiple runs: Chubby Checker’s “The Twist,” which topped the tally dated Sept. 19, 1960, before, thanks to new popularity among adult audiences, leading the lists dated Jan. 13 and 20, 1962, ruling again after a gap of a year, three months and three weeks. (Still, that break remains the longest between Hot 100 reigns.)

MOST WEEKS AT #1 FOR A HOLIDAY HIT

With its sixth week atop the Hot 100, Carey’s “Christmas” extends its record for the most time at No. 1 among holiday songs. The only other seasonal single to jingle to the apex, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four weeks on top beginning in December 1958.

MOST CAREER WEEKS AT #1

With “Christmas,” Carey claims her record-extending 85th week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception.  The others in the Top 10 are:

1. Mariah Carey (85)

2. Rihanna (60)

3. The Beatles (59)

4. Drake (52)

5. Boyz II Men (50)

6. Usher (47)

7. Beyoncé (41)

8. Michael Jackson (37)

9. Elton John (34)

10. Bruno Mars (34)

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week on top with her debut single, “Vision of Love,” in 1990.

Further, “Christmas” is Carey’s record fifth Hot 100 No. 1 to rule for six weeks or more. She one-ups Boyz II Men, Drake and Usher, each with four such leaders.

“STAY”…LITERALLY

The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” slides 4-6 on the Hot 100, after seven weeks at No. 1. Notably, over its first 23 weeks on the chart, dating to its July debut at No. 3, the song has yet to rank below No. 6. It’s one of only three titles ever to have spent its first 23 weeks or more in the top six spots, after Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” (27, in 2017) and Post Malone’s “Rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage (also 23, in 2017-18).

7 GEORGE AND ANDREWS

Wham!’s “Last Christmas” dashes back to the Hot 100’s top 10, and its No. 9 high, first reached last holiday season. The song became the seventh Hot 100 top 10 for the duo of George Michael (who died Dec. 25, 2016) and Andrew Ridgeley, after the pair charted its first six in 1984-86, including the No. 1s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Careless Whisper” and “Everything She Wants.” Michael subsequently notched 14 solo top 10s, including seven No. 1s, through 1996.

December 18, 2021

Adele’s fifth Number One, “Easy on Me,” is her third to rule for at least seven weeks – following “Rolling in the Deep” (7 in 2011) and “Hello” (10 in 2015-2016). She is the sixth artist to have reached this rarified air with three or more such Number Ones. Adele joins Drake (5), Mariah Carey and Rihanna (4 each), Beyonce and Boyz II Men (3 each).

Also, Adele is the only act in this elite group that has had their lead singles from three consecutive albums: “Rolling in the Deep” from 21; “Hello” from 25; and “Easy on Me” from 30.

December 11, 2021

With “Easy on Me” spending its sixth non-consecutive week at Number One, Adele is spending her career 30th week in the top slot. It’s only fitting that the lead-off single from her album, 30, helps her achieve this feat.

Adele is the 17th artist – and 8th woman – to reach the 30 cumulative week summit. Here’s how the other ladies shake out…

1. Mariah Carey (84)
2. Rihanna (60)
3. Beyonce (41)
4. Janet Jackson (33)
5. Katy Perry (33)
6. Madonna (32)
7. Whitney Houston (31)
8. Adele (30)

And as you can see, Adele is poised to ride up this list as long as she spends a minimum of four more weeks (and counting) at the top.

December 4, 2021

SIX CAROLS CAROLLING

It’s the first week of December 2021 and there are six Christmas songs within the Top 40.

• 12. All I Want for Christmas Is You/Mariah Carey (peaked at #1)
• 14. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree/Brenda Lee (#2)
• 20. Jingle Bell Rock/Bobby Helms (#3)
• 27. A Holly Jolly Christmas/Burl Ives (#4)
• 30. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year/Andy Williams (#5)
• 40. Last Christmas/Wham! (#9)

It’s almost positive that by Santa’s visit, these will be back in the Top 10 – possibly with higher peaks.  Also, expect half of the Top 40 to celebrating the holiday season.

ADELE’S TOP FIVE

With its fifth week atop the Hot 100, the ballad ties for Adele’s third-longest Hot 100 reign among her five No. 1s:

• “Hello,” No. 1 for 10 weeks, beginning Nov. 14, 2015
• “Rolling in the Deep,” seven, May 21, 2011
• “Easy on Me,” five (non-consecutive), to-date, Oct. 30, 2021
• “Someone Like You,” five (non-consecutive), Sept. 17, 2011
• “Set Fire to the Rain,” two, Feb. 4, 2012

ADELE THE VIII

Adele adds her eighth Hot 100 top 10. In addition to her five No. 1s and “Oh My God,” she reached No. 8 with both “Skyfall” (October 2012) and “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” (September 2016).

Plus, thanks to “Easy on Me” at No. 1 and “Oh My God” at No. 5, Adele boasts simultaneous top five Hot 100 hits for a second time; “Set Fire to the Rain” and “Rolling in the Deep” placed at Nos. 2 and 5, respectively, on the March 3, 2012, chart, after Adele performed the latter at that year’s Grammy Awards, while the song won for record and song of the year and parent LP 21 took the trophy for album of the year.

November 27, 2021

In the last qualifying week of the calendar year of 2021, a woman who is a superstar by all accounts wants to tell you her “version” of her story.  And it’s our turn to listen to…

TAYLOR’S VERSION

Taylor Swift blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version).” The song, long considered a classic among her catalog, is from her new re-recorded LP, Red (Taylor’s Version), which concurrently launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

A SPOT SHE KNOWS “WELL”

Swift scores her eighth Hot 100 leader.

Here’s a recap:

• “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” three weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 1, 2012
• “Shake It Off,” four weeks, beginning Sept. 6, 2014
• “Blank Space,” seven weeks, beginning Nov. 29, 2014
• “Bad Blood,” feat. Kendrick Lamar, one week, June 6, 2015
• “Look What You Made Me Do,” three weeks, beginning Sept. 16, 2017
• “Cardigan,” one week, Aug. 8, 2020
• “Willow,” one week, Dec. 26, 2020
• “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” one week to-date, Nov. 27, 2021

Swift is the 20th artist and seventh solo woman in the Hot 100’s history with at least eight No. 1s. The Beatles lead all acts with 20 No. 1s, followed by Mariah Carey with 19.

TAYLOR’S TOP 10s

“All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” is also Swift’s 30th Hot 100 top 10, as she becomes just the sixth artist to reach the milestone.

Most Hot 100 Top 10s:

• 54, Drake
• 38, Madonna
• 34, The Beatles
• 31, Rihanna
• 30, Michael Jackson
• 30, Taylor Swift

2 X 3

Swift is the first artist to debut atop the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously as many as three times. (The Billboard 200 began on March 24, 1956, and the Hot 100, on Aug. 4, 1958.)

Swift became the first act to swoop in with such a double when Folklore and “Cardigan” bowed atop the Billboard 200 and Hot 100, respectively, on Aug. 8, 2020. She repeated the feat with “Willow” and Evermore on Dec. 26, 2020.

BTS, Justin Bieber and Drake have scored one such simultaneous start each.

“ALL TOO” LONGEST #1

Given the (dominant) 10-minute, 13-second version of “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” the song can now be considered the longest No. 1 by run time in the Hot 100’s history. Don McLean’s “American Pie (Parts I & II),” at 8 minutes, 37 seconds, held the mark for nearly a half-century, dating to its first of four weeks at No. 1 in January 1972.

“ALL TOO” LONG BETWEEN REMAKE #1s

With the original “All Too Well” having charted on the Hot 100, at No. 80, for a week in November 2012, Swift notches the first No. 1 cover of a previously-charted Hot 100 hit (not counting samples or interpolations) in over 20 years, since Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya and P!nk’s “Lady Marmalade” started its five-week rule on the June 2, 2001, survey. The original by Labelle led for a week in March 1975.

“ALL TOO” FAMILIAR #1 REMAKES

Meanwhile, Swift is the first artist to update an own act prior Hot 100 hit to No. 1 since Elton John, whose “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight” dominated for 14 weeks in October 1997-January 1998. His live version of “Candle” rose to No. 6 in January 1988, after he’d first released its studio recording in 1973.

John also logged the prior such Hot 100 leader, when his live take of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” with George Michael, reigned for a week in February 1992. John’s solo original studio version hit No. 2 in July 1974.

WEEKLY TOP 40 YEAR-END MADNESS!

As stated earlier, this is the last qualifying week for 2021.  Our year spans from weeks ending December 5, 2020 to November 27, 2021.  So any song that charted in that time frame and has amassed enough overall points will end up in our Top 100 songs of the year.  Also, points are given to the individual artists and will be tallied to come up with the Top 50 artists of 2021.  Lists are created to be compared and contrasted so we can’t wait to see what you have to say about this year’s lot.  We should have these posted before Christmas.  Meanwhile, let’s start to slowly turn our eyes to the upcoming future nostalgic hits of 2022. 

From all of us here at Top 40 Weekly, have a wondrous Thanksgiving!

November 20, 2021

DYNAMIC DUOS

There are four male duos in this week’s Top 10 who, usually record as solo artists.

They are listed below with each of their Top 10s:

• Stay/the KID Laroi (2) & Justin Bieber (25)
• Industry Baby/Lil Nas X (5) & Jack Harlow (2)
• One Right Now/Post Malone (10) & the Weeknd (14)
• Smokin Out the Window/Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars [18] & Anderson.Paak [2])

“SUMMER” DAZE

Summer Walker claims a share of Billboard Hot 100 history, as she floods the chart with 18 songs from her new album, Still Over It.

Walker joins Taylor Swift as female artists in the chart’s 63-year history to simultaneously place as many as 18 songs on the survey.

Swift sent 18 songs onto the chart last Sept. 9, 2019, as her album Lover debuted atop the Billboard 200.

November 13, 2021

“WAVES” IN THE TOP 10

Glass Animals wrap an unprecedented climb to the Hot 100’s top 10, as “Heat Waves” ascends from No. 13 to No. 10. The song, the group’s first Hot 100 top 10, reaches the region in its 42nd week on the chart, completing the longest trip to the tier in the list’s 63-year history.  Here’s a list other songs that took at least 30 weeks to hit the Top 10 – along with where they eventually peaked.

42, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals, reached top 10 on chart dated Nov. 13, 2021 (#10, so far…)
38, “Before He Cheats,” Carrie Underwood, June 2, 2007 (#8)
36, “Higher,” Creed, July 8, 2000 (#7)
34, “I Hope,” Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth, Aug. 29, 2020 (#3)
31, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons, April 13, 2013 (#3)
30, “Better,” Khalid, April 20, 2019 (#8)
30, “Rockstar,” Nickelback, Sept. 15, 2007 (#6)
30, “Amazed,” Lonestar, Feb. 26, 2000 (#1)
30, “This Kiss,” Faith Hill, Oct. 10, 1998 (#7)

November 6, 2021

6 MONTHS OF ADELE

All five of Adele’s Hot 100 No. 1s have led for multiple weeks, as “Easy on Me” follows “Rolling in the Deep” (seven, 2011), “Someone Like You” (five, 2011), “Set Fire to the Rain” (two, 2012) and “Hello” (10, 2015-16). Adele spends her 26th cumulative week atop the chart (thus, the equivalent of six total months at the summit). Dating to her first week at No. 1 (May 21, 2011), Adele ties Rihanna for the most weeks atop the chart among women in that span; overall, they trail only Drake (52) and Justin Bieber (32).

October 30, 2021

HELLO, ADELE.  IT’S BEEN A WHILE…

“Easy on Me” becomes Adele’s fifth Hot 100 leader. Here’s a rundown:

“Rolling in the Deep,” for seven weeks beginning May 21, 2011
“Someone Like You,” five, beginning Sept. 17, 2011
“Set Fire to the Rain,” two, beginning Feb. 4, 2012
“Hello,” 10, beginning Nov. 14, 2015
“Easy on Me,” one, to-date, beginning Oct. 30, 2021

“Easy on Me” is also Adele’s seventh Hot 100 top 10. In addition to her five No. 1s, “Skyfall” and “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” each reached No. 8, in October 2012 and September 2016, respectively.

Adele adds her 11th top 40 Hot 100 hit, dating to her debut entry “Chasing Pavements,” which rose to No. 21 in February 2009.

“EASY” JUMP TO #1

“Easy on Me” makes the eighth-greatest vault to No. 1 in the Hot 100’s history. It logs the biggest jump since Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” surged 77-1 in September 2017, also after its first full tracking week.

SOLO BRITS AT THE TOP

The London-born Adele becomes one of six British-born soloists with at least five Hot 100 No. 1s (with Liverpool-formed The Beatles pacing all acts with 20 leaders).

Adele also ties Olivia Newton-John for the most Hot 100 No. 1s among women born in the U.K. (Newton-John was born in Cambridge and moved to Australia during childhood.)

Here’s an updated leaderboard of the most Hot 100 No. 1s by British-born solo acts:

9, Elton John
9, Paul McCartney
8, George Michael
7, Phil Collins
5, Adele
5, Olivia Newton-John

3 FOR 3

Adele has sent the first single from each of her three most recent albums to No. 1 on the Hot 100, with “Easy on Me” following “Hello” and “Rolling in the Deep.”

“Easy” is the lead single from 30, Adele’s fourth studio album, and first in six years, due Nov. 19. It follows 25, which houses “Hello” and topped the Billboard 200 for 10 weeks beginning in December 2015. 21, which includes her first three Hot 100 No. 1s, led the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks starting in March 2011 and reigns as the top title in the chart’s entire history. (Her debut LP, 19, entered the Billboard 200 in June 2008 and reached a No. 4 high in March 2012.)

AS “EASY” AS 1-2-3 FOR COLUMBIA

With “Easy on Me” at No. 1, The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” at No. 2 and Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby” at No. 3 on the Hot 100, Columbia Records ranks in the top three spots via three acts that the label promotes: Adele, The Kid LAROI and Lil Nas X.

NOT AS “EASY” AS IT LOOKS

Meanwhile, “Easy on Me” is the first song with “easy” in its title to top the Hot 100. Its hard-fought victory passes the prior No. 2 such best for Philip Bailey’s “Easy Lover,” with Phil Collins, in 1985.

Here’s a look at the highest-charting hits with “easy” in their titles:

“Easy on Me,” Adele, No. 1 (one week to-date), 2021
“Easy Lover,” Philip Bailey with Phil Collins, No. 2, 1985
“Easy,” Commodores, No. 4, 1977
“It Don’t Come Easy,” Ringo Starr, No. 4, 1971
“Easy to Be Hard,” Three Dog Night, No. 4, 1969
“It’s So Easy,” Linda Ronstadt, No. 5, 1977

Sidebar: There’s a connection between Adele’s “Easy on Me” and the Commodores’ “Easy,” after she and the group’s former lead singer, Lionel Richie, each topped the Hot 100 with songs titled “Hello.” Not to look too far ahead, but could Adele’s follow-up album to 30 include a song about dancing on a ceiling all night long (all night)?

October 23, 2021

HIT ME, “BABY”

Lil Nas X and Harlow add the 20th Hot 100 leader with “baby” in its title. Here’s a recap of all such songs that have bounced to No. 1:

“Take Good Care of My Baby,” Bobby Vee, 1961
“Hey! Baby,” Bruce Channel, 1962
“Baby Love,” The Supremes, 1964
“Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me,” Mac Davis, 1972
“Rock Your Baby,” George McCrae, 1974
“(You’re) Having My Baby,” Paul Anka, 1974
“Angie Baby,” Helen Reddy, 1974
“Baby Come Back,” Player, 1978
“Baby, Come to Me,” Patti Austin with James Ingram, 1983
“Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley,” Will to Power, 1988
“Baby Don’t Forget My Number,” Milli Vanilli, 1989
“Ice Ice Baby,” Vanilla Ice, 1990
“I’m Your Baby Tonight,” Whitney Houston, 1990
“Baby Baby,” Amy Grant, 1991
“Baby Got Back,” Sir Mix-A-Lot, 1992
“Always Be My Baby,” Mariah Carey, 1996
“…Baby One More Time,” Britney Spears, 1999
“Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You),” Christina Aguilera, 2000
“Baby Boy,” Beyoncé feat. Sean Paul, 2003
“Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021

(Honorable mentions to Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe,” in 1965; Barry White‘s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” in 1974; and Styx‘s “Babe,” in 1979.)

October 16, 2021

“STAY” FOR THE MEN’S CLUB

For seven non-consecutive weeks, the Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber have been at #1 with “Stay.”  This ties for the second-longest No. 1 run for a song by two or more co-billed solo male leads over the chart’s 63-year history. Here’s an updated look at such songs that have reigned for at least three weeks (and which excludes duos or groups known for regularly recording together).

Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artists, Peak date:
16, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (featuring Justin Bieber), beginning May 27, 2017
7, “Stay,” The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, beginning Aug. 14, 2021
7, “Ebony and Ivory,” Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder, beginning May 15, 1982
6, “Say Say Say,” Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson, beginning Dec. 10, 1983
4, “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee, beginning Sept. 6, 2003
3, “All for Love,” Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting, beginning Jan. 22, 1994

THE “ESSENCE” OF BIEBER

Bieber tallies his milestone 25th Hot 100 top 10, having joined Wizkid and Tems on the “Essence” remix released Aug. 13. Here’s an updated recap of the acts with the most top 10s, as Bieber matches the totals of Lil Wayne and Elvis Presley (with the chart having begun two years after Presley’s commercial breakthrough).

Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:

54, Drake
38, Madonna
34, The Beatles
31, Rihanna
30, Michael Jackson
29, Taylor Swift
28, Mariah Carey
28, Stevie Wonder
27, Janet Jackson
27, Elton John
25, Justin Bieber
25, Elvis Presley
25, Lil Wayne

October 9, 2021

IT TOOK 13 YEARS

Coldplay get their second #1 13 years, three months and two weeks after they first hit with “Viva La Vida” on the chart dated June 28, 2008.  This ends the longest gap between chart toppers since Cher hit with “Believe” on the chart dated March 13, 1999, a record 10 days shy of 25 years when she last hit with “Dark Lady” in 1974.

However, among groups, Coldplay ends the longest #1 drought since the Beach Boys went to “Kokomo” the week ending November 5, 1988, just a month short of 22 years since they took “Good Vibrations” to the top in 1966.

IT TAKES TWO

“My Universe” is the first #1 by two groups each given lead billing on a song.  (For clarification, it’s not labeled with a “featuring” or “with” credit.)  Prior to them, the closest was the #2 smash “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations in 1969.

October 2, 2021

IT TAKES TWO (OR MORE…)

As “Stay” tops the Hot 100 for a sixth week, it ties for the third-longest command for a song by two or more co-billed solo male leads over the chart’s 63-year history. Here’s an updated leaderboard of such No. 1s to reign for at least three weeks (and which excludes duos or groups known for regularly recording together, such as Daryl Hall & John Oates or Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; notably, Bieber and Paul McCartney each factor into two of the top four titles):

• 16 weeks at No. 1, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (feat. Justin Bieber), beginning May 27, 2017
• 7 weeks at No. 1, “Ebony and Ivory,” Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder, beginning May 15, 1982
• 6 weeks at No. 1, “Stay,” The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, beginning Aug. 14, 2021
• 6 weeks at No. 1, “Say Say Say,” Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson, beginning Dec. 10, 1983
• 4 weeks at No. 1, “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee, beginning Sept. 6, 2003
• 3 weeks at No. 1, “All for Love,” Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting, beginning Jan. 22, 1994

Interestingly enough, of the titles listed, “Stay” is the only one that has spent non-consecutive weeks at #1.

September 25, 2021

DRAKE LOTTO

In case you need more Drake trivia, here we go.  As of last week’s chart (9/18/21), Drake has amassed an ever-increasing total of 258 entries (either as a lead or featured artist) on the Hot 100.  He has had a song peak in 90 of the 100 positions!  If you want to play PowerBall or Mega Millions, maybe these numbers will help: 31, 43, 59, 66, 77, 93, 96, 98, and 99 are the positions he has yet to peak. Thusly, he’s peaked at every rank in the Top 30 and all but #31 in the Top 40.  It is fair to say that all of his songs – on either their ascent or descent – have hit every rung.  Of those songs’ peaks, he’s hit #1 and #14 the most with nine songs each.

September 18, 2021

“21” SAVAGE SONGS

Not only did all 21 tracks from Drake’s new album, Certified Lover Boy, debut on the Hot 100, they ALL debuted within the Top 40!  This means that he has 52.5% of this week’s Top 40!

“WAY 2” MANY TOP 10s

These nine new Top 10s have increased Drake’s count 54.  Here’s the Top 10 of the Most Top 10s:

1. Drake (54)
2. Madonna (38)
3. The Beatles (34)
4. Rihanna (31)
5. Michael Jackson (30)
6. Taylor Swift (29)
7. Mariah Carey (28)
8. Stevie Wonder (28)
9. Janet Jackson (27)
10. Elton John (27)

KEEPING IN THE THEME OF “9”

With “Way 2 Sexy” debuting at #1, this becomes his ninth #1 – his fifth debut.  This ties him with Ariana Grande for the most #1 debuts.  In case you forgot, here’s a recap of his chart toppers:

1. “What’s My Name?,” Rihanna feat. Drake (one week at No. 1, beginning Nov. 20, 2010)
2. “Work,” Rihanna feat. Drake (nine weeks, beginning March 5, 2016)
3. “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla (10 weeks, beginning May 21, 2016)
4. “God’s Plan,” Drake (11 weeks, beginning Feb. 3, 2018)
5. “Nice for What,” Drake (eight weeks, beginning April 21, 2018)
6. “In My Feelings,” Drake (10 weeks, beginning July 21, 2018)
7. “Toosie Slide,” Drake (one week, April 18, 2020)
8. “What’s Next,” Drake (one week, March 20, 2021)
9. “Way 2 Sexy,” Drake feat. Future and Young Thug (one week to-date, Sept. 18, 2021)

For those keeping tabs, that’s a career total of 52 weeks and counting.  Again, this man has spent a year at Number One!

September 11, 2021

LOOKING OVER “DONDA”

As you peruse the album credits of Kanye West’s 10th #1 album, “Donda,” you’ll notice that 23 titles have debuted on the Hot 100 – twelve of which debuted within the Top 40.  He’s only second to rap nemesis, Drake, who landed at 23 titles in a single week three other times, with his 2018 release “Scorpion” filling out a record 27 songs on the Hot 100!  In other words, on the July 14, 2018 chart, Drake had 27% of the Hot 100 real estate!

TOP 40 “BUTTER”

“Butter” by BTS becomes the 40th single to log at least 10 weeks at #1.  The last to do it was “the Box” by Roddy Ricch when it ran for 11 weeks from January-March 2020.

“LIGHTS” OUT

After a record-setting 90 weeks on the Hot 100, “Blinding Lights” by the Weeknd has fallen off the chart.  

September 4, 2021

LEVITATUS CONTINUOSO

With 34 weeks in the Top 10 (and counting), Dua Lipa continues to be the female (either as a soloist or in a lead role) with the longest run within the Top 10.  Let’s see if the “Levitating” continues…

August 28, 2021

PSSSST

According to the “Rumors,” this is Lizzo’s third Top 10 and Cardi B’s 10th.  Pass it on…

Also, “Rumors” tops the R&B/Hip Hop Chart.  This is the second song with the exact title to hit #1.  The first was in 1986 by Timex Social Club, which also peaked at #8 on the Hot 100.  But you didn’t hear that from me…

THE LEVITATION CONTINUES

“Levitation” by Dua Lipa is spending its 33rd week in the Top 10.  This puts her in a three-way tie for third place for most weeks.  Among women in a lead role, Dua Lipa holds this record surpassing LeAnn Rimes and “How Do I Live” which spent 32 weeks.  Funnily enough, both songs peaked at #2.  Dua has a long way to go to catchup to and pass the 57 weeks spent just scored by the Weeknd and “Blinding Lights.”

August 21, 2021

LONGEST WEEKS AT #2…WITH AN ASTERISK

“Good 4 U” logs its record-tying 11th week at No. 2 on the Hot 100, encompassing the chart’s 63-year history. It matches Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” which also debuted at No. 1 before settling in at No. 2. “Good 4 U” has ranked directly below BTS’ “Butter” (for eight weeks) and “Permission to Dance” (one week) and now The Kid LAROI and Bieber’s “Stay” (two weeks). “Exhale” spent all 11 of its weeks at No. 2 a spot below Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” in 1995-96.

Songs to Spend the Most Weeks at No. 2 on the Hot 100:
11, “Good 4 U,” Olivia Rodrigo, first week at No. 2: June 5, 2021
11, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” Whitney Houston, Dec. 2, 1995
10, “Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish, June 8, 2019
10, “That’s What I Like,” Bruno Mars, April 1, 2017
10, “Work It,” Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, Nov. 16, 2002*
10, “Freak Me,” Silk, March 27, 1993
10, “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” Foreigner, Nov. 28, 1981*

(*Five of the seven songs above hit No. 1 on the Hot 100; only “Work It” and “Waiting for a Girl Like You” peaked at No. 2.)

As a purist, Missy Elliott and Foreigner are the true record holders as they have peaked AND spent their 10 weeks solely at #2.

“LIGHT”ING UP THE 88s

“Blinding Lights” by the Weeknd now holds the record for the most weeks on the Hot 100.  It is currently spending its 88th week (and counting).  Let’s see how far it goes before the lights go out.

August 14, 2021

“STAY”…AGAIN

“Stay” by the Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber is the second song with the exact title to hit #1.  The first was way back in November 1960 when Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs spent a week at the top.  If you noticed, I said the exact title.  This does not include the Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories hit because of the parenthetical in the title – “Stay (I Missed You)”.

8:1 ODDS

“Stay” becomes the Kid LAROI’s first number one while this is Bieber’s eighth trip to the summit.

HE COMES FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER

the Kid LAROI is only the second solo Australian male to hit #1.  The first? Rick Springfield back in August 1981 with a little song called “Jessie’s Girl.”  The last Australian soloist to hit number one was Sia in August 2016 with “Cheap Thrills,” a song she did with Sean Paul.  What is this with Aussies and August #1s?!

WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT 17?

The Kid LAROI was born Aug. 17, 2003, making him the most recently born artist to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100. Thus, his age as of the Aug. 14, 2021-dated chart: three days shy of his 18th birthday. He’s the youngest artist to lead the survey since Jawsh 685 was 17 years, 11 months, and two weeks old when “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat),” with Jason Derulo and BTS, topped the Oct. 17, 2020, chart.

“KIDS” WHO PLAY

The Kid LAROI is the fourth “Kid”-named act to top the Hot 100, after New Kids on the Block (three No. 1s), WizKid, and Kid Cudi (one each). No kidding.

NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH

As stated earlier, Justin Bieber scores his eighth number one; thus, tying him with Drake as the most chart-toppers by Canadians.  The Weeknd is a close third with six.  And since they are all actively charting, watch these numbers.

…SPEAKING OF THE WEEKND…

His massive “Blinding Lights” is spending its record-tying 87th week on the Hot 100 at #16.  After debuting on the December 14, 2019 chart AND spending four non-consecutive weeks at number one AND becoming the #1 song of 2020, how is it still hanging on while other #1s have come and gone?  Is it still receiving massive airplay?  Strong sales?  That cool reminiscent 1980s “Take on Me”/A-Ha vibe?  I dunno.  But here’s the song it’s tied with: Radioactive/Imagine Dragons which peaked at #3 in July 2013.

August 8, 2021

#9 DREAM

By sliding into their 9th non-consecutive week at #1, BTS’ “Butter” joins the ranks of these other almost double-digit #1s.  Here they are broken up by decade in chronological order.

Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin (1959)

Theme from “A Summer Place” by Percy Faith (1960)

Hey Jude by The Beatles (1968)

None in the 1970s

Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (1981) – #1 song of 1981

Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (1981)

None in the 1990s

In da Club by 50 Cent (2003)

Baby Boy by Beyonce featuring Sean Paul (2003)

Hey Ya! by OutKast (2003-2004)

Let Me Love You by Mario (2005)

Candy Shop by 50 Cent featuring Olivia (2005)

TiK ToK by Ke$ha (2010)

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen (2012)

One More Night by Maroon 5 (2012)

Royals by Lorde (2013)

Work by Rihanna featuring Drake (2016)

Butter by BTS (2021)

July 31, 2021

8 x 2-ISH

By rebounding 7-1, “Butter” by BTS now ties Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license” for spending eight weeks at #1 – the most of 2021, so far.

“PERMISSION” TO RETURN

As “Butter” replaces “Permission to Dance” at No. 1 on the Hot 100, a week after “Permission to Dance” took over for “Butter,” BTS is the first act to displace itself at No. 1 with a new leader and then send the previous No. 1 back to the summit with no other acts holding the top spot in between. 

July 24, 2021

“PERMISSION” TO ENTER”

BTS replaces themselves at #1 as “Permission to Dance” moshes their way onto the chart at the top!  

TIED FOR SECOND

Of the 55 songs that have debuted at #1, four of them belong to BTS.  This puts them in a three-way tie with Drake and Justin Bieber for second place for most #1 debuts.  The leader is Ariana Grande with five.  Since all are still active on the chart, expect these numbers to rise.

FAST 5

It took BTS 10 months and two weeks to score five Number Ones!  That’s the fastest any act has done this trick since Michael Jackson racked up five in a row from September 1987 – June 1988 – or nine months and two weeks.  His list was…

I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (with Siedah Garrett) – September 19, 1987 – one week

Bad – October 24, 1987 – two weeks

The Way You Make Me Feel – January 23, 1988 – one week

Man in the Mirror – March 26, 1988 – two weeks

Dirty Diana – July 2, 1988 – one week

But even THIS is not the fastest.  That record belongs to the Beatles who hit five times from February 1964 – August 1964 – which equates to exactly six months!  Their legendary playlist consists of…

I Want to Hold Your Hand – February 1, 1964 – seven weeks

She Loves You – March 21, 1964 – two weeks

Can’t Buy Me Love – April 4, 1964 – five weeks

Love Me Do – May 30, 1964 – one week

A Hard Day’s Night – August 1, 1964 – two weeks

Fun fact: The first three were back-to-back-to-back totalling 14 consecutive weeks at #1.

THE REPLACEMENTS

With “Permission to Dance” replacing “Butter” atop the Hot 100, BTS is the first artist to dethrone itself since Drake, whose “In My Feelings” ended the eight-week reign of “Nice for What” on the July 21, 2018 chart. (Before that, on the April 21, 2018-dated survey, “Nice” soared in at No. 1, wrapping the rule of his “God’s Plan.”)

“DANCE” WITH US

BTS sends the ninth song with the word “dance” in its title to the top of the Hot 100. Here’s the full “dance” card:

“Save the Last Dance for Me,” The Drifters, three weeks at No. 1, beginning Oct. 17, 1960
“Let’s Dance,” David Bowie, one, May 21, 1983
“Flashdance…What a Feeling,” Irene Cara, six, May 28, 1983
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” Whitney Houston, two, June 27, 1987
“Batdance,” Prince, one, Aug. 5, 1989
“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” C+C Music Factory, two, Feb. 9, 1991
“Just Dance,” Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis, three, Jan. 17, 2009
“One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 10, May 21, 2016
“Permission to Dance,” BTS, one week to-date, July 24, 2021

SIDE NOTE: Four songs with “dancing” in their titles have topped the Hot 100, all, unsurprisingly, at the height of the disco era: “You Should Be Dancing,” Bee Gees, 1976; “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” Leo Sayer, 1977; “Dancing Queen,” ABBA, 1977; and “Shadow Dancing, Andy Gibb, 1978.

A YOUNG 100

With his duet “Stay” with the Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber becomes the youngest male artist to score 100 Hot 100 chart appearances at the ripe old age of 27 years, four months and three weeks, spanning from his March 1, 1994 birthday.  He beats out Drake, who was 28 years, 11 months and two weeks in 2015 (now #2) and Lil Wayne who was 29 years, five months and three weeks in 2012 (now #3).

July 17, 2021

7 Weeks for 7 Members

The seven-man K-pop group, BTS, spreads their “Butter” for a seventh week at #1.  Basically, each guy gets a week.Attachments area

July 10, 2021

CHURNING “BUTTER”

BTS churns their 6th week at #1.  “Butter” is one of nine titles to spend their first six weeks on the chart at #1 – with Mariah Carey doing it twice (Fantasy (8 weeks) and One Sweet Day (16 weeks with Boyz II Men)) in 1995-1996.  For those loving my percentiles, they are in that 17% quotient of songs to spend their first six weeks at #1.

EDWARD THE VIII

Ed Sheeran gains his eighth Top 10 as “Bad Habits” crashes onto the chart at #5.

July 3, 2021

1/5 OF”BUTTER”

Of the 54 songs to have debuted at #1, Butter/BTS is one of eleven to have spent their first five weeks at the top.  This equates to 20% overall.

THERE CAN BE ONLY “ONE”

While it’s not a record (I don’t think), there are five other former Number One songs just hanging out in the Top 10..

June 26, 2021

“BUTTER” SPREADS ANOTHER WEEK

BTS’ 4th #1 spends its 4th consecutive week at the top.  It is now the 13th song to do this or 24% of the 54 songs to debut and spend its first four weeks at #1.  Let’s see if they make it 5.

June 19, 2021

“BUTTER” SEE YOUR MATH

As stated in last week’s piece that 45% of songs that debuted at #1 spent their second week at #1.  Now, BTS’ “Butter” is part of that 28% (or 15 songs) that have scored with their first three consecutive weeks at the top.

BUNNY HOPS

Bad Bunny scores his fourth Top 10 as “Yonaguni” enters that chart at #10.  This is the first bilingual Top 10 where English is not featured.  This song is predominately sung in Spanish with additional lyrics in Japanese. 

This is his first time hitting the Top 10 with no accompanying acts.  His other appearances were “I Like It,” with Cardi B and J Balvin, began at No. 8 in April 2018 and spent a week at No. 1 that July; “MIA,” featuring Drake, debuted at its No. 5 peak in October 2018; and “Dákiti,” with Jhay Cortez, opened at No. 9 in November 2020 and hit No. 5 in December.

ASIAN GEOGRAPHY 101

Continuing on about “Yonaguni,” it is the westernmost island of Japan and is home to the endangered, yet protected Yonaguni pony.  Lo siento, Senor Bunny.

June 12, 2021

“BUTTER” ON A ROLL

Of the 54 songs that have debuted at #1, Butter is the 23^rd title to have its first two consecutive weeks at the top.  For those really into stats, that’s a 43% second-week success rate.  Two others have done it this year: drivers license by Olivia Rodrigo and Rapstar by Polo G.  Will they make it three?

June 5, 2021

BTS (BETWEEN THE SONGS)

This is BTS’ 4^th #1 in 9 months and their 3^rd to debut at #1

“Dynamite” beginning September 5, 2020 for three non-consecutive weeks

“Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” with Jawsh 685 & Jason Derulo for a week in October 17, 2020

“Life Goes On” for another week in December 5, 2020

“Butter” for one week (and counting) beginning June 5, 2021.

BTS is the first group to have three #1 debuts.  Ariana Grande leads all acts with five.

BTS earned their first four #1s in exactly nine months (September 5, 2020 – June 5, 2021).  They are one of an elite seven acts to have their first four #1s in under a year.  Here are the others…

1. The Beatles, four months (February 1 – May 30, 1964)
2. The Supremes, seven months and one week (August 22, 1964 – March 27, 1965)
3. Justin Timberlake, seven months and two weeks (September 9, 2006 – April 21, 2007)
4. The Jackson 5, eight months and two weeks (January 31 – October 17, 1970)
5. BTS, nine months (September 5, 2020 – June 5, 2021)
6. Mariah Carey, nine months and three weeks (August 4, 1990 – May 25, 1991)
7. Paula Abdul, one year (February 11, 1989 – February 10, 1990)

If you include all artists regardless of when it happened, Rihanna did it twice: Four in eight months all in 2010, then started another four-pack spanning nine months from 2010-2011.

RODRIGO’S RECORDS

With “good 4 u,” “deja vu,” and “traitor” all in the Top 10 simultaneously, Olivia Rodrigo is the first artist in Hot 100 history to have three concurrent songs in the Top 10 from a debut album (SOUR).

May 29, 2021

GOOD 4 U

“Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo is the 53rd song to debut at #1.  The first?  “You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson in September 1995.  The longest? “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men for 16 consecutive weeks!

Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album Sour Is the first debut album since Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy to have two #1 songs.  “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” and “I Like It” (with Bad Bunny and J Balvin) hit the top in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album Sour makes history as the first album to have two songs that have debuted at #1.  “Drivers License” revved in in January 2021.

Previous albums to have two #1 debuts are:

1. Mariah Carey’s Daydream: Fantasy and One Sweet Day (with Boyz II Men) in 1995-1996.
2. Drake’s Scorpion: God’s Plan and Nice for What in 2018
3. Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next: Thank U, Next and 7 Rings in 2018-2019

Fun fact: For each of these artists, it was their fifth album.

THE OFF SEASON

J. Cole storms onto the chart with songs from his #1 album, the Off-Season, with four of them landing in the Top Ten.

• “my.life,” with 21 Savage and Morray, vaults in at No. 2
• “amari” at No. 5
• “pride.is.the.devil,” with Lil Baby, at No. 7
• “95.south” at No. 8

J. Cole is the fourth artist to score four simultaneous Top 10 debuts.  He follows Drake (July 14, 2018), Lil Wayne (October 13, 2018) and Juice WRLD (July 25, 2020).

Rodrigo’s #1 debut + J.Cole’s quartet = 5 songs that have begun their chart lives in the Top Ten (or a newly minted chart record).

May 22, 2021

LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN

This week spends its second non-consecutive week at #1.  There was a four week gap between weeks at the top.  Last time that happened was with Circles/Post Malone.  He spent his first two weeks in December 2019 and his third week in January 2020.

This is Bruno Mars’ 8^th #1 following…

1. Nothin’ on You (B.o.B featuring Mars) beginning May 2010 for two weeks
2. Just the Way You Are beginning October 2010 for four weeks
3. Grenade beginning January 2011 for four non-consecutive weeks
4. Locked Out of Heaven beginning December 2012 for six weeks
5. When I Was Your Man in April 2013 for one week
6. Uptown Funk! (Mark Ronson featuring Mars) beginning January 2015 for 14 weeks
7. That’s What I Like in May 2017 for one week
8. Leave the Door Open (Silk Sonic [Mars & Anderson.Paak]) beginning in April 2021 for two non-consecutive weeks and counting

He has a career total of 34+ weeks at #1.

“DOOR” TO THE TOP 10

“Leave the Door Open” is the only title that has entered the #1 spot.  There have been only four others since 1955 to have gained entry into the Top 10.

Next Door to an Angel/Neil Sedaka (#5, 1962)

The Door Is Still Open to My Heart/Dean Martin (#6, 1964)

Lookin’ Out My Back Door/Creedence Clearwater Revival (#2, 1970)

Let My Love Open the Door/Peter Townsend (#9, 1980)