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Let’s open the latest mailbag.
Hi Gary,
I noticed that for the last four weeks, all songs in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 have reached either No. 1 or No. 2. The leaders: Alex Warren’s “Ordinary”; Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild”; Morgan Wallen’s “What I Want,” featuring Tate McRae; Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther”; Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”; Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile”; and Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control.” Plus, the runners-up: Wallen’s “Just in Case” and “I’m the Problem”; Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things”; and Drake’s “Nokia.”
Is this the first time this has happened?
Kind regards,
John Buergo-Rodriguez
Hi John,
The Hot 100 the past four weeks, on the charts dated June 7, 14, 21 and 28, has been good for songs in the top 10, given their lofty peak positions. It’s less optimal for fans of upward movement in the region, as it reflects that beyond the top two, every other song is past its high point.
The relative inaction ties into Jason Lipshutz’s recent analysis of how numerous songs are linking long stays in the Hot 100’s upper reaches, crowding out rising songs that could take their place.
The Hot 100’s top 10 steadiness also aligns with the relative drought of artists earning their first No. 1s so far this year.
Still, history! The four latest Hot 100s mark the first in the chart’s nearly 67-year archives in which every song in the top 10 ranked or had already peaked at Nos. 1 or 2.
Notably, one prior week featured 10 No. 1- or No. 2-peaking Hot 100 hits in the top 10 — but at the time, three of them had yet to reach such heights. On the March 27, 2021-dated chart, Cardi B’s “Up” was No. 1, above four former leaders — “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo; “What’s Next” by Drake; “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd; and “Mood” by 24kGoldn, featuring iann dior — as well as two prior No. 2 hits: Ariana Grande’s “34+35,” featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion, and Drake’s “Wants and Needs,” featuring Lil Baby. Meanwhile, three songs were on their way up: Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open,” The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Tears,” both to No. 1, and Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” to No. 2.
Generally, when songs are spending relatively less time in the Hot 100’s top 10, more opportunity exists for other hits to enter, increasing the chances that they’ll peak anywhere between Nos. 1 and 10, not just the top two.
‘19,’ 19
Hi Gary,
I read the recent “Ask Billboard” about songs on the Hot 100 that had a quirkiness regarding their titles and chart placement. How about one more: Paul Hardcastle’s “19.” I know that this single did not peak at No. 19, but at 15. Was it ever at No. 19, on the Hot 100 or elsewhere?
Thanks,
Walter Brockmann
Southampton, N.Y.
Hi Walter,
It did — it ranked at No. 19 on the Hot 100 dated Aug. 3, 1985, following two weeks at its No. 15 best. The next week, it also placed at No. 19 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It reached No. 8 on the latter list, as well as No. 1 on Dance Club Songs (where it was never No. 19).
How about 19 other coincidences?
- First up, Garbage’s “#1 Crush” was No. 1 on Alternative Airplay, throughout all of the first month of 1997.
- Face to Face’s “10-9-8” hit No. 7 on Dance Club Songs in 1984.
- Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White Winged Dove)” dropped to No. 18 on the Hot 100 for a week in 1982. Not No. 17, but on the edge of it.
- Similar to Paul Hardcastle, Steely Dan took “Hey Nineteen” to No. 10 on the Hot 100 and No. 11 on Adult Contemporary. For a week in 1981 on the latter list, though, at ranked at … hey: 19!
- 21 Savage has one No. 21-peaking hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, as featured on Central Cee’s “GBP,” earlier this year.
- Thirty Seconds to Mars’ first two charted titles each reached No. 30 on Pop Airplay. (No data available on where they peaked on the planet next further out after Earth.)
- Before it spun to No. 2 on Alternative Airplay in 1997, Smashing Pumpkins’ “Thirty-Three” debuted at No. 33.
- 38 Special’s “You Keep Runnin’ Away” reached No. 38 on the Hot 100 in 1982.
- Fans of UB40 and American Top 40 will appreciate that UB40 ranked at No. 40 on the Hot 100 for a week in 1991.
- Sum 41 has notched two hits on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and both peaked at No. 41: “Out for Blood,” in 2019, and “Landmines,” in 2024.
- 50 Cent has charted one No. 50 hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: “We Up,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, in 2013.
- For a week in 1975, Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” ranked at No. 50 on the Hot 100.
- Nelson Riddle’s “Route 66 Theme” got its kicks at No. 66 on the Hot 100 for a week in 1962.
- In August 2015, Mac Miller’s “100 Grandkids” claimed one week on the Hot 100, at No. 100.
- That November, The Game’s “100,” featuring Drake, wrapped its run on the Hot 100 at No. 100.
- For two weeks in 1999, vocal group 112’s Room 112 ranked at No. 112 on the Billboard 200.
- Blink-182 albums have spent five weeks at No. 182 on the Billboard 200.
- Oh, and April Wine’s “Just Between You and Me” hit No. 21 on the Hot 100 dated April 25, 1981. Plus, the peak dates for Taylor Swift’s “August” (Aug. 8, 2020), The Tempos’ “See You in September” (Sept. 7, 1959), Blue October’s “Hate Me” (Oct. 7, 2006) and Bad Bunny’s “Mr. October” (Oct. 28, 2023). Perhaps even more fittingly, *NSYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me” debuted on the chart dated May 6, 2000.
- As for one more example from this year, Travis Scott’s “4×4” didn’t peak at No. 4 on any chart. However, taking a quick trip to the Poland Songs chart, “4×4” equaled a No. 16 peak there.
