It's unusual to have two different songs with the same title in the Top 40 at the same time. It happens this week, as the latest from Uncle Kracker, "Smile," enters at No. 37 while Jermaine Jackson's "Smile" moves up one to No. 16. The Jackson song is the latest version of a standard, while the Uncle Kracker song is a new composition that only shares the title.
Prior to this week, the "same-title, different-song, same-week" phenomenon happened at least twice. For three weeks beginning Aug. 27, 1988, two songs titled "Don't Be Cruel" charted -- one a remake of the Elvis Presley hit by Cheap Trick, the other an original that marked the solo debut of Bobby Brown.
Then amazingly, the week of Sept. 15, 1996, this happened not once but twice. The title "Missing You" was in the countdown by Tina Turner (a remake of the John Waite hit from '84) at No. 13 while an original collaboration from Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan was at No. 16. At the same time, two songs debuted with the title "Last Night" -- an R&B ballad by Az Yet at No. 23 and a British soul ballad by Eve Gallagher at No. 24. (The Az Yet song dropped out the next week, keeping this a brief quirk in the record book.)
This week, as Mariah Carey notches her latest Top 10 hit with "Obsessed" moving 12-10, her multioctave rival and one-time collaborator Whitney Houston returns to the charts, with "I Look to You" entering at No. 38. It's the title track from her new album expected to be released in September.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Week of July 26, 2009
One of the fun parts of personal charting is to see how songs from disparate musical styles play back to back. That's clear from the five songs in spots 35 through 31 this week. At 35 is the former No. 1 modern rock ballad "Second Chance" from Shinedown. Next up is "Más," the first Spanish-language entry for Nelly Furtado. The Portuguese Canadian performer is a musical chameleon, hitting the charts with pop ("I'm Like a Bird," No. 2, 2001), R&B/hip-hop ("Promiscuous," No. 12, 2006; "Say It Right," No. 3, 2007) and duet ballads with country singer Keith Urban ("In God's Hands," No. 20, 2008) and English pop/soul singer James Morrison ("Broken Strings," No. 1, earlier this year).
At 33 is "Losing My Religion," the dance remake of R.E.M.'s No. 1 song of 1991 by Colton Ford. The former adult film star has placed five songs in the Top 40 in the past two years, with his first, "The Way You Love Me," being his biggest. Given that song's No. 32 peak and this week's 39-33 move, it's likely he'll have a new personal best.
Country singer George Strait debuts at No. 32 with "Living for the Night." It's his second hit to cross over, following "Run," which hit No. 1 in 2002. And at No. 31 is the adult top 40 ballad "Come Home," a collaboration between chart-topping newcomers OneRepublic ("Apologize") and Sara Bareilles ("Love Song"). It moves up six this week.
One last note for this week: Artists have had hits with songs titled "One" (Three Dog Night, U2) and songs titled "The One" (Elton John). But how many artists have had hits with both titles? One (of course!). That would be Mary J. Blige, who debuts this week at No. 40 with her duet with Drake, "The One." A few years back, Blige hit No. 3 with her remake of U2's "One," featuring U2 on the track.
At 33 is "Losing My Religion," the dance remake of R.E.M.'s No. 1 song of 1991 by Colton Ford. The former adult film star has placed five songs in the Top 40 in the past two years, with his first, "The Way You Love Me," being his biggest. Given that song's No. 32 peak and this week's 39-33 move, it's likely he'll have a new personal best.
Country singer George Strait debuts at No. 32 with "Living for the Night." It's his second hit to cross over, following "Run," which hit No. 1 in 2002. And at No. 31 is the adult top 40 ballad "Come Home," a collaboration between chart-topping newcomers OneRepublic ("Apologize") and Sara Bareilles ("Love Song"). It moves up six this week.
One last note for this week: Artists have had hits with songs titled "One" (Three Dog Night, U2) and songs titled "The One" (Elton John). But how many artists have had hits with both titles? One (of course!). That would be Mary J. Blige, who debuts this week at No. 40 with her duet with Drake, "The One." A few years back, Blige hit No. 3 with her remake of U2's "One," featuring U2 on the track.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Top 40 for July 19
This week's No. 1 song is the first in 2009 to move from outside the Top 5. Sean Kingston's "Fire Burning" breaks the logjam that has been at the top of the chart the past few weeks to sprint from No. 7 to No. 1. Last year, only two songs did that trick: Alicia Keys' "Like You'll Never See Me Again" in March (moving 6-1) and Donna Summer's "Stamp Your Feet" (a former No. 1 song that leapt back from 6-1 for a final week) in August.
New to the top 10 this week is "Blame It on the Summer," a comeback hit for Basia. Her first chart hit, "Time and Tide," went to No. 2 in 1988. Her most recent hit was "The Sweetest Illusion," a No. 10 hit 15 years ago (!) in 1994.
Another veteran artist nearing the top 10 is the duo known as the Pet Shop Boys. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe first charted with "West End Girls" in 1986. They've gone to No. 1 three times -- with "What Have I Done to Deserve This" featuring Dusty Springfield (2 weeks, 1988), their remake of the Village People's "Go West" (1 week, 1993) and their Eminem diss "The Night I Fell in Love" (2 weeks, 2002). "Did You See Me Coming?" moves up 17-11 this week.
Speaking of Eminem disses, Mariah Carey's reported response to rap's bad boy, "Obsessed," makes a healthy 21-13 move. Mariah has had eight songs hit No. 1 on my charts (and might have had a ninth, since "We Belong Together" came out during a period when the charts were inactive). Those eight: "Vision of Love,""Love Takes Time," "Emotions," "I'll Be There," "Dreamlover," "Without You," "Anytime You Need a Friend" and her collaboration with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day." Her more recent R&B material hasn't scored as highly with me, but "Obsessed" may have what it takes. We'll see in future weeks.
New to the top 10 this week is "Blame It on the Summer," a comeback hit for Basia. Her first chart hit, "Time and Tide," went to No. 2 in 1988. Her most recent hit was "The Sweetest Illusion," a No. 10 hit 15 years ago (!) in 1994.
Another veteran artist nearing the top 10 is the duo known as the Pet Shop Boys. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe first charted with "West End Girls" in 1986. They've gone to No. 1 three times -- with "What Have I Done to Deserve This" featuring Dusty Springfield (2 weeks, 1988), their remake of the Village People's "Go West" (1 week, 1993) and their Eminem diss "The Night I Fell in Love" (2 weeks, 2002). "Did You See Me Coming?" moves up 17-11 this week.
Speaking of Eminem disses, Mariah Carey's reported response to rap's bad boy, "Obsessed," makes a healthy 21-13 move. Mariah has had eight songs hit No. 1 on my charts (and might have had a ninth, since "We Belong Together" came out during a period when the charts were inactive). Those eight: "Vision of Love,""Love Takes Time," "Emotions," "I'll Be There," "Dreamlover," "Without You," "Anytime You Need a Friend" and her collaboration with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day." Her more recent R&B material hasn't scored as highly with me, but "Obsessed" may have what it takes. We'll see in future weeks.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Week of July 12, 2009
Not much change near the top of the chart this week, but among the two new songs to the Top 40 is an interesting addition: Jermaine Jackson's "Smile," which he sang at the memorial for his deceased brother, Michael, this week. MTV.com has more background information on the song itself, which originally appeared in a Charlie Chaplin movie.
Though eclipsed by Michael and sister Janet, Jermaine has had a credible chart career as a solo artist. On Billboard's charts, he scored Top 10 hits with his 1972-73 cover of the Shep & the Limelites' hit "Daddy's Home" and with the Stevie Wonder-written "Let's Get Serious" in 1980. On my charts, his most successful hit was also his most recent, "I Think It's Love," which went to No. 1 in 1986. Jermaine and Michael just missed the Top 10 in 1984, hitting No. 11 for three weeks with "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming (Too Good to Be True)." That song wasn't released as a single largely because of squabbling between the Jackson brothers' respective labels (Arista for Jermaine and Epic for Michael).
Back at the top of the chart, Carolina Liar holds behind David Cook for a second week and at No. 2 for a fifth week. The last song to hold that long at No. 2 without hitting the top was David Gates' "Love Is Always Seventeen" in late 1994 and early 1995. Only two other songs have held at No. 2 for five weeks without hitting No. 1 -- Dan Fogelberg's "Hard to Say" in 1981 and Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" in 1985. No song has been runner-up longer.
Though eclipsed by Michael and sister Janet, Jermaine has had a credible chart career as a solo artist. On Billboard's charts, he scored Top 10 hits with his 1972-73 cover of the Shep & the Limelites' hit "Daddy's Home" and with the Stevie Wonder-written "Let's Get Serious" in 1980. On my charts, his most successful hit was also his most recent, "I Think It's Love," which went to No. 1 in 1986. Jermaine and Michael just missed the Top 10 in 1984, hitting No. 11 for three weeks with "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming (Too Good to Be True)." That song wasn't released as a single largely because of squabbling between the Jackson brothers' respective labels (Arista for Jermaine and Epic for Michael).
Back at the top of the chart, Carolina Liar holds behind David Cook for a second week and at No. 2 for a fifth week. The last song to hold that long at No. 2 without hitting the top was David Gates' "Love Is Always Seventeen" in late 1994 and early 1995. Only two other songs have held at No. 2 for five weeks without hitting No. 1 -- Dan Fogelberg's "Hard to Say" in 1981 and Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" in 1985. No song has been runner-up longer.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Week of July 5, 2009
At No. 1 this week is the fast-rising ballad "Permanent" by David Cook, the man who was named "American Idol" for the 2008 season. Cook becomes the second "AI" winner to hit No. 1 on my charts, following season one winner Kelly Clarkson. Her "Never Again" hit the top in 2007. (I took time off personal charting between 2003 and the middle of 2006; during that time, I liked several songs by "AI" winners including Clarkson's "Miss Independent" and "Breakaway" and Fantasia's "I Believe." Those three would likely have gone to No. 1.) Most of the other "AI" champs have failed to make much headway on my surveys, though Jordin Sparks did go to No. 3 last year with "One Step at a Time."
One step below Cook is the group Carolina Liar, holding at No. 2 for a fourth week with "Show Me What I'm Looking For." According to its Web site, the group features Chad Wolf on guitar and lead vocals, Johan Carlsson on keyboards, Rickard Goransson on guitar, Erik Haager on bass, Jim Almgren Gandara and Max Grahn. Apparently, Wolf lived in South Carolina for a time (the bio isn't very well written, so it's not certain); most of the other members of the band are from Scandinavia. In the past two years, no song has spent as much time at No. 2 without hitting No. 1; Leona Lewis took "Run" to No. 2 for four weeks earlier this year before making the top. (Five songs in the past 18 months -- Chris Brown's "Wall to Wall," James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You," Pink's "So What," Blessid Union of Souls' "Could've Been With You" and Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream" -- spent three weeks at No. 2 without hitting No. 1). Will Carolina Liar be able to move one more position? We'll see next week.
One step below Cook is the group Carolina Liar, holding at No. 2 for a fourth week with "Show Me What I'm Looking For." According to its Web site, the group features Chad Wolf on guitar and lead vocals, Johan Carlsson on keyboards, Rickard Goransson on guitar, Erik Haager on bass, Jim Almgren Gandara and Max Grahn. Apparently, Wolf lived in South Carolina for a time (the bio isn't very well written, so it's not certain); most of the other members of the band are from Scandinavia. In the past two years, no song has spent as much time at No. 2 without hitting No. 1; Leona Lewis took "Run" to No. 2 for four weeks earlier this year before making the top. (Five songs in the past 18 months -- Chris Brown's "Wall to Wall," James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You," Pink's "So What," Blessid Union of Souls' "Could've Been With You" and Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream" -- spent three weeks at No. 2 without hitting No. 1). Will Carolina Liar be able to move one more position? We'll see next week.
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