As Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, the charts for this weekend heat up, with six debuts and a brand new No. 1.
At the top is Thompson Square's "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?" That duo's debut hit marks the first No. 1 song by a newcomer since "Animal" by Neon Trees hit the top in December-January. It's also one of three country crossover hits in the top five, with Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee" at No. 4 and last week's No. 1, Christian Kane's "Thinking of You," falling to No. 5.
A couple of country songs enter the survey this week, too, as Darius Rucker matches the four chart hits of his country debut with a fourth hit from the CD "Charleston, SC 1966." "Come Back Song" and "This" both went to the Top 10, and "Southern State of Mind" hit No. 1 the first week of April. "Things I'd Never Do" enters at No. 32.
At No. 40 are two artists whose biggest hits each went to No. 2. Country singer James Otto made his chart debut in the summer of 2008 with "Just Got Started Loving You," which spent three weeks in the runner-up spot. Now he's teamed up with country-pop legend Ronnie Milsap on "Good Thing's Gone Bad." The duet's entry this week marks Milsap's first time in the Top 40 since "Stranger in My House" in 1983. His biggest hit came in the spring of 1981, when "Smoky Mountain Rain" stayed at No. 2 for two weeks.
The week's highest debut belongs to Pitbull, an artist who has been featured in Top 40 hits by Enrique Iglesias ("I Like It"), Usher ("DJ Got Us Falling in Love") and Jennifer Lopez ("On the Floor") over the past 12 months. This time, it's the Miami rapper's turn to be the lead artist as "Give Me Everything" features appearances by Ne-You, Afrojack and Nayer. It enters at No. 30.
While veteran artists such as Stevie Nicks, Richard Marx and Sade all make strong moves in this week's survey, Lady GaGa earns the biggest mover award as "The Edge of Glory" sprints 39-26. Will it be one of the summer songs of 2011? We'll see in the next few weeks.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Week of May 22
Four songs entered the Top 40 the week of December 12, 2010. All four turned out to make significant chart impact. Neon Trees' "Wish List" hit the Top 10. Natasha Bedingfield's "Weightless" stayed on the chart for 16 weeks, including four weeks at No. 11. And Cee-Lo Green's "Fool for You" is currently the leading candidate for the top song of 2011, spending four weeks at No. 1 in February. But Green has serious competition now from another song that debuted that same week -- a song that hits the top this week.
Christian Kane's country ballad "Thinking of You" completes its run to a peak by moving 2-1 in its 24th chart week. By doing so, Kane moves into second place for the longest drive to the top in the history of my charts. Back in 1986-87, Genesis took 26 weeks to hit No. 1 with "In Too Deep." The slow move for that song came as a result of its initially hitting the chart as an album track and a song from the soundtrack of the movie "Mona Lisa," and then remaining in the Top 25 (as the survey existed at that time) long enough to earn renewed strength as the fifth single from Genesis' "Invisible Touch" LP. By contrast, Kane's song has flown under the radar as a country album track from his EP "The House Rules" that hasn't caught fire nationally. That lack of heavy rotation ironically has helped the song's longevity as it's gained a bit of strength week by week (after being stuck at No. 12 throughout the month of March).
Here are the songs that rank as the five slowest movers to No. 1 since the weekly charts began in 1981:
1) Genesis, "In Too Deep," 26 weeks, 1986-87
2) Christian Kane, "Thinking of You," 24 weeks, 2010-11
3) TIE Darius Rucker, "It Won't Be Like This for Long," 19 weeks, 2009
Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat, "Lucky," 19 weeks, 2008
4) Nickelback, "If Today Was Your Last Day," 18 weeks, 2009
5) TIE Owl City, "Fireflies,' 17 weeks, 2009
Sara Bareilles, "Love on the Rocks," 17 weeks, 2007-08
It's probably no coincidence that six of these songs have been on the charts in the past three and a half years. First, the chart now is a Top 40 survey, switching from a Top 30 survey in 2006 and a Top 25 survey in 2002. The addition of 15 positions gives songs more room for chart placement and longer stays. Secondly, since the charts resumed in 2006 (after a break from 2003 through mid-'06), the influence of iTunes has been significant. The ability to listen to and purchase individual tracks on albums, as well as iTunes' "free single of the week" feature spotlighting unfamiliar artists, has encouraged a broader variety of songs to chart than a strict radio-reflective survey would.
Christian Kane has the biggest chart story this week, but not the only one. Two of the week's three biggest movers are comeback hits for artists with long chart pedigrees. Moving 16-9 is "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" from Roxette. The Swedish duo first entered the surveys in 1989 with the No. 3 "(She's Got) The Look," the first of 10 hits over a four-year span. Their current hit is the first since "Almost Unreal" hit No. 19 in 1993.
And moving 25-18 is "Secret Love," the latest hit for Stevie Nicks. The singer-songwriter's success as a member of supergroup Fleetwood Mac shouldn't overshadow the fact that she has had quite a solo career. "Secret Love" is her 11th chart hit since 1981 when her duet with Don Henley, "Leather and Lace," went to No. 2. Her last solo hit came in 2001 when "Bombay Sapphires" went to No. 10.
The week's biggest mover belongs to Adele. "Someone Like You" rockets 29-20, on track to follow "Rolling in the Deep" to No. 1. That song hangs on at No. 35 for a second week, in its 23rd week on the chart.
Two debut songs this week: "The Edge of Glory" marks Lady GaGa's third release from her upcoming album (and she's already released a fourth ... obviously, she's never heard of the word "burnout"). This song, at No. 39, features saxophone work from Clarence Clemons (of E Street Band fame). And "Gravity Happens," at No. 40, is the second chart hit for Kate Voegele. The singer and actress (TV's "One Tree Hill") went to No. 1 two summers back with her debut hit, "99 Times." This song is the title track from her new album.
Christian Kane's country ballad "Thinking of You" completes its run to a peak by moving 2-1 in its 24th chart week. By doing so, Kane moves into second place for the longest drive to the top in the history of my charts. Back in 1986-87, Genesis took 26 weeks to hit No. 1 with "In Too Deep." The slow move for that song came as a result of its initially hitting the chart as an album track and a song from the soundtrack of the movie "Mona Lisa," and then remaining in the Top 25 (as the survey existed at that time) long enough to earn renewed strength as the fifth single from Genesis' "Invisible Touch" LP. By contrast, Kane's song has flown under the radar as a country album track from his EP "The House Rules" that hasn't caught fire nationally. That lack of heavy rotation ironically has helped the song's longevity as it's gained a bit of strength week by week (after being stuck at No. 12 throughout the month of March).
Here are the songs that rank as the five slowest movers to No. 1 since the weekly charts began in 1981:
1) Genesis, "In Too Deep," 26 weeks, 1986-87
2) Christian Kane, "Thinking of You," 24 weeks, 2010-11
3) TIE Darius Rucker, "It Won't Be Like This for Long," 19 weeks, 2009
Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat, "Lucky," 19 weeks, 2008
4) Nickelback, "If Today Was Your Last Day," 18 weeks, 2009
5) TIE Owl City, "Fireflies,' 17 weeks, 2009
Sara Bareilles, "Love on the Rocks," 17 weeks, 2007-08
It's probably no coincidence that six of these songs have been on the charts in the past three and a half years. First, the chart now is a Top 40 survey, switching from a Top 30 survey in 2006 and a Top 25 survey in 2002. The addition of 15 positions gives songs more room for chart placement and longer stays. Secondly, since the charts resumed in 2006 (after a break from 2003 through mid-'06), the influence of iTunes has been significant. The ability to listen to and purchase individual tracks on albums, as well as iTunes' "free single of the week" feature spotlighting unfamiliar artists, has encouraged a broader variety of songs to chart than a strict radio-reflective survey would.
Christian Kane has the biggest chart story this week, but not the only one. Two of the week's three biggest movers are comeback hits for artists with long chart pedigrees. Moving 16-9 is "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" from Roxette. The Swedish duo first entered the surveys in 1989 with the No. 3 "(She's Got) The Look," the first of 10 hits over a four-year span. Their current hit is the first since "Almost Unreal" hit No. 19 in 1993.
And moving 25-18 is "Secret Love," the latest hit for Stevie Nicks. The singer-songwriter's success as a member of supergroup Fleetwood Mac shouldn't overshadow the fact that she has had quite a solo career. "Secret Love" is her 11th chart hit since 1981 when her duet with Don Henley, "Leather and Lace," went to No. 2. Her last solo hit came in 2001 when "Bombay Sapphires" went to No. 10.
The week's biggest mover belongs to Adele. "Someone Like You" rockets 29-20, on track to follow "Rolling in the Deep" to No. 1. That song hangs on at No. 35 for a second week, in its 23rd week on the chart.
Two debut songs this week: "The Edge of Glory" marks Lady GaGa's third release from her upcoming album (and she's already released a fourth ... obviously, she's never heard of the word "burnout"). This song, at No. 39, features saxophone work from Clarence Clemons (of E Street Band fame). And "Gravity Happens," at No. 40, is the second chart hit for Kate Voegele. The singer and actress (TV's "One Tree Hill") went to No. 1 two summers back with her debut hit, "99 Times." This song is the title track from her new album.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Week of May 15
Two songs debut this week -- Elton John, with a track from the soundtrack of "Gnomeo and Juliet," and James Blunt, with his second hit from his latest CD. But the strongest chart moves this week are for songs that look likely to compete for the top over the summer:
* Country singer Blake Shelton makes another strong move with "Honey Bee," leaping 17-7. The song, Shelton's first Top 40 hit, becomes his first Top 10.
* But Shelton, last week's biggest mover, isn't this week's. That honor goes to the Canadian country trio High Valley, whose debut hit, "A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How)," sprints 12 positions to No. 17. The group, brothers Brad, Bryan and Curtis Rempel, has opened shows for Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes and Reba McEntire. The Rempels grew up in Alberta in the rural community of La Crete. "A Father's Love" is from the trio's eponymous CD, released last fall.
* Six more songs move up at least five positions: Mary Mary's "Something Big" (10-5); Sade's "Still in Love With You" (39-34); Chris Medina's "What Are Words" (12-6); Jennifer Hudson's "Why Is It So Hard?" (21-14); Alyssa Reid and P. Reign's "Alone Again" (27-19); and Roxette's "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (25-16). In addition, another six songs push up four positions in a tight area of the chart (positions 33-28). Those songs -- from Richard Marx, Lady Antebellum, Easton Corbin, Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow, Adele and NKOTBSB -- are likely to vie with the preceding tunes for Top 10 supremacy as the spring turns to summer.
* Country singer Blake Shelton makes another strong move with "Honey Bee," leaping 17-7. The song, Shelton's first Top 40 hit, becomes his first Top 10.
* But Shelton, last week's biggest mover, isn't this week's. That honor goes to the Canadian country trio High Valley, whose debut hit, "A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How)," sprints 12 positions to No. 17. The group, brothers Brad, Bryan and Curtis Rempel, has opened shows for Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes and Reba McEntire. The Rempels grew up in Alberta in the rural community of La Crete. "A Father's Love" is from the trio's eponymous CD, released last fall.
* Six more songs move up at least five positions: Mary Mary's "Something Big" (10-5); Sade's "Still in Love With You" (39-34); Chris Medina's "What Are Words" (12-6); Jennifer Hudson's "Why Is It So Hard?" (21-14); Alyssa Reid and P. Reign's "Alone Again" (27-19); and Roxette's "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (25-16). In addition, another six songs push up four positions in a tight area of the chart (positions 33-28). Those songs -- from Richard Marx, Lady Antebellum, Easton Corbin, Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow, Adele and NKOTBSB -- are likely to vie with the preceding tunes for Top 10 supremacy as the spring turns to summer.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Week of May 8
Country songs have had a good run on this chart in the past year; since the beginning of 2010, 10 No. 1 hits have been in the country-pop genre. Even so, this week country songs have done something that hasn't happened for more than five years: taking 3 of the top 5 positions this week.
The duo Thompson Square makes a strong bid for a future No. 1 as its debut hit, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not," sprints 9-4. Meanwhile, Christian Kane pushes his ballad "Thinking of You" 4-3 in its 21st chart week, and Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson mark the fifth month for "Don't You Wanna Stay" by holding at No. 2. By locking down positions 4 through 2, country artists dominate the Top 5 for the first time since March 18, 2006. That's when Keith Urban was No. 3 with "Stupid Boy," Alan Jackson was No. 5 with "A Woman's Love," and Alison Krauss teamed up with John Waite to put a country-pop spin on his 1984 hit "Missing You" at No. 4.
Country doesn't limit itself to the upper reaches either, as the top three debut songs also fall within the genre. Lady Antebellum debuts at No. 36 with "Just a Kiss," replacing the group's collaboration with Maroon 5, "Out of Goodbyes." Easton Corbin, who was in the Top 10 a year ago with his debut hit "A Little More Country Than That," returns at No. 35 with "I Can't Love You Back." And the duo of Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow represent the pop-rock side of country with "Collide," entering at No. 34.
Those songs join Darius Rucker's former No. 1 "Southern State of Mind," the Canadian country vocal group High Valley's "A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How)" and the week's biggest mover -- Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee" (moving 29-17) -- as country crossovers to this week's Top 40.
Despite all of this country action, the No. 1 song is a pop song, Bruno Mars' "Talking to the Moon." It rockets 8-1 to become his second No. 1 in the past six months. "Just the Way You Are" went to the top last November.
The duo Thompson Square makes a strong bid for a future No. 1 as its debut hit, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not," sprints 9-4. Meanwhile, Christian Kane pushes his ballad "Thinking of You" 4-3 in its 21st chart week, and Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson mark the fifth month for "Don't You Wanna Stay" by holding at No. 2. By locking down positions 4 through 2, country artists dominate the Top 5 for the first time since March 18, 2006. That's when Keith Urban was No. 3 with "Stupid Boy," Alan Jackson was No. 5 with "A Woman's Love," and Alison Krauss teamed up with John Waite to put a country-pop spin on his 1984 hit "Missing You" at No. 4.
Country doesn't limit itself to the upper reaches either, as the top three debut songs also fall within the genre. Lady Antebellum debuts at No. 36 with "Just a Kiss," replacing the group's collaboration with Maroon 5, "Out of Goodbyes." Easton Corbin, who was in the Top 10 a year ago with his debut hit "A Little More Country Than That," returns at No. 35 with "I Can't Love You Back." And the duo of Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow represent the pop-rock side of country with "Collide," entering at No. 34.
Those songs join Darius Rucker's former No. 1 "Southern State of Mind," the Canadian country vocal group High Valley's "A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How)" and the week's biggest mover -- Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee" (moving 29-17) -- as country crossovers to this week's Top 40.
Despite all of this country action, the No. 1 song is a pop song, Bruno Mars' "Talking to the Moon." It rockets 8-1 to become his second No. 1 in the past six months. "Just the Way You Are" went to the top last November.
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