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.
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