Will "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" Go to #1?

Speaking of Grammy buzz, maybe "Across the Universe" will get to #1 too arghahfhagfhgahahrhah

It could be one of those hot-shot debuts that starts out ridiculously high and sinks like a stone within three weeks (see: most American Idol singles). I think/hope that's the case with this.

I'd like to believe that, Barry, but considering that "Candy Shop" got to #1 in FIVE WEEKS (for contrast--"How We Do" has been climbing the charts for 15 weeks, and is still landlocked at #4) leads me to believe the public really digs this one.

If "Caught Up" makes it to #1, will that officially make Confessions (re-issued version) the Thriller of our generation? I don't even think MJ ever had five #1s on the same album.

How far is "Mr. Brightside" gonna go before stalling?

What a depressing question.

Keep in mind that there have only been eleven one-week #1s this decade. And from 2002-03, every single song to hit #1 was a multiple-week #1. The last one-week #1 was that Fantasia single last summer.

This decade needs some variety already, or else it will go down as the most boring decade ever. I was elated to finally see more than 2 rock songs in the top 50 of the Hot 100 this week.

(Note: "Magic Stick" went to #2, but then the joke doesn't work, so I lied.)

My reasoning was
1. BoBD has been a steady climber that has now received a big popular boost. That's a good combination.

2. Competition between the 50Cent tracks ... yeah, it's not really the same as the "vote splitting" you see in polls, but there is something to be said for it, particularly with regard to radio playlists.

Multiple appearances in the top ten or top five aren't *that* uncommon anymore, but is the 50 Cent hype really strong enough right now to sustain this? Maybe ... his album is out in only two weeks.

3. "Candy Shop" is new enough that it could slip to #2 and return to #1.

Anyhow, it looks like there's only a one or two week window remaining for Green Day to pull this off. If they don't make it to #1 by mid-March, then they can forget it.

By "they" I hope you mean Reprise, because I'm sure Green Day doesn't care.

doesn't care about having #1 single? in the history of recorded music, there's never been a pop musician who didn't dream of having a #1 record. of course they care.

Actually, he did: Bad yielded #1s in "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," and "Dirty Diana."

Question about "Across the Universe": Billboard lists the artist as "Various Artists." Is that really how it's billed on the single? Criminy!

Sadly, "Magic Candy Stick Shop" ain't letting go of the throne anytime soon. Everything else in the Top 10 is just kind of lingering there. I think Usher's done at #9 with "Caught Up."

dammit, that pretty much refutes my earlier post about mariah being the king of the #1's. i give the lie to my name!

Uhhh...in what way?

Personaly I hope it stalls just outside of the top 20, properly setting up what hopefully will be a slam dunk in single #3, "Smile Like You Mean It" (if they blow this, they have no one but themselves to blame).

2. Competition between the 50Cent tracks ... yeah, it's not really the same as the "vote splitting" you see in polls, but there is something to be said for it, particularly with regard to radio playlists.

Multiple appearances in the top ten or top five aren't *that* uncommon anymore, but is the 50 Cent hype really strong enough right now to sustain this? Maybe ... his album is out in only two weeks.

Vote splitting amons singles doesn't appear to exist--evidence OutKast, Usher, etc.

Crossover from what to what? It's rock, I think.

A couple weeks ago I was watching TV and "Boulevard" was on three different stations at the same time. Needless to say, that doesn't happen much.

It's still a much, much better choice for a single than anything else left on the abum.

I think "Midnight Show" or "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine" or whatever the hell it's called could both do well in modern rock charts.

Green Day holding at #2, with the climbing "Disco Inferno" making 50's third single in the top five this week (with #4, "Hate it or Love It," ascending rapidly to #28). All Eyez on 50 Cent, indeed.

Not looking good for our boys in eye shadow.

Stunned by "Brightside"'s rapid ascent (I think "Somebody Told Me" was far superior) but pleased that the J.Lo track missed the Top 10. And 3 Doors Down sticking with formula but stalling at #38 is encouraging ...

Mr. Brightside is the shit! It's swoonier too. A swirling beauty, a technicolor epic, FIVE STARS.

"Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" are both classics, yeah.

And yeah, y100 going down broke my heart. I don't know what I'm going to look forward to on my trips home now. Still got WaWa, I suppose.

yeah, I was about to say, I haven't even heard that Beck song. granted, I didn't listen to HFS before it died, but at least then I had the option I probably would've caught the song once or twice.

Beck hasn't even had a real hit since Odelay, and those were all minor (four singles charted in the top 100, but none of them made the top half).

Wow, only #37. I was pretty sure it at least went top 25. It made the top 20 of MTV's year-end countdown, though.

The annoying thing about Y100 going under is that it didn't make way for anything--it was just replaced by a station switching frequencies. I don't know if that'll be replaced by anything.

It made the top 20 of MTV's year-end countdown, though.

When the hell was this on?! I was watching on New Years!

"Loser" - #10 Hot 100, #1 Modern Rock, #39 Mainstream Rock
"Beercan" - #27 Modern Rock
"Devil's Haircut" - #94 Hot 100, #23 Modern Rock
"Where It's At" - #61 Hot 100, #5 Modern Rock
"Deadweight" - #16 Modern Rock
"Jackass" - #73 Hot 100, #15 Modern Rock
"New Pollution" - #78 Hot 100, #9 Modern Rock
"Tropicalia" - #21 Modern Rock
"Sexx Laws" - #21 Modern Rock
"Mixed Business" - #36 Modern Rock
"Lost Cause" - #36 Modern Rock

So yeah, "E-Pro" is his highest mod charter since "Loser."

When the hell was this on?! I was watching on New Years!

It's on about two weeks before New Years now (and it's only a top 40, as opposed to the top 100 they ran in the 80s and 90s).

The Odelay! singles were far bigger MTV hits than rock hits. That's where Beck's longevity really came from, I think.

In other chart news, I wanted to believe it could happen but I'm still shocked that it actually did--the Yin Yang Twins' "Wait" is officially in the top 50. Has anyone heard this on the radio or seen it on TV? Do they give the song more of a beat? How do they edit the chorus? I can't imagine that they could possibly leave it as is.

J.Lo is back to climbing with "Get Right," presumably because her album came out last week. Hopefully she starts to plummet next week.

ILM favorite Amerie appears to be sputtering out in the mid-40s. I don't imagine she'll make it much higher than this, but I'm surprised it made it that far.

Trick Daddy's "Sugar" is at #30 this week. Miccio predicted it'd chart higher than "Let's Go" (which peaked at #7 I believe), I swore it had no chance of doing so. Right now looks like it could go either way. Also, Trillville's "Some Cut" is in the top 20. Good news.

"Hate it or Love It" catapults to #14. By this time next week, 50 Cent will almost definitely occupy four slots in the top 10.

And at the top of the countdown--absolutely nothing. The top 5 stays the same as last week, with the only movement in the lower half being Kelly swapping up one with "1,2 Step" and "Obsession (No Es Amor)" edging "Lovers and Friends" out of the #10.

Whatever chances "Boulevard" had of going to #1 are now more or less finished, I think it's safe to say.

That happens sometimes (re: "Mr. Brightside") when the song seems to use up all of its forward momentum in one chart jump. I was pretty sure that last week was as high as it was getting.

Has anyone on this board even heard that Goo Goo Dolls track? I can't bring myself to download it, it seems like it will be so unbearably average. And how long has that fucking Gavin DeGraw song been on? Terrible.

I dunno, I don't think "1 Thing" is really that commercial--it sounds so old school, ridiculously out of step with trends in rap today. It could happen, but I don't think so.

Side question: Does anyone know who this Natalie chracter is? She's been blazing the last couple weeks and landed at #23 this week, but I've never even heard of her or her single and I can't find it on soulseek.

It essentially is by now, I suppose.

Oh jesus Barry, good call. I hope it's Bo though, I dunno if a Constantine #1 would be any better than Nickelback's legacy. Does anyone else think that dude looks exactly like Scott Stapp from Creed?

OTOH, we're living in the Avril age, even Kelly Clarkson just made a rock album (a decent one, at that) so there may be a few other hopes for rock hits in there as well.

Blount -- not only that, but Ozzie Smith's son was eliminated last night!

I think it's safe to say that Lil' Kim more than holds her own, though.

Dr. Bill, you just bowled me over with the Constantine/Scott Stapp comparison. But beggars can't be choosers -- if he wins AI and goes to #1, we'll happily accept it.

I really dunno if I'm ready to beg quite so shamelessly yet.

Before it totally gets passed by though, I would like to step back for a second and acknowledge how wonderful it is that "Mr. Brightside" even got to #17. For reference's sake, that's at least twice as high as any Limp Bizkit single has ever gotten (or Weezer, if we're going for a band with a more similar sound)

I know, I just don't want it to lose steam once "Boulevard" is no longer a topic of conversation.

I have, and it sounds exactly as one might expect. It's a karaoke cover with that overstrummed sound that the GGDs apply to every ballad they do.

And that Natalie thing is a wretched, dated r&b ballad that would have sounded in step with things in 1986. A pointless exercise in rhyming "cra-zay" with "ba-bay," etc. Don't seek it out.

Why won't the Goo Goo Dolls just buckle down and give us another melodramatic prom ballad? It's been what, seven years since "Iris"?

Meanwhile, looks like you guys were right about "1 Thing"--jumps 13 and lands solidly in the top 40 this week. And the more I hear it, the more it grows on me as a logical hit (as well as a great single). Still not entirely sold on top ten, but this is a good start. Also, "Sugar (Gimme Some)" continues to work its way up, making #25 this week.

Some unfortunate stalling towards the bottom of the list this week--Yin Yang Twins climb a measley one to #49, while Snoop, Justin and Uncle Charlie slip down to 50. The single seems poorly promoted at the moment, though, and they're still playing the hell out of the "Let's Get Blown" video (for some reason), so I hope once they get a video in rotation for "Signs" they'll be able to turn around the chart momentum a bit.

Ludacris's "Get Back" is the big loser this week, dropping to #46, but in the meantime "Number One Spot" is in the top 40. Is there any chance of that song goign to #1? Probably not.

Akon's "Lonely" jumps almost 20 this week, landing at #29. What do people think of this song? I liked "Locked Up" a whole lot (though I was pretty sure Akon was the rapper, not the cronner dude) but I thought "Ghetto" was just fucking awful. This is a nice turnaround--got the sound of a real old-school (50s? early 60s?) ballad.

Rob Thomas is in the top 20 this week. I haven't heard this song yet, surprisingly, and finding it on soulseek has been a bitch--is it worth seeking out? I've heard it's him pulling a JT, so I'm sorta curious. Meanwhile, that Natalie song climbs seven to #16 this week. WTF is it with this song? Someone must know what it is. Trillville is at #14 (much, much higher than I expected), Eminem stalls with "Mockingbird," hopefully meaning the song won't go top ten, ending up this week at #12. The Game and 50 are at #11 with "Hate it or Love It," sure to take the top ten by storm next week.

Finally, some action in the top 10--no new entries, but lots of position shuffling. Gwen and Eve (#10), Ciara and Missy (#9), and The Game and 50 (#7) all mercifully appear to be on their way out. This allows for Kelly Clarkson to climb into the top five, and far more surprisingly, for Frankie J and Baby Bash to catapult to #4 with "Obsession (No Es Amor)". The success of this song puzzles me considerably--I can't recall a single marginally successful latin-pop style crossover in the last year, much less a top five hit. The song's OK, I suppose, but not nearly good enough to explain this.

More depressingly, "Disco Inferno" is at #3, setting the stage for him to start an OutKast-style grip on the top two spots of the chart next week. I hope that doesn't happen, and it seems strange thta the song is able to maintain any sort of momentum when compared with "Candy Shop"'s full-on takeover (doesn't even have a video), but such is the power of 50 Cent, I suppose. Plus, let's face it, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" isn't getting any younger. Next week, it starts to slip.

This week's top 50

Great recap, and I am in full agreement with all your assessments, Doc. Just wanted to add that Beck's E-Pro" enters at #77, and that my hunch is that when "Magic Candy Stick Shop" finally drops, it'll be replaced at #1 by "Hate It Or Love It." The "Obsession" leap is impressive but I think it'll stall at #3. The dark horse could be that Rob Thomas single if AC radio jumps on it. (Good song, but what an awful sentiment: "I don't wanna have to pay for this" -- how lovely, he wants to move forward with her because he doesn't want to have to pay hookers.)

P.S. Finally heard "Signs" for the first time last night: LOVE it, and I'm not even much of a Snoop fan.

P.P.S. Natalie must go away.

"I'm NOT gonna pay a lot for this hummer!!"

"E-Pro" probably wasn't hurt from the constant plugging on The O.C. last week, but still, very cool. The song's starting to grow on me a bit.

I hear the Usher/Luda thing with regards to BB and Frankie, but it still seems bizarre to me that the song is as big as it is. The dude's not even good looking. And Joseph, I think it'll probably make it to #2--most likely next week, possibly in two--but ultimately will be held off by 50 and Game.

Anthony, re: New Wave is back--what signs are there of this, besides the success of The Killers and kind of Franz Ferdinand? Not that I don't want to believe it, but I find it sort of hard. And I think that the Duran Duran comparison is apt, but more in terms of the video than the song. The true genius of what Sophie did with "Mr. Brightside" was to get Brandon Flowers to act like a real performer--if you see them live, he just sorta stands there and sings, but in the video he's a bonafide pop star. I guess this could sort of be their "Girls on Film," hopefully soon they'll make a video featuring all of the members individually a la "Rio" and turn them into a real boy band.

And yeah, "Signs" is fab, least of all for Snoop.

Ms. Muller, yes? HMMM. I should sympathize because she did a Cure vid, after all, but she keeps working with all these other bands I can't stand! Quite a quandary.

(x-post Ned, that was rather Calum of you)

Ew, good lord, I wasn't perving over her or anything, give me some credit!

Of course new wave never left, like rock never did. (GodfuckingDAMN did that whole 'rock is back' shit a few years ago make want to kill. I wanted to shove Rocket from the Crypt CDs down throats -- oh speaking of which they're going to release a Rocket DVD later this year.)

Indeed, it's fairly easy to imagine Scandal or Quarterflash having a hit with it in 1983-84.

is the killahs album worth buying? i like somebody told me a lot and mr brightside a little less.

I think she also did the No Doubt "Don't Speak" video, which is certainly one of the best videos ever made--inter-band conflict was never portrayed so well in a video before. I'm gonna see if I can find a videography of hers in a moment.

"Since U Been Gone" is heavy new wave, now that you mention it (and I suppose thta means that "La La" is as well, albeit less explicitly). Good trend.

And since I've heard it twice on the radio since the last time I posted here, I gotta agree with the consumerizer re: "Goin Crazy"'s awesomeness. I think maybe I just automatically like any female-sung R&B song these days, though (except for the new Destiny's Child single, which is such a step in the wrong direction).

The Killers album is worth buying for the first four tracks, two of which you already know.

Annie Lennox - "Why?"
Bjork - "Venus As a Boy"
No Doubt - "Don't Speak"
Blur - "Song 2"
No Doubt - "Simple Kind of Life"
The Strokes - "The End Has No End"

I haven't even seen 75% of 'em.

The Goo Good Dolls, Gavin DeGraw, Ryan Cabrera, Maroon 5 and John Mayer all continue to haunt the bottom 15--party guests that no one invited and refuse to take the hint when you try to get them to leave. Couple new ones to the top 50, though, including Bobby Valentine's "Slow Down". Heard good things about it, but have yet to listen myself.

A little higher up and we have yet another grammy-only collaboration to haunt us. #33 this week, Melissa Ethridge and Joss Stone doing a tribute to Janis Joplin. My question about this is twofold--1. Why the hell is this on here to begin with? and 2. Why did it take four fucking weeks to get here? Oh well, the only consolation is that I can say with near absolute certainty that next week it'll be nowhere to be found.

Luda climbs steady to #27 (probably won't go to #1, but hopefully it'll at least crack the top ten) while after a couple of weeks of langouring in the 50s, Will Smith catapults to #23 with "Switch". Big Willie's back, ladies and gentlemen, and it doesn't come a moment too soon. Allegedly his new album has an Eminem dis track on it (my sources tell me he even uses the word "dick" once or twice). Can't wait for that. What's Alicia's "Karma" doing in the top 25, though? Good song, but I thought it already ran its course on the charts by now. We covered in on Stylus almost five months ago, I think. And Amerie lands one shy of the top 20 this week. It's officially a big one.

In the top 20, not too much going on. Rob and Trill are stalling this week, The Killers are up three, as is Natalie (finally heard that song, damn good--now I just gotta hear "Lonely No More"). Akon blazes his way to #15--good song, but gotta say, I'm a bit surprised. Is early 60s soul in again or something?

Ciara falls out of the top ten (though with any luck, she'll be back soon enough with "Oh!") to make room for The Game and Fiddy, at #6 this week. As predicted by myself and several others here, 50 slides to #5 with "Disco Inferno," making room for Kelly to move to #4 and Frankie and Baby to hitch to #3. Top two same as always, of course--it looks like 50's only competition for the number one spot over the next month or so is himself, with "Hate it or Love It" being the only single with enough momentum to possibly take the top spot. We'll root for you Kelly, but the chances are pretty slim. Meanwhile, I wish Green Day would just start slipping already so I'd stop getting my hopes up every week when I get to #2.

Meanwhile, on the modern rock charts, Nine Inch Nails enter at #8 with "The Hand That Feeds"--anyone heard it yet? I expect good things from a NiN lead single. Audioslave are back in the habit at #2, and for the first time in over a decade, Beck has a #1 modern rock single with "E-Pro". Could have happened to a more deserving single, but whatever, we'll take what we can get.

"E-Pro" hitting number one is yuh?

i bought the killers album (only 10 bucks!) and i think it's fantastic, so nyernyer on you two.

i hope you keep doing this dr bill! our top 40 stations suck. i mean i still haven't even heard hate it or love it, not that i especially want to but you see what i'm saying here. otoh i did hear mr brightside for the first time on the radio this morning!

"Hate it or Love It" is worth searching for. Probably one of the 10 best radio singles of the year thusfar.

The NIN track is surprisingly uneventful and cliche-riddled; it would be a passable debut single from a new artist with limited intellect, but knowing what Trent's capable of, it's very disappointing. His arms are looking good in the video, though.

I haven't heard the Beck or Akon yet. But if Natalie goes top ten I'll hate American youth. Can I put her and Lumidee in a fight to the death?

Regarding the Etheridge/Stone track: it hurdled to #32 b/c iTunes is selling it with profits going to cancer research. If it's a long-running promotion then the song might stick around another week or two. But I'm sure radio airplay is nil. At least we're getting some chart movement thanks to the new inclusion of digital download purchases.

In other unmentioned chart activity, Nivea is spared the ignominy of "one-hit wonder" status as "Okay" inches to #40 ("Laundromat" having missed the Top 40 in 2002); Ying Yangs are up to #43 and should break top 40 next week; and I have no idea whatsoever who Bobby Valentino is (sounds like it should be a crooner pseudonym for one of the Wu-Tang). Delighted that our patience with Amerie is bearing fruit.

In other unmentioned chart activity, Nivea is spared the ignominy of "one-hit wonder" status as "Okay" inches to #40 ("Laundromat" having missed the Top 40 in 2002); Ying Yangs are up to #43 and should break top 40 next week; and I have no idea whatsoever who Bobby Valentino is (sounds like it should be a crooner pseudonym for one of the Wu-Tang). Delighted that our patience with Amerie is bearing fruit.

6-1 jump? Pretty rare. I think if it does make it to #1, it'll take at least three more weeks. My guess is 6-3-2-1.

Too bad. I'll reserve judgement until hearing it myself.

What's wrong with Lumidee? I miss "Never Leave You (Uh-Ohhhh)" already.

Oh now that's fucking lame. No way it'll be around for another week, though.

Yeah, I was glad to see the Ying Yangs make a bit of a jump. I wonder if they'll make a video for it--they must, right?

I'm soooo out of touch with my generation. And yet I couldn't be more pelased about it.

They should just dub the song over an old Heathcliff cartoon.

Dr. Bill: this is great, what you're doing, much aking to what Swygart was doing with the UK charts. Plese keep it up! Rockcrit/chartgeek types such as myself NEED you. Bravo.

I'd stay in bed staring at the TV all day for a glimpse of this.

Dr. Bill: this is great, what you're doing, much aking to what Swygart was doing with the UK charts.

Much appreciated, though Swygart comparisons will ultimately leave all cruelly disappointed.

Apparently a mashup of "Karma" and Stevie's "Superstition" has been making the rounds. Is it possible Alicia's getting airplay points based on this?

I guess it's possible. I don't know what billboard's policy is with mashups (and I doubt they really do, either).

Bunch of new ones in the top 50 this week. ILM growing favorite Brooke Valentine (#49) is among them--"Girlfight," like Nivea's "Okay," is a Lil' Jon-produced slice of crunk-n-b which is very good but in no way great. ILM experts say that other songs on the album are better, from what I've heard, I'm inclined to disagree, but I haven't listened enough for a fair judgement. Big Boi's verse is pretty lame. The video is kinda hot.

Also, Bowling For Soup (#48). "1985" was one of the five or so worst singles of last year (though perhaps let's not get into that debate again) but this is much better, and not just because they use the word "breastes". It's endearing in all the ways "1985" grated, it's got hooks that are just as catchy but only half as annoying. Surprisingly good stuff.

And Baby Bash (#45). Who is this guy? Has he always existed? Should I care? Anyone who's heard this song, help me out.

Surprisingly, Melissa and Joss don't quite fall off the charts this week, merely slipping 14 to #46. Not as swift and merciless as I had hoped, but I'll take it, I suppose. Peace to 'em next week. J. Lo is a week or two from falling out herself, and thank god, though her new single w/ Fat Joe (when your duet has me wishing for Ja Rule and Ashanti, bad sign) is even worse. Jet and Three Doors Down, for some reason, continue to climb one-three spots a week, undeterred. The Jet song sets new standards for averageness, I think. BRING BACK THE ROCKNROLL MOTEHRUCFCKERs!!!

Good news, though--"Oh!" is up 23 this week, landing at #35. First couple times I heard it, I was thinking top ten of the year. I've cooled on it a bit since, but it's still pretty great--double props for giving Luda more than 8-12 bars to work with, sounding like a genuine guest spot instead of just a Hitchcock-ian cameo. Wish the video was a bit better, though.

And Trent is in the top 40! I remember how surprised I was in 1999 when "The Day the World Went Away," a song I don't think I heard once on the radio and didn't even have a video debuted at #17. This is like that, though "The Hand That Feeds" only makes a #31 placement. Call it the Conor Oberst factor, I suppose, though even he didn't sell enough to get on the top 100, despite his OutKast-like grip on the top two spots of the single sales charts. Anyway, has anyone heard the NiN song yet? I still haven't gotten around to it, somehow.

Omarion is back to climbing, for some reason. If this song goes top 20, I'll be so frustrated that I'll skip watching You Got Served the next time I catch it on Cinemax out of protest. OK, empty threat, but whatever. "Sugar" is up one but running out of momentum, but T.I. is up seven to #23 and Luda is 20 away from his self-fulfilling prophecy. Best of luck, Lude. Mariah mercifully falls out of the top 20 this week, though somehow her awful vid is #1 on TRL. Bizarre.

Will Smith and Amerie are both in the top 20 this week, #19 and #17 respectively. The Amerie song just keeps on getting better and better, and it's cool to see that others agree. Top ten seems entirely likely at this point. Not much other movement in the teens this week, besides Akon climbing to #12 with "Lonely"--still perhaps the most unlikely hit of the year thusfar.

Gwen, Usher and Mario still somehow maintain their grasps on the bottom half of the top ten this week, but we got lots of movement in the top five this week. Green Day finally falls out of #2, dropping to #5 this week--the dream is over, but it's almost a relief at this point. Doubtful that "Holiday" will go top ten, but it's pretty good, and should be good enough for a top 40 follow-up. As everyone predicted, "Obsession (No Es Amor)" appears to have peaked at #3, and slips one to #4. Game and Fiddy are at #3 this week (could my 6-3-2-1 prediction possibly be right?), which means that "Since U Been Gone" is actually at #2 this week! It seemed unlikely, but could Kelly be the one to break the Nickelback curse? Not strictly a rock song per se (and one that gets play on absolutely 0 rock stations, if I'm not mistaken), but close enough--I'd certainly take it for the time being. Anyway, I don't think it'll happen--expect it to swap positions with "Hate it or Love It" this week--but "Since U Been Gone" still makes for a VERY worthy #2 single. Congrats, Kelly.

Needless to say, "Candy Shop" is still #1.

The Hot 100 is so frustrating. If a song you don't like is at #1, too bad - it will be there for half of the damn year.

Yeah, it's especially ridiculous when you look at lists of the #1 singles from each year, and how they keep getting smaller and smaller. I think as early as 1990, there were about 20-25 #1 singles a year, but now we're lucky if we get a dozen. How fucking annoying.

If memory serves, it was "Starfuckers" that was getting airplay, but Billboard, feeling a little squeamish about the title, used the flip as the "charting" side.

I'm amazed that Kelly's at 2 -- I can't even remember the last time a female-sung rock song hit #1. Seriously, does anyone here know? Do we have to go all the way back to "Black Velvet"?

As for Melissa and Joss -- that performance was actually getting some radio airplay when I was in Boston this past weekend. As oversung as one might expect but it was nevertheless great to hear someone belting. Doesn't happen nearly enough these days.

Great summary once again, Doc.

If we count Lisa Loeb (which I think we probably should), "Stay" in '94 would be the last example of this.

No kidding, huh.

I seriously underestimated "Candy Shop" by figuring that it would get knocked off relatively quickly by one of the other 893 tracks that 50 had in the chart. At the time I didn't think it was a good record, so of course I said that. Now I think it's very good (and I must still refrain from calling it a great record because 50 brings nothing to the table on this track. He's useless).

I'll root for Kelly Clarkson even though I think Dr. Bill is right about the Game and 50 overtaking her next week.

Wow. You have that completely backwards. Not that 1985 was great, but Almost is fucking terrible.

nah, The Day The World Went Away was the title/a-side of the retail single that Starfuckers was also on, but it wasn't until months later that Starfuckers was the 2nd video and got some radio play.

why do I even know that?

First things first--looks like it could be the last week for Gavin DeGraw, thank god. Also not long for this world is Nivea's "Okay"--frankly I'm surprised that this one didn't chart higher. Not too sad by it, though--it was fairly Jon-by-#s. In any event, "Okay"'s doppleganger of sorts, Brooke Valentine's "Girlfight," is doing much better, up four to #45 this week. The first new entry on the top 50 is its most unfortunate--Howie Day, a guy so bland he makes Ryan Cabrera look like a Ying Yang Twin by comparison.

"Be Yourself" (#39) sends Audioslave into the top 40 for the second time. Hven't heard it myself, but prelimenary reports are not good, and frankly I'd be shocked if it was anything better than mediocre--has anything they've done since "Cochise" been? Also new to the top fifty is Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" (#37)--only heard parts thusfar, seems tremendously unexciting in a world where "Lose My Breath" already exists, but I could be wrong. "Wait" stalls this week, slipping one to #35. Luckily, so does Three Doors Down (#34), their march of terror finally starting to let up. Surprisingly enough, NiN also slips one this week--not surprised that it's falling, but I thought it'd be off the top 50 for certain, now that the first-week sales factor is out of the way."Slow Down" is up nine to #31. I was disappointed with this song, actually--given the hotness of most current R&B and the positive things I'd heard about it, I'd expect something far more interesting than "No Letting Go" without the Dwali rhythm. Oh well.

The most surprising thing about this week's charts is easily the debut at #25, Weezer's "Beverly Hills". For some context, they haven't had a top 100 hit in over a decade (with "Undone - The Sweater Song") and that didn't even crack the top 50. The lead single off of their last album barely even cracked the modern rock top ten. So what gives? Is there some new scoring technicality that this single somehow managed to take advantage of? Has their rep grown considerably since Maladroit, even though that album was basically a flop? Or is the song just that much more popular than past singles of theirs? It doesn't make sense to me in the slightest. But it's pretty fucking cool anyway.

Other big climber in the top 25 this week is Ciara's "Oh," up 12 to #23. Hopefully my prediction of it being her third single to sail into the top five were accurate. It certainly deserves it. "Karma" continues to meaninglessly oscillate within the 20s, up five this week to #21. T.I. and Trick both show signs of aging, each slipping one this week. Within the top 20, Luda is climbing but starting to lose momentum, up two to #19. Amerie and The Killers are both up one (meaning "Mr. Brightside" now has the slightly superior distinction of being a top 15 single), and Natalie and Trillville both continue to slip. I'm disappointed Natalie didn't go top ten--feels like I barely even got a chance to know the song, and now it's leaving. Bummer. Rob Thomas and Will Smith are both up five this week--good for them.

Lots of meaningless short-change in the bottom half of the top ten this week. Continuing its absolutely inexplicable ascent to the top is Akon's "Lonely," climbing SEVEN to #5 this week. Why? How? WTF? And disappointingly, my prediction came true--The Game and Kelly Clarkson swap places this week, dashing dreams of a technical break of the Nickelback curse. Looks like now we'll have to wait for Barry's prediction of an American Idol rock #1 to come true before there's a chance of a #1 rock coup. And, of course, "Candy Shop" is #1 again, though I hope that within the next two weeks, it'll be replacced by "Hate it or Love It". Could Akon possibly go to #1? Unbelievable.

Killers fall out of the top ten on the albums chart this week, but none other than the Killers' arch nemeses on this planet, The Bravery, debut at #18 this week. Hopefully this was a peak that will not be broached again--it's cool that times are as such that a second-rate Killers can still go top twenty, but they don't desrve much more than that. More exciting are Beanie Sigel at #3 (I've heard really good things about this album--anyone wanna confirm / dispute?) and Beck at #2--easily his highest album charting to date. Who'd think that over a decade since "Loser" he'd be more popular than ever? Surprising to me, anyway.

link

You are.

ITUNES MOTHERFUCKING STORE

That sorta cheapens the victory, doesn't it?

1. Beverly Hills - Weezer
2. Switch - Will Smith
3. Lonely No More - Rob Thomas
4. Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
5. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
6. Lonely - Akon
7. Be Yourself - Audioslave
8. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
9. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
10. Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani & Eve

My only problem with this system is that it sort of rings of affirmative action. Weezer debuting at #25 just isn't as cool as it would've been before this new system was instated.

I also predicted that "Candy Shop" wouldn't have much staying power, but I really hope I'm right about the AI coup.

I am glad that 50 kept Beck from having a #1 debut. Man, if it wasn't for 50 both Beck and Jack Johnson would have had #1 debuts recently! And they said rock was dead.

"Okay," "Baby I'm Back" and "Collide" all climb significantly in the 40s this week. 112 and Foxy Brown jump into the top 40 with "U Already Know"--I really dig it, only heard once or twice but it sounds like their best single since "Only You". Exciting. Brooke Valentine works her way up to #37, and Audioslave are one spot away from "Be Yourself" being their biggest single yet at #32. Highest new-on to the top 50 this week is (brace yourselves) 50 Cent, with "Just a Lil Bit". I haven't heard it yet, but the chances of it being a cover of 2 in a Room's "Wiggle It" are pretty slim. In any event, I figure it'll be in the top five by May (maybe in time to swap places with whatever song of his is #1 at the time on top). "Wait (The Whisper Song)" climbs to #30--apparently the vid debuted on M2, but I haven't caught it yet. Look forward to that.

Bobby Valentine climbs six to #25. I've decided that I really don't like the song much at all--really, what is there about it to like? Still beats "How Could You," but I don't get the love for it apart from that. Trick continues to fall, T.I. stalls at #24, and it looks like Ludacris might not be coming for that #1 spot after all, ducking out of the top 20 and hitting at #22 this week. On a more positive note, however, "How We Do" appears to be finished with cluttering up the top ten, dropping to #21 this week.

Usher and Ciara both take mercifully similar falls, falling eight each to #11 and #19 respectively. Passing herself on the way down, Ciara also rises six to #17 with "Oh!," hopefully going top ten before the month is out. The Killers continue to sputter out, slipping one to #16 this week. "Switch" is up two to #12, but by far the most notable thing about the top 20 this week is Weezer's remarkable ascension to #13 with "Beverly Hills"--I figured it was one of those Hot Shot Debut types that'd start to plummet once it got out of the gate, but man--looks like it might go top ten. Insanity.

Swapping places with herself in the top ten is Gwen Stefani, whose "Rich Girl" falls to #11 (thank god) but whose "Hollaback Girl" jumps 28 spots (!!!) to #10. I heard it all the way thorugh for the first time recently, and John, looks like you were right--I question certain apsects of it, but on the whole it's phenomenal. Glad to see it doing so well. Also new to the top ten are Rob Thomas at #9 (decided that I like his song much, much more than any M-20 song--between this and "Smooth," is it possible that the rest of the band was actually holding back a considerable talent? I'd never have guessed) and even more excitingly, Amerie, jumping eight to land at #8 this week. Guess you guys were officially right about that one.

Unfortunately, that's all the movement worth reporting in the top ten this week. "Obsession" and "Lonely" switch up #5 and #4, but aside from that, it's totally static, meaning that "Candy Shop" is #1 again (for the eighth week, I believe). FUCK CANDY SHOP, indeed. Next week, it goes down to "Hate it or Love It". Or else.

Or maybe wait until "Candy Shop" finally drops and start the new thread in celebration of that event (even though he won't actually be vacating #1, since it'll probably be 50+Game taking over).

"Lonely No More" >>> "Lonely"