US Chart Analysis, 4/22/2006

Daniel Powter remains atop the Billboard Hot 100, while country group Rascal Flatts scores a rare top 10 and a #1 album.

Billboard Hot 100:

1. Bad Day - Daniel Powter

"Bad Day" tops the Billboard singles chart for a third week, which makes it the second longest-running #1 hit yet this year, bested only by Beyonce's 5 week run with "Check On It."

8. What Hurts the Most - Rascal Flatts

Here's the chart gem of the week. Rascal Flatts, a country band that's been around for some years, are having an amazing week on the Billboard charts. "What Hurts the Most," the groups 13th Hot 100 single, is #1 on the country singles chart, and their album, Me and My Gang is #1 on the country and Billboard 200 albums chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, the track leaps 44 spots from #52 to #8. As Billboard's Fred Bronson points on in his Chart Beat column, it's only the 10th country single to make the top 10 this decade. Lately, since the Billboard Hot 100 was so dominated by airplay, a lot of singles had artificial chart "ceilings" based on their genres, since each genre has different sized audiences. For a while, only R&B/Hip-Hop tracks were likely to hit #1, since they had the largest audience, while country singles were stalling out in the mid-20s. Now that digital sales have made the sales half of the airplay/sales combination relevant again, other genres have been able to chart well, including, now, a bona fide country single that is not a pop or AC crossover.

15. Stupid Girls - Pink

Pink's "Stupid Girls" moves up 15 spots this week to #15 and earns the sales gainer award. If it reaches the top 10 next week, it would become her 7th top 10 hit. Pink's last appearance on the Hot 100, "Trouble," reached only #68 ("God is a DJ" didn't even chart).

24. Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Red Hot Chili Peppers leap into the Hot 100 at #24 with "Dani California," first single from upcoming Stadium Arcadium. It's the highest debut of the week, and the second-highest entry into the top 40. Amazingly, "Dani California" is only the 'Pepper's 6th top 40 hit, the biggest being the #2 hit "Under the Bridge" from 1992.

30. S.O.S. (Rescue Me) - Rihanna

"S.O.S." is only #30? How can this be? Answer - It's not available for digital sale, so even though it's currently #3 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, it's resting down here. Amazing how much sales account for chart positions again.

33. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira (featuring Wyclef Jean)

Shakira scores her 5th top 40 hit this week with "Hips Don't Lie," a new track that was added to her current album, Oral Fixation Volume 2, when it was re-released in March. Shakira's last single, "Dont Bother," just missed the top 40 by stalling at #42.

34. When You're Mad - Ne-Yo

Ne-Yo had his second top 40 hit this week, "When You're Mad," which follows-up up his #1 "So Sick." The track is fairly schmaltzy, not as good as "So Sick" and comes off condescending when it tries to be endearing.

Billboard 200:

Rascal Flatts tops the Billboard 200 with Me and My Gang, while Now Vol. 21 debuts at #2 and Pink's fourth album, I'm Not Dead, debuts at #6. By making #6, Pink's new album ties the peak of her second and most successful album M!ssundaztood. Her last album, Try This, peaked at #9. Also debuting in the top 10 this week is Bubba Sparxxx at #9 with The Charm.