1. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira Featuring Wyclef Jean
Finally! After 12 weeks on the chart, Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” finally ascends to the top, thanks to a record-breaking week of digital sales (over 266,000 paid downloads). “Hips Don’t Lie” is perhaps the most exciting #1 single of the year so far and the culmination of Shakira’s career up to this point, despite the fact that it was an afterthought. The Colombian singer’s international pop career exploded in 2002 with the release of her first English-language album, Laundry Service, which gave her two top 10 hits in the US, “Whenever, Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes.” The set was also a massive hit in Europe. For her next move, Shakira devised a 1-2 punch, the Oral Fixation project, which would consist of a Spanish-language album, Fijacion Oral Vol 1, followed in 6 months by its English companion, Oral Fixation Vol 2. Fijacion Oral Vol 1 was a surprise hit, landing at #4 on the album’s chart, despite its expected limited appeal as a foreign language set. It’s first single, “La Tortura,” was a top 40 hit. In comparison, Oral Fixation Vol 2 was a disappointment. It’s first single, “Don’t Bother,” was taken as advice by the music public, and the track missed the top 40. Enter Wyclef Jean, hip-hop performer/producer and former member of The Fugees who gave Whitney Houston her last big hit (“My Love is Your Love”). A new track was created to try to give Oral Fixation Vol 2 a second chance. “Hips Don’t Lie” was born, a hook-laden blend of latin and R&B sounds ready-made to become a multiformat smash. And so it did. “Hips Don’t Lie” instantly climbed airplay playlists and has topped the R&R Top 40 chart for the last month. Yet the single was languishing on the Billboard Hot 100, on which sales had become increasingly important in factoring the chart. Hoping to fuel album sales, Shakira’s record company withheld the track from being sold in digital outlets. Last week though, that changed. “Hips Don’t Lie” was instantly the best-selling download ever and easily climbed to the top spot, where it’s likely to stay for some time.
3. Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado Featuring Timbaland
Here’s the other pop star whose career was recently saved by a hip-hop producer/performer. It holds at #3 this week, and might have had a shot at #1 if “Hips Don’t Lie” hadn’t been released. Still, at #3, it’s Nelly Furtado’s biggest hit to date. Her third album, Loose, hits US stores June 20.
4. It’s Goin’ Down – Yung Joc
Yung Joc leaps 20 spots to #4 with his first single “It’s Goin’ Down.” I wish it was, as I just listened to it and was not impressed.
9. Unfaithful – Rihanna
“Unfaithful” climbs 3 spots to #9 this week, giving Rihanna her third top 10 hit. Last single, the #1 smash “SOS,” is still in the top 10 at #7. This song is okay, but I can’t help but think it would sound much better in the hands of a more formidable singer like Christina Aguilera. “SOS” is more Rihanna’s speed.
26. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
After conquering Britain, where “Crazy” spent 9 weeks at #1, Gnarls Barkley is turning their eyes toward the US market. “Crazy” is up 9 spots this week in its second week in the top 40.
27. Buttons – The Pussycat Dolls
The 4th Pussycat Dolls single pales in comparison to their others, yet it rises 10 spots this week.
39. Torn – LeToya
Don’t know much about her and haven’t heard this yet, but it’s this week’s airplay gainer, up 9 spots.
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