Billboard Hot 100 Analysis, 7/8/2006 – Nelly Furtado Pulls Amazing Chart Double

1. Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado Featuring Timbaland

After 5 weeks in the top 10, Nelly Furtado ascends to #1 to score her first US #1 single with “Promiscuous.” The track is a huge hit and a new direction for the pop singer, owing to the hip-hop production courtesy of Timbaland. Furtado’s previous best was the #5 peak of “Turn Off the Light” in late 2001. “Promiscuous” is also this week’s greatest airplay gainer, which should provide some insurance for a comfortable run at the top.

The remarkable thing about this week’s chart though, is that Nelly Furtado is simultaneously #1 in both the US and the UK, but with different tracks! It’s not that uncommon for an artist to top both charts in the same week with the same song—Usher did it twice in 2004 with “Yeah!” and “Burn,” Beyonce did it in 2003 with “Crazy in Love,”—bit it’s pretty rare to do it with different songs.

The last time this happened was 9 years ago in March 1997 when the Spice Girls topped the US chart with their debut single, “Wannabe,” and the UK chart with their 4th single, “Mama / Who Do You Think You Are.” Interestingly, the next previous example was another 9 years prior, when in February 1988 Tiffany was #1 in the US with “Could’ve Been” and in the UK with “I Think We’re Alone Now.”

9. Ain’t No Other Man – Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera climbs 4 spots this week with “Ain’t No Other Man” to score her 7th top 10 hit. Last time in the top 10 for her was 3 years ago when “Beautiful,” second single from Stripped, was in the top 10, eventually peaking at #2. Four of Christina’s six other top 10 hits were #1s: “Genie in a Bottle,” “What a Girl Wants,” “Come On Over Baby,” and “Lady Marmalade.”

18. Stars Are Blind – Paris Hilton

Tabloid queen and hotel fortune heiress Paris Hilton has turned her attention to pop music of late and lands her first top 40 this week with “Stars Are Blind,” which makes an impressive debut at #18—a higher placing than most veteran artists can manage. The single is decidedly average, but Hilton’s fan base (who is that exactly?) ensures it is chart success.

37. Déjà Vu – Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z

Also entering the top 40 this week (up 7 spots to #37) is the 6th top 40 solo hit for former Destiny’s Child front woman Beyonce, who’s last single, “Check on It,” spent 5 weeks at #1. This is third chart collaboration with boyfriend Jay-Z, following his appearance on her #1 hit from 2003, “Crazy in Love,” and her appearance on his 2002/03 hit “’03 Bonnie & Clyde.”