Billboard Hot 100, 12/9/2006

1. I Wanna Love You - Akon (featuring Snoop Dogg)

Akon sits pretty at #1 for a second week with "I Wanna Love You." He's lost his bullet though, so I expect a new #1 next week, and there's a hot track at #2.

2. Irreplaceable - Beyonce

After two subpar singles ("Deja Vu" and "Ring the Alarm") Beyonce is back in true form with "Irreplaceable," which has a good shot at becoming her fourth #1 single next week. The single rises a notch this week to #2 and is the chart's greatest airplay gainer--a very good sign she will continue moving upwards next week.

3. Smack That - Akon (featuring Eminem)

Akon's other big hit keeps its bullet, despite moving down a spot to make room for fast-rising Beyonce. The track gave up its #1 spot in Britain this week for Take That's comeback hit, "Patience."

5. How to Save a Life - The Fray

It peaked at #3 awhile ago on sales and now The Fray manages to creep back into the top 5 on it's growing airplay support, up three this week from #8. Their first single, "Over My Head (Cable Car)" peaked at #8.

7. Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani makes a big leap this week--up 18 spots this week to #7 with "Wind It Up," this week's greatest sales gainer. At #7, the single matches the peak of her second most successful solo single, "Rich Girl," surpassed only by #1 hit "Hollaback Girl." Counting her appearance on Eve's #2 hit, "Let Me Blow Ya Mind," this is Stefani's fourth top 10 hit.

10. Fergalicious - Fergie

Fergie takes a big dip this week, down five spots to #5, losing her bullet. I suspect this is a product of the bizarre occurance whereby her album, the Dutchess, was mysterious missing from iTunes for a few days this week. It's back now, but the missing sales days seems to have taken its toll on her chart performance. "Fergalicious" tumbles from #2 to #11 on the Digital Songs chart. Ouch. I wonder if Apple or Fergie's label is to blame for this.

20. That's That S*** - Snoop Dogg (featuring R. Kelly)

Snoop Dogg scores his 6th top 20 this week, making a big leap into the top 40 up 65 slots to #20 with "That That S***." This is R. Kelly's first appearance in the top 40 this year; his last big hit was last year's #22, "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1)."

25. Say It Right - Nelly Furtado

Nelly Furtado scores her 5th top 40 hit this week with "Say It Right," the third single from her massively succesful third album, Loose. "Maneater," although a #1 hit in Britain, proved an unworthy US successor to #1 hit"Promiscuous," peaking at only #16. "Say It Right" appears to be on track to surpass "Maneater," rising an impressive 41 spots this week to #25.

41. Wait a Minute - The Pussycat Dolls

Just outside the top 40 this week is the fifth US single from The Pussycat Dolls, "Wait a Minute," which rises 12 spots to #41. The Pussycat Dolls already have 4 top 40 hits under their belt, including "Dont Cha" (#2), "Buttons" (#3), and "Stickwitu" (#5). "Beep" was their only single to miss the top 10, peaking at #13.