US Chart (Billboard Hot 100) Analysis, 3/24/2007

1. Glamorous - Fergie

Fergie lands her second #1 hit with "Glamorous," this week's sales gainer winner and her third top 2 hit in a row following "London Bridge," which spent 3 weeks at #1 last August, and "Fergalicious," which hit #2 in January. All three of Fergie's solo singles have now charted higher than her highest-charting hits with Black Eyed Peas--the #3 hits "Don't Phunk with My Heart" and "My Humps."

3. Don't Matter - Akon
4. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani (featuring Akon)

Akon keeps his bullet, winning the airplay gainer award even, but still slides back a spot to #3, pushed back by the seven-spot leap by Fergie. "Don't Matter" is Akon's third top 2 hit since November, when he hit #2 with "Smack That" and #1 with "I Wanna Love You." Akon is also at #4 this week, featured on Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape," down one from #3 this week. The single is Stefani's second highest-charting single after #1 "Hollaback Girl."

7. It's Not Over - Daughtry

Daughtry climbs back into the top 10 with "It's Not Over," propelled by ever increasing airplay. The single had climbed as high as #4 a few weeks ago, mostly on sales. "It's Not Over" is a major top 40 hit, in fact, it now tops the Mediabase Top 40 chart, making it a shoo-in to top the Radio & Records top 40 next week. When it does so, Daughtry will become only the second American Idol alumnus to do so, following Kelly Clarkson, who's topped the airplay top 40 four times ("Miss Independent," "Breakaway," "Since U Been Gone," and "Because of You"). Despite the intuitive link, American Idol artists have largely fared poorly at top 40 radio, but lately have turned that around, with three current top 40 hits: Daughtry at #3 this week, followed by Carrie Underwood at #27 with "Before He Cheats" and Katharine McPhee at #29 with "Over It"--both of which are quickly rising up the chart. The only other acts to hit the airplay top 40 from the show have been Clay Aiken (#17 in 2003 with "Invisible") and Kimberly Locke (#19 in 2004 with "Eighth World Wonder").

9. Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne

This single is more noteworthy for what it did last week, when it debuted at #5 to become Lavigne's 5th top 10 hit and 3rd to hit the top 5. Her last single, ballad "Keep Holding On" is still in the top 40, slipping 6 spots to #32 this week.

28. Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood rises 9 spots this week with "Before He Cheats." The single, which peaked at #16 back in November when it was a hit at country radio, is enjoying a second wind, now as a top 40 radio hit--her first.

31. Candyman - Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera lands her 14th top 40 hit this week with '40s-styled "Candyman," rising 16 notches this week to #31. Her last top 40 single, "Hurt," peaked at a disappointing #19 following the #6 peak of "Ain't No Other Man."

36. U + UR Hand - Pink

Pink returns to the top 40 this week with "U + Ur Hand," which makes a 26-spot jump to #36. This is Pink's 9th top 40, her last being last year's #13 single "Stupid Girls." Pink has had a difficult time on the chart lately, although the signles from her latest album did chart very well in the UK. Her last single, "Who Knew" failed to make the Billboard Hot 100, but was a top 5 hit in Britain. "U + Ur Hand" is doing very well at top 40 radio, where it's the third-biggest gainer in the top 20 this week, moving up 4 spots to #15, besting the #17 peak of "Stupid Girls."