Billboard Hot 100, 6/7/2008

This week the chart is all about American Idol (and iTunes, but that chart is always about iTunes). In more ways than you'd expect. But first...

1. Lollipop - Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major

Lil Wayne holds the top spot for a second in a row with "Lollipop," third week in total at the top. But that's really an aside to this week's real chart news.

3. The Time of My Life - David Cook

That begins here. David Cook won American Idol last week, becoming the 7th person thusly crowned, following in the footsteps of Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks and Jordin Sparks. "The Time of My Life" is the expected victory lap so to speak, the rushed out debut single written and produced in advance for the pleasure of the winner to perform and release. That it falls short of #1 is a bit of a surprise. After all, such "victory" singles from Kelly Clarkson ("A Moment Like This"), Fantasia ("I Believe"), Carrie Underwood ("Inside Your Heaven"), and Taylor Hicks ("Do I Make You Proud") all hit #1. Jordin Sparks' had the lowliest such single--"This Is My Now" only hit #15--But she's more than made up for that with her real singles, "Tattoo" (#8) and "No Air" (#3).

The chart intrigue doesn't just end there though. This time around iTunes made available--for one week only- the artist's performances throughout the show. Consequently, David Cook breaks the record for the most Hot 100 debuts in a single week with 11, 4 of which enter in the the top 40. The other entries:

#15 "Dream Big"
#22 "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
#28 "The World I Know"
#42 "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
#47 "Billie Jean"
#67 "Always Be My Baby"
#73 "Hello"
#77 "Music of the Night"
#92 "Eleanor Rigby"
#99 "I'm Alive"

That tally beats the previous record of six singles set by Miley Cyrus. Only in the age of downloads.

#10 Viva la Vida - Coldplay

American Idol doesn't just benefit the winner--it helps Coldplay too! Two weeks ago "Viva la Vida" debuted at #15, owing to the fact that it was made available for pre-orders of their upcoming fourth album. Then last week it dropped like a stone to #41. Like a manic chart slingshot, it's back up at #10 this week, thanks no doubt to iTunes choosing it as for their new commercial that debuted during the American Idol finale. In fact, it's #1 on iTunes at the moment, so it will probably climb next week. It's Coldplay's second top 10 hit.

#18. Apologize - Timbaland Featuring OneRepublic

Remember when this was a hit like 6 months ago? Well it's still been kicking around the top 40 ever since, and this week, due to OneRepublic performing it on..you guessed it..the American Idol finale, "Apologize" leaps back up 14 spots to #18. The song's now been on the Hot 100 for 43 weeks. It's this year's "Before He Cheats."

#36. Imagine - David Archuleta

Even the Idol runner-up gets a top 40 hit this week, but only one. And only at #36. Sorry Archuleta.