1. So What - P!nk
Pink climbs a notch to #1 scoring her first solo #1 hit and second #1 after her 2001 collaboration "Lady Marmalade" with Christina Aguilera, Mya and Lil Kim. "So What" hits #1 mostly on its sales strength--the single is the Hot 100's sales gainer for the second week, moving about 250,000 copies this week. That's halfway to gold in one week. This is one of two entries in the top 10 this week showcasing the current power of sales in the Hot 100 (more on that at #9). It's amazing to think that just a few years ago the Hot 100 was basically an airplay chart, with singles sales having declined to nearly nothing and the digital market not having taken off yet.
"So What" is produced by Swedish pop music extraordinaire Max Martin. Best-known for making Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys household names in the late '90s, Martin has since turned his attention from euro-influenced teen pop to a more rock-influenced pop sound, having worked recently with Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, and Bo Bice. I believe this is only the second single to hit #1 produced by Martin after Britney Spear's "...Baby One More Time" in 1999. Other notable hits he produced that didn't hit #1 include "I Want It that Way (Backstreet Boys)," "Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson)," and "That's the Way It Is (Celine Dion)."
4. Paper Plane - M.I.A.
British hip-hop artist M.I.A. continues to climb up one to #4 this week. This song is growing on me.
9. American Boy - Estelle Featuring Kanye West
Speaking of British female artists, another one makes her top 10 debut this week. Estelle climbs an incredible 44 spots to #9, landing her first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. The gigantic leap isn't so unexpected if you've been paying attention. A few weeks ago, her record company announced that "American Boy's" parent album Shine would no longer be offered on iTunes, deciding it in Estelle's best interest to sell her album only as a physical CD (Um, where again am I supposed to buy one of those these days?). In a few short weeks, a bulleted single on the verge of entering the top 10 fell from #11 down to #57. Ouch. Clearly the error of this decision was realized by the wise record company, and last week, as if by magic, Shine appeared on iTunes again, with a rather generous banner advertisement. It is no surprise then that "American Boy's" return to the chart is owed by its iTunes sales, another indicator of the current strength of sales in the Hot 100, and in particular, the heavy influence Apple's store plays in todays popular music market.
Before I move on, it's worth nothing that Estelle is the fourth British female artist to score a top 10 hit in the U.S. this year, after Leona Lewis ("Bleeding Love," #1), Natasha Bedingfield ("Pocketful of Sunshine," #5), and M.I.A. at #4 this week. Madonna doesn't count.
8. Can't Believe It - T-Pain featuring Lil Wayne
10. Got Money - Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
Lil Wayne scores his forth and fifth top 10 hits this week, while T-Pain scores his 10th and 11th. If these singles keep climbing wouldn't it make a great duel for #1? Can't really call it a battle like Kanye West and 50 Cent last year, since no matter what you both win.
21. I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy has their 6th top 40 hit this week with "I Don't Care," the first single from their forthcoming album. They had a one-off earlier this year--"Beat It" with John Mayer, which hit #19. Their biggest hit was last year's "It's Not a Scene, It's an Arms Race," which spent 2 weeks at #2.
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