Saturday, February 20, 2010

Billboard Hot 100, February 27, 2010

1. Tik Tok - Ke$ha

Ke$ha rules the Hot 100 for a 9th consecutive week. One more week and she'll tie Debbie Boone's "You Light Up My Life" for longest run at #1 for a female artist's first single (a technicality, since Ke$ha's appearance on Flo Rida's "Right Round" was uncredited).

2. We Are the World 25 for Haiti - Artists For Haiti

In Britain, big charity singles come out and shoot to the top of the charts. In America, we do things differently, as "We Are the World 25 for Haiti," the all-star remake of the #1 1985 charity hit, debuts at #2. Surprised? I guess I was, but really shouldn't be. Only three charity singles have ever topped the Hot 100. The first was the original "We Are the World," to fight famine in Africa. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones, "We Are the World" was a major hit, spending four weeks at #1 and eventually going on to win a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Rather shockingly, its parent album, We Are the World, was also nominated for Album of the Year, despite just being a compilation of songs donated by various artists to raise money and not an actual album product. The other charity singles to reach #1 in the US were Dionne Warwick and Friends' remake of "That's What Friends Are For," an AIDS charity single and another big #1 hit that was also a Record of the Year Nominee, and George Michael and Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," a #1 hit in 1992 to benefit various charities. To be fair, there has been a significant amount of charitable giving in the US toward Haiti. Doing it through record-buying just isn't so popular, as novelty singles in general are not a big deal in the US.

6. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

They slide back 3 places but are still bulleted and earn this week's Airplay Gainer. Mediabase currently shows them at #17 at top 40 radio and that chart's fastest-rising hit at the moment.

9. In My Head - Jason DeRulo
(43. Solo - Iyaz)

Jason DeRulo climbs two notches to #9, scoring his second top 10 hit with "In My Head," the follow up to #1 single "Whatcha Say." Like "Whatcha Say," it's produced by J.R. Rotem, who continues to add to hits significant credits as one of the biggest hitmakers du jour. Iyaz's new single "Solo," which debuts just outside the top 40 this week, is another of his productions.

11. Blah Blah Blah - Ke$ha feat. 3Oh!3

While still content at #1, Ke$ha's next single, "Blah Blah Blah" is about to return to the top 10. It appeared at #7 when the album first came out due to strong first-week sales. This week, it climbs 11 notches to #11 and is this week's Digital Gainer. While "Tik Tok" did eventually win me over, this one has yet to do so.

28. Breakeven - The Script

The Script makes a big move this week, up 12 spots to #28, the biggest move within the top 40.

30. Today Was a Fairytale

Taylor Swift also makes some good movement, up 9 places with "Today Was a Fairytale." The song is from the film Valentine's Day, which was #1 at the box office last weekend, despite very bad reviews.

40. Already Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson slips 4 spots to #40 in what is surely the last week in the top 40 for "Already Gone." A follow-up, "All I Ever Wanted," has finally been announced, although it won't really hit until March. "Already Gone" was released as a single in August and has spent 23 weeks in the top 40--longer than her #1 hit "My Life Would Suck Without You" spent in the top 40, despite "Already Gone" peaking at only #13.

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