Thursday, December 22, 2005

US Chart Analysis, 12/31/2005

Billboard Hot 100 (Singles):

A hearty congratulations to Mariah Carey this week, who scores her 17th #1 hit with "Don't Forget About Us." Depending on how you count it, this either ties her in second place with Elvis Presley or puts her just 1 single below the King in terms of acts with the most #1 singles; the Beatles remains the record holder with 20 #1 singles. "Don't Forget About Us," recently added to the Platinum Edition of The Emancipation of Mimi, is her fourth release of 2005 and her second #1. Carey is the only artist to top the Hot 100 twice in 2005. "Don't Forget About Us" caps an amazing year for Carey, the year in which she staged a strong comeback to once again dominate the pop chart, as well as the Grammy nominations.

Carey's string of #1s began with her very first single, "Vision of Love," in 1990, which she followed with four consecutive #1s. Her collection of chart-topping singles includes the longest-running #1 single, "One Sweet Day," her duet with Boyz II Men that spent 16 weeks at the top in 1995 and 1996. She also had long runs at #1 in 1993 with "Dreamlover" (8 weeks), "Fantasy (1995, 8 weeks)," and this year's "We Belong Together (14 weeks)."

Her complete list of Billboard #1s:

1. Vision of Love, 4 weeks, 1990
2. Love Takes Time, 3 weeks, 1990
3. Someday, 2 weeks, 1991
4. I Don't Wanna Cry, 2 weeks, 1991
5. Emotions, 3 weeks, 1991
6. I'll Be There, 2 weeks, 1992
7. Dreamlover, 8 weeks, 1993
8. Hero, 4 weeks, 1993
9. Fantasy, 8 weeks, 1995
10. One Sweet Day, 16 weeks, 1995
11. Always Be My Baby, 2 weeks, 1996
12. Honey, 3 weeks, 1997
13. My All, 1 week, 1998
14. Hearbreaker, 2 weeks, 1999
15. Thank God I Found You, 1 week, 2000
16. We Belong Together, 14 weeks, 2005
17. Don't Forget About Us, 2005

Elsewhere in the top 10, Nelly (Featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp) is this week's Sales Gainer with "Grillz," which moves up 1 place to #3, and The Pussycat Dolls move up 2 to #5 with "Stickwitu." Two singles move into the top 10: Beyonce makes a big 10 spot jump to #8 with "Check On It," which becomes her 6th top 10 hit, and Juelz Santana is up 2 to #10 with "There It Go! (The Whistle Song)."

Further down the chart, Jamie Foxx and Ludacris are back to back at #47 and #48 with singles that feature each other. Jamie Foxx (featuring Ludacris) is at #47 (up from 58) with "Unpredictable," while Ludacris (featuring Jamie Foxx) is the week's biggest new entry at #48 with "Georgia." Ne-Yo is this week's Airplay Gainer winner with "Sick Yo," up 9 spots to #26. Four singles enter the top 40: Carrie Underwood at #31 (up from #42) with "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Purple Ribbon All-Stars at #35 (up from #43) with "Kryptonite (I'm On It)," Tracie Adkins at #38 (up from #46) with "Honky Tony Badonkadonk [Whatever that is!]," and Billy Currington at #39 (up from #44) with "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right," winner of this week's apostrophe award.

Billboard 200:

Eminem remains on top for a second week with Curtain Call - The Hits, but faces a challenge from Carrie Underwood, who rebounds from #5 to #2 with Some Hearts. Biggest new entry of the week is Underwood's former American Idol competitor Bo Bice at #4 with The Real Thing. Buoyed by support from the excellent film, Walk the Line, Johnny Cash moves into the top 10 at #10 with The Legend of Johnny Cash. Kelly Clarkson also re-enters the top 10, up 3 to #8 with Breakaway. As is expected the week before Christmas, 37 of the top 50 album titles are bulleted this week. (In two weeks, expect little if any bullets in the top 50).

Radio & Records top 40 (airplay):

Chris Brown is #1 for a 4th week with "Run It! (Featuring Juelz Santana)"

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