Pop Sweep: April 19, 2014...

Hey gang, it's time to kick off the first of today's five "chart sweeps", checking out the songs making their way onto the singles charts in Billboard magazine. As usual I'll start off on the "pop" side of things, then later in the day move on to rock, R&B, country, and dance music...

On the "big" chart, Billboard's Hot 100, which combines tallies from radio airplay, sales, and internet streaming, Pharrell Williams holds on to the top spot for a seventh week with "Happy"...

The highest debut of the week is from the Australian "boy-band" 5 Seconds Of Summer with their first American hit "She Looks So Perfect". This has gotten off to a big start around the world, and as their EP debuts in the top-10 this week in America, this is just getting its start on radio. They just might be the ones who replace the group they are opening for, One Direction, in the new litter of tweens' hearts...

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British "blue-eyed" soul newcomer Sam Smith made a big splash on Saturday Night Live two weeks ago, and one of the two songs he performed on the show, "Stay With Me", leaps in at #68. It's my "Pop Pick of the Week", even though for right now it's just a pre-order promo for the album which is due in June, but I love this even more than the "official" first single, "Money On My Mind". It may be me, but he gives me the same vibe of vocal excitement that Boy George did back in 1982...

In this light week on the chart there's only one more entry, but it's just as big of a hit as the others, and as it remains on top of the Modern Rock chart, South African rockers Kongos land at #98 with "Come With Me Now". The brothers' father, John Kongos, went to #70 in 1974 with "He's Gonna Step On You Again"...

And now on to the pop radio format charts...

On the Mainstream Top-40 radio panel, "Happy" also remains at #1 for a fourth week...

Norwegian R&B/pop duo Nico & Vinz debut at #37 with "Am I Wrong". The single also moves up to #34 on the Adult Top-40 list...

Newcomer Katy Tiz comes in at #38 with a remake of the 2010 Rock Mafia single "The Big Bang". The original, which sported a video featuring pre-twerk Miley Cyrus, went to #98 on the Hot 100. This doesn't really add much to the mix other than upping the Great Gatsby-ness of the instrumentation...

Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult Top-40 format, Pharrell commands for a third week...

The British boy-band Rixton enters at #39 with "Me And My Broken Heart"...

Right below that at #40 is U2 with "Ordinary Love", their Oscar-nominated song from the Mandela documentary...

Lastly, on the Adult Contemporary (or "Easy-Listening") chart, Passenger rides on top for a third week with "Let Her Go"...

The sole debut at #27 is American Idol winner Phillip Phillips with "Raging Fire". It also jumps to #12 on the Adult Top-40 list...

I'll be back in 90 minutes with the newest on rock radio...