Pop Sweep: May 21, 2016...
I'm ready to roll out the first of this week's "chart sweeps", checking out the songs making their way on to the various charts in Billboard magazine. As usual, I'll start off on the pop side of things, then later on move on to the latest in rock, R&B, country, and dance music...
On the "big" chart, Billboard's Hot 100, which combines tallies of radio airplay from all formats, sales (like iTunes and AmazonMP3), and internet streaming (like Spotify and YouTube), Canadian actor-turned-rap star Drake scored his first #1 hit as a lead artist with "One Dance". Also, sixteen more tracks from his Views album make an appearance on the chart for the first time (with four of them in the top-40 and "Hype" at #33)...
Scottish DJ/producer Calvin Harris torpedoes into the chart at #9 with "This Is What You Came For" featuring Rihanna, automatically becoming his fourth top ten hit in America. His other collab with Ri-Ri, "We Found Love", went to #1. Grade: C
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Country crossover duo Florida Georgia Line also have a big starting week at #20 with "H.O.L.Y." from their upcoming third album Dig Your Roots. It's their fourth to reach the top 20 on this chart; their breakthrough hit "Cruise" eventually made it to #4 here.
R&B singer Kent Jones gets his first pop hit as "Don't Mind" arrives at #63. Grade: C-
Russo-German DJ/producer Zedd and singer Kesha team up at #74 with "True Colors". Grade: C+
And now on to the pop radio format charts...
On the Mainstream Top-40 radio panel, Mike Posner climbs to #1 with "I Took A Pill In Ibiza"...
The new single from Justin Timberlake, "Can't Stop The Feeling!", comes from the upcoming animated movie Trolls, and leaps in at #24. (Caution, though, the scenes of JT and the whitest of white people in the studio are completely cringe-inducing, only redeemed by James Corden, Ron Funches, and Kumail Nanjiani dancing). Grade: B
While Selena Gomez's former #1 hit "Hands To Myself" drops to #20, her new single "Kill 'Em With Kindness" drops in at #37. Grade: C
Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult Top-40 format, "7 Years" from Lukas Graham is on top for a second week, while Justin Timberlake enters at #19...
Singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson is back at #34 with "Hell No", claiming my "Pop Pick of the Week". Grade: B+
The Chainsmokers puff in at #39 with "Don't Let Me Down" with singer Daya, which is in the top-10 on the Hot 100. Grade: C+
Sia slips in at #40 with her "Cheap Thrills". Grade: B+
Lastly, on the Adult Contemporary, or "easy listening", radio chart, Justin Bieber holds at #1 for a second week with "Love Yourself", as the aforementioned "Can't Stop The Feeling!" pops in at #25...
The punk-gone-pop band the Goo Goo Dolls are in at #26 with "So Alive". They've been as high as #5 on this list twice, with "Name" in 1996 and then almost a decade later with their cover of Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit". Grade: C-
And Selena Gomez's "Hands To Myself" finally makes this list at #28. Grade: C
I'll be back with the latest hits on rock radio...
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