US Chart Roundup: Pink Lands Her Fourth #1 Single With "Just Give Me A Reason"

I'm glad that Bruno Mars only had one week at #1 with "When I Was Your Man," which, quite frankly, is a one of the more sap-laden ballads in recent memory. And I'm also glad it was Pink who knocked him off the top of the Hot 100.

"Just Give Me A Reason" now marks Pink's fourth trip to the top of the chart, following "Lady Marmalade" (2001), "So What" (2008) and "Raise Your Glass" (2010). Maybe I should actually listen to her latest album, The Truth About Love, again, now that it's produced three Top 10 hits? I'll admit, I played it once, in the fall, and it sounded like snooze central.

Anyway, Ryan Tedder had better watch his back, lest go-to songwriter Nate Ruess, Pink's "Just Give Me A Reason" duet partner, start eating his lunch. The song now gives the fun. frontman his second trip to the top, after last year's over-saturation of "We Are Young."

Elsewhere, Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" finally cracks the Top 10 by jumping up to #7, the same week that The 20/20 Experience's three-week reign on the Top 200 album chart ends. (Paramore's self-titled album bumps it down to #3.)

It's springtime. The sun is shining. And "Mirrors" still feels like the perfect pop song, two months later.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink feat. Nate Ruess *1 week*
2. "Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz
3. "When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
4. "Stay" - Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
5. "Can't Hold Us" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray 
6. "Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z
7. "Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake 
8. "Feel This Moment" - Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera
9. "Started From The Bottom" - Drake
10. "Heart Attack" - Demi Lovato

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Pink & Nate Ruess' "Just Give Me A Reason" Video Wants Me To Like It

Trying to sum up some enthusiasm for this new Pink video, "Just Give Me A Reason," which also feature's fun.'s Nate Ruess. It's the third single from her album The Truth About Love, and the clip features a bear with creepy glowing eyes atop a bed that Pink is writhing around on in a misty haze.

I dunno. I've already lamented the watered-down feel of her songs over the past few albums. This one isn't doing much to change my mind.

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US Chart Roundup: Phillip Phillips And The London Olympics And Men's Butts

Ellie Goulding and her team are pretty wise to be releasing her new album in two months (to the day) from now, since the title track from her debut Lights keeps climbing, and is now a serious contender top the Billboard Hot 100. The song has now jumped to the runner-up position behind this summer's unstoppable "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen, an inescapable radio favorite that's surpassed "Somebody That I Used To Know" and spent the most weeks (nine) at #1 this year so far.



A bit further down, recent American Idol winner Phillip Phillips sees his coronation single "Home" fly up from #84 to #9. At the end of May, the song debuted and peaked at #10, but is now back up thanks to heavy airplay during NBC's Olympics coverage.

Yeah, I've been watching the Olympics for the past two weeks, and I only heard that shit once. But that's because I DVR it and fast forward to the guys doing gymnastics and swimming, since, well, they have hot asses.



Some other interesting trash: fun.'s "Some Nights" (aka Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody") is stuck at #11 for a second week, and ditto for Calvin Harris and Ne-yo's "Let's Go" at #17 and Demi Lovato's "Give Your Heart A Break" at #18 (which I didn't realize till recently was co-written and co-produced by Josh Alexander and Billy Steinberg, the two behind, among other classics, JoJo's "Too Little Too Late").

Meanwhile, Cher Lloyd's "Want U Back" slips down one to #13, while Alex Clare's "Too Close" jumps six positions to #24. And it seems The Wanted may be destined to remain in One Direction's shadow in this country, as "Chasing The Sun" drops to #52 after peaking one rung higher last week (though it still has a bullet). Let's hope their debut US album is packed with another "Glad You Came" or two.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen *9 weeks*
2. "Lights" - Ellie Goulding
3. "Whistle" - Flo Rida
4. "Wide Awake" - Katy Perry
5. "Payphone" - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa
6. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra
7. "Where Have You Been" - Rihanna
8. "Titanium" - David Guetta feat. Sia
9. "Home" - Phillip Phillips
10. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" - Pink

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US Chart Roundup: J.Lo's 'Hits' Is A Flop

With eight weeks spent at #1 on the Hot 100, Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" has tied the eight-week stretch of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know." Both back-to-back chart-toppers have had the longest run so far this year in the Hot 100's peak position. And both songs make me want to tie a garden hose around my neck and hang myself from the nearest tree branch at this point, thanks to overkill.

The next crop of hits waiting in the wings appear to be the following: fun.'s "We Are Young" follow-up "Some Nights" (#11 this week); Cher Lloyd's US breakthrough hit "Want U Back" (#12); Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen's pair-up "Good Time" (#13).

Hovering just below those three are Calvin Harris and Ne-Yo's "Let's Go" at #17 and Demi Lovato's "Give Your Heart A Break" at #18. I can't see them cracking the Top 10, but who knows?

Over on the album chart, Jennifer Lopez's Dance Again... The Hits flops in at #20. That uppity hooker had better not quit her day job. Oh, oops!

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen *8 weeks*
2. "Wide Awake" - Katy Perry
3. "Payphone" - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa
4. "Whistle" - Flo Rida
5. "Lights" - Ellie Goulding
6. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra
7. "Where Have You Been" - Rihanna
8. "Titanium" - David Guetta feat. Sia
9. "Scream" - Usher
10. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" - Pink

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US Chart Roundup: Carly Rae Is Still #1, Grouplove Rise & Matchbox Twenty Return

With Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" in its second week at #1 on the Hot 100, Billboard points out that this marks the first time three consecutive artists — in this case Jepsen, Gotye and fun. — have seen their debut US singles hit the top of the chart since 1977. Unfortunately, this means that every time you flip on the radio, one of those damn songs is on. I just might officially be completely over all three.

A quick check-in on the latest British invastion: Ellie Goulding's "Lights" inches up to #12 this week, while One Direction's second single "One Thing," another one getting constant radio play these days, is up to #47. Meanwhile, Cher Lloyd debuts at #75 with the Shellback-produced "Want U Back," and The Wanted jump 10 positions to #81 with "Chasing The Sun."



Other trash: David Guetta and Sia's "Titanium," which might just be my favorite single of the year so far, is up to #15, and that iPod commercial song "Tongue Tied" by Grouplove is all over the place on radio, a fact that has the single moving up to #60.

On a final note, Matchbox Twenty return with their first Hot 100 entry in five years, "She's So Mean," which debuts at #91. Their last hit came in the form of 2007's "How Far We've Come." It peaked at #11.



The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen *2 weeks*
2. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra
3. "Payphone" - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa
4. "Wide Awake" - Katy Perry
5. "We Are Young" - fun. feat. Janelle Monae
6. "What Makes You Beautiful" - One Direction
7. "Starships" - Nicki Minaj
8. "Where Have You Been" - Rihanna
9. "Wild Ones" - Flo Rida feat. Sia
10. "Boyfriend" - Justin Bieber

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US Chart Roundup: The Wanted Vs. One Direction - Which Team Are You On?

It occurred to me this week that The Wanted's self-titled album that was supposed to be released in the US on April 24 has now been downgraded to an EP. Strange, I thought, given that they've been riding high on the Billboard Hot 100 ("Glad You Came" moves back up to #3 this week) since the year began.

That said, The Wanted's UK rivals One Direction are nipping at their manly heels, as "What Makes You Beautiful" flies up to #4 in its second week within the Top 10. I think the last time two British boy bands appeared in the upper tier of the US chart at the same time was, um, well...never.

On the the "Iris"/Wanted post I put up yesterday, two anonymous commentators had this two say about the band's album downgrade:

Anonymous #1: "There is 'Deluxe Version', which has 10 tracks, which essentially makes it an album. The 'EP' is only being released to whet appetites for their second album, 'Battleground', which will be released this fall in the U.S."

Anonymous #2: "The Wanted's spin factory downgraded the album to an 'EP' in fear that its charting would pale in comparison to One Direction's (true story) album performance. Besides the fact that 1D seems to have stolen their thunder, the fear was largely based on the fact that half the tracks had been around for over a year and a half now and the relative lack of strength of the new songs they recorded (most of the new tracks they recorded were cut and deemed 'average'). For the Anonymous poster above me - Battleground is NOT being released this fall (other than an unofficial introduction onto ITunes, but that doesnt count); however their new International album (US/UK release) should be ready for a late November release date."

For what it's worth, here's where I stand with these two: "Glad You Came" is the fucking jam. I like "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Stole My Heart" off 1D's Up All Night album enough, but they're no "Glad You Came". However, The Wanted have yet to record a song as good as "Glad You Came". So at the end of the day, these guys are all only as good as their songs (and Max George's abs and butt) — which is pretty much the way I felt about Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC back in the day.

Elsewhere, fun.'s "We Are Young" is #1 for a sixth week, and has now sold over 3 million downloads — crazy, considering it's only April, and Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" was the best-selling single of all of 2011 at 5 million.

Jennifer Lopez's "Dance Again", another collaboration with in-demand (read: overused and generic) producer RedOne, debuts at #27. It might be kind of perfect, if it wasn't for the presence of Pitbull.



And on a final note, Ellie Goulding's "Lights" inches its way up to #60. At this rate, it should be in the Top 10 by February 2014.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "We Are Young" - fun. feat. Janelle Monae *6 weeks*
2. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra
3. "Glad you Came" - The Wanted
4. "What Makes You Beautiful" - One Direction
5. "Boyfriend" - Justin Bieber
6. "Starships" - Nicki Minaj
7. "Wild Ones" - Flo Rida feat. Sia
8. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson
9. "Part Of Me" - Katy Perry
10. "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

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US Chart Roundup: Justin Bieber, One Direction & Carly Rae Jepsen's Pop Attack

I feel like I've said this a handful of times while riffing on the Hot 100 over the years, but this week I truly believe this is one of the most pop-filled Top 10s since this blog has been online.

Once again we have fun.'s "We Are Young" at #1, furthering its stance as the best-selling single of the year. The band keep Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" from topping the chart. (Yes, I just wrote that sentence.) That said, the Bieb's new single sold 521,000 downloads in its first week. And much like his Chris Brown "Forever" knockoff "Never Let You Go," it might wind up being a secret guilty pleasure on the iPod D'luv,

Meanwhile, with Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain" and David Guetta and Nicki Minaj's "Turn Me On" tumbling out of the Top 10, room is made for One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" at #9 (look out, The Wanted!) and Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" at #10. And we all know how I feel about "Call Me Maybe."

But seriously, did you ever think you'd see two Australian singers, an artist from New Zealand, two British boy bands and two Canadian pop tarts in the US Top 10 at the same time in this day and age?

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "We Are Young" - fun. feat. Janelle Monae *5 weeks*
2. "Boyfriend" - Justin Bieber *new*
3. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra
4. "Glad you Came" - The Wanted
5. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson
6. "Starships" - Nicki Minaj
7. "Wild Ones" - Flo Rida feat. Sia
8. "Part Of Me" - Katy Perry
9. "What Makes You Beautiful" - One Direction
10. "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

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US Chart Roundup: Fun. Have The Best Selling Single Of The Year To Date

Fun. and Janelle Monae's "We Are Young" is tops on the Billboard Hot 100 for a fourth week, thus giving the song the longest run at #1 so far this year. It's no surprise that the publication notes "We Are Young" is the best-selling single of 2012 to date, based on sales of 2.39 million paid downloads. Right behind it is Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," which previously spent three weeks at #1 and stands at 2.25 million in sales so far. 

Looking at the rest of the Top 10 this week, it's snooze village, as no new songs make a dent in the upper tier of the chart. Just outside it, however, Billboard cover boys One Direction climb to #11 with "What Makes You Beautiful." Their album Up All Night gets bumped off the throne of the Top 200 by the arrival of the soundtrack to The Hunger Games, however, and slides down to #4.

Meanwhile, Calvin Harris' "Feel So Close" moves up three positions to #15 and Carly Rae Jepsen's addictive jam "Call Me Maybe" jumps to #18.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "We Are Young" - fun. feat. Janelle Monae *4 weeks*
2. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson
3. "Glad you Came" - The Wanted
4. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra
5. "Starships" - Nicki Minaj
6. "Set Fire To The Rain" - Adele
7. "Wild Ones" - Flo Rida feat. Sia
8. "Part Of Me" - Katy Perry
9. "Take Care" - Drake feat. Rihanna
10. "Turn Me On" - David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj

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US Chart Roundup: Fun. & Janelle Monae Land Their First #1 With "We Are Young"

It took a boost from being featured on both Glee in December and in a Chevy ad that ran during the Super Bowl, but nevertheless, fun.'s "We Are Young" has become the sixth song to top the Hot 100 in 2012. (I'm counting Rihanna and Calvin Harris' "We Found Love," which technically topped the chart in 2011 but returned to #1 for two more non-consecutive weeks in late January.) This marks fun. and Monae's first #1 singles.

Meanwhile, over on the Top 200 album chart, fun.'s Some Nights drops from its #3 debut position to #12 this week. Adele's 21 is tops for a 23rd non-consecutive week, and if she remains there one more time, she'll have caught up the 24-week stints both Prince And The Revolution's Purple Rain (1984) and the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (1978) had.

Speaking of Adele, her fourth single from 21, "Rumour Has It," cracks the Top 40 of the Hot 100 this week as it moves up to #39. And speaking of Calvin Harris, his "Feel So Close" also moves into the Top 40 — his first solo single to do so in the US. It's up 12 positions to #34.



Further down the chart, Ellie Goulding's year-old "Lights" inches up to #78, while Madonna drops from #58 to #86 with "Give Me All Your Luvin'" in only its fifth week on the chart. Last week Billboard predicted that "Girl Gone Wild," Madonna's second MDNA single, would enter the Hot 100 this week after going on sale Friday. Alas, twas not to be, as the song never rose higher than #31 on iTunes over the past six days.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "We Are Young" - fun. feat. Janelle Monae *1 week*
2. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson
3. "Set Fire To The Rain" - Adele
4. "Glad you Came" - The Wanted
5. "Part Of Me" - Katy Perry
6. "Starships" - Nicki Minaj
7. "Young, Wild & Free" - Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa
8. "Turn Me On" - David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj
9. "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra
10. "We Found Love" - Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris

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