The #1 Hot 100 Song and other #1’s on Billboard for the week of September 27, 2008
This week the Billboard Hot 100 is going to rock! If you don’t include her collaboration with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, and Mýa on the 2001 cover version of Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, “So What” is Pink’s first solo #1. Thanks to digital sales of 253,000 units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan (it keeps its bullet and is actually the Sales Gainer for the week), the rocker takes the top spot, knocking T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” down to #2 (though it retains its bullet and is the Airplay Gainer for the week.) I’m happy!! I haven’t heard it on terrestrial radio yet, but I have heard it on VH1 (which I guess is the only place that will play videos currently, now that MTV’s “TRL” is going bye-bye) and of course, here on AllNumberOneRadio.com! I also liked her performance of it on the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards. I would love to say that it will keep its position for a second week, but there are just too many contenders for next week. With the exception of Chris Brown’s “Forever,” all of the songs in the top 10 have a bullet. Not all of them are going to make it, but several of them are ready to take over. T.I. could easily slide back into its former position. M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” inches its way up one position from #5 to #4, and the Hot Shot Debut for the week is “Swagga Like Us” by Jay-Z & T.I. featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne, which enters the chart at #5. Unlike the Disney Channel/”American Idol” acts (Jonas Brothers/David Archuleta, etc.), I think this one may stick around for a few weeks.
I was completely correct in that Metallica’s Death Magnetic would take the top spot on the Top 200 Albums chart, despite being released three days after the traditional Tuesday release day. In fact, it sold 490,000 copies in the U.S. alone. Their last studio album, 2003’s St. Anger (geez…has it really been five years?), sold 418,000 copies in its first week with a similar weird release schedule. Death makes Billboard history though…Metallica is the first group to see five of its albums debut at #1 on the Top 200 Albums chart. They were tied with the Beatles, U2, and the Dave Matthews Band, with four each. It is also Metallica’s seventh release to start with more than 300,000 since 1991, when Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data. Ne-Yo’s Year of the Gentleman or Nelly’s Brass Knuckles might knock it out of the top spot…but I doubt it. Jazmine Sullivan begins a fourth week at #1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with “Need U Bad.” On the Hot Country Songs chart, Jimmy Wayne’s “Do You Believe Me Now” returns to #1 for a second non-consecutive week, after dipping to #2 last week. The rockers really love their Metallica, because Metallica starts a second week on the Mainstream Rock chart with “The Day That Never Comes,” while Staind begins a third week atop the Modern Rock chart with “Believe.” All chart information was found on Billboard.com.
Keep rock alive! Keep Pink at the top of the chart! (I do kinda like that M.I.A. song though…)