Derek Talks Music Charts (DTMC) — Volume 1.3
Welcome back to another edition of Derek Talks Music Charts, where we explore current music trends of the Hot 100 while I provide unsolicited opinions about the songs at hand. It’s been 2 months since our last entry, and frankly, there haven’t been too many changes, but I’m long overdue for another edition. However, do look out for a special blog post I will be posting sometime in the next two weeks.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
10. Save Your Tears — The Weeknd & Ariana Grande
This duet returns to the top ten this week after a few weeks just outside the area, proving that this dynamic duet still resonates with the general public. Interestingly, Billboard now credits the song’s entire chart run to both The Weeknd and Ariana Grande, an interesting development given that the solo version already had a pretty successful run prior to the remix, which peaked at #3. Then again, it is the remix that propelled the song to #1.
9. deja vu — Olivia Rodrigo
I am not going to lie: I did NOT expect this song to remain as popular as it is right now, but “deja vu” has seen consistent streams and steady radio gains. With a proper push, it could’ve gone number one like Olivia’s other singles, “drivers license” and “good 4 u,” but this delayed push, while good for longevity, hinders the song’s true growth. Still my least favorite single from SOUR though.
8. MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) —Lil Nas X
Another song that I’m surprised with, and MONTERO has a much longer shelf life than previously anticipated. Similar to “deja vu,” a delayed peak in radio prevents the song from returning to the top three (it debuted at number one), but I see this song sticking around just a bit longer, with Lil Nas X soon releasing his first debut album. Speaking of which…
7. INDUSTRY BABY— Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
Lil Nas X’s second single from his upcoming debut album, MONTERO, “INDUSTRY BABY” debuted at #2 the previous week, blocked by “Butter” (we’ll talk more about this song in a bit). Lil Nas X proves once again that he knows how to influence the internet. By using the controversy around his Satan shoes and giving the music video a court/gay prison theme, Lil Nas X continues to capture the audience with his charisma and personality. Personally, I didn’t like this song as much as “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” but I am glad this queer hip-hop artist is finding his ground in a genre that often likes to use a particular slur in its songs and having a good time while at it.
6. Kiss Me More — Doja Cat (feat. SZA)
After reaching a new peak of #3 thanks to the release of the parent album, Planet HER, Doja Cat shows no signs of stopping with her other tracks such as “You Right” with The Weeknd, album track highlight “Ain’t Shit,” and promo single “Need To Know.” This song, however, remained firmly in the top 10, and there’s a good reason why: “Kiss Me More” is Doja at her best, in terms of style, charisma, charm, rap, everything.
5. Bad Habits — Ed Sheeran
A mostly safe song for this ever-more-bland artist, “Bad Habits” is a serviceable single for Ed Sheeran. It’s no “Levitating” or “Blinding Lights,” but it seems that with the 80’s sound dominating the airwaves, “Bad Habits” just went along for the ride. Peaking at #5 and returning to its peak this week, Ed Sheeran really needs to learn that his older music, while more folksy, showed more personality than his last few projects.
4. Butter — BTS
After 9 non-consecutive weeks at #1, the BTS ARMY finally stopped buying this song en masse, and it shows. Despite the song’s stability in pop radio, without streaming numbers to back it up, the song dropped three spots due to the large decrease in sales. To date, BTS fans spent more than $1 million dollars to purchase this song, over and over, week after week, with the help of a few remixed versions, the instrumental, and the nice price of $0.69 per purchase. Without the general public’s support and low favorability on radio stations, this song will probably be one of the more forgettable number ones in history (which also includes the other number one BTS has, “Permission to Dance”). Dynamite will probably have a larger impact relative to the rest of their discography, despite charting fewer weeks at number one than Butter, but hey, at least this is the longest-running number-one of 2021?
3. Levitating — Dua Lipa (feat. DaBaby*)
Levitating, Levitating, Levitating. You had quite a story. You first were released as a fan favorite album cut from Future Nostalgia, then you were remixed by the Blessed Madonna with added lines from Madonna and Missy Elliot, then you were released as a single with DaBaby. Once you were a single, you fought against Christmas songs to become Dua’s 4th top 20 hit and rising to number five post-Christmas. Just when we thought you were over, the Grammys revived you, giving you a new peak of number two (deserved to be number one) and becoming a flashy new radio smash/Tik Tok hit. And now, after weeks of suffering at #3 and dropping to #5, DaBaby decided to reveal his homophobia, which ironically moved you back to #3. Now, you are the longest top 10 hit of the decade and the 2nd longest top 10 hit for a female artist. What a journey.
In all seriousness, “Levitating” proves to be a smash and is now her biggest hit, beating Dua’s previous effort “Don’t Start Now.” However, after the homophobic remarks that DaBaby made at Rolling Loud, radio stations and playlists replaced the DaBaby remix with the original album version, and sales for the original version overtook and outpaced the remix. This week, DaBaby’s credit has been removed from all radio charts, and his name only remains on the streaming charts and the main Hot 100. If trends continue, Billboard may decide to remove his credit completely. We’ll see, but for now, we all better be learning Dua’s original (and superior) second verse.
2. good 4 u — Olivia Rodrigo
Poor “good 4 u.” It’s been stuck at number two for ten weeks, after debuting at number one. However, expect this song to continue to be at the upper ends of the chart, thanks to radio gains (only behind “Levitating”) and it may rise back to number one if our next entry drops. For now, enjoy this pop-punk hit and the teenage angst that comes along with this just-under-3-minute track. “good 4 u” just might be Olivia’s biggest single if this continues.
Looking ahead, the album track “traitor” looks to be gaining steam on radio despite not being an official single. Given a proper push, it might become another hit. After all, it hasn’t left the chart since debuting, and it’s already a top ten single, debuting at number eight.
1. STAY — The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
This up-and-coming Australian teen has made it big in the US. The last time an Australian artist hit number one? Sia in 2016 with “Cheap Thrills (feat. Sean Paul)”. At only 17(!!), The Kid LAROI proves to be a force, with a number one album and a number one single under his belt. STAY is a bizarre duet, with Justin Bieber of all people, but it somehow works? It’s good and it has the staying power to become a huge hit.
Thanks for tuning in! What is your favorite song out of these 10? Which song do you hate the most? Let me know down in the comments (or not, that’s fine too) and I’ll catch you around. Till next time!
I can be contacted by email at dpwong2@gmail.com. If you have any questions, inquiries, or suggestions, don’t hesitate in contacting me. I read all emails, even if I don’t reply to them (though 99% of the time I will reply). Thanks again and have a lovely day, wherever you are on this planet.
-Derek
