This week I’m continuing my look at What the Kids are Listening To, taking a look at a recent edition of the Billboard Hot 100.
Because these posts span two weeks and the Hot 100 is published weekly, my second set of posts is recapping the previous Hot 100, not the current one. I mention that only to point out that, after a three week stint at #1 by Taylor Swift with ‘Patient Zero,’ Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ reclaimed the top spot, extending its record to 25 weeks at #1. Incredible.
We get to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of November 1, 1966, before reaching a song I haven’t covered (or have plans to cover) on the site. And that song is Herman’s Hermits’ ‘Dandy.’
This was the band’s sixth top five hit in a 4-year period. And while it was a continuation of their success, it was also the tail end of it. They would have only one more top ten hit before falling off the charts for the rest of their career.
Throwing back to the week of October 31, 1956, we find Jim Lowe’s ‘The Green Door’ at #1, holding back Elvis Presley’s ‘Love Me Tender,’ at least for a couple of weeks.
The song was written by composer Bob Davie and lyricist by Marvin J. Moore and first recorded by Lowe. Later versions were released by Bill Haley and Crystal Gale, among others. A 1981 version by Welsh performer Shakin’ Stevens spent a month at #1 on the UK chart.
Ariana Grande has had a rough summer, but her hit single ‘Hate That I Made You Love Me‘ is hanging in there at #7 on the latest Billboard Hot 100. ‘Petal,’ the second single from the album of the same name, peaked at #4 but is currently in the 40s.
At #8 is Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Stupid Song,’ the third single from her album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. Four singles from the album have hit the top five already, with lead single ‘Drop Dead’ reaching #1.
Tame Impala holds the #5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Dracula,’ a collaboration with K-pop star JENNIE. ‘Dracula’ has been on the chart for more than a year now.
At #6 is Slovak pop singer ADÉLA with the viral hit ‘Nicole Kidman,’ another in a long line of songs titled after Hollywood actresses. But unlike Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Demi Moore’ or SZA’s ‘Drew Barrymore,’ this song’s lyrics directly reference the titular namesake.
