Adele’s ‘Easy on Me‘ continues its five-months-and-counting run in the top ten, sitting at the #7 spot on this week’s Billboard Hot 100.
At #8 is Imagine Dragon’s ‘Enemy,’ featuring rapper J.I.D. This song was written for a Netflix animated series Arcane, which is based on a video game called League of Legends. If you’re over 18, it’s likely none of that means anything to you.
This song is a good example of a dynamic I was discussing with my wife the other day.
Listening to a radio station of 80s hits, I wondered if the Hot 100 when we were young accurately reflected what we listened to. In some cases, I think it did, but the Billboard top ten in the 80s also included a lot of adult contemporary ballads.
I speculated that a main difference between then and now is that when the primary measurement of radio play took place in cars, younger listeners were largely excluded. Now, however, when internet streaming is the dominant platform, millions of tweens influence the Hot 100 through their listening habits.
I wonder what today’s top ten would look like if it reflected the consumption of only those old enough to drive.
I wake up to the sounds of the silence that allows
For my mind to run around, with my ear up to the ground
I’m searching to behold the stories that are told
When my back is to the world that was smiling when I turned
[Pre-Chorus: Dan Reynolds]
Tell you you’re the greatest
But once you turn, they hate us
[Chorus: Dan Reynolds]
Oh, the misery
Everybody wants to be my enemy
Spare the sympathy
Everybody wants to be my enemy-y-y-y-y
(Look out for yourself)
My enemy-y-y-y-y (Look, look, look, look)
(Look out for yourself)
But I’m ready
[Verse 2: Dan Reynolds]
Your words up on thе wall as you’re prayin’ for my fall
And the laughter in thе halls and the names that I’ve been called
I stack it in my mind, and I’m waiting for the time
When I show you what it’s like to be words spit in a mic
[Pre-Chorus: Dan Reynolds]
Tell you you’re the greatest
But once you turn, they hate us (Ha)
[Chorus: Dan Reynolds & JID]
Oh, the misery
Everybody wants to be my enemy
Spare the sympathy
Everybody wants to be my enemy-y-y-y-y (Look, look, look, look)
(Look out for yourself)
My enemy-y-y-y-y (Look, look, look, look; yeah)
(Look out for yourself)
Uh, look, okay
[Verse 3: JID]
I’m hopin’ that somebody pray for me
I’m prayin’ that somebody hope for me
I’m stayin’ where nobody ‘posed to be p-p-posted
Being a wreck of emotions
Ready to go whenever, just let me know
The road is long, so put the pedal into the floor
The enemy on my trail, my energy unavailable
I’ma tell ’em, “Hasta luego”
They wanna plot on my trot to the top
I been outta shape, thinkin’ out the box, I’m an astronaut
I blasted off the planet rock to cause catastrophe
And it matters more because I had it not
Had I thought about wreaking havoc
On an opposition, kinda shockin’ they wanted static
With precision, I’m automatic quarterback
I ain’t talkin’ sackin’, pack it
Pack it up, I don’t panic, batter-batter up
Who the baddest? It don’t matter ’cause we at your throat
[Chorus: Dan Reynolds]
Everybody wants to be my enemy
Spare the sympathy (Ah)
Everybody wants to be my enemy
Oh, the misery (Ah)
Everybody wants to be my enemy
Spare the sympathy (Ah)
Everybody wants to be my enemy
[Outro: Dan Reynolds]
Pray it away, I swear I’ll never be a saint, no way
My enemy
Pray it away, I swear I’ll never be a saint
(Look out for yourself)
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m not sure if Billboard publishes this, but I’m sure they have the ability to separate the radio play (including streaming services)and record sales from other means of access like YouTube, TikTok, video games, etc. The former would give a better reflection of what the post 18 driving crowd is listening to. As it stands now, it seems the top 40 is a mix of both, with a song like today’s sitting just behind Adele on the charts.
And where do Tik Tok streams come in as it seems that platform shapes tastes and creates hits more than any other.
Billboard includes YouTube streams but not TikTok streams. TikTok often sends people to YouTube (or Apple Music, Spotify, etc.) to hear songs that have been TikTokked, so that’s how you end up seeing those tracks in the Hot 100.