The 24th most popular song of 2023 is a true testament to the power of TikTok.
Miguel’s ‘Sure Thing’ was first released in 2010, the second single on the R&B singer’s debut album All I Want is You. Twelve years later it popped up on the popular social media platform and gained renewed recognition worldwide. It was officially re-released in early ’23 and reached #11 on the Hot 100.
The #23 song of 2023, according to Billboard’s Hot 100, is by yet another country bro. Kane Brown teamed up with his wife Katelyn to deliver ‘Thank God,’ a syrupy love ballad, and ended up with a crossover hit.
Katelyn is an R&B singer herself, though with a far less prominent profile than her husband. This song was her first to chart.
Throwing back to the week of January 10, 2004, we find that Outkast held a stranglehold on the top of the Hot 100. Their singles ‘Hey Ya!‘ and ‘The Way You Move‘ occupied the #1 and #2 spots, respectively. Kelis’ ‘Milkshake‘ was at #3.
Careful readers might remember this was the same top three when I last threw back to the 2000s three weeks ago.
Mariah Carey has the most #1 songs by a solo artist (19), so it stands to reason she’ll show up on Throwback Weekends. The week of January 8, 1994, saw her top the charts with ‘Hero,’ her eighth #1 in her first four years of recording.
Carey co-wrote the song but initially wasn’t moved to record it herself and planned to give it to Gloria Estefan. She eventually reconsidered and ended up with one of her signature songs, one she has performed at multiple live events, including the inauguration of President Obama.
It’s Morgan Wallen again at #22 on the year-end Billboard chart. I guess that’s to be expected for a guy who put 36 tracks on the Hot 100 with one album release.
His fourth track on the list (so far) is ‘Thought You Should Know,’ a tribute to his mother written with Miranda Lambert and Nicolle Galyon. It’s a little galling to me that Lambert can make it to #7 on the Hot 100 as a co-writer of this song but has barely sniffed the Top 20 with her own brilliant work.
Meet Me In Montauk 