The country bro-fest on the year-end Billboard Hot 100 is briefly interrupted by the world’s two biggest female entertainers: Beyoncé with ‘Texas Hold ‘Em‘ at #32, and Taylor Swift with the vault track ‘Is It Over Now?‘ at #33.
Then we’re right back to the bros at #34 with the Marshmello/Kane Brown collaboration ‘Miles On It.’ Brown is the country bro here, while Marshmello is a producer and DJ better known for electronic and trap music.
It’s a country-fest on the year-end Billboard Hot 100. Following yesterday’s line dance hit ‘Austin,’ the next four tracks are by country bros. Three of those are the same bro — Morgan Wallen, who sits at #28 (‘Last Night‘), #29 (‘Cowgirls‘), and #31 (‘Thinkin’ Bout Me‘).
In between all that Morgan Wallen is Zach Bryan at #30 with ‘Pink Skies,’ a touching song about grief. I’ve heard only a few of Bryan’s songs, but I’ve been impressed by every one. He reminds me a bit of Jason Isbell in those tracks — high praise — and that has me wanting to hear more.
Getting back to the top singles of 2024, we’re up to #26 on the Billboard year-end Hot 100. That slot goes to Ariana Grande’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),’ a great single from the singer’s Eternal Sunshine album. A nice showing for Grande, who is having an even bigger year as an actress in Wicked.
Singer-songwriter Dasha owns the #27 spot with ‘Austin,’ a boot-stomping country pop song that became a viral hit thanks to the performer’s line dancing videos on TikTok.
The week of January 12, 1965, saw The Supremes and The Beatles atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Come See About Me‘ and ‘I Feel Fine,’ respectively.
At #3 was The Searchers with ‘Love Potion No. 9,’ their take on a song first released by The Clovers in 1959. This is an example, one of many, of a white group finding more success than a Black group with the same song.
Throwing back to the week of Jan. 11, 1955, we find three repeats atop the Billboard singles chart: ‘Mister Sandman‘ by The Chordettes, ‘Let Me Go, Lover‘ by Joan Weber, and ‘The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane‘ by the Ames Brothers.
I’m sure there’s a good reason for the sticking power of hit songs in the 50s (payola? not as many new songs as later decades?). It certainly seems like the same dozen or so tunes kicked around the top 10 for the better part of a year. I suspect things might be shaken up a bit as we enter the rock-n-roll era.
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