Travis Scott makes appearance number three in this edition of ‘What the Kids are Listening To,’ this time with the track ‘I KNOW ?’ from his new album Utopia. The song made its Hot 100 debut at #11.
This track is more melodic and mellow than the two other Scott tracks on the chart. I don’t exactly like it, but it doesn’t have me reaching for the stop button either. If I have any Travis Scott readers out there, I’d love to hear what it is about his music that appeals to you.
At #9 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 is Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘vampire,’ her latest #1 hit and a glorious leadoff single for her upcoming album, Guts. I’m very excited by everything Rodrigo is doing, including newly released second single ‘bad idea right?’ (which will no doubt be climbing this chart in short order).
Rounding out the top ten is another single from the Barbie soundtrack. Dua Lipa’s fabulous disco jam ‘Dance the Night’ is the unofficial theme song of the film’s Barbieland, where Barbies and Kens gather nightly to have highly choreographed dance parties.
Returning to the latest installment of ‘What the Kids are Listening To,’ we’re on to #8 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, ‘Barbie World.’ This collaboration between rappers Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice is the second single from the soundtrack of the blockbuster film Barbie.
‘Barbie World’ features a heavy sample of Danish pop band Aqua’s 1997 hit ‘Barbie Girl,’ and the band is given co-writing and co-performer credit on the song. That means that 26 years after Aqua reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their song, they’ve reached #7 again with this one. It has since fallen back a spot to #8, so it could be that #7 is the ceiling for this material no matter who is attached.
Throwing back to the week of August 17, 2013, we’re once again going deep into the top ten before finding a song I haven’t featured.
The top five that week were, in order, Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines,’ Miley Cyrus’ ‘We Can’t Stop,’ Imagine Dragons’ ‘Radioactive,’ and Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky.’ Those tracks were competing for Song of the Summer status for months that year.
Throwing back to the week of August 16, 2003, we find Beyoncé hanging on to the top spot with ‘Crazy in Love,’ halfway through its run of eight weeks at #1.
Below that is ‘Right Thurr’ by St. Louis rapper Chingy. This song spent (non-consecutive) five weeks at #2, held off by Queen Bey’s first major hit. That seems fair, given how much better ‘Crazy in Love’ is than this track.
Meet Me In Montauk 