Here’s a track from the debut Traveling Wilbury’s album, a favorite album of mine.
‘Congratulations’ finds Bob Dylan in crooner mode, a combination that shouldn’t work but often does. According to the publishing credits on the album, Dylan wrote this song as well, which might explain why he got lead vocal duties over, say, Roy Orbison.
Rounding out my latest look at the Billboard charts is Fetty Wap, with his third appearance in the top 13.
Sadly, ‘679’ is just as bad as the other two.
I never feel as old as when I’m trying to make sense of the commercial success of songs like this. Do today’s kids really respond to this celebration of misogyny and the thug life?
Wiz Khalifa’s ‘See You Again,’ another track with a claim on the Song of the Summer title, sits at #11 on Billboard’s Hot 100. This song has had a hell of a run, especially considering Furious 7, in which it first appeared, was released in early April.
That said, I don’t know if a Song of the Summer should be a somber remembrance of a man who died too young. Songs of the Summer should be happy, IMHO, which is why my vote remains ‘Shut Up and Dance.’
Taylor Swift’s inescapable ‘Bad Blood’ sits at #9 on Billboard’s Hot 100. When I first heard that song on 1989, it stood out as by far the worst song on the album. I never imagined it could be a hit, let alone this massive a hit. Go figure.
Rounding out the top ten is a track by one of Taylor’s besties, Selena Gomez. ‘Good For You’ is Gomez’s sexy “I’m no longer a Disney girl” song, following in the tradition of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Miley Cyrus.
Finally, at #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100, we have our first repeat. Fetty Wap’s ‘Trap Queen’ was at #12 when I covered the charts back in March. It has impressive staying power, despite being crap.
Fetty (or is it Wap?) shows up again at #8 with a new song, titled ‘My Way’ and featuring Monty. I wonder if this is a rousing cover of the Frank Sinatra staple.
Meet Me In Montauk 