Continuing my look at the Billboard Hot 100 songs of 2024…
Taylor Swift shows up at #12, but it’s not a song from her latest album, but rather ‘Cruel Summer,’ the Lover track that reached #1 four years after its album release. At #13 is Tate McRae’s ‘Greedy,’ a decent showing for an artist I’m still not sure is a real person.
That brings us to #14 and the next song I haven’t yet featured — ‘Like That’ by Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar.
Kate Bush enters the Billboard Top Ten for the first time in her career, as Stranger Things has pushed ‘Running Up That Hill’ all the way to #4 (and counting?). I wrote about the phenomenon a couple of weeks ago. This song has now earned Bush close to $4 million in streaming royalties. Wowza.
At #5 is ‘WAIT FOR U,’ a track by rapper Future featuring a verse from Drake and a sample of Nigerian vocalist Tems. This song previously hit #1, giving Drake his 10th chart-topping hit. Additionally, it debuted in the top spot, giving Drake his sixth #1 debut, the most by any artist. Previously, he was tied at five with Ariana Grande and BTS.
It wouldn’t be a ‘What the Kids are Listening To’ week if Drake didn’t make an appearance. The Canadian rapper has taken up permanent residence on the Billboard Hot 100.
‘Way 2 Sexy’ is one of a record 259 songs Drake has placed on this chart, and one of 54 in the top ten (also a record). This is his 9th song to reach #1.
At #2 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 is ‘Life is Good,’ a collaboration between rappers Future and Drake. This is the highest Future has ever charted on the Hot 100, while it’s Drake’s 10,000th song in the top ten. OK, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration.
In fact, Drake has now had 207 songs on the Hot 100, including 36 in the Top Ten and six at the #1 spot. The man is a juggernaut. His 207 Hot 100 songs (all since 2009) tie him for the most ever with — you’ll never guess it — the cast of Glee. Given that Glee is no longer releasing new music, Drake is sure to own that record outright the next time he commits his voice to tape.
Rounding out the top ten of Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll, surprise!, are more pop and rap songs.
Charli XCX lands at #8 with her minor summer hit ‘Boys’, while Selena Gomez (‘Bad Liar‘) ties for the 9th spot with Future (‘Mask Off’). Gomez’s ‘Bad Liar’ has emerged as one of my favorite 2017 songs.
Meet Me In Montauk 