Thursday, December 9, 2010

U.S. Chart Roundup: No, Katy Perry, We Really Don't Need Yet Another #1 Single From Your Ass

Let's be honest, Katy Perry wore out her welcome after "Teenage Dream"—great hook, very of-the-moment, total case of "when good music happens to bad people." But this "Firework" shit is just trying too hard. And anything following "TD" was always going to be anticlimactic.

But no matter! Even after all the godawful live performances of the tune, Katy Puxxy has taken it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, which now gives her three straight chart-topping singles off her somewhat flop-esque Teenage Dream album. If "Peacock" really is her next single, my fingers are crossed that it peaks at #74 or something, because that one SUCKS. I'd go with "Last Friday Night", personally.

Anyway, Billboard points out that six different songs have been #1 over the past six weeks, which is a turnover that hasn't happened on the Hot 100 in more than 20 years. (And all six are still in the Top 10.) Indeed, in 2009 there were a total of 13 songs that reached the top of the chart (let's not forget the Black Eyed Peas clogged things up for 26 weeks straight with "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling"), yet there have been 17 #1 singles in 2010 to date.

Meanwhile, Coldplay's "Christmas Lights" debuts at #25 this week, giving the UK band their sixth Top 40 hit here in the States. (In their home country it reached #18 this past week.)

Likewise, The Killers enter at #79 with their own holiday single "Boots", the video for which had me a tad misty-eyed I must admit.

The U.S. Top 10:

1. "Firework" - Katy Perry *1 week*
2. "Raise Your Glass" - Pink
3. "What's My Name" - Rihanna feat. Drake
4. "The Time (The Dirty Bit)" - The Black Eyed Peas
5. "Grenade" - Bruno Mars
6. "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna 
7. "Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
8. "We R Who We R" - Ke$ha
9. "Just A Dream" - Nelly
10. "Bottoms Up" - Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj