RADIO ACTIVE — A Weekly Chart CHRonicle (April 30, 2017)

Welcome to Radio Active, a weekly report from POP! Goes The Charts that gets to the chart of the matter: all the highlights from the CHR/Top 40 chart, as published by Mediabase 24/7 and Mediabase Research. Every Sunday night, I treat you to shade and statistics like I said I would two months ago; in other words, promises made, promises kept. That being said, no pop rallies in Pennsylvania are being planned at the current time. You know, I do actual work… anyways, jump aboard Airplay Force One with me, as we watch those pop songs fly across the sky, higher than one’s approval rating:

MARS LANDING: What a lovely Sunday it is… the sun is shining, the birds are singing and Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape Of You” is down a notch to #2 on the pop radio chart. (Yes, it’s still #1 on the AC and Hot AC charts; don’t try it with me.) Climbing into the top spot is Bruno Mars‘s eighth #1 song at the format, “That’s What I Like”, up 2-1. It’s the second radio single from his 24K Magic album. It’ll be interesting to see how long this song can hold at the top; Mars has maxed out at six weeks at #1 with both “Locked Out Of Heaven” (12/16/12-1/20/13) and “Uptown Funk” (Mark Ronson featuring Mars, 1/25-3/1/15). I mean, you don’t really want me to highlight another #1 tune by The Chainsmokers too early, right? Anyways, regardless of what happens, Mars continues to shine, and he can sip on however much strawberry champagne he wants over his latest achievement.

Mars’s label, Atlantic, is responsible for another “That’s What I Like” that didn’t quite make the top 40 in early 1990. That single, one of the many medleys assembled by English act Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers, was a huge hit in the U.K., holding at the top for three weeks in the fall of 1989. In fact, the act had three chart-toppers in that country, making them one of 1989’s top newcomers across the pond. With fewer larger markets playing it, and slower sales, the song wasn’t able to repeat the Stateside success of “Swing The Mood” (#26, 12/22/89 R&R) and they faded from the pop airwaves.

JUSTIN CASE YOU MISSED HIM: Hey, throwing the pop audience for a loop is better than throwing eggs at people’s homes. It just so happens that Justin Bieber has done both. Luckily, he’s done with the latter, and focusing on the former. Bieber is featured on two songs that enter the top 40 this week on the CHR/Top 40 chart, simultaneously giving him his 20th and 21st top 40 hits. The higher of the two is “I’m The One” by professional screamer and sometime producer DJ Khaled, an entry that also features Quavo, Chance The Rapper and Lil Wayne. It’s new at #34. “I’m The One” is not to be confused with “I’m On One” (#32, 9/18/11), which gave the screamer/producer/DJ his first top 40 song at the format. (Feel free to insert your best “UH-nuh-thuh one” here.)

The other Bieber-affiliated single in this week’s top 40 debuted in the top 50 last week. Soaring from 47-37, the remix of “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee that features him is growing into a big hit across the spectrum of digital platforms. The original version of the song recently crossed one billion views on YouTube, and the remix reached the top tier of Spotify’s Global Viral list. It sure looks like the Canadian performer is headed for another “Cold Water” vs. “Let Me Love You” battle, though this one is still in its early stages. I’ll keep you updated as the spring and summer go on.

A DAMN. GOOD DEBUT: After a massive debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, Kendrick Lamar‘s DAMN. is unavoidable. In the pop world, this means that programmers are once again playing catch-up, with first single “HUMBLE.” entering this week at #49. The hot track, which already topped the Billboard Hot 100, is also in the top ten at both Rhythmic and Urban radio. Despite his huge sales and streaming presence over the last few years, Lamar has just one main-credited top 40 single at the format: “i”, which peaked at #30 in November 2014 and was later featured on the Grammy-winning set To Pimp A Butterfly. However, his featured slots on #1 songs like Taylor Swift‘s “Bad Blood” (6/21-7/26/15) and Maroon 5‘s “Don’t Wanna Know” (1/15/17) kept his name on the chart.

As far as hits about humility, there aren’t many to talk about. Mac Davis, who had both pop and country success, just missed the top 40 on the pop chart in 1980 with crossover single “It’s Hard To Be Humble”. The English group Humble Pie never made the top 40 in the United States, even though several of their members did outside of the band. Stay tuned for more moments in modest musical movements, as “HUMBLE.” takes a slice of the chart pie. (Just save the cherry pie for Katy Perry. Bon appétit, K-Dot.)

Check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages for more chart coverage and commentary.

RECORD REWIND: PGTC Picks, 4/23 – 4/29/17

Sunday afternoon means it’s time for the Record Rewind, highlighting the top new tracks that you might’ve missed during the work week, all from my favorite independent acts out there. If it’s on the site, it’s something that you need to check out!

Across the PGTC SoundCloud page and my playlists on Spotify, these stuck out as my favorite independent songs of the week…
_____

FRILLS – “My Love” (iTunes) (Spotify)
This new duo is the first of two acts from Brooklyn on the Rewind this week, and though there’s essentially nothing out there about the two men or the origin of the project, “Love” is one catchy single. I can certainly hear it playing on the Alternative airwaves soon.

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PETER WISE – “Sandcastle State Of Mind” (iTunes) (Spotify)
It’s been a little while since this Brooklyn performer was last featured on the Rewind, with previous singles “Sweet Solitude” (June) and “Denial” (August) making the weekly mix. Wise returns with a fusion of pop, reggae and R&B, a smooth sound that’s enjoyable.

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PHANGS featuring R.LUM.R – “Always Been U” (iTunes) (Spotify)
Nashville’s Jake Germany continues to serve up the jams, regardless of whether he’s performing solo or with a group. With his new single, he shares the vocals with another red hot Nashville soloist, Reggie Williams. If you need pop done right, this is a great track.

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For more great new music, these tunes are worth a listen…
George Taylor – “I Hear Your Song, Sweetness” (SoundCloud)
James Cherry – “Hold On” (SoundCloud)
Joe Hicks – “Talk To Me” (SoundCloud)
Lizzy Land – “Beat Goes On” (SoundCloud)

Want to be featured on this weekly wrap-up? Submit your music to adamfsoybel@gmail.com and I’ll check our your tunes. Thanks!

Highlights from Adam’s Top 40: April 30, 2017

Praise the Lorde.

DEBUTS
40. FRANKIE featuring Marc E. Bassy – Problems Problems
38. Katy Perry – Bon Appétit
37. Foster The People – Doing It For The Money | HIGHEST DEBUT

TOP GAINERS
34. Serena Ryder – Electric Love (39)
33. Shawn Hook featuring Vanessa Hudgens – Reminding Me (40)
29. Paramore – Hard Times (34)
22. Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back (30) | BIGGEST MOVER
18. Scott Helman – Kind Complicated (23)

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN
10. John Mayer – Still Feel Like Your Man (10) | PEAK: #10
09. Michael Bublé – I Believe In You (06) | PEAK: #05
08. Noah Kahan – Young Blood (08) | PEAK: #08
07. Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times (11) | PEAK: #07
06. James TW – Ex (07) | PEAK: #07
05. Julia Michaels – Issues (03) | PEAK: #01 for one week
04. Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley – Chained To The Rhythm (02) | PEAK: #01 for four weeks
03. Imagine Dragons – Believer (04) | PEAK: #03
02. Bleachers – Don’t Take The Money (05) | PEAK: #02
01. Lorde – Green Light (01) | PEAK: #01 for two weeks

Top 10 Next In Line:
1. Jukebox The Ghost – Stay The Night (2)
2. Bobby Bazini – Never Let Go (1)
3. The 1975 – A Change Of Heart (3)
4. Tom Walker – Just You And I (6)
5. LANY – ILYSB (5)
6. TLC – Way Back (8)
7. Ruth B. – If This Is Love (7)
8. Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie – In My World (10)
9. Oh Wonder – Ultralife (-)
10. Rag’N’Bone Man – Skin (-)

In The Mix:
Anne-Marie – Ciao Adios
Billy Raffoul – Driver (new)
Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato – No Promises
Hailee Steinfeld – Most Girls (new)
Ingrid Michaelson – Celebrate (new)
Mary Lambert – Know Your Name (new)
Saint Motel – Destroyer
Skip Marley – Calm Down (new)
Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris – Craving You
ZZ Ward – Help Me Mama

Chart Notes:

• Three new songs make this week’s top 40, and the highest of them is the latest single for California’s Foster The People. A surprise EP called III just dropped from the quartet (formerly trio) on Thursday, and one of the three cuts from it, “Doing It For The Money”, debuts at #37. In 2014, the guys reached my top ten with “Coming Of Age” (#3) and “Best Friend” (#6), the first two singles off their Supermodel album. (A third single, “Are You What You Want To Be?”, peaked at #16.) Is their new one bound for a top ten peak as well? We’ll see very soon.
• Katy Perry (and featured artist Skip Marley) recently topped my chart for four weeks with “Chained To The Rhythm”. In this week’s top 40, it’s down to #4, but Perry doesn’t miss a beat, debuting at #38 with “Bon Appétit”. It’s the second release from her forthcoming album, which we still don’t know much about. “Rhythm” recently peaked at #8 on the pop radio chart, making it Perry’s lowest-charting lead single ever at the format, and its first week total of 174 adds is now a record for a song that failed to hit #1 in the PPW (plays-per-week) era.
• Finally, at #40, is the second top 40 single for FRANKIE. Originally released in early 2015 via Nashville label South By Sea and subsequently picked up by RCA later that year, “Problems Problems” was just reissued with singer Marc E. Bassy. It’s been just under year since the act first hit my top 40 with “New Obsession”, which hit #24. Bassy led the band 2AM Club to one top 40 single, “Worry About You” (#22), on my chart in 2010, though he had a top ten Rhythmic radio hit last year with the G-Eazy-assisted “You & Me”.

(See my full chart on Crownnote)

ADAM’S TOP 40 FLASHBACK: April 29, 2007

“Something” worth listening to…

It’s the start of another weekend, which means it’s time for another trip back into the archives on Adam’s Top 40 Flashback! Every Saturday, the day before my latest top 40 goes up for the week, I feature the highlights of a past countdown. They’re all here — the hit songs, the songs that flopped, and the songs that may be a little embarrassing to reflect on.

This week, we stroll back ten years and find out what was topping my chart for the week of April 29, 2007…

Debuts:
40. RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, “Going To A Town”
39. ROONEY, “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?”

Biggest Mover(s):
MICHAEL BUBLÉ, “Everything” (27-17, ten spots)

10. LILY ALLEN, “Smile” (up 3)
Album: Alright, Still (2006, Capitol Records)
Peak: #9

09. THE FRAY, “Look After You” (down 3)
Album: How To Save A Life (2005, Epic Records)
Peak: #2

08. DBCLIFFORD, “Simple Things” (down 1)
Album: Recyclable (2007, Sony BMG Records – Canada)
Peak: #1 for six weeks

07. DAUGHTRY, “It’s Not Over” (down 2)
Album: Daughtry (2006, 19/RCA Records)
Peak: #5 for six weeks

06. DARREN HAYES, “Who Would Have Thought?” (up 6)
Album: This Delicate Thing We’ve Made (2007, Powdered Sugar Records)
Peak: #4 for three weeks

05. KAISER CHIEFS, “Ruby” (up 3)
Album: Yours Truly, Angry Mob (2007, Universal Motown Records)
Peak: #4 for two weeks

04. ROB THOMAS, “Little Wonders” (down 1)
Album: Meet The Robinsons (Soundtrack) (2007, Walt Disney/Melisma/Atlantic Records)
Peak: #2 for three weeks

03. NICKELBACK, “If Everyone Cared” (up 1)
Album: All The Right Reasons (2005, Roadrunner Records)
Peak: #2 for five weeks

02. JAMES MORRISON, “You Give Me Something” (steady, third week)
Album: Undiscovered (2007, Interscope Records)
Peak: #2 for three weeks

01. MAROON 5, “Makes Me Wonder” (steady, fifth week)
Album: It Won’t Be Soon Before Long (2007, A&M/Octone Records)
Peak: #1 for eleven weeks

Check back next Saturday for another Adam’s Top 40 Flashback countdown and don’t forget to follow the blog by using the tab below or find PGTC on social media by clicking the “Get Social!” tab at the top of the page.

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of April 28, 2017

There’s something about Mary…

When the Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul faces off against other chart royalty in the battle for the week’s highest debut, you know it is going to be a good fight. Get your downloads and streams ready, because here comes the latest new releases update:

MARY J. BLIGE – Strength Of A Woman (iTunes)
Blige should show some notable Strength in the marketplace with her latest studio album, which comes after a pair of #1 songs at the Urban AC format: “Thick Of It” and “U + Me (Love Lesson)”. It also includes “Love Yourself”, featuring Kanye West, which is on its way up the Urban chart. A dozen of her previous studio albums, dating back to 1992, have hit the top ten on the Billboard 200, and a top five debut is certainly possible for her latest effort.

WALE – Shine (iTunes)
Pushed up a week from its initial release date, perhaps due to a battle brewing between new sets from Chris Stapleton and Logic, this popular rapper’s fifth studio album is his first in two years. The lead single from it, “Fashion Week” (featuring G-Eazy), ranks in the top 30 at Urban radio, and sits just outside the top 40 at the Rhythmic format. The album will likely debut in the top five.

GORILLAZ – Humanz (iTunes)
The animated band is back with their first album in six years. Single “We Got The Power”, featuring Jehnny Beth, quickly reached its top 40 peak on the Alternative chart, though it’s not so powerful now, as it tumbles down the survey. Will this release return them to the top ten for the first time since 2010? We’ll see soon.

CASHMERE CAT – 9 (iTunes)
He’s one cool Cat. This album features collaborations with a number of popular acts, including Ariana Grande and The Weeknd. One single from it, the Selena Gomez and Tory Lanez-assisted “Trust Nobody”, received some minor pop airplay last year.

More albums out this week: All That Remains‘s Madness (iTunes), Feist‘s Pleasure (iTunes), John Mellencamp‘s Sad Clowns & Hillbillies (iTunes), Lea Michele‘s Places (iTunes), New Found Glory‘s Makes Me Sick (iTunes), Old Crow Medicine Show‘s 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde (iTunes), Sylvan Esso‘s What Now (iTunes), The Cranberries‘s Something Else (iTunes), Trombone Shorty‘s Parking Lot Symphony (iTunes), Willie Nelson‘s God’s Problem Child (iTunes)

More EPs out this week: Foster The People‘s III (iTunes), JP Cooper‘s Passport Home (iTunes), Take That‘s Giants (iTunes)

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week include:
“1995”, Emmit Fenn (iTunes)
“Always Been U”, PHANGS featuring R.Lum.R (iTunes)
“Another Life”, Afrojack & David Guetta featuring Ester Dean (iTunes)
“Bend Or Break (Acoustic)”, Hannah Jane Lewis (iTunes)
“Belong”, gnash featuring DENM (iTunes)
“Blessings”, Tom Walker (iTunes)
“Body”, Sean Paul featuring Migos (iTunes)
“Bon Appétit”, Katy Perry featuring Migos (iTunes)
“Calm Down”, Skip Marley (iTunes)
“Dandelions”, Ruth B. (iTunes)
“Deep Water”, Alisan Porter (iTunes)
“Electric Intercourse”, Prince (iTunes)
“First Time”, Kygo x Ellie Goulding (iTunes)
“Friday Night”, Vigiland (iTunes)
“I Hear Your Song, Sweetness”, George Taylor (iTunes)
“I Know A Place (Remix)”, MUNA x MNEK (iTunes)
“I’ll Give You Love”, Clear Six (iTunes)
“I’m The One”, DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper and Lil Wayne (iTunes)
“It’s You”, Molly Kate Kestner (iTunes)
“J-Boy”, Phoenix (iTunes)
“Land Of The Living”, Plain White T’s (iTunes)
“Let You Go”, Machine Gun Kelly (iTunes)
“Maxine”, Benny Cassette (iTunes)
“Middle Of The Night”, The Vamps & Martin Jensen (iTunes)
“Most Girls”, Hailee Steinfeld (iTunes)
“My Friends”, Oh Wonder (iTunes)
“No Vacancy”, OneRepublic (iTunes)
“Now (Acoustic)”, Grace Mitchell (iTunes)
“Old Friends”, Jasmine Thompson (iTunes)
“Sandcastle State Of Mind”, Peter Wise (iTunes)
“Saw You In A Dream”, The Japanese House (iTunes)
“Say My Name”, Tove Stryke (iTunes)
“Song On Fire”, Nickelback (iTunes)
“Take On The World (AlunaGeorge Remix)”, You Me At Six (iTunes)
“The One That Got Away”, Skinny Days featuring Emilie Adams (iTunes)
“Thinking Of A Place”, The War On Drugs (iTunes)
“Thinking Of You”, Elias (iTunes)
“Torches”, X Ambassadors (iTunes)
“Without U”, Steve Aoki & DVBBS featuring 2 Chainz (iTunes)
“Young And Menace”, Fall Out Boy (iTunes)

We’ll see you next week for new albums from Chris Stapleton, Logic and more. Listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

ADD LIB — Brace For (CHR) Impact (April 25, 2017)

Welcome to Add Lib, a new weekly report on POP! Goes The Charts that’s mad about CHR/Top 40 adds, based on the station data provided by Mediabase 24/7 and Add Board. This week: Shawn Mendes illuminates the Most Added leaderboard, Noah Cyrus achy breaks at the format and Paramore proves it’s easy to be “Hard”, even without a Hair-raising musical. This is the dawning of the new Tuesday adds report, new Tuesday adds repooooort… so, let the sunshine in already! Here’s what shining this week:

“NOTHING” BEATS MENDES: After quickly reaching the top 50 on last Sunday’s published update, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” by Shawn Mendes continues to leave the CHR/Top 40 panel shook by its slayage (that’s what the kids tell me) on both sales and streaming platforms. So, it’s no wonder that the single impacts with 76 adds in its first frame, the Most Added record this week. That notable total matches the 76 adds that “Treat You Better” received on impact in June 2016, which reached a peak of #2 in October. The teenager’s Illuminate album, which features both tracks, was recently reissued digitally. Co-writer Teddy Geiger is up to his fourth chart song with Mendes, which is two times the amount of top 40 singles he had as an artist in 2006. (No tea, no shade to Mr. Geiger, by the way; I still enjoy a listen to “These Walls” now and again.)

DO YOU WANT TO NOAH SECRET?: She’s not crying anymore! 17-year-old Noah Cyrus is looking for her second chart hit with “Stay Together”, which stays around in the fourth Most Added spot this week, taking in 31 stations. (It is tied with “Attention” by Charlie Puth for the position; more on that one next week when it impacts!) Father Billy Ray Cyrus, brother Trace Cyrus (a member of Metro Station) and sister Miley Cyrus have all hit the top 40 at least once, with the latter Cyrus leading at eight hits since 2007. Of course, the newest musical member of the family made her top 40 debut three months ago with “Make Me (Cry)”, a song that features Labrinth. It peaked at #19 for two weeks. Does she noah way to the #1 spot this time? “Stay” tuned, chart fans.

LESS IS (PARA)MORE: After three years away from the Top 40 chart, and almost a decade after their first pop hit, Paramore is still serving up more hits. The trio returns with “Hard Times”, an easy sell for both Alternative and Top 40 fans. It tops the Most Added list at the former, while it’s tied for sixth Most Added at the latter, pulling in 29 stations on impact. The act’s After Laughter is due on May 12, and it features the group’s original drummer Zac Farro, who parted ways in 2010. While their sound is definitely a bit different from the Riot! days, when they first made the top 40 at the format with “Misery Business”, you shouldn’t riot or feel miserable about it. After all, the majority of our favorite bands adapt; it’s just a part of one’s musical career. (Just, you know, leave the Hot Topic obsession in 2007, if you would.)

MOST ADDED — THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN (ELEVEN)
1. SHAWN MENDES, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (Island/Republic)
2. LADY GAGA, “The Cure” (Streamline/Interscope)
3. DNCE featuring NICKI MINAJ, “Kissing Strangers” (Republic)
4-T. CHARLIE PUTH, “Attention” (Artist Partner/Atlantic)
4-T. NOAH CYRUS, “Stay Together” (RECORDS/Sony RED)
6-T. ED SHEERAN, “Castle On The Hill” (Atlantic)
6-T. PARAMORE, “Hard Times” (Fueled By Ramen/RRP)
8. DRAKE, “Passionfruit” (YMCMB/Republic)
9. LUIS FONSI & DADDY YANKEE featuring JUSTIN BIEBER, “Despacito” (UMLE/RBMG/Def Jam/Republic)
10-T. HALSEY, “Now Or Never” (Astralwerks/Capitol)
10-T. JON BELLION, “Overwhelming” (Capitol)

Check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages for more adds coverage and commentary.

RADIO ACTIVE — A Weekly Chart CHRonicle (April 23, 2017)

Welcome to Radio Active, a weekly report from POP! Goes The Charts that gets to the chart of the matter: all the highlights from the CHR/Top 40 chart, as published by Mediabase 24/7 and Mediabase Research. Yesterday was Record Store Day, and I certainly got a lot of great singles from artists like Deee-Lite, Madonna and Prince. Hey, it’s always best to have more wax in your hands than in your ears, even with a Q-Tip in my RSD collection. So, listen up as we rewind the week, then hit play and slay through the latest stats from the pop radio survey:

CAN’T GET IT OUT OF MY ED: …and here we are again, folks. For the tenth week in a row, Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape Of You” stays at that top spot on the CHR/Top 40 chart. It’s the third ten-week #1 so far this decade, and the only one that isn’t a collaboration. (In 2008, Leona Lewis‘s “Bleeding Love” was the last double-digit leader by a sole performer, also spending ten weeks at the top.) The song in second place for the fourth week, Bruno Mars‘s “That’s What I Like”, should finally get its first frame at #1 next week. Will I be rejoicing? No tea, no shade, but that’s an affirmative. Sheeran’s “Castle On The Hill” makes a notable jump from 30-22 on the list, while also rising 22-18 at the Hot AC format. At this rate, I’d expect that “Castle” will likely be in the top ten by the end of May, due to a number of summer single premieres (you know they’re all coming!) over the next few weeks.

“Shape” is still in the top five on at least four radio formats this week (beyond the aforementioned charts, AC and Rhythmic), while it also maintains a top 20 placing on, believe it or not, the Spanish chart. How’s it doing so well there? Well, thanks to a remix featuring reggae duo Zion & Lennox, the mass appeal hit continues to be, well, even more mass appeal. Will it ever stop? Ay, Dios mío…

EVEN “STRANGERS” NEED A “CURE”: Two of the most talked about tracks on the pop radio chart this week really know how to make an entrance, shooting straight into the top 40. The higher of the twosome is “Kissing Strangers” by DNCE, bowing in at #36 on the chart. It’s the group’s fifth top 40 hit since 2015, while featured artist Nicki Minaj scores her 34th top 40 entry at the format since 2010. Needless to say, neither act is a stranger to the top 40, though DNCE is a stranger when it comes to #1 songs, as “Cake By The Ocean” (#2, 4/10-17/16 MB) could only nibble at the pop pastry supreme at the top of the bakery… erm, could only knock on the door to the top of the chart, but were turned away by a pair of performers who only cared about themselves.

Lady Gaga‘s surprise single “The Cure” enters one spot below “Kissing”, rushing into the top 40 at #37. This means that the Joanne era is likely over after two radio singles, but we’ll always remember that pink hat in our hearts, though probably not in our closets. At 18 top 40 singles since 2008, including seven chart-toppers, the Lady continues to get her fill of pop success. Her next project? A new spin on the classic film A Star Is Born. No, I’m not expecting her to take on “Evergreen” anytime soon; let’s save that in 1977, please.

WHO’S YOUR DADDY?: Fathering a new top 50 song this week is a collaboration featuring 40-year-old rapper Daddy Yankee, a bilingual performer from Puerto Rico who last appeared on the chart with “Rompe” (#19, 5/19-26/06 R&R) off his Barrio Fino En Directo album. This week, he and fellow Puerto Rican Luis Fonsi take a Spanglish mix of their international hit “Despacito” into the top 50 at #47. Of course, Canadian singer Justin Bieber is also on that version, singing in both English and Spanish. By the way, for all of you chart buffs out there, the first bilingual rapper to ever reach the pop chart was Cuba-born Mellow Man Ace, who charted with “Mentirosa” (#34, 7/6/90 R&R) in his only top 40 appearance.

Though “Despacito” is the first chart entry to use that word in its title, it’s not the first to use it in the lyrics of a top 40 song. In fact, it was just a few months ago that “Bailar” (#35, 11/13/16 MB) by DJ Deorro and featured artist Elvis Crespo opened on that word. A remix featuring Pitbull aided its performance at the pop format, because I’m sure he had zero other hits to ruin at that time. I mean, who else could have done it? Gerardo?

SHAWN’S GOT YOUR “BACK”: After “Mercy” peaked at #6 six weeks ago, 18-year-old singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes gets off to a good start with his latest single, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”. It enters at #49 on this week’s CHR chart, ranking after a little over three days of airplay. Now, in anticipation of this song dropping a few days ago, yours truly dipped into the archives of pop perfection and through the undervalued “holding back” category, stopping at huge songs like “Holding Back The Years” (#3, 6/27/86 R&R) by Simply Red, “I Can’t Hold Back” (#10, 11/30/84 R&R) by Survivor and “I Won’t Hold You Back” (#4, 4/22-5/6/83 R&R) by Toto. So, if you weren’t holding back something in the 80’s, I’m not sure what you were doing. Hey, where’d my Jane Fonda tapes go?

Mendes first entered the top 50 in November 2014 with “Something Big”, which peaked at #44 by the second week of January. It was the follow-up to “Life Of The Party”, which couldn’t break the top 50 in either of its two radio runs, along with a reissue of “Big”, with a slightly altered mix, in the spring of 2015. Of course, with four consecutive top ten releases since those days, it’s safe to say that he’s doing alright for himself now and not looking “back”. Can he make it five? I sure hope so.

Check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages for more chart coverage and commentary.

RECORD REWIND: PGTC Picks, 4/16 – 4/22/17

Sunday afternoon means it’s time for the Record Rewind, highlighting the top new tracks that you might’ve missed during the work week, all from my favorite independent acts out there. If it’s on the site, it’s something that you need to check out!

Across the PGTC SoundCloud page and my playlists on Spotify, these stuck out as my favorite independent songs of the week…
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BIYO – “Moments” (iTunes) (Spotify)
Nashville musician Grayson Proctor got a brief mention on the Rewind back in February with the release of “Focus”, and now we’re focused on his latest tune. Proctor blends dramatic pop and raw R&B elements into a cool song that’s sure to please the blog world.

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SARAH SOLOVAY – “Trick Me” (iTunes) (Spotify)
Singer/songwriter Solovay had us jamming out to her previous single, “Rough Draft”, back in February, and her new track is just as awesome. Matching an edgier and sensual lyric with some good production, Solovay proves that she’s versatile and ready for more.

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For more great new music, these tunes are worth a listen…
Anya Marina – “Cut You Loose” (SoundCloud)
Northern National – “MoneyBlind” (SoundCloud)

Want to be featured on this weekly wrap-up? Submit your music to adamfsoybel@gmail.com and I’ll check our your tunes. Thanks!

Highlights from Adam’s Top 40: April 23, 2017

My sweet Lorde.

DEBUTS
40. Shawn Hook featuring Vanessa Hudgens – Reminding Me
39. Serena Ryder – Electric Love
34. Paramore – Hard Times
30. Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back | HIGHEST DEBUT

TOP GAINERS
28. DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj – Kissing Strangers (37)
11. Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times (21) | BIGGEST MOVER — two weeks
05. Bleachers – Don’t Take The Money (12)

THIS WEEK’S TOP TEN
10. John Mayer – Still Feel Like Your Man (10) | PEAK: #10
09. Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill (06) | PEAK: #02
08. Noah Kahan – Young Blood (08) | PEAK: #08
07. James TW – Ex (07) | PEAK: #07
06. Michael Bublé – I Believe In You (05) | PEAK: #05
05. Bleachers – Don’t Take The Money (12) | PEAK: #05
04. Imagine Dragons – Believer (04) | PEAK: #04
03. Julia Michaels – Issues (01) | PEAK: #01 for one week
02. Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley – Chained To The Rhythm (02) | PEAK: #01 for four weeks
01. Lorde – Green Light (03) | PEAK: #01 for one week | NEW #1

Top 10 Next In Line:
1. Bobby Bazini – Never Let Go (1)
2. Jukebox The Ghost – Stay The Night (2)
3. The 1975 – A Change Of Heart (4)
4. New Kids On The Block – One More Night (3)
5. LANY – ILYSB (5)
6. Tom Walker – Just You And I (10)
7. Ruth B. – If This Is Love (9)
8. TLC – Way Back (-)
9. FRANKIE featuring Marc E. Bassy – Problems Problems (-)
10. Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie – In My World (-)

In The Mix:
Anne-Marie – Ciao Adios
Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato – No Promises
Oh Wonder – Ultralife
Rag’N’Bone Man – Skin
Saint Motel – Destroyer
The Cranberries – Why
Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris – Craving You
ZZ Ward – Help Me Mama

Chart Notes:

• There’s a new song at the top this week: “Green Light” by New Zealand-born singer Lorde, which rises from 3-1 in its eighth week in the top 40. It’s the first single from the forthcoming album Melodrama, which is due June 16. The song continues to perform well at Alternative and Triple A radio, where it still resides in the top ten, though it’s been pulled from formats such as CHR/Top 40 and Hot AC, managing to quickly make the top 20 on both charts. “Light” co-writer/producer Jack Antonoff looks to be the one to displace his own song at the top, as “Don’t Take The Money” (Bleachers) soars from 12-5. Check back to see that battle continue in the next couple of weeks…
• Three of this week’s four entries feature lead vocals by Canadian artists, with the highest being “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (#30) by Toronto’s Shawn Mendes. It’s his fourth top 40 song. Debuting at #39 is another Toronto singer: Serena Ryder and the title track from her EP Electric Love. Finally, at #40, is the new single from Shawn Hook, born in the town of Castlegar in British Columbia. “Reminding Me” features American singer and actress Vanessa Hudgens, who earns her first top 40 hit on my chart since “Come Back To Me”, which reached #13 in December 2006. (American act Paramore gets a #34 debut this week with “Hard Times”.)

(See my full chart on Crownnote)

ADAM’S TOP 40 FLASHBACK: April 25, 2010

Prepare to enter chart waters…

It’s the start of another weekend, which means it’s time for another trip back into the archives on Adam’s Top 40 Flashback! Every Saturday, the day before my latest top 40 goes up for the week, I feature the highlights of a past countdown. They’re all here — the hit songs, the songs that flopped, and the songs that may be a little embarrassing to reflect on.

This week, we stroll back seven years and find out what was topping my chart for the week of April 25, 2010…

Debuts:
40. ROB THOMAS, “Mockingbird”
39. TRAIN, “If It’s Love”

Biggest Mover(s):
MACY GRAY, “Beauty In The World” (30-23, seven spots)

10. CAVO, “Let It Go” (down 2)
Album: Bright Nights Bright Days (2009, Reprise Records)
Peak: #5 for two weeks

09. BARENAKED LADIES, “You Run Away” (down 3)
Album: All In Good Time (2010, Raisin’/EMI Records)
Peak: #5

08. ERIK HASSLE, “Hurtful” (up 1)
Album: Pieces (2010, Universal Republic Records)
Peak: #8 for two weeks

07. NICKELBACK, “This Afternoon” (up 4)
Album: Dark Horse (2008, Roadrunner/Atlantic Records)
Peak: #1 for three weeks

06. LA ROUX, “Bulletproof” (up 1)
Album: La Roux (2009, Cherrytree/Interscope Records)
Peak: #6

05. V.V. BROWN, “Shark In The Water” (steady, second week)
Album: Travelling Like The Light (2010, Capitol Records)
Peak: #1 for four weeks

04. ADAM LAMBERT, “Whataya Want From Me” (down 2)
Album: For Your Entertainment (2009, 19/RCA Records)
Peak: #1 for two weeks

03. COLBIE CAILLAT, “I Never Told You” (up 1)
Album: Breakthrough (2009, Universal Republic Records)
Peak: #2

02. LADY ANTEBELLUM, “Need You Now” (up 1)
Album: Need You Now (2010, Capitol Nashville Records)
Peak: #1 for eleven weeks

01. DANIEL MERRIWEATHER, “Red” (steady, second week)
Album: Love & War (2010, J Records)
Peak: #1 for three weeks

Check back next Saturday for another Adam’s Top 40 Flashback countdown and don’t forget to follow the blog by using the tab below or find PGTC on social media by clicking the “Get Social!” tab at the top of the page.