Ask Billboard is updated every Friday. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.


PEN PALS, READERS RESPOND, PART 3

Hi Gary,

I thought of a few more titles to add to the list of hit songs by one act that were written by fellow star artists. They were all written by one multi-talented artist.

Ne-Yo, who just celebrated his second Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 as a guest vocalist on Pitbull's "Give Me Everything," frequently co-writes with Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen of the Norwegian production team Stargate.

He co-wrote Rihanna's top 10 singles "Unfaithful" (No. 6, 2006) and "Russian Roulette" (No. 9, 2009) and her 2008 No. 1 "Take a Bow," as well as Beyonce's No. 1 "Irreplaceable," Mario Vazquez's "Gallery" and Paula DeAnda's "Walk Away (Remember Me)."

Thanks,

Hugh Peacock
Perth, Australia



Hi Gary,

The Bee Gees wrote one of my all-time favorite Diana Ross songs, 1985's "Chain Reaction," which peaked at No. 1 in the UK but, sadly, stopped at No. 66 on the Hot 100.

Madonna co-wrote "Love Won't Wait" for Take That's Gary Barlow that reigned in the UK in 1997.

Also in 1997, Annie Lennox wrote and sang backup vocals on Whitney Houston's "Step By Step," from "The Preacher's Wife." The song peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100.

And, Mariah Carey co-wrote "Where Are You Christmas?," performed by country superstar Faith Hill, with "My Heart Will Go On" writers James Horner and Will Jennings. The song reached No. 10 on Adult Contemporary and No. 26 on Country Songs.

Thank you,

Jesper Tan
Subang Jaya, Malaysia