BUM STEER

Dear Fred,

I don't know where the song "Culo" by Pitbull featuring Lil Jon will eventually peak on the Hot 100, but in case it goes all the way to the top, it will probably be the first No. 1 ever consisting of an impolite (though very popular) Italian word. Yes, "Culo" is the rude and inelegant term describing the part of the body one sits on. The English equivalent would be a well-known three-letter word.

If this song ever makes it to the Italian airwaves, it's going to give way to a lot of funny jokes over here.

By the way, what does "Culo" really mean?

Thank you very much,

Gianluca Bondiani
Verona, Italy

Dear Gianluca,

It's funny you should bring this subject up. Just two days ago I was talking with Wade Jessen, manager of Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and he told me about a new song coming out by the Cherry Bombs (Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Hank De Vito and Tony Brown) called "It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long."

It's not the first country song with the word "ass" in the title. James T. Horn gained some notoriety (but no chart action) with "If My Heart Had an Ass, I'd Kick It."

Checking the lyrics of Pitbull's "Culo," I, uh, think he knows Italian. Let's just say the song includes the line "shake your ass."


HE DOES WANNA KNOW

Hey Fred,

Mario Winans is currently No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 [with "I Don't Wanna Know"] and I believe he has been for quite some time. Is this the longest song to stay at No. 2 and not reach No. 1? And if it does reach No. 1, will it be the first time a song has had a lengthy stay at No. 2? Is that a good question or what? And do you have an answer?

Thanks Fred.

Peace & Happiness,

Travis Vincent

Dear Travis,

Last question first: yes, it's a good question. "I Don't Wanna Know" by the unlikely trio of Mario Winans, Enya & P. Diddy is in its seventh week at No. 2, unable to surpass either "Yeah!" by Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris or "Burn" by Usher.

It's not the longest stay at No. 2 by a song that peaks in second place. The rock era record is 10 weeks, and it's a tie between "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner in 1981-82 and "Work It" by Missy Elliott in 2002.

Your other question is harder to answer, as it requires checking every Hot 100 from Aug. 4, 1958 to be absolutely certain. I'm sure there is someone willing to do that, so when we hear from them I'll post their e-mail here.

If you want to know the longest a song has spent at No. 2 after being No. 1, I can answer that. Whitney Houston's "Exhale" debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, and after one lone week on top, fell to No. 2 and stayed there for 11 weeks.


ALMOST

Dear Fred,

With chart aficionados worldwide applauding Usher becoming only the third artist in 40 years to have three singles simultaneously in the top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100, I thought the artist who came closest to being the fourth to do so ought to be recognized as well. Eleven years ago, Whitney Houston had three hit singles from "The Bodyguard" soundtrack in the top 11, just missing out on her chance to be the first artist since the Bee Gees in 1978 to accomplish the feat that Usher nailed this week.

Sincerely,

Kenny Tucker
Chalmette, La.

Dear Kenny,

Whitney Houston came oh-so-close, but as you point out, just missed the chance to have three songs in the top 10 at the same time. That means the Beatles, the Bee Gees and Usher are the only lead artists to have three simultaneous top 10 hits on the Hot 100. If you count songs where an artist is featured, add two more names to the list who have accomplished this hat trick: Ashanti and 50 Cent.

For more about Usher's chart achievements this week, see "Chart Beat Bonus".