‘ONE’ OF TWO: In the last 23 years, eight artists have held the top two positions on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs during the same week, but none of them has accomplished what Alicia Keys achieves this week. With “No One” (MBK/J) holding at No. 1 for the 10th frame and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” advancing 3-2, Keys owns the top two spots all by herself, with no guest or featured artists. The other eight artists who were Nos. 1 and 2 simultaneously had help from duet partners or featured artists, or were the featured artists themselves.
Since the computerized Billboard chart archives only go back to the end of 1983, I can report with accuracy that Keys is the only artist to fly solo in first and second place at the same time during that time period. Searching back manually, I could find no other artist who has ever matched Keys’ feat, so she may well be the only artist in history to pull off such a coup.
Here is a list of the other eight artists who have occupied the top two rungs on the chart during the same week, and their songs that were Nos. 1 and 2:
Chris Brown
No. 1: “Say Goodbye,” Chris Brown
No. 2: “Shortie Like Mine,” Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown and Johnta Austin
Nov. 25, 2006
50 Cent
No. 1: “Hate It or Love It,” The Game featuring 50 Cent
No. 2: “Candy Shop,” 50 Cent featuring Olivia
April 16, 2005
No. 1: “21 Questions,” 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg
No. 2: “Magic Stick,” Lil’ Kim featuring 50 Cent
June 14, 2003
Ludacris
No. 1: “Yeah!” Usher featuring Lil John and Ludacris
No. 2: “Splash Waterfalls,” Ludacris
March 27, 2004
No. 1: “Stand Up,” Ludacris featuring Shawnna
No. 2: “Holidae Inn,” Chingy featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg
Nov. 15, 2003
Jay-Z
No. 1: “Frontin’,” Pharrell featuring Jay-Z
No. 2: “Crazy in Love,” Beyonce featuring Jay-Z
Aug. 16, 2003
Nelly
No. 1: “Hot in Herre,” Nelly
No. 2: “Dilemma,” Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Aug. 17, 2002
(The Nelly songs reversed position and continued to hold the top two slots).
Mystikal
No. 1: “Danger (Been So Long),” Mystikal featuring Nivea
No. 2: “Stutter,” Joe featuring Mystikal
Jan. 27, 2001
Puff Daddy
No. 1: “I’ll Be Missing You,” Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112
No. 2: “Mo Money Mo Problems,” The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase
Aug. 2, 1997
Freddie Jackson
No. 1: “Tasty Love,” Freddie Jackson
No. 2: “A Little Bit More,” Melba Moore with Freddie Jackson
Nov. 15, 1986
NOW ‘HEAR’ THIS: Josh Groban continues at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (143/Reprise) while Carrie Underwood is the runner-up for the third consecutive week with “Do You Hear Whar I Hear” (BNA).
This holiday recording is Underwood’s biggest AC hit to date. While she has reached No. 1 on a number of other Billboard charts, her highest rank on the AC tally before “Do You Hear What I Hear” filed into second place was the No. 6 posting of “Before He Cheats” in September. Until “Hear,” “Cheats” was Underwood’s only top 10 AC hit.
WHAT THEY CALL IT: There’s only one new entry on the Top Cast Albums chart, and it’s the Broadway cast album of “Xanadu” (PS Classics), the latest movie to become a theatrical stage production on the Great White Way. “Xanadu” opens at No. 10.
“Xanadu” may have misfired as a motion picture, but it did boast one of the best soundtracks of the rock era, combining the talents of Jeff Lynne with his Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John.
“Xanadu” the Broadway show is fun, short (90 minutes and no intermission) and highly camp, and it does feature that great Lynne score.
While the cast album of “Xanadu” isn’t on The Billboard 200 yet, it’s worth noting that the soundtrack album peaked at No. 4 on that survey back in 1980.
MADONNA AND MARIAH: If I had a nickel for every e-mail I’ve ever received from fans of Madonna and Mariah Carey, I’d be far too rich to be writing Chart Beat. But since your letters don’t come with cash attached, I’m still here to comment on what happened to both artists this week concerning their runs on The Billboard Hot 100.
As this is the final chart week of calendar year 2007, it is painfully obvious that neither artist is going to chart this year. That breaks continuous runs for both women that began with their debut singles.
Madonna has appeared on the Hot 100 at least one week every year since she debuted in 1983 with “Holiday.” Carey has done the same since first appearing in 1990 with “Vision of Love.”
Of course, neither artist’s career is in danger and both are scheduled to release new CDs in 2008 that will no doubt yield hit singles that will find their way to the Hot 100.
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