NASHVILLE, JAMAICA
Dear Fred,
It’s worth noting that the song “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven,” which was No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart for two weeks, is now credited to Kenny Chesney with the Wailers. This is the first time a reggae band has topped this chart and the first time an act from Jamaica has topped it. Finally, it occurs 29 years and 3 months since Charley Pride brought a hint of both to top of the chart with “You’re My Jamaica.”
Regards,
Tim Powers
Waterford, Conn.
Dear Tim,
As you point out, the credit for “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” was changed in mid-chart run. During the song’s first week at No. 1, the billing was simply “Kenny Chesney.” As of the song’s second week in pole position, the credit read “Kenny Chesney with the Wailers,” which is why you’re correct about the first reggae artist and first act from Jamaica to visit the country penthouse.ALL THAT HE WANTS…IS NEWS OF ACE OF BASE
Mr. Bronson,
I’ve just read your announcement that you will be interviewing Ulf Ekberg in New York and that the topic of discussion will be the past, present, and future of Ace of Base. You have been a consistent public supporter of a group that has had few hits, especially on this side of the pond.
Many years ago, when I was a teenager, you published and answered a question of mine regarding Ace of Base. Now I’m a lawyer, yet I still get excited over news regarding Ace of Base. I trust you’ve heard their “Wheel of Fortune 2009” — I’d love to hear your thoughts about it and of the group’s future, now as a re-energized trio.
On a personal note, I know you’re a fan of the group — I hope you’ve had a chance to see them perform live. I saw them the first time in Belgium in 2005 and again last November in Denmark as they embarked on a world tour that’s taken them across parts of Europe, central and east Asia. It’s worth a trip over the pond to see them live! Try to get Ulf to commit to a leg of the tour in the United States! Give him my best! I’d love to read your report from your meeting with Ulf.
Karnig Dukmajian
Los Angeles, Calif.
Dear Karnig,
My interview with Ulf Ekberg took place yesterday (Oct. 23) at the annual Swedish Music Seminar in Manhattan. We did discuss the past, present and future of Ace of Base, and Ulf mentioned that the group plans to tour the United States in 2009. They have been recording new material, so a new album is likely as well.
I asked Ulf if there is a lot of unreleased Ace of Base material from the first phase of the group’s career, and he estimated there are about 100 tracks that have never been made public. I suggested a box set might be in order.
The seminar, part of the CMJ schedule and co-sponsored by the Consul General of Sweden and the trade organization Export Music Sweden, ended on a high note as Ulf was the subject of the sixth and final panel of the day and the audience gave him a great reception.BUBBLING OVER THE TOP
Hi Fred,
I’m writing about the biggest jumps to No. 1 following Britney Spears’ 96-1 leap with “Womanizer.” I agree with you that once a song makes a 100-1 jump, the record for the biggest leap within the Hot 100 will be permanently set. Having said that, isn’t there a possibility, however slight, that a song could move from the Bubbling Under chart one week and land at No. 1 the next?
To my knowledge, this has never happened, i.e., all songs that have debuted at No. 1 were in their first week of existence on the Billboard singles charts, correct? If this were to ever happen, would it be reported as such (even as a footnote), or would it be regarded as a No. 1 debut, plain and simple?
Very best regards,
Roger Gatchalian
London, England
Dear Roger,
The Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart is separate from the Hot 100, not a continuation, so if a song were to appear on the Bubbling Under tally one week and debut at No. 1 the next week, it would still be considered a debut at No. 1.
If we did consider a song moving from the Bubbling Under list to No. 1 on the Hot 100 a jump instead of a debut, then we’d have to go back and call thousands of debuts on the Hot 100 “jumps” instead of new entries.
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