Ask Billboard: How Historic Is The Chainsmokers’ ‘Closer’?
The smash continues to mark milestones of chart longevity.
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Hi Gary,
The Chainsmokers‘ “Closer,” featuring Halsey, has now tied Mark Ronson‘s “Uptown Funk!,” featuring Bruno Mars, for the longest run in the Billboard Hot 100‘s top three: 21 weeks.
It’s also moved up to second for the most weeks – 24 – in the Hot 100’s top five.
And, with 26 weeks in the top 10, it’s now one of only seven singles ever to have spent that much time in the region.
Amazingly, six months in, it’s still No. 3 …
Thanks,
Brian C. Cole
Hi Brian,
When it comes to “Closer,” it ain’t ever getting older. Well, actually it is. It’s just aging incredibly gracefully.
Let’s look at some of the song’s levels of longevity.
First, as previously reported, “Closer” is the first song in the Hot 100’s 58-year history to spend its first six months (26 weeks) on the Hot 100 in the top 10. It debuted at No. 9 on Aug. 20. It rose to No. 6 in its second week and began its 12-week reign, the longest of 2016, on Sept. 3. It’s yet to leave the top five since, 24 weeks and counting (through the chart dated Feb. 11).
(As for its 12-week rule, it’s one of only 17 singles to lead for at least that long. It’s second among Columbia Records releases, trailing only the song to tally the most weeks, 16, overall at No. 1: Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men‘s “One Sweet Day.”)
Revisiting and delving deeper into some of the stats above, “Closer” is tied for the most weeks in the Hot 100’s top three. Here are the top such performers:
21 weeks in the top three, “Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, peak year: 2016
21, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, 2015
19, “Smooth,” Santana feat. Rob Thomas, 1999
18, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, 2005
18, “Un-Break My Heart,” Toni Braxton, 1996
17, “All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor, 2014
16, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid and Kyla, 2016
16, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas, 2009
16, “Dilemma,” Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland, 2002
16, “How You Remind Me,” Nickelback, 2001
16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, 1995
16, “The Sign,” Ace of Base, 1994
16, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston, 1992
Oh look … The Chainsmokers just made a mash-up of two of the songs (all No. 1s) on the list above: “Closer” and Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me.”
As for most weeks in the Hot 100’s top five, we’ll find out tomorrow, when highlights of the Feb. 18-dated Hot 100 are revealed, if “Closer” can tie for most weeks in the bracket. At 24 weeks, it’s one away from matching Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!” and “How Do I Live” by LeAnn Rimes – who released her new album, Remnants, Friday (Feb. 3) and performed on Billboard‘s Facebook Live the day before.
Here are the singles to spend the most time in the Hot 100’s top five:
25 weeks in the top five, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, 2015
25, “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes, 1997
24, “Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, 2016
23, “The Twist,” Chubby Checker, 1960
21, “Smooth,” Santana feat. Rob Thomas, 1999
21, “Un-Break My Heart,” Toni Braxton, 1996
20, “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Gotye feat. Kimbra, 2012
20, “No One,” Alicia Keys, 2007
20, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, 2005
20, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, 1996
20, “Gangsta’s Paradise,” Coolio feat. L.V., 1995
And, the singles with the most weeks in the Hot 100’s top 10? In seven weeks, we could have a new title-holder:
32 weeks in the top 10, “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes, 1997
31, “Uptown Funk!,” Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, 2015
30, “Smooth,” Santana feat. Rob Thomas, 1999
29, “Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock, 2011
28, “Foolish Games”/”You Were Meant for Me,” Jewel, 1997
26, “Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, 2016
26, “Truly Madly Deeply,” Savage Garden, 1998
25, “Trap Queen,” Fetty Wap, 2015
25, “All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor, 2014
25, “Counting Stars,” OneRepublic, 2014
25, “Apologize,” Timbaland feat. OneRepublic, 2007
25, “Un-Break My Heart,” Toni Braxton, 1996
25, “The Twist,” Chubby Checker, 1960
The second and third lists above are especially impressive, as they include the Hot 100’s all-time No. 1, Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” (the only song to reign in two separate cycles, in 1960 and again in 1962).
So, each week we keep getting answers as to how historic a hit “Closer” has become, and is still becoming. Meanwhile, it so far has ranked higher than its follow-up, “Paris,” which is off to a good start of its own, having debuted at No. 7 on the Hot 100 two weeks ago.
One of the only things we haven’t yet learned about “Closer”? Down a stolen mattress, how’s that poor roommate sleeping back in Boulder?
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