This Week in Billboard Chart History: 25 Years Ago, Milli Vanilli’s ‘Miss’ Hits Top of Hot 100
This week in 1989, the duo scored its second of three No. 1s. Plus, remembering key chart feats for Madonna, Luther Vandross and the Beatles.
Your weekly recap celebrating significant milestones from more than seven decades of Billboard chart history
Sept. 22, 2007
Alicia Keys‘ “No One” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 71. Ten weeks later, it reached No. 1, becoming her third of four leaders so far. Keys just release a new song, “We Are Here.” “The day I wrote this song, I was sitting in a circle of people of all ages and we were asked, ‘Why are you here?’ Why am I here? This really hit me on a deep level,” Keys says. “I realized no one had ever asked me that question before. As I prepare to give birth to a new child, I can’t help and think about the world I’m bringing my baby into. No matter where we come from, when we see the state of the world today, we can all feel the growing frustration and desire to make a difference. And we all have a voice – we just need to know how to make it heard.”
Sept. 23, 1989
More than a year before being exposed for not singing its hits, Milli Vanilli scored its second of three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s, as ballad “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” reached the summit.
Sept. 24, 1988
Bobby McFerrin topped the Billboard Hot 100 with the a capella pop culture smash “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” (Feel more relaxed after listening?)
Sept. 25, 1982
It was no trick: the Steve Miller Band appeared at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Abracadabra.”
Sept. 26, 2009
Five years ago, Madonna scores her 40th No. 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart, as “Celebration” reaches the top. Madge has since upped her record sum to 43.
Sept. 27, 2003
Luther Vandross‘ touching “Dance With My Father,” his final Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit, peaks at No. 38. In a 2012 visit to Billboard‘s New York offices, Richard Marx recalled how he came to co-write the song with the late R&B legend. “In the aftermath of me losing my dad, Luther was one of the only people who knew what to say to me. He knew when to call me … it was like telepathy. He helped me through that time tremendously.”
Sept. 28, 1968
The Beatles begin their longest Billboard Hot 100 command, as “Hey Jude” sets up at No. 1 for the first of nine weeks.
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