Billboard Hot 100 55th Anniversary: Top 100 Songs/Artists

[RadioBeatz]

Aug 2, 2013 16:16:46 GMT -5 ListenToItTwice said:

Aug 2, 2013 12:06:20 GMT -5 RadioBeatz said:

So many statistics, I'm going crazy :o lol

That was fun, I expected IGF to pull ahead of PRA, what happened there?

I was realllllly shocked by that.. I think it goes to show that the point system doesn't quite work.


You know what I would like? A version of the list that somehow includes the recurrent/catalog success of the songs.. It would make for a more interesting ongoing climb for recent songs, and might better reflect the "bigness" of certain hits

I think it's so hard even for Billboard to find the "right" methodology I mean we're talking about 55 years of popular music and soooo many changes thru the times.

[Deleted]

This is the best point system they ever had. I think it works fine

[The Upper Hand]

Aug 2, 2013 10:05:11 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

^Yah- why the straight-points thing really isn't the greatest methodology.

Top 10 Acts With Activity Since the Last Update (this goes through, I'm presuming, the July 27, 2013 chart):
Madonna: 10 weeks on the Hot 100 (nine of those as lead act on "featurings")
Mariah Carey: 54 weeks on the Hot 100 (11 weeks as lead act on a "featuring," four weeks as a featured act on a "featuring" and one week on a duet)
Michael Jackson: 9 weeks on the Hot 100 (all as lead act on a "featuring")
Whitney Houston: 15 weeks (all solo credits)

Could you please name the songs you are referring to for each one of them (or at least for Mariah)? I know you're capable of

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2013 14:30:42 GMT -5 Myth X said:

According to the list of #1's it seems like Billboard doesn't credit Britney Spears for S&M.

www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/5149230/hot-100-55th-anniversary-every-no-1-song-1958-2013?page=0%2C4

Neither does Joel Whitburn if I remember correctly.

[HolidayGuy]

Absolutely, secretp.

(Additional weeks is in addition to what was included in the 2008 list)

Madonna
4 Minutes: 3 additional weeks (70% of points)
Celebration: 1 week
Give me All Your Luvin': 6 weeks (70% of points)

Mariah Carey
I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time: 7 additional weeks
My Love: 4 weeks (30% of total points)
Obsessed: 21 weeks
I Want to Know What Love Is: 6 weeks
Up Out My Face: 1 week (70% of points)
Oh Santa!: 1 week
All I Want For Christmas is You (Super Festive!): 1 week (50% of points)
All I Want For Christmas is You: 3 additional weeks
#Beautiful: 10 weeks (70% of total points)

Michael Jackson
Hold My Hand: 9 weeks (70% of total points)

Whitney Houston
I Look to You: 6 weeks
Million Dollar Bill: 1 week
I Will Always Love You: 3 additional weeks
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me): 2 additional weeks
The Greatest Love of All: 2 additional weeks
How Will I Know: 1 additional week

[The Upper Hand]

Thank you once again!

I guess "Breathe" by Faith Hill would make Top 110 or Top 120. It was on the chart for 53 weeks and was named the number one single of 2000.

[Kris]

Are #1's that much higher graded than hits with longevity? I'm quite surprised Hanging By a Moment did not make it (#1 song of 2001) although 54 weeks on the chart isn't comparable to I'm Yours at 71. Likewise with Before he Cheats, You and Me, How to Save a Life, Lights, etc. 

[HolidayGuy]

Higher peak positions, coupled with longevity, is the key for placement on the top 100 songs/singles list. And then pre-1992 hits are weighted to account for shorter chart lives, so that makes it more intriguing. :)

I don't think the points system is as simple as 100 pts. for No. 1, 99 for No. 2 and down to 1 for No. 100. Since some eras are weighted, it's probably more complex than that, with positions near the top getting an even bigger chunk of points than positions further down.

I also think this is the best methodology Billboard's had for all-time lists- it's the best for looking at all eras.

[pnobelysk]

Aug 2, 2013 19:05:13 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Absolutely, secretp.

(Additional weeks is in addition to what was included in the 2008 list)

Madonna
4 Minutes: 3 additional weeks (70% of points)
Celebration: 1 week
Give me All Your Luvin': 6 weeks (70% of points)

Mariah Carey
I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time: 7 additional weeks
My Love: 4 weeks (30% of total points)
Obsessed: 21 weeks
I Want to Know What Love Is: 6 weeks
Up Out My Face: 1 week (70% of points)
Oh Santa!: 1 week
All I Want For Christmas is You (Super Festive!): 1 week (50% of points)
All I Want For Christmas is You: 3 additional weeks
#Beautiful: 10 weeks (70% of total points)

Michael Jackson
Hold My Hand: 9 weeks (70% of total points)

Whitney Houston
I Look to You: 6 weeks
Million Dollar Bill: 1 week
I Will Always Love You: 3 additional weeks
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me): 2 additional weeks
The Greatest Love of All: 2 additional weeks
How Will I Know: 1 additional week

why doesn't Madonna get anything for give it 2 me?

[PrinceAli89]

This list flops hard for not having any Britney, Mariah, or Madonna songs. They are all queens of the last 3 decades.

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2013 22:52:11 GMT -5 PrinceAli89 said:

This list flops hard for not having any Britney, Mariah, or Madonna songs. They are all queens of the last 3 decades.

You clearly don't understand how this list works. This list is for the songs that had the most weeks on the overall chart and the longest runs at #1.

And BTW, there were Mariah songs on it.

[Deleted]

Madonna was on the 2008 list but fell off

[HolidayGuy]

Not just that, peigan68, but the week-to-week performance on the charts.

pnobelysk- the 2008 chart went through the last week of July 2008; "Give it 2 Me" had already charted by then.

EDIT: It's worth noting, again, that Billboard counts "That's What Friends Are For" as a hit for the "Friends," even though their names did not appear on the chart. It's a sensible move, though, as the record sleeve clearly listed their names, with "Featuring..."

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2013 14:41:18 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

^It probably just forgot to list her. Spears would only get the points for the single week at No. 1, anyhow.

She's listed now.

[HolidayGuy]

^A little bid whispered in their ear.

[RadioBeatz]

The methodology used in the list from Billboard's 40th anniversary (1958-1998) was quite different, at the end of the century "One Sweet Day" was regarded as the biggest hit ever. :) "The Twist" was #13. The 90s ruled this list of course.

Also in Billboard 90s Decade-End Chart OSD was #1. If we go by the 55th anniversary chart that would be "How Do I Live" since "Smooth" shared its run in the 2000s.

001 - Mariah Carey feat. Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day
002 - Los Del Rio - Macarena
003 - Boyz II Men - I'll Make Love To You
004 - Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart
005 - Elton John - Candle In The Wind 1997 - Something About The Way You Look Tonight
006 - Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
007 - Boyz II Men - End Of The Road
008 - All 4 One - I Swear
009 - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You
010 - Ace Of Base - The Sign
011 - Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life
012 - Olivia Newton John - Physical
013 - Chubby Checker - The Twist
014 - Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife
015 - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love
016 - The Beatles - Hey Jude
017 - Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
018 - Leann Rimes - How Do I Live
019 - Boyz II Men - On Bended Knee
020 - Coolio feat. L.V. - Gangsta's paradise
021 - Mariah_Carey - Fantasy
022 - Janet Jackson - That's The Way Love Goes
023 - Celine Dion - Because You Loved Me
024 - TLC - Waterfalls
025 - Percy Faith - Theme From 'A Summer Place'
026 - Kris Kross - Jump
027 - Ub40 - Can't Help Falling In Love
028 - TLC - Creep
029 - Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
030 - Police - Every Breath You Take
031 - Next - Too Close
032 - Madonna - Take A Bow
033 - Puff Daddy And Mase - Can't Nobody Hold Me Down
034 - Bee Gees - Night Fever
035 - Bone Thugs N Harmony - Tha Crossroads
036 - Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
037 - Chic - Le Freak
038 - Bobby Lewis - Tossin' And Turnin'
039 - The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand
040 - Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
041 - Rod Stewart - Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
042 - Snow - Informer
043 - Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing
044 - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson - Say Say Say
045 - Johnny Horton-The Battle of New Orleans
046 - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'n' Roll
047 - Paul McCartney (with Stevie Wonder) - Ebony And Ivory
048 - Irene Cara - Flashdance...What A Feeling
049 - Monkees - I'm a Believer
050 - Sir Mix A Lot - Baby Got Back
051 - Silk - Freak Me
052 - Blondie - Call Me
053 - Blackstreet & Dr Dre - No Diggity
054 - Tag Team - Whoomp! (There It Is)
055 - Brandy & Monica - The Boy Is Mine
056 - Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
057 - Spice Girls - Wannabe
058 - Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
059 - Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine
060 - Kenny Rogers - Lady
061 - The 5Th Dimension - Aquarius - Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
062 - Michael Jackson - Black Or White
063 - Tommy Edwards - Its All In The Game
064 - Three Dog Night - Joy To The World
065 - Lisa Loeb - Stay
066 - J. Geils Band - Centerfold
067 - Knack - My Sharona
068 - Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight
069 - Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love
070 - Gilbert O'sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)
071 - Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
072 - Usher - You Make Me Wanna
073 - Vanessa Williams - Save The Best For Last
074 - Andy Gibb - I Just Want To Be Your Everything
075 - Celine Dion - The Power Of Love
076 - Mariah Carey - Hero
077 - Mariah Carey - Always Be My Baby
078 - Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
079 - Real Mccoy - Another Night
080 - Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply
081 - Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
082 - Whitney Houston - Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
083 - Donna Summer - Hot Stuff
084 - John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
085 - Jackson 5 - I'll Be There
086 - Bryan Adams - Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
087 - Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You
088 - Domenico Modugno - Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)
089 - The Emotions - Best Of My Love
090 - Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
091 - Prince - When Doves Cry
092 - Paul McCartney & Wings - Silly Love Songs
093 - Diana Ross - Upside Down
094 - R. Kelly-Bump And Grind
095 - Rod Stewart - Maggie May
096 - Lionel Richie - All Night Long
097 - The Archies - Sugar Sugar
098 - Jewel - You Were Meant For Me
099 - Donna Summer - Bad Girls
100 - Janet Jackson - Again

[HolidayGuy]

Yah, that previous methodology was problematic. Which is why the weighting methodology works best; it puts all eras on an equal (or as close as it can be) playing field.

[RadioBeatz]

Aug 4, 2013 13:32:08 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Yah, that previous methodology was problematic. Which is why the weighting methodology works best; it puts all eras on an equal (or as close as it can be) playing field.

What do you think about the methodologies Joel Whitburn/Fred Bronson use still to this day? Aren't they the same Billboard used in the 90s?

[Deleted]

They seem pretty close. i.e The biggest hits of all time are those that spent the most weeks at #1.

The rock era record for weeks at #1 was 10 until 1992 (the 1940-1954 record was 13)

By 1992 both records were topped. 10 is now hit with regularity. Blurred Lines will be next,

Are these songs bigger hits than those that were released prior to 1992? Of course not.


As with any statistics you can not weight them equally over time. Especially if methodologies change and even if they don't. The way music is consumed has changed dramatically in recent years too. Also factor in release schedules to radio and now, every song is available for individual purchase and eligible to chart. Until BB changed its methodology, that is exactly what they were doing, they had a system that gave all time periods equal weight.


BTW- Joel Whitburn is starting to come off a bit of straight up all things are equal weighting

- featurings no longer count unless you are the lead artist
- Glee Cast achievements are ignored

[HolidayGuy]

Whitburn's methodology is fine if you just want a snapshot of peak position and total weeks on the chart, with no weighting of eras; Bronson did improve his for Hottest Hot 100 Hits, but, again, no weighting of eras to compensate for methodologies that produced shorter chart runs.

No all-time methodology will be perfect, but Billboard has come up with the best one, IMO.

[Myth X]

[Lozzy]

The Beatles are from the 1950s?

[josh]

Aug 4, 2013 15:35:05 GMT -5 Lozzy said:

The Beatles are from the 1950s?

There was not even 2 full years of the 50s for the Hot 100, so I think they just tacked those ~1.5 years onto the 60s.

[Deleted]

Yes, 'The 1950s' in this case is 16 months long. So the 1960s is defined as August 1958 thru 1969

Drop this back to 1955 and they would have picture Elvis

[Deleted]

Aug 4, 2013 14:49:26 GMT -5 @2m said:

The rock era record for weeks at #1 was 10 until 1992 (the 1940-1954 record was 13)

Elvis Presley logged 11 weeks at #1 with Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog in 1956.

[Deleted]

Aug 4, 2013 19:17:51 GMT -5 @peigan68 said:

Aug 4, 2013 14:49:26 GMT -5 @2m said:

The rock era record for weeks at #1 was 10 until 1992 (the 1940-1954 record was 13)

Elvis Presley logged 11 weeks at #1 with Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog in 1956.

Yes - one was 6 weeks and the other was 5 weeks

[Kris]

Does this mean we can assume the current top 10 of the Decade are Party Rock Anthem, We Found Love, Somebody That I Used to Know, Rolling in the Deep, Call Me Maybe, Tik Tok, Moves Like Jagger, Just the Way You Are, One More Night, We Are Young in that order? Or would they be weighted differently? I feel like JTWYA should be higher than 8th, especially higher than MLJ.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

Bb should probably not try to do an all encompassing top 100 of all time list because I find them to be generally inaccurate and the formulas are different. Its like trying to compare apples with oranges. They have several different methodologies going on.

I think the should have a pre-1980's, a 1980-2004, and then a post 2004 era list... Or they should have a digital era and a rock era list.

[HolidayGuy]

^Still wouldn't be fair, comparing pre-digital hits from 1992-2004, with pre-BDS/-SoundSca-era hits.

The methodology is the same across the board- it's just that certain eras are weighted differently to make all eras "equal."

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

Aug 4, 2013 20:44:42 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

^Still wouldn't be fair, comparing pre-digital hits from 1992-2004, with pre-BDS/-SoundSca-era hits.

The methodology is the same across the board- it's just that certain eras are weighted differently to make all eras "equal."

I agree with the first sentence. It's not the same across the board. It's different. It's applying different rules than what the rules were when the songs originally charted. That's arbitrary....ie NOT ACCURATE. There is no way for an inverse point system to account for competitive weeks on the HOT 100 or if a song sold 7million copies in a week. It's flawed by design.

It's flawed to even try to normalize prior years with recent years because the time periods are different and there is no way for it to be truly accurate because the formula has changed drastically over time.