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Let’s open the latest mailbag.
Hi Gary,
“20 Cigarettes” by Morgan Wallen has debuted at No. 20 on the latest Billboard Hot 100. If that’s its high, it will join the list of songs whose titles include the number where they peaked, such as Prince and the New Power Generation’s “7” and so many others.
I also see that Wallen has a Hot 100 tune titled “Jack and Jill,” marking the latest chart appearance for the couple.
Thanks,
Pablo Nelson
Oakland, Calif.
Hi Pablo,
Let’s start with “Jack and Jill,” since they have seniority, as they are believed to date, in nursery rhyme form, to the 17th century. As clumsy as they may be, they’ve managed to roll up the Hot 100 three times via “Jack and Jill” song titles. Wallen’s debuts at No. 60 on the May 31 chart, after Raydio’s became a top 10 hit, rising to No. 8, in 1978 and Tommy Roe’s reached No. 53 in 1969. Like the latter two songs, Wallen’s will go tumbling after its peak, though maybe he won’t yet break his crown on the Hot 100.
As for fun with song titles and their peaks, along with “20 Cigarettes,” let’s look at a dozen more releases below whose titles have synched up to their Billboard chart runs.
(Sadly, “9 to 5” doesn’t make the cut, as Dolly Parton’s classic never worked its way from No. 9 to No. 5 on any chart in a single week. Plus, Taylor Swift’s “22” just had to become a bigger hit than its name, rising two more spots to a No. 20 Hot 100 high; neither Albert Hammond’s “99 Miles From L.A.” Toto’s “99,” Nena’s “99 Luftballoons” nor Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” peaked, or even ever ranked, at No. 99, with Hammond’s skipping directly over it, from No. 100 to No. 98; and Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” debuted at No. 63, or 37 spots from there.)
“One Week,” Barenaked Ladies
The lyrically random rundown spent exactly one week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 dated Oct. 17, 1998. The band was “big like LeAnn Rimes” that week — even bigger, as her smash “How Do I Live” simultaneously fell off the chart after a then-record run.
“Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
Likewise fittingly, the song claimed two weeks atop the Hot 100, on the charts dated May 4 and 11, 2024.
1, The Beatles
The collection includes each of the Beatles’ record 20 No. 1s on the Hot 100. It became their most recent Billboard 200 leader in 2000.
#1s, Destiny’s Child
Similarly, Destiny’s Child’s hits package topped the Billboard 200 in 2005. It houses all four of the group’s Hot 100 No. 1s.
“1-2-3,” Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
In 1988, the flirty anthem peaked at No. 1 (for one week) on Adult Contemporary — No. 2 on the then-active Hot Crossover 30 — and No. 3 on the Hot 100.
“Just the Two of Us,” Grover Washington, Jr. with Bill Withers
The R&B favorite hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1981. Plus, Seduction’s “Two to Make It Right” peaked at No. 2 in 1990. Songs with “two” in their names aren’t jinxed, though, as two “two”-titled tracks have hit No. 1: Mary MacGregor’s “Torn Between Two Lovers,” in 1977, and Phil Collins’ “Two Hearts,” in 1989.
“3 AM,” matchbox 20
The band’s 1997 single hit No. 3 on Alternative Airplay. Similarly, Maluma’s “11 PM” clocked a No. 11 peak on Hot Latin Songs in 2019. (Music director radio tip: Scheduling “3 AM” at 3 a.m. is a good way to perk up overnight air talent with something playful to talk about, and help keep them from falling asleep.)
“25 or 6 to 4,” Chicago
If you have to pick among peaking at Nos. 25, 6 or 4, 4 is the best, and that’s how high this hit reached on the Hot 100 in 1970. While it never ranked at No. 25, it did rise 6 to 4.
“7,” Prince and the New Power Generation
The track reached a No. 7 peak on the Hot 100 in 1993. (On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it stopped at No. 61, but at least those numbers add up to 7.)
“#9 Dream,” John Lennon
The song hit No. 9 on the Hot 100 in 1975. It’s the only one of the late legend’s eight solo top 10s or the Beatles’ 35 top 10s to have peaked at that rank.
“21 Questions (Again),” Debreca
In 2003, the track by the singer reached No. 42 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Maybe “21 Questions (Again)” would’ve peaked at No. 21 if she didn’t add its subtitle?
“Eighteen With a Bullet,” Pete Wingfield
Perhaps the best example of a song related to a trip up Billboard’s rankings, the single was its title on the Nov. 22, 1975-dated Hot 100, climbing four spots to No. 18 with a “*” award, or bullet, reflecting its positive chart momentum. The song, which hit a No. 15 best the following week, has fun with several industry shoutouts. Wingfield sings in the doo-wop-flavored track, “I’m high on the chart, I’m tipped for the top … but ‘til I’m in your heart, I ain’t never gonna stop!”
