| Saturday 20 September 2008 |
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On a clear chart, you can see "Forever"
|  | | A music chart expert and professional journalist, Fred Bronson is the author of The Billboard Book of Number One Hits and writes for numerous television and radio projects. | Hi Fred. Thanks for all the cool trivia and answers you provide every week. It's great to live in 2008 and have an expert as accessible as you! Chris Brown's "Forever" debuted at No. 9 several weeks ago, and I don't recall it dropping out of the top 10 during its run. I know there have been some singles that have spent their first 19 weeks in the top 10 - Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" debuted at No. 1 and spent at least 16 weeks in that spot in 1995-1996, so I'm guessing it was in the top 10 for the first 19 weeks of its run.
My question is, when was the last time a song debuted in the top 10 and spent its first 19 weeks in that tier? Thanks! Chris Bubenik Dear Chris. Glad you enjoy Chart Beat and Chart Beat Chat! Chris Brown's "Forever" is holding at No. 4 in its 20th chart week, but the song hasn't been in the top 10 every week since its debut at No. 9 on the Hot 100 on May 10. In fact, in its second week the single fell to No. 15 and then plunged to No. 25 before rebounding to No. 20.
"Forever" returned to the top 10 in its eighth chart week and has been there ever since, for a total of 14 weeks in the top 10. Many of the songs that have debuted in the top 10 recently have had short stays in that elite tier. The longest top 10 stay for a recent debut is credited to Avril Lavigne. "Girlfriend" debuted at No. 5 the week of March 17 and remained in the top 10 for 18 weeks.
Even though "Forever" hasn't hit the 19-week mark yet - and it still could - I do have an answer to your question. The last song to debut in the top 10 and remain there for at least 19 weeks was Toni Braxton's "You're Makin' Me High" / "Let It Flow". That two-sided hit spent 20 weeks in the top 10 from June to October of 1996. And to satisfy your curiosity about Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day", that No. 1 hit spent 19 weeks in the top 10. (Billboard's Chart Beat Chat)
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