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Train tracks
Dear Gary. I noticed that Train's latest single, "If It's Love", rises to No. 1 on the Adult
Pop Songs chart, while the band's previous hit, "Hey, Soul Sister", remains atop Adult
Contemporary for a 10th week. Is this the first time that different songs by the same artist
rank at No. 1 on Adult Pop and Adult Contemporary in the same week?
Thanks, Lisa Curry, Beachwood, New Jersey
Hi Lisa. This week does, indeed, mark the first that an artist presides over the sister format
charts with different titles. In fact, it's rare for an artist to top both charts concurrently
even with one hit. Here is a look at the 13 titles - of 100 Adult Pop Songs No. 1s and 95 Adult
Contemporary leaders (29 of which led both lists) since March 16, 1996, when the former chart
bowed - so ubiquitous at the height of their popularity that they monopolized the summits of
both surveys simultaneously:year, title, artist, simultaneous weeks at No. 1 1996, "One Sweet Day", Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, 1 1996, "Because You Lou Loved Me", Celine Dion, 12 1996, "Change the World", Eric Clapton, 7 1997, "You Were Meant for Me", Jewel, 1 1997, "Sunny Came Home", Shawn Colvin, 1 1999, "Angel", Sarah McLachlan, 3 2000, "Breathe", Faith Hill, 1 2001, "Only Time", Enya, 3 2006, "You're Beautiful", James Blunt, 3 2006, "Bad Day", Daniel Powter, 7 2007, "Big Girls Don't Cry", Fergie, 2 2008, "Bubbly", Colbie Caillat, 3 2010, "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum, 8
Note that these 13 titles are ballads, songs gentle enough to lead AC, yet possessing a requisite
hipness level to win consensus at more uptempo and rock-leaning adult pop stations. Ultimately,
it's not that surprising that Train's feat is a first, as it's difficult for a follow-up to
power all the way to No. 1 on Adult Pop Songs while a previous single is still strong enough to
be No. 1 on Adult Contemporary. ("Hey, Soul Sister" even crossed over to country, reaching No.
52 on Country Songs in a four-week run in July.)
Generally, pop/rock songs break first at Adult Pop before AC: 24 of the 29 shared Adult Pop Songs
and Adult Contemporary No. 1s have held sway first at the former format before leading the more
conservative adult contemporary genre. Record labels reinforce the pattern by promoting most
songs with hit potential at both formats first to adult pop reporters.
The closest that an artist had previously come to ruling the two charts concurrently with different
songs prior to this was week was when Kelly Clarkson completed a 21-week stay at No. 1 on AC with
"Breakaway" the week of August 6, 2005, and rose to No. 1 on Adult Pop with follow-up "Behind
These Hazel Eyes" three weeks later.
(Ask Billboard) |
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