Dear listeners,
It’s Caryn the editor here again, seizing control of the playlist one more time (don’t worry, you’ll have Lindsay back next week).
On Monday, Shaboozey reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” making him the second Black artist to hit No. 1 on both the all-genre singles chart and Hot Country Songs. Somehow both milestones came this year: Beyoncé did it first with “Texas Hold ’Em.”
The news got me scrolling through what’s topped the Hot 100 so far in 2024 — over the last 27 weeks, 15 songs have done it. And we’re going to listen to all of them in The Amplifier today.
It’s always interesting to see how the official chart stacks up against cultural vibes. It may feel like the summer of “Espresso,” but Sabrina Carpenter’s Certified Bop hasn’t hit No. 1 in the United States (yet). It doesn’t just seem like Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” is dominating 2024: It is, with 11 straight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. But only one of its songs — its opener, “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone — has spent any time atop the Hot 100. Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” has had two songs summit the singles chart; Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” had the one. Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan haven’t hit No. 1 yet this year, but I wouldn’t count them out.
The longest run belongs to “I Had Some Help,” by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen (six weeks, five of them consecutive). Two songs from the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake beef hit No. 1; perhaps unsurprisingly considering the outcome, they were both Lamar’s.
So let’s take a trip through the recent past together — and for fun (or counterprogramming), see how the biggest songs of the year (so far) compare to our critics’ best songs of the year (so far).
I know I have good judgment, I know I have good taste,
Caryn
Listen along while you read.
1. Brenda Lee: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
The year’s first No. 1 was a tune that is now 66 years old: a holdover from the holiday streaming season by the absolutely delightful (read Lindsay’s profile!) Brenda Lee.
2. Jack Harlow: “Lovin on Me”
The second No. 1 of the year actually reached the top in late 2023 (including that week, it’s spent six total leading the chart). Over a slinky bass line and a reworked sample of “Whatever (Bass Soliloquy)” by Cadillac Dale, the Kentucky rapper Jack Harlow does some serious flirting.
3. Ariana Grande: “Yes, And?”
The first taste of Ariana Grande’s seventh studio album was a house jam that nodded to Madonna and took aim at her antagonists and the gossip mill.
4. Megan Thee Stallion: “Hiss”
Speaking of taking aim … the first truly barbed hit of the year included a line that was interpreted as a shot at Nicki Minaj. Chatter about the track, from her album “Megan,” helped Megan Thee Stallion earn her first solo No. 1.
5. Beyoncé: “Texas Hold ’Em’”
When Beyoncé announced her eighth solo LP during a Super Bowl commercial, this song (and “16 Carriages”) hit streaming services, giving everyone the impression her long-awaited country album was on the way. Of course, “Cowboy Carter” proved to be far more expansive, but this foot-stomping hoedown was its runaway hit.
6. Ye and Ty Dolla Sign featuring Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti: “Carnival”
Did you forget the artist formerly known as Kanye West put out a (not bad) album this year? Here’s a reminder.
7. Ariana Grande: “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
Grande returned to the top in March with a gorgeous, featherweight vocal floating above a shimmery dance track. Robyn, we hear you in here! Come back to us!
8. Teddy Swims: “Lose Control”
A soulful vocal, a bluesy progression, a few choppy chords — the Southern singer-songwriter Teddy Swims scored with this breakout from his debut, “I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1).”
9. Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar: “Like That”
The song that kicked off the beef of the year. Kendrick Lamar joined the Atlanta rapper Future and the producer Metro Boomin on their first joint release of 2024, “We Don’t Trust You,” and tossed some shade at Drake and J. Cole over menacing synths and a sample of “Everlasting Bass” by Rodney-O and Joe Cooley.
10. Hozier: “Too Sweet”
The Irish singer-songwriter Hozier returned to the spotlight with his first No. 1 (believe it or not, “Take Me to Church” only reached No. 2!). In the same ballpark as “Lose Control,” “Too Sweet” has a passionate, bluesy vocal.
11. Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone: “Fortnight”
“The Tortured Poets Department” opens with this throbby reminiscence of a brief but dramatic relationship. (Perhaps fittingly, it spent a brief but dramatic two weeks atop the singles chart.)
12. Kendrick Lamar: “Not Like Us”
The seeming knockout blow arrived in May over a Mustard beat (with additional production from Sounwave and Sean Momberger). Lamar celebrated by performing it five times at his Juneteenth concert.
13. Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen: “I Had Some Help”
Post Malone reached No. 1 as the lead artist on this catchy first taste of his country album, featuring one of the genre’s megastars, Morgan Wallen. The pair sing about a relationship gone sour — and how the ex needs to share the blame.
14. Sabrina Carpenter: “Please Please Please”
The second single from Sabrina Carpenter’s August album, “Short n’ Sweet,” is more of a slick Nashville production than her kicky disco-pop “Espresso,” but still features her sharp wit and charming delivery.
15. Shaboozey: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
The rising country artist Shaboozey delivers strummed acoustic guitar, hand claps, fiddle and a relatable message — life is hard, so let’s go out and forget our problems — on his debut No. 1. Next week, we’ll find out if it’s a double shot on the chart, too.
The Amplifier Playlist
“The Biggest Songs of 2024 (So Far)” track list
Track 1: Brenda Lee, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Track 2: Jack Harlow, “Lovin on Me”
Track 3: Ariana Grande, “Yes, And?”
Track 4: Megan Thee Stallion, “Hiss”
Track 5: Beyoncé, “Texas Hold ’Em’”
Track 6: Ye and Ty Dolla Sign featuring Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti, “Carnival”
Track 7: Ariana Grande, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
Track 8: Teddy Swims: “Lose Control”
Track 9: Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar: “Like That”
Track 10: Hozier: “Too Sweet”
Track 11: Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone: “Fortnight”
Track 12: Kendrick Lamar: “Not Like Us”
Track 13: Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen: “I Had Some Help”
Track 14: Sabrina Carpenter: “Please Please Please”
Track 15: Shaboozey: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
The post The 15 Songs That Hit No. 1 This Year (So Far) appeared first on New York Times.
