Friday, December 31, 2021

Mel's Top 100 Hits of 2021


THE TOP 100 HITS OF 2021
As compiled from Mel’s Current Top 20 Weekly Charts

CHART NOTES

This year's Top 100 Hits of 2021 chart had a fairly good mix of genres ranging from mainstream pop to rock, country, electronic, dance, hip hop and indie music tracks. 

“Save Your Tears” is #1 - The Weeknd / The Weeknd featuring Ariana Grande:  The two versions of “Save Your Tears” a song originally recorded by The Weeknd in 2020 and included on his album After Hours became a #1 hit on Mel’s Current Top 20 for two weeks near the beginning of 2021. It held the #1 spot for 2 weeks before falling off and staying at #2 for four weeks.


In the meantime while it bubbled at #2, another version of “Save Your Tears”, a remix by The Weeknd coupled with singer Ariana Grande gave the song a fresh start. Since the original was still on my chart, I decided after 4 weeks to push the remix back up to #1 where it lingered for 6 additional weeks in the months of April and May. 


The song spent a total of 31 weeks on the Current Top 20, more than any other to become 2021 Song of the Year.


Vocal Group of the Year: This has to go to the R&B group SILK SONIC who gave us three huge top 20 singles in 2021. Led by vocalist/musicians Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak they led 2021 off with a great 1970s sounding throwback single, “Leave the Door Open”. That song held oon to the #1 spot for 4 weeks on the Current Top 20, and spent 23 weeks on the chart to put the single at #2 for the year. 


Silk Sonic wrapped the year up with two more Top 3 singles that included “Skate” and “Smokin’ Out The Window”, both of which peaked at #3 and stayed on the chart for a dozen weeks each.


Punk Band of the Year: Definitely goes to The Linda Lindas who broke out with a huge viral video hit called “Racist, Sexist Boy” that was shot live in a library within the Los Angeles area. That song put them on the map and spent a few weeks on the Current Top 20 peaking at #14, which was enough to squeak in a position #100 on this chart.


In the summer their first official single “OH!” issued by Epitath Records hit my Top 20 chart and soared to #1, staying there for four weeks. It spent a total of 15 weeks on the top 20 which was good enough to land at #4 for the year.


Darling of the Media Award: That has to go to Olivia Rodrigo, a young singer who probably help put rock music back on the map. Her first breakout song was “Drivers License”. It quickly picked up streams, video views and radio airplay. It climbed my chart to make it to #1 in the first half of 2021. It spent 2 of its 15 week chart run at the top, making it to #14 for the year. 


She released four more singles after that, with one more going to #1. “Good 4 U” is a good rock song that held on to the top spot for 4 of its 15 week chart run. It ended up at #3 for 2021.


All of her charted singles were taken from her debut album Sour.


A Big Year for Elton John: Did you know Elton John is 74 years old? Well he came back in a big way in 2021. Elton has always had some kind of song on the charts since he first started in the business in 1970. 


For 2021 he managed to put five singles into the Current Top 20. They include “After All,” a duet with Charlie Puth that went to #13, “Finish Line” that pared him with Stevie Wonder, with the song going to #12 at the end of the year. He was featured on “Nothing Else Matters” a Metallica cover song fronted by singer Miley Cyrus in which Elton, Yo Yo Ma and several other musicians had prominent roles as back-up musicians. That record peaked at #8 on the Current Top 20. 


I thought in mid 2021 his big comeback was with singer Rina Sawayama, whom he did a duet with on her track “Chosen Family”. That record put Elton John and Sawayama into the Current Top 20 Top 5. “Chosen Family” peaked at #2 for two weeks, spending a total of 12 weeks on the chart, which was enough to land the single at the #19 spot on the Top 100 chart.


Elton John’s biggest hit of 2021 was to come later in the summer when a PNAU remix called “Cold Heart” which moshed several of his older hits together into a medley, was done as a duet with pop diva Dua Lipa. That record came out in August, peaked for 3 week at #1 in September and has managed to hang on to the chart for 18 weeks and still listed going into 2022. For the year “Cold Heart (PNAU remix) ends up at #5 for 2021.


All of the Elton John tracks are featured on his 2021 album titled The Lockdown Sessions.


Elton John was not done. In mid December he released a holiday track with Ed Sheeran. That song, “Merry Christmas” got to #5 after three short weeks on the chart, and is still listed as we move into 2022. Therefore it will likely show up on next year’s Top 100.


Other Comebacks: Adele came back with a new album in late 2021 called 30. It yielded the #1 hit “Easy on Me” which ended up at #8 for the year. Two more singles came off the album charted in the final weeks of the year.


ABBA returned to making a few more hit records this year with the release of their first album Voyage since 1982. Three singles made The Current Top 20 chart. They were “Don’t Shut Me Down” (#2 peak), “Just a Notion” (#7 peak) and “I Still Have Faith In You” (#10 peak). All three are in this year’s Top 100 Hits of 2021. This is probably the last songs we’ll ever get from the aging pop group, who have mostly been in retirement since 1982.


Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, AC/DC and the Foo Fighters all had comeback hits for 2021. At least one song from each of them are on the Top 100.


Finally K-Pop: Several K-Pop songs made an impact on the Current Top 20. They included “My Universe” which is a Coldplay single featuring the boy band, BTS. That went to #1 for a few weeks here.  


BTS also scored a top 20 hit with their track “Butter” which peaked at #9 and ended up at #68 for 2021.


Two members from Blackpink scored solo top 20 hits. First up it was Rosé who went to #9 with “On The Ground” giving her the #76 hit on the Top 100. A few months later Lisa scored a #2 solo hit called “Money” that ends up at #24 on the Top 100.


Those are my highlights for 2021. The entire Top 100 of 2021 is a highlight in its own right and a good memory jogger for the year gone by. 


It is hopeful that more good music will be released in 2022. The songs are out there.


The Top 100 Hits of 2021 chart appears below. You can watch all of the videos in the video player that appears below the chart. Marvel and enjoy!







Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Mel's Current Top 20 Hits 12-23-21


Adele Recaptures The #1 Spot

Adele finishes off 2021 at the top of the chart again with the same song. “Easy on Me” from her album 30 once again nudges its way to #1, up from last week’s #2 position where it stayed for 2 weeks while Ed Sheeran held the top spot with “Overpass Graffiti.” Now he’s back at #2 and Adele’s on top. 

Not to be outdone by her own #1 achievement, Adele can also boast to have two additional songs on this week’s Current Top 20. Debuting at #18 is her latest track from 30, entitled “Can I Get It.” Her second single, “Oh My God” moves up one from within the top 5 to claim the #4 position.

Ed Sheeran need not worry as his holiday duet, “Merry Christmas” with Elton John jumps up from #10 to #5 this week. The song is one of the very few new holiday hits to be listed on this past week’s Billboard Hot 100 at #21. The song also tops my Christmas Chart for a third week.

With 2002 just around the corner, it suddenly sounds like 1981 if you can believe your ears for the song that debuts at #19. The Human League is back with a new remix of their old 1981 song “Don’t You Want Me.” I heard this on YouTube Music late last month, and to me it was new enough to get it listed. We’ll see how long it can maintain itself as a hit more than 40 years later.

THE CHART

TW Song TitleArtistLW
  1Easy On MeAdele  2
  2Overpass GraffitiEd Sheeran  1
  3Smokin' Out The WindowSilk Sonic  3
  4Oh My GodAdele  5
  5Merry ChristmasEd Sheeran & Elton John 10
  6Cold Heart (PNAU remix)Elton John & Dua Lipa  6
  7Just A NotionABBA  8
  8Am I The Only OneAaron Lewis  4
  9The FeelsTWICE 12
 10All Too Well (Taylor's Version)Taylor Swift 20
 11MoneyLisa  7
 12Finish LineElton John & Stevie Wonder    13
 13ShiversEd Sheeran  9
 14Beggin'Maneskin 14
 15Gonna Be UsMiss Li 17
 16So Happy It HurtsBryan Adams 16
 17BrightenJerry Cantrell 11
 18Can I Get ItAdele new 
 19Don't You Want Me (2021 remix)The Human League new
 20Enemy (from Arcane League of Legends)  Imagine Dragons X JID 15

CHART LINKS


Thursday, November 25, 2021

Mel's Current Top 20 - Thursday, November 25, 2021.



Mel’s Current Top 20
Songs You Don't Care About

As of November 25, 2021.

TWTitleArtistLW
1Easy On MeAdele2
2MoneyLisa4
3Overpass GraffitiEd Sheeran7
4AmericaTom MacDonald1
5Am I The Only OneAaron Lewis6
6ShiversEd Sheeran3
7My UniverseColdplay X BTS5
8Cold Heart (PNAU remix)Elton John & Dua Lipa9
9That's What I WantLil Nas X8
10SuperchargedAyron Jones12
11Just A NotionABBA13
12Smokin' Out The WindowSilk Sonic18
13Rock Around the ClockRingo Starr15
14BrightenJerry Cantrell16
15One More TimeRod Stewart10
16Take My BreathThe Weeknd11
17Finish LineElton John & Stevie Wonder20
18After All (featuring Charlie Puth)Elton John14
19Beggin'Maneskin--
20The FeelsTWICE--

CHART NOTES

It's been a long climb up for Adele's "Easy on Me". The song made its chart debut six weeks ago on October 20. It slowly climbed up, making it into the top 5, stopping at #2 last week, and now reaches #1. At number 2 we find Lisa of Blackpink fame, moving up 2 from last week's #4 with her hit "Money."

Ed Sheeran's "Overpass Graffiti" jumps from #7 to #3 this week, while its predecessor "Shivers" moves down from #3 to #6. At #4 is last week's #1 hit "America" by Tom MacDonald with Aaron Lewis breaking in at #5 with his patriotic song "Am I The Only One."

We have two debut songs again this week. At #19 is "Beggin'", an alternative rock track by a band called Maneskin. Number 20's debut record comes from another K-Pop girl group, TWICE. "The Feels" is the single at #20.




Be sure to visit Mel's Christmas Top 20 seasonal chart. 

Listen to Mel's Current Top 20 on Spotify.

All of Mel's Current Top 20 YouTube videos are here.



Friday, September 3, 2021

Mel's Current Top 20 & The Country 5 + 5 - September 3, 2021.



The Linda Lindas are at #1 for a third straight week.

Mel’s Current Top 20 
Significant songs that you don't care about.

As of September 2, 2021

TW - Song Title - Artist - LW

1. OH! - The Linda Lindas - 1
2. Wrecked - Imagine Dragons - 2
3. Skate - Silk Sonic - 4
4. Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran - 3
5. Don't Go Yet - Camila Cabello - 5
6. Take My Breath - The Weeknd - 7
7. Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo - 6
8. Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World - Robin Schulz, Alle Farben, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - 10
9. Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo - 8
10. I Get a Kick Out of You - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - 12
11. Nothing Else Matters (featuring....) - Miley Cyrus - 11
12. Last Train Home - John Mayer - 9
13. Quiet Town - The Killers - 15
14. Shadow Dancing - Dee Gees - 16
15. Cold Heart (PNAU remix) - Elton John & Dua Lipa - 19
16. Save Your Tears (remix & single) - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - 14
17. Drive (featuring Wes Nelson + Topic) - Clean Bandit - 20
18. Find My Way (featuring Beck) - Paul McCartney - 13
19. Steal My Love - Dan + Shay - NEW
20. Venus Fly Trap - Marina - NEW

CHART NOTES

Two songs make their debuts. "Steal My Love" by country duo Dan + Shay debut at #19. It is a pop song with a reggae beat. It's #4 on my weekly Country 5 +5 chart (see below).



At #20 we find Marina who was previously known as Marina & the Diamonds. She debuts with her hit "Venus Fly Trap."



Not too much movement in this week's chart. The Linda Lindas hold on to #1 for the 3rd week with their smash hit, "Oh!" (video appears at the top of this post)

"Wrecked" by Imagine Dragons is at #2 for a third week in a row. Will it go to #1? Meanwhile "Skate" by Silk Sonic inches up another point from #4 last week to #3. Here is Imagine Dragons:







"Chasing After You" by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris climbs to #2 on the Country 5 + 5.

The Country 5 + 5
The Power of 10! | August 31, 2021

TW - Song Title - Artist - LW

1. Big Love - Caroline Jones - 1
2. Chasing After You - Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris - 3
3. If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldeen & Carrie Underwood - 5
4. Steal My Love - Dan + Shay - 10
5. I Don't Give a Truck - Nelly Joy - 2
6. Fancy Like - Walker Hayes - 4
7. Boat Names - Brian Kelley - 7
8. Good Things - Dan + Shay - 6
9. One Mississippi - Kane Brown - NEW
10. Remember Her Name - Mickey Guyton - NEW

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Mel's Current Top 20 & The Country 5 + 5: Cover Songs, Remakes and Remixes

 Mel's Current Top 20

Significant songs that you don't care about.


Mel’s Current Top 20As of August 26, 2021

TW - Song Title - Artist - LW


1. OH! - The Linda Lindas - 1

2. Wrecked - Imagine Dragons - 2

3. Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran - 3

4. Skate - Silk Sonic - 5

5. Don't Go Yet - Camila Cabello - 6

6. Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo - 4

7. Take My Breath - The Weeknd - 12

8. Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo - 8

9. Last Train Home - John Mayer - 7

10. Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World - Robin Schulz, Alle Farben, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - 13

11. Nothing Else Matters (featuring....) - Miley Cyrus - 9

12. I Get a Kick Out of You - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - 16

13. Find My Way (featuring Beck) - Paul McCartney - 15

14. Save Your Tears (remix & single) - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - 14

15. Quiet Town - The Killers - 19

16. Shadow Dancing - Dee Gees - 20

17. Run Baby Run - Southern Culture on the Skids - 10

18. Higher Power - Coldplay - 11

19. Cold Heart (PNAU remix) - Elton John & Dua Lipa - NEW

20. Drive (featuring Wes Nelson + Topic) - Clean Bandit - NEW


CHART NOTES


Covers, Remakes, Remixes: 


Reviewing this latest chart, I find it contains several cover songs, remakes and remixes. Let’s work our way from the bottom to the top.


Cold Heart - Elton John & Dua Lipa


Debuting at #19 this week we find a remix from Elton John paired with singer Dua Lipa. The song is a mash-up of previous Elton John tracks rolled into a new title… “Cold Heart”. In this catchy remix you can hear snippets from the following Elton John songs: “Rocket Man”, “Sacrifice”, “Kiss the Bride” and “Where’s the Shoorah”, the latter an album only track from Elton John’s 1976 release, Blue Moves.




Shadow Dancing - Dee Gees


Last week, Foo Fighters' disco persona Dee Gees debut at #20 with their cover of the Andy Gibb hit “Shadow Dancing”. That record moves up to #16 this week. The song previously went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 for several weeks.


Save Your Tears - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (remix)


Another remix on our chart is the “oldest” song with the most accumulated weeks on. “Save Your Tears”, the remix version featuring The Weekend and Ariana Grande have been listed on the Current Top 20 since late April and is a re-hash of The Weeknd’s still current solo hit of the same title. Both went to #1 on this chart earlier this year. I refer to them both on my weekly listing, placing “Save Your Tears” at #14 for a second week.





Find My Way (remix) - Paul McCartney featuring Beck


Another song with similar treatment is Paul McCartney’s “Find My Way”, which in its original version topped this chart for a few weeks earlier this year. The remix version featuring Beck on most of the vocals moves up 2 from last week’s #15 to #13.


I Get My Kicks on You - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga


The oldest song in terms of years of longevity is the Cole Porter penned “I Get My Kicks on You”. The song was written in 1934 and first premiered in the Broadway Musical Anything Goes, and sung in the movie version of the same play in 1936. The first person to sing the song was Ethel Merman. It was covered over many years by musical luminaries such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.


The newest remake of “I Get My Kids on You” complete with the “cocaine” line is sung by 95 year old Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga. The song is from the duo’s upcoming album Love For Sale. It climbs from #16 of last week to #12 this week.


Nothing Else Matters - Miley Cyrus


At #11 we have a heavy metal song that has been wonderfully remade by Miley Cyrus and a bunch of her musician friends. “Nothing Else Matters” was recorded by Metallica for their famed 1991 album Metallica. This killer remake features Cyrus on vocals and backing musicians Elton John on keyboards, Yo Yo Ma on cello, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on percussion, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo on bass and Andrew WATT on guitars and producing. The dusty western themed video for the song is timeless. “Nothing Else Matters” peaked at #8 on the Current Top 20 a few weeks ago, and is now sitting at #11.



Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World -


Our last cover song is a medley and remix. This remix covers two very famous the song, the first being “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” which was first immortalized in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz and sung by actress Judy Garland. 


The second part of this remix medley is “What a Wonderful World” which was recorded in 1967 by jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong. Released as a single that year, the record failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, even though it went to #1 in the U.K.


Armstrong’s recording of “What a Wonderful World” appeared in the 1987 Robin Williams movie Goodmorning Vietnam. The song was re-released as a single in 1988. It finally hit the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #32. It was subsequently inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.


In 1988 both “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World” were combined into a medley and recorded by Hawaii's Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.


The simple ukulele version of the “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” medley became a big hit in Hawaii during the 1990s. The song’s popularity increased after Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s death in 1997.


Awareness of the song spread with the use of the internet and streaming audio. The song became a popular digital track all over the world and was used in numerous movies and TV shows since the early 2000s. 


This year (2021), “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” is back as a new pop / electronic dance remix by German DJs and remixers Robin Shulz and Alle Farbin. This new remix is a very catchy pop tune which should be a hit everywhere again. It currently stands at #10 on the Current Top 20, up from last week’s #13 position. The medley's video appears at the top of this post.

_________________________________


Lastly, The Linda Lindas hold on to #1 for the 2nd week with their smash hit, “Oh!”, which is not a remake or remix.. though I suspect that if this becomes a big hit, a future remix could be inevitable.

_________________________________


The Country 5 + 5 




The Country 5 + 5
The Power of 10! | August 24, 2021

TW - Song Title - Artist - LW

1. Big Love - Caroline Jones - 9
2. I Don't Give a Truck - Nelly Joy - 1
3. Chasing After You - Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris - 2
4. Fancy Like - Walker Hayes - 6
5. If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldeen & Carrie Underwood - 7
6. Good Things - Dan + Shay - 3
7. Boat Names - Brian Kelley - 5
8. The Worst Country Song of All Time - Brantley Gilbert with Toby Keith, Hardy - 4
9. Stop Draggin' Your Boots - Danielle Bradbery - 10
10. Steal My Love - Dan + Shay - NEW

Finally on my weekly country chart, in keeping with theme of remakes on this post, we find bolting from #9 last week to #1 this week is "Big Love" by Caroline Jones. This track is a cover of Fleetwood Mac's 1987 hit "Big Love" which appeared on their Tango in the Night album and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is great to hear this song back in a new version! Gotta love Fleetwood Mac and Caroline Jones for doing this cover.

Friday, August 20, 2021

Mel's Current Top 20 - The Linda Lindas are at #1!




Mel’s Current Top 20 
Significant songs that you don't care about.

As of August 19, 2021

TW - Song Title - Artist - LW

1. OH! - The Linda Lindas - 5
2. Wrecked - Imagine Dragons - 3
3. Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran - 1
4. Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo - 2
5. Skate - Silk Sonic - 9
6. Don't Go Yet - Camila Cabello - 8
7. Last Train Home - John Mayer - 4
8. Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo - 6
9. Nothing Else Matters (featuring....) - Miley Cyrus - 10
10. Run Baby Run - Southern Culture on the Skids - 11
11. Higher Power - Coldplay - 7
12. Take My Breath - The Weeknd - 19
13. Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World 
- Robin Schulz, Alle Farben, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - 17
14. Save Your Tears (remix & single) - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - 12
15. Find My Way (featuring Beck) - Paul McCartney - 16
16. I Get a Kick Out of You (featuring Lady Gaga) - Tony Bennett - 20
17. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic - 14
18. Solar Power - Lorde - 13
19. Quiet Town - The Killers - NEW
20. Shadow Dancing - Dee Gees - NEW

CHART NOTES

The Linda Lindas make it to the #1 position in three weeks, debuting two weeks ago at #15, bolting to #5 last week and now jumping from that position to #1 with what should be their big debut hit, "OH!" The band consists of four young ladies ages 10 to 16. They can all do vocals, and play a variety of instruments, though for most songs they have settled on a line-up of two guitarists, one on bass and a drummer. Check out "OH" at the top of this post... Below is The Linda Linda's 9-minute interview clip:



The Killers place the new single "Quiet Town" on the top 20 for the first time this week at #19. It's from their newest album Pressure Machine.



The second of our two debut singles is a re-worked oldie from The Foo Fighters going under their "disco name" "Dee Gees." As the Dee Gees, the band released 5 songs written by the Bee Gees on their latest release Hail Satin. The first of the Bee Gee covers to make this chart is "Shadow Dancing" which was a #1 hit in 1978 for Bee Gee brother Andy Gibb.

The last surviving member of The Bee Gees is Barry Gibb. He recently posted on Twitter: "I am proud that @foofighters gave us love beyond the call of duty. I am overwhelmed that they would even think about doing this. @FooDGrohl, @taylorhawkins and the rest of you guys, thank you so much. I look forward to us getting together!!!" - https://twitter.com/GibbBarry