Congratulations are in order, R&B has returned to the top of the Hot 100 chart! John Legend has officially taken over the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100.
Nearly a decade after making his debut on the chart (May 22, 2004), the R&B crooner’s tender ballad “All of Me,” has finally squeaked past Pharrell’s mega hit “Happy,” for the No. 1 spot this week. Legend spent six weeks at No. 2 below Williams, and has spent a total of 30 weeks on the chart, marking the third-longest climb to No. 1 in the chart’s 55-year history.
According to Billboard, no Hot 100 No. 1s featured only vocals and piano for the chart’s first 53 years, three have done so since: Adele’s “Someone Like You” (2011), Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” (2013) and now “All of Me.” (“All has also been powered by its uptempo Tiesto remix, which many pop radio stations are favoring.)
In related news, Ariana Grande has rocketed onto the Hot 100 as her new single “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea debuts at No. 3, instantly becomes each act’s highest-ranking hit.
“Problem” also earns the eighth-largest debut ever for a download debut, as it starts at No. 1 on Digital Songs with 438,000 sold. It’s also the biggest arrival for a song this year, and the best since Katy Perry’s “Roar” debuted with 557,000 (Aug. 31, 2013). It almost nabbed the top spot on the Hot 100 as well, boasting just a .013 percent lower points total than “All of Me.”
Still, a No. 3 debut for “Problem” nabs it a piece of Hot 100 history: it’s the highest-ever debut for a collaboration of only female soloists.
Big congrats to both John and Ariana!
