Rihanna Crashes the McCartney/Kanye Bromance
Three weeks after “Only One” by Kanye West featuring Paul McCartney was the week’s top new entry on the Hot 100 at #35, the two stars return to the chart with another song, “FourFiveSeconds.” And this time, Rihanna joins them. The new song, which will appear on Rihanna’s upcoming eighth studio album, is the top new entry on this week’s chart at #54.
Though there has been no official announcement, the three stars are expected to perform the song on the Grammy telecast on Feb. 8.
This is the third collaboration by Rihanna and West to hit the chart. They had equal billing with Jay Z on his “Run This Town,” which reached #2 in October 2009. Rihanna was featured on West’s “All of the Lights,” which reached #18 in May 2011. Both of those hits were double Grammy-winners for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song.
This is the first time since 1989 that McCartney has had two Hot 100 singles in one year. He scored that year with “My Brave Face” (#25 in July) and “This One” (#94 in September). If this song has legs, which seems likely, this will be the first time since 1986 that McCartney has had two top 40 singles in one year. He scored that year with “Spies Like Us” (#7 in February) and “Press” (#21 in September).
This week’s big Hot 100 news is that male solo artists hold down the top three spots for the first time in nine months. That was the lead of a Chart Watch blog which we posted earlier. If you missed it, here’s a link. This blog will deal with the week’s top new entries.
"Truffle Butter" by Nicki Minaj featuring Drake & Lil Wayne is the week’s second-highest new entry at #71. It’s the fifth Hot 100 song from her current album, The Pinkprint.
"Worth It" by Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink debuts at #82. The song is from Fifth Harmony’s debut album, Reflection, which is due Feb. 3. This is the fifth Hot 100 hit for Fifth Harmony, which were surprise winners for Artist to Watch at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards. (They beat 5 Seconds of Summer, Sam Smith, ScHoolboy Q, and Charli XCX.) The female quintet’s highest-charting hit to date is “Sledgehammer,” which peaked at #40.
Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen” debuts at #86. The young hip-hopper is from Paterson, N.J.
"Somebody" by Natalie La Rose featuring Jeremih debuts at #94. Three other artists (Bryan Adams, Reba McEntire, and the Lemonade Mouth Cast) have charted with different songs with the same title. La Rose, who was born in Amsterdam, is signed to Flo Rida’s label imprint. Jeremih has amassed three top 10 hits as a lead artist: "Birthday Sex," "Down on Me" (featuring 50 Cent), and "Don’t Tell ‘Em" (featuring YG).
Becky G’s “Can’t Stop Dancin’” re-enters the chart at #95. The song, her follow-up to the top 20 hit “Shower,” has climbed as high as #27. Captain & Tennille had a top 20 hit in 1977 with the same title.
Fall Out Boy’s “Immortals” debuts at #96. It’s from the Big Hero 6 soundtrack, which was released in November. The group lands its fourth top 10 hit this week as “Centuries” jumps from #12 to #10 in its 20th week.
Trey Songz’s “Slow Motion” debuts at #99. It’s from the Reloaded edition of his album Trigga, which entered The Billboard 200 at #1 in July.
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