Chubby Checker's "The Twist" Named Top Song Of Billboard Hot 100 - Part 1

Chubby Checker's "The Twist" has been ranked as the number 1 song in the 50 years of the the Billboard Hot 100 Chart while the Beatles have topped Billboard's all-time Hot 100 Artistes. Here is a list of the Top 10 Singles and the Top 10 Artistes

The Top 10 Singles

1. The Twist by Chubby Checker
2. Smooth by Santana
3. Mack The Knife by Bobby Darin
4. How Do I Live by Leann Rimes
5. Macarena by Los Del Rio
6. Physical by Olivia Newton John
7. You Light Up My Life by Debbie Boone
8. Hey Jude by The Beatles
9. We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
10. Un-break My Heart by Toni Braxton

The Top 10 Artistes

1. The Beatles
2. Madonna
3. Elton John
4. Elvis Presley
5. Stevie Wonder
6. Mariah Carey
7. Janet Jackson
8. Michael Jackson
9. Whitney Houston
10. The Rolling Stones

Many would be as surprised as I am that none of Elvis Presley's songs have made it to the Top 10 as many of his hit singles like Teddy Bear, Love Me Tender and Jailhouse Rock were released before the Billboard Hot 100 started in August 1958. I am all shook up that Elvis's top hits like It's Now Or Never, Are You Lonesome Tonight and Good Luck Charm which were released after August 1958 did not even make it to the list. I had also expected classic hits by The Beatles like I Saw Her Standing There, I Want To Hold Your Hands or And I Love Her to be in the Top 10 but certainly not Hey Jude. The song Hey Jude isn't all that great and the ending is pure cacophony!

Geoff Mayfield, the director of charts of Billboard magazine acknowledged that the list may not be consonant with some fan's personal thoughts of the most popular songs of the past 50 years. "This is simply a chronicle of how each of these songs performed in their era on the Hot 100. We're not saying these are the most memorable songs of your life. Everyone has a subjective frame of reference," said Mayfield. Billboard is also showcasing some other chart achievements on its website www.billboard.com. The other "controversial" list is the Most No.1s by an artiste.

Most No.1s By Artiste (Number In Brackets)

1. The Beatles (20)
2. Mariah Carey (18)
3. Michael Jackson (13)
4. Madonna (12)
5. The Supremes (12)
6. Whitney Houston (11)
7. Janet Jackson (10)
8. Stevie Wonder (10)
9. Bee Gees (9)
10. Elton John (9)

You may notice that Elvis Presley isn't on the Top 10 list of Most No. 1s by an artiste. While Elvis had 7 number 1s on the Hot 100, 11 of his number 1 hits were released before the Hot 100 existed. Elvis had a total of 18 number 1 hit singles in his career. This means to say that there is a tie between Elvis and Mariah Carey for the most number 1 hit singles by an American artiste ever. I believe many would not disagree with me if I were to rank The Beatles as the greatest band or group and Elvis Presley as the greatest solo singer of the 20th century. Next week, I'll be talking about Chubby Checker and his song that helped inspire a global dance craze - The Twist.

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> Chubby Checker's "The Twist" Named Top Song Of Billboard Hot 100 - Part 2