Top 40 Breakdown: FINALLY Someone Knocks Off "Apologize"

Every Friday from now until whenever I decide to stop, I'm going to provide a breakdown/commentary on the week's Top 40 radio charts (If someone from Pretty Much Amazing wants to throw things at me for snagging an idea they had for awhile, now would be the time). So let's look at this weeks hits:

After 8 seemingly endless weeks atop the list, Timbaland/OneRepublic's "Apologize" saw its reign come to an end this week, slipping to #2. Before you feel bad for either band though, OneRepublic has "Stop and Stare" at #25 and climbing, and Timbaland's name appears a staggering 3 times with "Apologize" (#2), "The Way I Are" (#14), and 50 Cent's "Ayo Technology" (#29) all charting this week.

Replacing "Apologize" is the new Alicia Keys track "No One". Quite frankly I would have rathered another week of "Apologizing" boning the radio, but clearly I'm in the minority here. The rest of the top 10 is pretty lackluster, as Fergie's "Clumsy", Rihanna and Ne-Yo's "Hate That I Love You" and Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly" are still holding strong, as is the intolerable "Low" by Flo Rida. The only bright spots in the top 10 are Finger Eleven at #9 (down from #7 last week) and Jordin Sparks' "Tattoo" rising to #6.

Once out of the top 10, things get good. "Misery Business" by Paramore rose to #13 this week, but with a gain of only 5 plays nationwide, I don't think that'll get much higher. Daughtry's newest pop/rock crossover "Over You" is holding at #12, and rounding out the top half is Linkin Park's "Shadow of the Day", up one spot from last week. Also in there are a bunch of songs left over from the summer, with the aforementioned "The Way I Are" and Kanye West's "Stronger" (#17) just refusing to lay down and die. At 29 weeks, "The Way I Are" is the longest charting song on the Top 40 right now.

Once out of the top 20, the rest of the list is made up of songs either on their way in or on their way out. After "Everything" failed to make a dent on the radio, Buckcherry's "Sorry" is making a run for the top, currently sitting at #22. The positively generic "Never Too Late" by Three Days Grace follows close behind, while Boys Like Girls and Chris Brown's "With You" also saw chart increases this week. On the way out is the indefensibly bad Soulja Boy, who starting next week will most likely enter the recurrent chart, along with Maroon 5 and 50 Cent. At the tail end of the list is "Calling You" by Blue October, released on the re-issue of 2006's Foiled (the original version was released in 2003). The song has bottomed out the chart for the last two weeks, but I'm personally hoping for a boost in the coming weeks.

My expectations for next week: With no song immediately poised to take down "No One", expect it to remain for another week or two, unless "Tattoo" can make a huge jump quickly. A bunch of songs will probably fall off the charts next week into the recurrent section, which might pave the way for "Calling You" to rise, and Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" to crack into the crossover list. That's the best I can offer this week, perhaps as I keep looking we'll see something more.

The Highlight Reel
Timbaland feat. OneRepublic - Apologize
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
Paramore - Misery Business
Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day
Buckcherry - Sorry
Boys Like Girls - Hero/Heroine
Blue October - Calling You

Source: http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/CHR_Top40_Chart.asp

Current Music: Our Lady Peace - Made of Steel (DRMed...sorry guys)

==TJ==

Songs I'm Loving (Perhaps A Bit Too Much)

-A month after seeing the movie, I'm still loving the music from the August Rush Soundtrack. I went looking to see if Johnathan Rhys Meyers was ever in a band or had any other music out, and was sad to find nothing. Even his work in Velvet Goldmine was redone by other bands for the soundtrack. Rather unfortunate if you ask me, but then again the rest of the industry seems pretty bent on crucifying actor/musicians (look at the way other artists have trashed Jared Leto and 30 Seconds to Mars). At any rate, another sampling of Meyer's music ("This Time" was posted in an earlier entry)

Johnathan Rhys Meyers & Steve Erdody - Bach / Break [iTunes]

-As much as the rock fanatic in me hates to admit it, the new song by Avril Lavigne is too damned much fun. Say what you will about how 'corporate' she is or whatever, it's still ridiculous, upbeat pop that's got just enough in it to keep my brain cells from dying. At this rate The Best Damn Thing might end up getting a second spin before too long.

And just for the record, nobody is forcing me to write any of this, I promise.

Avril Lavigne - Hot [iTunes]

-There was once a time where I would trash anything that came out of American Idol. Then 2007 happened, and Kelly Clarkson released a rock album, Chris Daughtry did his thing, and most recent winners Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis both released great first singles (yeah I know I'm behind on this, but I've been hiding behind my rock music for awhile). Sparks' "Tattoo" is a version of "Big Girls Don't Cry" that guys won't feel as embarrassed to listen to, and as my friend Alex put it, Blake Lewis' "Break Anotha" is Justin Timberlake minus the annoying. Given the choice, I think I prefer "Break Anotha", but just the fact that I enjoy both is earth-shattering. A review of Lewis' Audio Day Dream will be coming soon.

Blake Lewis - Break Anotha [iTunes]
Jordin Sparks - Tattoo [iTunes]

-My rediscovered love for Pearl Jam that I talked about last week is still going strong. I've been in the process of uploading every Pearl Jam CD I own, which is surprisingly hefty given that I previously only gave them a passing glance. Given that I also watched Reign Over Me earlier this week, this song seems appropriate.

Pearl Jam - Love Reign O'er Me (Who Cover) [iTunes]

(One day I will post a PJ MP3 that isn't a cover...I promise)

-Shortly before naming Chase This Light the second best album of 2007, I uncovered this B-Side left off the album. Only heard it once so far, but its just as good as everything else on the CD, and I'm not quite sure why it was left off. Enjoy.

Jimmy Eat World - Open Bar Reception [Chase This Light on iTunes]

That's all for now. Back later.

Currently Listening To: Pearl Jam - Jeremy [iTunes]

==TJ==