Fifty Years Of Music – 2015

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2015, the year I celebrated my 41st birthday.  A mere seven of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just three of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#60: Fall Out Boy – Uma Thurman
iTunes stats: 9 plays

Featuring a sample of the theme song from The Munsters, it peaked at #22 on the Hot 100.

#57: Taylor Swift – Wildest Deams
iTunes stats: 14 plays

Reaching #5, it became the fifth consecutive top ten hit from her 1989 album.

#43: Fall Out Boy – Centuries
iTunes stats: 44 plays

The lead single from the group’s sixth studio album, it went to #10, their first top ten hit in eight years.

#35: Adele – Hello
iTunes stats: N/A

Debuted at #1 on the Hot 100, where it remained for ten weeks.

#29: Taylor Swift – Style
iTunes stats: 25 plays

The third single from her fifth studio album, it peaked at #6.

#28: Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass
iTunes stats: 30 plays

Spending eight weeks at #1, it made Trainor the 21st female artist in Hot 100 history to top the chart with their debut single.

#18: Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
iTunes stats: 54 plays

Debuting at #1, it then spent eight weeks at #2 before returning to the top spot for an additional two weeks.

#15: Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar – Bad Blood
iTunes stats: 53 plays

The third single from 1989 to reach the top of the Hot 100, it spent a single week at #1

#7: Taylor Swift – Blank Space
iTunes stats: 32 plays

Spending seven weeks atop the charts, it earned three Grammy nominations.

#1: Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
iTunes stats: 17 plays

The lead single from Ronson’s fourth studio album, it spent fourteen weeks at #1.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2014

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2014, the year I turned 40.  At 82 songs, we have broken past 80% of the Hot 100 that remain familiar to me today for the first time, with 62 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#83: Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams – Blurred Lines
iTunes stats: N/A

Featuring a video that included a very topless Emily Ratajkowski, the song spent twelve weeks atop the Hot 100 in the summer of 2013.

#48: Katy Perry – Roar
iTunes stats: 2 plays

The lead single from the singer’s fourth studio album, it spent two weeks at #1 in the fall of 2013

#44: Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
iTunes stats: N/A

The first chart topping single of Cyrus’ career, it holds the record for the longest gap between stints at #1 with nine weeks for its three non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100.

#21: Idina Menzel – Let It Go
iTunes stats: N/A

The ubiquitous theme song from Frozen, it peaked at #5.

#20: Lorde – Royals
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending nine weeks at #1, the New Zealand singer’s debut single won two Grammys in 2014.

#15: DJ Snake and Lil Jon – Turn Down for What
iTunes stats: 20 plays

Peaking at #4, it became the first top ten hit for DJ Snake and the ninth for Lil Jon

#13: Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
iTunes stats: 54 plays

The lead single from her fifth studio album, it spent four non-consecutive weeks at #1.

#8: Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass
iTunes stats: 30 plays

The debut single from the singer-songwriter, it spent eight weeks atop the Hot 100 and was the best-selling single of the decade for a female artist.

#1: Pharrell Williams – Happy
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending ten weeks at #1 in the spring, it was nominated for an Oscar and won a Grammy.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2013

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2013, the year I celebrated my 39th birthday.  A mere seven of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just three of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#73: Ylvis – The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)
iTunes stats: N/A

A novelty song by a Norwegian comedy duo, it spent three weeks at #3.

#71: Taylor Swift – 22
iTunes stats: 4 plays

The sixth track from her fourth studio album to hit the Top 20, it reached #20.

#55: Psy – Gangham Style
iTunes stats: N/A

Only the second K-Pop song to chart on the Hot 100, it spent seven weeks at #2.

#28: Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX – I Love It
iTunes stats: 143 plays

The first US hit for both artists, it went all the way to #7.

#27: Rihanna – Diamonds
iTunes stats: N/A

The twelfth #1 hit of Rihanna’s career, it spent three weeks atop the Hot 100.

#18: Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending three non-consecutive weeks at #1, it became her first chart-topping hit.

#16: Taylor Swift – I Knew You Were Trouble
iTunes stats: 3 plays

The second single from her fourth studio album, it peaked at #2.

#15: Lorde – Royals
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending nine weeks at #1, Lorde became the youngest female artist in 26 years, since Tiffany in 1987, to top the Hot 100.

#11: Bruno Mars – Locked Out of Heaven
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from his sophomore effort, it spent six weeks at #1 across 2012 and 2013.

#10: Katy Perry – Roar
iTunes stats: 2 plays

Nominated for two Grammy awards, it spent two weeks atop the Hot 100.

#2: Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell – Blurred Lines
iTunes stats: N/A

The longest-running #1 single of 2013, it topped the charts for twelve weeks.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2012

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2012, the year I celebrated my 38th birthday.  A mere ten of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just two of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#71: Adele – Rolling in the Deep
iTunes stats: N/A

Winner of three Grammy awards, it was ranked the 82nd best song of all time by Rolling Stone in 2021.

#47: Psy – Gangham Style
iTunes stats: N/A

Peaking at #2, it was the highest charting song by a South Korean artist up to that point.

#36: Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera – Moves like Jagger
iTunes stats: N/A

The collaboration spent three weeks at #1.

#33: Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
iTunes stats: 2 plays

Jumping from #72 to #1 in its second week of release, it was her first chart topper on the Hot 100 and tied her with Kenny Rogers for the most Top Ten entries by a country artist with eleven.

#29: LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock – Party Rock Anthem
iTunes stats: N/A

Featured in 21 Jump Street, which won the MTV Movie Award for Best Music.

#13: LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It
iTunes stats: N/A

The first #1 on the year, it spent two weeks atop the Hot 100.

#7: Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
iTunes stats: N/A

Clarkson’s third #1 hit, it spent three non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100.

#3: Fun featuring Janelle Monae – We Are Young
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from the group’s sophomore album, it spent six weeks at #1.

#2: Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
iTunes stats: 25 plays

Spending nine weeks atop the Hot 100, it was the first #1 by a female Canadian artist since 2007.

#1: Gotye featuring Kimbra – Somebody That I Used to Know
iTunes stats: N/A

The track, which won two Grammy awards, spent eight weeks at #1.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2011

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2011, the year I celebrated my 37th birthday.  A mere eoght of these songs remain familiar to me today, with only two of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#57: LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It
iTunes stats: N/A

The group’s final Top 40 hit, it spent six weeks at #1 in the summer of 2011.

#29: Lady Gaga – The Edge of Glory
iTunes stats: N/A

The third single from her second studio album, it peaked at #3.

#18: Lady Gaga – Born This Way
iTunes stats: N/A

The title track from her second studio album, it became the 19th song to debut at #1, where it stayed for six weeks.

#9: Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera – Moves like Jagger
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending a single week at #1, making Aguilera the fourth woman to have a chart-topping hit in three different decades.

#7: CeeLo Green – Fuck You
iTunes stats: 51 plays

Originally peaking at #9 in 2010, the song rebounded following a live performance at the Grammys and reached #2 in its 26th week on the chart.

#3: Katy Perry – Firework
iTunes stats: 1 play

Spending two non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100, it earned Perry two Grammy nominations.

#2: LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock – Party Rock Anthem
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from the group’s second and final album, it spent six weeks at #1 in the summer of 2011.

#1: Adele – Rolling in the Deep
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending seven weeks atop the Hot 100, it was the singer’s first US #1 hit.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2009

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2009, the year I celebrated my 35th birthday.  Only twelve of these songs remain familiar to me today, with half of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#62: Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending five weeks atop the Hot 100, it was Jay-Z’s first #1 hit as lead artist.

#55: Coldplay – Viva la Vida
iTunes stats: N/A

The group’s first US #1 hit, it spent a single week atop the charts in June of 2008.

#29: Miley Cyrus – Party in the U.S.A.
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending three weeks at #2, it was Cyrus’ most successful single to date.

#25: Katy Perry – Hot n Cold
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Perry’s follow-up to I Kissed a Girl peaked at #3.

#14: Kings of Leon – Use Somebody
iTunes stats: 28 plays

Winner of three Grammy awards, this breakthrough single reached #4.

#11: Taylor Swift – You Belong with Me
iTunes stats: 2 plays

Nominated for three Grammy awards, it reached #2 on the Hot 100 while topping the Hot Country Songs chart.

#8: Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending four non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 between the end of 2008 and the start of 2009, the track garnered three Grammy wins.

#5: Taylor Swift – Love Story
iTunes stats: 1 play

Topping out at #4 on the Hot 100, the single spent 49 weeks on the chart.

#4: Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
iTunes stats: 33 plays

The group’s second consecutive #1 single, it spent fourteen weeks atop the Hot 100.

#3: Lady Gaga featuring Colby O’Donis – Just Dance
iTunes stats: N/A

The singer’s debut single, it spent three weeks at #1 in the winter of 2009.

#2: Lady Gaga – Poker Face
iTunes stats: N/A

The singer’s second single, it spent a single week at #1 in the spring of 2009.

#1: Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow
iTunes stats: 29 plays

The lead single from the group’s fifth studio album, it spent twelve weeks at #1 and, combined with its follow-up, gave the band 26 consecutive weeks, from mid-April until mid-October, with the #1 song in the nation.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2008

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2008, the year I celebrated my 34th birthday.  A mere seven of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just three of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#85: Kid Rock – All Summer Long
iTunes stats: N/A

The biggest solo hit of his career, it peaked at #23.

#81: Taylor Swift – Love Story
iTunes stats: 1 play

The lead single from her sophomore effort, it reached #4 and spent 49 weeks on the charts.

#36: Katy Perry – Hot n Cold
iTunes stats: 0 plays

The second single from her second album, it became her second straight top five hit, going to #3.

#17: Rihanna – Don’t Stop the Music
iTunes stats: N/A

Peaking at #3, it was her fourth single to land in the top three.

#14: Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl
iTunes stats: 52 plays

Perry’s debut single, it spent seven weeks atop the Hot 100, becoming the 1000th #1 song of the rock era.

#13: Coldplay – Viva la Vida
iTunes stats: N/A

Winner of the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2009, it spent one week atop the Hot 100.

#1: Flo Rida – Low
iTunes stats: N/A

The most downloaded single of the decade, it spent ten weeks at #1.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2007

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2007, the year I celebrated my 33rd birthday.  Only five of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just four of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#74: Amy Winehouse – Rehab
iTunes stats: 24 plays

Peaking at #9, it was Winehouse’s sole US top ten hit prior to her untimely demise.

#27: Kanye West – Stronger
iTunes stats: 32 plays

Spending a single week atop the Hot 100, it was West’s third #1 hit.

#12: Avril Lavigne – Girllfriend
iTunes stats: 33 plays

Lavigne’s first #1 hit, it spent one week atop the chart in May.

#7: Plain White T’s – Hey There Delilah
iTunes stats: N/A

Nominated for two Grammy awards, it spent two weeks at #1 in the summer of 2007.

#2: Rihanna featuring Jay-Z – Umbrella
iTunes stats: 30 plays

The lead single from her third studio album, it spent seven weeks at #1 in the summer of 2007.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2006

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2006, the year I celebrated my 32nd birthday.  A mere eleven of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just three of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#76: Rascal Flatts – Life is a Highway
iTunes stats: N/A

A cover of the Tom Cochrane classic for the Cars soundtrack, it peaked at #7.

#71: Bon Jovi – Who Says You Can’t Go Home
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s highest charting song of the decade, it reached #23.

#42: Black Eyed Peas – My Humps
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Dismissed as a puerile form of sexual titillation by some critics, it spent six weeks at #3 while spending over nine months on the Hot 100.

#38: Nickelback – Photograph
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s third top ten hit, it went to #2.

#34: Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx – Gold Digger
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Featuring a sample of a Ray Charles song from 1956, it became West’s first #1, spending ten weeks atop the Hot 100.

#23: Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s third top ten hit, it topped out at #6 and won two Grammys.

#9: Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland – SexyBack
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from his sophomore effort, it spent seven weeks at #1.

#7: Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Spending seven weeks at #2, the group’s debut single was the first track of the year to hit #2 and not rise to the top of the charts.

#5: Shakira featuring Wycleaf Jean – Hips Don’t Lie
iTunes stats: N/A

Shakira’s first chart topper, it spent two weeks at #1 in the summer.

#4: James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending a single week atop the Hot 100, it was the first non-hip hop/R&B track or American Idol song to reach #1 since 2001.

#1: Daniel Powter – Bad Day
iTunes stats: N/A

It spent five weeks atop the Hot 100 in the spring of 2006.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2005

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2005, the year Michael was born, I went to Europe for the first time, I celebrated my 31st birthday, and the White Sox won the World Series.  22 of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just nine of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#77: Ludacris – Get Back
iTunes stats: 36 plays

Featured as the ending theme to Tropic Thunder, the song peaked at #13 in January.

#68: Foo Fighters – Best of You
iTunes stats: 31 plays

Topping the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for four weeks and the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart for seven weeks, it was their highest charting single on the Hot 100, reaching #18.

#46: Green Day – Wake Me Up When September Ends
iTunes stats: 31 plays

Written about the death of frontman Billy Joe Armstrong’s father when he was 10, it went to #6 and remains their final top ten hit.

#43: Nickelback – Photograph
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from their fifth studio album, it became the band’s third top ten hit, going to #2.

#39: Green Day – Holiday
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Topping both the Hot Modern Rock Tracks and Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, it peaked at #19 on the Hot 100.

#35: DHT featuring Edmee – Listen to Your Heart
iTunes stats: 21 plays

This cover of the Roxette hit reached #8.

#32: Black Eyed Peas – My Humps
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The 2007 Grammy winner for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, it topped out at #3.

#31: Gwen Stefani featuring Eve – Rich Girl
iTunes stats: 11 plays

Produced by Dr. Dre, it spent more than six months on the Hot 100, going as high as #7.

#23: Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell – Drop It Like It’s Hot
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Featuring on the year-end chart for the second time, it spent three weeks at #1.

#20: Weezer – Beverly Hills
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The band’s most successful single on the Hot 100, it peaked at #10 and was their first charting track since 1994.

#16: The Killers – Mr. Brightside
iTunes stats: 35 plays

First released in 2003, it was re-released in 2004, where it went to #10.

#13: Black Eyed Peas – Don’t Phunk with My Heart
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The 2007 Grammy winner for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, it topped out at #3.

#9: The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes – Don’t Cha
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The track spent three weeks at #2 and remains the group’s highest-charting song.

#7: Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams
iTunes stats: 20 plays

Peaking at #2, it is still the highest-charting sone of the band’s career.

#6: Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx – Gold Digger
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The Grammy winner for Best Rap Solo Performance, it spent ten weeks at #1 in the fall of 2005.

#4: Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone
iTunes stats: 35 plays

The lead single from the American Idol winner’s sophomore effort, it topped out at #2 while spending 20 weeks in the top ten.

#2: Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl
iTunes stats: 24 plays

Nominated for the two Grammys, the song spent four weeks atop the Hot 100 in the spring.