Tag / Jay Z

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Fifty Years Of Music – 2010

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 2010, the year I celebrated my 36th birthday.  A mere seven of these songs remain familiar to me today, with four of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

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

The group’s first US hit, it peaked at #4 and remains their lone top ten hit.

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

Debuting at #2, it was the highest debut by a female artist since 2005.

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

Debuting at #12, it gave Swift her Top 20 debut of the year, a record she shares with the Jonas Brothers.

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

The group’s longest charting single, it spent 56 weeks on the Hot 100, 17 of which topped the chart.

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

The final #1 single of the 2000s, it was the first chart-topper to reference New York in the title.

#7: Eminem featuring Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie
iTunes stats: 31 plays

Spending seven weeks at #1, it was Eminem’s fourth chart topping hit and Rihanna’s seventh.

#3: Train – Hey, Soul Sister
iTunes stats: N/A

The group’s second top then hit, it peaked at #3 in April.

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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.

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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.

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Fifty Years Of Music – 2003

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 2003, the year I celebrated the completion of my 28th trip around the sun.  A mere 22 songs remain familiar to me today, with just 15 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#98: Eminem – Superman
iTunes stats: 12 plays

Peaking at #15, it was the third single from his fourth studio album.

#89: Eminem – Sing for the Moment
iTunes stats: 12 plays

Sampling Aerosmith’s Dream On, it reached #14 on the Hot 100.

#79: Christina Aguilera – Fighter
iTunes stats: 13 plays

Inspired by November Rain by Guns N’ Roses, it topped out at #20.

#76: Chingy featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg – Holidae In
iTunes stats: 11 plays

The second single from the rapper’s debut album, it went to #3 on the Hot 100.

#73: Jewel – Intuition
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Starting a shift to a more pop sound, the lead single from her fifth studio album peaked at #20.

#70: Puddle of Mudd – She Hates Me
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Originally written in 1993, it became the fourth and final single released from the band’s debut album, reaching #13.

#59: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw – Underneath It All
iTunes stats: 12 plays

Spending two weeks at #3, the song remains their highest charting single.

#55: Jennifer Lopez – Jenny from the Block
iTunes stats: N/A

Topping out at #3, it was the lead single from the actress/singer’s third studio album.

#51: Ludacris featuring Shawnna – Stand Up
iTunes stats: 33 plays

Spending a single week atop the Hot 100 in December of 2003, it spent 28 total weeks on the chart.

#36: Missy Elliot – Work it
iTunes stats: 21 plays

The rapper’s most successful single, it spent ten weeks at #2.

#35: Dixie Chicks – Landslide
iTunes stats: N/A

A cover of the Fleetwood Mac song, it went to #7 on the Hot 100 before its run was cut short by singer Natalie Maines’ criticisms of President George W. Bush triggered a boycott.

#30: Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River
iTunes stats: N/A

Inspired by his relationship with Britney Spears, it peaked at #3.

#28: Eminem – Lose Yourself
iTunes stats: 55 plays

Spending 16 weeks in the top ten, it spent twelve of those weeks at #1 to wrap up 2002 and start 2003.

#18: Avril Lavigne – I’m with You
iTunes stats: 11 plays

Reaching #4, the singer’s third single was inspired by her feelings of loneliness over being single.

#16: Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
iTunes stats: 18 plays

Written and produced by Linda Perry, the song became Aguilera’s longest-charting solo hit, spending 27 weeks on the Hot 100 topping out at #2.

#13: Nelly, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee – Shake Ya Tailfeather
iTunes stats: N/A

Featured on the Bad Boys II soundtrack, it spent four weeks atop the Hot 100 in the fall of 2003.

#11: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins – Get Low
iTunes stats: N/A

The debut single from Lil Jon and friends went to #2.

#10: Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy – Bring Me To Life
iTunes stats: 32 plays

The lead single from the group’s debut album, it topped the Modern Rock chard and reached #5 on the Hot 100.

#7: Chngy – Right Thurr
iTunes stats: 20 plays

The rapper’s debut single, it spent five non-consecutive weeks at #2.

#4: Beyonce featuring Jay-Z – Crazy in Love
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from Beyonce’s solo debut, it spent eight weeks at #1.

#2: R. Kelly – Ignition
iTunes stats: N/A

Parodied by Dave Chappelle on his Comedy Central show, it spent five weeks at #2.

#1: 50 Cent – In da Club
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The lead single from his debut album, it spent nine weeks atop the Hot 100.

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Fifty Years Of Music – 1999

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 1999, the year I turned 25 and Angelina was born.  At 33 songs, we see a slight rebound in the Hot 100 that remain familiar to me today for the first time, with 17 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#94: Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
iTunes stats: 19 plays

Featured on the soundtrack to City of Angels, the track debuted, and peaked, at #9 in December of 1998 following the change to allow songs with no commercial single release to chart.

#89: Jay-Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
iTunes stats: 35 plays

Featuring samples and the chorus from the Annie song, it reached #15.

#78: Len – Steal My Sunshine
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The group’s only charting single in the US, it went to #9

#77: Shania Twain – Man, I Feel Like a Woman
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The Grammy winner for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2000, it topped out at #4 on the Hot Country Singles chart and #23 on the Hot 100.

#70: Sarah McLachlan – I Will Remember You
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Originally released in 1995, this live version peaked at #14 and earned McLachlan her second Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

#57: Shania Twain – From This Moment On
iTunes stats: N/A

The song reached #4 on the Hot 100, #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and #6 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

#54: Jewel – Hands
iTunes stats: 20 plays

The lead single from the singer’s sophomore effort, it went to #6.

#53: Will Smith – Miami
iTunes stats: 1 play

Topping out at #17, the song garnered Smith a VMA for Best Male Video.

#51: Tal Bachman – She’s So High
iTunes stats: 28 plays

The debut single from the Canadian singer-songwriter peaked at #14.

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Top 200 Albums: #119 – 129

We last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.

We continue today with the next batch of ten albums that I have listened to the most over the last 15 years, breaking the triple digit total play plateau with three compilations, and music from the 60s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.

#129: Various Artists – Fonzie’s Make Out Music
iTunes stats: 97 plays
Previous Ranking: 143

Six classic tracks from the 1950s, from artists such as The Flamingos, The Platters, and Fats Domino, powered a nearly 80% increase in plays for this compilation.

#129: Green Day – American Idiot
iTunes stats: 97 plays
Previous Ranking: 120

The seventh studio album from the East Bay punk band added 36 new listens to four of the thirteen songs from the album.

#128: The Beatles – Let It Be… Naked
iTunes stats: 98 plays
Previous Ranking: 115

Released in 2003, this remastered and remixed version of the Beatles final album, minus Phil Spector’s patented “Wall of Sound”, adds 34 new listens to the five different tracks that make up its total.

#125: Bush – Sixteen Stone
iTunes stats: 100 plays
Previous Ranking: 108

Five out of the twelve tracks from the band’s 1994 debut album totaled only 34 additional plays over the past four years.

#125: Bon Jovi – VH1 Storytellers
iTunes stats: 100 plays
Previous Ranking: 151

Ripped from the DVD of the band’s September 2000 appearance on VH1 Storytellers, the boys from New Jersey nearly double their total from four years ago.

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iTunes Top 200: #170 Part The Third

itunes_image4 years ago, we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library. Since my iTunes stats are still intact, across multiple PCs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones, I figured it was time to take another look at my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2020.

We continue today with the next group of ten songs tied for 170th place with 30 plays apiece since my stats began in late 2007.

#170: Garfunkel and Oates – Pregnant Women Are Smug
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 10/14/2019
Previous ranking: #167

Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci add 13 new listens to pretty much keep pace with their previous showing.

#170: Garbage – Cherry Lips (Live)
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 11/9/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

An impressive debut for this live version of the song, performed at Chicago’s Virgin Megastore and broadcast live on WXRT.

#170: Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 12/30/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

Nominated for the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, the song has put in 30 listens since being added to my collection in early 2016 prior to a certain road trip.

#170: DJ Danger Mouse – 99 Problems
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 9/26/2019
Previous ranking: #118

A big drop off for this mash-up of Jay Z’s 99 Problems and The Beatles Helter Skelter.

#170: The Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Overture/Going Through The Motions
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 11/9/2019
Previous ranking: #118

A bit of a drop off for the opening tune, performed by series star Sarah Michelle Gellar, from the musical episode in season 6.

#170: Blues Brothers – Sweet Home Chicago
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Top 200 Albums – #109 – 120

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We continue things with the next batch of 10 albums that rank between #109 and 120, including 4 studio recordings, 4 compilations, and 2 different collections from the Fab Four.

#120: Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison
iTunes stats: 61 plays
Previous Ranking: 92

The debut album from the former members of New Edition needed only 2 songs to make up this total.

#118: Def Leppard – Adrenalize
iTunes stats: 62 plays
Previous Ranking: 141

A big jump for the first Def Leppard album following the death of guitarist Steve Clark, which uses 5 songs to make up its total.

#118: The Beatles – Past Masters, Vol. 1
iTunes stats: 62 plays
Previous Ranking: 70

5 tracks from the remastered version of the album make up this total.

#117: Various Artists – Austin Powers
iTunes stats: 63 plays
Previous Ranking: 87

The soundtrack to the original Austin Powers film, featuring the work of artists like Strawberry Alarm Clock and Divinyls, makes this list thanks to 4 songs.

#115: Various Artists – Now That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 2
iTunes stats: 64 plays
Previous Ranking: 127

The second edition of this long running compilation series makes the list thanks to singles from Jay Z and Britney Spears, among others.

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iTunes Top 200: #118 Continued

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we continue with the second grouping of songs tied for 118th place with 19 plays apiece since late 2007.

#118: Faith No More – Epic
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 9/28/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The biggest hit of the band’s career, the song ranked #30 on VH1’s list of 40 Greatest Metal Songs and #67 on their list of the top 100 one-hit wonders.

#118: Dr. Dre – Forgot About Dre
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 8/26/2015
Previous ranking: #96

Winner of the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

#118: DJ Danger Mouse – 99 Problems
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 11/20/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

A mash-up of Jay Z’s smash hit with the Beatles’ Helter Skelter.

#118: Dakota Fanning – Cherry Bomb
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 6/23/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The signature song from The Runaways, as performed by Dakota Fanning in the movie based on the band’s life story.

#118: Cee Lo Green – Fuck You
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 7/21/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The first single from Green’s third album, it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

#118: The Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Overture/Going Through The Motions
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Top 200 Albums – #120 – 130

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today we continue climbing up the list and look at the 6 albums tied for 120th with 34 listens and the 5 albums tied for 127th with 33 listens.

#120: Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of …
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The debut album from the Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop group has a nearly even split amongst its 3 hit singles to make up this total.

#120: Various Artists – Clueless
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The hit movie soundtrack makes the list thanks to songs from Smoking Popes, Jill Sobule, and The Muffs.

#120: Sam Kinison – Have You Seen Me Lately
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The seminal comedy album from Sam Kinison uses his standup routine and a twisted remake of Wild Thing to chart this high.

#120: Hole – Celebrity Skin
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The second Hole album, alledgedly written by Billy Corgan, Courtney Love’s boyfriend at the time, has 2 tracks make up this total.

#120: George Carlin – You Are All Diseased
iTunes stats: 34 plays
Another standup routine from George Carlin puts him on the list again.

#120: Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
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