Fifty Years Of Music – 2023

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 conclude our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2023, the 50th incarnation of the chart during my lifetime.  Being an old, I have little knowledge of nearly all of the songs, as I am not really the target demographic, of pop music today, with only Taylor Swift and the handful of Christmas classics which have made the list breaking through.  Only 17 of the Hot 100 are familiar to me now, with only seven of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#84: Wham! – Last Christmas
iTunes stats: N/A

Originally released in the UK in 1984, the duo’s Christmas classic was finally released in the US in 2014 and has charted regularly every December since.

#71: Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas
iTunes stats: 0 plays

The holiday classic, featured in the 1964 Rankin-Bass special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, makes the year end chart for the second consecutive year.

#68: Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Arguably the best-known version of the song, it has now charted in twelve different years since 1958

#60: Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
iTunes stats: 0 plays

The song was first recorded by Lee when she was 13 years old.

#55: Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You
iTunes stats: 0 plays

One of the few modern additions to the holiday canon, it has placed on the year-end chart for five years running.

#32: Taylor Swift – Lavendar Haze
iTunes stats: 4 plays

The second single from Swift’s tenth studio album, it debuted and peaked at #2, giving Swift sole possession of the top ten

#27: Taylor Swift – Karma
iTunes stats: 2 plays

It reached #2 on the Hot 100 and became Swift’s record-tying 10th and 11th number-one singles on the Adult Top 40 and Pop Airplay charts, respectively.

#18: Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer
iTunes stats: 6 plays

Despite being from Swift’s seventh studio album, released in 2019, it was first released as a single in 2023 after going viral in conjunction with the Era’s Tour.  It spent four non-consecutive weeks at #1, becoming her tenth chart-topping single.

#4: Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
iTunes stats: 14 plays

Spending eight weeks at the top of the Hot 100, it helped push Swift past Madonna for the most top ten hits by a female artist.

#2: Miley Cyrus – Flowers
iTunes stats: N/A

The second #1 hit for Cyrus, it spent eight non-consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100.

 

Fifty Years Of Music – 2022

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 have reached our penultimate entry, looking back at the music of my lifetime with 2022, the year I turned 48.  Only seven of the Hot 100 are familiar to me, with five of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#89: Burl Ives – A Holly Jolly Christmas
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Released in 1964, it charted for the first time in 2017 and continues to appear every December.

#86: Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Peaking at #3 in 2022, it was first released in 1957 and charted for the first time in 1958.

#80: Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Originally released in 1958, it reached #2 in late November of 2022.

#76: Taylor Swift – All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)
iTunes stats: 2 plays

The longest #1 song in Hot 100 history, it was her 30th top ten hit, making her just the sixth artist to achieve that feat.

#65: Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Reached the top of the charts for the fourth consecutive year.

#23: Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
iTunes stats: N/A

Originally released in 1985, its use in the fourth season of Stranger Things returned it to the charts where it reached #3, bettering its earlier chart position of #30.

#17: Gayle – ABCDEFU
iTunes stats: N/A

The singer’s major label debut, it peaked at #3 and was nominated for a Grammy.

 

Fifty Years Of Music – 2021

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 2021, the year the world started to recover from the effects of the novel corona virus and I celebrated my 47th birthday.  Only three of these songs are familiar to me today, but all of them appear in my collection in one way or another.

#92: Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Originally released in 1958, peaking at #2 in 2021.

#78: Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You
iTunes stats: 0 plays

Originally released in 1995, it returned to the #1 spot in December for the second consecutive year.

#55: Taylor Swift – Willow
iTunes stats: 4 plays

The lead single from Swift’s ninth studio album, it debuted at #1, giving Swift her seventh chart topper and third #1 debut.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2019

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 2019, the year I celebrated my 45th birthday.  Only four of these songs are familiar to me today, with just half of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#75: Pinkfong – Baby Shark
iTunes stats: N/A

The most-viewed YouTube video of all time, it peaked at #32 on the Hot 100.

#43: Taylor Swift featuring Brendan Urie – Me!
iTunes stats: 8 plays

The lead track from Swift’s seventh studio album, it jumped 98 spots in a single week, from #100 to #2, the largest such rise in Hot 100 history.

#39: Taylor Swift – You Need to Calm Down
iTunes stats: 9 plays

Debuting at, and peaking at, #2, it tied Swift with Madonna for the most #2 hits in Hot 100 history.

#1: Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending 19 weeks at #1, it is the longest run atop the Hot 100 in chart history, surpassing the previous record by three weeks.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2017

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 2017, the year I turned 43.  Only four of these songs are familiar to me today, with just half of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#39: Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The lead single from her sixth studio album, it spent three weeks atop the Hot 100 in September of 2017.

#9: Imagine Dragons – Believer
iTunes stats: 16 plays

The at bat song for former White Sox third baseman Matt Davidson, it was the band’s third top ten single, peaking at #4.

#2: Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – Despacito
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending 16 weeks at #1, it was the first primarily Spanish language song to top the charts since 1996.

#1: Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
iTunes stats: N/A

The final song written for Sheeran’s third album, it debuted at #1 on the Hot 100 for a week and then returned for an eleven-week run after a two week break.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2016

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 2016, the year I celebrated my 42nd birthday.  A mere two of these songs are familiar to me, with just one appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#79: Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreams
iTunes stats: 14 plays

Peaking at #5 in November of 2015, it returned to the charts in 2021 thanks to the re-recorded Taylor’s Version, where it reached #19.

#7: Adele – Hello
iTunes stats: N/A

The last #1 single of 2015 and the first of 2016, it spent ten total weeks atop the Hot 100.

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.