Close your eyes and you'd swear it was 1987. Madonna has the top new entry on this week's Hot 100 with "Give Me All Your Luvin," which she performed at the Super Bowl with Nicki Minaj and the irrepressible M.I.A. And five Michael Jackson songs enter the Hot 100, albeit in their Glee cover versions from last week's MJ salute. The highest-ranking is "Smooth Criminal," which pops on at #26.
"Give Me All Your Luvin'" sold 115K copies, which allows it to enter Hot Digital Songs at #7. That's not bad considering it had just three days to amass sales. But it's not great either, given that about 1,000 times that many people watched Madonna perform the song at the Super Bowl. In truth, we may need a few weeks to see if this is going to make it in a big way or not.
The young-sounding (you might even say bubblegummy) song is Madonna's 44th top 20 hit. She first cracked the top 20 with "Holiday" in January 1984. Of these 44 big hits, only two have been collabos, this song and "4 Minutes," her 2008 smash with Justin Timberlake.
"Give Me All Your Luvin'" marks Madonna's 56th appearance on the Hot 100. Only one female solo artist, Aretha Franklin, has amassed more Hot 100 hits (73). Two female solo artists match Madonna's total of 56: Connie Francis and Dionne Warwick. (Francis' total includes three songs that made Billboard's Top 100 Sides chart in the period prior to the introduction of the Hot 100 in August 1958.)
This is the first single from Madonna's 12th studio album, MDNA, which is due March 26. Madonna's last four studio albums, Music, American Life, Confessions On A Dance Floor and Hard Candy, have all debuted at #1. Will this one follow suit? Stay tuned.
Madonna and MJ never collaborated (that wasn't done much in those days), though they did go on one very high-profile "date." They went to the Oscars together on March 25, 1991, the year Madonna sang the nominated "Sooner Or Later (I Always Get My Man)," which won for Best Song. Now, back to the countdown.
The Glee version of "Smooth Criminal" (featuring 2Cellos) sold 108K copies this week, which enables it to enter Hot Digital Songs at #10. It's the third rendition of this song to crack the top 30 on the Hot 100. Jackson's original version reached #7 in 1989. Alien Ant Farm's alternative-minded cover version hit #21 in 2001.
Four other Glee versions of MJ songs enter the Hot 100: "Human Nature" bows at #56, followed by "Black Or White" at #64, "Wanna Be Startin' Something" at #78 and "Bad" at #80. This is the third time that "Human Nature" has been a hit. Jackson's original reached #7 in 1983. SWV's "Right Here/Human Nature" reached #2 in 1993. This is also the third time (sort of) that "Bad" has been a hit. Jackson's original hit #1 in 1987. "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody version, "Fat," reached #99 in 1988.
Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" jumps to #1 in its seventh week. It's Clarkson's third #1 hit, following her schmaltzy American Idol coronation song "A Moment Like This" and her 2009 hit "My Life Would Suck Without You." The latter song was fizzy and fun, but it was very much in the mold of Clarkson's 2005 smash "Since U Been Gone." Clarkson's current hit is a solid, gimmick-free pop/rock record.
Clarkson's song sold 237K copies this week, which is the biggest sales total that any song has rung up in the first five chart weeks of 2012.
Clarkson sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl on the last day of the tracking week. This is the third time that a song that was in the top 15 on the Hot 100 when the artist had that high-profile assignment later rose to #1. It previously happened with Whitney Houston's "All The Man That I Need" in 1991 (#8 at the time of the Super Bowl; #1 three weeks later) and Cher's "Believe" in 1999 (#13 at the time of the Super Bowl; #1 five weeks later). Would these songs have reached #1 anyway without this little boost? We'll never know, will we?
"Turn Me On" by David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj holds at #5 for the second week. The song also tops the 1 million mark in digital sales this week. Guetta is #1 in the U.K. this week, but with a different song. "Titanium" (featuring Sia) becomes his fifth British #1. He's still waiting for his first in the U.S.
"Young, Wild & Free" by Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars jumps from #12 to #8, its highest ranking to date. This is its third separate stint in the top 10. It seems to me that this mellow tune is a perfect summer record that is scaling the top 10 in February. What's up with that? And would it have been an even bigger hit if it had peaked in August? Discuss among yourselves.
What's the only duo in music business history to sell 4 million copies of back-to-back songs? The Everly Brothers? Carpenters? Daryl Hall & John Oates? Those are all excellent guesses, but the answer is LMFAO. The party-all-the-time-pair's recent #1 hit "Sexy And I Know It" tops the 4 million mark in digital sales this week. Its previous smash, "Party Rock Anthem," has sold 5,997,000 copies.
Songs didn't reach gigantic numbers like this back in the Dark Ages when you had to go to a store and buy a vinyl single. But here are four other cases of back-to-back hits by duos in which both songs were monster hits. The Everly Brothers scored with "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie" in 1957, Carpenters with "(They Long To Be) Close To You" and "We've Only Just Begun" in 1970, Daryl Hall & John Oates with "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" in 1981-1982 and Wham! with "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Careless Whisper" in 1984-1985.
Two weeks ago, "Sexy And I Know It" topped "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland as the best-selling song in digital history with the word "sexy" in its title. "Sexyback" has sold 3,838,000 copies. "Sexy Chick" by David Guetta featuring Usher is in third place. It has sold 3,252,000 copies.
Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 songs.
1. Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)." The song jumps from #2 to #1 in its seventh week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #1 (237K).
2. Adele, "Set Fire To The Rain." The former #1 song dips to #2 its 23rd week on the chart. This is its seventh week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #2 (165K).
3. Flo Rida, "Good Feeling." The song rebounds from #4 to #3 in its 19th week on the chart. This is its 14th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #3 (148K).
4. Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris, "We Found Love." The former #1 song dips from #3 to #4 in its 20th week on the chart. This is its 19th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #12 (92K).
5. David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, "Turn Me On." The song holds at #5 in its 10th week on the chart. This is its fourth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #3 (148K).
6. Jessie J, "Domino." The song jumps from #8 to #6 in its 17th week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #11 (107K).
7. Tyga, "Rack City." The song jumps from #10 to #7 in its 11th week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #4 (139K).
8. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars, "Young, Wild & Free." The song jumps from #12 to #8 in its 17th week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #5 (127K).
9. LMFAO, "Sexy And I Know It." The former #1 song drops from #7 to #9 in its 23rd week on the chart. This is its 20th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #9 (112K).
10. Bruno Mars, "It Will Rain." The song drops from #6 to #10 in its 19th week on the chart. This is its 13th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #21 (69K).
Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away" drops from #9 to #14. It climbed as high as #3.
"Ass Back Home" by Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch jumps from #19 to #12 in its eighth week. Digital sales rank: #8 (113K).
Drake has three songs in the top 30 for the second straight week. "The Motto" (featuring Lil Wayne) holds at #16 in its 12th week, "Take Care" (featuring Rihanna) jumps from #26 to #23 in its 12th week and "Make Me Proud" (featuring Nicki Minaj) jumps from #30 to #26 in its 17th week. The latter song is #1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the third straight week. Both "Take Care" and "Make Me Proud" have already cracked the top 10, but are rebounding based on building airplay. I really like "Take Care," a subtle and dramatic record.
"Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra jumps from #31 to #27 in its fifth week...The Wanted's "Glad You Came" jumps from #40 to #30 in its fourth week. Will the song follow Jessie J's "Domino" (which was also a U.K. #1) into the top 10? Stay tuned…The Band Perry's "All Your Life" jumps from #41 to #37 in its 22nd week. The song also jumps to #1 on Hot Country Songs. It's the band's second #1, following the instant classic "If I Die Young"...Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" jumps from #51 to #38 (its highest ranking to date) in its 16th week.
"We Are Young" by Fun. featuring Janelle Monae jumps from #63 to #41 (its highest ranking to date) in its seventh week…Train's "Drive By" jumps from #65 to #55 (its highest ranking to date) in its fourth week…"Mirror" by Lil Wayne featuring Bruno Mars re-enters at #57. The song has already reached #16, which made it the fifth top 30 hit from Tha Carter IV…"Talk That Talk" by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z jumps from #77 to #65 in its sixth week. The song has already climbed as high as #31.
Miranda Lambert's "Over You" leaps from #87 to #66 in its third week. Lambert co-wrote the song with her husband, Blake Shelton (who has a hit of his own. "Drink On It" jumps from #81 to #73 in its second week)… "Wild Ones" by Flo Rida featuring Sia jumps from #100 to #77 in its fifth week. The song has already climbed as high as #57…LMFAO's "Sorry For Party Rocking" jumps from #92 to #79 in its second week.
"Ni**as In Paris" by Jay-Z/Kanye West tops the 2 million mark in digital sales this week.
Al Green's 1972 classic "Let's Stay Together" this week tops the 1 million mark in digital sales. The song was certified by the RIAA for sales of 1 million vinyl singles in January 1972. The song has sold 48K digital copies in the last three weeks, since President Obama sang a line of the song at an event at the Apollo Theater. (See, he is boosting the economy.)
Topping the 1 million mark this week: "Strange Cloud" by B.o.B featuring Lil Wayne.
Photo: John Shearer/WireImageShameless Grammy Plug I: When LL Cool J hits the Grammy stage on Feb. 12, it will mark the first time the Grammys have had a host since Queen Latifah hosted the show in 2005. I wrote a blog for the "And The Winner Is" folder about the 10 men and four women who have hosted the live Grammy telecast since it originated in 1971. They include a 16-time Grammy winner (Paul Simon), a superstar who won a Grammy on the same night that he hosted (Kenny Rogers), an artist who won his first Grammy only after his death (John Denver) and four future Oscar hosts (Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Ellen DeGeneres and Jon Stewart). If you missed it, here's a link.
Shameless Grammy Plug II: Think you're a Grammy expert? Care to put your knowledge to the test? I posted a quiz for you to see how much you know about Grammy lore. It's 20 quick questions, all multiple choice. If you missed it, here's a link.
Enjoy the Grammys, everybody.
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