Week Ending March 18, 2012. Songs: Your ’80s Party Mix-Tape

Survivor's

1982 smash "Eye Of The Tiger" tops the 3 million mark in digital sales this week. Of the thousands of songs that were released in the 1980s, only one has sold more digital copies: Journey's 1981 hit "Don't Stop Believin,'" which has sold 5,068,000 copies. Michael Jackson's 1984 hit "Thriller" is in third place. It has sold 2,997,000 copies.

All three of these songs were top 10 hits back in the '80s, but only "Eye Of The Tiger" reached #1. The propulsive pop/rock smash topped the Hot 100 for six weeks in the summer of 1982. In August of that year, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Assn. of America, signifying sales of 2 million vinyl copies. Thus, the song has been a multi-million seller in both physical and digital configurations.

The song was featured in Rocky III, which was the fourth highest-grossing movie of 1982.

Two other hits from the 1980s are included on Nielsen SoundScan's running list of the 200 best-selling songs in digital history: Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" (2,705,000) and Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O Mine" (2,609,000). Both were #1 hits. If you're planning an 1980s party, these five songs belong on your mix tape.

"We Are Young" by fun. featuring Janelle Monae tops the Hot 100 for the third straight week. This is also the third straight week in which the song's digital sales top 300K. "We Are Young" is the first song to top 300K in weekly sales three times since "E.T." by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West last spring. That spacey smash had four weeks with sales north of 300K.

"We Are Young" and Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" this week become the first songs to sell 2 million copies in 2012. This marks the first time in digital history that two songs have topped the 2 million mark this early in the year. In 2009, Flo Rida's "Right Round" topped the 2 million mark in the week ending March 15, but it was the only song to achieve the feat that week.

Wanna know more? The first song to sell 2 million copies last year was Cee Lo Green's "F**k You (Forget You)," which crossed the threshold in the week ending March 27. The first to do it in 2010 was Train's "Hey, Soul Sister," which scored in the week ending April 4. The first song to sell 2 million copies in 2008 was "Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain, which achieved the feat in the week ending April 13. The first to do it in 2007 was Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend," which hit the 2 million mark in the week ending July 29.

(No song sold 2 million copies in a calendar year prior to 2007. Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" topped the 2 million mark in cumulative sales the week ending Dec. 31, 2006, but it wouldn't have done it without sales from 2005.)

"Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra holds at #5 for the second week. The intriguing song, which echoes Sting, also logs its fifth week at #1 in the U.K. It's the longest-running #1 hit in the U.K. since "We Found Love" by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris spent six weeks on top last fall.

Flo Rida

lands his seventh top 10 hit as "Wild Ones," featuring Sia, jumps from #12 to #9 in its 11th week. KC and the Sunshine Band, which also hailed from Florida and also specialized in up-tempo, radio-ready smashes, amassed six top 10 hits from 1975 to 1979. (K.C. had a seventh top 10 in 1980 as a featured artist on Teri DeSario's remake of "Yes, I'm Ready.")

Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 songs.

1. fun. featuring Janelle Monae, "We Are Young." The song holds at #1 for the third week in its 13th week on the chart. This is its sixth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #1 (349K).

2. Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)." The former #1 song holds at #2 for the third week in its 13th week on the chart. This is its ninth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #5 (162K).

3. The Wanted, "Glad You Came." The song jumps from #4 to #3 in its 10th week on the chart. This is its fourth week in the top 10. The song was #1 in the U.K. for two weeks in July. Digital sales rank: #2 (183K).

4. Adele, "Set Fire To The Rain." The former #1 song dips from #3 to #4 in its 29th week on the chart. This is its 13th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #13 (95K).

5. Gotye featuring Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used To Know." The song holds at #5 for the second week in its 11th week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. The song is #1 in the U.K. for the fifth week, the longest run so far this year. Digital sales rank: #4 (166K).

6. Nicki Minaj, "Starships." The song jumps rebounds from #9 to #6 in its fifth week on the chart. This matches its highest ranking to date. It has been in the top 10 the entire time. Digital sales rank: #3 (172K).

7. David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, "Turn Me On." The song dips from #6 to #7 in its 16th week on the chart. This is its ninth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #17 (74K).

8. Drake featuring Rihanna, "Take Care." The song dips from #7 to #8 in its 18th week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #15 (83K).

9. Flo Rida featuring Sia, "Wild Ones." The song jumps from #12 to #9 in its 11th week on the chart. It's Flo Rida's seventh top 10 hit; Sia's first. Digital sales rank: #6 (158K).

10. Katy Perry, "Part Of Me." The former #1 song holds at #10 for the second week in its fifth week on the chart. It has been in the top 10 the entire time. Digital sales rank: #10 (114K).

"Young, Wild & Free" by Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars drops from #8 to #11, ending a six-week run in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #12 (100K).

"Ass Back Home" by Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch jumps from #16 to #13 in its 14th week. It has climbed as high as #12… Train's "Drive By" jumps from #21 to #15 in its 10th week. It's vying to become the group's third top 10 hit. Digital sales rank: #8 (125K)…Calvin Harris' "Feel So Close" jumps from #22 to #18 in its sixth week.

One Direction's

"What Makes You Beautiful" jumps from #33 to #19 in its fifth week. Digital sales rank: #7 (135K). The song topped the U.K. chart in September. A second song by One Direction, "One Thing," bows at #90. The boy band enters The Billboard 200 at #1 this week with its debut album, Up All Night. You already know that if you read Chart Watch: Albums. If you missed it, here's a link.

Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" jumps from #24 to #23 in its fourth week. Digital sales rank: #9 (123K)...Carrie Underwood's "Good Girl" jumps from #37 to #30 in its fourth week. The song has climbed as high as #18…Rihanna has two songs moving up this week's top 40. "Talk That Talk" (featuring Jay-Z) jumps from #36 to #32 in its 12th week. The song has climbed as high as #31. "Birthday Cake" (featuring Chris Brown) jumps from #49 to #39 in its fourth week.

Lee Brice's "A Woman Like You" jumps from #46 to #38 in its 13th week…Taylor Swift's "Ours" drops from #39 to #41 in its 19th week. The song has climbed as high as #13. The song jumps to #1 on Hot Country Songs. It's Swift's sixth #1 country hit...Usher's "Climax" jumps from #58 to #45 in its fourth week…B.o.B's "So Good" jumps from #55 to #47 in its fourth week. Ryan Tedder co-wrote and co-produced the song, which has climbed as high as #11.

Beyonce's "Love On Top" holds at #48 in its 18th week. The song has climbed as high as #20. The song holds at #1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the fourth week...Adele's "Rumour Has It" rebounds from #57 to #50 in its 14th week. The busy Ryan Tedder produced and co-wrote the song, which reached #39 two weeks ago before falling last week. We may need a few more weeks to know for sure what this song's peak position is going to be. Adele's three previous singles all reached #1. In any event, the song tops the 1 million mark in digital sales this week…Eric Church's "Springsteen" jumps from #67 to #53 in its third week.

Karmin's

"Brokenhearted" vaults from #84 to #60 in its second week…Rascal Flatts has two songs streaking up the chart. "Banjo" jumps from #73 to #62 in its fifth week. "Changed" is the week's top new entry at #73. The latter song is the title track from the group's eighth studio album, which is due April 3…"Up!" by LoveRance featuring IamSu & Skipper or 50 Cent jumps from #79 to #64 in its third week.

Luke Bryan's "Drunk On You" vaults from #99 to #69 in its third week on the chart. That's the biggest numerical jump on this week's chart…Neon Trees' "Everybody Talks" bows at #74. The song is from the group's second studio album, Picture Show, which is due April 17. This is the group's first Hot 100 hit since "Animal" hit #13 in 2010. As every schoolchild knows, Neon Trees was the second "neon" group to land a top 20 hit. The Neon Philharmonic was the first, with 1969's "Morning Girl."

It's unusual for a song to reach a new peak in its 20th week on the chart, but that's what happens to Florence + the Machine's "Shake It Out," which leaps from #94 to #72 this week. The song's previous high mark was #73…"Magic" by Future featuring T.I. jumps from #91 to #79 in its second week….LMFAO's "Sorry For Party Rocking" could have been titled "Sorry For Streak Breaking." The song slips from #63 to #80 in its eighth week, three weeks after peaking at #49. The duo's two previous singles, "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy And I Know It," both reached #1.

Two country hits top the 4 million mark in digital sales this week, doubling the number of country 4 million-sellers. The Band Perry's "If I Die Young" and Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" cross the threshold this week, joining Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" (5,712,000) and Swift's "Love Story" (5,275,000). Note that The Band Perry is only the second group or duo in country music history to land a 4-million-seller, and that Swift is the only artist in country music history to hit that level twice.

"If I Die Young" joins a long line of country hits that touched a universal chord and instantly became significant "career records" for the artist. Others include Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance," Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," Rascal Flatts' "Bless The Broken Road" and Miranda Lambert's "The House That Built Me."

Beyonce's 2009 hit "Halo" tops the 3 million mark in digital sales this week. It's B's third song to reach this plateau, following "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" (4,843,000) and "Irreplaceable" (3,076,000). Unlike these other two songs, "Halo" didn't reach #1 on the Hot 100. It peaked at #5.