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Scanner MusicFan
Joined: 14 August 2019
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Posted: 20 April 2021 at 8:17am | IP Logged
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With over a year - and counting! - in the Top 10 of the Hot 100, "Blinding Lights" will
likely rank as the biggest Hot 100 hit ever. My question is simple - Why? Its appeal
has been broad - Country is probably the only genre where it hasn't succeeded! But,
what is it about this song that has contributed to its endurance? Is this really the
"greatest" or "biggest" song of the last 60+ years?
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aaronk Admin Group
Joined: 16 January 2005 Location: United States
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6513
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Posted: 20 April 2021 at 9:15am | IP Logged
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Could it possibly have something to do with rule changes on the charts allowing it to stay longer?
While it's not an all-time favorite, it also hasn't burned out for me. I still enjoy it, despite hearing it dozens of times.
__________________ Aaron Kannowski
Uptown Sound
91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop
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LunarLaugh MusicFan
Joined: 13 February 2020 Location: United States
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Posted: 20 April 2021 at 10:32am | IP Logged
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It certainly has grown on me since it first came out. Not
a bad tune and certainly better than a lot of the other
radio hits in recent memory.
I noticed it's been used in several advertisements
recently which, no doubt, will always bring a new audience
to a song. Perhaps that has contributed to its significant
chart longevity.
__________________ Listen to The Lunar Laugh!
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PopArchivist MusicFan
Joined: 30 June 2018 Location: United States
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1524
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Posted: 20 April 2021 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
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It also speaks to the higher quality of work that The Weeknd puts out. The album After Hours as a whole was enjoyable to listen to. His greatest hits that came out recently is a reflection of how good his work has been.
Of the artists of the last decade his work (with Daft Punk) and his catchy hooks and retro sounds on albums is why Blinding Lights is where it is.
The only other artists from this time period whose albums are top notch masterpieces is Bruno Mars. Uptown Funk, Grenade etc are worthy of inclusion and listening.
__________________ "I'm a pop archivist, not a chart philosopher, I seek to listen, observe and document the chart position of music."
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chendagam MusicFan
Joined: 27 August 2006 Location: United States
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Posted: 20 April 2021 at 5:57pm | IP Logged
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It's my 2 and a half year old's favorite song for the past entire
year. He would say yes it is the best song in world :) Yeah I was
wondering the same thing. There are just too many great songs
over the past 60 years I don't know how this could be the best.
And if you look at wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_cha rt_ac
hievements_and_milestones#Top_10_songs_of_all_time_(1958%E2
%80%932018)) how are these in the list?
Most total weeks in the top ten:
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights”
Post Malone "Circles”
Ed Sheeran "Shape of You"
Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B "Girls Like You"
Post Malone and Swae Lee "Sunflower" &nbs p;
LeAnn Rimes "How Do I Live"
The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey "Closer"
Travis Scott "Sicko Mode"
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk"
24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior "Mood"
Although some are good songs are they the greatest?
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Paul Haney MusicFan
Joined: 01 April 2005
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Posted: 21 April 2021 at 3:15am | IP Logged
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Probably the closest thing to a "mass appeal" hit these days. Even several of my friends who aren't that into current
music seem to like it or at least tolerate it.
As for "biggest of all-time" that can't really be quantified in any meaningful way. Comparing Hot 100 achievements
between 1958 and 2021 is impossible with the changing technology over the years.
Edited by Paul Haney on 21 April 2021 at 3:16am
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PopArchivist MusicFan
Joined: 30 June 2018 Location: United States
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Posted: 21 April 2021 at 10:52am | IP Logged
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In today's modern tracking system, Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love go's 42 weeks might have been double that. It was even bigger than Blinding Lights was (and still is)
__________________ "I'm a pop archivist, not a chart philosopher, I seek to listen, observe and document the chart position of music."
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MMathews MusicFan
Joined: 18 August 2005 Location: United States
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Posted: 21 April 2021 at 4:56pm | IP Logged
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I haven't liked much new music in the top 40 for quite some time. But this one is a big exception. I liked it on first listen. Great hook and the music could have come from an early 80s new wave song.
MM
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Scanner MusicFan
Joined: 14 August 2019
Online Status: Offline Posts: 215
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Posted: 22 April 2021 at 6:54am | IP Logged
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MMathews wrote:
I haven't liked much new music in
the top 40 for quite some time. But this one is a big
exception. I liked it on first listen. Great hook and
the music could have come from an early 80s new wave
song.
MM |
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This immediately reminded me of a-ha's "Take On Me."
I was pleasantly surprised when The Weeknd released a
"Greatest Hits" album - something artists are doing
less in the streaming era for many reasons. It is
difficult to gauge how well this album is doing,
though, due to Billboard's flawed album chart
methodology. If I would stream "Blinding Lights" from
his hits album, it won't count toward that album if
"BL" is featured on another album which sold better
that week. Doesn't the technology exist that
Billboard can properly differentiate the source from
which you streamed a song?
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