Post Malone’s ‘Circles’ Scores Historic 10th Week at No. 1 on Pop Songs Chart
Key to its longevity? Its "non-fatiguing hook" and "relatable lyrics," one programmer says.
Post Malone‘s “Circles” spends a 10th week at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Pop Songs radio airplay chart (dated Feb. 22), marking a milestone in the ranking’s history.
The song is the first by a solo male and no accompanying acts to have logged as many as 10 weeks at No. 1 on Pop Songs, dating to the chart’s 1992 inception. It passes two such hits that each reigned for nine weeks: Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape of You,” in 2017, and Seal‘s “Kiss From a Rose,” in 1995.
Overall, just six songs have spent more time at the summit than “Circles,” with one of those by a solo male and a guest: Nelly‘s “Over and Over,” featuring Tim McGraw, ruled for 11 weeks in 2004-05.
Among all titles, Ace of Base‘s “The Sign” is the chart’s longest-leading No. 1: 14 weeks in 1994.
“For me, the staying power of ‘Circles’ is due to a combination of an absolutely addicting, fun, emotional, and at the same time, non-fatiguing hook, combined with relatable lyrics,” says R Dub, director of programming at XHTZ (Z90) San Diego. “Who can’t relate to going in circles in so many aspects of life? Young, old, rich, poor, black, white … we’re all going through it.
“It’s a song I still turn up and vibe to every time it comes on, like it’s only my third or fourth listen,” he muses. “I can’t get enough of it, and I’m thinking I’m not alone.”
Here’s an updated look at the songs to spend the most time at No. 1 on the Pop Songs chart, which ranks songs by weekly plays on a panel of 169 mainstream top 40-formatted radio stations, as monitored by Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Only 14 No. 1s of 377 total in the chart’s history, or 4%, have ruled for at least 10 weeks.
Longest-leading Pop Songs No. 1s
Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist, Year(s)
14, “The Sign,” Ace of Base, 1994
11, “Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, 2016
11, “Over and Over,” Nelly feat. Tim McGraw, 2004-05
11, “Torn,” Natalie Imbruglia, 1998
11, “I Love You Always Forever,” Donna Lewis, 1996
11, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, 1995-96
10, “Circles,” Post Malone, 2019-20
10, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
10, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, 2005
10, “How You Remind Me,” Nickelback, 2001-02
10, “Bye Bye Bye,” *NSYNC, 2000
10, “My Heart Will Go On,” Celine Dion, 1998
10, “Don’t Speak,” No Doubt, 1996-97
10, “I Know,” Dionne Farris, 1995
Also notable, “Circles” has made three separate ascents to No. 1 on Pop Songs. It first led for two weeks beginning on the chart dated Nov. 16, 2019; stepped aside as Lizzo‘s “Good as Hell” led for four frames; returned to the top for six straight weeks starting Dec. 28; dipped for a week as Maroon 5‘s “Memories” led; and has since added two more weeks at No. 1, on the charts dated Feb. 15 and 22.
Thus, “Circles” rewrites the record for the longest span at No. 1: 15 weeks, from its first week in charge through its latest, surpassing the 14 weeks at No. 1, all logged consecutively, by Ace of Base’s “The Sign.”
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(Two other tracks have led Pop Songs in three interrupted runs each: Between November 1994 and February 1995, Real McCoy’s “Another Night” and Boyz II Men’s “On Bended Knee” each did so, trading the top spot as the latter led for six total weeks and the latter, for seven. In 2017, “Another Night” was named the chart’s all-time top title.)
“Circles” was released, on Republic Records, from Post Malone’s album Hollywood’s Bleeding, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 dated Sept. 21, 2019. The set has spent five weeks at No. 1 and logged all 23 of its weeks on the chart so far in the top 10.
The track has topped the all-genre, streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, between charts dated Nov. 30 and Jan. 11. Since its arrival at No. 7 on the Sept. 7-dated Hot 100, it has likewise spent all 23 of its weeks on the ranking in the top 10.
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