Congratulations go out this week to US rapper Lil' Nas X, as his country rap crossover hit, "Old Town Road", spends an unprecedented 17th week at Number 1 on the US Hot 100 Singles Chart.
It becomes the first track EVER to spend as long as 17 weeks at Number 1, overtaking the previous joint record holders of Mariah Carey/Boyz II Men with "One Sweet Day" and Luis Fonsi/Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber with "Despacito" which both spent 16 weeks at the top.
Since the introduction of the Hot 100 in August 1958, the first track to spend 10 weeks at Number 1 was "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone (daughter of Pat), which was at the top from 15th October - 17th December 1977.
Three tracks had previously clocked up 9 weeks at the top - Bobby Darin with "Mack The Knife" (1959), Percy Faith with "Theme From A Summer Place" (1960) & The Beatles with "Hey Jude" (1968).
In 1981, Olivia Newton-John also hit 10 weeks at the top when "Physical" hit Number 1 from 21st November 1981 - 23rd January 1982.
In the 1990's, the record would be broken three times. In 1992 "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men hit the top spot on 15th August, and would stay there until it was knocked off on the 14th November by One Hit Wonder the Heights with "How Do You Talk To And Angel" - a total of 13 weeks. However, just three months later, even their total was broken, as "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston hit a new record of 14 weeks at the top (28th November 1992 - 27th February 1993).
Boyz II Men (again) would equal that total at the end of 1994, when "I'll Make Love To You" would also spend 14 weeks on top of the chart (27th August - 26th November 1994).
Then, in early 1996, the record which had stood until today was first set. On the chart of 2nd December 1995, the collaboration between Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (yes, them again!) entitled "One Sweet Day", debuted at Number 1, and would not be usurped until Celine Dion's "Because You Love Me" took over on 23rd March 1996 - a new record of 16 weeks.
This total would not be equalled for more than 21 years, until Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber collaborated on "Despacito" which also made it to 16 weeks at Number 1 (27th May - 9th September 2017).
That brings us back to today and new record holder, "Old Town Road".
After taking over top spot from Ariana Grande's "7 Rings" on 13th April, it has seen off 7 different challengers which have been unable to dislodge the track.
Here are the tracks which have been at Number 2 in the chart behind "Old Town Road".
13th April (2 weeks) - Post Malone & Swae Lee - Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse) (the only one of the 7 that has actually been Number 1 - spending a single week at the top on 15th January)
27rd April (2 weeks) - Post Malone - Wow.
11th May (1 week) - Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie - ME!
18th May (1 week) - Shawn Mendes - If I Can't Have You
25th May (2 weeks) - Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber - I Don't Care
8th June (3 weeks) - Billie Eilish - Bad Guy
28th June (1 week) - Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down
6nd July (1 week) - Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello - Senorita
913h July (4 weeks) - Billie Eilish - Bad Guy
Spare a thought for Billie Eilish who has now spent a total of seven weeks in the runner-up spot.
So well done once again to Lil' Nas X - here he is with the legend that is Miley's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, and "Old Town Road".
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