Billboard’s Top Song for July 9th

Every July 9^th, from 1969 till now.

To compile the following list, I used Billboard’s Archives online. I started out with their “Hot 100” entries, and then switched lists as noted when I felt the different categories more accurately reflected my taste in general.

Having now completed the list, I’m sitting here and wondering if I’ve learned anything. I guess I’m having a “what was my point?” moment. Hey, let’s get to the point of the list with a bullet-pointed list:

·         These top songs were not chosen by me, but by the USA purchasing public who voted with their dollars at a cash register. If you added in Canadian data, I bet that the list would be 99% the same except for some Neil Young, Bryan Adams and Tragically Hip songs.

·         Each song listed was the #1 in its category on July 9^th of that year. One thing that I learned is that most people bought better music on the weeks immediately prior to or following July 9^th, because wow! some of these are clunkers.

·         Popular music has sure changed over the years. You can decide for yourself if that’s good, bad, or inconsequential. I think it’s a lot more difficult now to say which genre a band belongs to – everything “crosses over” now from rock to country to alternative to pop. That’s confusing in some ways but I also like that a band can just make their music as it suits them and they’ve got the freedom to switch around. Today, nobody would bat an eye at Bob Dylan for plugging in his new guitar. Besides, nobody goes looking for an album in a particular section of the music store anymore (Google it, kids) so it doesn’t matter where you file anybody.

·         Society’s standards for what you can or can’t say out loud in public have been trashed. Not that older music was cleaner necessarily, but rock albums in the ‘60s and ‘70s probably weren’t in the hands of 4-year olds either and a cuss word was either “bleeped” out by the radio station, or the band would release a “radio” version that was cleaned up for the public.

·         You know what? I have no point. This was just a fun exercise in pop culture. Enjoy!

1969: In The Year 2525,  Zager & Evans

This song is a loopy look way into our future, stretching all the way out to the year 8510, which is when they figure God will finally come back for Judgment Day. Okay then.

1970: The Love You Save/I Found That Girl, Jackson 5

1971: It's Too Late/I Feel The Earth Move, Carole King

1972: Lean On Me, Bill Withers

Ohhhhhh, Bill Withers!!!!! I knew nothing about this artist till 2018, when I heard “Grandma’s Hands”. What a voice!!! My high school graduation grand march included Club Nouveau’s remake of Lean on Me and it was okay, but the original is so much better.

1973: Will It Go Round In Circles, Billy Preston

Well, it was 1973 so you probably released this on a record, Billy… so yes, it will go round in circles. Unless someone’s playing an 8-track, which does some kind of tape-looping thing which isn’t technically a circle.

1974: Rock The Boat, The Hues Corporation

My dad & I would sing along with this tune every time it came on the radio. Not that it’s a great song, but we’d harmonize and goof around with it and Dad had a great time changing the lyrics on the fly. We’d laugh so hard!!!

1975: Love Will Keep Us Together, Captain & Tennille

1976: Silly Love Songs, Wings

1977: Undercover Angel, Alan O'Day

1978: Shadow Dancing, Andy Gibb

1979: Ring My Bell, Anita Ward

1980: Coming Up (Live At Glasgow), Paul McCartney And Wings

(starting with 1981, Billboard offers “Mainstream Rock” as a category, which is a lot more relevant for me)

1981: The Voice, The Moody Blues

1982: Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor

1983: Every Breath You Take, The Police

Ahhhhhhhh, from the album “Synchronicity”. Not a dud in the bunch. My mom actually bought me this album on cassette right when it came out and it lived in my Walkman, 24-7.

1984: Dancing In The Dark, Bruce Springsteen

1985: If You Love Somebody Set Them Free, Sting

1986: Secret Separation, The Fixx

I guess these guys weren’t just a one-hit-wonder with One Thing Leads to Another. Who knew?

1987: Don't Mean Nothing, Richard Marx

1988: Roll With It, Steve Winwood

(starting in September 1988, Billboard’s Archive offers “Alternative Rock” as a category, which is definitely a relevant refinement)

1989: So Alive, Love And Rockets

My friend Wendy decided she loved this song because it was about a brunette instead of the typical blonde. That’s as good a reason as any, I guess. This was a decent album but I liked their older, quirkier stuff better.

1990: Way Down Now, World Party

1991: Kiss Them For Me, Siouxsie & The Banshees

This song was written as an ode to Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield, who also starred in a movie with Cary Grant that had the same title. Thanks, Wikipedia!

1992: Friday I'm In Love, The Cure

I like The Cure’s music. But some of their song lyrics are the textbook definition of “inane” and this one is their second-worst for me. Their all-time loser? Love Cats. Without doubt.

1993: Pets, Porno For Pyros

“My friend says we're like the dinosaurs, Only we are doing ourselves in, Much faster than they ever did. We'll make great pets!”

1994: Fall Down, Toad The Wet Sprocket
Love the band name? They took it from a throw-away line in a ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ skit.

1995: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me, U2

I have a hard time with U2 and I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because their musical style changes so much and I cannot decide if they’re being ground-breaking artists or cash-lucky chameleons. But then bands like AC/DC or Bon Jovi, whose every album sounds just like their every other album, bug me just as much, so who knows?

1996: Pepper, B******e Surfers

I cannot in good conscience print the band’s name, and they were awful anyway, so you’re missing nothing here. I think they sold well just because kids wanted to leave the album cover laying around and horrify their parents.

1997: Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind 

Sing it!!!  “doo-doo-doo, doop-de-doo-doo!”

1998: Iris, Goo Goo Dolls

This song can still have me in tears in under a minute. Beautiful, heartbreaking piece.

1999: Scar Tissue, Red Hot Chili Peppers

This one topped the charts from June 26-October 15. I guess you’d have to ask an actual fan of the Chilis if it’s their “best” song.

2000: Kryptonite, 3 Doors Down

Yes, if you go crazy, I will still call you Superman. What makes you ask?

2001: It's Been Awhile, Staind

Huh, how ‘bout that? I always thought this song was done by Nickelback.

2002: By The Way, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Again, massive chart dominance from June till September. Just not my thing.

2003: Seven Nation Army, The White Stripes

As good as this is, check out the re-do by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox featuring Haley Reinhart. Sweet!

2004: Slither, Velvet Revolver

I’d like to know if their band name was any kind of homage to Lou Reed.

2005: Best Of You, Foo Fighters

2006: Dani California, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Okay…. I think I’ve cracked the code here. July 9^th is a summer date, and RHCPs must massively appeal to surfers on the beach because “stick to your strengths” and all that. How else are there 3 Chilis songs on this list so far and nothing from Pearl Jam nor Nirvana?

2007: What I've Done, Linkin Park

Knowing anything at all about the life and death of singer Chester Bennington will break your heart.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

2008: Pork And Beans, Weezer 

Their “Buddy Holly” song is better. Well, maybe not… I just liked its video. With the sound on ‘mute’.

2009: New Divide, Linkin Park

(from here on, I don’t think I’ve even heard of the bands, much less listened to their music. But I’m nothing if not thorough so let’s continue…)

2010: Lay Me Down, The Dirty Heads Featuring Rome

2011: You Are A Tourist, Death Cab For Cutie

I give these guys full marks for having an original band name.

2012: Gold On The Ceiling, The Black Keys

2013: Sweater Weather, The Neighbourhood

Bonus points for “irony” in the song title for a summer release in the northern hemisphere.

2014: Fever, The Black Keys

This seems to be a popular band. If the Black Keys one day score a cover or ‘tribute’ band, would that group be called The Sharps & Flats?

2015: Dark Before Dawn, Breaking Benjamin

2016: Bored To Death, Blink-182

I didn’t know these guys were still going.

2017: Feel It Still, Portugal. The Man 

As opposed to “Portugal. The Country”? Would any of us have actually been confused on that? We all kept our heads on straight for Asia, Europe, America & Kansas.

2018: I Feel Like I'm Drowning, Two Feet

Try flapping your two arms, and good luck getting back to the beach. Everybody there is singing Red Hot Chili Pepper songs at the bonfire.

2019: Hey, I don’t know. I researched all the others at https://www.billboard.com/archive/charts, not with a crystal ball.

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