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Let me put it this way: if you had told me that a retro/throwback Stylistics-style performance would literally top the charts and be certified platinum right now - not just in sound but even in aesthetic - I would have said, no way. It just doesn't fit with the current trends; if anything, the retro touchstone right now might be the 80s, maybe 90s, and that's more on the Indie side of things. If you had told me it would be a Bruno and Paak collaboration, I might've said, "That's interesting and it will probably get a lot of attention, but I can't imagine it being a chart-topping hit." In March, when it entered the top 10 of the hot 100, these were its peers:
Drake - What's Next Drake feat Lil Baby - Wants and Needs Drake fet Rick Ross - Lemon Pepper Freestyle (Leave the Door Open) Olivia Rodrigo - Drivers License Cardi B - Up Weeknd/Ariana Grande - Save Your Tears Weeknd - Blinding Lights Ariana Grande - 34+35 24kGoldn - Mood
One of these things is absolutely nothing like the others, lol... not just in that top 10 but in the whole 100 from that time (and through til today, when it's *still* holding strong.
But this wasn't just a hit, it was a mega hit that gained mass popularity -- absolutely everywhere. It spent 18 weeks in the top 10. There's a good chance its chart performance will rival Bruno's biggest hits; it's definitely Paak's highest charting performance (he hadn't had a #1 before). It has now been in the hot 100 for 30 weeks; only a handful of other songs right now have been on the chart for longer. It's literally been satirized on late night tv, lol.
For reference, peak US chart positions from wiki:
US Billboard Hot 100 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 6 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 7 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard) 32 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 1 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 5 US Rhythmic (Billboard) 1 US Rolling Stone Top 100 3
Even if they were optimistic and thought it would be a hit, would they have predicted *this* level of hit with *this* style of music in *this* climate? Even if you take into account Bruno Mars's superstar status and Paak's very large fanbase and critical appeal, you'd have to be crazy optimistic to think it was going to be literally everywhere. Or at least, that's my take -- one really really big star and another very big star collaborating doesn't guarantee ubiquity.
-thebigfunk
~ i could still snort you under the table ~
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