A Look at Michael Jackson’s New Album Performance on the Charts, and the Latest Surprise: “Billie Jean”
One week after Love Never Felt So Good climbed from No. 22 to No. 9 and achieved a historic milestone by landing in the top ten of the Billboard 100 for the first time in six decades, the records for Michael Jackson are still rolling on.
“Billie Jean,” the 1983 hit, has returned to the upper ranks of the Billboard charts. After 30 years and a 24-week run on the chart, the song reached No. 14 on the Billboard 100. Also, Slave To The Rhythm from the new album marked Michael’s 50th entry on the Billboard 100. The return of “Billie Jean” to the charts came in the wake of the astonishing success of a viral video featuring a high school student performing the song.
Maybe this California teenager, Nicholas, couldn’t have imagined that earlier this week—when he was dancing to a Michael Jackson song during a high school talent contest on a basketball court—he would become famous overnight and even receive a gift from the legendary foundation that had provided the song for his performance.
Nicholas: "People still miss him. Young people understand the value of his work."
Not only did 17-year-old Nicholas win the contest, but his performance video on YouTube has also garnered more than 8 million views. After that, the Michael Jackson Foundation sent him—and all members of his family—two versions of the new album, the King’s, and tickets to attend one of Michael Jackson One’s shows in Las Vegas. The number of views of his video, which has been spreading online like a virus, has now surpassed 15 million.
Because of this video, “Billie Jean” landed at No. 2 on the weekly Hot Streaming Songs chart (with 11.2 million radio, online, and more plays—an increase of 320%) in the week ending May 25.
“Billie Jean,” one of the most famous songs of the King of Pop, released on the Thriller album—the best-selling album in history—spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 100 during 1983, out of its total 24-week chart run. Among the 13 Michael Jackson No. 1 singles—making him the most frequent No. 1 artist among men—“Billie Jean” and “Black or White” (1991) have delivered the longest-running No. 1 reigns for the King of Pop.
Now, “Billie Jean” is also holding a strong position on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, where it is at No. 6. In 1983, “Billie Jean” was No. 1 on this chart for nine weeks. At the time, Michael had beaten his own record, because the previous record belonged to his song “Rock With You,” which had spent six weeks at the top.
Meanwhile, with the entry of “Slave To The Rhythm” from the new album onto the Billboard 100, Michael’s 50th appearance on the chart was confirmed. The song debuted at No. 45, but on the weekly Hot Streaming Songs chart, with 3.9 million radio and online plays, it holds No. 11—showing a 345% jump. Fifty-six percent of the song’s chart success is owed to Michael’s virtual performance at this year’s Billboard Awards and the official video being released on Vevo on YouTube. The song has also climbed on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart from No. 38 to No. 12. “Chicago,” another track from the new Xscape album, has entered the chart at No. 50.
The Xscape album itself, which was at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the week ending May 25, has fallen to No. 3 this week. The album also moved from No. 1 to No. 2 in the UK this week. Two-week sales of the album in the United States are 224,000 copies.
Love Never Felt So Good has dropped on the Billboard 100 from No. 9 to No. 16.
Source: eMJey.com / Billboard
One week after Love Never Felt So Good climbed from No. 22 to No. 9 and achieved a historic milestone by landing in the top ten of the Billboard 100 for the first time in six decades, the records for Michael Jackson are still rolling on.
“Billie Jean,” the 1983 hit, has returned to the upper ranks of the Billboard charts. After 30 years and a 24-week run on the chart, the song reached No. 14 on the Billboard 100. Also, Slave To The Rhythm from the new album marked Michael’s 50th entry on the Billboard 100. The return of “Billie Jean” to the charts came in the wake of the astonishing success of a viral video featuring a high school student performing the song.
Maybe this California teenager, Nicholas, couldn’t have imagined that earlier this week—when he was dancing to a Michael Jackson song during a high school talent contest on a basketball court—he would become famous overnight and even receive a gift from the legendary foundation that had provided the song for his performance.
Nicholas: "People still miss him. Young people understand the value of his work."
Not only did 17-year-old Nicholas win the contest, but his performance video on YouTube has also garnered more than 8 million views. After that, the Michael Jackson Foundation sent him—and all members of his family—two versions of the new album, the King’s, and tickets to attend one of Michael Jackson One’s shows in Las Vegas. The number of views of his video, which has been spreading online like a virus, has now surpassed 15 million.
Because of this video, “Billie Jean” landed at No. 2 on the weekly Hot Streaming Songs chart (with 11.2 million radio, online, and more plays—an increase of 320%) in the week ending May 25.
“Billie Jean,” one of the most famous songs of the King of Pop, released on the Thriller album—the best-selling album in history—spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 100 during 1983, out of its total 24-week chart run. Among the 13 Michael Jackson No. 1 singles—making him the most frequent No. 1 artist among men—“Billie Jean” and “Black or White” (1991) have delivered the longest-running No. 1 reigns for the King of Pop.
Now, “Billie Jean” is also holding a strong position on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, where it is at No. 6. In 1983, “Billie Jean” was No. 1 on this chart for nine weeks. At the time, Michael had beaten his own record, because the previous record belonged to his song “Rock With You,” which had spent six weeks at the top.
Meanwhile, with the entry of “Slave To The Rhythm” from the new album onto the Billboard 100, Michael’s 50th appearance on the chart was confirmed. The song debuted at No. 45, but on the weekly Hot Streaming Songs chart, with 3.9 million radio and online plays, it holds No. 11—showing a 345% jump. Fifty-six percent of the song’s chart success is owed to Michael’s virtual performance at this year’s Billboard Awards and the official video being released on Vevo on YouTube. The song has also climbed on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart from No. 38 to No. 12. “Chicago,” another track from the new Xscape album, has entered the chart at No. 50.
The Xscape album itself, which was at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the week ending May 25, has fallen to No. 3 this week. The album also moved from No. 1 to No. 2 in the UK this week. Two-week sales of the album in the United States are 224,000 copies.
Love Never Felt So Good has dropped on the Billboard 100 from No. 9 to No. 16.
Source: eMJey.com / Billboard