PT Entertainment
BTS are one of the biggest boy bands working right now. In fact, they’re one of the biggest boy bands in the entire history of recorded music. And yet, a number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 has eluded them.
They’re currently close to the mark. The new BTS single “ON” is currently in the third position on the Billboard Hot 100. Here are the three songs and four artists keeping them from the number-one spot.
3. ‘Circles’ – Post Malone
Post Malone might be a rapper, but he’s more than willing to make pop music. “Circles” is his biggest pop song to date. When rappers make full-on pop singles, they’re often accused of selling out. Good examples of this phenomenon are the way some fans decried Lil Wayne and T.I. for their respective smash hits “Lollipop” and “Whatever You Like.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXhTHyIgQ_U?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
Malone has garnered some fan backlash for making “Circles,” which feels more like a song from an indie-pop group like Purity Ring or Chvrches than a modern trap or rap artist. However, many fans appreciate his change of pace. We can only wait and see if Malone’s transition into pop music is permanent or merely an artistic detour on his part. It’d be interesting to see if Malone can continue to outsell “ON” by BTS, another song from the world of pop-rap.
2. ‘Life Is Good’ – Future featuring Drake
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0U7SxXHkPY?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
When Future and Drake work together, it’s often a commercially and artistically potent combination. Drake also has a handful of great, memorable music videos under his belt. “Life Is Good” is a great Future/Drake song with a great video, so it’s no wonder it’s at the second position on the Billboard Hot 100 right now.
As a song, “Life Is Good” has all of the mellow trap beats music fans have been craving for the past few years. As a video, it has all of the everyman energy Drake brings to many of his best work. The combination worked, and many casual fans became interested in the song only because of the buzz the video received.
Some artists feel like demigods. Drake has always portrayed himself as a regular guy who was lucky enough to get rich and famous. The video for “Life Is Good” is no exception. The video sees Drake and Future working a number of jobs. One minute, they’re mechanics, one minute they’re janitors, the next minute, they’re working at McDonald’s. The video also has a couple of skits thrown in, showing Drake still has his trademarked humor.
1. ‘The Box’ – Roddy Rich
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNZqm3dxd2w?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
Every year, an unknown artist or two unexpectedly takes over the charts. 2011 was the year of Adele. 2019 was the year of Lizzo and Lil Nas X. 2020 is the year of Roddy Rich.
Rich’s single “The Box” manages to have all the dark, grittiness of trap music with a great melody. This track was so great, it allowed a newcomer to keep Justin Bieber off the top of the charts. So far, Rich has kept “ON” BTS from claiming the number-one spot as well. We’ll see how long that lasts.
Also see: BTS: How Barack Obama Inspired One of the Band’s Major Hits
Written by: CheatSheet
