"What does Roddy Ricch's "The Box" have in common with past smashes by Frankie Avalon, KC and The Sunshine Band and Michael Bolton? In what makes for an eclectic sonic grouping, the track joins the tradition of hits that became the first new No. 1 of a decade in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. (As previously reported, "The Box" tops the tally dated Jan. 18, 2020.)
Since the Hot 100 launched on Aug. 4, 1958, seven songs stand as the last to ascend to No. 1 at the end of a decade, and seven others have staked claim as the first new leader of a decade.
(For the purposes of this research, we're counting songs that hit No. 1 for the first time, so "The Box" introduces the '20s, since No. 1s by Mariah Carey and Post Malone led the first two weeks in January after first reaching the top spot in 2019.)
From "El Paso" to the Empire State and Marty Robbins to Roddy Ricch, here's a look back at the Hot 100 No. 1s that have played out, and in, each decade.
Last No. 1 of the '50s: "Why," Frankie Avalon
reached No. 1 on Dec. 28, 1959
The song became the then-teen's second Hot 100 No. 1, with both earned in 1959: "Venus" ruled for five weeks that March and April.
First No. 1 of the '60s: "El Paso," Marty Robbins
reached No. 1 on Jan. 4, 1960
Robbins' lone Hot 100 leader also paced the Hot Country Songs chart, where he notched 11 No. 1s, among 35 top 10s.
Last No. 1 of the '60s: "Someday We'll Be Together," Diana Ross & The Supremes
reached No. 1 on Dec. 27, 1969
The iconic group earned 12 No. 1s in the '60s, including streaks of five (1964-65) and four (1966-67) consecutively. Only Mariah Carey has also linked such runs, having strung together five No. 1 entries in a row twice (1990-91; 1995-98).
First No. 1 of the '70s: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," B.J. Thomas
reached No. 1 on Jan. 3, 1970
Thomas achieved both of his Hot 100 No. 1s in the '70s: In 1975, he led again with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song."
Last No. 1 of the '70s: "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)," Rupert Holmes
reached No. 1 on Dec. 22, 1979 (and returned for a week at No. 1 in January 1980)
Following his sole Hot 100 No. 1, Holmes returned to the top 10, reaching No. 6 with follow-up "Him" in April 1980.
First No. 1 of the '80s: "Please Don't Go," KC and The Sunshine Band
reached No. 1 on Jan. 5, 1980
The group scored four No. 1 dancefloor classics in 1975-77 and began the '80s showing that it could also lead with a softer sound. (The song was remade in more uptempo form by K.W.S., who took it to No. 6 in 1992.)
Last No. 1 of the '80s: "Another Day in Paradise," Phil Collins
reached No. 1 on Dec. 23, 1989 (and led the first two weeks of the '90s)
With the socially-conscious ballad, Collins collected his seventh Hot 100 No. 1, dating to his first in 1984. He additionally led in 1986 via Genesis' "Invisible Touch."
First No. 1 of the '90s: "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," Michael Bolton
reached No. 1 on Jan. 20, 1990
Three top 20 hits in the '80s set up Bolton's greater success in the '90s, when he notched two No. 1s, among seven top 10s. He led again in 1991 with his take on Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman."
Last No. 1 of the '90s: "Smooth," Santana feat. Rob Thomas
reached No. 1 on Oct. 23, 1999 (and led the first two weeks of the '00s)
After tallying two top 10s in 1970-71, Santana blasted back with the band's first two No. 1s; after "Smooth" ruled for 12 weeks, "Maria Maria," featuring The Product G&B, dominated for 10 beginning in April 2000.
First No. 1 of the '00s: "What a Girl Wants," Christina Aguilera
reached No. 1 on Jan. 15, 2000
Aguilera deftly bridged the '90s and '00s, having taken her debut Hot 100 hit "Genie in a Bottle" to No. 1 for five weeks in July and August 1999. To date, she's earned five No. 1s, including leaders in the '90s, '00s and '10s.
Last No. 1 of the '00s: "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z + Alicia Keys
reached No. 1 on Nov. 28, 2009
The native New Yorkers' ode became each artist's fourth No. 1, as well as Jay-Z's 14th top 10 of the '00s and Keys' ninth.
First No. 1 of the '10s: "TiK ToK," Ke$ha
reached No. 1 on Jan. 2, 2010
"TiK ToK" topped the Hot 100 for the first nine weeks of the '10s, becoming Kesha's first of 10 top 10s, including two subsequent No. 1s: "We R Who We R," in November 2010, and Pitbull's "Timber," on which she's featured, in 2014.
Last No. 1 of the '10s: "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Mariah Carey
reached No. 1 on Dec. 21, 2019 (and led the first week of the '20s)
The carol was, of course, originally released in 1994 and, 25 years later, became Carey's 19th No. 1, extending her record for the most among soloists. The last new No. 1 of the '10s released that decade? The Weeknd's "Heartless."
First No. 1 of the '20s: "The Box," Roddy Ricch
reached No. 1 on Jan. 18, 2020
"Nobody ever really plans this," the rapper told Billboard upon achieving his first Hot 100 leader, adding that he's "trying to stay focused on what I started. I might go to the studio tonight."Billboard.com
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