Braintree Top 40

After 3 weeks at #1, “Mystery of Love” has been dethroned yet again as two new songs make their way to the summit.  Bruno Mars & Cardi B, which had debuted at #31 last week, jump all the way to the #1 spot with their new “Finesse” remix while Troye Sivan debuts at #3 with “My My My!” after only 24 hours available in the tracking period.  This is Troye’s first entry onto the Braintree Top 40 after having close calls with “YOUTH” and his Martin Garrix collaboration “There for You.”

Elsewhere in the top ten, Dua Lipa refuses to give it a rest as “New Rules” jumps back up to #5 after 22 weeks on the chart.  Both Craig David and Bastille earn their first top ten as “I Know You” jumps 9 spots to #6.  Two re-entries shake up the top ten as “Bad at Love” and “Silence” return after a few weeks’ absence.  Liam Payne & Rita Ora just barely miss the top ten as their new single for Fifty Shades Freed, “For You,” debuts at #10, thanks to Josh and Celina.

France Gall makes a special trip to the top ten as “Baby pop” debuts at #10.  Gall passed away on Sunday at the age of 70 due to cancer, leaving behind a bountiful catalog of French pop.  Gall was popular with both Josh and Emm!e, who discovered “Baby pop” back in the winter of 2008 instead of studying actual French.  Another single of hers, “Laisse tomber les filles” (translated to: Give up girls), also debuts at #24 and may have subliminally turned Josh gay.  She will always hold a special place in Braintree as we “chante, danse Baby pop!”  (“Baby pop” is not available on Spotify but is on YouTube.)

Let’s dive in deeper with Cardi B as she puts 4 entries on this week chart with “Finesse” obviously being the highest.  All four songs show off her incredible range as an artist: “Bodak Yellow” proves she can do it all on her own while “No Limit” shows off her nasty edge.  “Finesse” shows her playful pop side while “La Modelo” proves she’s not only capable of being subdued, but also speaking fluent Spanish.  It took a bit for Braintree to warm up to her, but much like the current weather, it’s heating up fast with record highs on the way!

Emm!e has finally hit a happy medium with her music as she cools down from her takeover last week.  She keeps “Do Right” in the top ten as it falls to #4 while “Sit Next to Me” drops to #12 and then “Wolves” to #14.  She also keeps ROZES on the board as “Famous” falls to #26.

Daina didn’t get her own entry this week but did aid in “Mystery of Love” staying in the top two as she becomes the third member to spin the Call Me By Your Name track.  She also keeps “Havana” and “New Rules” afloat for another week.  Can she get “Bass Down Low” by Dev to appear on the chart next week after a renewed interest in the 2010 track?

Celina seemed to be the only one who liked the new Justin Timberlake single, which debuts at #23.  Time will tell if it will have longevity but it’s not looking good for “Filthy.”  She also managed to get Sigala back onto the chart as well as NF and Eminem.  Emily, on the other hand, did little to influence the chart this week.  This is due to her not being signed in for most of the week after purchasing the new iPhone 8.  Better luck next week, Emily!

While it may seem odd that yet another Whitney Houston track debuts onto the chart for the second week in a row, there’s a simple explanation.  Starr Andrews, one of the highlights at the US Ladies’ figure skating championship on Friday, skated to “One Moment in Time” to rave reviews.  Couple that with the fact that it was originally released for the 1988 Olympics, the last time the Games were in South Korea and you have your reason why it debuts at #37.

It’s not all positive and joy on the charts this week.  This week marks the first time since the inception of the Braintree Top 40 that “Praying” is not on the chart.  After 21 weeks, the song, which peaked at #1 back in October, just barely misses the chart.  The song will always be remembered as the career-defining comeback by Kesha, who will soon be celebrated at the GRAMMYs as it was just announced that she will be performing at the ceremony.  Could that bring the beloved single back onto the chart?

Next week we see the full impact of the new Troye Sivan single as well as a new single from Hailee Steinfeld and the debut album from Camila Cabello.  Will Camila be able to replicate the success of “Havana?”  Can “My My My!” push back Bruno Mars & Cardi B for #1?  Find out next week!