Dominic Fike and Olivia Rodrigo remain in locked positions

In a close race for Number 1, Dominic Fike clinches the pole position again this week with his sleeper hit “Babydoll”. Dominic Fike originally broke through in 2019, but he recently experienced somewhat of a revival. His big break came with “3 Nights” off his small EP Don’t Forget Me. He then released a few other Top 40-singles and starred on HBO’s Euphoria. A good eight years after the EP’s release– it spawns another Number 1-hit with “Babydoll”. It recently went viral on TikTok alongside the newest song “White Keys”. “Babydoll” is further supported by the release of Euphoria’s third season. It has received muddled reviews so far. Dominic Fike is the first male solo artist to reach my Number 1 since Sam Fender’s “Little Bit Closer” from last June. In the meantime, only female artists graced the crown position. But it was another close call this week, or Olivia Rodrigo would have claimed her fourth big #1-single with “Drop Dead”. It has to settle in second place once more. Fans and critics have reacted dividedly to Olivia’s project so far, though it did debut on Spotify with more than 10 million streams.

Deep down, Tyla and Zara Larsson want the Number 1-position, coming in hot at #6 with their cross-over “She Did It Again”. The highly teased collab has been linked to Shakira & Beyoncé’s Noughties-classic “Beautiful Liar”, though fans have reacted divided to song’s more mellow production. It comes at a perfect timing for both artists. Tyla has been on a steady string of Top 40-hits since “Water” and is set to release her sophomore album soon, which will also feature this year’s Top 10-hit “Chanel”. Zara Larsson has been on the up again ever since “Lush Life” went viral and completely revived her career to unimaginably bigger heights. Her album Midnight Sun became a success months after its release, as her team-up “Stateside” with PinkPantheress spent six weeks atop my personal chart. Together, Tyla and Zara Larsson will show how it’s done and bid for a summer hit. “She Did It Again” marks Tyla’s sixth Top 10-hit, while Zara bags her twelfth.

Antoon will headline Lowlands Festival in the Netherlands upcoming summer; a highly coveted spot that previously defined the careers of Dutch colleagues Sef, Goldband and Maan. During his show, it is likely Antoon will put his most recent album Tot Het Eind van Mij in front and centre. The album is filled with uptempo dance tracks that have become Antoon his trademark, though his lyrics show more depth, as they delve into Antoon’s grief following his late mother’s untimely death. It has made the hit album a critical darling and a perfect piece of dancefloor escapism. Surely, Lowlands will love it. The project has already spawned the Number 1-hit “Beetje Van Mij”, the Top 10-smash title track and, this week, another Top 10-song with “Chaos”. The thumping track was initially released last year, but it is now back to claim the Song of the Summer ahead of Antoon’s defining Lowlands slot.

Kehlani picked up her clothes and bag last year with the telling “Folded”. It became Kehlani her long-awaited big breakthrough on the Billboard Hot 100 and on my personal chart. Kehlani her resume had already included a few Grammy nominations and a few high-profile collaborations with the likes of Justin Bieber and Cardi B, yet, “Folded” proved that Kehlani is a sell-out star all on her own. Aided by “Folded” its success, Kehlani unleashes her eponymous album this week. The R&B-project rings back to the 2000s-era led by Ashanti or Christina Milan, and features collaborations with Lil Wayne, “The Boy is Mine”-star Brandy and Missy Elliott. Her cross-over “Shoulda Never” with Usher is the highest new entry this week at #29. It marks Usher his first Top 40-hit in eleven long years! He first debuted in 1997 with the underrated “You Make Me Wanna…”, though his big break came in 2004 with the anthemic “Yeah!”. It hit Number 1 and became one of the best-selling songs of the 2000s. More hits quickly followed, all the way up to 2014’s last Top 40-entry “New Flame”. Usher now comes back for a victory lap together with Kehlani on the sweet “Shoulda Never”, perhaps also hoping to earn the big summer hit of 2026. It’s gonna get competitive for sure.

Teddy Swims follows up his soft-pop hit “Bad Dreams” with the radio friendly “Mr. Know It All” at #33. Further down, Kacey Musgraves finally moves on from one-hit-wonder status with “Middle of Nowhere” ahead of her upcoming new album. Despite multiple Grammy wins, acclaimed albums and beloved festival shows, Kacey so far, on my list, had only scored one hit: the platinum “I Remember Everything” with Zach Bryan.

Newly certified

“Babydoll” – Dominic Fike GOLD

“Zoo” – Shakira GOLD

“iloveitiloveitiloveit” – Bella Kay GOLD