“Het Midden” takes Number 1 for a second week, while Roxy Dekker starts off the new year with another Top 10-hit

Pommelien Thijs and MEAU successfully take the high road again with their middle-of-the-road pop song “Het Midden”, securing a second consecutive week at Number 1 on my personal chart. It shot up to the top last week following fourteen slow weeks in the Top 40. The two previously collaborated on “Droom Het Donker Weg”, which was included on Pommelien Thijs her mega-selling debut. With its newfound success, “Het Middden” claims platinum status. MEAU previously achieved multi-platinum stardom with “Dat Heb Jij Gedaan”, which went on to become the highest-scoring solo song by a Dutch female artist of all time, taking the record from Esmée Denters. Meanwhile, Pommelien Thijs is all ready for her third platinum-certified smash, following the Christmas Number 1 “Nu Wij Niet Meer Praten” and the sleeper hit “Erop of Eronder”. Pommelien Thijs and MEAU their reign, however, isn’t secure though, as Lola Young closes in with her breakout “Messy” up at #2, ready to claim her the top position for herself next week.

The Netherlands’ undisputed queen of pop is back – Roxy Dekker starts off the new year right with a brand new break-up anthem. Ever since breakout Top 10-smash “Satisfyer”, the 20-year-old singer has been dominating the airwaves in The Netherlands and Belgium. Last year, she topped my personal list twice with “Sugardaddy” and “Gaan We Weg?”, whilst also reaching the Top 10 with De Bankzitters. This week, all her hard work was rewarded at Eurosonic Music Festival in Groningen, where she won the Pop Prize of 2024. Hoping to keep the momentum going, Roxy Dekker makes a Top 10-debut this week with “Ga Dan!”, a break-up song with the familiar house beat we have come to expect from our Roxy Ro. For its music video, Dekker enlists the help of Cheryl Morero, the protagonist of the popular tv-series Gooische Vrouwen played by media mogul Linda de Mol. It has went viral on YouTube and TikTok, ensuring another streaming juggernaut for Roxy Dekker. Notably, “Ga Dan!” becomes Roxy Dekker her sixth consecutive Top 10-debut, an unmatched feat for any Dutch artist ever.

Last year, American rapper Doechii slowly began breaking into the mainstream. Doechii was awarded the Rising Star Award from Billboard Women in Music and has received nominations for Grammy Awards and she opened for Beyoncé on the Renaissance tour. She’s also collaborated with Katy Perry on "I'm His, He's Mine" from Katy’s unfortunate flopped comeback album. Doechii is now ready for a big breakout year – perhaps echoing Chappell Roan or Sabrina Carpenter? – she soars into the Top 10 with “Denial is a River” up at #7. It was taken from her debut album Alligator Bites Never Heal and is currently going viral across the internet, helping its charting success on Billboard and across the globe. “Denial is a River” is an undeniably clever rap which features Doechii in conversation with herself, all very reminiscent of Missy Elliott and Lil Kim’ heyday.

Speaking of Chappell Roan, the Midwest Princess returns to the Top 10 for a third time this week with the sleeper hit “Pink Pony Club” at #9. Last year, the American artist finally made her well-earned big breakout with “Good Luck, Babe”, which went all the way to Number 1 on this list. As a result, all of her previous singles re-entered my chart and reached brand-new heights, including a Top 3-peak with “Hot To Go”. With “Pink Pony Club”, Chappell Roan proves 2024’s success wasn’t a fluke, but only the start of something great. It was originally released as a single through Atlantic Records in 2020, and later included on her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in 2023. Since her big breakout, “Pink Pony Club” has become another hit for Chappell Roan on the Billboard Hot 100. It tells the thrilling story of a woman moving to Southern California, taking a job as a dancer at a gay strip club in West Hollywood. What a way to kick off the new year!

Further down, Bad Bunny returns to the Top 40 with the emotional “DtMF”, a plena-inspired song that has inspired an emotional TikTok-trend. It starts at #17 this week, earning Bad Bunny his highest chart position since 2023’s solo hit “Where She Goes”. Kylie Minogue and YouNotUs debuts at #34 with “Someone For Me”, the second single off her latest studio album Tension II. Ever since 2023’s chart-topping return with “Padam, Padam”, Kylie Minogue has become a chart mainstay again. “Someone For Me” is Kylie’s fifty-first Top 40-hit to date; maintaining the record for artist with the second most Top 40-hits to date, only bested by Ronnie Flex. Rounding out the new debuts, Manchester-based pop and R&B-singer Chrystal debuts at #39 with the UK-hit “The Days”.

Newly certified

“Het Midden” – MEAU & Pommelien Thijs PLATINUM