Alex Warren makes it from the Hype House all the way to #1

To say Alex Warren has humble beginnings might seem a bit odd. The American-born singer was first relevant when he was as a member of the collaborative TikTok group Hype House from 2019 to 2022. Though successful, that group was pestered by controversy and online criticism as well. It did make all members hugely popular though, and Alex Warren was no exception. While some of those influencers switched to acting or modelling, quite a few influencers chose to become singers. Dixie D'Amelio had a short-lived musical career with flops like “Be Happy”, while Bella Poarch had a small viral moment with “Build a B*tch”. It’s a common phenomenon in The Netherlands as well. Famke Louise scored a string of Top 10-hits though pestered by the general public, and YouTuber-and-DJ Monica Geuze had a Top 10-hit with “Laten Gaan” during Ronnie Flex’s heyday. LA-based star Addison Rae’s initial debut, “Obsessed”, was another swing-and-a-miss from an influencers with a weak voice, but after teaming up with Charli XCX, stunned both her friends and enemies with “Diet Pepsi”. She’s now a Grammy-nominated headliner with a string of big hits already. With the way paved for him, Alex Warren’s scoring even bigger. His previous song “Ordinary” was massive hit, especially in the United States, yet it only reached #33 on this chart. He’s now new at Number 1 with “Fever Dream”, another big international hit for the American singer, and with this more upbeat production, his first big hit on this chart as well! The music video with Paris Hilton helps a bit as well.

Sombr proves he has much more than potential as “Potential” moves to #7, his newest song to reach the Top 10. Sombr – actually New York-born  rising singer-songwriter Shane Boose – is one of the freshest new artists on the block right now. In March 2025, his songs "Back to Friends" and "Undressed" gained popularity after going viral on TikTok, resulting in his big mainstream breakthrough. He was recently included on the important 21 Under 21-list by Billboard, a list that predicts the biggest up-and-comers. “Undressed” reached #8 on here, and follow-up “12 to 12” capped off in the Top 5. “Homewrecker” was like the lovechild of “Back to Friends” and “12 to 12” and it went on to reach #3 a few ago. The new “Potential” follows suit and is shaping up to become a main stay for over the summer.

The race for the summer hit of 2026 has started. Amsterdam-based music duo ANOTR charge ahead with the Ibiza-feeling “Talk to You”, while Tyla & Zara Larsson tried to push “She Did It Again” up. But, move over, as Dutch hip hop-star Frenna again cements himself as the greatest summer hitmaker of all time. Born and raised in The Hague, Frenna broke through in 2015 as a member of New Wave; a Dutch hip hop collective that significantly impacted Dutch popular culture by making a more accessible sound to the genre. It brought together various rappers and producers from the Top Notch label, including Ronnie Flex, Lil' Kleine, Jonna Fraser, and others. Since then, Frenna became a chart mainstay and streaming giant in The Netherlands. He also was a member of hip hop formation SFB, with whom he scored four Top 40-hits on this list. With the turn of the decade, Frenna his singles on this chart have mostly bubbled just outside the Top 20, but that all turned around with 2024’s “Pretty Girls” – an undeniable summer smash that returned Frenna to the top. 2025’s follow-up “ZAAZAA” was an even bigger success! That smash hit peaked at #2 for multiple long weeks and became the official summer hit of 2025. It became Frenna’s most successful hit of all time. With the temperatures rising in Holland, it is up to Frenna once again to bring the summer vibes once more; this time with the thumping “Starlife”. It moves to #10 this week, and with temperatures rising through the roof, this song will only rise as well.

In 2003, Madonna released “American Life” as the lead single of her ninth studio album of the same name. The electronic pop song was a clunky dissection of Madonna’s fame and what it gave her, while also critiquing American society at the time and Bush’s Iraq invasion. Though some fans herald it as a misunderstood piece of art, others were less enthused. It remains one of Madonna’s most divisive hits of all time. Now, in 2026, with the world at a turning point once again, Charli XCX channels her very best “American Life” on the new “SS26”. The rock-dance song sees Charli XCX serenades our current troubles and lamenting that music, fashion and film will not save us. It’s basically her song about the end of the world. “SS26” is just as divisive to her own fandom, as was “American Life” to Madonna’s – people do no know what to make of it. It debuts at #17 as the highest new entry of the week. It is the second single off Charli’s upcoming album and was preceded by “Rock Music”. Charli XCX her chart accolades include two Number 1s, the culturally-defining Brat album and, most recently, the original soundtrack to Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “drop dead” might drop from Number 1 this week – her next single has already seen the light. Meet “The Cure” at #20, another pop-rock effort by the ex-Disney star. Shakira debuts a few spots down amidst the World Cup hype with “Dai Dai” featuring Afrobeats legend Burna Boy. Shak is no stranger to the World Cup. She’s done the #2-smash “Waka, Waka” in 2010 and “La La La” for Brazil in 2014.