Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” ties as high longest-running No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, matching “Thriller” with a fifth frame in charge. American Pop singer Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009) performs on stage at Madison Square Garden during the ‘Bad Tour,’ New York, New York, March 5, 1988. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
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Much of the music Drake included on his recently released three albums, Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honour, can be classified as either hip-hop or rap, though there are quite a few tunes from this latest chapter of the superstar’s career that fit perfectly under the R&B label. When that trio of projects debuted, Drake completely dominated Billboard‘s hip-hop and rap tallies, and he performed incredibly well on R&B-focused listings as well.
The superstar’s power over the latter rundowns has begun to wane, and that allows several of Michael Jackson’s most famous compositions to climb again on various Billboard tallies that are centered around R&B music. He once again leads the R&B Streaming Songs chart, keeping himself from scoring a new No. 1 and tying his most impressive streak at the summit.
“Billie Jean” Holds at No. 1
“Billie Jean” holds at No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, as it is once again the most-played R&B tune on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and others throughout the United States. The Thriller single has spent 22 weeks on the list, five of which have been at No. 1 as of this frame. “Billie Jean” debuted on the R&B Streaming Songs ranking back in April 2013, but it wasn’t until only about a month ago that it finally conquered the roster, becoming Jackson’s third leader.
“Billie Jean” Ties “Thriller”
As “Billie Jean” scores its fifth week at No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, it ties his previously set longest run in the uppermost space. “Thriller” hit the register in October 2013, and the following year, it became Jackson’s first champion on the R&B Streaming Songs roster. Throughout that smash’s 90 frames as one of the most-played R&B cuts on streaming sites, it has also managed five turns at No. 1.
Michael Jackson Has Hit No. 1 With Three Smashes
“Billie Jean” and “Thriller” are currently tied as Jackson’s longest-running rulers on the R&B Streaming Songs chart. In a few days, it seems likely that “Billie Jean” will break that match and advance again. The King of Pop also reached the penthouse in 2018 when “Don’t Matter to Me,” a collaboration with Drake, launched at the summit, though that tune only held on for a single stint.
“Billie Jean” Blocks Two Michael Jackson Hits From No. 1
“Billie Jean” has enjoyed such a powerful run at No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart that it has stopped two blockbusters by Jackson from finally reaching the top space. “Human Nature” stalled at No. 2 the same week that “Billie Jean” finally rose to No. 1 earlier in June. “Chicago,” an oft-overlooked song from Jackson’s posthumous Xscape compilation that has suddenly become popular in the wake of the release of his biopic Michael, reached No. 2 a few weeks back, and is stationary in that position again.
Michael Jackson Fills 10 Spaces This Week
The R&B Streaming Songs chart features 15 slots, and Jackson occupies 10 of them at the moment. He fills the entirety of the top four, as “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” “Beat It” and “Human Nature” land at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
Here is a look at where all of Michael Jackson’s singles appear on the current edition of the R&B Streaming Songs chart.
- No. 1 – “Billie Jean”
- No. 2 – “Chicago”
- No. 3 – “Beat It”
- No. 4 – “Human Nature”
- No. 6 – “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough”
- No. 8 – “Dirty Diana”
- No. 10 – “Rock With You”
- No. 12 – “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
- No. 13 – “Smooth Criminal”
- No. 14 – “Bad”
“Chicago” Keeps Climbing to New Highs
“Chicago” is comfortable once again at its all-time high on the R&B Streaming Songs list, and at the same time, it climbs to never-before-seen peaks on half a dozen rankings. That roundup includes both the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs and the all-style Streaming Songs rosters, where “Chicago” improves to Nos. 8 and 17, respectively.