Michael Jackson becomes the first solo artist to debut songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in six different decades as “Chicago” launches on the tally. LANDOVER, UNITED STATES: American pop music star Michael Jackson sings 13 October 1988 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. AFP PHOTO/Luke FRAZZA (Photo credit should read LUKE FRAZZA/AFP via Getty Images)
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For more than a month now, Michael Jackson’s music has been riding an intense wave of renewed popularity on the Billboard charts. Streams and sales of his most popular works exploded in the week or two before his namesake biopic Michael arrived in cinemas around the world. Since then, as the movie has continued to bring in millions of dollars at the box office each week, Jackson’s name has remained on dozens of rankings all around the planet.
By now, many of the songs and albums that most listeners are familiar with have started to decline, but the late superstar manages an impressive feat. A decade and a half after his passing, Jackson collects a new smash on the Billboard Hot 100, and as he does, he makes history.
Michael Jackson’s “Chicago” Lands on the Hot 100
Jackson’s song “Chicago” appears on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. The tune, which was released in 2014 on Jackson’s posthumous compilation Xscape, has never been pushed as a single, and yet it starts inside the top 40 on the ranking of the most popular songs in America. This frame, “Chicago” launches at No. 30.
Michael Jackson’s Run Continues Into a Sixth Decade
Jackson has now scored 52 solo wins on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard reports that as “Chicago” arrives, the superstar becomes the first artist in history to debut tracks on the ranking in each of the past six decades.
Jackson began his solo winning streak on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. “Got to Be There” debuted on the chart in October, and by December, it had climbed to its No. 4 peak. Since then, even in the years following his passing, Jackson has managed at least one new arrival on the list each decade.
“Chicago” Is Michael Jackson’s First Hit of the 2020s
“Chicago” marks Jackson’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 2020s. Before this week, his most recent arrival on the roster came in the summer of 2018. Jackson was credited on the song “Don’t Matter to Me,” featured on Drake’s album Scorpion. That cut wasted no time rising into the top 10, where it topped out at No. 9.
Michael Jackson’s Stretch Goes Back Seven Decades
Jackson’s run on the Billboard Hot 100 extends even further when taking into account his work as part of the Jackson 5. “I Want You Back” lifted into the top 10, surging from No. 17 to No. 8 on the last list of 1969, dated December 27. Jackson’s stretch of debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 now includes seven decades – a nearly unheard-of feat, considering the tally was only introduced in the late ’50s, about 10 years before Jackson and his brothers first appeared.
“Chicago” Launches on the Streaming Songs Chart
As “Chicago” lands on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, it also debuts on just one other ranking. “Chicago” starts at No. 21 on the Streaming Songs rundown, earning Jackson his tenth career appearance. The tune simultaneously finds its way back to the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs roster as well.
“Chicago” Hits New Peaks on Several Tallies
This week is the best ever for “Chicago” on Billboard‘s tallies. As it debuts on multiple rankings, the track hits new peaks on four separate registers. “Chicago” nearly conquers the R&B Streaming Songs chart, pushing from No. 11 to No. 2. It manages a similar leap up the Hot R&B Songs tally, improving from No. 11 to fourth place. “Chicago” also hits new highs on the two worldwide lists, ascending on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. to Nos. 23 and 41, respectively.