Top Songs of 2009... at the halfway point

We are halfway through the calendar year, so we thought it would be fun to see what the top songs of 2009 are up to this point. Our rankings are based on performance on the THO 100 only. It is probably no surprise that "Poker Face" is #1, having spent seven weeks atop the chart. Lady GaGa has two songs in the top five, the other being "Just Dance" which has been around since June of 2008. Several other songs on the list are 2008 hits that extended their chart run well into 2009. Britney Spears, Beyonce, The Killers, and Pink are the other artists to have two songs in the top 20. And as it often is with the THO 100, which is based on individual personal charts published on the web, women rule the list, leading each of the top 10 tracks.

1. Lady GaGa - Poker Face
2. Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You
3. Beyonce - Halo
4. Lily Allen - The Fear
5. Lady GaGa f/ Akon & Colby O'Donis - Just Dance
6. Britney Spears - Circus
7. Taylor Swift - Love Story
8. Britney Spears - If U Seek Amy
9. Pink - Sober
10. Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
11. The Killers - Spaceman
12. The Fray - You Found Me
13. Flo Rida - Right Round
14. Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
15. The Killers - Human
16. T.I. f/ Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone
17. The Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
18. James Morrison f/ Nelly Furtado - Broken Strings
19. All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell
20. Pink - Please Don't Leave Me

- Current THO 100
- Week-by-week THO 100 charts
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THO 100 Update for week ending May 2, 2009

Earlier this year Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" (featuring Colby O'Donis) spent four weeks atop the THO 100. But now it is GaGa's "Poker Face" spending a fourth week at #1, easily holding off Kelly Clarkson (#2) and Beyonce (#3). The next new number one song may very well come from another artist with #1 experience. Late last year Pink was #1 for six weeks with "So What," the lead single from her Funhouse album. This week "Please Don't Leave Me" creeps into the top 10 and appears destined to climb even higher. Pink has now had 15 top 10 hits in her career, starting with "Most Girls" in 2000 which went to #1. Enjoy the chart this week!

- Current THO 100 Chart
- Chart Archive
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THO 100 Update for week ending April 4, 2009

We profiled the Pet Shop Boys a few weeks ago when their latest single "Love Etc." was the highest debut on the THO 100. But now the song has moved inside the top 10, which makes it their highest-charting song since the TopHitsOnline chart began in 1993. Of course that is after their huge worldwide hits "West End Girls," "What Have I Done To Deserve This," and others. But "Love Etc." is their 18th THO chart hit and might make a move even higher than #8 where it sits this week. It is doubtful it will have enough steam to overcome current #1 "My Life Would Suck Without You," nor #2 "Poker Face" by Lady GaGa. "Poker Face" might topple Clarkson next week, or else "My Life..." will top the chart for the eighth consecutive week.

- THO 100 Chart
- THO 100 Archive
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THO 100 Update for the week ending March 28, 2009

Franz Ferdinand is still probably best known for their hits "Take Me Out" and "Do You Want To," especially in the United States. But internationally they've had many hits, and this week their latest splashes onto the THO 100 at #35. "No You Girls" is from their new album "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" and becomes their 10th THO chart hit.

Kelly Clarkson continues to hold off Lady GaGa for the #1 position, making it six weeks at #1 for "My Life Would Suck Without You." And speaking of Lady GaGa, she charts another song from her "The Fame" album: "Love Game," giving her four charting singles this week. Coldplay and Beyonce recently achieved the same feat. Mariah Carey holds the all-time records with six charting songs in the same week. Enjoy the new chart!

- Current THO 100
- THO 100 Archive
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THO 100 Update for the week ending March 14, 2009

The current #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 is "Right Round" by Flo Rida. The song hasn't yet achieved the same success on the THO 100, but this week it makes a large leap forward, earning the greatest point gainer award and moving from #23 to #14. Reigning supreme on the THO chart is still Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You," which holds off "The Fear" and "Poker Face." Lady GaGa still has two songs inside the top 10, as well as a new debut this week near the bottom of the chart. Eight other debuts also enter the chart, led by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Enjoy the new chart!

- Current THO 100
- THO Archive
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THO 100 Update for week ending March 7, 2009

Most casual music fans still think of the Pet Shop Boys as that group that did the 80s classic "West End Girls." But chart watchers and followers of electronica and pop music know that Pet Shop Boys have continued making hit music and are still going strong today. As evidence, the largest point gainer on this weeks' THO 100 is "Love Etc.," which was last week's highest debuting song. Although the THO chart dates back to only 1993, the 'boys have managed to chart 14 hits during that span, and may add to that total with their new album "Yes" being released March 24th.

Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson continues her chart dominance, as "My Life Would Suck Without You" stays at #1 for a third week. Most likely challengers are Lady GaGa's "Poker Face" and Taylor Swift's "Love Story." Enjoy the chart this week.

- Current THO 100
- THO 100 Archive
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New Album Releases for March 10, 2009

Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted
Corbin Bleu - Speed Of Light
Chris Cornell - Scream
Taylor Hicks - The Distance
Madeleine Peyroux - Bare Bones
New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
The-Dream - Love vs. Money
Dope - No Regrets
J. Holiday - Round 2
Razorlight - Slipway Fires
The Rippingtons - Modern Art
Ronnie Milsap - Then Sings My Soul [2 CDs]
John Wesley Harding - Who Was Changed And Who Was Dead
Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
Yngwie Malmsteen - Angels of Love
Sarah Brightman - Symphony: Live In Vienna [CD + DVD]
Elvis Presley - I Believe: The Gospel Masters [4 CDs]
Rick Springfield - My Precious Little One [Amazon.com exclusive]
Nat King Cole - Re: Generations
Ballas Hough Band - Ballas Hough Band
Rocco DeLuca - Mercy
Mirah - (a)spera
Francisca London - Francisca London

- Full list of new and future album releases
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THO 100 Update for week ending February 28, 2009

Taylor Swift's "Love Story" began on country radio stations in the U.S., and slowly the song has worked its way onto pop/top 40 playlists around the world. This week it enters the top 10 on the THO 100, which rarely sees country songs reach the top half of the chart. While many would argue the song barely resembles country music, we're fairly sure Taylor Swift and her fans don't care. The song reaches #2 on the official U.K. chart this week, so could it eventually reach the top of THO? The current champ is Kelly Clarkson with "My Life Would Suck Without You." Lady GaGa clogs the top 5 with two songs and Lily Allen's "The Fear" gains points at #2 but without much chance of topping Clarkson. Enjoy the chart this week!

- Current THO 100
- Chart Archive
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THO 100 Update for week ending February 21, 2009

Lily Allen's stay at #1 was short-lived. After rising from #6 to #1 last week with the largest point gain on the chart, Allen's hit "The Fear" shows a slilght gain this week but is unable to hold off Kelly Clarkson's smash "My Life Would Suck Without You." "Suck" duplicates Allen's feat of rising from #6 to #1, as well as being the largest point gainer. The song goes to #1 after only five weeks on the chart. To put that in perspective, no other song inside the top 30 has spent fewer than six weeks on the chart. This is Clarkson's second #1 song, following "Because Of You" in 2005, and her seventh top 5 hit on the THO 100.

- Current THO 100
- THO 100 Archive
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THO 100 Update for the week ending January 24, 2009

After a disappointing follow-up to her smash album "Breakaway," Kelly Clarkson is back again with a new single from her upcoming album "All I Ever Wanted." The single is "My Life Would Suck Without You," and this week it is the highest debut on the THO 100. It is more reminiscent of her earlier hits, with a soaring vocal chorus set to a dance beat. Is it too early to predict another #1 hit in Clarkson's future? Probably not. For now, Lady GaGa holds on to #1 for a second week with "Just Dance." It now holds a comfortable lead over the Killers' "Human" and big singles by Beyonce, Britney, and Pink. Lady GaGa also has the #12 song on the chart with "Poker Face," which is just now beginning to see significant airplay in the U.S. Please enjoy the chart this week...

- THO 100 Chart
- THO 100 Archive
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The Return of American Idol

On January 13th American Idol returns with the often hilarious tryouts of Season 8. There are plenty of changes to keep things fresh this time around... For instance, this season there will be a Top 36 instead of a Top 24. There will be a "wildcard" round in which the judges can give good performers a free pass to advance. The Top 36 will not be limited to themes (like Disco Songs or Rod Stewart songs), and instead will be able to choose any song that has been a Billboard Top 10 hit. After reducing the field to only 12 contestants, themes will reportedly return to the show.

As we've done in the past, we've created a poll for you to pick your favorite American Idol winner from the past. Kelly Clarkson has won the last two polls, but Carrie Underwood has gained a lot of popularity since the last poll began. Vote in the poll here.

- THO Polls
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THO 100 Update for the week ending June 14, 2008

Reba McEntire has had only moderate success on the THO 100, scoring 13 hits and one that broke the top 10 (1999's "What Do You Say"). But this week she is a star as "Every Other Weekend" (featuring Kenny Chesney) is the highest debut on the chart. It is her first THO hit since last year's "Because Of You" duet with Kelly Clarkson. Elsewhere on the chart, Coldplay is the largest point gainer in the same week that their new album "Viva La Vida..." drops. They also have the #2 song on the chart for a third consecutive week.

- Current THO 100
- THO 100 Archive
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