The rapper Lil Nas X has just broken the record for the longest-running No.1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
‘Old Town Road’, the US rapper‘s debut single has remained at the top spot for its 17th consecutive week. In doing so, the country trap viral smash has toppled R&B megastars Mariah Carey, Boys 2 Men, and the Latin-pop hit-machine Daddy Yankee to claim the top spot.
Check out the top 10 longest-running US no.1 singles in the list below. The guy had some tough competition.
13 April 2019: Old Town Road, Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (17 weeks)
27 May 2017: Despacito, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber (16 weeks)
2 December 1995: One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16 weeks)
17 January 2015: Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars (14 weeks) 11 July 2009: I Gotta Feeling, The Black Eyed Peas (14 weeks)
4 June 2005: We Belong Together, Mariah Carey (14 weeks)
11 October 1997: Candle in the Wind/Something About the Way You Look Tonight, Elton John (14 weeks)
3 August 1996: Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix), Los Del Rio (14 weeks)
27 August 1994: I’ll Make Love to You, Boyz II Men (14 weeks)
28 November 1992: I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston (14 weeks)
On hearing the news, the rapper posted a long essay on Twitter, saying: “I went looking for beats on YouTube… when suddenly I came across a country-trap-sounding masterpiece,” he wrote, “I immediately knew I would make something special out of it.
“I jokingly/seriously saw myself as a loner cowboy, needing to run away from it all. I went out on my sister’s porch and listened to the beat over and over. Then it came to me!”
He added: “This song has changed my life and the way I see the world around me in less than a year.
“I’m so thankful this blessing has been placed upon me.”
The song’s success doesn’t stop there however, in fact, it seems anything to do with ‘Old Town Road’ is a certified goldmine.
The song’s sole feature, Billy Ray Cyrus, the country legend and father to Miley Cyrus, has also found similar chart-topping success with his remix, and BTS, the K-Pop superstars, managed to score a hit with their version too.
Ironically, earlier this year ‘Old Town Road’ was banned from the Billboard Country Charts for “not embracing enough elements of today’s country music.” The decision caused much backlash, with some fans and fellow artists calling the decision discriminatory based on race.
As of last week, ‘Old Town Road’ has gone diamond in France, 6x platinum in Australia, 3x platinum in the US and platinum in the UK.
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