Billboard Hot 100
Issuedate: week 01/2008  Week ending Jan. 5, 2008

01. Flo Rida and T-Pain - Low
02. Alicia Keys - No One
03. Timbaland and One Republic - Apologize
04. Chris Brown and T-Pain - Kiss Kiss
05. Fergie - Clumsy
06. Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
07. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
08. Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
09. Sara Bareilles - Love Song
10. Rihanna and Ne-Yo - Hate That I Love You
11. Soulja Boy - Crank That (Soulja Boy)
12. Wyclef Jean featuring Akon, Lil Wayne and Niia - Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
13. Baby Bash and T-Pain - Cyclone
14. T-Pain and Kanye West - Good Life
15. Sean Kingston - Take You There

New Year, new Number 1 song!  "Low" by Flo Rida and T-Pain (both from the state of Florida) is another rap number.  I have heard it a few times on the radio, but the hook does not stick with me yet.  I thought for sure "No One" had the legs to stick it out at Number 1 for a few more weeks, but that is not to be.

"Low" is one of seven No. 1 hits in the 48-year rock era with the shortest title. The others are: "Why," Frankie Avalon (1959); "ABC," The Jackson 5 (1970); "War," Edwin Starr (1970); "Ben," Michael Jackson (1972); "Bad," Michael Jackson (1987); and "SOS," Rihanna (2006).

The newcomer in the Top 10 is Sara Bareilles with "Love Song", which jumps from #16 to #9.  This hit is also attributed to its continued exposure from a Rhapsody TV commercial (link). Remember last year, "1234" was used by iPod Nano in its commercial, and it also resulted in a Top 10 hit, and a Grammy Best New Artist nomination for Feist.

Billboard Hot 100
Issuedate: week 52/2007

01. Alicia Keys - No One
02. Flo Rida and T-Pain - Low
03. Timbaland and One Republic - Apologize
04. Chris Brown and T-Pain - Kiss Kiss
05. Fergie - Clumsy
06. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
07. Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
08. Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
09. Rihanna and Ne-Yo - Hate That I Love You
10. T-Pain and Kanye West - Good Life
11. Soulja Boy - Crank That (Soulja Boy)
12. Baby Bash and T-Pain - Cyclone
13. Alicia Keys - Like You'll Never See Me Again
14. Plies and Akon - Hypnotized
15. Trey Songz - Can't Help But Wait

This is the last chart for 2007.  Alicia Keys holds at Number 1, and is fast climbing up the chart with her follow-up single now at #13.  On the R&B chart, these two songs are Number 1 and 2 respectively.

Elsewhere on the chart, chart newecomer Sarah Bareilles jumps from 72 to 16 with her "Love Song", on her 7th week.  Two of my favorite current hits debut on the chart this week:  "Won't Go Home Without You" by Maroon 5 (who is coming to Manila on March 5, 2008!!!) at #84 and "Stop and Stare" by One Republic (on their own, without Timbaland this time) at #98.

This year 2007 is also interesting because two major chart stars did not have a single chart hit on the Hot 100 this year.  Madonna (rumored to be Manila-bound next year as we keep our fingers crossed) has appeared on the Hot 100 at least one week every year since she debuted in 1983 with "Holiday." Mariah Carey has done the same since first appearing in 1990 with "Vision of Love."  Both of them did not have any entry on any of the Hot 100 charts this year.