Why Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’ Is One of the Most Dominant Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of the Last 25 Years
As Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" tops the Hot 100 again, it becomes one of 18 songs have twice as many points as the No. 2 song, joining the likes of megahits such as "I Will Always Love You," "Candle…
As Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape of You” spends a seventh week atop the Billboard Hot 100 (dated March 25), the inescapable tune crosses a notable chart threshold, becoming a rare hit so big that it boasts more than twice as many Hot 100 chart points as its nearest competitor, the current No. 2 being “Bad and Boujee” by Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert. In essence: “Shape of You” is so huge right now that it is two times more popular than the No. 2 song of the week.
Yup, we’re getting deep into the numbers in this one.
Some fine print to further explain: The Hot 100 currently ranks the most popular songs of the week in the U.S. based on a blend of sales, airplay and streaming data. The chart, which launched in August 1958, began using Nielsen Music’s electronically measured point-of-sale and radio airplay information on the list dated Nov. 30, 1991, and that is when our research begins. Since that date more than 25 years ago, only 18 songs have run away with enough sales, airplay and streaming totals to rule with at least a two-to-one points lead over the No. 2 title. With 301 No. 1s in that span (beginning with P.M. Dawn‘s “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss”), a mere 6 percent of all leaders have ballooned to such a wide lead.
Unsurprisingly, the list contains enduring megahits like Whitney Houston‘s “I Will Always Love You,” which logged the longest (and first) two-to-one points lead, with nine of its 14 total weeks atop the Hot 100 with such a margin of victory. Elton John‘s “Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” meanwhile, claims the biggest-ever ratio lead over a No. 2 song: It debuted at No. 1 on Oct. 11, 1997, with a massive 17 times the amount of points of the No. 2 challenger (Boyz II Men‘s “4 Seasons of Loneliness”). How did John score the most lopsided victory? “Candle,” his tribute to the then-recently deceased Diana, Princess of Wales, sold a Nielsen-record 3.4 million physical singles in its first week of tracking. (Remember, this was back in 1997, before YouTube and digital downloads; the only way fans were able to access a Hot 100 hit on-demand was to buy a commercially released single on CD, cassette tape or, although somewhat hard-to-find at that point, 7-inch vinyl.)
With Sheeran’s double-dominance on the March 25-dated Hot 100, he becomes the latest member of the all-star squad to have outscored runners-up by at least a two-to-one points margin, and the first since Adele, who joined with her monster ballad “Hello” in 2015. Here’s the full list:
“I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston
Nine weeks with 2x points as No. 2: Dec. 12, 1992-Feb. 6, 1993
Six weeks above No. 2 “If I Ever Fall in Love” by Shai; three weeks above No. 2 “Rump Shaker” by Wreckx-n-Effect
“I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men
Three weeks with 2x points as No. 2: Sept. 10-24, 1994
All above No. 2 “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
“Tha Crossroads,” Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Three weeks with 2x points as No. 2: June 8-22, 1996
Two weeks above No. 2 “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey; one week above No. 2 “You’re Makin’ Me High”/”Let It Flow” by Toni Braxton
“I’ll Be Missing You,” Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112
Two weeks with 2x points as No. 2: July 5-12, 1997
One week above No. 2 “Mmmbop” by Hanson; one week above No. 2 “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks
“Candle in the Wind 1997″/”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John
Five weeks with 2x points as No. 2: Oct. 11-Nov. 8, 1997
Two weeks above No. 2 “4 Seasons of Loneliness” by Boyz II Men; three weeks above No. 2 “You Make Me Wanna…” by Usher
“My Heart Will Go On,” Celine Dion
One week with 2x points as No. 2: Feb. 28, 1998
Above No. 2 “Nice and Slow” by Usher
“All My Life,” K-Ci & JoJo
One week with 2x points as No. 2: April 4, 1998
Above No. 2 “Frozen” by Madonna
“The Boy Is Mine,” Brandy & Monica
Two weeks with 2x points as No. 2: June 20-27, 1998
Both above No. 2 “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain
“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” Aerosmith
One week with 2x points as No. 2: Sept. 5, 1998
Above No. 2 “The First Night” by Monica
“Heartbreaker,” Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z
One week with 2x points as No. 2: Oct. 9, 1999
Above No. 2 “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas
“All for You,” Janet Jackson
One week with 2x points as No. 2: April 14, 2001
Above No. 2 “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child
“Hips Don’t Lie,” Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
One week with 2x points as No. 2: June 17, 2006
Above No. 2 “Ridin” by Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone
“SexyBack,” Justin Timberlake
Two weeks with 2x points as No. 2: Sept. 9-16, 2006
Both above No. 2 “London Bridge” by Fergie
“Right Round,” Flo Rida
One week with 2x points as No. 2: Feb. 28, 2009
Above No. 2 “Dead and Gone” by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake
“Harlem Shake,” Baauer
Four weeks with 2x points as No. 2: March 2-March 23, 2013
All above No. 2 “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
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“Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke featuring T.I. + Pharrell
Two weeks with 2x points as No. 2: Aug. 17-Aug. 24, 2013
Both above No. 2 “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus
“Hello,” Adele
Three weeks with 2x points as No. 2: Nov. 14-Nov. 28, 2015
All above No. 2 “Sorry” by Justin Bieber
“Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran
One week with 2x points as No. 2 (to date): March 25, 2017
Above No. 2 “Bad and Boujee” by Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert
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