(Billboard) – Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse,” featuring Juicy J, races into the Billboard Hot 100’s winner’s circle, rising 2-1. The song, infused with trap dance elements, marking a bit of a departure from her standard pure-pop fare, becomes her ninth career leader.
“This No 1 is the most unexpected one I’ve ever had,” Perry tells Billboard exclusively. “‘Dark Horse’ has been a dark horse of a song, since August when the KatyCats voted to release it early on iTunes, before ‘PRISM’ even came out. I’m so thrilled and grateful to have these moments.”
As we do each Wednesday, let’s run down the numbers behind the Hot 100’s top 10, starting with a host of accolades that Perry and Juicy J earn upon their coronation.
Nine No 1s: “Dark Horse” marks Perry’s ninth Hot 100 No 1, lifting her into a five-way tie for 10th place among artists with the most toppers in the chart’s 55-year history. The Beatles lead with 20 No 1s, followed by Mariah Carey (18); Michael Jackson and Rihanna (13 each); Madonna and the Supremes (12 each); Whitney Houston (11); Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder (10 each). Perry equals the No 1 sums of the Bee Gees, Elton John, Paul McCartney (solo/apart from the Beatles) and Usher.
Perry’s nine Hot 100 champs are: “I Kissed a Girl” (2008), “California Gurls,” featuring Snoop Dogg, “Teenage Dream,” “Firework” (2010), “ET,” featuring Kanye West, “Last Friday Night (TGIF)” (2011), “Part of Me” (2012), “Roar” (2013) and “Dark Horse.”
The ‘10s Spot: Perry has tallied eight of her nine Hot 100 No 1s in the ‘10s, tying Rihanna for the highest total this decade. Bruno Mars ranks second in the ‘10s with five leaders, followed by Adele, Eminem and Ke$ha (three each).
As of this week, Perry becomes the only artist to have risen to No 1 in each year of the current decade.
‘Dream’ On: “Dark Horse” is the second Hot 100 No 1 from Perry’s album ‘PRISM’, following lead single “Roar,” which ruled for two weeks in September. With Perry having logged five No 1s from her last album, “Teenage Dream” (tying Michael Jackson’s “Bad” in 1987-88 for the most No 1s from an album), she joins a select group of (now five) women who’ve tallied multiple No 1s from consecutive studio albums.
Mariah Carey collected multiple Hot 100 No 1s from an incredible four consecutive studio sets (excluding her 1994 holiday release ‘Merry Christmas’). She notched two from 1993’s ‘Music Box’ (“Dreamlover,” “Hero”); three from 1995’s ‘Daydream’ (“Fantasy,” “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, “Always Be My Baby”); two from 1997’s ‘Butterfly’ (“Honey,” “My All”) and two from 1999’s ‘Rainbow’ (“Heartbreaker,” featuring Jay Z, and “Thank God I Found You,” featuring Joe and 98 Degrees).
Whitney Houston earned multiple No 1s from three straight studio efforts: ‘Whitney Houston’ yielded three in 1985-86 (“Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love of All”); ‘Whitney’ produced four in 1987-88 (“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “So Emotional,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”); and, ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ generated two in 1990-91 (the title cut and “All the Man That I Need”).
Janet Jackson managed the achievement over two albums. She scored four No 1s from 1989’s ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’ (“Miss You Much,” “Escapade,” “Black Cat,” “Love Will Never Do (Without You)”) and two from 1993’s ‘Janet’ (“That’s The Way Love Goes,” “Again”).
Paula Abdul created the elite club in 1989-91. She posted four No 1s from 1989’s ‘Forever Your Girl’ (“Straight Up,” the title track, “Cold Hearted,” “Opposites Attract,” with the Wild Pair) and two from 1991’s ‘Spellbound’ (“Rush Rush,” “The Promise of a New Day”).
(Looking ahead, should Perry post a third No 1 from ‘PRISM’ [perhaps potential single candidates like “Birthday,” “Walking on Air” or “International Smile”?], she’d join Houston as the only women with at least three leaders from consecutive studio albums.)
“Horse” Races: Let’s also hear it for the song that has Perry back in the saddle at No 1 on the Hot 100. Horse-torians, take note: the new No 1 is the second with the word “horse” in its title. America’s “A Horse With No Name” led for three weeks in 1972. The next highest-peaking such songs to have raced up the Hot 100: Cliff Nobles & Co’s “The Horse” (No 2, 1968) and Taylor Swift’s “White Horse” (No 13, 2008).
Juicy’s Jump: Meanwhile, “Dark Horse” featured act Juicy J celebrates his first Hot 100 No 1. He previously peaked as high as No 11 in October as a guest, with Miley Cyrus and Wiz Khalifa, on Mike WiLL Made-It’s “23.”
