It’s (Not) the Same Old Song: Different Compositions, Same Titles to Top the Hot 100, From ‘Hello’ to ‘Stay’ & More

It’s (Not) the Same Old Song: Different Compositions, Same Titles to Top the Hot 100, From ‘Hello’ to ‘Stay’ & More

Just like nearly 61 years ago, a song called “Stay” tops the Billboard Hot 100.

The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” ascends to No. 1 on the chart dated Aug. 14, 2021. The song shares the title of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs’s classic one-week leader, which ruled the ranking dated Nov. 21, 1960.

(Of course, the tallies’ top five look a bit different, each shining with stars of their respective eras. The new No. 1 “Stay” shares space with hits by Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, BTS and Ed Sheeran. The original ranked above songs by Elvis Presley, Johnny Tillotson, Floyd Cramer and Ray Charles.)

“Stay,” thus, joins the club of different compositions but with matching titles that have led the Hot 100 over the chart’s 63-year history.

Below is a rundown of all such smashes. As a strict English teacher would surely appreciate, not included are three pairs of titles that each sound the same but have slight differences: “All 4 Love,” Color Me Badd / “All for Love,” Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting; “Stuck With You,” Huey Lewis & the News / “Stuck With U,” Ariana Grande and Bieber; and “Wild, Wild West,” The Escape Club / “Wild Wild West,” Will Smith featuring Dru Hill and Kool Mo Dee.

Also excluded is Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories’ “Stay (I Missed You),” Loeb’s debut three-week No. 1 smash in 1994, due to the parenthetical in its title.

From “Bad Blood” to “Good Vibrations” and more, here is the full list.

“Bad Blood”
Neil Sedaka, reached No. 1 on Hot 100 dated Oct. 11, 1975, three weeks at No. 1
Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, June 6, 2015, one

“Best of My Love”
Eagles, March 1, 1975, one
The Emotions, Aug. 20, 1977, five

“Big Girls Don’t Cry”
The 4 Seasons, Nov. 17, 1962, five
Fergie, Sept. 8, 2007, one

“Family Affair”
Sly & The Family Stone, Dec. 4, 1971, three
Mary J. Blige, Nov. 3, 2001, six

“Good Vibrations”
The Beach Boys, Dec. 10, 1966, one
Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch feat. Loleatta Holloway, Oct. 5, 1991, one

“Hello”
Lionel Richie, May 12, 1984, two
Adele, Nov. 14, 2015, 10

“Honey”
Bobby Goldsboro, April 13, 1968, five
Mariah Carey, Sept. 13, 1997, three

“I’m Sorry”
Brenda Lee, July 18, 1960, three
John Denver, Sept. 27, 1975, one

“Jump”
Van Halen, Feb. 25, 1984, five
Kris Kross, April 25, 1992, eight

“My Love”
Petula Clark, Feb. 5, 1966, two
Paul McCartney & Wings, June 2, 1973, four
Justin Timberlake feat. T.I., Nov. 11, 2006, three

“One More Night”
Phil Collins, March 30, 1985, two
Maroon 5, Sept. 29, 2012, nine

“One More Try”
George Michael, May 28, 1988, three
Timmy T., March 23, 1991, one

“Rockstar”
Post Malone feat. 21 Savage, Oct. 28, 2017, eight
DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch, June 13, 2020, seven

“Stay”
Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Nov. 21, 1960, one
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, Aug. 14, 2021, one to-date

“Take a Bow”
Madonna, Feb. 25, 1995, seven
Rihanna, May 24, 2008, one

“The Power of Love”
Huey Lewis & The News, Aug. 24, 1985, two
Celine Dion, Feb. 12, 1994, four

“Venus”
Frankie Avalon, March 9, 1959, five
The Shocking Blue, Feb. 7, 1970, one / Bananarama, Sept. 6, 1986, one

 
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