Making Memories

Today in Music History: January 9

For today's music history, the spotlight shines on the first No. 1 hit of the new year. In fact, it is making history at the present time. How long it will run is yet to be seen. Following the featured artist are many U.S. hits by various recording artists as reported on Billboard for each decade from the 50s to the 2000s. Click on the year for all the songs that made number one in that year. It is interesting and amazing to go back in time, revisit the songs of yesteryear and reflect upon the memories of the times. Each song has its own story whether its the lyrics, the music, the songwriter, the performer or the emotion that brought about a memory.

Welcome into the Spotlight...

 Taylor & Her Guitar

Taylor Alison Swift: multi-Grammy award-winning American singer/songwriter who, in 2010 and at the age of 20, became the youngest artist in history to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year

Quite simply, Taylor Swift is a global superstar with having just celebrated her 26th birthday this past December. She is one of country music's top recording artists, having successfully crossed over into pop. To date, she has achieved seven Grammy awards and has become the youngest recipient in history of the music industry's highest honor, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year (2009). 

Swift started crafting songs at age 5, and at age 16, released her debut album. The upcoming 57th Grammy Awards in February find Taylor Swift's name at the top of the list of nominees for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. She is the best-selling digital music artist of all time, and the only female artist in music history (and just the fourth artist ever) to twice have an album hit the 1 million first-week sales figure (2010's Speak Now and 2012's RED). She's a household name whose insanely catchy yet deeply personal self-penned songs transcend music genres, and a savvy businesswoman who has built a childhood dream into an empire.

2015 Taylor Swift's hit single 'Blank Space' holds the No. 1 spot into its 7th week placing it the first No. 1 of the new year. The song finds Swift sending up her image as a heartbreaker who writes all of her songs about former boyfriends. She warns us that she's "got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane" plus she has, "a blank space baby, and I'll write your name."

Swift performed this song to open the 2014 American Music Awards. In the very elaborate production, Swift wore an evening gown and a headset microphone as she made her way thought a variety of sets populated by a bevy of dancers portraying the men she was dismissing. At one point, she even handles a flaming rose in a bit of symbolism. Click the image for the video...

Memories Through the Decades...

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  1952 The biggest hit version of Churchill Kohlman's 'Cry' was performed by Johnnie Ray, one of the greatest of the transition singers between the crooners and the rockers. The song remained at No.1 for 11 weeks.

• “I want to make music for everyone. It’s meant to give people pleasure. If it doesn’t, it’s failed in its purpose.” (Bert Kaempfert)

  1961 Bert Kaempfert started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Wonderland By Night'. Kaempfert produced The Beatles first recording session when they were in Hamburg.

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  1970 B.J. Thomas and the hit single 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' remained in the No.1 spot for 4 weeks. Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote this song for the film Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It was the first million-seller for the legendary songwriters. This won the Oscar for Best Song From A Motion Picture at the 1970 awards, where Thomas performed it. Bacharach also won for Best Score.
   
• 1988 Whitney Houston scored another consecutive No.1 in the US with 'So Emotional'. This was one of seven consecutive singles Houston released that hit #1 in the US. No one else has done that. Click HERE for Whitney Houston's No. 1 songs.

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  1994 When Mariah Carey recorded 'Hero', she did not like the song at first, feeling it was too sappy. After receiving letters from fans claiming it touched their lives, she came to realize that it was a very powerful song and appreciate it for the feelings it brings out in people. The song remained at No. 1 for four weeks.

• 2001 Destiny's Child with 'Independent Women Part 1' reached the top of the charts remaining at No. 1 for 11 weeks. The biggest hit of 2000, this song followed the winning formula of accessible Hip-Hop/Dance attached to a blockbuster movie. In the late-'90s, this was the forte of Will Smith, who did it with "Men In Black" (1997) and "Wild Wild West" (1999). "Independent Women" was featured in the movie Charlie's Angels; the stars of the film, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu, are mentioned in the song.

 

2008 Spice Girl Victoria Beckham was named the worst dressed celebrity in an annual list of fashion disasters. Fashion critic Richard Blackwell, who had compiled the poll every year since 1960, said Beckham stepped out in "one skinny-mini monstrosity after another". Amy Winehouse's trademark beehive and tattoos helped earn her second place in the list.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...