THE NUMBER ONES

Trying to capture the last seven decades of popular music through 20 songs sounds daunting, but this breezy history is gripping and entertaining.

Breihan is a senior editor at Stereogum, where he writes “The Number Ones” column, which catalogs the story behind every No. 1 single on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. In this book version of his project, he attacks his subject with an engaging mix of clever facts and savvy observations. With only 20 slots to fill, he has to make some tough choices, meaning the Rolling Stones and Elton John aren’t on the list, but Rae Sremmurd and Soulja Boy are. It’s a testament to Breihan’s arguments that all these choices make sense, as he tries to explain how we moved from Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” to the current state of pop music. That road involves shifting business and racial influences in addition to musical developments, and the author reveals it all. Writing about “Billie Jean,” Breihan notes, “Michael Jackson is a tragic and troubling figure, but he’s also a pivotal one. [He] changed the size and scope of pop music. He moved things away from segregated radio formats and toward a pan-racial, pan-genre music-video future.” The author also explains the current power of streaming services and social media. “Since the streaming services’ playlists and algorithms constantly updated themselves,” he writes, “a viral fad like the Mannequin Challenge could have an immediate effect on the charts. Rae Sremmurd and their label were smart enough to connect the group to a viral fad, and in the new streaming economy, this was enough to push them to #1.” For those looking for more conventional commentary, Breihan offers plenty of interesting insights into hits from the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Prince, and Mariah Carey, but the surprises are where he shines brightest.

A fun, buzzy history that effectively uses context and criticism to explain the effervescence of pop music.