VOA常速英语:Top 5 Countdown for Week Ending November 30

On this week's Top Five Countdown, we’re exploring the five most popular songs in the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending November 30, 2013.
 
f one characteristic distinguishes this week’s lineup, it’s this: out of six featured artists, four are female. It’s a woman’s world in the current Top Five.
 
It all starts in fifth place, where Katy Perry dips a slot with “Roar.” Katy’s gearing up for her next world tour. Last week, she took to Twitter to announce the dates of her upcoming Prismatic World Tour - which kicks off on May 7 in Belfast. Icona Pop will be her opening act on the British leg. Meanwhile, if you’re in London next week, you can catch Katy on December 7 at the Jingle Bell Ball at The O2.

Taking Katy Perry’s place at number four is Avicii with “Wake Me Up!” This song has hit number one in more than 20 countries worldwide including Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Slovakia, the U.K., and his homeland - Sweden. Here in the States, it hasn’t gone beyond fourth place…yet.

Holding at number three is Miley Cyrus with "Wrecking Ball".  She took over MTV on her 21st birthday. That’s a major birthday in the United States, as it represents the legal drinking age.  On November 23, Miley took over MTV for an eight-hour birthday celebration. The programming included highlights from her time on the network, along with clips of her favorite MTV shows. Miley ended the weekend by performing on November 24 at the American Music Awards.

Holding in second place are Eminem and Rihanna with “The Monster.” Eminem just lost a piece of his childhood. On November 20, the state of Michigan demolished the rapper's childhood home, after a recent fire damaged the top floor. The boarded-up bungalow in Detroit appeared on two Eminem album covers: 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP, and his brand-new album The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

Go ahead and give Lorde eight solid weeks at number one with “Royals"  which has sold three million copies in the United States. Last week, Lorde was back home in the Southern Hemisphere for the New Zealand Music Awards, where she grabbed four trophies, including Single Of The Year.

Will Eminem and Rihanna dethrone Lorde next week? There’s only one way to find out: join us in seven days for another chart survey.