VOA常速英语:Top 5 Songs for Week Ending Dec. 21

We’re checking out the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending December 21, 2013.

Nothing new enters our charmed circle this week, but the list gets a good shaking up. Let’s open in fifth place, where last week’s champ, Miley Cyrus falls to fifth place with “Wrecking Ball.” Miley has finally opened up about her relationship with ex-boyfriend, Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, with whom she broke up after nearly four years. Speaking with Barbra Walters, Miley said that for a long time, she was scared of being alone - and that conquering that fear was among her biggest accomplishments this year.

Stepping back a slot in fourth place comes Lorde with another former title-holder, “Royals.” Last week, Lorde surprised her fans by releasing a new single, “No Better.” She also says she’s writing songs for her second full-length album, but hasn’t had a chance to hit the studio yet.

Up two slots to third place goes OneRepublic with “Counting Stars.” This song has already hit number one in the United Kingdom, but how high has OneRepublic risen in its U.S. homeland? Well, they haven’t had a U.S. number one single…yet. Back in 2007, their debut single “Apologize” reached second place, while hitting number one in more than a dozen countries.

Up two slots to second place go Pitbull and Ke$ha with “Timber.” Pitbull tells radio host Ryan Secrest that Avicii’s international hit “Wake Me Up” inspired him to use a harmonica in this song. As for him working with Ke$ha - they’d sung and toured together before, and Pitbull says they became good friends.

Up at number one is a familiar duo: Eminem and Rihanna with “The Monster.” How many times have they collaborated? If you said twice, you’re wrong - This is their fourth collaboration. You probably remember their huge 2010 hit “Love The Way You Lie,” and they also sang together on its sequel, “Love The Way You Lie (Part II).” Finally, the pair worked together on “Numb,” which appears on Rihanna’s latest album, Unapologetic.

That’s it for now, but let’s reunite next week for a new lineup.