VOA常速英语:Top 5 Songs for Week Ending January 11

We’re checking out the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending January 11, 2014.

The chart begins to stir from its post-holiday slumber this week, as two positions change hands. Hey, it’s a start!

Falling a slot to number five is the combo platter of A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera with “Say Something.” Christina experienced a loss in 2013 - and she was very happy about it. Shortly after divorcing Jordan Bratman in 2010, Christina began gaining weight - but last year saw her regain her former figure. She reportedly lost 22 kilos through exercise, healthy eating, and limiting her alcohol intake.

Taking over in fourth place is Lorde, with her former champion, "Royals". The singer says a meeting with a rock legend was a high point in her year.  Last year, Lorde met David Bowie at actress Tilda Swinton’s birthday party, and it was a mutual admiration society: speaking with Rookie Magazine, Lorde said Bowie told her that listening to her music was like listening to tomorrow. For her part, Lorde says it was a beautiful moment.

Holding at number three, is OneRepublic and “Counting Stars.” Bandleader Ryan Tedder is a well-known songwriter and producer who’s worked with dozens of our biggest performers. He contributed to Beyonce’s latest album - but says he didn’t know it was coming out until 90 minutes before its release last month.

Here in the United States, Pitbull and Ke$ha hold in second place with “Timber.” Over in the United Kingdom, it just became the first new number one single of 2014. In other news, Ke$ha has checked herself into a rehab facility for an unidentified eating disorder.

Eminem and Rihanna hold the Hot 100 pop singles championship for a fourth straight week with “The Monster.” That’s impressive enough, but how about this: it’s selling better than ever. It moved 433,000 downloads in its latest week; that’s the most since its release last November.

Is a fifth week in the cards? There’s only one way to know: stop by next week and find out!