VOA常速英语:Top 5 Countdown for Week Ending May 17

This is the Top Five Countdown! We’re hitting the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending May 17, 2014.
 
I was happy last week, I'm walking on air this week: all the songs change places, with two new titles and a new champion! I just don’t know what to do with myself.

Let’s begin in fifth place, where Katy Perry and Juicy J fall two slots with “Dark Horse.” Is Katy feuding with Lady Gaga?

Last week, Lady Gaga took to Twitter to point out certain similarities between her stage show and Katy’s setup on her new “Prismatic” tour. We’ll see where this possible feud goes over the next few months - both women are on the road well into November.

Taking this week’s chart by storm is Australian newcomer Iggy Azalea - who jumps three slots to fourth place with “Fancy” featuring British singer Charli XCX. Iggy was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly in Australia. She traveled to the United States at age 16 and stayed…with the intention of becoming a rap star. She’s done just that: her debut album The New Classic opened in third place on the U.S. chart, and that’s just the beginning…

...because she shares this week’s Hot Shot Debut slot with another promising newcomer, Ariana Grande. They start strong in third place with “Problem.”

No problems here: written by Swedish hitmaker Max Martin, this cut came within a hair’s breadth of snagging the championship: less than one tenth of one percent.
That means Pharrell Williams is even closer to regaining his crown after falling to number two with “Happy.” He recently revealed 25 secrets to US Magazine. Among the highlights: music makes him see colors, and he’s constantly cold - that’s one reason he moved to Miami.

John Legend finally gets a Hot 100 championship, as “All Of Me” rises to the top. He already has plenty of other honors: John Legend - real name John Stephens - has been making records since 2000, initially releasing them independently. He signed with Kanye West’s label and has since released four gold, platinum, or multi-platinum albums. He’s also won nine Grammy Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, and a British MOBO Award.

That’s it for now, but the charts never sleep. Come join us next week for a new lineup!