VOA常速英语:Top 5 Songs for Week Ending Sept. 27

We’re celebrating the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending September 27, 2014.

The Top Five takes a deep breath this week, with a couple of songs changing positions…but that’s about it.

Let’s start in fifth place, where Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj dip a slot with “Bang Bang.” Jessie says she takes her health seriously. When she was 18, Jessie suffered a minor stroke - the result of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. The condition was diagnosed when she was 11. Jessie’s third album Sweet Talker hits the market on October 13.

Taking over fourth place is Iggy Azalea with “Black Widow,” featuring Rita Ora. An old relationship has come back to haunt the Australian rapper… Iggy has filed suit against an old boyfriend. She claims that Maurice Williams, who raps as Jefe Wine, leaked some of her early songs without her permission. The suit reportedly contains nine complaints, among them copyright infringement.

Holding in third place is Nicki Minaj with “Anaconda.” This song was inspired by Sir Mix-A-Lot’s rap classic “Baby Got Back”…and not surprisingly, he thinks it’s great. Appearing September 20 on a Reddit online question-and-answer session, the Seattle rapper said he has a lot of fun listening to Nicki’s track, and he doesn’t mind watching the video, either.

Holding in second place is Taylor Swift with “Shake It Off.” Last weekend, Taylor had some fans over to her house for a secret listening party… The five-hour event featured songs from her upcoming album 1989. She also fed them homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies…hey Taylor, where was our invitation? The rest of us will get the album on October 27.

Holding the pop singles title for a second week is Meghan Trainor, with “All About That Bass.” Meghan’s EP Title opens in 15th place on the latest Billboard album chart, and there’s a full-length set also on the way…we just don’t have a release date yet. The 20-year-old says she’s taking her time…because she has no intention of becoming a one-hit wonder.

The hits never stop happening on the Hot 100, so be sure and join us next week for a new lineup!