VOA常速英语:Top 5 Songs for Week Ending Aug. 1

We’re celebrating the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending August 1, 2015.
 
The chart just cruises along this week, not welcoming any new titles…it is the middle of summer in the UNited States, so maybe it just doesn’t want to exert itself.
 
Let’s open in fifth place, where Silento holds steady with “Watch Me.” The Atlanta, Georgia teenager says he’s excited over his success, and always wanted to be a role model. He uploaded his song to SoundCloud in January, and posted Instagram videos of people dancing to the track. After that, Capitol Records came calling, and now “Watch Me” has sold nearly 1 million tracks.

Also holding steady are Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar in fourth place, with “Bad Blood.” Last week, Taylor and Nicki Minaj sparred on Twitter over comments Nicki made about the MTV Video Music Award nominations. That beef is over…but on July 27, video footage appeared of Taylor performing with Katy Perry’s famed “Left Shark” from her Super Bowl show. Keen fans know this has significance…since “Bad Blood” is supposedly about Swift’s rivalry with Perry. It’s all very dramatic.

On the Hot 100 chart, Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth descend a slot to third place with “See You Again.” Meanwhile, it holds in 15th place on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart…without Wiz. Charlie’s rap-free version is finding favor on the A/C list, after he released it on SoundCloud.

Jumping a slot to second place is The Weeknd, with “Can’t Feel My Face.” He co-wrote this song with Max Martin, the Swedish producer who’s crafted hits for dozens of other acts, from the Backstreet Boys to Ariana Grande. In fact, The Weeknd met Martin while collaborating on Ariana’s smash hit “Love Me Harder.”

Up at number one, OMI enjoys a second week of glory with “Cheerleader.” How did he come by that name? His real name is Omar Samuel Pasley, and he tells USA Today that his late father gave him his three-letter nickname. OMI says he capitalizes it to stand out.
 
Can he stand out for a third week? We’ll find out next week.