Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, just as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history. This week we’ll reflect on the hit songs ‘Truth Is’ and ‘Ordinary People’ – the biggest hits found aboard the debut albums of R&B singers Fantasia Barrino and John Legend, respectively.
‘Truth’ – found on Barrino’s first release ‘Free Yourself’ – may have come as the set’s official lead single, but it was actually the ‘American Idol’ winner’s second go at chart success. Her first Hot 100 appearance, ‘I Believe’ (the season’s ‘Idol’ coronation song), debuted at #1 on the chart and only extended the already high set bar (thanks to previous ‘Idol’ winners Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard) for the success of releases from her official LP. A winner on the R&B chart (working its way to #2 on that tally), this week in 2005 the song peaked just one spot shy of the top 20.
Elsewhere that same week, Legend – another R&B newcomer at the time – was finding success with his second Hot 100 appearance. Thanks to the heart-tugging tune, ‘Ordinary People’ (found on his debut LP ‘Get Lifted’), the piano-tickling crooner was lifted to his then-Hot 100 peak. Going on to win a Grammy at the next year’s ceremony, ‘People’ would go on to be considered by many to be his signature tune (a truth that holds to this day).
Curious to see who joined the two in the top 25 this week 12 years ago? Find out inside:
Billboard Hot 100 This Week in 2005
Billboard Hot 100 This Week
Click here to read this week’s full Hot 100 chart check.