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 press play on pop icon Whitney Houston‘s jaw-dropping rendition of the U.S. national anthem. The repackaged noughties version of the historic number became the singer’s last top 10 single this week in 2001:
When you’re pop icon Whitney Houston, the phrase “one and only” or “first and only” are staples you’re more than used to hearing. By 1991 (just 6 years into her career), Houston had already become the first woman to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, amassed multiple Grammy wins, a record 7 consecutive #1 singles (a record that still stands), and much more. And, while seemingly everything she touched at the time turned to gold (or more fittingly, platinum), not even her staunchest supporters could have predicted the pop star would turn the United States’ national anthem into a top 20 hit thanks to a moving rendition at that year’s Super Bowl.
What’s more? Just 10 years later, she not only did it again, but saw the song shoot to its highest height. In response to the September 2001 terrorist attacks, American patriotism – at a new high – took to Houston’s soul-stirring rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ so much the song shot to #6 on the Hot 100 (where it was found this week that year). The feat not only etched the pop icon’s name in history books for yet another unprecedented accomplishment, but also earned yet another platinum-selling single out of the deal.
Relive the magic of that performance above and see who joined Nippy this week in 2001 on this week’s Chart Rewind:
Hot 100 This Week in 2001
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to see this week’s full “Hot 100: Chart Check.”
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