Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, 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 segment – Chart Rewind (a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay) – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.
This week we think it’s just about time to reflect on ‘Just Dance’ – the inaugural chart-topping single of Lady Gaga.
Join us inside:
Although electronic dance music had been subject to many mutations and monikers before earning an official classification, the genre didn’t experience its greatest push as its own music form until the late noughties. Beginning its domination of Billboard charts shortly after the descent of the Crunk/Snap era, EDM not only made a splash via a number of established acts abandoning their native genres to hop on the wave but also thanks to a swarm of rookies. None among the latter class made more noise than then-newcomer Lady Gaga.
After establishing herself as a songwriting force (penning hits for some of music’s biggest acts), the songstress built buzz for her own tunes on the underground scene in 2007 and 2008 with a unique fusion of Euro- and 80’s-inspired Pop. Standing as an anomaly to her counterparts for her ability to couple the dance tracks with soaring vocals, the young performer’s potent musical recipe eventually caught the attention of hit rapper Akon.
The two joined forces with singer-songwriter Colby O’Donis to pen ‘Just Dance’ and selected the cut to be the first single from her inaugural album, ‘The Fame.’
A sleeper hit, the song spent nearly half a year on the Hot 100 before rising to the top spot to unseat Beyonce‘s megahit, ‘Single Ladies.’ Coming as Gaga’s first leader on the tally, the RedOne-produced bop held on to the summit for three weeks before being dethroned by Kelly Clarkson‘s ‘My Life Would Suck Without You.’
Launching the diva’s career into the stratosphere, ‘Dance’ may have been overlooked by the Recording Academy (losing out on its ‘Best Dance Recording’ nomination at the 2009 Grammy’s), but it was a winner among music lovers as it moseyed right past the RIAA’s 8x Platinum mark – denoting 8 million units sold.
While we celebrate the tune that introduced us to one of Pop’s most beloved figures, look below to see who joined her in the top 25 this week 11 years ago:
Hot 100 This Week in 2009
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to see the latest Hot 100 chart courtesy of our ‘Chart Check’ segment.
What the f****?
U guys didnt acknowledge Colby o Donnis?
It’s his song also. He made the song good.
I’ll never forget when I first heard this song. I was in college. And we was having a debate about beyonce being the only artist who can sing and dance. And this one kid was like not anymore, there’s lady Gaga. I remember pulling this video up and laughing like what the f is this. Crazy to see what she made of her career.
Sad that the industry had to discard Xtina to make room for her!
A Stat Was Born