Rihanna tops U.S. singles chart for third time
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - R&B singer Rihanna's "Take a Bow" soared 52 places to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday, the second-biggest jump to the top in the chart's 50-year history.
The record was set last year, when pop band Maroon 5's "Makes Me Wonder" leapt from No. 64 in a single bound. Coincidentally, Maroon 5 has a new single on the latest chart -- with featured artist Rihanna. Their collaboration on "If I Never See Your Face Again" debuted at No. 57.
"Take a Bow," the third No. 1 single of Rihanna's career, sent English pop singer Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" to No. 2 after a total of four weeks at the top.
The next seven songs on the chart also dipped one position from last week: Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" featuring Static Major, at No. 3; Jordin Sparks' "No Air" featuring Chris Brown, at No. 4; Usher's "Love in this Club" featuring Young Jeezy, at No. 5; Ray J & Yung Berg's "Sexy Can I," at No. 6, Madonna's "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake, at No. 7; Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body," at No 8; and Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocket Full of Sunshine," at No. 9.
Danity Kane's "Damaged" rose one to No. 10, the girl group's first top 10 hit since 2006.
The week's top debut belonged to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," which opened at No. 15. Another Coldplay track, "Violet Hill," started at No. 40. Both come from the band's upcoming album, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends." While a No. 15 debut is impressive, "Viva La Vida" is not Coldplay's highest new entry. In May 2005, "Speed of Sound" arrived at No. 8.
Reuters/Billboard
