These are the hottest 10 pop songs of the week as determined by About Top 40. This chart is compiled consulting data from various music industry charts and sources. It is intended to indicate the hottest rising hits. Recordings that have reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart are disqualified from this chart.
1. will.i.am - "Scream and Shout" featuring Britney Spears
Courtesy Interscope
"Scream and Shout" had the fourth highest Billboard Hot 100 debut of any Britney Spears song. It is soaring up pop charts around the world having a #2 launch on the charts in the UK. will.i.am's solo album #willpower featuring the hit is set to hit stores February 1, 2013.
2. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - "Thrift Shop" featuring Wanz
Courtesy Macklemore
"Thrift Shop" continues to be THE breakout indie hit song of the end of 2012. With an accompanying humorous music video that has had viral success on YouTube, the song has reached the top 5 on both the rap and R&B songs charts. It has also reached the top 30 on the alternative songs chart as well as making progress at mainstream pop radio.
3. Pink - "Try"
Courtesy RCA
The stylish music video for Pink's "Try" has received significant acclaim. It was directed by Floria Sigismondi who also received kudos for her work on Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away" and "E.T." "Try" is a top 10 pop hit single in the UK.
4. One Direction - "Little Things"
Courtesy Syco
The music video for One Direction's "Little Things" was shot in black and white. The song has become another international hit for the boy band reaching #2 in New Zealand and topping the pop singles chart in the UK. The album Take Me Home has been certified platinum in countries around the world.
5. Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin - "Don't You Worry Child"
Courtesy Astralwerks
"Don't You Worry Child" is one of the top 25 hit dance songs in the US for the year 2012. It has become a top 10 pop hit for Swedish House Mafia around the world. "Don't You Worry Child" has hit #1 in Australia, the UK, and Sweden. The featured vocalist John Martin is best known for his work with Swedish House Mafia having sung on their previous US #1 dance hit "Save the World."
6. Calvin Harris - "Sweet Nothing" featuring Florence Welch
Courtesy Columbia
UK dance artist and producer Calvin Harris has explained that his current album 18 Months sounds like a compilation album because of the wide range of vocalists featured. "Sweet Nothing" is the fifth song from the album that has been released as a single. It has reached #1 on the UK pop singles chart as well as #1 on the dance chart in both the US and UK.
7. Maroon 5 - "Daylight"
Courtesy Octone
Maroon 5 vocalist Adam Levine has stated that "Daylight" is his favorite song on the band's Overexposed album. Maroon 5 have performed the song live on The Voice, Saturday Night Live, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
8. Alicia Keys - "Girl On Fire" featuring Nicki Minaj
Courtesy RCA
A primary inspiration for Alicia Keys' entire album Girl On Fire was the birth of her son Egypt and marriage to producer Swizz Beatz. Speaking of her event-filled last three years, she said, "This whirlwind has definitely forced me to be who I am, to be free enough and brave enough to just not accept anything else-nor try to be anything else." The album Girl On Fire hit #1 on the album chart.
9. Hunter Hayes - "Wanted"
Courtesy Atlantic Nashville
21 year old Hunter Hayes is one of the hottest new country artists of the year. The single "Wanted" has gone to #1 on the country chart and has sold nearly two million copies. It is now a top 30 hit on both adult pop and mainstream pop radio. The self-titled album Hunter Hayes has reached the top 5 on the album chart.
10. Ed Sheeran - "The A Team"
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Ed Sheeran's breakthrough hit single "The A Team" has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. His star is likely to climb even further next year when he tours as opening act for Taylor Swift.
