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. Katy Perry - "Part Of Me"
Courtesy Capitol
Katy Perry looks like she could have the first pop single to debut at #1 since Lady Gaga accomplished the feat with "Born This Way" in the spring of 2011. It would be Katy Perry's seventh #1 hit single. "Part Of Me" is the first single from the deluxe re-release of the Teenage Dream album.
2. Nicki Minaj - "Starships"
Courtesy Cash Money
"Starships" is the first single from Nicki Minaj's upcoming second solo album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. RedOne co-wrote and co-produced the song. "Starships" is already a top 20 pop hit in the UK and is swiftly climbing pop radio airplay charts in the US.
3. Chris Brown - "Turn Up the Music"
Courtesy RCA
Chris Brown released the music video for "Turn Up the Music" this week. He and former girlfriend Rihanna have generated controversy by giving indications they may be rekindling their former romance. "Turn Up the Music" has already reached the pop top 10 in New Zealand.
4. The Wanted - "Glad You Came"
Courtesy Mercury Records
Glee will do a cover version of "Glad You Came" on this week's episode of the show. The Wanted were formed from the results of mass auditions held in 2009. Jayne Collins, who was also responsible for forming the girl group The Saturdays, put the Wanted together as a boy band.
5. Calvin Harris - "Feel So Close"
Courtesy Columbia Records
Scottish producer and recording artist Calvin Harris made his first appearance on the US pop charts as producer and featured artist for Rihanna's #1 hit single "We Found Love." "Feel So Close" is his first hit single in the US as lead artist. It includes his own singing as lead vocals.
6. Gotye - "Somebody That I Used To Know" featuring Kimbra
Courtesy Universal Republic
Australian artist Gotye says that "Somebody That I Used To Know" was written based on his own experiences with personal relationships. It spent eight weeks at #1 in Australia and recently hit #1 in the UK. "Somebody That I Used To Know" is a #1 alternative songs hit here in the US as well as reaching the top 3 on the rock songs chart.
7. Train - "Drive By"
Courtesy Sony
Train was formed in 1994 after lead vocalist Pat Monahan moved to California when the Led Zeppelin cover band he was part of dissolved. The group self-released their self-titled debut album in 1998 and it included the top 20 pop hit single "Meet Virigina." Train's sixth studio album California 37 is due for release April 17, 2012.
8. Coldplay - "Paradise"
Single cover courtesy Parlophone
Coldplay's "Paradise" single was first released back in September 2011. Just when it seems it is fading from the charts, something happens to spur more interest in the song, and it begins to climb again. The band performed the song at the Grammy Awards, and that has set off another chart climb.
9. Christina Perri - "A Thousand Years"
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Christina Perri's older brother Nick is a former member of the band Shinedown. She moved to Los Angeles on her 21st birthday and got married by the end of that year. During the 18 months she was married and subsequent breakup she wrote her breakthrough song "Jar Of Hearts." It became a hit after being featured on the show So You Think You Can Dance.
10. The Fray - "Heartbeat"
Courtesy Epic
The Fray first debuted the song "Heartbeat" in concert in May 2011. It was released as a single in October later that year. "Heartbeat" has been a top 10 hit at adult pop radio.
