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. Rihanna - "Where Have You Been"
Courtesy Def Jam
Rihanna's music video for "Where Have You Been" broke a Vevo record for having the most views in a 24 hour period. It was watched 4.93 million times in the first day it was posted on the music video service. "Where Have You Been" is in the top 10 on the US dance chart and went to #1 on the dance chart in the UK.
2. Pitbull - "Back In Time"
Courtesy RCA
Pitbull's "Back In Time" is beginning to climb pop charts around the world. It is top 10 in Canada and Austria. The song samples extensively from "Love Is Strange," a #1 R&B and #11 pop hit single for Mickey and Sylvia in 1957. The guitar riff in both songs was originated by blues musician Jody Williams.
3. Usher - "Scream"
Courtesy RCA
Usher last collaborated with pop producer Max Martin in 2010 on the top 5 pop hit single "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love." It has quickly risen into the top 20 in pop radio airplay.
4. Jennifer Lopez - "Dance Again" featuring Pitbull
Courtesy Epic
Jennifer Lopez performed "Dance Again" live on American Idol last week. It did boost the song up the iTunes sales chart. "Dance Again" is a #1 dance hit in the US and is nearing the top 10 on the Latin pop chart. It is a #1 pop hit in countries as diverse as Greece and Poland.
5. Kirko Bangz - "Drank In My Cup"
Courtesy Warner Bros.
Rapper Kirko Bangz is a college student in Texas. "Drank In My Cup" is his first #1 rap hit. It has also reached #5 on the R&B singles chart. The song is included on his mixtape Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa.
6. Gym Class Heroes - "The Fighter" featuring Ryan Tedder
Courtesy Fueled By Ramen
Gym Class Heroes struggled to follow up their 2006 top 5 pop hit single "Cupid's Chokehold." with another pop hit. Finally, last summer, "Stereo Hearts," their collaboration with Adam Levine of Maroon 5, matched the #4 pop peak of "Cupid's Chokehold." "The Fighter" is now aiming to be the group's fourth top 20 pop hit.
7. Rita Ora - "How We Do (Party)"
Courtesy Roc Nation
This past weekend Rita Ora became the first artist in 2012 to have two #1 pop hits in the UK. Neither of them are this song. She first hit the peak as the featured vocalist on DJ Fresh's "Hot Right Now." Now her debut UK single as lead artist, "R.I.P.," has hit #1. "How We Do (Party)" is climbing both the pop and dance charts in the US.
8. Ellie Goulding - "Lights"
Courtesy Interscope
After four top 40 pop hits at home in the UK, "Lights" has become Ellie Goulding's breakthrough pop single in both the US and Canada. The song "Lights" first appeared as a bonus track on the UK's iTunes edition of the album Lights. It was then included on the Bright Lights deluxe reissue of the album.
9. One Direction - "One Thing"
Courtesy Columbia
One Direction follow their first US top 10 pop hit "What Makes You Beautiful" with the song released as their third single in the UK. "One Thing" was a #9 pop hit in the UK. It has also been a top 10 double platinum hit in Australia.
10. Karmin - "Brokenhearted"
Courtesy Epic
Last week Karmin released their major label debut EP HELLO. In addition to its success on pop charts, "Brokenhearted" is also a top 5 dance hit.
