Updated on September 11th, 2021

Welcome to 2001, we’re officially into the new millennium. There was a considerable flow of # 1 singles last year. We concluded the year 2000 with the Destiny’s Child hit, “Independent Women Part I.” We all want to know though, will there be a part 2, girls? So musically, this year closes in on that late ’90s/early 2000s sound. It was the bridge the crossed the late 90s into the 2000s, possessing traits of both decades. In general, this time period was largely dominated by boy bands, teen pop stars, post grunge, Latin Pop, Nu Metal, slick/poppier sounding R&B music, and a very mainstream sound. Overall, it was a lighter atmosphere in popular music and the Hot 100 reflected this during 1999-2001. One aspect that began to change this year was the teen oriented music. Younger audiences began to outgrow the teen pop and boy bands beginning in 2001. Other artists and genres would survive further into the 2000s and evolve with the times. The one thing that stood out in 2001 were some of the # 1 hits. This year provided the Hot 100 Singles with a different and innovative sound not heard before and gave the top songs a breath of fresh air.

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The retail singles market faded even further this year. The physical singles market declined by 36.5% by the end of 2000. Strong airplay points were the key factors to reach the top. Of course, music downloads played a part in the decline. The free music sharing site, Napster, closed its doors this year. However, it did not stop other peer-to-peer file sharing networks from springing up. LimeWire and eventually Kazaa/Kazaa Lite got into the music file sharing game. Do you remember those virus ridden peer-to-peer sites? Eventually, legitimate paid download sites were in the works. Windows XP and the neverending Mac OS X made its debut this year which were major enhancements in their operating systems. Technology was moving at a faster pace, yet Billboard Magazine was not quite there yet with their charts.

The chart movements were still interesting in 2001. There were two of the top singles which spanned an overall long time on the chart while others stayed within the 20-30 range. One peculiar happening during 2001 were non-consecutive runs at the top. It was the trend this year for the same song to reclaim the # 1 spot in a nonconsecutive order. Six artists would achieve their first number one single while one of these artists surprised us all with two big hits. 2001 stands out as a favorite for fans of the 2000s decade. There were a plethora of big hits stemming from this year.

While we look back at Billboard’s top songs of 2001, I have also written about the tragic events of September 11, 2001. It is an important section that I care to discuss and something that we will never forget. That being said, let us first dive into the # 1 singles of 2001.

1. It Wasn’t Me – Shaggy featuring Ricardo “RikRok” Ducent

February 3, 2001 – 2 Weeks at # 1

Orville Richard Burrell is a Jamaican reggae musician, singer and also a DJ born in 1968 Kingston, Jamaica. He came to America in 1986 where he resided with his mother in the Flatbush neighborhood in New York City. He got his nickname Shaggy, from you guessed it, the Scooby Doo character named Shaggy. At age 18, Shaggy began performing with the local Jamaican-style sound system Gibraltar Musik. A steady income became an issue, and in 1988 Orville enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Persian Gulf War. Thank you for your service, Shaggy!

After leaving the U.S. Marine Corps in 1992, Shaggy heavily focused on his music career. His breakthrough single “Boombastic” was released in 1995. It turned out to be a major hit reaching # 3 on the Hot 100 Singles and # 1 on the R&B Singles. “Boombastic” sold over 1.2 million copies. Shaggy was a featured artist with fellow Reggae singer, Maxi Priest on the # 10 single, “That Girl” in 1996. We did not see much of Shaggy on the chart after that. That is until late 2000.

This alluring song by Shaggy “It Wasn’t Me” got its release in late August of 2000. The song features Reggae artist Rikrok whose real name is Ricardo George Ducent. So what’s this song all about? It begins with a dialogue between Rikrok and Shaggy. It’s all about a man, Rikrok, who is having an affair behind his girl’s back. The Reggae song kicks in and Shaggy advises him no matter what your girl accuses you of, never admit to anything, just say “It Wasn’t Me.” After listening to his reasoning, RikRok concludes that his advice does not make any sense. That may be perhaps the moral of this story, admit that you screwed up and it indeed was you. Good for you Shaggy, you keep it real! I recall this catchy song making the airwaves by the fall of 2000. You couldn’t escape the lighthearted feel of the song despite the subject matter. “It Wasn’t Me” rose up fast and made it to # 10 by December. Soon enough, Shaggy got into the top five and it appeared to be a contender for # 1.

Then, this happened.

“It Wasn’t Me” lost its bullet. Hmm..the surefire # 1 song burned out. It looked like a # 2 hit instead. Hey, it was still a hit song though. On the following week, the unexpected occurred.

Shaggy & Rikrok hit #1 on the week of February 3rd, 2001 becoming the first number one song of the year. Now, how did this happen? It just so happens that “Independent Women” went way down in its airplay points giving Shaggy and Rikrok the advantage to hit the top. They did it. “It Wasn’t Me” stood at 123 million listeners. “It Wasn’t Me” managed to stay two weeks at # 1. His runaway hit propelled him into the spotlight in a major way. His # 1 song got his fifth album, Hotshot, to # 2 and eventually to # 1, way to go Shaggy and Rikrok!

2. Ms. Jackson – OutKast

February 17, 2001 – 1 Week at # 1

The American hip hop duo, OutKast, are based out of Atlanta and have been active since the early 90s. OutKast consists of André 3000 and Big Boi. The duo pioneered hip hop with a fusion of soul, funk, psychedelia, jazz, and techno. I remember seeing OutKast’s first appearance on the Hot 100 back in 1993 with their single, “Player’s Ball.” The single hit # 37 winning a Gold RIAA cert. From there, the group kept a low profile until late 2000. OutKast came out with the very peculiar song, “Ms. Jackson.”

Who is Ms. Jackson? Well this is an interesting story. It actually revolves around a real life event. André 3000 (Andre Benjamin) of OutKast had a child out of wedlock with, singer Erykah Badu! Erykah Badu is a singer, songwriter who was popular during this time period. Throughout the song, he wanted Badu’s mother to hear his side of the story. It’s revealed that the child was kept away from Andre and he was portrayed as a bad father. The lyrical content does not give any indication to Badu but it more generalized. He dedicates the song to “Baby Mama’s mamas” at the start of the song.

“Ms Jackson” had a unique sound that caught on to listeners by the fall of 2000. It was making the rounds of mainstream, rhythmic and R&B stations and got its debut at # 55 in November. In fact, it was the highest debut of the week. In five weeks “Ms. Jackson” was in the top ten trailing behind the predecessor # 1 song, “It Wasn’t Me.” Both songs debuted on the same week. At the start of the year, “Ms Jackson” fluctuated at # 6 and # 7. Then, the single took a big jump to # 3 in February on the same week Destiny’s Child fell down. From there, they went to # 2 and finally # 1. “Ms. Jackson” was inescapable in early 2001 and it became a target of comedic parodies.

3. Stutter – Joe featuring Mystikal

February 24, 2001 – 4 Weeks at # 1

Joseph Lewis Thomas, known professionally as Joe, was born in 1973 and raised in New Jersey. He signed on to Polygram Records when he was just nineteen years old. He then moved over to Jive Records. Joe gained popularity during the 90s within the R&B genre. He then came in the spotlight as a featured singer on the Mariah Carey hit, “Thank God I Found You.” Their voices and talent created a # 1 hit single in early 2000.

In late 1999, Joe recorded the song “I Wanna Know” for the film, The Wood. It was released from the soundtrack album as an airplay track. “I Wanna Know” made it to # 4 on the Hot 100 and # 2 on the R&B chart. The song spent a whopping 44 weeks on the Hot 100 and 38 weeks within the top 40. In 2000, Joe released his third album in the summer, My Name is Joe. He really emphasizes who he is, doesn’t he? This album included “I Wanna Know” and the song, “Stutter.” Stutter is a mid tempo R&B song, smoothed out with Joe’s soulful voice. “Stutter” is about a man who confronts his woman who is lying and cheating on him. When he confronts her, she begins to stutter unable to tell him the truth. The man picks up on her nuances and tells her to leave at the end of the song. Dang, there is so much drama going on these songs! “Stutter” was chosen for the Orlando Jones and Eddie Griffin movie, Double Take. However, the film version of “Stutter” was remixed for the movie and it would be released as a single. The film version includes the rapper, Mystikal, with additional lyrics from both Joe and Mystikal. The tempo was pushed up and utilizes hip-hop beats and samples The Pharcyde’s, Passin’ Me By.

Okay, we need to get into the chart movement. So Joe and Mystikal hit the chart at # 73. It was immediately released as a single as a 12″ vinyl, cassette and CD single. The single’s main feature is the remixed “Stutter” with Mystikal, but it also includes the album version and the Slang Dance Remix of the song. From 73, it made a small move to 70 but the following week “Stutter” sprang up to # 28. The single pushed well over 15,000 units. The sales continued to grow, while the airplay increased. “Stutter” won the Greatest Gainer/Sales award two weeks in a row and it was selling over 60,000 units by February. Soon enough, Joe and Mystikal were in the top ten and then # 2. “Stutter” had the ever popular “Ms. Jackson” to contend with.

Sorry Ms. Jackson, Joe and Mystikal have taken over. “Stutter” hit # 1 for 4 weeks starting on February 24th, 2001. “Stutter” was a sales heavy song spending five weeks as the top selling song. In a strange move, Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” rebounded up to # 2, even winning the Greatest Gainer/Sales on that same week. This was because of the delayed release of the CD maxi-single of “It Wasn’t Me.” However, the airplay increased for Joe’s “Stutter” to over 65 million for the audience impressions and the sales lead was steady enough. “Stutter” reached # 5 on the Hot 100 Airplay. Nobody could get past Joe for four weeks. The single was eventually awarded a Gold RIAA certification selling well over 500,000 copies. After the success of Stutter, Joe made one more appearance in the top 40. He was a featured artist on the G-Unit single, Wanna Get To Know You in 2003. Joe continues to stay active in the music industry as a singer, songwriter and record producer. He released his thirteenth studio album, My Name Is Joe Thomas, in 2019.

4. Butterfly – Crazy Town

March 24, 2001 – 2 Weeks at # 1

Nu Metal was a genre that spanned from metal and alternative rock which began in the late ’90s. Nu metal bands have drawn elements and influences from a variety of musical styles. The genre combines other musical elements such as hip hop, funk and industrial. Nu Metal has also been seen as a rebellion against grunge which was dominant in the 1990s. It is a loosely defined musical structure that did not have one definitive style. Bands of the Nu Metal genre were experiencing mainstream success beginning in 1999 and through the early 2000s. Some of the most well known bands were Korn, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Slipknot, and the band that I will discussing, Crazy Town. One aspect of the Nu Metal genre which came into the spotlight was the rise of rap rock which included rapped vocals, DJs and hip hop beats.

Crazy Town was formed in 1995 originating from Los Angeles, California. Crazy Town was fronted by Brooklyn, New York native Bret Mazur and Marblehead, Massachusetts native Seth Binzer (a.k.a. Shifty Shellshock). Crazy Town possessed all of the characteristics of nu metal bands: distorted guitars, dark and moody sounds and rapped vocals. There was definitely an image to uphold and not a light one. Crazy Town released their first album, The Gift of Game, in November 1999 and they were now on to their third single by the beginning of 2001. So what are these tough guys rapping about in their latest single? Well this song was about…., Butterflies?

Seth Binzer wrote the song “Butterfly” about the girl whom he was seeing at the same. It was a romantic song about his girl who collected butterflies while the girl is also referred to as his butterfly in the lyrics. So I guess it was a like Nu Metal power ballad? Every rock genre needs one of those. Butterfly samples the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Pretty Little Ditty.” John Frusciante and Flea both receive writing credits for “Butterfly.” Crazy Town’s first two songs, Toxic and Darkside, failed to place on any chart in Billboard. Then, the next song “Butterfly” began to catch on to a wider audience. In fact, the radio audience impression propelled Butterfly upwards where it was already in the top 40 in just three weeks. Record labels opted to release a 12″ vinyl and CD maxi single and the results worked out very well. When Butterfly made it to # 11, the single jumped to # 2. One week later “Butterfly” hit # 1 on the week of March 24, 2001. “Butterfly” sold over 60,000 units by this time. It initially stayed for one week at the top. Then, “Butterfly” came back for a second week at # 1 on the first week of April. Crazy Town turned out to be a one hit wonder band on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, the band went on a hiatus and some members have left the group. Crazy Town has reformed with a different lineup in the late 2000s and even has plans to tour this year.

5. Angel – Shaggy featuring Rayvon

March 31, 2001 – 1 Weeks at # 1

Shaggy experienced enormous success with his runaway hit, “It Wasn’t Me.” Riding on the coattails of his hit single was “Angel.” Despite what many think, “Angel” was not a remake of the popular song “Angel of the Morning. “Angel of the Morning” was originally written and composed by Chip Taylor and first performed by Merrilee Rush in 1968. The song has been covered by numerous artists such as Juice Newton, Bonnie Tyler, The Pretenders/Chrissie Hynde, and many more. Shaggy’s “Angel” only uses the chorus melody from “Angel of the Morning” and uses the distinctive bassline from “The Joker” by Steve Miller. Shaggy teams up with Barbados Reggae artist, Rayvon and created a Reggae fusion song with a whole lot of soul. Angel’s central theme is about the women who stick by their man through thick and thin.

“Angel” made its debut on the chart on the last week of December in 2000. This is just seven weeks after “It Wasn’t Me” made it on to the chart. “Angel” was making moves upward. The song won the Greatest Gainer/Airplay award for two consecutive weeks in February. Both “Angel” and “It Wasn’t Me” were in the top ten during February and then in the top five in March. Interestingly, “Angel” lost its bullet at # 3 in mid March but gained it back one week later. On the following week, Shaggy with Ravon went to the top. “Angel” reached # 1 on the week of March 31st, 2001 and pushed “Butterfly” down to # 2. The top two songs were Angel and Butterfly, how sweet. Shaggy and Rayvon’s “Angel” made it to # 1 based on its strong airplay. “Butterfly” lost some its chart points on that week allowing “Angel” to move into # 1 by default. “Angel” became the second # 1 song to reach the top without a retail single and Shaggy’s second # 1 single. However, there was a physical single release for Shaggy’s “Angel” but it oddly came out after its peak. Both of Shaggy’s # 1 songs stayed in the top 40 for 23 weeks. Shaggy continues to stay active in music ever since then and has released 13 studio albums.

6. All For You – Janet Jackson

April 14, 2001 – 7 Weeks at # 1

Janet, Janet, Janet, you’ve come a long way. You released your first album nearly twenty years before 2001 and sang backing vocals on brother Micheal’s, “Pretty Young Thing.” You’ve done a lot for us lately and she still keeps her stride well into the 21st century. Janet’s 7th studio was coming out soon and she was ready to hit it off with a big single.

“All For You” came out on March 13th. It was the lead single from her 7th studio album also titled “All For You.” She’s just a woman of the people, isn’t she. All For You had a happy tone to it. The song was composed as an uptempo, dance song with a disco and funk vibe. “All For You” samples the 1980 song “The Glow Of Love,” by the funk group Change. “All For You” is quite the suggestive song revolving around a women at a club giving her goodies all for the man who wins her over, ooooh! The single cover featured Janet in a very provocative pose. I added a partial sample of it for your viewing.

It was time for Janet to debut on the Hot 100 and you know that it was going to be a big one. The music video was all over MTV and VH1 and the airplay was accumulating. So it was going to be a major debut for “All For You.” So here it is folks.

It is a # 14 debut for Janet. This was Janet’s fourth highest debut on the Hot 100 chart, tying with “That’s The Way Love Goes” at fourth place. However, her song debuted purely on airplay. This was the highest debut for an airplay track at this time. Billboard Magazine reported that the song received an audience total of 70 million for its first week, “All For You” got its single release three weeks after as a CD, cassette and 12″ inch vinyl single. The sales pushed over 140,700 units in its first two weeks. With the sales push and the massive airplay, Janet’s “All For You” hit # 1 on the week of April 14, 2000.

As shown in the above photo, Janet faced competition from superstars, Destiny’s Child at # 2. Both artists won the Greatest Gainer awards. However, Janet had the lead with sales where as Destiny’s Child “Survivor” was not yet released as a single. So the ladies ran at # 1 and # 2 through April and May. Here were the results.

“All For You” spanned seven weeks at # 1 which kept Destiny’s Child “Survivor” at # 2 for seven weeks. On the following week, “Survivor” fell down crushing any chances of reaching the top. Janet’s “All For You” was the longest running number one single for 2001, 7 total weeks at the top. The single was also # 1 in airplay and # 1 in sales although at separate times. This was becoming increasingly rare in this era of the Hot 100 Singles. It was Janet’s 10th # 1 single on the Hot 100 while it was also her last # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 to date. Janet Jackson opened her own record company the aptly titled, Rhythm Nation, which is distributed by BMG Management. She continues to release studio albums and will be touring hopefully in 2020.

7. Lady Marmalade – Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mýa and Pink

June 2, 2001 – 5 Weeks at # 1

Hey sister, soul sister, we got a big hit for the summer of 2001! Moulin Rouge! (pronounced “moo-lan” “roojh”) is a musical romantic film set in 1899 Paris, France. The setting takes place in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris. The film revolves around a young English poet and writer, Christian played by Ewan McGregor who falls in love with the star of Moulin Rouge, cabaret and also mistress Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. This was a star studded, big budget film which received great reviews and along with that an amazing soundtrack for the film. The soundtrack includes musical performances by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, Bono from U2, Beck, Fatboy Slim, as well as a standout song from the film with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mýa and Pink. This song was an appropriate pick for the film bringing in a modern feel and vibe to it.

The song which I am referring to is “Lady Marmalade.” “Lady Marmalade” was originally recorded and performed by Labelle, fronted by Patti Labelle. It was a # 1 hit in 1975. “Lady Marmalade” is about a sex worker in New Orleans, approaching men with the line “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? ” which is heard throughout the song. This translates to: “Do you want to sleep with me tonight? Do you want to sleep with me?” Whoa, they pulled a fast one on those censors, didn’t they! I couldn’t imagine the song without those french lyrics. Patti Labelle was apparently unaware of this when recording the song. For the Moulin Rouge! film, “Lady Marmalade” composed a modern new spin for the song. Lil’ Kim, Mýa, Pink and Christina Aguilera created an amped up dance pop version of the song. The track was produced by Missy Elliott who gives a shoutout to the girls at the close of the song.

Beginning at # 70, “Lady Marmalade” made a gargantuan jump to # 29 on the following week in April. The medley consistently won the Greatest Gainer Airplay for the next few weeks. Now, it was in the top ten after four weeks on the chart. Soon enough, “Lady Marmalade” ousted Janet’s “All For You” on the first week of June. “Lady Marmalade” by Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, and Pink became the third airplay only track in the history of the chart to make it to the top. Eventually, there was a 12″ vinyl single issued. “Lady Marmalade” stayed for five weeks at # 1. The summertime hit single spent 20 weeks on the Hot 100, 17 weeks in the top 40 and 12 weeks in the top 10. The song spanned across other genres where it charted on the R&B Singles and Tracks chart, Hot Latin Songs, Dance Songs, and Tropical Airplay. “Lady Marmalade” remains a 2000’s classic making a memorable mark on the decade.

8. U Remind Me – Usher

July 7, 2001 – 4 Weeks at # 1

Usher had his way with his megaplatinum second album, My Way, released in 1997. Usher’s breakthrough album produced three top ten platinum singles during 1997-1998, including a # 1 single. He also served as an opening act for Mary J Blige, Puff Daddy and Janet Jackson. Then, there was a live album released in 1999. In 2001, there was a big demand for a follow up album from Usher. So the 22 year old provided his fans with fresh new music. To begin his new journey, Usher’s latest single release was “U Remind Me.” The Usher song is about a pretty lady who reminds Usher a little too much of a woman whom he once was involved with. The similarities were all too much and he had to let her go.

So, we were set for Usher to enter the Hot 100. After a music video premiere, “U Remind Me” hit the airwaves and entered the chart at # 53. So far so good, then a jump to 30 and then to # 21, great. From that 21 position, Usher takes a rocket ride to # 1! Yes, that’s right, 21 to 1. At this time, Usher had the honor of the third biggest jump to the top in 2001. Usher was third to Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” (23 – 1) and The Beatles “Can’t Buy Me Love” (27 – 1 ).

One of the key features of the SoundScan system is the ability to track the exact sales. Billboard reported sales of 98,000 units from the previous week for “U Remind Me.” Sales totaled out to 99,000 for its then 2 full weeks of sales. “U Remind Me” is the second single of the year to exceed 90,000 units scanned in one week, following Janet Jackson’s “All for You.” The airplay also picked up, which made this song a summertime classic. Usher’s latest album came out during this time, which has the title of 8701. The 8701 stands for Usher’s first singing gig at his local church in 1987 and the year of the album release, 2001. Usher’s popularity exceeded to new heights and he would be a returning champion on the Billboard charts.

Bye Bye Grid Design

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One of my favorite chart designs on the Billboard Hot 100 came to an end this year. This began nearly 17 years ago in October, 1984. It also included a revamp of the layout to Billboard Magazine. The clear and detailed grid style of the charts were designed for all of Billboard’s music charts and also miscellaneous charts. On the week of July 21st of 2001, the grid design made its last appearance in Billboard Magazine. You can click on the screenshot below to see the entire chart.

On the following week of July 28th, Billboard debuted a new design. This was a more up to date look for the 2000s. The layout was revised and Billboard added more color and pizzazz within the publication. With that, here is Billboard’s digital design. The look was tweaked towards the end of the year. Some new charts made its debut with the new look: Top Soundtrack Albums, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Catalog and Top Electronic Albums. You can click to enlarge it.

9. Bootylicious – Destiny’s Child

August 4, 2001 – 2 Weeks at # 1

Destiny’s Child, these girls were hot and one of biggest girl groups in pop music in the early 2000s. They scored three # 1 singles on the Hot 100 including one of the biggest singles of the 2000s, “Independent Women.” They made the runs of award shows, a world tour, music videos, and numerous television appearances. The writing was on the wall for a new album.

The title for their third album was Survivor. This album features their best known lineup of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Their latest album features more of the soulful dance/pop songs, ballads and music to get you grooving. There’s lots of girl power mixed in the album and just the right sound for the mainstream audience in 2001. To kick off their monumental third album Survivor was the single named “Survivor.” Gee, that’s such an original idea, isn’t it? Due to a delayed commercial single release though, “Survivor” spent 7 weeks at # 2 behind Janet Jackson’s “All for You.” So, it was quickly on to the next single. Now, this one had an interesting title “Bootylicious.” So what is “Bootylicious” about? Well, I’m not sure if there even was a meaning in the song. Check out some of the lyrics, “I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly.” Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe.” Well, we can gather that it could be a hot, sexy women and the baby got much back! Interestingly, the word bootylicious became a catch phrase in the 2000s and it is now listed in the Collins Dictionary as well as many other dictionaries. “Bootylicious” heavily samples Stevie Nick’s guitar riff from the “Edge of Seventeen” while she also makes a cameo appearance at the beginning of the music video.

“Bootylicious” shook its booty on to the Hot 100 at # 66. Here is the runthrough of “Bootylicious” 66 – 44 – 21 – 20 – 12 – 8 – 8 – 7. Now, we are at # 7 and then…

Hey, nice work girls. Destiny’s Child “Bootylicious” hits # 1 on the week of August 4th, 2001 making a jump from 7 to 1. This is their fourth number one single in only two years. Bootylicious worked its thing for two weeks at the top. Its time on the Billboard Hot 100 was brief. “Bootylicious” spent 19 total weeks on the Hot 100, 12 weeks in the top 40 and 6 weeks in the top ten. A follow up single came out, which was a cover of “Emotion” by Samantha Sang, hitting # 10 in the fall of 2001. Destiny’s Child embarked on a world tour including the MTV TRL Tour and were part of the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve celebration. The girls were on top of their game but it couldn’t last forever.

In 2002, they announced a hiatus to pursue solo careers. A certain someone in the group became a big star in the 2000s. Destiny’s Child released one more album Destiny Fulfilled which produced two # 3 hits. In 2006, they officially broke up. Destiny’s Child have reunited in the last decade most notably in 2013 at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show.

10. Fallin’ – Alicia Keys

August 18, 2001 – 6 Weeks at # 1

This year, we welcome a new artist, Alicia Keys. She was born Alicia Augello-Cook Dean on January 25, 1981. Raised in New York City, Alicia is a classically trained pianist and also a wonderful singer. She began to compose her own songs by age twelve and she was signed on to Columbia Records and eventually Arista Records. Her first appearance in popular culture was a guest spot on the Cosby Show in 1985.

Alicia channeled her classical training and composing for her first album. Alicia wrote many of the songs on her debut album. Prince and Brian McKnight also contributed writing credits as well. Alicia Keys also took part in producing in her album. The title of her forthcoming album became Songs In A Minor. Alicia certainly goes beyond the A minor. Her debut album is largely a neo soul album but also infuses classic soul, jazz, and even some elements of East Coast hip hop. Her first single from her debut album was “Fallin’.” The song is about falling in and out of love with that special somebody even though the relationship has been a roller coaster ride. Alicia Keys pours her heart and soul into this song which she also wrote and produced. She brings out her beautiful voice and you can really appreciate her complex and wonderful piano playing throughout the song. Indeed, it was a unique and fresh new song in popular music.

Just when “Lady Marmalade” rocked the # 1 position, Alicia Key’s “Fallin’” entered the chart at # 98 and spent an additional week at # 98. Then she made moves upward and “Fallin’” fell into the top 40 after 5 weeks. She won the Greatest Gainer Airplay award, for two weeks in a row. People were listening to this new artist. Fallin’ created a buzz on the Hot 100 and now her song climbed all the way up to # 7. Just like the last # 1 single, “Fallin’” jumps up from 7 to 1 on the week ending August 18, 2001. Her song knocked Destiny’s Child down to # 5. Alicia Key’s jump to the top stemmed from its increase from top 40 radio stations. Her song increased its audience to 102.5 million listeners! On the same week, “Fallin’” also hit # 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart. “Fallin’” was a breath of fresh air and became a memorable hit for the year. Her first song maintained its bullet holding on to # 1 for three weeks. Then she fell down to # 2 still maintaining its bullet. Finally, she finished out her # 1 stay for three more weeks for a 6 week nonconsecutive stay at # 1. Alicia Keys soon became a superstar in the music industry and it all began here in 2001.

11. I’m Real (Murder Remix) – Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule

September 8, 2001 – 5 Weeks at # 1

Jennifer Lopez, this was her time in the early 2000s. She became synonymous with this time period. Jennifer scored her first number one single in 1999 and followed up with the appropriately titled single “Waiting For Tonight” hitting # 8 at the close of 1999. She hit the concert circuit and became a major movie star in films such as The Cell, The Wedding Planner and Angel Eyes. She also became a target of parody with her green Versace silk chiffon dress. She wore her provocative gown on the red carpet at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. In all that craziness, she worked on her second album released in early 2001.

By 2001, Jennifer Lopez was now commonly referred to as J.Lo. J.Lo was also the name of her second album. The J.Lo album debuted at # 1 while she also had the number one movie in America, The Wedding Planner. The first single released from the album, “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” was also successful reaching # 3 during the same time. The next single “Play” included a big promotion hoping for a number one single. However, it fizzled out at # 18. Now, we’re on to the third single, “I’m Real.” This song is all about a glamorous star but she still keeps it real. Perhaps, this is a foreshadowing of a future song?

“I’m Real” began at # 66 and moved up exponentially and reached the top ten in five weeks. Jenny now competed with Alicia Key’s “Fallin.”

Could Jennifer Lopez reach the top with Alicia’s stronghold at the top?

Yes she did.

But wait a minute, now all of the sudden Ja Rule shows up with Jennifer Lopez. Where did this come from? Even the writing credits look different. Well, here is the story. When “I’m Real” first hit the Hot 100 Chart, it was the original album version from her J.Lo album. Not long before the single release, there was a remix of “I’m Real” produced which brought in Ja Rule rapping and even singing with J.Lo. There were also additional lyrics which sparked controversy and created the need for a radio version. The tempo was also different while it also utilizes samples of Rick James’ “Mary Jane”, R&B group 702’s “All I Want” and The Mary Jane Girl’s “All Night Long.” Furthermore, it was actually a different song from the original. The original version has a faster tempo with a subtle shoutout from then boyfriend, P. Diddy. The original version of I’m Real from the J. Lo album had an 80s freestyle vibe to it. The remix with Ja Rule was more hip hop and it is commonly referred to as the Murder Remix in reference to the Murder Inc record label.

Getting back to the chart action, “I’m Real” spent 3 weeks at # 1 during September. However, the mighty Alicia keys came back to the # 1 position on the week of September 22nd. Three weeks later, the remixed “I’m Real” made a comeback to # 1 with the Greatest Gainer/Airplay. It spent 2 more weeks at the top in October. Overall, “I’m Real (Murder Remix)” spent 5 nonconsecutive weeks at # 1.

Billboard made a policy changes Remixes. Billboard now compiles airplay points separately from a song’s original version and its remix, if the remix is determined to be a “new song”. This makes sense, since many remixed songs are significantly different. The Remix policy change went into a effect on the first week of 2002.

12. Family Affair – Mary J Blige

November 3, 2001 – 6 Weeks at # 1

Mary J Blige was born in the Bronx, NY in 1971. She got her start singing in a Pentecostal church and she developed a love and passion for singing. She has established herself as the queen of Hip Hop Soul redefining the sound of R&B. In the summer of 1992, her debut single “You Remind Me” hit the top thirty on the Hot 100 and it was also a # 1 R&B single. Her debut single won her a Gold record selling over 500,000 copies. Her first album What’s the 411? came out at the same time and it became a critical and commercial success. Since then, Mary J Blige elevated herself to new heights with her music. She also made her film debut in 2001 starring in the movie, Prison Song.

In August 2001, Mary J Blige released her fifth studio album, No More Drama. The first single from her fifth album was “Family Affair.” It was produced by Dr. Dre. The song was composed as an upbeat dance song. Mary J Blige infused her own spin to the song. “Family Affair” was all about leaving your baggage behind and getting loose on the dancefloor. No haters here, just enjoy the party because we’re all family here. I just love the positive message of this song. It was a definite feel good song and we certainly needed it during this time in 2001 and even during these present chaotic times.

Making its debut, “Family Affair” comes in at # 76 on the last week of July. “Family Affair” made its way into the top 30 after five weeks and then paused at # 23. After moving up slowly, Mary J landed in the top ten at # 9 and then into the top five competing against Alicia Keys and Jennifer Lopez. People were loving this song and it received a positive reception from listeners. The retail launch of the CD-maxi single for Mary J. Blige’s “Family Affair” sparked major sales pushing her chart points up. By November, the family affair was kicking it at the top. Mary J Blige scored her first # 1 single on the week ending November 3, 2001. The single spanned a 6 week stay at the top. Mary J Blige even saw the success of her single while glancing through Billboard Magazine and she was shocked and remarked, “Wow, this is really real!” Family Affair stayed on the Hot 100 chart for 41 weeks while occupying the top ten for nearly five months. Mary J Blige sang at President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009, performing an improvised version of her # 1 hit, “Family Affair.”

13. U Got It Bad – Usher

December 15, 2001 – 6 Weeks at # 1

You got it good, Usher but not so much in this song. He sings this from a first person perspective. “U Got It Bad” is composed as a soft R&B ballad utilizing digi-coustic” guitars, bass lines and funk drums. There are also some Quiet Storm elements infused in the song. Quiet Storm is a relaxed, sensuous, and romantic form of R&B popular during the 80s and early 90s. It originates from the 1975 Smokey Robinson album, A Quiet Storm. “U Got It Bad” is all about falling in love. You got it bad when you call the person whom you’re in love with having a conversation, then hang up and call them right back. It’s about making some sacrifices like being with that special lady instead of hanging with your crew. Again, there is the big emphasis on the U.

Just as Usher’s last single “U Remind Me” was at # 6, “U Got It Bad” debuted at a low position, # 93. Sometimes songs entering at those low numbers can be kind of dicey. There is a tendency for those singles/songs to fizzle out in the lower half of the chart. This was not the case for “U Got It Bad.” After a move to 87, “U Got It Bad” jumped to 59 and then 32. Usher’s slow jam won the “Greatest Gainer/Airplay” that week and also during most of November. It seemed like a battle of the R&B artists with Usher at # 2 and Mary J Blige at # 1. Finally, Usher makes it to # 1 on the week of December 15, 2001. It only lasted for a week though. At the same time, he wasn’t going anywhere. Usher’s “U Got It Bad” hung in there at # 2 for the next four weeks. Then, all of the sudden Usher went back to # 1 after four weeks hanging at # 2! This occurred on the week of January 19, 2002. Usher won the Greatest Gainer Airplay yet again, on the week he went back to the top. There was apparently an increase in post holiday airplay. His song claimed a high audience total of nearly 150 million listeners. Another factor was the Usher song was # 1 in airplay during mid December through most of February. Furthermore, Usher’s “U Got It Bad” spent five more weeks at # 1, finishing out 6 nonconsecutive weeks at number one.

14. How You Remind Me – Nickelback

December 22, 2001 – 4 Weeks at # 1

Last but not least, we arrive at the last number one song of the year. This song goes to Canadian band, Nickelback. The name of the song is “How You Remind Me.” Yet another reminder song for the year. So Nickelback, there is a lot to be said of them. Well for starters, these guys get dumped on a lot! Nickelback gained a bad reputation from music fans, particularly rock fans. Nickelback became the butt of the joke and there has been an infinite number of memes circulated to ridicule the band. Even President Trump got in on making fun of Nickelback. I could on about this but I’ll just stick with the song and its chart journey.

Okay, so here we go. “How You Remind Me” came off Nickelback’s third album, Silver Side Up. It was the first single from the album. Interestingly, the band’s previous two albums did not chart as well as their previous five single releases. Nickelback had all the right moves to cash in on the post grunge genre with their latest single. Throw in the polished angst, loud guitars with ambiguous lyrics and you have a song tailor-made for mainstream radio. “How You Remind Me” dealt with relationships and personal issues. Chad Kroeger wrote the song from his personal experiences with an old girlfriend. While the lyrics were cryptic, it certainly dives into an ex who brought you down and caused heartache. The chorus of the song closes out with: “Yet, yet, yet, no no.” I always thought it said, “Yeah, yeah, yeah I’m yours.” Oh well, I guess that I was wrong. Apparently, you can have a lot of fun misinterpreting their lyrics, as found on the Am I Right music humor site.

“How You Remind Me” first made the rounds of Mainstream and Modern Rock radio stations. In fact, the “How You Remind Me” was successful on the rock radio format. It spent an incredible 13 weeks at # 1 on the Billboard Mainstream and also the Modern Rock charts from September through December in 2001. Now it was time for the song to enter on the Hot 100 chart. It did so on the week of September 8th at # 75. While there was no single as of yet, “How You Remind Me” quietly went up. Finally, they were in the top 40 after six weeks on the chart, making it to # 36. By November, the song got into the top 20 right near another reminder song, Usher’s “U Remind Me.” By the end of November, the Nickelback song was in the top 5 fueled by a tremendous amount of airplay. Then, Nickelback won the Power Pick Airplay in mid December with even more audience increases. Well, the band’s efforts paid off after 16 weeks on the chart. For the week of December 22nd 2001, Nickelback surprised us all knocking Usher out of the # 1 position. Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me” was the band’s first # 1 single while it was also Nickelback’s first single on the Billboard Hot 100.

Nickelback spent a solid 4 weeks at # 1 until Usher reclaimed the # 1 spot. After that, “How You Remind Me” really lingered on the Hot 100 chart. I mean, it would not go away! Nickelback spent 7 weeks at # 2 after they fell down from # 1 and then 3 nonconsecutive weeks at # 3 after falling from # 2. “How You Remind Me” stayed in the top ten for 23 weeks.

Overall, “How Remind Me” spanned 49 weeks on the chart! Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me” was inseparable from late 2001 and throughout most of 2002. Billboard Magazine voted the Nickelback song as the top song of 2002 for their year end tally. “How You Remind Me” was eventually awarded an RIAA Digital Gold certification around the late 2000s. About a year or so after the song’s success, the backlash began with the song and with Nickelback. Even the band gets a chuckle out of it. However, it didn’t stop Nickelback from accumulating more top ten hits during the decade and even a number one album! Nickelback is still kicking, touring across the globe and recording albums. So far the band has released nine studio albums with a tenth one in the works. So that is the interesting story of Nickelback’s ride at the top.

This concludes our look back at Billboard’s # 1 singles of 2001. The longest running number one single was Janet’s “All For You” which ran for 7 weeks at # 1. It’s much less time at the top than in years past for the singles chart. Fourteen singles reached the top for the year.

Now I want to bring attention to a devastating event which occurred in 2001. This next section looks back at the tragedy of 9/11.

Remembering The September 11th Attacks and The Music That Healed Us Through This Difficult Time

It was a clear Tuesday morning on September 11th of 2001. Everybody was going about their normal business as usual. The Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule song “I’m Real” was at its 2nd week at # 1. At the World Trade Center in New York City, the staff at Borders and Sam Goody prepared for a busy day with new album releases, Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint,” Nickelback’s “Silver Side Up,” Bob Dylan’s “Love and Theft” and Mariah Carey’s “Glitter” which were released on that day. By 8 o’clock in the morning, New York City was wide awake full of its hustle and bustle.

At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 which departed from Logan International Airport in Boston at 7:59 a.m., deliberately crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The plane was hijacked by five members of the al-Qaeda terrorist organization. Flight 11 crashed between floors 93 through 99. The 76 passengers and 11 crew members on board and hundreds inside the building are killed instantly.

United Airlines Flight 175 departed for Los Angeles, CA also from Logan International Airport in Boston at 8:15 a.m. The flight was hijacked by five terrorists of the same organization in North New Jersey and it turned sharply to the World Trade Center. Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center between floors 77 through 85 at 9:03 a.m., killing fifty-one passengers and nine crew members on board the flight. The number of people killed inside the building remains unknown. The crashing of Flight 175 was seen live on television. It was clear that America was under attack.

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American Airlines, Flight 77 departed from Washington Dulles International Airport for Los Angeles, CA at 8:20 a.m. When Flight 77 reached the eastern Ohio area, the flight was hijacked by five terrorists from the al-Qaeda terrorist organization. Flight 77 circled back towards Washington D.C. and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia at 9:37 a.m. killing all 64 people on board, including the crew members and the hijackers. The crash and the ensuing fire killed 125 military and civilian personnel. The Pentagon’s E ring eventually collapses from the attack.

Twenty-two minutes later at 9:59 a.m., the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses in a massive cloud of dust and smoke. United Airlines Flight 93 departs from Newark International Airport in New Jersey bound for San Francisco International Airport in California at 8:42 a.m. Flight 93 reaches northern Ohio where the flight was hijacked by 4 al-Qaeda terrorists. The plane turns southeast most likely heading towards Washington D.C. as a target. Passengers fight back with the hijackers and struggled with them for control of the plane, but the plane flips upside down and crashes in a field located in Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:10 a.m. The 33 passengers and 7 crew members were killed instantly. At 10:28 a.m., the North Tower of The World Trade Center collapses after burning for 102 minutes. The destruction of The Twin Towers was televised globally to everyone’s horror. Several other buildings were also destroyed with the World Trade Towers including 7 World Trade Center. It was one of the worst attacks on the United States since Pearl Harbor in World War 2 and the deadliest act of terrorism the world had ever seen. There were approximately 3,000 casualties from the attacks in New York City, The Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

When I turned on the television, I was devastated and shocked to see this. I couldn’t believe what was going on. Seeing the World Trade Center burning down and collapsing and seeing street level footage of people jumping to their deaths is something that I will never forget. I was completely horrified. Then, there was the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, I said to myself, “What is going on here?” I remember visiting the World Trade Center in 1988. I was fascinated by the spectacular view on the observation deck from the South Tower. I even got a glimpse of the Pentagon when visiting the Washington D.C. area about a year later. I paid close attention to the devastating effects of 9/11 through the internet, television and radio reports, within own community, and those close to me. I also visited New York City about two weeks after this horrible attack. I needed the closure and to pay my respects to the victims.

Tours scheduled for U2, Brittney Spears were postponed. Tours for Janet Jackson, Shaggy, Weezer, and Brian Wilson were called off due to terrorism fears. Music sales dropped 5% during the week of the attacks, while the New York metropolitan area suffered a 16.2% decline according to Nielsen SoundScan. Radio stations dropped current playlists and formats and put their focus on events and news coverage of the event. One week after, radio stations returned to music to heal our country.

Music has the power to help us heal from difficult times in our lives. Music taps into our emotions and our souls, especially when it is meaningful and relates to what’s going on. During this difficult time, our country’s collective psyche needed healing. There were a number of albums and singles which helped us get through this terrible time in our nation on various Billboard charts.

The iconic song “God Bless The USA”, which is also known as “Proud To Be an American”, by Lee Greenwood received a tremendous amount of airplay on various radio station formats. Lee Greenwood wrote and recorded the patriotic masterpiece during 1983. “God Bless The USA” resonated with Americans during this time. “God Bless The USA” speaks volumes, and it has always been a wonderful song of unity. The lyrics brings home the gratitude of the freedom that one has in the United States. The Lee Greenwood single was originally released in 1984 and peaked on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. On the week of September 29th of 2001, “God Bless The USA” debuted at # 16 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Country Singles and # 12 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary songs chart. “God Bless The USA” is certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of over million copies.

Whitney Houston’s performance of our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner,” came back into our national consciousness during these troubled times. Her captivating performance of the national anthem was performed live at Super Bowl XXV. It was released as a single in 1991 during the first Persian Gulf War originally peaking at # 20. Whitney Houston’s “The Star Spangled Banner” made a second round on the Hot 100. The single shot up to # 6 selling over 1 million copies earning an RIAA platinum award. Whitney Houston’s “The Star Spangled Banner” also hit the top 40 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Both “God Bless The USA” and “The Star Spangled Banner” were number one in sales during the fall of 2001.

On September 21st of 2001, many singers and entertainers in the music industry banded together for the America: A Tribute To Heroes benefit concert. The benefit concert raised money for the victims and their families, particularly the New York City firefighters and New York City police officers. There were 412 first responders who died at Ground Zero in New York City, which included 343 firefighters, 37 New York Port Authority police officers, 23 NYPD police officers, 8 emergency medical technicians, and 1 patrolman from the New York Fire Patrol. Among some of the artists who performed at the event were Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Faith Hill, Enrique Iglesias, and numerous others. Willie Nelson conducted a rousing performance of “America The Beautiful” accompanied by the entire Los Angeles based ensemble. America: A Tribute To Heroes aired was televised live on September 21, 2001, uninterrupted and commercial-free. America: A Tribute To Heroes was released on CD and DVD. The CD peaked at # 17 at the end of 2001 on the Billboard Top 200 albums. It sold over 500,000 copies.

Enrique Iglesias released the song “Hero” not even a month before the 9/11 attack. Enrique’s song began to strike a chord on radio stations and with listeners. “Hero” entered the Hot 100 chart on the Week of September 29th 2001 along with God Bless the USA and The Star Spangled Banner. There is a special version of “Hero” that was remixed with audio snippets of police, firefighters, civilians, and politicians who were commenting on the event. Listening to these audio samples gives me chills. Hero peaked at # 3 in November and spent 34 weeks on the Hot 100 chart. On the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart, Hero spent an amazing 15 weeks at # 1. Enrique Iglesias performed “Hero” live at the America: A Tribute To Heroes benefit concert.

Country artist, Alan Jackson, wrote the song “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).” His song reflected his own emotions of 9/11 but he also channeled the lyrics through the events of the tragedy. He recorded the song in October, and it was released towards the end of the year, peaking at # 28 on the Hot 100 and it was a # 1 song on the Billboard Country Songs chart.

Irish singer, Enya, released the single, “Only Time” during the summer of 2001. The song was composed as a new age song with a mystic and spiritual tone. The “time” in Enya’s “Only Time” is characterized as somewhat of an omniscient entity. Her song received a tremendous amount of airplay from radio and television networks in their coverage of 9/11. Enya donated the earnings from the sale of her single to the Uniform Firefighters Association’s Widows’ and Children’s Fund to help the families of fire fighters in the aftermath of 9/11. “Only Time” peaked at # 10 in November on the Hot 100 chart and spent six weeks at # 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

I made a list which includes notable patriotic songs and songs which had a connection to the events of 9/11. It includes where these songs peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 2001 and early 2002.

Hero – Enrique Iglesias, # 3

The Star Spangled Banner – Whitney Houston, # 6

Only Time – Enya, # 10

Superman (It’s Not Easy) – Five For Fighting, # 14

God Bless The USA – Lee Greenwood, # 16

Where the Stars and Stripes and The Eagles Fly – Aaron Tippin, # 20

What’s Going On – All Star Tribute, # 27

* Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning) – Alan Jackson, # 28

Only In America – Brooks and Dunn, # 33

Riding With Private Malone – David Ball, # 36

Alive – P.O.D., # 41

I’m a Survivor – Reba McEntire, # 48

Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Off – U2, # 52

Wish You Were Here – Incubus, # 60

Freedom – Paul McCartney, # 97

* Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning) peaked in January 2002.

Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” which peaked in 1999, received a considerable amount of airplay in response to 9/11. Mary J Blige released the single, “No More Drama” on the day of September 11th which received a considerable amount of airplay during the fall of 2001.

The rock band, Live released the single “Overcome” in September, 2001. The music video for this song includes footage of the aftermath of 9/11 at Ground Zero. The song peaked at # 30 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart while it hit # 2 in Belgium and # 3 in The Netherlands.

The album, God Bless America, was a charity album with patriotic and spiritual songs. The album featured musical contributions from a multitude of artists both past and present. A substantial portion of the proceeds went towards families of firefighters, police officers, and other responders lost in the rescue to the September 11th attacks. Celine Dion contributed a wonderful performance of God Bless America which reached # 14 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart. Lee Greenwood’s God Bless The USA was included on the album. The album closes with the powerful Lean On Me by the late Bill Withers. The God Bless America album debuted at # 1 on the Billboard Top 200 for the week of November 3, 2001 selling well over 500,000 copies.

Singer and songwriter, Leann Rimes released a compilation album of patriotic and spiritual songs. The name of her compilation album was also “God Bless America.” Some of the songs on that album were “God Bless America”, “The National Anthem”, “The Lord’s Prayer”, and “Amazing Grace.” Her album peaked at # 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Albums chart.

On October 20th of 2001, The Concert for New York City took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The benefit concert was organized by Paul McCartney. The concert was raised to honor the first responders and their families and those who died in the attack. The benefit show included British artists such as The Who, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones. American artists one of whom had a # 1 single this year, Destiny’s Child, Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, the Backstreet Boys, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Melissa Etheridge, Five for Fighting, The Goo Goo Dolls, John Mellencamp, and Kid Rock. Rudy Giuliani who was the mayor of New York City made a special appearance during the concert, along with other celebrities. The concert was televised live on VH1 October 20, 2001, and raised over $35 million. The concert was released by Sony as a double CD. The Concert For New York City album reached # 27 on the Billboard Top 200 albums in December and sold over 1 million copies earning a platinum RIAA certification.

Music sales which include CDs, cassettes and also vinyl, experienced a hit in sales during the fall of 2001. Album sales overall saw a decline of 2.8% by the end of the year. However, there was a slight rebound during the holiday period in 2001. CDs were still dominant in sales. Nevertheless, cassettes saw a big decline and were already planned to be phased out. Single sales saw a dramatic drop in sales of 40.7%. The drop was largely seen during the fall months, with the exception of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA”, Whitney Houston’s “The Star Spangled Banner” and two of the # 1 songs.

The tributes to 9/11 went beyond the Billboard charts. There were many musicians expressing their emotions and talent through their music. The music that these artists created lets everyone know that they feel our pain and they are here for us. It was a rough time in the history of our country and music has the power to bring us together. We needed to come together as a nation to help one another and to remember those who lost their lives in the attacks on our nation. Even with what our country is going through now with the Covid-19 virus, music soothes our souls and alleviates our fears and grief. Life is precious and we must always appreciate it. September 11th of 2001 is a day that our country will never forget.

Jasper John’s painting Flag was created by Johns during (1954-1955) two years after he was discharged from the US Army. Flag was featured as the cover art for America: A Tribute to Heroes.

Continue onward to 2002

• # 1 Hits
• 2001
• Billboard Hot 100
• Billboard Hot 100 Singles
• September 11, 2001
• The Billboard 200

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