Scanning the past two decades, three other cases stand out where the percentage gap between the Hot 100's top two songs was as large, or larger, as that between "Shake" and "Shop" the past two weeks. And, both, like now, involved monster pop culture smashes at No. 1.
In 1992-93, for multiple weeks of its 14-week command, Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" sported a lead of approximately three times as many chart points as the No. 2 songs. The not-so-close challengers in those frames? '90s R&B flashback alert: Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love" and Wreckx-N-Effect's "Rump Shaker."
Five years later, Elton John's tribute to the late Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind 1997," backed with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight," likewise racked a 14-week reign. It blocked Usher's "You Make Me Wanna ," which peaked at No. 2 for seven weeks, from the summit by a large spread in that span, including a massive lead of more than six times as many points the week of Oct. 18, 1997. That week, "Candle" sold an incredible 1.2 million physical singles, according to Nielsen SoundScan, as fans memorialized Diana's passing.
And, 15 years ago this week, Celine Dion bowed atop the Hot 100 with "My Heart Will Go On." The love theme from "Titanic" seemed like it would never let go of No. 1, leading the No. 2 song, again by Usher, "Nice & Slow" (which had already led for two weeks by then), with about three times as many points.
Welp, but Harlem Shake is not as big as those songs. If this was at least Gangnam Style (which was much more massive), then maybe it'd be fine, but not Harlem Shake
They made it sound as though Celine stayed on top for a long time, but "My Heart Will Go On" really only managed two weeks before being dethroned by "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" by Will Smith.
Still impressive that it ruled by that much though.
IWALY and CITW are the #1 and #2 biggest hits ever according to mediatraffic, My Heart Will Go On is #20.
1 Candle In The Wind 1997 - Elton John
A&M - 1997 - 21.314.000 points
2 I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Arista - 1992 - 16.547.000 points
20 My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
550 Music / Columbia - 1998 - 11.256.000 points
IWALY and CITW are the #1 and #2 biggest hits ever according to mediatraffic, My Heart Will Go On is #20.
1 Candle In The Wind 1997 - Elton John
A&M - 1997 - 21.314.000 points
2 I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Arista - 1992 - 16.547.000 points
20 My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
550 Music / Columbia - 1998 - 11.256.000 points
Usher could have had two more number one hits
