The Chainsmokers spend 12th week at #1 with “Closer”

Closer The Chainsmokers with Halsey

Writer(s): Andrew Taggart, Ashley Frangipane, Shaun Frank, Frederic Kennett, Isaac Slade, Joe King (see lyrics here) Released: July 29, 2016 First Charted: August 20, 2016 Peak: 112 US, 110 RR, 111 BA, 113 DG, 112 ST, 8 AC, 14 A40, 14 UK, 113 CN, 19 AU, 12 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 15.0 US, 1.8 UK, 20.7 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2972.6 video, 2584.27 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Closer” was about a couple rekindling their romance. The Chainsmokers’ Andrew Taggart and guest vocalist Halsey each sing their sides of the story before coming together by chance at the end. SF Right after the song’s release, the Chainsmokers tweeted “This song is dedicated to anyone that hooked up with their EX and right after remember all the reasons why they broke up.” SF Taggart said the “EDM song with a retro style synthesizer” WK was inspired by Blink-182. SF Taggart crafted the beat during a studio session with Freddy Kennett (from EDM duo Louis the Child) and then wrote the words with Shaun Frank – a Canadian DJ, singer, and producer. SF Taggart said Shaun convinced him he could sing – so Taggart sang on a Chainsmokers’ song for the first time. SF When similiarities were noted between “Closer” and the Fray’s “Over My Head (Cable Car),” the Chainsmokers reached out to the Fray’s Isaac Slade and Joe King. SF King told ABC Radio that “There was no friction or tension…So it’s all good.” SF Slade and King were added to the songwriting credits on September 2, 2016. WK Billboard’s Matt Medved said the song “sounds like an instant classic” and boasts “an earworm chorus and evocative verses.” WK MTV’s Deepa Lakshmin called it “an upbeat dance-worthy jam that deserves a spot on your summer playlist.” WK The Chainsmokers became the first duo or group since Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (“Thrift Shop”) more than two years earlier to top the Billboard Hot 100. WK It was the longest-running #1 song of the year and also spent more time in the top 5 (26 weeks) than any song in history SF and was only the second song – the other being LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live” – to spend 32 weeks in the top ten. WK It also topped the charts in 10 other countries WK and was the first song since “Harlem Shake” by Baauer to top the Hot 100 and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts. SF In May 2017, it became only the second song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Chainsmokers DMDB encyclopedia entry for Halsey SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Last updated 7/20/2023.

The Fray song “How to Save a Life” released

How to Save a Life The Fray

Writer(s): Isaac Slade, Joe King (see lyrics here) Released: March 26, 2006 First Charted: April 15, 2006 Peak: 3 US, 11 DG, 3 RR, 115 A40, 11 AA, 31 MR, 4 UK, 4 CN, 2 AU, 10 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 6.0 US, 1.8 UK, 8.68 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.8 radio, 484.69 video, 1034.33 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Isaac Slade and Joe King formed The Fray in 2002 in Denver, Colorado. They released their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005. It was certified double platinum on the strength of the lead single, “Over My Head (Cable Car),” which hit the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top-3 success of the title cut. The song “How to Save a Life” spent more than a year on the Billboard Hot 100. Guitarist David Welsh said, “The song came about very organically. Isaac had this idea on the piano of this kind of lullaby. Then he concocted this repetitious drum beat that moved the lullaby along with Ben. The lyrics came from an experience Isaac had with a teenager he was mentoring who was struggling with drugs and addiction. It was just a very natural process, the song developed and the lyrics fitted very well.” SF Isaac elaborated, explaining how it grew out of his experience as a mentor at a camp for troubled teens. “One of the kids I was paired up with a musician. Here I was, a protected suburbanite, and he was just 17 and had all these problems. And no one could write a manual on how to save him.” SF The song took off in the United States after being used in an episode of the television show Grey’s Anatomy. It became an “unofficial theme” and was used in promotion for the show’s third season. One video of the song even splices scenes from the show with the band performing the song. It was also prominently featured in two episodes of Scrubs during scenes when the main character looks back on awkward moments of his life. The show as also used in One Tree Hill and Big Brother UK. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Fray SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 7/25/2023.