Madonna, the iconic Queen of Pop, has been dominating the music scene for an incredible four decades. While many of her peers have stepped out of the spotlight, Madonna continues to thrive and produce chart-topping hits. Her most recent collaboration with The Weeknd, titled 'Popular,' is not just another win for the legendary artist, but it has also become one of the longest-charting songs of her career.
Even as 'Popular' drops slightly from No. 12 to No. 14 on the U.K. songs chart this week, the trajectory of the song is not of utmost importance. What truly matters is the remarkable duration it has spent on the charts. 'Popular' has now maintained its presence for a noteworthy 27 weeks, which equates to over half a year—an achievement Madonna has only reached with three of her previous hits in the U.K.
Topping the list as Madonna's longest-charting single in the U.K. is the iconic track 'Hung Up,' which held its ground for an impressive 40 weeks. This record remains unbroken and surpasses her runner-up, '4 Minutes,' a collaboration with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, which managed to secure a spot on the charts for 29 weeks.
While 'Popular' has currently peaked at No. 11 on the U.K. songs chart, narrowly missing the opportunity to become Madonna's sixty-fourth top 10 hit, its success is still worth celebrating. The possibility of the single climbing higher and reaching the esteemed top 10 cannot be completely ruled out. Regardless, Madonna, The Weeknd, and featured artist Playboy Carti can take pride in their incredible collaborative effort.
The creation of 'Popular' stemmed from The Weeknd's HBO series, The Idol, which heavily relied on his musical talents. Although the series did not receive substantial critical acclaim and was not renewed for a second season, the music produced for the show continues to resonate with audiences.
With 'Popular' currently charting at No. 14, it is highly likely that the song will remain on the U.K. chart for the foreseeable future. It seems reasonable to expect it to surpass Madonna's second-longest-charting hit, '4 Minutes,' and potentially even challenge the impressive reign of 'Hung Up' with its 40-week triumph. Although the latter feat presents a tougher challenge, it is not out of the realm of possibility for this pop and R&B hit that has been captivating audiences for several months.
