Hip Hop/Rap, Short Intros and Early Hitting First Choruses were among July’s big gainers. Love and Relationships were rampant, but there wasn’t a lot of Hooking Up going on. Solo Male Vocals dominated, Solo Female Vocals reentered the top 10 for the first time in seven weeks, and the Synth and Bass were among the key sound shapers of the month.
[Header 1 header=”Genres”]
Pop and R&B/Soul were the top two primary genres at the beginning of July, each accounting for 30% of songs. However, a few weeks in R&B/Soul’s influence dropped to an eight-month low due to the departure of Earned It and Uptown Funk. By month’s end, Pop was on top along with Hip Hop/Rap, which gained ground thanks to the arrival of Silento’s Watch Me.
[Header 1 header=”Sub-Genres & Influencers”]
Electropop, Hip Hop/Rap, R&B/Soul were once again the top sub-genres, each playing a role in 40% – 60% of songs. Trap was also a strong performer, playing a role in 30% of songs including Bad Blood and Trap Queen.
On the flip side, Retro’s influence in the Top 10 hit its lowest level in 32 weeks, dropping down to just 20% of songs. This was due to the departure of Earned It and Uptown Funk. The category’s sole representatives by the end of the month were Can’t Feel My Face and Shut Up And Dance.
[Header 1 header=”Lead Vocal”]
The Solo Male Lead Vocal category continued to dominate the Top 10, accounting for 60% – 70% of songs throughout the month. Among the category’s representatives were Trap Queen, Can’t Feel My Face, and the chart-topping Cheerleader.
The Solo Female Lead Vocal category sprang back to life following a seven-week drought thanks to the arrival of Rachel Platten’s Fight Song. The Duet/Group vocal category remained pretty much constant in the 30% range, and was represented by the chart-toppers Bad Blood and See You Again.
[Header 1 header=”Lyrical Themes”]
Summer lovin’ was in effect throughout the entire month of July. The lyrical theme was featured in 80% – 90% of songs, either as a standalone or in conjunction with other themes.
However, there wasn’t a lot of “Hooking Up” or “Partying/Living It Up” going on. The former hit a 23-week low due to the departure of songs including Earned It and Honey I’m Good. The only song that featured the theme at the end of the month was Hey Mama. The latter dropped down to nil for the first time in 31 weeks due to the departure of Uptown Funk.
Additionally, the Novelty category made its first appearance in 37 weeks thanks to the arrival of Silento’s Watch Me.
[Header 1 header=”Intros”]
The big gainer of the month was the Short (0:01 – 0:09) Intro Length category, which doubled in prominence thanks to the arrival of Fight Song and Where Are U Now. By the end of the month it was tied with the Moderately Short (0:10 – 0:19) category, each accounting for 40% of songs. The other 20% of songs, Bad Blood and Hey Mama, didn’t waste any time and bypassed the intro all together to immediately hit the listener with the payoff.
[Header 1 header=”First Chorus”]
The Early (0:01 – 0:19) First Chorus Occurrence category became the most popular during the week of 7/18, jumping from 20% to 40% of songs. This was thanks to the arrival of Where Are U Now and Watch Me, both of which have their intro being followed by a chorus as opposed to a verse.
The Late (1:00+) First Chorus Occurrence category dropped down to nil for the first time in 33 weeks due to the departure of Earned It.
[Header 1 header=”Song Title Word Count”]
Two-Word Titles continued their hot streak, accounting for 50% of songs throughout the entire month. Among the category’s representatives were the new arrivals Fight Song and Watch Me, as well as the chart-toppers Bad Blood and Uptown Funk. Additionally, the Four-Word Title category moved into second place by month’s end thanks to the arrival of Can’t Feel My Face and Where Are U Now. Accounting for 30% of songs, this was the category’s highest level in 10 weeks.
[Header 1 header=”Song Title Appearances”]
The 11 – 15 Song Title Appearance category continued its three-month plus run at the top, accounting for 40% – 50% of songs throughout July. Among the category’s representatives are the chart-toppers Bad Blood and See You Again. Additionally, the 21+ Appearance category was represented by only one song, Watch Me. Its title appears an astounding 77 times throughout the song.
[Header 1 header=”Instrumentation”]
The Synth and Prominent Bass (electric and synth based) were once again the most popular instruments found in Top 10 charting hits. Each played a key role in shaping the sound of 70% – 90% of songs throughout the month of July. Acoustic Piano and Claps/Snaps were also popular, each playing a role in 30% – 40% of songs. The former was represented by hits including See You Again and Fight Song, and the later was represented by hits such as Can’t Feel My Face and Watch Me.
Electric Guitar dropped to a 40-week low during the week of 7/18 due to the departure of Uptown Funk, playing a role in just 20% of songs. It was represented by Can’t Feel My Face and Shut Up And Dance.
[Header 2 header=”New Top 10 Arrivals”]
- July 11: Can’t Feel My Face
- July 11: Watch Me
- July 11: Good For You
- July 18: Where Are U Now
- July 18: Fight Song
[Header 2 header=”Top 10 Dropouts”]
- July 11: Want To Want Me
- July 11: Honey I’m Good
- July 11: Earned It
- July 18: Uptown Funk
- July 18: Good For You