Top Songs
Music is yet another source of entertainment relief for our society these days. This generation is said to be “plugged in” 24/7. Walking to class, around the mall, in the car, everywhere we are listening to music on our iPods and stereos. It only makes sense that with each new song, each new artist, each new album, we as a society are on it in a second. These were the top three selling songs in 2001.


Hanging By A Moment
In 2000 a new contender walked on the field of music, a band named Lifehouse. This no name group of four men made their debut on October 31, 2000. It only took a few weeks for Americans to fall in love with these artists. Their first single, Hanging By a Moment, was an instant hit.
The group Lifehouse is made up by four young men: Jason Wade (lead vocalist), Rick Woolstenhulme (drums), Bryce Sorderberg (bass guitar), and Ben Carey (guitar). Established from Malibu, California, this group had to work for their success. They had tried to release songs for a couple years with different names before DreamWorks Records took them on. Finally they made it to the radio and there was no turning back from there.
Although “Hanging By A Moment” never officially made it to a number one spot on a weekly list, this song throughout the year of 2001 earned a variety of awards. The most important award, of course, was “Song of the Year”. (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&g=Year-end+Singles&year=2001) To get this spot Lifehouse beat out both Alicia Key and Janet Jackson whose songs were also very popular hits. Along with the song of the year, Hanging By A Moment also became “The Most Played Song” of 2001.
Today Lifehouse continues to produce outstanding hits and bring us great entertainment.
(Information based off of Wikipedia)


Fallin’
In 2001 this talented woman became the “Best Selling New Artist” and “Best Selling R&B Artist” with her very first album called Songs In a Mirror. Alicia Keys, known by her friends and family as Alicia Cook, was definitely a force to be reckoned with from the very beginning. With her first album she hit billboard number one with her song “Fallin”. Once this song was out the fans flocked to music stores. This album sold over 236,000 copies in the first week. (Martens, Todd (2001-07-05). "Keys' Debut Tops The Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=943381. Retrieved on 2009-06-29) Although her success was great from the start, her opening single “Fallin” made it as number two “Song of the Year” for 2001. (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&g=Year-end+Singles&year=2001) Alicia Keys won five Grammy awards with her debut album, an accomplishment only achieved by one other female soloist, Lauren Hill. (Wikipedia)
Alicia Keys is still an active artist today. It is expected that she will release a fourth album this year.
(Information based off of Wikipedia)


All For You
This veteran artist released her seventh album in 2001. All For You debuted as number one on the billboard charts. (Janet Jackson, Allmusic, 2006) Her previous fame gave her a boost for her album and she actually sold the most albums in the first week with this release. Janet Jackson single “All For You” won the number three spot on the charts for “Song of the Year”. (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&g=Year-end+Singles&year=2001)
Janet Jackson, sister of Michael Jackson, has been in the lime light since the 80’s. She has produced an array of entertainment including music and movies. Today she continues t perform in concerts of her old songs, however, she hasn’t released anything new for a couple of years now.
(Information based off of Wikipedia).