Mariah Carey, Madonna trump Elvis chart records :: Music News :: Articles

Pop/R&B siren Mariah Carey has surpassed Elvis Presley in the tally for the most singles to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, leaving her second only to the Beatles.

Carey had been tied with Presley—at 17 number ones each—until her single “Touch My Body” hit the top spot last week. Only the Beatles have had more number-one hits, topping out at 20.

Another of Presley’s records was toppled by pop chameleon Madonna. The Material Girl’s new single, “4 Minutes,” is her 37th to enter the Billboard Top Ten, trumping The King’s previous record of 36 top-ten singles on the chart.

Last week's announcement was an upsetting one for many Presley fans, who are incensed that Carey’s sugary pop has topped the music of a rock-and-roll legend. It’s easy to assume that the situation is simply an example of quality vs. quantity—pumping out hits vs. carefully crafting a lasting song. But a cursory Internet search reveals that Carey’s catalog pales in comparison to Presley’s. Carey has released a paltry 13 albums compared to Presley’s 49 (a number that doesn’t include all of his posthumous releases, which puts the total just shy of 100).

So how does a pop-tart with a fondness for catchy R&B hooks and short-shorts surpass The King of Rock and Roll? It’s the Internet, dummy! Carey’s “Touch My Body” single sold 286,000 downloads the week it debuted – a staggering number that may leave more than a few Beatles fans nervous about the security of the Fab Four’s spot atop the all-time Billboard Top 100 singles chart.

But when asked about bumping Presley out of the #2 spot, Carey seemed to keep it all in perspective. “I can never really put myself in the category of people who have not only revolutionized music but also changed the world,” she told the Associated Press. “That’s a completely different era and time… I’m just feeling really happy and grateful.”

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.