The Hit Songs Deconstructed Wire

September’s Hot 100 Top 10 Under the Hood

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With September coming to a close, it’s time for Under the Hood, where we take a look at what the month’s 22 Hot 100 Top 10 hits look like at compositional level.

However, September was a unique month this year, with Drake scoring nine simultaneous Top 10 hits in a record-shattering week following the release of his album Certified Lover Boy.   

So, given that almost half of September’s Top 10s belong to Drake, this month’s Under the Hood will look at Drake’s nine songs and the remaining 13 Top 10 songs separately.

  • Primary Genres
    (Most Popular)
    Primary Genres
    (Most Popular)
  • Sub-Genres & Influences
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple sub-genres)
    Sub-Genres & Influences
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple sub-genres)
  • Instrumentation
    (Top 3 - excludes perc/drums, which were present in all songs)
    Instrumentation
    (Top 3 - excludes perc/drums, which were present in all songs)
  • Lyrical Themes
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple themes)
    Lyrical Themes
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple themes)
  • Average Song Length
    Average Song Length
  • Average Tempo
    Average Tempo
  • Key
    (Most Popular)
    Key
    (Most Popular)
  • Average First Chorus Occurrence
    Average First Chorus Occurrence
Drake
Drake
  • Primary Genres
    (Most Popular)
    89% Hip Hop (8 songs)
  • Sub-Genres & Influences
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple sub-genres)
    89% Trap (8 songs)
    78% R&B (7 songs)
    67% Pop (6 songs)
  • Instrumentation
    (Top 3 - excludes perc/drums, which were present in all songs)
    89% Synth & Synth Bass (8 songs each)
    33% Acoustic Piano (3 songs)
  • Lyrical Themes
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple themes)
    67% Lifestyle (6 Songs)
    56% Boasting (5 Songs)
    33% Introspection (3 Songs)
  • Average Song Length
    4:19
  • Average Tempo
    78 BPM
  • Key
    (Most Popular)
    89% Minor (8 songs)
  • Average First Chorus Occurrence
    39 Seconds into the song
Top 10 Excluding Drake’s Songs
Top 10 Excluding Drake’s Songs
  • Primary Genres
    (Most Popular)
    62% Pop (8 songs)
  • Sub-Genres & Influences
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple sub-genres)
    100% Pop (13 songs)
    62% Hip Hop (8 songs)
    46% Electropop/Synthpop (6 songs)
  • Instrumentation
    (Top 3 - excludes perc/drums, which were present in all songs)
    92% Synth & Synth Bass (12 songs each)
    69% Electric Guitar (9 songs)
  • Lyrical Themes
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple themes)
    69% Love/Relationships (9 Songs)
    38% Lifestyle (5 Songs)
    23% Introspection (3 Songs)
  • Average Song Length
    3:16
  • Average Tempo
    99 BPM
  • Key
    (Most Popular)
    54% Major (7 songs)
  • Average First Chorus Occurrence
    34 Seconds into the song

However, despite Certified Lover Boy’s groundbreaking success in the Top 10, six of Drake’s nine songs dropped out of the region after just one week, and another one after the second week.

 

So, with seven out of Drake’s nine songs dropping out of the Top 10, what does the first chart week of October look like for the Hot 100 Top 10?

  • Primary Genres
    (Most Popular)
    Primary Genres
    (Most Popular)
  • Sub-Genres & Influences
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple sub-genres)
    Sub-Genres & Influences
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple sub-genres)
  • Instrumentation
    (Top 3 - excludes perc/drums, which were present in all songs)
    Instrumentation
    (Top 3 - excludes perc/drums, which were present in all songs)
  • Lyrical Themes
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple lyrical themes)
    Lyrical Themes
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple lyrical themes)
  • Average Song Length
    Average Song Length
  • Average Tempo
    Average Tempo
  • Key
    (Most Popular)
    Key
    (Most Popular)
  • Average First Chorus Occurrence
    Average First Chorus Occurrence
Top 10 Excluding Drake’s Songs
Top 10 Week of 10/2
  • Primary Genres
    (Most Popular)
    50% Pop
  • Sub-Genres & Influences
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple sub-genres)
    90% Pop
    70% Hip Hop
    40% Rock & Trap (Each)
  • Instrumentation
    (Top 3 - excludes perc/drums, which were present in all songs)
    100% Synth Bass
    80% Synth (non-bass)
    60% Electric Guitar & Claps (Each)
  • Lyrical Themes
    (Top 3 - songs may possess multiple lyrical themes)
    50% Love/Relationships & Lifestyle
    20% Boasting & Hooking Up (Each)
  • Average Song Length
    3:09
    (50% under 3:00)
  • Average Tempo
    105 BPM
    (40% 100BPM+)
  • Key
    (Most Popular)
    70% Major
  • Average First Chorus Occurrence
    37 Seconds into the song

How will the rest of October shape up? Tune in at the end of this month for October’s Under the Hood to find out!

 

Below is a Spotify playlist with September’s Hot 100 Top 10 hits:
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