As previously reported, Piko-Taro makes history on the latest Billboard Hot 100 (dated Oct. 29): With its debut at No. 77, his novelty viral hit “PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)” is the shortest song – just 45 seconds in length – ever to reach the chart, according to Paul Haney of Record Research (which has released more than 150 chart reference books by its founder, historian Joel Whitburn).
In honor of the achievement, Haney further tallied the five longest and five shortest Hot 100 entries all-time, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception. (He only had to sift through the nearly 27,000 titles that have ever appeared on the chart.)
Here’s a look at the longest and shortest songs to hit the Hot 100, a recap that, notably, adds to the legacy of late icon David Bowie, whose “Blackstar” clocks in at a record-long 9:57. With the song having charted on the Jan. 30 list, at No. 78, and “PPAP” arriving on the Oct. 29 tally, the marks for both longest and shortest Hot 100 hits have been rewritten in 2016.
And, it’s perhaps unsurprising that “Blackstar” and “PPAP” are the record-breakers: Bowie served up a song in the tradition of lengthy, airy progressive rock (accompanied by its mini-movie video), while Piko-Taro released a goof track ideal for short attention-span viral viewing.
The Longest Hot 100 Hits
(9:57) “Blackstar,” David Bowie, No. 78 peak, 2016
(9:30) “Better Place to Be (Parts 1 & 2),” Harry Chapin, No. 86, 1976
(8:55) “November Rain,” Guns N’ Roses, No. 3, 1992
(8:37) “American Pie (Parts I & II),” Don McLean, No. 1 (four weeks), 1972
(8:16) “Untitled 07 L Levitate,” Kendrick Lamar, No. 90, 2016
The Shortest Hot 100 Hits
(0:45) “PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen),” Piko-Taro, No. 77 (to date), 2016
(1:02) “Little Boxes,” The Womenfolk, No. 83, 1964
(1:17) “Some Kind-A Earthquake,” Duane Eddy His Twangy Guitar and the Rebels, No. 37, 1959
(1:19) “Forward,” Beyonce feat. James Blake, No. 63, 2016
(1:20) “What I’ve Been Looking For (Reprise),” Andrew Seeley & Vanessa Anne Hudgens, No. 67, 2006
Also, as noted above, Don McLean’s “American Pie (Parts I & II)” is the longest Hot 100 No. 1 by length, at 8:37. While it just misses the second list above, Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs’ “Stay” is the shortest No. 1: just 1:38 in length. The classic led the Nov. 21, 1960, Hot 100.
“And that,” Haney says, “is the long and short of it!”
I'm an avid music chart enthusiast with an in-depth knowledge of the Billboard Hot 100 and its historical milestones. I've followed the charts closely, staying up-to-date with the latest information and analyses from reputable sources. In this context, let's delve into the article about Piko-Taro's "PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)" and the longest and shortest songs in the history of the Billboard Hot 100.
Firstly, the article highlights that "PPAP" made history by debuting at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the shortest song ever to reach the chart at just 45 seconds. This achievement was acknowledged by Paul Haney of Record Research, a well-respected organization founded by historian Joel Whitburn, known for releasing numerous chart reference books.
To celebrate this milestone, Haney compiled a list of the five longest and five shortest Hot 100 entries of all time, dating back to the chart's inception on August 4, 1958. Among the longest entries is David Bowie's "Blackstar," which holds the record at 9 minutes and 57 seconds, peaking at No. 78 in 2016.
The five longest Hot 100 hits mentioned in the article are:
- "Blackstar," David Bowie (9:57)
- "Better Place to Be (Parts 1 & 2)," Harry Chapin (9:30)
- "November Rain," Guns N’ Roses (8:55)
- "American Pie (Parts I & II)," Don McLean (8:37)
- "Untitled 07 L Levitate," Kendrick Lamar (8:16)
On the flip side, the article provides a list of the five shortest Hot 100 hits, with "PPAP" leading the pack at 45 seconds. The list includes:
- "PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)," Piko-Taro (0:45)
- "Little Boxes," The Womenfolk (1:02)
- "Some Kind-A Earthquake," Duane Eddy His Twangy Guitar and the Rebels (1:17)
- "Forward," Beyonce feat. James Blake (1:19)
- "What I’ve Been Looking For (Reprise)," Andrew Seeley & Vanessa Anne Hudgens (1:20)
Additionally, the article mentions that Don McLean's "American Pie (Parts I & II)" holds the record for the longest Hot 100 No. 1 by length, clocking in at 8:37. On the other end of the spectrum, Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs’ "Stay" is noted as the shortest No. 1 hit, lasting just 1:38.
In summary, the article presents a comprehensive overview of the longest and shortest songs in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing the diverse range of musical styles and lengths that have left a lasting impact on the charts.
