- Golden – HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI
(Label: Visva/Republic | LW: 2 | Peak: 1 | Weeks: 7) - Ordinary – Alex Warren
(Label: Atlantic | LW: 1 | Peak: 1 | Weeks: 26) - The Subway – Chappell Roan
(Label: KRA/Amusement/Island/Republic | LW: – | Peak: 3 | Weeks: 1) - What I Want – Morgan Wallen Featuring Tate McRae
(Label: Mercury/Big Loud/Republic | LW: 3 | Peak: 1 | Weeks: 12) - Daisies – Justin Bieber
(Label: JRC/ILH/Def Jam/Republic | LW: 4 | Peak: 2 | Weeks: 4) - Love Me Not – Ravyn Lenae
(Label: Atlantic | LW: 6 | Peak: 6 | Weeks: 19) - Just In Case – Morgan Wallen
(Label: Mercury/Big Loud/Republic | LW: 5 | Peak: 2 | Weeks: 20) - Your Idol – Saja Boys: Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo & samUIL Lee
(Label: Visva/Republic | LW: 9 | Peak: 8 | Weeks: 7) - Lose Control – Teddy Swims
(Label: SWIMS Int./Warner | LW: 7 | Peak: 1 | Weeks: 103) - A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
(Label: American Dogwood/EMPIRE/Magnolia Music | LW: 8 | Peak: 1 | Weeks: 69)
Contents
- 1 🎤 Weekly Chart Commentary – August 16, 2025
- 1.1 A Changing of the Guard at No. 1
- 1.2 Alex Warren Steps Down Gracefully
- 1.3 A Big Entrance at No. 3
- 1.4 Morgan Wallen Doubles Down
- 1.5 The Middle of the Pack: Stability Over Chaos
- 1.6 The Veteran Hits Still Hanging On
- 1.7 Summer 2025: The Year of the Soft Hit
- 1.8 What’s Bubbling Under the Top 10
- 1.9 Looking Ahead
- 2 Final Word
🎤 Weekly Chart Commentary – August 16, 2025
A Changing of the Guard at No. 1
After nine consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” balance has been restored at last. HUNTR/X’s “Golden” ascends to No. 1 this week, a historic victory not only for the fictionalized K-pop group conceived from the animated series K-Pop Demon Hunters but also Hot 100 records itself. It marks the first time an all-female collective of three or more have ever hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 since Destiny’s Child did just that way back in 2001. That’s a 24-year gap — and says a whole lot about just how unlikely it is these days for female collectives to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100.
“Golden” didn’t exactly sneak into the top two, either. It’s been looming in the runner-up position for months, fueled by juggernaut streaming and good sales. The only thing keeping it back was airplay on the radio, but in the last two weeks, the stations have woken up and closed the gap, pushing it past “Ordinary” on the final go-round.
Alex Warren Steps Down Gracefully
Warren’s “Ordinary” drops to No. 2 but remains atop the charts for nine weeks, and that’s nothing to dismiss. In fact, for a sentimental slow-burning ballad to reign for more than two months in the height of summer is virtually unknown in the streaming age. Summer tends to belong to pop-infused party-oriented songs — like “Despacito” or “Old Town Road.” This summer, however, listeners have turned toward more subdued and contemplative sounds, and “Ordinary” was the ideal background track for the mood.
The song still holds strong in streams and maintains respectable radio numbers, so it could linger in the top five for weeks. But the run at the top is likely over, especially with “Golden” gaining traction and several fresh contenders bubbling just outside the top 10.
A Big Entrance at No. 3
Week’s biggest headline-generating debut belongs to Chappell Roan, who debuts at No. 3 with “The Subway.” This level of debut is not common — it’s a result of solid streaming, front-loaded sales impact, and at least some level of radio hype. The launch of the song was aided by an A-list music video drop, solid socials (especially TikTok), and aggressive playlisting. Should “The Subway” continue streaming steam into week two, we may have a genuine “Golden” competitor on our hands.
Morgan Wallen Doubles Down
In fourth place, Morgan Wallen continues his impressive multi-hit dominance with “What I Want” featuring Tate McRae. This track already hit No. 1 earlier in the summer and has shown remarkable staying power. Right behind it at No. 7 is Wallen’s solo cut “Just In Case,” which has also peaked at No. 2. The fact that both songs are holding in the top 10 underscores Wallen’s ability to balance country crossover appeal with pop-radio polish.
Wallen is one of only a handful of acts this year balancing top-10 singles at the same time — an achievement even more impressive given the slower, ballad-centric pace of these two songs.
The Middle of the Pack: Stability Over Chaos
In fifth place, Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” repeats last week’s entry. It hasn’t taken off, but nor has it slipped back, and this is exactly the type of consistency which might keep an anthem in the consciousness of the people late into an anthem’s life. The same cannot be said of Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not” at No. 6, which has uniformly built devoted listeners in 19 weeks on the board.
At No. 8, Saja Boys’ “Your Idol” — another Visva/Republic release — continues its slow, steady climb. The track’s blend of R&B grooves and slick K-pop sensibilities seems to be connecting with listeners beyond its core fanbase, and like “Golden,” it’s benefiting from a steady uptick in radio support.
The Veteran Hits Still Hanging On
The bottom half of the top 10 has two marathon performers. At No. 9, Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control”is the Hot 100’s iron man, with a cumulative 103 weeks — yes, nearing two years — and has been well beyond its commercial peak but streams relentlessly, and especially on adult contemporary playlists. Rounding out the top tier is Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” at No. 10, in its 69th week and still getting a summery jolt thanks to its relaxed, drink-in-hand vibe.
Summer 2025: The Year of the Soft Hit
This week’s chart cements further the idea that summer 2025 has been one of the least eventful of recent times. Normally, the August Hot 100 would be filled with club-infused uptempo singles, hip-hop anthem-singers, and pop-dance records. But this summer, mid-tempo and ballads dominate the highest tier. It could be an indication of listener fatigue with hyper-processed, ultra-caffeinated pop — or an appeal to more intimate, introspective tracks in a year that’s been culturally stirred up.
What’s Bubbling Under the Top 10
Several songs just outside of the top 10 have the potential to cross in the near future. Kehlani’s “Folded” has experienced significant streaming boosts and appears just outside of the top 20. Ariana Grande’s “Twilight Zone” is building continued play at radio, and Charli XCX’s “Party 4 U” has impressive social interaction of the sort that may convert into a chart gain.
On the countryside, Lainey Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo” is mounting a resurgence following an initial spike earlier in the year, boosted in part by viral live clips and festival hype.
Looking Ahead
The question going into next week is if “Golden” can maintain a foothold or if “The Subway” makes a second-week rocket ride to No. 1. “Golden” has fan devotion and ascending radio airplay going for it, but “The Subway” has potential to ride the momentum of its initial week. “Ordinary” drops another position or two, but because of its continued popularity, its extended chart life has been secured.
If anyone has a sleeper hit on deck over the next few weeks, it’s “Your Idol” — the song has slow-burn potential that might carry it into the top five come September.
Final Word
This week’s Hot 100 has nothing to do with whirlwind jumps or surprise viral hits. It’s a slow, deliberate landscape of motion — an end-of-summer chart defined by calm, confident hits and not hot, throwaway ones. And in that spirit, “Golden” sounds just the perfect No. 1 of the moment: balmy, consistent, and silently victorious.