“Desperado” is her fifth No. 1 of 2017, seventh from “ANTI,” and 32nd total leader.
Rihanna rocks the summit of Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart (dated Oct. 14) for the fifth time in 2017, a new high in a calendar year among all acts, as “Desperado” rises 2-1. Rihanna rolls ahead of Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Katy Perry, each with four No. 1s in a January-December frame at least once; Rihanna hit that mark four times (in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2016).
Before “Desperado,” Rihanna led this year with “Wild Thoughts” (by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, Aug. 26); “Pose” (July 15); “Sex With Me” (April 8); and “Love on the Brain” (Jan. 21).
Below Rihanna, five acts have landed as many as two No. 1s in 2017: Dua Lipa, Austin Mahone, Tony Moran, Katy Perry and LeAnn Rimes.
“Desperado” is Rihanna’s 32nd total topper, a sum second only to Madonna’s 46 in the chart’s 41-year history. Rihanna is also gaining on Madonna’s total at an astounding rate, with nine No. 1s since Madonna last topped the chart, on Aug. 15, 2015, with “B**** I’m Madonna.” Beyonce ranks third all-time with 22 leaders.
Remixed by 3LAU, Fairlane and MK, among others, “Desperado” is Rihanna’s seventh No. 1 from her album ANTI, a streak that started on April 23, 2016, with “Work” (featuring Drake). Her other ANTI No. 1s are: “Kiss It Better” (Aug. 6, 2016), “Needed Me” (Aug. 20, 2016), as well as the aforementioned 2017 toppers “Love on the Brain,” “Sex With Me” and “Pose.” Rihanna interrupted her run of ANTI rulers twice with other No. 1s: “Wild Thoughts” and “This Is What You Came For” (by Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna), which posted a rare two-week reign on July 9 and 16, 2016, on its way to becoming the chart’s No. 1 song of last year.
Rihanna’s lucky seven marks the most No. 1s from a single set since Perry scored seven from the original edition of Teenage Dream in 2010-12: “California Gurls,” the title cut, “Peacock,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and “The One That Got Away.” (Perry added two more leaders from the album’s 2012 The Complete Confection reissue, “Part of Me” and “Wide Awake.”)
Dating to the Dance Club Songs chart’s Aug. 28, 1976, inception as a national survey, here’s an updated look at the acts with the most No. 1s:
46, Madonna
32, Rihanna
22, Beyonce
19, Janet Jackson
18, Katy Perry
17, Mariah Carey
16, Kristine W
16, Jennifer Lopez
15, Donna Summer
14, Dave Aude
14, Lady Gaga
14, Enrique Iglesias
14, Pitbull
13, Deborah Cox
13, Whitney Houston
13, Kylie Minogue
13, Ono