httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprcpdwuwCg
While the debate rages on about just how “Rock” the band Twenty One Pilots may be-especially for a group that topped the rock charts with songs that feature no guitar whatsoever-t is no arguing their dominance of the rock-specific charts this year.
The duo, comprised of musicians Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, had one of the best years of any musical act, especially on the Hot Rock Songs chart, which is Billboard’s tally that measures the most popular rock-only songs every week.
Twenty One Pilots sent just three songs to the top of the genre-specific chart in 2016, but they were all incredibly powerful, and those songs were in control of the ranking for almost the entire year.
Before Twenty One Pilots shook everything up in 2016, Foo Fighters were on top when it came to the most frames in the lead among all bands.
“Heathens” is technically the first No. 1 rock song of 2017, as the most recent chart is dated January 7.
Twenty One Pilots is now tied for first place when it comes to bands with the most chart leaders, with three.
It is worth noting that while a number of Billboard’s charts date back many decades, the Hot Rock Songs ranking was only introduced in 2009, so t hasn’t been enough time for many other artists to up their total number of No. 1s. While Walk The Moon’s “Shut Up And Dance” is the single with the most weeks up top, “Stressed Out” is tied for second with 23, and “Heathens” is currently tied for third with 20, though it will likely push the other song it is on par with down to fourth when it collects a twenty-first frame.
T is no telling exactly how long Twenty One Pilots will continue to be in charge, but t doesn’t seem to be a challenger lined up yet that could be poised to steal the spotlight from the powerful alt-rockers.
Perhaps one of the rock albums that are expected in 2017 will wind up producing a hit that people can’t get enough of, finally knocking the duo out of the No. 1 spot, but even if that happens tomorrow, it will still be a long time before anyone can repeat what Twenty One Pilots have done on the rock charts this year.