On Nov. 13, 2020, Harry Styles made history when he became the first solo male singer to grace the cover of American Vogue. Donning a Gucci dress, he ignited conversations about masculinity in the music industry and joined the list of artists who use fashion to express their art. Styles is known for Top 10 hits such as “As It Was,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100, “Sign of the Times,” and “Adore You.” As a former member of One Direction, he scored multiple Top 40 hits, including “Best Song Ever” and “Drag Me Down.”
Other notable moments in Top 40 history that have happened on Nov. 13 include album releases, lively performances, and the deaths of award-winning artists.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Tracks from these albums released on Nov. 13 secured spots in the Top 40 on major music charts:
- 1965: The Four Tops launched their sophomore album, Four Tops Second Album. Its lead single, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” topped the Billboard Hot 100. A few other tracks also entered the chart, including “Something About You” and “It’s the Same Old Song,” which snagged the No. 19 and No. 5 spots, respectively.
- 2012: Soundgarden launched their sixth studio effort, King Animal, featuring “Been Away Too Long,” “By Crooked Steps,” and “Halfway There.” The album landed at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums Chart.
- 2015: Alessia Cara released her debut studio LP, Know-It-All. The record spawned two Top 40 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100, “Here” and “Scars to Your Beautiful.” Additionally, it broke into the Top 10 on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 9.
- 2015: Justin Bieber dropped Purpose, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned several global hits. “What Do You Mean?,” “Love Yourself,” and “Sorry” all topped the Billboard Hot 100. “Where Are Ü Now,” Bieber’s collaboration with Diplo and Skrillex, reached No. 8 on the chart and won him his first GRAMMY Award in 2016.
- 2020: Mercury Nashville released Chris Stapleton’s fourth studio album, Starting Over. It debuted atop Billboard’s Country Albums chart and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The title track and lead single reached No. 25 on the Hot 100, while a couple of other hits, such as “You Should Probably Leave” and “Cold,” broke into the Top 40 on the Country Airplay chart.
Cultural Milestones
Top 40 cultural moments from November 13 include:
- 1967: Jimmy Kimmel was born in New York. He hosts the Jimmy Kimmel Live! late-night talk show. Over the years, Kimmel has hosted many Top 40 artists, helping them expand their fan bases and allowing viewers to enjoy memorable performances. Some of these renowned names include “bad guy” singer Billie Eilish, Bebe Rexha, and Gorillaz.
- 2004: At the Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, A Tribe Called Quest delivered a show-stopping performance at the Rock the Bells festival. This was the group’s first concert in years, as they had disbanded in 1998. In the years that followed, the Beats, Rhymes and Life artists played more shows across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Nov. 13 has seen many big artists perform, including:
- 2011: At the American Airlines Arena in Florida, Taylor Swift set the stage on fire, singing hits such as “The Story of Us,” “You Belong With Me,” and “Love Story.” She was on the Speak Now World Tour, which supported her 2010 No. 1 album of the same name. According to sources, the adventure brought in an estimated $104.2 million.
- 2022: Post Malone took the stage at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. This concert was part of the Twelve Carat Tour to promote his Twelve Carat Toothache album. The setlist included Malone’s collaboration with Doja Cat, “I Like You (A Happier Song),” which peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100.
- 2023: Depeche Mode performed “Enjoy the Silence,” “Personal Jesus,” and “I Feel You” at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. They were on their Memento Mori World Tour, promoting their No. 14 album of the same name. The trek featured more than 100 shows across four legs.
- 2024: Billie Eilish performed in Chicago, Illinois, at the United Center while on the Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, which supported her album of the same name. All tracks from Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft album debuted in the Top 40 on the Hot 100.
- 2025: Benson Boone played a 20-song set featuring “Slow It Down,” “Beautiful Things,” and “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. This concert was part of The American Heart World Tour, a 50-show trek supporting his No. 2 sophomore album of the same name.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The music industry lost the following artists on Nov. 13:
- 1968: Yellow Submarine, an animated musical inspired by “Hey Jude” hitmakers The Beatles, was released in the U.S., months after it premiered in the U.K. George Dunning directed the film, while John Lennon and Paul McCartney teamed up with Lee Minoff to write it. The real Fab Four only appeared in the movie’s closing scene, though.
- 2000: The Beatles rolled out their new website, www.thebeatles.com. The platform offered access to the band’s rare material and more details about their new compilation album, 1, which was released the same day as well. The record ruled the Billboard 200 for eight weeks and spent over 550 weeks on the chart.
- 2004: Russell Tyrone Jones, also known as ODB, died at 35 following an accidental drug overdose. He was a founding member of Wu-Tang Clan, whose 1997 record, Wu-Tang Forever, dominated the Billboard 200 for a week. The group also scored more Top 40 albums, including The Saga Continues and A Better Tomorrow.
- 2016: 74-year-old Leon Russell died in his sleep in Nashville, Tennessee. He was known for tracks such as “Tight Rope,” which peaked at No. 11 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Russell’s duet with Willie Nelson, “Heartbreak Hotel,” topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
- 2021: Philip Margo, a founding member of the Tokens, suffered a stroke and died at 79. The Tokens were known for their single “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which topped the Hot 100 for three weeks.
After witnessing these events, Nov. 13 will always be a special day for Top 40 music lovers worldwide.
