The Billboard Hot 100 has seen many hits from pop stars like Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, and John Legend. Music festivals are buzzing with headliners such as Noah Kahan, Post Malone, and The Chainsmokers. May is the perfect month for outdoor fun, singing, and dancing at spring music festivals, and May 3 brought some electrifying performances.
On May 3, several notable hits topped the Billboard Hot 100. In 1976, Aerosmith released their fourth album, Rocks, which climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and produced two Top 40 hits. It was later included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2020. In 1988, Sade’s third album, Stronger Than Pride, peaked at No. 3 in the U.K. and had one Top 30 hit. The U.S. release on April 5 saw it reach No. 7 on the Billboard 200.
In 1997, Jewel’s “Foolish Games/You Were Meant for Me” hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 23 weeks. Paula Cole’s soulful track was at No. 9, while the Spice Girls’ song dropped after 15 weeks. Britney Spears made waves in 2000 with her album Oops!… I Did It Again, debuting at No. 1 and selling over 1.3 million copies in its first week.
In 2003, Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey’s “I Know What You Want” reached No. 7, while Justin Timberlake’s hit climbed to No. 10. By 2014, John Legend’s love song was at No. 2, with Pharrell Williams at No. 1. Katy Perry and Juicy J’s track began to drop after 31 weeks, while Timberlake’s song moved up from No. 12 to No. 8.
