Vampire Weekend led the Alt18 Countdown 11 years ago this week.
The indie darlings hit No. 1 with “Giving Up the Gun,” a song that spent six years on top of the Alt18 before giving way to The Black Keys’ “Tighten Up.” It replaced the Silversun Pickups’ “The Royal We.”
Other notable songs: The Heavy reached No. 2 with “How You Like Me Now?”, while Cage the Elephant, Muse, The Dead Weather and LCD Soundsystem make appearances.
Lesser known songs (at least to me) from A Silent Film, Civil Twilight, Semi-Precious Weapons and The Constellations round out the countdown.
Here’s the full countdown. Special thanks to Doug Dollison for sharing the countdown.
A belated recap of the Jan. 16, 2021 Alt18 Countdown. Apologies everyone! Kings of Leon join this week and Jake Bugg, Mishaal and grandson all return. They kicked off Almost Monday, Royal Blood, Bleachers and Bruce Springsteen and Billie Eilish.
It was just one week at No. 1 for Sir Sly and “Material Boy,” which slipped to No. 6. MISSIO returned the top spot with “Can You Feel the Sun.” Bastille, Tame Impala, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me and Mansionair with NoMBe round out the Top 5.
Almost Monday joined the Alt18 this week with “Broken People,” which was released in October 2019 and has already racked up millions of plays on the different platforms. Clairo returns to the Alt18 with “Sofia,” and Ashe’s “Save Me” is other new addition this week. That sends Mishaal’s “Peddle Bike,” the Foo Fighters “Shame, Shame” and grandson’s “Dirty” off the countdown. With all that change over, Sir Sly is left on top with “Material Boy.”
We’re back to the regular Alt18 Countdown after last week’s Alt36 of 2020. Justin Kade filled in for Madison during the holiday week. The countdown kicked off 2021 with four new songs, including a new one from Royal and the Serpent, plus songs from Inhaler, Mishaal and The Knocks. From there it was back to where things left off in 2020 with the same Top 2 songs from the Dec. 19 countdown. Tame Impala made the biggest jump, moving up 12 spots with “Is It True,” which appeared to be heading out after a lengthy run. It’s back up to No. 3.
Jake Bugg, Clairo, Cannons, Ashe and USERx all fell off. I’d expect to see Bugg and Ashe back soon; USERx’s “Waterman” has also returned and is getting some play on AltNation.
1. MISSIO@MissionMusic – Can You Feel the Sun – RCA Records (+2) | Wiki | American Songwriter | And there it is, MISSIO Mafia! The duo finally hits No. 1 this year after 20 weeks on the countdown with this song, plus Wolves.
It’s the last Alt18 Countdown of 2020, and it’s pretty much a hold steady for the list. Jake Bugg (!) returns with a promising new song, “All I Need.” Hopefully this mean more new material from the British songwriter in 2021.
MISSIO climbs to No. 1 with “Can You Feel the Sun?” knocking off Bastille and “survivin'” Royal Blood, AJR and Black Belt Eagle Scout all fall off the list this week. Royal Blood’s “Trouble Coming” drops off for the first time since joining on Oct. 18.
“Tangerine” by Glass Animals, “Material Boy” by Sir Sly and “Is It True” by Tame Impala are the longest-running songs on the current countdown. All joined the list on Oct. 4.
SiriusXM released its “Class of 2020” this week. Alt18 bands Cannons, Phoebe Bridgers, Powfu, Wallows, Ashe and Clairo were part of the collection.
Next week they’ll run the “Alt36 of 2020” in place of the normal countdown, and then we’re off to 2021.
15. Tame Impala@tameimpala – Is It True – Interscope Records (-1) | Genius | Video | 30 weeks on the Alt18 for Tame Impala this year
14. Mansionair/NoMBe@mansionair@NoMBeMusic – Guillotine – Glassnote Records / TH3RD BRAIN Records – (return) | Video | Guillotine was No. 18 on Nov. 28, but fell off — until this week.
6. Billie Eilish@billieeilish – Therefore I Am – Interscope (-2) | Eilish’s third song on the #Alt18 this year along with “my future” and “everything i wanted.”
1. MISSIO@MissionMusic – Can You Feel the Sun – RCA Records (+2) | Wiki | American Songwriter | And there it is, MISSIO Mafia! The duo finally hits No. 1 this year after 20 weeks on the countdown with this song, plus Wolves.
Big week for grandson, who jumps 12 spots to No. 5 after the release of his album, “Death of an Optimist.” (Prediction: “In Over My Head” off the album is headed to the Alt18 next year.) MISSIO comes so close to the top spot, but falls short to another week at No. 1 for Bastille and “survivin'”
Billie Eilish remains in the Top 5, but this week Alt18 pulled used her live performance of “Therefore I am” on AltNation. Nice, sinister version of the song. And, The Backseat Lovers reach No. 3 after “Kilby Girl” fell out of the Alt18 a couple of weeks ago.
Black Belt Eagle Scout joins the Alt18 at No. 18, replacing Paris Jackson. Ashe’s “Save Myself” also joins the countdown. Royal and the Serpent, Gus Dapperton and Cage the Elephant fall off, but could easily return as proven by AJR’s “Bummerland” making a comeback.
4. Billie Eilish@billieeilish – Therefore I Am – Interscope (+1) | Eilish’s third song on the #Alt18 this year along with “my future” and “everything i wanted.” She performed on AltNation this week.
2. MISSIO@MissionMusic – Can You Feel the Sun – RCA Records (+2) | Wiki | American Songwriter | 19 weeks on the countdown this year for this song, plus Wolves. The duo racked up 8.4 million listeners and 109.6 million streams on Spotify in 2020.
Rock royalty is on the Alt18 Countdown these days, first with Foo Fighters and now the great Bruce Springsteen. The Boss teamed up with Jack Antonoff and Bleachers for “chinatown,” which debuted at No. 15 this week.
Madison returned this week and so did Gus Dapperton to the Alt18 with “Post Humorous” (something she noted herself). Clairo is also back with “Sofia.”
Paris Jackson — yes, Michael’s daughter — joins the countdown at No. 18 with “Let Down.” Billie Eilish climbed one with “There I Am” after appearing on AltNation for an interview and performance, including a cover of The Beatles, “Something.” Her brother Finneas didn’t fare as well. His “Can’t Wait to Be Dead” dropped off, along with “Guillotine” by Mansionair and NoMBe and “Our Song” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise.
The Countdown also said goodbye to Cannons and “Fire For You” after 16 weeks on the Alt18.
Former Alt18 song “Monsters” by All Time Low featuring Blackbear finished its 12th week as the most-played alternative song on the Billboard alternative charts dating back to Sept. 12, 2020. Checkout a new version of the song featuring Demi Lovato.
4. MISSIO@MissionMusic – Can You Feel the Sun – RCA Records (-2) | Wiki | American Songwriter | 19 weeks on the countdown this year for this song, plus Wolves. The duo racked up 8.4 million listeners and 109.6 million streams on Spotify in 2020.
3. Billie Eilish@billieeilish – Therefore I Am – Interscope (+1) | Eilish’s third song on the #Alt18 this year along with “my future” and “everything i wanted.” She performed on AltNation this week.
