This Day in Top 40 History: February 5
February 5 was an interesting day across Top 40 history. At the 2006 Super Bowl halftime show, the Rolling Stones sang songs with controversial lyrics, and organizers of this event made lead singer Mick Jagger turn his microphone down during these sizzling lyrics.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
On February 5, we heard some amazing hits with lasting musical influence.
- 1966: Petula Clark’s “My Love” hits #1 on the U.S. This was her second #1 Billboard hit with her first being “Downtown” which lasted 15 weeks on the charts.
- 1983: The super-group Toto has their only #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with “Africa.” You can still hear this catchy song played on the radio.
- 2011: Singer Adele has an 11-week run on the UK charts with her second album 21. This album reached the top charts in over 30 countries.
Cultural Milestones
Musicians and performers can have a huge impact on culture, and on February 5, we had several cultural milestones.
- 1967: The Beatles filmed themselves walking up and down Angel Lane in Stratford, London, to help promote their hit song, “Penny Lane.” Many feel this was one of the first music videos.
- 1990: To enhance marketing efforts, Hasbro released a set of New Kids on the Block dolls. Each doll came with a personal interview cassette tape and clothes resembling what the band members wore.
- 2012: With 118 million views, the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show was the most-watched TV event in history. Performers at the show included Madonna, Nicki Minaj, and LMFAO.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Songs, performances, and events to remember on February 5 include:
- 1962: We see the Beatles Ringo Starr perform live for the first time after the original drummer Pest Best’s illness forced him to cancel.
- 1972: After the breakup of Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon released his solo single “Mother and Chile Reunion” which peaked at #4 in the U.S.
- 1993: Rod Stewart and former bandmate Ron Wood record “Have I Told Lately That I Love You” for the MTV Unplugged show.
- 2017: Lady Gaga performs “God Bless America” at SuperBowl LI in Houston, Texas.
Industry Changes and Challenges
As the music industry evolves, we expect to see changes in consumption and distribution as well as stardom challenges.
- 2007: Tech giant Apple Inc. has a lengthy battle with the record label Apple Corps conceived by the Beatles. Both corporations agreed to a licensing agreement.
- 2010: Superstar Wayne Newton, best known for his Las Vegas performances and lavish lifestyle, is accused of abandoning his airplane at an airport in Michigan. He claimed he never received the work needed on it and left it there.
Between spicy Super Bowl songs, career-launching mega-hits, and major industry changes, February 5th was an influential day.