Since we started doing a weekly update on Duncan Laurence’s progress up the Billboard Hot 100, the United States’ main music singles chart, we’ve been hearing a lot of anecdotes from Eurovision fans about where they’ve heard the Eurovision 2019 winning track “Arcade.”
ESC United’s social media guru Connor Terry heard “Arcade” on the radio returning home from bars in the back arse of Oklahoma, and one reader said she heard “Arcade” at a dentist’s office in Miami, Florida (not sure if that was just an observation and/or subtle shade) and another fan heard “Arcade” at a bar in Jacksonville, Florida.
The anecdotes are getting more common, which is also reflected in “Arcade” landing just outside of the the Top 40 in this week’s Billboard Hot 100. In its 18th week of release, “Arcade” is now in its peak position of Number 41.
To date, Duncan Laurence is only the 11th Eurovision participant whose Eurovision entry entered the Billboard Hot 100. His entry, at Number 41, is currently the 6th most successful, between The New Seekers’s “Beg, Steal, or Borrow” at Number 81 and Brotherhood of Man’s “Save Your Kisses for Me” at Number 27.
“Arcade” is also the first Eurovision entry to crack the Billboard Hot 100 since Gina G’s “Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit” reached Number 12 in January 1997 and the first winner to do so since “Save Your Kisses for Me” reached Number 27 in 1976.
We will see if Laurence can, like the aforementioned Gina G and Brotherhood of Man, can crack the Top 40.
Meanwhile, Måneskin are out on the road playing live gigs, such as this weekend playing the Ronquiere Festival in Belgium.
Rockin’ in Belgium 🇧🇪🖤 pic.twitter.com/vUvcylzMcU
— ManeskinOfficial (@thisismaneskin) August 16, 2021
Their appearance there also made the news as they performed a cover of Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend,” and putting an anthemic rock twist to her 2019 hit.
Måneskin frontman Damiano David told the audience, “OK, guys, now we have a little surprise for you. We’re going to play a song from a great, great artist. So, Billie, if you’re watching call us.”
Given the warm reception of their “I wanna be your slave” with punk rock legend Iggy Pop and Eilish’s tendency to buck trends, you would not discount the possibility of an Eilish collaboration with the Italian Eurovision 2021 winners.
As for the Billboard Hot 100, Måneskin’s cover of The Four Seasons’s “Beggin'” dropped from number 44 to Number 50 in its seventh week of release.
Does it matter to #YOU that Måneskin and Duncan Laurence have cracked the Billboard Hot 100? Do #YOU want ESC United to look at Eurovision artists who hit other Billboard charts? Let us know in comments, on social media, or in our forum.
