Thank you. Saved me the trouble.
You know, if you cross I Want To Hold Your Hand with Love Love Me Do, what comes to mind is — I Think I Love You, the #1 debut of the Partridge Family.
Not true in America. See post #9.
Man, the back-and-forth goes on and on like a movie or something.
Speaking of: “I Got You Babe” was the #1 debut single for Sonny & Cher.
Kelly Clarkson’s first single, “A Moment Like This,” went number one. I’m guessing the fact she performed it on the most popular TV show in the country might have helped.
Attractive young women seem a bit disproportionately represented. Clarkson, plus we’ve mentioned Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Lisa Loeb, Mariah Carey, and Lorde. Katy Perry did it too, as did Meghan Trainor, Alicia Keys, Iggy Azalea, Debbie Boone, and more I’m sure.
Lauryn Hill knocked it out of the park.
I was thinking of Lauryn Hill and adore that album, but… it seems like a cheat to credit someone with a “first single” when they became a solo act only after being part of a very famous and established band. We’d also have to count Beyonce.
Not to mention George Harrison.
There were lots in the 50s and early 60s. Blue Moon" by the Marcels comes to mind. Also “Duke of Earl” by Gene Chandler.
I’m confused here. Unless you’re maintaining that “Love Me Do” was the first Beatles single released in the USA (wrong) and it went to #1 on the charts (ridiculous), I don’t see what you’re referring to.
(pause)
Oh. I think I see the error in the statement I was agreeing with: “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was the Fabs’ first #1 in the US, but it wasn’t their first single released in the US.
I should’ve caught that, as I bought all their US singles as they were being released.
Brings to mind how the Beatles sang Please Mr. Postman, which (a) doesn’t, in itself, count for this thread; but which (b) was the #1 debut single for the Marvelettes.
This brings up a question of what “first single” actually means. Cyndi Lauper’s first band, Blue Angel, released five singles, none of which charted. Should they impact her batting average? Eric Clapton has been in a lot of one-off bands; should the successes of Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, et al be considered when quantifying Clapton’s legacy as a solo artist, and why not? Is “Back in the New York Groove” a KISS single or an Ace Frehley one?
At that, Bradley Cooper’s first single reached #1. Sure, it was a duet with Lady Gaga, which is why they won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance…
Just to keep this going for one more day: Wilson Phillips got themselves a #1 debut single by dint of singing about, y’know, holding on for one more day.
One-off charity supergroup USA For Africa hit #1 with their only single* We Are The World*. And the inspiration, Band Aid’s* Do They Know It’s Christmas*? hit #1 in the UK (peaked at #13 in the US).
The Canadian equivalent, “Tears Are Not Enough,” also hit #1. Were Neil Young, Geddy Lee and Anne Murray in it, along with Bryan Adams? You bet!
All those songs were terrible.
See also: “All For Love”, the #1 from Bryan-Adams-and-Rod-Stewart-and-Sting.
No, I’m not saying that one was for charity.
But, like the others, it was terrible.
That was my point, yes. (And not so-bad-it’s-good, like the #1 debut single that introduced the world to Right Said Fred when I’m Too Sexy made the rounds.)
It’s been alluded to but not directly touched upon, so I’d like to add that considering a single’s international presence brings another element of comparison into this thread. What got me thinking about it was the mention of the Spice Girls, whose first hit reached number 1 around the world (according to Wikipedia). Compare that to, say, Lisa Loeb, whose first single reached number 1 in the U.S. and Canada but nowhere else, according to Wikipedia. Even Mariah Carey didn’t hit number one worldwide like the Spice Girls did.