This Day in Top 40 History: May 31

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1977: The BBC banned the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" because its lyrics were deemed offensive to the monarchy. Regardless of the ban, the song reached No. 2 on the U.K. Singles Chart, marking the rise of upstart punk rock in the popular music scene.
• 1994: The Beastie Boys released their fourth studio LP, Ill Communication. It featured “Sabotage,” “Sure Shot,” and “Root Down.” The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spending more than 60 weeks on the chart. 
• 2003: 50 Cent was on top of the Billboard Hot 100, and three of his songs occupied the top 10 during this week: "In Da Club," "21 Questions," and "Magic Stick" (with Lil' Kim). He stormed the pop and hip-hop communities that spring.
• 2007: Rihanna issued her third studio effort, Good Girl Gone Bad, including contributions from Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, and Ne-Yo. This project delivered multiple Top 40 singles on Billboard's Hot 100, such as “Umbrella,” “Don't Stop the Music,” and “Hate That I Love You.”
• 2019: Bad Bunny and Tainy released "Callaíta," which became a huge success. It combined reggaeton with pop elements, continuing Latin music's significance in pop music globally.
• 2019: Denzel Curry's Zuu was released. It was his fourth studio album.

Cultural Milestones

• 1977: The Broadway musical Beatlemania opened, honoring The Beatles' music. This was a milestone moment in pop music history that speaks to the cultural impact of their work.
• 1991: Azealia Banks was born in Manhattan, New York. She is best known for her 2014 record Broke With Expensive Taste, which landed at No. 30 and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, respectively. In 2017, Banks established her own record label, Chaos & Glory Recordings, to gain full rights to her music. 
• 1993: Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, welcomed their first child, Stephanie Rose Bongiovi, in New Jersey. Rose inspired Bon Jovi to write the song “I've Got The Girl.” The “Livin' On A Prayer” hitmaker and Dorothea share three more children, Jesse Bongiovi, Jacob "Jake" Bongiovi, and Romeo Jon Bongiovi. 
• 1996: Normani was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She was a member of Fifth Harmony, whose Top 10 albums include 7/27 and Reflection. As a solo artist, she has scored several Top 40 singles, including “Motivation” and “Dancing With a Stranger,” her collaboration with Sam Smith. 
• 2025: The Roots Picnic music festival was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with performances by Meek Mill, D'Angelo with The Roots, and Kaytranada. The festival is more of an experiential performance than a show, combining blues, jazz, hip-hop, and pop.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 2024: Chris Stapleton played “You Should Probably Leave,” “Starting Over,” “Think I'm In Love With You,” and other songs at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He was on his All-American Road Show tour, which he launched in 2017. As of this writing, the trek features Bob Dylan's “Never-Ending Tour” status, so it is set to run for an indefinite period.
• 2025: Halsey took her For My Last Trick Tour to Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia. This trek supported her fifth studio LP, The Great Impersonator, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Tracks on the setlist included “I am not a woman, I'm a god,” “Lonely is the Muse,” “Without Me,” and “Bad At Love.” 
• 2025: Coldplay performed “Viva la Vida,” “Adventure of a Lifetime,” “Magic,” and other songs at Stanford Stadium in California. They were on their Music of the Spheres Tour that spanned 225 shows across over 40 countries. The trek supported Coldplay's ninth and tenth studio LPs, Music of the Spheres and Moon Music, which reached No. 4 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200, respectively.

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 1961: Jimi Hendrix enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed at Kentucky's Fort Campbell. The “All Along the Watchtower” hitmaker would be discharged about a year later, allegedly because of an ankle injury. However, according to sources, the real reason behind Hendrix's early discharge was that he couldn't get things done.
• 2000: Johnnie Taylor died in Dallas, Texas. Some of his biggest hits were “Who's Making Love” and “Disco Lady,” which flew to the top of the charts in the U.S. and was the first single to receive a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). 
• 2003: The first Download Festival took place in the U.K., signifying a change in the culture of music events. This would have a direct impact on all pop music festivals around the world.
• 2019: The NPR review of New Music Friday showcased the significance of that Friday as a global release day, with the same potential as labels had a generation before.