This Day in Top 40 History: September 25
On Sept. 25, 2022, Don’t Worry Darling, starring Harry Styles, was at the top of the box office. Simultaneously, his newest single “As It Was” was No. 1 on the…
On Sept. 25, 2022, Don't Worry Darling, starring Harry Styles, was at the top of the box office. Simultaneously, his newest single "As It Was" was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. What a day for Harry! Keep reading for more Top 40 history from Sept. 25.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Katy Perry and Ciara left their mark in the early 2000s:
- 2004: Ciara's debut single, "Goodies," was No. 1 on the charts for the third week in a row. The song was reminiscent of Usher's hit "Yeah!" and Kelis's club classic "Milkshake."
- 2007: Foo Fighters issued Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, their sixth studio album. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Besides, the record spawned “The Pretender,” which reached No. 37 on Billboard's Hot 100 and spent 18 weeks at the top of the Alternative Airplay Chart.
- 2010: Katy Perry was at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with her love song "Teenage Dream." It was the song's second week in the No. 1 spot.
- 2020: mgk released his fifth studio LP, Tickets to My Downfall. This album landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and delivered hits such as “Bloody Valentine” and “my ex's best friend,” which peaked at No. 20 on the Hot 100.
Cultural Milestones
Each artist leaves their mark on popular culture in their own ways throughout their careers:
- 1968: Will Smith was born in West Philadelphia. Smith has had two No. 1 hits, including "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Wild Wild West."
- 1980: Led Zeppelin's drummer, John Bonham, passed away. The band decided not to move forward without him, and he is remembered as one of the greatest drummers of all time.
- 1980: Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known as T.I., was born in Atlanta, Georgia. As of this writing, he is a three-time GRAMMY winner whose extensive discography features 11 U.S. Top 10 hits. These include “Whatever You Like” and “Blurred Lines,” his chart-topping collaboration with Robin Thicke and Pharrell.
- 1983: Donald McKinley Glover Jr., who goes by his stage name “Childish Gambino,” was born in Edwards, California. He has five GRAMMYs under his belt. Additionally, Childish Gambino's most notable hit is “This Is America,” which ruled the Hot 100 for two weeks.
- 1990: Dave Grohl auditioned for Nirvana and was immediately given the role of drummer. Grohl was the final person to hold the position within the band.
- 1992: Rosalía was born in Catalonia, Spain. Rosalía's music career has seen her place Top 10 hits such as “LA FAMA” and “DESPECHÁ” on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs Chart. At the same time, she has collaborated with many renowned Top 40 artists, including The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, and Travis Scott.
Notable Recordings and Performances
From first-time performances to final concerts, these live shows will go down in history:
- 1964: The Temptations began recording "My Girl" with Motown Records. The song was the band's first No. 1 single.
- 1982: Queen made their first (and only) appearance on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest. The band performed "Under Pressure" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
- 2015: The Foo Fighters captivated their fans at the Ak-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix, Arizona, where they played hits such as “Best of You” and “Learn to Fly.” They were on the Sonic Highways World Tour, a trek that supported their Top 10 record of the same name.
- 2017: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as the final show in their 40th Anniversary tour. It was also the last show the band ever performed.
- 2019: Khalid's Free Spirit World Tour visited Belfast, Northern Ireland. During this stop, he played a 28-track setlist including “Talk,” “Better,” and “Young Dumb & Broke” at The SSE Arena Belfast. This trek, which supported his No. 1 album of the same name, spanned over 60 shows across North America, Oceania, and Europe.
- 2022: At Chicago's United Center in Illinois, Mary J. Blige set the stage on fire, performing “Family Affair,” “Share My World,” and “You Remind Me.” This show was part of the Good Morning Gorgeous Tour, which took her across North America to promote her No. 14 record of the same name.
- 2025: Keith Urban performed a 20-song setlist featuring “Blue Ain't Your Color” and “Somebody Like You” at the United Center in Chicago. He was on the High and Alive World Tour supporting High, which landed at No. 38 on the Billboard 200 and No. 10 on the Top Country Albums Chart.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The influence of artists and their music often radiates into the world around them:
- 1981: The Rolling Stones were sponsored by Jovan, a fragrance company, for the 1981 U.S. tour. The sponsor's logo appeared on every ticket and all the promotional materials, setting a new precedent for corporate involvement in the entertainment industry.
- 2013: Kurt Cobain's family members put his childhood home up for sale in the hopes of turning it into a museum. Now, the home is a historical landmark in Aberdeen, Washington.
- 2020: Van Morrison dropped “Born to Be Free,” where he protested against the U.K. coronavirus lockdown measures. This was the “Domino” hitmaker's first of three tracks pushing for the COVID-19 restrictions to be relaxed.
- 2025: Chris Dreja died due to the complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to sources, the 78-year-old was in a London nursing home at the time of his death. Dreja was best known as a founding member of The Yardbirds, who were behind U.K. Top 40 singles such as “For Your Love” and “Shapes of Things.”
The music industry is constantly evolving, which is evidenced by these events from Sept. 25.
Dawn Palmer-QuaifeWriter
