ONTD Original: Ten Bops That The Straights Let Flop
We all know that the straights lack taste, however, they are unfortunately the majority. This means that they are able to propel bland and uninspired artists to the top of the music charts whilst more deserving artists are left to flop. So while the straights praise basics like *d Sh**r*n, Em*n*m and J*st*n B**b*r, this ONTD Original looks at the bops that deserved more.
Normani - Motivation
Chart performance: #33 (US Billboard Hot 100)
Despite two prior top ten duets, an iconic music video and an incredible performance at the 2019 MTV VMAs, the debut single by ex-Fifth Harmony star Normani was not the smash hit that it was destined to be. This remains Normani's only solo single as we await a follow up over a year later.
Sources: Video, Charts
Christina Aguilera - Dirrty (featuring Redman
Chart performance: #48 (US Billboard Hot 100)
This song and its video are literally legendary and introduced the world to Christina Aguilera's X-Tina persona which is still iconic and paid homage to nearly two decades later. Dirrty was a hit around the world, charting in the top five in Australia, Canada, Europe and #1 in the UK and Ireland but only managed to peak at #48 in the US. They were likely too busy cleaning their act up as they weren't dirrty enough to appreciate this song.
Sources: Video, Charts
Hilary Duff - Sparks
Chart performance: #93 (US Billboard Hot 100)
The lead single from Duff's musical comeback Breathe In. Breathe Out. album in 2015, Sparks had all the makings of a hit with its dance pop sound and catchy whistle hook, yet only managed to peak at #93. This could in part be attributed to the first music video for this song which was an advert for Tinder guised as an MV which caused listeners to swipe left on this bop.
Sources: Video, Charts
Troye Sivan - My! My! My!
Chart performance: #80 (US Billboard Hot 100)
The lead single from Sivan's Bloom album saw him take bold steps into queerer territory than previously seen from him. Despite high profile performances of the song on Saturday Night Live and The Ellen Degeneres Show, this bop only managed to peak at #80 in the US. It fared slightly better in other territories where it peaked within the top forty, however, criminally missed the top ten on the whole.
Sources: Video, Charts
Steps - Scared of the Dark
Chart performance: #37 (UK Singles Chart)
The much anticipated comeback single from camp icons Steps gave us so much - a disco banger filled with drama - yet it was paid dust as it only peaked at #37 on the UK Singles Chart despite peaking at #1 on the UK iTunes Chart. Fortunately for us, Steps have continued to bring out more bops in the years since the release of this.
Sources: Video, Charts
Charli XCX & Christine and the Queens - Gone
Chart performance: #58 (UK Singles Chart)
Gone was regularly featured in top songs of 2019 lists, and quite rightly, yet only reached #58 in the UK Singles Chart. There truly is no justice in the world when an undeniable bop such as this by two gay icons is treated with such disrespect.
Sources: Video, Charts
Robyn - Dancing on My Own
Chart performance: #13 (US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles)
This song is truly iconic and is one of Robyn's signature songs. It has been featured in TV shows and films over the past decade, most famously on HBO's Girls, and is widely regarded as one of the best songs of the 2010s, yet did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. It seems strange to think that a song with such a legacy did not top the chart let alone appear on it but there you go. Fortunately it appeared on other charts throughout the world and secured Robyn's place as a musical icon.
Sources: Video, Charts
Rina Sawayama - XS
Chart performance: N/A
Much like Gone and Dancing on My Own, XS is beginning to appear on best songs of 2020 lists yet it has not charted. This bop has everything from a modern Y2K pop sound to a tongue-in-cheek narrative about capitalism and even a super camp music video to go along with it. This song and its accompanying album, SAWAYAMA, deserve much more love as it's about time we saw a queer Asian woman on top of the charts.
Sources: Video, Charts
Lizzo - Batches & Cookies (featuring Sophia Eris)
Chart performance: N/A
Many seem to be under the impression that Lizzo only debuted with her Cuz I Love You album last year, however, she released two critically acclaimed albums in 2013 and 2015 respectively. From her first album comes Batches & Cookies, a bop which locals probably still don't know exists. We can only hope that it is given the same retroactive love which previous Lizzo singles have received.
Sources: Video, Charts
Carly Rae Jepsen - Cut to the Feeling
Chart performance: N/A
Is it truly a list of songs which straight people let flop without mentioning Carly Rae Jepsen? This could truly be a list of her songs alone as they are all bops which deserve to be chart toppers but none more so than 2017's Cut to the Feeling which has become one of her most popular songs amongst fans despite being released as a song to promote the film Ballerina/Leap! and does not appear on any of her albums. Much like other songs on this list, it made several year end lists in 2017 yet did not chart. This anthem deserves to cut to the top of the charts yet it was done so dirty. Fortunately for us, Carly will stay fed for life from Call Me Maybe so has continued to provide us with bops that we do not deserve.
Sources: Video, Charts
ONTD, did it surprise you that any of these songs weren't bigger hits? This is my first ONTD Original and feel like there are other avenues this could go down such as more singles, albums or careers. Let me know if you would want a series on other times the straights let our faves down.
Normani - Motivation
Click to viewChart performance: #33 (US Billboard Hot 100)
Despite two prior top ten duets, an iconic music video and an incredible performance at the 2019 MTV VMAs, the debut single by ex-Fifth Harmony star Normani was not the smash hit that it was destined to be. This remains Normani's only solo single as we await a follow up over a year later.
Sources: Video, Charts
Christina Aguilera - Dirrty (featuring Redman
Chart performance: #48 (US Billboard Hot 100)
This song and its video are literally legendary and introduced the world to Christina Aguilera's X-Tina persona which is still iconic and paid homage to nearly two decades later. Dirrty was a hit around the world, charting in the top five in Australia, Canada, Europe and #1 in the UK and Ireland but only managed to peak at #48 in the US. They were likely too busy cleaning their act up as they weren't dirrty enough to appreciate this song.
Sources: Video, Charts
Hilary Duff - Sparks
Chart performance: #93 (US Billboard Hot 100)
The lead single from Duff's musical comeback Breathe In. Breathe Out. album in 2015, Sparks had all the makings of a hit with its dance pop sound and catchy whistle hook, yet only managed to peak at #93. This could in part be attributed to the first music video for this song which was an advert for Tinder guised as an MV which caused listeners to swipe left on this bop.
Sources: Video, Charts
Troye Sivan - My! My! My!
Chart performance: #80 (US Billboard Hot 100)
The lead single from Sivan's Bloom album saw him take bold steps into queerer territory than previously seen from him. Despite high profile performances of the song on Saturday Night Live and The Ellen Degeneres Show, this bop only managed to peak at #80 in the US. It fared slightly better in other territories where it peaked within the top forty, however, criminally missed the top ten on the whole.
Sources: Video, Charts
Steps - Scared of the Dark
Chart performance: #37 (UK Singles Chart)
The much anticipated comeback single from camp icons Steps gave us so much - a disco banger filled with drama - yet it was paid dust as it only peaked at #37 on the UK Singles Chart despite peaking at #1 on the UK iTunes Chart. Fortunately for us, Steps have continued to bring out more bops in the years since the release of this.
Sources: Video, Charts
Charli XCX & Christine and the Queens - Gone
Chart performance: #58 (UK Singles Chart)
Gone was regularly featured in top songs of 2019 lists, and quite rightly, yet only reached #58 in the UK Singles Chart. There truly is no justice in the world when an undeniable bop such as this by two gay icons is treated with such disrespect.
Sources: Video, Charts
Robyn - Dancing on My Own
Chart performance: #13 (US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles)
This song is truly iconic and is one of Robyn's signature songs. It has been featured in TV shows and films over the past decade, most famously on HBO's Girls, and is widely regarded as one of the best songs of the 2010s, yet did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. It seems strange to think that a song with such a legacy did not top the chart let alone appear on it but there you go. Fortunately it appeared on other charts throughout the world and secured Robyn's place as a musical icon.
Sources: Video, Charts
Rina Sawayama - XS
Chart performance: N/A
Much like Gone and Dancing on My Own, XS is beginning to appear on best songs of 2020 lists yet it has not charted. This bop has everything from a modern Y2K pop sound to a tongue-in-cheek narrative about capitalism and even a super camp music video to go along with it. This song and its accompanying album, SAWAYAMA, deserve much more love as it's about time we saw a queer Asian woman on top of the charts.
Sources: Video, Charts
Lizzo - Batches & Cookies (featuring Sophia Eris)
Chart performance: N/A
Many seem to be under the impression that Lizzo only debuted with her Cuz I Love You album last year, however, she released two critically acclaimed albums in 2013 and 2015 respectively. From her first album comes Batches & Cookies, a bop which locals probably still don't know exists. We can only hope that it is given the same retroactive love which previous Lizzo singles have received.
Sources: Video, Charts
Carly Rae Jepsen - Cut to the Feeling
Chart performance: N/A
Is it truly a list of songs which straight people let flop without mentioning Carly Rae Jepsen? This could truly be a list of her songs alone as they are all bops which deserve to be chart toppers but none more so than 2017's Cut to the Feeling which has become one of her most popular songs amongst fans despite being released as a song to promote the film Ballerina/Leap! and does not appear on any of her albums. Much like other songs on this list, it made several year end lists in 2017 yet did not chart. This anthem deserves to cut to the top of the charts yet it was done so dirty. Fortunately for us, Carly will stay fed for life from Call Me Maybe so has continued to provide us with bops that we do not deserve.
Sources: Video, Charts
ONTD, did it surprise you that any of these songs weren't bigger hits? This is my first ONTD Original and feel like there are other avenues this could go down such as more singles, albums or careers. Let me know if you would want a series on other times the straights let our faves down.