'Uptown Funk' has been on the Top 40 charts for a year. A YEAR.
LatestHere is a comprehensive timeline of “Uptown Funk”‘s first year of chart-smashing existence:
November 10, 2014
“Uptown Funk” is released. A hushed quiet lays over the United States, a calm before the storm. Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” is the number 1 song in America (having just usurped the slot from Meghan Trainor’s “All About that Bass”). Despite a well publicized Instagram campaign and promotional poster, “Uptown Funk” has to compete for attention on its first day—the same morning, Taylor Swift releases her iconic video for “Blank Space.”
November 19, 2014
Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars release the video for “Uptown Funk.”
Taylor’s “Bad Blood” enters the top twenty immediately. “Shake it Off” stays no. 1.
November 29, 2014
“Uptown Funk” enters the Billboard Top 100 at number 63, snagging the “hot shot debut” title.
December 6, 2014
“Uptown Funk” rockets up to number 18, placing it solidly in the Top 20. “Blank Space” gets to be the number one song, but only for the seven weeks it takes “Uptown Funk” to climb the chart.
December 13, 2014
Taylor Swift turns 25 years old. “Uptown Funk” moves up to no. 8.
December 20, 2014
“Uptown Funk” at no. 5.
December 27, 2014
“Uptown Funk” closes out the year at no. 3. The world waits.
January 3, 2015
“Uptown Funk” stalls at no. 3
January 10, 2015
NUMBER 2!
January 17, 2015
The earth shakes. Heavens split open. Bruno Mars adjusts his tiny hat. “Uptown Funk” becomes the number one song in the nation.
And so it begins.
January 24, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
January 31, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
February 7, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
February 14, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
February 21, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
February 28, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
March 7, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
March 14, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
March 21, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
March 28, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
April 4, 2015
Spring arrives. The ground thaws. Flowers bloom. UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
April 11, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
April 18, 2015
UPTOWN FUNK AT NO. 1!
April 25, 2015
“Uptown Funk” is dethroned by Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” featuring Charlie Puth and a nap.
May 2, 2015
“Uptown Funk” holds at no. 2
May 9, 2015
“Uptown Funk” holds at no. 2. Neither “Blank Space” nor “Shake It Off” are in the Top 20 anymore.
May 16, 2015
“Uptown Funk” drops to no. 3
May 23, 2015
Things look bad. “Uptown Funk” drops to no. 4 behind Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen” and the Weeknd’s “Earned It.”
May 30, 2015
“Uptown Funk” slips again, to no. 5
June 6, 2015
“Uptown Funk” falls to no. 6. It has now been in the Top 40 for 27 weeks, more than half a year.
June 13, 2015
“Uptown Funk” refuses to die. Moves back up to no. 5
June 20, 2015
“Uptown Funk” drops back to no. 6
June 27, 2015
“Uptown Funk” holds at no. 6. “Blank Space” drops out of the Top 40.
July 4, 2015
“Uptown Funk” holds on.
July 11, 2015
“Uptown Funk” dips to no. 8.
July 18, 2015
“Uptown Funk” drops to no. 12. “Shake it Off” drops off of the Top 40 entirely.
July 25, 2015
“Uptown Funk” hangs on at no. 13.
August 1, 2015
Number 15.
August 8, 2015
Number 17.
August 15, 2015
Number 17.
August 22, 2015
Number 16.
August 29, 2015
Number 17.
Sept 5, 2015
Number 18.
Sep 12, 2015
Summer fades away. Days begin to shorten. “Uptown Funk” clings to the charts at no. 19—and in the same week receives its one billionth YouTube view. An honor only nine other songs can claim.
Sep 19, 2015
After 41 weeks in the Top 20, “Uptown Funk” falls to no. 25.
September 26, 2015
“Uptown Funk” takes a dive down to no. 27.
October 3, 2015
“Uptown Funk” stays at no. 27.
October 10, 2015
“Uptown Funk” RETURNS TO THE TOP 20 AT NO. 14! The track surpasses “See You Again.”
October 17, 2015
“Uptown Funk” returns to that 27 slot.
October 24, 2015
“Uptown Funk” jumps a bit, to number 25.
October 31, 2015
“Uptown Funk” returns to no. 27.
November 7, 2015
“Uptown Funk” dips to no. 30.
November 14, 2015
A year after it’s release,”Uptown Funk” remains in the Top 40 at no. 34. The number one song in America is now Adele’s “Hello.”
November 21, 2015
“Uptown Funk” drops to no. 37.
November 28, 2015
“Uptown Funk hops up a rung to no. 36.
December 5, 2015
The spirit of Christmas revives “Uptown Funk” and it shimmies up the chart to no. 24.
December 12, 2015
“Uptown Funk” continues its upward ascent and is now, at the time of publication, perched at number 21, just on the verge of that top 20 sweet spot, where it hasn’t been in a stunning 12 weeks.
It’s not necessarily amazing that “Uptown Funk” has been so popular—the song is catchy, fun, and not even annoying, a full year later. What’s insane is its staying power on the charts. At this point, almost every song that enjoyed the same rankings as “Uptown Funk” has faded off the charts. “Shake It Off” isn’t even in the Top 100; neither is “Blank Space.” “See You Again” dropped to no. 41 last week, as did “Cheerleader” by OMI.
For the last 54 weeks, “Uptown Funk” has been in the American Top 40. Here’s a visualization of how much time “Uptown Funk” has spent in each section of the Top 100 chart:
It plays on our radios. It plays in our hearts. It will play over the airwaves long after we are all gone, it seems. For when will the reign of “Uptown Funk” end? When will it drop from the Top 40? After 60 weeks? Or 100?
We can’t know yet. All we can know is that “Uptown Funk” remains. Don’t believe me? Just watch.
Kelsey McKinney is a culture staff writer for Fusion.