The pop phenomenon that rewrote the Billboard record books
In short: In 2016, a single track achieved something rarely seen in music history. It didn't just top the charts; it stayed there for twelve consecutive weeks, becoming the highest-charting EDM song of the decade and setting a new standard for longevity on the Billboard Hot 100.
Released on July 29, 2016, 'Closer' by the Chainsmokers featuring Halsey was more than a summer hit; it was a statistical anomaly. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 3, 2016, marking the first time a duo topped the chart since Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in 2013. Its dominance was characterized by extreme endurance, spending 26 weeks in the top five and 32 weeks in the top ten, a feat shared by only a handful of legendary tracks like 'Smooth' and 'Uptown Funk'.
The track's production and composition drew significant attention. While the main production was handled by the Chainsmokers, the song's 'retro' style synthesizer and future bass elements were shaped by a collaborative writing process involving Andrew Taggart, Halsey, Shaun Frank, and others. Interestingly, the song's credits were expanded in September 2016 to include Isaac Slade and Joe King of The Fray, following comparisons to the band's work. The song's origins were also deeply influenced by pop-punk, with Taggart citing Blink-123's 'I Miss You' as a primary inspiration.
Beyond the charts, 'Closer' left a massive digital footprint. It was the first lyric video to reach one billion and two billion views on YouTube, and by 2026, it had amassed over 3.3 billion views. Its commercial success was equally staggering, earning a diamond certification in the US for 10 million units sold by 2018. Even as the song's era passed, its impact remained, evidenced by its 2023 classical reimagining with Japanese rock star Yoshiki.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Closer (The Chainsmokers song)
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