Backwards Bullets: This Week In Charts 1996

JUST DANCE: Thirteen years ago this week, a new No. 1 was crowned on the Billboard Hot 100, and weddings, graduations and family gatherings would never be the same.

Los Del Rio completed a 32-week climb (over two separate chart runs) with "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)," the eventual top Hot 100 song of 1996. The song reached the summit in the issue dated Aug. 3 and remained in charge for 14 weeks through Nov. 2, 1996.

The song's rise to No. 1 established the record that still stands for longest journey to the Hot 100's pinnacle. Here is a rundown of the titles that have required the most weeks to command the chart:

32 weeks, "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)," Los Del Rio, 1996
31 weeks, "Amazed," Lonestar, 2000
27 weeks, "With Arms Wide Open," Creed, 2000
26 weeks, "Everything You Want," Vertical Horizon, 2000
25 weeks, "Red Red Wine," UB40, 1988

OUR BACK PAGES: In 1992, R. Kelly had notched his first No. 1s on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs back-to-back with "Honey Love" and "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)." This week in 1996, he established a new career-best streak when "I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)" rose 2-1. The song was his third of four straight leaders, in between "You Remind Me of Something," "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" and "I Believe I Can Fly" ...

The new No. 1 on the U.K. Singles chart was six months away from storming American radio, but Spice Girls' debut smash "Wannabe" made a 3-1 invasion to the British chart's apex 13 years ago this week ...

On page 114 of the issue dated Aug. 3, 1996, a then-Billboard staffer enjoyed a promotion, though not to a job that would include an audience of millions of viewers a week. "Kara DioGuardi has been promoted to Advertising Representative for the magazine's classified section," the article touted of the future "American Idol" judge ...

GOLD RECORDS: Here is the top 10 on the Billboard 200 this week in 1996. Outside the top 10, the chart's Pacesetter award for largest percentage gain in sales belonged to John Williams & the Boston Pops Orchestra's "Summon the Heroes." The companion collection to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta peaked at No. 62 the following week.

No. 1, Nas, "It Was Written"
No. 2, Alanis Morissette, "Jagged Little Pill"
No. 3, LeAnn Rimes, "Blue"
No. 4, Metallica, "Load"
No. 5, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, "E. 1999 Eternal"
No. 6, Toni Braxton, "Secrets"
No. 7, Fugees, "The Score"
No. 8, Celine Dion, "Falling Into You"
No. 9, Tracy Chapman, "New Beginning"
No. 10, No Doubt, "Tragic Kingdom"