Artists Who Replaced Themselves At #1 in the Rock Era

Since the Rock Era began in 1955,  have been ten artists to replace themselves at #1 in the United States. 

1956:  Elvis Presley

From:

"Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" (the only time in the Rock Era that an artist had a double-sided #1 replaced by another #1 song)















To:

"Love Me Tender"

1964:  the Beatles (the only artist to achieve this feat twice, and the only artists to do it twice in succession (three songs replacing each other at #1))

From:

"I Want To Hold Your Hand"






To:

"She Loves You"





To:

"Can't Buy Me Love"

1994:  Boyz II Men

From :

"I'll Make Love To You"






To:

"On Bended Knee"



Since music went on a downward spiral, and there was far less competition, this feat has happened several times, which unfortunately cheapens the achievement.  All you need to know about competition is that this feat occurred three times in 39 years (1956-1994), then five times in eight years (2002-2009).

2002:  Nelly

From:

"Hot In Herre"






To:

"Dilemma"

2004:  OutKast

From:

"Hey Ya!"






To:

"The Way You Move"

2004: Usher

From:

"Yeah!"






To:

"Burn"

2008:  T.I.

From:

"Whatever You Like"






To:

"Live Your Life"

2009:  Black Eyed Peas

From:

"Boom Boom Pow"





To:

"I Gotta' Feeling" (which set the record for an artist spending 26 consecutive weeks at #1 (12 with "Boom Boom Pow" and 14 with "I Gotta' Feeling"


*Although they did not achieve this feat by definition, the Bee Gees wrote four consecutive #1 songs in 1978:  "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees, replaced by "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" by Andy Gibb, replaced by "Night Fever" by the Bee Gees, which was replaced at #1 by "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman.  All four songs written by the Brothers Gibb and they deserve an asterisk in this category.

**In 1997, Puff Daddy had the #1 song "I'll Be Missing You", which was replaced by Notorious B.I.G. with "Mo (sp) Money Mo (sp) Problems".  Puff Daddy helped on that song, but that doesn't qualify for the achievement.  If it did, session musicians such as drummer Hal Blaine would have achieved the feat numerous times.

***In 2002, Ja Rule reached #1 with "Always On Time", which was replaced by "Ain't It Funny" by Jennifer Lopez.  Ja Rule helped out on the latter, but it was Jennifer Lopez's song, and "personnel" on a song doesn't qualify as being an artist--see above.