Olivia Rodrigo’s Drop Dead begins its chart life at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It arrives as her fourth leader, with all having launched in the top spot.
The singer–songwriter first reigned with Drivers License for eight weeks in January–March 2021. She followed with good 4 u for a week in May 2021 and “Vampire” for two weeks in July–September 2023.
Already the first artist to debut the lead singles from her first two studio albums at No. 1 on the Hot 100, Rodrigo extends her mark, with Drop Dead ushering in her third LP, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, due June 12. Drivers License revved anticipation for her first set, Sour (with good 4 u also from the album), and “Vampire” introduced Guts.
Further helping build buzz for Drop Dead, Rodrigo released multiple versions of the song and videos for it and performed it live April 18 at Coachella.
Drop Dead, on Geffen/Interscope Capitol, drew 27.9 million official streams and 23.8 million radio airplay audience impressions and sold 45,000 in the United States from its April 17 release through April 23.
The single debuts as her fourth No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart; at No. 22 on Radio Songs; and as her second No. 1 on Digital Song Sales (with 31,000 of its sales from downloads).
Drop Dead was available in its first week via its original version, acoustic, “singalong” (instrumental), “the most alive I’ve ever been – sped up,” “we can go real slow – slow & reverbed” and “you know all the words – isolated vocals” mixes, as well as an iTunes option with alternate artwork. Physically, it was up for purchase on cassette, CD and vinyl.
The song’s videos encompass its official clip, a lyric video, its “stalked you on the internet” version for Apple and its “taken that Eurostar to France” edition for Spotify.
Drop Dead live: Plus, Rodrigo performed the single at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., April 18 with Addison Rae during the latter’s set.
Rodrigo drops the fourth Hot 100 No. 1 with “drop” in its title. “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell led for three weeks in 2004, following “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” by Freddy Fender (one week, 1975) and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by B.J. Thomas (four weeks, 1970).
Meanwhile, a song with Drop Dead in its title tops the Hot 100 for the first time. (Honorable mention to Rodrigo’s 2023 No. 1, as vampires are undead.) Drop Dead surpasses “Dead and Gone” by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake (No. 2 peak in 2009); “Freddie’s Dead (Theme From Superfly)” by Curtis Mayfield (No. 4, 1972); “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi (No. 7, 1987); “Dead Man’s Curve” by Jan & Dean (No. 8, 1964); and “We Might Be Dead by Tomorrow” by Soko (No. 9, 2014). Plus, Grateful Dead hit No. 6 with the lively “Touch of Grey” in 1987.
Speaking of macabre (and melodic) music, Drop Dead sends a song title by The Cure to No. 1 on the Hot 100, as it shouts out the Robert Smith–led Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band’s “Just Like Heaven,” which hit No. 40 in 1988. Rodrigo indirectly cites “personal hero” Smith, singing, “You know all the words to ‘Just Like Heaven’/ And I know why he wrote them, now that you’re standing right here.” The group reached a No. 2 best with “Love Song” in 1989.
