This Day in Top 40 History: March 2
On March 2, 1964, the Beatles started filming A Hard Day’s Night, their first movie, at Marylebone Station in London. With a soundtrack featuring original tracks by Paul McCartney and John…
On March 2, 1964, the Beatles started filming A Hard Day's Night, their first movie, at Marylebone Station in London. With a soundtrack featuring original tracks by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, the film explored how the band navigated "Beatlemania" when they blew up in the U.S. Keep reading to find more significant Top 40 history moments from March 2.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Here are several Top 40 hits released on March 2:
- 1992: The Red Hot Chili Peppers put out “Under The Bridge,” which was featured on their fifth studio LP, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The track stalled at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100, becoming their highest-charting song on that chart. It cracked the Top 20 on the U.K. Singles chart as well, reaching No. 13.
- 2017: Lorde launched “Green Light,” a single from her sophomore studio album, Melodrama. The song, which many critics lauded for its emotional depth and explosive energy, peaked at No. 19 and No. 20 on the Hot 100 and U.K. Singles Chart, respectively.
- 2018: XXXTENTACION's “SAD!” came out. It was from his second album, ?, which topped the Billboard 200. The track resonated with most of his fans because it allowed XXXTENTACION to share his struggles with mental health.
Cultural Milestones
Top 40 historical cultural events from March 2 include:
- 1962: Jon Bon Jovi was born to Carol and John Bongiovi in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. His successful music career has seen him achieve many feats, such as helping to place six No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 as the founder and frontman of Bon Jovi. These include Slippery When Wet, What About Now, and New Jersey.
- 1977: Chris Martin was born in Devon, England. He is best known as a founding member and the lead vocalist of Coldplay, who are behind No. 1 hits such as “My Universe” and “Viva La Vida.” The band has enabled Martin to collaborate with a string of artists, including Jay-Z, Avicii, Rihanna, and Dua Lipa.
- 1988: U2's chart-topping album The Joshua Tree earned them their first two GRAMMY awards, for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Album of the Year, at the 30th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, and Aretha Franklin were also featured in the pool of winners during the ceremony.
Industry Changes and Challenges
March 2 has presented a few notable challenges for the music community, such as:
- 1975: Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, were pulled over by the police in Los Angeles, California. Since the officers found marijuana in their car, they arrested the latter, who chose to take the blame because the “My Brave Face” singer was behind the wheel. Thankfully, Linda was released after a while.
- 1999: Dusty Springfield, known for hits such as “You Don't Have To Say You Love Me” and “I Only Want To Be With You,” died, following a long battle with cancer. This was only 11 days before her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with “My Hometown” artist Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney.
These events from March 2 still linger in the minds of many Top 40 history fans, owing to their impact on the music industry. The death of Dusty Springfield, for instance, saw it lose a talented, multi-genre artist.
