In the third week of May, "Ho Hey" remained in second place.
In the fourth week of May, "Ho Hey" held onto second place again.
Since the second week of May, the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart hadn't budged. Regardless of what happened below, the leader remained untouched.
Thus, after spending three consecutive weeks behind "In Da Club" in second place, "Ho Hey" has now been stuck behind "Get Busy" for another three weeks.
An astonishing feat! Full of momentum!
Cheers and applause followed, and with each passing week, the buzz from the media and online continued to grow little by little—
"Ho Ho Ho, Hey Hey Hey!"
Although the single never quite broke through to reach the top spot, its incredibly strong performance still caught the attention of the entire North American market.
You could even call it an unbelievable achievement, sparking yet another round of heated discussion across the U.S.:
The question on everyone's mind—how long can "Ho Hey" stay stuck at number two? Will it remain at second place forever, or will it eventually climb to the top?
"Stuck at number two" refers to a song lingering in second place on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever claiming the number-one spot.
Throughout Billboard's long history, many classic singles have faced the "stuck at number two" treatment. Perhaps they lacked a bit of luck or lasting power to claim the top spot, but that doesn't take away from their iconic status. In fact, they leave their mark in a different way.
As of 2003, the record for the longest stretch at number two on the Billboard chart is 10 weeks, shared by two songs:
One is "Waiting for a Girl Like You," released in November 1981 by British band Foreigner.
The other is Missy Elliott's "Work It," released last November.
Now, "Ho Hey" has burst onto the scene to join this group, currently sitting at six weeks in the number two spot, tied for tenth place on the all-time list—
Sharing this honor with 14 other songs, including Mariah Carey's "Shake It Off," The Beatles' "Twist and Shout," and Eminem's "Without Me," all widely recognized hits.
Clearly, if you can claim the number one spot, no one prefers second. History tends to remember the winners. But never forget, the reason champions exist is because there's always a second, third, and fourth behind them. Second place deserves respect and praise as well.
These singles may never have topped the Billboard chart, but that doesn't mean they should be forgotten. Quite the opposite—spending a month or two consistently holding the second spot is an impressive feat, one that not just any song can achieve.
Now, "Ho Hey" should be added to that list.
So, what's next?
Can "Ho Hey" continue its journey at number two? While this kind of recognition might not seem like something to brag about, given the context, the unexpected success of the band August 31st makes the situation all the more interesting.
Then, in the first week of June, the Billboard Hot 100 saw another shake-up.
Number one: "21 Questions" by 50 Cent.
Number two: "Ho Hey" by August 31st.
Number three: "Get Busy" by Sean Paul.
Wow!
People were stunned!
It was unclear whether they were more shocked that 50 Cent returned to reclaim the number one spot after just three weeks with his second single, making him the breakout artist of the year…
Or that August 31st once again held onto second place, now ranking in the top ten for the most consecutive weeks at number two, tied for seventh with three other singles.
The buzz and excitement in the North American music market were beyond words.
From "In Da Club" to "Get Busy" to "21 Questions," the Billboard chart had seen three different number one hits in two months, yet "Ho Hey" remained solidly in second place, becoming the most prominent feature on the charts.
Amazing!
In the coming weeks, people could witness history unfold—
Either "Ho Hey" would continue its streak at number two, bringing more surprises, or it would finally break through to claim the top spot.
Of course, there's also the chance that "Ho Hey" might lose its steam, drop to third, or continue to slip down, marking the end of its eight-month run.
The conclusion is clear: no matter what happens next, this is a moment in music history worth remembering and celebrating. No one should miss it.
In the second week of June, "Ho Hey" was still in second place.
In the third week of June, "Ho Hey" held second place again.
It was all so familiar—"21 Questions" had held the top spot for three weeks, and "Ho Hey" had held second for three weeks, as if in a perfect loop.
In the blink of an eye, "Ho Hey" had spent nine weeks at number two, just one week shy of the record set by "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and "Work It."
Currently, it's tied for third place in Billboard history, alongside Donna Lewis's "I Love You Always Forever" and Shania Twain's "You're Still the One."
The record continues to move forward.
The North American music scene is buzzing, with everyone eagerly waiting to see what happens next.
Warner Records was dumbfounded. They had expected the band to make a splash but never imagined this. Eight months after its release, August 31st had become a phenomenon, defying all expectations.
Alongside "American Idol," the band emerged as the grassroots, independent artist that disrupted the North American music market.
No matter what happens next, "Ho Hey" has already left its mark. The debut single of August 31st is destined to be remembered as a significant moment in their career.
It's a success on par with 50 Cent.
Amid all the anticipation, the Billboard Hot 100 for the fourth week of June was officially revealed—
Number one: "Long Live Life" by August 31st.
Number two: "21 Questions" by 50 Cent.
Number three: "Ho Hey" by August 31st.
Buzzing! Boom!
Conversations erupted everywhere. People couldn't believe their eyes. A second later, the frenzy reached a boiling point. Collective shock, disbelief, and excitement swept across the continent.
What just happened?
People had been expecting August 31st to make history. They were expecting a chart shake-up. They were waiting for the North American music scene to introduce new trends. They hoped that grassroots artists and independent bands could realize their dreams and ignite the American dream for ordinary people.
But no one expected this—
Who can explain what's going on with "Long Live Life" now?