James Barker Band's ‘After Dark’ Hits the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Following the Canadian Country Music Awards
The Woodville, Ontario band hosted and won two CCMAs, helping propel their song onto the charts. Also this week, Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" hits a new milestone on the Canadian charts.
James Barker Band
James Barker Band’s major week of wins continues with a new entry on the Billboard Canada charts.
The Ontario country band debuts at No. 96 with “After Dark” on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, dated Sept. 26. The news comes three days after the band hosted and scored two trophies at this year’s Canadian Country Music Awards.
The song embraces a folk-inspired sound that leads the group into new territory. They worked with producer Todd Clark on the track, who recently collaborated with hitmaker Noah Kahan. “We’re trying to carve out a sound that isn’t based on where we’ve been, but where we’re going,” frontman James Barker says.
“After Dark” paints a detailed picture of having a shot of bourbon and a beer at the bar at the end of a long day, as the band reflect on the challenges of leaving the past behind and living in the moment.
“The bourbon’s to forget the things you’ve gone through and the beer’s for the dude who’s just hanging out tonight,” Barker shares, noting that the song emphasizes that juxtaposition.
It’s the latest track by James Barker Band to land on the Canadian Hot 100 and is already a hit on the Billboard Canada Airplay charts, recently debuting on the All-Format and Canada Country charts.
Earlier this week, the band scored two accolades at the CCMAs held in Saskatoon, including fans’ choice and best group or duo of the year, which they won for the fourth consecutive year.
Check out a Billboard Canada interview with James Barker Band at this year's Boots & Hearts Festival here.
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is reaching its own milestone on the chart.
The country hit has spent 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Canadian Hot 100. It’s the third-longest No. 1 on the chart, sitting below Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” which spent 21 weeks at No. 1, and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” at 25 weeks.
This week, Langley surpasses Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road,” which spent 19 weeks at the top.
“Choosin Texas” is also the longest-running No. 1 by a female artist in Canadian Hot 100 history, surpassing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at 16 weeks. Langley and Carey’s battle for No. 1 has bubbled over in the U.S., with Langley breaking the all-time Billboard Hot 100 record with 23 weeks at No. 1, dethroning Carey’s Christmas hit.
On the Canadian Hot 100, country artists are dominating the top 10. Stella Lefty’s “Boston” continues to hold behind Langley at No. 2, while Cameron Whitcomb’s “Kingdom of Fear” remains at No. 3.
Canadian artists are making major moves on the chart.
Nearly a year after its release, Justin Bieber’s “Speed Demon” reaches No. 42, a new peak for the earnest track. Alex Sampson jumps 19 spots to No. 51 with “Misery,” while TALK’s “Time Machine” moves up nine spots to No. 52. At No. 58, Dallas Smith climbs from No. 65 with “Good Time Goes,” and Fauozia rises from 97-79 with “UNETHICAL,” her debut entry on the chart. Tyler Shaw’s “Run to You” re-enters the chart, hitting a new peak at No. 91.
Since the April release of Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide — his second No. 1 album in Canada — the folk singer-songwriter has maintained a major spot on the charts. After dethroning Ella Langley’s Dandelion a few weeks ago, The Great Divide has reclaimed and remained in the top spot on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart for four weeks.
Kahan has five entries on the Canadian Hot 100, too, with “Orbiter” (No. 30), “Willing and Able” (No. 38), “Doors” (No. 45), “American Cars” (No. 95)” and “Dashboard” (No. 100).
Find all of Billboard Canada's charts here.
