Doechii’s ‘Anxiety’ Reignites on the Billboard Charts
Originally released in 2019, Doechii’s track “Anxiety” makes a significant impact on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 13 on the chart dated March 22, 2023. This resurgence is attributed not only to its recent broad release but also to a viral trend spurred by a reworked version of the song and notable references in popular culture, including a moment featuring Will Smith and Tatyana Ali from the iconic series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Record-Breaking Streaming Numbers
The song has garnered an astonishing 20.6 million official U.S. streams, reflecting a remarkable 289% increase compared to the previous week (March 7-13), as reported by Luminate. With this peak, “Anxiety” also marks Doechii’s highest ranking on the Hot 100. Furthermore, it claims top positions on various charts including:
- Streaming Songs: No. 5 debut
- Billboard Global 200: No. 6 debut
- Billboard Global Excl. U.S.: No. 7 debut
In the tracking week, the song achieved a global streaming tally of 56.9 million and sold 9,000 units worldwide.
The Influence of ‘A N X I E T Y’
Following the attention on “Anxiety,” Brooklyn rapper Sleepy Hallow utilized the song’s hook in his 2023 track “A N X I E T Y,” featuring Doechii. This version has gained traction on TikTok, with users creatively pairing the chorus to a memorable scene from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. “A N X I E T Y” debuted at No. 45 on the March 15-dated Hot 100 and has slid to No. 59 in its second week, amassing 8.7 million streams during this period and a worldwide total of 29.6 million streams from March 7-13.
Impact of Wider Release
The increase in attention for “A N X I E T Y” propelled listeners to Doechii’s original solo version of “Anxiety,” prompting her to release the song widely on digital service providers starting March 4. This strategic release coincided with the song’s arrival on various music charts a week later.
Sampling Influence
Both “Anxiety” and “A N X I E T Y” prominently sample Gotye’s 2012 hit “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which topped the Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks and won two Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. Notably, “Somebody That I Used to Know” experienced a 20% boost in global streams, reaching 16.5 million by March 13. Furthermore, it has climbed to No. 9 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, with 5.1 million U.S. streams recorded, alongside an airplay audience boost of 3.9 million (up 16%).
A Rare Chart Accomplishment
Remarkably, Doechii is achieving the rare feat of having two versions of a song on the Hot 100 simultaneously. Typically, different mixes of a single release are consolidated into one chart entry. However, in this case, Doechii’s involvement as both a lead artist and a featured artist on different versions allows them to chart separately. Similar instances occurred in the past; for example, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” spent five weeks at No. 1 while a different version peaked at No. 55 in early 2010.
In another historical reference, the Righteous Brothers had concurrent versions of “Unchained Melody” charting in 1990, one of which was spurred back into the public eye thanks to its feature in the film Ghost, showcasing the lasting impact of media on music popularity.
