Owl City and the history of chart-topping Minnesota songs

Last week, Owl City's "Fireflies" took the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. This week, Owatonna native Adam Young was knocked down to #2. [Update: On Nov. 12, Owl City returned to the top of the chart but was bumped again the following week.] Young's short time at the top was unexpected, particularly to Minnesotans who'd never heard of the local musician before. The Twin Cities have had their share of songs in the top 10 (The Time, Mint Condition) and even the top five (The Trashmen, The Jets, Information Society, Soul Asylum), but a #1 is an uncommon distinction held by only four other local artists. The A.V. Club takes a look at those chosen few and their biggest hits.

The Andrews Sisters' "Rum And Coca-Cola" (1945)
Time at #1: Seven weeks
Billboard didn't start keeping charts until 1940, and by that time, the three Minneapolis sisters had already earned a gold record for "Bie Mir Bist Du Schoen," the first ever given to a female vocal group. Long before the magazine introduced the Hot 100, the trio reached the top of the Best Sellers In Stores chart when they collaborated with Bing Crosby on Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In." After eight weeks at #1, the song was dethroned ... by The Andrews Sisters' own "Rum And Coca-Cola." They struck gold again a few years later with "I Can Dream, Can't I?"

Lipps Inc's "Funkytown" (1979)
Time at #1: Four weeks
St. Paul producer Steven Greenberg recruited 1976 Miss Black Minnesota and Flyte Tyme saxophonist Cynthia Johnson to sing on his disco tracks. "Funkytown" was a massive hit, but the duo's follow-up, "Rock It," only made it to #64, putting them in prime one-hit-wonder territory. Still, according to Greenberg's suspiciously fawning Wikipedia page, "many of his songs are classics on the dancefloor" and "his music is an inspiration to the new dance music genres." Sure it is, Steven.

Prince's "When Doves Cry" (1984)
Time at #1: Five weeks
Not only was "When Doves Cry" Prince's first and biggest hit, it was the best-selling song of 1984. Four more chart-topping singles followed, including "Let's Go Crazy," "Kiss," and "Cream." And for one magical week in 1989, "Batdance" was the most popular song in the country.

Next's "Too Close" (1998)
Time at #1: Five weeks
The local R&B quartet was at one time managed by Ann Nesby, former lead vocalist of gospel group Sounds Of Blackness, but there's nothing churchly about this ode to getting an erection on the dance floor. The song's reign was briefly interrupted when Mariah Carey's "My All" grabbed the top spot between weeks four and five.

Owl City's "Fireflies" (2009)
Time at #1: Two weeks
Owatonna man writes a song that sounds like a GE jingle written by The Postal Service. Instant success. Somewhere, Ben Gibbard weeps.