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**Chapter 956: Continuing Summer**

"Chris Pine? This is Marcia Ross, the casting director for *The Princess Diaries 2*. Are you free this afternoon? We'd like to see you again..."

Even twenty years later, Chris Pine still remembered that phone call—word for word, vividly.

Just when Chris was about to give up on his Hollywood acting career and consider a new direction in life, he got his first film role.

And it was as the lead.

Years later, when Chris Pine looked back at that tumultuous summer, the details remained crystal clear.

"$65,000."

“That was my first paycheck from a movie. I still remember how I felt when I saw my bank account—it completely changed my life.”

“As odd as it sounds, I sincerely have to thank Anson. No offense intended, but Anson saved my acting career.”

“In a way, I’ve always been following in Anson’s footsteps.”

The flutter of a butterfly’s wings in the Amazon can stir up a hurricane across the Atlantic—reality works the same way. A single decision can change the fate of many people—whether to the left or the right, no one can predict.

Meanwhile, Anson had no idea that he had changed Chris Pine’s fate. He was in Cannes, bidding farewell to Alex and Eric.

The Palme d'Or was now in the past—it was time to look ahead.

Alex had become interested in acting and wanted to try his luck in Hollywood.

Eric wasn’t as keen, but with summer vacation approaching and nothing better to do in Portland, he agreed to join Alex on a trip to Los Angeles.

Anson was fully supportive and gave them Marcia Ross's contact information. The buzz surrounding the Palme d'Or was still hot, and they should be able to get some auditions quickly—then it would be up to them.

After saying goodbye to his friends, Anson met up with Lily, Connor, and Miles. Together, they left Cannes and headed south, diving headfirst into the summer sunshine of the Apennine Peninsula. The vibrant days of summer had only just begun.

Not only was Edgar worried, but the rest of the band also felt some concern:

The Palme d'Or frenzy was sweeping across Europe. Anson's recognition and popularity were skyrocketing, and their upcoming street performances might face challenges.

They had passed through Berlin, then Paris, and now Cannes—each step adding momentum. Every time Anson appeared, he risked triggering a storm of attention.

Perhaps the only person unfazed was Anson himself—

“Relax. Calm down! It's not that crazy. Just stay grounded.”

And Anson was right.

When the band arrived in Verona, their first stop in Italy, the August 31st street performance didn’t cause an uproar.

Verona, though small, is a classic tourist city—it's the setting for *Romeo and Juliet*. Today, it hosts a variety of attractions built around the story, with young lovers from all over the world sending letters there, wishing for their own romantic futures.

Every summer, the place is packed with tourists.

While the August 31st Band’s street performance didn’t go unnoticed, it wasn’t exactly a ghost town either. There were plenty of spectators, and the bustling crowd peaked at around 500 people, with an estimated two to three thousand passing by throughout the show.

Lively, but orderly. The performance went off without a hitch.

Afterward, some people asked for Anson’s autograph and handshakes, sparking a small commotion, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Everyone was amazed.

As for Anson, he remained calm—he had expected this.

First, Europeans, in general, tend to be more rational. While there are certainly fans who go crazy for their idols, it's not as common.

Second, the *echo chamber* effect: while the Palme d'Or had stirred widespread discussion, it hadn’t reached everyone. Some people simply didn’t care about movies and were unaware of it.

Third, the audience knew how to appreciate street performances. Some fans might long for a touch of Anson’s clothing or a kiss, but most preferred to enjoy the rare chance to see a street performance.

Fourth, and most importantly, influencer and social media culture had not yet fully emerged. Twenty years later, when "clout" becomes an inseparable part of life, people will chase trends not because they’re personally interested, but for the sake of photos, shares, and validation. But back then, the craze hadn’t started.

So, Anson wasn’t worried. He knew the street performances might get lively, but chaos wasn’t likely.

And as things played out, Anson’s predictions proved true.

The August 31st Band continued heading south, and while there were large gatherings in cities like Rome and Venice that caused traffic jams, it never spiraled out of control like in Paris.

Friendly, warm, and welcoming—Italy embraced the band with open arms.

After Italy, they passed through Greece and headed north, eventually reaching Prague.

Anson wished the tour could keep going—there were still places in Europe they hadn’t covered, not to mention Asia, Oceania, the Americas, and even Africa.

To travel the world—it was a grand, romantic dream that once seemed unattainable. But after taking the first step, Anson realized that while it wasn’t easy, it wasn’t impossible either.

Sadly, the tour had to end in Prague.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

As the last note faded, Anson thanked the bustling crowd. After a brief bout of excitement and a bit of crowding, the performance finally ended.

With sweat dripping down his face, Anson’s cheeks were flushed. The summer sky over Prague was painted with a vibrant sunset, and while there wasn’t a grand square nearby, the magic and wonder still seemed to spark in the air.

A mix of satisfaction and a touch of regret.

Anson turned to his three bandmates. Their eyes mirrored the same excitement and joy, their tired, sweaty faces lit up with broad smiles.

“Sorry.”

Anson stepped forward and hugged each of his bandmates in turn.

“If I could, I’d love to keep this tour going forever. But unfortunately, I need to head back to New York and join the film set.”

Scheduling, always scheduling—

*Spider-Man 2* was ready to start filming.

Of course, Anson could blame Edgar—if *Spider-Man* had stuck to the original plan and started filming in July, the tour could have gone on longer.

But there was no point.

The band’s tour had already stretched from July to August and into September. It could’ve continued indefinitely, just like youth.

But Anson couldn’t. He had to return to work as an actor. The tour had to end someday—sooner or later.

Goodbyes are never easy, but they’re something everyone must face.

**Chapter 957: Moments of Gathering and Parting**

Though reluctant and regretful, the day of farewell inevitably comes, just like youth itself.

Miles couldn’t take his eyes off Anson, standing right in front of him:

Drenched in sweat, face flushed, completely disheveled. His loose white T-shirt clung to him like he’d just been pulled out of water. Yet, beneath the fabric, his well-proportioned body and toned muscles subtly showed, while his bright eyes sparkled like they held the entire universe.

Unconsciously, he became someone you couldn’t help but admire, someone you couldn’t help but fall for.

Miles wished he could live like Anson—carefree and unrestrained, seizing every moment of life, releasing all his energy to the fullest—like shouting, "Long live life!"

"Ah, what a pity. The tour is almost over, and it feels like we didn’t do anything," Anson said, a carefree grin spreading across his face as sweat dripped down.

Thud, thud.

Miles' heart pounded uncontrollably. He glanced at Connor and Lily, took a deep breath, and finally summoned the courage.

"Anson."

He called out.

"We want the tour to continue."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Miles realized how abrupt and confusing his statement sounded, standing alone without context. He quickly waved his hands. "No, that’s not what I meant."

In his haste, Miles choked on his own saliva and started coughing violently.

Anson silently handed him a bottle of water.

Miles gulped it down, cooling his mind a bit. When he looked up, Anson’s smiling face came into view.

"Don’t worry, take your time. I didn’t misunderstand," Anson said.

Miles scratched his head and looked at Lily and Connor again. They both encouraged him with their eyes, as if only Miles speaking up was the right thing to do.

Miles turned back to Anson, gathering his thoughts.

He decided to start from the beginning.

"First of all, we owe you a big thanks."

"I know you always say the band wouldn’t be what it is without all of us together, but we all know that without you, we’d be nothing."

"That chance meeting on the street—it was undoubtedly the happiest, most perfect moment of our lives. Even now, it still feels like a dream."

"And because of that, we’ve always been a little scared, afraid that the dream would end and nothing would be left. You’ve been our lifeline."

"Talk shows, albums, tours—we’ve stumbled along, chasing our dreams, but completely forgetting why we started in the first place."

"Like this European street tour."

"We’ve been running and pushing ourselves, like we were being chased by wolves, giving it everything we’ve got. But we forgot where we started, and where we were headed. Running... just for the sake of running."

"All along, we’ve known the August 31st Band exists because of you—not your fame, but your talent and creativity. You are the soul of this band."

"And we... we're just the instruments."

Miles' words, though not entirely precise, carried genuine emotion.

It wasn’t simple regret or sadness, nor confusion or nostalgia—it was a feeling too complex to easily describe.

On the streets of Prague, bustling with people, Anson felt like the whole world had suddenly quieted down.

He looked at Miles and joked, "Oh, I’m a little hurt now."

Miles quickly looked up, waving his hands, "I didn’t mean to blame you..."

Anson burst out laughing. "Miles, you’re still the same honest guy."

"I know what you mean."

"So, what’s your plan?"

Anson was smart. He knew everyone had their own struggles, their own battles to fight.

Miles took a deep breath. "We want to find our own music again, find our own voice, and most importantly, find the reason we started all this."

Anson looked at Miles.

Miles gathered his courage. "So, we want to keep the tour going."

"We know that without a lead singer, the August 31st Band won’t be the same. But we’ve found the courage and confidence to move forward again."

"At one point, we all gave up on our musical dreams in different ways, for different reasons. But because of you, we found hope again."

"Now, we want to keep going under our own power."

Anson raised his chin slightly. "So, you’re planning to leave me behind and go on your own journey, huh? Abandon me once you’ve crossed the river?"

Miles’ face changed. "Anson..."

The honest guy was clearly panicking, waving his hands, his heart almost stopping.

Anson laughed. "Relax, don’t be so tense. I know. Look at you, I crack one little joke, and you almost have a heart attack."

Anson understood—they didn’t want to burden him, didn’t want to cling to his fame like parasites. They could have easily kept doing that, living off the perks without a care in the world.

But they chose not to.

Because deep down, they still had a passion for music.

Anson turned his gaze toward Lily and Connor. "You guys have talked this over?"

Lily hesitated. She wanted to explain—they really weren’t abandoning him. But after the European tour, after Cannes, they’d started thinking about themselves and reexamining Anson, too.

Seeing Anson shine at Cannes made them realize that Anson belonged on the big screen. His musical talent was undeniable, but no one could deny that Anson’s most brilliant moments were in front of the camera.

They shouldn’t keep holding him back. They didn’t want to be parasites anymore.

So, they’d discussed it and decided it was time to take their own steps forward. That’s why they had finally spoken up here in Prague.

At the very least, they wanted to give the August 31st Band’s tour a perfect ending, just like the meaning behind the band’s name—brief but brilliant, seizing the last moments of summer and shining without holding anything back.

But she knew any explanation would sound weak. Since their appearance on *The Tonight Show*, they’d been basking in Anson’s glory. Any defense would feel like a flimsy excuse.

So, instead of explaining, Lily simply nodded. Better to face the future head-on than offer hollow justifications.

"Yes."

"We plan to keep touring north, through Estonia and Finland, then see if we can get to England."

"Anson, we can’t keep relying on you."

Connor turned his head, bowing slightly as if wiping his eyes.

Anson suddenly called out, "Connor!"

Connor quickly raised his head, awkwardly wiping his face. "I’m fine, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me."

"Haha," Anson laughed heartily. "So, this is where the band’s journey ends."

The golden sunset poured down, brilliant and dazzling—

A beautiful day was coming to a close.

**Chapter 958: Youth Unfading**

It’s over. No matter how beautiful or brilliant summer is, there will always come a day when it ends.

Anson took a deep breath and let it out heavily.

“August 31st. As expected, it ends before summer does.”

“Ha, Warner Records must be rolling their eyes. The album’s still in the promotion phase, and the band is already going their separate ways. That’s definitely not good news.”

Wow.

Connor could no longer hold back. He turned his back to Anson and started crying uncontrollably.

Even though Anson was joking, the sadness and sighs couldn’t be stopped.

Miles was also struggling, his eyes cast downward, doing his best to hide his feelings.

Lily forced a smile, but her disappointment was clear. “Maybe they saw this day coming a long time ago.”

Anson shrugged slightly. “True.”

Then, he raised his voice.

“Connor, this isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning.”

“Maybe when we meet again, the August 31st band will reunite, and we’ll keep performing. Maybe we’ll even have a concert, though who knows if anyone will want to come.”

Another joke, but there was no response.

Despite their best efforts to hold it back, the sadness in their eyes and faces was impossible to hide, including Lily’s.

Anson sighed helplessly.

“Hey, not all farewells are sad.”

“Sometimes, parting is just preparation for reunion. While we wait to meet again, we might not become the ideal version of ourselves from our dreams, but we’re all brave enough to chase after our dreams and embark on new adventures. The time apart will make the reunion even more joyful and full of happiness.”

“So, there’s no need to be this sad, okay?”

“Besides, from the moment we met until now, everything has been great. At least we ended before we could turn against each other and start hating one another.”

“God, do you know how many bands end up falling out and hating each other? I swear I’m not throwing shade at Oasis.”

Pfft.

Finally, Anson’s humor hit the mark.

Connor couldn’t hold back anymore, laughing even as his tears flowed harder. He laughed and cried at the same time, looking up at Anson in exasperation.

“Jesus Christ, my dignity.”

Hahaha.

Anson burst into laughter, and Lily and Miles both smiled again.

Connor protested, “Sorry, I’m too sad about losing my ride and meal ticket to join in right now. Just let me look up at the sky at a 45-degree angle and be sad about my dark future for a bit, okay?”

The laughter grew louder and brighter.

Connor had finally regained some of his humor.

Miles tilted his head and quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to smile as he looked at Anson again. But no matter how hard he tried, the hot tears kept streaming down, and he couldn’t stop them.

In the end, Miles gave up and simply stood there, looking at Anson. Those tears carried sadness and regret, but also happiness and joy.

Just as Anson said, this journey had been a happy one.

Farewells are inevitable. They may come sooner or later, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is the journey they experienced together and the sights they’ve seen.

Anson’s nose tingled, but he took a deep breath to keep his emotions in check.

“So, what about the lead singer? What are you guys going to do?”

Miles collected himself. “We don’t really have any plans for now. After all, Anson Wood isn’t someone you can just find easily. We’re planning to take it one step at a time.”

“Haha, now you realize how valuable I am? But it’s too late—I’m going solo.”

“What about the contract?”

“Don’t worry. Warner Records is probably prepared for this. Who knows, maybe they’ve been waiting for this moment, ready to sign Anson as a solo artist.”

“So you’re saying the people in the Warner conference room are cheering and shouting, ‘Hooray’?”

“Maybe not ‘hooray,’ but I bet they’re giving each other high fives, celebrating that they finally shook me off.”

“Damn it, Connor, what’s up with your waterworks? You’re out of control.”

“Don’t mind me, just let me lose control for a bit. My meal ticket, my free rides, waaah!”

“Hahaha!”

Laughter filled the air, brighter and more carefree.

Has anyone ever seen the evening glow in early summer in Prague?

It’s a color between orange and crimson, fresh and translucent, softly falling on the fairytale-like buildings of the city, burning with intensity.

It’s like the vibrant and carefree rush of youth—if you close your eyes, you can hear the laughter scattered in the wind, resonating for a long, long time.

…

Summer. Blazing hot.

The summer of 2003 had unfolded in full swing.

On one hand, the movie market was bustling.

After last year’s summer clash between *Spider-Man* and *Star Wars: Episode II*, this year’s summer blockbusters were highly anticipated. Even though Hollywood knew that surpassing *Spider-Man*'s box office performance was almost impossible, they were still eagerly hoping for the next big hit to cross the $100 million mark in its opening weekend and make that trend the new normal.

With all eyes on the season, big titles like *X-Men 2*, *The Matrix Reloaded*, and *Bruce Almighty* made their way to the screens. Although their performances were impressive, none of them fully lived up to the market’s expectations.

Surprisingly, the first true blockbuster of the summer came from Pixar—*Finding Nemo*.

Among a slew of highly anticipated films, this one, centered around a little clownfish, stole the spotlight, making a splash with $70 million in its opening weekend and riding a wave of rave reviews, igniting the summer’s passion.

While *Finding Nemo* topped the North American box office charts, all of America was also witnessing *Elephant* winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, sparking media excitement and prompting headlines that proclaimed Hollywood’s resurgence.

On one side, there were the box office hits. On the other, the prestigious awards. Movies became the must-see entertainment of the summer.

Though no film could replicate *Spider-Man*’s record-breaking weekend, the summer box office was finally bouncing back after the anxieties of the previous year, and it was even showing steady growth compared to the pre-9/11 era.

This was promising.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, a small group of fans expressed their disappointment at not being able to see Anson on the big screen this summer. This rising young actor was slowly becoming part of everyday conversation—a fixture in daily life.

When *Elephant* won the Palme d’Or, fans were upset they couldn’t watch this talented actor in theaters. But they didn’t mind too much because their ears weren’t left empty.

After all, there was still the August 31st band.

In Europe, Anson and his bandmates had split off to pursue their own dreams, with the August 31st band becoming the most brilliant, romantic afterglow of summer—a memory to cherish along their journeys. Meanwhile, the band’s music continued to spread its influence elsewhere, capturing hearts and setting the summer of 2003 on fire.

The excitement had only just begun.

At the same time, the music industry was buzzing.

Not only had the August 31st band carved out a place for themselves in the spotlight, but another significant event was shaking up music history—

*American Idol*.

**Chapter 959: Momentum Unabated**

In 2002, a brand-new reality show hit FOX—**"American Idol."**

At that time, the reality TV craze was just beginning, sparked by the success of **"Pop Idol"** in the UK, which opened the entertainment industry's eyes to new possibilities. However, no one yet fully realized how this format would transform the entire industry. The rise of reality TV—allowing cameras to deeply penetrate everyday lives—fed the public's desire to spy on and gossip about the private lives of others. This trend only intensified, affecting not just public figures but everyday people too. In just two decades, the mantra of "entertainment to the death" reached new levels.

And at this moment, history was just beginning to unfold.

Last year, **Kelly Clarkson**, a small-town girl and bar waitress, won the first season of *American Idol*, dramatically changing her life overnight. Her victory made the "American Dream" feel more real than ever, and the country went wild. After Clarkson became the show’s first-ever champion, her winning single immediately debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing the program's huge influence. Last month, she released her debut album, which also shot straight to the top of the Billboard 200, with her lead single breaking into the Hot 100's top ten.

People thought, if a small-town bar waitress could make it, why couldn't they?

This led to even greater excitement for **"American Idol"** Season 2, propelling the show to unprecedented heights and dominating the ratings with astonishing strength.

Now, Season 2 has concluded with **Ruben Studdard** as the winner—an unexpected result. The widely favored **Clay Aiken** finished in second place, marking the end of another season of this groundbreaking reality show.

Soon, following Kelly Clarkson’s example, both Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken would release their debut singles.

The *American Idol* frenzy was sweeping across North America.

But just how crazy had things become?

Imagine the global excitement surrounding the **World Cup**, excluding North America. During the group stages, the whole world celebrates, and by the knockout stages, the anticipation only grows, peaking even after the final match. *American Idol* had reached that level of fervor.

The North American music market was entering a new era. Since the late '90s, the physical record industry had been in a slow decline. But *American Idol* injected new life into it, reviving the market in a way that could even compete with Hollywood's summer blockbusters.

In this heated atmosphere, on **August 31st**, a new player quietly entered the scene—and unexpectedly rose to prominence at the perfect moment.

Before the **Cannes Film Festival**, the song "**Ho Hey**" climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, right behind **50 Cent's** massive hit "**In Da Club**."

This was an incredible feat, achieved with no major promotions or widespread distribution—just pure word of mouth, as if it were the 1960s when music's success relied on the strength of the songs themselves. The band's ascent was a throwback to a simpler time when the quality of music spoke for itself, and the power of money hadn't yet stolen all the attention.

After its release, the song slowly climbed the charts over 27 weeks, holding strong at No. 2—an astonishing accomplishment for an unknown indie band. This grassroot success mirrored *American Idol's* dream of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things.

The internet was buzzing.

Adding to the buzz, the lead singer of the band **August 31st** turned out to be none other than **Anson Wood**.

As an actor, **Anson Wood** was a household name—whether people liked him or not, his name was everywhere. But as a musician?

...What?!

When people connected the dots between **Peter Parker** and the lead singer of August 31st, they couldn't help but curse in disbelief.

The key was that Anson kept his identity a secret, relying solely on his music without any promotional support, once again aligning with the *American Idol* spirit. This made everything that was happening even more incredible and inspiring.

Amid the growing amazement, admiration for **Anson** continued to rise.

No one had seen this coming.

With excitement building, even industry professionals were eagerly waiting to see when "**Ho Hey**" would finally top the Billboard charts.

Everything seemed ready.

But it didn’t happen.

Second place. Second place. Second place.

For three consecutive weeks, **Ho Hey** stayed at No. 2, unable to break through. **50 Cent's "In Da Club"** was too strong, holding the top spot for two months, preventing **August 31st** from claiming No. 1.

Then, Billboard finally saw a shakeup.

**"In Da Club"** ended its reign at nine weeks, just short of double digits, and a new song took over the top spot.

So, was it **"Ho Hey"**?

No, the new No. 1 was **Sean Paul's "Get Busy."**

In the second week of May, the Billboard Hot 100 had a new champion.

At No. 1: **"Get Busy"**
At No. 2: **"Ho Hey"**
At No. 3: **"In Da Club"**

**August 31st** continued to hold at No. 2, despite finally beating 50 Cent. However, they still couldn't claim the top spot, losing out to Sean Paul, stuck at second place once again.

At this point, it was hard to say if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

In a way, it wasn't surprising. It confirmed some of the observations made by **Miles**:

Folk, rock, jazz, and bluegrass were all fading, while pop and rap were on the rise.

Or, put differently, **club music** was taking over, much like disco did in the '80s. Music that played in clubs, getting people to dance, always seemed to gain the most widespread support.

From disco to electronic to rock and now to pop and rap, the genres may change, but the clubs always dominate the market.

Both **"In Da Club"** and **"Get Busy"** may be different genres, but they share the same DNA—something **"Ho Hey"** couldn't compete with.

Imagine trying to dance to a cello in a nightclub.

Suddenly, the situation didn’t seem all that surprising.

Honestly, what was more remarkable wasn’t that **"Ho Hey"** failed to reach No. 1, but that it managed to hold second place for so long against **"In Da Club"** and **"Get Busy."** It had become a defining moment of the summer.

Now, everyone was wondering—

Just how long could **"Ho Hey"** keep its momentum and stay in the Billboard top ten or even top five?

**Chapter 960: Full of Momentum**
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?