On November 21, 2008, Madonna released “Miles Away” as the third single from her 11th studio album, Hard Candy. Produced by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, the song had a modest start in the U.S. but charted higher overseas. It eventually hit No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, boosting its global impact.
🎵 More Major Music Moments on November 21
1981 — Olivia Newton-John Dominates the Charts
Olivia Newton-John’s iconic track “Physical” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot for 10 weeks, becoming one of the decade’s biggest hits.
1987 — Billy Idol Scores His Only No. 1
Billy Idol hit No. 1 with his cover of “Mony Mony,” surpassing the original by Tommy James and the Shondells, which peaked at No. 3.
2000 — Backstreet Boys Break Sales Records
The Backstreet Boys released Black & Blue, setting a record for best international one-week sales by moving over 5 million copies worldwide.
2011 — Taylor Swift Releases Live Tour Album
Taylor Swift dropped Speak Now World Tour – Live, a 16-track collection featuring fan favorites and special covers from her acclaimed world tour.
2012 — Ed Sheeran’s “Give Me Love” Gains Momentum
Ed Sheeran released “Give Me Love” from his debut album +. The track has since been certified 2× Platinum and remains a fan favorite.
🌟 Cultural Highlights from November 21
1985: Carly Rae Jepsen, later known for “Call Me Maybe,” was born. She went on to earn multiple Top 10 hits throughout the 2010s.
1989: Nirvana performed in Budapest during their Bleach club tour, just before their rise to stardom.
1991: Aerosmith became the first musical guest on The Simpsons, appearing as animated versions of themselves.
1992: Adam Sandler performed “The Thanksgiving Song” on SNL, which unexpectedly reached No. 40 on the Adult Pop chart.
From timeless hits to pop culture milestones, November 21 continues to leave its mark on music history. Check back daily for more moments that shaped the soundtrack of our lives!