Billie Eilish posed the longest question in the title of a No. 1 album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Cardi B
Brian Ziff
By entering the Billboard 200 at No. 1 this week, Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? joins a short list of chart-topping albums with titles that pose questions.
Some of these titles, like AM I THE DRAMA? and Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, include question marks. Others, like Olivia Newton-John’s Have You Never Been Mellow, do not. (The question mark is implied.) The title of one chart-topping album was simply a question mark. (I guess in that case the question was implied.)
Numerous classic albums with question-posing titles didn’t reach No. 1, which is why this list doesn’t include such albums as the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Are You Experienced? (No. 5 in 1967), Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On (No. 6 in 1971), Todd Rundgren’s Something/Anything? (No. 29 in 1972), Devo’s Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (No. 78 in 1978), Los Lobos’ How Will the Wolf Survive? (No. 47 in 1985), Mary J. Blige’s What’s the 411? (No. 6 in 1992) and Shakira’s Dónde Están los Ladrones? (No. 131 in 1998). (BTW, the English translation of Shakira’s title is Where Are the Thieves?)
One near-miss deserves mention. Luke Bryan reached No. 1 in 2017 with What Makes You Country, but listening to the title song’s lyrics again, it’s not intended as a question. Key lines: “Just be proud of what makes you country/Whatever makes you country.”
Here’s a complete list of albums that have topped the Billboard 200 (which originated on a consistent, weekly basis in March 1956) with titles that posed questions.
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Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, What Now My Love
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}Date Reached No. 1: May 28, 1966
Weeks at No. 1: 9
Notes: This was the ensemble’s longest-running No. 1 album, edging out Whipped Cream & Other Delights by a single week. Both albums received Grammy nods for album of the year. “What Now My Love” was a pop standard of the era. Alpert’s single reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sonny & Cher’s version that same year did even better, reaching No. 14. Mitch Ryder took the song to No. 30 in 1967.
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Olivia Newton-John, Have You Never Been Mellow
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}Date Reached No. 1: March 15, 1975
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Notes: This became Newton-John’s second album in a row to reach No. 1, following If You Love Me, Let Me Know. “Have You Never Been Mellow,” written by Newton-John’s go-to songwriter, John Farrar, topped the Hot 100 one week before the album reached No. 1.
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Various Artists, O Brother, Where Art Thou? film soundtrack
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}Date Reached No. 1: March 23, 2002
Weeks at No. 1: 2
Notes: This soundtrack was voted album of the year at the Grammys, the CMA Awards and the ACM Awards. The film starred George Clooney, John Turturo, Tim Blake Nelson and John Goodman.
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Bon Jovi, What About Now
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}Date Reached No. 1: March 30, 2013
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Notes: This was Bon Jovi’s 12th studio album; the band’s fifth to reach No. 1. The title track, which Jon Bon Jovi co-wrote with John Shanks, was the second single released from the album.
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XXX Tentacion, ?
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}Date Reached No. 1: March 31, 2018
Weeks at No. 1: 1
Notes: ?, commonly pronounced “Question Mark,” was the rapper’s second studio album; his first to reach No. 1. It was released three months before his death.
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Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
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}Date Reached No. 1: April 13, 2019
Weeks at No. 1: 3
Notes: Eilish debut album won Grammys for album of the year and best pop vocal album.
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Cardi B, AM I THE DRAMA?
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}Date Reached No. 1: Oct. 4, 2025
Weeks at No. 1: 1 so far
Notes: Cardi B’s second studio album has followed her first, Invasion of Privacy, to the top spot. Will it also equal its predecessor’s feat of winning a Grammy for best rap album? We’ll find out in early 2027.
