Black Habits - Mariah leads on year-end charts

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - You do not need to read an analysis of the 2005 charts to know that Mariah Carey made an impressive comeback, but a closer look at Billboard's year-end surveys suggests this may be her most successful year to date.

The evidence? For the first time in her 16-year career, Carey has the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 Songs recap.

"We Belong Together" sealed up bragging rights by remaining in pole position for 14 weeks, longer than any other 2005 entry. It was the first single to have a 14-week reign in eight years, since Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight."

"We Belong Together" is Carey's seventh song to appear in a year-end top 10. Her highest ranking on an annual Hot 100 recap until now was the No. 2 spot "One Sweet Day" held in 1996. True, timing was a factor, as that collaboration with Boyz II Men had its impact diluted by overlapping into two different chart years; it would otherwise have been have been the top song of the year.

Carey's current triumph marks the first year-end No. 1 by a female artist in five years, since Faith Hill had the top tune of 2000 with "Breathe." In the ensuing years, the No. 1 year-end Hot 100 songs have been recorded by Lifehouse, Nickelback, 50 Cent and Usher.