Hello guys!  This is my first review of the American Top 40.  For those who don’t know, it’s a countdown hosted by Ryan Seacrest.  Similar to the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown, the AT 40 counts down the Top 40 songs in reverse order. The color code used here will be just like the one I used on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown.  If you need it, it’s located on the right side of the screen.  Now, let’s get started.  Before we get to this week’s countdown, here are the songs we’re saying good-bye to this week:

HUMBLE. by Kendrick Lamar
Last Week: #38 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 10

Bad Liar by Selena Gomez
Last Week: #15 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 9

The Countdown:
40. Love On The Brain by Rihanna
Last Week: #39 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 38

39. Location by Khalid (DEBUT)
Last Week: N/A | # Of Weeks On Chart: 1

38. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever by Zayn featuring Taylor Swift
Last Week: #37 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 32

37. Stay Together by Noah Cyrus
Last Week: #40 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 2

36. Paris by The Chainsmokers
Last Week: #34 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 28

35. The Way I Are (Dance With Somebody) by Bebe Rexha featuring Lil Wayne
Last Week: #35 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 3

34. Glorious by Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey
Last Week: #36 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 3

33. Rockabye by Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie
Last Week: #32 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 29

32. Praying by Kesha (DEBUT)
Last Week: N/A | # Of Weeks On Chart: 1

31. Get Low by Zedd featuring Liam Payne
Last Week: #33 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 2

30. Most Girls by Hailee Steinfeld
Last Week: #31 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 5

29. 1-800-273-8255 by Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid
Last Week: #30 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 4

28. Down by Fifth Harmony featuring Gucci Mane
Last Week: #28 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 7

27. Honest by The Chainsmokers
Last Week: #29 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 2

26. Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur
Last Week: #25 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 24

25. Congratulations by Post Malone featuring Quavo
Last Week: #26 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 8

24. Unforgettable by French Montana featuring Swae Lee
Last Week: #27 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 4

23. No Promises by Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato
Last Week: #24 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 10

22. Malibu by Miley Cyrus
Last Week: #19 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 10

21. Versace On The Floor by Bruno Mars
Last Week: #22 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 6

20. Issues by Julia Michaels
Last Week: #11 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 27

19. Redbone by Childish Gambino
Last Week: #21 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 7

18. 2U by David Guetta featuring Justin Bieber
Last Week: #17 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 7 

17. Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran
Last Week: #16 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 30

16. Body Like A Back Road by Sam Hunt
Last Week: #23 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 10 

15. Feels by Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell and Katy Perry
Last Week: #20 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 5

14. Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay
Last Week: #14 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 22

13. Strip That Down by Liam Payne featuring Quavo
Last Week: #18 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 5

12. Slow Hands by Niall Horan
Last Week: #14 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 11

11. It Ain’t Me by Kygo featuring Selena Gomez
Last Week: #9 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 23

10. That’s What I Like By Bruno Mars
Last Week: #8 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 27

9. Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller
Last Week: #12 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 6

8. Castle On The Hill by Ed Sheeran
Last Week: #7 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 15

7. Attention by Charlie Puth
Last Week: #10 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 11

6. Believer by Imagine Dragons
Last Week: #6 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 12

5. Stay by Zedd featuring Alessia Cara
Last Week: #2 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 22

4. I’m The One by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil’ Wayne
Last Week: #3 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 13

3. Now Or Never by Halsey
Last Week: #4 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 16

2. There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back by Shawn Mendes [Spent 1 Week At #1]
Last Week: #5 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 13

1. Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee [4th Week At #1]
Last Week: #1 | # Of Weeks On Chart: 12

Biggest Drop: Issues by Julia Michaels (-9)

Biggest Jump: Body Like A Back Road (+7)

New Entrants
– Our first of two entrants comes from Khalid with his new single Location.  Honestly, I don’t get what people like about this song.  It’s just another boring rap song that doesn’t get my attention.  I’m not a fan of his vocals at all, and the lyrics are just as bad.  Here’s to hoping it leaves soon.  NEXT!

– Finally, we have the return of Kesha with her new single titled Praying.  It’s been a long while since we’ve heard new music from her, in part because of her lawsuit against Dr. Luke.  But today, she’s back at making music.  Now, despite this single being a slow ballad, this is the best comeback single for Kesha and probably the best we’ve had all year.  I’ll talk more about this on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown when it debuts there.

I Had To Learn How To Blurb For Myself
– I don’t know about you, but I’m so ready for both Congratulations to leave already.  Seriously, his vocals are grating and it’s only gotten worse after each listen.

– I’m quite surprised to see Rockabye still on this countdown.  It may have lost its popularity a long time ago, but I don’t really mind if it stays for another week or so.

– Of course, Body Like A Back Road would jump big this week.  I really hate that this song is still getting popular when there are better country songs out there.

– As far as our exits go this week, I’m sad about HUMBLE. leaving.  Bad Liar, on the other hand, I’m thrilled to see it leave, though I’m quite shocked that it left from a really high position at #15.  If I’m correct, this is the highest drop off in AT 40 history.

Extras/Optional Extras

Here, I’ll list the songs that have played as either an Extra or Optional Extra.  Below is the color code I will use:

Purple – Best Song
Green – Great
Blue – Good
Pink – Decent
Yellow – Mediocre
Turquoise – Bad
Red – Awful
Orange – Worst Song

With that in mind, here are the songs they’ve played as extras:

Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande
The Cure by Lady Gaga
Heathens by TWENTY ØNE PILØTS
Crying In The Club by Camila Cabello
Maps by Maroon 5
Weak by AJR
Problem by Ariana Grande
Bad Romance by Lady Gaga

Breakout/On The Verge

This is just like Hit-Bound in which I’ll list the songs that are bubbling under.  I’ll use the same color code above.  Here are the songs they played:

Know No Better by Major Lazer featuring Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, and Quavo
Sorry Not Sorry by Demi Lovato
Symphony by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson

Top 20 Breakdown
0 – Awful:
20. Body Like A Back Road by Sam Hunt

1 – Bad:
19. Redbone by Childish Gambino
18. Strip That Down by Liam Payne featuring Quavo

2 – Mediocre:
18. Issues by Julia Michaels
17. I’m The One by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil’ Wayne

3 – Decent:
16. 2U by David Guetta featuring Justin Bieber
15. Now Or Never by Halsey
14. Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran

4 – Good:
13. Now Or Never by Halsey

5 – Great:
12. Slow Hands by Niall Horan
11. Stay by Zedd featuring Alessia Cara
10. Attention by Charlie Puth
9. Believer by Imagine Dragons
8. Castle On The Hill by Ed Sheeran
7. That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars
6. It Ain’t Me by Kygo featuring Selena Gomez
5. Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller
4. Feels by Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell and Katy Perry
3. There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back by Shawn Mendes
2. Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee
1. Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay

Total Score: 79/100 (C+)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Praying by Kesha
2. Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay
3. Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee
4. There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back by Shawn Mendes
5. Feels by Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell and Katy Perry

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. Body Like A Back Road by Sam Hunt
2. Congratulations by Post Malone featuring Quavo
3. Location by Khalid
4. Redbone by Childish Gambino
5. Down by Fifth Harmony featuring Gucci Mane