#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling (10th And Final Week At #1)

Biggest DRRRRRRROP!!! Of The Week: Panic! At The Disco – L.A. Devotee (-18)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey – Glorious (+16)

New Entrants
– To start off our round of debuts, we have more Demi Lovato collaborating with Cheat Codes in their new single No Promises.  When it was first announced that they would do a collaboration, I was interested to see how it would turn out.  I didn’t quite like it at first, but I slowly grew into it as it started to gain steam.  I don’t think it’s the best EDM song of the year, but these two do a good job on making the single together.  Both of their vocals are pretty good and I do like the lyrical content.  Overall, while it’s not their best, it’s certainly a keeper.

– Second, we have more of Ed Sheeran with the best song off of Divide.  Galway Girl has that folk vibe that makes me fall in love with this song.  I definitely love the lyrical content about him wanting to dance with his girl.  The lines “She played that fiddle in the Irish band” pulls me in.  Overall, this is easily a win for Ed Sheeran and I hope it becomes a hit.

– Our next debut surprisingly comes from Mono Mind with Save Me A Place.  I’ve heard this many times throughout the week.  I thought it was one of those songs that would play randomly throughout the week and not be on any weekend shows, but I was proven wrong.  It somehow managed to debut this week (and at a high position at #18).  Now, I do love the EDM production they put together, along with some nice vocals.  While it’s not the best EDM song, at least this is still enjoyable.  Overall, it’s a great first impression for Mono Mind.

– Finally, we have the highest debut of the year (and possibly the highest debut ever).  It comes from returning artist Taylor Swift with her brand new single titled Look What You Made Me Do.  Her new single seems to be getting mixed reactions from both YouTube critics and fans alike, mainly because it a major departure from her previous work.  Now, ever since I Don’t Wanna Live Forever left the countdown several weeks ago, I had been anxiously waiting for her return.  To put it easy, after first listening to this, she didn’t really disappoint me at all.  I’m intrigued by the dark and edgier direction she’s going for in her new album.  Her new music video which premiered last weekend was pretty darn epic.  I definitely love the intro where Taylor herself has arisen as a zombie when she starts singing.  That reminds of the time I watch Thriller so many times back in the day when Michael Jackson was turned into a zombie and starts dancing.  There were scenes of many different versions of Taylor, including a self-parody in the end where they all come together.  When all was said and done, her single broke all kinds of records.  In terms of how it’ll fare on the charts, it’s going to spend a insane amount of time at #1 for weeks (and maybe even months) to come.  This is pretty much the Closer of 2017.  Remember last year, The Chainsmokers were a rising EDM artist and that song spent 12 Weeks at #1 on Billboard.  Anyway, even though it comes close to topping her best work, it’s still a win for Taylor Swift and it’s almost certain to do extremely well on the charts.

I Blurb It Once, Then I Blurb It Twice, Oh!
I have a long list of blurbs, guys.  There’s plenty I want to say here.  So, get ready.

– Now to start things off, this was a important week in terms of the exits.  I’m The One dropped out of the countdown after not doing much, which is no surprise considering Hits 1 doesn’t care for hip-hop.  There’s also Say You Won’t Let Go, which managed to become a sleeper hit worldwide and I did enjoy it while it lasted, but I know a certain someone is going to throw a be-gone party over that one.  On a positive note though, I was never really fond of Redone, so I’m very pleased about its departure.  However, the exit that I am most pleased about is Starving.  Thank you voters for getting that song off the countdown!  It’s about time it left us!

– I’m surprised to see Just Hold On still here.  It’s been in the bottom 5 for a seemingly long time.  Goes to show that Hits 1 still loves One Direction no matter what.  I don’t really mind this song staying for another week as I still enjoy it.

– Looks like this is the end of the road for That’s What I Like.  Oh well.  It was nice having you around.

– I can’t believe people are still voting for Play That Song!  This song is torture to my ears!

– Before introducing Closer, Spyder Harrison mentioned that he thought the song was going to win a award at the MTV Video Music Awards, but it didn’t.  I’m sure he was disappointed when it lost to I Don’t Wanna Live Forever for Best Collaboration Video.  I was hoping it would win also, but I guess not.  At least it became a bigger hit, though.

– So, yesterday I watched a video on YouTube that was posted by album reviewer ARTV about a month ago.  He talked about Uh Huh, which he listed as his “Top 10 Fantastic Songs You NEED To Hear”.  However, I’m sure that many in the blogging community (myself included) will say otherwise, because almost nobody here is very fond of this song.  But that’s just his opinion, though.

– Wow, Hits 1.  Just wow.  Is this some kind of freakin’ joke?!  Just when I thought Despacito couldn’t get any lower, it drops out of the Top 30 entirely.  It’s still in the Top 5 elsewhere and yet somehow, it’s being underrated here.  I mean, how is this even okay?!  That is so not cool, Hits 1.  Not cool at all.

– On the note of other things that really pissed me off this week, we have Versace On The Floor taking a New-York-Giants sized drop out of the Top 20.  Wow, North America.  You’re really underrating some quality music here.

– Yikes!  L.A. Devotee I had been growing out of, but it took a shocking New-York-Giants drop this week.  It had been here for a while and had a nice run in the Top 20, so props to that.

– Before introducing Thunder, Spyder Harrison mentioned that Dan Reynolds launched a Love Loud foundation in order to talk about true love.  I like how’s he more open to spreading love, which we so desperately need given what’s going on right now.

– Before introducing Honest, Spyder Harrison mentioned that The Chainsmokers went to a friend’s wedding and performing one of their songs.  Hmm…I wonder, which songs did they sang?  The ones on the countdown, or maybe a brand new single we haven’t even heard yet?

– With Shape Of You dropping out of the Top 20, this may actually be the end for this song.  I’ll say this, though; it had an incredible run and became his biggest hit single to date.

– Glorious is certainly welcome in the Top 20.  I’m hoping it can stay there for a long time.  Also, when I heard it as Ear Poppin’ Music! earlier this week, it wasn’t the official voice-over for Hits 1 saying the name of the song.  It was actually Macklemore himself who did the voice-over.  That was pretty cool.

– So, I recently read an article saying that Shawn Mendes was sick while recording There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.  According to him, his rasp voice that he had while he was sick actually made it sound cool.  Even if he wasn’t sick, whatever he was doing, I’m sure he did a fine job at it.

– I will scream out of anger if Body Like A Back Road hits #1.  Keep Strip That Down and Slow Hands at the top if necessary.  Just don’t let Body Like A Back Road get any higher than it already is.

– Thankfully though, Slow Hands manages to hit #1 over Strip That Down.  I had a feeling it was going to happen since Hits 1 loves One Direction, what with several of their songs either hitting #1 or enter the Top 5 and staying their for a while.  That song has been getting slightly better with each listen, so I’m glad it made the top spot this week!  And Niall, you better enjoy it while it lasts, because Taylor Swift is coming for that #1 spot very soon.

Summer Throwback

Hits 1 did their Summer Throwback hits yet again.  Here’s the list of songs they’ve played (NOTE: This list will be updated throughout the weekend):

• B.O.B. featuring Hayley Williams – Airplanes
• Katy Perry – Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
• One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
• 5 Seconds Of Summer – She Looks So Perfect
• Fall Out Boy – My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (So Light ‘Em Up)
• Eminem featuring Rihanna – Love The Way You Lie
• Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX – Fancy
• Maroon 5 – Payphone
• Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do (This song is still fantastic!)
• Walk The Moon – Shut Up And Dance
• Omi – Cheerleader
• Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman
• fun. featuring Janelle Monae – We Are Young
• Magic! – Rude
• Florida Georgia Line – Cruise
• Sia featuring Sean Paul – Cheap Thrills
• Twenty One Pilots – Ride
• Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I. – Blurred Lines
• LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
• Taylor Swift – Bad Blood
• Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
• Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth – See You Again
• Katy Perry – California Gurls
• Mike Posner – I Took A Pill In Ibiza
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton – Can’t Hold Us
• Maroon 5 – Love Somebody
• Miley Cyrus – Party In The U.S.A.
• Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo and Afrojack – Give Me Everything
• Charli XCX – Boom Clap
• Demi Lovato – Cool For The Summer

My Top 5 Summer Throwback Hits
TIE: 1. Eminem – Love The Way You Lie
TIE: 1. Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do
3. Demi Lovato – Cool For The Summer
4. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
5. Mike Posner – I Took A Pill In Ibiza


Hit-Bound

• The All-American Rejects – Sweat
• Halsey – Bad At Love
• Rita Ora -Your Song
• Selena Gomez – Fetish
• Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still
• Sabrina Carpenter – Why
• Zedd featuring Liam Payne – Get Low
• Andy Grammer – Give Love
• Evaride – Heartless (DEBUT)
• Maroon 5 featuring SZA – What Lovers Do (DEBUT)
• Justin Bieber featuring BloodPop – Friends
• Harry Styles – Two Ghosts
• PRETTYMUCH – Would You Mind

– We have new band Evaride hosting Hit-Bound this week.  Consisting of Hayden, Sean, & Josh, they’re a new band that’s formed in January.  Founding member Josh was actually a drummer for One Direction.  I wonder is he the guy behind their hits because he uses his instruments well. Anyway, let’s review Hit-Bound.

– First off, we have Evaride themselves with their debut single, Heartless.  This is a pretty good start for the band.  I do like the lyrics and the rock vibe.  While it’s not quite a stand-out, at least it’s a keeper.

– Next, we have Maroon 5 once again, this time with What Lovers Do.  I’ll say it’s a quite a step up from what they’ve been releasing lately.  However, it still pales in comparison to their previous work.  I can see myself growing into it in the near future, but right now I don’t have much of an opinion.  I’ll have more words when it debuts.

– Before introducing Why, Everide mentioned that one of Sabrina Carpenter’s embarrassing moments was when she performed with her teeth stained from her lipstick.  I’m sure she has something to wash all that off, but she’ll have to be careful next time and not put on too much lipstick, heh.

– Before introducing Get Low, that Liam Payne’s favorite movies are all from the Toy Story franchise.  Back when I was a kid, I used to watch the Toy Story movies all the time, especially the first one since it’s the one I remember the most.  A new Toy Story film is currently in the works, set to be released sometime in 2019.  I’m interested to see how the storyline plays out.

My Top 5 Hit-Bound Picks
1. Hasley – Bad At Love
2. PRETTYMUCH – Would You Mind
3. Justin Bieber featuring BloodPop – Friends
4. Evaride – Heartless
5. Harry Styles – Two Ghosts

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

1 – Bad:
19. MAX featuring Gnash – Lights Down Low
18. Liam Payne – Strip That Down

2 – Mediocre:
None!

3 – Decent:
None!

4 – Good:
17. All Time Low – Good Times
16. Linkin Park – One More Light
15. Hailee Steinfeld – Most Girls
14. Zedd featuring Alessia Cara – Stay

5 – Great:
13. Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill
12. Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry
11. Mono Mind – Save Me A Place
10. Fall Out Boy – Champion
9. Imagine Dragons – Believer
8. Charlie Puth – Attention
7. Niall Horan – Slow Hands
6. Louis Tomlinson featuring Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals – Back To You
5. P!NK – What About Us
4. Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey – Glorious
3. The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay – Something Just Like This
2. Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
TIE: 1. Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do

Overall Grade: 84/100 (B)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Elton John – Candle In The Wind (1997) (In honor of Princess Diana’s passing)

Most Missed Countdown Song: Zedd featuring Hayley Williams – Stay The Night

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me (I’m in LOVE with this song!)

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Tie between Ariana Grande – Into You and Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend

Katy Perry – Rise: This song was used for the 2016 Olympics.  Despite the fact that it wasn’t well-received by YouTube critics (ex. Spectrum Pulse), I actually didn’t really mind this song quite a bit, even though it’s nowhere near Katy Perry’s best.  

The Strumbellas – Spirits: One of Parker’s most hated songs of last year, but I beg to differ. I definitely love the folk vibe and that chorus gets stuck in my head.  The song kinda reminds me of The Lumineers – Ho Hey, which became a huge hit back in 2012.   

Flume featuring Kai – Never Be Like You: I actually like the twinkly stuff at the beginning, and Kai’s vocals are pretty good.  Is it me, or does that beat sounds very similar to Justin Timberlake’s 2007 hit, My Love?

Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ – Cold Water: If I’m being honest, I’m more obligated to listen to this any day.  I don’t care what people say about Justin Bieber at this point. While it doesn’t quite live up to Lean On, it’s still pretty solid.