• Julia Michaels – Issues (#42)
• AJR – Weak (#44)
• Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell and Katy Perry – Feels (#45)
• The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – Closer (#43) [Spent 8 Weeks At #1] (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: The Chainsmokers featuring Daya – Don’t Let Me Down (3rd And Final Week At #1)

Biggest DRRRRRRROP!!! Of The Week: The Chainsmokers – Honest (-13)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Maroon 5 featuring SZA – What Lovers Do (+9)

New Entrants
– To kickstart our round of debuts this week, we have the return of one of my favorite artists, Kelly Clarkson. Enter Love So Soft, her lead single from her upcoming album Meaning Of Life. It’s been a while since we’ve last heard from her. Her last appearance on the countdown was back in 2015 with Heartbeat Song, which wasn’t too kind to the blogging community. I myself actually fell in love with that song. As for this one, I find this pretty divine, also. Now right off the bat, I like how she’s experimenting a new sound by going more soulful and R&B, and she does sound pretty much like Adele (especially in the intro). However, I do question some of the lyrics, such as “Love so soft, you ain’t had nothing softer”, which isn’t exactly the best expression. Now it’s most definitely not her best song, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad per say. I feel that if the song had been more lively, then this would be more likable. That said, we’ll see how long it sticks with me.

– Second, we have more Zedd in his new collaboration with Liam Payne in their latest single Get Low. Now this one is similar to Stay, except we have Liam Payne singing here. I did find this to be enjoyable at first, but it did erode on me quite a bit. I’m surprised this one made its debut, because it has been flopping elsewhere as of right now. But we’ll see how long this one stays.

– Next, we have the band The Revivalists making their arrival with Wish I Knew You. I didn’t quite think this would graduate from Hit-Bound given that it’s a song that was actually released in 2016, but it sure did. Anyway, this song took a while to grow on me, but I do like this now. They used the instruments really well here, especially with the guitars and saxophone, especially in the chorus. The lyrics are quite solid, also. Question is, will this alternative rock act have a hit? I kinda doubt it, but I’m hoping for the best.

– Finally, we have the highest debut of the week. After three years, Sam Smith has returned to the music scene. Enter Too Good At Goodbyes, the lead single off of his forthcoming album. Right off the bat, I wasn’t quite as wild about this one at first listen, but it kinda warmed up on me to some degree. Now when I listened to this more often, I find that Sam showed a little more personality leading up to the chorus. In terms of the lyrical content, it pretty good and he shows how talented he is in terms of his songwriting. Overall, I may come to appreciate this more.

– Let’s begin with our exits. First and foremost, I didn’t quite expect Feels to leave us so soon. It had been receding elsewhere, so I’m not surprised. Still, I’m sad about its departure. Second, I know many are happy with the exit of Issues, and I can’t really say I’ll miss it too much either. Although it has been eroding on me for sometime now, I wasn’t as infuriated as some others, but still I was ready for it go anyway. Third, AJR – Weak needed to make its long-overdue exit eventually. Other than some of the cool lines (e.g. “No thank you”), the rest of the song has some stupid lyrical content and it got annoying after a while. Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking when I kinda fell in love with that song. No wonder many people here hate AJR so much (other than a couple of songs that have been a guilty pleasure of mine, which I won’t get into right now). They just need to leave the music business for good. So, good-bye, AJR – Weak. You will most definitely not be missed. Finally, we have the all important exit. The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – Closer, which had one of the longest tenures in the history of the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown, is officially no more. This was a song that broke nearly all kinds of records (on Billboard, at least). It spent 8 weeks at #1 here (12 weeks on Billboard). While many critics (Spectrum Pulse, and others) weren’t too kind this song, it was a favorite in the blogging community. Even after spending more than a year on the countdown, it somehow managed to stick with me to the very end. I’m quite surprised Spyder Harrison didn’t mention it, but it was the song that never goes away (much like he said for My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light ‘Em Up), which today still stands as having the longest-tenure ever). Now I know some people are going to be attending the Closer leaving party, but I won’t, as I’ll be grieving over its departure. Farwell, Closer. Thank you for your time on this countdown. I will truly miss you.

– Speaking of The Chainsmokers, Honest took a big drop down to the Bottom 5. I can’t say that I’m surprised, since that song is faltering pretty much everywhere else. Also, upon introducing that song, did Spyder Harrison fake his cough or is it just me?

– Spyder Harrison called Bruno Mars the most electrifying man in entertainment during his introduction of That’s What I Like. I agree, he is indeed electrifying.

– Two Ghosts took a surprise drop down 12 spots to #38 this week. I can’t say I’m too heartbroken about this seeing as this one is not very popular everywhere else right now.

– On that note, Hoodie also dropped 12 spots as well. In fact, we had some very noticeable drops this week, including the biggest drop (Honest) which I just mentioned.

– Spyder Harrison made a mistake by not mentioning Back To You when recapping the fourth set of five. Better be careful next time, Spyder. 😛

– On the note of other big drops, Body Like A Back Road thankfully dropped out of the Top 10! Now we won’t have to worry about it hitting #1. Let’s please get this piece of trash out of the countdown for good!

– Before introducing Stay, Spyder Harrison mentioned that when Zedd was in a relationship with Selena Gomez, he received a lot of press. He also mentioned that reporters we’re calling his parents and texting his friends’ phones. I mean, really? When you’re a celebrity, you don’t really have any privacy, but man! Talk about invading his privacy. Looks like Zedd may have to find another way to get everyone to respect his privacy.

– So, there’s a behind-the-scenes video of Look What You Made Me Do. It shows how the people were making Taylor Swift a zombie. As I’ve said before, that kinda reminds me of the music video Thriller when Michael Jackson was turned into a zombie and started dancing. Good times.

– Okay, so yesterday, I watched Kesha perform Praying on Ellen. And to say the least, it was divine. Kesha showed a lot of heart and emotion in her performance of the song. That was an epic performance. With that being said, I’m thrilled that it entered the Top 5 this week. It certainly helps that this song is still somewhat gaining elsewhere. I’m definitely pleased about this.

– Once again, Niall Horan stays at the top spot. It’s another song that’s continuing to gain steam everywhere else. Thus, I’m not surprised that it held at #1 for the second week in a row.

• Evaride – Heartless
• ZAYN featuring Sia – Dusk Till Dawn
• Taylor Swift – …Ready For It?
• Sabrina Carpenter – Why
• Fergie featuring Nicki Minaj – You Already Know (DEBUT)
• Niall Horan – Too Much To Ask (DEBUT)
• Selena Gomez – Fetish
• Why Don’t We – Something Different
• The Script – Rain
• Lauv – I Like Me Better (DEBUT)
• Dua Lipa – New Rules
• Ed Sheeran – Perfect
• PRETTYMUCH – Would You Mind
• Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso featuring Florida Georgia Line – Let Me Go

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone (2004)

Most Missed Countdown Song: Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Rachel Platten – Broken Glass (again, not a lot of new music I like lately)

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Tie between Ariana Grande – Into You and The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – Closer

Calvin Harris – My Way: It’s a Taylor Swift diss track. Now this is better than This Is What You Came For, mainly because the production is more lively. If only this song had a little more to it.

Panic! At The Disco – Death Of A Bachelor: After the unexpected success of Victorious on Hits 1, they decided to bring in more music from Panic! At The Disco, this being one of them. The alien-like intro is weird, but a good kind of weird, and Brendon Urie at least has some personality, as he shows in this song.

DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber – Let Me Love You: Like I said three weeks ago, I’m more obligated to listen to Justin Bieber even though most are sick of him by now. This came just as Cold Water started to gain popularity. Anyway, I find this better than Cold Water, in part because the beat drop is slightly better and Justin Bieber shows off his personality a little more than he did in its predecessor.