#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill (1^st of 3 Weeks At #1)

Biggest DRRRRRRROP!!! Of The Week: Kesha featuring The Dap-Kings Horns – Woman (–15)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani – Done For Me (+15)

New Entrants
– We have only one new entrant this week, and it comes from Drake whose song is currently #1 on Billboard so far. Enter God’s Plan. I already talked about this when it debuted on the American Top 40 last month. But to recap, I wasn’t really a fan of this. Part of the problem with the song is the production, which I find to be underwhelming. I do think his vocals are okay, but the lyrics leave something to be desired and like I just said, the production isn’t too good. Knowing Hits 1, I’m sure this will have a short tenure on the countdown despite it being the biggest song of this year so far. Hopefully I’m right, but you never really know how long it’ll stay on the countdown.

A Thousand Blurbs
– So, we bid adieu to This Is Me. I thought this song was one of a kind and we don’t hear songs like that very often anymore. Keala Settle definitely showed that she can really sing. It’s too bad that it wasn’t a huge success elsewhere, but at least it graduated to the countdown due to the hype from the Oscars this year. It’s definitely a candidate for My Top 45 Songs Of 2018.

– The Middle continues its reign at #1. I do still love this song and I’m glad that Maren Morris is getting the attention (no reference to Charlie Puth) she deserves. I wonder how much longer it’ll stay at the top.

– Whatever It Takes has reached a new peak of #2 this week. I wouldn’t be too surprised if this ends up being #1 down the road. Also, it was introduced by a guest DJ, who was saying hello to too many family members. It was nice even though she didn’t name them all.

– Let Me Go just won’t budge from the Top 5. I do still love the song and I’m glad that it spent at least one week at #1. Something tells me that it’ll likely be ranked high when the Hits 1 Year-End Countdown comes along in December. But that might be a stretch given that we still have a whole year ahead of us.

– But then, we also get to our new Top 5 entrant from I Like Me Better. Just no, people. I don’t know why are the voters making this a Top 5 hit, but this is ridiculous. Hopefully, songs like The Middle can hold the #1 spot for as long as possible to keep I Like Me Better out.

– Entering the Top 10 this week, we have both Delicate and Finesse making their entrance, with the latter taking a big jump into that region. I’m definitely cool with having both of them in the Top 10 (especially Finesse). But songs like I Like Me Better and Meant To Be need to seriously make their way down.

– Before introducing In My Blood, Spyder Harrison mentioned that Shawn Mendes seemed to have finally found his mate by the name of Hailey Baldwin. Before, I heard rumors that he was getting back with Camila Cabello or maybe start a relationship with Hailee Steinfeld. But I guess he ultimately found that special someone he was looking for. Hopefully for him, it’ll work out.

– Before introducing Tell Me You Love Me, Spyder Harrison mentioned that Demi Lovato has been telling people to love themselves no matter how they look. I’m glad that she is basically a role model when it comes to inspiring people to accept themselves. If everybody was that way, I’m sure the world would be a happy place.

– Well, this was short-lived. Woman took a big drop out of the Top 10 very quickly. I’m not really surprised since that one never took off elsewhere. It’s sad that people underrate good songs like this.

– I’m not thrilled about the drop from Zombie either. Though I’m sure it’ll make a recovery soon given that it’s still relatively new to the countdown, but that drop was seriously uncalled for.

– Looks like this may be the end for Good Old Days after that big drop. Hopefully it’ll stick around for a little while longer. It’s crazy that this and How Long were in the Top 5 about a month ago and now they’re sitting near the Bottom 5. Dang!

Hit-Bound

• Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho
• Echosmith – Over My Head
• NOTD featuring Bea Miller – I Wanna Know (DEBUT)
• Dustin Atlas featuring Erin Bowman – Fake Friends
• Portugal. The Man – Live In The Moment
• Halsey – Alone
• Maren Morris – Rich
• The Chainsmokers – Everybody Hates Me
• In Real Life – Tattoo (How ‘Bout You) (DEBUT)
• Hundred Handed – Too Good
• Sam Smith featuring Logic – Pray
• Dua Lipa – IDGAF
• Foster The People – Sit Next To Me
• ZAYN – Let Me (DEBUT)
• Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA – All The Stars
• Why Don’t We – Trust Fund Baby

– We have three debuts this week on Hit-Bound. We’ll start with the return of Bea Miller, who had Fire N’ Gold which was three years ago. She’s collaborating with an new EDM duo NOTD in the song titled I Wanna Know. Right off the bat, I like their contribution in the song in terms of the production. Bea’s vocals are pretty good throughout the song. I’ll have more on this when it debuts.

– Next, we have a new band, by the name of In Real Life. They have a song titled Tattoo (How ‘Bout You). I thought that song had potential, but I feel like it’s lacking something that makes it stand out. I do like the vocals for the most part. Not much else I can say beyond that.

– Finally, we have ZAYN with his latest release titled Let Me. While I won’t say it’s as good as Dusk Till Dawn, this is still a keeper. I’m sure it’ll make its debut at some point, and I’ll talk more about it then.

My Top 5 Hit-Bound Picks
1. Dua Lipa – IDGAF
2. Hundred Handed – Too Good
3. Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA – All The Stars
4. Foster The People – Sit Next To Me
5. Echosmith – Over My Head

Top 20 Review:
0 – Putrid:
20. Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie – Friends
19. Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line – Meant To Be
18. Lauv – I Like Me Better
17. Camila Cabello – Never Be The Same

1 – Bad:
16. Maroon 5 – Wait

2 – Mediocre:
None!

3 – Decent:
15. Imagine Dragons – Thunder

4 – Good:
None!

5 – Great:
14. Meghan Trainor – No Excuses
13. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Want You Back
12. Taylor Swift – Delicate
11. Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
10. Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani – Done For Me
9. Ed Sheeran – Perfect 
8. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso featuring Florida Georgia Line and Watt – Let Me Go
7. Niall Horan – On The Loose
6. Walk The Moon – One Foot
5. G-Eazy featuring Halsey – Him & I
4. Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes
3. The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar – Pray For Me
2. Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey – The Middle

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B. – Finesse (Remix)

Overall Grade: 75/100 = 75% (C)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles (2002)

Most Missed Countdown Songs: Ella Henderson – Ghost and Lorde – Yellow Flicker Beat

Most Missed Hit-Bound Dropout: Little Mix – Shout Out To My Ex

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa – One Kiss

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay – Something Just Like This

My Top 5 Picks
1. Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B. – Finesse (Remix)
2. Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey – The Middle
3. The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar – Pray For Me
4. Alice Merton – No Roots
5. Kesha featuring The Dap-Kings Horns – Woman

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie – Friends
2. AJR featuring Rivers Cuomo – Sober Up
3. Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line – Meant To Be
4. Lauv – I Like Me Better
5. Camila Cabello – Never Be The Same

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Halsey – Now Or Never: While I do like the idea of needing someone right now, Hasley doesn’t really display her vocal talent in this one. But if it’s anything, I’ll certainly take this over the mess that is of New Americana any day.
Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times: I never thought a member from One Direction would turn to 70’s-80’s rock, but I was happy with how it turned out. His music definitely deserved to have more success, especially when compared to the other member’s solo singles.
Calvin Harris featuring Frank Ocean and Migos – Slide: It’s one of the few good things that the group Migos have been a part of (other than Stir Fry), and the groovy new sound definitely worked out well for Calvin Harris.
The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay – Something Just Like This: A rehash of Roses if you will. Everything about this is divine on all levels. I love that it has superhero references to Batman, Superman, Spiderman, etc.