1. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey (#1) [4^th Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars (1^st of 3 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Say Something by Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton (–15)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa (+10)

New Entrants
– To kickstart our new arrivals this week, we have the return of Khalid with his latest single titled No Lies, which is taken from the Love, Simon movie soundtrack. The song also features Normani of Fifth Harmony, who have been taking a hiatus for some time as their members are starting to go solo. Now, the song has been around for a while. One of the things I like about it is that Khalid has shown that he has good vocals overall and I’m starting to come around to it. I like the verses from Normani as well, and the production is pretty good for the most part. Overall, it’s a good song. We’ll see how long it sticks around.

– And now, we have the big return of Ariana Grande. She recently released the lead single titled No Tears Left To Cry. I talked about this one when it debut on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown last week. I have been anticipating new music from her ever since Dangerous Woman. I was not disappointed at all by how the song turned out. Although I can’t say it lives up to the likes of Break Free, Into You, and her other singles, it’s still a great song nonetheless because simply put, Ariana has amazing vocals. She shows it throughout the entire song, even though the part where she sings “picking it up” can be a bit awkward. So yeah, I’m glad she made her comeback. Hopefully, it’ll end up being successful.

I Blurb It That Way
– So, for our two exits, Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man had a nice run on the countdown. It was nice to see other alternative bands get some recognition. Who knows? Maybe they’ll end up getting another hit, but I could be wrong. As for Everybody Hates Me by The Chainsmokers, that one won’t be missed too much. I was not surprised at all about this departure given that the audience has been starting to lose interest in The Chainsmokers for some time.

– Well, Say Something took another big drop this week. I’m afraid this song is all but finished not only here, but elsewhere too. And unfortunately, it looks like it’s going to miss the Year-End list on Billboard. Pretty sad if you ask me.

– Wolves and Want You Back both took big drops as well. Wolves is likely nearing the end of its tenure, so it won’t be much longer with us. Want You Back, on the other hand, I’m not surprised it took a drop given that it’s not doing well outside of Hits 1.

– One Kiss was bound to have a big jump at some point in time. For a Dua Lipa song, this one is starting to catch on quicker than her other two representations currently on the countdown.

– On the note of other big drops, Let You Down is now out of the Top 10. It’s about time that’s happened. I’ll just leave it at that.

– Our Top 5 remains the same, though it’s still not looking good given that we have some mediocre to bad songs still in that region. But at least The Middle holds at #1 for another week, so that’s very nice.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Merengue by Kent Jones
• Done For Me by Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani
• Nice For What by Drake
• Let Me by ZAYN

Extras/Optional Extras:

• What Lovers Do by Maroon 5 featuring SZA
• Just Like Fire by P!NK
• Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay
• I Feel It Coming by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
• You Know You Like It by DJ Snake featuring AlunaGeorge
• It Ain’t Me by Kygo featuring Selena Gomez
• Cheerleader by Omi
• Drag Me Down by One Direction

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
19. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie
18. Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
17. I Like Me Better by Lauv
16. Never Be The Same by Camila Cabello

1 – Bad:
15. Wait by Maroon 5
14. Let You Down by NF

2 – Mediocre:
13. God’s Plan by Drake

3 – Decent:
12. No Excuses by Meghan Trainor

4 – Good:
11. Mine by Bazzi

5 – Great:
10. In My Blood by Shawn Mendes
9. Him & I by G-Eazy featuring Halsey
8. Perfect by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé
7. Tell Me You Love Me by Demi Lovato
6. New Rules by Dua Lipa
5. All The Stars by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA
4. Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons
3. Finesse (Remix) by Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B.
2. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Pray For Me by The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar

Total Score: 62/100 = 62% (D–)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: I Want It That Way by The Backstreet Boys (1999)

Most Missed Song: Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Too Good by Hundred Handed

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay (#4)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Pray For Me by The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar
2. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey
3. Finesse (Remix) by Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B.
4. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande
5. One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
2. Rockstar by Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
3. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie
4. Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
5. I Like Me Better by Lauv

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
The Cure by Lady Gaga: All I can say is that it’s nowhere near her best, but she still does a great job with her vocals overall, and I like the production.
Good Life by G-Eazy featuring Kehlani: It’s too bad this one failed to catch on elsewhere. Kehlani sounds amazing here. That one definitely deserved better.
Kissing Strangers by DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj: Probably their weakest singles from the band if I do say so myself. The “ayy’s” in the background is really what kills it for me. Good thing this didn’t become as big as Cake By The Ocean.