1. Panic! At The Disco – Say Amen (Saturday Night) (#4) [+3] [1^st Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Zedd featuring Alessia Cara – Stay (3^rd of 4 Weeks At #1)

Biggest DRRRRRRROP!!! Of The Week: Meghan Trainor – No Excuses (–20)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho (+15)

New Entrants
– So, with The Middle still doing very well on all fronts, it was only a matter of time until Maren Morris would bring in one of her solo songs. At #35, she brings in her second song on the countdown titled Rich. If you’ve been following my blog, then you probably know that I still have a huge liking towards The Middle (mainly because I really like Maren Morris). Unfortunately I can’t say the same for this song. I’m not in love with the lyrical content of the song. One of the reason I love The Middle so much is because she’s having fun just singing. But here, she sounds conceited and thinks she’s all that. I’m sorry, but this kind of stuff doesn’t impress me. She sounds okay, but that doesn’t make the song any better. I’m hoping it doesn’t stay for too long and end up getting big.

– Dua Lipa has become a presence in 2018, what with songs like New Rules getting big and IDGAF starting to gain some momentum. Now, she brings in her third song to the countdown as she collaborates with Calvin Harris in his latest release titled One Kiss. I talked about this when it debuted on the American Top 40 a while ago. It’s not his best single by any means, but Calvin Harris still did well as a DJ. Dua Lipa does great with her unique vocals. I do think it’s a great collaboration overall. I’m hoping it does well on the countdown.

Best Debut Of The Week: Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa – One Kiss

One Blurb Is All It Takes
– We’ll begin with our two exits. To start, Feel It Still had quite a run for a band not really known elsewhere. I’m sure some here are happy about its departure. But the one I’m saddest about is Wolves. I never thought Marshmello would make an amazing collaboration with Selena at first, but I’m glad that it worked out well to my liking. It’s definitely a candidate for my Top 10 or maybe even Top 5 songs of 2018 depending on how the rest of the year goes. Goodbye, Wolves. It’s been real.

– The guest DJ that introduced Lights Down Low copied Spyder Harrison’s line when he introduces that song. How cool is that?!

– We had some big drops this week, most of which I’m pleased about. I Like Me Better and Never Be The Same both took some drops which were very pleasing to see. Then, we have No Excuses taking the biggest drop this week all the way down to #31. I was starting to grow out of that song, so I was okay with this. I’m hoping Let You Be Right can debut soon. That song is really good in my opinion.

– So, Spyder Harrison mentioned that ZAYN has anxiety when singing on stage, yet he still plans on touring. If that’s the case, then I’m sure fans will finally be able to come hear him sing. Hopefully, he’ll be able to overcome his anxiety.

– Are you kidding me?! Psycho takes a big jump right back into the Top 20 this week. I’m annoyed by this. But with it still gaining elsewhere, I don’t see it leaving us anytime soon. I honestly cannot believe I actually jinxed it last week when I said it was going to jump big.

– Before introducing I Wanna Know, Spyder Harrison mentioned that NOTD would rather play fortnite rather than make music. I’m not sure how that’ll work out. If they can be able to do that, then the public might take them seriously.

– So, Spyder Harrison said that Ariana Grande’s boyfriend got two tattoos of herself. Man, I guess he must really love Ariana. I’m sure she’ll probably say the same and maybe do something to return his favor.

– Want You Back dropped out of the Top 10 rather quickly. I thought it might stay there for a long time, what with how much Hits 1 loves 5 Seconds Of Summer. But I guess it spent enough time there as it is.

– Spyder Harrison mentioned upon introducing Wait that Adam Levine managed to get a gig at Porsche. I have a feeling this is going to get more people interested in buying one of those. Maybe Adam will find a way to give them one.

– IDGAF has now entered the Top 10 this week. It has now peaked higher than her predecessor New Rules, which is currently in the bottom 5 of the countdown. I’m hoping this time Dua Lipa can get higher on the countdown, but you never know for sure. Pretty much anything can happen on this countdown.

– In My Blood entered the Top 10 as well. I’m sure this will end up staying there for a while, given how Hits 1 has treated Shawn Mendes’s music in the past. Also, his new album has hit #1 on the Billboard 200. Congrats to him.

– But wait, we also have another new song entering that region. Done For Me has reached a new peak of #7. I’m sure this one will get higher eventually. If his two previous singles were able to hit #1, then so can this. Though, it’s not doing quite well in sales and streaming, so it might be a stretch.

– That brings us to our new #1 this week! Brendon Urie and company have hit the top spot with Say Amen (Saturday Night). It’s definitely an fun song and probably one of my songs of the summer. I’m cool seeing it at #1. They may not be known elsewhere, but I’m glad Hits 1 is treating their music well.

Hit-Bound:

• Sam Smith featuring Logic – Pray
• HRVY – Personal
• Fall Out Boy – The Last Of The Real Ones
• Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift – Babe
• Hundred Handed – Too Good
• Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
• 5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood
• Cardi B. – I Like It
• In Real Life – Tattoo (How ‘Bout You)
• Liam Payne featuring J. Balvin – Familiar
• lovelytheband – Broken
• Meghan Trainor – Let You Be Right
• Dennis Lloyd – Nevermind
• The Wrecks – James Dean
• Cheat Codes featuring U2 – Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way (DEBUT)
• Backstreet Boys – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (DEBUT)
• Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B. – Girls Like You (DEBUT)

– We have three songs entering Hit-Bound this week. First, Maroon 5 are back with another new single, titled Girls Like You. Right off the bat, it’s really not that different from what they’ve been releasing lately. Once again, Adam Levine has taken over the band. His vocals are decent, but they’re not enough to save this song from being red. I’ll have more words about this come its inevitable debut.

– Next, we have an unexpected collaboration between Cheat Codes and the band U2, who we haven’t heard from in a while, in the song Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way. It’s really a good song overall. I love how Cheat Codes does with the production, and I like the vocals. More on this when it debuts.

– Finally, we have the best debut of the week. After a long time, the Backstreet Boys have finally made their comeback! Their new single is titled Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. Right off the bat, this is just amazing on many different levels. They haven’t really disappointed me with their music. I’ll have more to say about this song when it debuts.

– For the past week or so, I’ve been enjoying Let You Be Right more than I do with No Excuses. Meghan sounds better with her vocals, and I’m in love with the production. She seems to have improved from Thank You. I do hope to see it on the countdown soon.

My Top 5 Hit-Bound Picks
TIE: 1. Backstreet Boys – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
TIE: 1. Meghan Trainor – Let You Be Right
3. The Wrecks – James Dean
4. Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
5. Hundred Handed – Too Good

Top 20 Review:
0 – Putrid:
20. Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho
19. Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie – Friends
18. Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line – Meant To Be

1 – Bad:
17. Maroon 5 – Wait

2 – Mediocre:
None!

3 – Decent:
None!

4 – Good:
None!

5 – Great:
16. Halsey – Alone
15. Niall Horan – On The Loose
14. NOTD featuring Bea Miller – I Wanna Know
13. Taylor Swift – Delicate
12. Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
11. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Want You Back
10. Rudimental featuring Jess Glynne, Macklemore, and Dan Caplen – These Days
9. Foster The People – Sit Next To Me
8. Bad Wolves – Zombie
7. Panic! At The Disco – Say Amen (Saturday Night)
6. Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes
5. Dua Lipa – IDGAF
4. Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani – Done For Me
3. Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me
2. Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey – The Middle

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry

Overall Grade: 82/100 = 82% (B+)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Prince – When Doves Cry (1984) (This week would’ve been his 60th Birthday. So, Happy Birthday to the late Prince)

Most Missed Countdown Song: OneRepublic – Counting Stars

Most Missed Hit-Bound Dropout: Welshly Arms – Legendary

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Niall Horan featuring Maren Morris – Seeing Blind

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay – Something Just Like This (#3)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry
2. Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey – The Middle
3. Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B. – Finesse (Remix)
4. Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me
5. Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani – Done For Me

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. AJR featuring Rivers Cuomo – Sober Up
2. Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho
3. Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie – Friends
4. Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line – Meant To Be
5. Camila Cabello – Never Be The Same

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
None!

QOTW: What are your thoughts on Shawn Mendes’s new album? What is your favorite song from that album?