Hello, fam! I hope everyone here has had a good week. I don’t have much to say except that this was a rather interesting week. We have a new #1 song, and we got a couple of good debuts. Also, I’ll be praying to those that will be affected by Hurricane Florence. Hopefully, everyone can stay safe. Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs we’re saying good-bye to this week:

• Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Backstreet Boys (#25)
• Let You Be Right by Meghan Trainor (#38)
• Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line (#39)

The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B.
40. Boo’d Up by Elle Mai (DEBUT)
39. New Rules by Dua Lipa (#37) [–2] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
38. Happy Now by Zedd featuring Elley Duhé (DEBUT)
37. Beautiful (Remix) by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello (DEBUT)
36. Pray For Me by The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar (#35) [–1]
35. Broken by lovelytheband (#40) [+5]
34. Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons (#33) [–1]
33. Almost Love by Sabrina Carpenter (#36) [+3]
32. Wait by Maroon 5 (#31) [–1]
31. Natural by Imagine Dragons (#34) [+3]
30. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid (#32) [+2]
29. Never Be The Same by Camila Cabello (#27) [–2] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
28. Jackie Chan by Tiesto & Dzeko featuring Preme and Post Malone (#29) [+1]
27. The Way I Am by Charlie Puth (#30) [+3]
26. In My Blood by Shawn Mendes (#24) [–2]
25. Home With You by Madison Beer (#26) [+1]
24. I Like Me Better by Lauv (#22) [–2]
23. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (#28) [+5]
22. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey (#19) [–3]
21. Lie by NF (#21) [=]
20. One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa (#18)
19. Drew Barrymore by Bryce Vine (#23) [+4]
18. Mine by Bazzi (#16) [–2]
17. Side Effects by The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren (#20) [+3]
16. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie (#14) [–2]
15. Growing Pains by Alessia Cara (#13) [–2]
14. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign (#12) [–2] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
13. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha (#17) [+4]
12. Remind Me To Forget by Kygo featuring Miguel (#15) [+3]
11. Delicate by Taylor Swift (#9) [–2] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
10. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande (#11) [+1]
9. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande (#8) [–1]
8. No Brainer by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Chance The Rapper (#10) [+2]
7. In My Feelings by Drake (#6) [–1]
6. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer (#7) [+1]
5. Back To You by Selena Gomez (#5) [=]
4. I Like It by Cardi B. featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin (#3) [–1]
3. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani (#4) [+1]
2. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B. (#1) [–1] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
1. Better Now by Post Malone (#2) [+1] [1^st Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Attention by Charlie Puth (3^rd of 5 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey (–3)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Tie between Broken by lovelytheband and Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (+5)

New Entrants
– Our first debut comes from new artist Elle Mai with the song titled Boo’d Up. Right off the bat, I find this to be decent for the most part. One of the things I do like about is her vocals. She doesn’t necessarily shine in the song, but she sounds pretty good in some parts. However, I don’t think there’s really anything original about the production. I feel like more work could’ve been done here. So yeah, it’s a decent song, though it may not be something I’ll remember in about a year or so.

– Next, we have more of Zedd, and he’s collaborating with a new artist named Elley Duhé his latest single titled Happy Now. I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion to many here in the blogging community, but I’m actually in love with the song. I talked about why in detail when I reviewed the song last week. Zedd has been taking a risk with his new sound and I do like what he has in store here. I like the production throughout the song and the xylophone. But what I really love about the song is Elley Duhé herself. I absolutely LOVE her voice. It is very unique and different. I can totally see why people don’t like this, but I’m not one of them. I do hope it has some success.

– Finally, we have more Bazzi who just selected his second single off of his debut album Cosmic. Here, he has a remix which features Camila Cabello in his new song titled Beautiful. This is one of those slow songs that I’m sure people can dance to. I do like how their vocals blend together in the chorus. Both Bazzi and Camila sounded really good throughout the song, though I can say that there’s not much to the production. I’m glad Bazzi chose this as a single because it’s a nice song. We’ll see if it ends up having some success.

Best Debut Of The Week: Happy Now by Zedd featuring Elley Duhé

Blurbed Up
– As far as our exits go, we sadly say good-bye to two songs this week. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart was a great comeback for the Backstreet Boys and I enjoyed it a lot. Let You Be Right failed to become a success. It’s really a damn shame that Meghan Trainor is underrated today as opposed to back in 2014 when she made a breakthrough with All About That Bass. She deserves much better. Finally, we can now celebrate as Meant To Be has left the countdown! Good riddance!

– We finally have a new #1 for the first time in over a month. Better Now has dethroned Girls Like You to take the top spot this week. I can say it’s one of the best Post Malone has to offer and it’s certainly better than his previous singles (aside from Stay and Candy Paint). I’m sure it’ll probably hold there for at least a couple weeks, considering Post Malone is still popular.

– It was only a matter of time until God Is A Woman was going to enter the Top 10. I’m looking forward to seeing this one become a Top 5 hit. I’ll be waiting.

– There are some big jumps worth noting. First off, we have Lucid Dreams inching closer the Top 20 (yuck). But then there’s the big jump from Broken which I don’t mind at all. It would be nice to see lovelytheband end up with at least a respectable hit.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille
• Solo by Clean Bandit featuring Demi Lovato
• Promises by Calvin Harris featuring Sam Smith

Extras/Optional Extras:

• Love Yourself by Justin Bieber
• Redbone by Childish Gambino
• God’s Plan by Drake
• HUMBLE. by Kendrick Lamar
• Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man
• All Night by Big Boi
• Nice For What by Drake
• The Hills by The Weeknd
• Him & I by G-Eazy featuring Halsey

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie
19. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
18. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha

1 – Bad:
17. In My Feelings by Drake

2 – Mediocre:
16. Drew Barrymore by Bryce Vine
15. I Like It by Cardi B. featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin

3 – Decent:
14. No Brainer by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Chance The Rapper
13. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B.

4 – Good:
12. Mine by Bazzi

5 – Great:
11. Back To You by Selena Gomez
10. Better Now by Post Malone
9. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
8. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
7. Delicate by Taylor Swift
6. Remind Me To Forget by Kygo featuring Miguel
5. Growing Pains by Alessia Cara
4. One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa
3. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande
2. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
TIE: Side Effects by The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren

Total Score: 71/100 = 71% (C–)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Independent Women by Destiny’s Child (2001)

Most Missed Song: New Romantics by Taylor Swift

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Body Talks by The Struts featuring Kesha

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Praying by Kesha (#15)

My Top 5 Picks
TIE: 1. Happy Now by Zedd featuring Elley Duhé
TIE: 1. Side Effects by The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren
3. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey
4. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande
5. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. I Like Me Better by Lauv
2. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie
3. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD
4. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
5. Never Be The Same by Camila Cabello

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Two Ghosts by Harry Styles:
Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift: