Hello, fam! October is in full swing, and with it, I have a special surprise for everyone. I’m planning on doing my very first Q&A. You ask me anything right here. I don’t have a deadline set yet. But if I get enough questions and I answer them all, I’ll have my special post ready. Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs we’re saying goodbye to this week:

• One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa (#32)

The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
40. New Rules by Dua Lipa (#40) [=] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
39. Taste by Tyga featuring Offset (#39) [=]
38. Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons (#37) [–1]
37. 2002 by Anne-Marie (#38) [+1]
36. Goodbye by Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj and Willy William (DEBUT)
35. Never Be The Same by Camila Cabello (#34) [–1] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
34. Africa by Weezer (#35) [+1]
33. Happy Now by Zedd featuring Elley Duhé (#33) [=]
32. I Like Me Better by Lauv (#29) [–3]
31. Boo’d Up by Elle Mai (#36) [+5]
30. Promises by Calvin Harris featuring Sam Smith (#31) [+1]
29. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie (#26) [–3]
28. Almost Love by Sabrina Carpenter (#27) [–1]
27. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey (#24) [–3] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
26. Broken by lovelytheband (#28) [+2]
25. Delicate by Taylor Swift (#14) [–11] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
24. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille (#30) [+6]
23. Beautiful (Remix) by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello (#25) [+2]
22. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign (#20) [–2] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
21. Drew Barrymore by Bryce Vine (#22) [+1]
20. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid (#19) [–1]
19. Mine by Bazzi (#18) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
18. Jackie Chan by Tiesto & Dzeko featuring Post Malone and Preme (#17) [–1]
17. The Way I Am by Charlie Puth (#21) [+4]
16. Natural by Imagine Dragons (#23) [+7]
15. Lie by NF (#16) [+1]
14. Side Effects by The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren (#12) [–2]
13. Remind Me To Forget by Kygo featuring Miguel (#11) [–2]
12. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande (#10) [–2] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
11. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (#15) [+4]
10. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha (#13) [+3]
9. No Brainer by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Chance The Rapper (#9) [=]
8. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande (#8) [=]
7. In My Feelings by Drake (#7) [=]
6. I Like It by Cardi B. featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin (#5) [–1]
5. Back To You by Selena Gomez (#4) [–1]
4. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer (#6) [+2]
3. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B. (#3) [=] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
2. Better Now by Post Malone (#2) [=] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
1. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani (#1) [=] [2^nd Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Slow Hands by Niall Horan (1^st of 2 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Delicate by Taylor Swift (–11)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Natural by Imagine Dragons (+7)

New Entrants
– For the second week in a row, we have only one new song making its debut. This time, we have the return of Jason Derulo, who is collaborating with three different artists (David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, and Willy William) in his new single named Goodbye. We haven’t heard much from Jason since he had Swalla last year, which was weird but the good kind of weird. I never would’ve thought of him doing a song with Latin vibes, but here we are. Though, part of that has to do with Willy William, who was featured in some Latin-based singles. Anyway, I’m glad he was able to work things out, because there’s plenty I like about the song.

I Need Blurbs Tonight
– As far as our exit goes, we say good-bye to One Kiss. I can say that I still enjoy that one and it had a nice run on this countdown.

– Speaking of Dua Lipa, this week officially marks the one-year anniversary when New Rules made its debut on the countdown! Congrats to Dua Lipa on having this song last a full year on the American Top 40!

– Not too thrilled about the big drop from Delicate. Though it has been here for a while, I still enjoy the song so seeing it drop makes me sad. Just putting it out there.

– Blech. Here we go with I’m A Mess entering the Top 10. Honestly, this song just continues to get more and more annoying with every listen. This is just Bebe Rexha hitting rock bottom and the fact that it’s so popular really only makes it worse.

– Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer has now entered the Top 5. If I’m correct, it’s their highest peaking single on this countdown. Not really surprising since the song is their biggest hit thus far. I won’t be surprised if it ends up becoming our next #1, which should be as soon as next week.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• One Day by Logic featuring Ryan Tedder
• Rise by Jonas Blue featuring Jack & Jack
• High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco

Extras/Optional Extras:

• Home With You by Madison Beer
• Where Are U Now by Skrillex & Diplo featuring Justin Bieber
• Hands To Myself by Selena Gomez
• Pillowtalk by ZAYN
• Don’t Wanna Know by Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar
• Growing Pains by Alessia Cara
• Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran
• Love On The Brain by Rihanna

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha
19. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD

1 – Bad:
18. In My Feelings by Drake

2 – Mediocre:
17. I Like It by Cardi B. featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin
16. No Brainer by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Chance The Rapper

3 – Decent:
15. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B.

4 – Good:
14. Mine by Bazzi
13. The Way I Am by Charlie Puth

5 – Great:
12. Jackie Chan by Tiesto & Dzeko featuring Post Malone and Preme
11. Lie by NF
10. Back To You by Selena Gomez
9. Better Now by Post Malone
8. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
7. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
6. Natural by Imagine Dragons
5. Remind Me To Forget by Kygo featuring Miguel
4. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande
3. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid
2. Side Effects by The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
TIE: 1. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande

Total Score: 77/100 = 77% (C+)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Bye Bye Bye by NSYNC (2000)

Most Missed Song: 24K Magic by Bruno Mars (Two years since it was released)

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Praying by Kesha (#14)

My Top 5 Picks
1. TIE: Happy Now by Zedd featuring Elley Duhé 
1. TIE: God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande 
3. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey
4. Side Effects by The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren
5. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha
2. I Like Me Better by Lauv
3. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie
4. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
5. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
New Rules by Dua Lipa: Probably her most successful single from her self-titled debut album, and a good one at that. Sure, there may be plenty of good songs from that album objectively, but none can compare to this.
Love So Soft by Kelly Clarkson: I liked that Kelly Clarkson was trying something new with her soulful sound. Though I did like it to some degree, it’s not the best off of Meaning Of Life.
…Ready For It? by Taylor Swift: This was probably less controversial and more likable than her predecessor off of Reputation. For me, I’d say it’s probably my favorite of hers from that album.