Hello, fam! I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving! Sometime next week, I plan on posting my Q&A where I can answer all of the questions you guys have sent me. And then after that, I’ll be working on my Year-End posts. We’re one step closer towards the end of the year, so I’ll have to move fast. But first, here’s the Thanksgiving Weekend edition of the American Top 40 post. Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs leaving the countdown this week:

• Jackie Chan by Tiesto & Dzeko featuring Preme And Post Malone (#20)
• Song About You by Mike Posner (#36)
• No Brainer by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Chance The Rapper (#38)

The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande
40. I Like Me Better by Lauv (#39) [–1]
39. Trust My Lonely by Alessia Cara (DEBUT)
38. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie (#37) [–1]
37. Be Alright by Dean Lewis (DEBUT)
36. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey (#35) [–1] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
35. Body by Loud Luxury featuring Brando (#40) [+5]
34. Delicate by Taylor Swift (#33) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
33. Better by Khalid (DEBUT)
32. Mine by Bazzi (#31) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
31. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini (#34) [+3]
30. Shallow by Lady Gaga featuring Bradley Cooper (#32) [+2]
29. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign (#28) [–1] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
28. Don’t Matter To Me by Drake featuring Michael Jackson (#30) [+2]
27. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake (#29) [+2]
26. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande (#25) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
25. Thunderclouds by LSD (#24) [–1]
24. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee (#27) [+3]
23. Promises by Calvin Harris featuring Sam Smith (#23) [=]
22. Consequences by Camila Cabello (#26) [+4]
21. I Like It by Cardi B. featuring Bad Bunny featuring J. Balvin (#21) [=]
20. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa (#22) [+2]
19. Drew Barrymore by Bryce Vine (#19) [=]
18. Broken by lovelytheband (#16) [–2]
17. Back To You by Selena Gomez (#13) [–4]
16. Lost In Japan by Shawn Mendes (#17) [+1]
15. Beautiful (Remix) by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello (#15) [=]
14. Without Me by Halsey (#18) [+4]
13. Natural by Imagine Dragons (#12) [–1]
12. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha (#11) [–1]
11. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco (#14) [+3]
10. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid (#10) [=]
9. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande (#9) [=]
8. Lie by NF (#8) [=]
7. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (#7) [=]
6. Better Now by Post Malone (#6) [=] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
5. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B. (#5) [=] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
4. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani (#3) [–1] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
3. Happier by Marshmello featuring BΔSTILLE (#4) [+1]
2. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer (#2) [=] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
1. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande (#1) [=] [3^rd Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: 1-800-273-8255 by Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid (1^st And Only Week At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Back To You by Selena Gomez (–4)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Body by Loud Luxury featuring Brando (+5)

New Entrants
– To kick things off on this Thanksgiving weekend, we have Alessia Cara with Trust My Lonely, which is her second single off of her new album, The Pains Of Growing. It wasn’t too long ago that she had Growing Pains on the countdown. I thought it was a good lead single to start things off, but it ended up being a flop. As for her new single, I’m not really feeling this one. To say the least, the production is weird and a little out of place for the majority of the song. Alessia does sound good, but is a little underwhelming in the chorus. So yeah, I was a little disappointed after hearing the song. I expected more out of Alessia. She has singles that I like, but I’m not particularly sold on this one. It may be blue for now, it could change.

– Next, we have Dean Lewis with his single, Be Alright. I don’t have much I can say about this one. I do like his voice. Dean is a pretty good singer. One of the things that stand out to me is the lyrics. I think the song is well written for the most part. It describe a hard relationship between one another. The production here is nice. So yeah, it’s a sad, but sweet song. I wouldn’t mind if this sticks around.

– Lastly, we have Khalid with his second single, titled Better. Khalid has had a nice year overall with Love Lies becoming his biggest hit to date. Now, he’s looking to carry that momentum into next year with his latest release. I do like Khalid overall. I personally think he has a nice voice. In the song, he sounds okay. He doesn’t shine too much in the chorus, though. That’s my only complaint about it. However, I do like the lyrical content and I also think the production is good for the most part. I like the piano work in the song. So yeah, it’s not nearly as good as his predecessor, but it’s decent enough.

Best Debut Of The Week: Be Alright by Dean Lewis

I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Blurbs Tonight
– Let’s begin with our exits. To start, I thought Jackie Chan was actually pretty cool despite the lyrical content. I didn’t care that much for Song About You. Mike Posner has done better, though it wasn’t a bad song. And finally, it’s nice to see No Brainer leave. It lost it’s appeal to me after a while. DJ Khaled can do better. I’m hoping we get something along the lines of Wild Thoughts.

– Before introducing Friends, Ryan Seacrest mentioned that Marshmello had to take off his helmet just to get through security at the airport. My guess is that the people working at the airport wants to see who’s behind the costume. I’ll bet they were shocked to see who it was.

– I would appreciate if Sicko Mode would not move up any further. I don’t get what people like about this. It’s just annoying in every possible way.

– Before introducing I Like It, Ryan Seacrest mentioned that Bad Bunny has not made an album yet, though he did say that he’s working on new music. I’ll be interesting to see what he has in store. Hopefully, it’ll be good.

– All of the songs from #10-#5 held their positions this week, which was one of the signs that there wasn’t a whole lot of movement on the countdown (though part of that is due to it being around Thanksgiving).

– Happier is inching closer to #1 by hitting a new peak of #3. Not something I’m looking forward to, but I know it’ll happen. It’s quite a shame that Wolves didn’t do this well, yet songs like this and Friends become more successful.

– It’s a good thing God Is A Woman holds at #1 for another week. Ariana has been killing it this year so far. And with Breathin’ in the Top 10 and her successor hitting #1, her momentum is definitely going to carry into next year. I did read a post where she paid tribute to the late Mac Miller. I’ll just say that I thought it was nice of her. Mac Miller will indeed be missed.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Tequila by Dan + Shay
• Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande
• Taki Taki by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B

Extras/Optional Extras:

• Love Yourself by Justin Bieber
• Good Old Days by Macklemore featuring Kesha
• Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon
• Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
• No Brainer by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Chance The Rapper
• Closer by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
• Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Backstreet Boys
• All The Stars by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA
• Rockabye by Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie
• Burn by Ellie Goulding
• Cheerleader by OMI

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

1 – Bad:
18. Drew Barrymore by Bryce Vine
17. Without Me by Halsey

2 – Mediocre:
16. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille

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

4 – Good:
14. Broken by lovelytheband

5 – Great:
13. Lie by NF
12. Back To You by Selena Gomez 
11. Beautiful by Bazzi featuirng Camila Cabello
10. Better Now by Post Malone
9. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco
8. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
7. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
6. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid
5. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande
4. Natural by Imagine Dragons
3. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa
2. Lost In Japan by Shawn Mendes

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande  

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

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Your Love by The Outfield (1985)

Most Missed Song: Stressed Out by TWENTY ØNE PILØTS

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Praying by Kesha (#10)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande
2. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey 
3. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini
4. Lost In Japan by Shawn Mendes
5. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. I Like Me Better by Lauv
2. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie
3. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha
4. Thunderclouds by LSD
5. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Let You Down by NF: While I’m sure there are people who like this in part because of the song’s premise, I feel like his delivery is lacking and I find the chipmunk vocals to be unnecessary. So yeah, I wasn’t feeling this too much. At least its successor is better.