Hello, fam! Welcome to the last AT40 countdown of 2018! This was another week in which we don’t have a lot going on in terms of activity. We did have some big moves here and there, but nothing else. I’m sure that by the start next year, we can expect to see more activity. Let’s get right into things. Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, we say good-bye to the songs leaving us this week:

• Natural by Imagine Dragons (#39)

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

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Havana by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug (1^st of 7 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha (–11)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Tie between Be Alright by Dean Lewis and Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee (+5)

New Entrants
– For the second week in a row (and for the final entrant of the year), we have country duo Dan + Shay with a song that been around for a while, titled Tequila. The American Top 40 was a little late to the party when it comes to picking up the song, but I’m glad it’s here anyway. It’s probably one of the more premier country songs of the year. I love the vocals we get from these guys. They both sound good together, especially in the chorus. The lyrical content is well written. I feel like they put forth the effort in writing the song. I’ve been enjoying this with each listen and I can safely say that it’s probably one of the best country songs I’ve heard in a long time. I hope it ends up doing well here.

Silver Blurbs
– So, we say good-bye to Natural. And its departure brings an end to Imagine Dragons’ countdown run. Feels like it’s been a long time since we last had a countdown without a song from Imagine Dragons. Talk about a good run.

– It’s nice to see I’m A Mess not only dropping out of Top 20, but also having the biggest fall off the week! I’m very pleased with this! I’m glad it won’t be much longer until it leaves.

– Before introducing Beautiful, Ryan Seacrest mentioned that Bazzi had never performed live before. I guess he may have a little bit of a stage fright. Maybe he should take some advice from Shawn Mendes, who has a song that talks about being nervous. Heh.

– Although I do not like the presence of Without Me in the Top 10, I love the new entrant we get from Eastside. It’s a great song overall and Halsey sounds much better in the song than Without Me. Again, I’m hoping it ends up having the same success.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Ruin My Life by Zara Larsson
• 8 Letters by Why Don’t We
• Waste It On Me by Steve Aoki featuring BTS

Extras/Optional Extras:

• Promises by Calvin Harris featuring Sam Smith
• Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran
• One More Night by Maroon 5
• Cold by Maroon 5 featuring Future
• Same Old Love by Selena Gomez
• Ride by TWENTY ØNE PILØTS
• Hey Mama by David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack
• See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
• What About Us by P!NK
• Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
• Chandelier by Sia

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD

1 – Bad:
19. Without Me by Halsey

2 – Mediocre:
18. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille

3 – Decent:
17. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B.
16. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee
15. Broken by lovelytheband

4 – Good:
14. Lie by NF

5 – Great:
13. Beautiful by Bazzi featuirng Camila Cabello 
12. Back To You by Selena Gomez 
11. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande
10. Consequences by Camila Cabello
9. Better Now by Post Malone
8. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco
7. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
6. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
5. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande
4. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid
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: 82/100 = 82% (B–)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Silver Bells by Bing Crosby (1950)

Most Missed Song: The A Team by Ed Sheeran

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Speechless by Dan + Shay

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Praying by Kesha (#11)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande
2. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini
3. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey
4. Tequila by Dan + Shay
5. Lost In Japan by Shawn Mendes

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha
2. Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie
3. Thunderclouds by LSD
4. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD
5. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line: I’d say this is probably one of the most disappointing singles Bebe Rexha has released thus far. I’ll have more to say about this one soon, but Bebe is capable of better.
Best Friend by Sofi Tukker featuring NERVO, Alisa Ueno, and The Knocks: I remember first hearing this when watching the commercial for the iPhone X and thinking, “this is something different”. I don’t quite like it as much as others do, but I still think it’s a pretty cool song.