Hello, fam! 2019 is finally upon us! As of right now, you have until next week to send me your submissions for the Hits 1 Year-End Rankdown for 2018. If I have to, I may extend the deadline. On that note, I’m hoping to get my review done before then, as well as my post regarding the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 for 2018. In the meantime, here’s the first AT40 countdown of 2019! And believe it or not, this is the 15th Anniversary for Ryan Seacrest being the host for the show! So, congrats to him! We’re off to a nice start as we got rid of some garbage and we have a solid #1. Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs we’re saying goodbye to this week:

• Lost In Japan by Shawn Mendes (#16)
• Thunderclouds by LSD (#22)
• Friends by Marshmello featuring Anne-Marie (#40)

The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille
40. The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey (#39) [–1] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
39. Ruin My Life by Zara Larsson (DEBUT)
38. Delicate by Taylor Swift (#37) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
37. 8 Letters by Why Don’t We (DEBUT)
36. Body by Loud Luxury featuring Brando (#36) [=]
35. Mine by Bazzi (#35) [=] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
34. Tequila by Dan + Shay (#38) [+4]
33. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign (#33) [=] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
32. Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus (DEBUT)
31. No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande (#30) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
30. Be Alright by Dean Lewis (#32) [+2]
29. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha (#28) [–1]
28. Don’t Matter To Me by Drake featuring Michael Jackson (#31) [+3]
27. Trust My Lonely by Alessia Cara (#34) [+7]
26. I Like It by Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin (#25) [–1]
25. Shallow by Lady Gaga featuring Bradley Cooper (#24) [–1]
24. Better by Khalid (#27) [+3]
23. Back To You by Selena Gomez (#20) [–3]
22. Taki Taki by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B (#29) [+7]
21. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini (#23) [+2]
20. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (#11) [–9]
19. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee (#26) [+7]
18. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake (#21) [+3]
17. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande (#12) [–5] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
16. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa (#18) [+2]
15. Consequences by Camila Cabello (#19) [+4]
14. Lie by NF (#6) [–8]
13. Broken by lovelytheband (#14) [+1]
12. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee (#15) [+3]
11. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B (#10) [–1] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
10. Beautiful (Remix) by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello (#13) [+3]
9. Better Now by Post Malone (#9) [=] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
8. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani (#5) [–3] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
7. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande (#17) [+10]
6. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer (#4) [–2] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
5. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid (#7) [+2]
4. Without Me by Halsey (#8) [+4]
3. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille (#1) [–2] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
2. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande (#3) [+1]
1. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco (#2) [+1] [1^st Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Havana by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug (4^th of 7 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (–9)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande (+10)

New Entrants:
– We have three new songs making their debut to start off the new year. First, we’ll begin with the return of Zara Larsson with her latest single titled Ruin My Life. Never Forget You was one of my favorites songs for 2016 and it’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Her new single doesn’t quite live up to that. But it does show just how talented Zara is vocally. It meshes well with the solid production put together. I do like the lyrics. I think they’re well-written and creative. Overall, it’s another solid song for Zara.

– Next, there’s more of Why Don’t We with their latest single, 8 Letters. I have mixed feelings about the band as of right now. They gave us Something Different, which I thought was pretty good. But then there’s Trust Fund Baby which I do not like. As for their new single, I can say it’s a step up from that. It’s a slow, but different style for these guys. Their vocals are actually pretty solid. I do like the lyrical content for the most part. Yeah, it’s a nice song.

– Finally, we have Mark Ronson. The guy behind my favorite song of the decade collaborates with Miley Cyrus in Nothing Breaks Like A Heart. I talked about this in full when it was on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown. But to sum it up, it doesn’t really live up to Uptown Funk. But it’s still good for what it is. I love the production to the song. It shows that Mark Ronson is still talented and hasn’t lost his touch. Miley sounds great throughout the song, especially in the chorus. The lyrics are creative and nicely written. So yeah, it’s a excellent song and I want to see it have some success.

Best Debut Of The Week: Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus

Things Fall Apart, But Nothing Blurbs Like A Heart
– As always, we must begin with the exits. First off, I’m sad to say that we lost Lost In Japan. I was for sure that one would wound up being another hit for Shawn Mendes. But it just didn’t end up that way. I guess people are starting to get tired of him. Friends has finally left the countdown! This was definitely an embarrassment to the EDM genre and one of my worst songs for 2018, but at least it’s finally gone. It’s about damn time! And Thunderclouds…no complaints there. LSD’s music is just atrocious. Good thing it left us as well.

– Our new #1 song is definitely pleasing to see to start off 2019. High Hopes has been around for a while, but I still love the song. It’s nice to see it get some love outside of Hits 1.

– Much to the dismay of a bunch of people here, we have Without Me entering the Top 5 this week. I’ll go ahead and admit, it’s not really that bad of a song. Although her auto-tuned vocals still bother me, I feel like the song still has some meaning.

– By no surprise, Thank U Next enters the Top 10 this week. I’m not quite sure how I feel about this as I’m slightly starting to lose interest. Don’t get me wrong. I still kinda like the song, but Ariana has had better in the past.

– Before introducing Girls Like You, Ryan Seacrest mentioned that Adam Levine had to record a bunch of times just to get it right. Heh, I guess he wants his verse to be perfect for every song. That’s probably what helped Maroon 5 have continued success.

– Before introducing Consequences, Ryan Seacrest mentioned that Camila is working on something with Shawn Mendes. Could there be another collaboration in the making? We’ll see what ends up happening.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Waste It On Me by Steve Aoki featuring BTS
• Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max
• MIA by Bad Bunny featuring Drake

Extras/Optional Extras:

• Natural by Imagine Dragons
• All The Stars by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA
• Sugar by Maroon 5
• I Don’t Wanna Live Forever by ZAYN featuring Taylor Swift
• Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
• No Promises by Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato
• This Is What You Came For by Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna
• Heathens by TWENTY ØNE PILØTS
• Jealous by Nick Jonas
• Work From Home by Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD
19. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake

1 – Bad:
18. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille

2 – Mediocre:
17. Without Me by Halsey

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

4 – Good:
14. Lie by NF
13. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande
12. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee

5 – Great:
11. Beautiful by Bazzi featuirng Camila Cabello
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. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa
3. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid
2. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee

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

Total Score: 76/100 = 76% (C)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley (1956)

Most Missed Song: Get Lucky by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Tell Me It’s Over by Avril Lavigne

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Praying by Kesha (#23)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande
2. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini
3. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee
4. Tequila by Dan + Shay
5. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. I’m A Mess by Bebe Rexha
2. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
3. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD
4. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake
5. Trust My Lonely by Alessia Cara

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Mic Drop by BTS featuring Desiigner: I know some people will disagree, and that’s okay. But there’s nothing i like about the song whatsoever. I didn’t get what the hype around BTS was about. The production is obnoxious and the vocals aren’t good.
Feels Great by Cheat Codes featuring Fetty Wap and CVBZ: While it’s not quite as good as No Promises, it still shows that Cheat Codes are talented. The verses are pretty good as well, and I kinda like the lyrics.
Him & I by G-Eazy featuring Halsey: It was a nice collaboration between the former couple, but it just didn’t stick with me in the long run. Still, there’s quite a bit I like about the song, from Halsey’s vocals on down to the lyrics.
One Foot by Walk The Moon: This is such a energetic jam that puts everyone in a good mood. The production is neat and Nick’s voice is just phenomenal. It’s their best single since Shut Up And Dance