Hello, fam! So, I was able to watch the Grammy Music Awards yesterday (although I did have to record it because I was somewhat busy). I thought it was a good show overall. I’m planning on doing a review of all the performances, as well as my thoughts on the awards being given out. It should be ready later this week. I also have some other stuff that I desperately need to catch up on, such as the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 for 2018 and tying up some loose ends. You’ll just have to bear with me for the time being. In the meantime, here’s the AT40 post. Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs we’re saying goodbye to this week:

• Back To You by Selena Gomez (#31)
• Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign (#40) [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]

The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande
40. Mine by Bazzi (#37) [–3] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
39. There’s No Way by Lauv featuring Julia Michaels (#39) [=]
38. Love Someone by Lukas Graham (#38) [=]
37. I Like It by Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin (#34) [–4]
36. Let You Love Me by Rita Ora (#36) [=]
35. Consequences by Camila Cabello (#15) [–20]
34. Wake Up In The Sky by Gucci Mane featuring Bruno Mars and Kodak Black (#35) [+1]
33. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (#28) [–5]
32. 8 Letters by Why Don’t We (#33) [+1]
31. MIA by Bad Bunny featuring Drake (#32)
30. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande (#27) [–3] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
29. Wow. by Post Malone (#32) [+3]
28. 7 Rings by Ariana Grande (DEBUT)
27. Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max (#29) [+2]
26. Lie by NF (#24) [–2]
25. Be Alright by Dean Lewis (#27) [+2]
24. Broken by lovelytheband (#22) [–2]
23. Body by Loud Luxury featuring Brando (#25) [+2]
22. Lost In The Fire by Gesafflestein featuring The Weeknd (DEBUT)
21. Tequila by Dan + Shay (#23) [+2]
20. Ruin My Life by Zara Larsson (#21) [+1]
19. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B (#17) [–2] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
18. Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus (#20) [+2]
17. Better by Khalid (#19) [+2]
16. Better Now by Post Malone (#14) [–2] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
15. Taki Taki by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B (#18) [+3]
14. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani (#11) [–3] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
13. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa (#16) [+3]
12. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake (#13) [+1]
11. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer (#9) [–2] [Spent 3 Weeks At #10
10. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini (#12) [+2]
9. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee (#10) [+1]
8. Beautiful (Remix) by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello (#7) [–1]
7. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee (#8) [+1]
6. Happier by Marshmello featuring BΔSTILLE (#6) [=] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
5. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande (#4) [–1]
4. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid (#5) [+1]
3. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco (#2) [–1] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
2. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande (#1) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
1. Without Me by Halsey (#3) [+2] [1^st Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Perfect by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé (2^nd And Final Week At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Consequences by Camila Cabello (–20)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Tie between Wow. by Post Malone, Taki Taki by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B, and Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa (+3)

New Entrants:
– To kick things off, we have Ariana Grande who recently released her new album Thank U, Next, with my least favorite single from her in the form of 7 Rings. If you’ve read my Hits 1 countdown post for last week, then you’ve seen me go off on this song when it made its debut on Hit-Bound. To recap, Ariana sounds underwhelming as a whole. Also, she can be pretty annoying with her verses. The beat is absolute shit across the board and the rest of the production is not good whatsoever. Looking at the lyrics, it feels like she’s become conceited and full of herself. That doesn’t sound like her. Basically, the lyrics are asinine and pointless. I know Ariana is very good at her songwriting. But she does not show her capabilities at all in any part of the song. I can’t think of a single good line that I find to be appealing. So yeah, as someone who absolutely adores Ariana, this is a huge disappointment for her. I originally thought Everyday was her weakest single, although that one had more to do with Future than Ariana because I thought she sounded decent. But I had no idea what we were getting until we got this mess of a song. And now that it’s here, it’s pretty much a lock for My Bottom 10 Songs of 2019. Thus, I’m not thrilled to see it become a #1 hit on Billboard. Honestly, as much as many people here absolutely despise our current #1 song on the AT40 (which I’ll talk about in just a moment), I’d rather listen to that than this any day. Yes, even Sicko Mode even though I’m not fond of the song at all either. But 7 Rings is just the bottom falling out of Ariana Grande’s music. This is not a good direction for her. I know Ariana is definitely capable of better.

– Thankfully though, we get a second debut that is MUCH better than the one I just talked about. We get the return of The Weeknd once more, and he teams up with an EDM artist named Gesafflestein in Lost In The Fire. This is something enjoyable. First off, I love The Weeknd’s voice. He knows just how to use it well, and that’s something that I’ve been saying with most of his music. I enjoyed songs like In The Night, The Hills, Can’t Feel My Face, and some more songs I won’t mention right now. Gesafflestein did a nice job with his work as a DJ. He puts forth the effort in the production. In a way, it reminds me of the singles from Starboy, which I genuinely loved. Yeah, this is just a good song overall. The Weeknd has impressed me once again.

Best Debut Of The Week: Lost In The Fire by Gesafflestein featuring The Weeknd

Blurbs In The Fire
– As far as our exits go, Psycho was long overdue. While the wasn’t as annoying as its predecessors before this, it was still underwhelming as a whole. I’m glad it’s finally gone. Back To You was something I enjoyed and it had a nice run on the countdown. I’m glad it was pretty successful. That song will be missed by me.

– Much to the displeasure of many people here, Without Me is #1. I will just say that I don’t hate this song at all anymore, but it does pale in comparison to some of the songs Halsey has released. I would prefer if a song like Eastside make it to #1 soon.

– This Feeling goes into the Top 10. The song’s success is quite surprising, considering it’s not that big of a hit elsewhere. But I’m happy regardless. It’s easily the best thing these guys have put out since Closer. It’s momentum may not last too long however, because they’ve just recently released their collaboration with 5 Seconds Of Summer, which we may see on the countdown soon.

– Consequences took a massive fall this week. Yikes! I do like the song, though I won’t be too sad about it leaving soon. But seeing it take this big of a drop is hard to watch.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Hurts Like Hell by Madison Beer featuring Offset
• My Blood by TWENTY ØNE PILØTS
• You Say by Lauren Daigle

Extras/Optional Extras:

• Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes
• Shallow by Lady Gaga featuring Bradley Cooper
• Sorry by Justin Bieber
• Don’t Wanna Know by Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar
• Good For You by Selena Gomez featuring ASAP Rocky
• One Dance by Drake featuring WizKid and Kyla
• New Rules by Dua Lipa
• Lights Down Low by MAX featuring Gnash
• Don’t by Ed Sheeran
• Believer by Imagine Dragons

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake
19. Taki Taki by Dj Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B

1 – Bad:
18. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille

2 – Mediocre:
None!

3 – Decent:
17. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
16. Without Me by Halsey

4 – Good:
15. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande

5 – Great:
14. Beautiful by Bazzi featuirng Camila Cabello
13. Better by Khalid
12. Ruin My Life by Zara Larsson
11. Better Now by Post Malone
10. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
9. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco
8. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
7. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa
6. Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus
5. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid
4. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee
3. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande 
2. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee

Total Score: 82/100 = 82% (B–)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Open Arms by Journey (1982)

Most Missed Song: Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: GIRL by Maren Morris

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Finesse (Remix) by Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B (#13)

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

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. 7 Rings by Ariana Grande
2. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD
3. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake
4. There’s No Way by Lauv featuring Julia Michaels
5. Taki Taki by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Beautiful Trauma by P!NK: It may not be a stand-out from P!NK, but it was something I genuinely loved. And the music video was pretty cool, in part because it featured actor Channing Tatum.
Wait by Maroon 5: Again, this song shows just how much Maroon 5 has changed for the worse. It’s mediocre in terms of the production, especially because there’s no band here. At least this wasn’t performed at the Super Bowl Halftime show.
I Miss You by Clean Bandit featuring Julia Michaels: This is probably the best song Julia Michaels has been a part of. We truly got to see what she is capable of here. It’s sad that this never ended up become the hit I wanted it to be.