#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: New Rules by Dua Lipa (2^nd of 4 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Lie by NF (–8)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Dancing With A Stranger by Sam Smith featuring Normani (+5)

– Only two debuts to cover this week. First, we have a Adele-soundalike in the form of Lauren Daigle with a song that’s been around for a while, titled You Say. I know there are some who are not fond of this. But I’m not one of them. There is a lot for me to love about the song. I love the piano work and the way it opens up the song. Lauren sounds absolutely amazing from start to finish. The chorus is just phenomenal. The lyrical content is well-written. So yeah, this is just divine in every sense of the word.

– We have more of Dua Lipa, who replaces herself this week with her latest single titled Swan Song, taken from the Alita: Battle Angel movie soundtrack. Dua Lipa has done quite a lot this past year, what with New Rules and One Kiss (with Calvin Harris) both becoming hits, the former which would eventually go on to become the #1 song of the year on the AT40. As far as her new single goes, it’s pretty divine. Dua definitely shines with her voice in the song. I like her verses and the chorus. The production and the beat are really good as well. I do love the lyrics about not giving up and having to keep fighting. Yeah, this is solid. I find this to be just as good as New Rules, if not better.

Best Debut Of The Week: You Say by Lauren Daigle

– We’ll begin with our two exits. Electricity had an OK run, but I wish it wasn’t underrated as it was. And good riddance to Taki Taki. That one got mediocre extremely fast. DJ Snake can do much better. I’m happy to see that one leave.

– I’m going to give it to you guys straight and simply say that 7 Rings being in the Top 10 in its third week is the worst thing to happen this week. But of course, it’s going to end up doing well on the AT40 despite the song being fucking garbage. I had better hope our Top 5 stays intact long enough to keep 7 Rings out. But I know it’s not going to happen. She does have another song getting set to debut soon, which isn’t any better. More on that in a bit. But yeah, this is just obnoxious.

– On the note of other things I’m not very thrilled about, we have Sicko Mode inching closer to the Top 10. I feel alone when it comes to my opinion, but I don’t care. The song is garbage. It’s sad that this was a #1 hit on Billboard. Now, I’m expecting it to stay here for a while on the AT40 as well.

– Now, onto some good things that happened this week. Sweet But Psycho makes its way into the Top 20. I’m pleased with this move. I genuinely enjoy the song. It’s gotten better with each listen. I’m glad this song is getting more success.

– It’s also nice to see Dancing With A Stranger take a big jump this week. I definitely love the chemistry between Sam and Normani in the song. 

– Ryan Seacrest mentioned during the introduction for There’s No Way that Lauv dreams of collaborating with Chris Martin of Coldplay. If that really were to happen, my expectations would be low considering he’s not been impressing me with his music. But I could be proven wrong.

• Hurts Like Hell by Madison Beer featuring Offset
• Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored by Ariana Grande
• Undrunk by FLETCHER
• Bad Liar by Imagine Dragons
• Damn by LIVVIA

• Him & I by G-Eazy featuring Halsey
• Pray For Me by The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar
• Havana by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
• Good Old Days by Macklemore featuring Kesha
• Locked Out Of Heaven by Bruno Mars
• Issues by Julia Michaels
• Side To Side by Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj
• Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay
• Nice For What by Drake
• Let You Down by NF

20. 7 Rings by Ariana Grande
19. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake

1 – Bad:
18. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille

2 – Mediocre:
None!

3 – Decent:
17. Without Me by Halsey
16. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande

4 – Good:
15. Better by Khalid

5 – Great:
14. Beautiful by Bazzi featuirng Camila Cabello
13. Ruin My Life by Zara Larsson
12. Better Now by Post Malone
11. Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max
10. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
9. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco
8. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
7. Breathin’ by Ariana Grande 
6. Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus
5. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee
4. Lost In The Fire by Gesafflestein featuring The Weeknd
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. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini

Total Score: 82/100 = 82% (B–)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock Of Seagulls (1982)

Most Missed Song: Forget You by CeeLo Green

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Who Do You Love by The Chainsmokers featuring 5 Seconds Of Summer

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Finesse (Remix) by Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B (#9)

My Top 5 Picks
1. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini
2. Tequila by Dan + Shay
3. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee
4. Dancing With A Stranger by Sam Smith featuring Normani
5. You Say by Lauren Daigle

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. Wow. by Post Malone

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
I Fall Apart by Post Malone: Yeah, not really his best effort here. I’ll give it to him that it’s better than some certain songs I won’t mention. But it’s still not a fun listen for the most part.
Pray For Me by The Weeknd featuring Kendrick Lamar: Taken from the Black Panther movie soundtrack, this collaboration between the two was loved by many here, including myself. It reminds me of Starboy in a way and I love The Weeknd’s voice.
The Middle by Zedd featuring Maren Morris and Grey: Again, I know this an unpopular opinion. But I still love this song. The ticking clock is interesting and Maren sounds amazing with her voice. Objectively, Zedd has had better. But I genuinely enjoyed the song for much of last year.