Hello, fam! We’ve now entered the season of autumn! The leaves are falling and the weather is getting cooler. Ah, those will be good times! Anyway, I thought this countdown was pretty good to start off Fall. I’ve also introduced a new grading system, effective this week. You can check it out on the sidebar. Let’s jump right in! Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs we’re saying goodbye to this week:
- The Git Up by Blanco Brown (#23)
- Mother’s Daughter by Miley Cyrus (#32)
- High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco (#40) [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Señorita by Shawn Mendes featuring Camila Cabello
40. Lover by Taylor Swift (DEBUT)
39. Post Malone by Sam Feldt featuring RANI (DEBUT)
38. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid (#37) [–1] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
37. Who Do U Love by Monsta X featuring French Montana (#39) [+2]
36. Without Me by Halsey (#35) [–1] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
35. With You by Kaskade featuring Meghan Trainor (#36) [+1]
34. No Guidance by Chris Brown featuring Drake (#38) [+4]
33. 7 Rings by Ariana Grande (#31) [–2] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
32. Rescue Me by OneRepublic (#34) [+2]
31. Motivation by Normani (#33) [+2]
30. Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max (#29) [–1]
29. Circles by Post Malone (DEBUT)
28. One Thing Right by Marshmello featuring Kane Brown (#30) [+2]
27. Old Town Road (Remix) by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (#26) [–1]
26. Panini by Lil Nas X (#28) [+2]
25. All The Time by Zara Larsson (#27) [+2]
24. Hate Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Juice WRLD (#25) [+1]
23. Wow. by Post Malone (#20) [–3] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
22. Time by NF (#24) [+2]
21. Love Me Less by MAX featuring Quinn XCII (#22) [+1]
20. Call You Mine by The Chainsmokers featuring Bebe Rexha (#21) [+1]
19. Hey Look Ma, I Made It by Panic! At The Disco (#18) [–1]
18. Speechless by Dan + Shay (#17) [–1]
17. Dancing With A Stranger by Sam Smith featuring Nornami (#16) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
16. Trampoline by SHAED (#19) [+3]
15. How Do You Sleep? by Sam Smith (#15) [=]
14. Easier by 5 Seconds Of Summer (#14) [=]
13. Only Human by Jonas Brothers (#13) [=]
12. Sucker by Jonas Brothers (#10) [–2] [Spent 8 Weeks At #1]
11. You Need To Calm Down by Taylor Swift (#8) [–3]
10. Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi (#12) [+2]
9. Boyfriend by Ariana Grande featuring Social House (#11) [+2]
8. Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid (#9) [+1]
7. Talk by Khalid (#6) [–1] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
6. Goodbyes by Post Malone featuring Young Thug (#7) [+1]
5. If I Can’t Have You by Shawn Mendes (#5) [=]
4. Bad Guy by Billie Eilish (#4) [=] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
3. I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran featuring Justin Bieber (#3) [=] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
2. Truth Hurts by Lizzo (#2) [=]
1. Señorita by Shawn Mendes featuring Camila Cabello (#1) [=] [3rd Week At #1]
#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Better Now by Post Malone (2nd And Final Week At #1)
Biggest Fall Of The Week: Wow. by Post Malone (–3)
Biggest Rise Of The Week: No Guidance by Chris Brown featuring Drake (+4)
New Entrants:
– Normally, I’ll go in order. But for this week, I’m going to save the best debut for last. Let’s kick things off with the least interesting debut. It comes from DJ Sam Feldt who is working with RANI in the song which is actually named after the artist himself, Post Malone. I actually find it interesting to have a song named after someone famous. Last year, we did have Bryce Vine who made a song titled Drew Barrymore. Even though I wasn’t a fan of that song, I have to admit it was fanciful of him to come up with a song title like that. Heck, I can make a unique song title for myself. Anyway, in terms of my opinion on this, I don’t find it too interesting. RANI’s voice is alright, but she doesn’t stand out here. The beat is okay I guess, but the drop is weak and everything else is kinda just there. Sam’s work as a DJ wasn’t the best here. I’m indifferent on this song, though my thoughts could change. Eh.
– We get another single from Post Malone as his album Hollywood’s Bleeding just recently came out. He has been a big name for the past few years. In 2019 he gave me Sunflower, which I love and will revisit come December when I do my post on My Top 50 Songs Of 2019. I’m pretty split on Goodbyes, however, and Wow. was not to my liking. Circles is a different compared to what he has done before, but it’s still pretty good. Post Malone has talent for the most part. His voice is decent here. It has a nice groove to it and I kinda like the guitar. I feel like more could’ve been done here in the production aspect because it doesn’t quite hit harder and thus, it’s not enough to actually make this song memorable. Here, he just talks about his relationship struggles despite the changing seasons. I like the concept here, but the lyrical depth feels a little lackluster and it doesn’t really tell the whole story, at least from where I’m sitting. I think he’ll need to hone his skills on his songwriting. That being said though, Circles is rather enjoyable despite some of its shortcomings.
– When Taylor Swift made her comeback two years ago with Reputation, she opted for a darker and edgier sound. That album had seen mixed reviews. Some liked the album, while others felt it wasn’t good compared to what she had prior to that in 1989. Me, personally, I was a little indifferent towards the last album. I didn’t enjoy it that much either. But in 2018, she chose Delicate as the next single off of Reputation, which became a hit. Though it took me a while to grow into it at first, I enjoyed it enough for me to rank it as my #9 favorite song of 2018. Fast forward to 2019, and she gives us Lover, which saw her take a drastically different approach. I did enjoy ME! even though there were some cheesy lines, and You Need To Calm Down was a disappointment. As for the title track…I’m impressed with how it turned out. First off, Taylor herself. She sound great here. I like how she sounds breathy in the chorus. It’s definitely a breath of fresh air when compared to the chorus in You Need To Calm Down, which got on my nerves. The instrumentation is solid. It reminds me of her older singles prior to 1989. The small piano work, the strings, the drums, and guitar were put to good use here. I love the way the lyrics go deeper into being romantic. Songwriting has been Taylor’s strengths and she shows it here, as well as in much of her new album. Overall, it’s a very nice romantic tune. If I were to get married someday, I want this to be our song.
Best Debut Of The Week: Lover by Taylor Swift
You’re My, My, My, My Blurber
– So, the trend of making songs similar to Old Town Road didn’t last, as we say goodbye to The Git Up this week. It was something I actually got into, unlike the one that reigned an insane 19 weeks at #1 on Billboard. Mother’s Daugher was not expected to last, but I liked that song for the most part. And then there’s the big one, as we finally bid adieu to High Hopes. Never did I envision Brendon Urie and company getting a big hit with that song since it debuted. But I’m glad it happened. That song will be missed by me. While there are some who will be attending the be-gone party for this one, I’m not among that crowd.
– Aside from our great #1, the Top 5 remains right where it was last week. In the Top 10, we did get some new songs entering that region. Boyfriend makes its way into the Top 10. Not ideal at all. Hopefully, it’s time in that region will be short-lived, but one can only dream.
– Someone You Loved enters the Top 10, also. That one I’ll live with as opposed to #9, but it’s still decent at best. It appears that song will likely enter the Top 5 on Billboard next week. I’m surprised this one became a sleeper hit. Looks like North America is catching on.
– Love Me Less is still here for some reason. Thankfully, that one doesn’t appear to become the next Lights Down Low as it didn’t even chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and is now dying out elsewhere. The sooner we can get this mess of a song out of the countdown, the better. Seriously, I can’t with this song.
– Sweet But Psycho is still on the countdown as well. I still really like this one and it hasn’t faded on me. Not even a little bit. I’ll say that Ava Max made a good first impression here with this track. That song stuck with me for as long as it was here. It’s very likely that I’ll revisit it come December when I count down My Top 50 Songs Of 2019.
Breakouts/On The Verge:
- Liar by Camila Cabello
- Small Talk by Katy Perry
- Shameless by Camila Cabello
- Ransom by Lil Tecca
- My Man by Delacey
- Good Things Fall Apart by ILLENIUM featuring Jon Bellion
Extras/Optional Extras:
- Let Me Love You by DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber
- Castle On The Hill by Ed Sheeran
- There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back by Shawn Mendes
- Breathin’ by Ariana Grande
- Rather Be by Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne
- Havana by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
- Sugar by Maroon 5
Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Boyfriend by Ariana Grande featuring Social House
19. Easier by 5 Seconds Of Summer
1 – Bad:
18. How Do You Sleep? by Sam Smith
17. You Need To Calm Down by Taylor Swift
2 – Mediocre:
15. Talk by Khalid
3 – Decent:
15. I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran featuring Justin Bieber
14. Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
13. Goodbyes by Post Malone featuring Young Thug
4 – Good:
12. Hey Look Ma, I Made It by Panic! At The Disco
5 – Great:
11. Sucker by Jonas Brothers
10. Truth Hurts by Lizzo
9. Only Human by Jonas Brothers
8. Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid
7. Speechless by Dan + Shay
6. Call You Mine by The Chainsmokers featuring Bebe Rexha
5. Dancing With A Stranger by Sam Smith featuring Normani
4. Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
3. Señorita by Shawn Mendes featuring Camila Cabello
2. Trampoline by SHAED
1. If I Can’t Have You by Shawn Mendes
Total Score: 72/100 = 72% (B)
Throwback Pick Of The Week: Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper (1984)
Most Missed Song: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Higher by Ally Brooke featuring Matoma
Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande (#9)
My Top 5 Picks
1. Lover by Taylor Swift
2. If I Can’t Have You by Shawn Mendes
3. Trampoline by SHAED
4. Señorita by Shawn Mendes featuring Camila Cabello
5. Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
My Bottom 5 Picks
1. One Thing Right by Marshmello featuring Kane Brown
2. 7 Rings by Ariana Grande
3. Boyfriend by Ariana Grande featuring Social House
4. Love Me Less by MAX featuring Quinn XCII
5. With You by Kaskade featuring Meghan Trainor
Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
2002 by Anne-Marie: This one I liked at first, but now not so much anymore. There’s not a lot to like about this one other than the guitar in the intro. But if anything, I’ll take this over Friends any day.
Africa by Weezer: Already talked about this one. It’s a terrible cover of the 1982 song from Toto. Rivers Cuomo does not sound good and the production is mediocre. Yeah, I’m not a fan of this. NEXT!
Promises by Calvin Harris featuring Sam Smith: A bit of a step down from One Kiss. But it’s still enjoyable. Sam’s soulful voice combined with some piano did the song some favors here. More could’ve been done though with the drop, but it’s something I’ll revisit.
Happier by Marshmello featuring BΔSTILLE: Another song I’ve already discussed about. It’s a step up from Friends mostly because I like the lyrical concept. But that’s not saying much because Marshmello’s effort is weak. Dan Smith couldn’t save the song, unfortunately.
Music Reviews + More 