Hello, fam!  The NBA Playoffs start this week.  I’m excited and I’ll be watching.  I’m interested to see who wins it all during the bubble.  Also, football season (well, the NFL) starts next month, though I won’t be attending any games this year due to the pandemic.  But I’ll still watch the Falcons play.  I’m sure it’ll be fun.  Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs we’re saying goodbye to this week:

• Sunday Best by Surfaces (#18)
• The Bones by Maren Morris (#27)

The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Break My Heart by Dua Lipa
40. Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi (#40) [=] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
39. Drinks by CYN (#30) [–9]
38. Hot Girl Bummer by Blackbear (#37) [–1]
37. The Other Girl by Kelsea Ballerini featuring Halsey (#38) [+1]
36. Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish (#36) [+1]
35. ily (i love you baby) by surf mesa featuring Emilee (#36) [+1]
34. RITMO (Bay Boys For Life) by The Black Eyed Peas featuring J Balvin (#33) [–1]
33. Bang! by AJR (#34) [+1]
32. Don’t Rush by Young T & Bugsey featuring Headie One (#32) [=]
31. Nobody’s Love by Maroon 5 (DEBUT)
30. My Oh My by Camila Cabello featuring DaBaby (#29) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
29. Breaking Me by Topic featuring A7S (#39) [+10]
28. Daisies by Katy Perry (#28) [=]
27. Circles by Post Malone (#24) [–3] [Spent 7 Weeks At #1]
26. WHATS POPPIN by Jack Harlow (#31) [+5]
25. 100 Ways by Jackson Wang (#26) [+1]
24. Be Like That by Kane Brown featuring Swae Lee and Khalid (DEBUT)
23. Mamacita by The Black Eyed Peas featuring Ozuna and J. Rey Soul (#23) [=]
22. Heartless by Diplo and Morgan Wallen featuring Julia Michaels (#25) [+3]
21. Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa (#17) [–4] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
20. Like That by Doja Cat featuring Gucci Mane (#22) [+2]
19. Past Life by Trevor Daniel featuring Selena Gomez (#20) [+1]
18. I Hope by Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth (#21) [+3]
17. If The World Was Ending by JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels (#16) [–1]
16. Intentions by Justin Bieber featuring Quavo (#13) [–3] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
15. Savage Love by Jawsh 685 featuring Jason Derulo (#19) [+4]
14. Blueberry Faygo by Lil Mosey (#15) [+1]
13. ROCKSTAR by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch (#14) [+1]
12. Say So by Doja Cat (#9) [–3] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
11. Rain On Me by Lady Gaga featuring Ariana Grande (#10) [–1]
10. Coffee For Your Head by Powfu featuring Beabadoobee (#12) [+2]
9. Supalonely by Benee featuring Gus Dapperton (#11) [+2]
8. Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi (#8) [=]
7. Falling by Trevor Daniel (#4) [–3]
6. Savage (Remix) by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (#6) [=]
5. Adore You by Harry Styles (#7) [+2] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
4. Roses by Saint Jhn (#5) [+1]
3. Blinding Lights by The Weeknd (#3) [=] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
2. Break My Heart by Dua Lipa (#1) [–1] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
1. Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles (#2) [+1] [1st Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Bad Guy by Billie Eilish (1st of 3 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Drinks by CYN (–9)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Breaking Me by Topic featuring A7S (+10)

New Entrants:
– Another week with two debuts.  I’ll start with Maroon 5 making their return once again, and this time they give us Nobody’s Love.  Last time, they tried to bring back Memories with their predecessor.  But I found that one to be lifeless and it didn’t have very much to offer.  Nobody’s Love is slightly better, mainly because of the production.  I do like Adam’s voice somewhat.  He sounds a little more enthusiastic here as opposed to Memories where he sounded like he was falling asleep.  But the lyrics are still quite questionable.  Some of the lines here aren’t exactly to my liking, and the lyrics lack some depth.  Overall, this isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.  But it’s still nothing compared to what these guys had before.

– For our second (and final) debut, we have country singer Kane Brown who collaborates with Swae Lee and Khalid in Be Like That.  As you recall, he collaborated with Marshmello in One Thing Right last year, which I did not like at all.  Those who’ve followed my blog should know that it was my #5 least favorite song of 2019.  But I’ll forget about that.  Let’s dive right in to his newer single. Basically, he talks about being in a relationship where he has mixed feelings for this person.  I find it to be pretty relatable.  Kane sounds good here and the guitar is well-used.  Then, you have Khalid putting in a nice performance here vocally, though I can’t say that about Swae Lee. Obviously, this is not his best and he’s done better.  But I quite like this song overall.

Best Debut Of The Week: Be Like That by Kane Brown featuring Swae Lee and Khalid

Sometimes It Blurbs Like That
– We’ll start with two exits.  First off, it’s about damn time we bid adieu to the garbage that is of Sunday Best.  Yippee!  I’m glad I don’t have to suffer through this atrocity ever again.  The Bones, on the other hand, was another really good single for Maren Morris and I’m glad it stuck around for a while.  It’s locked in for the Year-End list on Billboard and I’m very happy about that.  🙂

– And just like that, Harry Styles gets his second #1 this year, this time with Watermelon Sugar.  Interestingly, it’s also the second time that he dethroned Dua Lipa, this time with different songs.  Watermelon Sugar isn’t quite as good as Adore You.  But I still like it overall.  He has impressed me with his latest music.  I’m glad he’s getting the recognition he deserves.  I’m very happy for him.

– Speaking of Adore You, that song apparently just doesn’t know when to quit as it jumps back in to the Top 5.  Talk about longevity, man.  It’s having a strong run on this countdown even after it has virtually died down elsewhere.  I certainly don’t mind because it’s a divine song.  I’m glad it’s still here.

– I’m not necessarily thrilled about Supalonely being in the Top 10.  The song has slowly been getting less interesting with each and every additional listen.  Really the only good thing I can say about this is the groove itself.  Everything else about it is pretty underwhelming.  I’ll give these guys here the benefit of the doubt because it did kick Say So out of the Top 10, which was long overdue.

– I’m definitely not okay with Coffee For Your Head in the Top 10.  That song is vocally annoying.  I really don’t see the appeal to this.  It has no business being up there. I’m hoping it doesn’t last very long in that region.

– Drinks by CYN appears to be flopping hard as it pretty much didn’t take off.  Fine by me since it’s not a very good song.  I’m not very fond of her voice here and the rest of the song doesn’t work for me.

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Funny by Zedd featuring Jasmine Thompson
• Lose Somebody by Kygo featuring OneRepublic
• Come And Go by Juice WRLD featuring Marshmello
• Kings & Queens by Ava Max
• Cardigan by Taylor Swift

Extras/Optional Extras:

• I Like Me Better by Lauv
• One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa
• 7 Rings by Ariana Grande
• When The Party’s Over by Billie Eilish
• Moral Of The Story by Ashe
• Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
• All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor
• Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee
• Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max
• Only Human by Jonas Brothers

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Intentions by Justin Bieber featuring Quavo
19. Like That by Doja Cat featuring Gucci Mane
18. Coffee For Your Head by Powfu featuring Beabadoobee
17. Say So by Doja Cat
16. Blueberry Faygo by Lil Mosey

1 – Bad:
15. Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi
14. Falling by Trevor Daniel

2 – Mediocre
13. If The World Was Ending by JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels:

3 – Decent:
12. Savage Love by Jawsh 685 featuring Jason Derulo
11. Roses by Saint Jhn
10. Supalonely by Benne featuring Gus Dapperton

4 – Good:
None!

5 – Great:
9. Past Life by Trevor Daniel featuring Selena Gomez
8. I Hope by Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth
7. ROCKSTAR by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
6. Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles
5. Savage (Remix) by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
4. Adore You by Harry Styles
3. Break My Heart by Dua Lipa
2. Blinding Lights by The Weeknd

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Rain On Me by Lady Gaga featuring Ariana Grande

Total Score: 59/100 = 59% (C)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Like A Virgin by Madonna (1984) (Happy 62^nd Birthday to her!)

Most Missed Song: There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back by Shawn Mendes

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Let There Be Love by Ananya

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Call You Mine by The Chainsmokers featuring Bebe Rexha (#21)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Rain On Me by Lady Gaga featuring Ariana Grande
2. Break My Heart by Dua Lipa
3. The Bones by Maren Morris
4. The Other Girl by Kelsea Ballerini featuring Halsey
5. Break My Heart by Dua Lipa

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. Hot Girl Bummer by Blackbear
2. Intentions by Justin Bieber featuring Quavo
3. Heartless by Diplo & Morgan Wallen featuring Julia Michaels
4. Like That by Doja Cat featuring Gucci Mane
5. Mamacita by The Black Eyed Peas featuring Ozuna and J. Rey Soul

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
How Do You Sleep? by Sam Smith: I wasn’t fond of this at first, mainly because of the weird production.  But I did eventually kinda warmed up to it with time.  Despite this, I much prefer his predecessor Dancing With A Stranger, which is my favorite song from Sam.