Hello, fam! I was finally able to get this out on time.  Can you believe we’re almost at the end of August already?  This year is flying by really fast (and rightfully so, given how this year has gone so far).  2021 will be here before you know it.  There was quite a lot for me to talk about for this week, so let’s jump right in.  Before we get to this week’s fresh 30, here are the songs we’re saying goodbye to this week:

• Dua Lipa – Break My Heart (#13)
• Katy Perry – Daisies (#16)

The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Alesso featuring Liam Payne – Midnight
30. Ananya – Let There Be Love (#28) [–2]
29. Dan + Shay – I Should Probably Go To Bed (#29) [=]
28. Zedd featuring Jasmine Thompson – Funny (#26) [–2]
27. Billie Eilish – My Future (#27) [=]
26. Miley Cyrus – Midnight Sky (DEBUT)
25. Zoe Wees – Control (#18) [–7]
24. Jack Harlow – WHATS POPPIN (#23) [–1]
23. Kane Brown featuring Swae Lee and Khalid – Be Like That(#) []
22. Saint Jhn – Roses (#17) [–5]
21. Maroon 5 – Nobody’s Love (#20) [–1]
20. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Wildflower (#24) [+4]
19. Kygo featuring OneRepublic – Lose Someobdy (#22) [+3]
18. Trevor Daniel featuring Selena Gomez – Past Life (#21) [+3]
17. AJR – Bang! (DEBUT)
16. Topic featuirng A7S – Breaking Me (#30) [+14]
15. Taylor Swift – Cardigan (#14) [–1]
14. Doja Cat featuring Gucci Mane – Like That (#19) [+5]
13. Conan Gray – Heather (#12) [–1]
12. DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch – ROCKSTAR (#11) [–1]
11. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Old Me (#8) [–3] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
10. Juice WRLD featuring Marshmello – Come And Go (#15) [+5]
9. Lewis Capaldi – Before You Go (#6) [–3] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
8. Benee featuring Gus Dapperton – Supalonely (#9) [+1]
7. Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar (#2) [–5] [Spent 7 Weeks At #1]
6. Alesso featuring Liam Payne – Midnight (#1) [–5] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
5. Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth – I Hope (#10) [+5]
4. Jawsh 685 featuring Jason Deurlo – Savage Love (#7) [+3]
3. Ava Max – Kings & Queens (#5) [+2]
2. Blackbear – Me & Ur Ghost (#4) [+2]
1. Ashe featuring Niall Horan – Moral Of The Story (#3) [+2] [1^st Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Shawn Mendes – If I Can’t Have You (7^th of 9 Weeks At #1) 

Biggest DRRRRRRROP!!! Of The Week: Zoe Wees – Control (–7)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Topic featuring A7S – Breaking Me (+14)

New Entrants:
– We get the return of Miley Cyrus with her latest single in the form of Midnight Sky.  Last year, she gave us Mother’s Daughter which I enjoyed overall.  Not long before that, she collaborated with Mark Ronson in Nothing Breaks Like A Heart, which was divine in every sense of the word.  As far as her new single goes, I’m in love with this.  I like how she is going for a more 80’s disco pop sound.  The beat here is pretty amazing and her voice is great.  The lyrics are nicely written as well. She shows how talented she is as a songwriter overall.  Yeah, this song rocks and I hope it sticks around.

– Ugh, here we go again with AJR making their return once again.  This time, they bring us Bang!.  Everything these guys have released have ranged from mediocre to downright putrid.  Bang! is no different.  Production-wise, it is just weird, and not in a good way.  I don’t like the obnoxious piano throughout the song and the instrumentation is pretty damn grating.  The lyrics are basically nonsensical, which is nothing new since they’re terrible songwriters.  And don’t get me started on the chorus, because it is just simply annoying.  So yeah, this is just a mess overall and it’s no surprise considering AJR has never impressed me with their music.

Best Debut Of The Week: Miley Cyrus – Midnight Sky

Midnight Blurbs
– So we have two exits here which will both be missed by me, especially Break My Heart.  It was another amazing song off of the divine album that is of Future Nostalgia and I’m glad it became another hit for Dua Lipa.  Daisies was pretty good as well and I enjoyed it for a while.  I’m interested to see what else Katy Perry will bring in the near future.

– It’s the second consecutive week in which we have a new #1, this time with Moral Of The Story.  I honestly didn’t see it coming when it first debuted on the countdown.  But thanks to the remix with Niall Horan (and the fact Hits 1 loves all things One Direction), I figured it would happen at some point in time.  It’s a fine song overall, and I’m okay with it being #1 for the time being.

– Me & Ur Ghost has reached a dangerous peak of #2.  As you probably can tell, I’m not fond of the song at all.  Really the only good thing about it is the groove itself.  Everything else is underwhelming in my opinion.  My reaction will not be kind if this hits #1.  Blackbear just hasn’t impressed me with his music.

– The Top 5 has gotten a bit of a makeover this week.  First off, Kings & Queens hits a new peak of #3!  I adore this song with a burning passion.  Everything about the song from her amazing voice to the awesome production is just divine.  I think it’s just as good as Sweet But Psycho, which was also a huge favorite of mine from 2019.  I hope this song can hit #1 at some point.  But I’m happy that it’s successful on this countdown.

– Second, we have two new songs entering the Top 5: Savage Love and I Hope.  The former is okay, but it’s not that special to me.  I won’t be surprised if this ends up becoming a massive hit given that it’s currently gaining momentum.  I’ll probably have to get used to it.  The latter is pretty good and I’m quite shocked that it’s doing pretty well so far.  I hope (no pun intended) that this can hit #1 soon.

– Speaking of which, Midnight was one and done as it has slipped out of the #1 pretty quickly, and Watermelon Sugar left the Top 5  after hogging the #1 just two weeks ago.  Dang!

– Come And Go has made it’s way into the Top 10.  I enjoy this song quite a lot since it came out, so I’m very pleased about this.  This and Be Kind are two of the best things Marshmello has done this year.  I’m glad he’s redeeming himself after the disaster that was of One Thing Right, which I did not like.

Hit-Bound:

• Dixie D’Amelio – Be Happy
• Juice WRLD – Wishing Well
• Harry Styles – Falling
• Diplo and Morgan Wallen featuring Julia Michaels – Heartless
• Curtis Waters featuring Harm Franklin – Stunnin’ (DEBUT)
• Niall Horan – Black & White
• Surf Mesa featuring Emilee – ily (i love you baby)
• jxdn – Angels & Demons
• 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior – Mood (DEBUT)
• Saweetie – Tap In
• Blu DeTiger – Figure It Out (DEBUT)
• Blackbear – Queen Of Broken Hearts
• Avenue Beat – F2020
• BTS – Dynamite (DEBUT)
• Drake featuring Lil Durk – Laugh Now Cry Later (DEBUT)

Hit-Bound Breakdown:
0 – Putrid:
15. Diplo and Morgan Wallen featuring Julia Michaels – Heartless
14. Saweetie – Tap In
13. Blackbear – Queen Of Broken Hearts

1 – Bad:
12. Drake featuring Lil Durk – Laugh Now, Cry Later

2 – Mediocre:
11. Avenue Beat – F2020
10. BluDeTiger – Figure It Out
9. Curtis Waters featuring Harm Franklin – Stunnin’

3 – Decent:
8. Surf Mesa featuring Emilee – ily (i love you baby)
7. Juice WRLD – Wishing Well

4 – Good:
6. Dixie D’Amelio – Be Happy

5 – Great:
5. jxdn – Angels & Demons
4. Niall Horan – Black & White
3. Harry Styles – Falling
2. 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior – Mood

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On Hit-Bound:
1. BTS – Dynamite

Overall Grade: 43/75 = 57% (C)

Most Missed Hit-Bound Dropout: Kygo featuring Rita Ora – Carry On

My Top 5 Hit-Bound Picks
1. BTS – Dynamite
2. 24kGoldn featuring Iann Dior – Mood
3. Harry Styles – Falling
4. Niall Horan – Black & White
5. jxdn – Angels & Demons

Hits 1 Weekend Countdown Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Putrid:
20. Doja Cat featuring Gucci Mane – Like That
19. AJR – Bang!
18. Blackbear – Me & Ur Ghost

1 – Bad:
17. Conan Gray – Heather
16. Lewis Capaldi – Before You Go

2 – Mediocre:
15. Benne featuring Gus Dapperton – Supalonely

3 – Decent:
14. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Old Me
13. Jawsh featuring Jason Derulo – Savage Love
12. Ashe featuring Niall Horan – Moral Of The Story

4 – Good:
None!

5 – Great:
11. Topic featuring A7S – Breaking Me
10. Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
9. Alesso featuring Liam Payne – Midnight
8. Trevor Daniel featuring Selena Gomez – Past Life
7. DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch – ROCKSTAR
6. Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth – I Hope
5. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Wildflower
4. Taylor Swift – Cardigan
3. Kygo featuring OneRepublic – Lose Someobdy
2. Juice WRLD featuring Marshmello – Come And Go
1. Ava Max – Kings & Queens

Overall Grade: 68/100 = 68% (C)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: Allanah Myles – Black Velvet (1989)

Most Missed Countdown Song: The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – Closer

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Taylor Swift – August

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Tie between Zara Larsson – All The Time (#32) and Katy Perry – Never Really Over (#12) (Amazing songs!)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Zedd featuring Jasmine Thompson – Funny
2. Ava Max – Kings & Queens
3. Ananya – Let There Be Love
4. Billie Eilish – My Future
5. Miley Cyrus – Midnight Sky

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Thomas Rhett – Look What God Gave Her: This is pretty good, even though it’s more pop sounding than his other singles, such as Marry Me which I adore with a burning passion.

Zara Larsson – All The Time: It’s the better of the two singles Zara released last year.  Everything about it is just divine from the fun beat on down to her amazing voice.  Plus, the computerized vocals were really cool!  Yeah, she definitely impressed me with this one