Hello, fam! So now that I’m back, I have a lot of things that I need to get to. First off, I’ve got Year-End posts that I’m working on. It won’t be until later this month at the earliest when they’re ready. Also, the Grammys have been delayed until March because of COVID-19 concerns. I was looking forward to watching the performances. But we’ll have to wait another two months. I’m sure it’ll be over soon, what with the vaccines coming out. But in the meantime, stay safe everyone. Before we get to this week’s fresh 40, here are the songs we’re saying goodbye to this week:
- Baby I’m Jealous by Bebe Rexha featuring Doja Cat (#25)
- If The World Was Ending by JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels (#40)
The Countdown:
Last Week’s #1 Song: Mood by 24KGoldn featuring Iann Dior
40. Roses by SAINt JHN (#39) [–1]
39. Hawái by Maluma featuring The Weeknd (#39) [=]
38. Heather by Conan Gray (#32) [–6]
37. Adore You by Harry Styles (#35) [–2] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
36. So Done by The Kid LAROI (#37) [+1]
35. Lemonade by Internet Money featuring Gunna, Don Toliver, and Nav (#33) [–2]
34. What You Know About Love by Pop Smoke (#36) [+2]
33. ROCKSTAR by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch (#30) [–3]
32. Afterglow by Ed Sheeran (DEBUT)
31. Willow by Taylor Swift (DEBUT)
30. Break My Heart by Dua Lipa (#27) [–3] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
29. Save Your Tears by The Weeknd (#34) [+5]
28. Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles (#24) [–4] [Spent 8 Weeks At #1]
27. Prisoner by Miley Cyrus featuring Dua Lipa (#31) [+4]
26. Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi (#22) [–4] [Spent 1 Week At #1]
25. My Ex’s Best Friend by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Blackbear (#28) [+3]
24. Savage Love by Jawsh 685 featuring Jason Derulo (#20) [–4]
23. Holiday by Lil Nas X (#29) [+6]
22. Be Like That by Kane Brown featuring Swae Lee and Khalid (#18) [–4]
21. Put Your Records On by Ritt Momney (#26) [+5]
20. You Broke Me First by Tate McRae (#23) [+3]
19. ily (i love you baby) by Surf Mesa featuring Emilee (#16) [–3]
18. Take You Dancing by Jason Derulo (#21) [+3]
17. Monster by Shawn Mendes featuring Justin Bieber (#17) [=]
16. Blinding Lights by The Weeknd (#14) [–2] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
15. Dynamite by BTS (#6) [–9]
14. Golden by Harry Styles (#15) [+1]
13. 34+35 by Ariana Grande (#19) [+6]
12. I Hope by Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth (#10) [–2]
11. Diamonds by Sam Smith (#12) [+1]
10. Therefore I Am by Billie Eilish (#13) [+3]
9. Laugh Now Cry Later by Drake featuring Lil Durk (#9) [=]
8. Lonely by Justin Bieber featuring Benny Blanco (#11) [+3]
7. Go Crazy by Chris Brown featuring Young Thug (#8) [+1]
6. Bang! by AJR (#7) [+1]
5. Levitating by Dua Lipa featuring DaBaby (#5) [=]
4. Kings & Queens by Ava Max (#3) [–1]
3. Holy by Justin Bieber featuring Chance The Rapper (#4) [+1]
2. Positions by Ariana Grande (#2) [=]
1. Mood by 24KGoldn featuring Iann Dior (#1) [=] [10th Week At #1]
#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Circles by Post Malone (3rd of 7 Weeks At #1)
Biggest Fall Of The Week: Dynamite by BTS (–9)
Biggest Rise Of The Week: Holiday by Lil Nas X (+6)
New Entrants:
– Two big acts are returning to the countdown this week. Up first is Ed Sheeran, who released a single out of nowhere during the holidays. It’s titled Afterglow. It’s been a year since he released his album No. 6 Collaborations Project, which I was indifferent on for the most part (emphasis on “for the most part”). Songs like Beautiful People and BLOW were great, and South Of The Border was pretty good as well. But everything else on the album ranged from meh to pretty bad. As far as his new single goes, I find it to be okay. I do quite like the acoustic guitar here. It sort of reminds me of his singles from previous albums. My concern, however, is that it lacks substance and the rest of the production leaves quite a bit to be desired. Ed’s voice is underwhelming here, and there’s not much in terms of lyrical depth. It’s fine, I guess. But I definitely can’t see myself coming back to this song in about a year or so.
– For our second and final debut of the week, we have the return of Taylor Swift with Willow. Once again, Taylor surprised people last month with another album in the form of Evermore. This came just five months after the release Folklore, which was not too long ago. Taylor has a good voice and she uses it well here. The lyrics are pretty good. I like the instrumention, though it does leave quite a bit to be desired. Obviously, Willow isn’t as good as her other singles off her last album. But I still quite like it.
Best Debut Of The Week: Willow by Taylor Swift
Afterblurbs
– I’ll start with the exits, and good riddance to two songs leaving this week. Baby, I’m Jealous was just atrocious all around. Bebe’s auto-tuned vocals, nonsensical lyrics, and Doja Cat who hardly contributed to anything in this single was a recipe for disaster. Thank the heavens above this didn’t become a hit. If The World Was Ending was just bland and I never cared for it. Yeah, neither of those songs will be missed. NEXT!
– The monstronsity known as Holy rises to #3 this week. Just great. I don’t get the appeal. This is just god-awful in more ways than one, probably just as bad as Intentions. I’m really hoping this doesn’t become a #1 song, because I will not take it very kindly at all if it does.
– Why the hell is Bang! becoming such a massive hit?! Seriously, this is just a nightmare. It’s a terrible song from a band who is hated many YouTube critics (myself included). I’ve never been fond of AJR and this song is no different. I will lose it if it ends up in the Top 5 (which it probably will).
– Speaking of Justin Bieber, his other single Lonely makes its way into the Top 10. I’m not wild about this one either. But it’s a hell of a lot better than it’s predecessor. I may like the piano. But the rest of the production is bland at times and everything else is….eh. I mean, it’s not bad per se. But he’s done much better in my opinion.
– Therefore I Am also enters the Top 10 this week. It’s too bad her other single, My Future flopped. But this is still another good song from Billie Eilish. She has evolved artistically and it’s nice to see her continue to get creative with her music. It’s a little more upbeat compared to what she’s done before (save for Bad Guy). I don’t know if she has a new album coming up. But if she does, I’m intrigued.
– On the note of other putrid and downright terrible songs, it’s about damn time I Hope is out of the Top 10. It may be a shock to some seeing that I actually liked it at first. But hearing this song for the first time in a while, I’ve started to see why many critics have come to loathe that song. It has terrible production and Gabby’s voice is drowned in auto-tune. Why I even liked it to start, I’ll never understand.
– Dynamite takes a big fall out of the Top 10. It’s pretty sad to see it’s run coming to an end. This is one of the best songs I’ve heard from BTS, if not the best. I’ve really come around to their music recently and I’m glad Dynamite became as big as it was.
– I’m really hoping Monster doesn’t gain any momentum. This was not very good to begin with and it continues to get worse with each and every additional listen. My liking for Wonder fizzled out on me relatively quickly and this new single is just downright terrible. Bieber doesn’t impress me at all with his voice and Shawn is, to put it simply, underwhelming. And this is coming from someone who adores Señorita (my #2 favorite song of 2019) and his other singles like Youth and There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back. Yeah, it’s safe to say I’m not looking forward to his album if we keep getting songs like this.
Breakouts/On The Verge:
- Dakiti by Bad Bunny featuring Jhay Cortez
- Anyone by Justin Bieber
- Daisy by Ashnikko
- Monsters by All Time Low featuring Blackbear
- Lasting Lover by Sigala featuring James Arthur
- Body by Megan Thee Stallion
Extras/Optional Extras:
- I’m The One by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper, Quavo, and Lil Wayne
- Sorry by Justin Bieber
- Havana by Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
- Control by Zoe Wees
- Let You Down by NF
- Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
- Attention by Charlie Puth
- Goodbyes by Post Malone featuring Young Thug
Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Crap:
20. Bang! by AJR
19. Holy by Justin Bieber featuring Chance The Rapper
18. Go Crazy by Chris Brown featuring Young Thug
17. Monster by Shawn Mendes featuring Justin Bieber
16. I Hope by Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth
1 – Bad:
15. Laugh Now Cry Later by Drake featuring Lil Turk
2 – Mediocre:
14. Lonely by Justin Bieber featuring Benny Blanco
3 – Decent:
13. You Broke Me First by Tate McRae
12. 34+35 by Ariana Grande
11. Take You Dancing by Jason Derulo
10. ily (i love you baby) by Surf Mesa featuring Emilee
4 – Good:
9. Positions by Ariana Grande
5 – Great:
8. Dynamite by BTS
7. Diamonds by Sam Smith
6. Golden by Harry Styles
5. Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
4. Therefore I Am by Billie Eilish
3. Kings & Queens by Ava Max
2. Mood by 24KGoldn featuring Iann Dior
BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Levitating by Dua Lipa featuring DaBaby
Total Score: 60/100 = 60% (C)
Throwback Pick Of The Week: Try Again by Aaliyah 2000)
Most Missed Song: Hymn For The Weeknd by Coldplay featuring Beyoncé
#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: Easy by Troye Sivan featuring Kacey Musgraves and Mark Ronson
Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa (#10)
My Top 5 Picks
1. Levitating by Dua Lipa
2. Mood by 24KGoldn featuring Iann Dior
3. Kings & Queens by Ava Max
4. Save Your Tears by The Weeknd
5. Prisoner by Miley Cyrus featuring Dua Lipa
My Bottom 5 Picks
1. Bang! by AJR
2. Put Your Records On by Ritt Momney
3. Holy by Justin Bieber featuring Chance The Rapper
4. Lemonade by Internet Money featuring Gunna, Don Toliver, and Nav
5. Go Crazy by Chris Brown featuring Young Thug
Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Good Thing by Zedd featuring Kehlani: Not much I can say about this one. I was expecting more out of this one when it came out. But it didn’t quite do it for me. Kehlani sounds pretty good here and while Zedd’s work was okay, he could’ve done much better.
Music Reviews + More 