Niall Horan (3) - Week Of September 23, 2017

Hey guys! I know you're probably saying "Really Jack?!? Another delay?". Yes, this was another delay. I apologize. I have a much more schoolwork to do this year than I have ever had before, so please bear with me. I take four advanced placement classes. If you would like to know my day on a daily basis, here's what goes down below.

Weekdays For Jack:

Between 5:00 AM and 6:00 AM- wake up

7:45- Homeroom
8:00- Chemistry 11 (in 10th grade) [AP]
8:40- Chem Lab or P.E.
9:20- Algebra II Honors (in 10th grade) [AP]
10:00- Spanish II
10:40- Band or Chorus
11:20- Piano
12:00- Lunch
12:40- AP English Language & Composition or AP Global History

2:20- One of four clubs (depending on the day) [Drama, Multicultural, Unity & Diversity, Student Council], or of course staying after with a teacher

3:00-3:30- get home, get a small start on homework

6:30-7:30 (on Thursdays)- Jazz Band Rehearsal

7:00ish-whenever I finish (late)- essays and other homework

Also, I decided on not doing my favorite sport, soccer, this year, so I could keep up with work and other things. So, there's a day in the life of Jack on a weekday, of course. I am always busy, so please don't be mad for the delays lately. I am trying my best. Nothing but love. :)

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Anyways, besides me, there was also a countdown this weekend, so before we get to reviewing it, here are the songs that left us this week.

• Julia Michaels - Issues (#42)
• The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer (#43) [8 Weeks At #1]
• AJR - Weak (#44)
• Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels (#45)

Last Week's #1 Song: Niall Horan - Slow Hands

#1 Song This Week 1 Year Ago: The Chainsmokers/Daya - Don't Let Me Down

The Countdown

45. Fall Out Boy - Champion (#36)

44. The Chainsmokers - Honest (#31)

43. All Time Low - Good Times (#32)

42. Hailee Steinfeld - Most Girls (#33)

41. Linkin Park/Kiiara - Heavy (#40)

40. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like (#41) [1 Week At #1]

39. Lady Gaga  - The Cure (#39)

38. Harry Styles - Two Ghosts (#26)

37. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me (#35)

36. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#30) [9 Weeks At #1]

35. Hey Violet - Hoodie (#23)

34. The All-American Rejects - Sweat (#38)

33. MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low (#37)

32. Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft (DEBUT)

31. Justin Bieber/BloodPopⓇ - Friends (#27)

30. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee (#34)

29. Zedd/Liam Payne - Get Low (DEBUT)

28. The Revivalists - Wish I Knew You (DEBUT)

27. Bruno Mars & David Guetta - Versace On The Floor (#29)

26. Louis Tomlinson/Bebe Rexha/Digital Farm Animals - Back To You (#19)

25. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#20) [3 Weeks At #1]

24. Linkin Park - One More Light (#24)

23. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (DEBUT)
22. Halsey - Bad At Love (#25)

21. Andy Grammer - Give Love (#28)

20. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber - Despacito (#21)

19. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road (#8)

18. Charlie Puth - Attention (#13)

17. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (#16)

16. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (#17)

15. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#14)

14. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious (#15)

13. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (#22)

12. Mono Mind/Bridge & Mountain - Save Me A Place (#10)

11. P!nk - What About Us (#18)

10. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#12)

9. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (#9)

8. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (#7) [3 Weeks At #1]

7. Liam Payne - Strip That Down (#3)

6. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#6) [3 Weeks At #1]

5. Kesha - Praying (#11)

4. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl (#4)

3. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#5)

2. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#2) [5 Weeks At #1]

1. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#1) [3rd Week At #1]

Biggest DROP!!!... Of The Week: The Chainsmokers - Honest (-13)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (+9)

New Entrants

~ Kelly Clarkson has returned guys! She's back with our first new entry to the countdown this week, Love So Soft. To start, this is definitely not her best work. I do believe that this a very acceptable comeback song. The vocals are very strong and fierce, and I really like it. The "chorus" in the background is very nice as well, and I like the production. It is a bit repetitive, so if it is overplayed, it may become old, but for now I am enjoying it. I hope to see it do well here, and I'm glad she's back to making new music.

~ Second up, we have Zedd and Liam Payne with another song on the countdown each, this time together. The song is called Get Low. I did indeed enjoy this song's predecessor, Stay, much more, but this one isn't terrible. The vocals aren't amazing, but the production is pretty decent on this track, and we all can probably agree that Zedd almost never disappoints on his singles. For the time being, this isn't a song that I'm head over heels in love with, but it's good. I don't care too much of what it does here. Time will tell on that.

~ Next up we have a song that has been exiting, then entering HitBound, for the past few weeks. This is the type of odd song that isn't exactly a "hit" that this station picks up on. The track is The Revivalists - Wish I Knew You. At first, I found this song super boring and I just wasn't too into it. After several listens, however, I have grown into it a little bit, where now I can classify it as a "good song". I don't know how long my opinion will stay concrete on this one, but we'll have to wait and see. I don't think I really care how well it does here, though.

~ Finally, we have our last and best debut of the week. The song is Too Good At Goodbyes, and it is the return of Sam Smith after his (way too lengthy) hiatus. I personally enjoy this song because I can honestly relate to the lyrics on so many levels. I also enjoy the vocals very much, and the background vocals really make an impact as well. This is the type of slower song I like to hear and Sam Smith always manages to pull them off. I hope to see some very decent success out of this one.

Best Debut Of The Week: Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes

HitBound

• Evaride - Heartless
• ZAYN/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn
• Taylor Swift - ..Ready For It?
• Sabrina Carpenter - Why
• Fergie/Nicki Minaj - You Already Know (DEBUT)
• Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask (DEBUT)
• Selena Gomez/Galantis - Fetish 
• Why Don't We - Something Different
• The Script - Rain
• Lauv - I Like Me Better (DEBUT)
• Dua Lipa - New Rules
• Ed Sheeran - Perfect
• PRETTYMUCH - Would You Mind
• Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go

My Top 5 HitBound Picks

1. TIE: Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It?

1. TIE: ZAYN/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn

2. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go

3. Sabrina Carpenter - Why

4. PRETTYMUCH - Would You Mind

5. Selena Gomez/Galantis - Fetish

Too Good At Goodblurbs

~ I would much rather, at this point, have any of the other songs in the top 5, other than Niall Horan - Slow Hands at #1. They are all much better. I have been losing a lot of interest in this one lately. 

~ Imagine Dragons - Believer is still in the top 10? We got rid of one of the bad songs here, now our mission is to eliminate this one, voters.

~ More importantly, The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This is still in the top 10 as well. This one has been in this area for quite a while now. I would like to see it dropping soon before I completely lose all interest in it.

~ Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do is not doing exactly quite what I want it to be doing. I would have expected to at least be in the top 3 by now. I shouldn't complain, though, it's the top 10, at least, right?

~ Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do made a very pleasing jump this week into the top 20. Hopefully we can see this in the top 10 next week. This is one of my favorites at the moment.

~ Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road took a much deserved drop out of the top 10 this week. Hopefully we can let it dip down below the #20 mark soon.

~ Andy Grammer - Give Love is sadly actually making progress here. It needs to honestly turn around and go in the opposite direction. We absolutely don't need this trash in the top 20.

~ Justin Bieber/BloodPopⓇ - Friends is flopping. We see it below the top 30 this week. I hope this one can make a recovery soon.

~ Harry Styles - Two Ghosts is probably already seeing the end of it's days based on the drop it made this week.

~ The Chainsmokers - Honest and Fall Out Boy - Champion look like they are on their last legs. Oh well, it was nice knowing these two songs.

Let's Do A Top 20 Review!

0-Garbage

NONE

1-Bad

20. Imagine Dragons - Believer

19. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road

2-Mediocre

18. Niall Horan - Slow Hands

3-Decent

17. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This

16. Liam Payne - Strip That Down

4-Good

NONE

5-Great

15. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious

14. Imagine Dragons - Thunder

13. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay

12. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back

11. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl

10. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises

9. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber - Despacito

8. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry

7. Charlie Puth - Attention

6. P!nk - What About Us

5. Mono Mind/Bridge & Mountain - Save Me A Place

4. Kesha - Praying

3. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

2. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

1. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

Score: 85% (B)

My Bottom 5 Countdown Picks

1. Andy Grammer - Give Love

2. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee

3. Imagine Dragons - Believer

4. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like

5. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill

My Top 5 Countdown Picks

1. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

2. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

3. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

4. Halsey - Bad At Love

5. Kesha - Praying

Love you guys!

~ Jack :)

Niall Horan (2) - Weeks Of September 16, 2017

Hey guys! I am so sorry for the late post again. I have had assignment on assignment on assignment for school this week. I have also been working to repair a relationship with someone, as well as trying to figure out some issues people are having with others. I have been focusing a lot on people this week you could say. Also, I posted another Hot 45 Chart this week. This blog is seriously low on ratings, with an average of 20 views a post, whereas this blog has hundreds of viewers per post. Please please please go check them out! They take me one two hours in total to do. So, here's the link. Before we get to this week's fresh 45 songs, here's the song we're bidding goodbye to.

• DJ Khaled/Rihanna/Bryson Tiller - Wild Thoughts (#43)

Last Week's #1 Song: Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back

#1 Song This Week 1 Year Ago: The Chainsmokers/Daya - Don't Let Me Down

The Chart

45. Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels (#39)

44. AJR - Weak (#28)

43. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer (#45) [8 Weeks At #1]

42. Julia Michaels - Issues (#44)

41. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like (#41) [1 Week At #1]

40. Linkin Park/Kiiara - Heavy (#42) 

39. Lady Gaga - The Cure (#38)

38. The All-American Rejects - Sweat (DEBUT)

37. MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low (#26)

36. Fall Out Boy - Champion (#31)

35. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me (#36)

34. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee (#33)

33. Hailee Steinfeld - Most Girls (#24)

32. All Time Low - Good Times (#29)

31. The Chainsmokers - Honest (#25)

30. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#27) [9 Weeks At #1]

29. Bruno Mars & David Guetta - Versace On The Floor (#30)

28. Andy Grammer - Give Love (#37)

27. Justin Bieber/BloodPopⓇ - Friends (#32)

26. Harry Styles - Two Ghosts (#40)

25. Halsey - Bad At Love (#34)

24. Linkin Park - One More Light (#6)

23. Hey Violet - Hoodie (#21)

22. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (#23)

21. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber - Despacito (#22)

20. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#11) [3 Weeks At #1]

19. Louis Tomlinson/Bebe Rexha/Digital Farm Animals - Back To You (#18)

18. P!nk - What About Us (#15)

17. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (#16)

16. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (#35)

15. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious (#20)

14. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#17)

13. Charlie Puth - Attention (#14) [1 Week At #1]

12. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#10) [4 Weeks At #1]

11. Kesha - Praying (#13)

10. Mono Mind/Bridge & Mountain - Save Me A Place (#12)

9. Taylor Swift - Look What Made Me Do (#10)

8. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road (#3)

7. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (#5) [3 Weeks At #1]

6. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#8) [3 Weeks At #1]

5. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#9)

4. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl (#19) 

3. Liam Payne - Strip That Down (#2)

2. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#1) [5 Weeks At #1]

1. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#4) [2nd Week At #1]

Biggest DROP!!!... Of The Week: Linkin Park - One More Light (-18)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (+19)

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Nick Jonas - Find You

#1 Recommendation For You: Fifth Harmony - Deliver

New Entrants

~ Our only entrant this week comes from The All-American Rejects. They return with their new single, titled Sweat. Right off the bat, I wouldn't say this is their best song. The song was pretty unappealing to me at first listen, if I'm honest here. After repeated listens, it did grow on me and made it's way into my playlist. The vocals are definitely interesting, and the production is pretty decent, not great, but decent. Overall, it's a catchy song at the moment, nothing more than that. I don't know if this one will be too successful here, due to it being one of those "different" songs, but we'll have to wait and see.

HitBound

• PRETTYMUCH - Would You Mind
• Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes
• Sabrina Carpenter - Why
• ZAYN/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn
• The Script - Rain
• Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go
• Ed Sheeran - Perfect (DEBUT)
• Why Don't We - Something Different
• Dua Lipa - New Rules (DEBUT)
• Selena Gomez/Galantis - Fetish
• Evaride - Heartless
• Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft
• Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It?
• Zedd & Liam Payne - Get Low

My Top 5 HitBound Picks

1. Taylor Swift - ... Ready For It?

2. ZAYN/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn

3. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go

4. Sabrina Carpenter - Why

5. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes

Blurb It Still

~ We have the return of Niall Horan - Slow Hands to #1 this week. We have about three better contenders in the top 5. It's not completely intolerable, but there are better that could fill it's space.

~ At #3, we have another song that's getting old and can hopefully begin making its way down the countdown. That song is Liam Payne - Strip That Down. 

~ Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl made quite an impressive leap to the top 5, at #4 this week. It's only the song's third week, and it is very surprising and delighting to see it here. It's one of the best songs in the top 10 at the moment.

~ I completely forgot about The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This still being in the top 10. The song is really fading on me. I don't want to completely hate it, so I would appreciate it if this one could start declining soon.

~ Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do is surprisingly not even at #1 yet. I would say that this one would sprout right up there quickly on this station. It's not completely failing, because #9 is a pretty good spot. We'll just have to wait and see what this one is capable of in the coming weeks.

~ Mono Mind/Bridge & Mountain - Save Me A Place has surprisingly been doing quite well here. I am very happy about this. This song is very interesting, and unlike anything we've heard here in a while. I'm glad that this station picks up on songs like this.

~ Kesha - Praying has also been doing remarkably well these past few weeks. I really hope this song can make the cut for the top 10 soon. It is definitely one of the best songs here at the moment, so it would be a refreshing addition.

~ We have a really good second week jump this week from Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still. I have been listening to this song a lot lately. It is definitely one of my jams at the moment. I just find it fun to listen to. Hopefully we can see a top 10 entry from this one soon. I think it's very worthy of a slot there.

~ P!nk - What About Us seems to be hanging around in the same area. I don't know if it will get any higher than what it is at this point in time, honestly, but we'll have to wait and see.

~ Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do sadly didn't make the decent jump I had expected it to, and wanted it to this week. Oh well, there is always hope for next week.

~ Speaking of second week jumps, Andy Grammer - Give Love was completely unworthy of one. This song should not be here. I absolutely despise this song. It's just quite bland, and his music just keeps getting worse after each single we here. His first single made me have high hopes for him, but I just can't stand his music nowadays.

~ After making weird and unexpected jumps and drops in and out of the top 20, MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low has now fallen down out of the top 30. This song was getting old anyways, so it's alright.

~ Sadly, we see Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels down at #45 this week. It was nice having this one around while it lasted. It will be missed. 

Let's Do A Top 20 Review!

0-Garbage

NONE

1-Bad

20. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill

19. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road

18. Imagine Dragons - Believer

2-Mediocre

NONE

3-Decent

17. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This

16. Liam Payne - Strip That Down

15. Niall Horan - Slow Hands

4-Good

14. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay

5-Great

13. Imagine Dragons - Thunder

12. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious

11. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back

10. Louis Tomlinson/Bebe Rexha/Digital Farm Animals - Back To You

9. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises

8. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl

7. Charlie Puth - Attention

6. Mono Mind/Bridge & Mountain - Save Me A Place

5. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry

4. P!nk - What About Us

3. Kesha - Praying

2. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

1. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

Score: 81% (B-)

My Bottom 5 Countdown Picks

1. Andy Grammer - Give Love

2. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee

3. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill

4. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like

5. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road

My Top 5 Countdown Picks

1. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

2. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

3. Kesha - Praying

4. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

5. P!nk - What About Us

Love you guys!

~ Jack :)

Shawn Mendes (5) - Week Of September 9, 2017

Hey guys! I have had such a busy week, that I never got around to posting this until now. I did indeed find time to catch up on a couple of Hot 45 Charts though. The August 5 and August 12 editions of the chart were recently released. Please, please, please go check them out here. I feel like no one views that blog anymore, so please go check it out! I have a lot of fun making those, and I enjoy sharing them with you. Now, before we get to this week's fresh 45 songs, here's the songs that are leaving us this week.

• Julia Michaels - Uh Huh (#33)
• Shawn Mendes - Mercy (#35)
• Halsey - Now Or Never (#36)
• Train - Play That Song (#41)
• Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On (#44)
• Selena Gomez - Bad Liar (#45)

Last Week's #1 Song: Niall Horan - Slow Hands

#1 Song This Week 1 Year Ago: The Chainsmokers/Daya - Don't Let Me Down

The Countdown

45. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer (#38) [8 Weeks At #1]

44. Julia Michaels - Issues (#44)

43. DJ Khaled/Rihanna/Bryson Tiller - Wild Thoughts (#40)

42. Linkin Park/Kiiara - Heavy (#37)

41. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like (#42) [1 Week At #1]

40. Harry Styles - Two Ghosts (DEBUT)

39. Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels (#22)

38. Lady Gaga - The Cure (#39)

37. Andy Grammer - Give Love (DEBUT)

36. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me (#28)

35. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (DEBUT)

34. Halsey - Bad At Love (DEBUT)

33. Panic! At The Disco - L.A . Devotee (#29)

32. Justin Bieber/BloodPopⓇ - Friends (DEBUT)

31. Fall Out Boy - Champion (#16)

30. Bruno Mars & David Guetta - Versace On The Floor (#30)

29. All Time Low - Good Times (#14)

28. AJR - Weak (#27)

27. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#21) [9 Weeks At #1]

26. MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low (#15)

25. The Chainsmokers - Honest (#24)

24. Hailee Steinfeld - Most Girls (#11)

23. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (DEBUT)

22. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber - Despacito (#32)

21. Hey Violet - Hoodie (#25)

20. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious (#20)

19. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl (#31)

18. Louis Tomlinson/Bebe Rexha/Digital Farm Animals - Back To You (#19)

17. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#26)

16. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (#34)

15. P!nk - What About Us (#17)

14. Charlie Puth - Attention (#6) [1 Week At #1]

13. Kesha - Praying (#23)

12. Mono Mind/Bridge & Mountain - Save Me A Place (#18)

11. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#10) [3 Weeks At #1]

10. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (#13)

9. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#12)

8. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#8) [3 Weeks At #1]

7. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#7) [4 Weeks At #1]

6. Linkin Park - One More Light (#5)

5. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (#9) [3 Weeks At #1]

4. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#1) [1 Week At #1]

3. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road (#3)

2. Liam Payne - Strip That Down (#2)

1. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#4) [5th Week At #1]

Biggest DROP!!!... Of The Week: Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels (-17)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (+18)

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Gabbie Hanna - Out Loud

#1 Recommendation For You: Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

New Entrants

~ First this week, we have Harry Styles, returning to the countdown with Two Ghosts. I'm not sure it's as good as it's predecessor, Sign Of The Times, but it's a pretty decent track overall. I would say that Harry's music is a lot more laid back and relaxed. I'm not sure this song will be something to stick with me for long, or something that I will remember in a few months, but in the meantime, I'm enjoying it. I don't know how popular it will get here, but we'll have to wait and see on that. 

~ Our next entrant, comes from Andy Grammer with Give Love. I feel as if his music is just progressively getting worse. I absolutely have no interest in this song, and it was much worse when LunchMoney Lewis was part of it. I would like it very much if this song did poorly here. The vocals sound terrible in my opinion and the lyrical content is frankly stupid and generic. "I give love to all of my people, all of my people need love." The song frankly sounds like a seven year old wrote it. I know we have some songs lately that have some choruses that are very "simple", but this has the whole song that way. It's just a very unappealing track, but that's just my opinion.

~ Our third entrant to the countdown this week comes from newcomers Portugal. The Man with their rather catchy single, Feel It Still. I really enjoy the simplicity of this track, unlike others. The vocals are very good, and I enjoy the production on this one. Overall, it's a pretty solid single, and I'm glad it made it here. I hope to see some success out of this song here. 

~ Halsey replaced her song Now Or Never this week, with her new single, Bad At Love. I think this song is a step up from Now Or Never, and honestly I like it a lot, because I can relate. I'm "bad at love", at least I think. Although, things have been looking better for me lately. I digress. This song has pretty good and interesting lyrics, and the vocals are a bit better than her previous track. I 'm not sure how this song will play out here, but I hope to see it do well, I'm enjoying it a lot.

~ Next up this week, we had a return from Justin Bieber, with BloodPopⓇ, one of the producers on a very successful track of his. They teamed up to create a new track, titled Friends. The song is pretty much about something we all can relate to, being friends with that one ex after everything ends. The vocals aren't the best I've ever heard from him, but they are nonetheless good. The production is kind of weird, but it's kind of good at the same time. All in all, it's one of the more solid tracks we have now, and I would like to see some decent success out of this one.

~ Finally, we have the return of Maroon 5. They bring a new track titled What Lovers Do, which features new artist, SZA. I will say right off the bat that this song is a lot better than it's two underwhelming predecessors, Don't Wanna Know and Cold. I like the chorus a lot in this song. The falsetto fits very well for it, in my opinion. Also, SZA does a pretty good job herself. I'm not sure if this will get killed by overplay or not, but for now, I like it and I hope it does well, and isn't killed on the stations, because I really like it. 

Best Debut Of The Week: Tie Between Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still and Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

HitBound

• The Revivalists - Wish I Knew You (RE-ENTRY)
• Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It? (DEBUT)
• PRETTYMUCH - Would You Mind
• Why Don't We - Something Different (DEBUT)
• The All-American Rejects - Sweat
• Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft (DEBUT)
• Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (DEBUT)
• Sabrina Carpenter - Why 
• ZAYN/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn (DEBUT)
• Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go (DEBUT)
• The Script - Rain (DEBUT)
• Selena Gomez/Galantis - Fetish
• Evaride - Heartless
• Zedd & Liam Payne - Get Low

My Top 5 HitBound Picks

1. Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It?

2. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go

3. Sabrina Carpenter - Why

4. ZAYN/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn

5. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes

My Bottom 5 Countdown Picks

1. Andy Grammer - Give Love

2. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee

3. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill

4. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road

5. Imagine Dragons - Believer

My Top 5 Countdown Picks

1. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

2. Kesha - Praying

3. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

4. P!nk - What About Us

5. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

Stay tuned for more.

Love you guys!

~ Jack :)

Niall Horan (1) - Week Of September 2, 2017

Well, I started my first day of Sophomore year on Wednesday. I would have got this post out sooner, but I waited until last minute to do my Algebra 2 summer homework packet. Not to mention, I have already been drowned in AP homework. I am also trying to catch up on Hot 45 Charts, by providing you with a limited edition shortened version. I recently posted the July 29 edition, so please, please, please go check that out here. Now, before we get to this weekend's countdown, here's the songs that we are saying goodbye to.

• James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go (#27)
• DJ Khaled/Justin Bieber/Chance The Rapper - I'm The One (#41)
• Hailee Steinfeld & Grey/Zedd - Starving (#42) [4 Weeks At #1]
• Childish Gambino - Redbone (#43)

Last Week's #1 Song: Charlie Puth - Attention

#1 Song This Week 1 Year Ago: Justin Bieber - Can't Stop The Feeling! 

The Chart

45. Selena Gomez - Bad Liar (#40)

44. Steve Aoki/Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On (#45)

43. Julia Michaels - Issues (#44)

42. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like (#34) [1 Week At #1]

41. Train - Play That Song (#37)

40. DJ Khaled/Rihanna/Bryson Tiller - Wild Thoughts (#30)

39. Lady Gaga - The Cure (#38)

38. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer (#39) [8 Weeks At #1]

37. Linkin Park/Kiiara - Heavy (#27)

36. Halsey - Now Or Never (#32)

35. Shawn Mendes - Mercy (#35)

34. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (DEBUT)

33. Julia Michaels - Uh Huh (#31)

32. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber - Despacito (#21)

31. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl (DEBUT)

30. Bruno Mars & David Guetta - Versace On The Floor (#18)

29. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee (#11) 

28. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me (#23)

27. AJR - Weak (#26)

26. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#33)

25. Hey Violet - Hoodie (#28)

24. The Chainsmokers - Honest (#25)

23. Kesha - Praying (#20)

22. Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels (#16)

21. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#13) [9 Weeks At #1]

20. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious (#36)

19. Louis Tomlinson/Bebe Rexha/Digital Farm Animals - Back To You (#19)

18. Mono Mind & Bridge And Mountain - Save Me A Place (DEBUT)

17. P!nk - What About Us (#22)

16. Fall Out Boy - Champion (#15)

15. MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low (#24)

14. All Time Low - Good Times (#17)

13. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (DEBUT)

12. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#14)

11. Hailee Steinfeld - Most Girls (#12)

10. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#6) [3 Weeks At #1]

9. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (#8) [3 Weeks At #1]

8. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#2) [3 Weeks At #1]

7. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#10) [4 Weeks At #1]

6. Charlie Puth - Attention (#1) [1 Week At #1]

5. Linkin Park - One More Light (#9)

4. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#3) [4 Weeks At #1]

3. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road (#4)

2. Liam Payne - Strip That Down (#5)

1. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#7) [1st Week At #1]

Biggest DROP!!!... Of The Week: Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee (-18)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious (+16)

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1: Demi Lovato - Tell Me You Love Me

#1 Recommendation For You: Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It?

New Entrants

~ Our first new entrant this week comes from Cheat Codes, teaming up with Demi Lovato on No Promises. Hits 1 was definitely a little late with this one. This song was at it's peak at the start-middle of the summer, I'd say. This station picked it up towards the end of summer, which is totally okay with me, because I do still enjoy the song. The vocals are great and the drop is pretty good. There isn't really anything bad that I can say about this song, except that the lyrical content is kind of weird. "Promise me no promises" seems like an oxymoron to me. Nonetheless, it's a catchy tune, and I hope to see it do well here.

~ Our second entrant of the week comes from Ed Sheeran, returning with Galway Girl. I will have to say that I'm not sure whether or not this tops Shape Of You, but it definitely reigns superior to Castle On The Hill. I really enjoy the vibe to this song, and the instrumentals are just really laid back and cool. This is not something we hear everyday on the radio. I'm glad it made it's way here and I hope to see some pretty good success out of it.

~ Next up, we get an interesting top 20 debut from Mono Mind & Bridge And Mountain. The song is Save Me A Place. I have to say that I really do enjoy this song. I think it is quite a weird tune to be played here, but it's just funky and cool. The vocals are electronic like and I just like how the whole song flows in general. I would say this is a lot better than half of the songs we have here right now, so I'd like to see some decent success out of this.

~ Finally, we have Taylor Swift with her infamous return to music with Look What You Made Me Do. This song did indeed tie for the record of the highest debut here, at #13, tying with Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe. Right off the bat here, you all know that I am a hardcore Taylor Swift fan. Always have been, always will, she is my favorite artist. I listen to her songs practically everyday. This song I can say is definitely not her best work, but it is indeed something I can work with of course. Going into this, I was a bit confused as this is a lot different than her normal style of music. The day it was released, I probably highkey listened to this song about fifty times, no joke. I did grow into the lyrical content and vocals very quickly. I have been jamming out to this one for days now, and I'm glad it's here. I expect to see success out of this, because it's Taylor, of course.

Best Debut Of The Week: Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

HitBound

• The All-American Rejects - Sweat
• Halsey - Bad At Love
• Rita Ora - Your Song
• Selena Gomez & Galantis - Fetish
• Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still
• Sabrina Carpenter - Why
• Zedd & Liam Payne - Get Low 
• Andy Grammer - Give Love
• Evaride - Heartless (DEBUT)
• Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (DEBUT)
• Justin Bieber/BloodPopⓇ - Friends
• Harry Styles - Two Ghosts
• PRETTYMUCH - Would You Mind

My Top 5 HitBound Picks

1. Sabrina Carpenter - Why

2. Rira Ora - Your Song

3. Selena Gomez & Galantis - Fetish

4. Justin Bieber/BloodPopⓇ - Friends

5. Zedd & Liam Payne - Get Low

*Due to me being extremely late with this post and wanting to get the next post out on time, there will be no other sections this week. :(

My Bottom 5 Countdown Picks

1. Train - Play That Song

2. Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On

3. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee

4. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like

5. Shawn Mendes - Mercy

My Top 5 Countdown Picks

1. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

2. Kesha - Praying

3. Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels

4. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber - Despacito

5. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises

Love you guys!

~ Jack :)

2017 MTV Video Music Awards Performance Reviews

Hey guys and welcome back! I thought I would give a performance review for this year's MTV Video Music Awards, as it was pretty good for the most part. Katy Perry hosted this year's show. She was a good host, although her humor was lacking at times. Anyways, in all this was much better than last year's show, which was a complete mess with annoying hosts and weird performances. Anyways, this year there were sixteen performances and one music video premiere. I will list the sixteen performances in order of what I thought was best to worst. Then I will review Taylor Swift's Look What You Made Me Do music video. So, let's get going.

16) Kendrick Lamar - DNA./HUMBLE.

I don't understand why anyone thought this performance was the slightest bit appealing. I had not a clue what he was saying, nor was the stuff on fire the slightest bit entertaining. This was some of the most boring few minutes of the show we saw the whole night. Plus, the song choices Kendrick Lamar made were just terrible. I don't understand what's so pleasing to this country about these two songs. His past music has been a bit better than this, I just don't like this music of his these days.

15) KYLE - iSpy

It's a good thing that this was one of the performances cut short, as it wasn't good either. I did like this song for some time, but KYLE's vocals on the performance Sunday night were just not good at all, and nothing like the original track. He had no good presence, and just jumped around, which I thought was really weird and something that is very generic for a performance. Overall, it's not worse than Kendrick's mess, but this could have been way better than what it was.

14) James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

This performance was indeed better than the last two, but was still yet a yawner. I am quite honestly getting sick of this song. The performance was also at a weird time, and I just wasn't quite the fan of James Arthur's voice on this song live. I'm sure others disagree with me, but I had a hard time paying attention during this performance.


13) Alessia Cara - Scars To Your Beautiful

Okay, you all may hate me for this. I do indeed like the message to this song. Oh, 100%. I just felt like this wasn't the best performance Alessia has showed us of this song. Her vocals were just outstanding, although the odd costume changes and weird dancers were what made this a little bit lower than what it was going to be. Likewise, I just don't think the dancers really fit this song that good anyways. All said and done, her other performance was a lot better than this one.

12) DNCE/Rod Stewart - Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

I had a pretty similar reaction to this as I did to Alessia Cara's first performance of the night. The vocals were really good, but the weird setup and all the people in the setting were just not fitting like I thought they would be. That's really all I have. I just thought this would be a lot better without a crowd of people everywhere, not giving the performers space. Rod Stewart had a very small space to walk through.

11) Thirty Seconds To Mars/Travis Scott - Walk On Water

So, I do indeed like this new song from Thirty Seconds To Mars very much. The only downside to this performance was the presence of Travis Scott, as I thought that was very weird. Otherwise, I loved the way it was presented. At first, I wasn't sure whether or not I would like the way this would be presented, but as the performance went on, I began to like it more and more.

10) Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back

This performance was alright. There wasn't too much going on. The vocals were pretty good. It was just a pretty average performance, nothing too special to me about it, although it was better than our last few.

9) Lorde - Homemade Dynamite

I feel bad that Lorde had the flu and we couldn't hear her raspy, cool voice the other night. Even though she didn't sing, she did a beautiful job dancing to Homemade Dynamite, which has made it's way onto my playlist rotation since I saw this performance. I thought she did pretty good for someone who had the flu, and props to Lorde for having that "the show must go on" mindset. That is a very good quality in an artist.

8) Ed Sheeran/Lil Uzi Vert - Shape Of You/XO Tour Llif3
I thought that the beginning with Shape Of You was very good, like what we usually hear from Ed Sheeran. Then we all got surprised, I'm sure when Lil Uzi Vert came out and started singing with Ed on his single, XO Tour Llif3. I would have never expected someone like Ed to sing with such a singer. Even though I'm not a fan of the original track by the artist, I did indeed enjoy the stage performance with Ed Sheeran on it.

7) Julia Michaels - Issues

This was another performance that was cut short, just like KYLE's. However, Julia Michaels did much better than him for the time allotted. Her vocals were very good and she just looked beautiful in her dress. She was definitely dressed to perform the song, and she did it in a more casual way than usual, which I liked very much.

6) Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry

I think we can all agree that this performance was quite the party. Even though I said before the crowd was too much for DNCE and Rod Stewart, it perfectly fit for Demi's poolside performance of her new somewhat "diss" track. I thought her vocals sounded pretty good for the setting she was at and the setting and dancing was just really good considering where she was. So, this didn't make my top 5, but it was very good, nonetheless.

5) Miley Cyrus - Younger Now

We are now in the top 5! Miley Cyrus did indeed make my top 5 performances with her presentation of her new single, Younger Now, from her upcoming album, Younger Now. I really enjoyed how Miley's vocals were very similar to the original track, which I am enjoying at the moment, as well as the addition of several older back-up dancers. I just thought it was really interesting, and that's why it notched in my top 5.

4) Katy Perry/Nicki Minaj - Swish Swish

I absolutely loved how this was the finale to the show. The huge stage props, the flying Katy Perry, basketball balloons, and a slam dunk by Katy Perry herself (well sorta), not to mention Nicki Minaj inside of a giant basketball? Yeah, this was good. Katy did reasonably well with her vocals, as did Nicki too. There was a good amount of energy, and I enjoyed how the backup dancers had basketball nets over their faces, and they did do a very good job dancing themselves, anyways.

3) Logic/Alessia Cara/Khalid - 1-800-273-8255

This was just absolutely beautiful. The best message I had seen by far that whole night. The name of the song is the same exact phone number as the suicide prevention hotline, and I just really felt moved by the fact that several suicide survivors joined the beautiful voices of Logic, Alessia Cara, and Khalid on stage for the performance of this track. I hope you all remember, someone cares. Never give up. There's always hope. This should remind all of you to stay strong no matter what you're ever going through and to know that there is always someone there for you, even when there seems like there is not.

2) Fifth Harmony/Gucci Mane - Angel/Down

So, Camila Cabello shade or not you all? I'm not completely completely convinced with Ally's explanation, but you know, who knows? Angel was pretty good and smooth sailing, and the girls looked really good as they transitioned into Down. Their vocals were smooth and they were dressed really nice looking. They added Gucci Mane in and he did pretty well. They added some much deserved energy into the show, including Normani's very impressive split, and the very wet shower they took at the end of the performance. This was really good.

1) P!nk - Get The Party Started/Raise Your Glass/So What/Just Give Me A Reason/Perfect/Don't Let Me Get Me/What About Us

Okay, so this was amazing. The kickoff to this performance was very good with some older hits that I'm sure everyone was jamming out to back in the day. Also, So What was a very interesting highlight to this presentation, as P!nk pulled off a classic move, driving a lawnmower with her little added extra, naked backup dancers. When she slowed things down to Just Give Me A Reason, it gave me a good feeling, as I felt like that was a good transition to get into her new single, What About Us, which was by far the best section of the performance. I loved the similarities to the music video and P!nk's vocals were just on point for the last leg of her presentation. Not to mention, her speech for accepting the Video Vanguard Award was truly inspiring. So, that's what made this my number one performance for the night.

Music Video Premiere: Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

So, we all know that I love this song as a true Swiftie. Once a Taylor Swift fan, always a Taylor Swift fan. This is quite easily probably her best video ever. Even though her new track might not necessarily be my most favorite tune from her, I did indeed enjoy the visual. It started off with Out Of The Woods Taylor crawling up from the dead to bury her 2014 Met Gala Taylor in the ground. Then we moved on to Taylor in a bathtub with jewelry, and a single dollar bill, most likely alluding to her recent court case in which she won one dollar. Then we move on to different scenes where we see a Taylor sitting on a throne, one robbing a bank, another in a cage, as well as many more. We cut through several of the same scenes that include Taylor lifting motorcycles and posing with her "squad". Then we cut to Taylor on the top of a mound, with all of her other personalities trying to climb to the top, including You Belong With Me Taylor and Red Taylor. Then we cut through the same scenes again, after Taylor sends out a jolt of power, causing her former personalities to fall to their "seeming deaths". After the track finishes playing, we see fourteen Taylors arguing and picking on each other. All of the Taylors are seen saying stuff about each other that the public normally says about Taylor herself. Then we see one additional Taylor in the background, which alludes to the fact that that's the real Taylor, and the other ones have been fakes created by the media. We hear 2009 VMA's Taylor saying "I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative", which if you remember is from when Kanye West stole the microphone from her, after she won an award. When all the other personalities respond simultaneously, saying "shut up" and covering their ears, the video cuts to black. So, this was a pretty epic video and it has already broken tons of records in just a few days, including most viewed VEVO video in 24 hours. So, congrats to you Taylor.

That's all I have for you all tonight! I hope you enjoyed this! See you soon!

Love you guys!

~ Jack :)