A Year-End Special: My Top 45 Songs Of 2017

Well, we've made it everyone! We are now officially living in 2018! I hope you all have a great year ahead of you, but we still have to live in 2017 for this post. So, 2017 was definitely a year with more rap-dominating music. I cannot tell whether I personally find it better than the previous year. There were a lot of bad songs towards the upper part of the charts this year, but there were still some good ones that everyone thankfully seemed to like as well. With that set aside, I will now be counting down my favorite 45 songs of this past year. This list is always put together with the 45 songs that stood out to me the most during the course of the year. However, before we get to counting down my personal favorites of 2017, there are a few things that you must be informed of in order to know what is going on here.

Songs that were on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown at any point in time this year for at least one week are the only songs eligible for this list. Any songs that were on Hit-Bound or the YouTube 15, or any other Hits 1 show and didn't debut the countdown are unfortunately not eligible for the list.

Any songs that I ranked in previous years are also not eligible for this year's list. This prevents any repeats that could potentially be taking up a new songs spot. There will always be a set of 45 new songs every year.

Songs that debuted after the week of December 9, 2017 are unfortunately not eligible for this list as well. The final songs that were considered for eligibility this year were:

• Harry Styles - Kiwi
• Nick Jonas - Find You
• X Ambassadors - Ahead Of Myself

The songs that debuted after the cutoff date and are not eligible will be looked at first for consideration for 2018. Those songs are as follows:

• Macklemore/Kesha - Good Old Days
• Symon - Lonely Girl
• Eminem/Ed Sheeran - River
• Liam Payne - Bedrolm Floor
• Louis Tomlinson - Miss You
• Walk The Moon - One Foot

Now that we have covered everything. I would like to go through the honorable mentions for this list. The following songs were ones that came very close to the list, but ultimately did not make the cut for this year's list.

• Bebe Rexha/Florida Georgia Line - Meant To Be
• Charli XCX - After The Afterparty
• Clean Bandit/Sean Paul/Anne-Marie - Rockabye
• Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry
• Fifth Harmony & Camila Cabello - That's My Girl
• Fitz & The Tantrums - HandClap
• Hailee Steinfeld - Most Girls
• Harry Styles - Kiwi
• Lauv - I Like Me Better
• Mono Mind - Save Me A Place [Bridge & Mountain Remix]
• Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask
• Nick Jonas - Find You
• Selena Gomez & Marshmello - Wolves
• Shawn Mendes - Mercy
• Snakehips & MØ - Don't Leave
• The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This
• The Shadowboxers - Hot Damn
• X Ambassadors - Ahead Of Myself

A good amount of the songs listed above could appear on next year's list, as there are several that are still on the countdown. Now, one more thing before we get to the countdown. Let's take a look at my top 5 songs from 2016.

5. Fifth Harmony & Camila Cabello - Work From Home

4. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer

3. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

2. Taylor Swift - New Romantics

1. Ariana Grande - Into You

With that all out of the way, I think we are ready for the moment you have all been waiting for! These are my top 45 songs of 2017. They are not yours. So, please keep this free of arguments if you do not agree with my picks. I say this every year and you all are usually very respectful. Thank you, and here we go.

45. AJR - Weak

I believe I am one of the only people in this community that actually enjoyed this song. AJR has been one of those bands that have been up and down for me. Weak was easily their best song. Their other songs that made it big on Hits 1, like I'm Not Famous and I'm Ready were just okay. They really didn't stand out to me at all. I just felt like they took a bigger step forward with this one. The vocals were very good throughout and I like the risk they took with the key change in the final chorus. In all, it turned out a good song, and it just barely made this list. 

44. Camila Cabello - Crying In The Club

I am so glad that Camila Cabello decided to go on in her career as a solo artist. At first, I was very disappointed in her decision to leave Fifth Harmony, as she was a very valuable voice to the group. However, her solo work turned out much better this year. Crying In The Club was the first song that she released this year, where she went fully solo. I would say that it was a very good beginning to her career as a solo artist. I like how she brought in this dynamic of heartbreak into the song, and how music helps her overcome it. The song was well produced as well. All in all, it was another outstanding debut as an artist. I cannot wait to see how much further she goes after the amazing year she had this year. 

43. Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love

This is one of those songs that I could have easily ranked in 2016, but I decided not to, as I thought that it would have more success in 2017. However, it did not have huge success this past year, and was actually more successful last year. I could rank it this year because it was on the countdown towards the beginning of this past year. All set aside, I just find this a good song. The production of this song is very good, and I find it nice that Hits 1 recognizes Martin Garrix, as he does have very well produced tracks. Bebe Rexha, as usual delivers fantastic vocals to this track and she does an exceptional job in the chorus. I am just glad that this song was successful here, even though it received less recognition outside of this station.

42. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

So, Maroon 5 did make their small comeback in 2016, after a little while without releasing new music. They released Don't Wanna Know, which was just pretty mediocre in the end. They also put out another song, Cold, and that song was on my bottom 10 songs this year. So, we know how I feel about that one. Then, this year, they released What Lovers Do. I don't know if it's because they featured SZA, but this one was definitely better than the previous two songs by a mile. Adam Levine showcases his vocals as usual. However, he did have a decent falsetto in this one. SZA also offered a lot to the song. All in all, it has been one of my favorites this year.

41. The Chainsmokers - Honest

So, this song wasn't exactly the most successful song from The Chainsmokers. However, that doesn't mean that it was a bad song. It's obviously on this list, so, I liked it. However, I don't believe it's their best song. I just like the lyrical content in this one. I just find this one different from what we usually hear on the radio. The production was also different from what we're used to hearing from The Chainsmokers. All set aside, though, Honest was definitely a risk to take for a single, and it somewhat worked on mainstream radio. However, it captured the attention of me. So, I am glad that they decided to release it.

40. Twenty One Pilots - Heavydirtysoul

So, Twenty One Pilots had a big year in 2016. Heavydirtysoul was pretty much their only song this year that was somewhat successful. This song, like many others on this list, was definitely different from their previous songs. This song was very awesome and different, though. I believe that the verses flowed very nicely in this song and the chorus was quite catchy, as I expected. This song definitely did not fade on me fast, as it was not quite as successful after the big year the duo had in 2016. So, there was not much overplay out of this song. Let alone, much play. I'm glad that this song was at least recognized on Hits 1. It's one of those different songs, and I'm glad that they appreciate songs like this.

39. Jon Bellion - Overwhelming

I really enjoy Jon Bellion and his interesting take on pop music. Overwhelming was definitely another song that he released that was just really good. Although this song wasn't necessarily popular anywhere else, it did okay here. The vocals are very nice and I think that he is very talented. The lyrical content that Jon Bellion produces with his music is very different than typical pop music. I think that his style definitely works for him, and I can't wait to hear more of his music in the future. My only hope is that some more people will recognize and listen to his music.

38. Halsey - Bad At Love

So, Halsey is another one of those artists who has really made her own lane with her music. Her music is more rebellious and edgy in terms of lyrical content. She had wild ambitions that really come loose with her music. This song is no different. I like this song is just something to connect to for so many of us who just feel like giving up on love. However, there is that message that still reigns true, that trying is worth it, even though we don't succeed. I appreciate how Halsey brought an interesting take on this. Her vocals were great as usual in this song as well, and I'm glad that it received a good amount of recognition here and elsewhere.

37. G-Eazy & Kehlani - Good Life

This was one of the songs recorded for the film The Fate Of The Furious. It was supposed to be a successful single, but it really was not. It only spent one week on this countdown, so there's some proof, but it really wasn't all that successful on mainstream radio either. I ejoyed G-Eazy's contributions to the song. Kehlani was a good choice to team up with as well. She demonstrated very good vocals in the chorus. I find it nice when a good rapper teams up with a talented singer. This is an example of one of those songs, even if it wasn't all that successful in the world of music.

36. The Vamps/Matoma - All Night

The Vamps did return this year after my favorite song from them, Somebody To You. The paired up with Matoma on this song, titled Wake Up. I feel like he produced the song very well, and this is their second place song in my opinion. Nothing can really top Somebody To You. This leaned in the more electronic dance direction, rather than more instrumental, like their previous songs, and I'm glad that Hits 1 picked it up. It also had a good amount of success elsewhere, which was also good. I find the vocals very good on this track and I am excited to see what they will release next. 

35. Ariana Grande/Future - Everyday

Well, this was the last song off of Dangerous Woman that Ariana Grande had released as a single. I found this song alright at first, Future wasn't exactly something that drew me into it. Eventually, I found myself enjoying it. Ariana showed off her very good vocals as usual, even if this was far from her best work. It wasn't that successful, either, as it spent only two weeks on the countdown. In all, I guess you could say that this was a guilty pleasure of mine this year, if you look at the lyrics. 

34. Harry Styles - Sign Of The Times

Harry Styles is easily the artist that everyone seems to be praising the most after his departure from One Direction. He decided to go in a rock-type direction, different from the rest of his band mates. However, I believe that his music, including this song have been quite underrated thus far. He is very talented and it is definitely represented in this song. The lyrical content for this song is very good and it was produced very nicely. He does have outstanding vocals on this track and he has a nice falsetto too. Hits 1 didn't really seem to favor this song, as well as its follow-ups, due to their rock-type nature. All I hope is that Harry becomes even more successful in the future.

33. Bebe Rexha - I Got You

Well, this is another good song that Bebe Rexha produced. She showcases great vocals during the length of the song and I wish that it received more recognition on the charts. I feel like Bebe Rexha does not get enough recognition with her music, unless she is featured on someone else's song. I hope that this year we can see a successful solo single from her, that is still good, like this one, of course.

32. Calvin Harris/Frank Ocean/Migos - Slide

So, this year Calvin Harris started to take a newer path with his music. Slide was definitely an example of the newer lane he decided to take. I wasn't sure how this song was "good" at first, but after a few more listens, I was more impressed with it. The production is definitely different from your average song, but it still is good. Frank Ocean sounded good in the song, and what Migos had to contribute wasn't even that bad. It was a strange decision for a collaboration, but it ended up being something that really struck it big with the public.

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

So, this was just another typical Shawn Mendes pop song. It was really nothing different from what we are used to hearing from him. He is a good artist, so it was expected that the vocals and lyrics would be good. It was also expected that this song would be very popular, which it was.

30. Linkin Park/Kiiara - Heavy

The loss of Chester Bennington of Linkin Park this past year was very tragic, and I hope that he rests in peace. I am glad that he released a great album before we lost him. I am also very glad that he released this song and all of the ones before it. He was very talented and it really showed in this song. His vocals were great and Kiiara had very nice vocals as well. It is sad going back and listening to this song, as it really just shows that we will never hear Chester again, and his voice was truly something that blessed the people.

29. Machine Gun Kelly/Hailee Steinfeld - At My Best

This song had an absolutely great message. I enjoyed how it showcased the idea that if you cannot handle someone's flaws, then you should not be with them. I really feel like this was a good way of telling everyone that no one is perfect, and that you should love them for what they are. I just wish that this song was more successful. Hailee Steinfeld also demonstrated exceptional vocals in this song, and Machine Gun Kelly did good with his verses. The production was also nice, and the lyrics were obviously very-well written, in my opinion. 

28. Adele - Water Under The Bridge

So, this was the last single that was released off of Adele's most recent album, 25. This song was a good choice for a single, as it was one of the best songs that she recorded for the album. I found this song better than Send My Love (To Your New Lover), the single that was released prior to this one. Her vocals sound good on this track, and they really sound good in the chorus. It did pretty good on Hits 1, as her songs usually do, but it wasn't all that popular on the other charts, comparing to its success here.

27. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises

This song was really around for a while before Hits 1 actually picked up on it. It took me a while after this song's release to really fully get into it, but I ended up really enjoying it. I found Demi Lovato's vocals mixing nicely with the lead vocalist of Cheat Codes, Trevor Dahl, especially when Demi hit that high note in the final chorus. There was definitely a nice production behind this track and it sounded like they worked really hard on this track. The drop was one of the best ones that we heard of the year, in my opinion. So, it all calls for a good song, and I'm glad that it did pretty good on the charts.

26. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee/Justin Bieber - Despacito (Remix)

Although I found myself banging my head along to this song quite a bit over the summer, the vibes just kind of died out after that. It was a nice Latin song that the country did experience. Don't get me wrong, I like this song, I mean, it's obviously here. Despacito is a good dance song, but besides that, at this moment in time, its spark is just dying out. It's still good, but it's nothing absolutely great to me anymore. It was definitely a stand out for most of the year in my opinion, which is why it is still being featured, because I still like it, but I'm not in love with it anymore.

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

I was excited to see this song from Louis Tomlinson. I was excited to see that Bebe Rexha was going to be featured on this song. I was also excited to see that Digital Farm Animals would be on this song too. I was just excited to see what this song would bring to the table. It did not disappoint in the slightest. The day I heard this song for the first time, it was on repeat. I found it interesting how Bebe Rexha took on the opening of the song, but I couldn't imagine the song any other way. I enjoyed how the vocals blended together in the chorus. Digital Farm Animals also did a good job on this song in terms of production and other assistance. I just wish this song was a bigger hit on other charts, outside of Hits 1. I would like to hear more from Louis in the future, but his new song Miss You, is very good for now.

24. Katy Perry/Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm

This was Katy Perry's comeback single, and frankly her best single of the year. This song was definitely a little more funky and different from what we are used to hearing from her. The song brought a good production to the table, as well as a very infectious chorus. Katy Perry had pretty good vocals on this track and Skip Marley did a good job on his verse. It was a pretty good track and I'm glad that it was decided on as being a single. It was a good taste of an album that wasn't all that great, but I'm still glad that Chained To The Rhythm was at least good, and that it did okay on the charts.

23. Charlie Puth - Attention

This song was truly the only song from Charlie Puth thus far in his career that I really enjoyed from start to end. His previous songs, such as One Call Away and We Don't Talk Anymore were just good songs, and they don't compare to this one. The song just has a really catchy vibe to it. His vocals sound nice in this song and this one was quite successful on a number of charts. I have not got sick of this song yet and I am glad that Charlie Puth released this song as a single. It has really been one of the best songs of the year.

22. Logic/Alessia Cara/Khalid - 1-800-273-8255

This song easily has one of the best messages of the year. I cared about this song from first listen. This song is essentially about the awareness of suicide. I mean, the title of the song is the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This song just shows that you matter, and that suicide is just a permanent answer to a problem that can be fixed with time. This is just a sad, yet moving song, as it speaks to so many people who have overcome suicide. Reading stories of the people who have committed suicide, it is just heartbreaking and such an awful thing. I'm glad that this song was made and that it brings light to this and will help people. The song was very nicely written and all three vocalists, Logic, Alessia Cara, and Khalid all did a great job performing the song. I could not think of anyone better to deliver this song. I am so glad that it was very successful and that it made a significant mark on the people of this world. I hope that everyone realizes that they are not alone when they listen to this song, and that they are loved.

21. Aaron Carter - Sooner Or Later

I don't see how anyone could hate this song. Aaron Carter is very good vocally and lyrically the song is great. Likewise, the production is very nice in Sooner Or Later as well. The beat throughout the song is just infectiously catchy too. I was actually really surprised that this song made it onto the countdown. Once it did, though, I was very happy. It did not last long, and did not get above the bottom third of the countdown, but at least it was here. I liked hearing this song on the radio when it was played. I just wish it was more successful, as it was really one of the most stand out tracks we had this year.

20. P!nk - What About Us

I'm not sure where this song ranks on a list of my favorite songs from P!nk, but it is definitely up there. This song is not necessarily a banger from P!nk, as we are typically used to hearing. However, it is still good. I can see why people could easily get sick of this song, as it is a bit repetitive, but it is just really catchy. P!nk, as usual has very outstanding vocals. She is a very good live singer as well, better than most, I have to say. The production on this track is very nicely done and the lyrical content is very good as well. The chorus has a lot to deliver and I'm glad that it has had a good amount of success on its run, especially considering it was a #1 song on Hits 1.

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

I am very glad that Hailee Steinfeld has taken the route more closely related to music now. She is a very talented singer. This song has a really nice drop and Alesso put together his part very nicely. I liked how she brought in a country voice for the track. Florida Georgia Line's vocals blend very nicely with hers. Finally, watt does a nice job on the instrumentals that appear here and there. Although it has not been the most popular track so far, I am glad that Hailee Steinfeld is getting recognition for her talent and I'm glad that she has really decided on music as her lane. This song is just very good.

18. The Chainsmokers - Paris

I enjoyed Paris. I feel like The Chainsmokers made some good choices on this song. Andrew Taggart has very nice vocals and they showed in this song, just as well as any other. I liked how his vocals blended with Emily Warren, who was not credited with vocals on this song, which sucks, because she also brought a lot to the table. This song is just lyrically very good and I am glad that it was successful here and around the world.

17. Zayn & Taylor Swift - I Don't Wanna Live Forever

So, as we all know by now, I am a pretty big fan of Taylor Swift. However, her work on this song is by no means her best work. This is also not Zayn's best work either. Nevertheless, it is still a very good song. I don't really understand the reason for this being the lead single off of the Fifty Shades Darker Soundtrack, as there were probably better picks that fit the meaning of the film more appropriately. All set aside, though, the vocals from both artists here are really nice, as expected and although the lyrics are definitely not too much of a stand out, everything else makes up for it. I am glad that this song was successful everywhere.

16. Ed Sheeran - Perfect

The manner in which this song is just titled says it all. This song is just beautiful in terms of any love song I have ever heard, and I'm glad that it was chosen as a single, and that it is having success. This is definitely a good song that can be played at a wedding, and I can see why Ed Sheeran wrote it. He does have a girlfriend, who he probably shares this song with. I feel like I would have this song to share with someone, as would many people. After all, it is the #1 song in the country right now. Every version Ed Sheeran has released of this song just wows me. The vocals on every version of this song are amazing and the lyrics just speak for themselves. So, if you haven't listened to this song yet, then you should really get on that soon. It is absolutely, by no means, a waste of your time.

15. Zayn/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn

This is undoubtedly Zayn's best song to date. I am very glad that he made the choice to feature Sia on this song. This song is just vocally outstanding and and the two artists on this song sound great together. I found that when they hit the higher notes, I got chills. The build-up in this song is yet another great effect that it brings to the table. It is doing good on Hits 1, but it makes me sad that it is not exactly doing great on the other charts, so apparently this country doesn't like this song. I just hope that this song continues to do well on this station.

14. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay

This song was a very-well produced track and a well-done job by Zedd. Alessia Cara did a great job vocally on this track as well. The chorus sounds very nice, with that electronic touch to Alessia's vocals. This song had me hooked from start to end and I'm glad that it was so successful. Get Low with Liam Payne in no way compares to this song. I look forward to Zedd's next album and his future singles. I enjoy listening to his music. He easily produces some of the best tracks of this era in music.

13. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things

I like Machine Gun Kelly's skills as a rap artist and I like how he brings pop artists into his songs, like Camila Cabello on this one. This was Camila's first real high-profile track since leaving Fifth Harmony. It's basically just a sexy song about two lovers who feel nothing but passion towards each other. I get lost in Camila's vocals and Machine Gun Kelly does very nice with his verses. Lyrically, I like what the song has to offer as well, and the beat is really good as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this song with every listen from start to end.

12. The Weeknd/Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming

This was a follow up to Starboy, another song that The Weeknd teamed up with Daft Punk on. This song was very well produced and it is very very catchy. I had pretty high expectations for this song as I found Starboy a pretty good song as well. This song is a little more laid back compared to its predecessor, but that doesn't change my opinion on it at all. The lyrics in this song are very well put together. There are some strong old school vibes that I feel with this song and it is quite interesting. This song was quite impressive for what it was. I'm not sure that this is my favorite song from him so far in his career, but it is definitely one of them. Above all, I would like to hear even more from The Weeknd ad Daft Punk together in the future. They are a great duo and their music sounds great when they work together.

11. Sabrina Carpenter - Why

I have loved Sabrina Carpenter's music from the start. I have found myself listening to some of her older but really catchy songs, such as The Middle Of Starting Over and Eyes Wide Open to feel good. She also offers some heartbreak songs, such as Smoke & Fire and On Purpose for me to listen to when I'm just having one of those days. I just wish she had more success early on. Nevertheless, I'm just glad she got the recognition she deserved with Why. I'm not sure if this is my favorite song from her, but I definitely found myself listening to it a good portion of the summer. The chopped up vocals just add a really nice effect, and I like how all of her songs, including this one, just reflect this fun, teen-like vibe. My only complaint on this song is that it is way too short. It does not even reach three minutes, but with all set aside, I am glad this song was released, because Sabrina got her rightful recognition and it ended up being one of my favorite songs of the year.

With the above songs being counted down, we are now entering my top 10 favorite songs of the year. These are the songs that stood out to me the most this year. I have been very careful with my decisions for this part of the list, and this is by far what has taken me the longest. So, let's get into my top 10 picks of the year. 

10. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

This song was definitely a full-fledged risk for Taylor. Many of her fans were not a fan of this song. This is another song that Taylor directed at her haters. This song broke a tremendous record on YouTube, with the most views on her music video in a twenty four hour time span. This song is just a darker version of Taylor. It is a dance song but it does have a very catchy chorus. The lyrics are very edgy and in all, this song was just a really different sound for her. I, regardless, just found this song really catchy and it was just one of those songs.

9. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You

This song was the song of the year on many platforms, including Billboard and Hits 1. This song actually tells a story with its lyrics. It starts with flirting that leads to a hook-up. The story is definitely demonstrated well in the music video. This track definitely contradicts Perfect, in terms of its lyrical content, but Ed Sheeran sounds just as good vocally. All set aside, this was acclaimed well with critics and the public really enjoyed this song, including me. So, yeah, that's pretty much all I have to say about it.

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

I found this follow up to Look What You Made Me Do better than Look What You Made Me Do itself. One of the things I first noticed and enjoyed was the great bass beneath Taylor's vocals. Her vocals also sounded very nice on this track. Taylor still took a darker vibe with this one, but we did see a little bit of sunshine with her bright pop vocals in the chorus, but the beat in the opening also contradicted that. So, I wasn't expecting it, but it was a pleasant surprise. I find it hard not to enjoy a song from Taylor and this is another example of a song that I could not stop listening to from her.

7. Calvin Harris/Pharell Williams/Katy Perry - Feels 

This song was a great song to follow Slide, which also appeared on this list. This song has some of the best production I have heard this year. This is yet another example of Calvin Harris and his new lane he tried to take with his music this year. This song gave me some sixty-seventy vibes. It was more disco-oriented, which I found really cool. The two videos that were released for this song really reflected this song's style, too. I found Pharell's parts really catchy and Katy Perry sounded nice in the chorus. Even though Hits 1 did edit out Big Sean's part, he also did not sound that bad either. This was definitely my song of the summer. I found myself jamming out to this song all summer. So, yeah, this was definitely one of the most catchiest songs of the year.

6. Selena Gomez - Bad Liar

I don't understand why so many people in this blogging community did not like this song, but I do respect their opinions. This song received so much critical acclaim. It was actually the #1 song of the year as picked by Billboard's critics. This song finds Selena trying not to think about a lover she just broke off a relationship with. I liked this song as a comeback from Selena. The vocals were very nice, and there were several subtle Trojan War references, which was kind of cool. The lyrics aren't amazing, I agree, but there is a lot that makes up for it. The production is nice as well. The song sounds very sexy and Selena doesn't really seem to be doing a very nice job hiding her thoughts and feelings. I just found myself listening to this song over and over again. It has been one of my favorites this year. Well, obviously, it is at #6. 

5. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

This band often does not get recognized with their music on pop radio. Their music style is alternative. However, this song did do well on both alternative and pop radio. This was Portugal. The Man's first song that broke free to mainstream radio and the song that really put them on the map. However, this is most likely just going to be a one-hit pop wonder. It has a really nice bassline and John Gourley brings a nice falsetto to match it. The melody in this song is very catchy as well and the lyrics make it ten times more infectious of a song. I will definitely be open to listening to more of this band's music in the future as they are very talented. This song is just a feel good song and I listen to it all the time to get me in a good mood. I would find it as a very big challenge for me to get sick of this song. It is just a really fun jam of mine and I'm glad that it was successful in this country.

4. Camila Cabello - Havana

Many people expected this song to flop, and originally it wasn't even a single. It was just a promotional single. OMG, a song with Quavo, which was released alongside this, was the intended single, but was eventually made the promotional single. She did make a good choice, as OMG did not take off very much at all. Many thought that this one would flop, and boy were they wrong. I found this song infectiously catchy from the start. Camila's vocals are nice, as usual. She really showcases her talent in this one. The lyrics tell a story of a forbidden love between two countries and I find it kind of nice that Camila brought in her own home to deliver this song. The production is nice, and I could not imagine a world where this song did not have success. I am so glad that this song took off and was so successful. I cannot wait to see what she has in store with her new album, Camila, released in six more days.


We now reach the top 3 songs of mine this year. These following three songs were very difficult to place in order. However, it had to be done. They are all tied at #1 in my book, but each one is about a quarter of a centimeter better than the other. but without further adieu, here are my top 3 (all my #1's) of 2018.

3. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me

Again, it was a very tight race between this song and the next two for the #1 pick. If I could make it a tie between these three songs, I would. So, really let's just treat this pretty much as a tie between these next three. This is Selena Gomez's second appearance in the top 10. This time she is with Kygo in It Ain't Me. This song has some nice production and there is a very nice drop with this one. The lyrics are another example of a song that tells a story, of two lovers who have been together forever, and one eventually decides to break it off. It is songs like these that I really appreciate, as they tell a great story that I can follow as I listen. Vocally, Selena Gomez does a really nice job in the chorus and verses. Her voice in the chorus gave me chills. I thank this song for being one that I could always listen to and always have to fall back into. It was such a good song to go to during the harder times this year. 

2. Julia Michaels - Issues

This one ended up landing a spot at #2. Julia Michaels has written songs for some of the biggest people in the music industry today, but I am glad that in 2017 she finally released a solo single. This song is so good, and tells a very personal story of how complex it is to be in love with someone sometimes. The lyrics are very creative and the song is well-written, just like the songs she wrote for artists such as Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber. I really am glad that Julia Michaels has decided to emerge vocally with her music. She has talent with both songwriting and singing, so I hope she continues with both in the future. I am so glad that this song was successful. She really deserved it.


1. Kesha - Praying

This is it guys, my number one song this year, brought to you by Kesha. In the past, we have known Kesha to release crazier songs like TiK ToK, Die Young, and Crazy Kids. After she took a few years off after her last album, Kesha really evolved as an artist. She experienced an emotional lawsuit in which she filed against a producer of hers, Dr. Luke, for sexual harassment. She definitely went through a good amount of stuff these past few years, and it really reflects on her latest album. This song is just so emotional both lyrically and vocally. It is just absolutely beautiful in terms of Kesha's vocals. It is so raw in this song, and it is absolutely nothing like we have ever heard from her before this. I like the high notes that she hit all the way through the course of the song. That one very high note she hit in the final chorus gave me absolute chills like I have never felt before. The lyrical content is very good as well and it seems pretty clear that in parts of the song that she is speaking of Dr. Luke. What Kesha has been through and knowing about it really makes me respect her so much more as an artist. Her new album, Rainbow, is a complete masterpiece, and I love the variety between the tracks. Not to mention, the music video for this song is just a visual masterpiece and I enjoyed watching every second of it. Her music has been receiving a lot of critical acclaim this year and I am so happy that she is experiencing better times now. I am so glad she's back and I can't wait to see what she brings us this year. Kesha is truly an amazing woman and artist and I am so glad that she had a great year in 2017.







To everyone who read this post, feel free to comment your thoughts and your opinions, but please do not argue. More posts will be on the way. Thank you all who read this all the way through. I really put my heart into making this list as I do every year. You all are amazing and thank you all for making 2017 such a great year for me.

~ Jack :)

Halsey (2) - Week Of December 30, 2017

Hey guys! So, I have gotten most of the Year-End Posts out of the way and the big one will be coming up in a few days. This was the last countdown of the year and as expected, there were no exits. There are typically no exits the last week of the year and the first week of the following year. So, let's just get right into it.

Last Week's #1 Song: Ed Sheeran - Perfect
#1 Song This Week 1 Year Ago: Hailee Steinfeld & Grey/Zedd - Starving

The Countdown
45. MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low (#45)
44. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious (#38)
43. Harry Styles - Kiwi (#42)
42. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (#41)
41. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#44) [9 Weeks At #1]
40. Charlie Puth - Attention (#43) [1 Week At #1]
39. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#32) [4 Weeks At #1]
38. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#27) [3 Weeks At #1]
37. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (#31)
36. Nick Jonas - Find You (#30)
35. Symon - Lonely Girl (#33)
34. Liam Payne - Bedroom Floor (#39)
33. Linkin Park - One More Light (#37)
32. Eminem/Ed Sheeran - River (#35)
31. Louis Tomlinson - Miss You (#36)
30. P!nk - What About Us (#20) [1 Week At #1]
29. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#22) [5 Weeks At #1]
28. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#28) [1 Week At #1]
27. The Shadowboxers - Hot Damn (#34)
26. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (#26)
25. Liam Payne - Strip That Down (#25) [2 Weeks At #1]
24. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#28)
23. Dua Lipa - New Rules (#17)
22. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#16) [3 Weeks At #1]
21. Lauv - I Like Me Better (#19)
20. Walk The Moon - One Foot (#40)
19. Macklemore/Kesha - Good Old Days (#23)
18. X Ambassadors - Ahead Of Myself (#24)
17. Post Malone/21 Savage - Rockstar (#21)
16. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (#18)
15. Selena Gomez & Marshmello - Wolves (#15)
14. Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask (#14)
13. Bebe Rexha/Florida Georgia Line - Meant To Be (#13)
12. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl (#7) [4 Weeks At #1]
11. Kesha - Praying (#11)
10. Zayn/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn (#12)
9. Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft (#9)
8. Charlie Puth - How Long (#10)
7. Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It? (#8)
6. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go (#6)
5. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (#5)
4. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#3) [2 Weeks At #1]
3. Camila Cabello - Havana (#2) [1 Week At #1]
2. Ed Sheeran - Perfect (#1) [1 Week At #1]
1. Halsey - Bad At Love (#4) [2nd Week At #1]

Biggest DROP!!!... Of The Week: Niall Horan - Slow Hands (-11)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Walk The Moon - One Foot (+20)

#1 Recommendation Of The Week: Timeflies/Shy Martin - Raincoat


Hit-Bound

• P!nk - Beautiful Trauma 
• All Time Low - Last Young Renegade
• Alan Walker/Noah Cyrus/Digital Farm Animals - All Falls Down
• Clean Bandit/Julia Michaels - I Miss You
• Taylor Swift/Ed Sheeran/Future - End Game
• NF - Let You Down
• Imagine Dragons - Whatever It Takes
• Spencer - Whatever
• WOLVES - Animal
• Sofi Tukker/NERVO/The Knocks/Alisa Ueno - Best Friend
• AJR/Rivers Cuomo - Sober Up
• Camila Cabello - Never Be The Same
• G-Eazy & Halsey - Him & I
• Fall Out Boy - Hold Me Tight Or Don't

My Top 5 Hit-Bound Picks

1. Camila Cabello - Never Be The Same

2. Taylor Swift/Ed Sheeran/Future - End Game

3. G-Eazy & Halsey - Him & I

4. Clean Bandit/Julia Michaels - I Miss You

5. P!nk - Beautiful Trauma

One Blurb

~ Well, Halsey - Bad At Love is back at #1. Although I still find this one good, our #2 or #3 song I would much more prefer. It's alright, I'll take it for now.

~ Now, we have Zayn/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn in the top 10. To be honest, I thought that this one would have not made it this far, but I'm sure glad that it did. 

~ So, we received four new songs in the top 20. Post Malone/21 Savage - Rockstar entered, which I am not pleased about. However, we got two good songs, X Ambassadors - Ahead Of Myself, Macklemore/Kesha - Good Old Days, and Walk The Moon - One Foot. So, at least we got more good than bad.

~ Yes! We finally got Imagine Dragons - Believer out of the upper part of the countdown. Now, only if we can keep it dropping, that would be good.

~ I'm glad that The Shadowboxers - Hot Damn made a little resurgence. 

~ P!nk - What About Us saw a pretty good sized drop this week. It's a shame because this song really is good.

~ Well, the rest of our debuts from last week all failed to do well on their second week on the chart. Louis Tomlinson - Miss You only jumped five spots, Eminem/Ed Sheeran - River only jumped three, and Liam Payne - Bedroom Floor only jumped five. None of them made it out of the top 30. I would have rather preferred that the first two did, but hopefully they will next week.

~ Well, it looks like Harry Styles - Kiwi is not going to last much longer. I find it kind of sad that this station fails to appreciate his music as a solo artist, and decides to respect his band mates notably more. He is equally as good, if not, better.

Let's Do A Top 20 Review!

0-Garbage

20. Post Malone/21 Savage - Rockstar

1-Bad

NONE

2-Mediocre

NONE

3-Decent

19. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl

18. Imagine Dragons - Thunder

4-Good

17. Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft

16. Bebe Rexha/Florida Georgia Line - Meant To Be

5-Great

15. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes

14. Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask

13. Charlie Puth - How Long

12. Zayn/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn

11. Kesha - Praying

10. Macklemore/Kesha - Good Old Days

9. X Ambassadors - Ahead Of Myself

8. Halsey - Bad At Love

7. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

6. Walk The Moon - One Foot

5. Selena Gomez & Marshmello - Wolves

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

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

2. Ed Sheeran - Perfect

1. Camila Cabello - Havana

Score: 89% (B+)

My Bottom 5 Countdown Picks

1. Imagine Dragons - Believer

2. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill

3. Post Malone/21 Savage - Rockstar

4. Liam Payne - Strip That Down

5. Niall Horan - Slow Hands

My Top 5 Countdown Picks

1. Camila Cabello - Havana

2. Ed Sheeran - Perfect

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

4. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

5. Louis Tomlinson - Miss You

I hope everyone has a great 2018!

~ Jack :)

Ed Sheeran - Year Of 2017 (Billboard Hot 100)

Hello again everyone! Well, I guess that this really was the year for Ed Sheeran. He has been topping so many year-end charts, and the year-end Billboard Hot 100 is no exception. Anyways, he did also top Hits 1's year-end chart as well. Alright. The same color code does apply here as well. Peak numbers will also be in parentheses. Let's get started, shall we?

Last Year's #1 Song: Justin Bieber - Love Yourself 

The Chart
100. Kieth Urban/Carrie Underwood - The Fighter (#38)
99. XXXTentacion - Look At Me! (#34)
98. blackbear/Gucci Mane - do re mi (#40)
97. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (#9)
96. Camila Cabello/Young Thug - Havana (#2)
95. YFN Lucci/PnB Rock - Everyday We Lit (#33)
94. Dustin Lynch - Small Town Boy (#36)
93. Gucci Mane/Migos - I Get The Bag (#11)
92. Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better (#6)
91. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (#38)
90. Marian Hill - Down (#21)
89. Miley Cyrus - Malibu (#10)
88. Adele - Water Under The Bridge (#26)
87. Harry Styles - Sign Of The Times (#4)
86. Migos/Gucci Mane - Slippery (#29)
85. Jason Derulo/Nicki Minaj/Ty Dolla $ign - Swalla (#29)
84. P!nk - What About Us (#13)
83. Gucci Mane/Drake - Both (#41)
82. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey/Zedd - Starving (#12)
81. A Boogie Wit da Hoodie/Kodak Black - Drowning (#38)
80. SZA/Travis Scott - Love Galore (#32)
79. Playboi Carti - Magnolia (#29)
78. Khalid - Young, Dumb, & Broke (#22)
77. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (#4)
76. Luke Combs - Hurricane (#31)
75. Jon Bellion - All Time Low (#16)
74. Calvin Harris/Pharrell Williams/Katy Perry/Big Sean - Feels (#20)
73. Katy Perry/Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm (#4)
72. Kane Brown/Lauren Alaina - What Ifs (#26)
71. Calvin Harris/Frank Ocean/Migos - Slide (#25)
70. D.R.A.M./Lil Yachty - Broccoli (#5)
69. Maroon 5/Future - Cold (#16)
68. Travis Scott/Kendrick Lamar - Goosebumps (#32)
67. Kesha - Praying (#22)
66. Kendrick Lamar/Rihanna - Logyalty. (#14)
65. Drake - Passionfruit (#8)
64. Rae Sremmurd - Swang (#26)
63. Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall - Juju On That Beat [TZ Anthem] (#5)
62. Kendrick Lamar - DNA. (#4)
61. Ayo & Teo - Rolex (#20)
60. Aminé - Caroline (#11)
59. Halsey - Now Or Never (#17)
58. Twenty One Pilots - Heathens (#2)
57. Brett Young - In Case You Didn't Know (#19)
56. Post Malone/21 Savage - Rockstar (#1) [8 Weeks]
55. Kodak Black - Tunnel Vision (#6)
54. Shawn Mendes - Mercy (#15)
53. Yo Gotti/Nicki Minaj - Rake It Up (#8)
52. Migos - T-Shirt (#19)
51. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#4)
50. J Balvin & Willy William - Mi Gente [Beyoncé Remix] (#3)
49. Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling! (#1) [1 Week]
48. 21 Savage - Bank Account (#12)
47. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#6)
46. DJ Snake/Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You (#4)
45. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (#4)
44. Clean Bandit/Sean Paul/Anne-Marie - Rockabye (#9)
43. Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Side To Side (#4)
42. The Chainsmokers - Paris (#6)
41. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things (#4)
40. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#6)
39. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (#1) [3 Weeks]
38. Maroon 5/Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know (#6)
37. Drake - Fake Love (#8)
36. Liam Payne/Quavo - Strip That Down (#10)
35. Big Sean - Bounce Back (#6)
34. The Weeknd/Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (#4)
33. Rihanna - Love On The Brain (#5)
32. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#11)
31. Logic/Alessia Cara/Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 (#3)
30. Alessia Cara - Scars To Your Beautiful (#8)
29. Julia Michaels - Issues (#11)
28. Kyle/Lil Yachty - iSpy (#4)
27. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me (#10)
26. Zayn & Taylor Swift - I Don't Wanna Live Forever (#2)
25. Childish Gambino - Redbone (#12)
24. Cardi B - Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) (#1) [3 Weeks]
23. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#6)
22. Charlie Puth - Attention (#5)
21. Khalid - Location (#16)
20. The Weeknd/Daft Punk - Starboy (#1) [1 Week]
19. Rae Sremmurd/Gucci Mane - Black Beatles (#1) [7 Weeks]
18. DJ Khaled/Rihanna/Bryson Tiller - Wild Thoughts (#2)
17. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#7)
16. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (#4)
15. French Montana/Swae Lee - Unforgettable (#3)
14. Future - Mask Off (#5)
13. Lil Uzi Vert - XO TOUR Llif3 (#7)
12. DJ Khaled/Justin Bieber/Quavo/Chance The Rapper/Lil Wayne - I'm The One (#1) [1 Week]
11. James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go (#11)
10. Post Malone/Quavo - Congratulations (#8)
9. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#4)
8. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road (#6)
7. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer (#1) [12 Weeks]
6. Migos/Lil Uzi Vert - Bad & Boujee (#1) [3 Weeks]
5. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (#3)
4. Kendrick Lamar - Humble. (#1) [1 Week]
3. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like (#1) [1 Week]
2. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee - Despacito [Justin Bieber Remix] (#1) [16 Weeks]
1. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#1) [12 Weeks]

So, a large percentage of the picks that Billboard made for the chart are pretty bad in my opinion. However, their picks were aided by the opinions of the general public, the sales, and airplay of each song. This country has, in the recent years been drawing more towards the genres of rap and hip hop. This allows genuine and decent pop (and other genres) songs, to decline on the charts. I feel like the opinions of the public are slowly beginning to degrade in quality, as there are completely utter stupid songs here such as Everyday We Lit (my worst pick), Rolex, and Juju On That Beat [TZ Anthem]. This music is just utter stupidity based on lyrics and meanings, and there are certainly more on here. However, it is nice to see that people still appreciate songs like Shape Of You, Closer (my best pick), and Starboy. To contradict that, though, there is only THREE songs in the top 20 I consider "great". So, I just feel like our taste in music, in my opinion is beginning to decrease, as there are so many genuine and good songs that don't get enough recognition.

Chart Review

Garbage Songs- 32 (x0) = 0 points

Bad Songs- 9 (x1) = 9 points

Mediocre Songs- 9 (x2) = 18 points

Decent Songs- 4 (x3) = 12 points

Good Songs- 17 (x4) = 68 points

Great Songs- 29 (x5) = 145 points

Final Chart Score: 252/500 (50%) [F]


So, as you can see the chart barely made a 50% rating of approval in my opinion. So, therefore it received an F based on the overwhelming amount of bad songs that we saw on the chart this year.


My Bottom 5 Chart Picks
1. YFN Lucci/PnB Rock - Everyday We Lit
2. Ayo & Teo - Rolex
3. Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall - Juju On That Beat [TZ Anthem]
4. Migos/Gucci Mane - Slippery
5. Migos - T-Shirt

My Top 5 Chart Picks
1. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer
2. Camila Cabello/Young Thug - Havana
3. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things
4. Julia Michaels - Issues
5. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do

Next post will be coming soon!

~ Jack :)

Ed Sheeran - Year Of 2017

Hey guys! It has been another year that has gone by and that means that Hits 1 has counted down their most successful songs of the year. This year, they featured a good number of good songs on here. However, they did look over a few, as they do every year. Anyways, here is the fresh 45 of 2017 based on success of songs on the Hits 1 Weekend Countdown. The peak numbers of each song will be indicated in parentheses. The normal color code does apply to address how I currently feel about each of the songs on the list. Happy reading!

#1 Song Last Year: Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out

The Countdown
45. Linkin Park - One More Light (#5)
44. The Weeknd/Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (#10)
43. Panic! At The Disco - Death Of A Bachelor (#7)
42. Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Side To Side (#10)
41. Kesha - Praying (#5)
40. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee - Despacito [Justin Bieber Remix] (#3)
39. Maroon 5 - Cold (#3)
38. AJR - Weak (#10)
37. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (#6)
36. Alessia Cara - Scars To Your Beautiful (#4)
35. P!nk - What About Us (#1) [1 Week]
34. Adele - Water Under The Bridge (#5)
33. Jon Bellion - All Time Low (#5)
32. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things (#2)
31. Lady Gaga - The Cure (#6)
30. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#1) [2 Weeks]
29. Linkin Park/Kiiara - Heavy (#5)
28. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#1) [1 Week]
27. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl (#1) [4 Weeks]
26. Twenty One Pilots - Heathens (#1) [2 Weeks]
25. Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On (#5)
24. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road (#3)
23. Train - Play That Song (#10)
22. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee (#7)
21. Julia Michaels - Issues (#6)
20. Zayn & Taylor Swift - I Don't Wanna Live Forever (#3)
19. Charlie Puth - Attention (#1) [1 Week]
18. Fitz & The Tantrums - HandClap (#2)
17. Niall Horan - This Town (#2)
16. James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go (#3)
15. Shawn Mendes - Mercy (#2)
14. The Chainsmokers - Paris (#1) [1 Week]
13. Maroon 5 - Don't Wanna Know (#1) [3 Weeks]
12. Liam Payne - Strip That Down (#1) [2 Weeks]
11. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me (#4)
10. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like (#1) [1 Week]
9. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#1) [3 Weeks]
8. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey/Zedd - Starving (#1) [4 Weeks]
7. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#1) [3 Weeks]
6. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This (#1) [3 Weeks At #1]
5. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#1) [3 Weeks]
4. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#1) [5 Weeks]
3. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer (#1) [8 Weeks]
2. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#1) [4 Weeks]
1. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#1) [9 Weeks]

Shape Of Blurbs

~ I am quite fine with Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You being the #1 song this year, and honestly it was not a huge surprise, as it was the only song that spent nine weeks leading the chart this year, which was far more than any other song this year.

~ I am very surprised, however, that The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer was this high on the year-end chart, considering it had most of its success on the countdown last year. Nevertheless, I am definitely not complaining. It is one of my favorite songs. I consider it the best one here.

~ Just a side note, this year, the entire top 10 consists of songs that were #1 at one point or another. There is usually a few songs in there that peaked at #2 or somewhere in the top 3, but Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me did earn a spot at #11, seeing as it peaked at #4. I just thought that it was a little interesting. That's all.

~ Well, four of my least favorite songs this year all came right below the top 20 this year, and right in a row. Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On, Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road, Train - Play That Song, and Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee (came just short of my bottom 10), sadly came all in a row. It was a very non-pleasurable listen when these all came rolling one after another. On the bright side, we got a good chunk of them out of the way. On the dark side, though, it makes me a bit irritated that they were here in the first place.

~ I find it kind of strange that Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee - Despacito [Justin Bieber Remix] did not get any higher on this list. Oh well.

~ On note of surprises, I am also quite surprised seeing that Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Side To Side also made this list. Another surprise was seeing The Weeknd/Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming making the list as well. They both peaked at the lowest position in the top 10. I just wasn't expecting to see them here, but I'm glad that they made it.

~ I also find it kind of interesting seeing as successful songs here like Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do, Sia/Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest, and Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still all failed to make it onto this chart. All of the above are songs I thoroughly enjoy and I am a bit confused as to why they failed to make it here. The second one even peaked at #2.

Let's Do A Year-End Chart Review!

0-Garbage
45. Train - Play That Song
44. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road
43. Imagine Dragons - Believer
42. Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On
41. Maroon 5 - Cold
40. Panic! At The Disco - L.A. Devotee
39. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

1-Bad
38. Liam Payne - Strip That Down
37. Niall Horan - Slow Hands
36. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill
35. Linkin Park - One More Light

2-Mediocre
34. Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
33. Lady Gaga - The Cure
32. Panic! At The Disco - Death Of A Bachelor
31. Maroon 5 - Don't Wanna Know
30. Niall Horan - This Town

3-Decent
29. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This
28. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl
27. Imagine Dragons - Thunder

4-Good
26. Fitz & The Tantrums - HandClap
25. James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go
24. Shawn Mendes - Mercy
23. Alessia Cara - Scars To Your Beautiful
22. Twenty One Pilots - Heathens
21. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry
20. Charlie Puth - Attention
19. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee - Despacito [Justin Bieber Remix]
18. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back
17. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay

5-Great
16. Adele - Water Under The Bridge
15. P!nk - What About Us
14. AJR - Weak
13. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey/Zedd - Starving
12. Kesha - Praying
11. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You
10. Linkin Park/Kiiara - Heavy
9. Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me
8. The Chainsmokers - Paris
7. The Weeknd/Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming
6. Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Side To Side
5. Jon Bellion - All Time Low
4. Zayn & Taylor Swift - I Don't Wanna Live Forever
3. Julia Michaels - Issues
2. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things
1. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer

Score: 64% (D)


My Bottom 5 Year-End Countdown Picks
1. Train - Play That Song
2. Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road
3. Imagine Dragons - Believer
4. Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On
5. Maroon 5 - Cold

My Top 5 Year-End Countdown Picks
1. The Chainsmokers/Halsey - Closer
2. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things
3. Julia Michaels - Issues
4. Zayn & Taylor Swift - I Don't Wanna Live Forever
5. Jon Bellion - All Time Low

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to check out the countdown review that was posted before this!

~ Jack :)

Ed Sheeran (1) - Week Of December 23, 2017

Hey guys! My hopes are that you all had a wonderful Christmas. If you did not see it, The Year In Review post was posted a couple of days ago. If you have not seen that yet, then it is the post before this one. I plan to have the rest of the posts out here soon. Before we get to this week's countdown, here are the four songs that are leaving us this week.

• Sam Hunt - Body Like A Back Road (#23) [FINALLY!]
• Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee - Despacito [Justin Bieber Remix] (#43)
• The Script - Rain (#44)
• Logic/Alessia Cara/Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 (#45)

Last Week's #1 Song: Camila Cabello - Havana

#1 Song This Week 1 Year Ago: Hailee Steinfeld & Grey/Zedd - Starving 

The Countdown

45. MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low (#40)

44. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (#42) [9 Weeks At #1]

43. Charlie Puth - Attention (#36) [1 Week At #1]

42. Harry Styles - Kiwi (#35)

41. Cheat Codes/Demi Lovato - No Promises (#41)

40. Walk The Moon - One Foot (DEBUT)

39. Liam Payne - Bedroom Floor (DEBUT)

38. Macklemore/Skylar Grey - Glorious (#26)

37. Linkin Park - One More Light (#37)

36. Louis Tomlinson - Miss You (DEBUT)

35. Eminem/Ed Sheeran - River (DEBUT)

34. The Shadowboxers - Hot Damn (#27)

33. Symon - Lonely Girl (#38)

32. Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay (#39) [4 Weeks At #1]

31. Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (#32)

30. Nick Jonas - Find You (#31)

29. Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (#10) [1 Week At #1]

28. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (#30) [3 Weeks At #1]

27. Niall Horan - Slow Hands (#33) [3 Weeks At #1]

26. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still (#20)

25. Liam Payne - Strip That Down (#29) [2 Weeks At #1]

24. X Ambassadors - Ahead Of Myself (#28)

23. Macklemore/Kesha - Good Old Days (#34)

22. Shawn Mendes - There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back (#25) [3 Weeks At #1]

21. Post Malone/21 Savage - Rockstar (#22)

20. P!nk - What About Us (#21) [1 Week At #1]

19. Lauv - I Like Me Better (#24)

18. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (#18)

17. Dua Lipa - New Rules (#19)

16. Imagine Dragons - Believer (#16) [3 Weeks At #1]

15. Selena Gomez & Marshmello - Wolves (#15)

14. Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask (#13)

13. Bebe Rexha/Florida Georgia Line - Meant To Be (#14)

12. Zayn/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn (#17)

11. Kesha - Praying (#12)

10. Charlie Puth - How Long (#11)

9. Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft (#8)

8. Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It? (#5)

7. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl (#4) [4 Weeks At #1]

6. Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso/Florida Georgia Line/watt - Let Me Go (#6)

5. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do (#9)

4. Halsey - Bad At Love (#3) [1 Week At #1]

3. Imagine Dragons - Thunder (#4) [2 Weeks At #1]

2. Camila Cabello - Havana (#1) [1 Week At #1]

1. Ed Sheeran - Perfect (#2) [1st Week At #1]

Biggest DROP!!!... Of The Week: Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry (-19)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Macklemore/Kesha - Good Old Days (+11)

#1 Recommendation Of The Week: Grace VanderWaal - So Much More Than This

New Entrants

~ Our first entrant this week comes from Walk The Moon, returning with One Foot. This band had a lot to live up to after their smash hit a couple of years ago, Shut Up & Dance, and I have to say they definitely did not fail to impress with this one either. This song just has a lot of good vibes to it and it's one of those get up and dance songs. This has a good beat, and great vocals, as well as those feel-good vibes. We could definitely use more songs like this, as they are just ones that put a pause on our lives that just make us feel good.

~ Next up is Liam Payne returning with his new single, Bedroom Floor. This song reminds me a lot of Strip That Down. I liked this song for a little bit, but it quickly faded on me, probably mostly due in part to its similarity to its predecessor. Liam definitely needs to branch out a little more with the style he's taking with is music, as this style is a little awkward and his lyrical content thus far is pretty much satisfactory. I'm not sure it will last so long here, as it's not doing so great elsewhere, but it's just okay at this point, it's not a song I'm excited to listen to in summary. 

~ Next we have Louis Tomlinson with Miss You. Unlike Liam, Louis really seems to have found his own lane. Liam needs a little more work on that. I really like the solo artist Louis has become. The lyrical content on this one is pretty good considering its highlighting what you must do after you experience heartbreak.  It's just something that I'm sure a lot of people relate to. The instrumentals are very cool and I like the production. This would make a good lead single off an album, which hopefully will be coming soon from him. All in all, this is my favorite song that he has released as a solo artist this far, and I can't wait to hear what else he has in store.

~ Ladies and gentlemen, Eminem has made his return and he is back this time with Ed Sheeran. The song entering the countdown this week is River. Ed Sheeran now has FIVE, count them, FIVE songs on the countdown. I didn't think that Hits 1 would ever allow that but they love Ed Sheeran, so I guess it's not much of a surprise that they would have him be the first person to achieve such an honor. Eminem has decent flowing verses on the track and Ed Sheeran sounds great as usual. I really like how Eminem finds people who are just as passionate as him with music to collaborate with. I think it makes for pretty decent tracks every time. 

Hit-Bound

• Sofi Tukker/NERVO/The Knocks/Alisa Ueno - Best Friend
• Fall Out Boy - Hold Me Tight Or Don't
• Spencer - Whatever
• NF - Let You Down (DEBUT)
• Imagine Dragons - Whatever It Takes
• Taylor Swift/Ed Sheeran/Future - End Game
• AJR/Rivers Cuomo - Sober Up
• P!nk - Beautiful Trauma
• Alan Walker/Noah Cyrus/Digital Farm Animals - All Falls Down (DEBUT)
• Clean Bandit/Julia Michaels - I Miss You
• WOLVES - Animal
• G-Eazy & Halsey - Him & I (DEBUT)
• Camila Cabello - Never Be The Same (DEBUT)
• All Time Low - Last Young Renegade

Top 5 Hit-Bound Picks

1. Camila Cabello - Never Be The Same

2. Taylor Swift/Ed Sheeran/Future - End Game

3. Clean Bandit/Julia Michaels - I Miss You

4. G-Eazy & Halsey - Him & I

5. P!nk -Beautiful Trauma

Bedroom Blurbs

~ I am very happy seeing Ed Sheeran - Perfect at the top spot. It is such a very nice and beautiful song with a great meaning behind it. We definitely need more love songs like this being successful nowadays.

~ Although Camila Cabello - Havana did drop from the #1 spot, I am glad that it even reached that height here. It is still the best song here. It is so infectiously catchy, and I am so glad that it has been successful.

~ I am pretty surprised that Kesha is still up this high with Praying. I thought for sure she would be lower by now. Nevertheless, it is still a good song and I'm glad that it hasn't dropped so far down yet.

~ Although Bebe Rexha/Florida Georgia Line - Meant To Be is still in green, it is becoming a little too much to handle. I hear this song all the time, and it is slowly becoming just an okay song. I don't know if my opinion will change on this one or not, but it could in the coming weeks.

~ I am about ready to lose it with Imagine Dragons - Believer. Now that the previous worst song has left the countdown, my main focus is on brushing this one out of here. It has been in the top 20 far too long and it needs to just leave. It's been very overplayed and overrated and its really just a poor track overall. I am hoping to see some declining from this one in the near future.

~ I am glad to see that the better Macklemore song here, Good Old Days, featuring Kesha, has been successful so far with a decent second week jump. I hope to see some success out of this one. I think it is probably going down in my book as better than its predecessor.

~ Well, it looks like it's coming close to an end for Demi Lovato - Sorry Not Sorry. The drop came at the right time, though, as it is becoming a little old to me at this point. Its status right now is just an okay song to me.

~ The Shadowboxers - Hot Damn seems to be declining lately, and it's a bit sad, as I really wanted this one to do well. It's a good song in my book.

~ Harry Styles - Kiwi has clearly been completely unsuccessful and I am quite sad that this station seems to favor all of the other artists from the band, and not him. His music is very good, and I don't see why it always does bad here.

~ Hopefully this marks the final moments of MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low. I am quite sick of it at this point. It would be one less bad song on the countdown if it left next week.

Let's Do A Top 20 Review!

0-Garbage

20. Imagine Dragons - Believer

1-Bad

NONE

2-Mediocre

NONE

3-Decent

19. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl

18. Imagine Dragons - Thunder

17. Kelly Clarkson - Love So Soft

4-Good

16. Dua Lipa - New Rules

5-Great

15. Bebe Rexha/Florida Georgia Line - Meant To Be

14. Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes

13. P!nk - What About Us

12. Kesha - Praying

11. Charlie Puth - How Long

10. Zayn/Sia - Dusk Till Dawn

9. Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask

8. Lauv - I Like Me Better

7. Halsey - Bad At Love

6. Maroon 5/SZA - What Lovers Do

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

4. Selena Gomez & Marshmello - Wolves

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

2. Ed Sheeran - Perfect

1. Camila Cabello - Havana

Score: 88% (B+)

My Bottom 5 Countdown Picks

1. Imagine Dragons - Believer

2. Liam Payne - Strip That Down

3. Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill

4. MAX/Gnash - Lights Down Low

5. Post Malone/21 Savage - Rockstar

My Top 5 Countdown Picks

1. Camila Cabello - Havana

2. Ed Sheeran - Perfect

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

4. Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still

5. Louis Tomlinson - Miss You

Thanks for reading! More posts on the way!

~ Jack :)