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#1 THANK U, NEXT / Ariana Grande
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "My jam" I’m such an Ariana fan it’s easy to forget that she hasn’t had a number one single before this. I’m tempted to say this single isn’t deserving the title of her highest charting hit, but you can’t deny the masses. What this track lacks lyrically or musically, it more than makes up for in cultural relevance. We spent 2018 watching her engagement to Pete Davidson and though it wasn’t a ploy, it was the perfect PR set up for a song. On top of that, it’s the perfect upbeat anthem. Everyone has something in their life they say “Thank u, next” to. Well played, Ariana, and congrats on now 7 weeks at #1.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Love this song and I would have appreciated it on Sweetener, which felt a little light-weight and a little Pharrell-heavy. Release and concept of this song reminds me of Eminem's "Killshot" which trailed on the heels of a full release and added personal drama to the mix.
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#2 SICKO MODE / Travis Scott
Erin - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" This is a good, respectable track. Swae Lee is minimally featured here, but is also topping the dance charts featured on Ellie Goulding’s “Closer.” He seems to be connecting with the right people, and I’ll be watching him on the charts.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" This
Billboard article is super interesting. Sounds like this one hit number one the hard way. Still, I'm encouraged that the pop landscape has made room for a track with such. weird format and not a lot of melody. Speaks to the power of having Drake on the track.
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#3 WITHOUT ME / Halsey
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "My jam" Halsey is a treat. Her timbre is fantastic, I love hearing her voice on the radio. I’m a recent fan, but have gone back and listened to her entire catalog. "Without Me" is certainly the rawest and most sophisticated record so far, I think in large part that she wrote this from her perspective instead of through a concept as she’s done on both full length albums. So pleased that she was able to release this single.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Halsey's vocal control and energy reminds me of Rihanna. I thought she was older than she is, so I'm hopeful she'll have a long career. She does a great job of harnessing angst without whining. This track has an effortlessness to it, while full of tension.
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#4 HIGH HOPES / Panic! At The Disco
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" A long time Panic! At The Disco fan, I’ve been happy to keep up with their discography throughout the years. I used the album "High Hopes" is on (Pray for the Wicked) as my training music for a 10k I ran this fall, so this song will always have good memories attached.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Not my scene, but this track is a jewel. The timbre is perfect for the radio, and the attention to detail and tightness of arrangement (clocks in at 3:11) make this a powerhouse. Really just a wonderful number.
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#5 HAPPIER / Marshmello
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" I like this song a lot but I wish I hadn’t put it on my running playlist. It’s a fun listen but overplayed at my own fault. I wish Marshmello had more of a point of view. He keeps showing up in the charts but is so forgettable.
Matt - ⭐️ "Turn it off" Lost a star for getting old. Best thing Marshmello does on this song is step back and let Bastille do the work.
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#6 ZEZE / Kodak Black
Erin - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" The steel drum is fun and light, but this really isn’t my genre. I don’t care for Travis Scott’s signature yelling in the background, and I don’t like Kodak Black’s timbre or cadence.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" Steel drum adds a brightness to this trap song, creating depth when many other songs get washed away in gloom.
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#7 LOVE LIES / Khalid
Erin - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" I loved this song when it came out but it’s not interesting enough to stick around and I doubt we’ll see it on the oldies station one day when we inevitably become our parents. I’m excited to see more from Normani.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" Getting old, but this is just a good song.
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#8 GIRLS LIKE YOU / Maroon 5
Erin - ⭐️ "Turn it off" This song continued to top the charts into the Thanksgiving season but I can’t figure out why. I can only assume it’s ignorable enough that Spotify users continued to listen on premade mixes without noticing to hit ‘next.’
Matt - ⭐️ "Turn it off" The opening of this song gives away that it's going to be horrible. "It's been twenty FOUR hours I need MORE hours with you." Stupid, stupid lyric; stupid stupid melody. Hold on, there's still 4 minutes left.
