ARiA Top Ten/Chart Review 21st August: What About A New Number One

We finally have a new number one at the top of the ARIA charts after 13 long weeks and it's probably the least surprising new number 1 considering the track record the artist involved has in Australia.

Before we get to that new number one, we bade farewell from the top 10 to "Slow Hands" by Niall Horan which dropped to number 12.


Australia's new number one is "What About Us?" by Pink, her ninth number one single in Australia which is impressive stuff. That album will undoubtedly sell like hotcakes when it's released. This isn't a surprise that "What About Us" is number one as Australia seems to be in love with Pink. Would suspect that this song got to number one on sales alone as streaming and Youtube haven't picked up yet.

Macklemore feat. Skylar Gray's "Glorious" looms as the big threat to "What About Us?" at number two, this song is doing extremely well on streaming. Pick up sales and it could very well take the number one spot in the next week.

The former number 1 "Despacito (Remix" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber fell two weeks short of the longest running number one hit that is currently held by "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran and I really don't see this getting back to number one, it's falling on sales, radio and on streaming and with Justin Bieber's new single likely to debut in top 3, it could be moving down time for "Despacito"


Speaking of moving down, that's what happened with Imagine Dragons single "Thunder", it's hold on number 2 ended with a two place slide down to number 4.

At number 5 is former UK number 1 "Feels" by Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean, It got replaced at number one by "New Rules" by Dua Lipa which currently sits at number 15 on the Australia charts after a 5 place climb.


Kesha got her album release boost with "Praying" up two places to number 6.


Two place drop for "Strip That Down" by Liam Payne feat. Quavo to go down two places to number 7.


It was a one place drop to number 8 for French Montana and Swae Lee with "Unforgettable". (Its surprising just how big this song is quite honestly)

At number 9 is 'Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, it dropped 3 places.


Finally and hopefully it's the last week in the top 10 for "Body like a Back Road" for Sam Hunt at number 10 after it dropped one place. We can only hope...


Outside of the top 10, the only other new entry to the top 50 was from Avicii and Sandro Cavazza with "Without You" at number 33


Outside of the top 50, there were new entries for Portugal. The Man with "Feel It Still" at 95, "Silence" by Marshmello feat. Khalid at 100, "Don't Tell Me" by Ruel at 86, "P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) by John Gibbons at 61 and "Little of Your Love (Bloodpop Remix)" by HAIM and Bloodpop at 85

"Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William continues to gain traction, it was the week's biggest climb jumping from 38 to 31 in the last week.

I mentioned the 5 place rise for "New Rules" by Dua Lipa, The other two noteable gains which was "Redbone" by Childish Gambino to number 27 from 30 last week and Jessica Mauboy's "Fallin'" returned top the top 20 at number 18


Biggest drop was Camila Cabello's "Crying in the Club" which went from number 40 last week to number 50 this week.
Other drop of significance was "Fetish" by Selena Gomez feat. Gucci Mane which continues to struggle for any kind of traction dropped to 39 from 32 last week, Most of the other dropping songs are on the way out anyway including "Symphony" by Clean Bandit feat. Zara Larsson

Two songs dropped out of the top 50 though and they were "Now Or Never" by Halsey (peaked at number 16) and "Moments" by Bliss 'n" Eso feat. Gavin James.


So the big question is where does "Friends" by Justin Bieber and Bloodpop debut (pretty certain it will debut top 5) and will Miley Cyrus also climb into the the top 10 with her new single "Younger Now". Will be reviewing both for New Music Friday Review.

New Music Friday Review: Return of Pink, Fifth Harmony's 2nd single is....good?

So this week's New Music Friday sees the return of Pink, Fifth Harmony release a new single and I review a song that is worthy of being a hit but won't be.


Song: What About Us?
Artist: Pink




When I heard that this song was going to be in a political vein aimed at a certain world leader (we all know who) I cringed. It's a rare political song actually makes its message concisely and clearly especially within the confines of a pop song so did Pink managed to achieve said rarity with the first single from her forthcoming new album "Beautiful Trauma"?

I wish I could say yes but really I am confused about what the song is trying to say to this person in regard to love and trust, it all feels very vague and not really the sharp, razor edge Pink that we've come to expect especially given this is the same Alecia Moore who wrote a song like "Dear Mr President"

This song really just feels a bit bland to me which is disappointing because I do love Pink.

Rating: 5/10



Song: Angel
Artist: 5th Harmony




It's no secret that I don't really have a huge love of Fifth Harmony's music, I wasn't a fan of the first single "Down", from their soon to be released second album, which was a rehash of the awful "Work From Home" so I really wasn't looking forward to hearing a new single from Fifth Harmony.

However it turns out that "Angel" pretty damn good even despite a pretty terrible effect over the chorus in between "Who said I was angel?" but Normani who is the best singer is given more of the load in this song and the song is much better for it. More Normani, less Lauren and Ally on Fifth Harmony songs please!

Rating: 7/10


Song: Alone
Artist: Cyrus



A brand new single from 2015 X Factor Australia winner Cyrus and I have to say I like this turn to a more stripped back R & B sound which does feel like a good fit for Cyrus voice but the biggest issue with this song is the fact it really doesn't go anywhere or do anything to take advantage of the big booming voice that Cyrus has so that's a bit disappointing.

Rating: 4/10


Song: More Than One of you
Artist: Neil Finn



Okay, I know what you are thinking, this song has no chance of making the ARIA singles top 50 chart this week so why I am even bothering to write about it. The reason I am bothering is because it is a terrific song that deserves to be a hit but it won't be for fairly obvious reasons.

The first single from Finn's new soon to be released album "Out of Silence" entitled "More Than One of You" is a delicious piano ballad along with harmonies that just sooth the soul, the song is stunning and if there were any justice in this god forsaken country, it would be a hit.

Rating: 9/10


Best of the week: No surprise "More than one of you" by Neil Finn. With a nod to "Angel" by Fifth Harmony in regard to songs more likely to hit the ARIA chart.


Worst of the week: I am tempted to give it to Pink for "What About Us?" largely because it's kind of disappointing and not at all what I expect from her.


New Music Friday on 18th August

- Despite cancelling his tour, Justin Bieber is back with a new single called "Can We be Friends?" with Blood pop

-"Younger Now"  by Miley Cyrus

- Little Mix get on the Spanish/Latin boom with a remix of Latin American band CNCO's single "Reggaeton Lento" (Heard a preview of it. It's pretty decent)

ARIA Top 10: August 14th: Despacito keeps number 1 but showdown looms

Going into this week's chart I was expecting some big changes as our number one seemed to lose all steam this week.

Instead that's not what I got.

Leaving the top ten this week was "Mama" by Jonas Blue feat. William Singe.

At number one for a thirteenth week (quite unexpectedly) was "Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber. Just how much longer it can remain at number one is in question with the loss of momentum it has suffered and with Pink's new single "What About Us?" to hit the chart next week, it's time at number one could be be numbered (thank goodness)

It's another week at number 2 for Imagine Dragons with "Thunder'. I don't see this reaching top spot though


The surprise hit though is "Glorious' by Macklemore feat. Skylar Gray which climbed two places to number 3. It could very well be a challenger for number 1 if those sales numbers improve.


At number 4 is Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean with "Feels" and its feeling a one place drop this week.

Liam Payne and Quavo's "Strip That Down" lives up to its name by stripping down to number 5. Hasn't been a good week for Liam with his song with Zedd "Get Low" really struggling for any kind of traction.

At number six is "Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller because quite frankly a lot of the moment has gone out of it. Sales are doing nothing for it right now.


A song that has been doing well in the USA and the United Kingdom. "Unforgettable" by French Montana feat. Swae Lee climbs into the top 10 at number 7, up four places from last week. I expect this song to be top 5 next week actually.


Kesha's "Praying" slides to number 8, it should get a big boost off the release of the album "Rainbow" so I expect "Praying" will stay in the top 10


Because people can't get enough of Uncle Kracker with no personality, Sam Hunt climbed one place to number 9 with 'Body Like A Back Road"


"Slow Hands" by Niall Horan rounds out the top 10 at number 10 and looks like it may exit the top ten next week with Pink's likely top 10 arrival.


Two new entries this week, the highest of them being "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy Williams at number 38, clearly trying to capitalise on the Spanish/Latin music boom going on right now courtesy of "Despacito"

The other a dance track from Axwell and Ingrosso entitled "More than You Know" at 48


That saw two songs that returned last week exit again this week with "It Ain't Me" by Kygo and Selena Gomez and "Signs" by Drake leave the chart.

The largest gain of the week belonged to "Back to You" by Louis Tomlinson feat. Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals from 20 to 13. Dua Lipa's "New Rules" entered the top 20 with a climb of 6 places from number 26 last week.

No majorly big losers this week with the biggest being "Galway Girl" by Ed Sheeran dropping from 36 to 47.

The biggest surprise of the week is that neither of Camila Cabello's new songs that being "Havana" and "OMG" entered the ARIA top 50,

We could have a big showdown for number one next week. Will "What about Us?" knock off "Despacito (Remix)"? We'll see but if anyone can knock off  "Despacito" for that number one spot in Australia, it's got to be Pink.

New Music Friday Review: Camila Cabello, Jamie Lawson, Rae Sremmurd

This week saw a double dose of Camila Cabello and new tracks from Jamie Lawson and...Rae Sremmurd hit New Music Friday so what did we get?


Song: OMG
Artists: Camila Cabello, Quavo






'OMG' is yet another single from the forthcoming debut album from Camila Cabello and I wish I could say that this was a track did what it intended in terms of being fun and a light weight breezy kind of song that made me feel good but this really this was boring apart from Camila attempting to rap using the staccato flow that has been heard so many times before. It's actually pretty much your standard trap song.

While Quavo uses his now standard verse (usually the third verse of the song) to reference the awful "Bad and Boujee" and Michael Jackson's moonwalk complete with your standard bragging. Ugh.

Rating: Boring and predictable which is not a good sign for this album. 3/10


Song: Havana
Artists: Camila Cabello, Young Thug (also Pharrell Williams)





Well I'll give Havana this. It's production is much more interesting and is much more playful without the trap beats and other nonsense heard through out 'OMG' even if the chorus teally isn't much chop (Seriously when was the last deep or meaningful chorus heard in a song) and is apparently about Cabello falling in love with a bad boy from Havana (Cabello's home town).
The lyrics really aren't anything special...actually they are pretty vapid but Camila's vocals really suit this kind of song even if it's just absolutely vapid most of which consistent of Cabello singing "Havana na-na-na"
Young Thug sound like or is pretending to get into the song and I guess given the instrumentation is pretty damn good.


Rating: Just a pity the song writing is awful here cause the production is alright. 4/10



Song: Can't See Straight
Artist: Jamie Lawson







A return from Jamie Lawson? I wasn't expect that but yeah Lawson is back with a new single called "Can't See Straight" from his soon to be released sophomore album "Happy Accidents". I have to say it reminds me a bit of country and folk all rolled into one in quite the strange way but still somewhat works.

It's decent enough I guess. I'll certainly talk it over the stuff Camila Cabello dished out.

Rating: 7/10


Song; Perplexing Pegasus
Artist: Rae Sremmurd.




I am really not sure I needed to see these guys back but "Perplexing Pegasus" is apparently the first single from "Sremmlife 3" and quite honestly I have no idea what either Swae Lee or Slim Jxmmi are on about here. Slim Jxmmi mentions that he has a problem in that he is in love with money while Swae Lee mentions in the chorus something about a "caterpillar whip". Um what?

Seems like a 'flexing anthem' but the production really doesn't quite fit for it to be a flexing anthem and that's not saying much for the production which is really is trap beats, a hint of piano with synthesised snaps. Blergh.


Rating: 4/10



Best of the week: Easily Jamie Lawson's "Can't See Straight"

Worst: "OMG" by Camila Cabello feat. Quavo


Next New Music Friday

"What about us?" by Pink
New Avicii apparently
"More than One of You" by Neil Finn


Let's hope that next week is better!

ARIA Chart: 7th August. Kesha and Sam Hunt rocket into the top 10

This week was as others would have it a mixed one, we got two new arrivals to the top ten, one that is excellent and the other being absolutely crap but we did lose "There's Nothin' Holding Me Back" by Shawn Mendes, it slid to number 13, while last week's number 10 "In the End by Linkin Park" dropped out of the ARIA Top 50 completely.

"Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber continues to remain an unmoveable force at number 1 for a twelfth week despite signs that it is starting to look shaky on streaming and sales, it's not number 1 in either category at the moment.

Things were stable for the top four with "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons posing rhe closest threat to "Despacito" at number 2, "Feels" by Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean stopped at number 3 and "Strip That Down" by Liam Payne feat. Quavo at number 4.

"Glorious" by Macklemore feat. Skylar Gray climbed two places off its arrival in the top 10 last week, it's at number 5.

"Wild Thoughts" continues to stumble for DJ Khaled, Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, it falls to number 6. I don't see it regaining that momentum either given it appears to have peaked on streaming and sales aren't holding up.

At number 7 is a song I am happy to see in the top ten because it's great, that song is "Praying" by Kesha which climbed from number 16 to reach the top 10.

"Slow Hands" by Niall Horan continues it's slow fall down the chart to number 8. "Mama" by Jonas Blue feat. William Singe falls one place to number 9. Both look vulnerable to songs outside of the top 10.

What isn't vulnerable unfortunately is "Body Like a Back Road" by Sam Hunt which climbed 5 spots to round off the top ten for this week. Why people want another "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker with even less personality and stupid lyrics is beyond me but anyway.

Beyond the top 10, the biggest gainer this week was :Dua Lipa's "New Rules" which jumped 20 places to number 46.

"Back To You" by Louis Tomlinson feat. Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals climbed six places to crack the top 20.

"Fetish" by Selena Gomez feat. Gucci Mane recovered somewhat from the fall last week to end up at number 29.

"Crying In the club" by Camila Cabello entered the top 40 climbing 5 places to number 39

The biggest loser this week was Ed Sheeran's former number 2 "Galway Girl" dropping from 29 to 36 this week. 

There was one new entry from Lauv at number 50 with "I Like Me Better"

Drop outs were all the Linkin Park songs that were on the chart last week as is natural but sadly we also lost "Slide" by Calvin Harris featuring Frank Ocean and Migos.

So with seven songs dropping out, what returned to fill those places? :"Location" by Khalid at 44, "Believer' by Imagine Dragons at 45, "Get Low" by Zedd feat. Liam Payne at 46, "Moments" by Bliss 'n' Eso feat. Gavin James at 47, "It Ain't Me" by Kygo and Selena Gomez at 48 and "Signs" by Drake at 49.

Anyway that wraps up the ARIA chart for this week. New Music Friday Review will feature both Camila Cabello songs.

New Music Friday Review: Charli XCX and Anastacia

Let's just say the pickings are slim for New Music Friday Review this week. We've got the return of a woman with an absolutely incredible voice that dominated the ARIA chart in the early 2000s and Charli XCX has dropped what is likely to be a sleeper pop hit.

Song: Caught in the Middle

Artist: Anastacia



Anastacia was responsible for one of the biggest earworms of the early 2000s with "I'm Outta Love" spending five weeks at number 1 on the ARIA chart in 2000 and subsequently became the biggest song of 2000 in Australia, she released several other songs that have also charted well but a battle with cancer has seen her virtually disappear from the music scene until now with "Caught in the Middle" being the first single from her forthcoming album entitled "Evolution"


So what's "Caught in the Middle" like. It's actually pretty darn good, the trademark Anastacia vocals are there and brings forth plenty of difference from what we get in the current top 40 as it seems to have a very almost Indian sound which is refreshingly so different from trap beats. The lyrics are just insanely catchy and anthemic which is a surefire recipe to see this song stuck in your head.


Rating: 8/10. I like it a lot.


Song: Boys
Artist: Charli XCX




I can see this song getting annoying real fast. The chorus instrumentally sounds like somehing out of a video game and Charli XCX barely audible in singing about how her head is full of boys, all up it's a pretty shallow old pop song but hey sometimes shallow is what we need.

Look, this song lyrically or musically isn't going to bowl the world over but I can see it becoming a hit for her given the amount famous young men in the video for this song.

 Rating: 5/10


Song: Run for Cover \
Artist The Killers






We have a bit of a let down here especially considering how crazy retro cool "The Man was", the song just doesn't really come to anything that would seem extremely interesting. It's not bad per se but it certainly lacks the raw addictive energy that "The Man" showed so it's a bit disappointing to me, hopefully not a sign of their forthcoming album "Wonderful Wonderful"


Rating: 5/10



Other songs released
"Either Way" by Snakehips featuring Anne Marie and and Joey Bada$$ (As far as a song like this goes, it's not that bad a song, I can see my self coming back to this one. 7/10)

"Marmalade" by Macklemore feat. Lil Yachty (Ehh. Skip it. 3/10)

"Learn to Let Go" by Kesha (The third song from Raimbow which is out next week. Seems a bit odd but  this song is a nice one about learning to move on and not being bitter about the past. 7/10)

Best of the week

"Caught in the Middle" by Anastacia

Worst of the week

Macklemore seriously needs Ryan Lewis back by his side "Marmalade" with Lil Yachty is all kinds of baaad.


Next New Music Friday

Camila Cabello drops two new songs "Havana" with Young Thug and "OMG" with Quavo. (Almost obligatory he appears on the New Music Frifay playlist now)

Rae Sremmurd drop a new single called "Perplexing Pegasus"

Also new stuff from Bebe Rexha.

We'll see what else drops tomorrow! Hopefully some surprises!


You can check a playlist of my favourite songs of the year so far here:

Until ARIA Top Ten Review on Saturday, see you all later.

ARIA Chart Top Ten 31st July: Linkin Park return

Yet another crazy week on the ARIA charts with two new arrivals in the top 10 (well one old new...you'll see what I mean when we get to it)

There were two songs that exited from the top ten with "Attention" by Charlie Puth dropping from number 10 to number 13 and "I'm The One" by DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper dropping from number 8 to number 14.

Of course the one place where things remain the same is at number one where "Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat Justin Bieber remains at the top for the eleventh week. It has fours at number one to go if it's to equal Ed Sheeran's "Shape Of You" for the record of most weeks at number 1 in Australia ever,

"Thunder" by Imagine Dragons climbed two places to take the number 2 spot thanks to a good week on iTunes by enlarge (spent alarge portion of this week at number 1)

Calvin Harris continues to find success with the fourth song he has dropped from "Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1" with "Feels" featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean climbing to number 3 from five last week.

"Strip That Down" by Liam Payne and Quavo dropped two places to number 4 because that song has peaked by the look of it.

Despite having a good week on streaming, "Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled, Rihanna and Bryson Tiller didn't have the best week in sales which saw it drop back to number 5.

Nial Horan's "Slow Hands" remains at number 6.

A song that has broken into the top ten is "Glorious" by Macklemore featuring Skylar Gray. Bit of a surprise considering the reviews of the track but it climbed from 15 to number 7

At number 8 is "Mama" by Jonas Blue featuring William Singe which dropped to number 8 this week. Suspect this peaked at number 5 is heading out of the top ten but we'll see.

"There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" by Shawn Mendes remains inside the top 10 at number 9 for another week.

Re-entering the ARIA top 50 is Linkin Park's 2002 hit "In The Enf" following the recent awful suicide of lead singer Chester Bennington and was the highest of the 6 Linkin Park songs that re-entered the chart this week. "In The End" originally peaked at number 4 in their 2002 chart run.

Now for the big chart movers of the week. Heading up is "Praying" by Kesha which got back most of it's traction to move back up to number 16 from number 22 last week while Demi Lovato's "Sorry Not Sorry" climbed to number 28 from 35 last week.

Mostly all the big moves were down with Jessica Mauboy's "Fallin'" dropping 10 places to 21, it wasn't a good week for Selena Gomez with "Bad Liar" dropping six places to number 24 and "Fetish" dropping from 23 on debut to number 38, "Know No Better" by Major Lazer feat. Travis Scott, Camila Cabello and Quavo dropped to 41 after a climb to 34 last week.

There were several exits as well with "Green Light" by Lorde, "The Cure" by Lady Gaga, "Mask off" by Future, "Moments" by Bliss 'n' Eso feat. Gavin James,"Location" by Khalid, "It Ain't Me" by Kygo and Selena Gomez and "Swish Swish" by Katy Perry feat. Nicki Minaj exiting the ARIA Top 50. Some a bit prematurely like "Swish Swish" and others because they've had a good long chart run like "Green Light" and "The Cure"

Two new entries with the highest of those being "Back to You" by Louis Tomlinson, Bebe Rexha and Digital Animal Farm at number 26, "New Rules" by Dua Lipa at number 46.

That completes this week's ARIA chart rundown. Back with New Music Friday review with new singles from Charli XCX, The Killers and...Anastacia (Those who remember "I'm Outta Love" and "Left Outside Alone" will remember her) so until then it's goodbye for now