So for the last couple of weeks I have been suspecting that we're on the verge of change at the very, certainly streaming has suggested that it's time to move on from "Old Town Road" even if digial sales have been proping up this song's esistence at number one and imching it closer to the record for most weeks at number one certainly that was the case this week with "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X spending yet another week at number one making it the fourth longest number one in ARIA chart history, it's got three weeks to go at number one to break the record of 15 weeks at number one set by Ed Sheeran in 2017 with "Shape Of You"
However the challengers for the top spot are rising thick and fast and the first of those lies at number two with "Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, this song looks like being the one to take number one of any this week as it continues to rule streaming and is making big gains on digital sales and I am not convinced that the latest remix of "Old Town Road" with Mason Ramsey and Young Thug is having the desired impact for "Old Town Road".
It was a steady week for Ed Sheeran with "Beautiful People" feat. Khalid holding firm at number three...this song is a player for number one especially with the impending album bomb from Sheeran's Collaborations number 6 project as is Sheeran's lead single from the project "I Don't Care" with Justin Bieber at number four.
Post Malone's new single "Goodbyes" feat. Young Thug debuts at number 5. Honestly this song should rise given its doing well on streaming but not on sales which is odd.
"Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish is at number six but it appears to have gotten some kind of boost of the really kind of awful remix with Justin Bieber (probably the first misstep of her career) so I don't think we have seen the last of this song in the top ten.
Guy Sebastian's "Choir" is the first of two Australian songs in the top ten rising three places to number seven.
"Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi dropped two places to number eight while "Piece of Your Heart" by Meduza and Goodboys dropped two places to number nine/
The seconf of the two Australian songs in the top ten is "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I which rose seven places to reach the top ten but with the Ed Sheeran album bomb coming, I don't expect this to hang around in the top ten unfortunately.
Gains.
The biggest gain of the week belongs to Kygo and Whitney Houston's cover of "Higher Love" which jumped from 34 to 25 this week.
Miley Cyrus gained some traction for "Mother's Daughter" this week with that song going up to 29 from 37 last week.
Finally Blanco Brown's "The Git Up" rose six places to 13. I expect this song will be in the top ten post the Ed Sheeran album bomb.
Re-Entries
So can somebody explain why "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer is back at number 50, don't get me wrong, I like the song, it's just a surprise to see it back in the top 50.
Losers
Some justly deserved losses for utter crap with the biggest going to "The London" by Young Thug feat J Cole and Travis Scott which slipped from 30 to 43 and "Don't Check On Me" by Chris Brown and Justin Bieber down to 32 from 20 and Brown's other single "No Guidance" feat. Drake slid down ten places to 22...good. The sooner all three of the aforementioned songs are gone the better.
"Heaven" by Avicii dropped eight places to 40 while "Cross Me" by Ed Sheeran feat. Chance The Rapper and PNB Rock dropped to 14 but I expect "Cross Me" will return to the top ten given the likely album bomb.
Drop Outs
Tyler, the Creator's first Australian hit "Earfquake" is gone with six other songs following it out of the chart this week with Aussie band Birds of Tokyo's "Good Lord" also gone.
Billie Eilish had two songs fall out and both will probably make the year end list with her song with Khalid "Lovely" and "When the Party's Over" (a contender for my best hits of the year).
"Me!" by Taylor Swift is gone after just 10 weeks. What the hell happened to Taylor's longevity on the charts?
The increasingly tiresome "Don't Call Me Up" by Mabel is gone although her new single is probably going to chart soon enough.
We also lost the utterly shit "Go Loko" by YG feat. Tyga and Jon Z.
New Entries
So apart from Post Malone's "Goodbyes" with Young Thug making a top ten debut at number five what else debuted this week?.
Well, Ed Sheeran turned up with two new songs, the first of those being "Best Part of Me" with Yebba at number 24 and "Blow" feat. Chris Stapleton and Bruno Mars at number 40.
A contender for the worst hits list if this thing does become a hit is "Lalala" by Y2K and Bbnos at number 41.
We round out the week with two Australian songs with Jessica Mauboy's ballad "Little Things" in at number 46 while "Then What" by Illy debuting at 47. These two songs have had some pretty solid radio traction. Been hearing "Then What" a lot lately.
But that wraps up the week, I will be shocked and annoyed if "Old Town Road" is still at number one when the chart updates on Saturday at 5pm AEST because there's signs that Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello are going to be taking top spot, anyway we will find out.
Thursday, 18 July 2019
Charting 1996: 14th July. No Doubt about the jump into the top ten
So this week was interesting because for the second week in a row we havea sog tumping into the top top ten quite high as well from outside of it plus a new entry inside the top 20 but we'll get to all that in a moment because Fugees have kep the number one spot for another week as it continues to just rule everything sales wise.
It's not surprising that with all the hype around the new Mission Impossible film that "Theme From Mission: Impossible" by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen rose to number two, it pushed "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion back to number three.
The Tony Rich Project remains steady at number four with "Nobody Knows".
Now we get to the big seven place leap for American band No Doubt with their first single to hit the ARIA chart "Just A Girl" up to number five, this song is going gangbusters for them at the moment.
It pushed last week's big mover into the top ten, "Glycerine" by Bush back to number six however Robert Miles regained ground to move up one place to number seven/
All of this saw "Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit" by Gina G down two places to number eight anf Triple X's "X-Files Theme" down two to number nine" while former chart topper "Fastlove" by George Michael rounds out the top ten at number ten having dropped one place.
Gains
A lot of the gains are cases of continued momentum for overseas hits so "Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison jumped eleven places to seventeen while "Tha Crossroads" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rose from 47 to 25 n the biggest gain of the week!.
Amanda Marshall has broken into the top 40 with "Let it Rain" up ten places to 39.
Losers
Tough week for Michael Jackson with "They Don't Care About Us" dropping ten places to 44 while "Reach" by Gloria Estefan dropped 14 places to number 50.
OMC's "How Bizarre" copped an eleven place fall with "How Bizarre" slumping to 35 and speaking of former number ones Metallica's "Until it Sleeps" dropped six places to 20.
New Entries
The highest new arrival this week comes from American rising country star LeAnn Rimes with "Blue" debuting at number 14. It's the first song from Rimes to hit the ARIA chart. It's a damn good song too.
We have go to 31 to find the latest single from La Bouche called "I Love to Love" while Mariah Carey's newest ballad "Open Arms" opens at number 37.
Irish band The Corrs will be looking to follow up the success of "Runaway" with "Forgiven, But Not Forgotten" in at number 41.
We finish this week with Belgian rock band K'Choice debuting at number 47 with "Not An Addict" . It's not a bad song, hope it does well. for them.
That wraps up Charting 1996, it doesn't look like anything is holding a candle to Fugees for number one at the moment but we'll see what happens next week
It's not surprising that with all the hype around the new Mission Impossible film that "Theme From Mission: Impossible" by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen rose to number two, it pushed "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion back to number three.
The Tony Rich Project remains steady at number four with "Nobody Knows".
Now we get to the big seven place leap for American band No Doubt with their first single to hit the ARIA chart "Just A Girl" up to number five, this song is going gangbusters for them at the moment.
It pushed last week's big mover into the top ten, "Glycerine" by Bush back to number six however Robert Miles regained ground to move up one place to number seven/
All of this saw "Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit" by Gina G down two places to number eight anf Triple X's "X-Files Theme" down two to number nine" while former chart topper "Fastlove" by George Michael rounds out the top ten at number ten having dropped one place.
Gains
A lot of the gains are cases of continued momentum for overseas hits so "Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison jumped eleven places to seventeen while "Tha Crossroads" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rose from 47 to 25 n the biggest gain of the week!.
Amanda Marshall has broken into the top 40 with "Let it Rain" up ten places to 39.
Losers
Tough week for Michael Jackson with "They Don't Care About Us" dropping ten places to 44 while "Reach" by Gloria Estefan dropped 14 places to number 50.
OMC's "How Bizarre" copped an eleven place fall with "How Bizarre" slumping to 35 and speaking of former number ones Metallica's "Until it Sleeps" dropped six places to 20.
New Entries
The highest new arrival this week comes from American rising country star LeAnn Rimes with "Blue" debuting at number 14. It's the first song from Rimes to hit the ARIA chart. It's a damn good song too.
We have go to 31 to find the latest single from La Bouche called "I Love to Love" while Mariah Carey's newest ballad "Open Arms" opens at number 37.
Irish band The Corrs will be looking to follow up the success of "Runaway" with "Forgiven, But Not Forgotten" in at number 41.
We finish this week with Belgian rock band K'Choice debuting at number 47 with "Not An Addict" . It's not a bad song, hope it does well. for them.
That wraps up Charting 1996, it doesn't look like anything is holding a candle to Fugees for number one at the moment but we'll see what happens next week
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
ARIA Singles Chart top ten/Chart Review 8th July: A beautiul new arrival for Ed and Khalid in top 5
Uggghhhh...I am getting a little tired of saying this but yet again it felt like the chart was on the verge of major upheaval and while to a degree that did happen with a new arrival in the top 5, it didn't happen where the chart desperately needs it which is at number one which for yet another week belongs to "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X and seriously unless something topples it on digital sales, I can see this going very close to the record amount of weeks at number one set by Ed Sheeran with "Shape of You" back in 2017 of 15 weeks (non consecutive though)
"Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello holds on to number two with great streaming numbers. This looks a contender if somehow "Old Town Road" suddenly collapses.
Then we have two Ed Sheeran collabs back to back with "I Don't Care" (feat. Justin Bieber) at number three and a new entry at number four with "Beautiful People" (feat. Khalid)...I don't expect "Beautiful People" to stick around though but somehow it's getting radio airplay so we'll see what happens, I guess.
Whatever the case, it pushed "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish back to number five although there's talk that this song is getting a remix so we'll see what happens, I don't think we've seen the last of this song yet.
A song that has really started to grate on me a fair bit is "Someone You Loved' by Lewis Capaldi remaining at number six while "Piece of Your Heart" by Meduza and Goodboys continues its rise up two places to number seven (I'm cool with this as the song is pretty good)
There's a third Ed Sheeran collab stuck at number eight with "Cross Me" (feat. Chance the Rapper and PNB Rock).
Taylor Swift songs aren't having much longevity in the top ten this era with "You Need to Calm Down" down four places to number nine. Ouch.
Finally in a pleasant surprise, "Choir" by Guy Sebastian continues to ride some really good momentum to jump ten places to number ten this week. Great stuff. Can see this song getting higher with the decent sales and streaming it has right now and he'll get more promo for the song as he is performing it at the third NRL State Of Origin match tomorrow night.
Gains
However "Choir" wasn't the biggest gainer of the week, that honour went "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I which jumped all the way from 31 to 17 this week!
"The Git Up" by Blanco Brown broke into the top twenty with an eight place jump to number 19.
It's cracked the top ten in the US and now Lizzo is on the cusp of breaking into the Australian top 20 with "Truth Hurts" up to 21 from 28. (It's not even her best song!)
Why is "Call You Mine' by The Chainsmokers and Bebe Rexha up four places to 28? That song blows.
Losers
Some big falls across the board with the biggest being "Earfquake" by Tyler The Creator shaken down to number 39 from 23 last week which is a little disappointing as I don't mind that song.
What's not disappointing is the nine place fall for utter crap like "The London" by Young Thug feat. J Cole and Travis Scott down to number 30.
"SOS" by Avicii and Aloe Blacc needs help after it dropped from 19 to 27.
I mentioned that Taylor Swift's longevity issues when I talked about "You Need to Calm Down" well that continues because "Me!" feat. Brendon Urie dropped ten places to 47. Not a good sign for that album dropping in August.
Also dropping ten places was "Sucker" by Jonas Brothers to 24.
One drop out of the top ten I was disappointed about was the sudden four place drop for "Money in the Grave" to number 11.
Drop Outs
Two big ones this week with "Bury A Friend" by Billie Eilish and "I'm So Tired" by Lauv and Troye Sivan both gone. The former likely to make my year end best list and the latter probably bound to make my year end worst list for being fucking insufferable.
The other two definitely won't be, they are "Vossi Bop" by Stormzy and "Let You Know" by lume feat. London Grammar.
New Entries
So beyond "Beautiful People" by Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid at number four, there are three other new entries...just a pity none of them are very good.
Chris Brown has teamed up with Justin Bieber with "Don't Check on Me" at number 20 because we need more Chris Brown on the charts like a hole in the head.
Kygo gets on the bandwagon of those cashing in on dead artists by taking Whitney Houston's unreleased 90s cover of Steve Winwood's 1986 hit "Higher Love" entering at number 34.
Finally, Marshmello shows he can still chart junk by teaming up with American country singer Kane Brown for "One Thing Right" which debuts at number 50.
That wraps up this week. Chart updates at 5pm AEST on Saturday. Would really love a change of number one if I am to be honest.
"Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello holds on to number two with great streaming numbers. This looks a contender if somehow "Old Town Road" suddenly collapses.
Then we have two Ed Sheeran collabs back to back with "I Don't Care" (feat. Justin Bieber) at number three and a new entry at number four with "Beautiful People" (feat. Khalid)...I don't expect "Beautiful People" to stick around though but somehow it's getting radio airplay so we'll see what happens, I guess.
Whatever the case, it pushed "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish back to number five although there's talk that this song is getting a remix so we'll see what happens, I don't think we've seen the last of this song yet.
A song that has really started to grate on me a fair bit is "Someone You Loved' by Lewis Capaldi remaining at number six while "Piece of Your Heart" by Meduza and Goodboys continues its rise up two places to number seven (I'm cool with this as the song is pretty good)
There's a third Ed Sheeran collab stuck at number eight with "Cross Me" (feat. Chance the Rapper and PNB Rock).
Taylor Swift songs aren't having much longevity in the top ten this era with "You Need to Calm Down" down four places to number nine. Ouch.
Finally in a pleasant surprise, "Choir" by Guy Sebastian continues to ride some really good momentum to jump ten places to number ten this week. Great stuff. Can see this song getting higher with the decent sales and streaming it has right now and he'll get more promo for the song as he is performing it at the third NRL State Of Origin match tomorrow night.
Gains
However "Choir" wasn't the biggest gainer of the week, that honour went "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I which jumped all the way from 31 to 17 this week!
"The Git Up" by Blanco Brown broke into the top twenty with an eight place jump to number 19.
It's cracked the top ten in the US and now Lizzo is on the cusp of breaking into the Australian top 20 with "Truth Hurts" up to 21 from 28. (It's not even her best song!)
Why is "Call You Mine' by The Chainsmokers and Bebe Rexha up four places to 28? That song blows.
Losers
Some big falls across the board with the biggest being "Earfquake" by Tyler The Creator shaken down to number 39 from 23 last week which is a little disappointing as I don't mind that song.
What's not disappointing is the nine place fall for utter crap like "The London" by Young Thug feat. J Cole and Travis Scott down to number 30.
"SOS" by Avicii and Aloe Blacc needs help after it dropped from 19 to 27.
I mentioned that Taylor Swift's longevity issues when I talked about "You Need to Calm Down" well that continues because "Me!" feat. Brendon Urie dropped ten places to 47. Not a good sign for that album dropping in August.
Also dropping ten places was "Sucker" by Jonas Brothers to 24.
One drop out of the top ten I was disappointed about was the sudden four place drop for "Money in the Grave" to number 11.
Drop Outs
Two big ones this week with "Bury A Friend" by Billie Eilish and "I'm So Tired" by Lauv and Troye Sivan both gone. The former likely to make my year end best list and the latter probably bound to make my year end worst list for being fucking insufferable.
The other two definitely won't be, they are "Vossi Bop" by Stormzy and "Let You Know" by lume feat. London Grammar.
New Entries
So beyond "Beautiful People" by Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid at number four, there are three other new entries...just a pity none of them are very good.
Chris Brown has teamed up with Justin Bieber with "Don't Check on Me" at number 20 because we need more Chris Brown on the charts like a hole in the head.
Kygo gets on the bandwagon of those cashing in on dead artists by taking Whitney Houston's unreleased 90s cover of Steve Winwood's 1986 hit "Higher Love" entering at number 34.
Finally, Marshmello shows he can still chart junk by teaming up with American country singer Kane Brown for "One Thing Right" which debuts at number 50.
That wraps up this week. Chart updates at 5pm AEST on Saturday. Would really love a change of number one if I am to be honest.
Charting 1996: 7th July: Bush make a sticky "Glycerine" arrival to the top ten
So okay this week doesn't feel all that interesting if you were just to look at our relatively stable four where for a third week 'Killing Me Softly" by Fugees keeps the number one spot ahead of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" and really I don't see that changing for awhile. "Killing Me Softly" has a lock on number one for awhile, it has margins that "Because You Loved Me" isn't making inroads into.
"Theme from Mission Impossible" by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen wasn't able to bridge the gap to Celine so it stays at number three.and it was the same case for The Tony Rich Project's "Nobody Knows" at number four.
But from number 5 it does get interesting as Bush jump seven places to reach the top 5 at number with "Glycerine" and it's arrival pushed everything behind it down with "Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit" by Gina G back to number 6, "X-Files Theme (Version Dance)" by Triple X back to number 7, "Children" by Robert Miles back to number eight, "Fastlove" by George Michael slipped to number nine and Max-A-Million might finally be headed out of the top ten aftet they dropped to number ten with "Sexual Healing"
Gains
So the biggest gain of the week belongs to Mark Snow's "The X-Files" which jumped a massive thirteen places to number 27.
Mark Morrison is set for a massive hit in Australia with "Return of the Mack", it jumped eleven places to 26, I expect this song to be in the top ten pretty damn soon.
Good gain for "Just A Girl" by No Doubt it went to number 12 up from 18 last week.
Losers
Not too many big losers this week with the biggest being the nine place drop to number 39 for "California Love" by 2pac feat. Dr Dre but really most of the other losses were pretty small.
New Entries
All the new entries are in the 40s this week with the best of them being "Theme From S-Express (The Return Trip)" at number 44. A very much ramped up electronic dance version of theme from 1988.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have finally turned up at number 47 with their US smash hit "Tha Crossroads". It's spending it's 8th week at number one in the US. Could it do the same here?
oan Osborne is back number 48 with the follow up to her number one hit "One of Us" called "St Teresa".
Canadian pop rocker Amanda Marshall has her first ARIA singles chart entry with "Let It Rain" debuting at number 49 with "Let It Rain"
Finally to wrap up Charting 1996 for this week, the Manic Street Preachers are back with "A Design for Life" at number 50.
"Theme from Mission Impossible" by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen wasn't able to bridge the gap to Celine so it stays at number three.and it was the same case for The Tony Rich Project's "Nobody Knows" at number four.
But from number 5 it does get interesting as Bush jump seven places to reach the top 5 at number with "Glycerine" and it's arrival pushed everything behind it down with "Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit" by Gina G back to number 6, "X-Files Theme (Version Dance)" by Triple X back to number 7, "Children" by Robert Miles back to number eight, "Fastlove" by George Michael slipped to number nine and Max-A-Million might finally be headed out of the top ten aftet they dropped to number ten with "Sexual Healing"
Gains
So the biggest gain of the week belongs to Mark Snow's "The X-Files" which jumped a massive thirteen places to number 27.
Mark Morrison is set for a massive hit in Australia with "Return of the Mack", it jumped eleven places to 26, I expect this song to be in the top ten pretty damn soon.
Good gain for "Just A Girl" by No Doubt it went to number 12 up from 18 last week.
Losers
Not too many big losers this week with the biggest being the nine place drop to number 39 for "California Love" by 2pac feat. Dr Dre but really most of the other losses were pretty small.
New Entries
All the new entries are in the 40s this week with the best of them being "Theme From S-Express (The Return Trip)" at number 44. A very much ramped up electronic dance version of theme from 1988.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have finally turned up at number 47 with their US smash hit "Tha Crossroads". It's spending it's 8th week at number one in the US. Could it do the same here?
oan Osborne is back number 48 with the follow up to her number one hit "One of Us" called "St Teresa".
Canadian pop rocker Amanda Marshall has her first ARIA singles chart entry with "Let It Rain" debuting at number 49 with "Let It Rain"
Finally to wrap up Charting 1996 for this week, the Manic Street Preachers are back with "A Design for Life" at number 50.
Saturday, 6 July 2019
Top Ten Best Hit songs of the 2019 Mid Year
So here we are at the midway point of 2019 so I thought it might be fun to look at some of the best hit songs of 2019 so far except because it's mid year and it's not like ARIA follow the lead of the UK and release a mid year chart of the top 100 songs of the year so far so really the basis for this list is...a bit tenuous at best in that the list is based on what is likely going to show up on the year end chart come early January 2020.
Now I do want to stress that just because the songs I am about to write about here make this list, it's not a guarantee that they'll wind up on the year end list. This list isn't a guarantee for year end list appearance.
So far 2019 has by far been a more interesting year to discuss music and pop culture with some songs seeing former stars have another moment of glory, Lil Nas X handed Billy Ray Cyrus his first number one in years with a remix of Lil Nas X's massive hit "Old Town Road" while Oscars momentum saw Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper spend two weeks at number one again this year with "Shallow" and while we got a lot of good songs just not many truly great songs but none the less both the merely good and the great need to be recognised so here's the top ten best hit songs of 2019...so far..
2017 was a horrible, horrible year for this woman, not only did her album fail but she had to watch as Hillary Clinton lost the US presidential election to Donald Trump however she returned this year with a song that while not perfect is her best song in some time...
10. "Never Really Over" by Katy Perry
As I said before, this song is not perfect, Zedd's production is something out of 2017 with the ticking clock and unfortunately it doesn't help Katy Perry's vocal production but I'd argue this song made this list is because of Katy Perry herself, she totally throws herself into selling the song about a relationship that ends and then restarts repeatedly and she knows that even if they do break off, he'll be back again. It's a good song, glad to see Katy Perry back on form.
Speaking of being on form, I am really getting to like this guy and when he is releasing pop/songs like this one...well...I may start becoming a fan...
9. "If I Can't Have You" by Shawn Mendes.
Oh I wish this song was a rock song and Shawn Mendes could develop a throaty guttural presence in his voice because this song needed a seriously wild guitar solo and Shawn just absolutely cutting loose as he sings about his apparent obsessionwwith this girl who, because of his career, he is away from so reads her texts and near obsessively thinks about this girl and no matter how hard he tries to forget her, she is still in his head. The production is interesting to say the least, it sounds like a mix between something that could have been on the last The 1975 album with a touch of Jonas Brothers and yeah the hook does work for what it is.
Oohh boy, you are just going to have to go with me on this one...
8."Sunflower" by Post Malone feat. Swae Lee
I tried desperately hard to deny that this song was any good and ignore that it was any good by trying to convince myself that it was "forgettable garbage" but even that didn't convince me because I got to be honest I like the production on this song a lot, it's melodic enough that suits both Post Malone and Swae Lee (if you squint hard enough, Swae Lee souds like The Weekend) and Post Malone's melodic delivery works. It says enough that Taylor Swift appeared to sample this song for her latest single. Great job Post Malone and Swae Lee!
So this is the latest addition to this list and it comes from a relatively unknown Australian act based in Victoria and may well end up being a more controversial addition this list than "Sunflower" but...
7. "Johnny Run Away" by Tones and I
I can imagine a few people wincing when they see this song here but truth be told, I would take "Johnny Run Away" over a pandering train wreck of a song like "You Need to Calm Down" by Taylor Swift every single day of the week largely because of how "Johnny Run Away" handles its advocacy of the LGBT community as it tells the story of how Tones best friend came out as gay to his father at a young age and handling his father's disapproval of his homosexualty and rejection of him. The song is a reminder of the prejudices and judgement that many face not just from the public but even from within their own families
Oh yeah, this kickass song is another reminder that we need more songs in every single genre that tell a story.
So this song being here is more about correcting a pretty terrible oversight when I made my top ten best hits list for 2018 and I somehow left this song off the list so I am going to correct that here and now because it deserves to be here.
6. "Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
You know if there was a song on this list that gives me a lump in my throat and makes me look for lame ass excuses as to why I am crying, it happened with "Castle on the Hill" by Ed Sheeran in 2017 and also with "Healing Hands" by Conrad Sewell last year and again this song probably should have made my year end for the fact that Lady Gaga's vocals brought me to tears, she just sounds incredible on this song. Sure, Bradley Cooper plays his role really well and it kind of surprised me how well he fits in the song but this is Lady Gaga's show so when she enters the song, she just completely dominates vocally. Add to that some fantastic production and you have the ingredients for a song that is likely going to go down as a classic of the decade.
This pick is probably going to make people roll their eyes and wonder 'What the hell?" but truth be told I like my stupid pop music, otherwise I wouldn't be a fan of Spice Girls and S Club 7, there's absolutely a place where the lyrics cut as deep as a wet lettuce leaf hitting bare skin and at a time when a stupid song was needed, I think this woman delivered.
5. "Sweet But Psycho" by Ava Max
Okay, first things first, if you are taking this song seriously, can I suggest you stop? "Sweet But Psycho" isn't designed for anyone to take remotely seriously but to sit back and enjoy what is blatantly a ridiculously silly but fun pop song about this crazy woman and the longer the song goes lyrically the more ridiculous it gets however the hooks are great and its more than enough to get past how absurd the song is. It's just a dose of ridiculous pop absurdity that's way too much fun and at times when it feels like every artist is trying way too damn hard to be relatable, this song is the perfect antidote.
You know I feel blessed that this song was a hit in Australia, largelybecause the USA ignored it and it was some of the best work the singer on this song has done in a long time.
4. "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" by Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus
It always stuns me how well Mark Ronson makes music to fit the vocal abilities of the singers imvolved especially on his latest album "Late Night Feelings" with "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart" being the lead single for that album and what a delicious country pop song it is. Miley sounds like she is on her game more so than that EP she dropped some weeks ago. Given this song wasn't a hit in the US, I am very relieved it was a top ten hit in Australia as it deserved to be. Great job, Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus.
I first found out about this teenager back in 2017 when a song of hers appeared on Spotify's New Music Friday playlist and since then she has gone on to become one of the biggest rising stars in pop music since Justin Bieber. and she's on this list.
3, "Bury A Friend" by Billie Eilish
If Billie Eilish doesn't win Best New Artist at the Grammys next year than there's going to be a problem, her album "When We all Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go" is one of the best mainstream album release of 2019 so far and "Bury A Friend" is absolutely one of the reasons why with its industrial sound and a low key catchy hook with Eilish talking to this monster that's under bed, its surprisingly graphic and a tad shocking in its content but that's whole point. Eilish is pushing pop music into darker and very twisted territory with a subtlety that has to be admired.
So it came down to this, an Australian hip hop duo who came up with something close to a rock/hip hop blend or a collaboration between a British soul singer and a American woman fresh out of a all girl pop group and well...
2. "Leave Me Lonely" by Hilltop Hoods
2019 has been the year that I have understood the appeal of Hilltop Hoods and "Leave Me Lonely" with that rock solid guitar and MCs Suffa and Pressure riding the groove of the song as well they rap about not having time to deal with the absolute toxic garbage around them and would rather be left alone in peace. The line "Me and friends, we are not here for your BS" is a lime that I think will probably go down in Australian music folklore. If you haven't checked out Hilltop Hoods new album "The Great Expanse", please take the time to do so because it's excellent.
So we've arrived at number one and for awhile I wasn't certain that this song would be my number one pick for the mid year what with two other songs that you could make valid arguments for the number one spot but after listening to it again, I couldn't deny it...
1. "Dancing With A Stranger" by Sam Smith and Normani
Sam Smith has been doing a LOT right lately, he was fantastic on Calvin Harris's "Promises" last year and now with Normani on 'Dancing With A Stranger". A song where its clear that they are both lonely after a relationship breakdown and aren't enjoying it so they'll head out and try to have a dance with a stranger to find some relief in the melancholy they are both feeling. Now what I also like here is the production, its organic with just enough spare guitar to keep the song moving. I cannot wait to hear what Sam Smith releases next and indeed that debut solo album from Normani. This song is great and deserves to top this mid year list.
Now I do want to stress that just because the songs I am about to write about here make this list, it's not a guarantee that they'll wind up on the year end list. This list isn't a guarantee for year end list appearance.
So far 2019 has by far been a more interesting year to discuss music and pop culture with some songs seeing former stars have another moment of glory, Lil Nas X handed Billy Ray Cyrus his first number one in years with a remix of Lil Nas X's massive hit "Old Town Road" while Oscars momentum saw Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper spend two weeks at number one again this year with "Shallow" and while we got a lot of good songs just not many truly great songs but none the less both the merely good and the great need to be recognised so here's the top ten best hit songs of 2019...so far..
2017 was a horrible, horrible year for this woman, not only did her album fail but she had to watch as Hillary Clinton lost the US presidential election to Donald Trump however she returned this year with a song that while not perfect is her best song in some time...
10. "Never Really Over" by Katy Perry
As I said before, this song is not perfect, Zedd's production is something out of 2017 with the ticking clock and unfortunately it doesn't help Katy Perry's vocal production but I'd argue this song made this list is because of Katy Perry herself, she totally throws herself into selling the song about a relationship that ends and then restarts repeatedly and she knows that even if they do break off, he'll be back again. It's a good song, glad to see Katy Perry back on form.
Speaking of being on form, I am really getting to like this guy and when he is releasing pop/songs like this one...well...I may start becoming a fan...
9. "If I Can't Have You" by Shawn Mendes.
Oh I wish this song was a rock song and Shawn Mendes could develop a throaty guttural presence in his voice because this song needed a seriously wild guitar solo and Shawn just absolutely cutting loose as he sings about his apparent obsessionwwith this girl who, because of his career, he is away from so reads her texts and near obsessively thinks about this girl and no matter how hard he tries to forget her, she is still in his head. The production is interesting to say the least, it sounds like a mix between something that could have been on the last The 1975 album with a touch of Jonas Brothers and yeah the hook does work for what it is.
Oohh boy, you are just going to have to go with me on this one...
8."Sunflower" by Post Malone feat. Swae Lee
I tried desperately hard to deny that this song was any good and ignore that it was any good by trying to convince myself that it was "forgettable garbage" but even that didn't convince me because I got to be honest I like the production on this song a lot, it's melodic enough that suits both Post Malone and Swae Lee (if you squint hard enough, Swae Lee souds like The Weekend) and Post Malone's melodic delivery works. It says enough that Taylor Swift appeared to sample this song for her latest single. Great job Post Malone and Swae Lee!
So this is the latest addition to this list and it comes from a relatively unknown Australian act based in Victoria and may well end up being a more controversial addition this list than "Sunflower" but...
7. "Johnny Run Away" by Tones and I
I can imagine a few people wincing when they see this song here but truth be told, I would take "Johnny Run Away" over a pandering train wreck of a song like "You Need to Calm Down" by Taylor Swift every single day of the week largely because of how "Johnny Run Away" handles its advocacy of the LGBT community as it tells the story of how Tones best friend came out as gay to his father at a young age and handling his father's disapproval of his homosexualty and rejection of him. The song is a reminder of the prejudices and judgement that many face not just from the public but even from within their own families
Oh yeah, this kickass song is another reminder that we need more songs in every single genre that tell a story.
So this song being here is more about correcting a pretty terrible oversight when I made my top ten best hits list for 2018 and I somehow left this song off the list so I am going to correct that here and now because it deserves to be here.
6. "Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
You know if there was a song on this list that gives me a lump in my throat and makes me look for lame ass excuses as to why I am crying, it happened with "Castle on the Hill" by Ed Sheeran in 2017 and also with "Healing Hands" by Conrad Sewell last year and again this song probably should have made my year end for the fact that Lady Gaga's vocals brought me to tears, she just sounds incredible on this song. Sure, Bradley Cooper plays his role really well and it kind of surprised me how well he fits in the song but this is Lady Gaga's show so when she enters the song, she just completely dominates vocally. Add to that some fantastic production and you have the ingredients for a song that is likely going to go down as a classic of the decade.
This pick is probably going to make people roll their eyes and wonder 'What the hell?" but truth be told I like my stupid pop music, otherwise I wouldn't be a fan of Spice Girls and S Club 7, there's absolutely a place where the lyrics cut as deep as a wet lettuce leaf hitting bare skin and at a time when a stupid song was needed, I think this woman delivered.
5. "Sweet But Psycho" by Ava Max
Okay, first things first, if you are taking this song seriously, can I suggest you stop? "Sweet But Psycho" isn't designed for anyone to take remotely seriously but to sit back and enjoy what is blatantly a ridiculously silly but fun pop song about this crazy woman and the longer the song goes lyrically the more ridiculous it gets however the hooks are great and its more than enough to get past how absurd the song is. It's just a dose of ridiculous pop absurdity that's way too much fun and at times when it feels like every artist is trying way too damn hard to be relatable, this song is the perfect antidote.
You know I feel blessed that this song was a hit in Australia, largelybecause the USA ignored it and it was some of the best work the singer on this song has done in a long time.
4. "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" by Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus
It always stuns me how well Mark Ronson makes music to fit the vocal abilities of the singers imvolved especially on his latest album "Late Night Feelings" with "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart" being the lead single for that album and what a delicious country pop song it is. Miley sounds like she is on her game more so than that EP she dropped some weeks ago. Given this song wasn't a hit in the US, I am very relieved it was a top ten hit in Australia as it deserved to be. Great job, Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus.
I first found out about this teenager back in 2017 when a song of hers appeared on Spotify's New Music Friday playlist and since then she has gone on to become one of the biggest rising stars in pop music since Justin Bieber. and she's on this list.
3, "Bury A Friend" by Billie Eilish
If Billie Eilish doesn't win Best New Artist at the Grammys next year than there's going to be a problem, her album "When We all Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go" is one of the best mainstream album release of 2019 so far and "Bury A Friend" is absolutely one of the reasons why with its industrial sound and a low key catchy hook with Eilish talking to this monster that's under bed, its surprisingly graphic and a tad shocking in its content but that's whole point. Eilish is pushing pop music into darker and very twisted territory with a subtlety that has to be admired.
So it came down to this, an Australian hip hop duo who came up with something close to a rock/hip hop blend or a collaboration between a British soul singer and a American woman fresh out of a all girl pop group and well...
2. "Leave Me Lonely" by Hilltop Hoods
2019 has been the year that I have understood the appeal of Hilltop Hoods and "Leave Me Lonely" with that rock solid guitar and MCs Suffa and Pressure riding the groove of the song as well they rap about not having time to deal with the absolute toxic garbage around them and would rather be left alone in peace. The line "Me and friends, we are not here for your BS" is a lime that I think will probably go down in Australian music folklore. If you haven't checked out Hilltop Hoods new album "The Great Expanse", please take the time to do so because it's excellent.
So we've arrived at number one and for awhile I wasn't certain that this song would be my number one pick for the mid year what with two other songs that you could make valid arguments for the number one spot but after listening to it again, I couldn't deny it...
1. "Dancing With A Stranger" by Sam Smith and Normani
Sam Smith has been doing a LOT right lately, he was fantastic on Calvin Harris's "Promises" last year and now with Normani on 'Dancing With A Stranger". A song where its clear that they are both lonely after a relationship breakdown and aren't enjoying it so they'll head out and try to have a dance with a stranger to find some relief in the melancholy they are both feeling. Now what I also like here is the production, its organic with just enough spare guitar to keep the song moving. I cannot wait to hear what Sam Smith releases next and indeed that debut solo album from Normani. This song is great and deserves to top this mid year list.
Monday, 1 July 2019
ARIA top ten/ Chart Review: July 1st. The Chart called Senorita at number two,,,ooh la la la
This week was a big one. We got some big new entries including one that disrupted the top ten and some that new arrivals that I wasn't expecting to be honest and the top ten got a shake up...just not at number one because for a tenth week, it's Lil Nas X with "Old Town Road" at number one and its actually digital sales rather than streaming keeping hin there, I can see the end of this song's reign at the top.
However it's facing a stiff challenge from the highest new entry this week that being "Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, this is their second collaboration after their 2015 song "I Know What You Did Last Summer" which reached 33 in Australia, "Senorita" is a much more potent track than that song though and it looks to be a player for number one given its strong streaming, get radio traction and digital sales on the move and yeah, things could get interesting.
It's arrival pushed "I Don't Cate" by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber back to number three, a song I still don't like at all as Ed Sheeran is capable of so much better and Justin Bieber is still Justin Bieber but its still here because streaming still loves this song.
"Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish remains at number four while Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" slipped two places to number five, I really don't expect "You Need to Calm Down" to stick around in the top ten for much longer though.
"Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi drops one place to number six, I kind of wish it'd leave the top ten now. Bit tired of it.
We have our second interuption to the top ten at number seven with "Money in the Grave" by Drake feat. Rick Ross which climbed seven places to stake a claim on this slot and yeah I still like this song so hope it hangs around.
It pushed "Cross Me" by Ed Sheeran feat. Chance the Rapper and PNB Rock back two places to number eight. I expect this and "I Don't Care" will get a boost when the album drops in a few weeks.
A third interuption to the top ten is Meduza's hit "Piece of Your Heart" feat. Goodboys which climbed two places to number 9. Actually surprised it's taken this long to reach the top ten given it remindds me of "Body" by Loud Luxury feat. Brando.
Finally, Katy Perry is clinging to her place in the top ten at number ten with "Never Really Over".
Gains
So the biggest gain of the week went to Blanco Brown's "The Git Up" which went from 46 to 27 this week! I really do love this song somehow so I don't mind the big climb.
I also don't mind the big gains for "Choir" by Guy Sebastian climbed 13 places to break into the top twenty at number 20. It's a good song but where the hell was this kind of support for "Before I Go", huh, Australia, huh?
Tones and I jump up six places with "Dance Monkey" to 31.
Re-Entry
So somehow "Lovely" by Khalid and Billie Eilish is back at number 45. It's a good song but come on....it's spent nearly a year in the top 50.
Losses.
We had some hefty losers this week but none bigger than :"Me!" by Taylor Swift feat. Brendon Urie which utterly collapsed from 22 to 37.
"Mother's Daughter" by Miley Cyrus tumbled ten places to 35 as Cyrus EP continues to have very little impact whatsoever.
"Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper went from 28 to 34.
Drop outs
So we lost two big ones this week and they are two songs I really do like a lot but will both make the year end list. "Better" by Khalid and "Dancing with a Stranger" by Khalid.
Halsey's non starter single "Nightmare" is also gone (good riddance) as is last week's debut Sanctury" by Joji.
New Entries
So there were two other new arrivals this week alongside "Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello which entered at number 2.
We go all the way to 17 to find Lil Nas X's "Panini" at number 17. The only other new Lil Nas X song to debut off the release of the EP on the wider ARIA Top 100 was "Rodeo" feat Cardi B at 72.
Finally at number 24 is Canadian singer Ali Gatie landing his first ARIA singles entry with "It's You".
So that wraps up the week, its going to get interesting as I get the feeling "Old Town Road" is starting to weaken a little but we'll see.
Charting 1996: June 30th: Crowded House find everything is good for them in top ten
So this is awkward, this week heralds the debut of a song in the top ten by a band who I have come to completely adore yet this is bittersweet because the band also announced they are disbanding but releasing a greatest hits album but we'll get to all that in second because for a second week, it's "Killing Me Softly" by Fugees at number one, this looks to be a look at number one for awhile, folks!.
"Because You Loved me" by Celine Dion is just not a challenger right now even despite being at number two, it's being dominated by "Killing Me Softly"
Then there's a one place rise for the "Theme from Mission Impossible" by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen to three. Quite decent sales but yet again not enough to challenge the two songs above it.
"Nobody Knows" by The Tony Rich Project drops to number four. Hoping this doesn't fall away too quick though.
Gina G is breaking into the top 5 with a two place gain for "Ooh Aah...Just Little Bit" at number five while "X-Files The (Version Dance) by Triple X remains where it is at number six.
Robert Miles regained lost ground with "Children" up two places to number seven.
"Fastlove" by George Michael drops three places to number eight, it had a good run at number one though.
"Sexual Healing" by Max-A-Million drops one place to number nine and will hopefully drop out of the top ten sooner rather than later.
Finally, Crowded House, who announced they are disbanding but releasing a greatest hits project, have this week's highest debut with a song from that greatest hits album called "Everything is Good For You" in at number ten.
Gains
No Doubt finally break into the top twenty with "Just A Girl" at number 18, up from 21 last week.
Alanis Morissette's "You Learn" got a big boost from 32 to 24 as did Madonna's "Love Don' Live Here Anymore (remix)" up from 34 to 27 and Oasis "Champagne Supernova" which went from 35 to 28.
Australian dance group Eclipse continued their momentum with "Look of Love" up from 43 to 36 and 3T's "24/7" up six places to 34.
Losers
It wasn't a good week for John Farnham with "A Simple Life" down eleven places to 41. Alex Party's "Wrap Me Up" suffering an even worse plunge down from 29 to 42.
DJ Darren Briais vs DJ Peewee Ferris medium sized hit "I Feel It" got knocked back six places to 39. while Gloria Estefan's "Reach" slipped back to 38 from 31.
Also have a slide was OMC's former chart topper "How Bizarre" down from 16 to 22.
New Entries
I've already mentioned Crowded House's "Everything is Good for You" debuting at number ten but we also got "Fool for You" from Monique Brumby in at 44.
After 7's new single "I Like It Like That" in at 49 and finally Collective Soul's "The World I know" wrapping this week's edition of the chart as a new entry at 50.
So that wraps up this week, it looks as though we may have a long term number one here from Fugees but we'll see what happens next week.
However the biggest gain of the week goes to Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack" which had a ten place gain to number 37, as I said last week, I fully expect this song to be a top ten hit.
"Because You Loved me" by Celine Dion is just not a challenger right now even despite being at number two, it's being dominated by "Killing Me Softly"
Then there's a one place rise for the "Theme from Mission Impossible" by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen to three. Quite decent sales but yet again not enough to challenge the two songs above it.
"Nobody Knows" by The Tony Rich Project drops to number four. Hoping this doesn't fall away too quick though.
Gina G is breaking into the top 5 with a two place gain for "Ooh Aah...Just Little Bit" at number five while "X-Files The (Version Dance) by Triple X remains where it is at number six.
Robert Miles regained lost ground with "Children" up two places to number seven.
"Fastlove" by George Michael drops three places to number eight, it had a good run at number one though.
"Sexual Healing" by Max-A-Million drops one place to number nine and will hopefully drop out of the top ten sooner rather than later.
Finally, Crowded House, who announced they are disbanding but releasing a greatest hits project, have this week's highest debut with a song from that greatest hits album called "Everything is Good For You" in at number ten.
Gains
No Doubt finally break into the top twenty with "Just A Girl" at number 18, up from 21 last week.
Alanis Morissette's "You Learn" got a big boost from 32 to 24 as did Madonna's "Love Don' Live Here Anymore (remix)" up from 34 to 27 and Oasis "Champagne Supernova" which went from 35 to 28.
Australian dance group Eclipse continued their momentum with "Look of Love" up from 43 to 36 and 3T's "24/7" up six places to 34.
Losers
It wasn't a good week for John Farnham with "A Simple Life" down eleven places to 41. Alex Party's "Wrap Me Up" suffering an even worse plunge down from 29 to 42.
DJ Darren Briais vs DJ Peewee Ferris medium sized hit "I Feel It" got knocked back six places to 39. while Gloria Estefan's "Reach" slipped back to 38 from 31.
Also have a slide was OMC's former chart topper "How Bizarre" down from 16 to 22.
New Entries
I've already mentioned Crowded House's "Everything is Good for You" debuting at number ten but we also got "Fool for You" from Monique Brumby in at 44.
After 7's new single "I Like It Like That" in at 49 and finally Collective Soul's "The World I know" wrapping this week's edition of the chart as a new entry at 50.
So that wraps up this week, it looks as though we may have a long term number one here from Fugees but we'll see what happens next week.
However the biggest gain of the week goes to Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack" which had a ten place gain to number 37, as I said last week, I fully expect this song to be a top ten hit.
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