#Top100of2017: 10-1

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2017 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

10. Say You Won't Let Go - James Arthur

Peak: 11 (June 3 & 24); Weeks on chart: 52; December 30 position: NR

James Arthur asked the world to "Say You Won't Let Go," and the world apparently listened. Though it never entered the top 10, "Say" had to be timed out of the Hot 100 after a full year on the chart. It was one of only three songs to reach that plateau in 2017 (barring something terrible, our number one song will also be getting retired from the Hot 100 later in January). Personally, I never got into the breakout hit by the English X-Factor alum. It doesn't have the sonic appeal of most other songs on the list and honestly comes off a little Sam Smith-y. If that's the case, maybe it's no wonder the world fell in love while I remained apathetic.

9. Humble. - Kendrick Lamar



Peak: 1 (May 6); Weeks on chart: 37; December 30 position: 47

The Year of Kendrick was accentuated by Lamar’s first number one hit as a primary artist. I doubt that’s something he’ll be bragging about, since the entire point of “Humble” is, well, humility. Nonetheless, the song you’ll be hearing every time Kendrick Lamar wins a Grammy this coming February was the first single in over two months to dethrone “Shape Of You” on top of the Hot 100. Humbly or not, I think that’s worth celebrating.

8. Congratulations - Post Malone feat. Quavo

Peak: 8 (July 8-15); Weeks on chart: 50; December 30 position: NR

We've discussed the dynamic 2017 experienced by Post Malone to some extent, but his domination of the charts began with a slow buildup. "Congratulations" was undoubtedly a lot of high schools' graduation song this year; the title is ready-made for the occasion and Malone's style of music is ready-made for the youth of today. Surprisingly, Post's first-ever top 10 entry didn't reach its chart apex until the middle of summer. The hit just fell out of the Hot 100 in time for the final issue of the year, cementing Post Malone's legacy as one of the biggest pop stars of the year.

7. Unforgettable - French Montana feat. Swae Lee



Peak: 3 (August 19-26); Weeks on chart: 36; December 30 position: 40

French Montana has been around a while, occasionally appearing on the Hot 100. His biggest hit to date, however, has undoubtedly been the mega-jam “Unforgettable.” This rhythmic dance hit has been in the minds and ears of American music consumers for most of 2017; in fact it remained in the top 40 all the way through the final chart of the year. My most striking memory of “Unforgettable” was listening to it immediately after winning an escape room in Nashville this summer. Great times.

6. Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers feat. Coldplay*

Peak: 3 (April 15); Weeks on chart: 39; December 30 position: NR

It’s surprising how well rock singer Chris Martin’s voice fits the musical stylings of EDM superduo The Chainsmokers. The American public loved the grouping, sending "Something" to a triple platinum certification in 2017. Perhaps an underrated song despite its long Hot 100 run, “Something Just Like This” was the most successful hit of an incredibly successful year for the duo of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall. I always like to point out how most of the world's first exposure to these guys was 2014's "#SELFIE" and how amazing it is that they were able to transform a gimmicky track into a sustained period as the premiere names in electronic dance music. Good on ya, The Chainsmokers.

5. Believer - Imagine Dragons

Peak: 4 (August 26, September 9); Weeks on chart: 45; December 30 position: 33

Music historians will be hard-pressed to discuss the state of rock music in the 2010s without including Imagine Dragons in their conversations. After the monumental Billboard 200 performance of their debut LP Night Visions, the Nevadan band returned to prominence this year with their first top-five single since 2013. “Believer” can hardly be considered this year’s best song, but it’s a solid track from a band with a history of producing solid modern rock songs. 

4. Body Like A Back Road - Sam Hunt



Peak: 6 (April 22); Weeks on chart: 41; December 30 position: NR

Sam Hunt is well on his way to becoming this decade’s biggest country music act. After just missing out on last year’s top songs list (“Break Up In A Small Town” ended at 104 on the #Top100of2016), the hip-hop inspired Hunt was a mainstay on the charts dated February 18 through December 2. I’ll admit “Back Road” was something of a guilty pleasure for me this year; its genre confusion makes me think I should not like the song as much as I do. Nonetheless, Hunt's biggest hit yet may end up being the pop-country song of the decade.

3. Despacito - Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber

Peak: 1 (May 27-September 9); Weeks on chart: 35; December 30 position: 31

Some years the competition for “Song of the Summer” is heavily-contested. 2017 was not one of those years. The Bieber remix of this Latin hit was the only track to chart atop the Hot 100 from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Despite not debuting until the first week of May, its phenomenal chart performance throughout the summer easily cemented “Despacito” as one of the year’s three biggest songs.

2. That's What I Like - Bruno Mars*



Peak: 1 (May 13); Weeks on chart: 48; December 30 position: 43

Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic era started off with one of the decade’s biggest bangs, with the Mark Ronson collab “Uptown Funk” dominating 2015. While Mars is likely not done releasing singles from his late-2016 studio album, he struck six times platinum with “That’s What I Like.” Despite charting only one week atop the Hot 100, Bruno’s second Magic single spent nearly half the year as one of Billboard’s top five songs. I personally became obsessed with “That’s What I Like” after he performed the smash hit at the Grammys back in February; it remained in heavy rotation on my Spotify all spring.

And now, the only song that could possibly top this list, and the most obvious year-end number one since I've been keeping track of the Hot 100:

1. Shape Of You - Ed Sheeran*



Peak: 1 (January 28, February 18-29); Weeks on chart: 49; December 30 position: 23

Prior to 2017, Suffolk-raised crooner Ed Sheeran was known mostly for his poignant lyrics, flaming red hair and for releasing one of the greatest love songs of our generation. However, despite the massive success of “Thinking Out Loud” Sheeran had yet to reach the pinnacle of the Hot 100 with any single. Enter the rhythmic jam “Shape Of You” and Ed’s third full-length studio album, Divide. Not only did “Shape” hit number one almost immediately, it also spent 12 total weeks on top. The song remained a top 10 hit for a record 33 weeks, finally dropping out of the upper echelon in mid-September. It comes as no surprise, then, that Sheeran’s biggest song to date ends up earning my Song of the Year award, and the number one spot on the #Top100of2017.

So here's that playlist, as always:

Lastly, an announcement of sorts: I've been keeping this blog active for an insanely long time, often with little to no indication that my work is being acknowledged. Therefore, I've decided I should divert my attention from CU:BS into other aspects of my life. While this doesn't mean I'm shutting the blog down, it does mean the end of any regular or semi-regular series I've hosted on CU:BS, including this one. I may chime in with a quick song report, March Madness pick, or poem from time to time, but for the most part the blog is going to be quiet until further notice. Will this be a permanent situation? Perhaps. I could have all my stuff figured out by summertime and this announcement could have been made in vain. But I don't want to raise anyone's expectations or my own stress level if I need to take a semi-permanent or permanent break from using the platform of this blog. 

The tl;dr: I'm not doing this project anymore, or any other recurring series I've posted to this blog.

It's been a fun ride. Here's to a healthy, prosperous, and - most of all - happy 2018. I love you guys. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

-C

#Top100of2017: 20-11

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2017 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

20. iSpy - KYLE feat. Lil Yachty

Peak: 4 (April 22); Weeks on chart: 30; December 30 position: NR

Newcomer KYLE (not an acronym, just his first name in all caps) came onto the scene this spring with a cute little tune about feeling immediate attraction to a pretty girl he just met. The song itself isn't terrible; its accompanying music video is a bit of a different story. Exceptionally suggestive, the video makes it clear that Kyle isn't concerned with getting to know his song's subject; instead, he just wants to get with her. I doubt this will be the last we hear from the up-and-coming 24-year-old.

19. It Ain't Me - Kygo feat. Selena Gomez



Peak: 10 (May 13-20, June 10); Weeks on chart: 29; December 30 position: NR

I've always held that Selena Gomez has a voice ready-made for electronic pop. She's not the best singer, but her vocal range fits perfectly in the genre of EDM. This year she teamed up with Spotify's favorite DJ to release her latest top 10 effort. Of the songs in its genre released this year, "It Ain't Me" isn't one of my favorites. However, its genre is one of my favorites so it's kind of like saying JC isn't my favorite member of *NSYNC or Sunny is my least favorite Obama dog.

18. Mask Off - Future

Peak: 5 (May 6-13); Weeks on chart: 31; December 30 position: NR

Future is one of the most notable current rappers. He's probably the textbook example of a current rapper, too. When you think "trap music" you're probably thinking of his music. His big song of 2017, "Mask Off" were two of the four words that he fully pronounces in this top-five hit. The other two, Molly and Percocet, are two highly addictive drugs that should never be messed with. It's a good thing children don't listen to pop music; oh wait, they do. Good on you, Future, for being a horrible role model.

17. Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) - Cardi B



Peak: 1 (October 7-21); Weeks on chart: 24; December 30 position: 11

Nothing in my music listening history should suggest I would like the first number one hit by a solo female rapper in almost 20 years, but I really don't mind the Cardi B chart-topper that was one of the biggest songs of the fall. Unlike many of her male contemporaries, Cardi knows how to enunciate and use more than five words. "Bodak" was actually one of the sole highlights for women in music this year; apart from Cardi (and for an incredibly brief stint by Taylor Swift and Beyonce's featured credit on "Perfect") the Hot 100's top spot was dominated by men in 2017.

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

Peak: 6 (August 26); Weeks on chart: 34; December 30 position: 48

Let's see here, four more lines.....I feel like I've already said all that needs to be said about America's least talented favorite singer. It's an atrocity I had to speak about him four different times in this countdown, but for some reason the world can't leave well enough alone and let this kid's career die like it should. With guys like Mendes consistently on the Hot 100, it comes as even more of a surprise that Cardi B was one of the only women to gain traction this year. Come on, ladies, it's not hard to be better than this dude. Here's hoping Taylor Swift saves us in 2018.

15. Stay - Zedd feat. Alessia Cara*



Peak: 7 (May 6, June 10-17); Weeks on chart: 31; December 30 position: NR

Alessia is up for a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2018, despite her first single hitting the charts in late 2015. The already-established music star provided vocals for one of the best dance tracks of the year. Produced by the legendary German DJ Zedd, it's hard not to bob your head along to the infectious beat of "Stay." Cara's unique voice gives the exact right flavor to turn the song into a certified jam. "Stay" was without a doubt one of my favorite songs released in 2017, and looks to remain a staple in my music library for a long time to come.

14. Attention - Charlie Puth

Peak: 5 (August 26, September 9-16); Weeks on chart: 34; December 30 position: 42

I thought at one time that Charlie Puth was one of the more underrated talents in pop music. Indeed, when his first hit "See You Again" reached number four on the #Top100of2015, I said "Puth may very well be a significant player in the pop music world over the second half of the 2010's." Sure enough, this is the third straight year Charlie has had a top 10 single. However, he's no longer one of my favorite artist. "Attention" was a decent song that peaked within the top five, but it never gained my attention like "One Call Away" or "See You Again" did. Puth's sophomore studio album Voicenotes is set to release at the end of January; it's very possible I'll be a huge fan again depending on what I think about his newest music.

13. Closer - The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey*



Peak: 1 (12 weeks in 2016); Weeks on chart: 52; December 30 position: NR

Only three songs got timed out of the Hot 100 this year (Billboard changed its rules a couple years ago that once a song had spent a full year in the chart, it was no longer eligible. This was likely in response to the ridiculous 87 weeks that Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" was on it). The most notable was the incredibly successful "Closer." No doubt one of the decade's biggest songs, when Billboard retired the Halsey/Chainsmokers collab, the song was still on the top half of the chart. Intriguing about "Closer's" year-end rank is not only did it place in the top 20 of the lists from both this year and last, but it actually finished six spots higher in 2017 despite spending the entirety of its three-month run at number one in 2016.

12. Bad And Boujee - Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert

Peak: 1 (January 21, February 4-11); Weeks on chart: 36; December 30 position: NR

I've spoken to great lengths about Migos, so it might not surprise you that I've decided to name them the CU:BS Artist of the Year for 2017. Even though none of their songs reached the final installment of the #Top100of2017 as my three previous honorees have, it's hard to ignore the trio's prevalence throughout the year. With four hits as primary artists and one as a featured, Migos is on this list as much as any other artist. Group member Quavo also had a featured role in a couple of other popular songs, meaning the reach of the trio went even more deep in 2017. Their biggest hit, "Bad and Boujee" was a sign for Migos' success throughout the year. In a year dominated by rap, no rap group was more prevalent than 2017's Artist of the Year.

11. Xo Tour Llif3 - Lil Uzi Vert



Peak: 7 (June 24); Weeks on chart: 34; December 30 position: NR

On principle, I was never going to be a fan of a song titled "XO Tour Llif3." In case you missed the second grade, the word "life" is spelled with just one L and an E where Lil Uzi places a 3. As a former journalism student, the egregious misspelling turned me off immediately. I got the chance to actually listen to the song when Lil Uzi performed it at the VMAs this fall; despite the fact he can't spell, it turns out the up-and-coming rapper can make tolerable music. I've not listened to "Tour Llif3" in its entirety since that performance, but I did become a little less annoyed with it. Maybe if Uzi puts out a properly-spelled track next year I'll give it more of a chance.

Tomorrow, Ed, Bruno, Justin, and The Chainsmokers, as well as the rest of the ten biggest songs in 2017.

#Top100of2017: 30-21

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2017 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

30. Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man



Peak: 4 (November 4-11); Weeks on chart: 26; December 30 position: 17

My first encounter with Portugal. The Man was when I was doing my first trivia hosting gig, way back at the Tilted Kilt in Hendersonville. I was begging people for good music suggestions to play between questions (or rather having my own music tastes taken to the woodshed), and someone recommended a song by this group I'd never heard before. I added it to my trivia playlist, but it wasn't anything special. Flash forward to this year: I'm adding stats from a Hot 100 chart and I see the name Portugal. The Man. Mind you, I didn't even know if this was a band that still existed so I was pleasantly surprised to see them start to climb the charts with "Feel It Still." The song itself is a certified jam that deserved to be in the top five. 

29. Bank Account - 21 Savage

Peak: 12 (August 26-September 23); Weeks on chart: 23; December 30 position: 28

Some kid with more ink on his skin than actual skin mumbled his way over a mildly decent beat, and it ended up as one of the biggest songs of the year. "Bank Account" proves to the world that 21 Savage passed the first week of kindergarten and can indeed count to eight. Anyone who helped raise this young star should be so proud of him. Is my critique of this song too harsh? Maybe. Then again, maybe 21 Savage could make better music.

28. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars*

Peak: 4 (three weeks in 2016, January 7); Weeks on chart: 41; December 30 position: NR

Speaking of better music, try not to stare into Bruno Mars's eyes in the above picture or I guarantee you you'll fall in love in five seconds flat. Then again, if you're one of the three people in the world who aren't already in love with Bruno, maybe his beautiful brown peepers won't affect you. Anyway, where was I? I got distracted. Oh, yes, the title track from Bruno's double platinum 2016 album. "24K Magic" follows in the vein of "Uptown Funk," 2015's biggest song, in that Mars mixes his sultry singing voice with a quasi-rap chorus and epic use of instrumentals. I hold by what I said when discussing this track last year, Bruno Mars can do no wrong.

27. Slow Hands - Niall Horan*

Peak: 11 (September 30-October 7); Weeks on chart: 31; December 30 position: NR

Hello again, Niall. My favorite member of One Direction (did I mention that during my write-up on "This Town?") had his biggest hit of the year with his second solo single. "Slow Hands" was the song Niall performed frequently while doing press for his new album Flicker, and it was obvious that America loved it. I did too, as the asterisk next to this song's header may suggest. Horan's authentic sound proves just how musically talented he was even before he was a member of this generation's biggest boy band.

26. I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker) - Zayn feat. Taylor Swift*



Peak: 2 (March 4); Weeks on chart: 23; December 30 position: NR

Last but not least in the saga of One Direction's Five Directions comes the band's former member, Zayn Malik. You may remember his highly publicized split from the band in 2015, or his lesser-publicized divorce with his last name and accompanying number one debut with Pillowtalk last year. Zayn teamed up with the biggest pop star in the world to record a promotional single for the most recent Fifty Shades film, and the collaboration didn't disappoint. An incredibly sultry video pushed this song into the top two and foreshadowed Taylor's dark, fantastic new sound.

25. Issues - Julia Michaels

Peak: 11 (June 10-17); Weeks on chart: 29; December 30 position: NR

Julia Michaels has an extensive pop songwriting resume; among her biggest hits are Bieber's "Sorry," Hailee Steinfeld's "Love Myself," and the Nick Jonas/Tove Lo collab "Close." One listen to Julia's first effort as a recording artist in her own right may prove why she's had so much more success as a writer than she has as a singer. "Issues" is a fine song, no doubt, but Michaels' voice distracts from the otherwise-good lyrics. At just 24, Julia Michaels is already one of the biggest behind-the-scenes names; perhaps a few more vocal lessons and before long she'll be an equally-respected pop star.

24. Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato*



Peak: 6 (November 11); Weeks on chart: 23; December 30 position: 18

Speaking of singers improving with time (I am KILLING IT with the segues today!), I've not hidden my past disdain for Demi Lovato's voice (and appearance, sorry about that Demi). But over the past couple of years she's grown on me and I've become a big fan. Her latest single is the self-assertive "Sorry Not Sorry," which would be my life motto if I didn't have a psychological need to please literally everyone. The former Disney starlet shows off an incredible vocal range and some not-so-Disney-appropriate lyrics in one of the best pop songs of the year.

23. Wild Thoughts - DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller

Peak: 2 (July 29-September 9); Weeks on chart: 21; December 30 position: NR

Demi is about to embark on a world tour with the man responsible for this next hit. DJ Khaled did a fine job of ripping off Santana's "Maria Maria" with one of the longest-running number two songs of the year. Island queen Rihanna sings the vocal in "Wild Thoughts" while Bryson Tiller (he had a couple of mid-level hits last year, remember?) spits a verse. Through it all the most happy man in music shouts gleeful slogans about how great life is and selected lines from the song. This is not my favorite Khaled song of the year; more on that in a minute.

22. Location - Khalid



Peak: 16 (May 13); Weeks on chart: 43; December 30 position: NR

CU:BS Best New Artist Khalid is responsible for the only song in the top half of this year's list to peak outside of the top 15. "Location" was definitely not a conventional pop track by any means, but the slow soulful song demonstrated Khalid's incredible vocal talent and spent quite a lot of time in the Hot 100 in 2017. I've determined Khalid to be the Best New Artist of the year; there are other new artists whose music performed a lot better as far as the Hot 100 is concerned, but Khalid's sound is so fresh and unique I'd have trouble bestowing the honor upon anyone else.

21. I'm The One - DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne*



Peak: 1 (May 20); Weeks on chart: 22; December 30 position: NR

Here's anotha one from the great DJ Khaled. "I'm The One" is a mega-collaboration that gave a producer known for mega-collaborations ("All I Do Is Win" is more than the chorus, in case you forgot) his first Billboard chart-topper. In my opinion, this was one of the most fun songs to come out this year. People will try to talk badly about DJ Khaled slapping his name - and randomly shouting out things like "We da best music" - on the track, but I personally think it's great that he's still so excited about producing music. Fun fact: Khaled's son Asahd is listed as an executive producer on the song; as such at the age of 209 days he became the youngest ever producer of a number one song in America.

I will crown CU:BS Artist of the Year tomorrow. Come back and find out who it is!

#Top100of2017: 40-31

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2017 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

40. Rake It Up - Yo Gotti feat. Nicki Minaj

Peak: 8 (October 7); Weeks on chart: 22; December 30 position: NR

Wow, what wholesome lyrics and what a non-objectifying music video. Yo Gotti is truly an inspiration in these dark times and really knows how to speak, act and think about women. I'm so glad we have such talented musicians in our world that speak such positive messages. In case you haven't figured out yet, I'm using sarcasm more heavily than sarcasm has ever been used. This song, its message and its video are actually disgraceful and its performer should be duly ashamed.

39. Rockstar - Post Malone feat. 21 Savage

Peak: 1 (October 28-December 16); Weeks on chart: 13; December 30 position: 2

No song was hotter this fall than "Rockstar." The third longest-running number one single of the year introduced the world to the up-and-coming Post Malone, a White Iverson just beginning to make his mark on the rap game. It's the first single released from his upcoming album Beerbongs & Bentleys, which means we'll undoubtedly be seeing a lot of this inked-up, conditioner-needing New Yorker in 2018. "Rockstar" remains in second on the first chart of the new year, so Malone is off to a good start already.

38. Redbone - Childish Gambino

Peak: 12 (August 19); Weeks on chart: 44; December 30 position: NR

Donald Glover has been focusing on his acting career recently, but still had some music success this year under his stage name Childish Gambino. "Redbone" was one of the longest-charting songs of the year; in fact, it hit its peak eight months after debuting on the Hot 100 last December. The most recent charting track from the man about to play young Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story reminds its listeners to "stay woke" and not to ignore the manifold social and political issues creating such tension in today's world. 

37. Paris - The Chainsmokers*

Peak: 6 (March 11); Weeks on chart: 20; December 30 position: NR

The Chainsmokers were quietly one of the biggest artists of 2017, mostly because their best-performing song hit its stride last year and they were off the airwaves for the most part by July. Nonetheless, the EDM duo released two huge hits that didn't start their respective Hot 100 runs until this year. "Paris" was their first single without a featured artist since #SELFIE back in 2014; despite having no named collaborator the track spent eight weeks inside the top 10 this spring. The catchy tune was one of my favorite pop hits of the year.

36. Bounce Back - Big Sean



Peak: 6 (February 25); Weeks on chart: 28; December 30 position: NR

"Bounce Back" was Big Sean's biggest Hot 100 success as a primary artist ever. It joined 2011's "Dance (A$$)" as just his second top 10 track, and matched 2012's "As Long As You Love Me," the Justin Bieber song in which he was featured, as the second top-six song to include his name in its credits. As far as Big Sean songs go, "Bounce Back" is one of my favorites. Of course, that's like saying Lauren Jauregui is my favorite member of Fifth Harmony or Tiffany is my favorite one of the Trump children - it's not really saying that much.

35. Love On The Brain - Rihanna*

Peak: 5 (March 25); Weeks on chart: 31; December 30 position: NR

Yesterday, I suggested that "Love On The Brain" was Rihanna's only appearance on the list this year, but I realized later she's also featured in a track that I'll talk about tomorrow. One of my all-time favorites became a fashion icon this year when she introduced her incredibly inclusive Fenty Beauty line, but Ri Ri's music was a smash hit as well. The last major single to date from her 2016 project Anti is a soulful ballad that brings back memories of former Rihanna tracks like "Take A Bow" as well as her toxic on-and-off with Chris Brown. I really enjoyed "Love" this year; it's definitely my favorite track off Rihanna's eighth studio album.

34. I Feel It Coming - The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk



Peak: 4 (April 15); Weeks on chart: 26; December 30 position: NR

I think I was into this song one month this year. It unceremoniously left my rotation before I got too attached to it; how many times can you feel it coming until it actually, you know, comes? The Weeknd's most successful track of 2017 was popular long before I started enjoying it. I probably got into "Feel It" sometime in the fall, likely after it had left the Hot 100 altogether. The catchy song will likely be the one that you'll hear in about 2023 and be like "Wow, I remember this song!"

33. Strip That Down - Liam Payne feat. Quavo*

Peak: 10 (September 16); Weeks on chart: 28; December 30 position: NR

We've met Harry Styles and Niall Horan as solo artists this week already, getting a glimpse into their personal musical styles. Niall charms with soulful acoustics, while Harry is a straight rocker. Enter the R&B member of One Direction. Liam Payne rode his debut solo single into the top 10, partly because of his clout as one of the 1D boys but also because it's strangely similar to the biggest song of 2017 (here comes the spoiler alert that really shouldn't be a spoiler). In fact, I routinely sing "Shape Of You" instead of "Strip That Down" when I listen to this song and it's uncanny how well the songs fit together. Oh yeah, Ed Sheeran also provides uncredited backing vocals as one of the song's cowriters.

32. 1-800-273-8255 - Logic feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid



Peak: 3 (September 30, October 28-November 11); Weeks on chart: 33; December 30 position: 22

Maybe the most important song of the year was named after a phone number. Long gone are the days of Jenny and Tommy Tutone tho; 1-800-273-8255 is the toll-free number for the suicide hotline. Logic, whose legal name is the highly-pretentious Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, encourages kids who feel like there's no other way out of their troubles that help is just a phone call away. Amazing vocalists Alessia Cara and Khalid contribute verses to a great message of a song. The placement of "Who can relate! Whoo!" in a chorus that also includes the line "I don't wanna be alive" seems a bit counter-intuitive to the overall message Logic is trying to send, but overall this is a good and necessary song.

31. Mi Gente - J Balvin and Willy William feat. Beyonce



Peak: 3 (October 21); Weeks on chart: 24; December 30 position: 20

2017 was a big year for Latin music and artists. The infectious dance track "Mi Gente" was already one of the biggest songs in the country before the remix including Beyonce gave it a final push into the top three. Even those who don't understand the Spanish language can be drawn to the highly catchy beat of J Balvin's second ever Hot 100 entry. I don't go out to dance and party, but I'd make a pretty good wager that clubs and bars across the country have been playing the mess out of "Mi Gente" all autumn long.

As I mentioned, more Rihanna tomorrow. I think we might get some more Niall too.

#Top100of2017: 50-41

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2017 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

50. I Get The Bag - Gucci Mane feat. Migos

Peak: 11 (November 4); Weeks on chart: 17; December 30 position: 15

In discussing this current Gucci Mane hit, I hearken back back to a song I discussed yesterday. When Taylor Swift released "Look What You Made Me Do," a primary complaint from her detractors is that she "ripped off" the song "I'm Too Sexy." Not only did Swift credit the members of Right Said Fred as co-writers for her song, but rhythms are made to be duplicated. Take, for instance, what I'm calling the "trap style triplet" (one-and-a, two-and-a, three-and-a, four), which is perfectly displayed in "I get the, I get the, I get the bag." No one is accusing Gucci of ripping of Fetty Wap or Migos of stealing from Yo Gotti, so I don't see what the issue is with Taylor's song.

49. What Lovers Do - Maroon 5 feat. SZA

Peak: 9 (November 25, December 16); Weeks on chart: 16; December 30 position: 13

America's favorite rock-turned-pop band enlisted the help of one of America's newest R&B starlets for the Maroon 5 hit that's currently in the Hot 100. "What Lovers Do" is typical of this era for Maroon 5; it relies heavily on pop tracks and repetitive vocal riffs. In fact, the song is so far removed from the band's old sound it even strays toward electronic dance. A CGI-heavy music video shows just how far the once-great band has come from being authentic music-makers to pop hit mass-producing machines.

48. Tunnel Vision - Kodak Black



Peak: 6 (March 25-April 8); Weeks on chart: 20; December 30 position: NR

I decided to include the video to this song early on in the #Top100of2017 process, when a short clip played on the Hot 100 videos I watched every week. It looked like it could be an incredibly important video discussing the nuanced but polarizing topic of race relations in the Trump era. When I finally watched the video through, it turns out I was wrong. All the "Tunnel Vision" video really contains is a kid mumble-singing with his buddies in front of burning crosses about how no one thought he would make it while some guy in a MAGA hat wrestles a black man. No conclusion, no constructive point about racism, just a front to gain video views.

47. Bad Things - Machine Gun Kelly feat. Camila Cabello

Peak: 4 (February 11-18); Weeks on chart: 23; December 30 position: NR

Hello again, Camila Cabello. Her first track to reach the top five realm this year was this collab with Machine Gun Kelly, a wannabe Eminem who really loves wearing metal. Cabello screeches the hook as MGK delivers a forgettable effort on the verses. As with yesterday's Camila song, "Bad Things" could be a guilty pleasure for someone who says he doesn't like the most abrasive former member of a pop band since NSYNC broke up. But again, that's just a possibility and I highly suspect whoever could write such bad things about such an artist will never claim in his blog to like one of her songs.

46. Starboy - The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk



Peak: 1 (January 7); Weeks on chart: 30; December 30 position: NR

The era of The Weeknd ended officially at some point in 2017. Not only was Starboy not as successful as Beauty Behind The Madness, but Abel couldn't decide whether he wanted to be with icon Selena Gomez or his Victoria's Secret model ex-girlfriend Bella Hadid. I don't think his girl troubles have any bearing on the commercial success of his new music; maybe it's the fact that he relied too heavily on collaborations with the Grammy-robbing Daft Punk. Regardless, the title track off The Weeknd's third studio album started 2017 as America's number one song, then lingered in the top 40 for another three and a half months.

45. Rockabye - Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & AnneMarie



Peak: 9 (March 25); Weeks on chart: 27; December 30 position: NR

"Rockabye" is an interesting one for me. As with a lot of EDM-type songs, the Clean Bandit track was incredibly popular in Europe before it found its footing on this side of the Atlantic. I discovered this song on Pandora during that time and really liked it. However, by the time it had gotten popular and ubiquitous in the United States, I was so far over it I got annoyed whenever I heard it. Long after "Rockabye" fell from the charts, I started enjoying it again when I heard it for the first time in a while late this fall. It's funny how music tastes revolve.

44. Thunder - Imagine Dragons



Peak: 4 (December 2-9); Weeks on chart: 33; December 30 position: 5

Apple had "Down" by Marian Hill, and Microsoft as of late has been using this Imagine Dragons track in its ads. As Imagine Dragon songs tend to do, "Thunder" had a long, slow climb on the Hot 100; it then spent nine straight weeks in the top five. Also typical of an Imagine Dragons track, this one is a good listen but not a song I'd ever claim as my favorite of all time. An otherwise solid track gets a small dose of cheesiness in the chorus, as a clap/stomp percussion combo bangs out a BOOM-BOOM-BOOM rhythm. It's fun. Some nifty electronic loops accentuate the unique sound that has made this song a mainstay in American pop over the last couple months.

43. Fake Love - Drake

Peak: 8 (February 18); Weeks on chart: 25; December 30 position: NR

"Fake Love" is possibly one of my favorite Drake tracks ever. I don't really know what makes it so high on my list other than it's catchy without being overbearing. It also has a slightly different vibe from most of Drake's music over the past two years. The lead single from More Life was a big success in the early half of the year.  The fall saw less news concerning Drake's music and more about his courtside antics at a Raptors game.

42. Too Good At Goodbyes - Sam Smith

Peak: 4 (November 25); Weeks on chart: 14; December 30 position: 7

Sam Smith has tried really hard to get me to like him. From appearing on Carpool Karaoke to coming out as gender nonbinary, he's appealing to many of my interests and sympathies. The problem is, he's not changing his whining vocals and mournful music; that's the entire reason I still refer to him as The Vastly Overrated Sam Smith. His latest effort cried its way into the top five this November and captured the hearts of many masochistic Americans. Suffice it to say, 2018 may end up being a great year, but it will still predominantly feature Sam Smith so I'm not getting my hopes up.

41. Scars To Your Beautiful - Alessia Cara



Peak: 8 (February 25); Weeks on chart: 43; December 30 position: NR

One of my favorite young musical artists, Alessia Cara released the inspirational "Scars To Your Beautiful" at the end of 2016. One of the top songs of the winter, "Scars" encourages people to love themselves regardless of what the world thinks they should look like. This was Alessia's only Hot 100 entry as a primary artist this year, but she was far from absent from the music scene. Cara provided vocals for one of the 15 biggest songs of 2017, but will be back on the list tomorrow as well.

In addition to Alessia, Rihanna's only appearance of 2017 will happen on tomorrow's segment.

#Top100of2017: 60-51

This is part of my Top 100 Songs of 2017 series. To see specific entries click on the following links:

Intro | 100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

60. Perfect - Ed Sheeran feat. Beyonce

Peak: 1 (December 23-30); Weeks on chart: 16; December 30 position: 1

I was excited when I read Billboard's write-up on the December 16 Hot 100's top 10 songs. It listed "Perfect" - the "Thinking Out Loud" of Ed Sheeran's 2017 album Divide - as the number three song of the week. More importantly, it discussed the two songs ahead of it both losing momentum, which suggested Ed might get his second Hot 100 number one as the year wound to a close. Surely enough, with the help of a second release featuring Beyonce, "Perfect" has been the top song in the country for two straight weeks. Incidentally, "Perfect" gave Beyonce her first Billboard number one song since "Single Ladies" nine years ago.

59. Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran*



Peak: 6 (January 28); Weeks on chart: 33; December 30 position: NR

Although it debuted inside the top 10 and spent more than half the year in the Hot 100, the second single released from Divide ranks surprisingly low on this list. "Castle On The Hill" is a solid nostalgia-invoking track, but is likely Ed Sheeran's least-poppy single. My guess is it spent all but its debut week on the chart ranked lower than number 20 for that reason, but lasted so long in the mid-range because of Ed Sheeran's recognizability (is that a word? If not, I'm making it one). If you haven't heard him perform this song acoustically, I highly recommend it.

58. Can't Stop the Feeling! - Justin Timberlake



Peak: 1 (one week in 2016); Weeks on chart: 52; December 30 position: NR

King of Pop Justin Timberlake earned an Oscar nomination for his hit from the DreamWorks movie Trolls, but lost out to La La Land (a common theme of this year's Oscar night, but La La got its due karma when...well, if you're on the internet now, you know what happened). Timberlake started his 2017 attending awards shows for which his first number one song in almost a decade was nominated, and ended it filming the new Woody Allen drama Wonder Wheel. It'll be weird to see Justin starring in a drama, especially in one which also includes comedy legend Jim Belushi.

57. Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift*

Peak: 1 (September 16-30); Weeks on chart: 17; December 30 position: 70

In the sequel to "Blank Space," Taylor Swift no longer gives a you-know-what about her perception within the media. In an expertly-produced music video, "Look What You Made Me Do" lets Taylor take a self-deprecating look at all of her overemphasized minor flaws and announces "the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now...'cause she's dead!" The first Swift single in almost two years immediately set the tone for a new, bold era for the most recognizable pop star in the world. "LWYMMD" was so successful, it reached number 77 on the September 9 chart despite only being eligible for the Hot 100 for around an hour.

56. T-Shirt - Migos

Peak: 19 (February 18); Weeks on chart: 25; December 30 position: NR

Superstar trio Migos just grazed the top 20 with their first single released in 2017. "T-Shirt" is probably my least favorite song on this list by the group; I don't have a good reason for hating it, but I do remember not liking how easily the autotune-heavy hook got stuck in my brain when I updated the #Hot100of2017 when each week's top 100 songs were released. Thankfully, Migos didn't allow "T-Shirt" to be their best single released this year. 

55. Havana - Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug



Peak: 2 (November 18-December 16); Weeks on chart: 18; December 30 position: 3

The least likable member of the least likable girl band of the decade, Camila Cabello struck out on her own and released this annoyingly earwormy track that has been in the top five for the last two months. "Havana" is almost enjoyable, until you stop paying attention to the beat and realize whose screeching vocals are bringing the track down. Camila proceeds to welcome a verse from the mumbliest of mumble rappers as Young Thug attempts to recite words. Of course, I could see this song having potential as a guilty pleasure for people who don't actually hate all things Fifth Harmony as much as they claim. But that's highly doubtful.

54. Black Beatles - Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane

Peak: 1 (six weeks in 2016; January 14); Weeks on chart: 27; December 30 position: NR

Mannequin Mania lasted through the beginning of the year, as the challenge allowed "Black Beatles" to remain in the Hot 100 for an additional 13 weeks. Rae Sremmurd eventually rocked their John Lennon lenses to the tune of a quadruple platinum certification while this real crowd-pleaser of a song continued to gain downloads and airplay throughout the winter. As I mentioned Saturday, be on the lookout for the duo's new album in 2018.

53. Praying - Kesha

Peak: 22 (September 2); Weeks on chart: 21; December 30 position: NR

KESHA IS BACK. My spirit animal and an overall inspiration to the world released a long-anticipated album after getting out of her Dr. Luke legal mess (which, I should emphasize, is ENTIRELY his fault). The lead single from Rainbow is a highly emotional ballad that I can barely listen to without crying. Kesha put her entire soul into the song, and it completely paid off. "Praying" only recently fell off the Hot 100. If you're looking for a more upbeat, but still empowering, song from the new Kesha project, I highly recommend giving "Woman" a listen.

52. Don't Wanna Know - Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar

Peak: 6 (February 18); Weeks on chart: 27; December 30 position: NR

Since my almost-scathing write-up of Maroon 5's new sound, I was stuck in a car with my brother, who has a crush on Adam Levine and insisted I listen to Red Pill Blues. While it's definitely more of a pop album than a rock album, I did enjoy the new album, so credit where credit is due. The catchy lead single features one of my favorite current rappers (in case you haven't caught the trend in my Kendrick Lamar write-ups). "Don't Wanna Know" was a top 10 hit as the calendar turned and remained so throughout the first two months of 2017. 

51. Mercy - Shawn Mendes

Peak: 15 (March 25); Weeks on chart: 32; December 30 position: NR

My eardrums continually beg for mercy from the gratingly bad sounds coming out of Shawn Mendes' mouth. I still have nine lines left to write about this hack before I'm done with the countdown, and I'm starting to run out of ways to say how much he sucks at music. The most notable thing about "Mercy" is that it marks the halfway point of this year's top 100 list. And now I only need four or five more lines to express how distasteful this boy's sound is. See you again on Saturday, Shawn.

In the meantime, we reach perhaps the least exciting segment of the list tomorrow. Get excited!