AT40: Ariana Grande (1) - Week Of February 2, 2019

What's up, guys? So, I finally got the AT40 post out on time! Now, I just need to work on some other posts, such as the Billboard Year-End Review, which I hope to get out sometime this month. My birthday is next week, and I'll be 27. Man, I sure am starting to feel old. Let's get right to the countdown. Before we get to this week's fresh 40, here are the songs we're saying goodbye to this week:

• Trust My Lonely by Alessia Cara (#29)
• Delicate by Taylor Swift (#40) [Spent 1 Week At #1]

The Countdown:
Last Week's #1 Song: High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco
40. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign (#38) [–2]
39. There's No Way by Lauv featuring Julia Michaels (DEBUT)
38. Love Someone by Lukas Graham (#39) [+1]
37. Mine by Bazzi (#35) [–2]
36. Let You Love Me by Rita Ora (#37) [+1]
35. Wake Up In The Sky by Gucci Mane featuring Bruno Mars and Kodak Black (#36) [+1]
34. I Like It by Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin (#32) [–2]
33. 8 Letters by Why Don't We (#31) [–2]
32. Wow. by Post Malone (DEBUT)
31. Back To You by Selena Gomez (#30) [–1]
30. MIA by Bad Bunny featuring Drake (#33) [+3]
29. Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max (#34) [+5]
28. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD (#27) [–1]
27. Be Alright by Dean Lewis (#26) [–1]
26. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande (#25) [–1] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
25. Body by Loud Luxury featuring Brando (#28) [+3]
24. Lie by NF (#23) [–1]
23. Tequila by Dan + Shay (#24) [+1]
22. Broken by lovelytheband (#21) [–1]
21. Ruin My Life by Zara Larsson (#22) [+1]
20. Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus (#20) [=]
19. Better by Khalid (#19) [=]
18. Taki Taki by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B (#18) [=]
17. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B (#16) [–1] [Spent 5 Weeks At #1]
16. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa (#17) [+1]
15. Consequences by Camila Cabello (#13) [–2]
14. Better Now by Post Malone (#12) [–2] [Spent 2 Weeks At #1]
13. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake (#15) [+2]
12. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini (#14) [+2]
11. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani (#9) [–2] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
10. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee (#11) [+1]
9. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer (#9) [=] [Spent 3 Weeks At #1]
8. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee (#10) [+2]
7. Beautiful (Remix) by Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello (#7) [=]
6. Happier by Marshmello featuring BΔSTILLE (#6) [=]
5. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid (#5) [=]
4. Breathin' by Ariana Grande (#2) [–2]
3. Without Me by Halsey (#4) [+1]
2. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco (#1) [–1] [Spent 4 Weeks At #1]
1. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande (#3) [+2] [1^st Week At #1]

#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Perfect by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé (1^st of 2 Weeks At #1)

Biggest Fall Of The Week: Tie between Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Mine by Bazzi, I Like It by Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J. Balvin, 8 Letters by Why Don't We, Consequences by Camila Cabello, Better Now by Post Malone, Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani, and Breathin' by Ariana Grande (–2)

Biggest Rise Of The Week: Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max (+5)

New Entrants:
- We have two not-so interesting debuts this week. First, we have a collaboration between Lauv and Julia Michaels in their single, There's No Way. Two of these artists have different backgrounds. Lauv's debut single, I Like Me Better, was easily one of my least favorite songs of 2018, what with cringe-worthy lyrics and a awful production. Julia hasn't been impressive either, with Issues being mediocre and the rest of her music just simply underwhelming at best (with the exception of I Miss You with Clean Bandit, which is easily the best thing she's been a part of). I had low expectations coming into their single, and the result is just not good. I'll say production-wise, it's a step up from its predecessor. The instruments are decent and I kinda like the piano here. But the vocals are underwhelming. Both of them don't really sound good together. I also look at the lyrics, some of which I find questionable. Overall, while it may not be as annoying as I Like Me Better, it's still pretty bad all around.

- Wow. We have Post Malone once more with his new single, and with that he now has four songs on the countdown. Just wow. Talk about a run. Anyway, I may be growing into his music, but this song doesn't really appeal to me. I find the production to be very basic and the lyrics are no good. I do kinda like Post's voice here, but that's probably the only redeeming quality in a pretty bad song. I can't really see myself growing into this one, unlike his recent music. But I'm sure it'll probably end up being a big hit despite how mediocre it is. I hope I'm wrong.

Best Debut Of The Week: Wow by Post Malone (But not by much)

Blurbs Above Me
- So, we have two exits. The first of which is Trust My Lonely by Alessia Cara, which wasn't a good song for the most part. So good riddance to that. Then, there's Delicate by Taylor Swift. It had a great run on this countdown and it was one of the highlights from Reputation. Delicate will be missed by me. And seeing as Taylor doesn't have anymore singles at this moment, we probably won't hear from her for a while until her next album comes along.

- We've got a new #1 this week, and unsurprisingly it goes to Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande. I normally would be happy about this considering I love Ariana. But I don't really consider Thank U, Next to be amazing, especially since she's done better. It's pretty catchy in a way and I definitely love her voice in the song, so I'll give her that. I'll also say it's way better than a certain song I won't mention right now.

- That being said, I would much prefer High Hopes or Breathin' at #1, although the latter is dying out very quickly. So that probably won't happen at this point.

- Close To Me has now entered the Top 10 this week. I'm a little surprised by how well is doing at this moment, but I'll take it. The song is not Ellie's best by any means, but it's definitely something that I enjoy. I'm looking forward to see what else she has to offer in her future album.

- Remember when I said that Taki Taki was a pretty fun song overall? That seems like a long time ago. As a matter of fact, my opinion has changed drastically. Yeah, I'm starting to find that the vocals are underwhelming and the production is pretty bad. And this is coming from someone who enjoys much of DJ Snake's music. I'm sure he can do better.

- Before introducing Better, Ryan Seacrest mentioned that Khalid has struggles with social anxiety. And I'll bet he's not the only one. There's are those who have had their share of struggles as well. But I'm glad he's been able to talk about it.

- So I recently found out that Ruin My Life was originally meant to be a duet between Zara Larsson and another artist, but that was ultimately scrapped. I wonder how it would've turned out had she decided to collaborate with someone in the song?

Breakouts/On The Verge:

• Dancing With A Stranger by Sam Smith featuring Normani
• My Blood by TWENTY ØNE PILØTS
• Lost In The Fire by Gesafflestein featuring The Weeknd

Extras/Optional Extras:

• Unforgettable by French Montana featuring Swae Lee
• Let Me Love You by DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber
• I Took A Pill In Ibiza by Mike Posner
• 1-800-273-8255 by Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid
• Can't Stop The Feeling! by Justin Timberlake
• The Hills by The Weeknd
• Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia
• That's What I Like by Bruno Mars
• Love On The Brain by Rihanna

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 – Garbage:
20. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake

1 – Bad:
19. Taki Taki by Dj Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B
18. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille

2 – Mediocre:
None!

3 – Decent:
17. Girls Like You by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
16. Without Me by Halsey

4 – Good:
15. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande
14. Better by Khalid

5 – Great:
13. Beautiful by Bazzi featuirng Camila Cabello
12. Consequences by Camila Cabello
11. Better Now by Post Malone
10. Youngblood by 5 Seconds Of Summer
9. High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco
8. Love Lies by Khalid featuring Normani
7. Electricity by Silk City featuring Dua Lipa
6. Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus
5. Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid
4. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee
3. Breathin' by Ariana Grande 
2. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini

BONUS: 6 – Best Song On The Countdown:
1. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee

Total Score: 82/100 = 82% (B–)

Throwback Pick Of The Week: She's So High by Tal Bachman (1999)

Most Missed Song: Fight Song by Rachel Platten

#1 Recommendation For The American Top 40: GIRL by Maren Morris

Favorite Countdown Song This Week One Year Ago: Finesse (Remix) by Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B (#18)

My Top 5 Picks
1. Close To Me by Ellie Goulding featuring Diplo and Swae Lee
2. This Feeling by The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini
3. Tequila by Dan + Shay
4. Breathin' by Ariana Grande
5. Sunflower by Post Malone featuring Swae Lee

My Bottom 5 Picks
1. Sicko Mode by Travis Scott featuring Drake
2. Psycho by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
3. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD
4. There's No Way by Lauv featuring Julia Michaels
5. Happier by Marshmello featuring Bastille

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Lemon by N.E.R.D. featuring Rihanna: I kinda like this as a guilty pleasure. Lyrically, it may not be good, but there's just something about it that pulls me in. I probably should hate this, but I don't.