Rounding out spots 8-11 on the Billboard chart are a quartet of songs I’ve already featured as part of my focus on hit singles this year. If I’ve learned one thing it’s that there isn’t much turnover on this list.
At #8 is John Legend’s ‘All of Me,’ in its 42nd week on the chart. Ninth is Sia’s ‘Chandelier,’ entering the top ten for the first time. In the tenth spot is Calvin Harris’ ‘Summer,’ which didn’t own the season the way he must have hoped when he recorded it. And at #11 is Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy,’ still chugging along.
At #12 is a new entry on Billboard’s Hot 100, Jason Aldean’s ‘Burnin’ It Down.’ This is the highest I’ve seen a country song on this chart, though it’s hard to call this track country, exactly. It’s like a weird sound experiment that applies techno pop production to a typical country tune.
As much as I love recent country music by women (such as Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe and Brandy Clark), their male counterparts just don’t do it for me. Even Brad Paisley, one of my favorites, disappointed with his last album. He has another due soon that I hope is a return to form.
You stirrin’ up dirty in the back of my mind
You keep on flirtin’
Cause you know that it’s workin’
You stuck in my head girl writing the lines
Couldn’t sing this song without you if I tried
Let’s light it up like it’s our last nightWe’re just hanging around
Burnin’ it down
Sippin’ on some cold Jack Daniel’s
Jammin’ to some old Alabama with you baby
Laying right here naked in my bed
I’m just doing my thing
You love it when I sing
Say it makes you feel like an angel
We about to get a little tangled up right about now
So girl let’s keep burnin’ it down
Burnin’ it down
Burnin’ it down
Girl when you want it
You know that I’m on it
You know that I love lovin’ up on you
Let’s hit the switch and let our shadows dance
And light it up like it’s our last chance
We’re just hanging around
Burnin’ it down
Sippin’ on some cold Jack Daniel’s
Jammin’ to some old Alabama with you baby
Laying right here dreamin in my bed
I’m just doing my thing
You love it when I sing
Say it makes you feel like an angel
We about to get a little tangled up right about now
So girl let’s keep burnin’ it down
Burnin’ it down
Burnin’ it down
I wanna rock it all night
Baby girl will you rock it out with me?
I wanna crawl through the dark
Just to feel your heartbeat against me
I wanna rock it all night
Baby girl will you rock it out with me?
I wanna crawl through the dark
Just to feel your heartbeat against me
We’re just hanging around
Burnin’ it down
Sippin’ on some cold Jack Daniel’s
Jammin’ to some old Alabama with you baby
Laying right here naked in my bed
I’m just doing my thing
You love it when I sing
Say it makes you feel like an angel
We about to get a little tangled up right about now
So girl let’s keep burnin’ it down
Burnin’ it down
Burnin’ it down
I wanna rock it all night
Baby girl will you rock it out with me?
I wanna crawl through the dark
Just to feel your heartbeat against me
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m not sure this musically qualifies as country in any way. The country element really comes only from the accent of the singer. If Pharrell or Katy Perry did this song, it would disassociate with country entirely.