My best-ever Billboard countdown is approaching its end, and the pressure is on these next two acts to not screw up the streak of enjoyable music. In fact, I’m already familiar with the final song of the week so it really all comes down to today.
At #9 is ‘Roses’ by The Chainsmokers featuring Rozes. We’re in a little danger here because The Chainsmokers are the DJ duo responsible for the 2014 track ‘#Selfie,’ which was amusing but also rather horrible.
At #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 we have our first and only track that’s already been featured on the blog — Adele’s ‘Hello.’ That baby is hanging on months after it debuted. But given the record-shattering sales of Adele’s 25, I’m surprised this is still the only song to make a real splash.
In the ninth spot is ‘Cake By the Ocean’ by DNCE. DNCE is a band formed last year by Joe Jonas and this track, their first single, was released in September and has taken a leisurely stroll into the top ten.
At #7 on Billboard is G-Eazy and Bebe Rexha with ‘Me, Myself & I.’ I have no idea who either of these people are (I assume it’s two people) and I fear that they will end the streak of surprisingly good songs topping the chart.
According to my extensive research (read: a single Wikipedia entry), this song started as a solo piece by singer-songwriter Rexha, but when it was cut from her album she decided to shop it around. Rapper G-Eazy signed on and provided verses to pair with the chorus and bridge of Rexha’s original tune.
After a surprisingly strong top five Billboard lineup last week, we turn our attention to the bottom half of the top ten. Will the quality level remain high or are we due for a slip back into depressing mediocrity?
Zayn, formerly of One Direction, kicks us off with his first solo single, ‘Pillowtalk.’ This is a decidedly more grown-up track from young Zayn. Pre-teen girls all over the world are getting quite an earful.
Often these Random iTunes Weekends turn into an installment of ‘Where Are They Now?’
Today’s featured artist, Keane, released a trio of strong LPs and a fun EP between 2004 and 2010 before dropping the dreadful Strangeland in 2012. Following that bomb, the band put out a greatest hits record (presumably featuring nothing from Strangeland) and then fell silent.
Meet Me In Montauk 