twostepcub's Best of 2017: Part Eight - #30 to #21...
The eighth installment of my year-end recap of the biggest songs on my weekly music chart is up right now. You can catch up with the other seven parts as well as my list of also-rans by clicking here...
#40 - "Don't Wanna Know" - Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar
from the album Red Pill Blues (2017)
Highest rank (in 2017): #4 (four weeks) (was also #4 for two weeks in 2016)
Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 19 (was on the chart for seven weeks in 2016)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6
Songwriters: Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Kendrick Duckworth (Kendrick Lamar), Benjamin Levin (Benny Blanco), the Arcade (Kurtis McKenzie & Jon Mills), Jon Ryan, Jacob Kasher, Ammar Malik, Alex Ben-Abdallah
This tale of heartbreak and longing for your ex is made sweeter by this tropical-house experiment by the biggest American pop band who placed three songs on this year's list. In the music video's case, it's Adam as a Pokemon-like creature longing for another (Sarah Silverman). Two years ago, they were at #12 with "Sugar".
Killer lyrics: Do you think of me?
Of what we used to be?
Is it better now that I'm not around?
(Click below to see the rest of the post)
#29 - "The Man" - The Killers
from the album Wonderful Wonderful (2017)
Highest rank: #3 (three weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 21
Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart
Songwriters: The Killers (Brandon Flowers, Mark Stoermer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr.), Garrett Lee (Jackknife), Kool & The Gang (Ron & Robert Bell, George Brown, Robert Mickens, Otha Nash, Claydes Smith, Dennis Thomas, Richard Westfield), Don Boyce
The Mormon rockers from Las Vegas return with the lead single from their Wonderful Wonderful album. Brandon Flowers assumes the David Bowie in "Fame" attitude without losing his unsteady swagger over a sample of the groove from Kool & The Gang's "Summer Boogie"...
Killer lyrics: When it comes to Friday, I always earn,
But don't try to teach me, I got nothing to learn,
'Cause baby I'm gifted,
You see what I mean?
USDA certified lean...
#28 - "Craving You" - Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris
from the album Life Changes (2017)
Highest rank: #8 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 22
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #39
Songwriters: Dave Barnes, Julian Bunetta
This crossover country jam sounds almost like disco with the strumming guitars throughout this tale of obsession. Morris, who made the also-ran list with "My Church" last year at #106, and Rhett make for a cute and cool team of police in this music video, as well.
Killer lyrics: I never had something that I can't walk away from,
But, girl, my self-control's so paralyzed,
When it comes to you, no, I ain't got no patience,
There's something 'bout you girl I just can't fight...
#27 - "Hurricane" - Luke Combs
from the album This One's For You (2017)
Highest rank: #5 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 27
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #31
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Thomas Archer, Taylor Phillips
It's a little ironic that one of the biggest country singles of 2017 was titled after the weather event that dominated the news. Newcomer Combs has his breakthrough hit with this emotional barnburner about running into a lost love.
Killer lyrics: Then you roll in with your hair in the wind
Baby without warning,
I was doin' alright but just your sight
Had my heart stormin'...
#26 - "Love On The Brain" - Rihanna
from the album ANTI (2016)
Highest rank: #10 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 24
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
Songwriters: Robyn Fenty (Rihanna), Fred Ball, Joseph Angel
Rihanna, who was on last year's list at #21 with "This Is What We Came For" with Calvin Harris, returns this one with one of the few straight-forward songs from ANTI. The last time she was on as a lead was in 2013, when she hit #35 for the year with "Stay".
Killer lyrics: Oh, and baby I'm fist fighting with fire
Just to get close to you
Can we burn something, babe?
#25 - "It Ain't Me" - Kygo featuring Selena Gomez
from the CD Kids In Love (CD Deluxe) (2017)
Highest rank: #12 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 27
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #20
Songwriters: Kyrre Gorvell-Dahll (Kygo), Selena Gomez, Andrew Wotman (Watt), Brian Lee, Ali Tamposi
Selena Gomez, who was on last year's recap at #51 with her collaboration with Charlie Puth, "We Don't Talk Anymore", comes in here with Norwegian remixer/producer Kygo. His breakdown of her voice in the chorus is really what sells this. But I have no faith in thinking that Selena knows who the Libertines were.
Killer lyrics: I had a dream
We were back to seventeen
Summer nights and The Libertines
Never growing up...
#24 - "Still Breathing" - Green Day
from the album Revolution Radio (2016)
Highest rank: #5 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 23
Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart
Songwriters: Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt), Red Triangle (Richard Parkhouse, George Tizzard), The Struts (Adam Slack, Luke Spiller), Joshua Wilkinson
Last year, the iconic pop-punk trio returned with a "bang" with their noise assault of "Bang Bang", which came in at #66 on last year's list. This time out this reflection on getting over struggles was both fist-pumping and thought-provoking.
Killer lyrics: As I walked out on the ledge
Are you scared to death to live?
I've been running all my life
Just to find a home that's for the restless
And the truth that's in the message
Making my way, away, away...
#23 - "Mercy" - Shawn Mendes
from the album Illuminate (2016)
Highest rank: #3 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 25
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #15
Songwriters: Shawn Mendes, Teddy Geiger, Danny Parker, Ilsey Juber
Canadian singer/songwriter Mendes was in the top-40 twice last year with "Stitches" (#37) and "Treat You Better" (#35). He repeats that feat in 2017, and the first is this song teeming with teen angst (he's still just 19). Also, co-writer and producer Teddy Geiger (a top-40 artist in their own right) announced in October to be transitioning. Kudos.
Killer lyrics: Show me an open door,
Then you go and slam it on me,
I can't take anymore,
I'm saying baby...
#22 - "Slow Hands" - Niall Horan
from the album Flicker (2017)
Highest rank: #8 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 28 (still charting)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11
Songwriters: Niall Horan, Julian Bunetta, Alexander Izquierdo (Eskeerdo), John Ryan, Ruth-Anne Cunningham (Rooty), Tobias Jesso Jr
Former One Directioner Horan, whom we saw down at #91 with "This Town", followed that debut solo single up with this sing-along thumper that was also converted into a club jam.
Killer lyrics: "We should take this back to my place",
That's what she said right to my face,
'Cause I want you bad...
#21 - "Take It On Back" - Judah & The Lion
from the album Folk Hop N' Roll (2016)
Highest rank: #10 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 36
Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart ("bubbled under" at #119)
Songwriters: Judah & The Lion (Judah Akers, Brian MacDonald, Nate Zuercher, Spencer Cross)
This band from Nashville combined folk music with elements of electronica to give this single a totally fresh vibe, and it as it conquered different radio formats, it stayed on my chart in the beginning and again at the end of the chart year.
Killer lyrics: I'm waking up
And one day we might have a big house with nice cars and fancy clothes and a wife
With a big ol' diamond ring,
'Cause the people they dancing along,
They dancing along to the mando' and some sort of hip-hop beat...
I'll be back tomorrow with another ten as we head to the top, with a classical-dance trio singing a lullaby, an actor/rapper truly gets his musical due, a golden funkster jam, and more.
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