twostepcub's Best of 2017: Part Four - #70 to #61...

I've been counting down the 100 biggest songs from my weekly music chart from 2017, and we're up to part four....You can check out the other parts by clicking here, here, and here...

#80 - "Wild Thoughts" - DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
          from the album Grateful (2017)
          Highest rank: #5 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 16
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
          Songwriters: Khaled Khaled (DJ Khaled), Robyn Fenty (Rihanna), Bryson Tiller, Jahron Braithwaite (Partynextdoor), [Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplassis, Marvin Moore-Hough, David McRae - from the sample of "Maria Maria"], Johnny & Leonardo Mollings (Nasty Beatmakers)

After releasing the sugary shitpile that was his collaboration with Justin Bieber and Lil' Wayne in "I'm The One", Palestinian-American DJ Khaled redeemed himself with the most fun thing Rihanna was involved in this year (including her mediocre club hits). Cribbing Santana's "Maria Maria" and joining Bryson Tiller who speak-sings through his verses, and this breezy single got noticed because the other hip-hop hits of the summer were mostly mumbling noise. (In 2016 Rihanna was at #21 for the year with her collab with Calvin Harris, "This Is What You Came For".)

Killer lyric: I hope you know I'm for the takin',
                   You know this cookie's for the baking,
                   Kitty, kitty, baby give that thing some rest,
                   Like the '68 Jets...

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


#69 - "How Not To" - Dan + Shay
         from the album Obsessed (2016)
         Highest rank: #12 (two weeks)
         Weeks on the chart: 17
         Billboard Hot 100 peak: #57
         Songwriters: Adam Hambrick, Paul DiGiovanni (Boys Like Girls), Kevin Bard (Stereo Skyline)

The handsome crossover country duo who was at #66 on my year-end list of 2015 with their dog-lovin' clip "Nothin' Like You", take on much more sobering material as this song is accompanied by a power video that tackles addiction and the people wrapped up in it. All with harmonies resembling the second coming of Rascal Flatts...

Killer lyric: And I know that I ought to be the one who is strong and just moves on,
                    But I probably turn down your road, knock-knock on your door,
                    Fall back in your arms, wake up in the morning,
                    Hating myself for the way that I can't help the way I still want you...

#68 - "Side To Side" - Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj
         from the album Dangerous Woman (2016)
         Highest rank: #13 (two weeks)
         Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 15
         Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
         Songwriters: Ariana Grande, Onika Maraj (Nicki Minaj), Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Alexander Kronlund, Ilya Salmanzadeh (ILYA)

When Ariana started 2017, she was in the middle of her successful album Dangerous Woman, but her reputation as a bratty girl (the donut-licking incident) was threatening to overshadow her music. Even this, the third single and apparent homage to getting banged so badly she can't even walk straight, was quite a bit much for the former Disney Queen. But after the bombing at her concert in Manchester that killed 23 and injured 500 in May, Grande stepped up to the plate and filled in for where our man-baby president can't - in sympathy with those affected, she organized a benefit concert in Manchester that got worldwide notice, re-released her single "One Last Time" to benefit victims and their families, and showed that true strength against terrorism is people coming together. Not bad, Ariana, not bad at all.

Killer lyric: 'Cause I know you got a bad reputation,
                    Doesn't matter, 'cause you give me temptation,
                    And we don't gotta think 'bout nothin'...

#67 - "High" - Sir Sly
          from the album Don't You Worry, Honey (2017)
          Highest rank: #23 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 19
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart
          Songwriters: Sir Sly (Landon Jacobs, Hayden Coplen, Jason Suwito)

The L.A. indie-pop trio score their breakthrough rock radio hit by getting their Beck on and just being freaky. Wordplay that smart that's rare in this year's serious rock radio format. This also got mad exposure in the viral TV hit 13 Reasons Why.

Killer lyric: I remember back in Oakland,
                   I was lying there in rapture on the bathroom floor,
                  Moving hotel to hotel,
                   Out on the road, no idea really what's in store...

#66 - "Wanna Be That Song" - Brett Eldredge
          from the album Illinois (2015)
          Highest rank: #8 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 15
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #46
          Songwriters: Brett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Scooter Carusoe

The third single from Eldredge's Illinois album - the other two made the year end lists in 2015 ("Lose My Mind", #63) and 2016 ("Drunk On Your Love", #96) - was a love song that music lovers could relate to. Also, who could've known when this was released in May that the Chicago Cubs would end up World Series winners?

Killer lyric: I wanna be that song that gets you high,
                   Makes you dance, makes you fall,
                   That melody rewinds years,
                   Once disappear, makes time stall... 

#65 - "Small Town Boy" - Dustin Lynch
         from the album Current Mood (2017)
         Highest rank: #24 (two weeks)
         Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 22 (still charting)
         Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36
         Songwriters: Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Kyle Fishman

Fresh-faced country singer Lynch (who is actually 32 years old) places two songs on this year's list. This by-the-books woman-praising number is the first, and it's a nice ditty to two-step to. Fun fact: the father of another singer on this year-end chart, Thomas Rhett's dad Rhett Akins, co-wrote this.

Killer lyric: She'll take a full moon over those city nights,
                    And I ain't scared to get all up in them bright lights...

#64 - "Love So Soft" - Kelly Clarkson
          from the album Meaning Of Life (2017)
          Highest rank: #2 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 12 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #47
          Songwriters: Maureen McDonald (Mozella), Jesse Shatkin, Priscilla Renea

The first American Idol, Clarkson gets into dubstep and grabs some Earth, Wind, & Fire help for her latest Grammy-nominated song, which was an adult-pop and club hit, but should've definitely gotten more love from mainstream radio. Flawless video, though. (Kelly placed at #56 last year with "Piece By Piece".)

Killer lyric: If a thought was the truth,
                    We'd be doing all the kinds of things I know you wanna do,
                    But I need, need to know,
                   Will you protect me, respect me if I let you close?

#63 - "Sober Saturday Night" - Chris Young featuring Vince Gill
          from the album I'm Comin' Over (2015)
          Highest rank: #12 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 18
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #63
          Songwriters: Chris Young, Brad & Brett Warren (The Warren Brothers)

Chris Young followed up his collaboration with Cassadee Pope on "Think Of You", which made it to #58 on the 2016 recap, with this pairing with country music icon Vince Gill on yet another treatment of addiction, and his range of smooth baritone to powerful belting in the chorus matches Vince's backup like a fur-lined glove.

Killer lyric: I'm not out there getting high underneath some neon lights,
                   Ain't no whiskey strong enough to make things right,
                   I'm just getting over another sober Saturday night...

#62 - "New Rules" - Dua Lipa
          from the album  Dua Lipa (2017)
          Highest rank: #7 (two weeks) 
          Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 16 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak (so far in 2017): #14 (still climbing)
          Songwriters: Emily Warren, Ian Kirkpatrick, Caroline Ailin

Well, it took six singles for British singer Dua Lipa to conquer America, but man, it was worth the wait. This infectiously cool dance-pop confection has a detached attitude of Lana Del Rey with the rhythmic hooks of Rihanna, and possibly the best couplet of the year.

Killer lyric: And if you're under him
                    You ain't getting over him...

#61 - "Too Good At Goodbyes" - Sam Smith
          from the album The Thrill Of It All (2017)
          Highest rank (so far in 2017): #1 (one week) (still at #1)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 12 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
          Songwriters: Sam Smith, James Napier (Jimmy Napes), Stargate (Tor Hermansen & Mikkel Eriksen)

The current reigning #1 on my chart, British falsetto god and self-proclaimed "dick monster" returns with the first single from his sophomore album, and he's back to being heartbroke. Like Adele, he's at his best when he's at his worst. In 2015 he had four songs on the year-end chart ("I'm Not The Only One" at #36, "Lay Me Down" at #62, "Stay With Me" at #78, and "Like I Can" at #94). Can he match it in 2018?

Killer lyric: So I'm never gonna get too close to you,
                    Even when I mean the most to you,
                    In case you go and leave me in the dirt...

I'll return tomorrow with three, count 'em, three judges from The Voice, and a fallen rock star along with a phone number he should have used.