twostepcub's Best of 2017: Part Seven - #40 to #31...
We're down to the top-40 of my year-end countdown of the biggest songs on my weekly music chart for 2017. You can catch up with parts one through six along with my also-ran halftime show by clicking here.
#40 - "A Million Reasons" - Lady Gaga
from the album Joanne (2016)
Highest rank: #9 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 22
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriters: Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga), Hillary Lindsey, Mark Ronson
After the lead single from Gaga's fifth album Joanne, "Perfect Illusion", relatively stiffed here in the States, missing the top ten on the pop chart and falling fast and quick after its release, Gaga took a left turn with this country-style ballad co-written with that genre's go-to "song doctor", Hillary Lindsey, and scored a hit with this simple song, without the dance-pop gimmicks and only with the power of her voice.
Killer lyrics: Head stuck in a cycle, I look off and I stare,
It's like that I've stopped breathing, but completely aware...
(Click below to see the rest of the post)
#39 - "Strip That Down" - Liam Payne featuring Quavo
from the album TBA (2018)
Highest rank: #8 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 26
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10
Songwriters: Liam Payne, Quavious Marshall (Quavo), Steve Mac, Ed Sheeran, [Orville Burrell (Shaggy), Rickardo Ducent (RikRok), Shaun Pizzonia, Brian Thompson - for the "It Wasn't Me" sample from Shaggy], [Harold Ray Brown, Sylvester Allen, Morris Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard Scott - for the "Smile Happy" sample from War]
The hottest member of One Direction (IMHO) waited the longest to have his first solo hit, but the slick and seductive low-key dance-pop nugget co-written by Ed Sheeran was indeed worth the wait. Featuring Quavo from the "Bad and Bougie" rappers Migos, the lyrics slyly reference his reputation and boyband past.
Killer lyrics: You know, I used to be in 1D (now I'm out, free)
People want me for one thing (that's not me)
I'm not changing, the way, that I (used to be)
I just wanna have fun and (get rowdy)...
#38 - "In Case You Didn't Know" - Brett Young
from the album Brett Young (2017)
Highest rank: #17 (one week)
Weeks on the chart: 31
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #19
Songwriters: Brett Young, Trent Tomlinson, Tyler Reeve, Kyle Schlienger
The first single from this country music newcomer, "Sleep Without You", made my top ten right when the 2016 chart year ended and the 2017 one began, leaving it out of either year-end list. However, Young made up for it with this love ballad follow-up that stayed on my chart for over seven months.
Killer lyrics: Even though I don't tell you all the time,
You had my heart a long long time ago,
In case you didn't know...
#37 - "Chained To The Rhythm" - Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley
from the album Witness (2017)
Highest rank: #1 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 18
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriters: Katy Perry, Skip Marley, Max Martin, Sia Furler (Sia), Ali Payami
It seemed to easy to hate on Katy Perry in 2017, like she was pop music's answer to Hillary Clinton herself; trying to be popular yet relevant in a medium that's became a reality-show-driven dumpster fire. While there was moments of "yes, she's trying too hard" on her fifth album Witness, this bit of pop confection with a socially conscious center really was an amazing piece of music, with late 90's production over her catchy yet not vapid lyrics. Even Bob Marley's grandson's cameo isn't wasted in this. (Katy was on the year-end list last year with one-off single "Rise" at #86.)
Killer lyrics: Trapped in our white picket fence,
Like ornaments,
So comfortable, we're livin' in a bubble, bubble,
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble...
#36 - "Symphony" - Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson
from the album So Good (Zara Larsson) (2017)
Highest rank: #3 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 19
Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart, "bubbled under" at #101
Songwriters: Jack Patterson (Clean Bandit), Ammar Malik, Ina Wroldsen, Steve McCutcheon (Steve Mac)
British art-dance act Clean Bandit, whose breakthrough hit single "Rather Be" was the #3 song on my 2014 year-end tally, still have yet to release a second album, but have two entries on this years list, including this collaboration with Swedish singer Larsson. It sported a powerful video featuring a gay couple of color and their story, with the trio and Zara inserted at just the right point. Flawless neo-house. (Zara was on last year's countdown at #85 with "Never Forget You".)
Killer lyrics: Life was stringing me along,
Then you came and you cut me loose,
Was solo singing on my own,
Now I can’t find the key without you...
#35 - "No Such Thing As A Broken Heart" - Old Dominion
from the album Happy Endings (2017)
Highest rank: #2 (three weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 20
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #46
Songwriters: Old Dominion (Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi), Jesse Frasure
Like Brett Young, these country crossover hunks found themselves in the top ten when the chart year was changing, so their smooth "Song For Another Time" missed the tally. However, this singalong keep your chin up anthem with an adorable as fuck video followed, spending three weeks at the runner-up spot. They were on 2016's year-end chart at #33 with "Snapback", and at #85 the year before with "Break Up With Him".
Killer lyrics: I wonder if Jack and Diane ever made it,
After the drums and the guitars all faded,
Was the best they could do good enough,
Or did the heartland just swallow 'em up...
#34 - "I Feel It Coming" - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
from the album Starboy (2016)
Highest rank: #3 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 21
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriters: Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd), Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo), Martin McKinney (Doc McKinney), Henry Walter (Cirkut), Eric Chedeville
The Canadian alternative-soul guru, who landed in the 2015 countdown three times, with "Can't Feel My Face" at #5, "Earned It" at #8, and "The Hills" at #88, returned this year big, with two collaborations with French neo-disco duo Daft Punk. We already saw "Starboy" at #88, and now this reincarnation of Michael Jackson lands in the top 40, a worthy successor to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky", like it took place later that night. The perfect record to blast in the car when you're cruising down the road with the windows down.
Killer lyrics: You've been scared of love and what it did to you,
You don't have to run, I know what you've been through,
Just a simple touch and it can set you free,
We don't have to rush when you're alone with me...
#33 - "Thunder" - Imagine Dragons
from the album Evolve (2017)
Highest rank (in 2017): 2 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 23 (still charting)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriters: Imagine Dragons (Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman), Alexander Grant (Alex Da Kid), Jayson DeZuzio
The modern rock hitmakers, who last were seen on my year-ends in 2015 at #20 with "I Bet My Life", return with this anthemic yet unassuming little pop song that won't leave your brain. The lyrics are basically their origin story.
Killer lyrics: Kids were laughing in my classes,
While I was scheming for the masses,
Who do you think you are?
Dreaming 'bout being a big star...
#32 - "Love Is Mystical" - Cold War Kids
from the album L.A. Divine (2017)
Highest rank: #2 (two weeks)
Weeks on the chart: 19
Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart
Songwriters: Cold War Kids (Nathan Willett, Matt Maust, David Quon, Joe Plummer, Matthew Schwartz)
The Long Beach indie rock band whose breakout hit "First" did back to back duty on my year-ends at #25 in 2015 and #11 in 2016, comes back with this infectious footstomper with a video that's all inclusive in love.
Killer lyrics: 'Cause I'm a rational man,
And I can see how far I've come,
But I don't know where to stand,
Or who's coming to meet me now...
#31 - "Waste A Moment" - Kings Of Leon
from the album WALLS (2016)
Highest rank (in 2017): #1 (one week) (spent three weeks at #2 in 2016)
Weeks on the chart (in 2017): 19 (was on the chart for 11 weeks in 2016)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart, "bubbled under" at #102
Songwriters: Kings Of Leon (Caleb, Nathan, Jared, Matthew Followhill)
The rock band family (three brothers and a cousin) who had taken the #1 year end spot back in the day with "Use Somebody", was on last year's also-ran list at #125, but with staying power that took it to #1, lands here up in the top-40.
Killer lyrics: Sexy was her boyfriend, with no kin, always running from the law,
Every other weekend, the week ends with his back at her claw...
That's all for this installment, I'll return tomorrow with a windy country newcomer, more Mormon rockers, pop-punk royalty, and more.
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