Twostepcub's Best Hits of 2018: Part Nine - #20 to #11...

We're climbing higher and higher up my countdown of the biggest hits on my weekly personal music chart for 2018, and as we head into the top 20, you can catch up by clicking on Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, my list of also-rans, and the whole series...

#20 - "Sober Up" by AJR featuring Rivers Cuomo
          from the album The Click (2017)
          Highest rank: #18 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 33
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart, "bubbled under the Hot 100" at #107
          Songwriters: Adam Met (AJR), Jack Met (AJR), Ryan Met (AJR), Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)

The state of pop music in 2018 was so abysmal that any inflection of angst in a male group would qualify them for widespread radio airplay's token slots, and so former DIY boybanders and this generation's Hanson, AJR, grew themselves up into an amalgam of Magic! and fun. for their second album the Click. The second songs from the album to make this years chart, "Sober Up", rolled on a cello hook and featured Weezer's Rivers Cuomo (though honestly I cannot tell which parts are his). Whether the trio can last even to another album is hard to say, but as of now, their unassuming professionalism allowed them to coast on my chart for over eight months and make it this high on the list. And they won't be the only ones...

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#19 - "One Kiss" by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa
          from the single One Kiss (2018) and Dua Lipa (2017)
          Highest rank: #1 (three weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 23
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #26
          Songwriters: Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Jessie Reyez

The second entry on the final top 100 from Calvin Harris and the third from Dua Lipa, "One Kiss" was a house music throwdown like it could've been pulled from any late 1990s dance club play chart, and that's a compliment. Lipa's vocals are suited perfectly for the bouncy groove of house, and this simple club banger does this without having to go full throttle.

#18 - "Live In The Moment" by Portugal, The Man
          from the album Woodstock (2017)
          Highest rank: #1 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 25
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: did not chart
          Songwriters: John Gourley (Portugal, The Man), John Hill, Ammar Malik

The alternative rock band from Sarah Palin's hometown of Wasilla, Alaska followed up their massive success of "Feel It Still" (#24 this year, #6 in 2017) with this bouncy number that topped my list for 2 weeks.

#17 - "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
          from the album Red Pill Blues (2018)
          Highest rank: #3 (three weeks)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2018): 25 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (seven weeks)
          Songwriters: Red Pill Blues (2017)

In the same vein as AJR with even more to stick up for himself, there was a dearth of rock music, but this female-baiting THIS IS THE VOICE single with his band which have evolved into a purely electronica product which produced circular death squad chantings like this and last weeks and weeks on the chart. The critics panned this one, having it appear on multiple "worst of 2018" lists, and while I would never put it into that category, "Girls Like You" was certainly graded on a curve to have made it this high up on the list.
 
#16 - "One Number Away" by Luke Combs
          from the album This One's For You (2017)
          Highest rank: #5 (three weeks)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2018): 35 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #34
          Songwriters: Luke Combs, Sammy Mitchell, Steven Battey, Robert Williford

This "not over you yet" ballad by the chubby country newcomer who placed at #27 in 2017 with "Hurricane" was just as charming as his debut, as his soaring voice stood out from the bro-country crowd. The video is quite the downer, though.

#15 - "Good Old Days" by Macklemore featuring Kesha
          from the album Gemini (2017)
          Highest rank: #22 (three weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 41
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #48
          Songwriters: Macklemore, Kesha, Budo, Andrew Joslyn, Sam Wishkoski, Tyler Andrews

After massive success with producer partner Ryan Lewis with his Heist album, which placed "Thrift Shop" at #12 and "Can't Hold Us" at #37 on the year-end list for 2013, it looked like Macklemore would fade into obscurity like many a Caucasian hip-hopper, despite quality material like 2015's "Downtown". But with his second "solo" album Gemini, he had a bonafide slow burn pop hit with resurrected pop queen Kesha on this nostalgic indie-pop nugget that spent the most weeks on my chart within the confines of the calendar year of 2018. Glad to see both of these seasoned heroes use their forces for good. By the way in case you didn't know Ryan Lewis co-wrote and produced Kesha's comeback single' "Praying".

#14 - "In My Blood" by Shawn Mendes
          from the album Shawn Mendes (2018)
          Highest rank: #3 (four weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 26
          Billboard Hot 100 peak; #11
          Songwriters: Shawn Mendes, Geoff Warburton, Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris

Canadian pop heartthrob Shawn Mendes was on my year-end twice in 2017 with "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" at #14 and "Mercy" at #23. He matches the former this year with the dramatic "In My Blood", a vulnerable take on his personal demons that's miles above the normal pin-up boy fare. Working to a climax that he never loses himself to, the song was a welcome return for the boy who is still only 20 years old.

#13 - "No Roots" by Alice Merton
          from the Mint (2019)
          Highest rank: #1 (one week)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2018): 25
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #84
          Songwriters: Alice Merton, Nicholas Rebscher

Like last year's "Human" from Rag N' Bone Man, a record that would not only be one of the biggest "hits" on the twostepcubchart, but also one of my own personal faves altogether, "No Roots" was a stunning debut for this Canadian songstress. With a pounding percussion that accentuates her restlessness and skittish guitar that moves her to the next place, this record never fails to move me. I'm so looking forward to her upcoming first album Mint.

#12 - "Never Be The Same" by Camila Cabello
          from the album Camila (2018)
          Highest rank: #1 (one week)
          Weeks on the chart: 31
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6
          Songwriters: Camila Cabello, Frank Dukes, Leo Rami Dawod (Jarami), Jacob Olofsson (Jarami), Noonie Bao, Sasha Sloan

Although not as iconic as "Havana" was to her musical image, nonetheless, "Never Be The Same" had more staying power as a dreamlike dirge on her addiction to a guy and his affect on her. Again, another hit that succeeded so well simply by not being horrific.

#11 - "Boo'd Up" by Ella Mai
          from the album Ella Mai (2018)
          Highest rank: #1 (four weeks)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2018): 27 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
          Songwriters: Ella Mai, Joelle James, DJ Mustard, 1500 or Nothin'

In 2018 we had to travel outside the States for the most exciting new voices in hip-hop, between Canadian Daniel Caesar and for this British-born singer, who made her breakthrough with this lush throwback to the Blige years that coasted on a cloud that I didn't want to come down from. Justifiably a Grammy magnet, Ella is an expressive voice that will be around for years to come.

OK boys and girls that leaves just the top ten. We've got a couple country classics, some rock bangers, and a few quirky pop nuggets. But who will end up on top? Find out tomorrow.