Twostepcub's "Best Hits" of 2019 Part Three: #80 to #71...

I'm back with the third installment of this year's recap of the biggest songs on my weekly music chart. You can catch up with Part One and Part Two by clicking here.

#80 - "Rescue Me" by OneRepublic
          from the upcoming album Human (2020)
          Highest rank: #20 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 17
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: "bubbled under" at #105
          Billboard Adult Top-40 peak: #14
          Songwriters: Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle (OneRepublic)

 
Since the turn of the millenium, it seems like it had always been a race between Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons, and OneRepublic as the prevalent pop/rock band, but even though the Denver rockers haven't had the success of Levine tribe or the consistency of the Dragons, they have an ace in the hole with Tedder, one of the best songwriters out there (though he does give a lot of his best away). This layered pop number about asking for help when you really need it is pretty nuanced for a "pop song", and the fact that it makes you think puts it above what Maroon 5 is serving right now. And the video, where a boy beats his bullies with some sort of "dance force", is neat.

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#79 - "I Don't Know About You" by Chris Lane
          from the album Laps Around The Sun (2018)
          Highest Rank: #15 (one week)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2019): 17 (still charting)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #39
          Billboard Country Airplay peak: #1
          Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers

Country hunk does his best Sam Hunt without traveling into the hokey lane, and gives his best vocal performance so far in his second #1 country airplay hit of his career. Does take the picking up the girl theme but at least does it earnestly, and the downtempo swayer is perfect for dancing that new possible love.


#78 - "Northern Lights" by Death Cab For Cutie
          from the album Thank You For Today (2018)
          Highest rank: #9 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2019): 15 (was on for one week in 2018)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: DNC
          Billboard Triple-A Rock chart peak: #1 (three weeks)
          Songwriter: Ben Gibbard

Last year the alt-emo rock band Death Cab For Cutie landed at #79 with "Gold Rush", the lead single from their Thank You For Today album; this time out they are one notch higher with this track from the album, which harkens back to old sounds like Joy Division/New Order. Their concert this year was a highlight.

#77 - "Good As You" by Kane Brown
          from the album Experiment (2018)
          Highest rank: #29 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 23
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36
          Billboard Country Airplay peak: #1
          Songwriters: Kane Brown, Brock Berryhill, Shy Carter, Taylor Phillips, Will Weatherly

Kane has totally transformed from a YouTube remake artist to a bonafide country music A-lister with his single "Heaven", which was my #9 "hit" from last year. That continues on his second album Experiment, which has spun off a pair of #1 airplay hits including this sweet love song which the music video translated to the love of a parent/grandparent, in a scene possibly inspired by Brown's bullied childhood.

#76 - "Burn Out" by Midland
          from the album On The Rocks (2017)
          Highest rank: #7 (one week)       
          Weeks on the chart: 16
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #63
          Billboard Country Airplay peak: #3
          Songwriters: Midland (Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy), Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

Two years ago, the first single from retro-country trio Midland's debut album, "Drinkin' Problem", came in at #50 on my year-end list. After a more modest second single, their third offering bring them back to the recap, with the two-step friendly pun on smokes that charms ten times more than the bro-country it competes with. They deserve all the critical acclaim they get.

#75 - "Girl Like You" by Jason Aldean
          from the album Rearview Town (2018)
          Highest rank: #26 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 28
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #46
          Billboard Country Airplay peak: #1
          Songwriters: Jaron Boyer, Josh Mirenda, Michael Tyler

The third single from Aldean's eighth album was his best in quite a while, with the minor-key love drama playing out without any braggadocio or lists. Good production, especially in the placement of the backing vocals. Last year, the first two hits from Rearview Town, both made the year-end with "You Make It Easy" at #68 and "Drowns The Whiskey" with Miranda Lambert at #82.

#74 - "Eyes On You" by Chase Rice
          from the album Lambs & Lions (2017)
          Highest rank: #20 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 23
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #38
          Billboard Country Airplay peak: #1
          Songwriters: Chase Rice, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley

Former Survivor contestant turned country singer Rice landed his first #1 country hit with this love song which yes, has lists, and yes, has Sam Hunt-style spoken-work phrasing on the lyrics, but it wasn't too offputting, and in this soft year, its longevity on the chart helped place it here.

#73 - "Some Of It" by Eric Church
          from the album Desperate Man (2018)
          Highest rank: #15 (one week)
          Weeks on the chart: 18
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #43
          Billboard Country Airplay peak: #1
          Songwriters: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Clint Daniels, Bobby Pinson

Country rock hero Church put on one of the most ambitious tours this year, second only to Carrie Underwood's in popularity. Losing the "Entertainer of the Year" was unfair, but I'm not so sure. This second single from his "Desperate Man" record, "Some Of It" had a muted grace that radio fell back into love with it with. Last here his "Round Here Buzz" just missed the main record recap at #104 last year.


#72 - "Just You & I" by Tom Walker
          from the album What A Time To Be Alive (2019)
          Highest rank: #27 (six weeks)
          Weeks on the chart (in 2019): 21 (was on for 8 weeks in 2017)
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: DNC
          Billboard Adult Top-40 peak: #24
          British Singles Chart peak: #3
          Songwriters: Tom Walker, Steve Mac

Scottish singer/songwriter Walker just missed the top 100 of last year with I didn't see! Last year his "Leave A Light On" came in at #102, right under the main chart. The bearish ginger this time makes the grade, with this charmer about the history of his love. This is why he is the BRIT Awards' "Best Breakthrough" of last year. "Just You And I" had also spent 8 weeks on my chart in its British release in 2017.

#71 - "Take It From Me" by Jordan Davis
          from the album Home State (2018)
          Highest rank: #6 (two weeks)
          Weeks on the chart: 17
          Billboard Hot 100 peak: #46
          Billboard Country Airplay peak: #2
          Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Jason Gantt

The "beardiest" of the country newcomers made his big breakthrough last year with "Singles You Up", which came in at #45 on last year's recap. This year he followed it up with this funky little number which rolls on its pun of a title.

I'll return with part four with the only solo woman to top the country airplay chart this year, along with an American Idol and a colorful pop singer.