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Post by Jason on Dec 29, 2020 10:16:04 GMT -5
40. Tones & I DANCE MONKEY
This quirky song about the demands of fame and how fans have almost impossible expectations of their favorite celebrities was a surprise hit in late 2019/early 2020. In fact, "Dance Monkey" spent 24 non-consecutive weeks at #1 Australia's music chart. While it didn't peak at #1 on my own Top 50, it did spend two weeks at #3 where it peaked for me.
39. Saint Jhn ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX)
It's not often that a Rap song starts its run of chart success on the Pop charts and then crosses over to success on the Rhythmic and R&B/Hip-Hop genre charts, but that's what happened in 2020 with "Roses," by Guyanese-American rapper, Saint Jhn. When an EDM-flavored remix of the song by Kazakh producer, Imanbek, gained exposure after being used on Snapchat and TikTok, it became a Pop hit. Soon after, the album version of the song hit the R&B-flavored industry charts. It spent a total of 25 weeks on my Top 50 and landed at a height of #3 for two weeks.
38. Topic featuring A7S BREAKING ME
This haunting collaboration by German producer, Topic, and Swedish singer, Alexander Tidebrink, ended up becoming a surprise hit for me over the summer. It maxed out on my chart at a peak of #5, where it spent two weeks of its 22-week stay on the Top 50.
37. 24KGoldn featuring Iann Dior MOOD
Who knew that being in a relationship with a difficult person could sound so fun?! "Mood" has been a late year hit here in the U.S. and on my personal chart. It's still dropping down my Top 50 as of now after spending two weeks in the #1 spot.
36. Sza & Justin Timberlake THE OTHER SIDE
Trolls World Tour caused quite a stir when it was released back in the spring straight to On Demand, becoming one of the first productions to release a movie in such a manner. Of course, movie theaters were closed so what choice did the animated movie's stuido have? Still, the rest of the movie industry was NOT pleased at the time. Something else that caused a stir back then was "The Other Side," the hot collaboration by Sza and Justin Timberlake from the movie's soundtrack...but only because of how catchy the uptempo track was. It spent 22 weeks on my Top 50 and peaked at #3.
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Post by Jason on Dec 29, 2020 10:26:48 GMT -5
35. DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch ROCKSTAR
I'm not sure there are two artists who had more success in 2020 on the Hip-Hop charts than DaBaby and Roddy Ricch. On "Rockstar," they teamed up for what many might call one of the big anthems of 2020. It spent two weeks at #2 on my Top 50 chart during a 22-week stint.
34. Miley Cyrus MIDNIGHT SKY
The first single from Miley Cyrus' latest album didn't get quite the amount of love it should have, at least from a radio airplay perspective. It was on the airwaves in the U.S. one minute. Then, the next, it was gone. This has been one of my favorites of the latter part of the year. It's still on the Top 50 in the middle of an unusually slow descent following a two-week stay in the #1 spot.
33. Arizona Zervas ROXANNE
He just wants to love her and for her to be faithful to him, but all SHE wants to do is party all night. It's so not cool! After its use - where else? - on TikTok in late 2019, "Roxanne" became a hit song. In fact, it first appeared on my chart in 2019. But by late February 2020, it had spent one week in the #1 spot.
32. Drake featuring Lil' Durk LAUGH NOW CRY LATER
Although 2020 might have made us want to do it the other way around, Drake's latest song wanted us to laugh now, then cry later. I was here for it. It's still on my Top 50, but is falling down the chart after holding the #2 spot for three weeks...held out by a song that will be coming up very shortly.
31. Kygo featuring Tina Turner WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
Like "Hot Stuff" earlier on the year-end chart, Kygo's reworking of Tina Turner's 1985 hit, "What's Love Got To Do With It?" was inspired by the success he had in 2019 with "Higher Love." I was really into this one. Upon further reflection, I wonder if it was because of how much fun most of the music video looked like it was. Regardless, it peaked at #2 during a 23-week stay.
As Jason's Top 150 Songs of 2020 continues, you'll see a solo Country hit that was turned into a Pop duet, back to back songs from two different EDM producers - one is a love song and the other...well, let's just get our minds out of the gutter, people. Plus, back to back R&B tracks that had negligible Pop exposure in 2020 as well as songs by Megan Thee Stallion, Jason Derulo, and at least another couple appearances by Usher.
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Post by Jason on Dec 29, 2020 17:07:37 GMT -5
30. Summer Walker & Usher COME THRU
R&B singer/songwriter, Summer Walker, has made a name for herself in the R&B genre. "Come Thru" wasn't the most popular of the singles released from her latest album. But, sampling Usher's 1997/98 hit, "You Make Me Wanna" AND scoring a duet with him on the song, it was the one that captured my attention more than the others. "Come Thru" appeared on my chart for 25 weeks - two of which were in 2019 - and peaked at #4.
29. Regard RIDE IT
In what is becoming a definite theme here, "Ride It," by Regard became a hit after it was used on TikTok. The song uses a sped-up sample of a late 2000s hit by U.K. Pop singer, Jay Sean. The song was too catchy for me to deny. It hit #4 on my chart for two weeks of a 26-week run.
28. Joel Corry featuring MNEK HEAD & HEART
Earlier, I spoke about a song that kept "Laugh Now Cry Later" by Drake out of the #1 spot on my chart. We've now reached that song. For the same three weeks that THAT song was at #2, "Head & Heart" by Joel Corry and MNEK held the #1 spot.
27. Alicia Keys UNDERDOG
Released in early 2020, "Underdog" became an anthem of sorts in the early days of the pandemic and the ensuing quarantine. Although it wasn't a huge success on the industry charts, I'm an unapologetic Alicia Keys fan, so of course it ended up on my personal chart. It peaked at #4 and spent 26 weeks in the Top 50.
26. Trevor Daniel featuring Blackbear FALLING
"Falling" became a Trap Pop hit in mid 2020. I ended up gravitating toward a mix of the song that had guest vocals by Blackbear. "Falling" was on my Top 50 for 25 weeks. It rose as high as #3 where it spent three weeks.
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Post by Jason on Dec 29, 2020 17:20:18 GMT -5
25. Zoe Wees CONTROL
"Control" was another one in 2020 that I don't think anyone saw coming. A stark and beautiful ballad about fear...fear of love, fear of a relationship, fear of failing at a relationship. Isn't it all one and the same anyway? Whatever it was about, it touched my heart. While it's still on my Top 50, it has already peaked, doing so at #3 for two weeks a little over two months ago.
24. Gabby Barrett & Charlie Puth I HOPE
"I Hope" was not only originally a solo song, but it was a huge hit on the Country genre charts in the U.S. Eventually, the potential to be a Pop hit was realized and it was reworked into a duet with Charlie Puth. I hope you won't mind me telling you that the song spent 26 weeks on my chart and peaked at #3 for two weeks.
23. Dua Lipa BREAK MY HEART
This INXS-flavored second single from Dua Lipa's latest album (it samples the Australian band's late 1980s hit, "Need You Tonight") was a hit for me in the middle of the year. It was on my chart for 25 weeks and two of those weeks were spent at #2.
22. Ne-Yo & Jeremih U 2 LUV
I was into this R&B chart hit that sampled both 80s R&B classics "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume and "Computer Love" by Zapp. It's still on my personal chart as of now following a peak of #4.
21. Skip Marley & H.E.R. SLOW DOWN
This slow jam surprised me by how much I ended up loving it. Although it wasn't a huge success on the R&B charts here in the U.S., I heard it pretty often on one of the local radio stations where I live. My love of it translated into a 27-week run on my Top 50 and a peak position of #5.
Up next, we break into the Top 20 where "collaboration" is the key word. No less than 13 songs that serve as either duets or a collaboration of some sort appear in the Top 20 including a couple of savage team-ups, a song by two British Hip-Hop acts that played a key role in a TikTok challenge, and a couple Country-Pop collaborations, too.
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Post by Jason on Dec 30, 2020 16:44:58 GMT -5
20. Jawsh 685 featuring Jason Derulo SAVAGE LOVE
Inspired by the traditional siren music of his native Samoa, producer Jawsh 685 created the instrumental track he named "Laxed - Siren Beat." Jason Derulo heard it and thought it would be a great instrumental track to use for one of his new songs. Eventually, Jawsh and Jason worked out the legal details and the collaboration was born. It spent one week in the #1 spot on my chart and, in fact, it's still on my Top 50 as we speak...er, as you read.
19. Harry Styles ADORE YOU
The first single from Harry Styles' latest album spent three weeks in the #2 spot on my personal chart after debuting on the very last chart of mine for the calendar year 2019. That translated into a 25 week chart run.
18. Young T & Bugsey featuring Headie One DON'T RUSH
This song by British Hip-Hop duo, Young T & Bugsey, became a hit after its use on TikTok, getting a special "challenge" named after it. It was such a catchy number, I couldn't help but enjoy it enough to put it on my Top 50. It peaked at #2 during a 26-week run.
17. Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé SAVAGE
"Savage" was already a hot single when Megan Thee Stallion dropped it over the summer. But, shortly after its release, a new version with added vocals by Beyoncé made it...well...totally savage. It ran for 25 weeks on my personal chart including a three week stay in the #1 spot.
16. Chris Brown featuring Young Thug GO CRAZY
This hot collaboration from late 2020 tore up my chart over the past few months, managing to peak at #2 for three weeks during its 27 weeks inside the Top 50.
Getting closer to the Top 10 next with that pair of Country-Pop collaborations I mentioned yesterday still on the way as well as a charity duet and more.
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Post by Jason on Dec 31, 2020 15:53:53 GMT -5
15. Usher & Ella Mai DON'T WASTE MY TIME
This catchy and breezy R&B love song served as the debut single from Usher's new material after a few years between albums. It started its run on my Top 50 in late 2019, but peaked at #2 in the spring.
14. Kelsea Ballerini & Halsey THE OTHER GIRL
Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey first met up when they were tapped to collaborate on CMT's mash-up TV show, Crossroads. In preparation for their appearance on the show, they decided to create an original song, which became "The Other Girl," a song which I liken to a Pop version of "The Boy Is Mine" for 2020. It lasted on my personal chart for 27 weeks and peaked in the #2 position.
13. Kane Brown featuring Khalid & Swae Lee BE LIKE THAT
Here's another Country/Pop collaboration! Kane Brown and Khalid had already worked together a couple years ago on a song that appeared on Khalid's album. Khalid returned the favor in 2020 and the two decided to bring in Swae Lee, one half of Rap duo, Rae Sremmurd. The result was a great song that, surprisingly enough, didn't stray too far from the Country lane that Kane Brown has carved out for himself. It went all the way to #1 on my personal chart, spending three weeks there a few months ago. That all took place during a 24-week appearance in the Top 50.
12. Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber STUCK WITH U
Who says all celebrities are selfish? Soon after we all went into our bubbles to begin quarantine and social distancing in March and April 2020, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber released the charity single, "Stuck With U," to benefit the First Responders Children's Foundation. Not only did it serve a great cause, it was a great song to boot! It was on my chart for 25 weeks, three of which were spent in the #1 spot!
11. John Legend CONVERSATIONS IN THE DARK
Leave it to John Legend to release a sweeping love song to tug at all of our heartstrings. "Conversations In The Dark" wasn't the huge Pop hit that some of his previous singles have been, but I ended up loving the heck out of it. It peaked at #1 for one week and spent 28 weeks on my chart.
We've made it to the Top 10. Yay! Coming up, a sister duo who have been acting for several years. They added singing to their repertoire in recent years to become a double threat (or is it a quadruple threat?) and broke out with a big R&B hit this year. Also, you'll see one artist with two songs in the Top 10 and another with THREE songs. Debbie Deb (and Janet Jackson, too) would be proud!
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Post by Jason on Jan 1, 2021 14:49:41 GMT -5
10. The Weeknd HEARTLESS"Heartless" was the first single from The Weeknd's latest album, After Hours. In fact, it started its chart run at the end of 2019. However, it spent two weeks in the #1 spot on my chart and didn't fall off of the Top 50 until early summer. Now THAT'S impressive! 9. The Black Eyed Peas featuring J. Balvin RITMO (BAD BOYS FOR LIFE)"Ritmo (Bad Boys For LIfe)" (if you couldn't tell from the title, it was featured in the late 2019 blockbuster movie, Bad Boys For Life) was easily one of my very favorite songs of the year. If not for the fact that it spent 11 weeks of its Jason's Top 50 chart life in 2019, I could've seen it easily holding the #1 spot on this year-end list. Alas, things worked out differently. But don't worry. Eight great songs are still to come! Back to "Ritmo," it featured a clever slowed-down sample of Corona's early 1990s EDM hit, "Rhythm Of The Night." Everything great about the song conspired to culminate in a five-week run at #1 on my personal chart and a chart run that lasted into early summer. 8. Chloe x Halle DO ITSisters, Chloe and Halle, are a double-threat. Not only are they talented actresses, starring in several movies over the past 17 years, they have starring roles on the Black-ish spin-off, Grown-ish. Now, they're parlaying their talents into a singing career. "Do It" spent 27 weeks on my personal chart and included a two-week stay in the #1 spot. 7. Phony Ppl featuring Megan Thee Stallion MESSIN' AROUNDWhat a fun and catchy song "Messin' Around" is with a throwback R&B vibe to it. Me liking it so much came totally out of left-field. Several months ago I saw it on a chart I was looking at, decided to check it out, and instantly loved it. While the song itself is really good, there's no denying that adding Megan Thee Stallion into the mix made it even better. Coming in as the highest song on my year-end list to NOT hit #1, "Messin' Around" spent three weeks at #2 and a total of 28 weeks on my personal chart. 6. Doja Cat featuring Gucci Mane LIKE THATWhile the third single from Doja Cat's sophomore major label album didn't have the same sort of retro catchy appeal that its predecessor, "Say So," did, I liked it almost as much...in fact, only TWO points less than the former. "Like That" spent 26 weeks on my personal chart and three weeks in the #1 spot. "Oh My!" We're up to the Top 5 on my year-end list. "If you 'Say So,' Jason!" It isn't my "Intention" to "Blind" you with anticipation. So, don't be "Scared." I'm going to draw the reveal of the rest of the year-end list for as long as possible.
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Post by Jason on Jan 2, 2021 12:22:12 GMT -5
5. Doja Cat SAY SO
Speaking of "Say So," the sultry song with a throwback late 1970s feel to it was a huge hit earlier this year...and not just on the industry charts. It ruled my personal chart too. It's said to have drawn inspiration from Chic's Disco classic, "Good Times." It definitely had a good time on my Top 50, holding onto the #1 spot for three weeks and spending a total of 28 weeks on the chart.
4. Camila Cabello featuring DaBaby MY OH MY
This collaboration by Camila Cabello and DaBaby first appeared on my personal chart with the very last Top 50 produced in calendar year 2019. I obviously loved it a whole lot becuase it went on to spend 29 weeks in the Top 50 including three weeks at #1.
3. The Weeknd SCARED TO LIVE
I first heard this beautiful ballad when The Weeknd performed on Saturday Night Live on one of the last broadcasts before the pandemic caused all TV shows to shut down production. I don't believe it was ever actually released as an official single from the After Hours album, but I loved it so much that I decided to chart it anyway. What a song!!! A 28-week run on my personal chart included a three-week stopover in the #1 spot. Much deserved!
The Top 2 songs on my Top 150 Songs of 2020 are on the way! Also, six songs I wish I would've charted in 2020.
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Post by Jason on Jan 3, 2021 14:00:55 GMT -5
And now, the Top 2 on my Top 150 Songs of 2020:
2. The Weeknd BLINDING LIGHTS
"Blinding Lights" was released just a few short weeks after "Heartless" was released from The Weeknd's After Hours album. It seemed counterproductive to have both songs out at essentially the same time. After all, how could either song become a hit with one taking attention away from the other? It turned out that wasn't a problem after all. Just like "Heartless," "Blinding Lights," which had a more Pop-friendly, EDM-influenced sound, ended up spending four weeks at #1 on my chart. And, although it started its run on my personal chart in late 2019, it placed on my Top 50 chart into early summer before it would fall off.
1. Justin Bieber featuring Quavo INTENTIONS[/font]
Justin Bieber and Quavo (of Rap trio, Migos) had worked together twice before, both times as featured vocalists on DJ Khaled songs ("I'm The One" and "No Brainer"). This time, they teamed up for an official Justin Bieber single. "Intentions" serves as a reassurance that we're all perfect just the way we are and although magazines, social media, and many other avenues tell us that we've got to look a certain way to be desirable, we're all worthy of being loved just for being ourselves. What a sweet sentiment. Obviously it worked its charm on me becuase "Intentions" logged in 30 weeks on my Top 50 chart, which included three weeks in the #1 spot. As a final piece of trivia, it finished 10 points ahead of "Blinding Lights" in the race for #1 on my year end chart.
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Post by Jason on Jan 3, 2021 14:12:20 GMT -5
And, just to put a button on this year-end list, here are six songs that I wish I would've charted in 2020. Not that I would replace any songs that I DID chart, but I wish I would've made room for these six on my chart (in alphabetical order by song title):
Demi Lovato ANYONE
Lil' Mosey BLUEBERRY FAYGO
Toni Braxton DANCE
Ava Max KINGS & QUEENS
Roddy Ricch THE BOX
Sia TOGETHER
Thank you to everyone who has viewed this thread for sticking with the reveal of my year-end chart. Happy 2021 to all of you.
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