December 10, 2016 - Shawn Mendes (2), plus end of year plans

Well everyone, this is it. Hits 1's final countdown of 2016. Well, correction, the final countdown that'll count towards their final Top 45 of the year in a few weeks, if I'm not mistaken. Correct me if I'm wrong there. If I'm not...then for the final week of the year, this could have been a worse note to go out on. But let's hope for better quality of music next year, because it definitely shows that people got sick of certain stuff, which may have bogged things down here this year. I'll talk more about that in my A Year In Review page, but for now, let's focus on what's important. So without further ado, here are the songs leaving us this week.

• We Don't Talk Anymore by Charlie Puth and Selena Gomez (#42)
• Perfect Illusion by Lady Gaga (#39)
• Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande (#36)
• Bacon by Nick Jonas (#45)

The Countdown!
Last Week’s #1 Song: Closer by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
45. My Way by Calvin Harris (#43)
44. Girls Talk Boys by 5 Seconds of Summer (#41)
43. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) by Adele (#40) (one week at #1)
42. I Took a Pill In Ibiza by Mike Posner (#37) (two weeks at #1)
41. Setting The World On Fire by Kenny Chesney featuring P!nk (#44)
40. After The Afterparty (debut)
39. Stressed Out by Twenty-one Pilots (#38) (five weeks at #1)
38. Love Me Now (debut)
37. Body Moves by DNCE (#29)
36. This Is What You Came For by Calvin Harris with Rihanna (#35)
35. Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur (debut)
34. Can't Stop the Feeling! by Justin Timberlake (#34) (ten weeks at #1)
33. Cheap Thrills by Sia featuring Sean Paul (#34)
32. Million Reasons by Lady Gaga (debut)
31. Ride by Twenty-one Pilots (#27)
30. Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers featuring Daya (#31) (three weeks at #1)
29. I Hate U, I Love U by gnash featuring Olivia O'Brien (#32)
28. Cold Water by Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ (#15)
27. Hymn For The Weekend by Coldplay (#23)
26. Chase You Down by Runaground (#26)
25. That's My Girl by Fifth Harmony (#22)
24. Good Grief by Bastille (#21)
23. The Greatest by Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar (#17)
22. Water Under The Bridge by Adele (#30)
21. Side To Side by Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj (#19)
20. Fresh Eyes by Andy Grammer (#14)
19. Let Me Love You by DJ Snake with Justin Bieber (#3)
18. Unsteady by X Ambassadors (#18)
17. All Time Low by Jon Bellion (#28)
16. Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya (#11)
15. Greenlight by Pitbull featuring LunchMoney Lewis and Flo Rida (#24)
14. Play That Song by Train (#25)
13. Starboy by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk (#8)
12. Kids by OneRepublic (#16)
11. In The Name Of Love by Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha (#20)
10. Don't Wanna Know by Maroon 5 (#12)
9. Into You by Ariana Grande (#9)
8. Death Of A Bachelor by Panic! At The Disco (#7)
7. 24K Magic by Bruno Mars (#6)
6. Heathens by Twenty-one Pilots (#2) (one week at #1)
5. Scars To Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara (#13)
4. This Town by Niall Horan (#10)
3. Closer by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey (#1) (eight weeks at #1)
2. Starving by Hailee Steinfeld and Grey featuring Zedd (#4)
Top 5 This Week One Year Ago: 5. Perfect by One Direction
4. Black Magic by Little Mix
3. Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift
2. Ex's and Oh's by Elle King
#1 Song This Week One Year Ago: Hello by Adele (5th of 12 weeks at #1)
1. Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes (#5) (second week at #1)

Biggest DRRRRRRROP!!! Of The Week: Let Me Love You by DJ Snake with Justin Bieber (-16)

Biggest Jump Of The Week: Tie between All Time Low by Jon Bellion and Play That Song by Train (+11)

New Entrants
- So we haven't heard that much from Charli XCX since 2014 when she was on Fancy with Iggy Azalea and Boom Clap, and when she had uncredited vocals on Same Old Love by Selena Gomez. But she's back with After the Afterparty. And of course Hits 1 cut out the guest verse from Lil Yachty. There's not much to the instrumentation, and the lyrics are about wanting to keep a party going, much like your average party party party jam. But they are pretty ridiculous, even by low standards. Lines line "I got glitter in my underwear like it was Studio 54", and "And we do it like ice cream for dinner, bucket of liquor, we're getting sicker"? No thank you. Not to mention the song feels like it just drags on and on at points. So yeah, much like Adrian, I don't think this will grow on me and it likely won't be long before it turns red.

- So, with All Of Me by John Legend being one of the biggest songs of 2014, it's pretty surprising that he didn't release a real follow-up, even though he was featured in a few songs, the most notable of them being Like I'm Gonna Lose You with Meghan Meghans. With that, enter Love Me Now. I wasn't huge on this song when it first dropped, but I came to really appreciate it after it was performed at the American Music Awards. The lyrics are yet another song about living and loving in the moment, hence the chorus being about how he feels that the relationship he's in may not last. And instrumentally? Unlike All Of Me (at least the original and not the Tiesto remix), there's definitely more going on here, like the more lively piano, drums backing, and a gospel choir in the chorus. There are a couple gripes I have, one of them being how some of the lines in the verses feel like they don't end at the proper time. But overall I am definitely enjoying this now.

- Then we've got Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur. This song was on the YouTube15 with Jenna Marbles. When I first heard it, I thought that it sounded so reminiscent of Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran. Why do I say that? Well, to make it easy, they're both white guy with acoustic guitar songs by British people that are about spending life together (hence the "until we're gray and old" line here). But unlike the older song, which admittedly didn't say that much in the big picture, this one at least tries to be descriptive. Now, it's cute, but I'm not sure how long it'll last with me.

- As one song by Lady Gaga exits, another takes its place. Million Reasons is the second single off of her new album Joanne. While it felt like an unpopular opinion among this community to actually like Perfect Illusion, and I'll get to that in just a bit, I did like that for how raw it was, even if it was admittedly messy. But onto this one; it's about how Gaga is in this relationship that she's wanting to part with, and has every reason in the world to do so (hence the name of the song), but, as the chorus says, she longs for that one reason to stay. You'd wonder why she doesn't just leave him. I do like ballads, and the empty atmosphere is kinda nice, not to mention the American Music Awards performance of it was pretty, but once more, it might not stick with me as well. We'll see.

Blurb Me Now
- You know the drill at this point. Both We Don't Talk Anymore and Dangerous Woman I was ready to part with, the latter of which lasted way longer than I'm sure anyone expected. Bacon I'm not too sad to see leave though it's still a funny song every so often. But then we have the disappointing (at least for me) departure of Perfect Illusion by Lady Gaga, which bums me out that that one didn't become a real hit. I know that many here hated that song but I still think it's pretty cool, and as far as diva comebacks go in this year that was full of them, I'd take it over the crappy Rise by Katy Perry any day.

- The guest DJ who introduced Girls Talk Boys was from Canada and said something like "how he was freezing his butt off". Yeah, you and me both, my friend. Even though I'm American.

- Before introducing Send My Love (To Your New Lover), Spyder talked about how Adele's carpool karaoke video with James Corden was the biggest viral video of the year. Is it sad that I don't even remember that video?

- Come on, Stressed Out by Twenty-one Pilots, pull it together! Two more weeks to lasting a year on the countdown! Also, I'm very happy that it was the #5 song on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 and not Panda by Desiigner. And yes, I will be doing a review of that page, but not for a little while.

- I did not think that Body Moves by DNCE would take a drop as steep as that. Then again it's not big elsewhere.

- Before introducing Can't Stop the Feeling!, Spyder mentioned how Time Magazine called that one the worst song of 2016. I saw that, and remember hearing the Morning Mash-Up talk about that one day when I was out. Anyway, he said that he doesn't agree. Thank you, Spyder. Sure, it's kind of an inferior Uptown Funk or Shut Up and Dance, but in a year where we had so many garbage rap songs and Meghan Meghans there is no way it was the bottom.

- Likewise, the guest DJ who introduced Ride was from Orlando, Florida. I sure wish I could be somewhere hot like there right now. But now I don't think I'll ever be able to hear this song again without imagining my character ramming around on a Tauros, or another Ride Pokémon like Sharpedo or Stoutland. I've been playing too much Pokémon since Sun and Moon released last month. Also, I'm sure I've mentioned before that it feels like Spyder likes giving that song to guest DJs, as it was introduced by such three times while in the Top 10.

- The only thing in the 20s to really catch my attention was Cold Water dropping right near where it fell to two weeks ago. Yeah, that jump last week may as well not have happened.

- Oh, yeah, and Water Under The Bridge by Adele took a nice jump after debuting last week. Good thing it did not drop. But it worries me that this could possibly flop. (lol, that rhyme was totally unintentional)

- But then we get to Let Me Love You, which, out of absolutely nowhere, had the biggest DRRRRRRROP!!! of the week right to the tail end of the Top 20. I'm not too opposed to this, as I really don't want to get sick of this song.

- Before introducing Kids, Spyder talked about how OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder had good to say about Adele, one of the biggest names and icons of our new time. Like Bruno Mars, he's one who's clearly in the know. Well, Adele is a name that kinda came out at the beginning of the decade in an era where we call pop stupid, and she's as soulful as we're gonna get.

- Very nice to see In The Name Of Love by Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha so close to the Top 10. Get it in there, like, now please and get Don't Wanna Know out of there?

- Well, Heathens by Twenty-one Pilots took a small drop from #2 out of the Top 5. I do still like the song, but I reckon I'll have it in dark yellow before too long.

- I did not think that This Town by Niall Horan would jump into the Top 5, but Hits 1 likes One Direction and their members.

- Finally, we come to our #1. As of right now, I don't hate it as much as I did when it first hit #1, because I did grow back into it some thanks to his performance at the American Music Awards (which the picture of him is from), hence why it's in pink right now. However, that doesn't mean it'll be high on the inevitable Year-End Hot 100 post I make. I think you guys can guess what song I think should be #1, however.

Hit-Bound
HandClap by Fitz and The Tantrums
Shout Out To My Ex by Little Mix (debut)
Love Like We Used To by Captain Cuts
Love On The Brain by Rihanna
Bad Things by Machine Gun Kelly and Camilla Cabello
Mercy by Shawn Mendes
Blow Your Mind by Dua Lipa
Dancing On My Own by Calum Scott
You're Not There by Lukas Graham
In My Mind by Maty Noyes (debut)
I Don't Wanna Live Forever by Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift (debut)
She Sets The City On Fire by Gavin DeGraw
Guys My Age by Hey Violet (debut)
Words by Daya

- Shout Out To My Ex by Little Mix isn't as good as Black Magic from last year, but right now it's a ton of fun and easily my new favorite song on Hit-Bound.

- In My Mind by Maty Noyes has quite a few elements of your standard indie rock. It's fun, but not something I can see myself remembering a year from now.

- Guys My Age by Hey Violet is also kinda cool, it's another one that has some rock elements and is soft but enjoyable.

- Saving the most important one here for last... the duet with Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift by the name of I Don't Wanna Live Forever. This is for Fifty Shades Darker, which is releasing early next year. While I kinda like it for now, it's not a massive standout. It'll probably debut next week, so I'll have more words for it then.

Top 20 Breakdown:
0 — Shit:
20. Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya
19. Don't Wanna Know by Maroon 5

1 — Bad:
18. Starving by Hailee Steinfeld and Grey featuring Zedd
17. Unsteady by X Ambassadors

2 — Meh:
16. Play That Song by Train

3 — Decent:
15. Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes
14. All Time Low by Jon Bellion
13. Closer by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey

4 — Good:
12. This Town by Niall Horan
11. Death Of A Bachelor by Panic! At The Disco
10. Let Me Love You by DJ Snake with Justin Bieber

5 — Great:
9. Fresh Eyes by Andy Grammer
8. Kids by OneRepublic
7. Heathens by Twenty-one Pilots
6. Greenlight by Pitbull featuring LunchMoney Lewis and Flo Rida
5. Scars To Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara
4. Into You by Ariana Grande
3. Starboy by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
2. In The Name Of Love by Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha
1. 24K Magic by Bruno Mars

Overall score: 70/100

Countdown Bottom 5
1. This Is What You Came For by Calvin Harris with Rihanna
2. That's My Girl by Fifth Harmony
3. Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya
4. Don't Wanna Know by Maroon 5
5. Starving by Hailee Steinfeld and Grey featuring Zedd

Countdown Top 5
1. 24K Magic by Bruno Mars
2. In The Name Of Love by Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha
3. Starboy by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
4. Love Me Now by John Legend
5. Into You by Ariana Grande

Hit-Bound Top 5
1. Shout Out To My Ex by Little Mix
2. Love Like We Used To by Captain Cuts
3. HandClap by Fitz And The Tantrums
4. In My Mind by Maty Noyes
5. Guys My Age by Hey Violet

Most Missed Song: Black Magic by Little Mix

#1 Recommendation For Hits 1 And The Countdown: Party Monster by The Weeknd

Songs That Debuted This Week One Year Ago:
Used To Love You by Gwen Stefani — While Gwen Stefani has made some interesting stuff, I can't say that she has the right capability to pull this kind of post-breakup thing off. And who still pretends that those one-shot stare into the camera videos are a thing? That being said, I do kinda like it, even if it's not a standout.

So before I close this out, there are four posts that I'll be covering soon:
2016: A Year In Review - Here there are things from this year that I'll want to express my final thoughts on, such as the #1s, my Bottom 5 (or maybe 10) songs of the year, among other things.
Hits 1's Final Top 45 Songs of 2016 - Exactly what it says, Hits 1's 45 biggest songs of the year of 2016. They'll be the ones that had the most presence on the countdown overall.
My Top 45 (or 30, or however many) Songs of 2016 - This is where I will list the songs on the countdown that I liked the most throughout the year, my favorites, whether they ended up on the final Top 45 or not. However, although most do Top 45, I may end up doing Top 30 or 45. If you want explanation as to why it might be a Top 30 and not Top 45, I would be happy to explain.
Billboard's 2016 Year-End Hot 100 - Once again, just like what I did for 2015's page earlier in the year, I'll be running through every single song on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 for 2016 and giving the entire list my own ranking.

I might try to condense my top songs in with the A Year In Review page, mostly so I can knock two things off in one. But that would make it pretty darn long, although we'll see what I end up doing. I should have at least the first three out by the end of the year, but the very latter might not be until January. But we'll see what happens. All this being said, thanks for reading, everybody!