Hey guys, LokoReviews here and welcome to my Billboard's Top 20 review. Now last time, I just did a top 10 review and that's because I had some personal stuff that I had to deal with and I didn't have enough time to a top 20 review. But this time I'm back with another top 20 review and let's get it started.
20. Maroon 5's "Sugar": B
19. Fetty Wap's "679" ft. Montana Bucks
After hearing Fetty Wap's debut single "Trap Queen", I wasn't really too impressed or fond by it. So when I heard that Fetty Wap had a new single out, I didn't even want to bother listening to any other track from him because I'll just dislike it. But since his single touch the top 20 and I'm doing a top 20 review right now, I had no choice but to listen to it. So after I gave that song a couple listens, I immediately disliked it and you know what....... It's even worse than "Trap Queen". At least with "Trap Queen", the message was kind of unique and I definitely liked the production. But with this track, there's nothing to praise about it. The production is the same old forgettable DJ Mustard type beat, Fetty Wap still sounds awkward & annoying as ever, the other guy who rapped on this track was forgettable and didn't contribute much, and as for the message.............. Well, it's just another "Thugs Need Love" anthem. But just like usual, the 2 rappers talk about how rich, famous, and bad ass they are to make the girl in question have sex with them. Nothing new, nothing special, just the same old crap. This song easily gets an F!
18. The Weeknd's "Earned It": B+
17. Major Lazer's "Lean On" ft. DJ Snake & MO
18. The Weeknd's "Earned It": B+
17. Major Lazer's "Lean On" ft. DJ Snake & MO
Each year, we always get at least 1 DJ or producer ruling the Billboard's hot 100 charts. In 2004 through 2006, it was Scott Storch. In 2008 through 2011, it was Bangladesh. In 2012 & 2013, it was Mike Will Made It. In 2014, it was DJ Mustard. Now in 2015, DJ Snake is ruling the charts with 3 songs he produced that all made the hot 100; "You Know You Like It" which touched the top 20, "Get Low" which sadly didn't even touch the top 40, and "Lean On" which also touch the top 20 and it became the most successful one out of the other 2 tracks that touched the charts. So how is "Lean On"? Well......... It's pretty damn good. The song tells a story about meeting up with an old significant other and reminiscing about the good times that they had before and trying to make it up by creating more great times and helping each other in need. Yeah, that message is pretty vague but it's relatable. MO gave a pretty good performance in this track and her voice doesn't bother me in the slightest like other people calm. But the best part of this track have got to be the production. I really like Middle-Eastern vibe that it have throughout the whole track, the beat drop that DJ Snake provided is enjoyable and fits the vibe of this track, and that horn break down at the end of the track really sold it for me. Overall, I really like this track. It's not as great as "You Know You Like It", but it's still good and highly enjoyable. This track gets an A.
16. Jason Derulo's "Want To Want Me": D
15. Selena Gomez's "Good For You" ft. A$AP Rocky
Before I had the chance to listen to this track, I was kind of worried that I wouldn't like this song at all. Like Selena Gomez haven't really released a song that I actually liked from her, most of her songs were just either average, bland, or just straight up boring. As for A$AP Rocky...... Well, he does have a few songs that I actually like and enjoy from him but a lot of his stuff are just not that great. So when I saw that Selena Gomez was teaming up with A$AP Rocky, my exceptions for this track were pretty low. But in my surprise, this track is actually pretty damn good and almost near to great. Now the song is basically about Selena Gomez trying to look her absolute best for this guy or in that case, A$AP Rocky, so that he can be amazed by her beauty and love her in a good way (if you know what I mean) and not leave her side. Yeah....... The lyrics are pretty standard, but the production and the performances from both Selena Gomez & A$AP Rocky make this song as good as it is. I really like the how atmospheric this track is and Selena Gomez's soft vocals added in really makes this song feel sexy. A$AP Rocky did a fine job in this track as well and I really like how in his part, he treats Selena Gomez's character with respect and also making her feel good inside (no pun intended). Now there some parts in this song that I felt like it didn't work for me as much as I needed to. For example, I felt like Selena Gomez was trying a little bit too hard to sound all sexy and seductive. Also some lyrics from A$AP Rocky's verse felt a little bit forced, for example: "But the way you touchin' on me in the club, Rubbin' on my miniture. John Hancock, the signature".
Overall, this song is not as great as I wanted it to be, but it's still pretty good and it's definitely Selena Gomez's best song she released and I hope she keeps up the good work. A.
14. Fifth Harmony's "Worth It" ft. Kid Ink
I already did a blog review on this track, so if you want to see it then check it out here: http://lokoreviews.blogspot.com/2015/05/fifth-harmony-it-ft-kid-ink-review.html?m=1 Also this song gets a D-
13. Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" ft. Bruno Mars: A+
12. The Weeknd's "The Hills"
Now the first time I heard this track, I didn't really like it because I thought this track was just another "I can steal your girlfriend" type of songs just like with "Post To Be" and etc. and I wasn't really used to this dark, horrific, and very atmospheric sound it had. But I thought to myself that I was being a little bit too hard on this track and I decided to give it a couple listens to see if I actually dislike this song. So after I gave it a couple listens, the song actually started to grew on me slowly each time I listened to it and I always find something new & interesting about this track. Mainly the message being The Weeknd having an affair with this girl and he tells her straight that this isn't a relationship & that they both know the exact reason why they're together, which by the way is to have sex. Then The Weeknd reminds the girl in question, that she's an equally guilty party of this relationship. Yeah, the message is pleasant but it does fit the mood of the really dark and atmospheric production. Now I don't really have a full opinion on this track yet because the song is still slowly growing on me, but I will say that this song is definitely interesting in a dark and twisted way. So as for now, I will give this track a B.
11. Andy Grammer's "Honey, I'm Good": C
10. David Guetta's "Hey Mama" ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, & Afrojack: B
9. Skrillex & Diplo's "Where Are U Now" ft. Justin Bieber
When I first saw this song on the charts, I was shocked to see both Skrillex & Justin Bieber on a song together because they both haven't been relevant in the music scene since 2012 and they're both are in 2 different genres that don't really work too well with each other sometimes. So I thought that this song wasn't going to be good at all and when I heard it the first time, I didn't like it because I thought the track was just underwhelming to me. But just like with any other song, I gave it a couple and the song grew on me pretty quickly. The production is the main reason why this track grew on me and it's definitely the best part of this whole track. The production have a simple but nice piano ballad during the 2 verses and during the beat drop, it have this mixture of trap and edm elements with some nice texture & flavor to it. Justin Bieber also does a good job sounding decent in this track and also adding some emotion to his vocals. The message is basicially about how Justin Bieber was there for this girl in question but yet she left him in his time of need. Now the message have got to be the weakest part of this whole track and that's because Justin Bieber doesn't really explain why this girl left him or what exactly he did for this girl, but no complaints from me because this song is awesome and it's definitely the best performance I heard from both Bieber & Skrillex. So I have to give this song a B+
8. Rachel Platten's "Fight Song"
You know, I don't really have that much to say about this track because the song itself is just uninteresting. It's the same old, "I went through a bad break up or I struggled in something in my life, but don't you worry, I'm here to fight and I'll never give up because I am a strong and independent woman" type of songs. Now usually I don't mind those type of tracks, but this song just lacks any originality and Rachel Platten doesn't really have enough personality to make me like her or this track, also the hook is really annoying in my opinon. Rachel Platten does have an alright voice and she looks like a really nice person, but this song is not a very good first impression. Sorry that this one was quick, but what can say about a song that doesn't have nothing interesting about it. So I'll just give this track a D.
7. Walk The Moon's "Shut Up And Dance": A
6. Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen": D-
5. Silento's "Watch Me"
I HATE ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do we let this asinine, insufferable, and annoying piece of shit song become a top 5 hit? Just Why?
Alright, let me calm down and explain why this song is terrible. First off, Silento's singing or whatever he was doing was just awful and was just a pain to go through especially when he repeats the same words & phrases over and over again. 2nd of all, it fails as a dance track because not only that the beat is weak and lack any energy; but it rely on a bunch of dances crazes, most of them being really outdated like "The Soulja Boy dance" and "Stanky Leg". Last of all, this song is just annoying..... Oh wait, I already said that. Whatever, the song is annoying and don't be surprised if you see this on a certain list coming soon. This track easily gets an F!
4. Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar's "Bad Blood (Remix)": D+
3. The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face"
Wow, The Weeknd is really having a great year because he have 4 songs now that touched the top 20. 3 being his own singles and 1 which he was featured in with another talented artist. The Weeknd must be feeling great and enjoying his life right now, but I'm getting off topic. Let's talk about his new single "Can't Feel My Face". Now just like with "The Hills", I was underwhelmed by it and my main problem was that he sounded way too much like Michael Jackson and you can really tell because he even imitates the sounds that he usually makes in his songs. But I didn't want that to bother me too much, so I gave it another chance and I actually like this song now. Now The Weeknd does sound great in this song and the production is also atmospheric and funky, but the lyrics really sold for me. Now the song is about The Weeknd's love for weed and how he knows that it makes him numb and act a certain way, but he doesn't care because he loves it very much. Now some people can say that the song is about some girl that he loves and I can understand that, but he's definitely talking about weed. Now the lyrics reminds me a lot of Classified's "Higher" which also have the same message and any song that reminds me of that great song is definitely a song I like. Overall, I give this song an A!
2. Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again" ft. Charlie Puth: A
1. OMI's "Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)": A
Well, this week top 20 was decent. It had some good songs and it had some really bad songs, but overall, it was okay in my opinion. Thank you guys for checking out another top 20 review and I'll see you guys next time, peace!!!
