Predictions: "Break a Little" set to be dethroned at #1

Shot from kirstin's music video for "Naked".

kirstin is looking to be dethroned... by kirstin.

Yes, for the first time on the Top 50 so far, an artist appears to be dethroning themselves from #1. "Naked" appears to be leading in the way of points. "Break a Little"'s still got its record for now. Along with this, "Glorious" by Macklemore and "Rewind" by Drake Bell both will battle with "Break a Little" for the #2 spot, and Echosmith could be making a play for the Top 5. Linkin Park, Thomas Rhett are also making possible Top 10 entries. So let's look at predictions:

1. Naked (+1) - 5500 (=)
2. Break a Little (-1) - 5100 (-1400)
3. Glorious (+4) - 5000 (+200)
4. Rewind (+4) - 4900 (+200)
5. Goodbye (+12) - 3700 (+2000)
6. Bad 4 Us (+4) - 3500 (-200)
7. In The End (debut) - 3400
8. Imaginary Parties (+4) - 3000 (+500)
9. Craving You (+11) - 2600 (+1300)
10. Cut To The Feeling (+9) - 2200 (+600)

Kirstin takes entire Top 6, while Echosmith debuts in the Top 20

kirstin dominates the Top 6 with her 'L O V E' EP, while also taking the record for most weeks at #1.

So let's get to it. First, "Break a Little" holds on to #1 for an eighth consecutive week, beating out previous record holder, "Run Away" by Drake Bell, which led for seven weeks. It doesn't end there for kirstin's good fortunes, however.

All of her EP's album tracks in the Top 5. "Naked" (#2), "Bad Weather" (#3), "Something Real" (#4), "See It" (#5), and "All Night" returns to the Top 10 at #6. As for the rest of the Top 10, "Glorious" by Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey falls 5-7, Drake Bell's album tracks "Rewind" falls 2-8 and 3-9 respectively. And "Bad 4 Us" by Superfruit clings on, going 6-10.

Further down, we get two new entries to the Top 20. Echosmith brings their first Top 20 with "Goodbye", which debuts at #17. And Thomas Rhett's "Craving You" with Maren Morris, rises 25-20, earning him his second Top 20 (following "Star Of The Show", which peaked at #8). Along with this, "Sakura Kiss" by Kristine Sa makes a return to #25, and "Just Like You" by Megan Lee debuts in the Top 40.

Thank you for reading, and the chart will finish updating possibly later today, if not tomorrow. Prediction thread will be posted today as well, along with possibly a Top 10 list (or two) coming up, so stay tuned for that.

kirstin expected to dominate next week, as she looks to be debuting all of her EP in the Top 6.

kirstin's 'L O V E' EP appears to be dominating next week.

kirstin appears to be one of the only artists I care about a whole lot releasing an album, her album blitz is coming. If the predictions are correct, "Break a Little" will break "Run Away"'s record for most weeks at #1. Due to this, songs are expected to crash hard next week despite gains in overall performance.

What it's looking like currently:
1. Break a Little (=) - 6500 (+500)
2. Naked (debut) - 5500 
3. Bad Weather (debut) - 5400
4. Something Real (debut) - 5300
5. See It (debut) - 5200
6. All Night (+8) - 5000 (+2500)
7. Rewind (-5) - 4950 (-1025)
8. Leaves (-5) - 4800 (-1150)
9. Glorious (-4) - 4800 (-400)
10. Bad 4 Us (-4) - 4700 (-300)

"Break a Little" returns to the summit; Drake Bell debuts three songs in the Top 5

"Break a Little" rebounds 2-1, and Drake Bell debuts in the Top 5 with 'Honest' EP.

Yes, kirstin (who just looks gorgeous in the picture I decided to use, by the way) once again returned to #1 with "Break a Little". By returning, it makes its seventh week at #1, tying with the current record holder, Drake Bell, with his song "Run Away" (which returns at #20). Speaking of Drake Bell, he debuts all of his album tracks in the Top 5. "Rewind" debuts at #2, being only 25 points away from kirstin (the latter song was bought on Thursday, which just gave it the edge). "Leaves" and "Honest" debut at #3 and #4 respectively.

A new entry to the Top 5 is the new single from Macklemore, "Glorious", which features Skylar Grey, gains 9-5. Last week's #1 "Bad 4 Us" by Superfruit, crashes 1-6, and their album track "Imaginary Parties" loses 3-7. Liam Payne and Quavo continue their ascent in the Top 10, as "Strip That Down" goes 10-8, for a new peak. The final two songs re-enter the Top 10 - "Coming In Hot" comes back at #9 and "Slow Hands" comes back to close the Top 10.

As previously mentioned, "Run Away" by Drake Bell returns at #20. Other songs with big gains both make entries into the Top 20, as "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" by Shawn Mendes makes an unexpected gain of 30-11, and "Unpredictable" by Olly Murs and Louisa Johnson shoots up 29-19.

Big songs expected next week from: Echosmith, Selena Gomez, and a gain from Bruno Mars. kirstin is expected to do well next week, so stay tuned for that. 

Prediction post: http://naosslife.blogspot.com/2017/07/kirstin-expected-to-dominate-next-week.html

It's kirstin vs. Drake Bell for #1 on the Top 50

Well, two of my favourite artists going up against each other for a #1. Interesting.

As Drake Bell's EP 'Honest' will be debuting on the chart next week, he had a very good shot at #1. His only clear competition for #1 is Kirstin Maldonado. Her single "Break a Little" has led at #1 for six consecutive weeks before dethroned. As with strong performance and her own EP release coming the week after, it has a good chance of still dominating.

The most likely candidate to block kirstin's return will be Bell's "Rewind". However, any songs off the EP with the exception of "Run Away" have a chance at #1. Speaking of "Run Away", it led the Top 50 (previously My Hot 100), for seven consecutive weeks. kirstin therefore, has a shot to tie his record for most weeks at #1. "Run Away" so far leads the year-end list and will probably be able to return to the Top 20 next week.

Other candidates gaining in the Top 10 will include Macklemore, who has a shot at the Top 5, and Liam Payne. Diamante and Niall Horan have chances to return to the Top 10 as well as Superfruit's EP begins to lose plays.

So far, this is the standings:
1. Break a Little - 6000
2. Rewind - 6000
3. Leaves - 5950
4. Honest - 5500
5. Bad 4 Us - 5000
6. Glorious - 4950
7. Imaginary Parties - 4000
8. Strip That Down - 3950
9. Coming In Hot - 3700
10. Slow Hands - 3300

Looking at the standings, it's anyone's question. Well, won't find out till Sunday, 16 May, when charts will be updated. So stay tuned for that.

Superfruit Dethrones kirstin, debuts entire EP in the Top 10

"Bad 4 Us" goes to #1, Superfruit debuts six songs.

Superfruit's "Bad 4 Us", in wake of their EP 'Future Friends - Part One", jumps 2-1. By doing this, they dethrone fellow Pentatonix member kirstin, who led at #1 with "Break a Little" (which falls 1-2), for six consecutive weeks. Superfruit further dominates by debuting six songs in the Top 10: "Imaginary Parties" (#3), "Future Friends" (#4), "Worth It (Perfect)" (#5), "Heartthrob" (#6), "Sexy Ladies" (#7), and "Vacation" (#8). Because of this, "Glorious" by Macklemore featuring Skylar Grey falls 6-9, despite a heavy gain in performance. And finally, "Strip That Down" by Liam Payne featuring Quavo holds at #10.

More Superfruit further down, as the "Superfruit Theme Song" rises 16-14, Mitch Grassi (aka my gay crush) rises to the Top 20, going from 31-20. Also, the Frozen Medley (featuring Kirstie Maldonado), debuts at #40. Other songs with big gains are Selena Gomez's "Bad Liar" (32-18), and Shawn Mendes' "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" (43-30). "As If It's Your Last" by K-pop girl group BLACKPINK debuts at #1 on the Bubbling Under chart.

For next week, we should see debuts from Drake Bell, Kesha, and The All-American Rejects.

Drake Bell - Honest (EP Review)

Today, I will be reviewing the new EP from Drake Bell as he steps into mainstream pop, and go through promotion strategy.
Release date: 30 June 2017 (or 5 July 2017?)
Record label: DB Records
Genre: Pop
Best songs: "Rewind", "Honest"
Worst songs: "Leaves"
Rating: 7/10

Let's see... I don't know the details, there are two ways this could have happened. One, you actually did release on the 30th and it somehow flew over my head, and Bell decided not to post about it till the 5th, a Wednesday (note the official release date for music is a Friday). Or Two, you did release on the 5th, and it's mislabeled as the 30th.  Either way, it's only two tracking days for its debut week, but eh.

So, let's get to the EP itself. There is not really a plot line to this that at least I see, except for maybe a failed relationship, but eh, it's an EP. The first track is "Leaves", a nice upbeat track with hints of electric guitar. Now, Drake Bell's falsetto... it's not a Justin Timberlake falsetto. It sounds good, but it doesn't sound heavily supported, and it sounds far brighter than his modal range, as he tends to be dark as a tenor. While his falsetto was never great, I do have a feeling it's gotten a bit worse. Just my opinion. Then we get "Honest", which would have been perfect as a single since the production sounds like "Shape Of You" and "Cheap Thrills", with the synths, it's a pretty by-the-numbers pop song. How he says he's not perfect, but he's still "honest", and he's telling his lover to be honest with him. Which is ironic since this is more of a project made to go mainstream. Then we get "Run Away", and I like the song. It's a decent pop song, and the falsetto sounds better, but still pretty thin. And you can tell the upper notes are a bit harder for him. Has a pretty good drop though. Then we get "Rewind", the closing song, and it has nice organic production, a Spanish guitar, a good pop rock tune that's more of a ballad that could have fit on It's Only Time. But here's my main problem. Lyrical content wise, these songs are pretty basic for him, it seems formulaic, and wanting to be popular again. It shows a musician approaching middle-age who wants his youthful years, his relevancy back. He's basically trying to be Justin Bieber on this project, and while he does show he can do it better than Bieber, from such a talented musician, he can do better.

Look, a VERY light 7/10. It's decent, I guess. Some good writing is still here. And his charisma well makes this project. But for me, I feel like Bell will not do better than his first two albums. Maybe that's just me being petty. I feel like I'm one of those fans who leave the fanbase of a metal band once they start getting popular. That aside, coming from someone who loved his first two albums... look, it still will get into my playlists for a bit, but it's not his best work.. Just saying. And I'm not seeing this is a bad release, far from from it, it's pretty damn good pop music. Also, the short length. I think it being longer would have been a bit better for me.

So yeah, thanks for reading, feel free to comment if you've heard it, which you likely haven't, because it's not like it'll be topping charts anytime soon. I'd like to hear your thoughts. I'm not sure what I'll be reviewing or talking about next, so if you got a suggestion for that too, feel free.