Kesterson’s Top Ten: January 2017

Kesterson’s Top Ten is back! New year, new songs. Be sure to catch all of these fire hot hits by tuning in to your #1 source for Top 100 songs on MavRadio.fm!! Now let’s get started…

Kicking off the countdown with number 10, “May We All” by Florida Georgia Line featuring Tim McGraw comes right in as the hottest song this month for country. We get a nostalgic feeling as the three men tell their stories of their hometown, wishing all of us the best in those experiences as well. The lyrics that struck me the most, coming from a semi-small town myself, were “Kinda place you can’t wait to leave but nobody does // ’cause you miss it too much!”. This song is perfect for rolling your windows down and soaking in all your surroundings. Too bad right now it’s either too cold or too wet!

Oh well, hang in there and just play that song! Next on the countdown at number 9 is “Play That Song” by Train. A happy-go-lucky song that incorporates the tune of “Heart and Soul”, it paints the picture of a man wildly in love with his woman and just wanting to play her favorite song. Simple, but it touches our hearts and makes us want to all join in and do the cancan in the sunshine. Awww, so much mushy love up in here!

But we’re not quite finished with mushy love… continuing on is “Love Me Now” by John Legend at number 8. Though not happy-go-lucky, this song hits us in the feels of not quite knowing how much time we’ll have with the ones we love. So, take John Legend’s word, and love your significant other in this moment. In the beautifully directed music video, John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen (along with their BEAUTIFUL baby girl, Luna) are among the multiple couples shown from across the world loving each other all in the same exact way. How much we cherish, devote, and love – it’s all we can control.

Feeling reality sink in? No worries, Bebe Rexha has got you with “I Got You” at number 7 on the countdown. This electropop single makes it impossible for me not to shimmy around to its catchy beat. Basically your go-to ride-or-die chick is Bebe Rexha as she’s there for anything you might need: friendship, someone to talk to, someone to take it all off with… too much? Well apparently her first release of the music video was too much, as it was “scrapped due to its explicit content” according to Wikipedia. The latest release had more clothes, filmed in a gorgeous desert, but with the same amount of booty shaking as the last one I’m sure.

How do you know if a booty is real? It bounces back… according to Big Sean with his single “Bounce Back (Take No L’s)” at number 6. This trap/hip-hop song basically describes how Big Sean was at his lowest of lows (from losing Ariana Grande?), but now he’s bounced back and is better than ever (with Jhene Aiko?). The lyrics are applaud-worthy as time and time again he shows us what exactly can be rhymed and what plays on words can be used ingeniously.

You know what I can feel coming? Another song by The Weeknd hitting the charts, and oh, I’m right. Coming in at number 5 is yet another single from The Weeknd, “I Feel It Coming” featuring Daft Punk. This makes it the second single to grace the Billboards from The Weeknd’s 2016 album Starboy. A smooth, disco beat accompanied by his graceful, loving voice, we get to see the bright, sunny side of Abel Tesfaye. Some sources pointed out the song’s slowed-down sound alike to “Get Lucky”, another song by Daft Punk, but what really brings this single to its own iconic state is the keyboards and the synthesized vocals from Daft Punk. This collaboration of talented but different artists, has created the perfect, groovy sound for the start of a new year.

Rain drop, drop top… sound familiar? Well, you can thank “Bad and Boujee” by the rap group Migos, featuring Lil Uzi Vert for that, as it hits number 4 on the countdown. The lead trap/hip-hop single from Migos’ not-yet-released album Culture, has spawned yet another internet craze with memes including “Rain drop, drop top…” with some silly, relevant rhyme following after. This trend caused the song to spike all the way up to #1 on the Billboards, making it the first single for both Migos and Lil Uzi Vert. This catchy song is quoted by Complex as being “lurching and confident, the kind of song that’s sure of its own appeal but knows not to step outside of the pocket. It seems like an unlikely hit, but try listening just once”. It’s true. This song, after truly hearing it once from beginning to end, is a catchy beat I can’t seem to get out of my head.

This Valentine’s Day seems to be just around the corner, with Fifty Shades Darker hitting the big screens. So, we can expect another round of top songs to debut on this film, as Fifty Shades of Grey brought us “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding as well as The Weeknd’s “Earned It”. Well, already making it big on the Billboards is “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by Zayn and Taylor Swift, specifically written for this erotica-romance sequel. The pair take turns belting out romantic overtures, while Zayn showcases his impressive falsetto early on in the song. Zayn begs for his lover to return to him, as he doesn’t want to live forever if he’s gonna live it alone and in pain. Taylor, according to Wikipedia, meanwhile ponders what the relationship really means. This all will tie in well with the movie, I trust, so be sure to bring your parents along with you to this fun-filled family comedy! Just kidding… absolutely do not bring your parents. *shudders*

Two of the most impressive things to happen to the music world both happened at the turn of the New Year. Ed Sheeran, ladies and gentleman, has done it again and come back with two singles that take spots 2 and 1 on my countdown from his third studio album “÷”. Now, doing the math, Ed has dominated the charts with two singles that both made top 10, making him the first artist to ever do so in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. Beginning with number 2, “Castle on the Hill” is a folk song about Ed reminiscing about all the memories he had at the castle on the hill in the town of Framlingham, where he grew up. From breaking his leg when he was 6, to getting his first kiss and getting drunk with his friends, this castle and his friends raised him, and he shares how grateful and excited he is to call this place home. This month, he was invited to play this song at the actual castle he had so many memories with, which must’ve made this an incredible performance for Ed Sheeran.

Lastly, coming in at number 1 is “Shape of You”. An incredibly fun mix of acoustics and tropical beats, this song was surprisingly originally intended to include my girl, Rihanna. But, after evaluating if the lyrics would really fit being sung by the Barbadian queen, Ed decided to keep the song for himself alone. Talking about a romance he found in the bar, he discusses how she strings him along, pulling him in like a magnet and making him fall in love with the shape of her. A sexy song full of romance and lust, we definitely see a new side of Ed that everyone is loving.

Be sure to catch the countdown on The Gab with Colt, this upcoming Wednesday at noon (Jan 25), as we play these songs on MavRadio.fm. If the upcoming months of this year are anything like this month – in producing some awesome, catchy songs – I am in for a real treat, and so are you! Be sure to catch February’s countdown as well on the next post of Kesterson’s Top Ten!

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Author: Gabby Kesterson