New Entries into the UK top 10 in 2018

blatant manipulation to undermine our NHS imo

granted, I'm a) not in the UK and b) not in possession of the actual data (I'm sure Chris Molanphy or something is writing about it now), but that seems like a very strange and arcane rule

Haven't updated this for a month. Fortunately the charts now move at a glacial pace.

Here's The Weeknd with Call Out My Name. It's boring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4ZoCHID9GI

Here's Drake - Nice For What. I don't hate it as much as I hate everything else he's done but can't quite get a grip of what the fuck it's supposed to be doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BwWKXjVaI

Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa - One Kiss - yeah, this is ok, the instrumental break has a good mix of the summery and the menacing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm8rz-llMhE

Ariana Grande - No Tears Left To Cry - this has been discussed enough elsewhere of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffxKSjUwKdU

Banx & Ranx + Ella Eyre - Answerphone ft. Yxng Bane - I definitely had to copy/paste that title. Actual song is a bit nondescript.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayzAJ9yjnX8

Anne-Marie - 2002 - co-written by Ed Sheeran. "The words you pen get played again, your blithe resolve I can forgive / But when you tell us how to live it's just so heteronormative" indeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tvLIhEaEKo

how many Ed Sheeran songs are there that go "it was better back then/I'm 26 now"

I've never really enjoyed his music or persona but I've managed to avoid it easily enough outside of Jessie Ware cowrites but this is absolutely abysmal and its success really does feel like a damning indictment of culture

"Answerphone" is a weird one because much as I don't enjoy that style of pop voice that seems ubiquitous now (that mix of lazy enunciation and cutesy oversinging) you can tell Eyre could and should be doing better

'Answerphone' is my favourite chart hit in some time. I've only heard probably 5-10% of what's been in the charts this year though.

Let's catch up with this (it may take a little while)

Post Malone – Better Now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7TZt7yewh0

Sounds like recycled bits of things I might've liked about five years ago, but somehow much worse. He also really needs to lose the neckbeard.

Nothing to add about this one, except that I'm glad it's here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY

David Guetta & Sia - Flames

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J75enyWdbBM

Standard DG and standard Sia, which works together pretty well, I like how it constantly plays with being anthemic but doesn't ever go there. Still, fairly forgetable. Video reminds me of the Kung Fu Fighting discussion on ILM this week.

Jess Glynne - I'll Be There

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQp1_GfDhwQ

Been vaguely bored with Jess for what seems like an age now, this is one of her best ones for a while, but still...