Jukeboxin': 9/27/22

#1s and would-be #1s from various U.S. radio airplay charts, across a cross-section of genres.

Cole Swindell - She Had Me at Heads Carolina
He had me at quoting “Heads Carolina, Tales California.” Also, has Swindell always sounded quite this much like Dierks Bentley with more processed drums? Because I can accept the drums if it means I get more of these vocals. Of course this has spent 3 weeks topping the Country airplay chart: the genre’s commercial side right now makes ‘90s country sound comparatively like the ‘50s. (Also, ‘90s country sounds a lot better now than it did back in its day.) (Also, is it time for a Jo Dee Messina comeback? Because I’m definitely ready for that.) [7]

City Girls feat. Usher - Good Love
Well, sure, of course it sounds like classic Miami bass: it’s built on the bones of Lathun Grady’s “Freak It” (from the 1997 Jermaine Dupri-helmed comp So So Def Bass All-Stars II) and it features an interpolation of no less than Luke’s “I Wanna Rock.” And heaven knows Miami’s own City Girls have more right than most to claim that lineage. JT and Yung Miami’s verses are fine, sexy-enough if not exceptional; frankly, beyond the song’s trunk-shaking roots, the real draw here is Usher, who sounds great (duh) and gets a nice, long chorus to work out - twice. [7]

Elton John & Britney Spears - Hold Me Closer
“Cold Heart,” this ain’t. Elton attempts to go back to that well, but mashing up lyrics from “The One” and the chorus of “Tiny Dancer” doesn’t really work, hack producer Andrew Watt’s “dance” groove is sad and limp, and Britney just sounds like a vocal fry program for a PC. She’s not really providing anything here other than her fame, while Elton puts forth the least amount of effort possible. Embarassing. [1]

Tobymac feat. Blessing Offor - The Goodness
This certainly means well enough; I’ll give Tobymac plenty of credit for being one of the biggest CCM stars (this is his 11th Christian airplay #1 as a solo artist, and that’s not even including his work as a member of dc Talk) without limiting himself to the overdone world of worship music. But this collab with rising star Blessing Offor - who based on this is like Bruno Mars without an edge - is so unadventurous, so milquetoast. There’s no here here; it just exists. Tobymac can, and has, done much better, which makes this all the more disappointing. [4]

The Killers - Boy
Oh baby, please/Give a little respect to me. [6]