Billboard USA Exclusion Zone Episode 26 (11/01/2025)
I don't know what to expect really for the next few weeks as a lot of artists are starting to slow down their releases as we hit the Christmas break. But this is surprisingly good amount of songs to get through. Also I needed to write this but like why am I having to inherit a failing frozen food business?
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#43. Blue Valentine - NMIXX
I was listening to this after I took a nap and these genre blending mid songs from pop with "Tsukema Tsukeru" by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu synth to jersey club for six seconds and then darkwave chorus kinda threw me off guard. Anyways solid song but please give me a warning when you wanna changing the genres.
#47. PIXELATED KISSES - Joji
It has been three years since Joji released any music and really this is the lead off singles? Don't get me wrong I love the productions of the song with the buzzy rage beat in the context of RnB melody. But man this feels like an album cut not a lead off singles. Also the lyrics are very immature and you tell me that the songwriting somehow worse than Glimpse of Us? Yeah I'll wait for the album to come out because...yeesh
#58. Eylulzede - Nikbinler
One thing that became a trend or well what's happening on this chart is because of the absence of US and even moreso this year, it became opportunity for other countries to have their songs to shine and one of which is Turkiye. This song is probably one of the best one that came out of Turkiye with the smoky productions in the drum, bass, and guitar with a stellar reverb heavy performance by the singer. That outro with the added sitar? is the highlight.
#67. Posse Ate Nao Te Dar Flores - DJ Japa NK, MC Meno K, MC Ryan SP, Mc Jacare, & DJ DAVI DOGDOG
You know about me I have a soft spot for any type of Brazilian music whether it's Pisinha, Brazilian Funk, or just Brazilian pop in general. Even though i know that this song is produced badly especially the part with the stuttered percussion and bass. That melody is like a glue to this song to held together to make it work for me.
#165. Quiero Decirte - Abraham Mateo + Ana Mena
I was not expected to hear a Spanish song that sounded like what if The Kid LAROI and Tate McRae remaking Save Your Tears remix. I think the novelty of this song sounded like this does bump it up a few tier because honestly I'm kinda sick of the slow tempo 80s throwback like that Jin song a while back.
#172. My Old Ways - Tame Impala
So apparently this new album by Tame Impala is universally despised and honestly as someone who was lukewarm on Kevin Parker in general, I was surprised too. Dracula was alright but listening to this intro track...yeah I can see why because even with my bias towards this band this production is kinda shocking. Who thought it would be good idea to drowned Kevin with this much reverb. The kicks is actively peaking while everything else is either getting drowned out by the percussion or just a sloppy way to be intergrated to the beat. The Less I Know The Better was ten years ago and yet it sounded more modern than this house pastiche.
#198. Oorum Blood - Sai Abhyankkar, Paal Dabba, bebhumika, & Deepthi Suresh
Another country that thrived in the US absence is India with some of their songs even hit the top 10. This song is unexpected too because that trumpet, the synth, and that bassline in the middle of this Kollywood songs (films from Tamil region) added nice texture to this one even if it's too busy sounding for my liking.