VOA常速英语:Top 5 Songs for Week Ending Oct. 8

For this week's Top Five Countdown we’re jumping on the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, for the week ending October 8, 2016.
 
Sometimes if you think positive thoughts, you get positive results: for instance, I wished for a new song in this week’s Top Five, and boom! It happened.

 
Number 5: Sia Featuring Sean Paul " Cheap Thrills"

Things start quietly in fifth place, where Sia and Sean Paul slip a slot with their former champion “Cheap Thrills.”
The 2017 Academy Awards are still nearly five months away, but Sia could be a major player in the Best Original Song category. She has co-written several strong potential nominees, including “Unforgettable” from Finding Dory and “Try Everything” from Zootopia. The 2017 Oscars will be handed out on February 26.
 
Number 4: DJ Snake Featuring Justin Bieber "Let Me Love You"

DJ Snake and Justin Bieber are new entrants on our Top Five, but they’re already champs elsewhere. This song has already hit number one in several countries including Finland, France, the Netherlands, and Scotland; it also topped last week’s worldwide iTunes chart.
Bieber meets himself coming and going this week: he and MO are featured players on Major Lazer’s “Cold Water,” holding at number three.
 
Number 3: Major Lazer Featuring Justin Bieber & MO "Cold Water"

Bieber ends the current leg of his “Purpose” world tour on November 29, but that’s not the end: this week, he announced five dates in Australia and New Zealand, starting March 6, 2017 in Perth.
 
Number 2: Twenty One Pilots "Heathens"

Twenty One Pilots remains in the runner-up slot with “Heathens,” and the good news doesn’t end there. The duo recently hit number one on the Billboard Artist 100 chart, which measures artist activity across all of Billboard’s most influential charts, including the Hot 100. In addition, the Ohio duo will be the musical guest on the next October 8 edition of "Saturday Night Live."
"Hamilton" mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda will host, and perform with them, if we’re lucky.
 
Number 1: The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey "Closer"

The Chainsmokers and Halsey didn’t get to number one on luck: U.S. fans love “Closer” enough to keep it atop the hit list for a sixth week.

Alex Pall and Drew Taggart got together four years ago in New York City; today they’re based in Los Angeles. They first performed their debut single “Selfie” on American Idol. That show is gone, but The Chainsmokers gain momentum with each new hit.