WHAT makes a hit? Is it the lyrics, the artiste, the hype at the time? Is it “something special” about the voice or rhythm? The TEENage Hitlist pinpoints the hits and the misses as soon as we hear both local and international releases.

Local Hit Of The Week – Those Days by Chevaughn featuring Busy Signal

In the year 2009, it can be said that the “summer song” trend developed within dancehall circles due to Ding Dong’s monstrous hit single Holiday that featured Chevaughn.

Chevaughn was also featured on Bugle’s summer stand-out Summer Break the following year and also had the posse cut of his own Tables.

Whilst Ding Dong’s career catapulted into mainstream success with other popular singles and a Sean Kingston co-sign, the younger Chevaughn has been slowly, but surely building his momentum as a Jamaican vocalist to reckon with.

The Notice produced Those Days, is the latest Chevaughn single to surface and it features eclectic dancehall artiste Busy Signal. The single is a dancehall-pop gem that is sure to alight listeners whenever it’s heard.

Chevaughn’s Those Days is about overcoming the strain of a relationship’s struggles on both partners by reminiscing on the good memories of the past.

Vocally, Chevaughn continues to show improvement in delivery and clarity, a problem that some Jamaican vocalists have especially in the verses, due to the overpowering nature of most dancehall productions.

Busy Signal provided a fittingly sobre dancehall appearance relevant to the song’s theme, mood, and Chevaughn’s verses.

Notice, a long time collaborator of Chevaughn must be commended for stirring an apt synth heavy dancehall-pop fusion production that did not drown Chevaughn’s vocals nor provide disservice to Busy Signal’s toasting.

TEENage Hitlist believes that Those Days is an applause worthy effort by Chevaughn that exudes professionalism from all involved parties and hopefully will pick up steam from the masses.

International Hit of the Week – You Da One by Rihanna

As Rihanna releases her sixth, that’s right, sixth studio album Talk That Talk, she has already released the project’s second single entitled You Da One.

There seems to be a trend developing regarding Rihanna’s single choices. The second singles from her last two albums have all had elements of reggae or dancehall in its production.

Rude Boy was the second single from Rated R, and What’s My Name featuring Drake was the second single from Loud. With that in mind it’s no surprise that You Da One is another reggae/pop-oriented production.

As the title suggest, You Da One is a bubblegum track where Rihanna is praising the love and qualities of her “one”.

You Da One is a reggae tinged upbeat ballad produced by the reigning king of pop Dr Luke. In the song’s production, elements of Britney Spears Femme Fatale dubstep attempts, especially her single Hold It Against Me, as You Da One was originally for that pop starlet before Rihanna.

TEENage Hitlist believes that Rihanna proves that the saturation of the international market with a bombardment of singles does not have to result in a lethargic response from listeners towards your future projects, and expects You Da One to be another successful single with the aid of the upcoming release of its video.