A bit of turnover freshens up the BILLCS Top 30 this week, as five songs debut. I’ve also got some extras within the blog post, including links to newer releases by some of the artists as well as links to a few new remixes.
Remember – my blog posts are all about DISCOVERY, so let the music in!!
Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below as they are now directly tied in with this blog. As most of you know, I host 3 online radio shows – The Big 20 and two iterations of Your Weekend New Music Mix – and produce 2 online radio segments – my new music and retro picks of the week – that are all pre-recorded. The Big 20 and the picks of the week are happily being syndicated and you can find the current schedule for all at the bottom of the home page of this blog.
Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30
Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist
The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive (recently updated along with its Artist tab)
Sweden’s Darin continues at the top with his fourth #1 on this chart with “Electric”. Swedish fans are getting ready for what sounds like an exciting summer tour! Darin and other Swedish artists need to make a trek over to North America sometime where, with the right show package and promotion, they would likely make a killing. You can also check out “Electric” in its acoustic ballad version at the following Spotify link: Acoustic.
Zipping up from 6-2 is the live string version of “feel less” by my fellow Canadians Felix Cartal and Lights. This becomes a personal best on the chart for Felix and ties Lights’ previous peak with Manila Killa on “Dusk” from two years ago.
I’ll admit it: At the time of Melodifestivalen back in March, I liked Medina’s “Que Será” better than Marcus & Martinus’ winner “Unforgettable”. But as time went on, I found I was playing “Unforgettable” a lot more, and now it has risen 5-3 on the chart.
“Hopeless” (above), the emotional slice of alternative hip hop/pop from Philadelphia duo N i G H T S, climbs 8-6. They’ve recently released a 3 song EP called Vacay, from which you can listen to “Palm Tree” below.
Bounding into the Top 10 to no surprise and joining her huge track with John Summit, “Shiver” (currently #5), is British sensation Hayla with her solo release “Embers”, rising 12-7. After last night’s performance at the John Summit show in Toronto, it is clear that big things are in store for Hayla in the next few years. Fun fact: Her real name is Hayley Williams! Maybe the Paramore star will join Hayla sometime on stage!
JVKE makes it four-for-four Top 10 entries on this chart as the engaging “This Is What Slow Dancing Feels Like” (above) climbs 15-9. Also landing in the Top 10 for a fourth time is Benson Boone with “Cry” (13-10, below) from his fabulous album Fireworks and Rollerblades. Let’s hope it follows “Slow It Down” as the next single promoted to radio. JVKE and Benson have each had two #1’s on the chart.
Ekanovah’s brisk and fun “Find My Flow” (above) is making short work of the chart as it jumps 18-11. You can check out his latest release “Vibrant” below.
Kiesza’s “I Go Dance” (above) is becoming her biggest release in 10 years, currently in the national dance radio Top 30. The song leaps 20-13 on the chart, and you can check out its trance-flavoured Leena Punks & Shay de Castro remix at the following link: Remix
Teddy Swims’ Motown-flavoured “The Door” continues to make moves everywhere and it climbs 23-15.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is “Myself & I” by German electronic producer TheFatRat and Canadian singer/songwriter RIELL, which soars 27-17.
Vanessa Williams’ first new music in 15 years, “Legs (Keep Dancing)” (above), is off to a fine start, up 26-20. You can also check out John “J.C.” Carr and Bill Coleman’s 808 Beach Mix of the song at the following link: Remix
Nemo’s EuroVision winner for Switzerland, the highly infectious “The Code” (above) rises 28-21. You also can find it in a sometimes bouncy, trance-flavoured Felix Jaehn remix at the following link: Remix
The Highest Debut at #23 belongs to Greyson Chance who has released “Rearview Mirror” independently in advance of his next album. It’s Greyson’s 7th entry on the chart.
Next at #24 is The Chainsmokers, with Canadian singer/songwriter ELIO on what I think is the best track from their new EP No Hard Feelings called “Bad Advice”. This one is for fans of “Closer” and “Paris”! It’s Alex and Drew’s 14th chart entry, hard to believe their first was in 2015, and even that was preceded by what everyone thought would be a one-off, “#Selfie”, the year before!
He did amazing things with Whitney Houston’s version of “Higher Love” back in 2019 and it got to #2 on this chart. After many other cover versions, Kygo is back with original music and “For Life” arrives at #25. It’s in collaboration with vocalist/songwriter Zak Abel and the legend Nile Rodgers, who is everywhere these days. “For Life” does use the melody of the hook of Modjo’s dance classic “Lady (Hear Me Tonight)”, and it does grab you. And I like how Kygo uses it briefly enough for the original song and Zak’s great vocal to surround it. Zak also has appeared previously on the chart, on GATTÜSO’s “I’ll Be There” (#14, 2022).
At #26, Spain’s The Boy from the South is back with his third entry, the unique bop “Space Party”. It follows last year’s two Top 10 entries, “Amazing-Man” (#3) and “Man Down” (#6).
And totally out of left field at #27 is “Ur So Good (Everything I Need)” by Australia’s De Facto!! and DJ Fruit Salad. You can find out more about these producers on either Tik Tok or Soundcloud. DJ Fruit Salad kindly revealed to me that the predominant sample is from an obscure 70’s R&B track by Lorzine Wright called “You’re So Good”, which was produced by disco legend Patrick Adams. It’s so cheesy but I guarantee you won’t be able to get it out of your head!
ONLINE RADIO SHOWS
You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!
Listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. The show also repeats on Saturday evening at 6 pm EST. You can hear recent episodes of The Big 20 at this link.
On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada
I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my New Music Pick of the Week which debuts every week on the live online radio show “The 3D Variety Show”, now powered by both www.xstreamrockradio.com and Lil Rawkers with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. My pick of the week airs more than 25 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear recent episodes of The 3D Variety Show at the following link: 3D Variety Show. The show repeats on Alberta’s www.katpowerhit.ca on Wednesdays at 6pm EST.
Energy885 in Miramichi, New Brunswick’s Energy885 now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Fridays at 6pm EST, and his new show “Pyjama Party” on Saturdays at 5pm EST, which both air my New Music Pick of the Week. Energy885 is also airing my Retro Pick Of The Week as well on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:30 AM EST. You can hear past episodes of “Modern Hype” and “Pyjama Party” at the following link: DJ Hunter.
For other details about all of the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!
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