Authenticity abounds these days in music, and many of my reviews in this edition of the Report continue to be about songs that are written from a deeply personal perspective. While occasionally these kinds of songs creep onto the radio and big streaming playlists, as with songs lately by Olivia Rodrigo, Olivia Dean, Sam Fender, and Noah Kahan, for the most part pop hits are meant to be consumed quickly for entertainment value, rather than to linger inside and maybe touch a few nerves, and I fear a lot of the big hits of the 2020’s are going to be forgotten rather than embedded in popular culture. I am still waiting for a mid 2010’s return, so don’t say I didn’t warn you!
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my new music and retro picks of the week along with a record of the week from “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers’s Classic Five is a mix of some of the more unconventional pop songs of 1979. Please do peruse the playlist for show 18 of my all-Canadian hour, The MAPL Tapes, featuring the music of Canadian dance music hitmaker Carol Medina, and I have some words below about a recently unearthed remix of her 90’s hit “And The Song Goes”. You’ll also find out what songs were in the Top 5 of the BILLCS Top 30 5-10-15-20-25 years ago – note particularly the 2011 Top 5 with two great songs by Simon Curtis!
NOTE: Just a heads up that next week’s Report may be shorter than usual, due to a busy middle of the week, and will be posted instead in the afternoon of Wednesday, July 1.
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
CADDY CALLAGHAN, “Sweet Fool”
About the artist: Caddy Callaghan is a veteran singer/songwriter and pianist from Melbourne, Australia who has written for many others but only recently started releasing her own music. I wrote about her beautiful song “Wait a minute” earlier this year.
About the record: “Sweet Fool” is about holding on to what might seem to others like idealistic dreams as well as hope because one never knows when opportunity may strike. Caddy relates it to when she worked as a school teacher and says, “I could see where my heart wanted to be, but I also knew I had to walk back into the classroom when the bell rang. It was about holding onto that vision, even when it felt far away.” Like in “Wait a minute”, Caddy’s vocal is exquisite with soulful touches, and the song was produced again with Rick Price in Nashville, adding harmonies and background vocals later when back at home. We are the creators of our own lives and destiny, and Caddy’s inspiring story comes from the heart and will captivate your attention.
Other comments: Coming soon is Caddy Callaghan’s debut solo album, There You Are.
GREYSON CHANCE, “Jock Porn”
About the artist: Greyson Chance is the 28 year old former child piano prodigy who carves out a new path with “Jock Porn” and an upcoming fifth album, after a series of solid but disconnected singles, such as “Flip the Record”, that likely won’t appear on the album.
About the record: “Jock Porn” is a bold and uncompromising rumination on masculinity, queerness, and identity. It’s like being in the midst of a playful, torrid fantasy affair that you don’t want to end. Greyson says in his recent Substack post about it: “My song JOCK PORN is about the ways in which porn has influenced my own identity and relationships…For straight people, porn is often a way of discovering what they like. For queer people, porn can become a way of discovering who they are.” Having seen him perform in concert, I’ve always thought of Greyson as a confident artist on stage, but it seemed like behind-the-scenes self-doubt and a focus on pleasing others was getting in the way, hence he is now independent and self-managed. Here his vocal is captivating, edgy and cathartic, with requisite beautiful piano playing as a backdrop acting as a subtle foil for the vocal and lyrics. “Jock Porn” is unabashedly different and expressive. It’s also a damn good song.
Other comments: As revealed on Instagram, Greyson’s fifth album is titled Boystown. He has had nine entries on the BILLCS Top 30, including three #2’s, which began with “Dancing Next to Me” in 2019.
MELØ, “Falling Through Eternity”
About the artist: MELØ is talented Windsor, Ontario indie alternative rock performer and producer Carmen Rivolta, whose songs I’ve written about several times over the past few years, including “I Don’t Speak French”, which got to #7 on the BILLCS Top 30 last year.
About the record: What’s instantly most notable about “Falling Through Eternity” is MELØ’s risky shift from his usual tenor vocal to bass-baritone at the start of the song and in the chorus, which is highly reminiscent of both Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies and Brandon Flowers of The Killers. MELØ is also a fine storyteller, and it all makes “Falling Through Eternity” instantly memorable as a song about undying love. Top it off with his usual solid production and instrumentation, and you’ll find yourself coming back to this one again and again.
Other comments: MELØ’s next album, his sophomore release, is titled Architects of Revolution.
CAROL MEDINA, “And The Song Goes” (Hit Radio House mix)
About the artist: Carol Medina is a Toronto-based, Australia-born pop/dance singer who had several Canadian hits in the 90’s, which includes “And The Song Goes”. Her most recent new music is the pop/R&B-flavoured “Rules”, which I wrote about in 2024.
About the record: In the 2020’s streaming-focused music world, anything old can be new again if there is the proper interest. The Hit Radio House mix of “And The Song Goes” was previously unreleased and has attracted recent attention due to interest from house DJ’s. I’ve always enjoyed Carol’s playful and exuberant vocal on this track and fortunately the production is timeless-sounding and fits in well with today’s current house music.
Other comments: “And The Song Goes” has been re-released on a same named EP, which also included the extended House Mix for DJ’s and dance music fans. Carol is also the featured artist this week on my online all-Canadian show, The MAPL Tapes (see playlist below).
LILY LANE, “So Long, California”
About the artist: Lily Lane is a NYC-based former model turned soulful singer/songwriter, who is also the sister of Tucker Halpern of Sofi Tukker. I most recently wrote about her release “Don’t Stop”, which is a part of her EP Domesticated.
About the record: “So Long, California” is Lily’s love note of goodbye with mixed blessings to her five years spent in Los Angeles. “When sun shines all of the time / It feels good but doesn’t feel right” captures the essence of the song, with L.A. having its advantages and perks, but it wasn’t the best fit for Lily. It’s one of Lily’s softer and more personal songs to date, showing another side of her music, which is often big, powerful and outwardly expressive. Her vocal here is delightfully restrained and touching. For others, the song could also be a metaphor about a past relationship that had an amicable ending.
Other comments: In concert, Lily has opened for the likes of Madison Beer and JoJo, and has performed at Madison Square Garden for The Knicks. She maintains her connection to fashion, and performed at New York Fashion Week for the Harper’s Bazaar x Crystal Waters Cover Party, as well as an inclusive lingerie runway show.
COOPER BENAIAH, “1000”
About the artist: Toronto-based DIY talent and guitarist Cooper Benaiah recently won the 2026 Canadian High School Songwriter of the Year award and released his debut album called Crush. And he’s only 16.
About the record: Listen to “1000” blindfolded and you wouldn’t think Cooper is 16. He’s got a real flair for more mature-sounding songwriting, and the results on this song and other tracks like the more pop-flavoured single “Falling” set out to convince you that he has a big future ahead of him. I gravitate towards “1000” because its biting rock sound and pointed lyrics set it apart from his other songs. But it’s obvious that Cooper has innate talent, and he could soon find himself with a lineup of labels courting him.
Other comments: Cooper also is the singer in a band called KASK. The children of the 2010’s are here 😮 !
MATTHEW HOLTBY, “Here in My Heart”
About the artist: Matthew Holtby is an indie singer, songwriter and producer based in the small town of Warkworth in north-eastern Ontario and whose songs I have written about a number of times. It follows up his recent EP Yesterday.
About the record: “Here in My Heart” is about holding onto the past in a personal way, in this case someone who is gone or no longer in your life. Its simple but catchy chorus hits home alongside Matthew’s resolute vocal and tidy electric guitar work. The record is co-produced by Matthew with Blinker the Star’s Jordan Zadorozny, who also contributes to the warm synth work, with Rob DeBoer on piano. Matthew’s gentle vocal style in his full-band rock songs like this goes down easy.
Other comments: Matthew frequently performs in southern Ontario, and residents of Kingston, Guelph, and Port Sydney can look for upcoming shows this summer.
MIGHTY CICERO, “Wildfire”
About the artist: Many artists you read about in my blog pages often lead dual lives. Mighty Cicero is the new project and persona for prolific screenwriter and songwriter Christopher Rogers, who is based in Halton Hills, Ontario. He is also the self-described architect of “Jo-tronic”, a mix of banjo and electronics.
About the record: The “Jo-tronic” sound is quite striking and refreshing to hear in “Wildfire”. It’s a song that starts off rather inauspiciously but builds in both style and theatricality as it progresses. Mighty Cicero’s vocal power ignites the song at key moments, recalling fellow Canadian singer Gowan to my ears at times. His songs are often loaded and profound, which reminds me of Pete Townshend’s songwriting with The Who, so you will find yourself revisiting them for multiple listeners to figure them out. Mighty Cicero is also a multi-instrumentalist and a producer, and in “Wildfire” you can hear the intricacy and attention to detail.
Other comments: Mighty Cicero has recently released his debut album called Damn, yo, which includes “Wildfire”.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world.
“lie to me” is the catchy recent single by British singer HRVY
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that currently airs on The Musicman James Rogers’ “The 3D Variety Show” (Tuesdays between 7 and 8pm ET) and KPHR Kat Power Radio (Tuesdays at 12:25 pm ET).
It’s a fun disco classic from 1975, “Shame Shame Shame” by Shirley & Company
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the owner and program director of online station Halton Hills Radio Online.
Jack Antonoff’s band Bleachers is back with “we should talk”
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, including Chicago-based Lake Radio Online where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter is also on air Fridays on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it too broadcasts the New Music Pick. Check the schedule for my New Music Pick of the Week on the blog home page near the bottom.
It’s “Run Run River (Angels Above Me)” by dance producers David Guetta and Alok with vocals by Stick Figure
“THE MUSICMAN”JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays). The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Frank Mills – Music Box Dancer
Melissa Manchester – Don’t Cry Out Loud
Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman – Stumblin’ In
Billy Joel – Big Shot
Bobby Caldwell – What You Won’t Do For Love
Show # 18 featuring guest artist Carol Medina
THE BILLCS TOP 30 – 5-10-15-20-25…
The Top 5 songs from the BILLCS Top 30 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago…
2021
01 GOT THAT LOVE, Mahalo
02 MYSELF IN YOU, Lordnox, Victor Perry
03 PLEASE, Jessie Ware
04 LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN, Silk Sonic
05 ONE AND ONE, Peter Wilson, Sean Smith
2016
01 SO BAD (Edwynn & Tikal and Spirix remix), Brandon Skeie [now Brandon Colbein]
02 LOST (Young Bombs remix), Connor Phillips
03 DREAMIN’, Embody, Camden Cox
04 CLOSER, Elephante, BISHØP
05 CARE FOR ME, Dzeko & Torres, Hellberg
2011
01 FLESH, Simon Curtis
02 DO IT IN THE A.M., Frankmusik, Far East Movement
03 POPULAR, Eric Saade
04 SUPERHERO, Simon Curtis
05 STUPID (Brad Walsh remix), DATABOY
2006
01 FLAWED DESIGN, Stabilo
02 JUST ANOTHER DAY (George Acosta remix), Jon Secada
03 OVER MY HEAD (CABLE CAR), The Fray
04 TURN ON THE MUSIC, Roger Sanchez, GTO
05 I WANT YOU TO WANT ME, Chris Isaak
2001
01 POP, *N Sync
02 CALIFORNIA, Rufus Wainwright
03 DREAM ON, Depeche Mode
04 ASTOUNDED, Bran Van 3000, Curtis Mayfield
05 IMITATION OF LIFE, R.E.M.
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