There continues to be an enormous abundance of fine music out there – all you have to do is look for it and listen! The BILLCS Top 30 is now in its 22nd year online and continues to act as a guide to steer you in the direction of some great tunes in a variety of pop genres. The chart has four new entries to tantalize you.
Hanging on to #1 is “House Is Happiness” (above) by German producer and saxophonist Stan Sax, who is one half of the duo Saxity, who themselves move into the Top 10 with “Fantasy” (below), featuring the voices of Victor Perry and Robbie Rosen (13-10). Stan and Koni are back on another roll of releases, with another brand new one coming this Friday.
His third album Love Goes is receiving fine public and critical response, and Sam Smith has his eyes on #1 in two weeks with his engaging single “Diamonds”, climbing 5-2.
Sweden’s Agnes obtains her first Top 5 song on this chart since 2009 as the zippy “Fingers Crossed” advances 8-5. Her last song to do this was “Release Me”, which got to #1.
Besides “Fantasy”, the other newcomer to the Top 10 is “Tinseltown In The Rain”, the emotional and intriguing cover of The Blue Nile’s 1984 song by German producer Matt Mancid and California-based vocalist (and multi-instrumentalist) Color Theory. “Tinseltown”, in its Big Rhythm mix, climbs 11-9.
The Fastest Riser on the chart belongs to Toronto’s Justin Nozuka with British singer Mahalia on “No One But You”. This romantic R&B/pop ballad moves up 18-11.
It looks like “Nightlight” opened up even a more pop-oriented audience door for Illenium than his last album Ascend. Recently #1 on the national dance chart for two weeks, “Nightlight” rises 17-13. The uncredited vocal is by one of its co-writers, and frequent Illenium collaborator, Annika Wells.
I like to think of Canadian singer/songwriter Francesco Yates’ “Late Night Love” as his equivalent of Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” – especially since the singer opened for JT throughout one of his recent tours. This sexy and raucous R&B-flavoured song rises 20-15.
Tyler Shaw is one of Canada’s most versatile performers, who can shift from style to style, including recording in French. Such is the case with his latest danceable Top 20 pop radio hit “Remember”, which climbs 21-16.
MAX and SUGA’s “Blueberry Lies” continues to lead the last chart’s new entries, and advances 25-19. Be sure to check out MAX’s excellent album Colour Vision. I was so pleased to see him perform the entire album in a recent free virtual show.
I currently have the Highest Debut on repeat. It’s the new house banger “Give It Back” by The Disco Fries and Giiants featuring singer/songwriter Allison Park. By all rights this song should be huge, and I’m helping to give it that push as it debuts at #20.
Next up at #24 is the first appearance on the chart for Swedish production duo NOTD in tandem with mystery performer Catello on their latest single “Nobody”. The song has already soared into the Top 10 on national dance charts, and is the logical follow up to last year’s huge hit “So Close”.
Despite having been on release since summer, I can’t let the song that debuts at #25 go without it having a chart run. British rocker James Bay returns to the chart with “Chew On My Heart” from his most recent EP Turn It Up. He reached #2 two years ago with “Pink Lemonade”.
The fourth debut is a supurb change of pace for L.A.-based singer/songwriter Lauv, who partners with rising star Conan Gray for “Fake” at #30. The guys really have great chemistry and make “Fake” a lighter, enjoyable song considering its subject matter. It’s Lauv’s 4th appearance on the chart, and Conan’s first.
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog are featured regularly on the new online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂 Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! I’m the new music consultant for the station so you can expect even more in 2021 🙂 You can start by joining Radio GTA’s new interactive Facebook group too!!
View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify: BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Check out and ‘like’ the BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂
Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 22 years? Rummage through the BILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!!
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