It’s been a very strange and somewhat long 2020, yet here we are with my second last chart of the year. Like many others, I’m itching to see live performances again but only when safe to do so. I don’t know how social distancing will be maintained without strict enforcement. We currently have to look at places like Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan to see what measures they are taking. Anyway, there’s a new #1 on deck along with three strong entries. There are also a few significant jumps, which shove other songs into making smaller moves, and push the debuts to the lower five of the chart.
It’s Sam Smith who claims #1 with “Diamonds” from their excellent album Love Goes. Sam had FOUR #1’s in 2014 on this chart – “Money On My Mind”, “Stay With Me”, and “I’m Not The Only One”, from their debut album In The Lonely Hour, and “Latch” with Disclosure – and “Diamonds” is their first #1 here in six years. I was fortunate to see Sam perform at a small club in Toronto in April 2014, because their next stop in my city was our stadium! Their club show actually was to be earlier in the year but ended up conflicting with their first appearance on Saturday Night Live.
One of the year’s most infectious songs belongs to Sweden’s Pawl and Discrete with the toe-tapper “Type Like That” (above), which climbs a notch to #2. And we have Swedes back-to-back with Agnes’ equally catchy “Fingers Crossed” (below) moving up 5-3.
Back in the Top 5 for the first time in seven years are Germany’s Matt Mancid with American producer (and here, singer) Color Theory with “Tinseltown In The Rain” rising 9-5. This is the “Big Rhythm” dance mix of this much revered song from the 80’s by Scottish group The Blue Nile.
Another one with a long gap between events is Justin Nozuka. The Toronto singer last appeared in the Top 10 in 2010 with “Unwoken Dream” (#6) from his second album You I Wind Land And Sea. His latest is “No One But You”, a duet with British singer and 2020 R&B Grammy nominee Mahalia, which moves up 11-8.
The fastest riser on the chart is the latest in a series of dance music bangers that created some of the brightest moments of 2020. It’s “Give It Back” by the pairing of The Disco Fries with Giiants and vocalist/co-writer Allison Park. It smashes into the Top 10, moving 20-9. It’s the third Top 10 on this chart for both Disco Fries and Giiants.
The third Top 10 entry is Illenium’s “Nightlight”, featuring the uncredited voice of Annika Wells. It climbs 13-10, and is Illenium’s 6th Top 10 entry.
Also soaring up the chart 24-14 is another new favourite deep house banger, “Nobody” by Sweden’s NOTD with vocalist Catello.
Watch for “Good At Goodbyes” (above) by Bright Light Bright Light and Erasure’s Andy Bell to move up more in the coming weeks. For now, this wondrous electronic ballad of sorts rises 21-18. Check out the latest single from Fun City, “Saying Goodbye Is Exhausting”, featuring Justin Vivian Bond, below.
I think I’ll need to get a T-shirt or create a meme that says “Sorry for All the Bangers”. “Chasing Feelings” by UK producer Jerome Price and singer/songwriter Cally Rhodes also fits into this category, and it climbs 23-20.
“Fake” is a fun song and video by Lauv and Conan Gray, which moves up 30-25.
The highest debut on the chart is the first entry for renown Dutch producer Oliver Heldens. Collaborating with Party Pupils with vocals by MAX, the exuberant “Set Me Free” arrives at #26. MAX is also sitting pretty at #17 with Suga of BTS with “Blueberry Eyes”. And arriving this past weekend was baby Edie Schneider for proud new parents MAX and Emily!
Also premiering is the darker deep house track “Like Gold” by my fellow Canadians Loud Luxury and Toronto’s Frank Walker with vocals by Stephen Puth at #27. Loud Luxury’s recent “Aftertaste” reached #8 a while back, while Stephen got to #5 last year with “Sexual Vibe”. It’s a first appearance on the chart for producer Frank Walker.
The third new entry makes a concurrent chart appearance for UK singer/songwriter Karen Harding. She’s currently at #12 with the former #1 “Undo My Heart”, and bows with Scotland-based production duo Illyus & Barrientos with the dreamy disco of “Let’s Get Together” at #29.
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!
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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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