It’s hard to believe I finished my last day of work in my human resources career a year ago! While it’s been tough with the restrictions of the pandemic during my first year of retirement, my music projects and consulting have increased, and I’m suddenly back “on air” on online radio stations as an announcer for the first time in many years, which I never, ever expected to happen. The only way is up, and I’m looking forward to some travelling this coming year.
Make sure you read about my ONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES (see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
The revolving door at #1 on this chart continues, as Sweden’s Darin reaches the top with the best song of his career so far called “Can’t Stay Away”. This is a very deserved number one, the positivity oozes from the song and the video is a fun, colourful throwback to the disco years.
I can’t get enough of the multilingual “Mon Cheri” (above) by Sofi Tukker and award-winning African duo Amadou & Mariam, which climbs 9-3. It’s culled from the recent Red Hot + Free set, whose proceeds go to charity. Now also available in a host of remixes at the link below.
Ed Sheeran’s upcoming album is now called Equals (or = ) as “Bad Habits” (above) climbs 6-5. He’s also released a new single from it called “Visiting Hours” (below).
The Fastest Riser on the chart lands in the Top 10 in its second appearance on the chart. It belongs to “Sanctuary” (above) by Dutch producer Howen and “American Idol” finalist, songwriter and producer Robbie Rosen, which soars 16-9 with sights clearly set on #1! Robbie is also the singer and co-writer behind “Don’t Want Perfect” (below) with Quebec producer Kayliox, which moves up 22-18.
Also new to the Top 10 is “Back To You”, the riveting house track by Chicago’s Aash Mehta and Charlotte’s ephem, which rises 13-10.
Ashwyn’s “Sell My Soul” is a real grower, with its stellar guitar solo as the focus of an otherwise mellow and thoughtful song. It moves up 15-12.
“Break Me Down” (above) busts through the middle of the chart for Chicago’s Autograf and Win & Woo with vocalist SINGA, and climbs 20-14. Also check out below a lovely dance performance video from Win & Woo of their latest release called “Knots” featuring Blair Lee.
The Highest Debut on the chart is “Nonchalant” by Duck Sauce at #24. In my blog post last week, I noted that its melody revolves around an old somewhat obscure favourite of mine, “Queen Of The Rapping Scene”, a 1981 release by UK group Modern Romance. Combine it with a pulsating house rhythm and A-Trak and Armand Van Helden have another winner!
Next up at #26 is The Weeknd’s “Take My Breath”, yet another winner for my fellow Scarborough native Abel Tesfaye, who in full club mode and is clearly with retro disco rhythms this time, which is no surprise given he covered Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” (as “D.D.”) ten years ago.
Then at #27 is NYC’s Gina Naomi Baez with a vocal tour de force on “My Time”, which is your new end-of-summer empowerment anthem!
Chicago house music is winning on this chart! As with releases from Aash Mehta, Autograf and Win & Woo, Jarod Glawe and Dutch vocalist Robin Vane arrive at #28 with “Belong To You”. It’s an enjoyable release peppered by a powerful vocal from Robin, who I initially compared to Dan Smith of Bastille when I wrote my blog post about it, but since then I’ve been hearing more similarities to Bono of U2. In any case he’s in great company!
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 🙂
Radio GTA – listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs mixed with classics and songs you haven’t heard in a while. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online – “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
Planet Radio Canada – Now back in action, listen to the “3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers. I’m featured every Tuesday between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments.
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