Look for a format change from this blog starting next week. While I’ve enjoyed writing about individual songs post-by-post for the last several years, with interjections from my “10/10” feature to feature 10 songs all at once, I’m finding that it’s too time consuming to keep up, given the insurmountable number of releases each week, and not as productive as it can be.
So starting on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, this blog will change to a once a week “newsletter” kind of format. What that looks like exactly I think will develop over the next few months with input from you. And with ONLINE RADIO SHOWS now being a big part of my life, there will be more integration with the radio programming. My New Music Pick of the Week, which is currently only a radio segment, will be featured in the newsletter. The focus will still be on new and mainly independent music. Submissions for the blog continue to be welcome!
The other thing I’ve noticed this year is that music people – including artists, producers, managers – are no longer as approachable online as say 10 years ago. A lot of artists use social media as recipients only, don’t look at their timelines, and only post/tweet to promote their music. There are also a lot of artists who prefer one platform over another (and I’m still not and have no plans to be on Tik Tok!) – but we don’t know that till we follow them on that platform, so it’s a guessing game at best at times.
Independent artists, producers and managers who want exposure by my blog – over 13 years in existence with a tie-in to online radio – need to communicate with me. To be honest, there are several songs I’ve written up and had good connections with the artists or their teams, and then with the next releases, nothing!! I will however continue to promote and write about songs/artists I discover on my own. And my personal chart, the BILLCS Top 30, has been online since 1998 – 25 years in January!! – and I’ll continue to write it up and count it down every second Monday.
The best places to communicate with me continue to be Twitter @billcs or Instagram @thebillcs or Facebook @BILLCSMusicProjects. Follow this blog using the “Follow” button at the bottom of the home page.
Toronto singer/songwriter/guitarist Francesco Yates gets his first #1 on my chart with “Jimi”! It knocks Jessie Ware’s “Free Yourself” out of the top spot after a month because it’s simply the song I look forward to hearing the most right now! Francesco is also the first Canadian artist to reach #1 on my chart since Loud Luxury & Frank Walker took “Like Gold” to the top early last year.
There’s a lineup of songs waiting to take over from “Jimi” at #1, but more about that will be known in two weeks. In the meantime, I’m happy to see Steve Lacy at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bad Habit”, which rises on my chart 6-4. Watch for a flood of Grammy nominations for Steve at year’s end.
“Turn On The Lights Again” by Fred Again.. and Swedish House Mafia reworking Future’s 2012 release into a trance-y festival anthem climbs 7-5. It’s a song that never fails to draw you in every time. Fred Again.. has a new album coming at the end of the month called Actual Life 3.
NYC’s Robbie Rosen, a former “American Idol” contestant, is ultra-prolific and now has two songs in my Top 10. The sublimely catchy “The Boss” (above), created with French producers Coopex and Charles B, rises 8-6, while “Stained Glass” (below), an arpeggio-loaded big room-flavoured collaboration with Germany’s Severman and India’s Arshan Joel, rises 12-9. They are Robbie’s 6th and 7th Top 10’s on this chart.
Greyson Chance now has two songs on the chart from his album Palladium. The riveting “Athena” (above) moves up 13-10, and becomes Greyson’s third Top 10 on the chart, following “Dancing Next To Me” (#2) and “Hellboy” (#3). But the more provocative winner “My Dying Spirit” (below) also arrives on the chart at #26. Greyson’s North American tour is now underway, and I look forward to his December 1 show in my city!
The Fastest Riser on the chart is probably the most joyous one too. It’s “Celebrate” (above) by Dutch producer Laurentius and Luxembourg singer/songwriter Oke, which soars 25-15. Check out “Jaiye”, the title track of their upcoming EP together, below.
“Castles” by Florida’s Tonner has a dreamy, lilting melody and a feel good vibe, and it rises 21-16.
Two Friends and Mod Sun have a real grower with the anthemic “Timebomb” (above), which moves up 22-17. You can check out Two Friends’ new one with Jutes called “Chloe”, below.
Oliver Sim’s pensive “GMT” is off to a great start, climbing 26-19. It’s from his new solo album Hideous Bastard. He has indicated that new music from his band The xx is in the works, but with no ETA as of yet.
The Highest Debut of four songs belongs to Rhode Island’s JVKE with “Golden Hour” at #24. The song is gradually becoming a pop radio hit. It seems like unconventional songs like this that are soaked in influences from the early pop/rock era are striking a chord with younger listeners today. JVKE is only 19 and definitely has a great voice. He also produces and plays multiple instruments. “Golden Hour” is culled from JVKE’s new album This Is What ___ Feels Like Vol 1-4.
Then at #25 we have another 19 year old (soon to be 20), Stephen Sanchez, with “Until I Found You”. The northern California native to me echoes The Everly Brothers on this song, whether or not he’s familiar with the late great duo. It’s a beautiful, ear-pleasing song from his new album Easy On My Eyes.
The fourth debut is the rollicking drum ‘n bass-influenced track by Manila Killa and fknsyd called “Take Me Higher” at #29. As the title song from his album Dusk wraps up its chart run at #27 (with a #2 peak), and after seeing Manila Killa’s live show last week, it’s timely to revisit this unique and infectious offering from him.
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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.
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 mornings at 10 a.m. EST and Sunday mornings at 2:00 AM EST. You can hear past episodes of The Big 20 at this link.
On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
“Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight EST! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free. “The Big 20” also airs on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays.
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 3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. A repeat of “The 3D Variety Show” airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EST on Radio GTA. My pick of the week airs 20 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear past episodes of The 3D Variety Show at this link.
Addictive Energy
This is a weekly show hosted by Hunter Wilbur that airs on several online stations but is anchored at Mix88.ca on Sundays beginning at 8pm EST. You can hear past episodes of Addictive Energy at this link.
For other details about 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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