The middle class – whatever it is anymore – keeps getting the shaft by the entertainment industry. Concert tickets by superstars are only affordable for the wealthy. Yet on the other hand, the biz keeps crying out for more talent that it believes can be turned into superstars. Yet it’s all in front of their collective noses, more so than ever, so perhaps the A&R positions at record labels need to be reassessed as well as the people in them. It’s no longer enough to bring in a hit, because as soon as it has peaked – and even if it is long-lasting – the industry moves on to the next talent made popular largely on Tik Tok, or releases something by its current superstars. Something is terribly wrong with this model when the gatekeepers of talent don’t want to wade into the middle of everyday folks like you and I to find talent as was done previously. The word is Elitist.
Among the features in the Report, you can check out my pick of the week, along with one from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host Hunter Wilbur’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” has his Classic Five pop hits features some great tunes from those fabulous years for pop music, 1970 and 1971. And I’ll take you back to my BILLCS Top 30 from this week in 2006 – post-Napster but just before You Tube and Facebook.
The BILLCS New Music Report is a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.
REMINDER: Click the photo above the artist’s name and song title to hear the song or watch the video.
SPOTLIGHTING
MAX, JVKE, BAZZI, “Strings”
Readers of this blog know that I’ve been listening to the music of MAX since well before his best known song, “Lights Down Low”, a song-written for his now-wife Emily, which was released, incredibly, seven years ago (MAX’s “Wrong”, with Lil Uzi Vert, had reached #1 on the BILLCS Top 30 in 2015). “Lights Down Low” ended up having long legs in the biz at the time, and didn’t become the radio hit that it deserved to be for more than a year (it also peaked at #3 on the BILLCS Top 30). So I’m happy to say that his latest release, “Strings”, is one of his very best to date, and deserves the same kind of success as “Lights” – it too was written for Emily! You’ll be cheering within the first 30 seconds as MAX captivates with a gorgeous vocal, then being joined seamlessly in succession by one of my new favourites, the always listenable JVKE, and then by Bazzi, who is at his best. Its chorus, with all of its doo-wop inspired ooooh-oooohs, generates shivers, and the production by MAX and Dwilly is just aces. MAX fans in particular will be more than pleased as one of the nicest people (now signed to Warner Music) in the biz continues to level up. And keep those songs about Emily coming!
TheFatRat, CECILIA GAULT, “Escaping Gravity (Chapter Three)”
Germany’s TheFatRat returns with “chapter three” of what looks like an ongoing saga of releases, “Escaping Gravity”, which began with “Out Of The Rain”, which I wrote about earlier this year. It’s got a fanciful medieval flute sound as its musical hook, with an equally captivating vocal by NYC singer Cecilia Gault to help the story unfold. “Escaping Gravity” ponders the wonders of sailing in outer space, shooting satellites, watching the starlight, and feeling like you’re at the centre of the universe. It’s all stuff of ages old stories of space travel, reinvigorated in a positive, wondrous light by TheFatRat and his team. Note that you can use “Escaping Gravity” on any social media platform, but check out TheFatRat’s instructions on You Tube underneath the video.
PETER WISE, “Only Gotta Start”
It’s a pleasure to hear more new music by NYC indie singer/songwriter Peter Wise. “Only Gotta Start” draws you in immediately and keeps you there thanks to a conscientious story about letting go of dark thoughts, pride, ego, hurt and frustration. Peter has an appealing jaunty style that often reminds me of Paul McCartney, and while starting something fresh may be a no-brainer for some people, for others it’s something difficult to achieve on a regular basis. Peter’s friendly vocal and the message coming from a hitherto unknown female presence in the song works well. “Only Gotta Start” is an earworm that will leave you smiling.
VINNY MARCHI, “Atmosphere”
A while back, I brought musical theatre and classically trained opera singer Vinny Marchi to your attention through his delightful interpretation of Hozier’s “Cherry Wine”. Vinny’s a natural born entertainer on Instagram (@veryveryvinny), and he may tantalize the pop world yet with strong originals like “Atmosphere”. Sure, its a bedroom production set against a relatively straight-forward synth/keyboard melody, but “Atmosphere” oozes seduction and romance. His lilting vocal shows off some of his range, and even when blended with some effects is quite appealing. There aren’t enough pop ballads like this around and it’s nice to know that there are versatile vocalists like Vinny Marchi who can tackle them with superlative results.
FEATURING
RAINA SOKOLOV-GONZALEZ, “The Healing”
NYC Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez will also be a familiar name to readers of this blog through her entertaining pop/jazz songs that I’ve written about in the past. “The Healing” steps into a direction for Raina that has been successful for singers like Grammy-winner YEBBA, and Raina has a similar finesse and command of her voice that makes moments in the song sound effortless and even improvised. “The Healing” is a song about praise and gratitude for life, taking on some intentional gospel influences in the process with beautiful harmonies. Even when set just to a piano, the splendid arrangement of “The Healing” grabs and holds your attention.
THE SOMETIMES ISLAND, “neon summer”
“neon summer” is one of those songs that manages to tap into everyone’s collective memories about summer and finds something in common. It’s brought to you by California indie pop/rock trio The Sometimes Island and is written by leader Matt Blankenship. The results could have been like a cliché, sickly sweet overdose of The Beach Boys but instead it’s a warm, synth-filled, memorable end-of-summer pop tune. The vocals and harmonies are catchy, all the more reason to make sure you add “neon summer” to any playlists you might have about reminiscing or summer romances, and it will fit like a glove. Also check out The Sometimes Island’s brief but spot on cover of Stealers’ Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You”.
BEN ELLIS, “Runner Up”
Welsh indie singer/songwriter has recently graced the BILLCS Top 30 with the insanely feel good and infectious “Ed’s House” at #8, and he follows it up with a quick pop tune about being “that other guy” in a friendship who never gets chosen to go the extra step to romance. All of the one-time wallflowers and sad sods will completely relate as the subject of the song is used as a friend and becomes resigned to the runner-up idea. Ben’s got a lot of natural charm as a singer/songwriter and a strong Instagram (@benellismusic) and Tiko Tok presence, that will all continue to go a long way until the right music business deal comes along for him, it’s just a matter of time!
ROLIPSO, ROBBIE ROSEN, ALESSA, “Tell Me What You Want”
German producer Rolipso teams up again with NYC’s fab Robbie Rosen for the deep house crunch in “Tell Me What You Want”. As with Robbie’s powerful vocal, the production also offers a solid showcase for one of Robbie’s protégées, fellow New York singer Alessa. They sound great together, though at sometimes I think the production gets a little overzealous with effects on the vocals. But “Tell Me” overall is a solid release with an suitably intriguing Eurohouse arrangement that will sound great in dance clubs.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs more than 25 times/week on online radio stations around the world.
“100% Pure Love” by UK dance music queen Hazell Dean in its “Dean & Ware Lava Lamp Mix”
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S PICK OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online stations Radio GTA, Halton Hills Radio Online, & FM108.ca. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”!
“Stone Killer” is by Salt Lake City based musician 26fix
HUNTER J. WILBUR’S BOP OF THE WEEK
Hunter J. Wilbur is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype” and “Addictive Energy” which can be heard on several online stations including Classic Hits Canada.
Hunter introduced me to the music of Ben Ellis, and his bop is another one by Ben, “Sofia”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays on Planet Radio Canada. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Chicago – 25 Or 6 To 4 (1970)
The Beatles – Let It Be (1970)
The Partridge Family – I Think I Love You (1970)
Dawn – Knock Three Times (1971)
George Harrison – My Sweet Lord (1970)
BILLCS Top 30 FLASHBACK CHART – 2006
Note the presence of three sadly missed talents, George Michael, Ari Gold and Meat Loaf.
03 01 MAKE A MOVE ON ME (CLUB MIX) Joey Negro (now known by his real name, Dave Lee)
01 02 IS IT ANY WONDER Keane
09 03 SEXYBACK Justin Timberlake
06 04 AND DO YOU FEEL SCARED (ERIC PRYDZ MIX) Howard Jones
02 05 I WANT YOU TO WANT ME Chris Isaak
04 06 JUST ANOTHER DAY (GEORGE ACOSTA REMIX) Jon Secada
10 07 AIN’T NO OTHER MAN Christina Aguilera
05 08 OUT OF MY HEAD Mobile
12 09 LEARNING THE HARD WAY Gin Blossoms
16 10 NO TOMORROW Orson
19 11 THE ADVENTURE Angels & Airwaves
17 12 I WILL LOVE AGAIN Taras
18 13 NOTHING BETTER THAN LIFE Sherrie Lea
15 14 AN EASIER AFFAIR George Michael
07 15 SEE YOU AGAIN Jenny Bliss
11 16 ME & U Cassie
24 17 MANEATER Nelly Furtado
08 18 GET TOGETHER Madonna
28 19 WAVE OF YOU Ari Gold
14 20 FLAWED DESIGN Stabilo
29 21 THE POP GAME Josh Kelley
NEW 22 GIVE IT UP TO ME Sean Paul featuring Keyshia Cole
20 23 DEVIL’S PARTY INXS
21 24 DEJA VU Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
22 25 SINGLE Natasha Bedingfield
30 26 THESE WALLS Teddy Geiger
13 27 WHERE’D YOU GO Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga
NEW 28 I’VE GOT YOU McFly
NEW 29 IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW Meat Loaf featuring Marion Raven
25 30 IT’S ALRIGHT Ricky Martin
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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