Here we are again with a new chart, some 17 days after I left on vacation. Of course I didn’t expect to become ill after my cruise, with a bug that has left my voice in the gutter for the last few days – you’ll hear how I sound on my New Music Pick of the Week segment – and likely a few days more. So Wednesday will be catch up time for the BILLCS New Music Report. In the meantime, one of THE dance songs of the summer of ’24 holds on top for a fourth appearance (eighth week), while three fresh and new songs debut.
Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30
Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist
The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive
Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below as they are increasingly tied in with this blog. As most of you know, I host 3 online radio shows – The Big 20 and two iterations of Your Weekend New Music Mix – and produce 2 online radio segments – my new music and retro picks of the week – that are all pre-recorded. The Big 20 and the picks of the week are happily being syndicated and you can find the current schedule for all at the bottom of the home page of this blog.
John Summit and Hayla still command the chart with the irrepressible “Shiver” (above), a song that will make dance club and festival goers stop in their tracks to enjoy. What will follow it at #1 in two weeks remains to be seen, but there are a number of worthy choices right below. Hayla’s subsequent single, the fierce “Embers” (below), moves up solidly 24-19.
“Harmless”, the unique alternative rock track by New Zealand’s Will Swinton, rises a notch to #2. To follow up such a great single, I’d love to know more of what’s in store for this young talent. I mean I may be missing out by not having a Tik Tok account, but let’s hope to hear more soon.
“Last Of Us” is one of those big, heartfelt dance tracks that doesn’t come around too often, this time by Gryffin and Rita Ora, and it climbs 4-3.
Like many electronic dance music lovers, David Archuleta’s IG feed shows him at EDC Las Vegas this past weekend, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming next after his euphoric alternative mix of “Afraid To Love” with collaborator Willy Beaman, which moves up 6-4. A big EDM collab might just be the ticket! Happy to start that rumour…
Sweden’s Darin is already set to release a new single, “Moonlight”, on Friday May 24, as his latest “Electric” continues to climb, moving up 7-5. “Electric” is his 7th Top 5 entry. Here’s some Darin/Pet Shop Boys trivia: The artists have a producer in common, though not for their most recent releases, and that is the amazing Stuart Price. Stuart co-produced Darin’s 2022 single “Superstar”, and has produced the PSB albums Super, Hotspot, as well as their 2013 album, which was called Electric!!
Pet Shop Boys’ latest album is Nonetheless, but have just released an EP which you can listen to at the following Spotify link called Furthermore, which includes re-recordings of their classics “It’s A Sin”, “Heart”, “Being Boring”, and “Always On My Mind”. The lead single from Nonetheless, “Loneliness”, continues to climb and moves up 9-6.
After a successful EuroVision weekend, which found their entry in 9th place overall for Sweden, Marcus & Martinus’ “Unforgettable” is the Fastest Riser of the week, soaring 13-7. Click the photo above to watch their EuroVision performance. I’ll have some words about the winning and runner-up entries on Wednesday in the New Music Report.
Philadelphia lo-fi hip hop duo N i G H T S obtain their fourth Top 10 entry as the intriguing and seething breakup song, “Hopeless”, rises 12-10.
“feel less” is a perfect example of how to turn your latest dance single in to a masterful pop release. Recorded live at The Warehouse in Vancouver, Felix Cartal and Lights’ latest collaboration becomes an emotional pop song with a brilliant vocal and sublime arrangement, rising 16-11.
I know a lot of Years & Years fans felt bad for Olly Alexander’s 18th place finish in EuroVision with “Dizzy”. To me it had nothing to do with the song itself or his vocal, which some people have been way too critical about on social media. It was more about its polarizing visuals, which to me only spoke to a small portion of the worldwide audience, though there were no technical issues that I could see. You can judge for yourself by clicking on the photo above but it was kind of a hard lesson learned. Olly’s an adventurous performer, this just wasn’t the time or place for it. Nonetheless, “Dizzy” moves up 18-13.
Rozalla’s solid rendition of Nicolette Larson’s version of “Lotta Love” continues to move up the chart briskly, rising 19-14. It’s still not too late for a Canadian AC radio campaign, just sayin’…
While I’m starting to see more love for the second single release from Fireworks and Rollerblades, “Slow It Down”, I’m still stuck on the album track “Cry”, which has also been doing well, and climbs 22-16.
As you know from many blog posts, I’m a sucker for a vocal performance that leaves me in awe of some of today’s best talents. JVKE is one of them and his latest single, “This Is What Slow Dancing Feels Like”, though highly reminiscent of Stephen Sanchez’s “Until I Found You” stylistically, nails the pre-Beatles American male pop vocalist sound of the day. “Slow Dancing” rises 25-20.
Arriving as the Highest Debut at #28 is “Find My Flow” by rising Phoenix dance producer Ekonovah (pronounced “echo-nova”). It’s one catchy slice of house music that could be a creeper in dance music sets by some of your favourite DJ’s this summer.
Calgary’s Kiesza makes her fourth appearance on the chart with the delightfully wacky and infectious “I Go Dance” at #29. The Juno Award winner got to #1 back in late 2018 with the equally fun “Phantom of the Dance Floor” accompanied by Quebec opera singer Philippe Sly.
Rounding out the chart and the new entries at #30 is “The Door” by Georgia-born Teddy Swims, which follows up his worldwide #1 “Lose Control”, which I got burned out on quickly. Teddy didn’t just come out of nowhere though. He was a You Tuber whose viral covers led to memorable appearances on “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, “The Late Late Show with James Corden”, and “America’s Got Talent”. His big and versatile, soulful voice has allowed him to cross genres, working in everything from country to EDM, leading to his debut album I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Part 1. “The Door” is seamless, 60’s flavoured pop soul that’s refreshing for today’s pop audiences.
ONLINE RADIO SHOWS
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 evening at 6 pm EST. You can hear recent episodes of The Big 20 at this link.
On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada (on hiatus until June 4)
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” at www.planetradio.ca, now powered by www.xstreamrockradio.com with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. My pick of the week airs more than 25 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear recent episodes of The 3D Variety Show at the following link: 3D Variety Show. The show repeats on Alberta’s www.katpowerhit.ca on Wednesdays at 6pm EST.
Energy885 in Miramichi, New Brunswick’s Energy885 now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Fridays at 6pm EST, and his new show “Pyjama Party” on Saturdays at 5pm EST, which both air my New Music Pick of the Week. Energy885 is also airing my Retro Pick Of The Week as well on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:30 AM EST. You can hear past episodes of “Modern Hype” and “Pyjama Party” at the following link: DJ Hunter.
For other details about all of 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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