I knew it would happen after I returned from travelling last week, but suddenly this week’s BILLCS Top 30 is the second last chart of the year that will count towards my year end list. You’re probably noticing the arrival of several “Best Of” lists this week. That’s because Billboard’s chart year operates from November to October, and for magazines and other websites, it seems to operate December to November. The industry is all about the Christmas and holiday season now – great for spreading joy about the holidays, not great at all for new music as labels and other affiliates pretty much “shut down” for the holidays unless there is a key release to which they are committed. I’ll still have a last chart of the year on December 30 but my focus that week will be on preparing my year end list and accompanying radio show.
Check out information about my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS after the chart below as they are now directly 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.
“Heart Like Mine” follows my song of summer, “Mi Amor”, with three appearances at the top for Dutch producer Sam Feldt, this time with Armenian vocalist and Eurovision ’22 contender Rosa Linn (for “Snap”). You can check out a familiar-sounding recent Armada collaboration between Sam, Steve Aoki, XANDRA, Nile Rodgers, and Zak Abel below too, based on an original Nile composition!
Continue to sail up the chart and make things difficult for “Heart Like Mine” to grab another appearance at #1 is “Surrender Your Love” by TELYKast and Sam Gray, which soars 8-2.
After seeing Alexander Stewart in concert last Friday, I can now see why so many people want to work with him! Long time faves Two Friends got him at the right time for “Wrong Way”, which moves up 4-3. Alexander performed an acoustic version on Friday that the audience loved!
Todd Terry gets his second Top 5 entry of the year with the Janika Tenn remix revival of 1998’s “It’s Over Love” (with Shannon), which rises 7-5. “What You Do” (reworking an old Gene Chandler release) reached #3 at the top of the year.
There’s always room in the chart for a classy song by an influential talent like Mavis Staples, even at 85 years old! “Worthy” jumps 9-7.
All of the Top 10 songs are on the rise, except for #1, and there are three new arrivals to the top third of the chart.
Climbing 13-8 is the magnificent collaboration between Swedish House Mafia and Alicia Keys called “Finally”. Is that simple chorus of “Watchin’, wondering about you” stuck in YOUR head yet?
Two members of Why Don’t We are in the Top 10 at the same time. Corbyn Besson joins Sweden’s NOTD for “Panic” (10-6, above), while Zach Herron’s singalong bop “caroline” busts out of the middle of the chart, up 16-9 (below)!
The Knocks make it three Top 10 entries in a row this year, this time with French duo YELLE, for “All The Time/Tout le temps”, moving up 11-10. “One On One” (with Sofi Tukker) got to #6 earlier this year, while “Lover” (with Dolores Forever) recently reached #5.
For those who don’t yet know, “Evil Woman” by Duran Duran was added to their recent album Danse Macabre in its deluxe edition. This cover of ELO’s 1976 hit climbs 17-14.
Sometimes a change in style can work wonders, and for me anyway, “mine” by Dan Talevski may be one of my most favourite releases yet by my fellow Canadian. It’s the Fastest Riser and soars 28-16.
While a bunch of songs get stuck with smaller moves than usual in the lower half of the chart, all of the last chart’s debuts, including “mine”, are well on their way up the chart. Next, GT_Ofice’s “Someone Else” has got both a great story and a wonderful arrangement, and it rises 27-21.
The highest of four debuts belongs to Australia-born but UK-based dance producer Sonny Fodera, teaming up with Irish vocalist Jazzy and British producer D.O.D. for “Somedays” at #25. It’s already reached #5 in the UK and become a North American Top 10 dance radio hit. “Somedays” is a warm, fast-paced house track, and it’s Sonny’s second chart entry, following 2021’s “Angel” (#4, with Clementine Douglas).
Next at #26 is the powerful house banger by San Francisco’s Angrybaby called “Back To Life”, which is best heard in the Mashbit VIP remix. Angrybaby is a producer whose star is rising quickly, and “Back To Life” is very much in the same vein as the best tracks by John Summit and Kaskade.
At #27 is “Easy Distraction” by UK singer and guitarist extraordinaire James Bay, from his recently released album Changes All The Time. It’s James’ 7th appearance on the chart. And yes, I’ll be going to see his show again next May as part of his North American “Up All Night” tour.
Returning to the chart after an 11 year absence is British indie alternative pop singer Eurielle with “Terrified” at #29. It’s a cool and fun alternative rock track, a bit different from her usual softer, very visual gothic-sounding pop, so check out the video by clicking the photo above. I’ll pitch this one to Kate Bush fans, but listen for Eurielle’s gorgeous soprano hitting a bevy of high notes which help make “Terrified” so memorable. Eurielle’s “Gold” reached #5 in 2013.
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 the following link: The Big 20.
My New Music Pick of the Week debuts each week on The Big 20. It airs more than 25 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking at the following link: Schedule.
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 airs each week on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline”, Saturdays at 4pm EST. You can view its schedule by going to the lower right corner of the home page of this blog.
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada
I’m now featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my Retro Pick of the Week on the live online radio show “The 3D Variety Show”, now powered by both www.xstreamrockradio.com and Lil Rawkers with “The Musicman” James Rogers. I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. 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.
Party Dog Radio **NEW**
Canada’s Party Dog Radio now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Saturdays at 6pm EST, which airs my New Music Pick of the Week. Party Dog Radio also airs “The Big 20”, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week on Sundays after 9pm EST.
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! Schedules are updated regularly.
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