Suddenly there’s a line-up of new songs waiting to enter the BILLCS Top 30 over the next month. Fortunately, some older songs made room for five debuts in today’s edition, which will help.
I’ll have two more blog posts before I head off to Australia on Monday February 17. The next BILLCS New Music Report will publish on Thursday February 13, and I’ll also post another episode of The Big 20 for everyone’s listening pleasure. The next BILLCS Top 30 will be coming to you from Melbourne, not sure if it will be on February 23 or 24 for most of you, it depends on when I publish it. The BILLCS New Music Report will not publish while I’m away, returning Wednesday March 12.
Check out information about my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS after the chart commentary 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.
My new music and retro picks of the week will air during the week of February 17 and then will resume the week of March 10.
NOTE: I will be gradually phasing out the You Tube links for the songs on the chart for accessibility purposes. With this week’s new entries, the links in the photos are now Spotify links.
UK-based, Australia-born dance producer Sonny Fodera gets his first BILLCS Top 30 #1 with a song that continues to endure and be discovered. It’s “Somedays”, the brisk and heartfelt house track featuring vocals by Irish singer Jazzy and contributions by UK producer D.O.D. “Somedays” also continues to linger on the UK singles chart, where it reached #5 last year. It’s a shame such a gorgeous track won’t receive radio airplay in North America beyond dance music stations.
L.A.-based dance producer Angrybaby climbs 4-2 with “Back To Life” in its VIP remix by Texas producer Mashbit. It’s a mesmerizing dance track that fans of John Summit will enjoy. It contends with “Somedays” for #1 in two weeks.
Toronto’s Alexander Stewart finds his way to #3 again, this time with “His Problem Instead” (6-3). He reached #3 last year with his collaboration with Two Friends, “Wrong Way”. Does “His Problem Instead” have a shot at #1 in two weeks?
James Bay climbs into the Top 5 with “Easy Distraction” rising 7-4. James last reached #4 with 2023’s album track “Brilliant Still”.
“Optimist” by Crash Adams is the first of three songs on the chart to arrive in the Top 10, climbing 11-7 and patching the peak of last year’s rollicking blast of fun “Hotel Party”.
Houston, Texas artist NYNE bests the recent peak of the band for which he is musical director, K.C. & The Sunshine Band. Co-produced and co-written by K.C. himself (Harry W. Casey), the insanely catchy “In The Back of My Cadillac” climbs 12-8 in its Eric Kupper remix. Last year’s “I Get To Love You” by K.C. & The Sunshine Band stopped at #12.
Rounding out the Top 10 is the #1 dance song in Europe, the redux of “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)” (15-10) by UK producer PAWSA in conjunction with Stevie Vincent aka the original artist The Adventures Of Stevie V himself. The original “Dirty Cash” was my #62 song of 1990.
Lucas & Steve and Jordan Shaw pass the #12 peak of their collaboration “End Of Time” last year with their latest and highly craveable “Heart First” rising 17-11.
Sam Fender also scores a personal best on the chart with “People Watching” climbing 19-13. His 2019 release “Can We Talk” topped out at #14.
To no surprise, the Fastest Riser on the chart is a record that is defining how dance music sounds in 2025. It’s “Hypnotized” by Anyma and Ellie Goulding, which soars 26-14.
On the indie tip, do yourself a favour and check out “The Message” (27-19) by Nashville’s MGR Mike and Mexico’s Milton V. It’s sure to put a smile on your face as the disco beats groove around an uber-inspiring speech by boxer Ricky Turcios.
Lady Gaga is back with another banger that ranks right up there for me with “Rain On Me”, “Applause”, “Bad Romance”, and “The Edge of Glory” with “Abracadabra” powering onto the chart as the Highest Debut at #21. It’s from her upcoming seventh solo album, MAYHEM, and is her 16th chart entry.
Impressive, but awfully brief at only 2:13, is “Love Me Better” by Switzerland’s Luca Hänni, which quickly moves up 28-22.
New at #24 is “Focus” by Chicago superstar dance producer John Summit and vocalist CLOVES, which is certain to be a festival favourite this year. It’s John’s second entry on the chart following last year’s “Shiver” (with Hayla), which was my #1 song of the year.
Next at #27 is a song I first heard in concert on January 23. It’s “Chasing Paradise”, a slice of summery dance/pop we all need during the winter months in the northern hemisphere by Kygo and One Republic. It’s easily one of Ryan Tedder’s best vocals in recent years. It’s Kygo’s fourth chart entry, and One Republic’s fifth but first since 2012. To be fair, I would have charted 2014’s “Counting Stars”, but it hadn’t grown on me till long after it had peaked.
At #28 is Nashville-based newcomer Liam Wall with an affecting, authentic song that’s chock full of hooks, “Walking Red Flag”.
Finishing up the debuts at #29 is “Show Me The Way”, a laid back piano-house track by Polish producers Milkwish and Mike Konstanty. It’s Milkwish’s third chart entry but first since 2022.
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. JC Legend fills in for The Musicman until April. 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
The 3D Variety Show is on hiatus and will return in April 2025.
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.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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