What’s your song of summer? The new BILLCS Top 30 doesn’t give any conclusive evidence as to what that might be for me, but there are a number of candidates which are moving up that you’ll read further about.
As a standing item about my daughter VXTORIA‘s progress with her music, her debut EP Dreamstate is now out! It features three new songs, “Awaken”, “U&Me”, and “TMRW”, in addition to singles Back To You, changes, and Lost in Your Love. I’d like to thank anyone who has found out about her music through my blog page for supporting the songs.
Check out information about my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS after the chart commentary below as they are 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.
19 year old sombr has set another milestone on the chart by having the first back-to-back #1 songs since 2017 as “undressed” (above) displaces his own “back to friends” at the top. It follows the same pattern as The Chainsmokers’ “Paris” and “Something Just Like This” (with Coldplay), which were also #1 and #2 before “Something” took over the reins from “Paris”. AND sombr’s most recent single, “we never dated” (below), arrives at #27, which makes him the second artist in 2025 to hold three songs concurrently on the chart – the other is Lady Gaga. sombr has also announced a European tour which now takes him everywhere in North America and Europe later this year and into 2026. Kinda leaves you feeling breathless!
“undressed” has taken its time to wait to get to #1, and Illenium and Hayla’s “In My Arms” (4-2, above) and Agnes’ stunning “Balenciaga Covered Eyes” (5-3, below) are right below waiting to challenge and take over as early as in two weeks.
Another great summer song is “Lonely Tonight” (7-5), full of tropical vibes courtesy of Sam Feldt and a fantastic set of vocals by Justin Jesso and Parson James. It’s Sam’s fourth Top 5 entry in the last year or so.
I guarantee you’ll keep finding new things to think about and enjoy in the humour and wit of The Boy From The South’s “Older”, which rises 10-6.
New to the Top 10 are first-timer Steven Thad, whose silky mix of contemporary and classic R&B and pop in “Smile” (above) climbs 11-9. French producer Provi also arrives with house music legend Ron Carroll singing the catchy verses in “Celebration” (below), which moves up 12-10.
The middle of the chart is now bursting with activity and “I Don’t Speak French” by Windsor, Ontario’s MELØ leads the way to the Top 10 by moving up 16-12.
I thought I might be travelling when David Archuleta performs in my city, but nope, that will be at another time, so I’ll be glad to see him in concert for the first time in October! His cheeky and fresh “Crème Brûlée” moves up 18-13.
Cerrone and Christine & The Queens (Rahim Redcar) make two of a perfect pair of French performers as “Catching feelings”, now the title track of their collaborative EP, leaps 21-14.
Since “Karaoke” (19-15, above) was released, the always engaging duo Crash Adams has already released two more singles. Check out their latest, “Heartbreak On Hold”, below.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is current UK #1 “Dior” by MK and Chrystal, which soars 25-16. You’ll be dancing away to this one at clubs and festivals for the rest of 2025. And maybe if radio programmers are looking for something fresh, we might get to hear it on another format other than North American dance radio.
Duking it out with MK and Chrystal is John Summit’s collaboration with Gorgon City and rapper rhys from the sticks with their summer party anthem “Is Everybody Having Fun”, which climbs 24-17.
There are three more debuts, and they’re led by Benedict Cork’s moving piano ballad “What It Is To Be Loved”, which premieres at #25 as a part of his deluxe album Footnotes On A Hopeless Romance. It’s Benedict’s fourth chart entry and first since 2023.
Irish bedroom producer Four Nights (Tommy Buckley) gets his second chart entry with the charming and thoughtful “All Night Long” which debuts at #28, culled from his latest EP In My Mind I’m Safe. Four Nights’ first entry, “Want You Always”, reached #8 in 2021.
The remaining debut at #29 is a bit off the beaten path, but it’s so beautifully sung and full of subtle production you’ll be immediately taken with it. It’s “still broke” by mid-west US alternative production/vocal duo of aibai and vinny, from their self-titled EP.
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.
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 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”, powered by www.xstreamrockradio.com with “The Musicman” James Rogers. I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. The show repeats on Alberta’s www.katpowerhit.ca on Wednesdays at 6pm EST.
Canada’s Party Dog Radio now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Saturdays at 4pm 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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