Edition #736 says goodbye to some 2025 favourites and hello to five new ones, and someone has wrestled away #1 from Conan Gray!
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.
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
Seizing the top portion of the chart at the right moment, UK dance producer Dimension & frequent chart visitor Karen Harding soar 7-1 with the majestic “Guardian Angel”. This drum ‘n bass flavoured anthem is Karen’s second #1 following 2020’s “Undo My Heart” (with Digital Farm Animals).
If you’re in Melbourne, Australia this week, Kiwi alternative performer Will Swinton opens up for The Kid Laroi on Thursday January 28 at John Cain Arena. His recent single “Find a Way” moves up 4-3.
Toronto’s Alexander Stewart makes it three consecutive Top 5 entries as his pensive album track from What If, “The Boy I Almost Was”, climbs 9-5. I’m still puzzled why Canadian radio has not embraced tracks from What If, especially considering Alexander is now signed to Virgin/Universal.
Greyson Chance has started writing on Substack, so you can also expect more new music from him this year, and “Flip the Record” moves up 8-6.
New UK indie rock singer/songwriter Jorge Wilson lands in the Top 10 with only his third single, the earworm “Gemini”, which climbs 13-8.
Philadelphia indie lo-fi pop/hip hop duo N i G H T S are back in the Top 10 for a fifth time with their recent single “Addicted” (14-10, above), while follow-up “Bad” (below, from the EP of the same name) advances 28-22.
It’s one of the most commanding songs on dance music radio, and all it took was a return to trance for Tiësto with “Bring Me To Life” (15-11) featuring Sweden’s Nellie Fors on vocals.
He’s definitely released a sometimes puzzling and polarizing album in CAOS, but the most accessible song on the first release in seven years by Miguel to me is “Rip”, which climbs 20-14. His tour in support of the album kicks off on February 10 in Atlanta.
Those Argentinian alternative rock women, Pacifica, are off to a flying start on the chart as “Indie Boyz” rises 23-17.
Toronto’s Mico, in collaboration with American-Asian singer eaJ, has the Fastest Riser with his hook-filled single “Ever After”, which soars 25-18.
The Highest Debut at #23 belongs to French dance producer Kungs with his bouncy house track “Galaxy”, with vocal by co-writer Theophilus London. It’s Kungs’ third entry on the chart following 2021’s “Never Going Home” (#2) and 2023’s “Substitution” (#8, with Purple Disco Machine and Julian Perretta). I was a latehead on 2016’s “This Girl”, so it sadly never charted…
At #26 is the first entry since 2020 for Florida electronic producer Trivecta, teaming up with UK vocalist vanru for “Before I Go”. “Leave It All Behind” (with Fagin) previously reached #9.
Aerosmith gets their first entry in 25 years – to the week – with “Problems”, their collaboration with Yungblud from the EP One More Time. I’m enjoying this one because it transports me back to Aerosmith’s classic 1970’s era. It’s also an awesome showcase for Yungblud, currently getting raves for his live shows around the world, and it follows up his #8 “Zombie”. Aerosmith’s last chart entry was “Jaded” (#24 in 2001).
Rising Italian producer Filippide grabs #28 with his irresistible tribal-sounding Afro-Caribbean dance release “Tha Rizzla”, with support from Sam Feldt through his One Seven Music label.
Rounding out the five debuts at #29 is Illenium, teaming up with vocalist/screamer Lø Spirit for the powerful “War”, from Illenium’s upcoming album Odyssey. It’s Illenium’s 12th entry, following last year’s #1 “In My Arms” (with Hayla), and it’s Lø Spirit’s second entry, following 2023’s “Hollow” (#5), for which he provided vocals for Illenium buds Dabin and Kai Wachi.
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.
Chicago’s Lake Online Radio now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Sundays at Midnight EST, which airs my New Music Pick of the Week. You can also hear the new music pick on Hunter’s other show Fridays at 8pm EST on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio.
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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