As you may have guessed, I didn’t get Harry Styles tickets for his NYC shows, which have all sold out (whatever that means when there are still tickets for sale on sites like Vivid Seats). And “Aperture” debuted at #1 in the US and the UK, something that was driven by fandom as with Taylor Swift. I like the song, but let’s see if it endures.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my new music and retro picks of the week along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. The Musicman James Rogers’ Classic Five come from one of our favourite years for pop singles, 1969 (and all with connections to Canada in some way!). And with the BILLCS Top 30 now in its 28th year, you’ll find out what songs were #1 on the chart back to 1998!
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
MELØ, “Devil’s Feet”
About the artist: After the more mellow retro flavours of “New Way of Missing You”, Windsor, Ontario multi-talent MELØ returns the hook-filled “Devil’s Feet”.
About the record: Taking his cue from 1980’s David Bowie albums like Let’s Dance, Tonight and Never Let Me Down, as well as other performers like Robert Palmer, MELØ brings on the funky rhythms with the powerful “Devil’s Feet”. It’s a cathartic song for today, and according to MELØ it “confronts the tension between good and evil as lived experience”. In other words, just let loose and shake off your frustrations while grooving to the song. Rhythmic bass, guitar, and horns all fuse well together along with choir-like vocals near the end.
Other comments: Fans of MELØ’s recent fun single “I Don’t Speak French”, which reached #7 on the BILLCS Top 30 last year, will completely dig “Devil’s Feet”. Check out its animated video at the following link: Devil’s Feet.
NICOLA NICOLETTI, “Perfect’s Overrated”
About the artist: Nicola Nicoletti is a pop/electronic artist from Czechia who has only been releasing music since last year. If his name looks familiar, it’s because DJ Hunter chose it as his ‘Bop of the Week’ in last week’s Report.
About the record: With “Perfect’s Overrated”, Nicola comes across as a natural for creating relatable songs with an emotional edge in a europop setting. The song immediately grabbed my ears with its early 90’s Erasure/Pet Shop Boys musical flavour, with his voice comparable to Ryan Tedder or Tom Grennan in appeal – he even has similarly smouldering good looks and curly hair like the latter. By the numbers, it looks like Nicola’s European audience is getting quickly attached to his songs – he is also fluent in French, Spanish and Portuguese, and has released songs in some or all of those languages, including this one.
Other comments: All of his songs are written and produced by Julian Greco, which I presume to be Nicola’s non-performing name.
AGNES, “Trigger”
About the artist: Sweden’s Agnes continues on a roll with singles from her first album in nearly 5 years, Beautiful Madness. “Trigger” is the latest to follow-up the BILLCS Top 30 #1 “Balenciaga Covered Eyes”.
About the record: If an artist is going to show her inspiration or influence from Lady Gaga, then “Trigger” is an ideal showcase for that. What I’ve been enjoying about the singles released prior to the new album – including “Milk”, “Ego” and “LoveSongs” – is that they don’t hold back being provocative in some way. We know from past releases that Agnes’ voice has a beautiful lilt in more deliberately melodic dance tracks. “Trigger” shows a tougher, no nonsense side, and the producers keep the arrangements in it and the other album tracks versatile and ear-catching.
Other comments: Be sure to check out this new Agnes era with the Beautiful Madness album. I’m hoping it increases her popularity outside of Sweden.
DONNA LEWIS, DAVID LOWE, “Meet Me”
About the artists: Welsh singer Donna Lewis will forever be associated with the 90’s with her massive 1996 hit “I Love You Always Forever” stuck in our heads, from her debut album Now In A Minute. She has sporadically released new music independently since 2002, most recently the 2024 album Rooms With A View (with American electronic musician Holmes Ives). David Lowe is a British composer and producer most noted for his themes for the BBC News, as well as the 1999 UK Top 5 release “Would You…?” under the moniker Touch & Go.
About the record: Donna is no stranger to dance and electronic music, following up “I Love You Always Forever” with “Love Him” in 1998, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart. She also recorded a Welsh version of “Enjoy Youth” on the most recent same-named album by Wales native Bright Light Bright Light. “Meet Me” is somewhat of a throwback to Donna’s successful era of late 90’s, early 00’s musically, recalling lighter electronic releases of the day by Robert Miles, Gabriel & Dresden and Above & Beyond. The message is direct, about two people meeting under floodlights, which could be the beginning of… whatever, you decide! Donna’s voice is as lovely as ever, and listeners who loved her earlier hits and releases will be immediately taken with “Meet Me”.
Other comments: Donna and David will soon release their collaborative album, Wanderlust.
DANSYN, “Bang That”
About the artist: Dansyn is Toronto-born producer Daniel Balamut, who many of you will know from his previous dance music identity, DLMT. Daniel rebranded as Dansyn over a year ago and has been since making waves with his refined productions.
About the record: “Bang That” is a fun, crunchy, bass synth-filled track that gets in your face and in your ears and stays there. It takes cues from Dansyn’s contemporaries like Fisher, Chris Lake, Eli Brown, and fellow Canadian Ryan Shepherd. Another hooky part of the song is a higher, more melodic synth riff, which should tease club goers onto the dance floor with ease.
Other comments: As DLMT, Dansyn’s track (with Luis Torres and Rico 56) “Wildfire” got to #6 on the BILLCS Top 30 in 2023. His risky move to rebrand and adjust his style while still successful as DLMT appears to be working, with support from the likes of Meduza and John Summit.
THE JACK RUBIES, “Swampsnake”
About the artist: I’ve recently written about two previous singles by comeback kids The Jack Rubies, who held court in the alternative rock circle for a few years in the late 80’s.
About the record: “Swampsnake” isn’t a Jack Rubies original, but a cover of a song by early 70’s rock tastemakers The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. I’m not familiar with the original, which was even slightly before my time, but it’s a more aggressive track for the band and it’s full of swaggery goodness. The humour of the lyrics, about someone who wishes he was acting as a placeholder until his object of affection finds someone better, is fitting with The Jack Rubies’ own sardonic originals.
Other comments: “Swampsnake” is surely an attention-getter and could get The Jack Rubies new fans, and maybe even a few who know and enjoyed the original. It comes from their latest album Visions in the Bowling Alley.
GENE CHAMPAGNE, “I Can’t Pretend”
About the artist: Hamilton, Ontario-born Gene Champagne is the drummer/vocalist for legendary Canadian rock band Teenage Head. “I Can’t Pretend” follows up his energetic take on 60’s bubblegum classic “Yummy Yummy Yummy” from last year.
About the record: “I Can’t Pretend” finds Gene in familiar territory with another cover, this time of UK new wave/surf rock band The Barracudas’ 1981 release, which likely found its way into many Teenage Head fans’ record collections. It also happens to be a song in Teenage Head’s repertoire which the group first recorded on their 1985 album Trouble in the Jungle. After performing it in concert for so long now, Gene’s version cleanly captures the essence of the original with an edgy, zesty sound that never goes out of fashion. You can’t go wrong with solid choices like this.
Other comments: Just a bit of trivia – The Barracudas’ lead singer Jeremy Gluck is also Canadian, hailing from Ottawa, and is still active as a musician and an artist.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and now debuts each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online.
As my show The Big 20 could not run this week, this week’s pick by Trivecta and vanru, “Before I Go” will carry over to next week as well
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, including those mentioned above. It debuts Saturdays on Russ Horton’s Top 40 Timeline on UK National Radio at 1pm EST.
It’s Corey Hart’s debut smash from 1984, “Sunglasses at Night”
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week which debuts every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Big Daddy’s record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
Big Daddy’s record of the week will return
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and has now moved to Chicago-based Lake Radio Online where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter is also on air Fridays on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it too broadcasts the New Music Pick. Check the schedule for my New Music Pick of the Week on the blog home page near the bottom.
It’s the electronic folk sound of MAAPS with their original “Spirit in the Sky”
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm EST Tuesdays) where you can hear my Retro Pick of the Week on Tuesdays after 7pm EST. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Blood, Sweat & Tears – Spinning Wheel
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition – Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town
Motherlode – When I Die
The Guess Who – Laughing
Oliver – Good Morning Starshine
28 YEARS OF BILLCS TOP 30 #1’s
These are the songs that rocked my world since the inception of the BILLCS Top 30 in 1998.
2025 SONNY FODERA, JAZZY, D.o.D., “Somedays”
2024 BENSON BOONE, “To Love Someone”
2023 DARIN, “Satisfaction”
2022 TELYKAST, SAM GRAY, “Unbreakable”
2021 THE DISCO FRIES, GIIANTS, ALLISON PARK, “Give It Back”
2020 R3HAB, ZAYN, JUNGLEBOI, “Flames”
2019 A-TRAK, TODD TERRY, “DJ’s Gotta Dance More”
2018 MIGUEL, “Pineapple Skies”
2017 BOBBY NOURMAND, D.O.C. GOODMORNING, “D E E P in NY”
2016 SIMON CURTIS, “8bit Heart” (redux)
2015 BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Sleeve”
2014 MARTIN GARRIX, “Animals”
2013 MATTHEW KOMA, “1998”
2012 RUNE RK, DATABOY, “Memorize Me”
2011 PENGUIN PRISON, “Golden Train”
2010 SIMON CURTIS, “Delusional”
2009 JON MCLAUGHLIN, “You Can Never Go Back”
2008 DARREN HAYES, “How To Build A Time Machine”
2007 EMILY HAINES & THE SOFT SKELETON, “Doctor Blind”
2006 MECK, LEO SAYER, “Thunder In My Heart Again”
2005 TYLER HILTON, “The Letter Song”
2004 ALICIA KEYS, “You Don’t Know My Name”
2003 CASSIUS, STEVE EDWARDS, “The Sound of Violence”
2002 CRYSTAL WATERS, “Come on Down”
2001 LIFEHOUSE, “Hanging by a Moment”
2000 soulDECISION, “Faded”
1999 LAURYN HILL, “Lost Ones”
1998 JOÉE, “Angel”
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