Edition 738 of my bi-weekly chart brings us a busy Top 10, including a new #1 song, plus five debuts, including two high-flyers.
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 4 online radio shows – The Big 20, The MAPL Tapes, 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, The MAPL Tapes, 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.
Torontonian Alexander Stewart gets his second consecutive #1 on the chart with the “The Boy I Almost Was” (above), an album track from What If. It follows his duet with Lauren Spencer Smith, “Friends Don’t”, which had 3 appearances (6 weeks) at #1 in November/December. Alexander also released a new single which isn’t on the album last Friday, so be sure to check out “Every Lifetime” below.
Three other songs also move up to new peaks in consecutive order: “Gemini” by British pop/rock artist Jorge Wilson (above) climbs 4-3; the deep house track “Holding On” (also above) by MashBit, Luke Alexander and sunsett. rises 5-4; and Tiësto’s #1 dance radio track with Sweden’s FORS, “Bring Me To Life” (below), moves up 6-5. Tiësto’s new release, “Beautiful Places with Brieanna Grace, is another winner, check it out also below.
Two tracks crash into the Top 10, each moving up 7 places. “Ever After” (above), a bop by Toronto pop/rock artist Mico and American-Asian singer eaJ, soars 13-6, while Kungs & Theophilus London’s fun eurohouse track “Galaxy” (below) leaps 15-8. “Galaxy” is Kungs’ third Top 10 entry following “Never Going Home” (#2) and “Substitution” (#8, with Purple Disco Machine and Julian Perretta).
MXTR and Tyler Garrett also get their second Top 10 entry with “Crash” rising 11-9, following their #4 entry “Won’t Give Up”.
Making one of the highest debuts in a while, Sombr returns after a few charts’ absence with his engaging new single “Homewrecker”. It’s his fifth chart entry, with 3 number ones to his credit (“Back to Friends”, “Undressed”, “12 to 12”) which were also in my Top 6 of 2025. He’s continuing what worked so well with some very strong songwriting.
Italian producer Filippide is off to a great start with his incredibly infectious track “Tha Rizzla”, which leaps 22-15. It’s a surprising combination of tribal house, African and Caribbean influences, and will completely take you by surprise.
The second debut on the chart is also a high one. Will Swinton has a concurrent chart entry with “Better Off” bowing at #19 and joining “Find a Way”, currently at #10 after peaking at #3. It’s Will’s fourth chart entry to date.
Corbyn Besson and TZUYU’s playful and flirty collaboration “Blink” is finding more friends, and is the Fastest Riser on the chart, rising 29-21, from Corbyn’s EP Head First.
Bowing at #27 is UK dance producer Harrison with his cover of t.A.T.u.’s “All The Things She Said” at #27. It was originally recorded in 2022 but gained traction recently thanks to its inclusion in the TV show “Heated Rivalry”. It’s rare that I’ve charted a cover of a song I previously charted. t.A.T.u.’s original reached #6 in 2002.
Landing at #28 out of the gate is ZAYN’s “Die for Me”. The former One Direction vocalist provides a great vocal full of emotion on this track from his upcoming album Konnakol. ZAYN has only previously appeared on the chart once, but it’s a powerful electronic song that got to #1 in 2020 with R3HAB and Jungleboi called “Flames”.
Rounding out the debuts at #29 is “How Dare You” by South African talents Msaki and Jesse Clegg, which is a big hit in their own country. Jesse Clegg is the son of the late legendary performer Johnny Clegg. The vocals here are top notch and the lyrics provide an interesting story.
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.
The MAPL Tapes offers the best of Canadian music past and present, and can be heard Mondays at 6pm 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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