This edition of my bi-weekly chart is one of my favourites of the year so far, featuring some great songs, with a few making big moves that look to dominate my listening pleasure as we head into Spring. There are also four debuts of varying styles to enjoy.
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.
Alexander Stewart has done it again. His pensive “The Boy I Almost Was” (above), an album track from his album What If, gets a second appearance at #1. It’s one I’m looking forward to hearing on Friday March 13 when he plays the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto for a second time. Alexander also has one of the debuts. At #29 is “Every Lifetime” (below), another beautiful song that doesn’t appear on What If.
“Galaxy” by Kungs with vocalist Theophilus London moves up 8-5, becoming the second Top 5 entry for the French producer. “Never Going Home” got to #2 in 2021.
The Top 10 gets a shake up with four new entries. To no surprise, the first one is “Homewrecker” by Sombr, which bolts 13-6, becoming his fifth consecutive Top 10 entry.
Rising 11-8 is the totally infectious and humorous “Indie Boyz” by Argentinian women duo Pacifica and their third album called In Your Face!.
Right behind climbing 12-9 is “Bad” by Philadelphia lo-fi pop/hip hop duo N i G H T S, already returning to the Top 10 for a second time this year after “Addicted” recently peaked at #8. It’s the guys’ sixth Top 10 entry.
The Fastest Riser climbing 19-10 is “Better Off” by Will Swinton. The New Zealand-born alternative rocker is also back in the Top 10 quickly after the melodic “Find a Way”, which recently peaked at #3. It’s his third Top 10 entry.
It’s not the kind of dance record you would expect from an Italian producer, but “Tha Rizzla” is a fusion of Caribbean and African rhythms that I would call “tribal house”. It’s a quick dose of fun that rises 15-11.
Corbyn Besson and TZUYU have created a charmer that keeps on giving! “Blink” rises 21-14 and is deservedly picking up some huge streaming numbers worldwide.
The thing I’m digging most about UK producer Harrison’s cover of t.A.T.u.’s “All The Things She Said” is the ominous bass synth line which gives the song such an impressive groove. It leaps 27-19.
ZAYN’s atmospheric “Die for Me” is off to a fast start, climbing 28-22 from his upcoming album KONNAKOL. It doesn’t look like Harry Styles will be joining him anytime soon on the chart with his new songs…
“How Dare You” needs a big international push since it’s doing so well in South Africca. I think it could attract interest just about anywhere for its artists Msaki and Jesse Clegg, and it rises 29-23.
The Highest Debut belongs to California-born, NYC-based Stephen Sanchez, who has crafted a delightful bop in “Sweet Love”, which arrives at #26. Stephen’s breakout, the equally retro-sounding “Until I Found You”, got to #4 in 2022. “Sweet Love” will appear on Stephen’s upcoming album called Love, Love, Love.
Next at #27 is the first chart entry for Nottingham, England born pop singer Holly Humberstone, “To Love Somebody”, which has one of the nicest lyrical/melodic mixes I’ve heard recently. It comes from her upcoming third album Cruel World.
At #28 is the worldwide dance hit from Danish artists Justé, Jaxstyle and vocalist Jon called “Turn the Lights Off”. This one’s a no-brainer, a totally irresistible earworm, and we all need those once in a while!
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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