I get into a bit of chart-maker geekery in this commentary, so if you prefer not to delve into what makes the BILLCS Top 30 tick then by all means head to the chart’s song posts below. Right now, likely because of the sheer volume of songs out there, there is a dearth of songs that I love and want to showcase on my chart. But I also want those songs to play out their time on the chart, which can be up to a maximum of 10 appearances (20 weeks). The streaming world is allowing songs to play out longer, and I suppose that is having an impact on my chart too. So that means, in my 742nd chart, there are only 4 songs in a downward moving position, and the fastest rising entry only moves up 6 places, which is all kind of weird. Two of those songs have reached 10 appearances, so they will exit the chart this week, along with another at #29. Three more new songs in two weeks is not much considering that there is triple that waiting to land on the chart. But the songs on this particular chart are quite strong, so I think that it is what it is for the next few charts until the current favourites yield way for more new ones. That means some songs I really enjoy likely won’t crack the chart, but those that hold momentum will. The most interesting thing about this week’s new entries is that two of them are independent releases, with some major label ones in the wings, and all three have been stuck in my head this past week. Thank you for reading my BILLCS Top 30 Ted Talk.
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 all-Canadian 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.
Sombr is on another roll as “Homewrecker” (above) continues at #1 for a second appearance. And I’m a happy camper because I got a ticket to his Toronto show in November. And the releases keep coming for this new Sombr era, so you can check out “Potential” below.
Will Swinton returns to the runner-up position with “Better Off” climbing 4-2. His first chart entry in 2024, “Harmless”, peaked at #2. So it will be Sombr vs Will Swinton in two weeks. Will has been touring with MGK in Australia and his home country of New Zealand, and I hope we’ll see perform him on North American shores this year too.
Moving up 6-4 is the irresistible “Blink” by Corbyn Besson and TZUYU, who simply have great chemistry on record, so perhaps this collaboration won’t be a one-off. The song is Corbyn’ personal best on the chart, passing all previous entries by him and Why Don’t We.
Zayn’s KONNAKOL looks to be his best album yet. It’s a mixed bag thematically, but he sounds fabulous throughout. Not bad for a guy I had all but written off with “Pillowtalk” 10 years ago. “Die for Me” (above) rises 8-6 and “Sideways” (above) – perhaps which will in time be the better song of the two – is the Highest Debut at #26.
The only new entry to the Top 10 is one that has taken its time gaining ground every two weeks. “War” by Illenium and Lø Spirit climbs 11-10. It’s Lø Spirit’s 2nd Top 10 entry, following his 2023 #5 collaboration with Dabin and Kai Wachi, and it’s Illenium’s 11th Top 10 entry.
Nicola Nicoletti’s electropop delight “Perfect’s Overrated” is one song that you can expect to see soar in the coming weeks. It cuts through a tough Top 20 to move up 20-15 this week.
“Reluctantly in Love” by Canadian rock band The James Clark Institute rises 22-18, and features splendid guitar work by its producer, Moe Berg (The Pursuit of Happiness and Trans-Canada Highwaymen).
“Heart on Fire” (above) by Australian-American quartet Midnight Til Morning is a hard song to get out of your head and climbs 23-19. The guys have been on a world tour, and somehow have found time to release a new single which you can hear below called “Math” (below).
Tiësto is definitely setting the bar for EDM in 2026 with fantastic songs like “Beautiful Places” with American vocalist Brieanne Grace, which moves up 25-20.
Going independent with her album A6 has meant less airplay than usual for Lights, but I’m glad to see rock radio is behind “Come and Get Your Girl”, to me her best solo song in years. It moves up 26-21.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is “The Best” by Conan Gray, the single released just prior to the extended version of Wishbone, which arrives later this week. It leaps 28-22.
The second debut on the chart is “No Exception” at #27, a smooth slice of disco house, from San Jose dance producer Jay Bird. It’s his sixth entry on the chart and one of his best releases to date.
The remaining debut is “Embrasse-moi (Mara Beboos)” by Texas-based dance producer MashBit and Toronto area vocalist/songwriter Navan, which bows at #28. It’s MashBit’s second chart entry following this year’s recent #4 “Holding On” (with Luke Alexander and sunsett.). Both artists are of Persian heritage, and the song will creep up on you, sung in French and Farsi. It’s Navan’s adaptation of a classic Persian song which he released solo in 2024. But this chill EDM mix with MashBit took it to another level, and it’s bound to find more fans as it gets exposed at club shows and festivals.
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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