As expected, the last chart of little upward or downward movement was a one-off. In chart edition #743, half of the Top 10 changes and there are three debuts. The chart consists of some of the strongest songs of the year, don’t underestimate these ones and be sure to give ’em all a listen!
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.
Will Swinton swaps places with Sombr to get his first #1 on my chart with the awesome “Better Off” (2-1). But will “Better Off” get a second appearance at the top in two weeks? Stay tuned.
While the first single by Zayn from KONNAKOL, “Die for Me” (above), jumps 6-3, all eyes this week are on second single “Sideways” (below), which blasts through the middle of the chart and soars 26-9 as the Fastest Riser. I wish Zayn well from whatever ailment has caused him to cancel his US tour, and hope he will be back for dates in both the US and Canada once he’s well enough.
One of the brightest and most uplifting songs of the year is “To Love Somebody” by Nottingham-born Holly Humberstone from her sophomore album Cruel World. It rises 8-5.
Coming out of nowhere this year with a brilliant single and a fine debut album is Czechia’s Nicola Nicoletti with “Perfect’s Overrated”, which leaps 15-6 from his album Gilded.
Another Alexander Stewart ballad in my Top 10? Hey, why not. “Every Lifetime” jumps 12-7 and it’s his 5th Top 10 entry.
Lights gets her first solo Top 10 entry with the rollicking and emotional “Come and Get Your Girl”, which soars 21-8. It’s also her 5th Top 10 entry overall.
Rounding out the Top 10 is the Danish dynamic trio of Justé, Jaxstyle and vocalist Jon for the remake of “Turn the Lights Off”, which climbs 13-10. Jon was the vocalist on the first cover too, which was by Danish producer Kato and released in 2010. The original was by Dutch producer DJ Jose and released in 2007.
“How Dare You” by South Africa’s Msaki and Jesse Clegg rises 16-12 from their EP Entropy. Jesse – the son of the late, great Johnny Clegg – played a last minute show in New York City last week. Let’s hope he comes back to other cities to perform in North America.
“Reluctantly in Love” by the James Clark Institute is one hard song to get out of your head, I dare you!! It moves up 18-13.
Conan Gray’s “The Best” (above), a part of his Wishbone Deluxe album among five songs which are like an aftermath to the original album’s songs, moves up 22-18. Conan also has the Highest Debut with a song that’s as good as any of the best on Wishbone, and that is “Door” (below) which arrives at #26.
Jay Bird’s smooth disco house track “No Exception” is off to a great start, rising 27-20.
Not far behind it, rising 28-22, is the offbeat and beautiful “Embrasse-moi (Mara Beboos)” by American dance producer MashBit and Toronto area singer/songwriter Navan. It’s a tasty, unique treat sung in both French and Farsi.
The second of the new entries belongs to UK dance music sensation Hayla, with her affecting and hopeful EDM ballad “Heal” at #29. It’s her sixth chart entry, and in a rare feat, four of those have gone to #1 (one a solo entry and three as features).
Last but by no means least, Sombr follows up his #1 “Homewrecker” with more retro-flavoured alt.rock in “Potential” at #30. I’m wondering if the cover artwork was meant to be a play on the artwork for Troye Sivan’s album Something to Give Each Other (below)?
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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