It’s been out for a little while now, but not to be missed is Miami singer Naïka’s “Ride”, perfect for those sunny day drives or dance parties on the beaches, aided immensely by a sparkling, synth-soaked remix from Koni of the German duo Saxity. I enjoy Naïka’s solid, direct vocal, which adds to the fun appeal of the song and its “ra-pa-pa-pa-pa-pum” hook. There’s nothing better to do here but get into your car and crank up “Ride” as the song instructs you to do and let the music take you away. Add the Koni remix of “Ride” to your Summer Getaway playlist using the Spotify link above.
What’s going on in the lower end of the chart will be of most interest to my fellow chart makers and fans, as the new chart has five debuts for the second chart in a row. The Top 6 songs stay exactly the same, though a shakeup is likely in two weeks.
The Top 10
There’s no denying that “Broken Love” by The Him featuring Parson James has a lock on #1. To my ears it’s the dance ballad of the summer and also one of the best songs of the year. The Him has quickly followed it up with “By Your Side” with Jordan Jay, which is somewhat different from what they’ve been producing lately. Check it out below.
“Pink Lemonade” by James Bay (#3, above) and “No Place” by Rüfüs Du Sol (#5, below) are the most likely candidates to remain in the Top 5 in two weeks.
“Jackie Chan” by the collaboration that is Tiësto, Dzeko, Preme and Post Malone glides into the Top 10 at #8, marking Tiësto’s first Top 10 placing as an artist since 2007, while it’s Dzeko’s second Top 10 of the year following the Tiësto-remixed cover of Seal’s “Crazy” (#2).
RetroVision’s “Get Down” shares a Top 10 placing with the song from which its hook is primarily derived – “Lola’s Theme” by The Shapeshifters, which got to #1 in 2004 and is one of my all time favourite dance songs. “Get Down” advances to #9.
Also new to the Top 10 and independent is UK singer/songwriter Lostchild’s “Blacklist”, which climbs 14-10. I’ll share the acoustic video version of the song once again with you, it really is as good as the much more produced dance version 🙂
Movin’ On Up
So many great new songs, and so little time to write…
Tony Moran and Jason Walker are headed for the Top 10 for the third time together with the jubilant “I’m In Love With You”, which climbs 18-12. The song is already in the Top 5 of Billboard’s Club Play chart.
Also looking for a third Top 10, following “Memories of You” and “Wake Up For the Night” is Miami-based producer/DJ Alyx Ander this time in a joint effort with Dutch producers Redondo with “Casually”, featuring vocalist and songwriter Maria Z. It’s the fastest riser on the chart, soaring 22-14.
Singer/actor Keiynan Lonsdale’s great new song “Preach” rises 23-17. Check out the joyous and colourful video above.
NYC-based indie producer Squired has hit the chart full on with his powerful song “Peace Out”, which rises 24-18.
“Vacant Love” is a terrific sing-a-long that will also have you moving on the dance floor courtesy of L.A. producer Caden Jester and vocalist Blake Rose. It moves up 26-20.
Turn the lights down low, relax your mind and sway to “Eyes”, the latest single from Philadelphia duo NiGHTS, which climbs a healthy 29-22. It’s the group’s second chart entry following last year’s “P A R T Y” (#3).
Five Debuts
I’m waiting for the international chart attack to happen, because it’s already happening here! Veteran producer Benny Benassi pairs up with new kids Sofi Tukker for “Everybody Needs A Kiss”, which features some of the most wonderous synth work of the year, and duly crashes onto the chart as the highest debut at #19. It’s Benny’s third appearance, the last being in 2011 concurrently with “Cinema” (#11) and “Beautiful People” (#10, with Chris Brown). It’s also Sofi Tukker’s third appearance, immediately following the #4 “Baby I’m A Queen” from their Treehouse album.
Martin Garrix returns to the chart for the first time since last year’s collaboration with Troye Sivan on “There For You” (#3) with “High On Life” at #23. It’s one of the year’s most vibrant dance songs featuring an excellent vocal from newcomer Bonn.
Russian producer Arty, like Benny Benassi, has also been absent from the chart for a while, when 2012 brought us “Must Be The Love” (#13) in collaboration with Nadia Ali and BT. He’s back with a beautiful instrumental tribute to Avicii simply called “Tim” at #25. This one will have you bouncing in no time.
One of Minnesota’s finest, indie artist Call Me Karizma, returns to the chart with the spoken/sung “Life Of The Party” (#27), which with its minimal electronic arrangement is turning out to be a great companion song to The Chainsmokers’ “Sick Boy” and “Everybody Hates Me”. ‘Riz first appeared on the chart two years ago with the fun and pointed “u suck” (#9).
The last debut is also independently released by Netherlands-based production duo Revelries with the bright and inviting “Infinitum”, featuring vocals by Australia’s Beamish Boys, at #28. Revelries has only appeared on the chart previously as remixers under another name last year for Welcome To The Hotel’s “Darlin'” (#10). “Infinitum” is a free download for now at the link above.
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify: BILLCS Top 30 Songs
He’s apparently been part of many platinum-selling releases and won a Grammy in 2017 (though not sure for what), and now L.A.-based producer LyLoh is about to take command of the dance music scene if potent tracks like “Riot!” are any indication. This new mystery man is originally from France and was part of the metal scene, so his description on Facebook may be apt: Rock, EDM, metal and pop had a bastard son. It me (sic). “Riot!” is one crunchy, memorable rock-flavoured dance bop picked up for release by Armada no less, a little harder edged than usual for clubs or radio, softened a bit by the use of a familiar-sounding pitched-up vocal. But dance music needs to be spun off the rails sometimes and it looks like someone like LyLoh will have a lot of fun keeping our interest doing just that.
In its original form, “Compromised” by L.A. indie soul artist Tim Atlas is a gentle, free-flowing song about not knowing what to do about a particular crush on someone. Also from L.A., producer Michael Christofi is pretty selective about what he releases and remixes, and his spin on “Complicated” is upbeat and sparkling. It brings out the genuine wonder and joy of curiosity that will have no problem getting you to shuffle out onto the dance floor. Tim’s vocal to me also tends to shine a bit more in this remix, whereas the original is focused more on melody and lyrics. “Compromised” as remixed is quite an unexpected pleasure that will help the song find a wider audience.
Wearing the hats of singer, songwriter, and producer, L.A.-based EMM is doing things her way and making it all shine along the way with punchy songs like “Dirty”. EMM is also a fearless advocate for young women and men, and “Dirty” is about sharing and empowering that much-needed self-confidence to get by in life. Stylistically she crosses lines between the likes of Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, and Jennifer Lopez, while still creating some of that bold, fun rock star mystique as in the photo below. Call her “Dirty” or not as the song says, EMM is here for a good time and has a terrific, convincing vision, aiming high for all to share.
German producer Satin Jackets wants to make you sway your night out away to European-flavoured nu disco with “Primordial”, featuring a slick and classic vocal by American singer Niya Wells. This is sophisticated, soulful dance music that seems to marry many dance styles together, including some that I grew up with (I age myself yet again). The sounds of the Philadelphia International era of the 70’s come to mind quickly, but more immediately would be the style of European female vocal groups like Silver Convention (“Fly Robin Fly”). You see, overseas, disco never went away after 1979 unlike in North America, and Satin Jackets is clearly out to make it fresh-sounding once again. Add “Primordial” to your Nu European Disco playlist using the Spotify link above (for original or extended versions).
Could there be any more room in the dance music world for yet another fine pair of Dutch producers? The answer is a resounding YES, as Oomloud make their case with a two song EP Pyramids/Yummy Funk, which follows up a debut single that featured none other than Bingo Players. The guys in Oomloud – their name is a fun play on the word ‘umlaut’, the diacritic symbol ¨ usually representing a ’rounding’ sound change in some languages, but also often used for unofficial effect, such as by Rüfüs Du Sol, your linguistic lesson for the day 😛 – know their way around a deep house groove, and in both songs they don’t hesitate to get both dirty and playful, with full intention on blowing up club speakers to the max. The drops in “Pyramids” are resounding, while “Yummy Funk” messes with you like a good European mix should. The songs are already getting support from the biggest in the biz – David Guetta, Robin Schulz, Afrojack – so you can expect these songs to last long into the Fall months.
Following up his well-received house party EP Get It Started, Australia’s Alex Preston is back with another deft set of songs designed with your “Friday Night” in mind. He doesn’t stray too far from the classic 90’s influenced house songs from Get It Started, making Friday Night almost like a second chapter. The songs are full of fun vocal samples which make them stand outs in clubs, so no wonder that DJ’s like Richie Hawtin, Mahalo, TOCADISCO, and others are supporting them. There’s the title track, “Hip Shakin’ Mumma”, and in particular “Don’t You Mind”, which should get your weekend off to an impressive start!
While newcomer 22 year old R&B/hip hop/electronic artist Benjmn has his face out there in the artwork of his single “Complicated”, he keeps a discreet social media profile, lending a bit of mystery to this genre for the first time since say The Weeknd arrived. While he’s done some remixing already for King Arthur and Loud Luxury, “Complicated” is going to attract attention from fans of Kanye West, Bryson Tiller, and in particular Kid Cudi, whose voice has a similar tone. It puts his own troubles with anxiety right out there in simple, memorable terms: Demons they come out at night / I’m losing control / The worst kinda ride / I hate how it goes. Anyone can relate even though it paints a bleaker picture than your straight-forward everyday problem. So not only does Benjmn have the voice and the lyrical power and passion, he has the ability to put a compelling rhythm and a variety of sounds underneath, and out of it all I can hear influences perhaps more from gritty 80’s R&B than anything else. Remember the name though – Benjmn’s EP will be dropping soon.
Although he’s veered away before from the edgier rap and hip hop that has become a signature sound for him, knowingly or not, Minnesota’s Call Me Karizma has landed square in the dance pop realm with “Life Of The Party”. Thinking back to my own younger years, I can totally relate to the anxieties of peer pressure to go to parties and be more social when you really don’t want to be – or need to be, for that matter. It’s an entirely personal choice, regardless of what anyone says, something to this day by which I abide! “Life Of The Party” is a theme song for us introverts. It has a gentle pop melody with electronic flourishes, and marks a return to the sung/spoken voice of ‘Riz which has worked before on past songs. If like me you very much enjoyed The Chainsmokers’ recent “Sick Boy” and “Everybody Hates Me” – and no wonder the guys themselves playlisted “Life Of The Party” this week, something they don’t do lightly – then “Life Of The Party” is a fine companion piece to them and a worthy song for the end of summer months.
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