Once again, UK singer Harriet proves why there is always a place for classic pop with her upcoming release “Fly” (due in Canada on iTunes on May 5). Co-written by and produced by the always amazing Steve Anderson, “Fly” really turns back a few pages to 80’s pop songs by the likes of say Sheena Easton or Chrissie Hynde to tell the story of someone who knows that love is out there, even after crashing and burning, because there will always be another chance to “Fly” and be swept off her feet again. Harriet always has a fresh confidence in her performance, while knowing how difficult it is to downplay the omnipresent (and much loved) Karen Carpenter sound in her voice. But everything really gels quite well in “Fly”, and I for one think Harriet will be due for much recognition for it when it’s released in two weeks – just watch! And do check out the video above and all of its lovely (*sigh*) London scenery.
JERZEE featuring CRYSTALYNE, “Back Where We Started”
From the moment Crystalyne sings her first few notes, I could imagine “Back Where We Started” lighting up a room when it’s played. The force of the song performed by rapper Jerzee and his fellow Canadian Crystalyne together should have no problem nailing the end-of-school-breakup-start-of-summer song category. It’s great when rappers can show their flow from heavy-edged rap into pure pop soul and Jerzee perfectly complements his partner, who reminds me when I first heard Ariana Grande – I’m not looking for the whistle notes, just a solid delivery. Well done – in tandem with “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, and one of my other faves, “Chasing Stars” by Canadians Corey Niles and Alex Lacasse.
I’m going to have a bit of fun indulging in chart geekery, i.e. fascinating chart facts and figures about performers on my chart who have previously charted in the 16+ years of the chart.
Aside from that there is a bonus – there are 4 of my fellow Canadian performers in the Top 10 😀
The Top 10
Aside from #1, all of the songs are on the rise! This will make it a bit difficult in two weeks to find out if any songs advance into the Top 10 at all!
First we have highly touted UK trio Years & Years with “King”, which gets a second appearance at #1. Their album Communion is coming soon, and the only other appearance they’ve had on my chart is current – previous single “Desire” is at #14. Had I heard The Magician’s “Sunlight” (which features Years & Years) at time of release it would have charted but there’s just so much out there…
Canadians Corey Niles and Alex Lacasse advance to #2 with the compelling and emotional “Chasing Stars”. I do hope this will be the first domestic radio hit for both!
Rollercoaster (featuring Dru) #12, 2013/14
Get To Know You (featuring ISH) #7,2014
Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites move up to #3 with “Waterfall”. That’s great news on the eve of their anthemic new single “What’s It All About”, which I wrote about recently. The band’s previous entry “Hounds” got to #16 earlier this year. They are playing Canadian Music Week on May 8 at the Phoenix in Toronto.
Jessie Ware’s “Champagne Kisses” rises 5-4. I snuck Jessie on to my chart as a part of the UK reissue of Miguel’s “Adorn” in 2013, which got to #1. Her subsequent single “Say You Love Me” also got to #1, followed by the album track “Pieces” which peaked at #3.
My favourite song from Erasure’s album The Velvet Rope, “Sacred” climbs 11-5. Their previous single “Reason” topped out at #4. The rest of their BILLCS chart history (all Top 10 🙂 ):
Solsbury Hill, #10, 2003
I Could Fall In Love With You, #8, 2007
Then I Go Twisting, #9, 2011
plus Andy Bell solo with “Crazy”, #7, 2005
Mikky Ekko’s rollicking “Riot” from his album Time climbs to #6.
Stranger (with Chris Malinchak) #8, 2014
Smile #1, 2014
Lifehouse has had a storied history on my chart going back to their debut single. “Hurricane” is their latest and advances 10-7.
Hanging By A Moment, #1, 2000, #1 song of the year
Sick Cycle Carousel, #20, 2001
Everything, #3, 2001
Spin, #1, 2002
You and Me, #3, 2005
Halfway Gone, #3, 2009
Had Enough (with Chris Daughtry), #11, 2010
All In, #8, 2010
Between The Raindrops (with Natasha Bedingfield), #4, 2012
The fastest riser on the chart is “No Talk” by Toronto’s River Tiber, which has been sampled by Drake in his song “No Tellin'” from the album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. River Tiber also released another song which could be a companion piece to “No Talk” called “Motives” (also above). But I’ve been on the River Tiber tip since 2012 as below:
Someday, #1, 2012
Symmetry, #2, 2012
These Are Centuries, #13, 2012
The City, #1, 2013
Reverie, #12, 2013
The second new entry to the Top 10 is The Weeknd’s stunning “Earned It”, which is growing on me weekly. It’s the Toronto native’s first appearance on my chart, though Ellie Goulding’s free download cover of his “High For This” reached #19 in 2012.
Eric Saade has had several chart entries since 2011, and his punchy latest is Melodifestivalen entry “Sting”, at #10.
Popular, #1, 2011, and #1 song of the year
Made Of Pop, #2, 2011
Stupid With You, #10, 2011
Backseat, #1, 2012
Fingerprints, #3, 2012
Miss Unknown, #16, 2012
Winning Ground, #17, 2013
Movin’ on Up
So many songs are on the rise, and some hit a wall this week because 9 of the 10 songs in the Top 10 move up.
Sam Smith’s gorgeous “Lay Me Down” moves 15-11. Now that’s been a stumbling peak for two of Sam’s recent songs, so we’ll see if the Top 10 has room for “Lay Me Down” in two weeks.
Austin duo DATABOY are BILLCS Chart veterans since 2011! I’m looking forward to a sophomore album follow up to 2012’s Dreams Are Gold. Their latest “When It Rains, It Pours” inches up to #12.
Stupid, #5, 2011
Just Once, #1, 2011
Memorize Me (with Rune RK), #1, 2012
Dreams Are Gold, #1, 2012 and #1 song of the year
Lotion, #6, 2012
Genius, #8, 2012
Good Girlfriend (with Kid Massive), #9, 2012/13
We Can’t Stop Summertime Sadness, #6, 2013
The pairing of producer/songwriter Mi Disguise with L.A. based singer Adam Tyler has sent their song “Alive” to #15 on my chart. But of course Adam has a storied chart history thus far as a solo performer 🙂 :
Friction, #4, 2010
Operation, #12, 2010
I Won’t Let You Go, #5, 2011
Pull The Trigger, #5, 2011
Like A Drug, #7, 2012
Music Freak, #6, 2012
Fade Into The Light, #9, 2013
Electric Valentine, #3, 2014
Knew You Better, #9, 2014 (check out Adam’s self-directed recent video above!)
I Won’t Let You Go (Aron Friedman remix), #5, 2014
While Brandyn Burnette’s former #1 “Sleeve” slides to #16, his first appearance on my chart was with “Thanks For Nothing”, which peaked at #4 for 4 appearances (8 weeks)!
The BILLCS chart history of Canada’s R&B queen Jully Black goes back the furthest than any other performer on the chart. She plays a show at the Phoenix in Toronto on May 5. Her new single “Fever” – her first chart entry since 2007 – rises to #19.
Rally’n, #4, 1999
Money Jane (with Baby Blue Sound Crew), #10, 2000
The Day Before (with Baby Blue Sound Crew), #16, 2002
Sweat Of Your Brow, #4, 2005
Seven Day Fool, #5, 2007
DJ Play That Song, #13, 2007
Steve Grand’s “We Are The Night” from his debut album All-American Boy climbs to #21 with more great things coming from the Grand Nation camp this year!
Back To California, #10, 2014
Time, #9, 2014/15
The outrageously talented duo of Simon Curtis and Bad W0lfy (aka Ro Danishei), as Wrathschild, bring us “Cosmonaut” from their EP Birds. The duo’s first single together as Wrathschild, “Fall Into Love”, peaked at #8 in 2014.
New To The Chart
Reading between the lines of my posts about the single and album, it’s no surprise that Australia’s Parralox debuts with “Aeronaut” at #20. John von Ahlen and team have visited the chart before though!
Silent Morning (with Ryan Adamés), #5, 2013
Headhunter, #8, 2013
They would have been all over my chart in the 70’s, but disco group Chic, with creator Nile Rodgers, arrives for the first time on my chart with the discotastic “I’ll Be There” at #25. Nile was a part of the Grammy-winning Daft Punk hit “Get Lucky” of course, which peaked at #2 in 2013.
At #26 is a somewhat overdue chart debut for Sweden’s Erik Hassle. His “No Words” is perfect pop/R&B confection with an upbeat tempo masking a sad song. It arrives at #26.
Lastly at #30 is “Hey Now” by that fun duo from Brooklyn, Matt & Kim, who I will be seeing in concert again on May 18. Their new album New Glow recently dropped and it nicely bridges the no holds barred entertainment that the duo brings with a bit more emotion this time, especially noted affection for each other, notably in “Hey Now” and its video 🙂
Daylight, #4, 2009
Ice Melts, #10, 2011
Block After Block, #6, 2011
Let’s Go, #8, 2012
Now, #14, 2012
It’s Alright, #12, 2013
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂
While we are awaiting new music from L.A.-based singer Travis Garland, who made some of my favourite music of 2013 including a #1 on my chart with “Blue Electric Roses”, you must quickly head over to You Tube to check out his LIVE (!!!) cover of The Weeknd’s “Earned It”. While I’ve been impressed with some recent covers of the song which I’ve learned about, this one is the pièce de résistance. Travis owns this cover so much that he should be invited to perform a duet with The Weeknd (nevermind frickin’ Kanye West dropping in on The Weeknd’s Coachella set 😛 ). Travis totally embraces everything that this song is about and of course has that beautiful voice of his to support it. Absolutely blown away and had to write about it on a moment’s notice. More please Travis 🙂 Goosebumps AND chills!!
Talented and prolific L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette took a brief pause with his output of recent original songs, which are all available on his Soundcloud page. What he was holding back in his pocket though until yesterday is a song that reaches way outside of the box in terms of what he’s created thus far. “I Wanna Be (Free)” is surely one of his most delightful, gorgeous songs. It’s a lighter European pop-inspired EDM record that will transport you to whatever sunny day on whatever beach you want, where you can just close your eyes and drift away to its blissful vocal arrangement and melody. It really makes me think of the Beach Boys or Phil Spector productions from when I was much younger, a bit heavier on atmosphere than your usual Brandyn Burnette song. Nonetheless, with contributions from producers/songwriters The Chemistri, Brandyn’s gal Molly Moore, and singer Miesa, “I Wanna Be (Free)” is a big WOW moment for the singer and should be one of the anchors of his upcoming album. It’s also the kind of song that will prompt instant reaction when performed in concert. I’m so pleased to see how much Brandyn continues to grow, and you can it plainly in “I Wanna Be (Free)” through the link above.
The first Giorgio Moroder album in 30 years, now called Deja Vu, is one of the most anticipated records for me for 2015, and it arrives in June, featuring contributions from Britney Spears, Mikky Ekko, Matthew Koma, Foxes, Charli XCX, and others. After the success of his pairing with Kylie Minogue on “Right Here Right Now” (which peaked at #4 on my chart) comes the title song with vocal by Sia. To me this is as much of a throwback to Giorgio’s classic records of the 70’s, and Sia sometimes has amazing flourishes in her voice that sound heavily inspired by Donna Summer. Perhaps it’s not as adventurous or over-the-top sounding as Sia’s songs from her own album, but like Chic’s “I’ll Be There”, “Deja Vu” is an airy, danceable paean to the happy era where people were content to dance the night away. I’m hoping that “Deja Vu” will light up radio station ears too – not to be missed!
You’ve already read my recent rave blog post about the New Order-meets-Human League flavoured title song from Australian duo Parralox’s latest Aeronaut (featuring backup vox by the other member of Parralox, singer Johanna Gervin). And John von Ahlen is one busy guy, with another record called Subculture coming later in the year. Wearing both 80’s inspiration and today’s technology on his sleeve, John incorporates his original style with far too many elements and sounds of the last three and a half decades or so to identify. And it makes Aeronaut a pleasure to hear (and dance to!) throughout.
Right after John’s remix of “Aeronaut” comes “Atmosphere”, which is going to take you back music and sound-wise to the days of Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Trevor Horn indulgences. It’s got a huge boom to it and could easily mashup with “Relax” or “Two Tribes”! “Do You Feel What I Feel” happily channels industrial dance of the 80’s reminiscent of Front 242 or Nitzer Ebb, while the lighter “Mystery” is right up Thompson Twins territory. “Somebody II” (in original ballad or dance remix form) is a perfect companion to Depeche Mode’s own “Somebody”. And the album closes off with the innovative and progressive instrumental “Zero”, which stands beautifully next to such recent releases as Giorgio Moroder’s “74 Is The New 24” or Pet Shop Boys’ “Axis”.
So if you long for the halcyon 80’s days or are interested in hearing songs outside of the mainstream but essential for clubs, then Aeronaut is for you! Well done to John and Parralox, and Subculture will definitely have my attention when it arrives! Check out the beautifully shot video for “Aeronaut” above (ahhhhh Paris how I miss you!).
It’s a fine thing indeed when a fun remix makes you revisit the original song. In this case we have Grammy-nominated Norwegian duo Röyksopp from their album The Inevitable End with “I Had This Thing”, featuring vocal from Jamie from The Irrepressibles. It’s a haunting, sad song, and like so many wonderful dance records, when the rhythm kicks in, the song really pulls you in. In the original setting, I picture the singer looking out a rainy window while the rhythm gradually takes over. In the driving 80s remix from Australia’s The Presets, visualize the singer standing in a sparse discotheque that slowly begins to fill with people as the relentless rhythm continues. The Presets also adjust the vocal, making it seem a little remote, which actually brings out both the sadness (albeit to me under a bright disco ball) and sensuality. So a disconnected Depeche Mode feel from The Presets through Röyksopp works beautifully, if you follow me 😉 “I Had This Thing” is soon to be a new favourite, I do think so!
In some ways, it’s hard to believe that U.S.-based Swedish singer/songwriter Erik Hassle released his much-praised EP Somebody’s Party just shy of a year ago. And even despite lots of touring (most recently with Broods), it’s too bad that more attention wasn’t given to it in the busy summer months that followed. Erik returns with a lighter, more upbeat approach (albeit with a sad undertone) with “No Words”, and it’s a real ear-grabber and toe-tapper in the best of ways. The song scores where the diverse singer hadn’t really gone before – pure soulful pop with an entertaining video (I think Erik may be paying some kitchen visits in the future 😉 ) that could fit into any Top 40 playlist alongside Nick Jonas and Pharrell Williams. That’s not at all to say that this was consciously written for radio, it certainly doesn’t seem like it, but the melody and production both seem to work in favour of it! So now’s the time to give Erik Hassle some due and pick up “No Words” on iTunes.
After the much heavier and deeper songs from the ‘A Side’ to their Sonic Aluzion record, I wasn’t really prepared for the anthemic “What It’s All About” from rising Toronto rock band Smashing Satellites. I don’t think this was intended but it fits: “What It’s All About” may be the first ‘graduation’ song for 2015. The great, sincere vibe of the song totally fits the moment for young people moving to the next level in their lives, and Salvatore Costa’s urgent vocal brings that across with vitality. You can get “What It’s All About” (listen above) on iTunes as a free download when you pre-order Sonic Aluzion, which will be a 12 song album that includes the entire ‘A Side’ EP (such as “Waterfall”, currently #4 on my personal chart). Smashing Satellites is one band whose growing fan base is making their time happen quickly, so now’s a great time to jump aboard 🙂
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