Toronto singer/producer/DJ Cugini (Adam Bertucci) continues to shake up the EDM and hip hop worlds with his unique style and outlook. Once again employing the fine voice of Pauly Canzio, “Converse Girl” is a compelling story about being in love with a “bad” girl that you want to treat right and for whom you want to be there. A sure enough pop song switches mode after the two minute mark with lots of hip hop attitude and subtle electronics to create a backdrop for a fascination with her Converse shoes. But the overall affect is love and respect, despite the additional obsession. While “Converse Girl” has the marks of a true original, I don’t think it would hurt to have some uptempo remixes of the song which could add some additional flavour and dimension. Give the video (above) some of your time and get to know Cugini.
After releasing a handful of recent singles, most in the electropop vein, Brooklyn NY based singer Reigen Miller polishes off a jewel with “Come Back To Me”. It’s compelling soul for your soul, joining in the ranks of the likes of Erik Hassle, Daley and a few others with highly unique wide-ranging voices and incredible passion as songwriters. Be prepared to let your eyes melt away as Reigen finds just about every way to sing ‘come back to me’ and make you feel it each time. The song moves quickly through its 3 minutes plus and solidly stands on its own from other soul/pop, even Sam Smith. Pick up “Come Back To Me” on iTunes, I assure you that you will be playing it a lot! Watch the video below.
My personal chart has been online since January 1998 and we’re at edition Triple-4! With a new number one no less! And there are five new entries… The full chart is listed below the blog post.
The Top 10
Jessie Ware succeeds Mikky Ekko at #1 with the should’ve-been-a-hit “Say You Love Me”, and I don’t think anything will challenge for a while yet. If you haven’t heard it yet, her sophomore album Tough Love is one of the best of the year and a great companion piece to Sam Smith’s album.
Mikky Ekko’s “Smile” got an appearance (two weeks) at #1, still one of the finest songs of 2014. Ads popping up everywhere claim Mikky’s album Time will surface on January 20. Can’t…. wait….. !
The best songs of the year rule the top of this particular chart… again! That means another few more weeks for Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One”, Brandyn Burnette’s “Thanks For Nothing” (above), and the Aron Friedman remix of “I Won’t Let You Go” by Adam Tyler at #3, #4, and #5 respectively! We’ll see if songs below shake up the Top 5 in two weeks.
Looking to make that happen is “Brando” by Semi-Precious Weapons, finding a gap in the chart and charging up 13-6. No sign of another new album officially yet but I know this band will make it happen. “Brando” is such a great lead-in to a new album, and surpasses the #9 peak of “Aviation High” on the chart last year.
It’s my favourite of the four songs on his same-titled EP, largely because of one verse which strikes me deep down inside on each listen. New Yorker and former contestant on “The Voice” Jake Barker rises 12-8 with “Stage Fright”. Preview the song right here.
Jane Badler acquires her second Top Tenner on this chart with the hypnotic “Losing You”, leaping 14-9. “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” peaked out at #8 two years ago. “Losing You” is culled from Jane’s latest long-player called Opus.
I love the energy of this song, and that’s a big reason why it’s stuck around so long on the chart. “Play For Me” by UK’s Chromatone advances 11-10 🙂
Movin’ On Up
What?!? Another Bright Light Bright Light song headed into the Top 10?? That’s what’s been happening since 2010 in my world! “Arms Of Another” zips up the chart handily 16-11. It’s a featured song on the single release of BLx2’s previous #1 “An Open Heart”.
I’m pleased to say that the DJ/producer collective of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix and my fellow Canucks DVBBS have debuted on Billboard’s Canadian Top 100 at #57! Just as it makes a challenging move on this chart too! The wistful, anthemic, and highly danceable “Gold Skies” climbs 20-14.
Gotta love those Janoskians! The comedic Aussies get a fair amount of social media time each day, which usually involves body skin or removing pants (oh, and thank you Jai Brooks for following me on Twitter, Janoskians fans seem to dig it 🙂 ) . I’m looking for more new music from them very soon, but in the meantime the insanely catchy “That’s What She Said” continues to move up 18-16.
I’m not sure why The Script’s “Superheroes” isn’t more wickedly popular in North America after leading off their 4th album No Sound Without Silence well in advance. It got a late start on my chart but rises 22-17.
The retro flavour of Erasure’s latest album The Violet Flame has scored huge with their fans and other EDM/electronica fans too. Initial single “Elevation” just peaked out at #3 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play Chart and I’m looking for “Reason” to get to #1. It soars with no surprises 26-19. And we need a video!!
Flying very high indeed and the fastest riser on the chart is “Burn Again”, a pensive ballad by British Columbia singer Tristan Thompson. It’s taken from his debut album Here For You, is being played on well over 100 Canadian radio stations, and has entered the Billboard AC Airplay Top 40! Impressive – and don’t forget, Tristan is just 16. “Burn Again” makes short work of the lower part of the chart and moves 28-20.
Five New Entries
You’ve read all about them in detail in my blog pages, so here’s a briefer reminder of what they are and why some of them have debuted high!
Bowing at #18 is “Headphones” by Color Theory. Its 80’s electronic elements and story about a guy who just won’t take off his headphones will get stuck in your head. This bodes for a fine advance in two weeks. Color Theory (Brian Hazard) first appeared on this chart as featured singer on Amelia’s Fault’s haunting “Colder” in the summer of ’13, peaking at … #18 (note: not intentional!)! But Brian is hardly a newcomer, his website is very comprehensive and he’s been making music for about 20 years. Great to have such an infectious potential breakthrough like this! My preference is for the Matt Mancid retro crossover remix right here but listen to the original above.
Last year, a lot of you were blasting Martin Garrix’s “Animals” at your New Year’s celebrations. This year that pleasure should belong to “Goin’ Down” by DJ/producers Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud, which arrives at #21. Listen above and tell me that you weren’t sitting down after. BOOOM! Available at this time on Beatport.
Following up his earlier release of “Back To California” (which reached #10 on this chart), Chicago’s own Steve Grand reminds us once again about why he is such a great storyteller, which got many of you listening to his web hits “All American Boy” and “Stay” last year. “Time” is his latest original, and Steve’s sincerity just oozes from the words. For me not being a Country music fan it’s a happy mix of both Rock and Country – but it’s the performance and lyrics that really score. “Time” debuts at #23 in advance of his upcoming album expected early next year.
As his cover of “Hang On To Your Love” departs, Penguin Prison (Chris Glover) premieres with his new single “Calling Out” at #26. He takes us back to what got under our skin back in 2010 with songs like “The Worse It Gets”, with a simple lyric and a bright sunshiny melody as we head into winter months. Penguin Prison is another performer with a new and much-anticipated sophomore album on deck for next year!
“Hounds” sniff their way on to this chart at #30 as recorded by Canadian band Smashing Satellites from their EP A-Side (SonicAluzion). Responsible are an infectious melody and chorus that will have you singing in short order. Plus – they play in my city (Toronto) next week on Saturday, November 22, opening up for Moist with In My Coma at the Danforth Music Hall. Looking forward to being there!!
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart.
02 01 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware 01 02 SMILE Mikky Ekko 03 03 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith 04 04 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette 05 05 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler 13 06 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons 07 07 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott 12 08 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker 14 09 LOSING YOU Jane Badler 11 10 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone 16 11 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light 06 12 AFTERGLOW Harriet 15 13 RESTART Sam Smith 20 14 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia 08 15 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer 18 16 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians 22 17 SUPERHEROES The Script New 18 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory 26 19 REASON Erasure 28 20 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson New 21 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu Vs Twoloud 09 22 CRIMINAL Adam Tyler New 23 TIME Steve Grand 27 24 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde 10 25 ZEPPELIN Eli Lieb New 26 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison 19 27 GET TO KNOW YOU Corey Niles featuring Ish 21 28 NO FUN The Presets 23 29 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING Anton Ewald featuring Medina New 30 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
I am now a radio voice on D-Moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station! Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be! Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!
Honestly, there haven’t been many singers who call dance clubs their second home who have endured for 20 years and score big every time. Kristine W. could be set to land her 17th #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart (which has eluded her since 2011). All of her lead artist entries have reached the Top 5. That’s just insane!! I’ve been a fan since 1994’s seminal “Feel What You Want”, one of my Top 10 favourites of that year, which introduced the former Miss Washington to us in an Annie Lennox-like gender-bending video (below) – and who could forget that fluffy white spider/boa thingy? 😛 I still play her 1996 album Land Of The Living regularly. It is an inspiration and radio should have embraced its songs more at the time. A cancer survivor in the early 2000’s, Kristine continued on with so many club classics – “Fly Again”, “The Wonder Of It All”, and “Save My Soul” among them.
Fast forward 10 years and we have “Love Come Home”. This song was actually a minor UK hit in 1994 by Our Tribe which featured Kristine on vocals, very reminiscent of “Land Of The Living” at times. What better way to connect the past with the present. Kristine’s new version is as vital as her 90’s successes. The accompanying video above is all about the love – colourful and energetic and a real showcase for Kristine, decked out majestically once again in unique fashion (remember, back in the day Lady Gaga was a child). Here’s to dance clubs never, ever letting go of Kristine W!!
Brandyn Burnette is all about nurturing is growing fan base, and he’s gradually previewing more songs from his upcoming EP The Couch Surfing Chronicles. The latest is the studio version of “Look Both Ways”, which he already offered as a free download in acoustic format. “Look Both Ways” is a heartfelt and knowing recap of what needs to be done next time in a relationship to make it last until you get “the right of way”. And even then “the right of way” comes with commitment. While Brandyn is still making friends with “Thanks For Nothing”, “Look Both Ways” should be sent to radio immediately upon release. With his distinct vocal (at times very reminiscent of Coldplay’s Chris Martin) and passionate performance, audiences should flock to this one. Listen below on Brandyn’s Soundcloud page.
In case you were wondering what Frankmusik has been up to in between his own recordings, well he’s produced “Confidence Man” by fellow Brit and actor (Doug from “Hollyoaks”) 28 year old P. J. (Patrick Joseph) Brennan. He’s got a quiet vibrato in his voice that may make you recall songs alternately by John Denver, Feargal Sharkey, and Blue Hamilton vocally. The song’s carried by a piano melody that resonates amid the lyrical emotion, where the singer seems to draw from the stronger essence of his partner to develop their relationship… perhaps instilling too much into confidence as a trait. The video, on the other hand, is so much another story. It’s got a crime of passion plot that has been filmed many times over the decades, but it’s unnerving as the lead characters seem to be coping with their deed all too well. Be sure to give it a watch below, but “Confidence Man” stands well on its own too.
Vérité is a new singer from NYC who is turning heads with her EP Echo. On “Weekend”, a comfortable marriage of pop and dance music, Vérité uses her lower register to dazzle like when we first heard Lorde, but after the minute mark her voice soars into her upper register which will draw in fans of Ariana Grande too. The video up above had me at hello, but the ending is superficial and I’ve seen other (mainly European) videos play this card to their disadvantage. But nonetheless, “Weekend” should be hitbound, it’s just beautiful all around. And it’s enhanced by Penguin Prison’s effortless remix (below) which throws it into a different soundscape without taking anything away from the song. Watch for Vérité and “Weekend”, the song is a creeper and a keeper! I would love to see Vérité play on a double bill with fellow local singer S V Ē!
Spandau Ballet have never really went away for very long, but the original quintet led by the still-stunning pipes of Tony Hadley returns with “This Is The Love”, one of a couple of new songs you can find on their new compilation “The Story”. It’s easy to say that this one’s aimed at the fans of their biggest hits, a simple, tight and effortless return. Their documentary “Soul Boys Of The Western World” received raves at the same time as the group was performing some select gigs to get back out there to the public. As is demand, they have now launched a tour of the same name, coming to a major city near you soon! It’s great to have this band back. Spandau Ballet was one of the more intriguing groups out of the post new-wave movement who continued to embrace dance music. Fans know them for their ballads so I’m hoping in these genre-specific days that Spandau Ballet can bridge both pop and EDM easily. Watch the spot-on performance from “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” last week, above.
I predict it’s going to be hard to stop hearing Eleven Past One on Canadian radio with the release of new songs on their EP The World Is Ours. Of course it contains the noteworthy hits such as the title song and “Tonight’s The Night”, which gave the Ontario quintet a large following over the past few years, landing them on many multi-artist tours, particularly those sponsored by Canada’s Family Channel (our equivalent to a hybrid of Disney and Nickelodeon). The songs would be nothing if they weren’t so well-written, tightly played, and fronted by the slick vocal talent of Daniel Richter. And no doubt there will be some naysayers that say this is just so much formulaic pop rock aimed for radio and teens. But I am never one to deny the appeal when it’s done as well as this.
The genuine and moving new single “I’m Ready” (above) is accompanied by an important message about bullying which will resonate with all ages. But the EP is more than just the singles. “Night Of My Life” and “I Won’t Give Up” are classy winners. What I also like about the production is the minimal use of studio trickery, which gives it an old school feel in some ways. BUT….. the EP does have a secret weapon! I don’t know what’s up with me and ballads this Fall, but “There’s Nothing Wrong” is a simply stellar and unexpected wow moment, and could be the band’s fourth and biggest hit. Watch for Eleven Plus One on tour to support the EP, and don’t be too surprised if their songs push outside of Canadian borders.
Miami singer/rapper Jake Miller is so loyal to his fans that he’s seen his Twitter followers grow to a half-million. Not too shabby for this young man who signed to Warner Brothers earlier this year. His first release for the label is the EP Lionheart, and I’ve zeroed in on the title song, though Jake has already seen national Top 40 airplay for the poignant “First Flight Home”. “Lionheart” is almost a successor to his previous single “Collide” (which reached #5 on my personal chart) with a similarly crowd-pleasing vibe as he sings and raps about his strong-willed lady love. Jake’s appeal is highly contagious and it’s easy to get caught up in a performance like this that wears his enthusiasm on its sleeve. You can get the Lionheart EP on iTunes and listen to the title song above.
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