BILLCS Top 30 #446 – December 15, 2014

It’s that time of year when chart activity starts to slow down a tad, so there are two debuts in this edition.  But a lot of recent favourites will depart the chart in the coming weeks, so expect an influx of new activity!

The Top 10

  • Jessie Ware’s “Say You Love Me” continues at #1 in a year when there have been more than usual #1’s.  “Say You Love Me” ties “Stay With Me”, “Money On My Mind”, and “I’m Not The Only One”, all by Sam Smith, for 3 appearances (6 weeks) at the top.  Jessie is back on tour in the New Year with a spate of new dates just announced and available for purchase (and why can’t more performers do this) through her website.
  • It looks like “Headphones” by Color Theory will succeed “Say You Love Me” at #1.  It’s one of the most infectious and memorable songs of the year.  Also check out Color Theory’s rendition of Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” (below) from the Adjustments Part Two album.  It’s one part Donna Summer’s version and two parts Barry’s!  Could it be… chart bound too?  A cover by Britain’s Elouise got to #10 in Spring 2012.

  • Get dancing up a storm to both “Goin’ Down” by Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud and “Gold Skies” by the quartet of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, and the DVBBS lads.  They’re new to my Top 5 at #4 and #5 respectively.  Play loud!!  Oh and those DVBBS guys have sold out three shows this week in Toronto!  Great news for the brothers from just outside of Toronto (Orangeville) who scored a #1 record in the UK earlier in the year.

  • “Arms of Another”, the ‘B’ side to “An Open Heart” if you will, continues to climb and advances 8-6 this week for Bright Light Bright Light, now promoting his participation in the sophomore Slow Knights project led by his friend Scissor Sisters’ Del Marquis!
  • Also new to the Top 10 is Erasure’s “Reason”, up 13-9, which you can hear as remixed by the wonderful Parralox!

https://soundcloud.com/erasureinfo/erasure-reason-parralox-remix

Movin’ On Up

  • The fastest riser on the chart is last chart’s highest debut, with video up at the top of this blog post, the soulful and gripping “Come Back To Me” by New York City singer Reigen.  It’s an independent release so do your duty and pick up this fabulous song on iTunes as it climbs 22-11!
  • Tristan Thompson’s “Burn Again”, moving up 16-12, has just been remixed by none other than Michael Jackson and Lady GaGa producer Alex Greggs, who puts a nifty spin on the ballad – and it all syncs up in the video too!  Watch below.

  • Kristine W has had a never-ending streak of Top 5 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart as a lead artist – and I’m not sure who else has!  So I asked Billboard chart guru Gary Trust, let’s see if he investigates!  In the meantime, “Love Come Home” climbs 23-15 on my own chart.

  • Eli Lieb’s “Lightning In A Bottle” is perhaps landing on my chart with an even greater splash than his previous entry “Zeppelin”.  This ultra-positive song moves up 27-20.

  • It’s the 12 days of Smashing Satellites giveaways starting Monday December 15, so watch the rock band’s Twitter feed!  “Hounds”, the first single from the EP A-Side (SonicAluzion) rises 25-21.

Those Two Debuts

  • A hot spanking new favourite to add to your dance/EDM repertoire is “Ignited” by L.A. based DJ/producer/performer Antonio Giacca.  It’s got a very European flavour but enough to translate it to radio play alongside David Guetta and the like if it gets to that.  A delightful mix of house and contemporary electronica, “Ignited” arrives on my chart at #22.  I’m anxiously awaiting dance club play action!  Below is the progressive club mix.

  • Joining three previous chart entries, including last year’s #1 Rewind, is “Someday” by Toronto trio Neverest, who have their hearts and thoughts in all of the right places supporting WeDay and through RBC Free The Children.  Tonight (Sunday December 14) is the last day where “Someday” is available for free right here.  Otherwise get it on iTunes.  “Someday” bows at #27.

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.

01 01 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware
03 02 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
02 03 SMILE Mikky Ekko
12 04 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud
09 05 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
08 06 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
05 07 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons
06 08 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker
13 09 REASON Erasure
07 10 LOSING YOU Jane Badler
22 11 COME BACK TO ME Reigen
16 12 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
15 13 SUPERHEROES The Script
17 14 TIME Steve Grand
23 15 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W.
20 16 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde
21 17 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison
04 18 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith
10 19 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette
27 20 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb
25 21 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites
New 22 IGNITED Antonio Giacca
11 23 RESTART Sam Smith
14 24 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians
18 25 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler
24 26 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone
New 27 SOMEDAY Neverest
26 28 AFTERGLOW Harriet
19 29 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott
28 30 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-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!!

For 2015 Internationally: @YearsandYears with “Desire”

yearsandyears

YEARS AND YEARS, “Desire”

While the UK has already fawned over London pop/dance trio Years and Years – a Brit Awards Critic’s Choice nomination, a Top 10 hit with a featured vocal on The Magician’s “Sunlight”, a #1 dance EP “Take Shelter” – 2015 could be a big year for vocalist Olly Alexander and band.  For they have captured a unique sound, a hybrid of not-so-boy pop meets early 90’s house-influenced EDM pop – think Londonbeat, Roachford, Sydney Youngblood, even Haddaway (but maybe not the London Boys 😉 ).  Olly’s emotive and sometimes fragile-sounding vocals stand out and give their music personality.  “Desire” is a recent UK Top 25 hit that will get between your ears and under your skin.  The video is sort of a collage/mirage of images, events, and people that is less of a story and more of a backdrop once again to show off Olly and his voice.  So now’s the time to jump aboard the Years and Years train because 2015 will be a wicked ride.

Unmistakeably Hit Worthy: @Boycodemusic Brings Us “It’s A Mistake”

boycode

BOYCODE, “It’s A Mistake”

“It’s A Mistake” is one of those sheer delights that tries to be nothing but a great pop song with complimentary vocals courtesy of Belgium quartet Boycode (aka Lennert, Mattias, Greg, and Timmy).  So there is no pretense here, no added blue-eyed soul, no rap or beat boxing to distract you, just fine vocals, beautiful lyrics, and low-key instrumentation that lets the former features rule.  It’s the best single yet from the promising quartet.  Don’t let the understated beginning of the song sway you – “It’s A Mistake” really soars after the minute mark and all of the guys get their chances to impress.   I’m so glad the song itself has risen to see the light of day after a gorgeous rendition (which I wrote about) was created earlier in the decade – and then much to my horror, was prevented from release!  Fortunately for them, Boycode gets it all for the win 🙂

The Dynasty Continues: “Wild At Heart” by Samantha Gibb (@samigreenbean)

SAMANTHA GIBB, “Wild At Heart”

It may have just been me hiding under a rock, but I was not aware that another member of the esteemed Gibb family is in our musical midst.  Naturally, I’m referring to The Bee Gees as well as brother Andy, who all scored countless hits between 1967 and the late 90’s.  Unfortunately we’ve lost Samantha’s father Maurice, and uncles Robin and Andy along the way.  After spending the best part of the last decade or so in a variety of bands (most notably Samantha Gibb & The Cartel), between Miami and Nashville, as well as recently touring with Uncle Barry in Australia, Samantha is now on a new solo journey with “Wild At Heart”.  It’s a jaunty and good natured song, which sounds nothing like her relatives, taking on a more relaxed Sheryl Crow-like pop vibe, which has translated into a video where a bunch of folks of all ages just act it all out in front of the camera.  “Wild At Heart” is a promising slice of pop that will make you want to hear more from Samantha Gibb.

If You Love Piano Then “My Lighter” by @SeanOReillyband Is for You

https://soundcloud.com/sean_oreilly/my-lighter

SEAN O’REILLY, “My Lighter”

Digging deeper into his Volume One album is New Haven, Connecticut singer and blazing piano player Sean O’Reilly.  You first encountered Sean in these blog posts much earlier in the year when the inventive “Ready For You Now” grabbed my ears and climbed to #16 on my chart.  “My Lighter” continues to show Sean’s versatility with an alt.pop song with dizzy-impressive piano work that draws you deeper into the song when it kind of goes off the hook crazy just before the 2:00 mark – but in a good way of course.  By then, the boat has sailed, with you aboard for the rest of the song!  “My Lighter” proves in spades that Sean O’Reilly is a man of many musical talents, and what better way to discover him by listening to it above.  “My Lighter” and Volume One are also available on iTunes.

Get To Know Rocker Graham Alexander (@Grahamsmusic) with “She’s A Chameleon”

GRAHAM ALEXANDER, “She’s A Chameleon”

Add Graham Alexander to the great list of rockers hailing from New Jersey on the eve of his new album, with the featured song “She’s A Chameleon”.  Graham offers up no holds barred entertainment that incorporates a familiar blend of rock, blues, and R&B, while serving it in original, high energy portions.  I must admit Graham doesn’t look like his voice, and the singer he reminds me of most in this song is Chris Robinson from The Black Crowes, another guy by appearance you wouldn’t think would belt out an Otis Redding classic like “Hard To Handle”.  But throw in a terrific arrangement with a five piece band including horns, and you have music that will bring in passersby on the street outside of a local club with no problem.  Graham Alexander’s sound is big and solid and ready to compete with the best of them.  “She’s A Chameleon” is a fine introduction and I’m sure I’ll have more to say about his upcoming album very soon.  

Feel The Raging Heat in Dance Club Smash “Ignited” by @AntonioGiacca

antoniogiacca

ANTONIO GIACCA, “Ignited”

Italy-born, L.A. based producer Antonio Giacca has released a killer dance tune that’s sure to heat up the cold winter months for many of us.  “Ignited” has a gorgeous song-structure and positively winning vocal that should send the song to the top of the dance club play charts.  Its effect is instantaneous, with all of the makings of a centerpiece song that will pull club goers onto the floor.  Besides that though, “Ignited” is very radio friendly with its hybrid europop and house music influences, and could bring Antonio more international exposure on top of his already significant club success.  The club mix is much deeper, bringing in dirty dubstep and trap flavouring for a heavier late night experience.  Expect Antonio Giacca’s “Ignited” to become one of your new favourites.

Be Stronger than “Yesterday” with Victoria Trinetti (@VTrinetti)

https://soundcloud.com/victoria-trinetti/yesterday-clip

VICTORIA TRINETTI, “Yesterday”

From beauty pageants, modelling, and acting, and on to music, Toronto’s Victoria Trinetti brings her A-game with her new single “Yesterday”.  The 18 year old has wisely chosen a song to empower youth against bullying, which makes it a great companion piece to Eleven Past One‘s latest single “I’m Ready” too.  “Yesterday” has enormous potential, and while Victoria might slide nicely into the Selena Gomez/Bridgit Mendler niche, I hear versatility that aims for a more Kelly Clarkson kind of power.  As a result, “Yesterday” breezes by quite splendidly, with taut message in hand, and I think her target audience will love it while reeling in their parents and older relatives too.  The Soundcloud link above is just a snippet.  If you want to hear the entire song, head over to Victoria’s radio station on Jango.com right here, or of course purchase “Yesterday” on iTunes.

Wear It: @BrandynBurnette with “Sleeve”

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

BRANDYN, “Sleeve”

L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette once again has unveiled another song from his upcoming album due internationally in early 2015.  It’s a beauty of a ballad called “Sleeve”, which puts well-fleshed out words over top of a simple piano melody.  Love is a complex thing and Brandyn has a lot to say about it – and he sings in such an affecting, understanding way from life experience that you will hang on to every word.  There is no denying that Brandyn’s album will be every bit as special as he believes it will be when we are able to purchase it.  Songs like “Sleeve” set the bar quite high for other singer/songwriters out there and Brandyn’s place among them is well deserved.  Brandyn is also working with Sean Kingston… should be interesting!

And here’s the exclusive backstory about the song from the singer himself 🙂

The story for this song happened so organically. I was actually working with the legendary Diane Warren in her studio when she took a lunch meeting and let me hang out while she was gone and play her grand piano. My mom called me and I rushed her off the phone because I was in this fancy studio and didn’t want to spend too much time on the phone. Immediately I felt gutted because my mom just wanted to say hello. So when I hung up the phone, there I was, staring at the view of the Hollywood sign through one of the biggest songwriters in history’s studio. I thought to myself as I shuffled my gaze between the Hollywood hills and my cell phone, is this what I traded for my dreams? Family for fame? In that moment I felt so disconnected from home and where I was brought up… So in the moment I put my iPhone voice memo on record and I started playing what became ‘Sleeve’.

BILLCS Top 30 #445 – December 1, 2014

In some ways the past month or so has plodded along, no thanks to two different bouts of viral illnesses, and then suddenly two weeks go by and it’s time for a new personal chart 🙂

The Top 10

  • There’s no budging Jessie Ware and Mikky Ekko from #1 and #2.  “Say You Love Me” holds for a second appearance at number one as the singer is about to release “You & I (Forever)” as the follow up single and video from her amazing Tough Love album.  “Smile” by Mikky Ekko preceded “Say You Love Me” at #1 and holds tight in anticipation of his debut album Time, due in January.
  • Last edition’s high flying debut is also this edition’s fastest riser on the chart.  Color Theory (aka Brian Hazard) has concocted one of those songs to which you can relate so easily with “Headphones”.  The original mix is up top for your listening pleasure, but do check out the slick Matt Mancid retro crossover remix too right here, well worth purchasing.  “Headphones” glides up the chart 18-3 and will contend for #1 in the coming month.
  • Semi-Precious Weapons slide into #5 with “Brando”, their unconventional love song from an upcoming album.  It’s gone quiet about what’s next for the band in terms of the album release but I’m certain something grand is in the works!

  • “The Voice” underdog from last season, Jake Barker, rises to #6 with the title song from his EP Stage Fright.  Jake has many cover songs on You Tube, including his rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph”.  Check it out above.
  • The more I listen to “Losing You” by Jane Badler (9-7), the more detail I hear each time.  It’s just one of those hypnotic songs that doesn’t want to let go, from her recent album Opus.
  • Two dance club zingers join the Top 10.  Bright Light Bright Light continues his long line of Top Tenners on this chart with “Arms Of Another” at #8, from the EP An Open Heart.  Then the powerhouse trio of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, and DVBBS lands at #9 with “Gold Skies”.  And while the main vocal is by singer Aleesia, to me it’s the male vocal chorus that is most affecting about this song and just makes you want to jam out!

Movin’ On Up

  • So it appears that Sam Smith’s “Restart” was just a video release!  It climbs 13-11 in a year when he has been nary off my chart (if at all) since “Money On My Mind” bowed earlier in the year.  The new single is the buoyant “Like I Can”, which will take him well into 2015 and long past any Grammy Awards which will find their way to him.
  • Get your New Year’s playlist ready and be sure to include “Goin’ Down” by Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud, sure to make your crowd go BOOOM!  It climbs 21-12.
  • Erasure’s “Reason” is from their latest album The Violet Flame and it has designs on the Top 10, rising 19-13.
  • Tristan Thompson’s “Burn Again” is receiving scorching action at radio in Canada, already #24 on the AC Airplay chart and it’s also entered the Top 40 radio chart too.  Not bad for an independent release from a very talented 16 year old.  Next stop:  USA 🙂  “Burn Again” climbs 20-16.
  • We have always got “Time” till Steve Grand’s album is released in early 2015.  This delightful story is off to a super start, rising 23-17.

  • Lorde certainly dazzled us with her kinetic performance of “Yellow Flicker Beat” (above) last week on the American Music Awards.  As a result I think this song will get a second look by radio, and it moves up in this edition 24-20.
  • “Calling You” by Penguin Prison continues the many chart appearances here for NYC singer/songwriter/producer/DJ Chris Glover, as it rises 26-21.
  • Smashing Satellites gave a powerful performance opening for Moist last week in Toronto.  The quartet will soon be headlining its own mid-sized club venues judging by audience response.  In the meantime, “Hounds” climbs 30-25.

New to the Chart

I’ve already gushed about each of these songs in blog posts over the past few weeks, so it’s no surprise to see them chart so quickly.

  • Reigen’s soulful and emotional EDM ballad “Come Back With Me” is simple food for your musical soul, and debuts at #22 for the New York based singer.
  • It’s her first appearance on my chart in 10 years, but the unmistakable Kristine W. is back in full force with “Love Come Home”, a redux of an early UK hit for her.  It makes a memorable impact, recalling her Land Of The Living days, and arrives at #23.  It has also landed in the Top 5 of the Billboard Dance Club Play chart this past week, and I hope DJ’s will send it to the top.  And if you buy the EP, it contains no less than 14 remixes!
  • While “Zeppelin” leaves the chart, Eli Lieb has perhaps gone even one better with the feel good story and vibe of “Lightning In A Bottle”, which lands at #27.  And do I hear an album is forthcoming in 2015?  Even more to which we can look forward!

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.

01 01 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware
02 02 SMILE Mikky Ekko
18 03 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
03 04 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith
06 05 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons
08 06 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker
09 07 LOSING YOU Jane Badler
11 08 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
14 09 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
04 10 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette
13 11 RESTART Sam Smith
21 12 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud
19 13 REASON Erasure
16 14 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians
17 15 SUPERHEROES The Script
20 16 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
23 17 TIME Steve Grand
05 18 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler
07 19 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott
24 20 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde
26 21 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison
New 22 COME BACK TO ME Reigen
New 23 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W.
10 24 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone
30 25 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites
12 26 AFTERGLOW Harriet
New 27 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb
15 28 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer
22 29 CRIMINAL Adam Tyler
27 30 GET TO KNOW YOU Corey Niles featuring Ish

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-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!!