Three songs that I identified when they debuted as potentially being my three songs of summer are now at the top of the BILLCS Top 30! I’m not sure if any of them can get that title yet because sombr’s “undressed” ended up spending all of July at #1. There are still three more charts left before summer ends, so by mid-September I should know what is the definitive song of summer for me. What’s your song of summer ’25?
As a standing item about my daughter VXTORIA‘s progress with her music, her debut EP Dreamstate is now out! It features three new songs, “Awaken”, “U&Me”, and “TMRW”, in addition to singles Back To You, changes, and Lost in Your Love. I’d like to thank anyone who has found out about her music through my blog page for supporting the songs. New video and “double” single coming soon!
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 3 online radio shows – The Big 20 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 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.
Illenium and Hayla both return to #1 – he for the third time, and she for the fourth time – with the majestic “In My Arms” (above). It’s Illenium’s first since 2021’s “Sideways” (with Valerie Broussard and Nurko), while Hayla achieved her three all last year. Illenium’s upcoming album is shaping up to be a fine one with the addition of songs like “Refuge” with vocalist Norma Jean Martine, which you can hear below.
Agnes’ innovative and stunning “Balenciaga Covered Eyes” (above) rises 3-2 to compete with “In My Arms” for #1 in two weeks. Her follow-up single “Milk” hasn’t grabbed me, but you can form your own thoughts by checking it out below.
Who doesn’t love a tropical house love song? Sam Feldt, Justin Jesso and Parson James make the tidiest of presentation in “Lonely Tonight”, which also climbs 4-3. They are also competing with Illenium & Hayla and Agnes for #1.
The surprise factor though is the 9-4 leap for “Dior” by MK and Chrystal, which immediately puts the song into the running for #1 too! What a quandary for me to face in two weeks!!
The Top 10 is loaded with activity as “Celebration” is carried 8-5 by French house producer Provi and Chicago house legend Ron Carroll. “Jump-2-3-4-5-6-7-8″…..
Windsor, Ontario multi-talent MELØ gets a new personal best on the chart as his mix of rock and dance music with 80’s flair, “I Don’t Speak French”, rises 10-7.
John Summit gets his third Top 10 entry teaming up with Brits Gorgon City and rapper rhys from the sticks on “Is Everybody Having Fun?”, which jumps 13-8.
While Marc Cerrone has been a celebrated French disco and dance producer since the 70’s, his new music has also made inroads in the 2020’s with “Catching feelings” (with fellow French musician Christine & The Queens, aka Rahim Redcar) from the EP of the same name climbing 12-9, giving him his second Top 10 entry on this chart.
Rounding out the Top 10 is David Archuleta with his third Top 10 entry, “Crème Brûlée”, inching up 11-10. I’ll look forward to hearing this one in concert when David comes to my city in October!
Benedict Cork’s lovely piano ballad “What It Is To Be Loved” is headed for Top 10 Land as it climbs 19-13.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is “Daydreaming” by new British retro-sounding talent Elliot James Reay, soaring 25-18 out of the gate. It comes from his EP All This To Say I Love You, and I hope we’ll see him perform on North American shores sometime in the near future.
Conan Gray’s fourth album Wishbone arrives on Friday, August 15 with a new single to accompany it called “Caramel”. His poignant “Vodka Cranberry” (above) – which really shows off his range – moves up 26-20. The first single from the album, “This Song” (below), rises 29-26.
Would it surprise you to find that the Highest Debut on this chart belongs to sombr? This is the only week when we will likely see 4 songs on the chart at once by the 20 year old singer otherwise known as Shane Boose. His rocking and danceable torrent of emotions, “12 to 12” (above) arrives at #25 (and yes that is Addison Rae in the video), while “we never dated” also moves up 21-16. Former #1’s “undressed” and “back to friends” are #6 and #28 respectively, and the latter is in its 10th and last appearance on the chart (all songs can last a maximum of 10 appearances on this chart, excluding any re-entries). sombr’s debut album, I Barely Know Her, arrives on August 22! The last time four songs charted by one artist was on the BILLCS Top 30 of April 21, 2014, when Sam Smith had “Money On My Mind”, “Latch” (with Disclosure), “Stay with Me”, and “I’m Not The Only One” all on the chart.
The extremely prolific Martin Garrix is back with another terrific single, “Inside Our Hearts”, a beautiful end-of-summer euphoric piano house track which he’s made with Alesso and Malta-born British vocalist/songwriter Shaun Farrugia. It’s Martin’s 16th entry, following up “Angels For Each Other” (#4), and Alesso’s 4th entry, following up the 2023 #1 “Without You”. By my count, Shaun has sung on four of Martin’s previous releases, and this is the best one yet.
Rounding out the debuts is “Won’t Give Up” by British dance producer MXTR with L.A.-based vocalist Tyler Garrett, who is also noted for several solo releases, many of which I’ve written about in these blog pages. It’s Tyler’s first release of 2025 and it’s got a great next level drum ‘n bass vibe to it.
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.
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
The 3D Variety Show is on a short hiatus and will return.
Canada’s Party Dog Radio now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Saturdays at 4pm EST, which airs my New Music Pick of the Week. Party Dog Radio also airs “The Big 20”, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week on Sundays after 9pm EST.
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.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.