PAUL VANICE & DAN BOUJEE, THOMAS RODENBACH & STEPHEN ALLEN, “Real Love”
What might at first listen seem like an odd kettle of fish in “Real Love” sinks in deeper and successfully with repeated plays. German producers Paul Vanice & Dan Boujee collaborate with vocalist Thomas Rodenbach as they did on a song I wrote about this past summer called “Closer”. While that song had rock elements in its production, the core of “Real Love” is a lovely pop tune that takes a few sidesteps into future bass territory musically, along with some hip hop verses courtesy of NYC vocalist Stephen Allen. Everything surprisingly gels together quite happily. You have a classically structured pop song with a memorable chorus, a hard hitting future bass middle, and hip hop flavours that all make “Real Love” multi-dimensional. Though it’s an unconventional and challenging mix, hats off to Vanice & Boujee for making “Real Love” work as a whole.
I’m very happy to live musically on the development and discovery side of songs and artists. I’m a huge lover of contemporary music, I just don’t love what the big labels and artist management companies are investing their time and cash into anymore. The awards shows all feature the same big name performers. Anyone who says this is fair game and an “open” club has to be kidding. It’s by invite only and there are layers of gate-keepers to help it stay that way. So many performers can have success in a different set of terms and develop fans and followers without getting on the charts. So if you plan on making the right connections to get there, by all means. Otherwise you’ll still have loads of people like me to appreciate your music. There are only three songs on my chart that are signed to major labels directly, and there are another half dozen with labels with distribution deals, otherwise the rest are independent.
Make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
Boye & Sigvardt become the first artists from Denmark to have a #1 song on my chart, as “Microdose” (featuring the wonderful voice of Jordan Shaw) succeeds “Sanctuary” by Howen and Robbie Rosen at the top after three appearances (six weeks). I can’t get enough of “Microdose” months after its release, though it suddenly has competition for retaining #1 in two weeks.
Darin’s touching ballad “Holding Me More” storms up the chart 20-3, following his recent #1 “Can’t Stay Away” in a similar fashion. You can have Adele’s “Easy On Me”, I’ll take “Holding Me More” any day!
Robbie Rosen gets another song in the Top 5, as his fancy work with German producers Natixx and Lyonbrotherz in the unique “To The Top” (above) allows it to climb 8-5. It’s his fourth Top 5 on my chart in the last year. Check out another recent Robbie release called “Fragile” with Philadelphia producer Sauniks, below.
Australia’s Sonny Fodera gets his first Top 10 on my chart from his new album Wide Awake with “Angel” (above) featuring the lovely voice of Clementine Douglas. It rises 13-7. Another veteran dance producer, Morgan Page, is right behind with “Turn Off My Mind” (below) with co-writer and vocalist Lights, up 11-8.
It’s already been a year since Toronto’s Justin Nozuka released his gracious, soulful ballad “No One Like You” with British singer/songwriter Mahalia, which got to #4 on this chart. Justin’s back in the Top 10 with his latest “Nova” rising 12-9.
Moving up 14-10 is “Wish I Didn’t Miss You”, the Angie Stone song as covered by German producers John Skyfield and Shoby with an indelible, faithful vocal by Victor Perry. It continues Victor’s string of Top 10’s on this chart, as a lead or featured act, now up to 12, with four in the last year alone. Check out Victor’s latest single “Sleepwalking” below, his first major label release (for Sony) with Ukrainian producers Kalush in a mix by none other than Pink Panda.
“Play It Cool” by UK/Irish production duo Menrva and singer Island Banks closes in on the Top 10 as it climbs up 16-11.
Karen Harding continues to make waves with “You & I (All I Need)” (above), which climbs 19-14 and is a certified North American dance radio hit. Check out her recent dynamic collaboration with producer Sammy Porter called “Celebrate” below.
This past week, “Unbreakable” by TELYKast and Sam Gray, soared into the North American dance radio Top 10. It soars up my chart as well, rising 25-17.
It’s good to have Tears For Fears back with the title track of their upcoming album “The Tipping Point”, which moves up 30-23. I remember vividly coming home with my British import 12″ single of “Mad World” (which I still have) after hearing it on our local alternative rock station back in the day.
Returning to the chart at #25 is the latest by Austin producers Tritonal, with vocalist EMME, called “Out Of The Dark”, from their upcoming album Coalesce. It arrives in a sparkling Morgin Madison remix after resonating with me in its original, more progressive mix. Tritonal reached #1 on the chart with Henry Dark on “Shivohum” in January 2020.
Also back on the chart for a third time this year is San Francisco area producer Jay Bird in collaboration with TWSTD ZOO with the positive energy of “Float” at #26. It’s graced by a cool vocal by L.A.’s Harley Bird (no relation to Jay), and follows Jay Bird’s “Escape” (#4) and “Gone Tomorrow” (#15).
Back with their 9th chart entry (going back to 2012!) are The Knocks who pair up this time with singer/songwriter Parson James for the delightfully catchy “River” at #28. Both The Knocks and Parson James have reached #1 on the chart before (The Knocks with “Kiss The Sky” and Parson with “Broken Love”), and “River” follows up The Knocks’ collaboration with Foster The People “All About You”, which got to #9 earlier this year.
At #29 is the debut entry for southern California singer/songwriter and resident disco dad, Michael Medrano, who I’ve written about several times, with his fun but telling “I Don’t Wanna Talk About Love” (above). Michael has quickly followed this one up with “Personal Heaven” this past week, which you can also check out below.
View the full BILLCS Top 30 right 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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs mixed with classics and songs you haven’t heard in a while. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
Planet Radio Canada – I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week on the “3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments.
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on Radio GTA Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, and on Halton Hills Online on Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST!
For those not familiar with the talented singer and actor, Keiynan Lonsdale is the Australia-born star who portrayed Kid Flash in TV’s “The Flash” and had a prime role in the film “Love, Simon”, which he reprised recently in its TV counterpart “Love, Victor”. He’s been making records for the last five years or so, including last year’s full album Rainbow Boy, with great response from the indie music community. Challenging us with every release, “Gods Of The Disco” manages to embody the music and sounds of the 70’s disco era, and brings it up to date in a slick production. Its entertaining video starts off as a night club performance in a club (the look reminds me of Ne-Yo), but there’s a fantasy element of it that comes alive about 2/3 of the way through, though its story seems incomplete. Nonetheless, Keiynan’s vocal sounds great, and there is terrific choreography that offers up some fine dance moves, making “Gods Of The Disco” an energetic retro romp with a few twists.
18 year-old Bedfordshire, England native Alfie Templeman is someone who is poised to break out in 2022 thanks to well-received concerts in his country and heavy endorsement by BBC Radio. He’s been making records since he was 15 and “3D Feelings” follows up a couple of EP’s, Forever Isn’t Long Enough and Don’t Go Wasting Time. Alfie’s got a great ear for writing catchy pop songs, which is what attracted me to his music from when I first heard it two years ago. A zesty melody and clever guitar work support his versatile vocal in this song, which at times reminds me of Shawn Mendes. Deft production and a well-placed hook make “3D Feelings” memorable and can only add to Alfie’s growing worldwide fan base.
Alfie plays a sold out show at The Velvet Underground in Toronto on November 26 with Chloe Moriondo.
Hailing from the Boston area, Tall Heights is the rising pop-rock-electronic duo of Paul Wright and Tim Harrington, who are about to release their fourth album Juniors in the new year. From that release comes “Locked Out”, an imaginative, dreamy original that has roots in Coldplay but often sounds more like it could have come from the same stable as Australia’s The Temper Trap or even Rufus Du Sol. Carried by a falsetto vocal, the song stands outside-looking-in at a relationship that the protagonist would like to have, if he could coax the object of his affection out of her own world and into his. The lyrics take some time to soak in while you get caught up in the atmospheric vibe of the song. With just shy of a million listeners on Spotify and songs like “Locked Out”, Tall Heights could be a talent to watch out for in ’22.
Back at the end of summer, I introduced you to Polish singer Helaine Vis and her single “Ice”, a moody, jazzy track about heartache. Continuing in that theme is “Go On”, which, like “Ice”, is a stand out from her new album Pretty Cliché. “Go On” mixes in electronics with electric guitars for a Cocteau Twins-meets-Lily Allen kind of sonic experience. Lyrically, “Go On” seems to want to avoid heartache all together through indecision by dissolving a relationship before it ever gets a chance to grow. It’s a longer than usual track that takes its time getting to its resolve, leaving the progressive backdrop to carry on long after the singing stops. It’s not for everyone but “Go On” leaves you wanting to know more. Helaine’s vocal is suitably slight and hollow-sounding, and she succeeds in creating a compelling, unusual song.
He hasn’t released much music since his superb 2011 album Secret Codes & Battleships, so it’s hard to say if we’ll hear more of the golden voice of Darren Hayes anytime soon. I was fortunate to see the singer in a delightful but brief live performance in 2016 in L.A. But long-time friend Louis La Roche has got him for “Cold To Me”, which he and Darren co-wrote and appears on Louis’ new album We’re Not So Different. “Cold To Me” will stop you in its tracks first because it’s a new song sung by Darren and second because his vocal is so pristine. The lyrics harken back to a past relationship that is likely long gone, and reflect on how we all can feel so far removed from it after it’s in the past. I for one can totally relate! Louis knows how to bring the song to life with a sparkling arrangement that’s so complimentary to Darren’s vocal. “Cold To Me” is one you don’t want to let slip by!
Cobi has long been a talent on my radar, since his days in the fondly remembered pop/rock ensemble Gentlemen Hall. He’s been solo though for several years, and his songs have been anchored often by bluesy rock arrangements. The west coast-based singer/songwriter debuted his new album Songs From The Ashes last week on You Tube, and I was happy to watch the intimate performance as the affable and humble Cobi shouted out long time fans who were watching him weave through the impressive songs from the album. One of my favourites, “You’re Mine”, was a previous single, as were fan favourites “Everything You Need” and “Queen Of The Damned”. “Fools Gold” is the opening track, a new song that painstakingly recalls a manipulative relationship that made the protagonist a paranoid “merchant of of pain on the road” believing that “your love is an illusion”, pushing it away from an irreparable broken heart. “Fools Gold” unleashes the emotions buried deep under long-healed scars, and Cobi’s guitar work is nothing short of fantastic, seething the pain while Cobi sings his story. Once you hear “Fools Gold” you’ll want to hear all of what Cobi has to offer in Songs From The Ashes. In addition to the studio version above, you can also check out Cobi’s recent acoustic performance of “Fools Gold” below.
Terry Draper has had a storied career as drummer and songwriter for the much-revered Canadian trio Klaatu (“Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft”, also a Top 20 hit for The Carpenters, which I remember seeing Terry perform acoustically at a local show about 10 years ago), and they were at one time was speculated to be a reunited Beatles. The group recorded several highly praised albums and Terry has consistently made music as a solo artist over the years. His latest album is “The Other Side”, full of imaginative and well-produced songs, among the 13 a surprising calypso/reggae-tinged tune called “Island Time” which features another long-time and still active Canadian singer, Keith Hampshire (who had a #1 Canadian hit with his version of “The First Cut Is The Deepest”). “Are We Alone” however is the standout, a dreamy, retrotastic, wondrous song about space travel. “Are We Alone” will appeal to those who enjoy the music of The Beatles, Alan Parsons, Al Stewart, or early Chris de Burgh. It might seem like an anomaly of sorts but Terry’s fresh and enthusiastic spin on the subject (check out its cool video, above) makes it a refreshing five minutes that goes by quickly.
It’s getting to that time of year now when chart makers like begin to think about our favourite songs of the year so far, and what ultimately are our year-end faves. There are quite a few on this chart, and perhaps even some of the new arrivals will make the cut.
Make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
To lead off the new list, “Sanctuary” (above) by Dutch producer Howen and “American Idol” season 10 contestant Robbie Rosen gets a third appearance – six weeks – at #1! It’s such an irresistible song with a captivating melody and a brilliant vocal by Robbie, and it even ends with a beautiful piano coda. More good news for Robbie – his other entry on the chart, “To The Top” (below) with German producers Natixx and LyonBrotherz, is the Fastest Riser, moving 18-8! You’ll dig its flute-led melody along with the rich bass synth that carries the hook along.
Up a notch 3-2 is “Never Going Home” (above) by France’s Kungs. Fascinating fact about this song: The vocalist is none other than veteran dance producer Martin Solveig (who also co-wrote it). Kungs has another catchy new release called “Lipstick” which you can check out below.
Climbing 5-3 is “Microdose” by Denmark’s Boye & Sigvardt and vocalist Jordan Shaw. This is one song that has gotten under my skin – I love both its lyrics and melody.
“15 Minutes” (above) by Damon Sharpe & The Disco Fries moves up 7-5 and is a definite club banger. You can also check out the artists’ new song together called “React”, below.
UK trance legends Above & Beyond were last in the Top 10 back in 2004 when, under their alias of Oceanlab, their song “Satellite” reached #1. Their latest, also with Justine Suissa on vocals, is “Almost Home”, which climbs 12-6.
“My Time”, the title song of the EP by NYC singer and actress Gina Naomi Baez, is in it for the long haul, and moves up 11-9.
“Angel” by Sonny Fodera and Clementine Douglas always goes down so easy. From Sonny’s latest album Wide Awake, “Angel” rises 21-13.
With its snappy synths and super-playful vocal and rhythm, “Play It Cool” by MENRVA and Island Banks is a British house track on the move, up 23-16.
Now breaking at North American dance radio, with no surprise, is “You & I (All I Need)” by Karen Harding, from her EP Sweet Vibrations, which climbs 27-19.
Just as “Can’t Stay Away” finishes off its maximum 10 appearances (20 weeks) on the chart, along comes Darin’s beautiful new ballad “Holding Me More”, which arrives at #20. He performed it at his online acoustic concert yesterday from Sweden, along with “Can’t Stay Away” and many others. Having never seen the man perform before, I was duly impressed and would certainly love to see him perform live in concert too. Expect big things in the coming weeks from “Holding Me More” – while the rest of the world is loving Adele’s “Easy On Me”, “Holding Me More” is more my kind of ballad! Check out the live TV performance above.
Debuting on the chart is L.A. dance production trio TELYKast with “Unbreakable”, co-written by and featuring Nashville’s Sam Gray on vocals, which bows at #25. The independently released, impressive track is flourishing at US dance radio, and is definitely one to which you need to pay attention.
The third debut at #30 is from the classic 80’s duo Tears For Fears, with the original twosome of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith making their first album since 2004, and the title track called “The Tipping Point”. I have been long a fan of Tears For Fears. I bought their single “Mad World” back in 1982 as an import 12″ vinyl, and enjoyed much of their music through 1993’s Elemental album (which did not include Curt). As usual, the duo makes a great hook along with some pointed observations.
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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs mixed with classics and songs you haven’t heard in a while. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
Planet Radio Canada – I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week on the “3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments.
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on Radio GTA Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, and on Halton Hills Online on Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST!
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