Their work together on the recent faithful cover of Modern Talking’s “You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul” went so smoothly that Sweden’s B3NTE and New York-based singer/songwriter Victor Perry are back with an original follow up this time, called “Wicked Games” (not to be confused with The Weeknd track of the same name). It’s a buoyant progressive electronic dance track this time too carried by Victor’s convincingly-sung story of betrayal. Its catchy, big synth work stands out but does not overpower the prolific Victor’s effortless vocal. “Wicked Games” is another winner – keep ’em coming, guys!
Mokita is a prolific singer/songwriter from Nashville who has been coming into his own with his releases over the last few years. It culminated in a collaboration with R3HAB called “All Into Nothing”, which has acquired over $25 million streams. His originals “London” and “Inside Out” were two of my faves last year, and several singles have been released since his EP 4201. “Ready Yet” is the latest, which might remind listeners a lot of songs by Lauv, though the two have quite different styles. This one’s about not being ready for a relationship, something we don’t hear about often in songs. It’s solid, breezy pop that goes down easy.
After writing about his recent singles “Who’s Gotcha” and “Worth It”, and indicating that I wanted to hear more from Buffalo NY native HVNNIBVL, I didn’t realize there was an EP on its way. Now on release, Reasonably, Relative is the title, and among its six songs you will find those two previous singles. Digging into the EP, another highlight is “Something Special”, and it’s for different reasons than the others. While the main focus is on spreading happy vibes, I found “Something Special” reminding me at times of Bruno Mars’ “Treasure”. It’s probably because the song has HVNNIBVL’s best vocal thus far, and the story about wanting to do “Something Special” with your lover or friend is one that’s needed in the world today. And based on what I heard in Reasonably, Relative, if you sat down HVNNIBVL in a room with some established producers, he would have the great songs ready for them, and all they would have to do is add the spit and polish.
NIKI DARLING, “Take You There” (original and Black Silence remix)
The last four years have created nothing but once in a lifetime opportunities for American R&B singer Niki Darling. Although you’re likely to hear Tina Turner-meets-Lady Gaga with a dash of Prince (obviously, that name…) in her voice and style, I would also add the diversity of Chaka Khan, Sia, and Kelly Rowland into the mix. Her talents have taken her from leading NYC hip hop group Pants Velour to numerous destinations around the world, including Morocco, Beijing, and Ibiza, working in a full-time career in music. In fact, she was in London when the pandemic struck, and, as was documented by the BBC at the time, she was unable to return to the US for several weeks.
Her new single and video (up top) for “Take You There” document her journey as a message that shows you can overcome struggle and achieve your passion through commitment and lots of hard work – an old ethic, but it works. Her powerful tones resonate throughout “Take You There” and are totally suited for the percolating 90’s flavours that British remixer Black Silence adds to the song to make it highly club-worthy (link below). The well-edited video gives you a sense of something I firmly believe in – when one door closes, another opens. And another door for Niki Darling is set to open when a full album arrives in 2021.
Waiting to put some spunk into your Autumn playlists is British Columbian singer/songwriter Jeymon with his debut single “Tuesdays In July”. It’s got a playful, sometimes linear-sounding melody that will resonate with you with subsequent listens. Not only that, but the song evokes a special time for the singer (previously known as JMON) when he encountered someone special on a Tuesday in July after a club event. So all of a sudden, Tuesdays in July became equally special, and he shares that happiness he found in this song. Fans of the lighter sides of The Weeknd and Miguel will enjoy the crossover pop-R&B-hip hop music of Jeymon, and you can also appreciate some melodic influences from his Punjabi heritage in the mix. Trading in his accounting education for music, you’ve got to appreciate a guy who offers this quote: “All I want to do in life is cheer people up with my music, literally just vibe and eat unlimited amounts of dried mangoes.”
With blog posts about 22 songs in the past two weeks, and the fact that I never previously had holidays in September or October (other than a day or two at Thanksgiving), retirement from my day job is sinking in and that is a good thing! I’ve been working on a project to supplement this blog and chart – more news about that in the coming weeks! There are five debuts on the chart and a new #1!
After three appearances (six weeks) at the top, Joel Corry & MNEK’s “Head & Heart” slips to #2 in favour of “Undo My Heart”, a glorious banger by British singer/songwriter Karen Harding and fellow Brit, songwriter/producer Digital Farm Animals. This is one song that immediately turns heads, which is why, to me, it ranks as one of the best of the year!
A frantic-sounding saxophone in a dance music track can never be a bad thing, so “House Is Happiness” by Germany’s Stan Sax cuts through the Top 10 to soar 10-3!
While I’m enjoying MAX’s latest album Colour Vision a whole lot, “Naked” by Jonas Blue and the singer/songwriter inches up 5-4.
Not to be outdone, UK indie singer/songwriter Benedict Cork gets his 2nd Top 5 hit on this chart with “One Last Song”, climbing 8-5. It’s from his new EP, Piano Tapes Vol. 2.
The only new Top 10 entry is a very deserving one. The stylish panache of “What’s Your Pleasure” by Jessie Ware moves up 13-10. It’s the second chart entry from the album of the same name, following “Save A Kiss” (#3).
There’s plenty of movement outside of the Top 10 as long-time faves exit the chart. It’s a bit of a transitional release I think, but Troye Sivan’s EP In A Dream is chock full of interesting songs that sit outside of the Top 40 world, and would be more suitable for alternative radio stations if they weren’t so top-heavy with songs in the rock genre. The winning title song moves up 17-12.
L.A. indie trio Fames, on the other hand, has a could-be pop hit with the supremely catchy “scared of the dark”, which zips up the chart 20-13.
The Fastest Riser on the chart belongs to the latest dynamic duo from Sweden, Pawl & Discrete, with the infectious toe-tapper “Type Like That”, soaring 24-16.
It’s hard not to be drawn into the warm lyrics and propulsive beat of “We Are Home” by Florida singer/songwriter Lauren Mayhew and young Moroccan producer Mariline, as it rises 22-17.
Gliding onto the chart at a respectably high #21 is “Tinseltown In The Rain” by German producer Matt Mancid and L.A. man of many talents Color Theory (aka Brian Hazard). It’s a highly reverent cover of a song by Scottish group The Blue Nile from their 1984 album A Walk Across The Rooftops, which sounds oh so great again 36 years later. Matt Mancid and Color Theory both charted previously in 2013/14, when Matt’s remix of Color Theory’s still-amazing “Headphones” reached #1. Although the original of “Tinseltown” is gorgeous, I’m charting the dance club worthy “Big Rhythm Mix”.
After you hear “Fantasy”, you’re going to want another collaboration from German production duo Saxity, NYC-based singer/songwriter Victor Perry, and NYC’s “American Idol” finalist Robbie Rosen. “Fantasy” arrives at #23, accompanying songs by both Stan Sax (one half of Saxity, at #3) and Victor Perry (at #9) on the chart! The live performance video is above. Also check out the “Saxophone House remix” below.
Sam Smith last graced this chart with his spot-on cover of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” earlier this year, which reached #6. His vocal could not have been any better in his latest single “Diamonds”, from his upcoming album Love Goes, which debuts at #25. Listen to Joel Corry’s new remix, too, below.
Denver’s Illenium returns to the chart for the first time since he partnered with Ekali for “Hard To Say Goodbye” (#9) earlier this year with the thoughtful and elegant “Nightlight” at #26.
The fifth debut is by Toronto duo Crash Adams who bring a lot of fun and zest back into rock ‘n roll. Their effortless track “Too Hot To Touch” is accompanied by an amusing video where rocking out in an empty office never seemed so good. “Too Hot” bows on the chart at #28.
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog are featured regularly on the new online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂 Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! I’m the new music consultant for the station so you can expect even more in 2020 🙂 You can start by joining Radio GTA’s new interactiveFacebook group too!!
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! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 22 years? Rummage through theBILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!!
I’ve been enjoying Sam Dickinson’s songs for the last 7 years, since the release of his debut album The Stories That Occurred. After a few singles and EP’s in the intervening years, Sam’s much-awaited second album has surfaced, called Off Script. It’s a smashing mix of pop, dance and soul music with a particular connection to the early 90’s. One of the best tracks is “Never Knew”, a dance hit in-the-making which will have you hooked from its first bar, and impresses with its well-layered production. In particular, it will please listeners who enjoyed past songs like “Wild Sun”, as well as the album’s lead off single, “Diamond Skin”, which peaked at #5 and #6 on my personal chart respectively. Those looking for more personal and complex stories can dive deeper into the album’s generous and often affecting 14 songs, which also include his previously released take on Everything But The Girl’s “Missing” as well as his rendition of a lovely track by UK soul singer Mica Paris called “Carefree”. Listen to “Never Knew” up top.
I enjoy songs that capture unique perspectives in life. Appropriately obtaining attention just before John Lennon’s 80th birthday was “John Lennon Lived Here” by L.A.-based UK-born singer/songwriter Chesney Hawkes. The song, co-written by one of my long time faves, Nik Kershaw (who wrote Chesney’s 1991 UK #1 and US Top 10 hit “The One And Only”), was originally included on Chesney’s 2012 album Real Life Love. It takes the viewpoint of a wide-eyed tourist in NYC who is also a John Lennon fan. NYC can be terribly intimidating to some, but to others (like me!) it’s extremely welcoming. The song’s title represents the ability to reconcile with the facts that John Lennon not only lived in but died in NYC, but that it was also where he wanted and needed to be. The subtle arrangement has several Beatle-esque moments and Chesney’s voice is in great form. Although North American audiences would see Chesney as a one-hit wonder, he is not in the UK, and has kept busy over the years with acting and reality show gigs. He belatedly and perhaps unexpectedly resurfaces again through this song and it’s most welcome indeed. It is currently in the Top 10 of the United DJ’s Heritage chart.
Boston indie singer/songwriter Almost Owen (aka Isaac Haselkorn) has had a busy, prolific last year, releasing several singles, then two amply-filled EP’s, leading to his latest 3-song effort Felt Cute…Might Delete. “Heart Stop” is the stand out track, with its infectious chugga-chugga bass line that rides underneath a positive message about finding inspiration in yourself again and again to keep your heart beating. I find Almost Owen’s songs usually to be chock-filled with a myriad of thoughts when they hover around the three minute mark. “Heart Stop” takes a slightly different less-is-more approach and comes out a winner.
The venerable and Award-winning South African production duo GoldFish are due to release an album sometime soon, since their last one was now three years ago, Late Night People (followed more recently by a remix album of it). Dominic and David continue to tease us with a new single every now and then, and their latest, “Forever Free”, is a timeless and positive ode to something that’s important to everyone. Co-written with and sung by L.A.-based vocalist Nate Highfield, “Forever Free” soars to similar happy places that songs like Tritonal & Henry Dark’s “Shivohum” and Porter Robinson’s “Get Your Wish” have transported us this year. GoldFish’s production is effortless and Nate’s voice just lets “Forever Free” soar. Watch the entertaining animated video above, directed by Matt Torode – and yes, Dominic and David get the cartoon treatment!
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