There’s definitely a lot of gritty truth in the lyrics in “scared of the dark” by L.A. pop/rock trio Fames (who are Ian, Wesley and Blair). It’s about all of those sleepless nights that we incur when relationships end, as often the same thoughts roll around over and over again in our heads. So Fames score big points in directly-worded empathy for us all, but they’ve also built the lyrics around a moderately rocking anthemic sound which helps make the song quite memorable. 2020 saw them off to a great start with a sold out show in L.A. and a few hundred thousand streams for their previous single “what do i call u? (ex sounds wrong)”. “scared of the dark” signals a lot of potential for Fames so watch for more from them this year as they work towards an album release.
“House Is Happiness” is everything that its title embodies. It’s a sexy, fun instrumental where the saxophone rules, since it’s brought to you by German producer Stan Sax, aka ZEROBADDAYS, aka one half of the duo Saxity. It’s a song in which jazz can do its happy dance with house music. “House Is Happiness” comes on strong with Stan’s saxophone hook right out of the gate, and carefully steps back at around the 1:10 mark to offer us some repose before it cranks back up its whirlwind pace again 30 seconds later. By the end you’re breathless, and “House Is Happiness” gets better each time you play it. Bravo to you, Mr. Sax!
The word for “Vertigo” by Philadelphia trio Time For Three in these busy days of music is Refreshing! It’s not often that classical music intersects with pop and folk, but when it’s made right, it works oh so well. TF3 is Charles and Nick (they’re the violinists) and Ranaan (he’s the string bass player), and they have a great project to keep growing with stunning harmonies – they all sing – that are actually front and centre in “Vertigo” more than the classical instruments. “Vertigo” is a fine song brought resoundingly to life by three talented guys who are presented to you by the same team as YEBBA, and that should speak volumes in itself. Watch the socially-distanced video for “Vertigo” recorded back in the Spring, above, or listen to it on Spotify below.
Part of making a great song that is suitable for the electronic dance music crowd is to write lyrics that will immediately bring everyone together. American singer/songwriter/ actress (and occasionally, wrestling announcer!) Lauren Mayhew has done just that with the touching and uplifting “We Are Home”. This one brings all of the feels home and makes you really miss being in a club or festival, second homes for many of us music lovers. Bring in Moroccan teen producer Mariline (with support from Alex Parker) and he adds some slick, punchy synths and a memorable drop that kickstarts the melodic chorus. Before it’s over, “We Are Home” is already a singalong that will keep you humming while we look forward to better days ahead for dance music in clubs/festivals.
French producer Mercer often makes some sublime choices when creating his records. A few years back, he drew from France’s disco music in one of its year’s best releases with his record “Satisfy” (featuring house legend Ron Carroll on vocals), using the insistent melody line from Don Ray’s classic “Got To Have Lovin'”. I’m not sure why he’s given this release the title of “Lemonade” (which comes from his Neo Disco 3 EP) because it sure doesn’t have anything to do with the song whose chorus he has cleverly borrowed and disguised as its centerpiece – Gwen Guthrie’s “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent”. Like with “Satisfy”, “Lemonade” has an irresistibly percolating rhythm that makes it a summertime treat.
“Lighthouse” starts off as an acoustic pop song that is impressively guided into soulful, bluesy territory as brought to you by London-based singer/songwriter Andreas Liberos. The lyrics offer kindness and hope in these days where sometimes there is nothing or no one to turn to and help make it all feel better for you. Andreas has a commanding vocal presence and it transforms what could be a simple pop song into a convincing and meaningful statement. If the name is familiar, this singer of Greek heritage appeared in the cover of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” by Jevanni Letford that was played at the Royal Wedding two years ago and saw major label release. He also was featured a few years back in a solid deep house release I wrote about by Australia’s Latchmere called “Limits”, which also appeared on my personal chart. But his voice was pitched down considerably for effect, and is unrecognizable next to this fine performance on “Lighthouse”.
With the world sometimes feeling so close together, it’s always amazing to see cross-continent collaborations come to successful fruition, and such is the case with “Waitin'” by Samlight and Trauv with vocals from NYC’s Morell Brown. Finland’s Samlight has seen electronic dance releases flourish through most of the major dance music labels. Here he’s partnered with Trauv, a rising producer from India whose music has already been supported by the likes of Thomas Gold and Hardwell. Although there have been a number of successful dance producers from India such as Shaan, I must admit it’s rare to see this kind of collaboration. Bring in singer/songwriter Morell , who totally nails the vocal, and you have “Waitin'”, a true bop that aims to put some big bounce into your summer. In between its story, “Waitin'” emphasizes sparkling arpeggios which teleport you back to melodic house of 2012. We need more feel-good music in 2020 and “Waitin'” certainly has the recipe for just that.
When the relationship is gone and nothing is left but ashes, many of us can relate to Savannah Conley’s “Never Want To Be In Love”. This emerging singer/songwriter from Nashville has a lot of energetic rock and roll moments in this song that sometimes recall Dusty Springfield and Kate Bush, but with more than a dash of Paramore and No Doubt in the mix as well. Her songwriting wastes no time cutting to the chase, with a powerful vocal set against restrained and refined production. Hearing a singer like Savannah makes me wonder what she would sound like in a classic Phil Spector/Wall of Sound setting. “Never Want To Be In Love” hits you in the emotional gut but is memorable for the sum of all of its parts.
While 2020 may now be more than half over (and some would say thank you for that), it has been chock full of great music. Right now, my Top 5 on this new chart would seem to be untouchable for the next several weeks, though a couple of up-and-comers may change that.
I’ve often been asked why I don’t increase my chart to a Top 40 or a Top 50. You’re more than welcome to weigh in on this, but the BILLCS Top 30 is a chart of my current favourite songs, and that’s all there is to it. There’s no science to it at all. However the chart has been online for 22 years, so it is at least known in some music circles. If it’s meaningful for a new performer to be on someone’s chart at #40 then I can understand the interest. But it’s probably more meaningful if I’ve written about that song than if it appears on my chart. This blog is going into its 11th year online – over 2,400 posts about all kinds of pop music form its library!
So while Lady Gaga & Araina Grande’s “Rain On Me” (above) gets a 3rd appearance (6th week) at #1, and “Never Let Me Down” by VIZE and Tom Gregory (also above) holds at #2, I’ll throw this chart’s upper spotlight on Jessie Ware. Her sophisticated disco/dance album What’s Your Pleasure is one of my faves of the year. “Save A Kiss” (below) remains at #3, but the title track is now also a single so check it out, also below.
NYC-based singer/songwriter Victor Perry has one slew of new music still to come this year. His stunning and heartfelt ballad “What I Deserve” (above, from the excellent EP Rewind), climbs to #4 and is his biggest solo song to date on my chart. Victor has recently worked with two young Swedish producers, B3NTE and Behmer, to create a tantalizing cover of Modern Talking’s massive 80’s European hit “You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul”. My only complaint is that it’s sooo short at only 2:19, but that’s nothing that a good extended remix can’t remedy. Take a listen to this excellent cover choice, below.
I adore the overall theme of Greyson Chance’s “Dancing Next To Me”, which soars 11-5. It’s one of those songs that sits in your gut and gets stuck in your head for a long time.
Francesco Yates’ “Bad Decisions” (up 14-7, from his EP Superbad) becomes the Canadian singer’s second Top 10 on this chart, following his first hit “Better To Be Loved”, which reached #6 5 summers ago. Check out the top drawer song “Queen Street Blues”, also from the EP, below.
The third new entry in the Top 10 is also the Fastest Riser on the chart, which is holding at #1 in the UK for a second week. When dance music is large and in charge you have songs like “Rain On Me” and “Head & Heart” by Joel Corry & MNEK leading the way. “Head & Heart” flies up the chart 21-10.
Trivecta and Fagin’s electronic anthem “Leave It All Behind” cuts through the middle of the chart and moves up 19-14.
In addition to their current banger “Tragic” (featuring Amber Van Day, up 17-15), Dutch producers The Him mix it up with Yall, Royale Avenue and Jay Nebula in their new anthemic single “Believe”, below.
The remaining debuts from the last chart are stuck behind a lot of great songs and are unable to make bigger moves. Check out the fun video for The Prince Karma’s “Superstar” (22-19), above. You’ll see a snazzier video for “Naked” (26-21, below) which makes Jonas Blue and MAX look fabulous. and “Carry Me” (also below) by Canadian producer Dezza and starring veteran session vocalist Mike Schmid is definitely in it for the long run, rising 27-23.
I didn’t latch on to his biggest hit, the Grammy-nominated “Losing It”, until long after it had peaked. But I’ve been loving Aussie producer Fisher’s strut-worthy “Wanna Go Dancin'” since it came out as ‘the flip’ of his single “Freaks” a while back. “Wanna Go Dancin'” bows on the chart at #25. Did you all know that Paul Fisher was once one half of the well-respected production duo Cut Snake??
The masters are back! The Swiss duo Yello (Dieter Meier and Boris Blank) produced some of the most off-kilter, wacked out, fun dance music of the 80’s. They are most noted for “Oh Yeah”, the song that was prominently featured in the classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, and became a hit a few years after its initial release. But their other songs are innovative and unique: “Bostich”, “I Love You”, “Lost Again”, “The Race”, and “Goldrush I” among others. They have a new album coming soon called Point, their first release in almost three years. Check out their wizardry in the electronic nonsense called “Waba Duba” above. Whatever it may be about, it arrives on the chart at #27. It’s their first entry on my chart, though if I had one before 1998 they would have appeared many, many times.
UK singer/songwriter Jazz Mino returns to the chart at #28 with her thought-provoking lyrical pop with “Like A Drunk Girl”. She first charted two summers ago with “Misunderstand”, which reached #15. Yesterday I wrote about her new single “New Girlfriend”.
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 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! 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!!
There are some releases that even we bloggers hear in advance and can’t wait to write about. “Waiting For You” by the L.A.-based electronic dance production trio Giiants is a potential summer smash as the guys return to Tipsy Records where they first released the still-amazing “Small Talk” a few years back. Covered under shades of anonymity back then, Giiants were subsequently unveiled to be Italian producer Andrea Rullo, as well as Cameron Maxwell and Adam Bailey, whom many readers of this blog are familiar with in the guise of DATABOY. “Waiting For You” is striking from its first listen. An abrupt but unique transition to vocal effects which launch the chorus takes a few listens to navigate, but this post breakup song quickly becomes the sum of all of its excellent and effortless songwriting, vocals and production. You can’t go wrong with “Waiting For You” – it’s a terrific, fast-paced pick-me-up for bright, feel-good sunny days where positive new relationships are bound to unfold.
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