You can expect a lot of variety in this week’s Report, but somehow it almost always falls back to great pop singers and fine pop songs amid the mix of electronic dance and alternative pop/rock releases that I’ve been choosing to write about lately.
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In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers is travelling to Australia as I write so I’ve provided this week’s Classic Five selection from the 80’s. You’ll also find out what songs were #1 at this time of year on the BILLCS Top 30 over the last 27 years.
Reminder: Click on the photos below to listen to the songs. If the song has a video, a You Tube link is now provided underneath the artist and song title.
LIAM WALL, “Walking Red Flag”
About the artist: Liam Wall is a rising pop singer/songwriter from Southern California who is also based out of Nashville and has released a dozen singles since 2020.
About the record: “Walking Red Flag” is an instant new favourite. It’s a sentimental, self-effacing pop song that wrings your sympathy handkerchief dry. What’s different about Liam’s style is that his lyrics blend a mix of confidence, heartache and self-worth, which is completely relatable to the listeners. At the end, you’d probably want to give him a big hug over a pat on the back.
Other comments: In the next few years, male songwriters like Liam Wall are going to get their due, something that Benson Boone and Alexander Stewart have already started. “Walking Red Flag” is a delight that you will have on repeat. Thanks to DJ Hunter for being my discovery source by playing it on “Modern Hype”.
MILKWISH, MIKE KONSTANTY, “Show Me The Way”
About the artists: Both hailing from Poland, Milkwish is an electronic dance producer who has found his way into these blog pages and the BILLCS Top 30 a few times through collaborations with Mahalo, while Mike Konstanty is a producer/vocalist/songwriter.
About the record: “Show Me The Way” has about a half-dozen different vibes happening, and they all come together cohesively. Its piano house melody is supported by some afrobeats and progressive house influences, which include using Mike’s vocals more as effects. It’s got a laid back, ear-catching groove with lots going on and will solidly keep your attention.
Other comments: Both artists are well-known in Poland but not the rest of the world, and I can picture discovery through Shazam or sync possibilities. “Show Me The Way” is a versatile track that can be used by club DJ’s early evening or late night as a chill out track, or could percolate mid-evening in a progressive house set. While there is an extended version, it could also benefit from some remixes.
MERGUI, “10,000 Faces”
About the artist: Last month I introduced you to Jonathan Mergui, best known in Israel but now living in Los Angeles. The Sam Feldt edit of “On My Mind” just charted on the BILLCS Top 30, and Mergui recently dropped an EP called Nobody Really Knows.
About the record: “10,000 Faces” is an uptempo, danceable pop track that will go hand in hand on playlists next to singers like Darin and Conan Gray. Mergui’s got one of those enviable voices with a beautiful tone which could sing just about anything and not only make it work, but charm you in the process.
Other comments: Mergui is a name to keep in mind for your list of 2025 breakouts. I’m thinking that a big campaign is ahead for him.
GRABBITZ, “Saint Maniac”
About the artist: Grabbitz (aka Nicholas Chiari) hails from Buffalo NY and is now based in southern California. Originally breaking through in the EDM world, Grabbitz has found a rare happy medium where he can create edgy alternative rock while continuing to straddle EDM, and working with artists like Illenium, Subtronics, and Valorant.
About the song: “Saint Maniac” is a fun 90’s flavoured rave up that would sit comfortably next to releases by Soundgarden and Live which are now more than 25 years old. Grabbitz’s vocal is fresh and the song’s arrangement is full of musical surprises to keep you listening.
Other comments: Grabbitz has released two well-received albums, so “Saint Maniac” is the start of a new era, and I’ll look forward to hearing what’s next. It’s hard to believe that his breakthrough collaboration with Rezz, “Someone Else” (which reached #5 on the BILLCS Top 30), was almost five years ago.
ADAM WOODS, “Cold As Ice”
About the artist: 23 year old Swedish singer/songwriter Adam Woods (real name: Adam Allskog) seemingly came out of nowhere in 2023 to sing on the Melodifestivalen entry “Where You Are”, which finished fourth, and returned to the competition in 2024 with his own “Supernatural”.
About the song: “Cold As Ice” is a melt-worthy pop song about having to break up with someone when you don’t really want to do that. The protagonist wrestles with his decision, weighing all the pros and cons, but ultimately decides being apart is best. It’s a rare song that gives viewpoints on both sides. Adam’s vocal is a ringer at times for Josh Ramsay of Marianas Trench.
Other comments: Adam is a bit of a phantom online, there’s not too much known about him or if “Cold As Ice” is being entered in Melodifestivalen this year. It’s a corker of a pop song with emotional edges that you’ll want on some of your playlists.
CMAGIC5, “Happy Never After”
Video link: Happy Never After
About the artist: CMAGIC5 (also known as “C”) is a Toronto area pop/rock artist who came to my attention back in 2021 with the sophisticated R&B/pop of “Love Me If You Can”. She re-emerged on my radar when I saw her perform at a free show in Toronto last year for Youth Day with a tougher, rock-flavoured sound on songs like “Game Boy”.
About the song: Although the influences of talent like Avril Lavigne and Olivia Rodrigo are obvious, “Happy Never After” is a pop-bop-as-breakup-song, which recalls Gayle’s “ABCDEFU” and Leah Kate’s “10 Things I Hate About You” a little more closely. Clearly, a pop-spiked edge alternative sound is where CMAGIC5 is headed and “Happy Never After” is catchy and slick and stands out.
Other comments: “Happy Never After” is a lead in to CMAGIC5’s forthcoming third album, so we’ll be hearing much more from her in her rock chick era in 2025.
PAUL HETHERINGTON, LUV FOUNDATION (UK), “Everything”
About the artist: Melbourne, Australia dance music artist Paul Hetherington is back with his third recent single, this time with the veteran UK dance production duo Luv Foundation (Julian Napolitano and Mark Schneider) who have been releasing music together under this moniker for the last two years.
About the song: Working with long-time pros like Dave Audé, Stonebridge, 7th Heaven, and Luv Foundation is the supreme icing on the cake for Paul’s releases. “Everything” is another 80’s-flavoured electro pop bop that is a natural progression after “Dirty Mind” and “Thrill of the Chase”, all of which have done well for an indie release especially in the UK as well as with some online personal chart-makers.
Other comments: I’m anxious to see who might be remixing “Everything”.
EYE EYE, “Full Cement Luxury”
About the artist: Eye Eye is the Toronto area duo of vocalist Bill Wood and guitarist Andy Ryan. If the name is familiar to Canadian music fans of the 80’s, it’s because Bill and Andy anchored a pop/rock group of the same name which received significant radio play in Canada, released two albums, as well as being nominated for a Juno Award for Most Promising Group. After playing a few live shows together after 35 years, the pair got the bug to create new music.
About the record: “Full Cement Luxury” is Eye Eye’s third single in their revival era. It leaves the synth-flavoured pop/rock of the 80’s behind in favour of bluesy rock storytelling. The song deserves your undivided attention, and like with me, may not resonate with you on one listen. The storyline captures the setting of a seedy motel in the 1950’s, and that kind of bluesy rock can only capture the social underbelly of the time. Bill Wood’s deep, gravelly vocal will remind listeners of Jon Bon Jovi or the older Johnny Cash, while Andy’s fluid guitar work guides the song’s seductive groove.
Other comments: Eye Eye emerges as a transformed heritage act whose interesting songs are worth the deep dive.
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and now debuts each Wednesday at 10pm EST on The Big 20 on Halton Hills Radio Online. Here are my picks for this week and last week.
“Heart First” is by Dutch dance producers Lucas & Steve and British singer/songwriter Jordan Shaw
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week which debuts every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Big Daddy’s record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.
Daughtry goes heavier than usual in “The Dam”
Video link: The Dam
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and is newly anchored at Party Dog Radio, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week.
Social media breakout and American singer/songwriter Alex Warren with “Carry You Home”
Video link: Carry You Home
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show, where you can also now hear my Retro Pick of the Week. The 3D Variety Show is now on hiatus, returning in April 2025. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.
Note: For this week, I’ve provided the Classic Five selections below from the early 80’s.
Squeeze – Another Nail In My Heart (1980)
Haircut One Hundred – Love Plus One (1982)
New Order – Blue Monday (1983)
INXS – Original Sin (1984)
Lindsey Buckingham – Go Insane (1984)
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
My Retro Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, including those mentioned above. It debuts Saturdays on Russ Horton’s Top 40 Timeline on UK National Radio at 1pm EST.
The Moody Blues took a break from progressive story-telling with their 1970 hit “Question”
Video link (live TV concert performance): Question
27 YEARS OF BILLCS TOP 30 #1’s
Songs that rocked my personal chart at this time during the last 27 years.
2024 LOVIN ON ME Jack Harlow
2023 GOLDEN HOUR JVKE
2022 UNBREAKABLE TELYKast, Sam Gray
2021 GIVE IT BACK The Disco Fries, GIIANTS, Allison Park
2020 SHIVOHUM Tritonal, Henry Dark
2019 DJ’S GOTTA DANCE MORE A-Trak, Todd Terry
2018 PINEAPPLE SKIES Miguel
2017 BURN Pet Shop Boys
2016 NOTHING AT ALL Brandyn Burnette
2015 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu, Twoloud
2014 ANIMALS Martin Garrix
2013 1998 Matthew Koma
2012 HOTTER THAN FIRE Eric Saade, Dev
2011 GOLDEN TRAIN Penguin Prison
2010 DELUSIONAL Simon Curtis
2009 SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT) Beyoncé
2008 HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE Darren Hayes
2007 DOCTOR BLIND Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
2006 THUNDER IN MY HEART AGAIN Meck, Leo Sayer
2005 THE LETTER SONG Tyler Hilton
2004 MY TIME Dutch, Crystal Waters
2003 THE SOUND OF VIOLENCE Cassius, Steve Edwards
2002 COME ON DOWN Crystal Waters
2001 HANGING BY A MOMENT Lifehouse
2000 FADED soulDecision
1999 LOST ONES Lauryn Hill
1998 ANGEL Joée
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