#BILLCSTop30 #592, July 20, 2020

My songs of Summer ’20 are here!  The Top 3 songs will be pretty unshakeable over the next four to six weeks despite a bevy of challengers on the rise.  How many of you can’t wait to get back to clubs and festivals to dance to the music that has not played in those venues yet, such as the songs from Lady Gaga’s Chromatica album?  Who’d have believed she would pull off such a strong electronic dance music record.  

When I’m faced with an adverse situation like we’ve been in for the last four months, I look towards whatever escape is available to me in music – and that for the most part is dance music.  The chart is full of it 🙂 but when other songs aren’t in the dance music genre – and I can count the entries on one hand – they are truly exceptional.

So yes it’s Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande who continue to stay put at #1 with the indefatigable “Rain On Me” (above) from Chromatica.  Gaga and Elton John also move up a notch with the intense “Sine From Above” at #12 (below).  Be sure not to overlook “Alice” and “1000 Doves” too.

Sometimes all it takes is a simple hook that takes someone like me back to the 1960’s school of songwriting.  “Never Let Me Down” by Germany’s VIZE with British singer/songwriter Tom Gregory advances 3-2 thanks to the singalong hook in this appealing bop.

Also moving up 4-3 is the luscious Jessie Ware song from her latest album What’s Your Pleasure called “Save A Kiss”.  That album is also one of your must-hears for the summer.

Multiple Juno Award winner Rezz has lit up alt.rock radio with her electronic and grungy pairing with Grabbitz called “Someone Else”, which rises 6-5.

The Fastest Riser on the chart is one of the exceptions to dance music on this chart – though the singer/songwriter in question is no stranger to that genre at all.  NYC-based Victor Perry soars 16-6 with the gorgeous “What I Deserve” (above) from his solid indie EP Rewind.  And to give you that taste of Victor in the dance genre, check out his latest single below with Dutch producer Laurentius called “Stay The Night”, whose beginning and end sounds like a distant cousin of The Chainsmokers’ & Daya’s “Don’t Let Me Down”.

It’s been a slow and steady rise but L.A.-based producer Jerin James is up 8-7 with the lush electronics of “Birds and Bees”, featuring Deverano on vocal.

New to the Top 10, at least as the artists rather than remixers, are Chicago’s Win & Woo featuring Kyan Palmer with “Sleepwalking” (above), climbing 11-9.  Win & Woo got to #5 as remixers (with Kiso Armic) previously for Brandyn Burnette’s “Made Of Dreams”.  Check out their latest below which is another banger called “Feel Em All”.

Canada’s Loud Luxury has kept their Top 10 streak intact as their 5th chart entry arrives at #10, “Aftertaste”, with vocal by Morgan St. Jean.

Even with its similar title, I think that Greyson Chance’s “Dancing Next To Me” is this decade’s “Dancing On My Own” for the younger crowd.  The song is full of many fine vocal moments from Greyson, and it vaults 18-11.

Toronto’s Francesco Yates has a top notch new EP that you’re missing called Superbad, and from that record comes his latest single, the soulful and fun “Bad Decisions”, which leaps 22-14.

Another atypical song on the chart for me is the whimsical “You Ain’t Big” by Rufus Wainwright from his album Unfollow The Rules.  This charmer rises 21-15.  Between 1998 and 2007, Rufus was a regular on this chart, appearing 13 times, including three times at #1, with “Foolish Love”, “April Fools” and “California”.

If you want no holds barred classic house music then look no further than British producer Eli Brown’s “Desire”, which wastes no time climbing 25-18.

Trivecta’s “Leave It All Behind” (above, featuring Fagin) from his EP Everyday is going to be his new signature song at concerts when they resume.  It moves up 24-19, and has recently been given a melodic remix by producer Nurko on the Everyday Remixes EP, which you can check out below.

UK singer/songwriter Sam Dickinson continues to be busy preparing for the launch of his third album Off Script this Fall.  While second single “Cry Wolf” is off to a great start rising 28-20, the title song has been released as the third single.  You can check out its fun video below.

The Highest Debut on the chart is destined to be one of 2020’s dance classics which has already crossed over to pop radio in Europe, and should do the same here.  It’s “Head & Heart” by Joel Corry featuring a fantastic vocal by MNEK, someone whose career I’ve been following since he scored as a teenage producer and songwriter – he’s currently all of 25 – with his work on records by The Saturdays, Duke Dumont and Gorgon City.  “Head & Heart” arrives at #21.

One new release that spells PARTY is “Superstar” by Greek producer The Prince Karma from his EP of the same name, which debuts at #22.  Expect big things for this one.  Check out his other fun track “It’s The DJ”, featuring Chicago house legend Ron Carroll weaving a one-of-a-kind story.

UK producer Jonas Blue returns to the chart and this time he’s bringing one of my favourites, the amazing MAX with him, on his latest single “Naked”, which bows at #26.  This is one to which you can really shake loose.  It’s Jonas’ fourth appearance on the chart and it’s expectant dad MAX’s ninth entry as either lead or featured vocalist!

Canadian producer Dezza makes his debut with a danceable late night grower called “Carry Me” at #27. It features co-writer and quality session vocalist Mike Schmid, and appears on a recently released Remixes EP.

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 interactive Facebook 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

Check out and ‘like’ the BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 22 years?  Rummage through the BILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!! 

 

 

Solid partnerships: Actor/DJ/Producer @IdrisElba creates new music with both @KevinSaunderson & Inner City (“We All Move Together”) and @TheKnocks and @TiggsDaAuthor (“One Fine Day”)

INNER CITY and IDRIS ELBA, “We All Move Together”

IDRIS ELBA & THE KNOCKS and TIGGS DA AUTHOR, “One Fine Day”

After establishing himself as a force in the electronic producer/DJ world over the last decade, actor Idris Elba (after conquering COVID-19 no less) finds himself as part of no less than two new dynamic dance music releases.

The first is “We All Move Together”, the title song from the most recent album by Inner City as led by influential house legend Kevin Saunderson.  Kevin brought back the highly regarded Inner City moniker last year after an almost 30 year absence with the album Inner City Presents Need Your Love, with the new Inner City featuring Kevin’s son Danitez.  “We All Move Together” is a fresh experience, with a two minute spoken-word lead-in from Idris that name-drops every Inner City smash that dance music fans like me adore so much.  It’s this Faithless-like flourish that leads in to a song that blends in classic house and more experimental, techno-styled rhythms that you would hear more on a Chemical Brothers track than one by Inner City.  It works seamlessly, and I’m looking forward to listening to the rest of the album.

NYC dance music mainstay production duo The Knocks bring us “One Fine Day” in conjunction with producer Idris (rather than vocalist Idris – those duties are carried admirably by Tanzania’s Tiggs Da Author).  It’s a complex, rhythmic track that continues where last year’s Summer Series songs by The Knocks like “Awa Ni” left off.  “One Fine Day” is one slamming track and full of positive vibes, about seeing those dreams through until you make your own successes.  All proceeds for “One Fine Day” go to further develop England’s Black Cultural Archives heritage centre.

“All In” is melodic electronica from @DJNittiGritti and vocalist Jimmy Levy

NITTI GRITTY and JIMMY LEVY, “All In”

“All In” is the title song of the latest EP by Miami-based producer/DJ Nitti Gritti (aka Ricky Mears), with an emotional vocal from collaborator Jimmy Levy.  Nitti Gritti has been a discovery for me through online festivals these past few months.  I was totally impressed with a set I saw him spin a few months ago, which led me to listen to the All In EP and zero in on the title song, which is now starting to pick up dance music radio airplay in the US. 

What I didn’t know is that Nitti Gritti has also honed his craft for the last four years producing in the Latin Music genre.  Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull’s “Move To Miami”?  “Hold You Tight” and “Bubble Up” by Diplo?  He co-produced all of them, and remixed “Miami”.  He’s also remixed hits by Bazzi, Ellie Goulding, Dillon Francis, Krewella, and many more.  Last year he received a Latin Grammy for co-producing “200 MPH” by Bad Bunny and Diplo. 

So on another side of the spectrum, Nitti Gritti makes progressive and melodic bass house, and “All In”, with its compelling imagery, is a noteable and accessible song that you’ll be hearing all summer long, appealing to fans of Illenium, Said The Sky and others.

“Handsomer” is a unique collaboration between singer/songwriters @missMollyMoore and Maty @Noyes

MOLLY MOORE x MATY NOYES, “Handsomer”

“Handsomer” is a biting post-break up song by two of alternative pop’s best songwriters in a unique collaboration, L.A.’s Molly Moore and Maty Noyes.  As regular readers of this blog and my chart know so well, Molly has released numerous, well-focused and stylished EP’s and singles over the past five years (especially Now You See Me), as well as being one half of the stellar electronic duo Cosmos & Creature.  Maty Noyes has had major label releases to her name after being propelled into the spotlight on the Grammy-winning album by The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness, as well as collaborating with artists as diverse as Lemaitre and Mokita along the way.  “Handsomer” is a quick (only 2:15) and delightfully exaggerated tip of the hat to self-confidence in the aftermath of a relationship.  The singers have amazing chemistry which makes “Handsomer” a real ear-turner.

Australian producers @Noymusicau and @jordanburns__ collaborate for big progressive bass sounds on EP “Like Me”

NOY & JORDAN BURNS, Like Me (EP)

Progressive bass house fans will welcome the consistent and melodic sounds of Aussie producers Noy and Jordan Burns into the mix with their three-song EP called Like Me.  The title song, essentially an instrumental with some vocal added to provide a memorable hook, takes what their fellow countryman Fisher does so well but into another dance music realm.  “Movin'” is a floor-filler where you’ll find your head will have difficulty catching up with your feet.  Best of all, “None Of It’s Real” is the banger of the bunch, with its infectious, herky-jerky rhythm, and bound to be a crowd-pleaser once events start happening again.  Noy & Jordan Burns offer a solid addition to the Night Bass roster that does not disappoint.

“Got My Way” is bright indie electro pop from L.A. trio @thisisMoontower

MOONTOWER, “Got My Way”

The mission of “Got My Way” by L.A. indie electronic trio Moontower is to ensure their listeners are thankful for who they have in their lives, and that even if you stray off your path, you can find your way back through the love of others.  They’ve framed all of this with a bright, upbeat sound that goes down easily led by the fine voice of singer Jacob Culver.  Hand in hand with another new release with Goldroom called “Guess I’m Jaded” that is also receiving traction,  and with with several songs whose Spotify streaming numbers sends them over the two million mark, Moontower is setting itself for merit-based success, and you should definitely put “Got My Way” on your radar.

Meet L.A.-based, British singer/songwriter @itsJohnnyAshby with thought-provoking “Born Again”

JOHNNY ASHBY, “Born Again”

“Born Again” is an ear-opening new song about being gone before your time by L.A.-based, British singer/songwriter Johnny Ashby.  He could easily fall into the category of sincere indie folk/rock singer/songwriter du jour, but his memorable voice and the carefully layered production in “Born Again” say otherwise.  Fans of Coldplay, Niall Horan, John.k, and particularly Bastille should flock to listen to this song and others by Johnny Ashby.  His vocal is friendly and earnest, and you may even have unknowingly heard his songs in placements on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy or Pretty Little Liars, but his sound is driven and ambitious.  Johnny Ashby gives us much more than is expected in “Born Again” and I’m looking forward to hearing more songs by him.

 

UK electronic singer and producer @TiggyHawke returns with the big bass beats of “Electric Sun”

TIGGY HAWKE, “Electric Sun”

I wrote about “For What It’s Worth”, Tiggy Hawke’s most recent single and collaboration with producers Sondr, back in the Spring, and it has since become her most-streamed song, clocking in at just under 4 million on Spotify alone.  The North Londoner’s unique style, sometimes reminiscent of an Ellie Goulding, takes a bit of time to nestle inside your head.  And with “Electric Sun” she moves away from a more lyrical electronic bent to one that’s heavy – and very welcome so – on the big bass beats.  Yes, “Electric Sun” is a punchy dance floor filler that one might associate with a Nora En Pure set in Ibiza, and will sound great in a large audience setting once those events resume.  With “Electric Sun”, Tiggy Hawke shows both her diversity in the dance music genre and her ability to take a risk that is already paying off in spades in the form of hundreds of thousands of streams within weeks of its release.

“MerryGoRound” by Kentucky’s @ChaseCimala mixes pre-Beatles pop/rock styles with a contemporary spin

CHASE CIMALA, “MerryGoRound”

Kentucky-based singer/songwriter Chase Cimala flexes his wide appeal with “MerryGoRound”, which follows up his sentimental and genuine 2020 ‘graduation’ song “Here’s To My Teenage Years”.  He mixes it up with “MerryGoRound” in his outstanding vocal where Michael Bublé flair joins forces with older school styles that recall both Ricky Nelson and Elvis.  With his rich tones, Chase can sing any genre of music and make it special.  “MerryGoRound” is a solid, romantic summer song brought to you by the cool guy next door.  Chase Cimala is a new talent with huge potential who’s deserving of your attention.

“You” is gritty soulful hip hop flavoured pop from Maine artist Shang-High

SHANG-HIGH, “You”

“You” is 3:19 of infectious and gritty soulful pop brought to your attention by Maine hip hop artist Shang-High.  The singer/songwriter has been off to a stellar start these past years with two albums and Spotify streams over one million for his song “What Did We Do”.  Since his last album in 2018, it’s been a steady outpouring of singles, and “You” definitely has all of the chops in place to draw in a variety of listeners.  Shang-High’s singing voice is totally on point, sometimes recalling a Daryl Hall or Jay Kay of Jamiroquai – and then it’s often brought to a raspy edge.  His hip hop break in “You” flows beautifully, and he’s clearly well-versed in that style (since hip hop isn’t my thing, I won’t even try to cite any influences), though to me it’s a secondary attraction in this particular song.  Overall, “You” is an energetic bop that will easily get stuck in your head.