“Broken” is a great way to start of 2022 for 19 year old Alfie Templeman, who has a busy year ahead of him. It’s a bright and chipper-sounding song whose melodies belie its more serious but relatable lyrics. We all sometimes feel broken and used up, and simply can’t give anymore. “Broken” wraps up those anxious feelings in a gentle story that’s given a positive spin by Alfie’s energetic vocal and a much more polished sound than past releases. Coming from the DIY world, it’s refreshing to hear someone grow quickly since I first wrote about him two years ago, and having new fans like Nile Rodgers can’t hurt. Alfie starts a few months of touring in March, releases his debut album Mellow Moon on May 27, and plays the Tramlines festival in Sheffield on July. There’s much more to come from Alfie so keep your ears ready during the next while!
As was anticipated from the last chart two weeks ago, this new edition of the BILLCS Top 30 gets shaken down pretty significantly. A lot of favourites leave or are about to leave the chart, and others slip down to make room for new ones. And surprisingly, there are another four debuts. But with the fast pace of the music industry it is next to impossible to keep up with all of the new songs that are released each week. I like to think that this blog offers some highlights that you should hear, but I still hear songs months after their release for the first time. And it’s only fair to independent performers who have been pushing out their songs as quickly as they can, to give them a chance for a review up to six months after their songs are released. I’ve seen it happen before, and all it takes sometimes is one door to open, and the song gets a new lease on life.
Just a reminder about my New Music Pick of the Week online radio segment: It now airs on four separate online radio stations! These are segments that usually last between four and a half and seven minutes, depending on the length of song being featured. If you participate in or own an online radio station, feel free to connect with me if you’re looking for additional programming like this!
“Bad Things” (above) by Swedish indie pop/rock quartet Louis Pax has been flying up my chart for the last month of so, and it’s only fitting that the song advances 4-1 this week. It’s a bright, feel good song with an amusing video and a terrific guitar solo that screams 80’s influences but sounds contemporary in its own lane. The band released a new softer new single recently, you can check out “Spanish Rain” below.
I can’t rave enough about Years & Years’ Night Call album. I think it’s now passed The Weeknd’s Dawn FM as my favourite album of 2022 so far (and it’s still early, mind you). So while “Sweet Talker” (with Galantis above) stays put at #2, the title song (below) advances 28-20.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to spread the love about Darren Hayes’ solo return to the pop music world after 10 years. And the song has been released without any expectations and any designs on radio play. So do take the time to enjoy “Let’s Try Being In Love”, which leaps 10-3. And your eyes will definitely be moist at the end. His vocal contribution on Louis La Roche’s “Cold To Me” gives Darren two songs in the Top 10, just like old times, as it climbs 12-9.
Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware offer up everything that was fun and memorable about disco music in “Kiss Of Life”, which climbs 9-6.
And speaking of The Weeknd, both of my featured songs from Dawn FM move up in fine fashion. First we have “Less Than Zero” (above) climbing 16-7, while current single “Sacrifice” (below) rises 22-15.
Rounding out the Top 10 in a big way this week is the punchy rock-flavoured “Pulling Me Down” by Emirati producers Revelries, which soars 19-10. It’s the duo’s third visit to the Top 10, following “Don’t Think Twice” (#2) and “Fall-Out” (#7).
The sound of Martin Garrix is evolving eight years after “Animals” created a defining moment in electronic dance music history. Now one of the richest producer/DJ’s in the world, he can write his own ticket, and working with Russian producers Matisse & Sadko and vocalist John Martin has given him one of his best recent singles, a natural for play at upcoming festivals called “Won’t Let You Go”, and it moves up 21-14. And is that Zedd collaboration actually coming soon? Hopefully all of the photo teasing of them together means that the song is on its way.
Given that The Chainsmokers have had 3 #1’s on my chart and 3 #2’s too, it’s no surprise that the incredibly infectious “High” flies up the chart as the Fastest Riser, moving 26-16.
Lifehouse’s rocking “Cut and Run” is wasting no time proving that a straight-ahead rock track still kicks ass in today’s music world. It climbs 24-17 and is culled from the EP Goodbye Kanan.
Arriving on the chart at #24 as the Highest Debut for the first time since 2014 is L.A.-based British electronic artist Frankmusik, and it’s with a song he didn’t even write. But the production and vocal here are outstanding so be sure to check out “The Half Moon Came Up In The Sky”. It’s Frankmusik’s 14th chart entry, which all began back in 2009 with “Confusion Girl” (#9).
L.A.’s Mahalo returns to the chart with his 11th chart entry, the piano-house track “Careless” at #25. It’s his second collaboration with Poland’s Milkwish – they previously charted together with “Alone Again” (#11) in 2019. The vocalist on the track is the fantastic Lena Leon. Mahalo’s last two entries, “Not Watching Anymore” and “Got That Love”, both went to #1 and were both in My Top 10 of 2021.
NYC singer/songwriter Victor Perry is also back on the chart with his 13th entry under his name (which includes the #1 “Myself In You” plus one entry under his project as a duo called Labrose) with German producers Saxity with the dance rave up “Oxygen” at #26. It’s Victor’s sixth time working with Saxity, previously charting with “You Found Me” (#8) and “Fantasy” (#4), and it’s Saxity’s 5th entry. I love hearing whatever they come up with together!
The fourth debut is NYC singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen’s 8th entry in less than two years, this time with Finnish producer Foxela, called “Think About You” at #28. With “To The Top” still hanging in at #30, “Think About You” continues Robbie’s unbroken streak of regular chart entries which began with last year’s “When I Lost You” on the March 15, 2021 chart.
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. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend New 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!
The 3D Variety Show by 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. The “3D Variety Show” now repeats on Friday evenings at 9pm EST on Radio GTA .
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on Radio GTA Wednesdays at 11:15 pm EST, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, on Halton Hills Onlineon Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST, and now on Mix88.ca‘s “Addictive Energy” show with Hunter Wilbur on Saturdays at 9pm EST.
It’s time for edition #23 of “10/10”, my blog feature in which I write about 10 hot and fresh songs in no particular order, for your kind consideration and attention. I continue to write individual blog posts about certain songs. That does not mean that songs in the 10/10 lists are any less than those featured individually. Writing “10/10” posts means I can just cover more songs in one shot with a few sentences about each. So you get to learn about more new music that I hear but I sometimes don’t get a chance to write about. Three songs featured in the last edition of “10/10” are currently on my chart: “Bad Things” by Louis Pax, “In My Head” by Paraleven and Fractures, and “Gracie” by Gabe James.
BENEDICT CORK, “Miracle”
The sound of British singer/songwriter Benedict Cork continues to evolve with “Miracle”. It’s an uplifting and entertaining song that moves at a deliberate pace, so you need to stick with it, and revel in Ben’s vocals and the harmonies which help make “Miracle” stand out. It’s especially well-written and absorbing, and follows up Ben’s well-received EP from last year called Secrets I’ll Never Tell.
VASSY and GT_OFICE, “Tuff”
In the dance music world, you can never go wrong giving a release by VASSY a spin. The veteran Aussie singer, songwriter and producer broke out in Australia and North America with her smash “We Are Young” in 2013, a #1 on Billboard’s dance club play chart, which was followed in subsequent years by 6 other #1’s – that is pretty amazing unto itself – gold and platinum certifications, and collaborations with David Guetta, Showtek, Dave Audé, KSHMR, Sultan + Shepard, Tiësto, The Disco Fries, and others. “Tuff”, in collaboration with Miami-based producer/DJ Gt_Ofice (aka “Caine”), will knock your socks off with its vibrant vocal and slick production that doesn’t hold back, guaranteed to stand out from any other dance tracks with which it’s played. VASSY’s winning streak continues with “Tuff”.
BIG GIGANTIC and PARTY PUPILS, “Renegade”
“Renegade” is one tight musical ball of fun that will leave you breathless after 3 minutes. Brought to you by the intriguing pairing of Colorado-based producers Big Gigantic and NYC’s Party Pupils – who are also all musicians, hence the big presence of real drums and saxophone here – “Renegade” is actually a house rework of late 90’s hyper-trance dance favourite “Renegade Master” by Wildchild, which was a Top 5 UK pop hit. Confession: “Renegade Master” drove me batty back in the day, so this tempered house take on the song is much appreciated. Both artists have the flair for making top notch tracks full of bounce to make you forget about everything else for a while, and Party Pupils’ biggest release thus far, with MAX and Oliver Heldens on “Set Me Free”, got to #8 on my chart in 2021. I’m hoping “Renegade” will catch the attention of some huge DJ’s. With late 90’s trance and techno very in vogue right now, crowds will go nuts for it if it’s played at a festival.
SHADOWKEY and JORDAN JANE, “Prisoner”
“Prisoner” has actually been on release for a while now but it’s one of those songs that needs to swim a bit in the huge sea of music before finding its believers. It’s an infectious tune with great vocals as brought to you by British producer Shadowkey – a behind-the-scenes music guy turned producer – and Cornwall, England singer/songwriter Jordan Jane. It’s another example of a song that doesn’t quite sound like anything else out there, but has enough polish and power behind it to pop out from the rest. “Prisoner” instantly caught my attention while listening to online radio station Mix88.ca, which airs my new music pick of the week each week, and online radio is definitely where it’s at for the best choices for new music. It’s a house track that has edgy rock elements to it, and it all goes down easy.
MEDII and CASEY COOK, “Don’t You Worry Child”
You’re probably wondering, just by looking at the title, if there is room for another cover of Swedish House Mafia’s essential “Don’t You Worry Child” (which reached #1 on my chart in 2012). The answer is a resounding YES, with this rendition by US/UK producers Medii and L.A.-based singer Casey Cook being a stripped back, emotional ballad version of the dance classic. The production is amazingly balanced, with a gorgeous vocal by Casey given full attention. Casey has sung before with Medii, and with artists like Wooli. She’s had her songs recorded by Tritonal, William Black, and others, and she was also a contestant on TV’s “Songland” who got to advance in the show to write with Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder and Shane McAnally. Medii is a well-respected duo who have released for Lowly Palace and Strange Fruits, as well as independently, with an album on the way this year . “Don’t You Worry Child” is a striking cover, equally as heart-warming as the original, that’s most deserving of your attention.
SHIRLEY EIKHARD, “Good News”
Shirley Eikhard is a Juno Award-winning Canadian pop-folk-country singer/songwriter most noted for writing Bonnie Raitt’s 90’s smash “Something To Talk About”. Her career began however as a teenager when she wrote “It Takes Time”, which was subsequently recorded by Anne Murray. She also had a domestic hit with “Say You Love Me”, a cover of the Fleetwood Mac song, which was released ahead of the Fleetwood Mac single and they ended up charting concurrently in the Top 40 in Canada. She has released many albums independently over the years and On My Way To You is her first in almost 10 years. It’s a refreshing and moody album that won’t disappoint her fans. The song that stands out for me is “Good News”, a jazz club piano ballad which seems to be well-timed as we come out of pandemic restrictions. Her voice is deeper now, richer sounding and in beautiful tone on “Good News”, which is a fine pick-me-up for you to enjoy.
SABRIEL, “Pulse”
Sabriel (pronounced shä brē el) is a unique voice on the new music scene hailing from Las Vegas. Her gentle neo-soul style is an interesting draw for her highly personal lyrics which often draw from past heartbreak and look towards the unknown as an open opportunity. According to the press release, “Pulse”, which is the title track from her recent EP, sings of “conditional love received in an abusive relationship”. That’s a very dark place for a songwriter to go to find not only positives out of the relationship, but also for it to be part of the healing process. The theme is all kind of hidden by her highly unique vocal, which might draw as much from Lana Del Rey and alternative pop as it does Billie Holiday and progressive jazz, and Sabriel leaves it up to the listener to connect with the song however they wish. Check out the video for “Pulse” above.
ALESSANDRA BOLDRINI, “What You Wanted”
Alessandra Boldrini is a new pop talent born and raised in Italy but based out of London. “What You Wanted” follows up the dance-pop of last year’s “Never Going Back” with a jazzier, more staccato melody and some cutting lyrics. Alessandra sings of a past lover with whom she had an invested relationship, who returns after having a “new life” as if nothing has changed. But this is where the tables get turned and he no longer returns to the comfort zone he once had. Along with the melody, Alessandra’s knowing and confident vocal sets the tone, and it’s left for the listener to use their imagination. “What You Wanted” is an above average and compelling release that’s waiting for you to hear.
JOHNNY STIMSON, “The Way It Was Before”
“The Way It Was Before” is a stripped-back new single by Dallas-born singer/songwriter Johnny Stimson, who follows up two recent EP’s, Flower, and Butterflies. The song is a quiet reflection on getting older, and how time flies when you really put your mind to it. Try as you might want to recreate them, some things just never will be the same again. It looks like “The Way It Was Before” is the start of a new string of story songs for Johnny, as the video above is identified as episode one with “to be continued” at the end. “The Way It Was Before” soaks in easily and Johnny’s vocal is warm with a simple, natural charm. The music of Johnny Stimson is something to keep your ears open for as it is unveiled.
AVA KAY, “Go”
Toronto’s Ava Kay returns with “Go”, a quietly uplifting new song about moving forward and leaving the past behind, without being afraid and keeping things on good terms. Ava’s beautiful voice was also showcased in last year’s “Wild Again”. She’s also a talented songwriter whose songs have been used in TV and film, and she’s worked with the likes of Afrojack, ATB, Raghav, and Tyler Shaw among others. The emotive melody of “Go” might make the song seem melancholy, but once you dig deeper into the lyrics you’ll hear how whatever sadness remains is turned into encouragement. Change is never easy and “Go” supports doing the right thing and starting a new chapter.
The winds of change are upon this chart with lots of activity in the Top 10, plus five debuts, one of which crashes onto the chart in the Top 10, something that used to happen in the earlier days of the chart, but not so much in recent years. Regardless of how busy the chart is, the only way for a song to get on the chart is that if I truly enjoy it a whole lot. That is the only criteria. Then they find their way up and around the chart in their own good time.
Just a quick note about my New Music Pick of the Week segment. It now airs on four separate online radio stations! These are segments that usually last between four and a half and seven minutes, depending on the length of song being featured. If you participate in or own an online radio station, feel free to connect with me if you’re looking for additional programming like this!
Getting a second appearance at #1 is the standout track “Unbreakable” (above) by TELYKast and Sam Gray. You can check out singer/songwriter Sam Gray on the brand new Armin van Buuren single “Human Touch” (below) too!
Cutting quickly to the chase by moving 6-2 is “Sweet Talker” (above) by Years & Years and Galantis, culled from the new Years & Years album Night Call, which debuted at #1 in the UK last Friday. And with the release of that wonderful album, you’ll find the title cut (below) debuting on this chart at #28. Galantis also continues an awesome series of singles with their latest “When The Lights Go Down” (also below), a collaboration with Canadian duo DVBBS and Australian singer Cody Simpson, well worth checking out too.
Jay Bird gets a personal best on the chart as his recent single “Float”, with TWSTD ZOO and Harley Bird, climbs 5-3. The song passes the #4 peak last year of his track “Escape”.
The Fastest Riser on the chart for the second time in a row is the supremely catchy “Bad Things” by rising Swedish pop/rock band Louis Pax, soaring 14-4. The band’s follow up single “Spanish Rain” arrives later this week.
Another really infectious dance single, “i don’t wanna talk about love” by L.A.’s Michael Medrano, climbs 9-5.
“Kiss Of Life” rises 11-9 becoming Kylie Minogue’s 9th Top 10 on this chart (her first since 2015) and Jessie Ware’s 10th.
Exploding onto the chart at #10 is “Let’s Try Being In Love” (above), the most welcome first solo single by Darren Hayes in 10 years. It’s a lush, sophisticated song about self-realization that is accompanied by a video, somewhat inspired by the film “Call Me By Your Name”, which has an ending that will generate some tears. “Let’s Try” is Darren’s 13th Top 10 on this chart and the song to keep an eye on in the next two weeks. It accompanies his recent feature on buddy Louis La Roche’s song “Cold To Me” (below), which moves up 13-12.
The Weeknd’s two chart entries from his excellent Dawn FM album will continue to make waves in the coming weeks. “Less Than Zero” (above) moves up 22-16, and the single “Sacrifice” (below) climbs 27-21.
The Chainsmokers are back with the first single from their upcoming fourth album. The song is “High” (#26) and it premiered on Friday with an entertaining video, unless you’re afraid of heights. The guys are back in form with a new song that straddles pop and dance genres quite aptly. It’s their first chart appearance since 2019’s “Do You Mean” and their 12th overall since 2015.
British dance producer Jonas Blue often takes you to unexpected places with his songs that end up becoming long time favourites. A great example of that is his first hit, a poignant cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” (which reached #3 on this chart) that leaves the original intact while giving off its own unique impression. Jonas Blue’s 5th chart entry is “Don’t Wake Me Up” at #27, and once again features an unanticipated collaboration with L.A. pop/rock band Why Don’t We. The energy in the song is contagious and it works well. Why Don’t We were on this chart a year ago with their first entry “Fallin’ (Adrenaline)”, which reached #8.
The fifth debut at #29 is from L.A.-based, Colorado-born indie pop/rock artist Gabe James, whose talent and charm goes a long way with “Gracie”, evident in the visualizer video above, from his recent EP City of Lost Angels.
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. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend New 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!
The 3D Variety Show by 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 Wednesdays at 11:15 pm EST, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, on Halton Hills Online on Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST, and now on Mix88.ca‘s “Addictive Energy” show with Hunter Wilbur on Saturdays at 9pm EST.
This post kicks off the 24th anniversary of the BILLCS Top 30! After posting my chart on message boards, chat threads, and comments on websites back in 1997, I decided to formalize the chart as a bi-weekly Top 10 in January 1998, and it evolved into a Top 30 later that year. I started posting it on the old Geocities web service (which got bought by Yahoo), and then I started my own message board, Charts Central. That message board became M4B Charts Central in 2003. I started writing the BILLCS Music Blog in 2009, so my chart had a more permanent home.
Make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
It ended 2021 on the national dance radio charts at #1, and it’s starting 2022 on top of my chart – I’m talking about “Unbreakable” (above) by L.A. dance producers TELYKast with Nashville singer/songwriter Sam Gray. TELYKast are already taking this to another level, remixing none other than Jennifer Lopez on her latest single “On My Way (Marry Me)”, which you can check out below.
“Play It Cool” by Menrva and Island Banks took its time from initially charting at #30, and the catchy R&B/dance song has made it all the way to #2.
Bay area producer Jay Bird gets his second Top 5 on this chart with “Float” (above) in collaboration with fellow producers TWSTD ZOO and vocalist Harley Bird. Jay also released a follow up single “Promises”, which you can check out below.
“Sweet Talker” (above) by Years & Years and Galantis is one to watch as it climbs 9-6 while we await the new Years & Years album Night Call, the first Y&Y album that is an Olly Alexander release. Another bright preview from the album is available for you below called “Sooner Or Later”.
Michael Medrano’s so infectious “i don’t wanna talk about love” (above) is the first of two songs to land in the Top 10, moving up 13-9, while “River” (below) by The Knocks and Parson James follows suit, up 14-10. It’s the 7th trip to the Top 10 for The Knocks.
I think that if a major label picked up “Cold To Me” by Louis La Roche and Darren Hayes, it would be a huge hit! It’s got a familiar melody and is lifted by the presence of Darren, whose first release it is in many years. “Cold To Me” is from Louis’ album We’re Not So Different and climbs 19-13.
The Fastest Riser on the chart zips up 24-14 by Swedish pop/rock band Louis Pax with “Bad Things”. It’s one of the most infectious songs out there with a commanding vocal by Oscar and all sorts of 80’s vibes, including saxophone. Keep your eyes and ears on this one!
Also moving up the chart briskly are “Sweet Vibrations” (above) by Karen Harding (26-18) and “Pulling Me Down” (below), the latest from Emirati producers Revelries (29-20), two more to watch in the coming weeks.
The first two debuts, including the Highest Debut, are brought to you from the totally splendid Dawn FM album by The Weeknd. My fellow Scarborough, Ontario native – we’re actually from the same area of the city, though I had moved from the area by the time he was born – timed his release perfectly, with a winning, absorbing concept, along with several tunes that will keep him on the charts again for the rest of the year and into 2023! “Less Than Zero” (above) is my favourite and it bows at #22, while the zesty single “Sacrifice” (below) arrives at #27. They become his 9th and 10th entries on this chart.
Another artist getting his 10th entry on the chart is Dutch producer Martin Garrix, who has been jumping back and forth happily with a variety of dance music styles on his recent releases. He appeared last year on the chart with “Pressure” (featuring Tove Lo, #13), and is back this time with Russian producers Matisse & Sadko and Swedish singer John Martin – the voice of Swedish House Mafia’s “Don’t You Worry Child” (#1, 2012) – with “Won’t Let You Go”, which bows at #25. It’s a sensational, commanding single that you won’t be able to get out of your head, and it doubles as a powerful song to play at festivals.
The fourth debut belongs to another chart returnee, the 12th entry for California rockers Lifehouse with “Cut and Run” from their recent EP Goodbye Kanan at #29. “Hanging By A Moment” is now a pop classic and was my #1 song of 2001. I was fortunate to see the band when they played my city back in 2017, and it was a great set that showed how many truly great songs they have amassed in a 20+ year career. The band now releases its music independently, so be sure to check this one out.
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. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend New 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!
The 3D Variety Show by 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 Wednesdays at 11:15 pm EST, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, on Halton Hills Online on Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST, and now on Mix88.ca‘s “Addictive Energy” show with Hunter Wilbur on Saturdays at 9pm EST.
Irish folk music is hardly a sub-genre that I often write about, but when it crosses over with pop flavours and an intriguing story, then I know my readers will enjoy the song. Niall McNamee is a singer, songwriter and actor, who has worked with Pierce Brosnan, Jackie Chan and Bono on-screen and offers a sad but hopeful tale in “All I Need”. Because the song is arranged as a celebratory anthem of life, you won’t know till you dig in deeper after a couple of listens that the song is about a man seeing his life flash before his eyes before he passes. Niall’s personable and engaging voice draws you in, in a similar way to Mike Scott of The Waterboys, which makes the lyrics ring true and softens the emotional impact, and in turn you are more inclined to cheer a life well-lived rather than mourn it. “All I Need” is a song that’s hard not to like and enjoy. A radio edit of the song is also available at the link below.
“Sun” is indeed a bright, optimistic light in the world of independent alternative pop music. The singer/songwriter is Berlin-based Jamila Al-Yousef who offers a cool chamber pop arrangement to reinforce the positive message behind “Sun”, which is not to fight yourself, just show up, and get on with making your day the best that it can be, using the sun rising and setting as food-for-thought imagery. Jamila’s vocal is likeable and could easily be inspired by legends like Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Joan Baez. But she brings another dimension to that inspiration through her culture as a daughter of Palestinian immigrants, and she was in fact born on the day the Berlin Wall fell. Known in Germany as a cultural and political activist and also as a teacher, Jamila Al-Yousef brings a lot of perspective to her music which we can enjoy and appreciate.
Last year’s songs have been put to bed, time to move forward with more great new music for 2022! A bunch of favourites departed the last chart after reaching the maximum of 10 appearances (20 weeks), so I have four debuts for you. Let’s see what music trends and perhaps revivals 2022 has in store for us.
Make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
While there’s plenty of movement on this new chart, the Top 3 songs remain the same. Darin’s beautiful ballad “Holding Me More” (above) has a third appearance (sixth week) at #1, after finishing #6 for 2021. It’s followed by “To The Top”, the formidable anthem by Natixx, Lyonbrotherz and singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen at #2, after finishing #19 for 2021, and “Play It Cool” (below) by Menrva and Island Banks steady at #3 after finishing #31 for 2021.
Positioning itself accordingly up 5-4 is TELYKast’s national dance radio number one song “Unbreakable” featuring singer/songwriter Sam Gray. Will it crack through the Top 3 in two weeks? Stay tuned!
The first of three arrivals in the Top 10 is the second Top 10 for Bay area producer Jay Bird who is teamed with fellow producers TWSTD ZOO and vocalist Harley Bird for “Float”, which zips up the chart 14-6. Jay Bird’s first Top 10, “Escape”, finished #34 for 2021.
Brandyn Burnette & Charlotte Sands’ heartfelt duet “Everything” continues into 2022 after finishing #78 for 2021, by rising 10-7 on the chart.
Up 13-8 is “Out Of The Dark”, the third Top 10 on this chart for Austin electronic dance music favourites Tritonal. Their electronic ballad “Broken” (with Adam Lambert on vocals) reached #4 in 2016, while “Shivohum” (with Henry Dark) was #1 exactly two years ago. “Out Of The Dark” features vocalist EMME in a Morgin Madison remix.
The Fastest Riser for the second chart in a row is an exuberant song that just sparkles, and I hope will get more attention with the start of 2022. It’s “Sweet Talker” by Years & Years and Galantis, which leaps 18-9, becoming Y&Y’s 8th Top 10 and Galantis’ 2nd. Watch for Y&Y’s new album Night Call before the end of the month!
Keep your eyes and ears on “i don’t wanna talk about love” by L.A. singer/songwriter Michael Medrano, as it climbs 20-13.
Buffalo NY native Grabbitz offers a happy mix of dark electronic synths with brooding alt.rock vibes on “Pain Killer”, which rises 25-17.
It’s a classic ballad in many shapes and forms, which is what makes it work so well. British electronic producer Louis La Roche got best bud Darren Hayes to sing “Cold To Me”, which moves up 26-19, from Louis’ recent album We’re Not So Different.
Georgia electronic producer Paraleven had his recent album Apollo released by Rüfüs du Sol’s new label, Rose Avenue. Along with vocalist Fractures, a standout track from the album is “In My Head”, which climbs 27-20.
The Highest Debut on the chart is by Swedish pop/rock band Louis Pax, bringing back a lot of 80’s flavours (including saxophone) on their new single “Bad Things”, whish arrives at #24.
As if one song wasn’t enough, Karen Harding gets a second song on the chart this week with the riveting house track that is also the title of her recent EP, Sweet Vibrations, and it debuts at #26. Karen had four songs in my Top 100 of 2021, so she will undoubtedly continue to be a regular visitor to the chart!
If you enjoy Paraleven’s “In My Head”, then you’ll also like the similarly dreamy “Locked Out” by Boston duo Tall Heights, from their recent EP Flyin’ Overhead, and “Locked Out” bows at #27.
Rounding out the debuts at #29 is the edgy rock-flavoured dance track “Pulling Me Down” by Emirati duo Revelries. It’s the guys’ fifth appearance on the chart, which includes two Top 10’s.
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. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend New 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 (returning on January 4)– 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 Wednesdays at 11:15 pm EST, Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, and on Halton Hills Online on Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST! The segment has also been picked up by Mix88.ca and details about when it will be played will be coming soon!
The end of 2021 is upon us, and edition #629 is my last chart of the year, with the next one coming on January 3. At the very end of this year, I will have the BILLCS Top 100 of 2021 for you. This is the first year I’ve compiled a Top 100 since the mid-90’s. There was simply a lot of great music this year and I want to highlight my 100 favourite songs. I’ll do that not only through a blog post, but also through a pre-recorded radio program. My year end BILLCS Top 30 will be broadcast on a few of my online radio station affiliates, and I will confirm which ones and when in my socials! I’m truly blessed to be able to have the time and the access to so much fine music which I have written about during the year. I’m always here for the underdogs. There are so many artists who should be signed to major record label deals that it makes my head spin.
Make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
Darin’s “Holding Me More” easily gets a second appearance at #1. Not many ballads ever make it to the top of my chart, but you can be sure that when they do, they are top notch!
The Top 5 has got crowded to see which song will succeed “Holding Me More” at #1 when that happens. “To The Top” (above), the fanciful anthem by Natixx, Lyonbrotherz and Robbie Rosen, rises 3-2, while “Play It Cool” (below), featuring the slick deep house style of UK/Irish producers Menrva and the snappy vocal by Island Banks, climbs 8-3.
Then there’s “Angel” (above) by Sonny Fodera and Clementine Douglas, which reaches a new peak by moving up 6-4. And bounding into the Top 5 up 12-5 is “Unbreakable” (below) by TELYKast and Sam Gray, which reached #1 on the national dance radio tracks this week. And even better – it’s one of a few independent releases on the radio chart.
UK dance chanteuse Karen Harding gets her fifth consecutive Top 10 on my chart with “You & I (All I Need)” (above), which rises 11-8. Check out this fun banger, the title track from her recent EP Sweet Vibrations, below.
“Everything” by Brandyn Burnette & Charlotte Sands (15-10) becomes Brandyn’s 14th Top 10 on my chart (including features and one under his other performing name EMAN8), and his second this year, following “Airplane Mode” (#9).
The three debuts from the last chart all make nice moves and should likely move up the chart swiftly in the coming month. The Fastest Riser is “Sweet Talker” (above) by Years & Years and Galantis, which soars 26-18. Toronto’s Scott Helman has a radio hit in the making with “Pretty” (also above), which moves up 27-21. And Kylie Minogue and Jessie Ware’s new disco anthem “Kiss Of Life” (below) climbs 28-22.
Four songs make their debuts. The Highest Debut belongs to Buffalo, New York’s Grabbitz with his alt.electronic track “Pain Killer” (above) at #25. It’s Grabbitz’s second appearance on my chart. He first appeared last year with Rezz on the alternative radio and dance smash “Someone Else” (#5). Next, at #26 is “Cold To Me” (also above) by British producer Louis La Roche, who recruited none other than Darren Hayes to sing this pensive ballad, which comes from Louis’ album We’re Not So Different. Darren has now appeared 17 times on my chart as a solo artist, but this is his first appearance since his delightful cover of Madonna’s “Angel” (#11) – the flip side of his 45 of “Talk Talk Talk” – charted in the summer of 2012.
At #27 is “In My Head” (above) by chart newcomers Atlanta producer Paraleven and Australian vocalist/songwriter Fractures. This is culled from the first release from Rüfüs Du Sol’s label Rose Avenue, Paraleven’s album Apollo, which is well-worth checking out. And Norway’s Matoma returns to the chart for the first time since 2018 and as an independent artist with “Never Surrender” (#28, below), which features Kodaline vocalist Steve Galligan in a fresh and powerful anthem. It’s Matoma’s fourth chart entry.
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. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend New 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!
Rebel Kicks is a duo comprising NYC brothers Anthony and Steven Babino, who have a compelling and energetic sound on “We Should Go Missing” that probably translates well from their live performances. “Missing” follows up Rebel Kicks’ album A Portrait Of Man: Part One, and it’s a euphoric rock anthem of escapism that sings about that magical place where we can all be free and happy. That’s not a new theme by any means, but Rebel Kicks have all of the key elements in their favour – passionate vocals, tight musicianship, well-grounded production, and a vibrant, memorable melody. Sometimes it’s harder for bands who play live to translate what they do well to record or vice-versa. “We Should Go Missing” is one song that you’ll want to experience in concert.
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