Regular readers of this blog know that two songs from 2015 that I wrote about prominently were “Guilty As Sin” (which finished as my #10 song of the year) and “My Religion” by Toronto singer/songwriter Dan Talevski. Dan’s talent can slide very easily into the list of many Canadian performers that broke out in 2015, but he will need a few more songs under his belt to find that wider audience that will eat up his songs. “Knock Me Off My Feet” is simply sweet 80’s-influenced pop/R&B (with obvious an obvious Michael Jackson reference point) that will have no problem getting national radio play across Canada and could easily turn heads outside of Canada. It contains a universal message with another fine vocal that fits into the pop/R&B style so smoothly. It’s not as spicy or edgy as his previous singles lyrically but Dan Talevski is well on his way with “Knock”, which should have some long legs and last through the summer. Pick it up on iTunes.
01 BRANDYN BURNETTE I Wanna Be (Free) 02 YEARS & YEARS Shine 03 ADELE Hello 04 COREY NILES F/ ALEX LACASSE Chasing Stars 05 YEARS & YEARS King 06 RIVER TIBER Let You Go 07 BRANDYN BURNETTE Sleeve 08 RIVER TIBER No Talk 09 COLOR THEORY Headphones (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) 10 DAN TALEVSKI Guilty As Sin 11 DENIZ KOYU VS TWOLOUD Goin’ Down 12 THE CHAINSMOKERS F/ GREAT GOOD FINE OK Let You Go (Tiesto Remix) 13 REIGEN Come Back To Me 14 ERIK HASSLE No Words 15 DNCE Cake By The Ocean 16 NATHAN SYKES Kiss Me Quick 17 CHRIS JAMISON Velvet 18 BRANDYN BURNETTE Life’s A Beach 19 THE KNOCKS & MATTHEW KOMA I Wish (My Taylor Swift) 20 TRIBE SOCIETY F/ KIESZA Pain Told Love 21 JESSIE WARE Pieces 22 SMASHING SATELLITES Waterfall 23 ADAM LAMBERT Ghost Town 24 ERASURE Sacred 25 SANDER VAN DOORN, MARTIN GARRIX & DVBBS F/ ALEESIA Gold Skies 26 JESSIE WARE Champagne Kisses 27 ANTONIO GIACCA Sensation 28 PARRALOX Aeronaut 29 DAN TALEVSKI My Religion 30 PENGUIN PRISON Show Me The Way 31 ERIC SAADE Sting 32 GREAT GOOD FINE OK F/ ST. LUCIA Something To Believe In 33 ELI LIEB Lightning In A Bottle 34 BRANDON FLOWERS Can’t Deny My Love 35 CHIC F/ NILE RODGERS I’ll Be There 36 GRAHAM ALEXANDER She’S A Chameleon 37 BOJANA STAMENOV Beauty Never Lies 38 NERVO F/ KYLIE MINOGUE, JAKE SHEARS & NILE RODGERS The Other Boys 39 LUCIEN DANTE Black Water 40 FRANCESCO YATES Better To Be Loved 41 GIORGIO MORODER F/ SIA Deja Vu 42 ERASURE Reason 43 TYLER SHAW Dizzy 44 FALL OUT BOY Uma Thurman 45 YEARS & YEARS Desire 46 GIORGIO MORODER F/ KYLIE MINOGUE Right Here, Right Now 47 MIKKY EKKO Riot 48 CHARLIE PUTH F/ MEGHAN TRAINOR Marvin Gaye 49 LIFEHOUSE Hurricane 50 DATABOY F/ NIKO THE KID When It Rains, It Pours 51 SHIFT K3Y I Know 52 ANTONIO GIACCA Ignited 53 NEW ORDER Plastic 54 SAM SMITH Writing’s On The Wall 55 KRISTINE W. Love Come Home 56 MARTIN LUKE BROWN Take Out Of Me 57 ANTON EWALD Save The Last Dance 58 DISCLOSURE F/ SAM SMITH Omen 59 JULLY BLACK Fever 60 THE WEEKND I Can’T Feel My Face 61 SAM SMITH Lay Me Down 62 SMASHING SATELLITES What It’s All About 63 GIORGIO MORODER F/ FOXES Wildstar 64 STEVE GRAND Time 65 ELEVEN PAST ONE There’s Nothing Wrong 66 THE WEEKND Earned It 67 BOYCODE It’s A Mistake 68 JAMES BAY Hold Back The River 69 MATTHEW KOMA So F**Kin’ Romantic 70 ADAM LAMBERT The Light 71 LAWSON Roads 72 SAM SMITH Like I Can 73 DANIEL ROBINSON Moonmolt 74 TRISTAN THOMPSON Burn Again 75 MI DISGUISE East Side Bay
The new chart is crammed with new music on the rise that is deserving of your attention! Three debuts add to the fun 🙂
The Top 10
Yes, I am in Camp “Hello”. Adele gets a second appearance at the top. I’m not sure when she will give it up or to whom, always fun to wait and see.
Joe Jonas and DNCE get a personal best on my chart with “Cake By The Ocean” rising to #2. It tops Joe’s own “Make You Mine” from 2012, which peaked at #3. The band was a wild party in Toronto a couple of weeks back (photo below). I’m waiting for their new song “Naked” to surface on an upcoming release.
It’s one of those clever songs that you just want to learn the lyrics so that you can sing along. “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” by The Knocks & Matthew Koma rises 6-4.
While Dan Talevski’s “My Religion” appears to have peaked at #5, I didn’t want to go without highlighting his beautiful, completely on-point recent acoustic cover of Adele’s “Hello”. Pretty flawless and the best I’ve heard of several. Available for free download atDan’s Soundcloud pagetoo!
Chicago’s Lucien Dante has held a steady pace in the Top 10 as the unique sound of “Black Water” climbs to #6, from his album Our Of We. “Black Water” is still available as afree download.
There’s plenty of competition ahead but Brandyn Burnette’s “Nothing At All” from his Made Of Dreams EP is a force to be reckoned with on the chart as it soars 14-7.
It’s been more traditional fare than ever for Sam Smith so it hasn’t really captured the hearts of radio listeners, but you cannot deny his supurb performance on the “Spectre” theme “Writing’s On The Wall”, which moves up to #11.
I’m going to take advantage of a live acoustic clip that Brandyn Burnette posted of “Lost (Stripped)”, which rises 20-12. It features his talented gal Molly Moore (who co-wrote it) – completely honest, earnest talent at work here. The original appears on Brandyn’s Made Of Dreams EP.
The fastest riser on the chart is the joyous Elephante remix of Mako’s “Smoke Filled Room” which vaults 26-13. It’s one of those unassuming songs in its original mix that benefits from this killer remix, which is also a free download below.
Ms Anonymous is the title song from the recent EP by MAX (Schneider) featuring Jared Evan that shoots right up through the middle of the chart, landing at #15 from #25. MAX is touring throughout the USA in various cities in December.
Their new album Astoria definitely harkens back to the Masterpiece Theatre days, full of great songwriting and Josh Ramsay powerhouse vocals. “One Love” is the single release and it rises 19-16.
There’s already a new single coming from Nathalie Archangel, after peaking within the Top 25 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart with “A Higher High”, which continues to climb here 27-23.
Debuts
I have to recall the fun concert in May by Matt and Kim, who always put on a fine high energy show. It’s only 2:11 but “Make A Mess” is a bubbly, jazzy, almost ska-sounding bit of fun from their New Glow album, and it arrives at #28.
I’m hoping club DJ’s will latch on to Rozalla’s “The Shadows Of The Moon” in the same way they did “If You Say It Again” earlier this year, which got to #3. This pairing with producer/DJ’s House Of Virus is irresistible for the dance floor, and bows at #29 (from the same songwriting team of Nathalie Archangel’s “A Higher High” too!).
The last debut would not have sounded out of place at all on either of Bright Light Bright Light’s album releases to date. As a featured artist, Rod Thomas teams up with German producer/DJ Final DJS for “Lost In Feelings” at #30. And it’s a free download too!
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂
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
Planet Radio Canada is back! You can hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.caevery Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!
Despite a bit of a busy spell which meant much less blog posts than usual since the last chart, I hope to make up for that during the next two weeks! The chart continues to be busy with a new #1 and four debuts. So without further adieu…
The Top 10
“Let You Go”, the R&B-infused single from River Tiber’s When The Time Is Right EP, garners the pole position. It’s River Tiber’s third jaunt at #1, following 2012’s “Someday” and 2013’s “The City”. But Tommy Paxton-Beesley is definitely on the right track with his new songs; River Tiber’s recent performance at Adelaide Hall in Toronto to me was a personal best! Folks, be sure to check out When The Time Is Right on iTunes.
Zipping all the way to #6 we go for a new Top 10 entry from Brooklyn’s Great Good Fine OK, who also reside with The Chainsmokers at #3 with the other “Let You Go”. “Something To Believe In” is the compelling duet with St. Lucia full of gorgeous vocals and instrumentation. It’s from GGFO’s EP 2M2H.
Vancouver’s Tyler Shaw is on point with his current single “Dizzy” from his debut album Yesterday. You can hear it all across Canada on the radio (all the more reason for international readers to find this out with online radio links). “Dizzy” climbs to #7.
Venturing into my city for a concert with a serious of guest singers is Disclosure, who with Sam Smith glide up to #8 with “Omen”. It’s their third Top Tenner following last year’s #1 “Latch” (with Sam) and #10 “F For You” (with Mary J. Blige).
Also new in the Top 10, following that infectious seductive piece of business called “Guilty As Sin” (which peaked at #3, and falls off the chart) is a soft and sinewy number called “My Religion” by Toronto’s Dan Talevski, climbing 18-9. Canadians continue to boom in the Top 10, with River Tiber, Tyler Shaw, and Dan all aboard (Dan also co-wrote Tyler’s previous single “House of Cards”).
Sugar can get stuck easily but with a little persuasion it can be moved. After holding at #13, “Sugar” by Robin Schulz and Francesco Yates continues to advance up to #11, with its amusing slapsticky video well worth watching.
While Brandyn Burnette’s #1 “I Wanna Be (Free)” had a deservedly phenomenal ride on this chart for the last 20 weeks, it moves down to #2 and will depart the chart, leaving room for the heartfelt and catchy “Life’s A Beach” to continue to rise. It leaps 22-12. A reminder – it’s available for free from Brandyn’s website as part of The Bright Side Mixtape.
Dance clubs totally get it and the so song is headed for the Top 20 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart. Matthew Koma’s “So F**kin’ Romantic” moves up 17-14 – more Matthew to come!
Can you say DNCE?? Well if you like to DNCE then you can say it 😛 Joe Jonas’ new project is well on its way with the carefree “Cake By The Ocean” climbing 25-17. Check out the new video above, which is light years away from The Jonas Brothers.
Like Brandyn Burnette and Great Good Fine OK, Sam Smith has two entries in the chart, the latest being the theme from the upcoming James Bond movie “SPECTRE”, “Writing’s On The Wall”, which moves up 23-19.
“Bow Tie” by Diego Gomes (another Canadian!) gets far too easily stuck between your ears thanks to a snappy vocal and clever lyrics. It rises 27-21.
Premiering
Leading the debuts is “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)”, a special pairing off DJ/producers The Knocks and singer Matthew Koma at #24. Despite its title and subject matter, it’s a really clever song with a laid back, dreamy melody. It’s the second appearance for The Knocks on this chart, following their 2013 cover of M83’s “Midnight City” with Mandy Lee (#8).
Arriving for the first time since 2005’s “Krafty” (#5) on this chart is enduring UK quintet New Order, one of my favourite bands of all time who have recorded many must-have’s in my book – “Blue Monday”, “The Perfect Kiss”, “Fine Time”, the list goes on and on. Their latest album and first for Mute Records is Music Complete – their best IMO since 1989’s Technique. “Plastic” is the second single, which bows at #25. It’s New Order creating dance music at its best, drawing from numerous influences through the 70’s to their own music and perhaps even Bernard Sumner’s 90’s side project Electronic. Turn it up loud and move those feet!
Bowing at #28 is a duet between 17 year old Swedish star Zara Larsson and new UK sensation MNEK with “Never Forget You”. The pairing is just dynamite, and I predict great things for both song and singers. Readers of this blog know that I’ve written about MNEK several times since 2012, when the talented singer/writer/producer – who recently co-wrote and sang on Madonna’s “Living For Love” (!) – was also just 17. He’s since been similarly behind the scenes for UK #1’s by Oliver Heldens, Little Mix, and Duke Dumont, too.
Rounding out the chart at #29 is the latest single from Years & Years’ still-stunning debut album Communion. The gorgeous ballad “Eyes Shut” debuts as long-lasting #1 “Shine” leaves the chart. It’s the group’s fourth chart entry also following “King” (#1) and “Desire” (#7).
You can hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.ca every Monday after 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!
It’s Fall in North America and new music is plentiful! Old favourites exit to make room for six FAB new tunes this week! And there’s a surprise for you at the top…
The Top 10
Brandyn Burnette returns to the top for a 5th non-consecutive appearance (10th week) with “I Wanna Be (Free)”. This is the first time that a song has spent longer than one chart appearance (2 weeks) to return to the top – and after Years & Years held court for 3 appearances (6 weeks) with “Shine”. It’s also the first time a song has held #1 for 5 appearances since Darren Hayes did it (and twice in one year!) with “How To Build A Time Machine” at the end of 2007. Listen and watch for a different take on “I Wanna Be (Free)” featuring rapper Nevelle. It just goes to show how diverse and open to interpretation the song is – which is a great thing for Brandyn Burnette and his songwriting!
Most likely to succeed “I Wanna Be (Free)” at the top now is last week’s high flying debut “Let You Go” by Toronto’s River Tiber, which soars 10-3. Maybe we will see River Tiber (aka Tommy Paxton-Beesley) in the Top 10 national charts one day with Drake and The Weeknd too, given this week’s Canadian domination of the Billboard Top 10. “Let You Go”, one of those strange, paradoxical love stories, is culled from River Tiber’s latest and best record to date, When The Time Is Right.
Right behind “Let You Go” is our other “Let You Go” – the free download by The Chainsmokers featuring hot R&B/pop band Great Good Fine OK at #4. Wait for that Tiesto rave up to get going and then it’s non-stop party!
Advancing to #5 is “Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society featuring Kiesza. If you pay close enough attention to this one, you will need a few tissues handy. It’s a beautiful, idiosyncratic perspective on our opposite sentiments and how they sometimes need to come together to prevent us from losing grip on everything that is good about living.
Finally in the Billboard Dance Club Play Top 10 – NERVO/Kylie/Jake/Nile and “The Other Boys” – climbing up to #6.
New to the Top 10 at #10 for his first appearance on this chart is the impressive “Dizzy” by British Columbia native – and former MUCHMusic Covers winner – Tyler Shaw!
Movin’ On Up
Jane Badler’s dark and slinky “Dead Eyes” (Eel Eye Club Mix) from her latest album Opus is on a roll, rising 18-15. Could it become her third Top 10 on this chart, following “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” and “Losing You”?
While I’m also loving Matthew Koma’s whimsical collaboration with The Knocks on “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)”, his own “So F**kin’ Romantic” continues to climb up 19-17 as we await his new solo album.
The remaining debuts from last week are all off to fantastic starts and they follow each other up the chart 6 places – “My Religion” by Toronto pop/soul singer Dan Talevski at #18, “Wildstar” by Giorgio Moroder featuring a vibrant Foxes vocal at #19, and at #20 Adam Lambert’s dance rave-up “The Light”, though his record company has opted to release “Another Lonely Night” as the next single from The Original High.
At #22 is a song that’s been around for a while (I wrote about it in September 2014), but now also available for free as a download from Brandyn Burnette’s website as a part of The Bright Side mixtape. Check out “Life’s A Beach” and revisit the warm-hearted video. It will help us bide our time till new Brandyn music when his EP Made Of Dreams is released.
Sam Smith has managed to claim the latest James Bond movie theme all to himself – and “Writing’s On The Wall” (#23) is every bit as good as Adele’s “Skyfall”, and managed to get to #1 in the UK, which “Skyfall” did not. Next stop: Oscar? Grammy? Who knows. Sam’s been to #1 four times here with “Stay With Me”, “Money On My Mind”, “I’m Not The Only One”, and his collaboration with Disclosure on “Latch”. And of course he is at #11 with Disclosure with “Omen”.
Joe Jonas is large and in charge with the vibrant “Cake By The Ocean” by his new band DNCE, so the song bows at #25. Joe has had three previous solo entries on the chart: “Make You Mine” (#3), “Not Right Now” (#6), and “Just In Love” (#13).
I’ve enjoyed every Marianas Trench album since Fix Me bowed in late 2006 for the British Columbia based band. They’re back with album four called Astoria, also released Stateside by Cherrytree/Interscope, and the latest single from that is a softer song for them that shows off Josh Ramsay’s restraint and range, “One Love”, which arrives at #26. Of their 9 chart appearances, he Trench’s best showing on this chart to date has been with “Masterpiece Theatre Part 1”, which reached #4 in 2009.
Last but by no means least is the fun-tastic “Bow Tie” by Toronto’s 18 year old Diego Gomes which lands at #27. The winner of Canada’s The Next Star back in 2010 is well on his way with a great song like this.
You can hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:15 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!
The top of the chart continues to be difficult to dislodge though that will likely change in October. For we have an impressive debut in the Top 10, and a fast riser from one of the last chart’s debuts. Two debuts are also album cuts where I dive deeper into the album hoping for additional singles 🙂
The Top 10
Uno, dos, tres, quatro… Y&Y, Brandyn, Nathan, and PP, once again all comfortably atop the chart.
I thoroughly enjoyed Years & Years in concert last week. They were able to pretty much replicate the songs from Communion, with “Shine” (my current #1), “Real”, “King”, “Memo”, and “Foundation” all standouts, plus a cover of Blu Cantrell’s 2003 UK #1 “Breathe”. Olly Alexander has a genuine and affecting stage presence that will take him far 🙂
A definite contender for the top of the chart is “Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society featuring Kiesza, which climbs 9-6. It definitely marks the transformation of the former pop/rock Gentlemen Hall into the darker and thoughtful alt.rock songs of Tribe Society.
It baffles me why this song isn’t being played in every club everywhere, but “The Other Boys” by NERVO featuring super-friends Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears, and Nile Rodgers, advances 11-8 from the dance production duo’s album Collateral.
Just can’t get enough of songs by The Weeknd right now. My fellow Torontonian is now at superstar heights, with three almost sold out dates in November at Toronto’s own Air Canada Centre. “Can’t Feel My Face” climbs 14-9.
Another Torontonian, Tommy Paxton-Beesley, definitely has created some of his best music for his brand new EP as River Tiber called When The Time Is Right. He’s shifting from progressive alt.rocker to an inventive mix of EDM, rock, soul, and hip hop. No more is that evident on the new River Tiber single “Let You Go” (up top), which bows at #10, following the #2 “No Talk” also included in When The Time Is Right. “Let You Go” is River Tiber’s 8th BILLCS Top 30 entry which includes two previous #1’s “Someday” and “The City”. Simply not to be missed – and a contender for #1 on my chart – get When The Time Is Right on iTunes! 🙂
And now for a bit of BILLCS chart geekery: “Let You Go” arrives in the Top 10 at the same time as “Let You Go” by The Chainsmokers & Great Good Fine OK is at #5. It’s the first time two different songs with the same title have been in the Top 10!
Movin’ on Up
After a wonderful set at his release party last week for his debut album Yesterday, Tyler Shaw makes no hesitation to weigh in as the Fastest Riser on the chart with “Dizzy” soaring 21-11.
While UK brother duo Disclosure continues to unveil new songs from their upcoming album Caracal, their partnership with Sam Smith continues to build with “Omen” rising 18-12.
NYC duo (a five piece band in concert though!) Great Good Fine OK are both Top 5 with The Chainsmokers on “Let You Go”, and Top 15 with their pairing with St. Lucia on “Something To Believe In” from the EP 2M2H. The busy and prolific GGFO premiered their new richly produced song “Take It Or Leave It” on Soundcloud last week (below).
I absolutely adore the mystery of a Jane Badler song! Her latest single from Opus, “Dead Eyes”, is dollied up in a well-matched remix from Eel Eye to put the mystery front and centre. “Dead Eyes” climbs 22-18.
Matthew Koma’s delightfully punkish stab at lovelife, “So F**kin’ Romantic”, moves up 24-19. The singer’s new album is finished, can’t wait to hear what’s been in the works now for so long.
The Rest of the Debuts
Three additional songs premiere on the chart.
Following up the sensual intrigue of “Guilty As Sin”, which peaked at #3, Toronto’s Dan Talevski continues his audio seduction with “My Religion”, which in turn is featured in another sexy video. Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with that! And the beautiful Spanish scenery makes a lovely backdrop. “My Religion” bows at #24.
“Wildstar” is a standout song from Giorgio Moroder’s album Déjà Vu featuring a charming vocal from Foxes that in some ways recalls Donna Summer in her heyday from my favourite album by her called I Remember Yesterday. So it’s a no brainer for my chart, whether or not it’s released as a single! “Wildstar” arrives at #25. It’s Foxes’ second appearance on the chart following 2013’s #2 “Clarity” with Zedd. “Wildstar” also follows Giorgio’s chart successes here with the title track featuring Sia peaking at #6, and “Right Here Right Now” with Kylie Minogue landing at #4.
There is no doubt that Adam Lambert’s The Original High is one of my most unexpected favourite albums of 2015 so far, with brilliant production nursing Adam’s wide-ranging voice to excellent effect. It’s so rich in songs yet I don’t see a whole lot of attention being paid to them other than of course “Ghost Town”, which should have done better as a lead off single. Nonetheless in my chart world that song peaked at #4, and “The Light” is a riveting EDM song that would make a perfect follow up! “The Light” debuts at #26.
You can hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:15 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!
This week’s new chart sees one of my most favourite songs of 2015 yielding to another. Either way, both songs have a lock on the Top 2. And strangely enough many songs stay still – probably because I can’t get enough of them, as well as the songs above them on the chart, which also explains why there is so much activity in the Top 10. There are no bad songs ever on this chart. Even if a song lands on the chart for one appearance at #30, I still enjoy will enjoy it evermore 🙂 So on to the new chart…
The Top 10
Years & Years score their second #1 with the brilliant “Shine” from the album that is currently stuck in my head, Communion. Their September 14 Toronto show cannot come soon enough, I’m itching to hear all of what they have to offer in concert. Watch the excellent video above.
Brandyn Burnette’s EP Made of Dreams is coming soon, but “I Wanna Be (Free)” is one of my most played songs right now, and has left #1 after 4 appearances (8 weeks). It is really in an ongoing battle with “Shine” for the top.
“Guilty As Sin” by Dan Talevski has a lot of immediate competition to face below, but still hangs on to #3 for another chart. I write about Dan’s new song “My Religion” the other day and the intriguing and sexy video has also landed at the top of the Music page at http://www.much.com.
In just about any other year, the very hot “Kiss Me Quick” by Nathan Sykes would be at the top of my chart, but currently advances 6-4.
Also new to the Top 5, but no surprise, is “Show Me The Way” by Penguin Prison from the sophomore album Lost In New York. The last time PP was in the Top 5 was three years ago as featured in RAC’s “Hollywood”.
Francesco Yates’ debut EP, featuring production and co-writes with Pharrell Williams, is due September 11, also featuring new Canadian single “Call” and another new song “Honey I’m Home” (also below – you can get it instantly when ordering the EP on iTunes). In the meantime, the well-served “Better To Be Loved” climbs 9-6, and Francesco also features in another song on the chart.
“Take Out Of Me” is a soulful slice of energetic R&B Britpop by Martin Luke Brown, and it moves up 11-8.
The fastest riser on the chart is the propulsive club-banging Tiesto remix of “Let You Go” by NYC’s The Chainsmokers, featuring fellow NYCers Great Good Fine OK, vaulting 22-9. The Chainsmokers have launched a new tour which will hit Toronto on November 7, featuring many special guests. Great Good Fine OK also debuts on this chart with one of their own songs!
The last new Top 10 entry belongs to L.A.-based producer Mi Disguise with his unique east side/west side story for dance clubs, “East Side Bay”, up 12-10.
Movin’ On Up
Slinking up the chart is “Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy (14-11), which is definitely a grower that will stick with you, and that riff from “The Munsters” TV show is a hoot.
Despite a lot of the songs in holding below, “Walking Through The Fire” by Cobi Mike climbs a notch up to #12, while his fellow former members of Gentlemen Hall also debut with their new band name.
It’s only a very temporary thing when you see the songs by Eric Saade, Janet, Trevor Guthrie, Molly Moore, and J-Mi & Midi-D all holding steady, but it’s also a very good thing! We’ll see who continues to advance in two weeks.
Meanwhile, NERVO’s “The Other Boys” gets stuck as well, moving up 23-20, so look for their guest-filled collaboration – with Kylie Minogue, Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, and Nile Rodgers – to get un-stuck in two weeks.
Both Robin Schulz & Francesco Yates’ “Sugar” and Disclosure & Sam Smith’s “Omen” advance four positions to #23 and #24 – seems like a small start, but watch the chart in two weeks to see what might happen!
Debuts
Watch for great things from these debuts in the coming weeks!
I’m not quite sure why Island Records hasn’t dove into this song as a single release, so perhaps it’s a matter of time. But “Pain Told Love” is the emotional centrepiece and standout on Tribe Society’s debut EP Lucid Dreams, and has Kiesza no less on featured vocal. The rest of the former Gentlemen Hall have a winner here and it bows at #25. As the song’s lyrics sink in, expect to find yourself reaching for a tissue every now and then!
Arriving at #26 is “Something To Believe In” by Great Good Fine OK from their EP 2M2H (‘too much to handle’ – also a song on the EP). The song also features the Brooklyn-based (but South Africa born) electronica performer St. Lucia (who is also due for a new record of his own!). It’s a fine blend of voices and style, the key song on the EP.
The last debut marks the third appearance on the chart for the actress, and also singer, Jane Badler. The original version is from last year’s album Opus (also featuring “Losing You”), but producer/DJ Eel Eye has sparkled up “Dead Eyes” with some early 90’s dance club flavour, which enhances the sinewy, mysterious lyric of the song. “Dead Eyes” premieres at #28.
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂
You can hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!
Talented Toronto singer/songwriter Dan Talevski turns away from the spicy success of his single “Guilty As Sin” (currently #3 on my personal chart) in favour of a soulful love song for his follow-up “My Religion”. It’s got such a heavy R&B flavour – no doubt to keep up with the likes of his city-mate The Weeknd 😉 after previously working with folks such as Timbaland and will.i.am – that it specifically recalls Ne-Yo’s vocal on 2013’s “Let Me Love You” for me. Self-produced, “My Religion” goes down really easy and should prompt more national radio attention for Dan in Canada. Listen below, and watch the “behind-the-scenes” look at the upcoming video shot in Spain.
The amount of posts I write seems to have slowed down, but I do make them count 🙂 And my chart brings some of them full circle and also introduces you to some songs I adore that I haven’t written about (usually major name performers). So the new chart has five debuts – don’t let the lower chart position belie how well these five will do in the coming weeks 🙂 As usual, current faves have to give up the ghost first!
The Top 10
What more can I possibly say about Brandyn Burnette’s “I Wanna Be (Free)”? How about a fourth appearance (eighth week) at #1! Just in time for the remix by The Bravos which I wrote about recently. It’s going to be very hard to beat the Top 2 songs in this chart at year end!
And then there’s “Shine” by UK trio Years & Years. I can’t understand why radio will not play this one in North America. There’s a really powerful emotional undercurrent to “Shine”, which didn’t sink in until well after I stopped hearing it with one ear on a similar-sounding melody to Erik Hassle’s “No Words”. It holds at #2 again, but “Shine” is looking to take over from “I Wanna Be (Free)” whenever that song surrenders #1.
It does have an ‘earworm’ of a chorus as my friend David kindly put it. Toronto’s Dan Talevski has released a follow up called “My Religion” which I have not heard yet (but will in the next while undoubtedly), probably because I’m too wrapped up in “Guilty As Sin”, which rises to #3 for the talented singer.
I get the feeling of triumph every time I hear “Beauty Never Lies” by Serbia’s Bojana Stamenov. The Eurovision finalist climbs up to #5 to anchor the Top 10 midway point 🙂
There is no doubt that “Kiss Me Quick” by Nathan Sykes (which climbs to #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart this week) has its druthers aimed for the top spot on this chart, and for now it bounds 12-6 while the UK singer continues to promote the song throughout the US.
Toronto quartet Smashing Satellites follow up their #3 chart hit “Waterfall” with the very different and ebullient “What It’s All About”, which has taken its time but lands at #8.
Rounding out the trio of Torontonians in the Top 10 is star-on-the-rise singer/songwriter/guitarist Francesco Yates with “Better To Be Loved” at #9. Francesco sings on one of the debuts too!
The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Penguin Prison with the effortless-sounding and breezy “Show Me The Way”, soaring 22-10, and the Top 10 is no stranger to PP who have cracked #1 twice before. In the US, you can catch “Show Me The Way” in the latest Hulu ad 🙂 Not yet a single, but soon-to-be… I hope… pretty please…
Movin’ On Up
I can’t get enough of UK singer Martin Luke Brown’s vocal on “Take Out Of Me”. This searing piece of soulful pop rises 19-11.
Another unique vocal appears in “East Side Bay” by L.A.-based producer/DJ – and yes vocalist – Mi Disguise. This is one sneaky club track that deserves exposure, and climbs 15-12.
Amid fierce competition, Cobi Mike’s thoughtful and affecting “Walking Through The Fire” continues to move up 14-13 – check out the intriguing video (you’ll get past the point that the singer is naked throughout, really, you will).
When in doubt gain brownie points by using your country in your latest song title 😉 Seriously, “Girl From Sweden” by Eric Saade is a catchy singalong, and I’m sure you’ll find the singer dancing in the Swedish countryside one day with pretty girls in hand 😉 The song rises 18-15.
Performers who collaborate with their significant others often make fine music together. Such is the case with Molly Moore, whose “Natural Disaster” climbs 25-19 (Brandyn Burnette is a co-writer). I wrote about another top notch song by Molly not long ago called “Don’t Believe It”, which saw official release on iTunes last week. Much more new music to come!
Canadians J-Mi and Midi-D are off to a great start with their recent single “So Much For That”. Not only is it loads of fun, with its 90’s Europop backdrop, but these underdogs, remixers and ravers alike, have created a song that absolutely anyone can identify with. The video is a hoot and the nerd in us all will appreciate it. “So Much For That” climbs 26-21.
Those 5 Debuts
I must admit to have been totally blown away by the collaboration of New York producer/DJ’s The Chainsmokers with fellow New Yorkers Great Good Fine OK on “Let You Go”. But the song IMO has been immensely improved with a throttling Tiesto remix which is available for free download on Soundcloud!! “Let You Go” is the highest debut, arriving at #22.
It was a fine few weeks for dance music and NERVO land their first chart entry with “The Other Boys” at #23 from their new album Collateral. The powerful mix plus Kylie Minogue and Jake Shears on vocals, carried by propulsive guitar work by Nile Rodgers should send this to the top of the national dance charts in short order. I wish that pop radio would be open to playing it but alas I expect not.
The Weeknd doesn’t need my blog’s help with all of his success, to be seen in December come Grammy Awards nomination time. His latest single, “I Can’t Feel My Face”, from the upcoming Beauty Behind The Madness (which I predict will be the #1 album of 2015), arrives at #25. Despite all of his obvious influences, The Weeknd makes every song his own and that’s part of his appeal! That he comes from my part of Toronto speaks volumes too 😀
Meanwhile, back to Francesco Yates… who sings lead on the latest single from Grammy nominee Robin Schulz on “Sugar”, the title song from Robin’s upcoming album. The inclusion of lyrics from Baby Bash & Frankie J’s “Suga Suga” is a bonus, but kind of interesting in a roundabout way when you think that Francesco himself (who is 19) was a mere lad when the original came out in 2003. “Sugar” premieres at #27 and the video is quite slaptsticky-funny if you suspend your disbelief.
The final debut belongs to Disclosure featuring Sam Smith once again on “Omen”. This trio must get into a room and just know when they’ve written a hit. Although “Latch” did take a while to catch on in North America (eventually climbing to #1 on this chart), “Omen” arrives signed and sealed for success. It debuts at #28 and comes from Disclosure’s forthcoming album Caracal.
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂
You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!
There’s lots of movement within the Top 10, and four new entries, three by chart newcomers!
The Top 10
Brandyn Burnette once again reigns at #1 with the joyous and heartfelt “I Wanna Be (Free)”. It’s my go-to song on my iPod right now! Good news for Brandyn fans – the powerful “Stand Down (2150 AD)” will be his follow up single, due for release on August 4, from the upcoming EP Made Of Dreams.
If not for “I Wanna Be (Free)”, “Shine” by Years & Years would be at #1, but must settle for #2, perhaps only for now, we’ll see. The trio’s entire Communion album is fantastic, also watch “Foundation” below.
Antonio Giacca’s unusually addictive “Sensation” is one dance song you shouldn’t miss. It climbs up 5-3.
Like with Years & Years, Adam Lambert’s The Original High is one of my favourite albums of 2015. I have many choices as to what will follow “Ghost Town” on to the chart in the coming weeks, but for now the song moves up 6-4. Who wants a solo tour from Adam?? 🙂
Another song on a high is Dan Talevski’s “Guilty As Sin”, which soars 8-5. The Toronto singer recorded the video for his next single “My Religion” in Spain these past few weeks. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us. “My Religion” arrives July 31.
“Beauty Never Lies” continues to make its presence known on my chart! As sung by Serbia’s Bojana Stamenov, the song advances 10-7.
UK quartet Lawson obtains yet another Top 10 entry with their latest single “Roads” at #10. The band has just begun its U.S. tour opening for Australia’s Sheppard.
Movin’ On Up
Nathan Sykes managed to take over Times Square in New York City this week for a video shoot. I’m glad to see his spry song “Kiss Me Quick” is getting so much attention. It’s the fastest riser on my chart this week, vaulting 20-12!!
In case you missed it, Canadian singer Francesco Yates is the featured vocalist on Robin Schulz’s excellent new single “Sugar” (below). In the meantime, Francesco’s “Better To Be Loved” (above) climbs 16-13. Yesterday in concert in Toronto, he dropped some songs (including a few written with Pharrell) that are going to pop big time!
“Walking Through The Fire” by Cobi Mike rises 17-14. It’s accompanied by a compelling and thought-provoking video too.
L.A. based producer Mi Disguise is recording more music for his album which will be on its way this Fall. Do check out his unique EDM single “East Side Bay” which climbs 19-15.
You want to dance like “Uma Thurman” too, don’t you? 😛 The fun single by Fall Out Boy continues to advance, with that surfin’ groove from the 60’s TV show “The Munsters” used to great effect. It moves up 21-16.
Janet Jackson fans are soaking in her first single in 7 years in advance of her tour and the Unbreakable album. The sexy quiet storm ballad “No Sleeep” rises 25-20.
The good-natured and energetic “Summertime” by Vancouver’s Trevor Guthrie is well on its way, climbing 27-21.
The New Stuff
It was released last March but one of the reasons my chart is here is to bring you new found talent that I enjoy. And such is “Take Out Of Me” by UK singer Martin Luke Brown, which is certain to grab your ears from above just like it did me. It bows on the chart at an impressive #19. Also take a look at the video below for the emotional follow-up single “Scars On Scars”. Think Mikky Ekko meets Sam Smith!
Penguin Prison’s concert in Toronto a few weeks back reinforced that “Show Me The Way” is my favourite new song from his new album Lost in New York, bowing at #22 on my chart. The crowd reacted to it most favourably on the dance floor – as much as Penguin’s encore cover of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”. It’s Penguin Prison’s 10th chart entry summarized as follows: 🙂
Something I’m Not, #2, 2010
The Worse It Gets, #1, 2010
Golden Train, #1, 2010
Multi-Millionaire, #7, 2011
Fair Warning, #6, 2011
Don’t Fuck With My Money, #3, 2011
Hollywood (with RAC), #5, 2012
Hang On To Your Love, #19, 2014
Calling Out, #13, 2015
I’ve already written about L.A.-based singer Molly Moore a number of times this year. But I’m pleased to say that her song that I wrote about back at the top of 2015has now received official release. “Natural Disaster” (co-written with her guy, Brandyn Burnette) is a winner both in its original and laid back, tropical Win & Woo remix, and arrives on the chart at #25!
Canadian producers/remixers (as well as ravers and gamers) J-Mi and Midi-D debut at #26 with their move-on-let’s-party anthem “So Much For That”, which I wrote about on its day of release last week. Check it out for a lot of 90’s Swedish dance-pop inspiration!
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂
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