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BILLCS Top 30 #433 – June 16/14

My new personal chart this week sees some longer lasting songs peaking with no shortage of great new songs to replace them down below. So while it’s an active chart, movement is slow and steady 😉

The Top 10

Tuesday June 17 is release day for Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour in North America at last!! So I’ve picked that up and will be listening, but in the meantime Sam’s “Stay With Me” gets a second appearance in at the top, while “Not In That Way” climbs to #8.
It’s looking highly like young B.C. native Tristan Thompson could succeed Sam Smith at the top in two weeks with his debut single “Tidal Wave” (below). It moves up significantly, from 5 to 2! I’ve also included a link to the new Boomtang mix radio edit!

Convulsic now has two of his songs in the Top 10, which is amazing for a new performer. “Love Space” still climbs up to #5, while “The Day You Left” enters the Top 10 at #9. Unique and infectious dubstep just waiting for your attention!
FrankMusik’s “Dear Nicole” rises to #6, as the third video from By Nicole is released. Watch “Stabilizher” below – such a well shot video, full of great colour and effects. Plus, it’s a feelgood video, harkening back to “No I.D” or “Do It In The A.M.” Well done to all!

Bounding into the Top 10 at full velocity is the massive cover of Taylor Dayne’s “Tell It To My Heart” by Jason Walker featuring Bimbo Jones. If you want a song to lift you up and make you feel great, Jason’s fierce rendition will do just that!! Below is a video re-edit featuring the Toy Armada and DJ GRIND club mix.

Moving On Up…

They’re from the nearby town to the north-west of me called Orangeville – the DVBBS brothers (with MOTi) are Top 10 bound with the powerful and rollicking “This Is Dirty” at #11.

“Electrify The Night” by the team of House Rockerz, Davis Redfield and singer Carl Man is a song that resonated with me out of the blue. It only has limited availability, but you can listen to it through the link below from Soundcloud. I predict great things coming for the song on the chart in the next few weeks, and it moves 16-12.

The pop culture references and the feel good vibe make Zorro Blakk & Deniz Olivieri’s “Good News (For People Who Love Bad News)” a treat for your ears and feet! The song is from the mysterious Zorro’s debut album The Fairy Tale of Zorro Blakk and climbs 19-15.
SIRPAUL smashed it last weekend at Long Island Pride (along with the likes of Debbie Gibson and Robin S!). The singer lays it all out bare 😉 with “Black Leather” rising 22-18 from his album Seventh Star.
The fastest riser belongs to the quartet of brothers who go by their last name of Kongos. The gritty and bassy “Hey I Don’t Know” moves up 25-19.

E-Mute’s “Miracle” gets easily stuck in your head with a compelling vocal and classical piano work. It climbs 24-20.

Debuts

I haven’t been a fan of their past efforts, but even months after its original release “Little Me” by Little Mix has won me over with the swirling carousel of a remix by Steve Smart and Westfunk. It gets down and deep but the keyboard melody and the vocals which build up the chorus are the selling points. Plus the song has a very important and positive message for young women about beauty and image. It debuts at #23.

Next at #24 is another great new female voice and songwriter – Charli XCX. Her song “Boom Clap” from “The Fault In Our Stars” will immediately remind you of a more pop-edged Lorde, but it’s immediately catchy and memorable, and certain to be a huge pop hit as we head into summer, given the singer’s success as appearing on Iggy Azalia’s “Fancy”.

I wrote about this next song recently and now here it is on my chart. Simone Denny was the voice behind great dance hits like Love Inc.’s “Broken Bones” and “You’re A Superstar”, as well as Wide Life’s “All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)”. She’s never been away and is back with something a little more subdued which is perfect for her wide-ranging voice. “Your Love Fades Away” bows at #25 from the upcoming album The Stereo Dynamite Sessions Volume 1.

The last debut belongs to Atlanta-based Nick Hagelin, with another choice song for summer from his free download EP City Lights. “Trust It” scores all the way around – great rhythm, story, and one of Nick’s best straight ahead pop vocals. It arrives at #26.

Extra, Extra… Give ‘Em A Listen (or Five)

HANNIS, “Time Has Come”

The more I hear songs like “Time Has Come”, the more I enjoy the EDM dubstep experience. This song by the Finland native, who got into listening and singing to EDM at the request of her boyfriend, starts off like many great European electro records of the early 2000’s with a soft introduction with Hannis’ inviting voice. And then right before the minute and a half mark, this huge layered wall of dubstep hits and lulls you in like it’s your best friend 🙂 This is truly amazing production work from Alwegs, who hails from Latvia. If his name gets out there, he’s gonna be noticed! “Time Has Come” is a terrific but unassuming start for Hannis, and big things could happen if word of mouth gets out about the song and its unique hybrid EDM style that totally works. You can download the song for free using a link from Hannis’ Soundcloud page.

TANYA THE SAVAGE, “We Were Once Built There”

It’s somewhat of an interesting recording name, but Tanya The Savage records songs which are guaranteed to embed a mark on your listening experience. She’s based out of Miami, and has been performing since she was a child violinist age 8! “We Were Once Built There” is gorgeous, emotional British/European-flavoured EDM that would be much different without her affecting and powerful vocal. It’s another song to hit you square right out of nowhere and then make you want much more. Tanya The Savage is currently recording an album with Grammy-nominated producer Chris Rodriguez. “We Were Once Built There” is available on iTunes.

And Now, 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.

01 01 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith
05 02 TIDAL WAVE Tristan Thompson
02 03 PROXY Martin Garrix
04 04 ME AND MY BROKEN HEART Rixton
06 05 LOVE SPACE Convulsic
07 06 DEAR NICOLE FrankMusik
09 07 SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT 5 Seconds Of Summer
10 08 NOT IN THAT WAY Sam Smith
11 09 THE DAY YOU LEFT Convulsic
13 10 TELL IT TO MY HEART Jason Walker featuring Bimbo Jones
14 11 THIS IS DIRTY DVBBS & MOTi
16 12 ELECTRIFY THE NIGHT House Rockerz featuring Davis Redfield & Carl Man
15 13 BACK HOME Andy Grammer
03 14 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler
19 15 GOOD NEWS (FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS) Zorro Blakk featuring Deniz Olivieri
18 16 BE MINE Kendal Thompson
08 17 FALL INTO LOVE Wrathschild
22 18 BLACK LEATHER SIRPAUL
25 19 HEY I DON’T KNOW Kongos
24 20 MIRACLE E-Mute
23 21 TEENAGER IN LOVE Neon Trees
12 22 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
New 23 LITTLE ME (Steve Smart & Wildfunk radio edit) Little Mix
New 24 BOOM CLAP Charli XCX
New 25 YOUR LOVE FADES AWAY Simone Denny
New 26 TRUST IT Nick Hagelin
17 27 I WISH WE WERE LEAVING Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John
21 28 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin
26 29 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand
27 30 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith

Reeeboot! Shattered Ice (Deluxe Edition) by @AdamTylerx

ADAM TYLER, Shattered Ice (Deluxe Edition)

With this reboot of the almost 3 year old debut album by L.A.-based singer/songwriter Adam Tyler, Adam has shown impressive growth in the new songs, which makes your purchase (particularly if you don’t have the original) all the more worthwhile. He first came to my attention with the riveting single “Friction” in 2010, still one of my favourites from him. I posted about Shattered Ice way back when, and Adam is a frequent visitor to my personal chart. His voice has grown more versatile, and works best on infectious light electropop or darker EDM.

The new single “Knew You Better” (below) is a grower, along the lines of the singer’s “Music Freak” or last year’s “Fade Into The Light” (also included!). Even better is “Criminal”, with a catchy synth line and melody that sends me back to the 80’s, and I can’t wait to see what a video of this might look like. Extremely impressive is the Aron Friedman remix of Shattered Ice’s debut single “I Won’t Let You Go”, which strips away a lot of Adam’s high notes and matches his lower register against a slow house beat. This is a well thought out treat that can stand alone as if it was a brand new song! Single potential all over again!

The other new songs are the Paul Hetherington-produced “Only One” (which I’ve already written about), plus “Magic”, “Paradise”, and “Concrete”. “Music Freak” and “Emergency” see alternate 2.0 versions that are highly complimentary to the originals.

There are 31 songs, mostly produced by pop whiz Sky Felix, including all of the original 11 Shattered Ice tunes, 6 new ones (including “Electric Valentine”, plus the previously released Hetherington-produced “Waiting In Line”) and lots more fun remixes. This deluxe edition is a great strategy to rebrand the timeless songs from the original album, plus provide us with more than an EP’s worth of new ones and more than another EP’s worth of remixes. You will not be disappointed if you pick up Adam Tyler’s Shattered Ice – Deluxe Edition on iTunes, I will guarantee it!

BILLCS Top 30 #430 – May 5/14

There’s a whole lot of movement this week on the chart, with one debut… but that only means more new songs will arrive in two weeks! Lots of ‘bubbling under’ happening.

The Top 10

Sam Smith gets his second #1 after “Money On My Mind” with his pairing with Disclosure on “Latch”. It’s a song that works well as a dance floor killer as well as an acoustic ballad. Cannot get enough of my young last-namesake. His concert in Toronto was an utter delight and I would go back anytime to see a Sam Smith show.
Look who’s closing in on #1 again… Martin Garrix! His free download “Proxy” (#2) is one of the best songs I’ve heard by him, so get it while it’s free. I’ve already written about other potential Garrix hits “Helicopter” and most recently “Tremor” (with Belgian bros Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike). Watch for more chart entries soon 😛

“Electric Valentine” by Adam Tyler, also a free download, inches up to #4 and matches the peak of “Friction” from 2010 (has it been that long??) as Adam’s highest charting entry. I’m not sure if “Electric Valentine” will be available on the upcoming Shattered Ice (deluxe edition) album. So give it a listen and get it for free. But Adam’s already posted a new collaboration with Australian producer Paul Hetherington, “Only One”, which has a different but danceable flavour for Adam, and a reloaded remix of “Taking Back My Love” courtesy of “Electric Valentine” producer Sky Felix. Hear them all below!

Nick Hagelin made his City Lights (EP) for free download last week, and you might want to check out my blog post about it if you already hadn’t! In the meantime, “Finest Clothes In Town” is cooking at #5.
No shortages of Sam Smith songs on this chart! “Stay With Me” advances to #6 – top of the chart isn’t out of the question sometime soon!
“Love Space” by Convulsic is such a unique song for the dubstep sub-genre. It climbs to #7.

The fastest riser on the chart is by Rixton, who in the past week gave a supurb performance on “The Voice”, which won them another performance and fan in Ellen DeGeneres for her show. The distinct “Me And My Broken Heart” soars 17-9.

The third new song to the Top 10 is by Steve Grand, whose All American Boy album looks to be released now in June instead of May, which means just in time for his tour around North America! The pensive “Back To California” is #10.

7 (Moving) Up!

Wrathschild (Simon Curtis and Wolfy) are already shooting their next video! While that’s all happening, “Fall Into Love” closes in on the Top 10 at #11!

I wrote about FrankMusik’s exceptional By Nicole album yesterday, and you can read it here if you missed it. “Dear Nicole” continues to climb at #13. After listening to his album, “Go” continues to be stuck in my head 🙂
Still more Sam Smith… the heart-wrenching “Not In That Way” moves up 7 to #15!

Aussies 5 Seconds Of Summer have done a great job in conquering North America so far. “She Looks So Perfect” should be a bigger hit come summertime and it’s now at #16 on my chart.
Also with a 7 point jump is the taut and inviting “The Day You Left”, the second appearance by Convulsic on the chart, at #17.
“Back Home” by Andy Grammer looks to be a contender for an end-of-school song this year. It moves up to #22.
Be sure to catch a set by Kendal Thompson when she plays shows in the Toronto area. Her free download single “Be Mine” advances to #25.

The Lone Debut

Joining hot song companions by Martin Garrix, Showtek/Justin Prime/Matthew Koma, and Convulsic are Canadian lads DVBBS who have paired up with MOTi for the cinematic and majestic sounding rave up “This Is Dirty”, available on Beatport. It bows at #23. Read my post about it here.

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.

02 01 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
03 02 PROXY Martin Garrix
01 03 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma
05 04 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler
06 05 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin
11 06 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith
09 07 LOVE SPACE Convulsic
04 08 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant
17 09 ME AND MY BROKEN HEART Rixton
13 10 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand
15 11 FALL INTO LOVE Wrathschild
14 12 I WISH WE WERE LEAVING Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John
18 13 DEAR NICOLE Frankmusik
08 14 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith
22 15 NOT IN THAT WAY Sam Smith
21 16 SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT 5 Seconds Of Summer
24 17 THE DAY YOU LEFT Convulsic
19 18 HORNY Lonnie Gordon
07 19 LOVE ME AGAIN John Newman
10 20 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae
12 21 DRINK Semi-Precious Weapons
28 22 BACK HOME Andy Grammer
New 23 THIS IS DIRTY DVBBS & MOTi
16 24 READY FOR YOU NOW Sean O’Reilly
29 25 BE MINE Kendal Thompson
20 26 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
23 27 TALK DIRTY Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
25 28 F FOR YOU Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige
26 29 TAKE COVER Neverest
27 30 COLLIDE Jake Miller

Smack That Groove: “Strangers” by @Convulsic

CONVULSIC, “Strangers”

One of the happiest discoveries I’ve had this year is San Diego-based Convulsic, and this is especially notable since I think a lot of dubstep sounds alike. Not so with Convulsic’s songs, which are chock full of melody, interesting voices, and dazzling effects and drops. “Love Space” and “The Day You Left” are both currently placed on my personal chart at #9 and #24 respectively, and if you’ve checked them out then “Strangers” should impress you as well. Convulsic has the ability to template his sound and change it up every time, keeping it fresh while you want to smack that bottom groove and lose control just a bit. Listen above.

BILLCS Top 30 #429 – April 21/14

If it’s one performer that this edition of my new personal chart is all about, it’s UK pop/soul singer Sam Smith. There are 4 Sam Smith entries, including a former #1 (now at #8) and another debut! Plus, I get to see him in concert on Wednesday April 23 at the Virgin Mod Club in Toronto 🙂

The Top 10:

The killer dance tune that is “Cannonball (Earthquake)” holds #1 down handily for Showtek, Justin Prime & Matthew Koma, as the song debuts at #29 in the UK 🙂
We may be a touch late on it in North America, but “Latch” by Disclosure and Sam Smith vaults to #2 to challenge for the top in two weeks.

Martin Garrix may have a say as to who succeeds “Cannonball (Earthquake)” at #1. His free download of “Proxy” soars 13-3 to tie for the fastest riser on the chart. And Martin has plenty in store for us over the next few months to keep us busy!

All of this activity has left “Find You” by Zedd, Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant at #4, and free download “Electric Valentine” by Adam Tyler at #5, each holding for a second appearance.
It looks like Nick Hagelin’s long-awaited EP City Lights will see release in the first week of May. His fun and ace pop/soul/hip hop song with an old school sample or two “Finest Clothes In Town” (available again as a free download) moves up 9-6 🙂

“Love Me Again” by John Newman continues to climb, moving 8-7 on the new chart.
The only other new Top 10 entry is a zinger for San Diego’s EDM/dubstep rising star Convulsic. “Love Space” jumps 12-9 while another of his songs debuts below…

Onward and Upward:

It’s a stellar week for Sam Smith, two songs in the Top 10, and the soul ballad “Stay With Me” ties with “Proxy” as the fastest riser, soaring 21-11.
It’s release week for the Aviation album for Semi-Precious Weapons amid shows throughout the U.S.! “Drink” continues to climb my chart at #12.
May and June will be important months for Steve Grand as his All American Boy album will see release and then he will be touring the blazes out of it, appearing at numerous Gay Pride events in North America. The pensive “Back To California” jumps 17-13 on my chart.

This past week Rod Thomas (aka Bright Light Bright Light) will in fact be opening for Elton John on some dates on his European tour! That’s an amazing feat for an independent performer and Elton has shown great interest in new acts this past year. Their marvellous duet on “I Wish We Were Leaving” moves up 19-14.
The engaging and colourful video for Wrathschild’s “Fall Into Love” continues to attract new fans. The song rises 22-15 as the duo of Simon Curtis and Wolfy record another new song.

Rixton’s “Me And My Broken Heart” is one of those songs that has you reeled in from its first note, very remiscent of Maroon 5 meets Lawson for the UK band. It moves up 26-17 – let’s get these boys over here in North American for shows!
FrankMusik announced that his By Nicole album will be issued on Monday, April 28. So many releases to look forward to over the next few weeks! In the meantime, “Dear Nicole”, which features one of the singer’s most powerful vocals just past the half way mark, moves up 24-18.

I suppose over 2 million Twitter followers might signal a sell out, which indeed 5 Seconds Of Summer had with their Toronto show last Saturday. The song with that underwear video, “She Looks So Perfect”, rises 27-21.

New to the Chart:

Not to sound like a broken record, but leading the way once again on the new chart is another beautiful Sam Smith song, this time it’s “Not In That Way” from his upcoming album In The Lonely Hour, which is slated for a June release, which seems a long way off, though you can get “Not In That Way” on iTunes already. Check out the live performance of the song at the top of this blog post. “Not In That Way” bows at #22.

Next up is “The Day You Left”, another infectious EDM single from Convulsic, which has a steadier female vocal than “Love Space” and is full of powerful drops that will make your eardrums pop. It arrives at #24 and is available on iTunes.

Andy Grammer’s positive vibe of “Keep Your Head Up” sent the song to #9 on my chart back in 2011, and after one album and an EP, the heartwarming “Back Home” leads the way for a new album. The song debuts at #28.

Toronto-based singer Kendal Thompson dropped “Be Mine” as a free ‘thank you’ download on Valentine’s Day, along with a mysterious and eye-catching video. “Be Mine” enters the chart at #29.

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.

01 01 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma
06 02 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
13 03 PROXY Martin Garrix
04 04 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant
05 05 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler
09 06 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin
08 07 LOVE ME AGAIN John Newman
02 08 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith
12 09 LOVE SPACE Convulsic
03 10 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae
21 11 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith
14 12 DRINK Semi-Precious Weapons
17 13 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand
19 14 I WISH WE WERE LEAVING Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John
22 15 FALL INTO LOVE Wrathschild
16 16 READY FOR YOU NOW Sean O’Reilly
26 17 ME AND MY BROKEN HEART Rixton
24 18 DEAR NICOLE Frankmusik
20 19 HORNY Lonnie Gordon
07 20 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
27 21 SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT 5 Seconds Of Summer
New 22 NOT IN THAT WAY Sam Smith
18 23 TALK DIRTY Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
New 24 THE DAY YOU LEFT Convulsic
10 25 F FOR YOU Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige
11 26 TAKE COVER Neverest
15 27 COLLIDE Jake Miller
New 28 BACK HOME Andy Grammer
New 29 BE MINE Kendal Thompson
25 30 HAPPY Pharrell Williams

BILLCS Top 30 #428 – April 7/14

Dance music rules the ascending songs on my new personal charts, while some striking new pure pop songs debut 🙂

The Top 10

All but one of our songs in the Top 10 move up, and that’s because the only song that moves down was #1 two weeks ago…

The irresistible house banger collaboration of Showtek & Justin Prime with Matthew Koma, a reworking of last year’s instrumental “Cannonball” with Koma vocals and lyrics on “Cannonball (Earthquake)” (video up top) grabs #1! The rest of my active Top 10 however responds to their catch line of ‘Show us what you got / When the m***erfuckin’ beat drops’… It’s also Matthew Koma’s 4th #1 entry, following “Spectrum”, “Parachute”, and “1998”.
It looks like “Addicted To You” by Avicii featuring the unbilled Audra Mae is smashing it worldwide too. It rises to #3 and watch the new video for it below.

Ascending into the Top 5 are “Find You” (6-4), which has cracked the Top 40 for Zedd, Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant, and Adam Tyler’s poptastic free download “Electric Valentine” (7-5), becoming the singer’s 3rd Top 5er on my chart 🙂
Sam Smith’s “Money On My Mind” gives way and falls from first to second place, but his entry with Disclosure, the affecting “Latch”, has its eyes on the top of the chart, moving 10-6.
The third and last Matthew Koma entry remains in the Top 10 – it’s Hardwell’s “Dare You” up 9-7.
The three new entries to the Top 10 breakaway from the log jam on the last chart: John Newman’s “Love Me Again” climbs 13-8, with Nick Hagelin’s “Finest Clothes In Town” catching fire 14-9, and Disclosure x2, featuring Mary J. Blige on the redone “F For You” at #10. Listen/watch the latter two below.

Also On The Rise

San Diego’s Convulsic brings his inventive EDM/dubstep game with “Love Space” climbing 17-12, with more to come from this talented newcomer.

Right behind is Martin Garrix, whose free download of EDM/trap song “Proxy” is on fire, and packs a wallop on the chart, moving 23-13 as the fastest riser 🙂

Semi-Precious Weapons’ “Drink” moves 15-14 behind some heavier songs now, but the band recently released its lyric video to “Look To The Stars” as their full album is on deck for release. Watch below.

Jason Derulo has apparently only teased us with his Tattoos EP, so a full album called Talk Dirty will be coming soon. While the title song is a lot of fun and climbs 22-18, I’m hoping the new album continues along the lines of some of his pop successes too like “Whatcha Say” or “In My Head”.
And talking dirty and “Horny” seem to fall hand-in-hand on this chart, so Lonnie Gordon’s could-be dance club hit moves up 24-20.
Sandwiched rather adroitly in-between, “I Wish We Were Leaving” by Bright Light Bright Light and Elton John climb 25-19 while BLx2’s EP of the same name arrived today on iTunes with two remixes of “I Wish”. Also give a listen to a new song on the EP “She Carves Her Desire” below.

FrankMusik continues with his prolific releases in anticipation of his full album called By Nicole. His opening single “Dear Nicole” advances 28-24, while the video for a new song “These Streets”, with an interesting mix of jaunty melody and affecting lyrics, arrived this past week. Watch below.

Debuts!!

I cannot get enough of Sam Smith, cannot wait to see his show on April 23, and thoroughly enjoyed his two performances on Saturday Night Live. One of these was for the R&B-flavoured ballad “Stay With Me”, and this stunner bows at #21, from his upcoming In The Lonely Hour album, not due till June (but maybe Capitol/Universal will move it up on the sked…).

It’s already caused a stir online, and if you’ve been in hiding then you’ve missed the new project brought to us by Simon Curtis and Wolfy (Ro Danishei) called Wrathschild. “Fall Into Love” is a gorgeous pure pop testament to those feelings when you’re on that cusp, and it arrives at #22. And with the pair’s already fine chart pedigree – Simon with 5 #1’s, Wolfy with one of those plus another Top 10er – “Fall Into Love” will do very, very well.

It appears we’re on another roll in the boy band genre, but this time with guys who play their music as well as sing it. England’s Rixton has “Me And My Broken Heart” at #26, and like Martin Garrix, has Scooter Braun management in their court. Then there’s Australia’s 5 Seconds Of Summer with the extremely fun, catchy “She Looks So Perfect” nabbing #1 in the UK last week and premiering on my chart at #27.

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.

02 01 CANNONBALL (EARTHQUAKE) Showtek & Justin Prime featuring Matthew Koma
01 02 MONEY ON MY MIND Sam Smith
04 03 ADDICTED TO YOU Avicii featuring Audra Mae
06 04 FIND YOU Zedd featuring Matthew Koma & Miriam Bryant
07 05 ELECTRIC VALENTINE Adam Tyler
10 06 LATCH Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
09 07 DARE YOU Hardwell featuring Matthew Koma
13 08 LOVE ME AGAIN John Newman
14 09 FINEST CLOTHES IN TOWN Nick Hagelin
12 10 F FOR YOU Disclosure featuring Mary J. Blige
03 11 TAKE COVER Neverest
17 12 LOVE SPACE Convulsic
23 13 PROXY Martin Garrix
15 14 DRINK Semi-Precious Weapons
05 15 COLLIDE Jake Miller
19 16 READY FOR YOU NOW Sean O’Reilly
20 17 BACK TO CALIFORNIA Steve Grand
22 18 TALK DIRTY Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
25 19 I WISH WE WERE LEAVING Bright Light Bright Light & Elton John
24 20 HORNY Lonnie Gordon
New 21 STAY WITH ME Sam Smith
New 22 FALL INTO LOVE Wrathschild
11 23 INTO THE BLUE Kylie Minogue
28 24 DEAR NICOLE FrankMusik
08 25 HAPPY Pharrell Williams
New 26 ME AND MY BROKEN HEART Rixton
New 27 SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT 5 Seconds Of Summer
16 28 MOTEL POOL Travis Garland
21 29 INVISIBLE U2
27 30 MANiCURE Lady GaGa

Happy Feet: @ChronMusic Brings It On With “Bass In Me”

CHRON, “Bass In Me”

Florida EDM duo Chron, aka Christianna and JDub, will help get those happy feet on with “Bass In Me”. What might start off sounding like a Deadmau5 knockoff quickly changes your mind and draws you in with an engaging and unique vocal, fun drops and chopped vocal parts, so after a minute in you are completely sold. Chron aims to please in concert where they apparently can reproduce what’s on record here and add other effects and rapping for a solid experience. This is a great start with loads of potential – I’m no expert at music played at raves, but Chron appears to be a few steps ahead of the game in terms of their EDM/dubstep/trap sound and what they have to offer. Looking forward to hearing more! Download “Bass In Me” for free from their Soundcloud page below.

Dubstep Drops Meet Lots of Melody with @Convulsic’s “Love Space” and “The Day You Left”

CONVULSIC, “Love Space” and “The Day You Left”

Convulsic (aka Erik Hale) is a relatively new DJ/producer based out of San Diego whose music will totally slay and sway you with lots of energetic shifts and drops, without sacrificing melody. In fact melody is essential in both “Love Space” and “The Day You Left”. It makes both songs a lot more accessible than heavier songs in the EDM genre, while still retaining plenty of crunch, which makes both songs quite memorable, if not somewhat dazzling 🙂 The vocal sample in “Love Space” sounds like Bjork (but is not) and also adds to the ear-catching proceedings. “The Day You Left” is much more frantic and full of countless effects that draw you in and keep you there. Convulsic has an innate ear that knows what works. Listen to “Love Space” above and “The Day You Left” on his Reverb Nation page. A video is coming for “Love Space” – check out the preview below. Both songs are available on iTunes for purchase – also check out the very cool artwork for “The Day You Left” below.

Hey! There’s a @MartinGarrix and @Firebeatz “Helicopter” on the Dance Floor!!

MARTIN GARRIX & FIREBEATZ, “Helicopter”

Martin Garrix is the latest, and probably youngest, king of the dance clubs thanks to his beyond-infectious Billboard #1 dance hit and now Top 40 hit “Animals”. He has a distinct and big, big progressive sound in his music which makes it rise above so much other equally trippy sounding dance music of today. “Helicopter”, his pairing with Firebeatz, proves that Martin is no flash in the pan. It’s equally as contagious as “Animals”, will set raves afire, and who knows, might even start a new dance craze 😀 Be prepared to whirl away to “Helicopter” through the summer months. You can get it right now through Beatport.

BILLCS Top 30 #421 – December 30/13 – Plus, New Songs by Neverest, Remy Shand, and Matt Blue

The last chart of 2013 is also my first chart of 2014, when last year’s favourites start to fade a bit and new ones start to take charge.

The Top 4 are exactly the same as two weeks ago: Bright Light Bright Light’s “An Open Heart” (#11 for 2013) and “What’s Going On” by Monsieur Adi & A*M*E (#17 for 2013) are still too hard to dislodge, with Anton Ewald’s “Can’t Hold Back” (#21 for 2013) about to give way to Travis Garland’s “Easy”.

SIRPAUL busts a move right into the Top 5 with “Every Single Moment” (8-5), which not only can swirl you out onto the dance floor but dazzle you with its excellent lyrics. It’s a grower, but a winner!
I am by no means nowhere near done with Martin Garrix’s “Animals” as it continually lodges itself inside my head. It would have made for some appropriate party music in last night’s festivities. “Animals” moves up 11-6.

“Gold” by UK singer Eurielle vaults into the Top 10 at #7, from her compelling 3 song EP The Incarnation. Watch the tantalizing video above.

“Breathe Me” is a poignant and minimal cover of the Sia song by Portugal’s Carlos Nóbrega, climbing 15-10 and becoming his second Top 10 placing on my chart.
The middle of the chart finds songs still on the rise from Jarell Perry, “Glee”/Adam Lambert, Lady GaGa & R. Kelly and Corey Niles & Dru.

Debuts from the last chart are all taking off smoothly. Bright Light Bright Light’s “In Your Care” is the fastest riser, up 24-16, making this a double whammy week for Rod Thomas who also has the #1 song. Lady GaGa’s “MANiCURE” and Cage The Elephant’s “Come A Little Closer” (coming closer to becoming a pop hit, I think) climb 28-21 and 29-23.

I’ve written about both of our newcomers. It’s no surprise that “Motel Pool” by Travis Garland bows at #22 complete with its damn proper sexy video. Travis’ self-titled album is my go-to when I don’t know what to listen to. The song is also from the new Motel Pool EP available on iTunes. “Talking To The Walls” got a flood of attention right away when I wrote about it in October, but it’s gone a little too quiet. I’ve not forgotten about this hypnotic song from new singer Své. Watch the video below, which has some strange twists and a cameo from “Go For Gold” and former Click Five singer Kyle Patrick. It debuts on my chart at #28.

EXTRAS:

If you thought Neverest might go back to a ballad for their next single, you might not be prepared for the techno/dubsteppy power in “Take Cover”, which was released today as a free download from their Facebook page (you have to “like” it of course) right here. Like “Rewind” (my #13 song of 2013), “Take Cover” is an ambitious and tight record that will slide into their set list rather neatly. Can’t wait to hear it in concert! There’s no link yet for me to provide – just take my word on this one folks!

Juno Award winning Canadian R&B/pop singer Remy Shand has eased back into the music scene this year after being away from it for a decade. He’s very active on Twitter, often providing many links to some great obscure and not-so-obscure songs which obviously shape his styles of music. His new song released today on Bandcamp, “The Best In Me”, starts off with a low vocal register introduction, but doesn’t venture much beyond what he gave us in the past, which is not a bad thing at all. Slick production and some amazing guitar work that rounds out the end of the song make it more than worthwhile. You can hear and purchase the song right here.

Dutch singer Matt Blue keeps issuing fine singles that hopefully one day will make an EP or album. Released on You Tube just before the New Year is “Fireworks”, a bit slighter than past efforts “Can’t Help Myself” and last year’s #32 song “Outta My Mind”, but still in a positive and upbeat vein. And when there’s such a fine voice singing the song you can’t help but be impressed.

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and details web edition of my chart.

01 01 AN OPEN HEART Bright Light Bright Light
02 02 WHAT’S GOING ON Monsieur Adi F/ A*M*E
03 03 CAN’T HOLD BACK Anton Ewald
04 04 EASY Travis Garland
08 05 EVERY SINGLE MOMENT SIRPAUL
11 06 ANIMALS Martin Garrix
13 07 GOLD Eurielle
05 08 I HAVE A NAME Osvaldo Supino
07 09 DO I HAVE TO DANCE Simon Curtis
15 10 BREATHE ME Carlos Nóbrega
06 11 WE CAN’T STOP SUMMERTIME SADNESS DATABOY
14 12 4TH OF JULY Jarell Perry
18 13 MARRY THE NIGHT Glee Cast F/ Adam Lambert
09 14 JULIET Lawson
19 15 DO WHAT U WANT Lady Gaga F/ R. Kelly
24 16 IN YOUR CARE Bright Light Bright Light
22 17 ROLLERCOASTER Corey Niles F/ Dru
20 18 KEEP ME RUNNING Andy Suzuki & The Method
21 19 I CAN’T HELP IT Dangerous Muse
10 20 BERLIN WALL Simon Curtis
28 21 MANiCURE Lady Gaga
New 22 MOTEL POOL Travis Garland
29 23 COME A LITTLE CLOSER Cage The Elephant
12 24 SOMEBODY LOVES YOU Betty Who
16 25 ADORN Miguel F/ Jessie Ware
17 26 APPLAUSE Lady Gaga
23 27 IMPOSSIBLE Ryan Star
New 28 TALKING TO THE WALLS Své
25 29 HEADHUNTER Parralox
26 30 MA RADIO Osvaldo Supino