SAXITY featuring VICTOR PERRY, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (free DL)
Collaborations are often amazing as they can bring out the best in both talents. And two that I didn’t know before 2016 dazzle with their updating of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. Germany’s Saxity of course has had many original, cover, and remix zingers this year including the most recent “Brothers”. And Georgia’s Victor Perry graces us with his beautiful voice again just after his gorgeous cover of Everything But The Girl’s “Missing”. Together, their rendition of this classic is the perfect holiday song to set the tone for your party and get people into a great mood. It’s an uptempo version packaged with everything you might want – guitar, sax, rhythm and assured vocal – how can you go wrong? You can’t – go and download it for free at the link above 🙂
Italy’s DJ Mirko B is on a roll with massive-sounding progressive Italohouse records that have a touch of 90’s flavour to them, such as his recent collaboration with Alexandrius on “Balmung”. “#Bomber!” pairs him up this time with another fellow Italian, BeatmartHz, in this release for Digital Complex, and come that critical time in the evening when a DJ wants everyone on the dance floor, “#Bomber!” is one of those songs that will fill it – sports teams looking for theme music should also take note! It’s simply sheer epic fun – don’t think, just let loose. You can pick up “#Bomber!”on Beatport.
We in the rest of the world often forget how much Australian performers continue to contribute to the dance music scene, witness the huge success of Flume in 2016. With an accessible yet edgy and bold sound, WasteLand is another new Aussie name to know, with support already from BBC Radio. “Tail Lights” has all of the right traits to rattle you – sharp trap beats, sharp effects, and a resonating vocal by American singer Melina Cortez. It’s also off to a great start debuting on the ARIA club chart. WasteLand has no formula here, just absorbing pieces of the best of the best and concocting his own sound. There’s also an intriguing video for “Tail Lights” shot in Perth’s Murray Street Mall, in one take guerrilla-style starring Aussie drag queen Scarlet Adams, which you can watch below.
Only three more charts until 2016 is over, and some favourites will depart in the next few weeks, making room for a lot of new music that’s been waiting patiently to get into the higher reaches of my chart. As a result, there are only two debuts this week, but a changeover at the top…
The New Number One
The power of a fantastic melody and amazing production is what gives The Weeknd his first #1 on this chart with “Starboy”, featuring Daft Punk, who also get their first #1, after having three previous Top 10 entries (“One More Time” in 2001; “Stronger” with Kanye West in 2007, and “Get Lucky” in 2013). It’s so great seeing someone from my neck of the woods – Abel grew up near my neighbourhood in Scarborough, Ontario (east Toronto) – knock it out of the park and I look forward to hearing the entire album. “False Alarm” (below) also moves up 27-21. And part of what has helped the appeal of “Starboy” for me is the cover also below by producer/remixer Koni featuring vocalist Johannes Weber, the best one I’ve heard to date (and a free download). “Starboy” replaces Gramatik & Leo Napier’s “Native Son Prequel” (Jenaux remix) after three appearances at the top (now down to #4), which will depart the chart after the maximum 10 appearances.
The Top 10
Elephante’s “Plans”, featuring Brandyn Burnette, advances to #2, one of the top songs from the I Am The Elephante EP. Brandyn also figures prominently in the Top 10 with his gal Molly Moore at #6 with “Just A Dream” (below) and at #7 in a Sean Turk remix of his own “Closer”.
“High” (Young Bombs remix) by Norway’s Jesper Jenset remains at a strong #3, and has been followed up by his great new single “Lies”, which I wrote about recently.
“In My Head” by Steve James featuring vocal duo RKCB, continues to move up 6-5. Check out the recently released remix with Australia’s Joe Mason below, which is a free download 🙂
“Luminary” by NYC trio Liquid Diet from their Double Life album (below) grabs #8 on the new chart, while Rihanna’s retro-flavoured “Love On The Brain” advances to #9, and Bright Light Bright Light’s disco-tastic “I Only Want To Please You” (featuring Scissor Sisters’ Ana Matronic) climbs to #10.
Movin’ On Up
While a continuing log-jam below the Top 10 results in new peaks by songs by Fabian Luttenberger, Satchmode, Cole Plante, and Stefan Alexander, most of the bigger moves are from our debuts two weeks ago (such as the aforementioned “False Alarm” by The Weeknd).
“Right Here Right Now” is a fun EDM track with a cool narration by Halifax native Famba, which rises 20-16.
“D E E P in NY” by Bobby Nourmand featuring DOC & Goodmorning is Bobby’s hip hop reinvention of his infectious instrumental “D E E P”, which advances 22-17. It recently received release on The Magician’s Potion label 🙂
The fastest riser on the chart is “Burn” by Pet Shop Boys from their album Super, musically a throwback to their 1987 hit “It’s A Sin”. It climbs 26-18.
Despite its title, “The Thirst” by Eric Sharp featuring vocalist Kenny Zhao is a more seductive and memorable house track rather than an aggressive one. It moves up 25-20.
NYC singer/songwriter Ayer mixes emotional pop with lighter EDM for “My Hands” which moves up 28-22.
Two Debuts
“Brothers” by German producers/DJs/musicians Saxity and featuring Norwegian vocalist Strøm arrives at #25. It’s a charming, warm songthat I wrote about a while back, and I was the one who instigated the connection between the Saxity lads and the songwriters, which led to the birth of “Brothers” 🙂
I wrote about“All The Way” by Sweden’s Hellberg late in the summer, but it has stuck with me so much that I had to add it to the chart. It’s a potent feel-good EDM instrumental from this talented producer who brought us “Synchronize” and “Care For Me” (with Toronto’s Dzeko & Torres) earlier this year. “All The Way” bounces on to the chart at #26.
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.
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
Listen for me with my Pick of the Week at 2:20/6:20/10:20 AM/PM EST onhttp://www.planetradio.ca most days Monday through Sunday, and my flashbacks to a Toronto Top 10 of yesteryear Tuesdays at 9pm EST!
You’d be hard pressed to find someone in the dance community who wouldn’t say that “So Happy” by Tony Moran featuring Jason Walker isn’t one of their favourite songs of 2016. Like with that song, a throwback to festive disco/dance of yesteryear, the pair are back to bring joy to the dance floor with “Say Yes”, which is currently gracing the Billboard Club Play chart and headed for the top. The video provides all kinds of fashionable razzle dazzle as Jason cavorts in the subway and in downtown Manhattan with golden balloons in tow. “Say Yes” is one of those songs where you just need to let go and forget about everything for less than four minutes, and the result, like with “So Happy”, will be a big smile on your face.
ANGGER DIMAS & APOCALYPTO featuring LOUISE LABELLE, “Out My Mind”
“Out My Mind” is indeed a cross-continental collaboration by the rising Indonesian DJ/producer Angger Dimas and Australia’s Apocalypto featuring powerhouse vox by British singer Louise LaBelle. “Out My Mind” is the best of two EDM worlds – a riveting ear-catching singalong in a dirty, progressive, futuristic mix full of bass to slay you in your boots on the dance floor. It doesn’t let up with intents on leaving you breathless in a nasty kind of way 😛 Check it out above; it’s culled from the four song EP Angger Dimas & Friends.
It’s one of those songs that will literally sweep you off your feet, on the dance floor or not! I don’t know much about Dutchman San Holo, but till now he’s offered up some of the most infuriating, progressive alternative EDM I’ve heard this year. With “Light”, he’s cut the melody and song down to something simpler, and built a major wall of a synth symphony around it. The beautiful (but uncredited) vocal completely suits the song, but it’s the sonic blast well placed and starting at 1:20 that will win you over for the rest of “Light”. This is inspiring creativity at its best and shows a side of San Holo I want to hear more often. Listen at the link above and download it for free (at least for now).
Following up his success with “High” (still flying near the top of the BILLCS Top 30 in its Young Bombs remix), Norway’s Jesper Jenset continues to mix it up with “Lies”. It’s a pretty worthy and straight-forward song, but given a jazzed up wash of style that’s full of EDM, R&B, and Hip Hop flavours. It’s clear that Jesper’s team is listening to a lot of The Weeknd and Drake, as well as perhaps Martin Garrix and Skrillex too, and the result is a refreshing concoction that could play well on any radio station while being at home in a dance club too. Can’t wait for the remixes. Give it a listen at the link above.
L.A. duo Stalgia bring us the hypnotic and sexy “BDY” for our consideration. Fortunately, it’s one of the most unique songs you will hear over the next while. It slides easily from pop/R&B flavour to hip hop-inspired EDM. Lauren Day’s vocal is dynamic and affecting, conveying not only the sensual aspects of the melody but the emotional rapture of the lyrics. Partner Brandon Leslie creates an effortless pulse and the result is memorable with a singalong chorus that will make you want to hear “BDY” again and again. Give it a listen at the link above.
L.A. duo Dana and the Wolf have some great things happening with their song “Close Enough”. What might sound initially like it might be another routine Lorde-inspired track quickly leaves those thoughts in the dust as the arrangement constantly shakes up the proceedings where other songs start to fall apart. In fact by the time around the 2 minute mark occurs, you realize that singer Dana Hobson has a fierce voice that perhaps draws influence more from Florence Welch and Shirley Manson. She totally attacks the biting core of the song while partner and producer/multi-instrumentalist Daniel Wolf engages you with the drama with pounding drums and unrelenting synths. All of this makes “Close Enough” a magnetic, complete package that you can hear at the above link.
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