New Buffalo, NY based electropop singer 19 year old Daniel Robinson must have one heckuva thought process when writing his lyrics. At times they seem highly random when strung together, and that’s not a bad thing at all because it helps the listener think outside of the box. “Not Your Boy” also happens to be blessed with a thoroughly infectious melody which will get you singing those unique lyrics, punctuated before the 3 minute mark by a dubsteppy break that will leave you waiting for it on subsequent listens. Daniel’s enthusiasm for it all comes out in a really bright-sounding vocal. Daniel’s second EP Guesswork includes “Not Your Boy” and is available on iTunes. Watch the lyric video above for all those words that somehow fit!
FollowingFriday’s post featuring links to preview songs from WWW, the full 8 song electropop mixtape surfaced today as a free download from Simon’s good friend Bradley Stern akaMuuMuse.com. Fans will remember that WWW features unreleased songs (which Simon announced today were written for other people) that will not appear on Simon’s upcoming official album release. That’s not to say that they are any less than what should be on an official release. Many times songs do not make the cut for a variety of reasons which have nothing to do with whether or not they were ‘good enough’. Straight away, the best song hands down is the epic dance track “Do I Have To Dance”. This is a massive club hit in the making, taking early house influences and marrying them with the Britney/Katy/GaGa pop of the day that Simon so adores. The song features some of Simon’s best vocals and showy production, giving his lower and higher registers a major workout. “Berlin Wall” is another battle cry that Simon’s fans love and the song just cruises along from beginning to end. Similarly “Fight For Your Life” draws listeners in as Simon makes it a highly personal experience.
The Swedish-pop-sounding “Heart In 2” (above) is the closest to what could be a pop hit, another fine piece of songwriting and production. “Diamonds On The Dancefloor” (below) is solid 3 minute serendipitous pop if a little more familiar sounding as some of Simon’s other songs. Even almost more unassuming is “Satellite”, another tidy pop song that clocks in at just over 2 minutes long. “Meteor” was quietly unleashed online after being featured in the ABC Family show “Twisted”, but it and “Neon Lights” are to me needlessly filled with autotune that detracts from Simon’s brilliant voice. These are the only songs on WWW which lose me. But I’m so glad Simon chose to offer WWW to us as a free download after more than two years without new songs. WWW finds him generally on a much more pure pop mission than in the past, thanks to input from new co-songwriters and producers, and this bodes well for what’s coming. If there’s one song that stands out though it’s “Do I Have To Dance”, a truly monster dance song revolving around Simon hypnotically and repeatedly singing “notice me”, for which I would love to hear remixes 🙂
It’s been two years since an official Simon Curtis release, and his robot army is sated at last that he’s releasing a mixtape called WWW ahead of his third album and upcoming video, for which there was recently an online fundraiser. The new music sounds decidedly more upbeat than second album R∆, solid electropop definitely in the spirit of Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Kesha. But of course it sounds fiercely and definitively Simon, not really like his other records, with four songs up for preview on hisSoundcloud page, “Neon Lights”, “Do I Have To Dance”, “Satellite”, and “Berlin Wall”. “Berlin Wall” sounds like a real crowd pleaser that would fit comfortably beside “Laser Guns Up”. There are three previews, available, do give them a listen, they will definitely whet your appetite for more!
The new chart has an unexpected double whammy from a talented young Italian artist who knows how to seamlessly and successfully bridge emotional pop with dance music. But first…
In the Top 10:
The Top 3 is solid with a reason. “Black Light” by Kaden is #1 for a 4th appearance (8th week), but the top could be taken in two weeks by “As Long As You Love Me” by Ryan Adamés or Toronto’s Neverest with “Rewind”. And Lady GaGa’s “Applause” slides into 4th place as we ready for the onslaught of ARTPOP promos a month in advance of the album’s release. So the next #1 is fair game! Travis Garland’s “Homewrecker”, from his self-titled debut album, rises to a new high of #6, as does Justin Timberlake, from the newly released 20/20 Experience Part II, with “Take Back The Night” at #7.
Fastest Risers:
No indeed, “We Can’t Stop Summertime Sadness”. DATABOY’s brillo mashup is a perfect end of summer song that contains some of the Austin lads’ (Cameron and Adam) best vocals. It climbs 25-18.
“Adorn” by Miguel featuring Jessie Ware moves 13-8, and ya never know, it could have its eyes on the top of the chart, too.
It’s great to see UK indie singer Sam Dickinson jump into the Top 10 with “Learn To Wait”, as he prepares a video for a softer, emotional song “Lift Your Head”, from his album The Stories That Occurred.
Betty Who’s “Somebody Loves You” jumps out of my stereo and iPod Touch whenever I play it, and gains momentum on the chart, soaring to #10.
It appears that Pet Shop Boys ditched “Love Is A Bourgeois Construct” as a follow-up single to “Vocal” in favour of “Thursday”, featuring UK dance artist Example. That won’t stop the song from edging its way to the Top 10, as it lands at #12 this week.
New to the Chart:
Yes, that Italian singer I mentioned at the top along with his new video for the poignant “I Have A Name” is indeed Osvaldo Supino. While he has a penchant for the naughty and double entendre, he is at his best either having great fun with his boombox in the video for “Ma Radio” (which advances to #17) or being ultra-sincere with “I Have A Name”. The video captures those moments in time… some you don’t want to relive, and some you do. It’s from Osvaldo’s latest album Exposed (as is Ma Radio), and is also part of the amazing dance compilation that is This Beat Is…Poptronik Volume 2. The song arrives at #21.
In a few weeks, “Juliet” by Lawson will take over the UK charts when their Chapman Square Chapter II album will also be released. What’s in store for North America will likely centre around “Learn To Love Again” (#5 here earlier in the year) and a variation of the new album. Can’t wait! “Juliet” debuts at #26.
It takes a lot of a song to stick with me amid so much other great new music. I don’t often draw from the Disney channel cadre of artists, but I was truly impressed when I saw Zendaya perform in concert this past summer. “Replay” has become a modest pop hit already from her debut self-titled album, and still stuck in my head, premieres at #27.
Lastly, Anton Ewald’s A EP has been the Europop winner this year that is normally held by the likes of Eric Saade. With Eric’s album focusing more on softer, lyrical songs, Anton’s already grabbed a big win with “Begging”, still on the chart after peaking at #2. “Can’t Hold Back” is simply energetic Europop at its best and bows at #28. You can also pick up Anton’s A Acoustic EP online.
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and details web edition of my chart.
Here’s the full basic BILLCS Top 30
01 01 BLACK LIGHT (Stormby remix) Kaden 02 02 AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME Ryan Adamés 03 03 REWIND Neverest 06 04 APPLAUSE Lady GaGa 04 05 SKIRT Kylie Minogue 08 06 HOMEWRECKER Travis Garland 09 07 TAKE BACK THE NIGHT Justin Timberlake 13 08 ADORN Miguel featuring Jessie Ware 11 09 LEARN TO WAIT Sam Dickinson 16 10 SOMEBODY LOVES YOU Betty Who 12 11 ROYALS Lorde 17 12 LOVE IS A BOURGEOIS CONSTRUCT Pet Shop Boys 05 13 VOCAL Pet Shop Boys 15 14 PROBLEM (Kat Krazy remix) Natalia Kills 20 15 HEADHUNTER Parralox 21 16 I REMEMBER Nick Pes 22 17 MA RADIO Osvaldo Supino 25 18 WE CAN’T STOP SUMMERTIME SADNESS Databoy 07 19 DIRTY FLOORS Andy Suzuki & The Method 24 20 HYMN FrankMusik New 21 I HAVE A NAME Osvaldo Supino 10 22 BEGGING Anton Ewald 14 23 BROKENHEARTED Lawson featuring B.o.B. 29 24 IMPOSSIBLE Ryan Star 19 25 LIFE (IS MY REVENGE) FrankMusik New 26 JULIET Lawson New 27 REPLAY Zendaya New 28 CAN’T HOLD BACK Anton Ewald 26 29 WINNING GROUND Eric Saade 28 30 HEARTS Dan Black featuring Kelis
London-based Irish singer Maighréad follows up hersummer single release “Sooner”with its accompanying video. The singer looks wonderful amid a beautiful outdoor scenic backdrop fashioned by producers Diz.co. It’s highly complimentary to the emotional side of the song, which brings longing and regret to the dance floor through the hot electronica rhythm of the song, yet isolates those feelings in the visual setting. This classy video should help take Maighréad to the next level as she promotes the single. You can get it on iTunes.
A little while ago, I labelled“What’s Going On” as a SMASH. And indeed it will, come official release by Sony on November 17. This is great news for producer and remixer extraordinaire Monsieur Adi in teaming up with British singer A*M*E for their rework of the Soul II Soul 1989 hit “Back To Life”. The two things that drive this song are the magical electronic melodies fashioned by Adi along with the powerhouse vocal by A*M*E, given that Caron Wheeler’s original is so hard to top. And in the video we get to see A*M*E owning every scene she’s in, plus, at last, le Monsieur himself! Love the fashion too – a chunk of money was invested in this video and it shows. In about a month or so, watch for “What’s Going On” to go BOOM.
“Black Light” by L.A. singer Kaden rides the top of the chart for a third appearance, while Ryan Adamés’ ever-stunning ballad turn of Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me” is now at #2. Just to make it interesting, Toronto’s Neverest glides to #3 with their rivetting “Rewind”.
Fastest Risers:
I’m on a mission to get Miguel’s “Adorn” to be a bigger hit than it was at the top of 2013. Thanks to an exquisite remix featuring Jessie Ware, the song zips up my chart to #13.
Lady GaGa looks to have one of her biggest charting songs here with “Applause” racing to #6.
“Somebody Loves You” by Betty Who had the viral delight of being featured in a massive marriage proposal announcement video for two men in Salt Lake City. Indeed it is a beautiful song that fits the occasion and moves up to #16.
Other newcomers to the chart besides “Adorn” last week all climb up six places: “Love Is A Bourgeois Construct” by Pet Shop Boys (video is on its way), “Headhunter” by Parralox, and “I Remember” by Nick Pes, from the must-have dance compilation This Beat Is…Poptronik Volume Two!
New to the Chart:
I’ve already written about the three premieres, but they are all well worth repeating.
It was almost an instantaneous decision to add the lone new song from FrankMusik’s Between Us acoustic piano album, “Hymn”, and it arrives at #24. It’s one of Vince’s most painful and beautiful songs to date. I’ll have to check, but I don’t think there has been a chart in 2013 that has not featured a FrankMusik song!
Right behind at #25 is DATABOY’s devistatingly original mashup “We Can’t Stop Summertime Sadness”, seamlessly blending the Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey songs in an electronica way that you could never have imagined. And you can see the guys sing their hearts out in the video – can’t wait until they can tour. More new music on the way soon from Cameron and Adam! Download it for free after watching the video using the link below the video 🙂 I think the only other ‘mashup’ I’ve charted was Pet Shop Boys’ blend of “Viva La Vida” and “Domino Dancing” a few years back, though another worthy one is Penguin Prison’s “GoldenTrain/Working Day And Night”.
Ryan Star is currently accepting pledges to fund his upcoming album via PledgeMusic. He’s already recently released a well-received EP of his thoughtful form of rock, and sold out four shows in New York City at the beginning of August. His single from the EP deserves some belated attention, so “Impossible” arrives at #29, joining a slew of other Ryan Star songs to appear on the chart, including the Top 5 “Right Now”, “Last Train Home”, and “Breathe”.
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and details web edition of my chart.
Here’s the full basic BILLCS Top 30 🙂
01 01 BLACK LIGHT (Stormby remix) Kaden 03 02 AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME Ryan Adamés 06 03 REWIND Neverest 04 04 SKIRT Kylie Minogue 02 05 VOCAL Pet Shop Boys 13 06 APPLAUSE Lady GaGa 07 07 DIRTY FLOORS Andy Suzuki & The Method 10 08 HOMEWRECKER Travis Garland 12 09 TAKE BACK THE NIGHT Justin Timberlake 05 10 BEGGING Anton Ewald 15 11 LEARN TO WAIT Sam Dickinson 14 12 ROYALS Lorde 21 13 ADORN Miguel featuring Jessie Ware 08 14 BROKENHEARTED Lawson featuring B.o.B. 19 15 PROBLEM (Kat Krazy remix) Natalia Kills 22 16 SOMEBODY LOVES YOU Betty Who 23 17 LOVE IS A BOURGEOIS CONSTRUCT Pet Shop Boys 18 18 WHAT’S GOING ON Monsieur Adi featuring A*M*E 09 19 LIFE (IS MY REVENGE) FrankMusik 26 20 HEADHUNTER Parralox 27 21 I REMEMBER Nick Pes 24 22 MA RADIO Osvaldo Supino 11 23 REMIX MY LOVE Killian Wells featuring Kristinia Debarge New 24 HYMN FrankMusik New 25 WE CAN’T STOP SUMMERTIME SADNESS DATABOY 17 26 WINNING GROUND Eric Saade 16 27 BLURRED LINES Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams 20 28 HEARTS Dan Black featuring Kelis New 29 IMPOSSIBLE Ryan Star 28 30 I THINK I LOVE YOU Bongiovanni
I’m so very pleased to say that he’s done it again, and it’s not of the oops! kind. Welsh-born London-based Rod Thomas, as Bright Light Bright Light, has many more masterstrokes of words and melody to unleash from his head, so it’s time to tear up a bit while you’re dancing to “An Open Heart”. But as sad as some of Rod’s songs may be, they often include many happy or joyous moments, which make you feel reassured that everything is all right again at the end. Co-written with Ian Masterton, “An Open Heart” reminds me most at times of my favourite BLx2 song “Love Part II” with its focus on gorgeous upper scale synth notes that end up embedded in your head after a mere listen. “An Open Heart” is from BLx2’s forthcoming EP of new songs In Your Care, due in November. Rod is back in New York City in October, including a full band show at Joe’s Pub on October 25. Take in FrankMusik’s show the night before you lucky NYCers (I’m thinking of you Jamie Sward!) and your end of the week might never be the same! Dare I say that this could be one of the best songs of 2013 this early on? 🙂
NYC trio Liquid Diet – featuring Australian Georgia Haege (yes she of “Kiss My Lipstick Off”, and about to tour with “Mamma Mia”!), witty Californian Billy Hanson, and electromaster Jonathan Sorge – should be far from the best-kept-secret that they are. Their playful “Hand Dance” captured my ears and thoughts a while back, and after gigging in NYC they have now released the thoughtful nu.disco epic “Writing On The Wall”. It’s available as a free download in a much zingier mix than was leaked a few weeks back. The song connects with me as I remember so much good feeling, thoughtful disco in my younger years. What Liquid Diet adds to the mix is a fine balance of vocals by Georgia and Billy, as well as repartee and innuendo that shows there’s much more to their music than just shuffling your feet. I’m sure this translates to an exhilarating club concert performance. “Writing On The Wall” is crisp dance music that would segue nicely with other favourites of mine by fellow NYCers Penguin Prison or Jessica 6. And if “Hand Dance” wasn’t pushing it a bit (in a Cyndi Lauper kind of way), Liquid Diet has also unleashed the naughty and definitely NSFW “My C**t”, also a free download. Listen below in the confines of your vivid imagination. You will blush. And, perhaps you will gasp. But you should just dance 🙂
DAVID HOPPERMAN & XANTRA featuring DATABOY, “Spiral”
If there’s any surprise shocker heading out of left field and straight onto the dance floor, it’s this mashup from Austin’s more-than-just-clever duo Adam and Cameron aka DATABOY. Yup, Miley Cyrus meets Lana Del Rey – and it evolves into an emotional end-of-summer anthem in what actually features one of the guys’ finest vocals. You get it all in afree download right here. And – we get to seem them throughout the entire video, at last! But, in total adoration of last year’s Dreams Are Gold album, I know that DATABOY has some fine, fine music coming which will build another project. And I want to see a club show one of these days again (2011 is getting long ago!). The duo also recently collaborated and provided gorgeous vocals on some splash progressive house by France’s David Hopperman and Xantra called “Spiral” (below), which has been making the rounds in dance clubs, deservedly so.
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