It’s great to see two talents come together who haven’t been often in the public lately, them being French producer and remixer Gianni Kosta and Canadian duo Dragonette. Gianni Kosta is a well-respected producer known for high-powered remixes of songs by the likes of Demi Lovato and Lost Frequencies, and releases his own music now and again. “Phantom” takes a few spins but it’s definitely an earworm that has pop radio potential. Since their last album, 2016’s Royal Blues, Dragonette has largely been a collaborating force, most recently with artists like Shaun Frank (2018’s Canadian pop radio hit “Tokyo Nights”, also with Digital Farm Animals), Autograf, Klingande, and Plastic Plates. “Phantom” brings back to our attention the definitive voice of Martina Sorbara, who also co-wrote the song with Gianni. “Phantom” is a tease with a dash of sleaze, and fans of both Gianna Kosta and Dragonette will enjoy it immensely while it attracts new fans as well.
“Take It Slow” is the kind of chill but rhythmic dance pop that helps set the stage for a big party. It’s haunting, hypnotic and graceful, brought to you by Washington DC producer Teddy Beats and Baltimore vocalist Jolee Nikoal. Both have worked together a number of times over the past few years, and there is an obvious chemistry here. Teddy Beats is otherwise known as a future house DJ and remixers whose music has received high level support by SiriusXM Chill and placements on playlists like Starbucks Coffee House Pop. He’s remixed for the likes of Don Diablo, Loud Luxury and Throttle, among others. But circling back to his own songs , there is another musical identity to explore now, when people are likely to be at their most attentive, which is the perfect time to get to know it through songs like “Take It Slow”.
There’s always room in my book for a dance banger of some sort, and 2020 and 2021 are good years for memorable ones in the deep house genre. Norwegian electronic dance producer Dunisco gives “When I Lost You” all the sheen that’s needed, with punchy synths and memorable drops which work in tandem with a killer vocal from NYC singer/songwriter and “American Idol” Top 20 contestant Robbie Rosen. And it follows up some great songs by both artists, those being Dunisco’s fervid “Heaven In A Heartbreak”, and Robbie’s “Fantasy” (with Saxity and Victor Perry) and the electro-ballad “Last Breath” (with Kacey Fifield), all of which I’ve written about. The dynamite chorus of “When I Lost You” will have you singing and the beats will keep you boppin’ along.
A song like “Myself In You” sets the stage for a brighter Springtime where hope (and maybe love) is in the air. It’s brought to you by Italian producer/DJ Lordnox and NYC singer/songwriter Victor Perry. Lordnox provides a slick soundscape to structure the setting for Victor’s voice to pull out all stops in the winning chorus. For any average singer, getting through the chorus in all high notes is a challenge, but Victor’s talents make it seamless, which helps make the song even tighter. Songs by Lordnox and Victor have collectively accrued over 25 million streams, so wisely bringing them together not only works out beautifully with “Myself In You” but bears repeating.
We now get to leave the short blah’s of February behind in favour of a longer, and hopefully Spring-flavoured March. And along with this comes changes in musical flavours, as older favourites depart and new ones arrive. This edition of the BILLCS Top 30 has a new number one song and three debuts, all by artists who have appeared on the chart before.
And one of the lead artists at #1 has been there before – twice in fact. Multiple Juno Award-winning production duo Loud Luxury get their third number one in collaboration with Toronto’s Frank Walker and vocalist/songwriter Stephen Puth with the deep house of “Like Gold”, which follows previous #1’s “Fill Me In” (with Ryan Shepherd) and “Show Me” (with Nikki’s Wives). And it’s just in time too as Loud Luxury have a new release coming soon!
Two challengers for the top reside at #3 and #4. The hefty punch and bounce of Rina Sawayama’s “Lucid” (above) allows it to move 4-3, while the ever-inventive Faithless climbs 7-4 with “Synthesizer” (featuring Nathan Ball, below) from their album All Blessed.
“Tell Me” by UK artists Bobby Harvey and Danny Dearden glides swiftly into the Top 10, up 13-7. “Tell Me” is one slice of deep house that gets under your skin and between your ears pretty fast. Also pay attention to Danny’s latest with Ethan James called “Dial My Number”, below.
French producer Wizzay – still a teenager – is not one to be underestimated as witnessed by his solid electronic dance EP Who I Am? which features “Hooked” (which I previously wrote about last year) as well as “Jealous”, which climbs 17-11. The vocals on “Jealous” are not credited, but by a singer/songwriter who figures as part of a group currently in the Top 10.
The fastest riser on the chart is the incredibly prolific dance producer Mahalo with “Not Watching Anymore”, soaring 21-12. Among the songs that Mahalo has released in 2021 so far, check out his latest “Got That Love” below. And he streamed a terrific set in episode one of “The Mahalo Show” on February as well which you can watch on You Tube.
Southern California electronic producer Jay Bird is making waves with “Escape” (featuring Chrxstal Sarah), which climbs 23-17. He’s quickly followed it up with a song of a completely different bent called “Let Me Go” (featuring Shiah Maisel), which you can hear below.
Victor Perry’s latest delight called “Stories” is off to a brisk start, as the collaboration with German producers Cal1 and L’essay moves up 27-19.
The rest of the debuts from two weeks ago are all setting footprints on the chart as they move up 7 places: The weird and wondrous “Space Melody” by VIZE and Alan Walker and friends (28-21, above); the charming and sultry “blue” by NYC indie singer/songwriter Reigen (29-22, below); and Toronto singer, dancer and choreographer D!XON with the lovely “Arms Around Me” (30-23, also below).
Something new for Spring by Porter Robinson is just what we need right now. Although his album Nurture hasn’t surfaced yet, you can expect a huge splash when it does. Porter has been curating its website for most of this past year, and the soothing and hopeful “Look At The Sky” is another good lead in as the Highest Debut at #24. In fact, “Get Your Wish”, which reached #1 for two appearances (4 weeks), arrived on this chart a year ago almost to the day!
Next up is the fun and frisky “Boys” by Florida singer/songwriter Lauren Mayhew and NYC-based electronic dance producer INViDA. It blasts on to the chart at #25, following Lauren’s #6 song from last year “We Are Home” (with Mariline). This is INViDA’s first appearance on the chart.
The third debut belongs to Martin Garrix who has gone outside of the box with the more progressive alternative electronica of “Pressure”, which features Tove Lo on vocals. It arrives at #27 and is Tove Lo’s first appearance on the chart, though she was uncredited on Alesso’s “Falling”, which reached #4 in 2017. It’s Martin’s 9th appearance on the chart since “Animals” led the way and got to #1 back in 2014.
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog are featured regularly on the online radio station The New Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! I’m the new music consultant for the station so you can expect even more 🙂 You can start by joining Radio GTA’s new interactiveFacebook group too!!
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Let’s hear it for “Boys”! Following in the musical train of thought of Britney Spears and Charli XCX, Florida singer/songwriter/actress Lauren Mayhew (recently of “Trollstopia”) and NYC dance producer INViDA bring you some ear-catching, foot-stomping, bass synth-soaked deep house fun of “Boys”. It’s a fun and flirty banger that’s keeps the spirit of clubbing and having a great time alive during these strange times. It’s also an all-encompassing anthem for the LGBTQ community that will elicit chanting on the dancefloor. Lauren’s alluring vocal is an immediate match for INViDA’s fierce techno-flavoured synths and melody. It’s their second collaboration following the tropical house flavours of “Lies”, and it’s a partnership that continues to beg repeating. “Boys” is out to do nothing short of slay you, so listen to your feet, wait for that drop and there’s no looking back! Check out the eye-catching and immensely enjoyable video above.
There are people we come across in our lives that never seem happy, they always seem to put on a false front or a smiling face at the right times. When you’re in a relationship with someone like this, then it’s best that they move on, for the best for both of you because one day they will find that “”Happiness” doesn’t ever hurt”, as sings British singer/songwriter Jazz Mino. It’s the new song and lead track from her EP Dirty Laundry, which includes her unique reflections on past relationships such as “Part Of This” and the exceptional “Like A Drunk Girl”, which reached #11 on my personal chart last year. Like those songs, you must stick with “Happiness” to let it gel and get more personal with you. The thoughtful lyrics and vocal are surrounded by cheerful synths that help make the song – and especially its chorus – sparkle.
ELECTRIC POLAR BEARS and TYLER GRAVES, “Back 2 You”
“Back 2 You” has an interesting strategy for a dance pop release – it aims for your head and your heart, and then your feet. This is thanks to the smooth and involving story about a couple who have lost their magic together, and it’s up to one of them to rekindle the sparks. You might of heard of producer/DJ duo Electric Polar Bears, and their energetic concerts and parties over the past few years where they are masked in LED polar bear helmets, while singer and co-writer Tyler Graves is the pitch-perfect voice behind two Seven Lions favourites, “Only One” and “Senseless”. Together they’ve created an engaging song inspired by what some people are going through during isolation in lockdowns. And the video, which stars Instagram and Tik Tok “queen of the shuffle” Elena Cruz, helps take you to a happier, blissful place such as the dance party by the EPB’s, when we will one day be able to celebrate together. The EPB’s future/tech-house mix with familiar pop synths is inspired and stands out from the rest.
Change is afoot at the top of the chart, as new songs make inroads, and recent favourites start to run their course. My chart is totally based on my opinion, there is no science or method to the chart – what I currently enjoy most is at the top, and I’ve been pleased to share my list with you online for 23 years. The only rule I’ve had in place is that songs drop off after 10 appearances (20 weeks), to help keep the chart fresh, unless the song starts climbing back upward, which has only happened once (Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” managed 11 appearances and peaked at #2).
Swedish production duo NOTD get their first #1 with vocalist Catello with “Nobody”, which also recently topped the US dance airplay charts for 5 weeks. Also contributing to the songwriting were Sandro Cavazzo, noted for his work with Avicii, and Victor Thell of Smith & Thell. NOTD is the first Swedish act to top my chart in over 8 years, since Swedish House Mafia did it in 2012 with “Don’t You Worry Child”!
Swiftly moving up to second place is “Like Gold” by Loud Luxury & Frank Walker featuring vocalist/co-writer Stephen Puth. Loud Luxury have two #1’s to date on my chart – their rework of Craig David’s “Fill Me In” with Ryan Shepherd, and “Show Me” with fellow Canadian group Nikki’s Wives, while their greatest overall success, “Body” (featuring brando) also got to #2. Will “Like Gold” become their third #1?
Charging into the Top 5 is Japanese-British sensation Rina Sawayama with the Lady Gaga-inspired “Lucid”, moving up 9-4. Will “Lucid” become her first chart topper?
UK dance legends Faithless obtain their first Top 10 on my chart just shy of 22 years, since “God Is A DJ” (which bowed on this chart in March 1999), with “Synthesizer”, featuring vocalist Nathan Ball, which climbs 11-7. It’s from their recently released album All Blessed.
Any of the songs ranking 11-14 could find their way into the Top 10 in two weeks.
Rising 14-11 is the dark and mysterious “Sinnerman” (above) by veteran UK producer Hot Since 82 featuring singer/songwriter Ed Graves, from the album Recovery. The joy of finding synergy and harmony with someone is reflected in “All About You” (also above) by The Knocks and Foster The People, which moves up 15-12. The dazzling collaboration of Illenium, Toronto’s Dabin, and fellow Canadian Lights is hard at work in “Hearts On Fire” (below), which climbs 18-14. But the Fastest Riser on the chart belongs to UK producer Bobby Harvey with fellow UK vocalist Danny Dearden for the intense and emotional deep house track “Tell Me” (also below), which soars 21-13.
Out of the songs that debuted two weeks ago, two move up seven places on the chart. Mahalo’s US dance hit “Not Watching Anymore” (above) rises 28-21, while SoCal electronic dance producer Jay Bird’s personal best to date called “Escape” (featuring Chrxstal Sarah, below) climbs 30-23.
The first of four debuts belongs to Victor Perry, in collaboration with German producers Cal1 and l’essay for the soft and lovely “Stories”, which arrives at #27. Victor is just finishing off a long run on the chart with “Fantasy” (#25), which peaked at #3. “Stories” is also a very welcome follow up to last year’s “What I Deserve”, which got to #2 behind Joel Corry & MNEK’s “Head & Heart”.
Next up at #28 is the quirky delight “Space Melody” by Germany’s VIZE and Sweden’s Alan Walker, partnering this time with fellow producer Edward Artemyev and vocalist Leony. VIZE reached #2 last year with the infectious “Never Let Me Down”, while Alan Walker gets his third appearance on the chart, one of which of course was “Faded”, which peaked at #3.
Also making his third appearance on the chart is NYC indie pop-dance-soul singer/songwriter Reigen with the dark and dreamy “blue” at #29. Both of Reigen’s other songs have reached the Top 10, with “Come Back To Me” climbing to #2 and his cover of The Cranberries’ “Dreams” peaking at #10.
Making his debut on the chart is Toronto R&B/pop singer/dancer D!XON with “Arms Around Me” at #30. Be sure to check out its diverse and well-choreographed video above, which totally suits the bold and sexy vibe of the song.
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog are featured regularly on the online radio station The New Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings with ‘The Musicman’ James Rogers and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂Scroll down the station’s main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades! I’m the new music consultant for the station so you can expect even more 🙂 You can start by joining Radio GTA’s new interactiveFacebook group too!!
View the full BILLCS Top 30right here! Click on the hyperlink on the song titles to hear the songs or watch the videos!
Listen to the BILLCS Top 30 Songs on Spotify! Click on this link to take you there, and follow me on Spotify:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
I wrote about “Ghost” by Ebony Buckle last summer, which introduced me to her stunning voice and unique stories. Based on a 1980’s story about the world’s loneliest whale who would sing at a frequency of 52hz (higher than any species known to humans), “Wonder” quite enchanting indeed. While the video has great effects and weaves the story well, to me it somehow doesn’t capture the warmth and fascination of the song itself as well. Ebony’s voice will recall Kate Bush and Sinead O’Connor for precision, with Maggie Reilly’s flair for storytelling (co-writing courtesy of husband Nick Burns). “Wonder”, with its taut, contrasting arrangement, keeps you patiently waiting for what Ebony will sing next, until its long and deliberate fade out leaves the eye-opening story finished, for now.
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