Part of making a great song that is suitable for the electronic dance music crowd is to write lyrics that will immediately bring everyone together. American singer/songwriter/ actress (and occasionally, wrestling announcer!) Lauren Mayhew has done just that with the touching and uplifting “We Are Home”. This one brings all of the feels home and makes you really miss being in a club or festival, second homes for many of us music lovers. Bring in Moroccan teen producer Mariline (with support from Alex Parker) and he adds some slick, punchy synths and a memorable drop that kickstarts the melodic chorus. Before it’s over, “We Are Home” is already a singalong that will keep you humming while we look forward to better days ahead for dance music in clubs/festivals.
French producer Mercer often makes some sublime choices when creating his records. A few years back, he drew from France’s disco music in one of its year’s best releases with his record “Satisfy” (featuring house legend Ron Carroll on vocals), using the insistent melody line from Don Ray’s classic “Got To Have Lovin'”. I’m not sure why he’s given this release the title of “Lemonade” (which comes from his Neo Disco 3 EP) because it sure doesn’t have anything to do with the song whose chorus he has cleverly borrowed and disguised as its centerpiece – Gwen Guthrie’s “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent”. Like with “Satisfy”, “Lemonade” has an irresistibly percolating rhythm that makes it a summertime treat.
With the world sometimes feeling so close together, it’s always amazing to see cross-continent collaborations come to successful fruition, and such is the case with “Waitin'” by Samlight and Trauv with vocals from NYC’s Morell Brown. Finland’s Samlight has seen electronic dance releases flourish through most of the major dance music labels. Here he’s partnered with Trauv, a rising producer from India whose music has already been supported by the likes of Thomas Gold and Hardwell. Although there have been a number of successful dance producers from India such as Shaan, I must admit it’s rare to see this kind of collaboration. Bring in singer/songwriter Morell , who totally nails the vocal, and you have “Waitin'”, a true bop that aims to put some big bounce into your summer. In between its story, “Waitin'” emphasizes sparkling arpeggios which teleport you back to melodic house of 2012. We need more feel-good music in 2020 and “Waitin'” certainly has the recipe for just that.
While 2020 may now be more than half over (and some would say thank you for that), it has been chock full of great music. Right now, my Top 5 on this new chart would seem to be untouchable for the next several weeks, though a couple of up-and-comers may change that.
I’ve often been asked why I don’t increase my chart to a Top 40 or a Top 50. You’re more than welcome to weigh in on this, but the BILLCS Top 30 is a chart of my current favourite songs, and that’s all there is to it. There’s no science to it at all. However the chart has been online for 22 years, so it is at least known in some music circles. If it’s meaningful for a new performer to be on someone’s chart at #40 then I can understand the interest. But it’s probably more meaningful if I’ve written about that song than if it appears on my chart. This blog is going into its 11th year online – over 2,400 posts about all kinds of pop music form its library!
So while Lady Gaga & Araina Grande’s “Rain On Me” (above) gets a 3rd appearance (6th week) at #1, and “Never Let Me Down” by VIZE and Tom Gregory (also above) holds at #2, I’ll throw this chart’s upper spotlight on Jessie Ware. Her sophisticated disco/dance album What’s Your Pleasure is one of my faves of the year. “Save A Kiss” (below) remains at #3, but the title track is now also a single so check it out, also below.
NYC-based singer/songwriter Victor Perry has one slew of new music still to come this year. His stunning and heartfelt ballad “What I Deserve” (above, from the excellent EP Rewind), climbs to #4 and is his biggest solo song to date on my chart. Victor has recently worked with two young Swedish producers, B3NTE and Behmer, to create a tantalizing cover of Modern Talking’s massive 80’s European hit “You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul”. My only complaint is that it’s sooo short at only 2:19, but that’s nothing that a good extended remix can’t remedy. Take a listen to this excellent cover choice, below.
I adore the overall theme of Greyson Chance’s “Dancing Next To Me”, which soars 11-5. It’s one of those songs that sits in your gut and gets stuck in your head for a long time.
Francesco Yates’ “Bad Decisions” (up 14-7, from his EP Superbad) becomes the Canadian singer’s second Top 10 on this chart, following his first hit “Better To Be Loved”, which reached #6 5 summers ago. Check out the top drawer song “Queen Street Blues”, also from the EP, below.
The third new entry in the Top 10 is also the Fastest Riser on the chart, which is holding at #1 in the UK for a second week. When dance music is large and in charge you have songs like “Rain On Me” and “Head & Heart” by Joel Corry & MNEK leading the way. “Head & Heart” flies up the chart 21-10.
Trivecta and Fagin’s electronic anthem “Leave It All Behind” cuts through the middle of the chart and moves up 19-14.
In addition to their current banger “Tragic” (featuring Amber Van Day, up 17-15), Dutch producers The Him mix it up with Yall, Royale Avenue and Jay Nebula in their new anthemic single “Believe”, below.
The remaining debuts from the last chart are stuck behind a lot of great songs and are unable to make bigger moves. Check out the fun video for The Prince Karma’s “Superstar” (22-19), above. You’ll see a snazzier video for “Naked” (26-21, below) which makes Jonas Blue and MAX look fabulous. and “Carry Me” (also below) by Canadian producer Dezza and starring veteran session vocalist Mike Schmid is definitely in it for the long run, rising 27-23.
I didn’t latch on to his biggest hit, the Grammy-nominated “Losing It”, until long after it had peaked. But I’ve been loving Aussie producer Fisher’s strut-worthy “Wanna Go Dancin'” since it came out as ‘the flip’ of his single “Freaks” a while back. “Wanna Go Dancin'” bows on the chart at #25. Did you all know that Paul Fisher was once one half of the well-respected production duo Cut Snake??
The masters are back! The Swiss duo Yello (Dieter Meier and Boris Blank) produced some of the most off-kilter, wacked out, fun dance music of the 80’s. They are most noted for “Oh Yeah”, the song that was prominently featured in the classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, and became a hit a few years after its initial release. But their other songs are innovative and unique: “Bostich”, “I Love You”, “Lost Again”, “The Race”, and “Goldrush I” among others. They have a new album coming soon called Point, their first release in almost three years. Check out their wizardry in the electronic nonsense called “Waba Duba” above. Whatever it may be about, it arrives on the chart at #27. It’s their first entry on my chart, though if I had one before 1998 they would have appeared many, many times.
UK singer/songwriter Jazz Mino returns to the chart at #28 with her thought-provoking lyrical pop with “Like A Drunk Girl”. She first charted two summers ago with “Misunderstand”, which reached #15. Yesterday I wrote about her new single “New Girlfriend”.
A reminder that the music from my chart and blog are featured regularly on the new online radio station 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 in 2020 🙂 You can start by joining Radio GTA’s new interactiveFacebook group too!!
View the full BILLCS Top 30 right 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
Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 22 years? Rummage through theBILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!!
There are some releases that even we bloggers hear in advance and can’t wait to write about. “Waiting For You” by the L.A.-based electronic dance production trio Giiants is a potential summer smash as the guys return to Tipsy Records where they first released the still-amazing “Small Talk” a few years back. Covered under shades of anonymity back then, Giiants were subsequently unveiled to be Italian producer Andrea Rullo, as well as Cameron Maxwell and Adam Bailey, whom many readers of this blog are familiar with in the guise of DATABOY. “Waiting For You” is striking from its first listen. An abrupt but unique transition to vocal effects which launch the chorus takes a few listens to navigate, but this post breakup song quickly becomes the sum of all of its excellent and effortless songwriting, vocals and production. You can’t go wrong with “Waiting For You” – it’s a terrific, fast-paced pick-me-up for bright, feel-good sunny days where positive new relationships are bound to unfold.
I first encountered music by UK singer/songwriter Alfie Templeman in a department store earlier this year, where I heard “Circles”, and was taken by such a clean burst of danceable power-pop. He continues with his catchy EP which includes the quirky title song “Happiness In Liquid Form”. It’s amazing what can be done as an indie bedroom producer these days, and “Happiness” is as infectious as they come. There’s a bit of 80’s UK retro appeal in the song, reminiscent sometimes of styles from the new wave tunes by the likes of Kajagoogoo or Altered Images. Whether or not, at only 17 years old, the multi-instrumentalist has any connection to that era of music remains to be seen, though I never put anything past artists for what might inspire them. And to think from his bio that being a vocalist never was really first and foremost – his bright, uncharacteristic tones are a big highlight of his songs for me. You’ll be hearing a lot more of Alfie Templeman as his music continues to evolve. So far, over 10 million Spotify streams can’t be wrong.
Crystal Skies continues to find a successful, pleasing balance of big synths, drops and melody in their new single “Lullaby”, which once again features the co-writing and vocal talents of the Nashville-based Luma. It’s a gorgeous, affecting song, awash in lots of synths that you probably won’t be able to wait to hear on big speakers with lasers flashing at a concert venue once they resume safely. In the meantime, crank up those stereo speakers to obtain the maximum effect of Luma’s soaring voice. “Lullaby” will not disappoint, even if it isn’t as hard core heavy dubstep as some of Crystal Skies’ previous songs. As a big bonus, all proceeds for purchase of the song go to the NAACP legal defense fund and Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB).
Whenever it’s released, it looks like Whethan’s upcoming album Fantasy still has plenty of surprises to come our way, with his latest single “Hurting On Purpose” featuring the voice of Grammy-nominated artist K-Flay. Like my favourite single release of his to date, “All In My Head” (featuring grandson), “Hurting On Purpose” is another one with cross-over rock radio potential that college radio stations would also enjoy. Despite the serious topic matter of not knowing when to stop doing what’s bad for yourself, K-Flay’s vocal is surprisingly bright and playful. This contract makes the song go down really easy, short as it is (only 2:10!). Whethan’s production seamlessly fuses rock and electronic genres, and so many of us can’t wait to hear what else is to come. “Hurting On Purpose” is a great lead-in to the album release, which hopefully will be soon!
I tend to write a lot about uptempo, upbeat music, but every now and again an intriguing slower song creeps into my mix. “Dear Music” is a beautiful electronic ode to song, personified like being in a relationship, courtesy of the much-respected producer from Chicago, Aash Mehta, about whose music I’ve written numerous times. The vocalist Capelle has sang on other songs by Aash in the past, and her rich tones embody one side of the relationship as she wistfully sings “where do you go when the music’s gone?”. “Dear Music” is a fine song for slow dancing by a small fire on a beach as the sun sets – *big deep sigh* – and it’s hard not to enjoy.
KAREN HARDING and DIGITAL FARM ANIMALS, “Undo My Heart”
Since her breakthrough in 2015 with the UK Top 10 smash “Say Something”, London-based singer/songwriter Karen Harding has worked with some of the best of today’s producers and hitmakers, including (coincidentally) Joel Corry and MNEK (separately), Tom Ferry, Todd Terry, Blonde, and even Giorgio Moroder for 2016’s “Good For Me”. The powerhouse vocalist, who cites Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey among her biggest influences, has unleashed “Undo My Heart” (video below) in partnership with the well-respected Digital Farm Animals (aka Nick Gale), known for his work with Shaun Frank, Dragonette, Alan Walker, Noah Cyrus, and R3HAB among others. “Undo My Heart” is by all rights a song from the heart that simply should not miss. Karen’s majestic vocal is carried by a riveting deep house production that could cross over to pop in the same way that “Head & Heart”. Don’t miss (out on) this one! It’s also available in a zippy remix by GotSome, below.
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