With every single they release, Netherlands-based Emirati producers Revelries put a unique twist on dance music, usually in the house or deep house sub-genres. This time with “Blue” they work with L.A. producer Rob Tirea and vocalist Kayrae, who co-wrote the song. An urgent and expressive vocal is set against a driving house rhythm, with a few impressive pauses along the way, that command your attention to make “Blue” not your ordinary-sounding dance track. The producers spike it with elevated bass synth work and everything works well together. “Blue” is a bit left of centre and may not be an immediate draw, but stick with it and you’ll look forward to hearing it more and more.
MIDNIGHT KIDS and JARED LEE, “Those Were The Days”
“Those Were The Days” is one of those poignant lyrical pop songs that can easily find its way into the dance genre with some remixes. Over the last year or so, US duo Midnight Kids have played to both genres with their releases and the remixes that they have done, so with this strong original release, the marriage of the two comes as no surprise. Midnight Kids are Dylan Lee (he’s one of two sons of Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson) and Kyle Girard. “Those Were The Days” is exceptionally radio friendly with loads of thanks to the gleaming vocal of Jared Lee (no relation to Dylan), who I’ve written about before and is also poised to break out because of it. And it’s a great end of school/graduation song as well with its uplifting vibe which makes it okay to reminisce because memories help make us who we are. Be sure to listen to this one this summer and I can only bet that remixes will put it onto the club charts too.
Here’s a fine one-two punch post about two releases that feature the voice of L.A. singer/musician Zhao.
First up we have Zhao reteaming with producer Eric Sharp for some smooth house with “Monday Blues”. You’ll recall his distinct vocal in Eric’s 2016 immensely catchy deep house release “The Thirst”. Here the setting is easily reminiscent of Camelphat and Elderbrook’s huge “Cola”. Like “The Thirst”, “Monday Blues” is heavy on atmosphere and it’s a great track for DJ’s to lead into the wee hours. It also has terrific lyrics which will definitely help take away any Monday blahs.
Zhao’s single “Magic” has a number of remixes on release, and the best of them is the playful and imaginative one from South African producers Kususa and Argento Dust. It benefits from nicely layered harmonies, Zhao’s higher register, and creative synth work to take the song to a different level.
Both songs are true delights and well worth your attention.
Some innovative and entertaining songs make their debuts this week. One artist continues to find himself with two songs at a time on the chart, while another appears on the chart – twice – for the first time in over 5 years. And they both join another artist who has one song on the rise and one which peaked in the Top 5 a few weeks ago.
But first the Top 10, in which we find two songs snug comfortably at the top 🙂
It’s “White Lies” that reigns supreme for a second week for German/UK producers M-22 and featuring the songwriting talents and uncredited vocal of British singer A*M*E. It kind of goes hand in hand, for me anyway, with Cedric Gervais’ disco edit of “Good Things” in collaboration with Just Kiddin and singer Kyan, which stays at #2.
A third frenetic house track joins the top two to keep you dancing away. “Enlighten Me” is by the fine Dutchmen that are DubVision and SYZZ, and it soars 8-3. They bypass Mahalo and MŌZ who remain at #4 with the deep house of “Go Ahead”, as well as “Sucker” by The Jonas Brothers, which still climbs 7-5. Although Joe Jonas found himself in the Top 5 previously as a solo singer with “Make You Mine” (#3, from his underappreciated Fastlife album) in 2012, and again with DNCE with “Cake By The Ocean” (#2) in 2015, I don’t think I ever fathomed the Jonasei gracing the upper reaches!
Every release by MAX that has hit my chart has made the Top 10, and “Love Me Less”, featuring Quinn XCII, rises 10-7. Mokita’s third entry on the chart becomes his second Top 10 hit. The Nashville singer/songwriter moves up 11-9 with “Kiss And Tell” as “London” tumbles to #15 after peaking at #3. The second newcomer to the Top 10 is “Wild” by German producer Final DJs and featuring Bright Light Bright Light on vocals. “Wild” moves up 13-10 and becomes Bright Light Bright Light’s 17th Top 10 entry!
Three other recent entries are advancing well on the chart. French producer Kidswaste’s delightful “Sleeping Pills” featuring vocalist KOLE climbs 21-16, and right behind is progressive electronica from L.A.’s Mako with “Coyote” moving up 23-17. The fastest riser on the chart, however, is “Swear To God” by Canadian producer Famba, which is making short work of the chart by leaping 27-19. It’s also Famba’s second Canadian radio hit following “Wish You Well” (featuring Trove).
It’s definitely an interesting chart for debuts. Although he continues to move up at #13 with “Crashing” (featuring Bahari), the prolific Illenium has singer/songwriter Jon Bellion on deck this time for the quite amazing and thoughtful “Good Things Fall Apart”, which makes an impressive debut at #20. Then there’s Timmy Trumpet’s commanding “World At Our Feet” which becomes the Australian producer’s first entry on this chart at #23.
And last but not least, there are Dutch producers, the brothers Showtek. This is the first time that Showtek has appeared on the chart since 2014, when “Cannonball (Earthquake)”, with Italian producer Justin Prime and US vocalist Matthew Koma, went to #1. They are back two-fold, first at #26 with Canada’s own Sultan + Shepard bowing for the first time on the chart with “We Found Love”, an update of “Now That We Found Love”, a huge 90’s hit for Heavy D. & The Boyz, originally recorded in 1979 by reggae band Third World. And then there’s the story of remixing a fun 4 year old song – but when a remix by A-Trak is among them you know it’s going to be great. Showtek and vocalist Leon Sherman’s “Listen To Your Momma” arrives at #28, and A-Trak’s is one of five remixes on the EP.
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
After offering up trancey vibes with MarLo recently in “Lighter Than Air”, veteran Australian duo and Grammy nominees Feenixpawl take on progressive house with “Play With Fire” which features the always listenable team of NYC’s Rico & Miella. In some ways the sound is kind of a throwback to about 2013-14 when Zedd emerged with “Clarity” and “Spectrum”. It goes pretty big and stays there but Miella’s voice does not get lost in the song. Rather, you wait and be intrigued by what is a romantic story. After other well-done collaborations and some worthy original releases a few years back that I wrote about, Rico & Miella fit perfectly into Feenixpawl’s plan, and “Play With Fire” is a vibrant centrepiece that should work well in clubs and at festivals.
RetroVision is a French producer and protege of Don Diablo, whose music came to the fore last year with the much played “Get Down”, which I heard all over Miami Music Week before its official release thanks to featuring a key sample of the incomparible “Lola’s Theme” by The Shapeshifters. Out to instill in everyone the same kind of contagious fun, “We Like To Party” perhaps liberally borrows from Daft Punk, Avicii and Martin Garrix, cobbling various notable and similar sounds together as a one-man party machine. There’s little to dislike here, and when the dance floor beckons you’ll be well prepared to let loose to “We Like The Party”.
The latest from Vancouver production duo We Are Fury is a stylistic charmer. It’s emotional electronica for sure, but it retains the harder edges for which Joachim and Stuart have become recognized. The restrained and sometimes delicate voice of RUNN is showcased and never does the vocal become overly urgent, and instead is committed to sing about either fond or painful reminiscences like those which make up everyone’s past. While producers like Illenium and fellow Canadian Ekali are definitely leading the way with transforming dance music with this kind of style, I’m happy to hear We Are Fury recognize in “Memories” an effortless, well-developed balance. It’s available as a free download, for now, at the link above.
“World At Our Feet” is the euphoric anthem that dance music fans need right now for the summer months. To me it’s also a personal best for Australian producer/DJ Timmy Trumpet, who has come a long way from being a jazz musician to be a major force in worldwide dance music. With “World At Our Feet” he definitely goes global, with a taut song that keeps you listening and ready to pump your fists for whatever victory you so choose. The song simply speaks for itself so don’t miss it. And it will be hard to miss Timmy on his worldwide tour-in-progress which sees him playing from Ottawa to Ibiza to Slovakia and everywhere seemingly in-between (next stop is Germany on June 8, with US and Ottawa dates to follow).
“She Got Me” by Switzerland’s Luca Hänni may not have won Eurovision – it did come in at an impressive fourth place – but it has all of the pop prowess to be a worldwide hit. It’s a crowd pleaser that begs participation (‘she got me dirty dancing’) and a dance floor strutter. Luca’s infectious stage presence at Eurovision definitely rubs off on you easily, and the video above shows he definitely has some great dance moves. Very rarely do winners and other songs from Eurovision endure but “She Got Me” is definitely worth savouring.
BLINDED HEARTS and LOUISE CS, “Just The Two Of Us”
After a number of highly listenable and danceable recent releases, it was a pleasant surprise to find Germany’s Blinded Hearts (aka Andi Jelitsch) pairing once again with Sweden’s Louise CS for their take on “Just The Two Of Us”, the 1981 Grover Washington Jr./Bill Withers hit. You’ll recall their collaboration on “Brand New”, some emotional electronica from about a year ago, and taking on “Just The Two Of Us” sounds, well, very comfortable. Louise’s sultry vocal with a hint of a rasp suits the song well, and the song’s transformation into a downtempo deep house track will work well on the dance floor. Considering the last time “Just The Two Of Us” was reworked into a hit – by Will Smith – this rendition by Blinded Hearts and Louise CS is satisfying and refreshing.
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