UK/Irish duo Menrva are back following up “Locked In Your Love” with another fun deep house track, “Play It Cool”, featuring British singer of Caribbean heritage Island Banks. The punchy drum sound and quirky rhythm recall something we might hear from Aussie sensation Fisher. Island Banks’ engaging vocal reminds me a lot of Craig David, and some harmonies continue to add even more flavourful twists to the song. Despite the comparisons, Menrva have a left-of-centre original winner with “Play It Cool”, which will have no trouble at all coaxing even the most reluctant dancers out onto the club floor.
The BILLCS Music Blog is well into its 12th year online! I want to thank those of you who have stopped by to hear the music and read my blog posts, as well as all of the musicians, publicists, managers, and labels who have submitted their music for consideration, but especially those who have made lasting connections with me! It always makes me feel special to be a small part of the music industry, which has increased during 2021 with the start of my music consulting business side, BILLCS Music Projects & Consulting.
Right now, it’s hard to tear me away from the three top songs on the chart!
My apologies in advance for how the Spotify links are showing. I am trying to resolve this with WordPress (unsuccessfully so far).
Also, make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
Darin’s “Can’t Stay Away” (above) has become a must-hear for anyone who loves pop and dance music, and if you saw the clip of Darin last week singing the song a cappella, then you know he’s the real deal! That means that “Mon Cheri” by Sofi Tukker and African duo Amadou & Mariam is stuck at #2, and Howen and Robbie Rosen hold snugly at #3 with “Sanctuary” (below), so we’ll see what shakes down in two weeks.
Three songs arrive in the Top 10 for the first time. The end of summer fun in “Never Going Home” by French producer Kungs (above) moves up 12-6 and will hang on well into autumn. The Fastest riser on the chart is Duck Sauce’s “Nonchalant” (19-8, also above), which is hardly a novelty thanks to a fierce female vocal and the melody sampled from Modern Romance’s 1981 release “Queen Of The Rapping Scene”. Robbie Rosen gets his second concurrent Top 10 with “Don’t Want Perfect” (13-9, below) which he wrote and recorded in conjunction with ace Quebec producer Kayliox.
Russian producer Marava and Canadian singer/songwriter Eadie found synchronicity in the creation of their beautiful feel good song “Life’s Okay”, which climbs 16-11.
Damon Sharpe pairing with The Disco Fries was a terrific idea and the result is the pulsating deep house of “15 Minutes”, which moves up 18-12.
Gina Naomi Baez’s lovely anthemic ballad of empowerment, “My Time”, rises 23-17, and Gina tells me that a remix is on its way. Can’t wait to hear it!
“Microdose” by Boye & Sigvardt with singer Jordan Shaw (above) moves up 26-18, a song that’s turned into a real earworm since its summer release. Check out Boye & Sigvardt’s take on Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder On The Dance Floor”, below.
Justin Nozuka’s chill and soulful “Nova” (27-20) is his seventh chart appearance, which all began in 2008 with “After Tonight”, which went to #1 and was my #3 song of that year.
Grammy nominee Morgan Page has appeared once on the chart before as a remixer (for PLS&TY’s #6 “Down For Me” in 2018), and returns as a lead act with Lights on vocals on the snappy “Turn Off My Mind”, which bows as the Highest Debut at #27. Lights also appeared on the chart earlier this year on “Hearts On Fire”, with Illenium and Dabin, which reached #5.
Victor Perry continues his unbroken streak on my chart with the spot-on cover of Angie Stone’s “Wish I Didn’t Miss You”, which arrives at #28, as recorded with German producers John Skyfield and Shoby. Victor has had a song on this chart since June 22, 2020 when the #2 “What I Deserve” debuted, This is the first time Victor has charted with a cover. The original reached #8 back in 2002. Such great work all around!
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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs mixed with classics and songs you haven’t heard in a while. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
Planet Radio Canada – I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week on the “3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. Tomorrow evening, September 28, I’ll be LIVE with The Musicman counting down Toronto’s Top 10 songs from 1985. Join in at around 7:45 pm for this segment.
My New Music Pick of the Week also now airs on Radio GTA Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm EST, and on Halton Hills Online on Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm EST!
JUNERULE and VICTOR PERRY, “I Don’t Wanna Love You”
Junerule is a new producer from Italy who offers up some sophisticated deep house for late evenings with “I Don’t Wanna Love You”, co-written by and featuring the prolific Victor Perry. Co-produced with fellow Italian Lordnox (who worked with Victor on “Myself In You”, which went to #1 on my personal chart), the song also has a rhythm suited for late night beach parties or drives, with some nice guitar sounds on top and a warm wall of bass synths. Victor’s vocal is assured and resolute, and the melody will definitely entice you in further.
When you’re on a roll in the music biz, you want to stay there and keep that momentum going, especially if it might be some of the best music of a 10+ year career. Leading up to his star-studded new album Wide Awake (featuring MK, Diplo, Vintage Culture, Ella Eyre, and many more), Sonny Fodera has released one of his finest, and certain to be biggest, singles yet with “Angel” featuring the delightful voice of co-writer Clementine Douglas. This is one song that will make dance music radio programmers melt with its smooth, refreshing melody that carries Clementine’s often soulful voice along. Though it’s hardly new subject matter, “Angel” is a risk-free example of how to make effusive, shimmering dance/pop for today’s audiences. “Angel” is one you’ll be enjoying for a long time.
If the music industry doesn’t come up with a better strategy other than for artists to keep releasing more, more, more new music, then the quality is going to suffer because of quantity. Already, there are too many awful knockoff cover versions released every week, none of which intends to try and be better than the original, and only exist to make money from unsuspecting listeners who flock to them on streaming services. I have a private playlist that I use to keep track of songs under consideration for review, both submissions and my own discoveries, it rarely sinks below 50 songs as I remove songs from it that I’ve written about or considered. Most songs I listen to get two or three listens before I make my decision to write about them or not. As a blogger who no longer has a full-time career and doesn’t use other contributors to write reviews, I can’t imagine the amount of releases continuing to increase. There’s definitely too much that falls in the lap of the artists, and it never seems like they can do enough to get ahead! Rant over hehe.
Also, make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
Sweden’s Darin hangs tight at #1 for a second time with the fun pop-dance track “Can’t Stay Away”, which I like more than ever since it first debuted. And it’s hard for such a great song to hold on to #1 when so many good ones are right behind.
Sofi Tukker and Amadou & Mariam move up 3-2 with the “Red Hot + Free” multilingual track “Mon Cheri” (above). Sofi Tukker along with producer John Summit have a huge dance hit in the making with “Sun Came Up” at the link below.
And right behind “Mon Cheri” up 9-3 is “Sanctuary” (above), which features one of my favourite vocals of the year by “American Idol” contestant Robbie Rosen. This beauty is produced by relatively new Dutch producer Howen, who has a bright career ahead. Robbie’s other song on the chart, “Don’t Want Perfect” (below), with Quebec dance producer Kayliox, rises 18-13.
The triad of talent that is Russian producers Purple Guns, NYC singer Jessica Chertock, and Florida rapper Young Jae, came together this year for a fantastic cover of Noah Cyrus and XXXTentacion’s “Again”, which climbs 11-6 and is well worth your attention. The highlight is a fantastic vocal by Jessica.
India’s Ashwyn climbs into the Top 10 with his pop-rock-dance fusion of “Sell My Soul”, which moves up 12-9.
“Break Me Down” rises 14-10 and becomes the second Top 10 for each of the producers, Autograf and Win & Woo, featuring a fine vocal by SINGA.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is one of the most enjoyable dance songs on release right now. It’s “Never Going Home” by French producer Kungs, which climbs 19-12.
Reaching a new peak of 14 is “Anxious”, the taut and empathetic song with soulful touches by Australia’s Beamish Brothers.
Duck Sauce’s “Nonchalant” would normally have made a bigger jump of 24-19 but has a wall of other fine tracks to break through, so watch for some more movement in two weeks. Its melody is sampled from Modern Romance’s 1981 release “Queen Of The Rapping Scene”.
“Take My Breath” is proving to be a more than worthy and highly danceable successor to “Blinding Lights” for The Weekend, and it rises 26-21. It’s from The Weeknd’s upcoming yet untitled project.
NYC’s Gina Naomi Baez has a winner with her powerful anthemic ballad “My Time” (above), which moves up 27-23. Check out her newest song “Liquor Love” below.
The Highest Debut of the week comes from Denmark’s Christian and Christian, aka Boye & Sigvardt, appearing on the chart for the second time with a real grower, “Microdose”, featuring singer and co-writer Jordan Shaw. Although I’ve written about the talented lads several times since, their infectious song “Astronauts” (with MAGNUS and UHRE) reached #6 in 2017.
At #27 is no stranger to this chart. Toronto’s Justin Nozuka is back with a soulful and thoughtful new release that will make you smile called “Nova”. He appeared on the chart late last year with “No One But You” (with the Grammy-nominated Mahalia), which topped out at #4. It’s his seventh song to reach the chart.
“Chasing Stars” is a rather unlikely collaboration between Alesso, Marshmello and James Bay that works like a charm! It arrives at #29 and is Marshmello’s debut on this chart. It’s Alesso’s third appearance, following last year’s #8 “Midnight” (with Liam Payne) and the fourth for James, following “Chew On My Heart”, which peaked at #5 earlier this year.
“Almost Home” is a big welcome back to this chart for British trance legendary trio Above & Beyond, who return with the inimitable Justine Suissa at #30. Both artists last appeared on the chart in mid-2004 at the same time, Above & Beyond under their pseudonym Oceanlab (with Justine on uncredited vocal), which reached #1, and Justine also billed as featured vocalist on Armin van Buuren’s “Burned With Desire”, which reached #11. While trance has been rearing its head in the past few years outside of its sub-genre as an influence in other dance music sub-genres, is it about to make a big comeback? “Almost Home” could be its ticket.
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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link:BILLCS Top 30 Songs
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs mixed with classics and songs you haven’t heard in a while. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
Planet Radio Canada – I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week on the “3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. The show won’t broadcast on September 14 but will return.
The Him is back after a bit of a break, and now solely a project of The Netherlands’ Jeroen Kerstens, with the deep house of “Desperados”. It’s an inviting and pulsating track co-written and sung with soul-tinged intrigue by Anica Russo. All mystery aside, “Desperados” is about that funky rhythm which could easily turn it into a dance floor draw and a club DJ favourite. After many recent releases on Spinnin’ and with collaborators such as Sam Feldt, Wiz Khalifa, Parson James, and Jay Hardaway, you will always get a high quality groove from The Him, and I look forward to what’s next in this new chapter.
In “Good Life”, it’s time to celebrate YOU, and toss away any ashes of heartbreak that seem to linger endlessly. It’s a tight collaboration between central Pennsylvania dance producer WVLNGTH (aka Shawn Kanna), who has released a steady stream of singles for the last two years, and Australian singer/songwriter Veronica Bravo, who recently achieved over one million streams on Spotify. Veronica’s vocal becomes that voice inside you that urges you to get out and have fun. It’s an exceptionally well-written song that is carried by that playful and soulful vocal, and WVLNGTH’s hybrid disco-funk rhythms have a lot of retro appeal. If you’re looking for positive songs to help you get out of a rut or just to kick off an enjoyable night, then “Good Life” is a key addition for your playlist.
As pandemic restrictions loosen in a number of countries around the world, anyone who has missed partying with friends will relate to “Homesick”, the new future house banger from Quebec’s Kayliox and Billboard charting singer Rachel Woznow. While the song wants you to get lost in memories of fun times, it also inspires you to create new ones. Kayliox’s consistently slick production has scored with recent releases featuring Jessica Chertock (“Lighter”) and Robbie Rosen (“Don’t Want Perfect”, currently on my personal chart), and knows exactly what to do with Rachel’s expressive and sometimes edgy vocal. “Homesick” is a seamless dance record that also has pop potential, and would be a particularly welcome fit at Canadian radio.
I want to get it right out of the way that “Show Me Love” is (thankfully) not yet another cover of the Robin S. classic or one of the Robin Schulz European smash of a few years ago. It brings back the compelling voice of UK-based US singer/songwriter MOYA in a much more restrained setting than her recent releases which I’ve written about, this time working with UK producer Ben Rainey. “Show Me Love” is top notch, smooth British house, and shows how MOYA can showcase the many sides of her vocal talents in an exceptional setting. “Show Me Love” is a fine release which should find favour with club DJ’s and on dance music radio around the world.
It’s hard to believe I finished my last day of work in my human resources career a year ago! While it’s been tough with the restrictions of the pandemic during my first year of retirement, my music projects and consulting have increased, and I’m suddenly back “on air” on online radio stations as an announcer for the first time in many years, which I never, ever expected to happen. The only way is up, and I’m looking forward to some travelling this coming year.
Make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio announcing projects now keeping me busy!
The revolving door at #1 on this chart continues, as Sweden’s Darin reaches the top with the best song of his career so far called “Can’t Stay Away”. This is a very deserved number one, the positivity oozes from the song and the video is a fun, colourful throwback to the disco years.
I can’t get enough of the multilingual “Mon Cheri” (above) by Sofi Tukker and award-winning African duo Amadou & Mariam, which climbs 9-3. It’s culled from the recent Red Hot + Free set, whose proceeds go to charity. Now also available in a host of remixes at the link below.
Ed Sheeran’s upcoming album is now called Equals (or = ) as “Bad Habits” (above) climbs 6-5. He’s also released a new single from it called “Visiting Hours” (below).
The Fastest Riser on the chart lands in the Top 10 in its second appearance on the chart. It belongs to “Sanctuary” (above) by Dutch producer Howen and “American Idol” finalist, songwriter and producer Robbie Rosen, which soars 16-9 with sights clearly set on #1! Robbie is also the singer and co-writer behind “Don’t Want Perfect” (below) with Quebec producer Kayliox, which moves up 22-18.
Also new to the Top 10 is “Back To You”, the riveting house track by Chicago’s Aash Mehta and Charlotte’s ephem, which rises 13-10.
Ashwyn’s “Sell My Soul” is a real grower, with its stellar guitar solo as the focus of an otherwise mellow and thoughtful song. It moves up 15-12.
“Break Me Down” (above) busts through the middle of the chart for Chicago’s Autograf and Win & Woo with vocalist SINGA, and climbs 20-14. Also check out below a lovely dance performance video from Win & Woo of their latest release called “Knots” featuring Blair Lee.
The Highest Debut on the chart is “Nonchalant” by Duck Sauce at #24. In my blog post last week, I noted that its melody revolves around an old somewhat obscure favourite of mine, “Queen Of The Rapping Scene”, a 1981 release by UK group Modern Romance. Combine it with a pulsating house rhythm and A-Trak and Armand Van Helden have another winner!
Next up at #26 is The Weeknd’s “Take My Breath”, yet another winner for my fellow Scarborough native Abel Tesfaye, who in full club mode and is clearly with retro disco rhythms this time, which is no surprise given he covered Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” (as “D.D.”) ten years ago.
Then at #27 is NYC’s Gina Naomi Baez with a vocal tour de force on “My Time”, which is your new end-of-summer empowerment anthem!
Chicago house music is winning on this chart! As with releases from Aash Mehta, Autograf and Win & Woo, Jarod Glawe and Dutch vocalist Robin Vane arrive at #28 with “Belong To You”. It’s an enjoyable release peppered by a powerful vocal from Robin, who I initially compared to Dan Smith of Bastille when I wrote my blog post about it, but since then I’ve been hearing more similarities to Bono of U2. In any case he’s in great company!
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
Radio GTA– listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs mixed with classics and songs you haven’t heard in a while. And on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm I bring you “Your Weekend Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
Halton Hills Online– “Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free, proudly brought to you by Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge in Georgetown, Ontario!
Planet Radio Canada – Now back in action, listen to the “3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers. I’m featured every Tuesday between 7 and 7:30 pm with my New Music Pick of the Week, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 