After a long hiatus, A-Trak and Armand Van Helden reunited on record as Duck Sauce last year with two delightfully quirky singles in “Captain Duck” (which prominently sampled Captain Sensible’s “Wot”) and “Mesmerize” (which has one of the strangest animated videos). “Nonchalant” isn’t as much of a novelty as either “Barbra Streisand” or “Captain Duck”, as it builds an extremely catchy, soulful vocal chorus around a retro-sounding Latin melody that is lifted from British group Modern Romance’s 1981 disco/dance release “Queen of The Rapping Scene (Nothing Ever Goes The Way You Planned)”, a minor but memorable dance record (I still am proud to have my original 12″ import of it!!). That makes it a sure dance floor draw, with the slick-sounding sample in direct contrast to the fierce vocal. “Nonchalant” is a pretty irresistible, highly creative slice of fun. You can peruse the ‘duck takeover’ in the odd video above, or check out the track below. Quack!
These days, releases come by so quickly that I’m thinking it’s sometimes better to wait and write about a pair of back-to-back top drawer songs than by themselves. Danish producers Christian Boye and Christian Sigvardt are names well known to readers of this blog, and their two recent releases of “Microdose” and “Over Till It’s Over” can’t go unnoticed. Both are uptempo house tracks, with “Microdose” having the added bonus of a tremendous vocal by Jordan Shaw that gives the song all kinds of dimension on its own. Add that to an engaging hook and melody and “Microdose” is well worth your time and attention. “Over Till It’s Over” is a little more familiar and more of a Top 40 dance/pop record than “Microdose”, but its zesty bounce and quieter, thoughtful moments, along with its soulful uncredited male vocal make it well above average for the genre.
I wish sometimes that some major label releases weren’t so compartmentalized to focus on the country of origin. Both of these songs are released by Warner Denmark, but have such wide appeal that Warner itself should really focus on them worldwide! There, I’ve said it!
Angelo Basham is a new name to dance music though he’s not new to the game at all, having previously recorded under another name. But new identity means a clean, fresh sound, and “Fly Me To The Moon” is bound to catch your attention with its seductive deep house beats and a love story inspired by Frank Sinatra’s classic of the same name. The uncredited female vocal will grab you right from the inset as the rhythm lures you deeper into the story. This is Angelo’s second release under his new moniker, and sets the bar high with its top notch calibre of artistry. It’s well suited for dance radio play and tailor-made for playlists for late night club play too.
The current fast-moving pop music climate reminds me of the 1970’s. Back then, songs were usually off and on local radio station’s charts within 12 weeks, especially during the early 70’s. A&R and promo reps at record companies would start to promote a new song by a major artist and there was an understanding with radio stations that once previous hit song was starting to decline, it would move off the chart quickly in order to allow the new one to chart. That didn’t last long because by 1973 songs began much lengthier stays on radio charts, and in the late 70’s, because of the advent of rock-oriented FM radio, the average length of time had likely increased to 14 or 15 weeks for a Top 30 chart. So my new chart had yet again another new #1, my 10th of the year. Back in 2019 and 2015, I only had eight #1’s for the entire year.
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!
Cash Cash are already out touring to support their album Say It Like You Feel It, so I’m sure if you hit up one of those shows you’ll likely hear “The Feels” which features a scorching vocal by singer/actor Alex Newell, and is my new number one song!
Right on the heels of “The Feels” is “Can’t Stay Away” by Sweden’s Darin, which becomes his personal best on my chart, moving up 3-2.
The first of three songs to arrive in the Top 10 is the first one for Ed Sheeran, whose “Bad Habits” advances 12-6.
The Fastest Riser on the chart for the second time in a row is the multi-lingual smash by Sofi Tukker and Amadou & Mariam called “Mon Cheri”. It’s culled from the Red, Hot + Free album (whose proceeds all go to charity) and climbs 19-9. It’s Sofi Tukker’s 4th time in the Top 10.
Moby takes “Natural Blues” to the Top 10 for the second time – it first happened with the original version peaking at #5 in 2000. Featuring amazing vocals by Gregory Porter and Amythyst Kiah, the “Reprise” version rises 14-10.
Toronto soulful indie pop singer CMagic5 moves up 16-12 with her single from the album Ready To Run called “Love Me If You Can”.
“Back To You” is one catchy dance song that will make you want to move in whatever way you wish! As recorded by Chicago’s Aash Mehta and Charlotte’s ephem, it busts a big move itself by climbing 22-13.
“Again” is a cover of the 2017 release by Noah Cyrus and XXXTentacion which, to me, has been outdone by a triad of relative newcomers to the music scene. The amazing vocal is by NYC’s Jessica Chertock, the producers are Russian duo Purple Guns, and the rapper/vocalist is Young Jae from Florida. “Again” soars 23-14.
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a really high debut on the chart – above #20 anyway. But this song so deserves it – “Sanctuary” by new Dutch producer Howen and “American Idol” finalist Robbie Rosen. Not only will it inspire you to get your groove on, but it’s also got a really warm vocal by Robbie, who also wrote the song. “Sanctuary” (above) bows at #16!! Robbie is also on the chart with Canadian producer Kayliox up 27-22 with “Don’t Want Perfect” (below).
British rocker Sam Fender has an anthem for young folks that is really hitting home with that target audience. “Seventeen Going Under”, from his upcoming album of the same name, climbs 25-19.
The second debut on the chart is “Never Going Home” by French producer Kungs at #24. Of course Kungs (aka Valentin Brunel) is most noted for 2016’s enduring “This Girl”, a song that I now adore, but for some strange reason I really didn’t get to know it until way after it peaked, so it never landed on my chart. But “Never Going Home” has a quirky, fun edge that I’m really enjoying too.
Next up at #26 is the killer combination of Canadian producer Felix Cartal and British singer/songwriter Karen Harding with “Only One”. It’s culled from Felix’s recent album Expensive Sounds For Nice People. Felix also appears as one half of Glass Petals, whose “Heartbeat” just peaked at #5. “Only One” is Felix’s 5th chart entry (including the Glass Petals release), while it is Karen’s 4th in the span of a year!! “Undo My Heart”, which reached #1, debuted on the chart a year ago today!
Premiering at #27 is “Life’s Okay” by Russian dance producer Marava and Canadian singer/songwriter Eadie. “Life’s Okay” has a unique mix of dance beats and alt.soul vocals, but it’s also one of the best feel-good songs of the summer.
The 5th debut at #28 is the dynamic pair of Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Damon Sharpe and the always dazzling Disco Fries with the potent rhythms of “15 Minutes” (and its fun video above). Damon previously appeared on the chart as part of Elephante’s “Age Of Innocence” back in 2016, while “15 Minutes” marks The Disco Fries’ 4th appearance following “Give It Back”, which got to #1 earlier this year.
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.
RYAN SHEPHERD and BLACK GATSBY, “All The Way Down”
Who better to offer up a smashing end of summer dance anthem with a lot of house-meets-disco flourishes than Canadian producer Ryan Shepherd? He does so in tandem with L.A.-based pop/R&B singer/songwriter Black Gatsby, who has recorded with Zed’s Dead and Chris Lake among others. “All The Way Down” follows up Ryan’s recent success with “Hello Sunday”, a grower which was given new life through online Sunday performances by Ryan during the pandemic. “All The Way Down” is about being your best ‘you’ and celebrating that in style. It’s an obvious dance floor filler that will have fists pumping and people cheering on as we begin to take back our lives for some much needed fun times.
Ryan plays a “Hello Sunday Day Party” at Toronto’s Love Child Social House from 4 to 9 pm on Sunday August 29
Dutch producer Russo has been making music for many years and has been supported by just about every major DJ and producer. With “BTTF” he transports us “back to the funk” of the 70’s with some kool Curtis Mayfield-types of vibes and then transports us through to the 80’s, where funk-meets-house and creates a happy union that will continue to last. The production in “BTTF” is slick and dance floor ready, and should be an easy sell to club DJ’s around the world.
“Sanctuary” is on its way to becoming one of my favourite songs of 2021 for a variety of reasons. The pairing of relatively new 20 year old Dutch producer Howen and “American Idol” Top 16 finalist Robbie Rosen is fantastic and is representative of how a great record can be put together remotely these days. Making it even better, is the song itself. While Robbie continues to crank out great music just about every week, this is one of his older songs but has been well worth the wait! Its warm, welcoming, and caring lyrics and totally committed, passionate vocal make it rise up above its competition. Topping it off is the gentle melody which Howen works into a glorious house mix that includes many defining moments. All in all, “Sanctuary” is one song you don’t want to miss.
The summer dance hits keep-a-coming, although, as you may have noticed in some recent blog posts, my ears have been swayed away from beats in favour of a good pop or rock song too, so you never know what will catch my attention for the most part. Also, make sure you read about myONLINE RADIO AFFILIATES(see details after the post) – all kinds of online radio projects now keeping me busy!
Today, Illenium announced his initial Fallen Embers tour, in support of his new album of the same name, and it will hit eight cities, including his own home town Denver, plus San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Orlando among them. His single “Sideways”, featuring the voice of Valerie Broussard and additional production in collaboration with Nurko, gets a second appearance at #1! But there are several challengers brewing below.
Up until “The Feels”, NYC’s Cash Cash had never been on my chart before, and neither had singer Alex Newell, but that song brought them together on Cash Cash’s album Say It Like You Feel It, and “The Feels” climbs 4-2. I’ll say it again – WHY isn’t this a single???
Sweden’s Darin soars 7-3 with “Can’t Stay Away”, which matches his highest peak on the chart, remember 2008’s “Breathing Your Love” (with Kat DeLuna)? “Can’t Stay Away” is one of the brightest and bubbliest songs of Summer ’21.
I thoroughly enjoy Greyson Chance’s “Hellboy” every time I hear it, and it becomes his second Top 5 on this chart moving up 8-4.
The solid British house represented by “Give Me That” by Charlie Lane, Gold 88 and Kate Wild zips into the Top 10, rising 11-6.
The warm tones and strong melody of “You” send it up the chart 15-9 for Regard, Troye Sivan and Canada’s Tate McRae. It’s Troye’s first time in the Top 10 since 2019’s #1 “i’m so tired…” with Lauv.
As former #1 “Myself In You” slides to #13, NYC’s Victor Perry replaces himself in the Top 10 (again!) with “Slip Away” with French producer Kislaw, moving up 13-10. You can check out Victor’s new cover of Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” with producer Boehm below.
To no surprise, Ed Sheeran’s massive hit “Bad Habits” climbs 20-12, definitely another great song of Summer ’21.
The Fastest Riser on the chart, climbing 28-19, is “Mon Cheri” by acclaimed dance duo Sofi Tukker and fellow Grammy nominees, Mali-based duo Amadou and Mariam. This incredibly catchy song is from the charity album Red Hot + Free, and I’d love to see it net a Grammy nomination itself!
“Back To You” by Aash Mehta and ephem is not wasting any time finding its place on the chart. It soars 30-22.
Jay Bird’s future bass anthem “Gone Tomorrow”, with vocals by Clay Agnew, climbs 25-20. You can get a different taste of what Jay Bird has been working on with his new pop/house track “Energy” featuring Jessica Chertock, below.
And speaking of Jessica Chertock, the NYC singer/songwriter is also the vocalist on the Highest Debut on the chart. This time she tackles Noah Cyrus and late fan fave XXXtentacion’s 2017 release “Again”, and totally slays it in the process. With production by Russia’s Purple Guns and rap and harmonies by Florida’s Young Jae, this is one cover that’s better than the original and should not go unnoticed. It arrives with a splash at #23.
UK rocker Sam Fender is back with his first new song in two years, the title track of his upcoming album called “Seventeen Going Under”. It’s a great anthem for young adults in our time with Sam’s voice halfway between Tom Chaplin of Keane and Paul Weller. It’s Sam’s second chart entry, debuting at #25, following “Will We Talk” (#14).
“Break Me Down” is a moody but slick deep house track – the drop kicking off the chorus is a killer – from two Chicago dance production duos, Autograf and Win & Woo, which bows at #26 featuring vocalist SINGA. It’s Autograf’s second showing on the chart following last year’s “Ain’t Deep Enough” (#3) and Win & Woo’s third, following last year’s “Sleepwalking” (#9).
“Don’t Want Perfect” is the first appearance on the chart for Quebec producer Kayliox, and he’s paired with dance go-to vocalist Robbie Rosen, who keeps replacing himself on the chart – continuously since February – as “Waves” is about to depart. “Don’t Want Perfect” is a top notch showing for both artists and debuts at #27. You’ll read more about another new release by Robbie in the week in my blog pages!
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 – currently on hiatus but returning this month, 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 as well as the occasional live segment.
SONNY FODERA & KOLIDOSCOPES and SINEAD HARNETT, “Nah”
One memorable phrase that music fans can never seem to get enough of is “nah nah nah”. And it’s with the triple threat talents of Australia-born Sonny Fodera, L.A. based British soul singer Sinéad Harnett, and rising Aussie producers and songwriting talents KOLIDESCOPES (Joel Corry & MNEK’s “Head & Heart”), who make the most of it all from a legitimately fun place. Sinéad’s knowing vocal puts the subject of this end-of-relationship song in their place, kissing off all of the braggadocio and leaving it swimming in deep water with nowhere to go. The production really sparkles, which means that “Nah” should impress the hell out of fans, club DJ’s, and radio programmers alike after Sonny’s recent success with Just Kiddin and protégé Lilly Ahlberg on “Closer”.
It’s been a hot moment since we’ve had music from Revelries, the Emirati dance producers who really hit their stride in 2019-20 with creative bangers like “Don’t Think Twice” (which reached #2 on my personal chart), “Fall-Out” (also #7 on my chart) and “End Up Like That”). “Heatwave” doesn’t miss a step, a zesty house track that could fit in so well with any mid-evening house set in a club. The uncredited female vocal is a fine match for the deep rhythms and beats, and Revelries are so good at always adding other sounds discretely into the mix that you don’t really notice how effective they are at rounding out the song until after two or three listens.
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