Tag Archives: house

#BILLCSTop30 #610, March 29/21

The new chart is so chock with fun-filled activity, particularly for people like me who enjoy making and reading charts :D, so in these kinds of situations I feel bad about excluding any words about songs that are deserving for one reason or another.  So where there might be an omission this week, I’ll try and make up for it in two weeks.

Amid all of the activity further down, the top two songs remain the same.  Faithless and Nathan Ball keep control of #1 with the rhythmic and witty “Synthesizer” (above) from the album All Blessed.  And Rina Sawayama’s enduring Lady Gaga-esque “Lucid” (below) holds tight at #2.

Zipping up the chart 9-3 to challenge for the top in two weeks is no stranger to this part of the chart – he’s reached the Top 5 six times now – L.A.-based electronic dance producer Mahalo with his Top 10 national dance radio hit “Not Watching Anymore”.

“Escape” is the awesome, beautifully sung electronic dance single by California producer Jay Bird and singer/songwriter Chrxstal Sarah, which glides into the Top 10, up 11-6.

Also new to the Top 10 is the gentle and knowing “Stories” (above), moving 12-8 for NYC-based singer/songwriter Victor Perry with German producers Cal1 and L’essay.  It’s Victor’s 9th trip to the Top 10 as either solo or featured artist!  Victor doubles the pleasure by debuting at #24 with the dance fest called “Myself In You” (below) in collaboration with Italian producer Lordnox.

The final new entry in the Top 10 has been making leaps and bounds these past few weeks after starting its chart journey at #30.  It’s the huge feel-good R&B/pop of “Arms Around Me” by Toronto artist D!XON.  Do check out its engaging video above.

The Faster Riser on the chart, soaring 25-15, is carried by the smoking house of “No More Looking Back” by actor/producer Idris Elba and house legends Inner City led by the amazing Kevin Saunderson.  Its driven vocal by Steffanie Christi’an is icing on the cake!

“Pressure” by Martin Garrix and Tove Lo is is most distinct and decidedly different offering in quite some time, and it climbs 21-16.

Your pre-summer party treat comes in the form of “Friday” by British producer Riton, reviving The Nightcrawlers’ 90’s house classic “Push The Feeling On”, and featuring the antics of social media stars Mufasa and Hypeman.  It’s just so much fun and moves up 26-17.

Equally fun and bringing the beach party to you wherever you are in the world is “Boys” by Florida’s Lauren Mayhew and NYC dance producer INViDA, which climbs 22-18.

Watch out, there is a new banger in our midst, and it’s “When I Lost You” (above) by Norwegian dance producer Dunisco and NYC singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen, which is making short work of the chart, bounding 27-19.  Ever-prolific, you can also check out this new one featuring Robbie by Italian producer Sotschi called “When No One Is Watching” (below).

https://open.spotify.com/track/3ETEFTiUaJSZRL9qrgNjSx?si=kNdV9Ud2S5GBJ92YPFvf6Q

The Highest Debut on the chart comes from the song that finished 2nd in the recent Swedish music contest Melodifestivalen.  But as strong as the winner (“Voices” by Tusse) might be, “Every Minute” by Eric Saade has the edge for me, and bows at #21.  It’s Eric’s first chart appearance since 2016’s “Colors” and is his first English-language recording since 2017.  Eric previously topped this chart in 2011/12 with “Popular”, “Hotter Than Fire”, and “Backseat”, and “Every Minute” marks his 12th appearance.

Ireland’s Four Nights is actually a recording name for singer/songwriter Tommy Buckley, whose simple but effective take on 80’s pop will take no time getting stuck in your head.  “Want You Always” climbs 28-22.

The third debut on the chart is the first for multiple Grammy Award winner Finneas (and brother, of course, of Billie Eilish, who herself has yet to find her way onto this chart).  Arriving at #26 is blues-tinged rock of “American Cliché” (above), and you can bet that his duet with California native Ashe called “Till Forever Falls Apart” (below) may indeed follow suit in the next few weeks.

The fourth debut is the third appearance on the chart for both UK singer/songwriter Karen Harding and UK producer/songwriter Shift K3Y.  Quickly following up Karen’s #5 “Let’s Get Together” (now at #29) at #27 is “Morning” (above), which also has been released in a wicked club mix by UK dance producer Eli Brown (below).  Karen also charted last  year with “Undo My Heart”, which was #1 for a month, and Shift K3Y previously appeared with Becky Hill last year at this time with “Better Off Without You” (#16) and in 2015, also at this time, with “I Know” (#7).

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NEW!! Starting in the evenings on Tuesday March 30, Planet Radio Canada returns to the interwebs with The Musicman James Rogers and his “3D Variety Show” each week for three hours of great music as well as a few features.  When Planet Radio Canada was first broadcasting a few years back, I had a new music feature segment which I’m pleased to say is returning.  Listen to my New Music Pick of the Week (usually featuring a song on the chart) in the second hour of the show.  Tomorrow, the show will also spotlight The Rolling Stones through some lifelong fans’ perspectives!

The music from this chart and blog are also featured regularly on the online radio station The New Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings, also 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 interactive Facebook 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

Check out and ‘like’ the BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Trust” by Sweden’s @_themakproject and vocalist Sabrina Ali is classy and melodic Europop

.mak and SABRINA ALI, “Trust”

Swedish producer .mak follows up his fine remix of “Slow” for Bankii and Billy Otto with a shimmering change of pace called “Trust”.  It’s classy, melodic Europop that features a captivating vocal by newcomer Sabrina Ali, and I think we’ll be hearing much more from her.  Along with Sabrina and “American Idol” contestant Robbie Rosen, .mak has crafted an easy-going electronic delight that succeeds on its own merits. It’s full of personality and a great antidote to bangers and heavier house tracks.

UK/Canadian producers @realFutureKings are back again with vocal powerhouse @MOYAangela with the huge classic house of “Something New”

FUTURE KINGS x MOYA, “Something New”

Earlier this year, Future Kings and MOYA delighted us with their clubby collaboration with MOGUAI called “Laser Beams”.  The UK/Canadian production duo and the American Broadway star are back with feet firmly planted in classic 90’s house with “Something New”.  This is a faster-than-usual house track that often recalls the best work of David Cole and Robert Clivillés in C+C Music Factory as well as legends like Inner City and Todd Terry all rolled into one. MOYA simply slays “Something New” with a powerhouse vocal that keeps great company with songs sung by Martha Wash, Jocelyn Brown, and Loleatta Holloway.  It’s fun and ferocious, but most of all “Something New” is one helluva spicy house treat.

Love and desperation lay the groundwork for the energetic and soulful “Shine A Light” by French producers 2 Thunders and L.A. vocalist OMZ

2 THUNDERS and OMZ, “Shine A Light”

“Shine A Light” is a deep house track that has it all – a sensitive, meaningful story; a precise and frenetic melody; and outstanding production that brings out a soulful side and trance influences.  It’s brought to you by French production duo 2 Thunders, who have been building a European radio following and have remixed David Guetta among others, and prolific L.A.-based vocalist OMZ, whose songs have been featured by the likes of Hardwell.  “Shine A Light” easily beckons the audience to dance to its heartfelt lovelorn story with an emotional, pleading vocal, with intentions on comforting the dancefloor crowd and keeping them there with a steady light show of its own – and we can continue to fantasize about those club nights yet to come!

Halifax’s @DJDezza releases ambitious new album “44° North, 63° West” featuring lush ‘n lovely “Settle” with vocal by @LaurenLaimant

DEZZA and LAUREN L’AIMANT, “Settle”

Although he has been releasing music for most of the last decade, latterly through Enhanced Music (co-owned by Tritonal), Halifax electronic dance producer Dezza came to my attention last year with the infectious single “Carry Me” (featuring Mike Schmid), which got to #6 on my personal chart.  His new album has arrived, titled 44° North, 63° West, and its an ambitious 19-song effort that showcases both his work with vocalists as well as with progressive electronic instrumentals.  His synth work and production are compelling and definitely gave me the same feels as with much older releases by the likes of Above & Beyond and Zedd.  I missed it when it was released as a single late last year, but I’m focusing on the vocal track “Settle”, which is lush and lovely and given some grand lustre by vocalist Lauren L’Aimant, who sometimes recalls Justine Suissa from some of the huge A&B songs.  The synth work is fluid, creating a dreamy soundscape that intends to take you away from whatever you’re usually doing for a while.  Lauren also lends vocals to the new track “Ghost”, while the album also includes “Carry Me” as well as previous single “Getaway” (featuring EMME).  44° North, 63° West is an album that’s meant to be heard from start to finish.  It’s an audio crackerjack box where electronic dance music fans will find something to enjoy inside.

 

Radio-friendly “Never Leave You” packs a wallop of talent from team @LucasEstrada including fellow producers Matvey Emerson, @JamesCarter, and vocalist MKLA

LUCAS ESTRADA, MATVEY EMERSON, JAMES CARTER and MKLA, “Never Leave You”

Veteran Swedish producer Lucas Estrada teams up with another master, Russian producer Matvey Emerson, as well as British producer James Carter – who I wrote about at the star of his career and is now keeping very good company – and fellow Torontonian, vocalist MKLA for “Never Leave You”. This song is as slick as it gets, given the global cadre of talent behind it, though it may take a few listens to really grab you.  And that’s precisely why you can expect this song might pop up on your favourite dance music radio station sometime soon.  It’s pure dance music goodness, minus any significant (and usually annoying) effects, and giving a real showcase to MKLA, whose vocal is effortless and memorable. Buoyant rhythms meet sparkling synths which help make “Never Leave You” really shine.

#BILLCSTop30 #609, March 15/21

It is indeed the Ides of March, and I hope they bear good tidings on us for the rest of 2021.  The year has started off well with music, and for the first time since 2014, this chart has had two number ones in a row that clocked up one appearance at the top each – the last to do this were the back-to-back #1’s “Latch” by Disclosure and Sam Smith, and “Proxy” by Martin Garrix. 

So the successive one-two punch given by NOTD and Catello’s “Nobody” and “Like Gold” by Loud Luxury, Frank Walker and Stephen Puth yields to this chart’s new topper, “Synthesizer” by Faithless and vocalist Nathan Ball, which climbs 4-1.  The veteran dance group would have had a #1 on this chart in 1997, had it existed when their classic “Insomnia” was released.  That song became my #7 song of 1997.  Not only are the music and arrangement in “Synthesizer” brilliant, but its wry lyrics catch you off guard and will make you smile while you’re singing.

“Lucid” by Rina Sawayama has been beaten to #1 by “Synthesizer”, but it moves up 3-2 anyway.  Good luck to Rina at the Brit Awards – they recently got past some awkwardness and deemed her “British enough” to be included!

Illenium, Dabin and Lights have one of the biggest electronic dance songs in North America with “Hearts On Fire” (above), as it climbs 10-6.  Illenium quickly included red hot “Mood” guy Iann Dior for his newest alt.rock flavoured release “First Time”, below.

The three latest arrivals to the Top 10 are “Jealous” (above) by French producer Wizzay climbing 11-8; Mahalo’s dance radio hit “Not Watching Anymore” (also above), up 12-9; and Brandyn Burnette’s “Airplane Mode” (below) which moves up 13-10.  You can find Brandyn’s voice now at many Canadian Top 40 radio stations thanks to his appearance and co-write on “All Time”, with my fellow Canadians, producer Takis and Juno Awards nominated singer/songwriter Jamie Fine, also below.

Eyes are on the Top 10 in two weeks for electronic dance producer Jay Bird and vocalist Chrxstal Sarah with “Escape” (above), which jumps 17-11, as well as the Fastest Riser on the chart, which is the delightful ballad “Stories” (below) by Victor Perry with German producers Cal1 and L’essay, which soars 19-12.  Watch for more new music on Friday from Victor with “Ready For Love”!

If you’re looking for a feel good, catchy dance pop song then “By Heart” by India’s DJ Shaan and vocalist/songwriter Londin Thompson is for you.  It climbs 20-15.

While the rest of the chart is brimming with activity by some songs rising five or six places, I’ll catch up with them in two weeks in favour of the four newcomers to the chart.

Leading the new arrivals to the chart are two songs that I wrote about in a post about 90’s house music being in comeback mode.  With the Highest Debut at #25 it’s dynamic pairing of actor/producer Idris Elba and early 90’s house legends Inner City with the powerful and slick “No More Looking Back” (above), featuring a potent vocal by Steffanie Christi’an, whose voice is also heard throughout Inner City’s most recent album We All Move Together.  And then at #26 is a song that has already become a surprise UK Top 5 hit for British producer Riton with the super fun “Friday” (below), featuring that classic sample from Nightcrawlers’ “Push The Feeling On” and additional vocals by Mufasa and Hypeman.

At #27 is the first chart appearance for Norwegian dance producer Dunisco with “When I Lost You”. The song is sung and co-written by “American Idol” Top 16 finalist Robbie Rosen, who recently appeared on the chart with “Fantasy” with Saxity and Victor Perry.  This one is a banger with destination firmly targeted for the dance clubs when they resume.

Rounding out the chart at #28 is the first entry by Irish pop/rock artist Four Nights, which is actually the one person project by Tommy Buckley, called “Want You Always”.  Its minimal production, keen vocal and 80’s pop flair are all winners in my book.

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 interactive Facebook 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

Check out and ‘like’ the BILLCS Music Projects Facebook page 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#Melodifestivalen2021 has Sweden’s @EricSaademusic facing off against @AntonEwald while @AnaSoklic represents Slovenia for #Eurovision2021

ERIC SAADE, “Every Minute”

ANTON EWALD, “New Religion”

ANA SOKLIC, “Amen”

I’m looking forward to seeing what the 2021 EuroVision song contest has to offer, having only watched it on TV for the first time two years ago, the first time it was shown in my country.  I have been following Sweden’s Melodifestivalen contest for about 10 years, and this year is bringing back two of my favourites, both of whom I’ve written about many times, but both are on the comeback trail after some radio silence for a few years, and face off against each other in the upcoming finals.  And for EuroVision, I have some words about the song that is Slovenia’s entry this year.

Eric Saade was on a huge roll 10 years ago with his engaging albums Saade Vol. 1 and Saade Vol. 2.  These were led by the song “Popular”, which won Melodifestivalen, finished third at EuroVision, and was my #1 song of 2011.  And smashing songs kept on coming, particularly “Hotter Than Fire” and “Backseat” (both reached #1 on my chart), plus other gems like “Made Of Pop”, “Sting”, “Fingerprints” and the strange but cool “Killed By A Cop”.  After recording a few releases in Swedish, Eric is back with one of his most accomplished songs to date, “Every Minute”. His thoughtful and taut vocal leads a vibrant deep house track that recalls last year’s “Breaking Me” by Topic & A7S at times. The  official video for the song is below.

Anton Ewald actually danced behind singers like Danny Saucedo for several years in Melodifestivalen, and then he broke out on his own with the Swedish #2 hit “Begging”, which finished 4th in Melodifestivalen that year. Again, numerous engaging singles followed like “Can’t Hold Back”, “This Could Be Something”, and “L.I.L.Y.”, all of which reached the Top 5 on my chart. His new song “New Religion”, starts off like a sultry ballad and then busts open into a rhythmic house arrangement.  Anton’s enthusiasm for the song shines through and makes it a compelling if unconventional entry for Melodifestivalen, albeit with some slick choreography.

Both Eric and Anton have fierce competition from songs by The Mamas, Dotter, and Tusse, and while neither may win it is great to hear both gents back making fine pop songs.

Ana Soklič won the 2020 Slovenian song contest which didn’t take her to EuroVision because of the pandemic, so her win carries over to 2021 with the song “Amen”.  Like others who have won or participated in EuroVision, 2021 could be a breakout year for the singer, who has been popular in Slovenia for more than 15 years.  “Amen” is a gorgeous, hopeful ballad with a sweeping arrangement known to entice EuroVision audiences and juries.  The lyrics were written by my friend and former EuroVision winner himself, Charlie Mason, who won in 2014 with Austria’s “Rise Like A Phoenix” (and previously had songs recorded by Eric Saade too).  If it makes the finals, I will be happily rooting for “Amen” while I’m watching the event.

American electronic producer @ZAXXofficial returns with techno-infused “CHAOS”

ZAXX, “CHAOS”

While American electronic producer ZAXX has been known in the past for his dynamic big room sets, as well as potent remixes for the likes of The Chainsmokers, Elephante, and 3LAU, his new song “CHAOS” is on a bit of a different bent. With some instrumentation that could be a sample from Martin Garrix’s “Animals” setting the stage, “CHAOS” is a throwback to the 2013-14 years after big room and high arpeggios made their mark, and producers were searching for more innovative, often techno-inspired rhythms. And when you have a song called “CHAOS”, expect some well-placed big drops. A huge future bass mid-section becomes the song’s main hook, around an affecting uncredited female vocal.  No question, this song is supposed to be played very loud at clubs and festivals, and I hope DJ’s will remember to include “CHAOS” for maximum effect.  

Norway’s @Dunisco returns with @RobbieRosenlive’s killer vocal on deep house banger “When I Lost You”

 

DUNISCO and ROBBIE ROSEN, “When I Lost You”

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.