house – Page 27 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

#BILLCSTop30 #604, January 4, 2021

Happy 2021! Let’s hope the worst of everything is over, and that 2021 can be used as a year of healing and revitalization. For the music industry, however, I expect things will take longer before it gets back on its feet in most of the world. Edition #604 marks the 23rd official online anniversary of this chart, though I did post it in various forms in late 1997 on message boards, etc.

2021 starts with a new number one on my chart, and a first for all three performers. The efforts of NYC producers The Disco Fries, L.A. producers Giiants, and vocalist Allison Park have paid off as “Give It Back” reaches the top position. Only two of the members of Giiants have been at #1 before in their previous incarnation as DATABOY. “Give It Back” is one helluva banger of a house track to start of 2021!

Songs #2 and #3 both fared well on my Top Songs of 2020, in fact they were back-to-back at #33 and #34. “Tinseltown In The Rain” (Big Rhythm mix) (above) by Matt Mancid and Color Theory moves 3-2, and “Fantasy” (below) by Saxity, Victor Perry and Robbie Rosen advances 4-3. Both songs will also carry over to my Top Songs of 2021 at the end of the year.

Another house banger, “Chasing Feelings” by Jerome Price and Cally Rhodes, leaps into the Top 10, moving up 14-8, with its sights set on the Top 5.

I was very pleased to see Tyler Shaw sing “Remember” on the CBC’s New Year’s Eve telecast, he’s always on his game. “Remember” climbs 11-9 becoming his second Top 10 on my chart after 2015’s “Dizzy” (#6).

“Good At Goodbyes” from the Fun City album becomes chart regular Bright Light Bright Light’s 18th Top 10 on my chart since 2010 as it moves up 12-10. Featured vocalist Andy Bell also previously reached the Top 10 as a solo artist outside of Erasure with “Crazy” in 2005 (#7).

It may have charted somewhat belatedly, but I’m still grooving to James Bay’s “Chew On My Heart”, and it moves up 18-12.

The fastest riser on the chart belongs to the triple whammy of Canadian dance producers – duo Loud Luxury and Frank Walker – as “Like Gold” (featuring vocals by Stephen Puth) soars 23-14.

Scotland’s Illyus & Barrientos paired with UK singer Karen Harding is a dream team for the sophisticated deep house of “Let’s Get Together” (24-17).

“Lucid” by Japanese-British pop/dance singer Rina Sawayama makes its presence known on the chart, advancing 26-19.

The carefree and breezy sound of “All About You” moves up 28-21 for the second teaming of The Knocks and Foster The People after 2018’s “Ride Or Die”.

“Synthesizer” marks the fourth chart entry for seminal UK progressive dance group Faithless from their first album since 2004 called All Blessed. It’s their first chart entry since 2009’s “Sun To Me” and features singer Nathan Ball. “Synthesizer”‘s retro techno flavours matched with interesting lyrics help it become the highest debut at #24. Although this chart wasn’t around for 1997’s “Insomnia” (which would have been a #1 for me), Faithless did reach #3 in 1998 with “God Is A DJ”.

Also in a progressive-techno vein is “Bridged By A Lightwave”, the startling single by an unlikely Canadian duo – Deadmau5 and Kiesza! It arrives at #25, and appears in an EP along with a few remixes. It’s Deadmau5’s first appearance on this chart, and Kiesza’s second, following 2017’s delightfully wacked out #1 “Phantom Of The Dancefloor”.

Like Deadmau5, another veteran dance music act appearing for the first time on this chart is UK legend Hot Since 82. His album Recovery has attracted performances by the likes of Boy George and Rudimental, but it’s the intrigue of “Sinnerman”, featuring singer/songwriter Ed Graves, which helps it arrive at #27.

Making his 17th appearance on this chart since 2014, including three as featured artists, is L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette. He’s back as a solo singer with “Airplane Mode”, the title track from his enjoyable new EP, which bows at #28. Brandyn has also appeared on the chart as EMAN8 and in one-half of Cosmos & Creature.

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 in 2021 🙂 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 🙂

Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 23 years? Rummage through the BILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!!

Italy’s @DJMirkoB reworks his own “Let Me In” for a 2020 techno-inspired eurohouse rave up

DJ MIRKO B and GRETA, “Let Me In 2020”

It’s not often that DJ/producers look back into their own repertoires with a view to making one of their older songs sound fresh and new. Italy’s DJ Mirko B chose “Let Me In” (featuring vocalist Greta) from 2013 to rework its anthemic, arpeggio-laden backdrop into something a little different. So he’s lifted a lot of the techno flavours from the original to make it the focus of “Let Me In 2020”, giving it enticing early 90’s eurohouse feels. It works like a charm, still full of what I call ‘festival power’ but with wider appeal for pop audiences.

#BILLCSTop30 #602, December 7/20

It’s been a very strange and somewhat long 2020, yet here we are with my second last chart of the year. Like many others, I’m itching to see live performances again but only when safe to do so. I don’t know how social distancing will be maintained without strict enforcement. We currently have to look at places like Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan to see what measures they are taking. Anyway, there’s a new #1 on deck along with three strong entries. There are also a few significant jumps, which shove other songs into making smaller moves, and push the debuts to the lower five of the chart.

It’s Sam Smith who claims #1 with “Diamonds” from their excellent album Love Goes. Sam had FOUR #1’s in 2014 on this chart – “Money On My Mind”, “Stay With Me”, and “I’m Not The Only One”, from their debut album In The Lonely Hour, and “Latch” with Disclosure – and “Diamonds” is their first #1 here in six years. I was fortunate to see Sam perform at a small club in Toronto in April 2014, because their next stop in my city was our stadium! Their club show actually was to be earlier in the year but ended up conflicting with their first appearance on Saturday Night Live.

One of the year’s most infectious songs belongs to Sweden’s Pawl and Discrete with the toe-tapper “Type Like That” (above), which climbs a notch to #2. And we have Swedes back-to-back with Agnes’ equally catchy “Fingers Crossed” (below) moving up 5-3.

Back in the Top 5 for the first time in seven years are Germany’s Matt Mancid with American producer (and here, singer) Color Theory with “Tinseltown In The Rain” rising 9-5. This is the “Big Rhythm” dance mix of this much revered song from the 80’s by Scottish group The Blue Nile.

Another one with a long gap between events is Justin Nozuka. The Toronto singer last appeared in the Top 10 in 2010 with “Unwoken Dream” (#6) from his second album You I Wind Land And Sea. His latest is “No One But You”, a duet with British singer and 2020 R&B Grammy nominee Mahalia, which moves up 11-8.

The fastest riser on the chart is the latest in a series of dance music bangers that created some of the brightest moments of 2020. It’s “Give It Back” by the pairing of The Disco Fries with Giiants and vocalist/co-writer Allison Park. It smashes into the Top 10, moving 20-9. It’s the third Top 10 on this chart for both Disco Fries and Giiants.

The third Top 10 entry is Illenium’s “Nightlight”, featuring the uncredited voice of Annika Wells. It climbs 13-10, and is Illenium’s 6th Top 10 entry.

Also soaring up the chart 24-14 is another new favourite deep house banger, “Nobody” by Sweden’s NOTD with vocalist Catello.

Watch for “Good At Goodbyes” (above) by Bright Light Bright Light and Erasure’s Andy Bell to move up more in the coming weeks. For now, this wondrous electronic ballad of sorts rises 21-18. Check out the latest single from Fun City, “Saying Goodbye Is Exhausting”, featuring Justin Vivian Bond, below.

I think I’ll need to get a T-shirt or create a meme that says “Sorry for All the Bangers”. “Chasing Feelings” by UK producer Jerome Price and singer/songwriter Cally Rhodes also fits into this category, and it climbs 23-20.

“Fake” is a fun song and video by Lauv and Conan Gray, which moves up 30-25.

The highest debut on the chart is the first entry for renown Dutch producer Oliver Heldens. Collaborating with Party Pupils with vocals by MAX, the exuberant “Set Me Free” arrives at #26. MAX is also sitting pretty at #17 with Suga of BTS with “Blueberry Eyes”. And arriving this past weekend was baby Edie Schneider for proud new parents MAX and Emily!

Also premiering is the darker deep house track “Like Gold” by my fellow Canadians Loud Luxury and Toronto’s Frank Walker with vocals by Stephen Puth at #27. Loud Luxury’s recent “Aftertaste” reached #8 a while back, while Stephen got to #5 last year with “Sexual Vibe”. It’s a first appearance on the chart for producer Frank Walker.

The third new entry makes a concurrent chart appearance for UK singer/songwriter Karen Harding. She’s currently at #12 with the former #1 “Undo My Heart”, and bows with Scotland-based production duo Illyus & Barrientos with the dreamy disco of “Let’s Get Together” at #29.

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 2021 🙂 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 🙂

Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 22 years? Rummage through the BILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!!

Get swept away by striking new single “Sinnerman” by veteran UK producer @HotSince82 and vocalist @EdGravesmusic

HOT SINCE 82 and ED GRAVES, “Sinnerman”

“Sinnerman” is a striking new slice of deep house from veteran UK producer Hot Since 82 (aka Daley Padley) and new vocalist Ed Graves. It’s culled from Hot Since 82’s latest album Recovery (which also features tracks with Boy George and Rudimental among others), as he continues to release music on his own Knee Deep In Sound label. While Ed Graves is new as a vocalist on this song, he is not new to the music business. He’s a respected producer (Alt-J, Liz Cass) and multi-instrumentalist from the US but based in England who co-wrote and plays guitar on “Sinnerman”. And the song is as mysterious as its title – after several listens, I have no idea what it’s about, but no matter. With dark-sounding synths and vocal effects creating its rich atmosphere, and Ed’s sometimes soulful vocal creating another major layer, it’s immediately memorable with a brisk pace belying its four and a half minutes in length, and will work well for late night sets in clubs when they resume business in most of the world.

#BILLCSTop30 #601, November 23/20

There continues to be an enormous abundance of fine music out there – all you have to do is look for it and listen! The BILLCS Top 30 is now in its 22nd year online and continues to act as a guide to steer you in the direction of some great tunes in a variety of pop genres. The chart has four new entries to tantalize you.

Hanging on to #1 is “House Is Happiness” (above) by German producer and saxophonist Stan Sax, who is one half of the duo Saxity, who themselves move into the Top 10 with “Fantasy” (below), featuring the voices of Victor Perry and Robbie Rosen (13-10). Stan and Koni are back on another roll of releases, with another brand new one coming this Friday.

His third album Love Goes is receiving fine public and critical response, and Sam Smith has his eyes on #1 in two weeks with his engaging single “Diamonds”, climbing 5-2.

Sweden’s Agnes obtains her first Top 5 song on this chart since 2009 as the zippy “Fingers Crossed” advances 8-5. Her last song to do this was “Release Me”, which got to #1.

Besides “Fantasy”, the other newcomer to the Top 10 is “Tinseltown In The Rain”, the emotional and intriguing cover of The Blue Nile’s 1984 song by German producer Matt Mancid and California-based vocalist (and multi-instrumentalist) Color Theory. “Tinseltown”, in its Big Rhythm mix, climbs 11-9.

The Fastest Riser on the chart belongs to Toronto’s Justin Nozuka with British singer Mahalia on “No One But You”. This romantic R&B/pop ballad moves up 18-11.

It looks like “Nightlight” opened up even a more pop-oriented audience door for Illenium than his last album Ascend. Recently #1 on the national dance chart for two weeks, “Nightlight” rises 17-13. The uncredited vocal is by one of its co-writers, and frequent Illenium collaborator, Annika Wells.

I like to think of Canadian singer/songwriter Francesco Yates’ “Late Night Love” as his equivalent of Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” – especially since the singer opened for JT throughout one of his recent tours. This sexy and raucous R&B-flavoured song rises 20-15.

Tyler Shaw is one of Canada’s most versatile performers, who can shift from style to style, including recording in French. Such is the case with his latest danceable Top 20 pop radio hit “Remember”, which climbs 21-16.

MAX and SUGA’s “Blueberry Lies” continues to lead the last chart’s new entries, and advances 25-19. Be sure to check out MAX’s excellent album Colour Vision. I was so pleased to see him perform the entire album in a recent free virtual show.

I currently have the Highest Debut on repeat. It’s the new house banger “Give It Back” by The Disco Fries and Giiants featuring singer/songwriter Allison Park. By all rights this song should be huge, and I’m helping to give it that push as it debuts at #20.

Next up at #24 is the first appearance on the chart for Swedish production duo NOTD in tandem with mystery performer Catello on their latest single “Nobody”. The song has already soared into the Top 10 on national dance charts, and is the logical follow up to last year’s huge hit “So Close”.

Despite having been on release since summer, I can’t let the song that debuts at #25 go without it having a chart run. British rocker James Bay returns to the chart with “Chew On My Heart” from his most recent EP Turn It Up. He reached #2 two years ago with “Pink Lemonade”.

The fourth debut is a supurb change of pace for L.A.-based singer/songwriter Lauv, who partners with rising star Conan Gray for “Fake” at #30. The guys really have great chemistry and make “Fake” a lighter, enjoyable song considering its subject matter. It’s Lauv’s 4th appearance on the chart, and Conan’s first.

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 🙂

Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 22 years? Rummage through the BILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!!

Bitterly called out: “Fucking To Forget” is new from Dutch producer @theLaurentius and US singer/songwriter @TylerShamy

LAURENTIUS and TYLER SHAMY, “Fucking To Forget”

Talk about a bitter call out after a relationship is done! Many of us have been there – when you thought you had something good, only to find that the other party thinks it’s better with someone else. Hence “Fucking To Forget” – making yourself feel better that you’ll still be in that person’s mind when they’re, ahem, going at it. It’s a terrific but blunt song co-written by the artists, Dutch producer Laurentius (aka Lars Beerda), about whom you’ve read in this blog space recently with his work with Victor Perry on “Stay The Night”, and L.A.-based singer/songwriter Tyler Shamy, who is primarily known as a voice artist and has written hundreds of songs for TV and commercial placements. His vocal is spot-on, and Laurentius adds somewhat of a tropical flavour to the proceedings which makes the bitter pill go down easier. NSFR (not safe for radio haha), but club DJ’s will enjoy this one.

“Set Me Free” is your ultra-slick end of 2020 Eurohouse anthem by @OliverHeldens and @PartyPupils with vocals by @MAXmusic

OLIVER HELDENS & PARTY PUPILS and MAX, “Set Me Free”

The music business sometimes finds the unlikeliest people making a collaboration that comes out slicker and better than you might expect. The careers of Oliver Heldens and MAX have been made up of many of such serendipitous events! Within a year of releasing his own music as a teenager, the Dutch producer’s “Gecko (Overdrive)” (featuring Becky Hill) soared to #1 in the UK. And that was a liftoff no one could expect – collaborations with the best of the dance music biz followed, along with numerous electronic dance hits and formidable gigs around the world. MAX’s travels have taken him from modeling and acting, through to being a go-to voice in the dance music world and finding a huge fan base in South Korea (as well as connecting to BTS!), all while making his own music either solo or with his best buddy Ryan in Party Pupils. So, all of these forces converge to make the heavenly and anthemic “Set Me Free”. The energetic Party Pupils vibe and MAX’s resilient voice highlight and compliment Oliver’s snazzy production. “Set Me Free” is one that you will play on repeat and is a great end-of-year anthem through which we can say good riddance to 2020.

“Give It Back” is a pumping new banger from @TheDiscoFries, @Giiantsmusic and singer @AllisonParklive

DISCO FRIES & GIIANTS and ALLISON PARK, “Give It Back”

Making a banger and getting it right is an art unto itself – I’d be one happy camper if the quality of songs like Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande’s “Rain On Me”, Karen Harding & Digital Farm Animals’ “Undo My Heart” and Jerome Price’s “Chasing Feelings” (the latter two of which are currently on my chart) continue into 2021. Making me very hopeful is a song you can add to this list. “Give It Back” is the second collaboration by veterans of this blog, NYC’s Disco Fries and L.A. trio Giiants, after their recent late night anthem “Believer”. This time “Give It Back” showcases the voice of L.A.-based co-writer Allison Park, someone perhaps newer to dance music releases but not to performing and songwriting – she’s travelled across the USA and written numerous songs during the last decade. Her polished tones make “Give It Back” go down easy amid a propulsive and irresistible arrangement.

Love, Inc.’s dance classic “You’re A Superstar” gets a fine reboot, complete with @SimoneDenny, courtesy of superstar veterans @MickyModelle and @FridayNitePosse

MICKY MODELLE & FRIDAY NIGHT POSSE and SIMONE DENNY, “You’re A Superstar”

Here’s a text book example of how to bring a much-loved dance hit back to life. Two superstar producers from across the pond, Ireland’s Micky Modelle and England’s Friday Night Posse, have combined their major forces to reboot Canadian trio Love, Inc.’s “You’re A Superstar”, and what better way than with the voice of the original, the amazing Simone Denny? While “You’re A Superstar” was a radio hit in Canada and a dance club hit in the US, it was a Top 10 pop hit in the UK and throughout Europe in 1998. Veterans who began their careers around this time, and worked together on the “Clubland” compilations, Micky and Friday Night Posse (Harry Hard – who himself had a #1 record in the UK producing DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide”) inject “You’re A Superstar” Mach 2 with 90’s techno vibes and pulsating synths along with contemporary bells and whistles to make it sizzle once again. It also is accompanied in its EP by a variety of remixes to check out. Sounding cheerier than ever, “You’re A Superstar” aims to help you celebrate the good times that you deserve.

#BILLCS Top 30 #600, November 8/20

After reaching a milestone of 2,500 blog posts last week since I began writing the BILLCS Music Blog in 2009, I’ve also hit another milestone with the BILLCS Top 30. It’s edition #600, which would be over 1,200 if it was weekly. The chart first began online in January 1998 and the first published #1 was “Angel” by Canadian singer Joée. I had previously posted Top 10 versions of the chart on a few websites or message boards, starting in September 1997. The chart remained a Top 10 until the edition of August 31, 1998, when it was extended to a Top 30.

There are 5 debuts on the chart, and we have a new #1 song in edition #600. It’s an exhilarating instrumental called “House Is Happiness” by German producer and saxophonist Stan Sax, who is one half of the duo Saxity, and also records under the name of ZEROBADDAYS. “House Is Happiness” is a real toe-tapper and you’ll have a tough time staying still. It’s yet another independently released song to reach #1 on my chart.

Sweden’s Pawl & Discrete have another snappy house record that will vie for #1 with “Type Like That”, making another big bold move, advancing 10-3.

But the one to watch is the glorious “Diamonds” by Sam Smith, from his excellent new album Love Goes. “Diamonds” soars 17-5, the Fastest Riser on the chart, among a bunch of fine breakup songs in Love Goes. “Diamonds” features one of Sam’s best vocals, and it’s his highest placing on this chart since 2014.

Two songs arrive in the Top 10 for the first time. Sweden’s Agnes obtains her fourth Top 10 song on this chart with “Fingers Crossed” (13-8, above), most recently reaching #3 on “Tough Love” by Avicii. Singer/songwriter/producer Lauren Mayhew and Moroccan teen producer Mariline debut in the Top 10 with the warm and fuzzy progressive dance track “We Are Home” (11-9), which was written by Lauren at the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).

Stan Sax’s other project, Saxity, climbs 16-13 with “Fantasy”, featuring outstanding vocals by Victor Perry and American Idol alumnus Robbie Rosen. You can see all three gents in the video above.

Denver producer Illenium has a new personal best this week as “Nightlight” (21-17) becomes the #1 song at Dance Music Radio in the USA.

Out of four debuts two weeks ago, “No One But You” by Toronto’s Justin Nozuka with British singer/songwriter Mahalia leads the way, climbing 24-18. Be sure to download Justin’s APP from the App Store, and you’ll find a list of all of his major concert performances over the years, plus some new exclusive acoustic clips to keep you entertained during these strange times.

The highest debut belongs to the ever-so-talented (and dad-to-be) MAX, from his excellent album Colour Vision, with “Blueberry Eyes”, featuring singing by his buddy SUGA of BTS. This song, written for MAX’s wife Emily, arrives at #25, and joins MAX’s collaboration with Jonas Blue, “Naked” (#15), on the chart. “Naked” recently peaked at #4. BTS previously appeared on the chart in early 2018 with “DNA”, which peaked at #13.

Next up is another artist currently on the chart, NYC-based Welsh singer/songwriter Bright Light Bright Light. His outstanding duet with Erasure’s Andy Bell called “Good For Goodbyes” arrives at #26 (above) and has also been released as an extended remix created by Grammy Award winner Tracy Young (below). Tracy in fact appeared on the chart back in 2002 with her radio edit of Cyndi Lauper’s “Shine” (#5). “It’s Alright, It’s OK” by Bright Light Bright Light and Montreal trio Caveboy also climbs 18-16.

Making their chart debut is the L.A. quintet Why Don’t We with the rock-flavoured “Fallin’ (Adrenaline)” at #27. This single by the group of early 20-somethings follows up their 2018 debut album 8 Letters. And with “Fallin'” already brewing at Top 40 radio, I’m sure another album is not far behind.

Also making his chart debut is British electronic dance producer Jerome Price, with vocalist Cally Rhodes, on the irresistible dance banger “Chasing Feelings”, which bows at #28.

While “Dancing Next To Me”, one of my favourites of 2020, departs the chart after a maximum 10 chart stay (20 weeks), Greyson Chance returns immediately to maintain the flow at #29 with his latest single “Bad To Myself”. This one has a lot of personal and earnest touches, referencing Greyson’s recent bout with anorexia.

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 🙂

Want to see what I’ve been listening to and charting for the past 22 years? Rummage through the BILLCS Top 30 Archive (where you can click on the link within) when you have a chance!!