Young Dutchman WRLD continues to expand his EDM horizons with this seemingly unlikely candidate for one of his remixes, “BB (Four Missed Texts)” by the mysterious Kid Froopy. It’s essentially disco-flavoured European-style R&B, taking many pages out of the mid-70’s songbooks, and much ado about nothing lyrically. Vocally I think of 70’s doyennes like Silver Convention, Penny McLean and Tina Charles – long forgotten names who left behind several worldwide pop and dance hits. This mix is all about the boogie and beat, and sometimes that is all you need 🙂 You can investigate by listening at the link above and downloading it for free.
Chicago’s Clew is off to a great start with his debut single “Tarzan”. This one will totally catch you off guard with its insanely catchy tribal/island house rhythm. And then you are going to completely dig the way Clew’s hip hop verses flow over top, as they segue into the melodic hook of the song. My only thumbs down is about the overuse of autotune in the chorus, which gives a dated Lil Wayne/T-Pain feel to that part of the song, which doesn’t really belong there. But the song briskly sails by and is an unanticipated blast. Check out “Tarzan” at the link above and just be forewarned that your body might get a few steps ahead of your mind…
At a time in this year when some of the dance music coming out of the U.S. is starting to sound a tad stale, there is always Britain and the rest of the world to help kick up a storm. “Your Love” is a rollicking, deft slice of straight-up British electrohouse by E.N.V featuring Little Nikki. It rarely lets up and takes it up several notches beyond so much downtempo songs that are surfacing right now. If you want your crowd to keep dancing without any crazy trap or dubstep effects, just add dance radio-worthy “Your Love” to the mix. Check it out at the link above.
NIK ERNST & NICK PETERS featuring TAMMY INFUSINO, “Give Me Back Tonight”
There is always something to be said about dance/pop done right. European producers/DJ’s Nik and Nick bring us just that with “Give Me Back Tonight” featuring dynamic vocalist and co-writer Tammy Infusino. The guys really offer up a slick package with classic house flavours accenting what is really a solid pop record. With an irresistible melody and been-there lyrics of longing and regret, there’s plenty to which you can move and groove. Following Steve Void’s edit of “Stronger”, Nik Ernst is two-for-two. Check out “Give Me Back Tonight” at the link above.
BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT, “Symmetry Of Two Hearts” (LoFrames remix)
It is VERY cool after writing about the music of Bright Light Bright Light (Rod Thomas) since 2010 that we now have next-level official remixes on deck of his songs from his third album Choreography. LoFrames – production duo of Brit James Yuill and Frenchman Franck Russo – excise Elton John’s vocals from their remix of BLx2’s touching “Symmetry Of Two Hearts”, but the song retains its sheer elegance and receives a rich house beat and arrangement to beckon club goers to the dance floor. And fans have already done that with BLx2’s “All In The Name”, which recently got to #25 on Billboard’s Club Play chart 🙂 This remix of “Symmetry” is very direct in its approach, and sounds like something Rod would do himself, which I’m sure makes the singer very proud indeed. Listen to it at the link above and buy it on iTunes.
Paris-based producer Gianni Kosta has a winner with “Sirius” featuring vocalist Belle through Armada’s The Bearded Man imprint. Gianni’s already caught attention working with Lost Frequencies and Demi Lovato’s “Confident”. But “Sirius” has definitely got a crunch European groove down pat which will standout in a club mix. Belle’s laid back and warm vocal supports the story of a relationship that nearly falls apart but once you’re ‘sirius’ about it it will all be fine. Marry that with images of the warm southern France beaches and the colour of the Mediterranean and “Sirius” goes down easy. Check it out at the link above.
L.A. producer/musician Michael Christofi returns with a proper bookend to his fine Spring house track “Don’t Need You” (featuring J-VEN), which is wrapping up a run on the BILLCS Top 30 after peaking at #9. Christofi is such a natural at creating new-meets-old house music, he slips into this comfortable, recognizable deep groove and switches it up each time to capture your interest. This time he opts for a soft but genuine vocal by AYER that adds to the sly but simple intrigue of the song, and it all makes for very happy feet. “Temptation” is another winner and you can download it for free using the link on the Soundcloud page above.
OTTO KNOWS featuring AVICII, “Back Where I Belong” (Megaphonix remix)
Who doesn’t like a pop song about finally being home? Otto Knows is now a mainstay on the worldwide club circuit and well-established on the Swedish charts with recent songs like “Dying For You” and particularly “Million Voices” outside of his country. He enlisted the aid of buddy Avicii to weave his magic in “Back Where I Belong”, featuring a heartfelt and convincing uncredited vocal by “LP”. Chicago’s Megaphonix has wisely added a punchy house bounce along with minimal but ear-catching effects. This keeps the integrity of the more pop-oriented original but allows it to be mixed with songs that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. You can get “Back Where I Belong” as a free download above and have fun working it into your sets 🙂
This is a condensed NYC-holiday based blog post coming at you with the new chart 🙂
The Top 10
Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad” (in original or EDWYNN x TIKAL and Spirix remix) stays on top for a 4th appearance (8 weeks) and certainly appears to be my song of the summer as well as one of the best of the year so far.
Bounding in to steal the top away from “So Bad” in two weeks is “Shy” by The Magician featuring Brayton Bowman. It soars up the chart 19-2 as the fastest riser. Find the Club mix of this one if you can!
Now based in L.A., Spirix gets his second song in the Top 5 in a pairing with LZRD and vocalist Remmi for the emotional “Take Me Apart”, which climbs 8-5.
Ariana Grande’s “Into You” matches the #8 peak 3 years ago of “The Way”, so let’s see if it goes higher in two weeks. Helping make that a possibility is the delightful, recent arpeggio-laden remix by L.A.’s The Wookie.
The only other new entry to the Top 10 rises 18-10, some NGHT LFE romance called “Her And Him” courtesy of Mi Disguise and Rouse’s mixtape. It becomes Mi Disguise’s 2nd Top Tenner following 2014’s “East Side Bay”.
Also Rising
The song that’s resonating most with me from the State I’m In EP by Brandyn Burnette is “Worship”, which rises 17-11. The title song is also on the move too, up 22-18.
“Rest Of My Life” by Electric Bodega featuring Matt Beilis gets stuck in your head way too easily. I’m often humming it long after it’s ended, and it climbs 23-15.
Equally memorable but for different reasons – such as a funky remix by Jenaux and a sly vocal singing cool lyrics, is “Native Son Prequel” by Gramatik featuring Leo Napier, which moves up 25-17.
Don’t y’all worry ’bout their new single “Closer”, with Halsey, it should arrive on the chart in two weeks as it continues to grow on me amid fierce competition… in the meantime should-have-been-second-single “Inside Out” by The Chainsmokers featuring Charlee, jumps 26-20.
New Atlanta singer Victor Perry brings on his unique soulful charm on his song “Rainbows” from the EP 4 A.M. Nostalgia. It moves up 27-22.
New to the Chart
The common theme with this chart’s debuts is that songs with great vocals won out this time!
If you’re looking for an early 90’s influenced house track with a fierce vocal, then get to know “Born Ready” in its Halogen radio edit by The Disco Fries featuring UK singer Hope Murphy. It arrives at #24.
Another bouncy house track of a different, darker nature premieres at #25 – it’s “Balance” by The Him featuring Oktavian.
Charlie Puth returns to this chart courtesy of an engaging remix by The Netherlands’ DROELOE with “We Don’t Talk Anymore”, his duet with Selena Gomez, who has never appeared on this chart previously. It debuts at #26, and follows Charlie’s previous entries of “Marvin Gaye” (#7) and “See You Again” (#16).
The final new arrival is “Elevated” by rising L.A. duo RKCB, which has been remixed by many folks lately but none better to my ears than by young Australian producer Joe Mason. “Elevated” debuts at #27.
In lieu of the published prettier web version of the chart, here’s the basic chart until I post the full one later in the week 🙂
01 01 SO BAD (EDWYNN x TIKAL & Spirix remix) Brandon Skeie 19 02 SHY (Club mix) The Magician F/ Brayton Bowman 05 03 SO HAPPY Tony Moran F/ Jason Walker 04 04 GET IT ON Jenaux 08 05 TAKE ME APART LZRD x Spirix F/ Remmi 06 06 MAGNETISED (Kat Krazy remix) Tom Odell 07 07 RUN RUN Kat Krazy F/ Johnny Stimson 10 08 INTO YOU Ariana Grande 02 09 DREAMIN’ Embody F/ Camden Cox 18 10 HER AND HIM Mi Disguise x Rouse 17 11 WORSHIP Brandyn Burnette 14 12 OPEN YOUR MIND Megaphonix 15 13 STRONGER (Steve Void edit) Nik Ernst 16 14 DANGEROUS Built By Titan F/ Jesse McCartney 23 15 REST OF MY LIFE Electric Bodega F/ Matt Beilis 03 16 SOUND OF HOME (Snøwmass remix) Sterling Grove F/ Ellyn Woods 25 17 NATIVE SON PREQUEL (Jenaux remix) Gramatik F/ Leo Napier 22 18 STATE I’M IN Brandyn Burnette 21 19 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 26 20 INSIDE OUT The Chainsmokers F/ Charlee 24 21 LIMITS Latchmere F/ Andreas Liberos 27 22 RAINBOWS Victor Perry 09 23 DON’T NEED YOU Christofi F/ J-VEN New 24 BORN READY (Halogen radio edit) The Disco Fries F/ Hope Murphy New 25 BALANCE The Him F/ Oktavian New 26 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE (DROELOE remix) Charlie Puth F/ Selena Gomez New 27 ELEVATED (Joe Mason remix) RKCB 11 28 CLOSER Elephante F/ Bishøp 12 29 LOST (Young Bombs remix) Connor Phillips 13 30 DON’T LET ME DOWN The Chainsmokers F/ Daya
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
http://www.planetradio.ca is back! Listen for my Pick of the Week at 2:20/6:20/10:20 AM/PM EST most days Monday through Sunday, and my flashbacks to a Toronto Top 10 of yesteryear will be heard on Wednesday evening at 9pm EST
PHILIP MIKAL featuring OLA, “Waiting 4” (free download)
If you’ve been missing some Jamiroquai or Penguin Prison power in your playlists, then the fun and soulful house track “Waiting 4” by Sweden’s Philip Mikal featuring vocalist Ola should do the trick. It’s a zingy and zesty track with instant club appeal. And if you’re a producer or remixer, Philip currently has acompetition underway(deadline August 17) in exchange for prizes for remixes, and the right ones can take the song to even bigger places. If not, you have yourself a free download for the listening at the above link.
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