Italian producer/DJ by-way-of-the-U.S. Antonio Giacca landed on my chart earlier this year with the pop/dancetastic “Ignited”, which peaked at #6. The prolific Antonio has certainly grabbed my attention with “Sensation”, which is essentially an instrumental with some soulful vocals which almost sound like they were from the 80’s Loleatta Holloway heyday. It’s a unique, standout highly percussive-sounding track that’s accompanied by a real odd duck of a video that you’ll need to watch about three times before it makes sense, if that at all is the intention. It reminds me in some ways of Martin Scorcese’s 80’s movie “After Hours” (one of my faves). But I digress! Regardless, dance club DJ’s will revel in this one and definitely anyone who’s interested in a truly modern sounding progressive house track will have a blast with it. “Sensation” is available to buy on iTunes.
I hadn’t played it in years, even though I happen to have an original cassette single of Strictly Rhythm house classic “Follow Me” by Aly-us. This gospel-flavoured tune was a huge club smash in 1992 whose bass kick could really pound those speakers, and then it received radio play which extended into 1993. It was my #20 song of that year. Hybrid Montreal/Madrid duo FanBoy have revived it with all of the contemporary bells and whistles without taking away from the original spirit of the song, and that raises this remix several notches in my book. I do know that one half of FanBoy is DJ/producer/remixer Kwik Fiks (Danny Voicu), whom you readers will know as one of the pair (Kwik Fiks & Bongiovanni) that crafted a deep house rework of Baby Bash’s “Suga Suga” in 2013 as “Lifted”, one of my Top 10 songs of that year. So I’m sure more fine music will come from this FanBoy project! 🙂 “Follow Me” is a free download at the Soundcloud link above!
After vaulting into the top 10 from 12-2 two weeks ago, it’s no surprise that Brandyn Burnette’s gentle song about family, “Sleeve”, is my new #1. Since the song is so fresh and being played regularly by yours truly, I have no idea what will succeed it. I’m hoping “Sleeve” will be on Brandyn’s upcoming album tentatively called The Healing. “Sleeve” is one of those songs that will strike an emotional nerve and leave you feeling great.
Right behind “Sleeve” again is another indie performer, New York singer Reigen, with the almost equally affecting EDM ballad “Come Back To Me”, weighing in at #2.
No doubt about it, Chris Jamison’s R&B-influenced pop song “Velvet” has grown on me immensely since I first heard it in December. It’s one of those songs you look forward to hearing every time you play it. “Velvet” jumps 13-3 (tied for the fastest riser of the week) and is obviously a #1 contender.
I’m really surprised more promotion isn’t being given to Jessie Ware’s stunning album Tough Love. I have so many favourites from it but my current is “Pieces”, which climbs 10-7.
Graham Alexander’s “She’s A Chameleon” is leading the way for more rock songs to arrive on my chart – four alone this week – to continue the diversity in music that I like. This energetic number climbs 12-8 from Graham’s latest album Repeat Deceiver.
Every song that has appeared on my chart for Swedish singer Anton Ewald has reached the Top 5. And though it’s not a single, “Save The Last Dance”, from his EP On My Way, rises 16-9, and may get there too!
Boycode’s lovely rendition of “It’s A Mistake” is a great showcase for the Belgium vocal quartet, and it climbs 14-10.
Movin’ On Up
I’m sure it will conquer clubs in no time, but I want “Right Here Right Now” by Giorgio Moroder & Kylie Minogue to be a pop hit too! This pop-dance extravaganza soars 24-14 to tie as the fastest rising song of the week.
Buffalo, NY indie singer Daniel Robinson moves up 21-17 with the mysterious but melodic “Moonmolt”, which is among the new songs that will appear on his upcoming release Truant through EQ Music!
L.A.-based Color Theory has a second song rising on my chart, and it’s a cover of Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” as remixed by LyderJanøy. This faithful but contemporary cover rises 22-18, following up the recent #1 “Headphones”.
2015 looks to be the year for UK trio Years & Years! A self-titled four song EP dropped this week containing previous singles “Desire” and “Take Shelter”, plus the latest called “King” which is well on its way, with a smashing video too, moving 28-19.
Chart Debuts
This one’s been around last Fall and got to #25 on the UK charts following the #3 hit “Touch”, but UK singer/DJ/producer Shift K3Y (aka Lewis Jankel) has a winning style that goes somewhat hand-in-hand with Years & Years. “I Know” bows on my chart at #21. You can also glimpse the singer briefly as he walks by in the video.
As “Hounds” departs the chart after peaking at #16, the striking “Waterfall” arrives for Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites with a powerful video at #25, from their album SonicAluzion (A-Side).
I’m not sure what is the official next single from Mikky Ekko’s new album Time following my #1 “Smile”, but the rollicking “Riot” is the next standout song for me, featuring a ‘timelapse’ video. “Riot” bows at #26.
To keep fellow contestant Chris Jamison from The Voice company on the chart, New Jersey-born Matt McAndrew’s “Wasted Love” wastes no time in arriving at #27. The only other time a contestant from The Voice has appeared on my chart, is actually before he was a contestant and was an indie performer! Chris Mann charted at #10 in 2010 with his cover of George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex”. Now he’s on tour as “The Phantom Of The Opera”!
I’m very hopeful for Lifehouse’s “Hurricane” to put the group back on the rock map, with a new independent album due called Out Of The Wasteland. “Hurricane” debuts at #28.
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart.
02 01 SLEEVE Brandyn 03 02 COME BACK TO ME Reigen 13 03 VELVET Chris Jamison 04 04 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb 01 05 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu Vs Twoloud 07 06 IGNITED Antonio Giacca 10 07 PIECES Jessie Ware 12 08 SHE’S A CHAMELEON Graham Alexander 16 09 SAVE THE LAST DANCE Anton Ewald 14 10 IT’S A MISTAKE Boycode 05 11 REASON Erasure 06 12 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W. 15 13 THERE’S NOTHING WRONG Eleven Past One 24 14 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 18 15 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 19 16 HERE’S TO THE ZEROS Marianas Trench 21 17 MOONMOLT Daniel Robinson 22 18 COULD IT BE MAGIC Color Theory 28 19 KING Years And Years 08 20 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory New 21 I KNOW Shift K3Y 09 22 TIME Steve Grand 17 23 SOMEDAY Neverest 11 24 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia New 25 WATERFALL Smashing Satellites New 26 RIOT Mikky Ekko New 27 WASTED LOVE Matt McAndrew New 28 HURRICANE Lifehouse 20 29 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson 26 30 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be! Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!
Did you know that 12 of this week’s charted performers have never appeared on my chart in its 16 years (and that includes Giorgio Moroder and Sander van Doorn)!
It’s that time of year when chart activity starts to slow down a tad, so there are two debuts in this edition. But a lot of recent favourites will depart the chart in the coming weeks, so expect an influx of new activity!
The Top 10
Jessie Ware’s “Say You Love Me” continues at #1 in a year when there have been more than usual #1’s. “Say You Love Me” ties “Stay With Me”, “Money On My Mind”, and “I’m Not The Only One”, all by Sam Smith, for 3 appearances (6 weeks) at the top. Jessie is back on tour in the New Year with a spate of new dates just announced and available for purchase (and why can’t more performers do this)through her website.
It looks like “Headphones” by Color Theory will succeed “Say You Love Me” at #1. It’s one of the most infectious and memorable songs of the year. Also check out Color Theory’s rendition of Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” (below) from the Adjustments Part Two album. It’s one part Donna Summer’s version and two parts Barry’s! Could it be… chart bound too? A cover by Britain’s Elouise got to #10 in Spring 2012.
Get dancing up a storm to both “Goin’ Down” by Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud and “Gold Skies” by the quartet of Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, and the DVBBS lads. They’re new to my Top 5 at #4 and #5 respectively. Play loud!! Oh and those DVBBS guys have sold out three shows this week in Toronto! Great news for the brothers from just outside of Toronto (Orangeville) who scored a #1 record in the UK earlier in the year.
“Arms of Another”, the ‘B’ side to “An Open Heart” if you will, continues to climb and advances 8-6 this week for Bright Light Bright Light, now promoting his participation in the sophomore Slow Knights project led by his friend Scissor Sisters’ Del Marquis!
Also new to the Top 10 is Erasure’s “Reason”, up 13-9, which you can hear as remixed by the wonderful Parralox!
The fastest riser on the chart is last chart’s highest debut, with video up at the top of this blog post, the soulful and gripping “Come Back To Me” by New York City singer Reigen. It’s an independent release so do your duty and pick up this fabulous song on iTunes as it climbs 22-11!
Tristan Thompson’s “Burn Again”, moving up 16-12, has just been remixed by none other than Michael Jackson and Lady GaGa producer Alex Greggs, who puts a nifty spin on the ballad – and it all syncs up in the video too! Watch below.
Kristine W has had a never-ending streak of Top 5 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart as a lead artist – and I’m not sure who else has! So I asked Billboard chart guru Gary Trust, let’s see if he investigates! In the meantime, “Love Come Home” climbs 23-15 on my own chart.
Eli Lieb’s “Lightning In A Bottle” is perhaps landing on my chart with an even greater splash than his previous entry “Zeppelin”. This ultra-positive song moves up 27-20.
It’s the 12 days of Smashing Satellites giveaways starting Monday December 15, so watch the rock band’s Twitter feed! “Hounds”, the first single from the EP A-Side (SonicAluzion) rises 25-21.
Those Two Debuts
A hot spanking new favourite to add to your dance/EDM repertoire is “Ignited” by L.A. based DJ/producer/performer Antonio Giacca. It’s got a very European flavour but enough to translate it to radio play alongside David Guetta and the like if it gets to that. A delightful mix of house and contemporary electronica, “Ignited” arrives on my chart at #22. I’m anxiously awaiting dance club play action! Below is the progressive club mix.
Joining three previous chart entries, including last year’s #1 Rewind, is “Someday” by Toronto trio Neverest, who have their hearts and thoughts in all of the right places supporting WeDay and through RBC Free The Children. Tonight (Sunday December 14) is the last day where “Someday” is available for freeright here. Otherwise get it on iTunes. “Someday” bows at #27.
The Full Chart
Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart.
01 01 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware 03 02 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory 02 03 SMILE Mikky Ekko 12 04 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud 09 05 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia 08 06 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light 05 07 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons 06 08 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker 13 09 REASON Erasure 07 10 LOSING YOU Jane Badler 22 11 COME BACK TO ME Reigen 16 12 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson 15 13 SUPERHEROES The Script 17 14 TIME Steve Grand 23 15 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W. 20 16 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde 21 17 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison 04 18 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith 10 19 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette 27 20 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb 25 21 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites New 22 IGNITED Antonio Giacca 11 23 RESTART Sam Smith 14 24 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians 18 25 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler 24 26 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone New 27 SOMEDAY Neverest 26 28 AFTERGLOW Harriet 19 29 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott 28 30 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
I am now a radio voice on D-Moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station! Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be! Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!
While the UK has already fawned over London pop/dance trio Years and Years – a Brit Awards Critic’s Choice nomination, a Top 10 hit with a featured vocal on The Magician’s “Sunlight”, a #1 dance EP “Take Shelter” – 2015 could be a big year for vocalist Olly Alexander and band. For they have captured a unique sound, a hybrid of not-so-boy pop meets early 90’s house-influenced EDM pop – think Londonbeat, Roachford, Sydney Youngblood, even Haddaway (but maybe not the London Boys 😉 ). Olly’s emotive and sometimes fragile-sounding vocals stand out and give their music personality. “Desire” is a recent UK Top 25 hit that will get between your ears and under your skin. The video is sort of a collage/mirage of images, events, and people that is less of a story and more of a backdrop once again to show off Olly and his voice. So now’s the time to jump aboard the Years and Years train because 2015 will be a wicked ride.
Italy-born, L.A. based producer Antonio Giacca has released a killer dance tune that’s sure to heat up the cold winter months for many of us. “Ignited” has a gorgeous song-structure and positively winning vocal that should send the song to the top of the dance club play charts. Its effect is instantaneous, with all of the makings of a centerpiece song that will pull club goers onto the floor. Besides that though, “Ignited” is very radio friendly with its hybrid europop and house music influences, and could bring Antonio more international exposure on top of his already significant club success. The club mix is much deeper, bringing in dirty dubstep and trap flavouring for a heavier late night experience. Expect Antonio Giacca’s “Ignited” to become one of your new favourites.
Honestly, there haven’t been many singers who call dance clubs their second home who have endured for 20 years and score big every time. Kristine W. could be set to land her 17th #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart (which has eluded her since 2011). All of her lead artist entries have reached the Top 5. That’s just insane!! I’ve been a fan since 1994’s seminal “Feel What You Want”, one of my Top 10 favourites of that year, which introduced the former Miss Washington to us in an Annie Lennox-like gender-bending video (below) – and who could forget that fluffy white spider/boa thingy? 😛 I still play her 1996 album Land Of The Living regularly. It is an inspiration and radio should have embraced its songs more at the time. A cancer survivor in the early 2000’s, Kristine continued on with so many club classics – “Fly Again”, “The Wonder Of It All”, and “Save My Soul” among them.
Fast forward 10 years and we have “Love Come Home”. This song was actually a minor UK hit in 1994 by Our Tribe which featured Kristine on vocals, very reminiscent of “Land Of The Living” at times. What better way to connect the past with the present. Kristine’s new version is as vital as her 90’s successes. The accompanying video above is all about the love – colourful and energetic and a real showcase for Kristine, decked out majestically once again in unique fashion (remember, back in the day Lady Gaga was a child). Here’s to dance clubs never, ever letting go of Kristine W!!
When soulful UK house music is done right, it will warm your bones and draw you out onto the dance floor. “Give Me Your Love” is the collaboration between London DJ/producer Embody and chanteuse-on-the-rise A*M*E (already noted for her work with Duke Dumont and Monsieur Adi). No filler this – it’s a slick, crisp slice of house, without going too deep and dirty, the kind of song that positions you on the dancefloor before the DJ starts playing the latest and greatest. And “Give Me Your Love” could end up as one of the latter too with its distinct sound and yet another rich and versatile vocal by A*M*E. Listen below and download for free by ‘liking’ Embody’s Facebook page.
I absolutely adore Bright Light Bright Light’s “An Open Heart”. It’s one of my favourite songs by Rod Thomas, and it was already #1 on my personal chart for 4 appearances (8 weeks) at the top of the year, previously featured on the EP In Your Care. “An Open Heart” is also featured on the album Life Is Easy, and is the new single from it, so I’m hoping international doors will open even more for Bright Light Bright Light with it. But featured on the single release is another fantastic BLx2 song that you just can’t miss. It’s quintessential BLx2, drawing specifically from the keyboard hook and house rhythm of “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” by Crystal Waters. It’s a joyous choice of music, set to lyrics of resignation when you find that the one you care for prefers someone else. So be sure to pick up the full single release tomorrow on iTunes and you will not only get the single and 12″ versions of “An Open Heart” but this new gem “Arms Of Another” too(preview).
So the next question is: Can Brandyn Burnette’s “Thanks For Nothing” crack the Top 3, as it rises significantly, up 10-4? The singer constantly reminds us on Twitter that the song may be a straight middle finger to a past relationship, but that it has an optimistic side to it about moving forward. Gotta listen to Brandyn!! There’s an ages old soul in that young body, methinks!
Those “Music Gods” keep forging ahead on this chart! Davis Redfield and vocalist Carl Man climb 7-6 in this edition.
Get to know Canadian R&B/hip hop singer Corey Niles as his latest song “Get To Know You” spreads across Canada, with the help of rapper Ish! It rises 9-7 🙂
Second time’s a charm, especially when it’s in a gorgeous, romantic, midtempo house remix! “I Won’t Let You Go” by Adam Tyler in an Aron Friedman remix gets to the Top 10 for the second time, and that’s only happened once before, with Nelson Clemente’s “You Want Me Don’t You” in 2008/09, which peaked at #3 both times. “I Won’t Let You Go” is at #8, three places short of its original #5 peak in 2011.
The fastest riser on the chart is “Say You Love Me” by Jessie Ware, moving 20-9, and arriving in the Top 25 on the UK Singles Chart this week. Simply cannot wait to hear it in concert later in the month. Looking at the Top 3, I have to wonder when “Say You Love Me” will be able to crack the mold, but we’ll see!
Jamie Scott’s “Unbreakable” may be unstoppable at this point – it moves up 16-11 this week and will almost certainly grab a Top 10 berth in two weeks!
Aussie faves 5 Seconds Of Summer seem to be making more waves at radio now as the Fall sets in with “Amnesia” rising up 17-14 🙂
Chromatone has such a good groove going on in “Play For Me” that you must check out the fantastic dance moves in its well-shot video. It climbs 21-17.
ABOUT THOSE FIVE DEBUTS…
It’s an overdue debut, but always better late than never. While his team has been promoting “Oh So Simple” and “Scared” from his fine EP Stage Fright, the romantic inside me has long been with The Voice contestant blue-eyed soul singer Jake Barker’s title song, which bows at #23. You can only hear a preview on iTunes but it’s worth purchasing the EP for its entire four song selection. The following lyrics alone just send me at each listen just after the minute mark: “10,000 people looking down on me / All eyes on me / Could I picture my life / All I see is you”. Jake Barker has an immense future ahead – and he didn’t even finish in the Top 10 on The Voice!
A love song of a very different kind is “Brando” by Semi-Precious Weapons, which arrives at #24 in advance of their second 2014, following Spring’s Aviation release. “Brando” gets away from the anthemic sounds on Aviation in favour of a song that sings about when you are faced with the fact that you are impossibly in love. Justin Tranter’s vocal is on its best game here, and I’m really looking forward to more from SPW before the end of the year! Now if we can only get them up to Canada to tour…
I wrote about Jane Badler’s “Losing You” a while back, but the song gets under your skin quickly, so it arrives on the chart at #26. Actress/singer Jane previously reached #8 with “Yesterday’s Tomorrows”, so her alt.pop stylings are no stranger to this chart! Be sure to check out the impressive video trek through personal hell below.
Those Janoskians fans have eaten up my Twitter timeline today as the boys play a show at the Danforth Music Hall. I like these guys for the fact that they are bold enough to take risks to break out of the boy band mold, even though they will attract some similar fans as One Direction, 5 Seconds Of Summer, and even Justin Bieber. The Janoskians shake things up with their innuendo with “That’s What She Said” at #27. North American radio isn’t playing, but then again that’s no surprise. The huge fan base says ALL!!
It seems like there’s always room on my chart this year for another Sam Smith song. The 80’s flavoured “Restart” (particularly reminscent of Daryl Hall & John Oates or The Doobie Brothers brand of white soul) premieres at #28 along with a new video below.
Extra! Extra!
The duo Erasure (being singer Andy Bell and keyboardist Vince Clarke) has long endured because they know how to deliver exactly what their audience wants, and continue to create new songs for their huge repertoire. Their music is hugely influential on today’s electronica performers, whether that’s obvious or not. Their latest album The Violet Flame is their best in many years, more than ever a throwback to their classic late 80’s/early 90’s period, which is where their set list focuses in concert. While “Elevation” rises on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart, the chart-bound zinger on the album belongs to “Sacred”. Listen below!!
Lastly, Tristan Thompson’s “Mistaken” shall return to the chart! It’s been bumped to being the third single release from Here For You in favour of another song, which I shall be writing about very soon!
The Full Chart
01 01 I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE Sam Smith 02 02 SMILE Mikky Ekko 03 03 AFTERGLOW Harriet 10 04 THANKS FOR NOTHING Brandyn Burnette 05 05 NO FUN The Presets 07 06 MUSIC GODS Davis Redfield featuring Carl Man 09 07 GET TO KNOW YOU Corey Niles featuring Ish 13 08 I WON’T LET YOU GO (Aron Friedman remix) Adam Tyler 20 09 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware 04 10 THIS COULD BE SOMETHING Anton Ewald featuring Medina 16 11 UNBREAKABLE Jamie Scott 14 12 ZEPPELIN Eli Lieb 15 13 JUST SAY HELLO Lyonn 17 14 AMNESIA 5 Seconds Of Summer 18 15 CRIMINAL Adam Tyler 06 16 I BELIEVE Bright Light Bright Light 21 17 PLAY FOR ME Chromatone 08 18 STRANGER Chris Malinchak featuring Mikky Ekko 11 19 TIME HAS COME Hannis 12 20 TEN FEET TALL Afrojack featuring Wrabel 23 21 KILLER WHALES Smallpools 25 22 HANG ON TO YOUR LOVE Penguin Prison New 23 STAGE FRIGHT Jake Barker New 24 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons 19 25 WHEN YOU LEFT ME Sam Dickinson New 26 LOSING YOU Jane Badler New 27 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID The Janoskians New 28 RESTART Sam Smith 24 29 BIG CITY GIRLS (DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH SMALL TOWN BOYS) Zorro Blakk 29 30 KNEW YOU BETTER Adam Tyler
Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week onD-Moos.com!
As many of you are already aware, after many years away from the microphone, I am now pleased to be back as a voice onD-Moos.com Canada’s National Internet Radio Station, which mainly plays a selection of oldies, mostly from the 50’s to the 90’s, with soon to be more intrusions from the 2000’s and other new music.
Do listen in for my New Music Pick of the Week feature onD-Moos.com8 times per day starting at 2:05 AM EST on Mondays, and while the station is only live in the evenings from 9:00 pm to midnight (with my long-time musical partner in crime “The Musicman” James Rogers), you can hear my voice at other odd times, particularly if you’re an oldies loving night owl on the weekend overnights 🙂
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