Joel Corry – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

#BILLCSTop30 #657 – January 16/23

It’s here! I can finally post it officially! Yes, the chart first published in January 1998, initially as the Tuned-On! Top 10 until August that year, when it increased to a Top 30. The chart has always been open to having both albums and singles appear, and in 2003, I began allowing any song from around the world to chart. In the 2000’s, I also allowed free downloads to chart, and one eventually reached #1 in 2009 (it was “Pink Cadillac” by 100 Akres and Roz Bell). Artists have never been restricted to having one song appear on the chart. And there are only two rules: A song can only remain on the chart for 10 appearances (20 weeks), unless it is in an upward moving position, and that only happened once (“Rolling In The Deep” by Adele peaked at #2 in its 11th appearance, then left the chart). I have been tempted at times to increase the chart to a Top 40 but my original preference has always held through those moments.

The best places to communicate with me continue to be Twitter @billcs or Instagram @thebillcs or Facebook @BILLCSMusicProjects. Follow this blog using the “Follow” button at the bottom of the home page.

Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below too as they are increasingly tied in with this blog.

To start off this 25th anniversary celebration, I have a new #1, and it’s a song I didn’t think would initially get there, after Conan Gray’s “Yours” leapt over it, having debuted the chart after. I’m talking about JVKE’s “Golden Hour” (above), which succeeds “Yours” and gets to the top in its 8th appearance. And even better yet for the 19 year old talented pianist and songwriter, his collaboration with Martin Garrix for “Hero” (below) is the Fastest Riser, soaring 22-8. It becomes Martin’s 9th Top 10 entry too.

“Satisfaction” (above) by Darin is right behind “Golden Hour”, moving up 3-2, from his EP My Purple Clouds. And it hasn’t happened for a while, but Darin now has three songs on the chart. His standalone single “What’s The Point” bumps up 15-14, while “Memories” (below), another track from My Purple Clouds, arrives at #29.

Matoma’s energetic anthem “The Power” (above) rises another notch, 4-3, while Joel Corry’s song with Tom Grennan, “Lionheart (Fearless)” (below) climbs 7-4.

Also new to the Top 10 are Zac Poor’s emotional delight “Ghost Boy” (11-9, above, in its new black and white video), and the teaming of Illenium and MAX for “Worst Day” (13-10, below). It’s Illenium’s 9th trip to the Top 10, while MAX has accumulated 10 Top 10’s!

Immediately outside of the Top 10, recent upstarts “Black Mascara” by Greyson Chance (16-11, above) and “Wings (I Won’t Let You Down)” by Armand Van Helden & Karen Harding (18-12, below) await their placements in two weeks. Karen’s also been a regular presence in this blog recently due to a slew of top calibre new releases!

I’m skipping through the middle of the chart because in addition to Darin’s “Memories”, there are five debuts, after a number of long-lasting favourites departed the chart. And put on those dancing shoes…

One of the most creative and memorable new releases around is “La Danse” by Australia’s Timmy Trumpet and Norway’s Tungevaag, which arrives at #24. It’s Timmy’s second appearance on the chart following 2019’s #2 “World At Our Feet”. And Tungevaag is the second Norwegian producer on the chart, along with Matoma.

At #25 is a stunning cover of Talking Heads’ “Slippery People” (above) by UK producer The Shapeshifters and vocalists Ramona Renea and Fiorious from the album Let Loose. The original version is included in the Heads’ album Speaking In Tongues, but this version more closely resembles the more obscure 1984 cover version by The Staple Singers (below). Otherwise known as Simon Marlin, The Shapeshifters has previously charted twice before, last in 2006, but more importantly, with the #1 “Lola’s Theme” in 2004. The vocalists deliver excellent performances and clearly had a good time making this one.

“Lose You” by Afrojack and James Arthur bows at #27. It’s the fourth appearance on the chart for Afrojack, but a first time for James, who usually does not record dance releases but whose voice is suited immensely well for them, lending an emotional depth and vulnerable quality to “Lose You” that another vocalist likely couldn’t provide.

The fifth debut at #28 is “No Sleep” by Toronto-based producer Famba and vocalist GLASGOW KI$$. It’s Famba’s 6th entry on the chart, following last year’s “Forever”, and continues in a similar clubby vein, a few steps removed from his more pop flavoured releases which have landed him in Canada’s Top 10. Check out the original above, and the new Silver Panda remix below, which plays even more on some of the techno influences in the song.

Famba plays Club Noir (inside Rebel) in Toronto on February 4.

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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Radio GTA

Listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. The show also repeats on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. EST and Sunday mornings at 2:00 AM EST. You can hear past episodes of The Big 20 at this link.

On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New 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 EST! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free. “The Big 20” also airs on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays.

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada

I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my New Music Pick of the Week which debuts every week on “The 3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. A repeat of “The 3D Variety Show” airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EST on Radio GTA. My pick of the week airs 20 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear past episodes of The 3D Variety Show at this link.

Addictive Energy

This is a weekly show hosted by Hunter Wilbur that airs on several online stations but is anchored at Mix88.ca on Saturdays beginning at 8pm EST. You can hear past episodes of Addictive Energy at this link.

For other details about the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side! There have been some changes and they will be updated soon.

#BILLCSTop30 #655 – December 19/22

This edition of the new chart is my last one for 2022. The next edition will kick off 2023 on January 2, 2022. I’ll have one more edition of the BILLCS New Music Report in two days, but the report will not publish next week as I will be preparing my Top 100 of 2022. I expect to count down the list on Twitter in three parts starting Thursday December 29. The full list will be published on December 31, and that evening an online radio broadcast of my Top 30 of 2022 will happen first on Radio GTA and then on Mix88.ca. So there’s lots more coming to put a wrap on an interesting year in music!

Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below too as they are increasingly tied in with this blog.

For the final chart of the year, “Yours” by Conan Gray is locked in at #1 for a second appearance at the top. But also, where will the song finish on my year end list next week?

Both “Golden Hour” by JVKE (above) and “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez (also above) have been bookends making a deliberate pace up the chart. “Golden Hour” however moves 6-3, and “Until I Found You” inches up 5-4, which will also allow them to finish off well on my year end list. JVKE also has a new song which you shouldn’t miss. It was a surprise for me to f,ind out that “Hero” was recorded with Martin Garrix and it’s definitely turning into a new favourite. Check it out below with its cool animated video.

Charlie Puth’s short but thoughtful “Charlie Be Quiet” moves up 8-5 and becomes his third Top 5 song on this chart. The other two were “Attention” (#1) and “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (with Selena Gomez, #5).

The top of the chart is heavy with action as Darin’s “Satisfaction” (above) climbs 14-6 and is the Fastest Riser on the chart for a second chart in a row. His other entry, “What’s The Point” (below), jumps 25-20.

“The Power” is looking to become Matoma’s personal best on the chart. The rollicking sports anthem moves up 10-7, one position behind the peak of his 2016 release “False Alarm” with Becky Hill.

I’ve really had a sweet spot all year for ballads or softer songs recorded by new male singers. You can add Toronto’s Shawn Molko to that list as his lovely “I Will Wait” climbs 11-8.

Continuing to rev up the dance charts is “Lionheart (Fearless)” by Joel Corry and Tom Grennan which rises 13-9.

Toronto duo Crash Adams get their first Top 10 placement on the chart with “Give Me A Kiss”, which jumps 12-10.

Zac Poor’s poignant bop “Ghost Boy” kicks into high gear and moves up 22-16.

The Highest Debut on the chart belongs to Greyson Chance with “Black Mascara” at #25, another stunning track from his Palladium album. His beautiful performance of the song from his December 1 show in Toronto sticks in my memory and compelled me to revisit it, now one of my favourites from the album. As his song “Athena” departs the chart this week after peaking at #6, Greyson continues to have to songs on the chart as “My Dying Spirit” holds at #2.

At #26 is the unanticipated collaboration of dance music legend Armand Van Helden and British house music queen Karen Harding. The song is “Wings (I Won’t Let You Down)”, an Armand release from 2016 built around the refrain of Ph.D.’s 1981 Top 5 UK hit “I Won’t Let You Down”, which has been revamped to include original lyrics and vocals from Karen. Even better, the song keeps the late Jim Diamond’s vocal intact in the chorus. It’s an upbeat song made into something euphoric thanks to the talented team. While “Wings” is Armand’s first appearance under his own name on this chart since 2007 (since he’s also a member of Duck Sauce), it’s also his sixth entry, which includes two #1’s, the house classic and UK #1 “U Don’t Know Me” (with Duane Harden, 1999) and “My My My” (2005). “My My My” in fact is an early example of a dance producer building a new song around an old one, which in that case was Gary Wright’s “Comin’ Apart”. Karen has also worked on other tracks like this, for example ALTÉGO’s “I Wanna Know”, which I wrote about recently, is a similarly styled reboot of CHIC’s “Soup For One”. “Wings” is Karen’s 7th entry on the chart.

The last new entry at #27 is the dance music radio firecracker “Spiral” by NYC’s Lena Leon at #27. This song has quickly moved up into the Top 10 of the national dance music radio charts. It’s well-deserved, with an excellent vocal driving a unique house music release. It’s Lena’s second entry on the chart, her first being earlier this year with Mahalo and Milkwish on “Careless” (#3).

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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Radio GTA

On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

Halton Hills Online

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada

Addictive Energy (currently on hiatus until January)

For other details about the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!

#BILLCSTop30 #654 – December 5/22

My chart is three days early as I will be going on my first week-long cruise on Saturday, and plan to take a break from my regular routines to enjoy everything that it has to offer. With this kind of trip, vacation means vacation! A reminder too that there will be no BILLCS New Music Report until Wednesday, December 14.

Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below too as they are increasingly tied in with this blog.

The new chart is my second last for 2022 and marks another shakeup, including another new #1. Conan Gray’s stunning ballad “Yours” makes the big leap 6-1 for his first chart topper which is culled from his album Superache. It’s also an early Happy Birthday for Conan, who turns 24 on Monday!!

Remaining at #2 is “My Dying Spirit” by Greyson Chance from the Palladium album. It’s kind of odd to have two songs that aren’t from the electronic dance world at the top, but these ones are very deserving. And Greyson performed one of my favourite concerts of the year last night in Toronto. Though he said he was nervous he was deeply committed and I felt that the concert was the equivalent of a musical group hug.

“Golden Hour” (above) by JVKE rises 10-6, as a new duet of the song, featuring British singer Cat Burns (below), is released, to try and capitalize on the Top 40 success of “Golden Hour” in the UK. As much as I enjoyed Cat’s duet with Sam Smith on “Go” earlier this year, I think that “Golden Hour” is just fine with JVKE solo, though do listen for yourself to decide. And have you noticed that most of the song is pretty much a waltz?

Charlie Puth gets a 31st birthday present today as “Charlie Be Quiet” climbs 14-8, becoming his fourth Top 10 on my chart, from his album Charlie.

L.A. based singer/songwriter Lily Lane’s dynamic and dramatic “Bad” climbs 12-9 from her EP Queen of Hearts. I enjoy how the singer borrows stylistically from some singers and their songs – in the chorus I clearly hear Adele’s “Rumour Has It”.

Norway’s Matoma gets his 3rd Top 10 and first in 4 years with new sports anthem “The Power” soaring 19-10. He previously reached #6 in 2016 with “False Alarm” (with Becky Hill) and #10 in 2018 with “Lonely” (with MAX).

Toronto’s Crash Adams has been picked up by Warner Records and their fun and breezy single “Give Me A Kiss” climbs 18-12.

I’m hoping that Joel Corry & Tom Grennan’s “Lionheart (Fearless)” becomes a huge North American hit outside of dance radio and clubs. This potent anthem bolts 21-13.

The Fastest Riser on the chart – to no surprise to regular readers – is “Satisfaction” (above) by Darin, which vaults 26-14. It looks like the Swedish star is destined for a fourth Top 10 in a row. And might there be a fifth? His pop cover of Johnossi’s “What’s The Point” (below) debuts at #25.

I’ve been enjoying how Martin Garrix has been tapping into more alternative electronica rather than focusing on dance pop or festival bangers. His collaboration with DallasK and vocalist Sasha Alex Sloan, “Loop”, rises 22-17.

The rest of the previous chart’s debuts also make headway. “100% Pure Love” (above), the Crystal Waters classic redone by Years & Years, climbs 27-19. Then there’s the winning collaboration of Tiësto and Tate McRae for “10:35” (also above), which moves up 28-21. And right behind is Zac Poor’s beautiful indie release “Ghost Boy” (below), up 29-22. Although “Ghost Boy” ultimately confronts homophobic behaviour, if you listen closely to the lyrics you may also relate if you have ever been bullied or have been made deliberately to feel out of place.

The Highest Debut belongs to two of my faves, Illenium and MAX, two artists I would never have thought would work together, but here they are with “Worst Day” at #24. The song to me could have even been an outtake from Illenium’s Ascend album. It’s a heavenly match and more on the pop side than usual for Illenium, and introduces MAX to yet another audience. “Worst Day” is Illenium’s 10th chart entry, following last year’s #1 “Sideways”, and it’s MAX’s 12th and first in almost two years!

At #28, Canadian dance producer DLMT makes his chart debut along with Australia-based duo Party Shirt with the immensely fun “Goin’ Down”. This one is tailored for New Year’s Eve parties and just try to resist moving around to it.

And at #29, New York City-based but Israel-born dance producer GATTÜSO returns with his second chart entry, “I’ll Be There”, which is graced with the voice of go-to dance singer/songwriter Zak Abel. GATTÜSO reached #8 earlier this year with “Afterglow” in collaboration with Nicky Romero and singer/songwriter Jared Lee.

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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Radio GTA

On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

Halton Hills Online

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada

Addictive Energy (currently on hiatus until January)

For other details about the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!

#BILLCSTop30 #653 – November 21/22

There’s a lot of big moves on the new edition of the chart, so I’ll be focusing on writing about those. But there’s a change-up at #1 too and four steaming hot debuts.

My chart continues to be posted bi-weekly below with an accompanying blog post. The regular blog posts under the new name The BILLCS New Music Report now appear weekly on Wednesdays.

Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below too as they will become increasingly tied in with the BILLCS New Music Report. This week I am on air LIVE on Tuesday November 22 at 8pm EST counting down Toronto’s Top 10 from this week in 1969 on the 3D Variety Show.

ANNOUNCEMENT

I would normally publish the next chart blog post on Monday December 5. However I will be away on vacation from December 3 to 10, so it will appear three days early, on Friday December 2!

I always look forward to this song coming up on my personal playlists, so there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn’t be the new #1 song on the BILLCS Top 30. Up 2-1 it’s the crazy infectious “The Boss” by French producers Coopex and Charles B with NYC singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen. It’s the first #1 for both producers, but the second for Robbie, following last year’s glorious “Sanctuary” which he made with Dutch producer Howen.

Coming up close behind and looking to succeed it in two weeks is “My Dying Spirit” by Greyson Chance, which soars 7-2 and ties “Dancing Next To Me”, which also reached #2 in 2020. “My Dying Spirit” comes from Greyson’s fascinating album Palladium, and I am so looking forward to seeing him perform in concert in Toronto on Thursday December 1!!

The Fastest Riser on the chart is one that I simply cannot get enough of – it draws me in and makes me sing along every time. From his album Superache, Conan Gray’s “Yours” vaults 22-6 to follow “Memories” (which peaked at #4) into the Top 10. Conan is currently touring in eastern Asia.

Also making an impressive move is Stephen Sanchez, whose “Until I Found You” sails 16-7. The production and its layered harmonies sounds to me like The Everly Brothers (specifically Phil Everly) in a contemporary setting!

Amid all of the movement, two more songs land in the Top 10. Two Friends and Mod Sun climb 11-9 with the crowd-pleaser “Timebomb” (above), while Rhode Island native JVKE’s impressive “Golden Hour” (below) moves up 18-10!

“Charlie Be Quiet” by Charlie Puth moves up 20-14. It’s short and sweet but packs a big punch!

Toronto singer Shawn Molko rises 28-16 with the absolutely beautiful ballad “I Will Wait”. He’s definitely a new talent to keep your eyes and ears on.

Also from Toronto, pop/rock duo Crash Adams knows how to package up a lot of fun in just under three minutes with “Give Me A Kiss” (26-18), which is their third chart entry to date. Watch the video too above too, which is shot in Southern California.

Then soaring 29-19 is “The Power” by Matoma, sure to be a New Year’s Eve anthem this year!

It’s not going to take long for a commanding song like “Lionheart (Fearless)” by Joel Corry and Tom Grennan to get out of the lower reaches of this chart. This week it’s up 30-21.

The Highest Debut belongs to Sweden’s Darin as “Satisfaction” bows at #26. The fun and flirty single follows one of my summer faves, “Superstar” (which peaked at #2), and two #1’s, the ballad “Holding Me More” and last year’s “Can’t Stay Away”. In total it’s Darin’s 8th chart entry, going back to 2008.

Years & Years surprised us a few weeks back with a reverent cover of Crystal Waters’ “100% Pure Love”. Yes folks, it’s THAT good, and arrives at #27. It’s Y&Y’s 12th entry on the chart, and 4th this year, and follows the immensely appealing Night Call album, from which three songs (including #2 “Sweet Talker” with Galantis) reached my Top 10. Olly Alexander’s vocal is especially playful on this release!

After watching his sensational set in Las Vegas this past summer, it’s no surprise to me that Tiësto gets his first chart entry in three years with “10:35” featuring Calgary’s Tate McRae at #28 from his upcoming album Drive. This is exquisite ear candy for radio, clubs and festivals, and Tiësto’s 6th chart entry, though he also has 4 entries as a remixer which begin as early as 2003! It’s also Tate’s 2nd entry after last year’s “You” with Regard and Troye Sivan.

The fourth debut is the brilliant release by Montana-born, L.A.-based singer/songwriter Zac Poor, a heartbreaking but hopeful track called “Ghost Boy” at #29. Although almost anyone can relate to its story, it’s the LGBTQ2S+ community to whom the song will mean a lot. Zac’s been a prolific songwriter for others like Tori Kelly, Backstreet Boys and Tate McRae – total coincidence their songs debut back to back! – over the past 10 years, along with releasing his own music periodically (and appearing in this blog), but this is his chart debut. Be sure to watch its lovely video above – tears or a big lump in your throat are likely, so keep a tissue handy.

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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Radio GTA

On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

Halton Hills Online

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada

Addictive Energy

This is a weekly show hosted by Hunter Wilbur that airs on several online stations but is anchored at Mix88.ca on Saturdays beginning at 8pm EST. Be sure to listen to Hunter’s special Thanksgiving show starting at 11 a.m. EST on Thursday November 24! You can hear past episodes of Addictive Energy at this link.

For other details about the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!

#BILLCSTop30 #652, November 7/22

The BILLCS Top 30 has been unofficially 25 years old since September, but I didn’t keep any of the charts at that time, and they were only being shared on various chart-related Internet sites. This week marks the first one that I still have which yielded this Top 10:

YOU MAKE ME WANNA … Usher
BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY The Verve
TUBTHUMPING Chumbawumba
WALKIN’ ON THE SUN Smash Mouth
FLY Sugar Ray
RATTLESNAKE Like
FREE Ultra Naté
BABYLON The Tea Party
EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE Everclear
LAST OF THE BIG GAME HUNTERS Barstool Prophets

My chart continues to be posted bi-weekly below with an accompanying blog post. The regular blog posts under the new name The BILLCS New Music Report now appear weekly on Wednesdays.

Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWSbelow too as they will become increasingly tied in with the BILLCS New Music Report.

“Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy is one of the most memorable songs of 2022 and it’s one that I don’t think I’ll get tired of any time soon. Fittingly, it rises 2-1 for my fellow Gemini from Compton, California whose performance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend you can check out above.

Climbing 5-2 is the superbly infectious “The Boss” by French producers Coopex and Charles B and NYC singer/songwriter and “American Idol” alumnus Robbie Rosen. Robbie reached #2 late last year with “To The Top” (with Natixx and Lyonbrothers) and was #1 exactly a year ago with Dutch producer Howen for “Sanctuary”.

“Full Force” (above) by Italy’s Luca + Giam with American vocalist Sam Merkin rises 6-4. Check out their latest release with New Zealand-based singer theajsound called “Game Changer” below.

The irresistible “Celebrate” by Laurentius and Oke makes another big move, up 9-5, from their upcoming EP together called Jaiye.

Greyson Chance is back-to-back in the Top 10 with two songs from his Palladium album. “Athena” (above) rises 8-6 while the engrossing “My Dying Spirit” (below) is the Fastest Riser on the chart, soaring 18-7.

Two more songs land in the Top 10. Florida’s Tonner climbs 13-9 with “Castles” (above), and Showtek gets their first Top 10 since 2019 with “Welcome Back Home” (below) featuring NYC’s MC Ambush, up 11-10.

The Fall has begun with great music from some fantastic new male singers. Stephen Sanchez’s “Until I Found You” (above) breaks loose and moves up 22-16, while JVKE’s piano-laden “Golden Hour” (also above) rises 21-18. And they’re joined by Conan Gray whose “Yours” (below) rises 27-22.

I can’t get enough of Charlie Puth’s “Charlie Be Quiet” from his new album Charlie, which I hope will eventually be promoted at radio. It climbs 24-20. His best song hands down in years.

Capital Cities and Bobby Nourmand make a respectable move of 26-21 with their collaboration “Together”.

The Highest Debut belongs to a great new voice from Toronto which you might recognize from last week’s BILLCS New Music Report. It’s Shawn Molko and his scintillating ballad “I Will Wait” at #28.

Norway’s Matoma returns to the chart for his fifth entry which is “The Power” at #29. The song is already becoming an unexpected sports anthem, having been played at national hockey (Matoma got to play it himself at a New York Rangers game recently) and baseball games. Watch out for this one in the coming weeks. The uncredited powerhouse vocal is by co-writer Clementine Douglas.

The third new entry is a song guaranteed to be love at first listen. Joel Corry teams up with British vocalist Tom Grennan for “Lionheart (Fearless)” at #30. It’s Joel’s 2nd appearance on my chart following 2020’s enduring #1 “Head & Heart” (with MNEK).

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! You can also follow me on Spotify at the following link: BILLCS Top 30 Songs.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!

Radio GTA

On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

Halton Hills Online

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada

Addictive Energy (currently on hiatus but returning soon!!)

This is a weekly show hosted by Hunter Wilbur that airs on several online stations but is anchored at Mix88.ca on Sundays beginning at 8pm EST. You can hear past episodes of Addictive Energy at this link.

For other details about the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side!

#BILLCSTop30 #597 – September 28/20

This week, the BILLCS Music Blog turns 11! And this week I will be working on a new project that will support the blog and chart, and a great deal of new music and artists, if it all works out. So watch for more news on that front.

In the meantime, the new chart had four new entries while the upper region continues to look similar to the past four weeks of music.

What will Joel Corry do next for dance music, following the success of “Lonely” and “Head & Heart”, which continues at #1 on my chart for a third appearance (six weeks). Collaborating with co-writer and singer MNEK was definitely a blessing, and I hope they will reteam in the future. In the meantime, who will be next?

“Dancing Next To Me” by Greyson Chance is a dance anthem for anyone who’s been cheated or denied their opportunity to be with someone of mutual attraction. It moves up 3-2.

Greyson or the song at #3 seem poised to challenge “Head & Heart” in two weeks. And that song is “Undo My Heart” by Karen Harding & Digital Farm Animals, climbing 4-3. This one can go side-by-side with the likes of “Nobody’s Supposed To Be There” or “Un-break My Heart” in my books!

Also moving up from 6-5 is “Naked” by another dream team, which is British producer Jonas Blue and NYC singer/songwriter MAX. Both artists had huge events this past week. Jonas performed the virtual show Electronic World this past weekend; long-time fave and chart veteran MAX released his new album Colour Vision, and performed all of the songs virtually (and solo, where there are usually collaborators). Check out MAX’s amazing song with BTS’ Suga called “Blueberry Eyes” below.

UK indie singer/songwriter Benedict Cork has more new music this week just ahead of the release of his new EP Piano Tapes Vol. II. “One Last Song” continues its upward movement, rising 10-8. Watch for “Wild One” on Wednesday!

Giiants obtain their second Top 10 on my chart with their latest single “Waiting For You”, which climbs 13-9. They previously reached #3 with “Small Talk”. And of course two of the members, Cam and Adam, also recorded as DATABOY, who had three #1’s here in the last decade.

The Fastest Riser on the chart, for the second time in a row, is a blazing instrumental that will make you get out of your seat and move! That is mission accomplished for “House Is Happiness” by Germany’s Stan Sax, which soars 18-10!

L.A.-based trio Fames have a catchy winner with “scared of the dark”, which moves up 25-20.

“We Are Home” by Florida-based singer/songwriter Lauren Mayhew and Moroccan producer Mariline moves up a brisk 27-22. It’s also the second entry on the chart for indie dance label Tipsy Records!

The Highest Debut on the chart is the first entry for Sweden’s Pawl & Discrete with the irresistibly infectious, snappy house track “Type Like That”, which arrives at #24. It’s also the first release on the chart for dance label LoudKult.

Returning for the first time to the chart as a solo artist since 2011 is Sweden’s Agnes Carlsson with “Fingers Crossed” at #26. She of course was part of Avicii’s belated but amazing “Tough Love” last year, which got to #3. Agnes’ “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” was her last solo entry, which reached #7, but her first entry in 2009, “Release Me”, went to #1.

Debuting on the chart are the brothers Lynch, Ross and Rocky, aka The Driver Era, with the beautiful “Take Me Away” at #27. When she was a pre-teen, my daughter was a big fan of Ross’ TV show from early last decade, “Austin & Ally”, and I became acquainted with his music and additional talent by taking her to a couple of shows by his family band R5. Since then Ross has developed quite a resumé as an actor – I watch him in episodes of “The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina” – and as a singer, even recording with the likes of dance producers Tritonal a few years ago. The Driver Era is a cool alternative pop/rock project that deserves to flourish.

The fourth new entry is by another one of my chart veterans, Bright Light Bright Light, who has been going strong in my music world since 2010! With the recent release of his fourth album Fun City, there is so much great music from which to choose, but the unbridled anthemic joy of “It’s Alright, It’s OK” resonates with me and it arrives at #28. It’s a collaboration with a trio of talented women from Montreal called Caveboy. The first single from Fun City, “This Was My House”, peaked at #5 this past summer.

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 2020 🙂 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!!

#BILLCSTop30 #596 – September 14/20

The new, post-surgery chart is here, and will hopefully serve as stimulation for more blog posts in the coming weeks, since I could only manage to craft a handful before my surgery last week.

I think it’s increasingly important to point out that almost half of this chart is comprised of songs either released independently by the artists themselves, or released independently without a major label distributor. It’s critical for me to continue to write about these artists and performers on these labels’ rosters because they are making as solid recordings as the major label releases. You really owe it to yourself to incorporate discovery into your listening time so you don’t miss out on these and other performers.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that none of the Top 3 songs have changed. Joel Corry and MNEK’s irresistible “Head & Heart” (above) gets a second appearance at #1, while Victor Perry’s beautifully earnest and emotional “What I Deserve” (below) and “Dancing Next To Me” by Greyson Chance hold at second and third.

With two consecutive dance bangers at #1, is there room for a third? “Undo My Heart” by England’s Karen Harding and Digital Farm Animals puts that case forward as this huge dance record soars 10-4.

I will have words about Canadian producer Dezza’s latest release called “Getaway” later in the week. In the meantime, “Carry Me”, featuring co-writer Mike Schmid on vocals, climbs 11-7. Dezza, among other artists such as Matt Fax, has announced a 40-artist new music compilation which you can pre-order called Colorscapes Volume 2.

The hard-hitting, futuristic banger by Australia’s Fisher called “Wanna Go Dancin'” (above) moves up 12-9, while UK indie singer/songwriter Benedict Cork gets his second Top 10 with “One Last Song” (below) rising 16-10. Benedict’s “Breaking Hearts” reached #3 last year.

Inching closer to the Top 10, up 15-11, are the wacky antics of Greece’s The Prince Karma with “Superstar” and its “Night at the Roxbury”-inspired video.

The Fastest Riser on the chart is one that should immediately put you on your feet to groove with all of its marvelous saxophone playing. It’s by Germany’s Stan Sax called “House Is Happiness”, which vaults 27-18.

If you haven’t delved deeper into Troye Sivan’s latest EP beyond the interesting singles that preceded it, you owe it to yourself to soak in its meltworthy title song, which is “In A Dream”. It moves up 26-21.

The Highest Debut of two belongs to new L.A. trio Fames with their big earworm called “scared of the dark”. It arrives at #25.

The second debut will wrap you up in a big progressive electronic hug. “We Are Home” is the latest from Florida singer/songwriter Lauren Mayhew in collaboration with new Moroccan producer Mariline, and bows at #27.

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!!

#BILLCSTop30 #595 – August 31/20

In less than a month, it will be Autumn! But I’m not going to say goodbye to the summer and all of the great new music that it has given us, despite our ongoing COVID-19 circumstances.

There is a switch-up at the top, and it’s a big one! Joel Corry and MNEK soar from 6 to 1 with “Head & Heart”. This banger is one of the biggest hits of the year in the UK and on dance radio in North America. This year has been full of songs like “Head & Heart” which have great hooks or choruses.

Victor Perry obtains his highest placing in this chart as the enthralling “What I Deserve” (above) climbs 3-2. In the wondrous never-ending slew of new music by or featuring Victor, check out his new song with British producer Ficci called “Gone” (below). This electronic alt.soul is a perfect accompaniment to Victor’s solo EP Rewind.

“Dancing Next To Me” by Greyson Chance (above) also climbs up a notch from 4-3. Literally, it would be #1 had two stronger songs not been in front of it, so it’s a very ‘high’ #3! Also check out Greyson’s latest single, inspired by his personal and ongoing battle against anorexia, called “Bad To Myself” (below).

Toronto’s Francesco Yates will be following up his Superbad EP with more new music in September. In the meantime, “Bad Decisions”, the fun second single from that EP, holds at #5, and it’s Francesco’s highest ranking song on the chart to date.

Both Jonas Blue and MAX are back in the Top 10, this time together with “Naked” rising 12-8.

Florida-based progressive electronic producer Trivecta acquires his first Top 10 on this chart with “Leave It All Behind” (featuring vocalist/co-writer Fagin) moving up 11-9.

The Fastest Riser on the chart puts three huge bangers in the Top 10. Next to “Head & Heart” and “Rain On Me” there’s “Undo My Heart” by British artists Karen Harding and Digital Farm Animals. It vaults 23-10.

“Carry Me” by Canadian producer Dezza and vocalist/co-writer Mike Schmid continues to show resilience and climbs 17-11.

Right behind two weeks in a row is manic Australian producer/DJ Fisher with the irresistible “Wanna Go Dancin'”, rising 18-12.

In any other week, the beautiful “One Last Song” by UK indie singer/songwriter Benedict Cork, would be the fastest riser as it climbs 26-16. More new music is coming from Benedict this week!

It’s steady as it goes for another UK indie singer/songwriter, Jazz Mino, as her thoughtful and unique point of view in “Like A Drunk Girl” moves up 20-17.

L.A.-based production trio Giiants settles comfortably in the Top 20 as “Waiting For You” (above) rises 24-18. Even newer from Giiants is their collaboration with Disco Fries on “Believer” in a Giuseppe Marcellino remix (below).

While the more experimental nature of Troye Sivan’s new songs is certainly interesting, I had to wait for the arrival of his new EP In A Dream to find a song that’s as captivating as in either his albums Bloom or Blue Neighbourhood. The simply gorgeous title song, “In A Dream”, bows at #26. It’s Troye’s 8th song to appear in this chart.

If you want dance music that is nothing but sheer fun, then look no further as German producer Stan Sax’s “House Is Happiness” arrives at #27. It’s an instrumental full of saxxy goodness and a slamming beat. While Stan has been on the chart before as part of Saxity and, more recently, in his other pseudonym of ZEROBADDAYS, he has appeared on the chart one other time under the current moniker when he gave a refreshing remix to Fabian Luttenberger’s “Vague”, which got to #10 in late 2016.

The third debut belongs to new Philadelphia trio Time For Three with the beautiful “Vertigo” at #28. The lead vocal alternately reminds me of Steve Perry of Journey or Dennis De Young formerly of Styx. Love the strings arrangement!

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!!

#BILLCSTop30 #594, August 17, 2020

This chart marks the week where I close the door on my career in education in human resources. It’s a bittersweet feeling, especially during these strange times where you can’t say goodbye to people in person, though that will happen later.

This also opens the door for me to spend more time with music and working on music projects. I’m looking to help individuals or businesses fill a gap with whatever knowledge and skills I can bring to table. If you’re interested in talking with me more about it, you can drop a line to me in one of the following three places: On Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Getting back to the new chart, the Top 2 hold steady, but there’s a lot of movement, and for the first time in quite some time, there are 6 new entries. Songs are going up and down the chart faster than ever because of the volume of great new music out there.

Locked in at the top though is Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande’s “Rain On Me” (above), now in its 4th appearance at #1. It’s the first song to obtain 4 appearances (8 weeks) at the top since “Push” by Kazaky last Fall. Also staying put at #2 is “Never Let Me Down” by VIZE and Tom Gregory (below), which is starting to break out on dance music radio in the US.

Victor Perry’s lovely and sad “What I Deserve” (above) glides up to #3, to tie with “Sail” (with Levi) as his highest charting song to date. Now it’s in a battle with the top two when they start to weaken a bit. A new release featuring Victor’s vocal is “Ma Cherie” (below) by Swedish producer Behmer, who was also involved in the recent cover of Modern Talking’s “You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul”, which also featured Victor’s vocal. This is a delightful slice of Eurodisco that sounds very little like our Victor, with his vocal pitched down, though you can certainly recognize his phrasing and some of his vocal qualities amid the production.

Another one to keep your eyes on is “Head & Heart” by Joel Corry and MNEK, still at the top of the UK charts, as it climbs 10-6. It’s actually a perfect compliment to the top two songs so we’ll see what happens.

Rufus Wainwright has his first Top 10 hit on this chart since 2007 as the whimsical “You Ain’t Big” (above) rises 13-9. Right behind it is Canadian pop/R&B singer/songwriter Tafari Anthony with the cutting lyrics of “Centerfold” (below), which moves up 12-10.

My discussions are limited for the songs on the rise, but the Fastest Riser on the chart belongs to two gents who are no stranger to the chart, but had never worked together until now. UK producer Jonas Blue and US singer MAX make a formidable pair as “Naked” soars 21-12. A bit of behind the scenes trivia: One of its songwriters is the much-praised Ed Drewett, who has been a co-writer on huge hits by One Direction (“Best Song Ever”), The Wanted (“Glad You Came”), Little Mix (“Black Magic”), and even more Jonas Blue (“Rise”).

Two recent debuts also make promising moves. “Wanna Go Dancin'” by Australian dance producer Fisher (above) climbs 25-18, while UK indie singer/songwriter Jazz Mino rises 28-20 with her lyrical gem “Like A Drunk Girl” (below).

The Highest Debut on the chart, like “Rain On Me” and “Head & Heart” is one of the ‘bangers’ of 2020. It’s “Undo My Heart” by British dance singer Karen Harding in collaboration with co-songwriter and co-producer Digital Farm Animals (aka Nick Gale). “Undo” arrives on the chart at #23. It’s Karen’s first appearance, but the second for Digital Farm Animals, who got to #11 with Alan Walker and Noah Cyrus on “All Falls Down” two years ago.

L.A. based trio Giiants return to the chart for the first time in over two years with the insanely catchy “Waiting For You” at #24. Their earworm “Small Talk” previously reached #3, and in another incarnation, members Cam and Adam (as DATABOY) topped this chart three times in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively with “Just Once”, “Dreams Are Gold”, and “Memorize Me” (with Rune RK).

The title song from Jessie Ware’s elegant electronic dance/disco album “What’s Your Pleasure” arrives at #25 to join “Save A Kiss”, which peaked at #3 two weeks ago.

UK singer/songwriter Benedict Cork, who has written for Adam Lambert and others, returns to the chart with his engaging ballad “One Last Song” at #26. Benedict’s “Breaking Hearts” reached #3 last Fall.

If you couldn’t get enough of The Brothers Macklovitch’s remix of Raphael Saadiq’s “So Ready” like me – it peaked at #4 here a while back – then you will equally enjoy the first official single from les bros Canadiens (who are A-Trak and Dave from Chromeo) which is a soulful slice of house music called “Give Love To Get Some” (featuring vocal by Leven Kali) at #28.

After going viral during the past few years with the now-club staple “U Got That”, Atlanta duo Halogen return to the chart for the first time in almost three years with “The Reason”, featuring vocalist and songwriter Kelli-Leigh, at #29. Halogen’s “Can’t Resist” previously peaked at #14.

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!!

#BILLCSTop30 #593 – August 3/20

While 2020 may now be more than half over (and some would say thank you for that), it has been chock full of great music. Right now, my Top 5 on this new chart would seem to be untouchable for the next several weeks, though a couple of up-and-comers may change that.

I’ve often been asked why I don’t increase my chart to a Top 40 or a Top 50. You’re more than welcome to weigh in on this, but the BILLCS Top 30 is a chart of my current favourite songs, and that’s all there is to it. There’s no science to it at all. However the chart has been online for 22 years, so it is at least known in some music circles. If it’s meaningful for a new performer to be on someone’s chart at #40 then I can understand the interest. But it’s probably more meaningful if I’ve written about that song than if it appears on my chart. This blog is going into its 11th year online – over 2,400 posts about all kinds of pop music form its library!

So while Lady Gaga & Araina Grande’s “Rain On Me” (above) gets a 3rd appearance (6th week) at #1, and “Never Let Me Down” by VIZE and Tom Gregory (also above) holds at #2, I’ll throw this chart’s upper spotlight on Jessie Ware. Her sophisticated disco/dance album What’s Your Pleasure is one of my faves of the year. “Save A Kiss” (below) remains at #3, but the title track is now also a single so check it out, also below.

NYC-based singer/songwriter Victor Perry has one slew of new music still to come this year. His stunning and heartfelt ballad “What I Deserve” (above, from the excellent EP Rewind), climbs to #4 and is his biggest solo song to date on my chart. Victor has recently worked with two young Swedish producers, B3NTE and Behmer, to create a tantalizing cover of Modern Talking’s massive 80’s European hit “You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul”. My only complaint is that it’s sooo short at only 2:19, but that’s nothing that a good extended remix can’t remedy. Take a listen to this excellent cover choice, below.

I adore the overall theme of Greyson Chance’s “Dancing Next To Me”, which soars 11-5. It’s one of those songs that sits in your gut and gets stuck in your head for a long time.

Francesco Yates’ “Bad Decisions” (up 14-7, from his EP Superbad) becomes the Canadian singer’s second Top 10 on this chart, following his first hit “Better To Be Loved”, which reached #6 5 summers ago. Check out the top drawer song “Queen Street Blues”, also from the EP, below.

The third new entry in the Top 10 is also the Fastest Riser on the chart, which is holding at #1 in the UK for a second week. When dance music is large and in charge you have songs like “Rain On Me” and “Head & Heart” by Joel Corry & MNEK leading the way. “Head & Heart” flies up the chart 21-10.

Trivecta and Fagin’s electronic anthem “Leave It All Behind” cuts through the middle of the chart and moves up 19-14.

In addition to their current banger “Tragic” (featuring Amber Van Day, up 17-15), Dutch producers The Him mix it up with Yall, Royale Avenue and Jay Nebula in their new anthemic single “Believe”, below.

The remaining debuts from the last chart are stuck behind a lot of great songs and are unable to make bigger moves. Check out the fun video for The Prince Karma’s “Superstar” (22-19), above. You’ll see a snazzier video for “Naked” (26-21, below) which makes Jonas Blue and MAX look fabulous. and “Carry Me” (also below) by Canadian producer Dezza and starring veteran session vocalist Mike Schmid is definitely in it for the long run, rising 27-23.

I didn’t latch on to his biggest hit, the Grammy-nominated “Losing It”, until long after it had peaked. But I’ve been loving Aussie producer Fisher’s strut-worthy “Wanna Go Dancin'” since it came out as ‘the flip’ of his single “Freaks” a while back. “Wanna Go Dancin'” bows on the chart at #25. Did you all know that Paul Fisher was once one half of the well-respected production duo Cut Snake??

The masters are back! The Swiss duo Yello (Dieter Meier and Boris Blank) produced some of the most off-kilter, wacked out, fun dance music of the 80’s. They are most noted for “Oh Yeah”, the song that was prominently featured in the classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, and became a hit a few years after its initial release. But their other songs are innovative and unique: “Bostich”, “I Love You”, “Lost Again”, “The Race”, and “Goldrush I” among others. They have a new album coming soon called Point, their first release in almost three years. Check out their wizardry in the electronic nonsense called “Waba Duba” above. Whatever it may be about, it arrives on the chart at #27. It’s their first entry on my chart, though if I had one before 1998 they would have appeared many, many times.

UK singer/songwriter Jazz Mino returns to the chart at #28 with her thought-provoking lyrical pop with “Like A Drunk Girl”. She first charted two summers ago with “Misunderstand”, which reached #15. Yesterday I wrote about her new single “New Girlfriend”.

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!!