Tag Archives: Matthew Koma

#BILLCSTop75Songsof2015

Onward and upward to 2016!  However the music in 2015 was really strong compared to other recent years.

Chart: BILLCS Top 75 Songs of 2015

01 BRANDYN BURNETTE I Wanna Be (Free)
02 YEARS & YEARS Shine
03 ADELE Hello
04 COREY NILES F/ ALEX LACASSE Chasing Stars
05 YEARS & YEARS King
06 RIVER TIBER Let You Go
07 BRANDYN BURNETTE Sleeve
08 RIVER TIBER No Talk
09 COLOR THEORY Headphones (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix)
10 DAN TALEVSKI Guilty As Sin
11 DENIZ KOYU VS TWOLOUD Goin’ Down
12 THE CHAINSMOKERS F/ GREAT GOOD FINE OK Let You Go (Tiesto Remix)
13 REIGEN Come Back To Me
14 ERIK HASSLE No Words
15 DNCE Cake By The Ocean
16 NATHAN SYKES Kiss Me Quick
17 CHRIS JAMISON Velvet
18 BRANDYN BURNETTE Life’s A Beach
19 THE KNOCKS & MATTHEW KOMA I Wish (My Taylor Swift)
20 TRIBE SOCIETY F/ KIESZA Pain Told Love
21 JESSIE WARE Pieces
22 SMASHING SATELLITES Waterfall
23 ADAM LAMBERT Ghost Town
24 ERASURE Sacred
25 SANDER VAN DOORN, MARTIN GARRIX & DVBBS F/ ALEESIA Gold Skies
26 JESSIE WARE Champagne Kisses
27 ANTONIO GIACCA Sensation
28 PARRALOX Aeronaut
29 DAN TALEVSKI My Religion
30 PENGUIN PRISON Show Me The Way
31 ERIC SAADE Sting
32 GREAT GOOD FINE OK F/ ST. LUCIA Something To Believe In
33 ELI LIEB Lightning In A Bottle
34 BRANDON FLOWERS Can’t Deny My Love
35 CHIC F/ NILE RODGERS I’ll Be There
36 GRAHAM ALEXANDER She’S A Chameleon
37 BOJANA STAMENOV Beauty Never Lies
38 NERVO F/ KYLIE MINOGUE, JAKE SHEARS & NILE RODGERS The Other Boys
39 LUCIEN DANTE Black Water
40 FRANCESCO YATES Better To Be Loved
41 GIORGIO MORODER F/ SIA Deja Vu
42 ERASURE Reason
43 TYLER SHAW Dizzy
44 FALL OUT BOY Uma Thurman
45 YEARS & YEARS Desire
46 GIORGIO MORODER F/ KYLIE MINOGUE Right Here, Right Now
47 MIKKY EKKO Riot
48 CHARLIE PUTH F/ MEGHAN TRAINOR Marvin Gaye
49 LIFEHOUSE Hurricane
50 DATABOY F/ NIKO THE KID When It Rains, It Pours
51 SHIFT K3Y I Know
52 ANTONIO GIACCA Ignited
53 NEW ORDER Plastic
54 SAM SMITH Writing’s On The Wall
55 KRISTINE W. Love Come Home
56 MARTIN LUKE BROWN Take Out Of Me
57 ANTON EWALD Save The Last Dance
58 DISCLOSURE F/ SAM SMITH Omen
59 JULLY BLACK Fever
60 THE WEEKND I Can’T Feel My Face
61 SAM SMITH Lay Me Down
62 SMASHING SATELLITES What It’s All About
63 GIORGIO MORODER F/ FOXES Wildstar
64 STEVE GRAND Time
65 ELEVEN PAST ONE There’s Nothing Wrong
66 THE WEEKND Earned It
67 BOYCODE It’s A Mistake
68 JAMES BAY Hold Back The River
69 MATTHEW KOMA So F**Kin’ Romantic
70 ADAM LAMBERT The Light
71 LAWSON Roads
72 SAM SMITH Like I Can
73 DANIEL ROBINSON Moonmolt
74 TRISTAN THOMPSON Burn Again
75 MI DISGUISE East Side Bay

#BILLCSTop30 #473 – December 28/15

It’s my last chart of 2015, and the chart has been flooded regularly with many fine songs which makes creating a year end Top 75 Songs list difficult, not so much for the top part of the list but the rest of it.

The Top 10

  • Adele’s “Hello” holds at the top for a fourth (and likely final) appearance as we are all moving on to listen to the deeper songs on her album 25.  Adele and her team have given the world a new template for how to create a mass appeal album, unfortunately you need loads of money to do it.  Those performers who get signed to a major label need to strive for their own variation of what “their” 25 might be regardless of genre or sub-genre.

  • 2016 looks very bright indeed for L.A.-based singer/songwriter Brandyn Burnette.  First, make sure you tune into American Idol on January 6 to see our Brandyn perform and compete!!  Second, from his rewarding Made Of Dreams EP, “Nothing At All” advances to #2 and the pensive “Lost (Stripped)” climbs to #5.  Third, the determination of “Down” debuts at #28, featuring a striking new video with animated flourishes that will keep you watching!  Three of Brandyn’s songs will appear in my year end Top 30 Songs too.

  • NY producers/DJ’s The Knocks are playing in my city at The Mod Club on January 22, and wouldn’t it be nice if Matthew Koma could make a cameo appearance to sing “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” – pretty please??  The song holds at #3.

  • Mako’s “Smoke Filled Room” just soared up the Billboard Dance Mix Show Airplay chart 19-5 – I was beginning to wonder who else was championing this winning song!  Like only a handful of performers associated with EDM or dance music, L.A.-based duo Mako home in on the emotional part of songs, both lyrically, melodically and vocally.  “Smoke Filled Room” deserves to be a dance club smash as well, particularly in the Elephante remix 🙂  It rises 9-6.

  • Max Schneider and team are on the right path to many great things.  Not only does the title song from Ms Anonymous (featuring Jared Evan) zip into the Top 10 at #7, his stunning but rhythmically dirty title song from his new EP Wrong is the highest new entry at #22!  2016 promises to be a great year for all things MAX!

  • The Voice contestant Clinton Washington’s beautiful “Hearts Beat Loud” climbs into the Top 10 at #9.  To me it’s still a perfect companion song to Adele’s “Hello” when you’re in the mood for something touching and heart-warming.

  • The last new entry into the Top 10 is the long-lasting “Over” by Chicago’s Goldhouse at #10, which still has the potential to me to break into dance clubs and/or dance and/or pop radio too!

Movin’ on Up

  • It’s so perfectly timed that NYC duo Sofi Tukker have been added to the Toronto show by The Knocks at the Mod Club on January 22 that I will likely grab a ticket very soon!  The incredibly infectuous – even sung all in Portuguese – “Drinkee” is the fastest riser on the chart, climbing 20-12.

  • Dance-hit-in-waiting “The Shadows In The Moon” by classic dance voice Rozalla with DJs/producers House Of Virus advances 19-14 – dance club DJ’s should be all over this one for an immediate dance floor draw!

  • Another sure fire dance club hit, albeit currently available as a free download, is the gorgeous “Lost In Feelings” by Final DJS featuring none other than Bright Light Bright Light on vocals.  The song moves up 23-16 – do check it out!
  • Toronto’s River Tiber has given me two of my favourite songs of 2015 – “No Talk” and the #1 “Let You Go” (currently at #13) from the EP When The Time Is Right.  The great songs from that EP continue with “Waves” crashing into the Top 20 at #19.
  • Right behind is more Canadian talent moving up to #20, Kendal Thompson with “Secret”, a track from her fine EP One.  Call it enjoyable 90’s flavoured pop/R&B with influences from Rihanna and Beyoncé!!  Click right here to hear all of the songs on One!

And the Third Debut Belongs to…

  • Molly Moore!  After notching up a #14 appearance for “Natural Disaster” earlier in the year, the L.A. based singer/songwriter recently released a moody, captivating alt.pop EP called Shadow Of The Sun.  It features “Blood. Sweat. Tears”, which arrives on the chart at #25.  Watch the beautiful acoustic performance of the song below with her beau Brandyn Burnette – it’s so scary how talented these two are either separate or together!  

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

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

Planet Radio Canada is back!  You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 9:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

#BILLCSTop30 #472 – December 14/15

Two weeks sometimes goes by in a flash when life keeps you busy… and so we have a busy new chart as well!

The Top 10

  • So North America wasn’t being left out after all, as Adele announced tour dates, including 4 in my city Toronto – next October!  So it should come as no surprise that Adele’s “Hello” remains on top for a third appearance (that’s 6 weeks).  Have you got any money on who might succeed her at the top either in two or four weeks?

  • While Adele calls out from the other side for her former flame somewhere in California, DNCE party it up by the waves with “Cake By The Ocean” being one of 2015’s sheer delights for entertainment value alone, as it holds at #2 for Joe Jonas and company, from the EP Swaay.

  • Cali has it all wrapped up in spades with the Top 3 as it’s summertime in Los Angeles when Matthew Koma and The Knocks search for dream girl in “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” (video up top), up a notch to #3.
  • Brandyn Burnette’s “Nothing At All” cruises 7-4 to give the chart some edgy, blues-rooted progressive soul for the mind and body 🙂

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/nothing-at-all

  • “Black Water” by Lucien Dante lands at #5 just in time for the release of a cool, sometimes head-scratching animated lyric video that definitely helps you understand the song much more.  But it’s Lucien’s vocal that’s one-of-a-kind – alternately forlorn and sexy with bursts of joy and energy.

  • The Top 10 was cleaned out a bit with four new arrivals:
    • There’s no time in a day when the honest emotion of “Lost (Stripped)” by Brandyn Burnette doesn’t strike you.  No matter how you’re feeling or what you’re doing, the song will affect you differently, and that’s part of its beauty.  It soars 12-7.
  • https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/lost 
    • I still haven’t seen “Spectre”, but I continue to revel in the amazing vocal by Sam Smith in “Writing’s On The Wall”, which rises 11-8.
  •  
    • The wonder of the vocal and lyrics in Mako’s “Smoke Filled Room” always catch my attention, and in its Elephante remix the song climbs 13-9.
  •  
    • New Order acquires its first Top 10 song on my chart since 2005 with “Plastic” from the top notch Music Complete album jumping 14-10.

Movin’ On Up

  • MAX (Schneider) has another EP on deck this month called Wrong, available for pre-order on iTunes.  His pairing with rapper Jared Evan on “Ms Anonymous” climbs 15-11.

  • Clinton Washington’s soaring vocal on “Heart Beats Loud” leaps out of the speakers whenever it’s played, and moves up 19-13 for “The Voice” season 7 contestant.

  • Right behind is the would-be-bitter taste of revenge of “Over” by Goldhouse that’s set to a slamming dance rhythm.  It rises 20-14.

  • Get yourself high with “A Higher High” courtesy of pop singer Nathalie Archangel.  The Billboard Dance Club Play hit climbs 23-18.

  • The fastest riser on the chart is a song that I believe should be played everywhere and anywhere in dance clubs throughout the world.  “The Shadow Of The Moon” by Rozalla and House of Virus has great lyrics with an unbeatable hook, which is why it moves 29-19 🙂

  • Uh-oh… Matt and Kim are now on Snapchat, which can only mean many snippets of fun and mayhem, M&K style.  The frenetic 2:11 of “Make A Mess” climbs 28-21.

  • The gorgeous retro 90’s dance music rhythm and melody blessed with a Bright Light Bright Light vocal spells great things for “Lost In Feelings” by Final DJS, moving 30-23.

Premieres

  • It’s an insane mix of Portuguese lyrics (based on poetry!), an irrefutable guitar hook, and a slinky beat that will draw you on to the dance floor.  By all rights “Drinkee” by New York duo Sofi Tukker should be the talk of clubs, and I’m going to help out with that by premiering it at #20.

  • It wasn’t my most favourite song from River Tiber’s When The Time Is Right EP when it dropped this past Fall, but the hip hop/soul anchor of “Waves” and its graceful flow are completely compelling.  While former #1 “Let You Go” now sits at #6, “Waves” bows at #24 for the Toronto band.

  • Kendal Thompson appeared on this chart last year with the very catchy “Be Mine”.  The Toronto singer is back again at #26 with a soulful slice of pop that would be right up Rihanna’s alley called “Secret” from Kendal’s new EP One.  Give a listen right here.

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

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

Planet Radio Canada is back!  You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

#BILLCSTop30 #471 – November 30, 2015

The new chart is crammed with new music on the rise that is deserving of your attention!  Three debuts add to the fun 🙂

The Top 10

  • Yes, I am in Camp “Hello”.  Adele gets a second appearance at the top.  I’m not sure when she will give it up or to whom, always fun to wait and see.

  • Joe Jonas and DNCE get a personal best on my chart with “Cake By The Ocean” rising to #2.  It tops Joe’s own “Make You Mine” from 2012, which peaked at #3.  The band was a wild party in Toronto a couple of weeks back (photo below).  I’m waiting for their new song “Naked” to surface on an upcoming release.

IMG_1491

  • It’s one of those clever songs that you just want to learn the lyrics so that you can sing along.  “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” by The Knocks & Matthew Koma rises 6-4.

  • While Dan Talevski’s “My Religion” appears to have peaked at #5, I didn’t want to go without highlighting his beautiful, completely on-point recent acoustic cover of Adele’s “Hello”.  Pretty flawless and the best I’ve heard of several.  Available for free download at Dan’s Soundcloud page too!

  • Chicago’s Lucien Dante has held a steady pace in the Top 10 as the unique sound of “Black Water” climbs to #6, from his album Our Of We.  “Black Water” is still available as a free download.

  • There’s plenty of competition ahead but Brandyn Burnette’s “Nothing At All” from his Made Of Dreams EP is a force to be reckoned with on the chart as it soars 14-7.

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/nothing-at-all

Movin’ On Up

  • It’s been more traditional fare than ever for Sam Smith so it hasn’t really captured the hearts of radio listeners, but you cannot deny his supurb performance on the “Spectre” theme “Writing’s On The Wall”, which moves up to #11.

  • I’m going to take advantage of a live acoustic clip that Brandyn Burnette posted of “Lost (Stripped)”, which rises 20-12.  It features his talented gal Molly Moore (who co-wrote it) – completely honest, earnest talent at work here.  The original appears on Brandyn’s Made Of Dreams EP.

  • The fastest riser on the chart is the joyous Elephante remix of Mako’s “Smoke Filled Room” which vaults 26-13.  It’s one of those unassuming songs in its original mix that benefits from this killer remix, which is also a free download below.

  • Ms Anonymous is the title song from the recent EP by MAX (Schneider) featuring Jared Evan that shoots right up through the middle of the chart, landing at #15 from #25.  MAX is touring throughout the USA in various cities in December.

  • Their new album Astoria definitely harkens back to the Masterpiece Theatre days, full of great songwriting and Josh Ramsay powerhouse vocals.  “One Love” is the single release and it rises 19-16.

  • There’s already a new single coming from Nathalie Archangel, after peaking within the Top 25 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart with “A Higher High”, which continues to climb here 27-23.

Debuts

  • I have to recall the fun concert in May by Matt and Kim, who always put on a fine high energy show.  It’s only 2:11 but “Make A Mess” is a bubbly, jazzy, almost ska-sounding bit of fun from their New Glow album, and it arrives at #28.

  • I’m hoping club DJ’s will latch on to Rozalla’s “The Shadows Of The Moon” in the same way they did “If You Say It Again” earlier this year, which got to #3.  This pairing with producer/DJ’s House Of Virus is irresistible for the dance floor, and bows at #29 (from the same songwriting team of Nathalie Archangel’s “A Higher High” too!).

  • The last debut would not have sounded out of place at all on either of Bright Light Bright Light’s album releases to date.  As a featured artist, Rod Thomas teams up with German producer/DJ Final DJS for “Lost In Feelings” at #30.  And it’s a free download too!

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

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

Planet Radio Canada is back!  You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

#BILLCSTop30 – #469 – November 2, 2015

The Top 10 is log-jammed with fine songs and new peak positions, but some will need to give way within the next few weeks to make room for all of the newcomers on the rise.  The highest debut has undoubtedly got #1 to contend with, while the other three have enormous potential and debut a little lower than usual because of the songs with which they are currently competing.

The Top 10

  • River Tiber’s “Let You Go” has a comfortable lock on #1 – for now – despite the incredible activity below.  The song’s stellar performance and rich, soulful vibe help define it!  Other songs from the EP When The Time Is Right are also sinking in, such as “Waves”.

  • It’s been a steady pace for songs that are totally different but have been bookends these past few weeks.  Continue to dance your a** off to “Let You Go” by The Chainsmokers & Great Good Fine OK, which arrives at #2, while the beautiful and thoughtful “Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society & Kiesza moves up to #3 (ironically where Tribe Society’s predecessor band Gentlemen Hall peaked in 2013 with “Sail Into The Sun”).

  • And here’s Brooklyn’s Great Good Fine OK again in the Top 5 in a great pairing with St. Lucia on “Something To Believe In”, which climbs to #4.

  • I was very early on “The Other Boys” by NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears, and Nile Rodgers.  It holds at #5 here but in better news has reached #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart.  I like it when my ears ring early on a song and this happens 🙂  Watch the new video above!

  • Brandyn Burnette’s enduring “I Wanna Be (Free)” leaves the chart after a mandatory 10 appearances (20 weeks), but until his new Made Of Dreams EP (which I will continue to preview) arrives in two weeks, the heartfelt “Life’s A Beach” will keep your attention at #9.  It’s available for free from Brandyn’s website from his mixtape called The Bright Side.

  • Can you say Food Fight? 😛 The second new entry to the top 10 is the rollicking “Cake By The Ocean” by DNCE, led by one Joe Jonas.  It soars 17-10.  Pleased to say I got a ticket to their Toronto show on November 18 🙂 “Cake” is culled from the new EP Swaay.

Movin’ on Up

  • It’s Koma Koma time!  Now a Top 10 Billboard Dance Club Play hit – I’m another early adopter on this one too! – “So F**kin’ Romantic” by Matthew Koma continues to climb up to #11.

  • And three places below, we find talented Matthew again, in a pairing with talented production duo The Knocks, with the rhythmic and dreamy “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)”.  It’s the fastest riser on the chart, charging up 24-14.

  • Toronto singer Diego Gomes has a new EP called The Beginning due this month.  Until this new music arrives, we have the chipper and winning single “Bow Tie”, which climbs 21-17.

  • New Order is definitely on a roll with new single “Plastic”, which I anticipate will arrive on international dance charts very soon.  It moves up 25-19.  The enduring band has charted four times on this chart since its inception in 1998 – “Crystal” got to #2 in 2001, followed by Get Ready album tracks “Rock The Shack” (#12) and “Turn My Way” (#16), and then “Krafty” reached #5 in 2005.

  • Marianas Trench’s latest album Astoria is now on release and “One Love” is a delightful change of pace for them, recalling the diversity of 2009’s similarly conceptual Masterpiece Theatre.  “One Love” climbs 23-20.

Those 4 Debuts

  • It should be no surprise that “Hello” by Adele is at the top of the debuts, crashing in at #15 with #1 high on its radar.  Adele’s pristine vocal leads a song that anyone can identify with and should garner her a Grammy.  This bodes extremely well for the upcoming album called 25.  This is one song that will continue to sound grand over and over again.

  • At #25 is the bitter but danceable “Over” by Chicago-based EDM performer Goldhouse, which I wrote about not long ago.  You’re guaranteed to be singing this one after one listen!  Pick up the “Over” EP on iTunes.

  • At #26, is a song that I think is a perfect companion to Adele’s “Hello”.  “The Voice” contestant Clinton Washington will make you swoon with his soaring vocal on his independent release “Hearts Beat Loud”.

  • The last debut at #27 is from an EP that I’m enjoying a whole lot.  I was fortunate to see MAX (Schneider) recently in concert, and he’s a ball of energy who is extremely well-connected with his fans, even jumping into the audience to perform in the centre of the crowd.  The title track from his EP Ms Anonymous also features a nice break by talented rapper Jared Evan.

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

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

#BILLCSTop30 #468 – October 19, 2015

Despite a bit of a busy spell which meant much less blog posts than usual since the last chart, I hope to make up for that during the next two weeks!  The chart continues to be busy with a new #1 and four debuts.  So without further adieu…

The Top 10

  • “Let You Go”, the R&B-infused single from River Tiber’s When The Time Is Right EP, garners the pole position.  It’s River Tiber’s third jaunt at #1, following 2012’s “Someday” and 2013’s “The City”.  But Tommy Paxton-Beesley is definitely on the right track with his new songs; River Tiber’s recent performance at Adelaide Hall in Toronto to me was a personal best!  Folks, be sure to check out When The Time Is Right on iTunes.

  • Zipping all the way to #6 we go for a new Top 10 entry from Brooklyn’s Great Good Fine OK, who also reside with The Chainsmokers at #3 with the other “Let You Go”.  “Something To Believe In” is the compelling duet with St. Lucia full of gorgeous vocals and instrumentation.  It’s from GGFO’s EP 2M2H.

  • Vancouver’s Tyler Shaw is on point with his current single “Dizzy” from his debut album Yesterday.  You can hear it all across Canada on the radio (all the more reason for international readers to find this out with online radio links).  “Dizzy” climbs to #7.

  • Venturing into my city for a concert with a serious of guest singers is Disclosure, who with Sam Smith glide up to #8 with “Omen”.  It’s their third Top Tenner following last year’s #1 “Latch” (with Sam) and #10 “F For You” (with Mary J. Blige).

  • Also new in the Top 10, following that infectious seductive piece of business called “Guilty As Sin” (which peaked at #3, and falls off the chart) is a soft and sinewy number called “My Religion” by Toronto’s Dan Talevski, climbing 18-9.  Canadians continue to boom in the Top 10, with River Tiber, Tyler Shaw, and Dan all aboard (Dan also co-wrote Tyler’s previous single “House of Cards”).

Movin’ On Up

  • Sugar can get stuck easily but with a little persuasion it can be moved.  After holding at #13, “Sugar” by Robin Schulz and Francesco Yates continues to advance up to #11, with its amusing slapsticky video well worth watching.

  • While Brandyn Burnette’s #1 “I Wanna Be (Free)” had a deservedly phenomenal ride on this chart for the last 20 weeks, it moves down to #2 and will depart the chart, leaving room for the heartfelt and catchy “Life’s A Beach” to continue to rise.  It leaps 22-12.  A reminder – it’s available for free from Brandyn’s website as part of The Bright Side Mixtape.

  • Dance clubs totally get it and the so song is headed for the Top 20 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart.  Matthew Koma’s “So F**kin’ Romantic” moves up 17-14 – more Matthew to come!

  • Can you say DNCE?? Well if you like to DNCE then you can say it 😛  Joe Jonas’ new project is well on its way with the carefree “Cake By The Ocean” climbing 25-17.  Check out the new video above, which is light years away from The Jonas Brothers.

  • Like Brandyn Burnette and Great Good Fine OK, Sam Smith has two entries in the chart, the latest being the theme from the upcoming James Bond movie “SPECTRE”, “Writing’s On The Wall”, which moves up 23-19.

  • “Bow Tie” by Diego Gomes (another Canadian!) gets far too easily stuck between your ears thanks to a snappy vocal and clever lyrics.  It rises 27-21.

Premiering

  • Leading the debuts is “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)”, a special pairing off DJ/producers The Knocks and singer Matthew Koma at #24.  Despite its title and subject matter, it’s a really clever song with a laid back, dreamy melody.  It’s the second appearance for The Knocks on this chart, following their 2013 cover of M83’s “Midnight City” with Mandy Lee (#8).

  • Arriving for the first time since 2005’s “Krafty” (#5) on this chart is enduring UK quintet New Order, one of my favourite bands of all time who have recorded many must-have’s in my book – “Blue Monday”, “The Perfect Kiss”, “Fine Time”, the list goes on and on.  Their latest album and first for Mute Records is Music Complete – their best IMO since 1989’s Technique.  “Plastic” is the second single, which bows at #25.  It’s New Order creating dance music at its best, drawing from numerous influences through the 70’s to their own music and perhaps even Bernard Sumner’s 90’s side project Electronic.  Turn it up loud and move those feet!

  • Bowing at #28 is a duet between 17 year old Swedish star Zara Larsson and new UK sensation MNEK with “Never Forget You”.  The pairing is just dynamite, and I predict great things for both song and singers.  Readers of this blog know that I’ve written about MNEK several times since 2012, when the talented singer/writer/producer – who recently co-wrote and sang on Madonna’s “Living For Love” (!) – was also just 17.  He’s since been similarly behind the scenes for UK #1’s by Oliver Heldens, Little Mix, and Duke Dumont, too.

  • Rounding out the chart at #29 is the latest single from Years & Years’ still-stunning debut album Communion.  The gorgeous ballad “Eyes Shut” debuts as long-lasting #1 “Shine” leaves the chart.  It’s the group’s fourth chart entry also following “King” (#1) and “Desire” (#7).

You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday after 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

A tropical beach vibe and a @MatthewKoma vocal highlight @TheKnocks’ “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)”

THE KNOCKS & MATTHEW KOMA, “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)”

I’m loving the tropical flavoured vibe that is infusing some pop and EDM songs lately.  The songwriters creating them seem to have found a natural fit for this style.  “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” by producers The Knocks with go-to-guy Matthew Koma on vocal captures it in a lazy hazy kind of L.A. beachfront way, using the “1989” superstar as point of reference for the girl of one’s dreams.  This is a song that will go down even better after a few drinks in the sun, when it will become an immediate singalong!  Remixes could also turn it into a dance club and rave favourite, since both The Knocks and Matthew Koma are already established in those arenas.  Lay back and set your mind adrift and make your wish! 🙂

#BILLCSTop30 #466 – September 21, 2015

The top of the chart continues to be difficult to dislodge though that will likely change in October.  For we have an impressive debut in the Top 10, and a fast riser from one of the last chart’s debuts.  Two debuts are also album cuts where I dive deeper into the album hoping for additional singles 🙂

The Top 10

  • Uno, dos, tres, quatro… Y&Y, Brandyn, Nathan, and PP, once again all comfortably atop the chart.

I thoroughly enjoyed Years & Years in concert last week.  They were able to pretty much replicate the songs from Communion, with “Shine” (my current #1), “Real”, “King”, “Memo”,  and “Foundation” all standouts, plus a cover of Blu Cantrell’s 2003 UK #1 “Breathe”.  Olly Alexander has a genuine and affecting stage presence that will take him far 🙂

  • A definite contender for the top of the chart is “Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society featuring Kiesza, which climbs 9-6.  It definitely marks the transformation of the former pop/rock Gentlemen Hall into the darker and thoughtful alt.rock songs of Tribe Society.

  • It baffles me why this song isn’t being played in every club everywhere, but “The Other Boys” by NERVO featuring super-friends Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears, and Nile Rodgers, advances 11-8 from the dance production duo’s album Collateral.

  • Just can’t get enough of songs by The Weeknd right now.  My fellow Torontonian is now at superstar heights, with three almost sold out dates in November at Toronto’s own Air Canada Centre.  “Can’t Feel My Face” climbs 14-9.
  • Another Torontonian, Tommy Paxton-Beesley, definitely has created some of his best music for his brand new EP as River Tiber called When The Time Is Right.  He’s shifting from progressive alt.rocker to an inventive mix of EDM, rock, soul, and hip hop.  No more is that evident on the new River Tiber single “Let You Go” (up top), which bows at #10, following the #2 “No Talk” also included in When The Time Is Right.  “Let You Go” is River Tiber’s 8th BILLCS Top 30 entry which includes two previous #1’s “Someday” and “The City”.  Simply not to be missed – and a contender for #1 on my chart – get When The Time Is Right on iTunes! 🙂  
    • And now for a bit of BILLCS chart geekery:  “Let You Go” arrives in the Top 10 at the same time as “Let You Go” by The Chainsmokers & Great Good Fine OK is at #5.  It’s the first time two different songs with the same title have been in the Top 10!

Movin’ on Up

  • After a wonderful set at his release party last week for his debut album Yesterday, Tyler Shaw makes no hesitation to weigh in as the Fastest Riser on the chart with “Dizzy” soaring 21-11.

  • While UK brother duo Disclosure continues to unveil new songs from their upcoming album Caracal, their partnership with Sam Smith continues to build with “Omen” rising 18-12.

  • NYC duo (a five piece band in concert though!) Great Good Fine OK are both Top 5 with The Chainsmokers on “Let You Go”, and Top 15 with their pairing with St. Lucia on “Something To Believe In” from the EP 2M2H.  The busy and prolific GGFO premiered their new richly produced song “Take It Or Leave It” on Soundcloud last week (below).

  • I absolutely adore the mystery of a Jane Badler song!  Her latest single from Opus, “Dead Eyes”, is dollied up in a well-matched remix from Eel Eye to put the mystery front and centre.  “Dead Eyes” climbs 22-18.

  • Matthew Koma’s delightfully punkish stab at lovelife, “So F**kin’ Romantic”, moves up 24-19.  The singer’s new album is finished, can’t wait to hear what’s been in the works now for so long.

The Rest of the Debuts

Three additional songs premiere on the chart.

  • Following up the sensual intrigue of “Guilty As Sin”, which peaked at #3, Toronto’s Dan Talevski continues his audio seduction with “My Religion”, which in turn is featured in another sexy video.  Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with that!  And the beautiful Spanish scenery makes a lovely backdrop.  “My Religion” bows at #24.

  • “Wildstar” is a standout song from Giorgio Moroder’s album Déjà Vu featuring a charming vocal from Foxes that in some ways recalls Donna Summer in her heyday from my favourite album by her called I Remember Yesterday.  So it’s a no brainer for my chart, whether or not it’s released as a single!  “Wildstar” arrives at #25.  It’s Foxes’ second appearance on the chart following 2013’s #2 “Clarity” with Zedd.  “Wildstar” also follows Giorgio’s chart successes here with the title track featuring Sia peaking at #6, and “Right Here Right Now” with Kylie Minogue landing at #4.

  • There is no doubt that Adam Lambert’s The Original High is one of my most unexpected favourite albums of 2015 so far, with brilliant production nursing Adam’s wide-ranging voice to excellent effect.  It’s so rich in songs yet I don’t see a whole lot of attention being paid to them other than of course “Ghost Town”, which should have done better as a lead off single.  Nonetheless in my chart world that song peaked at #4, and “The Light” is a riveting EDM song that would make a perfect follow up!  “The Light” debuts at #26.

You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:15 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

#BILLCSTop30 #465 – September 7, 2015

A lot of the songs on the chart two weeks ago were stuck on hold… not a bad thing at all and shows staying power!  But the new chart is shaken ‘n stirred but good, with only two debuts, but several favourites finish up their chart run at the lower end of the chart.  

The Top 10

  • It appears that nothing is about to dislodge Years & Years and Brandyn Burnette from the top spots.  “Shine” continues at #1, while former #1 “I Wanna Be (Free)” (which will soon have a hip hop flavoured remix) stays at #2.  The songs in the rest of the year to come are going to need to be pretty special to beat out these two at year end.  Oh, and next week I get to see Years & Years in concert in Toronto.  Just cannot wait to hear the gorgeous songs on Communion in live performance!

https://soundcloud.com/penguin-prison/show-me-the-way

  • Both Nathan Sykes’ “Kiss Me Quick” and “Show Me The Way” by Penguin Prison advance a notch to #3 and #4 respectively, but are the #1 and #2 songs going to keep them from moving up further?  You’ll find out in two weeks!  Again, both are very strong songs in 2015 against fierce competition.

  • Formidable NYC producer/DJ’s The Chainsmokers are touring (they play in Toronto on November 7) with a fun cast of performers depending on what city you’re in.  The guys’ collab with Great Good Fine OK in a rollicking Tiesto remix on “Let You Go” climbs 9 to 6.  Oh, and it’s a free download 🙂

  • Yeah it is all about that sample from the 60’s TV show The Munsters, but “Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy also has a wicked, fun vocal by Patrick Stump to carry it home.  The song rises 11 to 8.

  • I have my fingers crossed that Island Records will recognize the emotional power of the fastest riser on the chart this week and release it to radio and as a single.  The gorgeous heartbreak of “Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society (formerly Gentlemen Hall) featuring a stunning turn by Kiesza burns up the chart, soaring 25-9.

Movin’ On Up

  • It’s still a mystery to me why “The Other Boys” by NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears, and Nile Rodgers isn’t all over the dance clubs.  It’s a smash waiting to happen no matter how long it takes!  It climbs 20-11!

  • Eric Saade’s “Girl From Sweden” and Janet Jackson’s “No Sleeep” have been unlikely bookend for the past few weeks, and it continues as they both rise to #12 and #13 respectively.  Janet plays in Toronto on September 15 and I look forward to hearing more from her upcoming Unbreakable album!

  • With The Weeknd’s superlative Beauty Behind The Madness set to debut at #1 this week, it’s fitting that “Can’t Feel My Face” climbs 22-14, even though it’s been #1 everywhere.  Abel (who is from my part of Toronto) is unstoppable right now!

  • “Natural Disaster” by Molly Moore is one true grower, many folks that I’ve played it for have enjoyed it or asked about it, in its original form or delightful Win & Woo remix.  The song moves up 19-15.

  • It’s taking its time to breakout, but I feel that about to happen… the title song from Robin Schulz’s album Sugar, featuring my talented fellow Canuck Francesco Yates, advances 23-16 (Francesco’s own “Better To Be Loved” peaked out at #6 two weeks ago).

  • Nerds, ravers, and dance music lovers unite and support this quirky and fun song!  Quebec producer/DJ’s J-Mi and Midi-D move up 21-17 with their Avril Lavigne-meets-Vengaboys single “So Much For That”.

  • And speaking once again about NYC R&B/pop/dance act Great Good Fine OK, they play in my city at The Drake Hotel once again on September 10, and undoubtedly will perform “Something To Believe In”, their recorded duet with fellow dance act St. Lucia.  From the EP 2M2H, the song climbs 26-19.

Premiering

  • It’s his best single yet, and is culled from his freshly released debut album Yesterday.  British Columbian Tyler Shaw has a real winner with the zippy “Dizzy”, which arrives at #21.  Not to be underestimated, this one!  Tyler’s album release party takes place in Toronto on September 10 at the Virgin Mobile Mod Club.

  • Matthew Koma has blended the best of both of his worlds – EDM and pop with a punk attitude – on his humorous latest solo single “So F**kin’ Romantic”, which bows at #24.  Matthew is a most welcome veteran on my chart – “Romantic” is his 4th solo entry (including two #1’s “Parachute” and “1998”) and he also is featured on 4 others (including #1’s “Spectrum” with Zedd and “Cannonball Earthquake” with Showtek & Justin Prime).  Now he needs to play his own gig in Toronto – soon! 😀

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

Party Up to @MatthewKoma’s new single “So F**kin’ Romantic” (plus a @MOTiofficial remix)

MATTHEW KOMA, “So F**kin’ Romantic”

It’s taken awhile, Matthew Koma’s first solo single since 2013’s “One Night” and with a new record deal with RCA, but the talented guy has kept himself busy writing for others (Kelly Clarkson and Shania Twain 😮 among them), DJing, and featuring on songs by Giorgio Moroder, Hardwell, Tiesto, Zedd, and more, so he’s never been away.  “So F**kin’ Romantic” I guess is not aimed at radio play 😉 but Matthew’s dominant presence as a voice in clubs make this a friendly and easy sell 🙂  Sometimes one doesn’t know what to do when you think you’re romantic, right?  You can go over-the-top but if the person you’re trying to please doesn’t get it, then what’s the point?  Time to party – and MOTi captures the sunny, tropical vibe of the original in his remix (below) which has a progressive edge to it with nods to the 80’s and other eras (not to mention saxophone – not the variety from Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop”).  If anything, “So F**kin’ Romantic” should make radio want to play more Matthew Koma, but we dance music lovers will take this one for ourselves!  A new album is completed – can’t wait to hear it all.