Pet Shop Boys – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

#BILLCSTop30 #692 – May 20/24

Here we are again with a new chart, some 17 days after I left on vacation. Of course I didn’t expect to become ill after my cruise, with a bug that has left my voice in the gutter for the last few days – you’ll hear how I sound on my New Music Pick of the Week segment – and likely a few days more. So Wednesday will be catch up time for the BILLCS New Music Report. In the meantime, one of THE dance songs of the summer of ’24 holds on top for a fourth appearance (eighth week), while three fresh and new songs debut.

Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30

Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist

The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive

Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below as they are increasingly tied in with this blog. As most of you know, I host 3 online radio shows – The Big 20 and two iterations of Your Weekend New Music Mix – and produce 2 online radio segments – my new music and retro picks of the week – that are all pre-recorded. The Big 20 and the picks of the week are happily being syndicated and you can find the current schedule for all at the bottom of the home page of this blog.

John Summit and Hayla still command the chart with the irrepressible “Shiver” (above), a song that will make dance club and festival goers stop in their tracks to enjoy. What will follow it at #1 in two weeks remains to be seen, but there are a number of worthy choices right below. Hayla’s subsequent single, the fierce “Embers” (below), moves up solidly 24-19.

“Harmless”, the unique alternative rock track by New Zealand’s Will Swinton, rises a notch to #2. To follow up such a great single, I’d love to know more of what’s in store for this young talent. I mean I may be missing out by not having a Tik Tok account, but let’s hope to hear more soon.

“Last Of Us” is one of those big, heartfelt dance tracks that doesn’t come around too often, this time by Gryffin and Rita Ora, and it climbs 4-3.

Like many electronic dance music lovers, David Archuleta’s IG feed shows him at EDC Las Vegas this past weekend, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming next after his euphoric alternative mix of “Afraid To Love” with collaborator Willy Beaman, which moves up 6-4. A big EDM collab might just be the ticket! Happy to start that rumour…

Sweden’s Darin is already set to release a new single, “Moonlight”, on Friday May 24, as his latest “Electric” continues to climb, moving up 7-5. “Electric” is his 7th Top 5 entry. Here’s some Darin/Pet Shop Boys trivia: The artists have a producer in common, though not for their most recent releases, and that is the amazing Stuart Price. Stuart co-produced Darin’s 2022 single “Superstar”, and has produced the PSB albums Super, Hotspot, as well as their 2013 album, which was called Electric!!

Pet Shop Boys’ latest album is Nonetheless, but have just released an EP which you can listen to at the following Spotify link called Furthermore, which includes re-recordings of their classics “It’s A Sin”, “Heart”, “Being Boring”, and “Always On My Mind”. The lead single from Nonetheless, “Loneliness”, continues to climb and moves up 9-6.

After a successful EuroVision weekend, which found their entry in 9th place overall for Sweden, Marcus & Martinus’ “Unforgettable” is the Fastest Riser of the week, soaring 13-7. Click the photo above to watch their EuroVision performance. I’ll have some words about the winning and runner-up entries on Wednesday in the New Music Report.

Philadelphia lo-fi hip hop duo N i G H T S obtain their fourth Top 10 entry as the intriguing and seething breakup song, “Hopeless”, rises 12-10.

“feel less” is a perfect example of how to turn your latest dance single in to a masterful pop release. Recorded live at The Warehouse in Vancouver, Felix Cartal and Lights’ latest collaboration becomes an emotional pop song with a brilliant vocal and sublime arrangement, rising 16-11.

I know a lot of Years & Years fans felt bad for Olly Alexander’s 18th place finish in EuroVision with “Dizzy”. To me it had nothing to do with the song itself or his vocal, which some people have been way too critical about on social media. It was more about its polarizing visuals, which to me only spoke to a small portion of the worldwide audience, though there were no technical issues that I could see. You can judge for yourself by clicking on the photo above but it was kind of a hard lesson learned. Olly’s an adventurous performer, this just wasn’t the time or place for it. Nonetheless, “Dizzy” moves up 18-13.

Rozalla’s solid rendition of Nicolette Larson’s version of “Lotta Love” continues to move up the chart briskly, rising 19-14. It’s still not too late for a Canadian AC radio campaign, just sayin’…

While I’m starting to see more love for the second single release from Fireworks and Rollerblades, “Slow It Down”, I’m still stuck on the album track “Cry”, which has also been doing well, and climbs 22-16.

As you know from many blog posts, I’m a sucker for a vocal performance that leaves me in awe of some of today’s best talents. JVKE is one of them and his latest single, “This Is What Slow Dancing Feels Like”, though highly reminiscent of Stephen Sanchez’s “Until I Found You” stylistically, nails the pre-Beatles American male pop vocalist sound of the day. “Slow Dancing” rises 25-20.

Arriving as the Highest Debut at #28 is “Find My Flow” by rising Phoenix dance producer Ekonovah (pronounced “echo-nova”). It’s one catchy slice of house music that could be a creeper in dance music sets by some of your favourite DJ’s this summer.

Calgary’s Kiesza makes her fourth appearance on the chart with the delightfully wacky and infectious “I Go Dance” at #29. The Juno Award winner got to #1 back in late 2018 with the equally fun “Phantom of the Dance Floor” accompanied by Quebec opera singer Philippe Sly.

Rounding out the chart and the new entries at #30 is “The Door” by Georgia-born Teddy Swims, which follows up his worldwide #1 “Lose Control”, which I got burned out on quickly. Teddy didn’t just come out of nowhere though. He was a You Tuber whose viral covers led to memorable appearances on “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, “The Late Late Show with James Corden”, and “America’s Got Talent”. His big and versatile, soulful voice has allowed him to cross genres, working in everything from country to EDM, leading to his debut album I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Part 1. “The Door” is seamless, 60’s flavoured pop soul that’s refreshing for today’s pop audiences.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

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

Halton Hills Radio Online

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 evening at 6 pm EST. You can hear recent episodes of The Big 20 at this link.

On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada (on hiatus until June 4)

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” at www.planetradio.ca, now powered by www.xstreamrockradio.com with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. My pick of the week airs more than 25 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear recent episodes of The 3D Variety Show at the following link: 3D Variety Show. The show repeats on Alberta’s www.katpowerhit.ca on Wednesdays at 6pm EST.

Energy885

Energy885 in Miramichi, New Brunswick’s Energy885 now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Fridays at 6pm EST, and his new show “Pyjama Party” on Saturdays at 5pm EST, which both air my New Music Pick of the Week. Energy885 is also airing my Retro Pick Of The Week as well on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:30 AM EST. You can hear past episodes of “Modern Hype” and “Pyjama Party” at the following link: DJ Hunter.

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

BILLCS Top 30 – May 6/23 (early edition!)

This is a quick post before I go on vacation for eight days to capture the key songs of note on this week’s chart, plus the five new additions, and of course to publish the chart! The next chart will be published on Monday, May 20, back on its usual schedule.

Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30

Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist

The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive

John Summit and Hayla are once again atop of the chart with “Shiver” (above), making it three consecutive appearances, or six weeks, at #1. Will it get a fourth? And Hayla bows on the chart for the first time as a solo artist with her magnificent “Embers” (below) as the Highest Debut at #24. Definitely watch this one fire up through the summer! It’s unclear to me what song just below “Shiver” might eventually succeed it at #1.

The Top 5 is pretty steady, but just below, David Archuleta and Willy Beaman’s euphoric alternative mix of “Afraid To Love” jumps 8-6. It was great to see David’s glorious return on “American Idol” recently. Very deserving!!

New to the Top 10 are “Electric” by Darin (12-7, above), becoming his 10th Top 10 entry, as well as “Loneliness” by Pet Shop Boys (13-9, below) with their 9th, and Nothing But Thieves gets their first with “Oh No :: He Said What?” (11-10, also below).

It’s Eurovision weekend! I may miss it because I’ll be on a boat. Will it be Marcus & Martinus who succeed with “Unforgettable” (18-13, above)? Or Olly Alexander with “Dizzy” (21-18, below)? Or something else? Olly released a compilation of Years & Years hits and deeper cuts today called “Odyssey”, and it’s a fine selection so check it out if you have missed out during the last nine years.

The Fastest Riser on the chart is the live string edition of “feel less” by Felix Cartal and Lights, which soars 25-16.

Returning to the chart #25 is Rhode Island’s greatest recent musical treasure, JVKE. Hey, I’ll be in RI on Sunday, maybe I’ll see him 😛 Anyway, his stunning new song “This Is What Slow Dancing Feels Like” is his best recent one so be sure to check it out. It’s already his 5th appearance on the chart.

Making his chart debut at #27 is Washington’s Dreamer Boy with “Heartbreaker”. Don’t. Go Around. Breaking Hearts. Into Two. What an anthemic chorus!! You’ll have it stuck in your head in no time. Dreamer Boy is the performing name for a guy with a presidential name, Zach Taylor.

“Without Your Love” is the infectious deep house track by L.A. producers Deorro and TELYKast with vocals by Catello, and it arrives at #28. It’s Deorro’s first entry on the chart, and it makes it three for TELYKast and two for Catello (who was the vocalist on NOTD’s #1 “Nobody”).

Wrapping up the debuts at #29 is “Carry On” by Canadian singer Daniel Richter with German producers The Twinz. This is one you can listen to over and over and bask in Daniel’s beautiful vocal. Daniel was previously the singer for the band Eleven Past One and this is his second solo entry to chart, following last year’s “Forget You” (#11).

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

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

Halton Hills Online

On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada

Energy885

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

BILLCS New Music Report – April 24/24 with new songs by @Haylasings, @Helloworldbeats, @BenedictCork, @ChurchofTrees, @JerinJamesmusic, @AlfieTempleman, @Ekonovah, and BeatMartHz & DJ Mirko B

I have some basic tips for artists who feel they are getting lost in the current oversaturation of music. But before I get on with those, I want to say: Don’t give up! There are many ways to get your songs heard and noticed without having to play the algorithm game to start. Not that this isn’t important, but maybe not for your first few song releases, and certainly not until you’re ready to tackle it. Be strategic!!

If you find yourself doing everything and not having the time to do anything else, get help. People in your life who are truly interested in some way will help you.
Do some research in terms of eventually getting paid help from publicists or others in the industry, which will help you determine how much you want to invest initially.
Seize opportunities to get your music heard by following others on social media in your genre(s) who look to help artists with demo reviews and such.
Develop relationships with people in your genre(s) you meet online who are like-minded. It’s always good to surround yourself with people who are supportive.
Find the right distributor for you. Many have different packages available to suit a variety of different needs. The more they can do for you for less, the better chances for getting exposure on streaming playlists and by tastemakers.
Don’t dismiss the online print medium, such as blogs 🙂 Articles and reviews become searchable and will be online for as long as the author or service provider allows.
You will know when you’re ready to go to the next level. Don’t force it or it will backfire.

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with one from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” has his Classic Five all from the early 80’s. In case you missed them, you’ll also find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the BILLCS Top 30.

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

HAYLA, “Embers”

Even if you don’t pay attention to credits or vocalists on dance music releases, you’ll immediately recognize the voice of British singer/songwriter Hayla from her appearances on three massive dance hits – Kx5’s “Escape”, and John Summit’s “Where You Are” and the current “Shiver” (the current BILLCS Top 30 chart-topper). Because of the overwhelming success of those songs, “Embers” is the first new solo music in two years for Hayla. I was lucky to see her perform it live last month at Miami Music Week, and I said at the time that she could be the next Annie Lennox with a voice as potent as hers. “Embers” is, naturally, much more produced with an intense flow. The producers take a few liberties with her voice but that doesn’t detract from such a compelling song. Don’t miss “Embers”, it’s only going to get even better for Hayla going forward!

HELLOWORLD, “Heartpiece”

With each successive release, L.A. electronic producer Helloworld unveils an unanticipated and positive new identity as Everyguy Indie Electronic Artist. He’s coming off of recent releases like “Planes”, a breakup song where two people are together on a plane but would rather be elsewhere, and “Weightless Feeling”, his collaboration with Throttle, about those rare times that you feel that nothing else matters in the world. “Heartpiece” is in stark contrast to “Planes”, a giddy and romantic, beautifully written love song that hits all the right strings in your heart. Employing similar production techniques to recent releases brings us to recognizable Helloworld territory, but I must say the effects near the end are not only cute but touching. I wasn’t expecting any of this from Helloworld which makes “Heartpiece” all the more worth your listening pleasure.

BENEDICT CORK, “Beauty Queen”

Hertfordshire-born Benedict Cork is on a roll with some fantastic storytelling, which started recently with songs as varied as “Reasons I Loved You (I Can’t Think of One)” and “Nice Guy”. With an album on the way next month called Notes On A Hopeless Romance, Benedict may have saved one of his best for us with “Beauty Queen”. It’s a song where he puts himself in the shoes of a beauty contest queen, who we imagine in typical style standing on stage looking proud and beautiful – and wanting to be loved. Any performer will relate to this song because, as Lady Gaga sang 10 years ago, “I live for the applause”. And any performer wants more and more applause, and more and more love from their fans and listeners. Benedict’s vocal is in dreamy-mode and by the time you’re listened to all of “Beauty Queen” you’ll be sated, smiling with contentment.

JERIN JAMES, “Dance Again”

Following up the imaginative “Broken Dreamers” and taking a few steps away from the romanticism of the songs in his EP The Wanderers, Southern California dance producer Jerin James offers up the bold and dashing sounds of “Dance Again”. It’s an elegant track with huge beats created by a variety of drum and percussion sounds, one to which you can visualize a complex choreographed dance routine. The spot-on, pleading uncredited female vocal is well chosen and doesn’t get lost in the maze of melodies and beats. Like with “Broken Dreamers”, “Dance Again” will appeal to fans of Odesza, Illenium, Seven Lions, Manila Killa, Timmy Trumpet, and other risk-takers on the more progressive side of dance music, and is a confident step forward for Jerin with his releases.

CHURCH OF TREES, “Lost In The Ether”

“Lost In The Ether” is a heavily 80’s influenced rock track by Canadian synth group Church of Trees. While the topic of watching a loved one pass away is never an easy one, Church of Trees’ vocalist/songwriter Bernard Frazer arrived at a unique lyrical approach that works, accompanied by his luminous synths, which transport us back to 80’s new wave, and a rock rhythm peppered with gripping guitar work by co-producer Jordan Zadorozny (Blinker The Star, Courtney Love, Lindsey Buckingham, Chris Cornell). While it’s as dark-sounding as some songs by the likes of Sisters of Mercy and Images In Vogue, you see rays of hope shine through thanks to an effective mix of harmonies by Heather Brazeau (who fronted the band’s recent unconventional take on The Ramones’ “Pet Sematary”) and Bernard. Add a myriad of new wave influences which could include A Flock of Seagulls, Spandau Ballet, Spoons and ABC, and you’ll find “Lost In The Ether” to be a sophisticated effort that you’ll be returning to for repeated plays. “Lost In The Ether” arrives ahead of Church of Trees’ 7th album called Transience.

ALFIE TEMPLEMAN, “Hello Lonely”

British singer/songwriter Alfie Templeman is growing with leaps and bounds with each of his releases. Singing in his higher register, “Hello Lonely” is a playful and uptempo track despite the theme of loneliness, something that Pet Shop Boys also decided to do with their same-named recent track. The production is busy and bubbly, and Alfie has a Jamiroquai-meets-Charlie Puth kind of vibe brewing that might just put him in his own lane for a while. As much as I enjoyed the Bedfordshire-born artist’s indie bedroom pop when he first arrived on the scene, it’s refreshing to hear Alfie’s music developing into something more intricate. His second album, Radiosoul, arrives in June.

EKONOVAH, “Need You Tonight”

Following up the ridiculously catchy “Find My Flow”, Phoenix dance producer Ekonovah (pronounced “echo-nova”) tackles a more straight-forward house track with “Need You Tonight”. It’s an original track albeit with similar intentions that Michael Hutchence sang about in INXS’ biggest same-named hit of their career. Sometimes less is more as the bouncy, echoey hook is delightfully infectious and will keep club-goers on the dance floor.

BEATMARTHz, DJ MIRKO B, “Ask me again”

“Ask me again” is the most recent collaboration between Italian producers BeatMartHz (aka Martino Tatalo) and DJ Mirko B (aka Mirko Boroni), whose releases have appeared regularly in this blog post over the years. “Ask me again” launches with an auspicious and direct synth melody, but quickly becomes a riveting slice of Eurohouse, thanks to the inclusion of soaring uncredited male vocal. It’s accompanied by a brisk rhythm and unintrusive but well-placed synth effects that make the song flow beautifully, wrapping up in just under three minutes and leaving you wanting more.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world.

It’s Rozalla with her cover of Nicolette Larson’s version of Neil Young’s “Lotta Love”

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S PICK OF THE WEEK

“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”.

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and “Pyjama Party”, with both shows anchored at Energy 885.

Virginia-based artist Nic D with “Atmosphere”

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays on Planet Radio Canada. The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song.

Donald Fagen – I.G.Y (What A Beautiful World) (1982)
Jim Diamond – I Should Have Known Better (1984, You Tube link)
Human League – Don’t You Want Me (1982)
John Mellencamp – Jack and Diane (1982)
J. Geils Band – Centerfold (1982)

BILLCS Top 30 #1 SONG

John Summit and Hayla are locked in at #1 again with “Shiver”

BILLCS Top 30 FASTEST RISER

“Loneliness” by Pet Shop Boys (24-13) from their upcoming 15th album Nonetheless

#BILLCSTop30 #690 – April 22/24

It might be too early to say it, but I’m enjoying so many songs on this chart, that several of them may turn out to be big favourites by year’s end. But there are still eight more months to go and it’s always a tall order for songs from earlier in the year to hold their ground against ones later in the year.

NOTE: I will be on vacation in two weeks, with limited internet resources, so the May 6/24 chart will likely be published on Friday May 3.

Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30

Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist

The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive

Right now “Shiver” by John Summit and Hayla (above) has a lock on #1 and I have no idea yet as to what song will succeed it. John apparently had a great Coachella set, and has released a new festival banger called “Eat The Bass”, which you can check out below.

Jonas Blue gets a personal chart best with his Endless Summer collaboration with Sam Feldt and Sadie Rose Van as “Rest of My Life” (above) climbs to #2. Jonas previously got to #3 back in 2016 with “Fast Car” (with Dakota). And you should also listen to Sam’s recent collaboration with YouNotUs, Martin Jensen and Sam Graycalled “24K Heart Of Gold” (below).

Gryffin and Rita Ora both land in the Top 5 for the first time with the entrancing “Last Of Us”, which climbs 9-5.

Also cutting through the Top 10 quickly is “When You Can’t Resist”, the guitar-filled slice of alternative soul by Vancouver’s Diamond Café.

The Top 10 has two new highly danceable entries with David Archuleta and Willy Beaman’s “Afraid To Love” (Euphoric alternative mix, above) climbing 11-8, and Martin Garrix’s “Carry You” (below) rises 13-9 in collaboration with Third Party, Oaks (aka Winona Oak) and Declan J. Donovan. It becomes Martin’s 11th Top 10 entry.

Sweden’s Darin is in line for yet another Top 10 entry as his latest release “Electric” jumps 17-12.

Leave it to long-time faves to have this week’s Fastest Riser. Pet Shop Boys’ “Loneliness” soars 24-13 in advance of the release of their 15th studio album Nonetheless, due Friday April 26. It’s their first studio album since 2020’s Hotspot.

The two EuroVision entries on the chart are off to smooth starts. Sweden’s Marcus & Martinus climb 25-18 with “Unforgettable (above). And Olly Alexander, no stranger to this chart with his many Years & Years songs, rises 26-21 with “Dizzy” (below) for the UK. I’ll be on a cruise at sea on May 11 when EuroVision is broadcast, so I’m hoping to still watch all or part of it – maybe the ship will even broadcast it, who knows?

Jared Lee’s solo entry “Love No More” moves up 27-22 to keep pass with the two EuroVision songs.

It’s hard not to like such a faithful cover version as Rozalla’s “Lotta Love”, which rises 29-23. I’d like to start a campaign for Canadian AC and AC Top 40 stations to play the song, which happens to be 50% Canadian Content. Who’s with me??

The Highest Debut of the week is the stunning live string version of “feel less” by Juno Award winners Felix Cartal and Lights, which arrives at #25. It’s Felix’s sixth chart entry and Lights’ 4th.

Right now I can’t get enough of Benson Boone’s debut album Fireworks and Rollerblades. And while his label is pushing “Slow It Down” to follow “Beautiful Things”, I think “Slow” is getting lost in the shadows of the success of the latter. So I’m opting for the emotional and triumphant rocker “Cry”, which bows at #26.

ONLINE RADIO SHOWS

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

Halton Hills Online

On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.

My Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” which airs Saturdays at 4pm EST.

The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada

Energy885

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

#BILLCSTop30 #689 – April 8/24

It’s Spring housecleaning time as six songs breathe new music vibes into this week’s chart, and we also have a change up top too after six weeks.

Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30

Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist

The BILLCS Top 30 Archive: BILLCS Top 30 Archive

John Summit & Hayla switch places with Benson Boone as “Shiver”, THE song of this year’s Miami Music Week, quickly soars to the top of my chart. John Summit launched a tour as well, with his first date on June 15 in my city Toronto selling out. I’m hoping to get a ticket to the second show on June 16 tomorrow. Fingers crossed! Watch for a new single by Hayla coming soon called “Embers”, which sounded fantastic when she previewed it at MMW!!

Four new Top 10 entries begin with Bright Light Bright Light’s “You Want My…” (above) from his upcoming album Enjoy Youth. “You Want My…” moves up 11-7 and becomes BLx2’s 21st Top 10 entry!! You can also check out his latest single “Every Emotion”, featuring legendary dance vocalist Ultra Naté, below. Ultra herself appeared on the chart in its early days with 1998’s “Found A Cure” (#7).

Sam Dickinson’s spot-on cover of Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” advances 12-8, becoming his 7th Top 10 entry from his upcoming album F L E X.

Gryffin and Rita Ora each get their second Top 10 entries with the glorious dance rave-up “Last Of Us”, which climbs 14-9.

“When You Can’t Resist”, a gorgeous slice of alt.R&B by Canada’s Diamond Café, climbs 15-10, becoming his first under that name, but third overall after releasing under his own name Tristan Thompson back in 2014.

The Fastest Riser on the chart belongs to “Electric” by Sweden’s Darin, which soars 26-17.

I don’t know how many songs Pet Shop Boys would have had on my chart had it existed back to the 1980’s, but in the last 25 years they have now reached the chart 12 times with their recent single “Loneliness”, which arrives as the top debut at #24. It’s the duo’s first appearance on the chart though since late 2019. “Loneliness” didn’t strike me on its first few listens but when I went back to it I couldn’t imagine what I was thinking at the time. It’s solid, classic PSB, from their upcoming album Nonetheless.

At #25 it’s EuroVision contenders and Sweden’s Melodifestivalen contest winners Marcus & Martinus, making their chart debut with the stunning “Unforgettable”.

And right below at #26 is one of the competitors for “Unforgettable” at EuroVision – UK’s entry is by Years & Years’ Olly Alexander called “Dizzy”, and it’s a snappy, vibrant song that’s in a little bit of a more pop direction for Olly. It works well and with charismatic Olly behind it you know he’ll deliver a cool performance in Malmö in May. It’s Olly/Y&Y’s 13th chart entry, and of course he even had “Dreamland” (#5) with Pet Shop Boys in 2019!

At #27 is “Love No More”, a hard-hitting, ear-grabbing ballad by Boston’s Jared Lee, which becomes his first solo entry on the chart, having appeared three previous times in the Top 10 on releases by Midnight Kids, Autograf, and Nicky Romero & GATTÜSO.

Medina’s “Que Será” was a crowd favourite at Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, but it couldn’t come close to the points acquired by Marcus & Martinus’ “Unforgettable” to win the contest. Medina, another Swedish duo, knows how to work up an audience, and the jubilant and multilingual “Que Será” premieres on the chart at #28.

Rounding out the debuts at #29 Rozalla with her cover of the Nicolette Larson 1979 version of Neil Young’s “Lotta Love”. It’s the 90’s dance queen’s second appearance on the chart, following “The Shadows Of The Moon”, which reached #9. Both songs are included in her new album, Turn On The Light. NOTE: For Canadian terrestrial radio DJ’s, “Lotta Love” is two parts Cancon, being a Neil Young song. So if there are any creative Canadian music directors left out there, do give “Lotta Love” some consideration!

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 recent 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.

At Midnight EST on Saturdays, you can also hear my Retro Pick of the Week on Russ Horton’s amazing “Top 40 Timeline” oldies show.

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“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, and my Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” at 4pm EST.

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” at www.planetradio.ca 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 nearly 30 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear recent episodes of The 3D Variety Show at the following link: 3D Variety Show.

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You can also listen to my Retro Pick of the Week on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays.

For other details about all of the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side! The schedules are up-to-date.

Pet Shop Talk, actually.

Note: This interview took place in July 1987 in Toronto, and was originally published in the defunct national trade magazine ‘Campus Entertainment Report Canada’.

Keyboardist Chris Lowe, one half of the U.K. duo Pet Shop Boys, has just got up and changed the TV channel from MuchMusic to “Sesame Street”. His partner, Neil Tennant, is out of the hotel room, probably grabbing a breather from a morning of phone interviews at midday.

My brief chat with 27 year-old Chris, a former architect, includes topics such as “bonus” songs on CD’s (he doesn’t feel they are necessary), remixes of albums for different countries, and parts of the technical end in making the Boys’ second album actually. It’s clear he enjoys talking about details because they can affect all or part of his music.

Neil returns and, as you’ll discover, the 32 year-old former editor of the UK magazine Smash Hits loves to talk, and talk, about Pet Shop Boys. It’s hard to believe that these two bright chaps from London could have so influenced rock-oriented dance music in the two years since their remarkable debut Please, which spawned the worldwide #1, “West End Girls”.

“I think we’ve got a ‘sound”, Neil generalizes, “and I think on actually we’ve got a bit harder. It’s just that Pet Shop Boys’ attitude is a bit like punk’s in a way. We’re not hung up on nor interested in musicianship. We do what we want and sing what we want to sing about.”

Like Please, actually revels in well-weaved syntho-rhythms which simply make you want to dance. But it takes the music of Please a touch further using complex dance mixes and some unexpected experimentation instead of relying on a streamlined focus.

“We don’t sing patronizing, do-me-good sort of songs,” Neil explains. “We champion styles of music which have been sneered at, like Hi-NRG and Eurodisco. They’ve become fashionable partly because of us. The public loves it, so the UK charts are filled with it – not so much with Pet Shop Boys, but certainly Stock-Aitken-Waterman (producers of Bananarama, Samantha Fox, etc.). They have great melodies, they’re hard, dry records.”

Chris maintains that there are ‘post’ Pet Shop Boys bands about. Even a UK commercial for a men’s cologne has used the melody of “West End Girls” to its own advantage. Suddenly, Neil anticipates my next question about a major name similarity.

“Some people [this writer included] think that New Order’s “True Faith” sounds like us. I don’t think it sounds like us particularly. To me it’s New Order. There’s a slight chord change, but people say to us, “it’s you, it’s your sound”.

Stephen Hague may have produced Please and co-written and co-produced “True Faith”, but the only real aspect that runs through actually as rampantly as Please is the familiar sense of melodrama.

“We do like melodrama,” Neil admits – “Chris has this famous quote, “Tchaikovsky wrote through me and it worked!” We like music with a lot of strings and dramatic chord changes, and those arrangements go well with a sequencer bass line.”

Neil described “It’s A Sin”, the first hit from actually, publicly as being an ‘over the top’ arrangement, and Chris says the song had to be that way “specifically with its religious angle and gothic slant. Once you decide to go gothic you can’t hold back. You’ve got to have bolts of lightning and so on. We actually went and recorded it at a church to get the ambiance so we could get that scale.”

Similar to, but not inspired by, the film “The Name Of The Rose” (“a film neither of us has seen”, says Chris half-knowingly, half-jokingly), is the video for “It’s A Sin”, for which Neil has a wonderful anecdote.

“When we wrote it four and a half years ago, it was more supposed to be like “Joan Of Arc”. I was going to be burned at the stake, and in the end Chris was going to light the bonfire. The video crew later kept saying, of course, “You couldn’t be burned at the stake ‘cause they won’t show it on television”. We got Derek Jarman, set director on the Ken Russell film “The Devils” and director of “Caravaggio”, to direct. It’s quite slow paced, full of monks and such, with the right atmosphere.”

Pet Shop Boys seem to want to give a full picture of what their music is all about. In their short existence, they have had carte blanche over their records, complete control since their first release. Now you know the many mixes of “West End Girls” and “Opportunities” were their own doing. This led them to use mix-meisters Julian Mendelsohn and Shep Pettibone as co-producers of some cuts on actually, in addition to two from Stephen Hague. The Boys simply wanted other input.

“We had just done a remix of “Suburbia” with Julian, so we approached him. With Shep Pettibone, he had already done a few remixes (“Love Comes Quickly”) for us.”

Many performers would see “WARNING” lights flash at this point, as Chris acknowledges: “The only danger of doing this is that the album doesn’t hang together”.

From the extended remix of “One More Chance” (an old song of theirs) through the Boys’ match with Dusty Springfield on the Top 5 “What Have I Done To Deserve This” – from first listen, the certifiable hit here, with a fantastic melody structure – to the more offbeat “It Couldn’t Happen Here” (co-written with film score veteran Ennio Morricone), actually does indeed hang together.

“Everyone was worried it wouldn’t!”, Neil exclaims relievedly. “It was all us. We knew what we wanted. We realized people liked what we like, the dance remixes. We tried to make the dance tracks a lot harder and looser. (The cuts) are longer and looser than everyday pop songs.”

This will explain why another set of remixes, like their Disco EP of late 1986, will surface soon. The Boys’ UK #1 cover of Elvis Presley’s “Always On My Mind” will be on that record; it has just been released here as a single, though it’s not on actually. The new UK single returns to the current album, and it’s the high-powered track “Heart”.

Actually, actually, has gotten Pet Shop Boys over that perpetual sophomore jinx which halts new performers regularly. It will likely be regarded in future as a significant record which marked progression for both 80’s dance music and Pet Shop Boys.

One last question: That title, actually – here’s Neil again:

“We decided on the title while working with Shep Pettibone in London. When Chris and I would walk in and listen, both of us would say “Oh, it sounds quite good, actually”, and he’d get irritated by the faint praise he never got from us. He said one day, “Is that all you guys say, “quite good, actually”? We said, “Well gee, actually we’ll name the album that.” It seems to fit. Please had a very English title too. Actually is a lot more pushy, confident. Like Please, it’s a joke as well. When you go into a record shop and say “What’s playing?”, the reply could be “It’s Pet Shop Boys, actually”.

#BILLCSTop30 #573 – October 28, 2019

One month into Autumn and some change is afoot on the new chart. Besides three new entries, some songs make key moves, and there is a new song on top!

I am pleased to announce again that music from my chart and blog will be featured regularly on the new online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂 Scroll down the main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades!

Australia’s Throttle gets his first #1 with the thoughtful and danceable, Billboard-charting “Dreamer”, ending 4 appearances (8 weeks) at the top for Kazaky’s “Push”. It’s from his new EP of varying styles in the dance music realm called Where U Are, and is meant to be played continuously from beginning to end for best effect. “Dreamer” is the lead off single and it’s the one that stands out the most for me. This is also the first #1 on my chart for the Canadian dance label Monstercat, and such a different one for them too!

UK indie singer/songwriter Lostchild climbs 5-2 with the OKJAMES remix of “Like Like”. It will be neck and neck with “Dreamer” for #1 in two weeks – I’m not even going to speculate on what might prevail! “Like Like” bests the #5 peak of last year’s “Blacklist”.

With eyes firmly planted on the Top 5, “Breaking Hearts” by Benedict Cork, another UK indie singer/songwriter you need to know, climbs 12-7. The singer has been opening on tour for EuroVision winner Duncan Laurence in his native Netherlands.

Also new to the Top 10 – kind of a no-brainer given the performers – is “Dreamland” by Pet Shop Boys and Years & Years, moving up 14-9. It’s Years & Years’ 7th Top 10 entry since 2015, following this year’s collaboration with Jax Jones on “Play” (#3).

“Poolside Vibe” by Pretty Sister and MarcLo keeps us thinking of July and August as it moves up 16-12.

I want to see a club DJ take Anden’s “Flicker” up on what’s intended to happen in the magnetic, progressive dance song – a glittering light show after the pause after “baby all of the lights are turned…. off”. “Flicker”, featuring vocals by the brothers Cuppernull who comprise Anden, climbs 19-13.

“Here U R” is a striking deep house track by Win & Woo featuring vocals by co-writer Sara Skinner, and it rises 17-14.

Led by a pristine vocal by Heather Janssen, “Who’s Gonna Love U” by Canadian producer Ryan Shepherd makes a significant move up the chart, soaring 22-15.

After the #7 success of “Sign Of The Times” two years ago, Harry Styles shifts gears for a short, sweet pop song with one of his best vocals in “Lights Up”. It’s the Fastest Riser on the chart, rocketing 25-16.

Also busting a big move is “Family Affair” by The Disco Fries, which advances 23-17. It’s a fun and peppy retooling of the Mary J. Blige classic, which got to #4 on this chart back in 2001.

Making the highest debut is the glorious and unexpected collaboration of Galantis, Dolly Parton and Mr. Probz on one of the most uplifting songs of the year called “Faith”. It bows at #25 and is the first chart appearance for all involved. After establishing themselves on the dance music scene for the best part of this decade, the Grammy-nominated Swedish production duo Galantis joins other veterans – Don Diablo, Cedric Gervais, Lost Frequencies, Timmy Trumpet, Sultan + Shepard, Kygo – also debuting on the chart this year. And Dolly Parton has flirted with dance music before – her pop hit “Baby I’m Burnin'” was also a big club hit in 1979. She’s also not the oldest person to appear on the chart – that feat belongs to Giorgio Moroder who was 74 when he charted in 2015 with the trio of “Right Here Right Now”, “Deja Vu” and “Wildstar”.

Returning to the chart for the first time since 2016 is Brandon Colbein, formerly known as Brandon Skeie, with the heart-felt ballad “Mad”. Brandon’s “So Bad” reached the top of the chart so “Mad” has its work cut out!

Sam Fender is an intriguing new British rocker who will appeal to those who enjoy singer/songwriters like James Bay and groups like Keane. “Will We Talk”, from his album Hypersonic Missiles, arrives at #29.

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 🙂

#BILLCSTop30 #572 – October 14, 2019

I have a briefer blog post for you as a result of a combination of a busy Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and illness. I will be back with more about the Top 30 for you in two weeks, and of course with blog posts in-between.

I am pleased to announce that music from my chart and blog will be featured regularly on the new online radio station Radio GTA. You can hear their Big 20 on Wednesday evenings and listen for songs from the chart too 🙂 Scroll down the main page to listen to lots of variety from across the decades!

“Push” by Ukrainian dance group Kazaky once again holds court at the top, giving the Depeche Mode-influenced song 4 appearances (8 weeks) at #1. We’ll see what this talented group plans as a follow up!

Looking to challenge in two weeks is “Dreamer” by Australian producer Throttle, which climbs 6-2, as Throttle’s first ever EP Where U Are is released. It uniquely mixes thoughtful lyrics and a variety of dance styles and genres which will appeal to fans of both pop and dance music. There are even vocals by Throttle himself! Check out the full EP below, and listen to the songs consecutively as he suggests, which include “Dreamer” and his other previous single “Japan”.

“I’m Not Alright” by Loud Luxury and Bryce Vine advances 5-4 and now has its own video, check it out above.

Also eyeing the top of the chart is the OKJAMES remix of UK indie electronic performer Lostchild’s “Like Like” (below), which zips into the Top 10, up 11-5. Check out the video of the original version of the song above.

Half of the Top 10 are independent releases with no label power, and one I’m happy to see climbing 12-8 is from Nashville duo Apollo LTD with the commanding “On The Way Up 2.0” from their must-hear album Out Of Body.

The other new entry to the Top 10 is a Top 30 hit in the UK and a dance hit as well. It’s “Ritual” by Tiësto, Jonas Blue and Rita Ora, moving 13-10.

The fastest riser on the chart is by another independent performer from the UK. The golden voice of Benedict Cork carries “Breaking Hearts” 20-12.

I’m sooo glad Pet Shop Boys and Years & Years teamed up for a record because it is absolutely a treat to listen to each time. “Dreamland” rises 21-14. Remixes are coming in all physical formats on October 25!

While other upward moving songs between 15 and 24 should break loose in some way or form in two weeks, you can’t deny the power of the highest debut at #25. Harry Styles’ “Lights Up” simply should be one of the biggest hits of 2019, and the signs will show in the coming weeks. Any vocalist should be in awe of his performance here, in such a different style from his previous album two years ago too. The video above has almost 20M views since October 11!

As “Good Things Falls Apart” tumbles off the chart after the maximum 10 appearances (20 weeks), 5 of which were at #1, it gives room for another Illenium song. “Broken Ones”, featuring the stunning voice of Anna Clendening, arrives at #26. If you saw one of Illenium’s recent shows, you also saw Annika Wells (known for her vocal on “Crawl Outta Love”) sing it as if she recorded it.

The last two premieres on the chart were hard to fill, but both artists have appeared on the chart a number of times. At #28 (above) is the infectious “Punching In The Dark” by Sweden’s Hellberg featuring the easily identifiable voice of Aloe Blacc. And arriving at #29 is “Walk Alone” (below), the early ’10’s and very welcome melodic house throwback by Dutch producers The Him. Both Hellberg and The Him have been to the top of the chart, Hellberg with Dzeko & Torres and “Care For Me” in 2016, and The Him in 2018 with Parson James and “Broken Love”.

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 🙂

#BILLCSTop30 #571, September 30/19

Rounding out September and as we sail into the Autumn months, I’m definitely one guy who isn’t looking for dreary, downtempo music. And as such, the top of the new chart stays the same – at least the Top 3. Gradual change is afoot, which means that songs on the rise outside of the Top 10 will soon make their presence felt. Four new entries by artists who have all previously appeared on the chart also make it interesting!

So it’s the mesmerizing pulse of “Push” (above) by Ukrainian dance group Kazaky that continues up top for a third appearance (six weeks), and I still cannot endorse its amazingly choreographed video enough! “Higher Love” by Whitney Houston in a Kygo reboot remains at #2, while L.A. producer Eric Sharp and vocalist Zhao also stay put at #3 with the cool house of “Monday Blues”.

The power of Avicii continues as “Tough Love” (above), featuring Agnes and Vargas & Lagola, climbs 5-4.

My fellow Canadians Loud Luxury arrive in the Top 5 moving up 8-5 with “I’m Not Alright”. Featuring Bryce Vine on vocals, the lads had a great appearance with James Corden last week, above.

New to the Top 10 are Simon Curtis’ “Graduate” (13-9, above), with one of Simon’s finest vocals in recent years – it’s only Simon’s 17th appearance in the Top 10 as lead or featured act!! – as well as the power trio of producers Ken Summit and Eric Kupper with vocalist Amy Douglas for the bassy 90’s house of “Give Me Love” (12-10, below).

Looking to make inroads in the Top 10 next week is “Like Like” by UK indie singer/songwriter Lostchild, currently on a brief tour in the US. The brilliantly fun OKJAMES remix soars 19-11 (above, video of its original version below).

Australian singer Peter Wilson is looking splendid on the chart in the Stormby edit of “Don’t Break My Heart” which rises 22-16.

Right behind are the hedonism delights of “Poolside Vibe” (above) by Pretty Sister and MarcLo, gliding 24-17. The prolific pair of producers renown have since released two similarly-themed tunes, “New Fire” and “Tequila” (both below) which you should check out to keep the summer vibes going.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4seUd4RVqkaM8gtbgvzt7v?si=OF5oud_nRYy0HRFw9G3cDw

UK singer/songwriter Benedict Cork breaks into the Top 20 with his fabulous voice in “Breaking Hearts” (27-20).

Not far behind, The Knocks and Kah-Lo’s ode to everything positive, “Awa Ni” (above), moves up 28-22, while NYC-based producers and brothers Anden climb 29-23 with “Flicker” (also above), totally tailored for the NYC nightlife.

Leading the four new entries is the more-than-dynamic pairing of talents from completely different decades who sound so natural together. Reminiscent of Pet Shop Boys’ own previous meet up with Dusty Springfield is the new connection to Years & Years in “Dreamland”, which bows at #21. I can’t be more excited to hear what PSB and Y&Y might continue to concoct together. “Dreamland” is an amazing start! It’s Years & Years’ 8th chart entry.

MAX returns to the chart after the #4 success of “Love Me Less” (now available in various remixes and also featuring one with Kim Petras) with the enticing “Acid Dreams”, featuring rapper Felly, bowing at #24. Check out the colourful, eye-popping video above, which also features MAX’s wife Emily. It’s MAX’s 8th chart entry, too.

Toronto’s Ryan Shepherd is back with his third chart entry and the slick house of “Who’s Gonna Love U”, which features singer/songwriter Heather Janssen. It arrives at #26.

After scoring a #1 Billboard Dance Club Play chart entry with Vassy called “Concrete Heart” not long ago, Nick and Danny, aka The Disco Fries, land on the chart with their retooling of Mary J. Blige’s “Family Affair” at #27. It’s fast, furious and fun!

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 🙂

#BILLCSTop30 #501 – January 23/17

Here at the BILLCS Music Blog, we continue to burn down discos until the morning comes…

The Top 10

Or so sing Pet Shop Boys, as “Burn” from their album Super handily continues its reign at the top. We’ll have to wait to see if any other song challenges in two weeks.

“D E E P In NY”, Bobby Nourmand’s brilliant mix of hip hop and EDM, slides up a notch to #2 to try and rival Pet Shop Boys two weeks from now.

Don’t discount Brothers by Saxity featuring Strøm, either, as this carefree song about friendship advances to #3. The duo have a collaboration on deck with American singer Nathalie Archangel too, with the same songwriters no less 🙂

“All The Way”, a fun-loving instrumental by Sweden’s Hellberg, continues to rise up 7-5.

https://soundcloud.com/putainbeau/hellberg-all-the-way

Tony Moran & Jason Walker know how to have a blast together making songs, and “Say Yes” is the latest collaboration, moving 9-6.

Vancouver’s Felix Cartal has his first of two entries cracking the Top 10 with frequent vocal collaborator Ofelia K on “Drifting Away”, climbing 17-9.

“Light” by Dutchman San Holo continues to tread in the Billboard Top 20 Electronic Songs chart, and also continues to advance on this chart too, soaring 18-10.

Movin’ On Up

It looks like another young Dutchman, Steve Void, is about to get his first Top 10 here with No Mondays with “Chemistry”, featuring a lovely vocal by Clara Mae. It rises 13-11. Steve has been in the Top 10 with remixes last year – SNBRN’s “Beat The Sunrise” got to #5, while “False Alarm” by Matoma & Becky Hill reached #6.

L.A.’s Mahalo is on a roll with a splendid remix of ZHU’s “In The Morning” following a couple of originals, one being “Be My Love” (featuring Cat Lewis) which climbs 16-12.

The fastest riser on the chart is Phil Good’s ode to “Sleeping In”, which in a Sean Turk bedroom bass remix is more than about just that. It wastes no time rocketing up the chart 22-13.

All of the last chart’s debuts are well on their way. DNCE’s “Naked” bounds 25-19 (above), with Felix Cartal’s second entry “Keep Up” (featuring Steph Jones in a Ben Zamora remix) jumping 27-20 (below), Throttle’s pairing with Michael Buble for a remix of “My Kind Of Girl” rising 26-22, and would-be sports anthem “#Bomber!” by Italy’s BeatmartHz & DJ Mirko B climbing 29-23.

Three Debuts

There is no denying that The Chainsmokers were wise to wait till January to unleash “Paris”, now that “Closer” has hit its stride. The guys know their audience and wrote another song to which anyone can relate, capturing a snapshot and the accompanying emotion to make the song soar. Once again Drew Taggart’s vocal totally suits the song and the chorus is a positive singalong that will endure throughout 2017. It arrives at #15, giving it a good shot at the top… soon! The Chainsmokers did reach #1 here with “Closer”, as well as #2 in 2015 with “Let You Go” (featuring Great Good Fine OK), and #8 with “Don’t Let Me Down” (featuring Daya).

Debuting on the chart is Miami producer Alyx Ander with the seductive “Memories Of You” featuring an amazing vocal by Srey Davi. This one will get under your skin… it arrives at #27. It’s the first appearance by Nettwerk Records on this chart since 2011 too.

The last debut belongs to British producer KDA with “Just Say” featuring rising American vocalist Tinashe. Not much is known about KDA but he did manage to fend off One Direction and scored a UK #1 in late 2015 with “Turn The Music Louder (Rumble)” (featuring Tinie Tempah and Katy B). “Just Say” is classic American-style house with European flair, and it’s no surprise it’s already in the Top 20 of the Billboard Club Play chart.

View the full BILLCS Top 30 right here, and be sure to click on the photos to hear all of the songs.

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

Listen for me on http://www.planetradio.ca live on Tuesday evenings, and with my Pick of the Week segment throughout the week 🙂 See below for details!