progressive – Page 16 – BILLCSMUSIC BLOG

#BILLCSTop30 #463 – August 10/15

The amount of posts I write seems to have slowed down, but I do make them count 🙂 And my chart brings some of them full circle and also introduces you to some songs I adore that I haven’t written about (usually major name performers). So the new chart has five debuts – don’t let the lower chart position belie how well these five will do in the coming weeks 🙂 As usual, current faves have to give up the ghost first!

The Top 10

What more can I possibly say about Brandyn Burnette’s “I Wanna Be (Free)”? How about a fourth appearance (eighth week) at #1! Just in time for the remix by The Bravos which I wrote about recently. It’s going to be very hard to beat the Top 2 songs in this chart at year end!

And then there’s “Shine” by UK trio Years & Years. I can’t understand why radio will not play this one in North America. There’s a really powerful emotional undercurrent to “Shine”, which didn’t sink in until well after I stopped hearing it with one ear on a similar-sounding melody to Erik Hassle’s “No Words”. It holds at #2 again, but “Shine” is looking to take over from “I Wanna Be (Free)” whenever that song surrenders #1.

It does have an ‘earworm’ of a chorus as my friend David kindly put it. Toronto’s Dan Talevski has released a follow up called “My Religion” which I have not heard yet (but will in the next while undoubtedly), probably because I’m too wrapped up in “Guilty As Sin”, which rises to #3 for the talented singer.

I get the feeling of triumph every time I hear “Beauty Never Lies” by Serbia’s Bojana Stamenov. The Eurovision finalist climbs up to #5 to anchor the Top 10 midway point 🙂

There is no doubt that “Kiss Me Quick” by Nathan Sykes (which climbs to #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart this week) has its druthers aimed for the top spot on this chart, and for now it bounds 12-6 while the UK singer continues to promote the song throughout the US.

Toronto quartet Smashing Satellites follow up their #3 chart hit “Waterfall” with the very different and ebullient “What It’s All About”, which has taken its time but lands at #8.

Rounding out the trio of Torontonians in the Top 10 is star-on-the-rise singer/songwriter/guitarist Francesco Yates with “Better To Be Loved” at #9. Francesco sings on one of the debuts too!

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

The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Penguin Prison with the effortless-sounding and breezy “Show Me The Way”, soaring 22-10, and the Top 10 is no stranger to PP who have cracked #1 twice before. In the US, you can catch “Show Me The Way” in the latest Hulu ad 🙂 Not yet a single, but soon-to-be… I hope… pretty please…

Movin’ On Up

I can’t get enough of UK singer Martin Luke Brown’s vocal on “Take Out Of Me”. This searing piece of soulful pop rises 19-11.

Another unique vocal appears in “East Side Bay” by L.A.-based producer/DJ – and yes vocalist – Mi Disguise. This is one sneaky club track that deserves exposure, and climbs 15-12.

Amid fierce competition, Cobi Mike’s thoughtful and affecting “Walking Through The Fire” continues to move up 14-13 – check out the intriguing video (you’ll get past the point that the singer is naked throughout, really, you will).

When in doubt gain brownie points by using your country in your latest song title 😉 Seriously, “Girl From Sweden” by Eric Saade is a catchy singalong, and I’m sure you’ll find the singer dancing in the Swedish countryside one day with pretty girls in hand 😉 The song rises 18-15.

Performers who collaborate with their significant others often make fine music together. Such is the case with Molly Moore, whose “Natural Disaster” climbs 25-19 (Brandyn Burnette is a co-writer). I wrote about another top notch song by Molly not long ago called “Don’t Believe It”, which saw official release on iTunes last week. Much more new music to come!

Canadians J-Mi and Midi-D are off to a great start with their recent single “So Much For That”. Not only is it loads of fun, with its 90’s Europop backdrop, but these underdogs, remixers and ravers alike, have created a song that absolutely anyone can identify with. The video is a hoot and the nerd in us all will appreciate it. “So Much For That” climbs 26-21.

Those 5 Debuts

I must admit to have been totally blown away by the collaboration of New York producer/DJ’s The Chainsmokers with fellow New Yorkers Great Good Fine OK on “Let You Go”. But the song IMO has been immensely improved with a throttling Tiesto remix which is available for free download on Soundcloud!! “Let You Go” is the highest debut, arriving at #22.

It was a fine few weeks for dance music and NERVO land their first chart entry with “The Other Boys” at #23 from their new album Collateral. The powerful mix plus Kylie Minogue and Jake Shears on vocals, carried by propulsive guitar work by Nile Rodgers should send this to the top of the national dance charts in short order. I wish that pop radio would be open to playing it but alas I expect not.

The Weeknd doesn’t need my blog’s help with all of his success, to be seen in December come Grammy Awards nomination time. His latest single, “I Can’t Feel My Face”, from the upcoming Beauty Behind The Madness (which I predict will be the #1 album of 2015), arrives at #25. Despite all of his obvious influences, The Weeknd makes every song his own and that’s part of his appeal! That he comes from my part of Toronto speaks volumes too 😀

Meanwhile, back to Francesco Yates… who sings lead on the latest single from Grammy nominee Robin Schulz on “Sugar”, the title song from Robin’s upcoming album. The inclusion of lyrics from Baby Bash & Frankie J’s “Suga Suga” is a bonus, but kind of interesting in a roundabout way when you think that Francesco himself (who is 19) was a mere lad when the original came out in 2003. “Sugar” premieres at #27 and the video is quite slaptsticky-funny if you suspend your disbelief.

The final debut belongs to Disclosure featuring Sam Smith once again on “Omen”. This trio must get into a room and just know when they’ve written a hit. Although “Latch” did take a while to catch on in North America (eventually climbing to #1 on this chart), “Omen” arrives signed and sealed for success. It debuts at #28 and comes from Disclosure’s forthcoming album Caracal.

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!

Ravers, you now have your theme song: @DVBBS declares “Raveheart”

DVBBS, “Ravestorm”

Just in time for their hometown performance at Toronto’s Veld festival this weekend, Orangeville brothers and DJ’s Alex and Chris drop one of their biggest, busiest, most frenetically enjoyable anthems with “Raveheart”. It’s an unmistakable ode to ravegoers and their music lifestyle. After attaining a #1 pop hit in the UK last year with Borgeous on “Tsunami”, the DVBBS lads do not forget where they come from and constantly reach out to their fans, which keeps them coming back to every performance (like three sold out nights in Toronto alone last year). While being featured in Sander van Doorn’s “Gold Skies” (along with Martin Garrix, which got to #4 on my personal chart) kicked that beautiful song up a few notches, let’s see if the explosive “Raveheart” is enough to propel them to the top of the national dance club play charts. Listen to “Raveheart” above and pick it up on iTunes on Monday August 3.

Sweet ‘n soulful @GreatGoodFineOK’s top notch EP and vocals on @TheChainsmokers “Let You Go” (@Tiesto remix)

GREAT GOOD FINE OK 2M2H (EP)

THE CHAINSMOKERS featuring GREAT GOOD FINE OK “Let You Go” (Tiësto remix)

I had the good fortune of seeing Brooklyn, New York band Great Good Fine OK when they swung into town opening up for Penguin Prison. Their recently released EP of originals 2M2H showcased an 80’s flavoured electronic pop sound influenced heavily by R&B/soul – think Michael Jackson, Culture Club, Level 42, Style Council – with plenty of keyboard wizardry. Singer Jon Sandler has a multi-octave voice that can go up against the best singers! He hits those sweet high notes like Mika but has a beautiful, full low register as well. “Something To Believe In”, featuring St. Lucia, is your go-to song on the EP, though all of the songs form a great introduction to GGFO, including “Carried Away”. Jon Sandler and Luke Moellman are also DJ’s so not only do they sing and play their music so well with a full band, but they know how to work a versatile mix. Stream the entire EP above.

So while I was checking out their music on Soundcloud, I came across their featured appearance on a song by fellow New Yorkers The Chainsmokers! “Let You Go” once again features Jon’s high register in full force, and it’s highly complimented by Tiësto’s progressive house remix which truly kicks up a storm for the dancefloor. It’s irresistible – you won’t be able to help yourself from moving. A bonus – it’s a free download! Play it along your favourite house tracks and don’t say you weren’t warned! Listen to “Let You Go” and download it below.

https://soundcloud.com/tiesto/the-chainsmokers-ft-great-good-fine-ok-let-you-go-tiesto-remix

Dance music bliss pairs @DJMirkoB with @AntonEwald for “Higher”

DJ MIRKO B featuring ANTON EWALD, “Higher”

Well this fortunate pairing came somewhat out of the blue, but works like a dream. Italian producer DJ Mirko B features Sweden’s current golden boy Anton Ewald on “Higher”. The song has already made significant dents in the European dance market, and by all rights North America shouldn’t be far behind (though the song doesn’t appear to be available in Canada yet). It’s high arpeggio-laden progressive Italo-disco that will easily have dance club patrons jumping. But the song is more accessible than that – it will have you immediately recalling recent releases by the likes of Nervo, Nicky Romero, or even Calvin Harris. “Higher” deserves to be a smash – well done to both fine talents for putting it together. Watch the lyric video above.

Powerful and Haunting: “Waterfall” by @SmashSatellites

SMASHING SATELLITES, “Waterfall”

I’ve come to really enjoy Smashing Satellites’ debut EP A-Side (SonicAluzion) these past few months and after seeing the Canadian quartet in concert in November. “Waterfall” wasn’t my favourite song from the EP upon first few listens, but it’s now a song I look forward to when shuffling through new songs on my iPod. The powerful and haunting new video helps bring more meaning to what might sound initially like a pretty abstract kind of song. To me it’s about inner rage when trapped in circumstances from which one can’t seem to escape. You’re the “Waterfall”, you can barely breath (because you’re water, after all), see or move, but you can see things and people around you, but are seemingly helpless. I’m sure that individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety or other conditions must feel that way sometimes and the video may as such strike a chord with some viewers. But don’t get me wrong, “Waterfall” is not at all a hard video to watch, featuring expressive lead singer Salvatore Costa. It’s quite stylish and full of intriguing effects. Most of all, it’s memorable and helps the power of the song come out. “Waterfall” may very well be a breakthrough for Salvatore and Smashing Satellites in the coming months.

Smashing Satellites plays The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on April 7.

Dubstep Drops Meet Lots of Melody with @Convulsic’s “Love Space” and “The Day You Left”

CONVULSIC, “Love Space” and “The Day You Left”

Convulsic (aka Erik Hale) is a relatively new DJ/producer based out of San Diego whose music will totally slay and sway you with lots of energetic shifts and drops, without sacrificing melody. In fact melody is essential in both “Love Space” and “The Day You Left”. It makes both songs a lot more accessible than heavier songs in the EDM genre, while still retaining plenty of crunch, which makes both songs quite memorable, if not somewhat dazzling 🙂 The vocal sample in “Love Space” sounds like Bjork (but is not) and also adds to the ear-catching proceedings. “The Day You Left” is much more frantic and full of countless effects that draw you in and keep you there. Convulsic has an innate ear that knows what works. Listen to “Love Space” above and “The Day You Left” on his Reverb Nation page. A video is coming for “Love Space” – check out the preview below. Both songs are available on iTunes for purchase – also check out the very cool artwork for “The Day You Left” below.