Databoy’s summer pop anthem “Just Once” lands at #1 four and a half months after I saw them perform in New York at Arjan Writes’ Superfraiche show. I couldn’t wait for the song to be released and it’s one of eight free downloads to reach the summit since late 2009 (facts and figures at the bottom of the blog). It dislodges “Flesh” by Simon Curtis after two months at #1, which is very strange happenstance because had I not seen Simon at the same Superfraiche show I would not have heard “Just Once” until much later 🙂 And while Simon’s “Superhero” leaves the chart, it is immediately replaced at #16 by the first song that I heard from R∆ from a clip of Simon’s L.A. show in January, and that’s the fan-favourite “Laser Guns Up”. I’m not sure what other plans Simon has for songs from R∆, so I’m instigating the proceedings a bit with this chart debut. And I’m still waiting for glow-in-the-dark lego guns 😉
Just so there’s an air of challenge, “Made Of Pop” by Eric Saade vaults 5-2 and will see eye-to-eye with “Just Once” in two weeks for #1. And just to keep competition fierce, I’ve also debuted another track from Saade Volume One at #25. “Stupid With You” is one of those happy-go-lovesick songs that puts a smile on your face, and it arrives as Eric’s #1 “Popular” leaves the chart after the maximum 10 appearances (20 weeks). “Talk Talk Talk” by Darren Hayes is by no means done as it holds at #4, while Marianas Trench guitarist Matt Webb puts “Cinnamon” at #5.
Actually 9 consecutive songs are ‘bulleted’ between #4 and #12, which means right now that I can’t get enough of them! In particular “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People is at #6 and is showing signs of a potential future chart leader. Long Story Short’s powerhouse rocker “Venom” slides to #7, while the next three songs arrive in the Top 10 for the first time. The Fastest Riser on the chart this week to no surprise is the valiant “Disco Moment” by Bright Light Bright Light, which climbs 16-8 and also eyes #1 from a distance. The third consecutive Top 10 smasheroo from the Ballroom Remixed project is “The Lover’s Rumba” by Elouise which moves up to #9, while the big 10 is rounded out by that hidden-dance-floor-filler “Prey To The Beat” by Ro Danishei, whose deluxe edition of her End Of The Rainbow album should be available on iTunes within the month! Wanting to join the Top 10 in two weeks are the irresistible “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera (video below) and Van Go Lion’s graceful dance pop of “We Don’t Miss A Beat”.
Surrounding the other high risers burning up the chart that are Jessica 6 & Antony Hegarty’s compelling “Prisoner Of Love” and the fierce “Set Fire to The Rain” by Adele (27-20) are delights from Penguin Prison, Blue Hamilton, Wynter Gordon, and NYC Spider-Man Reeve Carney.
Joining “Laser Guns Up” and “Stupid With You” in their chart premieres is thefree download of “Fix Me” by Matthew Kurz (#21), about whom I blogged earlier in the week. “Fix Me” takes you on a magnetic emotional journey and you will be totally absorbed by the time Matthew stops the song dead in its tracks near the end before the chorus kicks in for one more eye-filling time. It’s a MUST LISTEN. Then further down at #26, in a totally carefree electropop kind of way that could only have been created by those involved, is “My Fizzy Pop” by Kyle Brylin, which I also told you about a few weeks back. It’s Kyle’s second chart entry, following a still-favourite “Everything I’m Missing”, which got to #5. Good things are in store for “My Fizzy Pop”! It’s from the Telephoto Lens EP which you can buy on iTunes. Last up is the debut entry from rapper Rye Rye, who has a dream match with a chorus sung by dance powerhouse Robyn on “Never Will Be Mine”, which I also mentioned this past week. Simply put, this one is stuck in my head, which is a good thing. On a chart data note, it’s only Robyn’s second appearance on this chart, her first being on Röyksopp’s #1 “The Girl & The Robot” from 2009. I think another song will change that in time so that Robyn actually has an appearance under her own name!
Here are the 8 songs that have reached #1 on the Tuned-On! Top 30 that have been/are available for free download:
100 Akres featuring Roz Bell “Pink Cadillac”
Simon Curtis “Delusional”
Simon Curtis “Beat Drop”
Penguin Prison “The Worse It Gets (Starsmith remix)”
Simon Curtis “8bit Heart”
Bright Light Bright Light “A New Word To Say”
The Temper Trap “Resurrection (Penguin Prison remix)”
Databoy “Just Once”
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading
After being in a highly blissful statis for the last month or so, the Top 5 on my personal chart receives an inevitable shake-up. It’s not enough however to dislodge one of the year’s best records bar none, the intense and sexy”Flesh” by Simon Curtis, which joins his “Delusional” and “Beat Drop” as one of the few songs to last four appearances (eight weeks) at the top.
Out to prove that a rare fifth appearance at #1 is unlikely are two fast risers on the chart. Set to release a full length record – as well as some other projects like the previously noted “Memorize Me” with Rune RK – are Texan electropop wonders Databoy, whose pure summer fun release “Just Once” soars into second place. The other is a debut from last week, Eric Saade’s memorable album track “Made Of Pop”, which quickly jumps to #5 in a tie as the Fastest Riser on the chart. Eric’s “Popular” – which “Flesh” replaced at the top – is set to exit the chart after a requisite 10 appearances (20 weeks). In-between are the Ballroom Remixed track “Out Without Your Boyfriend” by Jerry Reid (a new release from him coming soon) at #3 and “Talk Talk Talk” by Darren Hayes at #4.
Besides “Made of Pop”, we find new Top 10 entries from Canada/US group Long Story Short with “Venom” at an impressive #8, and the other Fastest Riser, “Pumped Up Kicks” by US band Foster The People, which climbs 16-9. I think by the Fall, the singalong chorus of “Pumped Up Kicks” will be on the tongues of pop fans everywhere. In-between, Matt Webb’s “Cinnamon” continues its rise to #6, while “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings” by Simon Curtis (also from Ballroom Remixed) inches up to #7.
As I mentioned a few weeks back, despite what may seem like road-jams in the chart, there is an extremely powerful glut of fantastic music out right now, and it tends to reside mid-chart for a while until the blockage gets unjammed. Thus, “The Lover’s Rumba” by Elouise (the third Ballroom Remixed song within) is yet again delayed a Top 10 placing, with “We Don’t Miss A Beat” by Van Go Lion and Ro Danishei’s “Prey To The Beat” right behind. “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera (official video coming) is only at mid-chart, and “Porcelain Heart” by Nicola Roberts seemingly squeaks up to #17.
Two of our recent debuts join the fray, the amazing Penguin Prison’s “Multi-Millionaire” rising to #18 and the emotional, pensive “Runway” by Blue Hamilton moving up to #20. The remaining debuts from last week, “‘Til Death” by Wynter Gordon and “Rise Above 1” by Broadway’s Spider-Man, Reeve Carney, along with Bono & The Edge (official video at the bottom of this blog), get stuck in the mid-20’s thanks to two high flying debuts.
The first of the aforementioned high flying debuts belongs to “Disco Moment” by Bright Light Bright Light, bowing at #16, which was premiered with its outstanding, refreshing video a few weeks back. I’ve reposted that video at the top of this blog because it’s destined to be one of the best and most memorable songs of the year. The single gets official release on August 7. I’m hoping that we’ll see release of the BrightLightx2 album, which I knew last to be called Make Me Believe in Hope, sometime before the end of the year. The second debut is from New York alt.disco trio Jessica 6 with “Prisoner of Love”, an excellent duet with Antony Hegarty which was reviewed earlier this week. The appeal of “Prisoner” is instant, and it pops onto the chart at #21. Lastly, we have the fourth appearance on the chart from a song from the album called 21. In This Year of Adele, “Set Fire To The Rain” has taken awhile to get under my skin, and arrives at #27.
Other News About Tuned-On! Top 30 Performers:
Darren Hayes will tour only the UK and Australia in 2011, while other international dates will happen in 2012. Remixes of “Talk Talk Talk” are now officially available, including the Hall & Oates remix “Out of Talk”
Long Story Short continue to record new material, one song of which is called “Girl Without A Name”
Foster The People are selling out North American tour dates – get your tickets!
Ro Danishei has been back in the West Virginia studio of producer Jeff “Jadion” Wells recording her next album
Frankmusik will open for Erasure on more than 25 North American dates, in advance of the September 27 release of his Do It In The A.M. album
Kyle Brylin, of the recent #5″Everything I’m Missing”, has a smashing five-song EP this week or next – my blog about it will appear later in the week!
Adam Tyler, whose “I Won’t Let You Go” also got to #5 in the Spring, has his full album Shattered Ice on release on August 23
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can clickright here. Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading
Note that when you click on the pictures in the first column of the chart pages that they will now allow you to either listen to the song or view the official video to the song. Enjoy this new feature!
It’s been two weeks since we’ve written, so this time you get a longer two-fer blog: A new personal chart with commentary, and hot new music courtesy of Summer Popervescence #1. A lot of the latter music is creating some strife on the chart, causing an absolute glut of wonderful music. I’m loving it!
Tuned-On! Top 30 #357 – July 18/11
The Top 4 songs remain unchanged and seemingly unmovable. “Flesh” by Simon Curtis and “Do It In The A.M.” by Frankmusik featuring Far East Movement rank #1 and #2 for third appearances each (6 weeks). “I’m in Love” by Christian TV ranks 3rd as his latest single, the R&B-oriented “Girl I Used To Know” is released. “Out Without Your Boyfriend” by Jerry Reid stays at #4 as interest in the Ballroom Remixed project from which it comes continues to grow. “Talk Talk Talk” by Darren Hayes climbs 7-5 as the singer continues to promote the record in Australia. I’m waiting for my purple vinyl copy of the single in the mail 😀 View his performance on Australia’s “Dancing with the Stars” below (gosh, I adore Australian accents).
New to the Top 10 are “Just Once” by Databoy, a true summer song if there was one, which really makes its presence felt, zooming 14-6 to challenge those equally excellent songs in the Top 5! It’s so obvious that Lady GaGa has set a standard over the last three years for female vocalists with powerful voices. They are prevalent on the chart this week, so it’s fitting the Lady herself has another Top Tenner with “The Edge Of Glory” at #9. And Chris Brown lands in the Top 10 for the first time since 2008 with his feelgood Benny Benassi collabo “Beautiful People” at #10.
Recent additions to the chart from the past few weeks continue to move up nicely. “Venom” by Long Story Short is Top 10 bound in two weeks as it climbs to #11. “The Lover’s Rumba”, Elouise’s contribution to the Ballroom Remixed album, jumps 19-15. The fastest riser on the chart is the other, more laid back, summer confection, “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People, which is getting its slow burn groove on with more people each week. It soars 27-16 on the chart. Three other powerful female vocalists are right below… “We Don’t Miss A Beat” by Van Go Lion, featuring Amy Paige, is at #17; “Prey To The Beat”, the secret loaded weapon in Ro Danishei’s End Of The Rainbow album, charges up 28-18; Nicola Roberts’ “Porcelain Heart” is up to #19 and will continue to rise in two weeks; similarly “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera climbs to #20 and continues to build.
Five more debuts on the chart means five more songs to adore.
How does one follow such a magnetic song as Eric Saade’s “Popular”? Well, with an incredibly solid Saade Volume One album, which is full of truly happy-go-lucky pop from the Swedish singer who has some great people behind-the-scenes in his court. The album is a dazzler, an aural equivalent to Baked Alaska (ice cream baked in meringue) with peach and raspberry sauce!! At its best, Volume One is all cute and endearing… but with loads of power and know-how to support it all. Hence we have Eric the geek in “Stupid With You”, Eric the lonely retro romantic in “Me and My Radio”, and best of all, Eric Pop Personified with “Made Of Pop” (you can hear the song at the top of the page). “Made Of Pop” is a much more logical follow up to “Popular” than the weak-ish “Hearts In The Air”, so I hope it will be the third single. It has one of my favourite verses of the year: “My kings and queens are speaking through me / Got my degree in the big POP”. Single-handedly with these words has Eric given a huge shout-out to his fans – not unlike Simon Curtis with “Get In Line”, and Eric and Simon NEED to record and sing in concert together!! – and declared himself triumphant. Brilliant. And speaking of brilliant, you can read a much more in-depth review of Saade Volume One by MyFizzyPop. I’m not about to repeat so much of what he says so well 🙂
Next up at #24 is the Shook remix of Penguin Prison’s “Multi-Millionaire” about which I wrote previously. Penguin Prison has happily joined the Scissor Sisters and a number of other artists on Downtown Records for the release of the PP self-titled record and new single “Fair Warning”. But in the meantime, the Prince-ly influenced “Multi-Millionaire” will kick off the anticipation in advance. Then at #25 we have “Runway”, the highly emotional single from singer/music exec Blue Hamilton. I’m posting the video clip once again below so that you can all have a good cry. We first heard New Yorker Wynter Gordon on Flo Rida’s Top 5 hit “Sugar” back in 2009. In the meantime she co-wrote several songs for the Love? album by Jennifer Lopez and has seen her first album With The Music I Die become a massive hit in Australia – which makes two U.S. artists on this chart to have success Down Under (the other is Foster The People). So while North America only gets an EP version of With The Music I Die, the song “‘Til Death” (which contains the title’s lyrics) arrives on my chart at #26 (video below). Fellow New Yorker and star of the Broadway play “Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark” Reeve Carney climbs onto the chart at #27 with “Rise Above 1”, his inspiring collaboration with “Spider-Man” songwriters Bono and The Edge. Reeve is previously known for his work with his band Carney, which has released both a live album and a studio album to date and continues to perform throughout Reeve’s success with “Spider-Man”.
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading
Note that when you click on the pictures in the first column of the chart pages that they will now allow you to either listen to the song or view the official video to the song. Enjoy this new feature!
“Runway” by Blue Hamilton
“‘Til Death” by Wynter Gordon
Summer Popervescence #1
“I Won’t Let You Go” by Adam Tyler
It would not be Summer ’11 without the long-awaited arrival of the video for L.A. singer Adam Tyler’s “I Won’t Let You Go”. It’s a visually stunning positive pastiche of images of handsome Adam in various appearances and hairstyles (and paint) which make it incredibly memorable. That the song is also a stunner makes it a winning combination, it’s one of my favourites of the year, having already peaked at #5 this past Spring. Watch the video below and purchase the song on iTunes.
“Bad Girl” by Matt Webb
I love how Matt Webb is carving out his own mark from Marianas Trench with his enjoyable EP Coda and Jacket. His track “Cinnamon” is already #7 on my chart. I don’t like the current single “Bad Girl” as much, but the video is enjoyable in the same way as… well, “Misery” by Maroon 5. Check it out below.
“My Name Is Kay” by Kay
It may be a little samey to The Ting Tings’ “That’s Not My Name” but Canadian singer Kay’s “My Name Is Kay” has a whole other smashing funky bassline side that speaks for it alongside her Britney-ish delivery when she’s not rap/singing. Watch the video below.
“Atlantis” by The Midway State
I previously wrote about this first single from the Toronto quartet’s upcoming album Paris Or India. The video for this jubilant and ethereal song below has also surfaced in advance of the album. The band will be performing at the Toronto Festival of Beer on August 5. “Atlantis” has done well enough as a lead up but I think the best new songs from The Midway State will be heard on the album.
“The Story of Us” by Nick Hagelin
I continue to be so impressed by Atlanta-based singer Nick Hagelin and the careful choice of cover songs for which he has been posting videos. The latest is a simply delightful rendition of Taylor Swift’s latest hit “The Story Of Us” (video below). This just goes to say that Nick Hagelin needs a record released soon along with a DVD that might include some of these enjoyable videos. Nick is a star just waiting to happen.
Rune RK & Databoy “Memorize Me” (teaser)
What would the summer be without an Ibiza-styled dance anthem? And what a great pairing – Rune RK (you’ll remember his “Calabria”, famously redone twice in 2007/08, once by Alex Gaudino featuring Crystal Waters as “Destination Calabria”, and then as “Calabria 2008” by Enur featuring Natasja) – and US duo Databoy, who’ve been gracing my chart with “Stupid” and “Just Once”. Get teased below.
And finally, we have four more videos by artists who appear on the Ballroom Remixed album, along with charting songs by Jerry Reid, Simon Curtis, and Elouise.
Dutch talent Jeromino sings about “How They Dance In Outer Space” on Ballroom Remixed. To completely get away from the novelty of that song, he’s released “Renaissance Man” which not only shows his diversity but how much the camera just loves him as well.
New York self-professed theatre nerd Joshua Desjardins gave us executive producer Melanie La Patin’s namesake theme song on Ballroom Remixed. So how does he follow it up? With “I’m A Nerd” of course! This is what could happen if a Weird Al Yankovic song got dunked in Europop (think Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” or Dan Balan’s “Crazy Loop”). Joshua’s spot-on delivery makes geekdom seem way more than okay! Hear the song below and get your inner nerd on.
German singer Linda Teodosiu offered up the steamy “Body Heat” on Ballroom Remixed. Her latest single, which has a good chance to follow the worldwide success of her 2009 hit “Reprogram My Heart”, is “Alive”. It’s a slinky mid-evening dance number partnered nicely with Linda’s soaring voice.
Lastly, for a very recent glimpse at Simon Curtis singing at his acoustic best, watch the clip below of Simon singing “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone” (from 8bit Heart) and support his sick kids charity 100 Million Miracles ( a reminder that Simon is a cancer survivor).
Without a doubt, this week’s personal chart is full of some of the most amazing songs in recent years. Major label entries diminish (representing only 30% of this chart); independent and artist-oriented entries flourish. Who’d have thought that when listening to its lyrics, *NSYNC’s “Pop” from 10 years ago would have been such a tell-tale record. Somewhat ironically, it also comes from the album that still holds the record for greatest one week sales, No Strings Attached.
With such strong songs on the chart, I would feel so bad if all of the songs currently in the Top 20 do not reach the Top 10. So some songs are in it for the long haul up the chart; if they stop short of the Top 10 then it’s simply because much stronger songs are ahead of them, but in other recent years might have gone higher. Any song that reaches my chart is a winner.
As with a few weeks back, there are six debuts, and don’t let the lower chart positions of some of them set the wrong impression as every song is frequently played by yours truly. I’ve already blogged about the first three.
Not surprisingly, “Talk Talk Talk” by Darren Hayes is a brilliant introduction to his upcoming album Secret Codes And Battleships. It arrives in the Top 10 at #7 and is a future contender for the top of the chart. Darren’s already been to the top of this chart four times, first with “Crush (1980 Me)” in 2002, then with “Step Into The Light”, “How To Build A Time Machine”, and “Me Myself + I” in 2007. I’m hoping he plays some North American dates on his tour so that I can see his show again, and his album is one of my most anxiously awaited in 2011.
“Just Once” by Databoy bows at #14 as the follow-up to “Stupid” (which peaked two weeks ago at #5) and is one of THE breezy songs of the summer of ’11. You can listen to the song below but Cameron and Adam made the song available for free this past week and you can download it right here. “We Don’t Miss A Beat” is the latest from Oregon duo Van Go Lion, and it has followed its dancing feet onto the chart at #21. Great work from two talented duos on the rise!
The remaining three debuts are led by television sensation “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera, courtesy of a recent broadcast of “The Voice”, and it premieres at #23. This may have been one of the best things to happen to the recent careers of Maroon 5 and Ms Aguilera, which have suffered a bit on the pop charts. But on my personal chart, both artists have flourished, charting regularly. Aguilera’s “Not Myself Tonight” was her most recent hit, and it climbed higher than any other song by her, peaking at #5. While Maroon 5’s “Misery” got to #14, the band has reached the top twice out of its 10 entries, with “This Love” in 2004 and “Makes Me Wonder” in 2007.
Next at #27 is L.A. trio Foster The People, who found themselves breaking out of Australia last year. Their laid back pop/dance hit-by-way-of-the-beach is “Pumped Up Kicks” from their big selling Torches album. Watch for the band (which fills out to a quintet) on tour. The ever-influential Arjan Writes offered up the infectious Skeet Skeet Show Edit for free recently, andyou can download that right here.
Last by no means least at #28 is “Prey To The Beat” by recent chart favourite Ro Danishei. The singer has found her way onto my chart as a consistently talented alternative to the Keshas and Britneys of the world, first with the Simon Curtis duet on “Michelle” (#4) and then with “Drunk Txt” (#16). “Prey” however is the secret weapon inside Ro’s album End Of The Rainbow. It’s the last track on the album and the one that’s the biggest grower on the record. Listen below – you will be hooked.
I’ve blogged previously at length about many of the songs at the top of the chart. #1 again is “Flesh” by Simon Curtis, which was recently remixed by the “Do It In The A.M.” guy at #2, Frankmusik, andyou can preview that remix right here. “I’m In Love” by Christian TV charged into the Top 5, moving 7-3, while “Out Without Your Boyfriend” by Ballroom Remixed featured artist Jerry Reid climbs 6-4. Fellow Ballroom Remixed artists are not far behind! Elouise’s sensational cover of “Tainted Love” moves 10-8 (and her Ballroom Remixed track “The Lover’s Rumba” rises 23-19), while Simon Curtis’ “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings” continues the artist’s 7-song Top 10 streak at #9. From his debut EP Coda And Jacket, Matt Webb’s pensive “Cinnamon” moves up 16-10, tying this week with the rocking “Venom” by Long Story Short (which climbs 21-15) as the Fastest Risers on the chart. The rest of the songs on the rise outside of the Top 20 are pretty much roadblocked by stronger songs but they will all have their day!
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading
Note that when you click on the pictures in the first column of the chart pages that they will now allow you to either listen to the song or view the official video to the song. Enjoy this new feature!
Top 25 of the First Half of 2011
In reverse order… only songs that have peaked on my chart appear in this listing. This listing could change considerably by year’s end!
25 ANDY GRAMMER Keep Your Head Up 24 FAR EAST MOVEMENT featuring RYAN TEDDER Rocketeer 23 JAMIE WOON Lady Luck 22 BAG RAIDERS featuring DAN BLACK Sunlight 21 ELOUISE The Winner Takes It All 20 KANYE WEST featuring JAY-Z, RICK ROSS, BON IVER & NICKI MINAJ Monster 19 KYLE BRYLIN Everything I’m Missing 18 RO DANISHEI featuring SIMON CURTIS Michelle 17 DATABOY Stupid (Brad Walsh Remix) 16 ADAM TYLER I Won’t Let You Go 15 SIMON CURTIS Superhero 14 LADY GAGA Born This Way 13 BRANDON FLOWERS Jacksonville 12 ANDREA LEWIS featuring SIMON CURTIS Talk To Me 11 ADELE Someone Like You 10 FRANKMUSIK Hurt You Again 09 RIHANNA S&M 08 FRANKMUSIK featuring FAR EAST MOVEMENT Do It In The A.M. 07 JAMIE WOON Night Air 06 CHRISTIAN TV Love 2 Baby 05 ADELE Rolling In The Deep 04 FRANKMUSIK The Fear Inside 03 PENGUIN PRISON Golden Train 02 SIMON CURTIS Flesh
01 ERIC SAADE Popular
Watch what I feel is the year’s star-making performance of “Popular” below!
Another personal chart is here and it’s the start of a sizzling and scintillating summer of synthpop, which will also be known as in some future posts as Summer Popervescence 🙂
As we begin the sun-worshipping dancing, Simon Curtis has done what both Adele and Frankmusik could not do: Replace Eric Saade’s “Popular” – my favourite song so far this year, by the way – at the top of my personal chart. So the rivetting “Flesh” – which should by all rights be a prime candidate as a featured song on the new season of “The Vampire Diaries” – becomes Simon’s 4th number one song on this chart, joining “Delusional”, “Beat Drop”, and “8bit Heart” in that special group. Look for a special announcement from Simon on Monday, June 20, which I’m sure has something to do with the R∆ album and moving full steam ahead! Simon’s own “Superhero” continues to hold the charge at #4, while the still fantastic “Do It In The A.M.” by the very busy Frankmusik and Far East Movement, climbs to #2 but won’t possibly be able to dislodge “Flesh”. Pop/dance duo Databoy take advantage of the middle of the Top 10 and find “Stupid” rising up to #5. A pic of the boys from their Superfraiche show in NYC on April 1 is below.
Further into the Top 10, we find the Ballroom Remixed project making its presence known. First up from that record is the sock-hop swing ofJerry Reid’s “Out Without Your Boyfriend”at #6. Both Christian TV and Elouise make welcome returns to the Top 10. Christian scores his third straight Top Tenner with “I’m In Love” at #7, while Elouise’s tantalizing cover of “Tainted Love” becomes her third Top 10 entry as well at #10.
Just below is a mid-section of the chart abuzz with activity. A totally different and non-R∆ song by Simon Curtis appears on the Ballroom Remixed album. “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings” is a heart-tugger at #11. Benny Benassi and Gary go lead a sparkling summer charge to the Top 10 with “Cinema” at #13, followed by Lady Gaga and “The Edge Of Glory” (along with its underwhelming video) at #14, and then we’re back with Benassi, this time with Chris Brown (whodathunkit) on the feel-good dance song “Beautiful People” at #15. The emotional “Linda” by Toronto’s Andrea Lewis continues to climb at #17, Adele’s snappy “Rumour Has It” rises to #18, and the buoyant voices of Blue carry “I Can” to #19.
But the big news within the Top 20 is with“Cinnamon”, by Marianas Trench guitarist Matt Webb. Smack me on the head and send me through the wayback machine to the 1983 pop hooks of songs by the likes of Rick Springfield or Huey Lewis, and give me guitar riffs that won’t quit and are as memorable as those in a song like “Let It Rock” by Kevin Rudolf. I think a lot of broken hearts will identify with the lyrics of “Cinnamon”. As much as I like Matt’s lead single “Bad Girl”, “Cinnamon” is a winner and the fastest riser on the chart moving 26-16.
Finally, four debuts arrive on the chart this week.
You may recall that I blogged about Montreal/L.A. duo Long Story Short earlier this year, who have debuted with their album What A Scene which includes the song “Caved In”. The band has since amassed a following in the Philippines (!!), came second in a couple of songwriting contests, is about to make a video for the song, and has seen “Caved In” added to several radio station playlists across Canada – a difficult thing to do when you’re an independent artist. Even better, Dan and Nicky have recorded a new song, “Venom”, which is included as afree download if you subscribe to their newsletter. It’s also their best song to date, a true late summer night driving song, and you can hear it at the top of this blog. Taking the best pages from the edgy sides of bands like Lifehouse, Matchbox 20, and Goo Goo Dolls, producer John Nathaniel has helped craft a wickedly catchy song that documents a relationship’s dive into a hellish abyss. “Venom” is the highest debut on the chart at #21 – go get it!
Ballroom Remixed Part 3: I’ve already blogged about the dance/pop wonders of “The Lover’s Rumba” by Elouise, and while her version of “Born This Way” exits the chart, our torch club queen remains on the chart with “Rumba” at #23. Then at #24 we have a song that totally floored me over the past few weeks, thanks in part toMuuMuse touting the artist and the song. Former Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts slid onto the UK charts with “Beat Of My Drum” and then promptly slid back off. Perhaps it’s because “Porcelain Heart”, also released on the single, is the better song of the two, with some cool drama carried by successfully emotive vocals. It’s a real grower!
The last premiere belongs to the creative producer/remixer Monsieur Adi, who in the last year has had triumphs with the likes of Madonna (his take on “Get Together” must be heard), Ellie Goulding, Javi Silva, Reni Lane, Gary Go, and Marina & The Diamonds, as well as his own songs. His most recent free download is the mesmerizing and commanding “Chariot”, which bows on the chart at #26. Listen and download below.
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can clickright here. Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading
Note that when you click on the pictures in the first column of the chart pages that they will now allow you to either listen to the song or view the official video to the song. Enjoy this new feature!
The official sophomore release R∆ by L.A. indie pop vocalist supreme Simon Curtis enthralls and tangles you up in a darkened sea of emotions, and at the same time delivers super sonic boom boy pop.
The overall result is… overwhelming. After a first listen, I felt battered but exhilarated, the latter more so with subsequent listens.
First and foremost, if a record isn’t entertaining it will lose me. The music in R∆ makes you want more, just like Simon sings in “Don’t Dance”. Despite the dominating dark and angry themes, R∆ is full of honest, passionate power. That comes in the forms of concert fave “Laser Guns Up” – we need glow in the dark lego laser guns 🙂 – the triumphantly militant “Get In Line” (it’s gonna be a Robot Army theme song), and first single “Superhero”. I dare you not to feel good about just about anything after hearing these ones.
“Don’t Dance” is a reverse psychology mind game that only makes you wanna dance. The scathing “Pit Of Vipers”, the Faustian “Soul 4 Sale” (did the great Tyler Shields cover art evolve from that growling scream in the song?), and “Chip In Your Head” sing about things that people in the entertainment biz don’t want to hear. These are bold efforts that reinforce being true to oneself instead of being the flavour of the day or another notch on someone’s wall.
After a week of release, I am still floored by the gritty fantastic feast that is second single “Flesh”. It’s not only the most unique song on R∆, it’s also Simon and producer Jeff “Jadion” Wells at their very finest. Bravo.
R∆ has five more songs that must be as painful for Simon as they are cathartic. They seethe about loves gone sour, friendships gone awry, betrayal, loss, and hatred. As hard to hear sometimes, they are compelling. I can so relate to “How To Start A War” having experienced my own form of personal hell within the last year as well. “Enemy” is another zinger, when the envelope gets shoved past the point of no return. “Joshua” is possibly the oddest and hardest-hitting song on R∆ and is rife with messages. “DTM” and “I Hate U” are the most difficult listens, repetitious and full of gut-spilling emotion. The record closes, as did 8bit Heart, with a song called “The Dark”, this time subtitled “Return to the Dark”. The dark is too easy and enticing a place to remain and the song holds hope for the light that I know can take it all away.
Musically, the record is a highly charged mix of aggressive pop dance that takes a lot of risks with its creativity. The rhythms will come and get you and take you away. Simon’s voice in all of its different octaves keeps getting better and better even when twisted and contorted by effects. If you’ve seen Simon sing in concert, you know that his voice is the real deal.
R∆ is so deserving of the first day sales and excitement it received on June 7. Do I like everything about it? No – it’s just that there is so much more about it to enjoy.
Simon Curtis has a lot at stake with this record but I think the rewards will be bountiful. I for one will be happy to wait another year for another record like R∆. It gives you a bit of a rough ride but ends up taking you to its heart and soul.
It’s been an extraordinarily busy few weeks in the pop music world, and accordingly my new personal chart takes to some flipping and flopping. When that happens, usually some songs that might have been destined for greater sights on the chart suddenly stop or tumble to make way for some of the year’s best triumphs. And this chart is no exception.
“Popular” by Eric Saade remains at #1 for a fourth appearance (8 weeks) from his forthcoming album Saade Volume One. Lord knows what would have happened if “Popular” was about pushing up against hot bodies, S&M, going down on someone, or biting into willing flesh, it might have never let go of the top of my chart 😉 For just this past Tuesday (May 31), Simon Curtis unleashed “Flesh” onto the somewhat unsuspecting public, and the resulting Internet frenzy may have been cause for temporary decreases in a productive workforce or perhaps sudden desires to procreate. From its slow-building start to its heart-racing climax, “Flesh” vaults onto the chart into the runner-up spot right off the bat. And though I’ve heard versions of a number of the fine songs that will eventually appear on R∆ in their finest forms, one can only wonder what tasty production treats Simon and producer Jeff “Jadion” Wells have in store for us. Listen to the Future Freestyle remix below.
With “Flesh” building a solid wall at #2, that leaves “Do It In The A.M.”, the fine single from Frankmusik and Far East Movement, to climb to third place. But don’t underestimate this song’s place on the chart. It’s a great motivational song, particularly if you want to paint your town red. Then it’s more super Simon climbing from 9 to 4 with the first single from R∆, “Superhero”. Though “Flesh” has the lead story this week, “Superhero” should be taken hand-in-hand for the pop anthem that it truly is.
All of this activity leaves songs by Kyle Brylin, Jamie Woon, and Databoy stranded mid-Top 10 (a good place to be, by the way), Adele’s “Someone Like You” tumbling to #8, and “Another Dimension” by Bass Robbers and new Dutch sensation Matt Blue struggling to get past #9. And it’s not going to get much easier, as the first entry from the Ballroom Remixed compilation (read here for more) debuts at #10. That belongs to “Out Without Your Boyfriend”, the jive-East/West coast swing bundle of energy by Jerry Reid featuring pianist Ben Waters (listen to the song here). Rarely is a song such fun that you can visualize a room full of people going full tilt, dancing and having a blast to it.
Just below, the always busy Christian TV has the fastest riser on the chart with his slice of eurodance/pop “I’m In Love”, which moves up 19-11. “Tainted Love” by Elouise has to take a few smaller steps this week, rising to #12, while songs by Britney Spears and Nelson Clemente hold just below. Then it’s a triple play score for Simon Curtis as his song from Ballroom Remixed, “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings”, bows mid-chart at #15 (listen to the song here). It’s gotta be hard when such a fine, but differently styled song from those on R∆, is such a winner unto itself. Its story will resonate with listeners and Simon’s vocals are totally captivating.
The incredible activity on the chart continues just below with lovely Ro Danishei’s “Drunk Txt” climbing to #16, while Lady GaGa herself soars to #18 with “The Edge Of Glory”. Benny Benassi is two-for-two as his own “Cinema”, featuring the talented UK vocalist Gary Go, rises to #17, and his collaboration with Chris Brown on “Beautiful People” lands at #20. Sandwiched between GaGa and Brown/Benassi we find Andrea Lewis with the heart-wrenching “Linda” at #19.
Many recent favourites have slid into the 20-30 zone, which is also peppered by Adele’s “Rumour Has It”, “I Can” by Blue”, and our fourth debut. Canadian band Marianas Trench are promoting their current release Masterpiece Theatre in the U.S., and in among all of that, guitarist Matt Webb has put together an upcoming album. I blogged about “Bad Girl” a few weeks ago, but Matt also posted a limited free download of “Cinnamon”. And he’s outdone “Bad Girl” with that song, with great end-of-summer-breakup lyrics and a zinger of a guitar hook. Listen to “Cinnamon” right below – I can’t wait for his debut solo record.
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading
Note that when you click on the pictures in the first column of the chart pages that they will now allow you to either listen to the song or view the official video to the song. Enjoy this new feature!
As announced last evening on the blog by Arjan Writes with a preview akin to trying to lick whipped cream off your nose, “Flesh”, the second single from the upcoming album R∆ by Simon Curtis, is available on iTunes today, in original and a very au courant somewhat retro Future Freestyle mix.
And sex, sex, sex is what it’s all about. It’s very rare that lyrics by a male pop singer are written so boldly and sung by him. So if you thought Rihanna’s “S&M” was risque, well you ain’t heard nuthin’ till you’ve heard “Flesh”. The lyrics let you know right where the song is at within the first 30 seconds. Sensual, sexual, aggressive, rough, undressed… and then the teeth go in, or so Simon sings anyway. Sonically, “Flesh” will remind you perhaps of “Joystick” from 8bit Heart, but that song’s such a slight tease in comparison. After about the first 70 seconds: *sold*, with the emphasis on the sexiest part of the song well before the 2 minute mark (‘and feel the pulse, beat beat beat beat’).
“On a hot summer night would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses… Will he offer me his mouth?… Will he offer me his teeth?… Will he offer me his jaws?…Will he offer me his hunger?”
– Meat Loaf featuring Ellen Foley, “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Nights)”, 1977, Bat Out Of Hell
When I was a teenager the record that was all about sex was Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, and that was written by a guy (Jim Steinman). I don’t know what happened after that but I can only think of camped-up songs sung by guys that I heard in dance clubs that might give a similar but nowhere near as effective message. [edit: This is where I should have referenced the title of this post. So except perhaps for Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds.]
At any rate, “Flesh” is gonna get scorched on a lot of those hot summer nights. And it should leave you positively panting for more songs from R∆.
R∆ is coming! It started with a “Superhero” and now it’s time to show some “Flesh”!
While the rest of Spring and probably all of Summer will likely be dedicated to every move by Lady GaGa, now that’s she reinvented the Concert in Central Park idea – and not undeservedly so – there are still, quite frankly, a lot of other very good records to which we should lend some attention.
Summer for me for these past five years has had considerable time dedicated to TV’s So You Think You Can Dance. Between SYTYCD and my 10 year old daughter becoming a competitive singer/dancer who does tap, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, and song and dance, I have become more familiar with many styles of dance than I had ever expected, being someone who always thought disco dancing was the bees’ knees (so I’m aging myself!). So when My Fizzy Pop dropped news of the Ballroom Remix project, which I blogged about a few weeks back, and all of the performers involved, and choreographer Melanie LaPatin (who has choreographed so many glorious and memorable SYTYCD routines with Tony Meredith) at the helm, I was more than intrigued.
So with the album’s release on iTunes on May 24, comes the unveiling: This is one hot and well thought out project! Songs designed for the variety of Ballroom dances melded with upper crust contemporary pop dance by so many of the BlogVerse’s favourite performers along with many new faces, and terrific, talented writers like Charlie Mason, Liam Curry, and Richard Hymas. While there are always a few songs in a 22 track collection that will take a backseat to the rest, Ballroom Remixed is many songs strong.
One of those new faces I mentioned is pictured at the top of this page. He’s 24 year old Detroit native Jerry Reid, who could very well break out wide open with his super-fantastic-fun “Out Without Your Boyfriend” (featuring Ben Waters) as designed for a Jive dance. This song has the same energy and verve that I associate with the first time I heard the Stray Cats back in 1980/81, and we know what happened with them as well as Brian Setzer’s solo career. Listen to the song below.
“Out Without Your Boyfriend” by Jerry Reid featuring Ben Waters
Next up is our favourite Boy Robot, Simon Curtis. Count this song as an in-between-R∆ taste of another side of Simon, the one more reflective in the song “8bit Heart”. His song on Ballroom Remixed is “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings”, and there’s only one word that I keep thinking of to describe it: Adorable. It has everything that a song should: Supurb melody, fantastic and identifiable lyrics, and a beauty of a vocal from Simon. Even if I never knew it was by Simon, it will unassumingly become one of my current favourite songs, along with the very different“Superhero” and surely whatever will be announced as R∆’s next single this coming week. Listen to “Puppet” below. It is a keeper!
“The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings” by Simon Curtis
Next up we have the shorter version of “The Lovers’ Rumba” by UK sensation Elouise, which I blogged about a in Spring Popervescence 2 in its Ricardo Autobahn remixed form. While I love the remix, the short version zeroes in on showcasing Elouise’s vocals in a dramatic style with which we have not associated her, and it will surely broaden her audience base. Rising star Kyle Brylin is also aboard with a song that could have turned into another “Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room)” if some restraint wasn’t shown. His song is “I’m A Man (Not A Piece Of Meat)” – is not so campy as its title suggests, and more of a companion piece to the seductive current chart favourite of mine “Everything I’m Missing”, albeit much slicker (with female backing vocals too), which just looks so good on Kyle.
Self-professed New York theatre ‘nerd’ Joshua Desjardins’ ode to Ms LaPatin “Melanie (Doncha Make Her Dance Alone)” is a grower, a playful theatrical (*shock*) track that features Ms Melanie herself, and you can hear it below. Other uptempo songs of note come from Linda Teodosiu, Neo, Gravitonas, Jeronimo, Romy Low, Lucas Prata, and Tammy Jay & Kally, while some luscious slower songs appear courtesy of Jenny McLaren, Jaime Lovett, and particularly Jill Helena whose “Woman Of The World” builds quietly.
As I said, there’s no shortage of fine music here, so go get on your dancing shoes and get yourself some Ballroom Remixed 🙂
“Melanie (Doncha Make Her Dance Alone)” by Joshua Desjardins featuring Melanie LaPatin and Ben Waters
Penguin Prison “Multi-Millionaire (Aeons remix)”
It’s been a hot second since Penguin Prison’s “Golden Train” graced my chart at #1 for four chart appearances (8 weeks) at the top of the year accompanied by its inspired mashup with Michael Jackson’s “Workin’ Day & Night”. Since then, the talented Chris Glover and his band have been touring and, last I heard, may have a new record deal in process for Penguin Prison’s full length and long awaited album. Mr. Glover has been kind enough in the interim to offer fans a taste of a spectacular song I heard back at a PP concert in October called “Multi-Millionaire”. While I am more-than-eager to hear the finished original song, the Aeons remix offered for free for a limited time only (Facebook login required) is a house-y Prince-worthy affair which continues to infuse Mr. Glover’s love of great music of the recent past with contemporary pop and dance club innovations. Listen to this remix below.
And we will flash to a stylish pic of the upcoming Eric Saade album before we continue further. He will be “Popular” worldwide soon indeed 🙂
Gentlemen Hall “How Long Have They Been Watching” (live)
If you’re not from the Boston area, then you, like me, were wondering who the hell Gentlemen Hall were, and how they ended up winning a contest and performing on the Billboard Music Awards last week. Well the proof is in the pudding with this gritty but totally captivating clip from their Winter tour, which characterizes the sextet to me as All American Rejects meets Duran Duran – like the latter, with its big tight 80’s sound, and like the former with journeyman performance and an engaging lead singer. Now, I wanna see them in concert! Gentlemen Hall’s first official single “Blush” is coming soon and you can hear it on their website-in-development.
Kate Bush – Director’s Cut
Lastly, I ask that you give a listen to Kate Bush’s new album Director’s Cut, which is her first release since 2005’s Aerial. This record reworks songs from her 1989 release The Sensual World as well as her 1993 record The Red Shoes. Neither of these two albums are among my favourites by her. I am primarily a fan of Kate’s early music. I first heard her as a 17 year old listening to a local radio show that decided to dip into the UK charts, and hearing a song like “Wuthering Heights” at that time helped change my musical landscape as I headed into the direction of college radio while I was in university. Director’s Cut is an elegant, lush, experimental, frustrating, infuriating, and outstanding record in which you can sink your head and not come up for air for hours. Of specific mention are “Flower Of The Mountain”, which is “The Sensual World” redux complete with original lyrics taken from James Joyce’s “Ulysses” which were not approved at the time, which transforms the song into so much more than the original, as well as “Deeper Understanding” (which will thoroughly entice you), “Moments Of Pleasure”, and of course “This Woman’s Work”. You can hear the full album right here.
It finished in third place at Eurovision but that’s still enough to keep a big buzz worldwide for Eric Saade’s “Popular” as it remains at the top of my personal chart handily for a third appearance (6 weeks). The Adele machine slows a bit, but not enough to prevent Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” from breaking a chart record as it remains on the chart for an 11th consecutive appearance. Will it go for a 12th or disappear from the chart? It will have to fend off Adele’s own “Someone Like You” at #3 and the smart summery vibe of “Do It In The A.M.” by Frankmusik featuring Far East Movement, which ascends to #4. Kyle Brylin’s sexy, eerie but addictive “Everything I’m Missing” rounds out the Top 5 in advance of his upcoming appearance this week on the Ballroom Remixed album with a song called “I’m A Man (Not A Piece Of Meat)”…
Next to Adele’s 21, Jamie Woon’s Mirrorwriting is the album I’m listening to most in full. “Lady Luck” is definitely on his side – though I want him to make up his cancelled Toronto show sometime soon – and climbs to #6, but the album is deep with multi-layered enjoyable songs. Databoy’s “Stupid” rises to #7, and I can’t wait for the fun music this duo has to offer up this summer. “Another Dimension” by Dutch talents Bass Robbers featuring Matt Blue enters the Top 10. Talented Mr. Blue releases his first major label single “Can’t Help Myself” in the near future! But the big news within the Top 10 of course is the debut of Simon Curtis’ “Superhero” at #9. Simon’s not content to put this pop anthem on iTunes for your purchasing pleasure, a second single is on its way from his forthcoming album R∆. And another song from the aforementioned Ballroom Remixed project by Simon is “The Puppet Who Gave Himself Strings”. You can hear the original version of “Superhero” at the top of this page, and the trancey remix below.
Simon Curtis “Superhero (The Remix)”
While Lady GaGa’s original slides to #8, Elouise’s pensive live cover of “Born This Way” inches up to #11, but the Fastest Riser on the chart is her sensational and original take on “Tainted Love”, which climbs to #15. The Top 20 is otherwise filled with rising songs by Shawn Desman, Britney Spears, Nelson Clemente (listen to the Australian talent’s “No Protection” in the Brian Canham – remember “Funky Town” by Pseudo Echo? – mix version below), Ro Danishei, and Richard Barone.
Nelson Clemente “No Protection (BC mix)”
Debuting at #19 is a song that continues to display the versatility of singer Christian TV. We’ve already experienced two pop-to-die-for releases in the form of #1 “Love 2 Baby” and #5 “When She Turns 18”, as well as an urban flipside in the form of the mixtape Who The Fuck Is Christian TV? Now Christian conquers eurodance with the effervescent “I’m In Love”, which arrives at #19. The song is a giddy ode to being uncontrollably in love, with a high pitched keyboard hook that you’ll find in the best Swedish dance hits. It’s destined to join the other two songs as Top 5 entries in this chart 🙂 Listen to to the song below.
While “Cinema” by Benny Benassi & Gary Go and “Linda” by Andrea Lewis don’t end up in the Top 20 this week, it’s because of fierce competition so watch them to move up in the coming weeks. There are four additional songs debuting on the chart this week. Adele’s “Rumour Has It” at #24 is a slick and seductive track that would be amazing in a dance remix. I’m not sure what will follow up “Someone Like You” as a single but “Rumour” has my vote. Then at #25 is a return to fun pure pop dance form for Lady GaGa with “The Edge Of Glory”. Next at #26 is the UK Eurovision entry by Blue, “I Can”. I never really cared much for these four lads in their early 00’s heyday outside of a few songs, but I love the uplifting vibe of this song as well as the vocal arrangement. They could find an audience that they never had with this song, particularly if released in North America (hear the song below). Lastly, it’s a complete turnaround for Chris Brown but his teaming with Benny Benassi for “Beautiful People” at #27 has landed him at #1 on Billboard’s dance club play chart as well as in the Top 10 on charts around the world. North America decided to go with the urban “Look At Me Now” as a single from F.A.M.E. instead but this one could do equally well at radio. It’s Brown’s first appearance on this chart since 2008’s #5 “Forever”.
You can view the full chart using the link under ***BILL’S PERSONAL CHART*** to the right, or you can click right here. Be sure to leave any comments you might have, and thanks for reading Note that I will be replacing the My Space links on the chart with You Tube links to the song or video in the near future…
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