Tag Archives: Years & Years

BILLCS Top 30 #455 – April 20/15 warning: chart geekery afoot!

I’m going to have a bit of fun indulging in chart geekery, i.e. fascinating chart facts and figures about performers on my chart who have previously charted in the 16+ years of the chart.

Aside from that there is a bonus – there are 4 of my fellow Canadian performers in the Top 10 😀

The Top 10

Aside from #1, all of the songs are on the rise!  This will make it a bit difficult in two weeks to find out if any songs advance into the Top 10 at all!

  • First we have highly touted UK trio Years & Years with “King”, which gets a second appearance at #1.  Their album Communion is coming soon, and the only other appearance they’ve had on my chart is current – previous single “Desire” is at #14.  Had I heard The Magician’s “Sunlight” (which features Years & Years) at time of release it would have charted but there’s just so much out there…

  • Canadians Corey Niles and Alex Lacasse advance to #2 with the compelling and emotional “Chasing Stars”.  I do hope this will be the first domestic radio hit for both!
    • Rollercoaster (featuring Dru) #12, 2013/14
    • Get To Know You (featuring ISH) #7,2014

  • Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites move up to #3 with “Waterfall”.  That’s great news on the eve of their anthemic new single “What’s It All About”, which I wrote about recently.  The band’s previous entry “Hounds” got to #16 earlier this year.  They are playing Canadian Music Week on May 8 at the Phoenix in Toronto.

  • Jessie Ware’s “Champagne Kisses” rises 5-4.  I snuck Jessie on to my chart as a part of the UK reissue of Miguel’s “Adorn” in 2013, which got to #1.  Her subsequent single “Say You Love Me” also got to #1, followed by the album track “Pieces” which peaked at #3.

  • My favourite song from Erasure’s album The Velvet Rope, “Sacred” climbs 11-5.  Their previous single “Reason” topped out at #4.  The rest of their BILLCS chart history (all Top 10 🙂 ):
    • Solsbury Hill, #10, 2003
    • I Could Fall In Love With You, #8, 2007
    • Then I Go Twisting, #9, 2011
    • plus Andy Bell solo with “Crazy”, #7, 2005

  • Mikky Ekko’s rollicking “Riot” from his album Time climbs to #6.
    • Stranger (with Chris Malinchak) #8, 2014
    • Smile #1, 2014

  • Lifehouse has had a storied history on my chart going back to their debut single.  “Hurricane” is their latest and advances 10-7.
    • Hanging By A Moment, #1, 2000, #1 song of the year
    • Sick Cycle Carousel, #20, 2001
    • Everything, #3, 2001
    • Spin, #1, 2002
    • You and Me, #3, 2005
    • Halfway Gone, #3, 2009
    • Had Enough (with Chris Daughtry), #11, 2010
    • All In, #8, 2010
    • Between The Raindrops (with Natasha Bedingfield), #4, 2012

  • The fastest riser on the chart is “No Talk” by Toronto’s River Tiber, which has been sampled by Drake in his song “No Tellin'” from the album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.  River Tiber also released another song which could be a companion piece to “No Talk” called “Motives” (also above).  But I’ve been on the River Tiber tip since 2012 as below:
    • Someday, #1, 2012
    • Symmetry, #2, 2012
    • These Are Centuries, #13, 2012
    • The City, #1, 2013
    • Reverie, #12, 2013

  • The second new entry to the Top 10 is The Weeknd’s stunning “Earned It”, which is growing on me weekly.  It’s the Toronto native’s first appearance on my chart, though Ellie Goulding’s free download cover of  his “High For This” reached #19 in 2012.

  • Eric Saade has had several chart entries since 2011, and his punchy latest is Melodifestivalen entry “Sting”, at #10.
    • Popular, #1, 2011, and #1 song of the year
    • Made Of Pop, #2, 2011
    • Stupid With You, #10, 2011
    • Backseat, #1, 2012
    • Fingerprints, #3, 2012
    • Miss Unknown, #16, 2012
    • Winning Ground, #17, 2013

Movin’ on Up

So many songs are on the rise, and some hit a wall this week because 9 of the 10 songs in the Top 10 move up.

  • Sam Smith’s gorgeous “Lay Me Down” moves 15-11.  Now that’s been a stumbling peak for two of Sam’s recent songs, so we’ll see if the Top 10 has room for “Lay Me Down” in two weeks.
    • Money On My Mind, #1, 2014
    • Latch (with Disclosure), #1, 2014
    • Stay With Me, #1, 2014 and #1 song of the year
    • Not In That Way, #6, 2014
    • I’m Not The Only One, #1, 2014
    • Restart, #11, 2014
    • Like I Can, #11, 2015

https://soundcloud.com/databoy/when-it-rains-it-pours

  • Austin duo DATABOY are BILLCS Chart veterans since 2011!  I’m looking forward to a sophomore album follow up to 2012’s Dreams Are Gold.  Their latest “When It Rains, It Pours” inches up to #12.
    • Stupid, #5, 2011
    • Just Once, #1, 2011
    • Memorize Me (with Rune RK), #1, 2012
    • Dreams Are Gold, #1, 2012 and #1 song of the year
    • Lotion, #6, 2012
    • Genius, #8, 2012
    • Good Girlfriend (with Kid Massive), #9, 2012/13
    • We Can’t Stop Summertime Sadness, #6, 2013

  • The pairing of producer/songwriter Mi Disguise with L.A. based singer Adam Tyler has sent their song “Alive” to #15 on my chart.  But of course Adam has a storied chart history thus far as a solo performer 🙂 :
    • Friction, #4, 2010
    • Operation, #12, 2010
    • I Won’t Let You Go, #5, 2011
    • Pull The Trigger, #5, 2011
    • Like A Drug, #7, 2012
    • Music Freak, #6, 2012
    • Fade Into The Light, #9, 2013
    • Electric Valentine, #3, 2014
    • Knew You Better, #9, 2014 (check out Adam’s self-directed recent video above!)
    • I Won’t Let You Go (Aron Friedman remix), #5, 2014
    • Criminal, #9, 2014

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

  • While Brandyn Burnette’s former #1 “Sleeve” slides to #16, his first appearance on my chart was with “Thanks For Nothing”, which peaked at #4 for 4 appearances (8 weeks)!

  • The BILLCS chart history of Canada’s R&B queen Jully Black goes back the furthest than any other performer on the chart.  She plays a show at the Phoenix in Toronto on May 5.  Her new single “Fever” – her first chart entry since 2007 – rises to #19.
    • Rally’n, #4, 1999
    • Money Jane (with Baby Blue Sound Crew), #10, 2000
    • The Day Before (with Baby Blue Sound Crew), #16, 2002
    • Sweat Of Your Brow, #4, 2005
    • Seven Day Fool, #5, 2007
    • DJ Play That Song, #13, 2007

  • Steve Grand’s “We Are The Night” from his debut album All-American Boy climbs to #21 with more great things coming from the Grand Nation camp this year!
    • Back To California, #10, 2014
    • Time, #9, 2014/15

  • The outrageously talented duo of Simon Curtis and Bad W0lfy (aka Ro Danishei), as Wrathschild, bring us “Cosmonaut” from their EP Birds.  The duo’s first single together as Wrathschild, “Fall Into Love”, peaked at #8 in 2014.

New To The Chart

  •  Reading between the lines of my posts about the single and album, it’s no surprise that Australia’s Parralox debuts with “Aeronaut” at #20.  John von Ahlen and team have visited the chart before though!
    • Silent Morning (with Ryan Adamés), #5, 2013
    • Headhunter, #8, 2013

  • They would have been all over my chart in the 70’s, but disco group Chic, with creator Nile Rodgers, arrives for the first time on my chart with the discotastic “I’ll Be There” at #25.  Nile was a part of the Grammy-winning Daft Punk hit “Get Lucky” of course, which peaked at #2 in 2013.

  • At #26 is a somewhat overdue chart debut for Sweden’s Erik Hassle.  His “No Words” is perfect pop/R&B confection with an upbeat tempo masking a sad song.  It arrives at #26.

  • Lastly at #30 is “Hey Now” by that fun duo from Brooklyn, Matt & Kim, who I will be seeing in concert again on May 18.  Their new album New Glow recently dropped and it nicely bridges the no holds barred entertainment that the duo brings with a bit more emotion this time, especially noted affection for each other, notably in “Hey Now” and its video 🙂
    • Daylight, #4, 2009
    • Ice Melts, #10, 2011
    • Block After Block, #6, 2011
    • Let’s Go, #8, 2012
    • Now, #14, 2012
    • It’s Alright, #12, 2013

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 🙂

BILLCS Top 30 #454 – April 6, 2015

There’s no shortage of influx of new songs on the chart – in this edition there are five debuts.  Some songs are sliding down the chart a little faster than usual to make room for strong songs out to cut their chart teeth 🙂

The Top 10

  • After 4 appearances and 8 weeks, Brandyn Burnette’s “Sleeve” gives way (slipping to #3) to Years & Years’ “King”, which advances 6 to 1.  The UK trio is probably the first quarter’s ‘one to watch’… looking for North American radio play to kick in soon for “King”!

  • I’m looking forward to seeing Canadian band Smashing Satellites return to home turf on Tuesday April 7.  In the meantime, their latest “Waterfall” climbs 7-4!

  • Right behind, as “Pieces” slips out of the Top 10, there is always room for more Jessie Ware, who herself performed another Toronto show last night.  “Champagne Kisses” rises 9-5.

  • The fastest riser on the chart is one of the most affecting new pop songs around with an infectious hip hop vibe.  I’m talking about “Chasing Stars” by Canadians Corey Niles and Alex Lacasse, which soars up the chart 15-6.

  • UK singer/producer Shift K3Y moves up 8-7 with “I Know”.  Watch the video for his new single “Name & Number” (also above) as well!

  • Honorary Torontonian Daniel Robinson lands in the Top 10 with his pleasing slice of electropop “Moonmolt”, up 11-9.

  • The last new entry into the Top 10 belongs to “Hurricane”, the latest single by Lifehouse, rising 12-10.

Movin’ On Up

  • Eric Saade’s latest single has some great lyrics that get in your face all the right ways.  The fun “Sting” moves 17-12.

  • I’m glad Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour has had such long legs because in its numerous single releases they saved one of its best songs for the latest release.  “Lay Me Down” climbs 20-15.  And you can get it in #1 UK duet flavour with John Legend too!

  • More Years & Years?  Why not 🙂 From their self-titled EP and forthcoming album Communion, the house-inflected “Desire” rises 24-16.

  • I wrote about some fine recent cover versions of “Earned It” by fellow Torontonian The Weeknd recently.  The actual hit from “50 Shades Of Grey” jumps 21-18.

  • “No Talk” is one of the most interesting, different records round as performed by Toronto’s River Tiber, having been sampled in Drake’s “No Tellin”‘.  It has a hypnotic effect, is a real grower, and is going to be a contender in the coming weeks.  “No Talk” moves up 27-19.

Those 5 Debuts

This is a chart for looking back at a couple of performers who I wrote about late last year.

  • I wrote about “Hold Back The River” by UK singer/songwriter James Bay back in October.  I wasn’t sure if James’ catchy blend of folk and rock would catch on, but then came Hozier’s success and all of a sudden critical kudos started coming forward for James.  Then recently, the song landed at #2 in the UK.  “Hold Back The River” debuts at #23 from James’ debut album Chaos & The Calm.

  • Just as “Jealous” was breaking loose at Top 40 radio, and on the eve of the release of his self-titled album in November, I wrote about Nick Jonas’ songs “Teacher” and “Avalanche”.  I didn’t end up writing about “Chains” at the time of its video release, since the record company shelved it and went with “Jealous”.  I’m so glad they returned to “Chains”, and it arrives on my chart at #24.  Nick joins brother Joe and his old band the Jonas Brothers with his first chart entry!

  • It’s been a while since Canadian R&B queen Jully Black graced this chart, though she’s never been out of the public eye with her many TV and in-person appearances.  Her latest single “Fever” is a unique slice of R&B pop that should by all rights be a huge radio hit in Canada.  It bows on the chart at #25.  Jully has announced a Toronto concert, on May 5 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre!

  • Steve Grand’s All-American Boy album arrived at the end of March after a Kickstarter project that raised over $327,000, and my favourite new song from the album has arrived on my chart.  “We Are The Night” debuts at #26.

  • The last new entry is the best song from the EP Birds by Bad W0lfy and Simon Curtis, aka Wrathschild!  “Cosmonaut” joins the pair’s many other songs to grace my chart, and it premieres at #27.

The Full Chart

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

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!

BILLCS Top 30 #453 – March 23, 2015

There’s a groundswell of movement happening on the chart, but the Top 5 stays exactly the same as two weeks ago…  It will give way two weeks from now, but what songs will advance?

The Top 10

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

  • I cannot complain with such an ace Top 5 of songs by Brandyn Burnette (4th appearance, 8 weeks at the top – not bad for a song still not on official release!!), Chris Jamison, Jessie Ware, Giorgio/Kylie, and newcomer Graham Alexander!  Brandyn has more new music for us next month.  Chris has been performing somewhere each week and returns to his native Pittsburgh, plus he’s also back on “The Voice” this week with Matt McAndrew.  Jessie is coming back to North America.  Giorgio/Kylie are killing it in Australia.  Graham has gigs in NYC and Albany on deck.  A busy Top 5 is a great Top 5!

  • After wowing ’em in Austin this past week at SXSW, Years & Years should be making huge inroads to the North American audience in the next few weeks.  Leading the way from their fantastic EP (and now forthcoming album Communion) is “King”, which advances 10-6.

  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites with “Waterfall”.  The band has received much attention in the US, where they are currently touring, but will be back on home turf in April for some shows.  “Waterfall” soars 13-7.

  • What could be better in the Top 10 than TWO Jessie Ware songs?  “Champagne Kisses” moves up 14-9.

  • Mikky Ekko receives his third Top 10 hit on this chart in less than a year with “Riot” from his debut album Time.  It climbs 15-10.

Movin’ On Up

  • Buffalo NY electropop singer Daniel Robinson is inching closer to the Top 10, as his melodic and mysterious “Moonmolt” moves up a notch 12-11.

  • Lifehouse’s latest song “Hurricane” is a real grower and a promising lead in to their upcoming album Out Of The Wasteland.  This rocker storms up the chart 17-12.

  • All of the last chart’s high flying debuts get caught in a bit of a log jam behind all of the great movement happening above.  Erasure’s third single from The Violet Flame, “Sacred”, moves 18-13; “Chasing Stars” by Canadians Corey Niles and Alex Lacasse should by all rights be a domestic radio hit soon, and rises 19-15; “When It Rains, It Pours” is the first new music from Austin duo DATABOY in a while, and it advances 20-16.

  • “Alive” is a great team-up of new producer/DJ Mi Disguise with BILLCS Chart favourite Adam Tyler!  The song climbs 22-19.

Debuts

  • “Heroes” by Måns Zelmerlöw ultimately won Sweden’s Melodifestivalen festival this year, but nonetheless competitor “Sting” by Eric Saade is likely his best song since his Saade Volume Two album was released in late 2011.  “Sting” bows at #17, and only makes me want to hear more new Saade songs!

  • There seems to be a neverending parade of hits from the Grammy winning Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour, which is back at #1 in the UK.  The gorgeous “Lay Me Down” is the latest, and Sam also holds at #1 on the UK Singles chart in a revamped version featuring John Legend.  “Lay Me Down” arrives at #20 on my chart.

  • I can’t get enough of Years & Years, and so their previous single, the retro-house flavoured “Desire” (which I wrote about in December), premieres at #24 to complement the Top 10 (and former UK #1) “King”.

  • The fourth debut is by Toronto’s River Tiber with “No Talk”.  This unique, multi-layered, hip hop flavoured song is sampled in Drake’s “No Tellin'”, but to me is the better song of the two.  “No Talk” debuts at #27.  River Tiber has already been to my Top 10 several times, including to #1 in 2013 with “Someday”.

The Full Chart

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

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!

 

BILLCS Top 30 #452 – March 9, 2015

Spring is almost here and over 70% of the songs on my new personal chart are on the rise or holding, which means that competition to get to the top is pretty fierce!  It also makes it difficult when I want to write about them all, but I’ll have to resist 😉

The Top 10

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

  • “Sleeve” by Brandyn Burnette is not letting go of #1 yet, as the L.A. based singer/songwriter is about to preview another new song called “Lottery”.  Watch for it on Brandyn’s Soundcloud page!

  • Season 7 contestant on “The Voice”, pop/R&B singer Chris Jamison, moves up a notch to #2 with his slick song “Velvet”.

  • Having Kylie Minogue and Giorgio Moroder on a tour together would be an absolute dream, not to mention a huge dancefest!  I’d love to hear Giorgio remix some of Kylie’s older songs *hint hint* but in the meantime “Right Here Right Now” advances 6-4.  Pop radio should not be ignoring this one!

  • To get you through until Anton Ewald’s upcoming single “Higher” is released on April 7 is sexy R&B-influenced album track “Save The Last Dance” moving up 7-6.

  • Don’t understimate the power of “King” by Years & Years, as it became the new #1 song in the UK today!  It’s the only new entry in my Top 10, and I predict some great things are in store for it on my chart too.  Interscope releases it in the U.S., Polydor elsewhere.  It climbs 12-10.

Movin’ On Up

All of the songs between #9 and 17 are on the rise!

  • If there’s room for Years & Years in the charts of the world, then fellow British performer Shift K3Y could also find himself there at some point!  “I Know”, which climbs 15-11, did become a Top 30 hit in the UK last Fall but deserves international attention!

  • Suddenly, there seem to be Smashing Satellites fans all over North America, as the quartet heads to the U.S. to play some shows.  Check out the Canadian band’s impressive video for “Waterfall”, which soars 18-13.

  • The fastest riser on the chart belongs to the singer who is also at #3 with “Pieces” – Jessie Ware.  She will be headed back to North America very soon, supporting her new single “Champagne Kisses”, which vaults 23-14.

  • “Hurricane” by Lifehouse is a kick-ass rock song that has the now-trio back in fine form.  The song moves up 22-17 – look for it to break open on the chart in two weeks.

  • Adam Tyler is a busy guy – wrapping a self-directed video for “Knew You Better” (from the Shattered Ice deluxe edition release), and featuring on both The Wookie’s “The Dreamers” and the song that lifts off 27-22, “Alive” by his label mate Mi Disguise.

  • One song that will creep up and grab your attention with its simple story and sunny melody is “Memories” by Samantha Gibb (daughter of late Bee Gee Maurice), which rises 28-24.

Three High Flying Debuts

  • It’s the best song on their album The Velvet Flame, and I’ve been waiting to put it on my chart, but “Reason” (which drops off) prevailed first.  “Sacred” is Erasure at their classic best, and should fare even better in dance clubs than “Reason” as the third single release from the album.  It bows at #18 – likely because I’ve had it on repeat since I downloaded the album!

  • At #19, and continuing to win me over with every listen, is “Chasing Stars”, the moving and contagious pop/hip hop song from Canada by Corey Niles featuring Ottawa native Alex Lacasse which I wrote about recently.  This is one radio-ready song worth fawning over!

https://soundcloud.com/databoy/when-it-rains-it-pours

  • Arriving at #20 is the dance floor rave-up (begging for remixes) which I also wrote about recently, “When It Rains, It Pours”, by BILLCS chart veterans, the duo DATABOY.  Featuring producer/remixer Niko The Kid, “When It Rains” has a different sound for the guys, and it suits them to a ‘D’ 🙂

The Full Chart

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

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!

 

BILLCS Top 30 #451 – February 23/15

The top of the new chart stays steady, while the rest is formed of a diversity of so many pop music genres… I like to think my tastes are well-rounded 🙂

The Top 10

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

  • The names are Brandyn, Reigen, and Chris, and they have a lock on the Top 3!  Brandyn Burnette’s heartwarming (and yet to be officially released) “Sleeve” will continue to have you tugging at it as it stays at #1, while “Come Back To Me” by Reigen holds steady at #2, and “Velvet” by Chris Jamison rests contentedly at #3.  So what songs below could shake the Top 3 loose perhaps even in two weeks?
  • Jessie Ware is always a good bet, as the gorgeous album track “Pieces” slips into the #4 ranking, while rocker Graham Alexander is right behind with his energetic blast called “She’s A Chameleon” up 8-5.
  • The fastest riser on the chart is accompanied by news that Giorgio Moroder will in fact be touring with Kylie Minogue this year!  Undoubtedly somewhere in the show “Right Here, Right Now” will be performed, as the first single from Giorgio’s upcoming album 24 Is The New 74 is the fastest riser for a second week, advancing 14-6!
  • Also new to the Top 10 is the song produced by John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls for Canadian quintet Eleven Past One.  It’s not a single but it’s the gem from their EP The World Is Ours called “There’s Nothing Wrong”, moving up 13-10!  Here it at the Amazon link right here or on other sources like Spotify.

Movin’ On Up

  • Sam Smith’s last entry “Restart” topped out at #11, so let’s see if “Like I Can” will become the 4-time Grammy winner’s 6th Top Tenner on my chart, as the lovely “Lay Me Down” becomes his latest single.  In The Lonely Hour is the album that keeps on giving 🙂
  • Years & Years are the band to watch in 2015, and with good reason – catchy, well-performed songs like “King” from their self-titled EP!  The song climbs 19-12 on the chart.
  • Daniel Robinson’s breezy take on EDM pop, the mysterious “Moonmolt”, moves up 17-13 as the singer announced the imminent arrival of an EP called I Don’t Know How It Is, in advance of his album called Truant.
  • UK’s Shift K3Y definitely is getting around, remixing songs such as “You & I (Forever)” by Jessie Ware!  The singer rises 21-15 with the single “I Know”
  • Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites, led by striking ex-My Darkest Days singer Salvatore Costa, has one of the hardest hitting videos of 2015 so far created for their song “Waterfall”, which climbs 25-18.  Look for the band playing regularly around North America – with side trips elsewhere, who knows? – throughout the year.
  • Another hard hitting song, and a standout from his debut album, is “Riot” by Mikky Ekko, performed on TV’s David Letterman show last week.  It moves up 26-19.
  • Matt McAndrew’s “Wasted Love” has a wonderful singalong chorus, and the runner-up contestant on Season 7 of “The Voice” climbs 27-21.  Look for Season 8 of “The Voice” starting Monday February 23 (recent Grammy winner Christina Aguilera returns).
  • Lifehouse’s “Hurricane” climbs 28-22 but I think the song will let loose everywhere in the coming weeks.  Watch out!

4 Debuts

  • Why it’s Jessie Ware again!  And while the video is a tad, urhm, unconventional, the song is brilliant.  “Champagne Kisses” is one of my faves from Tough Love and bows at #23, likely to join “Pieces” in the Top 10 at some point.
  • It’s taken a little while longer than usual to hear what a brillo song that 19 year old DJ/producer Mi Disguise (aka Louie Garcia) and BILLCS chart fave Adam Tyler have created with “Alive”.  I did write about it a while back in September, but it’s finally debuted on the chart at #27.
  • Samantha Gibb, she of the famous last name as daughter of The Bee Gees’ Maurice, premieres on the chart with her sunny and reflective “Memories” at #28.
  • It’s kind of strange how my fellow Torontonian The Weeknd (aka 25 year old Abel Tesfaye) had yet to appear on my chart until now, but his song from “50 Shades Of Grey” called “Earned It” is a dramatic stunner with a compelling vocal that I bet will land him a Grammy nomination.  The song is already a Top 5 UK hit (a good sign), and arrives on my chart at #29.  Fellow “50 Shades” performer Ellie Goulding did appear on my chart in 2012 with her free download cover of The Weeknd’s “High For This”, the original of which you can find on his House Of Balloons album.

The Full Chart

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

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!

 

 

BILLCS Top 30 #450 – February 9, 2015

Five debuts and a sparkling new #1 highlight my 450th bi-weekly chart since 1998!

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

The Top 10

  • After vaulting into the top 10 from 12-2 two weeks ago, it’s no surprise that Brandyn Burnette’s gentle song about family, “Sleeve”, is my new #1. Since the song is so fresh and being played regularly by yours truly, I have no idea what will succeed it.  I’m hoping “Sleeve” will be on Brandyn’s upcoming album tentatively called The Healing.  “Sleeve” is one of those songs that will strike an emotional nerve and leave you feeling great.

  • Right behind “Sleeve” again is another indie performer, New York singer Reigen, with the almost equally affecting EDM ballad “Come Back To Me”, weighing in at #2.

  • No doubt about it, Chris Jamison’s R&B-influenced pop song “Velvet” has grown on me immensely since I first heard it in December.  It’s one of those songs you look forward to hearing every time you play it.  “Velvet” jumps 13-3 (tied for the fastest riser of the week) and is obviously a #1 contender.

  • I’m really surprised more promotion isn’t being given to Jessie Ware’s stunning album Tough Love.  I have so many favourites from it but my current is “Pieces”, which climbs 10-7.

  • Graham Alexander’s “She’s A Chameleon” is leading the way for more rock songs to arrive on my chart – four alone this week – to continue the diversity in music that I like.  This energetic number climbs 12-8 from Graham’s latest album Repeat Deceiver.

  • Every song that has appeared on my chart for Swedish singer Anton Ewald has reached the Top 5.  And though it’s not a single, “Save The Last Dance”, from his EP On My Way, rises 16-9, and may get there too!

  • Boycode’s lovely rendition of “It’s A Mistake” is a great showcase for the Belgium vocal quartet, and it climbs 14-10.

Movin’ On Up

  • I’m sure it will conquer clubs in no time, but I want “Right Here Right Now” by Giorgio Moroder & Kylie Minogue to be a pop hit too!  This pop-dance extravaganza soars 24-14 to tie as the fastest rising song of the week.

  • Buffalo, NY indie singer Daniel Robinson moves up 21-17 with the mysterious but melodic “Moonmolt”, which is among the new songs that will appear on his upcoming release Truant through EQ Music!

  • L.A.-based Color Theory has a second song rising on my chart, and it’s a cover of Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” as remixed by Lyder Janøy.  This faithful but contemporary cover rises 22-18, following up the recent #1 “Headphones”.

  • 2015 looks to be the year for  UK trio Years & Years!  A self-titled four song EP dropped this week containing previous singles “Desire” and “Take Shelter”, plus the latest called “King” which is well on its way, with a smashing video too, moving 28-19.

Chart Debuts

  • This one’s been around last Fall and got to #25 on the UK charts following the #3 hit “Touch”, but UK singer/DJ/producer Shift K3Y (aka Lewis Jankel) has a winning style that goes somewhat hand-in-hand with Years & Years.  “I Know” bows on my chart at #21.  You can also glimpse the singer briefly as he walks by in the video.

  • As “Hounds” departs the chart after peaking at #16, the striking “Waterfall” arrives for Canadian quartet Smashing Satellites with a powerful video at #25, from their album SonicAluzion (A-Side).

  • I’m not sure what is the official next single from Mikky Ekko’s new album Time following my #1 “Smile”, but the rollicking “Riot” is the next standout song for me, featuring a ‘timelapse’ video.  “Riot” bows at #26.

  • To keep fellow contestant Chris Jamison from The Voice company on the chart, New Jersey-born Matt McAndrew’s “Wasted Love” wastes no time in arriving at #27.  The only other time a contestant from The Voice has appeared on my chart, is actually before he was a contestant and was an indie performer!  Chris Mann charted at #10 in 2010 with his cover of George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex”.  Now he’s on tour as “The Phantom Of The Opera”!

  • I’m very hopeful for Lifehouse’s “Hurricane” to put the group back on the rock map, with a new independent album due called Out Of The Wasteland.  “Hurricane” debuts at #28.

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.

02 01 SLEEVE Brandyn 
03 02 COME BACK TO ME Reigen
13 03 VELVET Chris Jamison
04 04 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb
01 05 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu Vs Twoloud
07 06 IGNITED Antonio Giacca
10 07 PIECES Jessie Ware
12 08 SHE’S A CHAMELEON Graham Alexander
16 09 SAVE THE LAST DANCE Anton Ewald
14 10 IT’S A MISTAKE Boycode
05 11 REASON Erasure
06 12 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W.
15 13 THERE’S NOTHING WRONG Eleven Past One
24 14 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue
18 15 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith
19 16 HERE’S TO THE ZEROS Marianas Trench
21 17 MOONMOLT Daniel Robinson
22 18 COULD IT BE MAGIC Color Theory
28 19 KING Years And Years
08 20 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
New 21 I KNOW Shift K3Y
09 22 TIME Steve Grand
17 23 SOMEDAY Neverest
11 24 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
New 25 WATERFALL Smashing Satellites
New 26 RIOT Mikky Ekko
New 27 WASTED LOVE Matt McAndrew
New 28 HURRICANE Lifehouse
20 29 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
26 30 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!

Did you know that 12 of this week’s charted performers have never appeared on my chart in its 16 years (and that includes Giorgio Moroder and Sander van Doorn)!

BILLCS Top 30 #449 – January 26, 2015

In this edition, some songs on the chart get a few jolts and rise or tumble quickly, while four debuts keep on changing it up!

The Top 10

  • As a new wave of gentler pop songs arrives in the Top 10, Deniz Koyu & Twoloud advance to #1 making EDM rule for another appearance at the top with “Goin’ Down”, a song that will catch anyone’s attention no matter where they are!  Spinnin’ Records keeps putting out more gems like these!

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/01-sleeve

  • Family is everything to most people, and Brandyn Burnette sings about it like no one else because he wears it on his “Sleeve”, which leaps up the chart 12-2, tying as the fastest riser on the chart.  This tender ode looks like it is most likely to succeed “Goin’ Down” at the top in two weeks 🙂
  • Also in the gentle but EDM kind of way is “Come Back To Me” by New York indie singer Reigen, which continues to advance, this time rising 5-3.
  • Positive pop comes in the form of “Lightning In A Bottle” by Eli Lieb, which climbs 7-4, somehow displacing Erasure’s “Reason”!
  • It’s one of her most gorgeous songs, and Jessie Ware (now on tour) rises 14-10 with “Pieces” from the still-stunning Tough Love album.

Movin’ On Up

  • If there’s one song on the chart that will have you rocking out, it’s New Jersey singer Graham Alexander’s “She’s A Chameleon” from his album Repeat Deceiver.  The song ties “Sleeve” as the fastest riser, moving 22-12.
  • More beautiful ballads make their way up the chart in the form of Boycode’s “It’s A Mistake” (18-14) and “There’s Nothing Wrong” by Canada’s Eleven Past One (19-15).
  • Some sexy R&B influences send “Save The Last Dance” by Anton Ewald up the chart, 24-16.
  • Neverest’s song about striving to be your best, “Someday”, climbs up 20-17.
  • Marianas Trench’s “Here’s To The Zeros”, obviously a bit of a sonic autobiography for Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Josh Ramsay (co-writer of “Call Me Maybe”), moves up 26-19, from their forthcoming album apparently called Astoria.

Those 4 Debuts

  • Crashing on to the chart at #13 are more sexy R&B vibes from Pittsburgh’s Chris Jamison, who placed 3rd on the last season of “The Voice”, with “Velvet”.  The song is just dashing enough to have the gals swooning and the guys full of respect.  It’s a great start for Chris, who could be another Justin Timberlake IMO if things go his way!  “Velvet” is a top-of-the-chart contender for sure.
  • A real surprise in some ways bowing at #21 is Buffalo, NY’s Daniel Robinson with “Moonmolt” from his upcoming release Truant.  You don’t have to figure out what that is to enjoy the song.  It’s just that intangible sense of being surrounded with all that’s good and right as things begin to change.  At least to me!  “Moonmolt” has a great melody that’s a throwback to the mid-80’s in a lot of ways.
  • It was previewed and then, boom, it’s on official release.  The sensational Giorgio Moroder matches up with Kylie Minogue for “Right Here, Right Now” which arrives at #24.  Will this put the 74 year old disco-meister on the pop charts?  We’ll see!!
  • One of the most anticipated releases of 2015 will be the album from UK trio Years & Years.  Their singles just keep on getting better, and so do their videos (this one has great choreography and editing), and “King” premieres at #28.

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.

02 01 GOIN’ DOWN Deniz Koyu vs Twoloud
12 02 SLEEVE Brandyn
05 03 COME BACK TO ME Reigen
07 04 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Eli Lieb
04 05 REASON Erasure
06 06 LOVE COME HOME Kristine W.
08 07 IGNITED Antonio Giacca
01 08 HEADPHONES (Matt Mancid Retro Crossover Mix) Color Theory
09 09 TIME Steve Grand
14 10 PIECES Jessie Ware
03 11 GOLD SKIES Sander Van Doorn, Martin Garrix & DVBBS featuring Aleesia
22 12 SHE’S A CHAMELEON Graham Alexander
New 13 VELVET Chris Jamison
18 14 IT’S A MISTAKE Boycode
19 15 THERE’S NOTHING WRONG Eleven Past One
24 16 SAVE THE LAST DANCE Anton Ewald
20 17 SOMEDAY Neverest
21 18 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith
26 19 HERE’S TO THE ZEROS Marianas Trench
10 20 BURN AGAIN Tristan Thompson
New 21 MOONMOLT Daniel Robinson
25 22 COULD IT BE MAGIC Color Theory
11 23 SAY YOU LOVE ME Jessie Ware
New 24 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue
13 25 CALLING OUT Penguin Prison
15 26 ARMS OF ANOTHER Bright Light Bright Light
16 27 HOUNDS Smashing Satellites
New 28 KING Years And Years
23 29 YELLOW FLICKER BEAT Lorde
27 30 BRANDO Semi-Precious Weapons

 

Listen for My New Music Pick Of The Week on D-Moos.com!

Every week I feature a New Music Pick of the Week on D-Moos, which is usually either on my chart or may soon be!  Listen in amid the great variety of older music as I bring cutting edge new music to the rotation of over 20,000+ songs!!