18. Find My Way (featuring Beck) - Paul McCartney - 13
19. Steal My Love - Dan + Shay - NEW
20. Venus Fly Trap - Marina - NEW
CHART NOTES
Two songs make their debuts. "Steal My Love" by country duo Dan + Shay debut at #19. It is a pop song with a reggae beat. It's #4 on my weekly Country 5 +5 chart (see below).
At #20 we find Marina who was previously known as Marina & the Diamonds. She debuts with her hit "Venus Fly Trap."
Not too much movement in this week's chart. The Linda Lindas hold on to #1 for the 3rd week with their smash hit, "Oh!" (video appears at the top of this post)
"Wrecked" by Imagine Dragons is at #2 for a third week in a row. Will it go to #1? Meanwhile "Skate" by Silk Sonic inches up another point from #4 last week to #3. Here is Imagine Dragons:
"Chasing After You" by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris climbs to #2 on the Country 5 + 5.
The Country 5 + 5
The Power of 10! | August 31, 2021
TW - Song Title - Artist - LW
1. Big Love - Caroline Jones- 1
2. Chasing After You - Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris - 3
3. If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldeen & Carrie Underwood - 5
10. Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World - Robin Schulz, Alle Farben, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - 13
11. Nothing Else Matters (featuring....) - Miley Cyrus - 9
12. I Get a Kick Out of You - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - 16
13. Find My Way (featuring Beck) - Paul McCartney - 15
14. Save Your Tears (remix & single) - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - 14
15. Quiet Town - The Killers - 19
16. Shadow Dancing - Dee Gees - 20
17. Run Baby Run - Southern Culture on the Skids - 10
18. Higher Power - Coldplay - 11
19. Cold Heart (PNAU remix) - Elton John & Dua Lipa - NEW
20. Drive (featuring Wes Nelson + Topic) - Clean Bandit - NEW
CHART NOTES
Covers, Remakes, Remixes:
Reviewing this latest chart, I find it contains several cover songs, remakes and remixes. Let’s work our way from the bottom to the top.
Cold Heart - Elton John & Dua Lipa
Debuting at #19 this week we find a remix from Elton John paired with singer Dua Lipa. The song is a mash-up of previous Elton John tracks rolled into a new title… “Cold Heart”. In this catchy remix you can hear snippets from the following Elton John songs: “Rocket Man”, “Sacrifice”, “Kiss the Bride” and “Where’s the Shoorah”, the latter an album only track from Elton John’s 1976 release, Blue Moves.
Shadow Dancing - Dee Gees
Last week, Foo Fighters' disco persona Dee Gees debut at #20 with their cover of the Andy Gibb hit “Shadow Dancing”. That record moves up to #16 this week. The song previously went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 for several weeks.
Save Your Tears - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (remix)
Another remix on our chart is the “oldest” song with the most accumulated weeks on. “Save Your Tears”, the remix version featuring The Weekend and Ariana Grande have been listed on the Current Top 20 since late April and is a re-hash of The Weeknd’s still current solo hit of the same title. Both went to #1 on this chart earlier this year. I refer to them both on my weekly listing, placing “Save Your Tears” at #14 for a second week.
Find My Way (remix) - Paul McCartney featuring Beck
Another song with similar treatment is Paul McCartney’s “Find My Way”, which in its original version topped this chart for a few weeks earlier this year. The remix version featuring Beck on most of the vocals moves up 2 from last week’s #15 to #13.
I Get My Kicks on You - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
The oldest song in terms of years of longevity is the Cole Porter penned “I Get My Kicks on You”. The song was written in 1934 and first premiered in the Broadway Musical Anything Goes, and sung in the movie version of the same play in 1936. The first person to sing the song was Ethel Merman. It was covered over many years by musical luminaries such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
The newest remake of “I Get My Kids on You” complete with the “cocaine” line is sung by 95 year old Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga. The song is from the duo’s upcoming album Love For Sale. It climbs from #16 of last week to #12 this week.
Nothing Else Matters - Miley Cyrus
At #11 we have a heavy metal song that has been wonderfully remade by Miley Cyrus and a bunch of her musician friends. “Nothing Else Matters” was recorded by Metallica for their famed 1991 album Metallica. This killer remake features Cyrus on vocals and backing musicians Elton John on keyboards, Yo Yo Ma on cello, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on percussion, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo on bass and Andrew WATT on guitars and producing. The dusty western themed video for the song is timeless. “Nothing Else Matters” peaked at #8 on the Current Top 20 a few weeks ago, and is now sitting at #11.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World -
Our last cover song is a medley and remix. This remix covers two very famous the song, the first being “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” which was first immortalized in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz and sung by actress Judy Garland.
The second part of this remix medley is “What a Wonderful World” which was recorded in 1967 by jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong. Released as a single that year, the record failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, even though it went to #1 in the U.K.
Armstrong’s recording of “What a Wonderful World” appeared in the 1987 Robin Williams movie Goodmorning Vietnam. The song was re-released as a single in 1988. It finally hit the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #32. It was subsequently inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 1988 both “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World” were combined into a medley and recorded by Hawaii's Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.
The simple ukulele version of the “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” medley became a big hit in Hawaii during the 1990s. The song’s popularity increased after Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s death in 1997.
Awareness of the song spread with the use of the internet and streaming audio. The song became a popular digital track all over the world and was used in numerous movies and TV shows since the early 2000s.
This year (2021), “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” is back as a new pop / electronic dance remix by German DJs and remixers Robin Shulz and Alle Farbin. This new remix is a very catchy pop tune which should be a hit everywhere again. It currently stands at #10 on the Current Top 20, up from last week’s #13 position. The medley's video appears at the top of this post.
_________________________________
Lastly, The Linda Lindas hold on to #1 for the 2nd week with their smash hit, “Oh!”, which is not a remake or remix.. though I suspect that if this becomes a big hit,a future remix could be inevitable.
_________________________________
The Country 5 + 5
The Country 5 + 5
The Power of 10! | August 24, 2021
TW - Song Title - Artist - LW
1.Big Love - Caroline Jones - 9
2. I Don't Give a Truck - Nelly Joy - 1
3. Chasing After You - Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris - 2
4. Fancy Like - Walker Hayes - 6
5. If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldeen & Carrie Underwood - 7
6. Good Things - Dan + Shay - 3
7. Boat Names - Brian Kelley - 5
8. The Worst Country Song of All Time - Brantley Gilbert with Toby Keith, Hardy - 4
9. Stop Draggin' Your Boots - Danielle Bradbery - 10
10. Steal My Love - Dan + Shay - NEW
Finally on my weekly country chart, in keeping with theme of remakes on this post, we find bolting from #9 last week to #1 this week is "Big Love" by Caroline Jones. This track is a cover of Fleetwood Mac's 1987 hit "Big Love" which appeared on their Tango in the Night album and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is great to hear this song back in a new version! Gotta love Fleetwood Mac and Caroline Jones for doing this cover.
9. Nothing Else Matters (featuring....) - Miley Cyrus - 10
10. Run Baby Run - Southern Culture on the Skids - 11
11. Higher Power - Coldplay - 7
12. Take My Breath - The Weeknd - 19
13. Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World
- Robin Schulz, Alle Farben, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - 17
14. Save Your Tears (remix & single) - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - 12
15. Find My Way (featuring Beck) - Paul McCartney - 16
16. I Get a Kick Out of You (featuring Lady Gaga) - Tony Bennett - 20
17. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic - 14
18. Solar Power - Lorde - 13
19. Quiet Town - The Killers - NEW
20. Shadow Dancing - Dee Gees - NEW
CHART NOTES
The Linda Lindas make it to the #1 position in three weeks, debuting two weeks ago at #15, bolting to #5 last week and now jumping from that position to #1 with what should be their big debut hit, "OH!" The band consists of four young ladies ages 10 to 16. They can all do vocals, and play a variety of instruments, though for most songs they have settled on a line-up of two guitarists, one on bass and a drummer. Check out "OH" at the top of this post... Below is The Linda Linda's 9-minute interview clip:
The Killers place the new single "Quiet Town" on the top 20 for the first time this week at #19. It's from their newest album Pressure Machine.
The second of our two debut singles is a re-worked oldie from The Foo Fighters going under their "disco name" "Dee Gees." As the Dee Gees, the band released 5 songs written by the Bee Gees on their latest release Hail Satin. The first of the Bee Gee covers to make this chart is "Shadow Dancing" which was a #1 hit in 1978 for Bee Gee brother Andy Gibb.
The last surviving member of The Bee Gees is Barry Gibb. He recently posted on Twitter: "I am proud that @foofighters gave us love beyond the call of duty. I am overwhelmed that they would even think about doing this. @FooDGrohl, @taylorhawkins and the rest of you guys, thank you so much. I look forward to us getting together!!!" - https://twitter.com/GibbBarry
#TBT Thursday - Today's Vinyl Spin - SHNAZZ - "I Think We're Alone Now" - they were a local band that was on the verge of a national breakout. The cover of the old Tommy James & the Shondells hit got a bunch of radio airplay in 1980. The album had a bunch of party rockin' songs including "Bad Boys", "I Want to Jump on Your Bones", "Can You Still Come Back" and the instrumental, "Pignose Under Glass". The record was never issued in a digital format. It came out in a standard LP and cassette. "I Think We're Alone Now" b/w "Bad Boys" was also issued as a single 45, which I also have in my collection.
The members of Shnazz included Fritz "The Fritz" Hasenpusch on vocals/harmonica, Frank Kam on guitar/vocals, Roger Holland on bass/vocals, Art Galvan on drums, vocals, percussion, and Vernon Sakata on guitar, vocals.
I was lucky enough to see them perform for free at King's Alley in Waikiki back in either 1980 or 1981. I read years ago that around 1981 they were signed to a major record label and were supposed to release a follow-up to this record. It never happened.
Here is a clip of them doing "I Want to Jump on Your Bones" and "I Think We're Alone Now."
11. Run Baby Run - Southern Culture on the Skids - 13
12. Save Your Tears (remix & single) - The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - 8
13. Solar Power - Lorde - 7
14. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic - 9
15. Permission to Dance - BTS - 17
16. Find My Way (featuring Beck) - Paul McCartney - 19
17. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
/ What a Wonderful World" - Robin Schulz, Alle Farben, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - 20
18. Lost - Maroon 5 - 10
19. Take My Breath - The Weeknd - NEW
20. I Get a Kick Out of You - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - NEW
CHART NOTES
Ed Sheeran holds on to #1 for a fourth week with "Bad Habits." It is his biggest hit on this chart since 2018's "Perfect."
Perhaps the oldest person to ever make this chart, singer Tony Bennett who is best known for his hit "I Lost My Heart in San Francisco", pairs with singer Lady Gaga for this update of a classic Cole Porter song... "I Get a Kick Out of You." Bennett recently turned 95. Funny mention of cocaine in its lyrics, but overall the song passes my neo-nostalgia test, good enough to debut at #20.
The video is at the top of this post.
The second debut song this week is by The Weeknd, who is still hanging on with his huge smash hit "Save Your Tears" which has been on this chart since February. The track got a boost in April when the remix version was released featuring singer Ariana Grande. Weeknd's latest single to chart here is "Take My Breath" which comes in at #19.
The Country 5 + 5
The Power of 10! | August 10, 2021
TW - Song Title - Artist - LW
1. I Don't Give a Truck - Nelly Joy - 4
2. The Worst Country Song of All Time - Brantley Gilbert with Toby Keith, Hardy - 1
3. Boat Names - Brian Kelley - 2
4. Chasing After You - Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris - 3
5. Good Things - Dan + Shay - 7
6. Waves - Luke Bryan - 6
7. Fancy Like - Walker Hayes - 5
8. Heart on Fire - Eric Church - 8
9. No Regrets - Vanilla Ninja - 10
10. If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldeen & Carrie Underwood - NEW
