Dance Sweep: January 26, 2013...

Thanks for dropping by, I'm up to the last part of today's "chart sweeps" of the latest songs to make the weekly music singles charts in Billboard magazine, and on this trip I've got the newest dance jams in the clubs and on the radio.

Now this week the trade mag unveil yet another "new" chart, the "Dance/Electronic Songs" chart that combines airplay, sales, internet streaming, and in this specific list, club play (to a small degree). All well in theory. But in proving that their editors again are clueless about music they are supposed to cover, like the rock, R&B, and country composite charts overhauled back in October, this list that only includes their designated "true dance songs" in "core sound and tempo" is basically tradespeak to "whatever we feel like promoting today". Not only do they exclude any mainstream remixed songs (like the current #1 club play single "I Found You" by the Wanted), but they inexplicably leave off songs that are clearly dance based, and include others that won't be played at a club but are produced by a gaggle of certain DJs, including dubstep. The funniest (or most mindbending) of this is the exclusion of Pitbull's hit single "Don't Stop The Party", which itself is based on a sample of a dance song by TJR, but putting in the rapper's "Feel This Moment" from the same dance-inflected album that samples a pop song (this time a-ha's "Take On Me"). Also Flo Rida's "I Cry", which uses the worldwide club smash by the Bingo Players, is also snubbed, yet PSY's novelty hit "Gangnam Style" is here (albeit is should, since it also made the pop chart, but it's the same damn beat!). Another ridiculously convoluted distillation of the Hot 100 that was done completely wrong. Dayum...Needless to say, I'll just be ignoring that list unless it gets major overhauls.

(gets off soapbox)

 On the DJ-polled Hot Dance Club Play chart, the top debut this week is by British singer Conor Maynard, with his first American hit, "Turn Around" featuring R&B singer Ne-Yo. Out of his three singles in the UK, this is by far his most matured, and probably his best shot in conquering the States. Grade: B

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Philly-area DJ/producer Diplo's side project, Major Lazer, scored a top-5 dance hit in 2009 with "Keep It Goin' Louder". Since then partner Switch left the act, but Diplo continues on, and comes back at #43 with "Jah No Partial". It features dubstep artist Flux Pavillion, and it shows in the change of direction of the new record. Grade: C+
 

Alicia Keys enters at #44 with her top-20 pop hit "Girl On Fire". It's only her second single to make this chart, but the first, "Diary", went all the way to #1, so she's got a good track record. And the soaring chorus does seems conducive to a house remix...Grade: B

Another top-20 pop hit, Pink's "Try" also gets the remix treatment and lands here at #45. It follows her #1 club hit "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)", but this song seems a bit rushed in a club setting. Grade: C+

British singer Jay Sean returns at #46 with "So High", the second single from his upcoming Worth It All album. Produced by Dutch DJ Afrojack, it's his first club hit, and he deserves a second shot in the US...Grade: B-

The last debut at #49 is C-Rod (Chris Rodriguez), a DJ from Florida with "Beat Don't Stop" with singer Jason Walker. The pair previously went to #17 in 2012 with "Raise Your Hands", and it's awesome to see Jason, a powerful, soulful vocalist that reminds me of a more club-based Marc Almond, back in fine form. Grade: B+

 
Meanwhile, over on the radio-monitored Hot Dance Airplay/Mixshow chart, Calvin Harris and Florence Welch climb back to #1 for a second non-consecutive week with "Sweet Nothing"...

the sole new entry on the radio chart this week is the hip-hop trip to the "Thrift Shop" by rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis with singer Wanz. It arrives at #13, and while it's not really a "dance" song in a way, it certainly gets you moving. Grade: A

Finally, on the Global Dance Tracks list, the Swedish House Mafia reigns for a sixteenth week at #1 with "Don't You Worry Child"...

The higher of the two new songs at #24 is last week's American #1 club hit, "Big Banana" by Australian DJ/singer Havana Brown featuring remixer R3Hab. She previously went to #19 with "We Run The Night", but this isn't as infectious as that former hit, surprising since I'm such a fan of R3hab..too tweaky for me I guess. Grade: C

The other debut at #38 is Swedish electro-duo Cazzette with "Beam Me Up (Kill-Mode)". The track, already in the top-10 on the airplay chart, deserves a bigger audience, though now you can only get the song on Spotify...Grade: B

That closes out today's chart sweeps...you can also check out my personal top-100 tunes from the week by clicking here. Tomorrow I'll have another Song of the Day, candletime, part one of this week's "album sweep", and my British chart sweep. Have a great night!