Twostepcublog

Here's the top ten hits in France this week, according to their official singles chart , as "Shape Of You" from Ed Sheeran reigns for a third week... 1. " Shape Of You " - Ed Sheeran (1) 2. " Je M'en Vais " - Vianney (2) 3. " Human " - Rag N' Bone Man (5) 4. " I Feel It Coming " - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk (3) 5. " Rockabye " - Clean Bandit featuring Anne-Marie & Sean Paul (4) 6. " Tuesday " - Burak Yeter featuring Danelle Sandoval (6) 7. "Be Mine" - Ofenbach (DEBUT) 8. " Bazardée " - Keblack (8) 9. "Sunset Lover" - Petite Biscuit (DEBUT) 10. " Lost On You " - LP (7) Parisian dance-rock duo Ofenbach drop into the top ten at #7 with "Be Mine"... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

" The Deeper The Love " - Whitesnake from the album Slip Of The Tongue (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #28 (two weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 6 Today's song of the day comes from the British pop/metal band Whitesnake , who under lead singer David Coverdale reorganized again with a new lineup for the act's Slip Of The Tongue album, reviving an older song " Fool For Your Loving " for their third top-40 pop hit in the U.S. in the winter of 1989. (Another track from the album, " Judgement Day ", shortly followed it into the Mainstream Rock chart at #32.) The second pop radio single from the set was another mid-tempo "adult-metal" track, "The Deeper The Love". Written by Coverdale with group guitarist Adrian Vandenburg (who back in the day had his own band and own top-40 hit with "Burning Heart"), the song's video again featured David's wife Tawny Kitaen... "The Deeper The Love" became Whitesna...

" Real Love " - Skyy from the album Start Of A Romance (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #47 This week's "robbed hit" comes from the post-disco/R&B band Skyy , who came together in New York in the early 70s anchors by siblings Bonnie, Delores, and Denise Bunning. They released their self-titled debut album at the end of the decade, and the first single " First Time Around " was a respectable R&B hit at #20 and knicked the disco chart at #50. The following year, the sophomore effort Skyway scored them a second R&B hit with " High " (#13), but it came right at the waning days of the disco boom, and the song just missed the pop Hot 100, "bubbling" under at #102 in Billboard . But instead of changing their sound to match the mainstream mood, they just continued in their nook, thankfully, for in 1982 they had one of the great final hits of the post-disco era of the early 80s with " Call Me ", which climbed to ...

" Keep It Together " - Madonna from the album Like A Prayer (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 9 Today's song of the day is by Madonna , whose Like A Prayer album had already spun off four big hits in the U.S. with " Oh Father ", " Cherish ", " Express Yourself ", and the #1 title track . While in most of Europe and the world the baroque-pop pastiche of " Dear Jessie " was released next, becoming a top-10 in the UK (#5) and Ireland (#3), America and Canada were treated to the unity jam "Keep It Together" as the fifth and final single from the album. Written by Madonna with her old Breakfast Club partner Stephen Bray, the loose and funky number took elements from new jack swing and the Soul II Soul sound and retrofit it on to a synthpop track that could have been pulled from one of her first couple albums. The lyrics spoke of the bond of family, whether it be "blood" as tak...

" I Wish It Would Rain Down " - Phil Collins from the album ...But Seriously (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 11 Today's song of the day comes from Phil Collins , whose Grammy-winning single " Another Day In Paradise " closed out the 1980's as #1. The second single from his ...But Seriously album was another downtempo track, "I Wish It Would Rain Down". Done in a power-ballad style, with Eric Clapton on lead guitar, it has Phil mourning a past love he just can't get over, and like the similarly-titled song by the Temptations, he wants something to hide the tears... "I Wish It Would Rain Down" became the second top-10 hit from ...But Seriously in March of 1990. The song also climbed to #3 on Billboard 's Adult Contemporary (or "easy listening") radio chart, while it crossed over to #5 on their Mainstream Rock radio list. Internationally, the single topped the chart in Polan...

Let's cross the Atlantic yet again to check out the notable singles and albums reaching the official charts in the UK this week... On the British singles chart , Ed Sheeran continues to hold the #1 and #2 spots with "Shape Of You" and "Castle On The Hill" for a third week. British rapper Tinie Tempah returns with the highest debut of the week at #35 with "Text From Your Ex" featuring American R&B singer Tinashe. The fourth single from his upcoming album Youth becomes his 23rd top-40 hit in the UK... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

" Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over) " - Technotronic from the album Pump Up The Jam (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 12 Today's song of the day comes from the Dutch electro-dance act Technotronic, who pulled a "Milli Vanilli" on the world with their debut single " Pump Up The Jam ", pretending to have vocals done by a model named Felly, but were forgiven much more easily. Their infectious second release was "Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)", and even though rapper/singer Ya Kid K (aka Manuela Kamosi) is now front and center in the music video, Felly wasn't just discarded but makes her own dancing cameo, along with the group's nominal leader, Jo Bogaert... "Get Up" became Technotronic's second top ten pop hit in the U.S. in April of 1990. The song also climbed to #27 on Billboard 's R&B chart. The 12" Remix single was huge in the clubs, spending four weeks...

Friday's here, and it's time to run down my top 100 tunes from the previous week. British blues singer Rag N' Bone Man climbs to the #1 spot, while fellow countrymen Clean Bandit and Anne-Marie (pictured above) leap into the top five. Songs from Sia, Vassy, and DNCE make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red ), while former big hits from the Head and the Heart, Tony Moran/Jason Walker, and Ro James drop off. Well, one week into this trip to Armageddon... This Week               Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Human - Rag N' Bone Man (2) 2. Water Under The Bridge - Adele (4) 3. Waste A Moment - Kings Of Leon (1) 4. Rockabye - Clean Bandit f/Anne-Marie & Sean Paul (8) 5. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars (3) 6. Don't Wanna Know - Maroon 5 f/Kendrick Lamar (6) 7. The Greatest - Sia f/Kendr...

" Personal Jesus " - Depeche Mode from the album Violator (1990) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #28 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 6 Today's song of the day comes from the British new wave group Depeche Mode , who were insanely popular in their home country and throughout Europe through the 80s, but aside from their top-20 pop hit " People Are People " in the summer of 1985, they were mostly avoided by mainstream American radio. However their popularity with the youth was growing exponentially, as proven by their sell-out show in the Rose Bowl in L.A. At the time, their Music For The Masses album produced a moderate hit with " Strangelove ", which entered the Hot 100 twice. Embraced by the growing power of college/modern rock radio and the goth culture in America, they were poised for more success with their first album of the new decade, Violator . The first single, though, was a striking opening salvo; "Personal Jesus", written by the gr...

Let's head Down Under to check out the singles and albums from local artists making the charts in Australia this week... On the Australian Artists Singles chart , newcomer Starley takes her international hit " Call On Me " to #1... Electrodance duo Slumberjack, from the western city of Perth, land at #17 with "Fracture", featuring vocals from Vera Blue... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

" Here and Now " - Luther Vandross from the album The Best Of Luther Vandross...The Best Of Love (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 15 Today's song of the day comes from soul singer Luther Vandross , who had enjoyed a moderately successful career throughout the 80's after leaving the disco group Change. He had racked up five top-40 pop hits (as well as 17 top-40's on the R&B list). Most of those fell into the uptempo adult-soul (like his bubbly " She Won't Talk To Me " from the spring of 1989) and post-disco genres. In 1989 he released a double-CD/LP greatest hits compilation, The Best Of Luther Vandross...The Best Of Love . The set contained two new tracks; the first, "Here And Now", was a sweet wedding-ready love ballad written by David Elliott and Terry Steele, and produced by Luther with long-time helmsman Marcus Miller. Mainstream radio took to this song right away, fitting it in as their req...

Here's the top ten hits in Germany this week, according to their official singles chart , as Englishman Ed Sheeran remains on top for a second week.... 1. " Shape Of You " - Ed Sheeran (1) 2. " Rockabye " - Clean Bandit featuring Anne-Marie & Sean Paul (3) 3. " Castle On The Hill " - Ed Sheeran (2) 4. " Alone " - Alan Walker (4) 5. " Chöre " - Mark Forster (5) 6. " I Don't Wanna Live Forever " - Zayn & Taylor Swift (9) 7. " Shed A Light " - Robin Schulz & David Guetta featuring Cheat Codes (7) 8. "Never Give Up" - Sia (DEBUT) 9. "Call On Me" - Starley (DEBUT) 10. " Starboy " - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk (8) Australian pop singer/songwriter Sia enters the top ten at #8 with her contribution to the film Lion starring Nicole Kidman, "Never Give Up". It's her lucky seventh top ten hit in this country... (Click below to see the rest o...

" Sacrifice " - Elton John from the album Sleeping With The Past (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #18 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 9 Today's song of the day is by Elton John , whose album Sleeping With The Past had already earned him a top-20 pop hit in the U.S. with " Healing Hands " in the fall of 1989. The second single from the set was for many (including me) his best of the latter half of the decade. "Sacrifice", written by Elton with his longtime lyrical collaborator Bernie Taupin, flourished about the state of a broken relationship where some seek solace in infidelity. As opposed to the usual angry or heartbroken takes on the subject, Elton is rather resigned about it, more observational than judgy... "Sacrifice" became the second top-20 American pop hit from Sleeping With The Past in March of 1990. The song was a huge hit on Adult Contemporary (or "easy listening") radio, spending four weeks at #3 on the cha...

Here's the top ten hits in France this week, according to their official singles chart , as Ed Sheeran spends a second week at #1 with "Shape Of You"... 1. " Shape Of You " - Ed Sheeran (1) 2. " Je M'en Vais " - Vianney (2) 3. " I Feel It Coming " - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk (5) 4. " Rockabye " - Clean Bandit featuring Anne-Marie & Sean Paul (4) 5. " Human " - Rag N' Bone Man (6) 6. " Tuesday " - Barak Yeter featuring Danelle Sandoval (7) 7. " Lost On You " - LP (8) 8. "Bazardée" - Keblack (DEBUT) 9. "Mula" - Siboy featuring Booba (DEBUT) 10. "Nervous" - Gavin James (DEBUT) A single I featured a couple weeks back, "Bezardee'" by rapper/singer Keblack, leaps into the top ten at #8 from #24... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

" Just A Friend " - Biz Markie from the album The Biz Never Sleeps (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 11 Today's song of the day comes from comic rapper Biz Markie , who was born in New Jersey but moved to Long Island as a child. He released his debut album in 1988, and from it had two minor but seminal R&B hits with " Make The Music With Your Mouth " (#84) and " Vapors " (#80). But it was the sample-heavy sophomore effort, The Biz Never Sleeps , that gave him his biggest success. "Just A Friend", a story-joke track about catching a love interest with someone supposedly "friendzoned", sampled the hook from a moderate soul hit from Freddie Scott in 1968, "(You) Got What I Need". And the video, having Biz dress up like Mozart, was one of the most memorable rap clips of the turn of the decade... "Just A Friend" became Biz's sole pop hit, reaching the top ten in Ma...

It's time to head across the Atlantic to check out the singles and albums reaching the charts in the UK this week... On the official singles chart in Britain, Ed Sheeran's one-two punch with " Shape Of You " and " Castle On The Hill " remains intact for a second week... The Chainsmokers return at #10 with their brand-new single "Paris". The American duo recruit singer/songwriter Emily Warren (uncredited though). She wrote their single "Don't Let Me Down", the first of their three British top ten hits (including this one)... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

" There's A Party Going On " - Yvonne from the cassingle release (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #88 This week's "robbed hit" comes from dance music singer Yvonne (DeLeon), who wasn't one of the big artists of the Latin freestyle music movement, but had one of the more enjoyable and regionally successful singles with "There's A Party Going On". Written by Elis Pacheco, who produced the song with popular DJ Glen Friscia and Joe Lodi, the mixture of that genre's drama with house music's churning bassline made the club track a classic in the New York area... "There's A Party Going On" only made it to the bottom region of the pop chart in the U.S. in February of 1990, but it stuck around the charts for over two months. It would be her only success nationally, though in the New York area she got airplay with her follow-up single  " I Can't Face The Fact ". (Click below to see the rest of the p...

" Love Will Lead You Back " - Taylor Dayne from the album Can't Fight Fate (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 15 Today's song of the day comes from dance-pop singer Taylor Dayne , whose sophomore effort Can't Fight Fate had landed her a fifth consecutive top-ten pop hit on " With Every Beat Of My Heart " in the winter of 1989. The second single from the record would be her grandest ballad, "Love Will Lead You Back". Written by one of the biggest songwriters of the decade, Diane Warren, it drew on the "if you love something, set it free" credo, while the production put her directly away from the clubs into Michael Bolton soft-pop territory... "Love Will Lead You Back" became Taylor's sole #1 pop hit in April of 1990. The single also spent a week atop Billboard magazine's Adult Contemporary (or "easy listening") radio chart. Internationally, the song went to #2 i...

" Black Velvet " - Alannah Myles from the album Alannah Myles (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (two weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 15 Today's song of the day comes from Canadian rock artist Alannah Myles , who changed her surname from Byles (her dad's a radio biggie in the country) before embarking on a music career, recording demos and commercials before releasing her debut album in 1989. While in her native country the single "Love Is" was released first, in the States her homage to the "King", "Black Velvet", written by producer David Tyson and boyfriend Christopher Ward, had the aura of Elvis infused into a love interest Alannah sings about with a strut that gives us blues with a bit more sensuality, and it was a sign of what was to come in the next decade when a song eschewing the new wave synths and freestyle groove was going to the top of the charts. "Black Velvet" became Alannah's first hit in America and...

" No Myth " - Michael Penn from the album March (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 10 Today's song of the day comes from singer/songwriter Michael Penn , who is the older brother of actor Sean Penn (and the late Chris Penn). He did a little acting work himself, but his biggest success came on the release of his debut album March in 1989. The first single from the record, "No Myth", was a catchy piece of jangle-pop that used a baroque electronic keyboard called a Chamberlin. The lyrics remind me of a slowed down Difford & Tilbrook Squeeze track... "No Myth" became Michael's sole top-40 pop hit in March of 1990. The song climbed to #4 on Billboard 's Modern Rock radio chart, while it also made it to #5 on their Mainstream Rock list. It crossed over to the Adult Contemporary (or "easy listening") chart at #22. His second single from March , " This & That ", was a respectabl...

Friday's here, and it's time to run down my top 100 tunes from the previous week. Brotherly rockers Kings Of Leon climb to #1, while Adele (pictured above) leaps into the top ten. A former big hit from Pet Shop Boys drops out, while songs from Green Day, DNCE, and Dustin Lynch make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red ). May we protect each other in these times of trouble... This Week                Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Waste A Moment - Kings Of Leon (2) 2. Human - Rag N' Bone Man (5) 3. 24K Magic - Bruno Mars (1) 4. Water Under The Bridge - Adele (6) 5. Starboy - The Weeknd f/Daft Punk (3) 6. Don't Wanna Know - Maroon 5 f/Kendrick Lamar (4) 7. The Greatest - Sia f/Kendrick Lamar (11) 8. Rockabye - Clean Bandit f/Anne-Marie & Sean Paul (18) 9. Dirty Laundry - Carrie Underwood (13) 10...

" Sometimes She Cries " - Warrant from the album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #20 (two weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 9 Today's song of the day comes from the glam metal band Warrant , whose debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich has spun off a top-40 pop hit with " Down Boys ", followed by the power-ballad " Heaven " which peaked at #2 on the American Hot 100 singles chart. A third single, the uptempo " Big Talk ", went to #30 on the rock radio chart and was a minor pop hit at #93. They slowed things down again for the fourth release, "Sometimes She Cries". Written by lead singer Jani Lane, the by-the-book power-ballad touched all the bases in the "girl getting done wrong" narrative, somehow naming the girl "Mercy"... "Sometimes She Cries" became the third top-40 pop hit from DRFSR in March of 1990. The single also climbed to #11 on Billboard '...

Let's head Down Under to check out the local artists making the albums and singles chart in Australia this week... On the Australian Artists' Singles chart , dance act Peking Duk hold tight at #1 with " Stranger "... International pop superstar Sia returns at #7 with "Move Your Body"... Meanwhile, on the local artists' Albums Chart , Keith Urban remains on top with Ripcord ... Another country singer, Ashleigh Dallas, lands at #15 with Lighthouse ...

" Too Late To Say Goodbye " - Richard Marx from the album Repeat Offender (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12 (two weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 9 Today's song of the day is by pop singer/songwriter Richard Marx , whose second album Repeat Offender was living up to its name so far, spinning off three big hits with " Angelia " and a pair of #1's in " Satisfied " and " Right Here Waiting ". The fourth single from the album would be probably his most straightforward "rock" single, "Too Late To Say Goodbye". Written by Marx with Fee Waybill from the new wave group The Tubes (which may explain the frantic pace of the tune), the song didn't really set any new ground in pop music in general, but for him it was a stretch... "Too Late To Say Goodbye" became Richard's first pop radio single to miss the top ten on the U.S. Hot 100, though only by two spots, in March of 1990. (Another track from the a...

Here's the top ten hits in Germany this week, according to their official singles chart , as British ex-busker Ed Sheeran takes over the top two spots... 1. "Shape Of You" - Ed Sheeran (DEBUT) 2. "Castle On The Hill" - Ed Sheeran (DEBUT) 3. " Rockabye " - Clean Bandit featuring Anne-Marie & Sean Paul (1) 4. " Alone " - Alan Walker (4) 5. " Chöre " - Mark Forster (2) 6. " Human " - Rag N' Bone Man (3) 7. " Shed A Light " - Robin Schulz & David Guetta featuring Cheat Codes (6) 8. " Starboy " - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk (5) 9. "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" - Zayn & Taylor Swift (DEBUT) 10. " Bad Ideas " - Alle Farben (7) As in France, Sheeran lands his first #1 single in this country with "Shape Of You", one of two songs from his forthcoming album ÷ that jumps on to the chart... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

" Woman In Chains " - Tears For Fears from the album The Seeds Of Love (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 2 Today's song of the day comes from the English new wave act Tears For Fears , whose lush lead single from their third album, " Sowing The Seeds Of Love ", returned them to the top-5 on the American pop chart in the fall of 1989.  The second single featured a jazz-soul artist that was recording and performing with them at the time, Oleta Adams. She imparts a special emotion to "Woman In Chains", written by TFF's Roland Orzabal who trades verses with her, and transforms a simple meditation on the need for female empowerment into an almost religious experience by the end of the record. Phil Collins was also hired on the play the drums on the song, but it's the fluid bass and the repeating flute-ish sounds that dominate the background jungle-like rumbling of the track... "Woman In Chains...

Here's the top ten hits in France this week, according to their official singles chart , as British pop singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran scores his first #1 hit... 1. "Shape Of You" - Ed Sheeran (DEBUT) 2. " Je M'en Vais " - Vianney (5) 3. "Castle On The Hill" - Ed Sheeran (DEBUT) 4. " Rockabye " - Clean Bandit featuring Anne-Marie & Sean Paul (4) 5. " I Feel It Coming " - The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk (1) 6. " Human " - Rag N' Bone Man (2) 7. " Tuesday " - Burak Yeter featuring Danelle Sandoval (7) 8. " Lost On You " - LP (3) 9. " 24K Magic " - Bruno Mars (6) 10. "Pour Mieux S'Aimer" - Patrick Fiori (DEBUT) Sheeran tops the list for the first time in this country with "Shape of You" from his upcoming ÷ album. He has said he originally wrote it for Rihanna, but ended up keeping the track for himself... (Click below to see the rest of the...

" C'mon & Get My Love " - D-Mob f/Cathy Dennis from the albums A Little Bit Of This, A Little Bit Of That (D-Mob, 1989), Move To This (Cathy Dennis, 1990), and She-Devil (Original Soundtrack) (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 12 Today's song of the day comes from British DJ/producer Dennis Poku, who as "Dancin' Danny D" records under the moniker D-Mob. In 1988, he released his debut single " We Call It Acieeed " with Gary Haisman, which introduced that style of house music made popular in Britain. The record went to #3 in the UK and ended up crossing the shores to top the American dance chart by the spring of 1989. A second release, " It's Time To Get Funky " (featuring LRS), also made the top-10 in the UK (#9) and #1 on the US Dance chart. But it was the third release that exposed Dennis to a broader audience. "C'mon and Get My Love", written by Poku, was more of a str...