Beyond Radio is the place where music discovery and music nostalgia collide. It is your one-stop source for playlists, music charts, remembrances and recommendations. Our Podcast and music therapy playlists combine elements of nostalgia and discovery, while my blog entries reflect on our musical past through the lens of my personal charts from decades past. I weave a story that includes the connection between artists, chart facts and personal anecdotes that hopefully conjure a connection to the soundtrack of your own life. The current charts and playlists are updated monthly or bi-monthly (bi-weekly for the BR250) and are curated based on a passionate audience that produce their own personal charts weekly.
The final BR250 of 2019 sees Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” retain the #1 slot, beating out newcomer “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd by a huge amount. Over 1300 points separate the 2 songs. She also enters the top 100 at #95 with “Future Nostalgia” another slice of dance-pop that sets her apart from the EDM that has dominated the Pop charts in the last few years.
The Weeknd places a second title in the top 20 with “Heartless”, at that position. He continues the trend of releasing 2 songs to radio, one that leans more R&B/Hip-Hop and one that leans more Pop.
2 titles in top 25 are not enough to dominate the upper region as Harry Styles manages 3. His latest single “Adore You” debuts at #11, the song “Lights Up” falls from its #8 peak last month to #12 and “Watermelon Sugar” jumps from outside the top 100 to #22.
On the Heritage artist front, Alanis Morisette returns after a 7 year hiatus to debut at #13 with another confessional song, “Reasons To Drink”. A new album scheduled for a May 1 release. Other Heritage artists doing well (those who have been around for 20 years plus) include Ozzy Osbourne at #14 with “Under The Graveyard”, #29 “Dreamland” by Pet Shop Boys and Jimmy Eats World’s “All The Way (Stay)” at #30.
While Christmas music doesn’t dominate the Beyond Radio chart like other charts around the world, a new Christmas tune from Taylor Swift, “Christmas Tree Farm”, makes a #33 debut. Thankfully Mariah Carey only manages to come in at #97 this month, even as she sees “All I Want For Christmas Is You” reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its 25 year history (can you tell I don’t like Christmas songs re-entering the charts every year).
