US

There is always a Song of Summer. There was one last year, despite both the travails of pop music and the insanity of the (can’t-go-) outside world. The real question is whether there will be depth. In music’s best summers, 1979 for instance, there are so many great choices that some big radio hits aren’t even considered contenders to be the Song of Summer. A summer of great music is the summer we all need this year. Providing a better soundtrack is the thing that radio can do for audiences to prove their ongoing value. Having enough Summer Song candidates for a photo finish on Labor Day weekend gives music a place in the cultural conversation and radio a place in helping drive it. As recently as 10 days ago, I was having a conversation with a radio person about available current product. “Where are all those major releases that you said were going to start flowing in every Friday?” he asked. Only one uptempo song of the sort geared for summer dominance was climbing the charts at that moment — Doja Cat f/Sza’s “Kiss Me More.” But BTS’s “Butter” is out tomorrow. Maybe Marshmello/Jonas Brothers too. PDs are also expecting new Ed Sheeran and Jason Derulo/Tesher.Last year, I declared “Watermelon Sugar” the Song of Summer 2020. Some readers felt strongly that it was “Blinding Lights.” (I always try to go with a song from summer; as it turns out, there were greater slights for the Weeknd in store.) This summer, Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” is resurgent, and will likely be in power rotation well into the summer. I’m good with that; it went away in February before I was ready.Last summer, Lipa was waiting for “Don’t Start Now” to run its course while “Break My Heart” was scaling the charts, bolstering her place in a not-crowded-enough field of CHR hitmakers. To some extent, good things have already happened for the other top Summer Song contenders. “Kiss Me More” has cemented Doja Cat as an artist beyond “Say So.” “Butter,” even before its release, has made CHR eager to play a superstar act that they were skeptical about, even as “Dynamite” climbed the charts last year.On the Summer Energy 2021 playlist unveiled here a few weeks ago, we’re up to 60 uptempo or summer-feeling songs, including all the current songs mentioned in this week’s column. Some songs are in play already at radio, or already hits elsewhere in the world. Some just ought to be. I’ll be adding to the playlist throughout the summer. If you’ve been following our 15 years of Song of Summer columns, you know I feel that a true “Song of Summer” should be uptempo, or at least breezy/tropical or summer-themed. Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” certainly counts as summer-themed/summer-feeling. So do Kali Uchis’s “Telepatia” and Anitta’s “Girl From Rio.” And ROR readers, less hung-up than I am on this topic, advocated for Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut In The Ocean,” Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” and “Leave the Door Open” as well, although I’m particularly curious about the next Silk Sonic single as well.A number of ROR readers felt that “WAP” was the Song of Summer 2020, even without radio’s full acknowledgment. This year, Cardi B’s “Up” is geared for summer and just cracking top 20 pop at this writing. Saweetie f/Doja Cat’s “Best Friend” is just about to crack top 10 pop, while her even-more-uptempo “Fast (Motion)” is already in play at Hip-Hop and Rhythmic Top 40.  I have felt for months that if Nelly & Florida Georgia Line’s “Lil Bit” hung in there until Memorial Day that it would be a Song of the Summer contender. It would also be not just a song that broke from radio, as opposed to streaming, but a song that broke from secondary-market radio, something we haven’t seen in too long a while. Another pop/country collaboration, Elle King & Miranda Lambert’s “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” is climbing the Adult Top 40 chart. There are no firm plans yet for it at Mainstream CHR yet. It will definitely be worked at Country now, giving it a shot at the same sort of multi-format lateral support that helped “The Bones” by Maren Morris.In the last few weeks, Regard f/Troye Sivan & Tate McRae’s “You,” Riton x Nightcrawlers f/Musafa & Hypeman’s “Friday,” and Joel Corry, Rae & David Guetta’s “Bed,” all proven international hits, have already lined up in formation. Having multiple dance/pop hits was a big part of CHR’s 1997 comeback. In the radio summer we need, dance hits won’t be fighting for one or two slots. So also listen to Afrojack & David Guetta’s “Hero.” Summer songs have always been a way to propel acts back into contention at CHR, from Kid Rock to Enrique Iglesias. Coldplay’s “Higher Power” isn’t an obvious “All Summer Long”-type bid, but does harness the ‘80s appeal that drove “Blinding Lights.” Onerepublic’s “Run” is right next to Coldplay on Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits and has an early supporter at KLLC (Alice 97.3) San Francisco. They’re not intended for CHR, but yesterday afternoon, there were new singles from Duran Duran (“Invisible”), Garbage (“Wolves”), and Aly & AJ (“Pretty Places”). I predicted last Memorial Day that the Song of Summer 2020 might not exist yet but might be a phenomenon that developed at the speed of streaming. That prophecy had to wait for January and “Driver’s License” to be fulfilled. Now, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” is off and running, even with “Déjà Vu” still growing.” There are also a number of PDs already advocating for Bella Poarch’s “Build a Bitch” as the next phenomenal record to emerge from streaming.From the pop/punk intersection, there’s also Illenium and Iann Dior’s “First Time” and All Time Low’s “Once in a Lifetime,” following up their “Monsters” breakthrough. There’s the well-timed “Cloud 9” by Beach Bunny. There are a half-dozen other viable Alternative titles on the Summer Energy 2021 playlist,  although, as usual, those that cross may take longer than three months to get here. One particular left-field favorite is the Maine’s “Sticky.”Country has always had its own suite of summer song candidates. This year, I’m going to give them their own story. Look for “Handicapping the Country Summer Song of 2021,” and some thoughts about the landscape challenges that entails, next week. That’s my list of Summer Song candidates. What are yours? Here’s to a better summer for all.   […]

There is always a Song of Summer. There was one last year, despite both the travails of pop music and the insanity of the (can’t-go-) outside world. The real question is whether there will be depth. In music’s best summers, 1979 for instance, there are so many great choices that some big radio hits aren’t even considered contenders to be the Song of Summer. A summer of great music is the summer we all need this year. Providing a better soundtrack is the thing that radio can do for audiences to prove their ongoing value. Having enough Summer Song candidates for a photo finish on Labor Day weekend gives music a place in the cultural conversation and radio a place in helping drive it. As recently as 10 days ago, I was having a conversation with a radio person about available current product. “Where are all those major releases that you said were going to start flowing in every Friday?” he asked. Only one uptempo song of the sort geared for summer dominance was climbing the charts at that moment — Doja Cat f/Sza’s “Kiss Me More.” But BTS’s “Butter” is out tomorrow. Maybe Marshmello/Jonas Brothers too. PDs are also expecting new Ed Sheeran and Jason Derulo/Tesher.Last year, I declared “Watermelon Sugar” the Song of Summer 2020. Some readers felt strongly that it was “Blinding Lights.” (I always try to go with a song from summer; as it turns out, there were greater slights for the Weeknd in store.) This summer, Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” is resurgent, and will likely be in power rotation well into the summer. I’m good with that; it went away in February before I was ready.Last summer, Lipa was waiting for “Don’t Start Now” to run its course while “Break My Heart” was scaling the charts, bolstering her place in a not-crowded-enough field of CHR hitmakers. To some extent, good things have already happened for the other top Summer Song contenders. “Kiss Me More” has cemented Doja Cat as an artist beyond “Say So.” “Butter,” even before its release, has made CHR eager to play a superstar act that they were skeptical about, even as “Dynamite” climbed the charts last year.On the Summer Energy 2021 playlist unveiled here a few weeks ago, we’re up to 60 uptempo or summer-feeling songs, including all the current songs mentioned in this week’s column. Some songs are in play already at radio, or already hits elsewhere in the world. Some just ought to be. I’ll be adding to the playlist throughout the summer. If you’ve been following our 15 years of Song of Summer columns, you know I feel that a true “Song of Summer” should be uptempo, or at least breezy/tropical or summer-themed. Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” certainly counts as summer-themed/summer-feeling. So do Kali Uchis’s “Telepatia” and Anitta’s “Girl From Rio.” And ROR readers, less hung-up than I am on this topic, advocated for Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut In The Ocean,” Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” and “Leave the Door Open” as well, although I’m particularly curious about the next Silk Sonic single as well.A number of ROR readers felt that “WAP” was the Song of Summer 2020, even without radio’s full acknowledgment. This year, Cardi B’s “Up” is geared for summer and just cracking top 20 pop at this writing. Saweetie f/Doja Cat’s “Best Friend” is just about to crack top 10 pop, while her even-more-uptempo “Fast (Motion)” is already in play at Hip-Hop and Rhythmic Top 40.  I have felt for months that if Nelly & Florida Georgia Line’s “Lil Bit” hung in there until Memorial Day that it would be a Song of the Summer contender. It would also be not just a song that broke from radio, as opposed to streaming, but a song that broke from secondary-market radio, something we haven’t seen in too long a while. Another pop/country collaboration, Elle King & Miranda Lambert’s “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” is climbing the Adult Top 40 chart. There are no firm plans yet for it at Mainstream CHR yet. It will definitely be worked at Country now, giving it a shot at the same sort of multi-format lateral support that helped “The Bones” by Maren Morris.In the last few weeks, Regard f/Troye Sivan & Tate McRae’s “You,” Riton x Nightcrawlers f/Musafa & Hypeman’s “Friday,” and Joel Corry, Rae & David Guetta’s “Bed,” all proven international hits, have already lined up in formation. Having multiple dance/pop hits was a big part of CHR’s 1997 comeback. In the radio summer we need, dance hits won’t be fighting for one or two slots. So also listen to Afrojack & David Guetta’s “Hero.” Summer songs have always been a way to propel acts back into contention at CHR, from Kid Rock to Enrique Iglesias. Coldplay’s “Higher Power” isn’t an obvious “All Summer Long”-type bid, but does harness the ‘80s appeal that drove “Blinding Lights.” Onerepublic’s “Run” is right next to Coldplay on Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits and has an early supporter at KLLC (Alice 97.3) San Francisco. They’re not intended for CHR, but yesterday afternoon, there were new singles from Duran Duran (“Invisible”), Garbage (“Wolves”), and Aly & AJ (“Pretty Places”). I predicted last Memorial Day that the Song of Summer 2020 might not exist yet but might be a phenomenon that developed at the speed of streaming. That prophecy had to wait for January and “Driver’s License” to be fulfilled. Now, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” is off and running, even with “Déjà Vu” still growing.” There are also a number of PDs already advocating for Bella Poarch’s “Build a Bitch” as the next phenomenal record to emerge from streaming.From the pop/punk intersection, there’s also Illenium and Iann Dior’s “First Time” and All Time Low’s “Once in a Lifetime,” following up their “Monsters” breakthrough. There’s the well-timed “Cloud 9” by Beach Bunny. There are a half-dozen other viable Alternative titles on the Summer Energy 2021 playlist,  although, as usual, those that cross may take longer than three months to get here. One particular left-field favorite is the Maine’s “Sticky.”Country has always had its own suite of summer song candidates. This year, I’m going to give them their own story. Look for “Handicapping the Country Summer Song of 2021,” and some thoughts about the landscape challenges that entails, next week. That’s my list of Summer Song candidates. What are yours? Here’s to a better summer for all.   […]

Educational Media Foundation Christian AC “K-Love” has announced the addition of Lauree Austin as midday host.Austin, who will air from 12-4pm eastern/9am-1pm pacific, joins EMF from co-hosting afternoons at 90.9 KCBI-FM Dallas. She joined KCBI in September 2017 from Christian marketing firm i58:10 Media. She also currently tracks middays for Christian CHR “NGen Radio” 91.7 KXNG Houston and previously tracked mornings from 2018-2020 for “Project 88.7” KOAY Boise.The Oregon native will be based at EMF’s new headquarters in Franklin TN.K-LOVE, the nation’s largest non-commercial contemporary Christian radio network, is expanding its on-air lineup to include Lauree Austin as mid-day host beginning in June 2021.Lauree will round out the K-LOVE DJ roster, joining Skip & Amy, Scott & Kelli, Randi, Monika, and Alex, sharing positive and encouraging music and messages, broadcast in all 50 states and streaming worldwide.Prior to joining K-LOVE, Lauree was on Afternoons with Lauree & Doug on KCBI FM serving the Dallas-Ft. Worth community.“I am beyond excited to join the K-LOVE team!” Lauree said. “Isn’t that totally God, to take this girl off the foreign mission field and put her behind the mic to continue to share the good news all over this country and around the world?!”K-LOVE Program Director Mandy Young is glad to bring Lauree on board. “Audiences really connect with Lauree and her transparency, humility, humor, genuine conversations and thought-provoking questions,” Mandy said. “We know our listeners will love her, and our internal team is thrilled to start working with her as well.”Lauree will work out of the K-LOVE studio in Franklin, Tenn. […]

Kent Frandsen’s Canyon Media Group is expanding in St. George UT with the purchase of Oldies 1490 KZEZ/100.7 K264CT Santa Clara and 102.7 K274CQ St. George from B. Ray Carpenter’s Tri-Star Media for $325,000. An LMA will take effect shortly giving Canyon Media its eighth brand in the market.Christopher Jacky and Thomas Hodgins’ Xana Oregon purchases Classic Country “104.5 Hank-FM” KNHK-FM Newport and Regional Mexican “Ke Buena 95.7” 1330 KYOZ/95.7 K239CL Spokane from Legend Broadcasting for $350,000.Centro Christiano Amistad Church will acquire Regional Mexican 93.3 KNTO Chowchilla and 106.1 KCFA Arnold CA from La Favorita Radio Network for $1.8 million with KCFA valued at $1 million and KNTO at $800,000. The buyer owns Spanish Christian “El Buen Samaritino” 102.3 KBLO Corcoran/Visalia.Dockins Communications will purchase Oldies 900 WOZK/104.9 WOAB and the CP for 98.3 W252DV Ozark AL from Ozark Broadcasting Corporation for $125,000. Dockins owns seventeen stations in Florida and Missouri.Expression Production Group sells 92.3 WHKQ Louisa KY to Main Street Industries for $350,000. WHKQ currently airs programming from Educational Media Foundation’s Christian AC “K-Love” network.Educational Media Foundation sells “Air 1” 89.3 WSHA South Charleston WV to Positive Alternative Radio for $100,000. The EMF network will continue to be heard in the market on 88.9 W205CG Charleston. WSHA will likely join PAR’s “Walk-FM” Christian AC network based in Charleston and currently heard on 1110 WYMW Hurricane/99.3 W257EK Charleston.EMF also acquires 93.1 WSAA Benton/Cleveland TN from WSAA LLC for $550,000. WSAA has aired “Air 1” programming since 2011.Translator SalesRedwood Empire Stereocasters adds to its Santa Rosa CA cluster with the purchase of 102.5 K273CU Petaluma from California Broadcasting Company for $95,000. K273CU, which currently rebroadcasts Regional Mexican “La Z” 1490 KZNB Petaluma, will switch to rebroadcasting Classic Hits “102.7 The Wolf” KWVF Guerneville via 93.7 KBBL-HD3.Central Valley Broadcasting Company acquires 96.3 K242AT Salinas, 100.9 K265CY San Jose and 103.1 K276BR Santa Cruz CA from Susan Bushell for $240,000. The translators all rebroadcast the buyer’s Christian AC “Celebration Radio” 101.5 KAMB Merced.Prunedale Educational Association sells 97.3 K247BL Tularcitos & Carmel CA to Monterey County Broadcasters for $30,000. The translator will rebroadcast El Sembrador Ministries’ 880 KKMC Gonzales.Family Life Ministries sells 101.5 W268BB State College PA to Pat ‘DJ Grooves’ Cerullo’s Major Keystone LLC for $25,000. The translator will continue to rebroadcast Family Life’s recently acquired 88.3 WCOB (formerly WKDN-FM) State College for now. […]

The fourth and final day of Nielsen Audio’s PPM releases bring Austin, Raleigh/Durham, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.All the numbers can be found at RadioInsight.com/Ratings.Waterloo Media Variety Hits “103.5 Bob-FM” KBPA stays on top in Austin as it trends back up 8.5 – 9.3 – 9.6. Public News/Talk 90.1 KUT moves up to second steady at an 8.9 share. Audacy AC “Majic 95.5” KKMJ plummets 10.6 – 9.0 – 6.6 to fall to third.AAA 98.9 KUTX rises 4.4 to 4.9 for what Ratings Expert Chris Huff notes is an all-time record for the station. Also trending up in Austin are iHeartMedia Rhythmic CHR “102.3 The Beat” KPEZ (3.0 – 3.8 – 4.2) and CHR “96.7 Kiss-FM” KHFI (2.7 – 2.4 – 3.2). Genuine Austin Radio Country 99.3 KOKE-FM rises 1.4 to 2.6. Waterloo Media Hot AC “Lucy 93.3” KGSR is up 1.7 to 2.4 for its highest share since January 2020 which was three brand/format shifts ago.Public News/Talk 91.5 WUNC-FM leads Raleigh up 9.1 to 9.6. Curtis Media Variety Hits “96.1 BBB” WBBB is right behind up 8.6 to 8.9. Radio One Adult R&B “Foxy 107.1/104.3” WFXC/WFXK is third up 6.9 to 7.5 and Capitol Broadcasting AC “Mix 101.5” WRAL-FM is fourth up 7.0 to 7.4.Curtis Media Country 94.7 WQDR trends up 4.4 – 4.8 – 5.1, while Radio One Gospel “103.9 The Light” WNNL slides 5.0 – 4.2 – 3.2.Cumulus Classic Hits 104.5 WJJK rises up 9.8 – 10.0 – 10.8 to retain the Indianapolis lead by a sizable margin. Emmis AC “B105.7” WYXB rebounds 8.6 – 6.4 – 7.1 to move up to second. iHeartMedia Classic Rock “Q95” WFBQ is third down 7.2 – 6.6, while Emmis News/Talk 93.1 WIBC-FM trends down 8.2 – 7.2 – 6.6.Emmis Sports “93.5/107.5 The Fan” 1070 WFNI trends up 4.2 – 4.7 – 5.9 for what Huff notes is the highest share since its 2008 flip to Sports. also trending up in Indianapolis are Cumulus CHR 99.5 WZPL (3.7 – 4.3 – 4.9) and Sarkes Tarzian AAA 92.3 WTTS (3.7 – 4.3 – 4.8).The Milwaukee Brewers are yet another MLB team to help their flagship station surge this month. Good Karma News/Talk 620/103.3 WTMJ regains the market lead jumping up over four share points 5.6 to 9.7. iHeartMedia Classic Hits “95.7 Big-FM” WRIT rises to second 7.6 to 8.0. Saga Classic Rock “Hometown Rock 96.5” WKLH falls 8.8 to 7.8. iHeartMedia Conservative Talk 1130 WISN trends down 9.4 – 8.0 – 7.4, while Saga Rock “102.9 The Hog” WHQG drops 8.0 to 7.0.iHeartMedia Country 106.1 WMIL also takes a sizable jump moving 5.4 to 6.9. Saga’s “Pure Oldies 106.9” WRXS debuts down 1.2 to 0.7.Midwest Variety Hits “96.3 Jack-FM” WCJK (9.3 to 8.7) and AC “Mix 92.9” WJXA (7.9 to 8.1) take the top two spots in Nashville. Cumulus Conservative Talk “99.7 WTN” WWTN rises 6.9 to 7.1 for what Huff notes is a record high for the station.iHeartMedia Hip Hop “101.1 The Beat” WUBT jumps 4.8 to 6.2, while Cumulus Country “95.5 Nash Icon” WSM-FM is up 4.6 to 6.0.iHeartMedia Rock 94.1 WHJY leads Providence despite a 9.2 to 8.4 drop. Hall Communications’ “Cat Country 98.1” WCTK falls 9.0 – 8.1 – 7.5. Cumulus AC “Lite 105” WWLI is down 7.3 to 7.0.Audacy Adult R&B “95.7 R&B” WVKL holds a near seven share point lead in Norfolk with a 13.4 to 13.3 move. Sinclair Variety Hits “93.7 Bob-FM” WNOB trends down 7.9 – 7.0 – 6.6. iHeartMedia Hip Hop “103 Jams” WOWI is third down 5.9 to 5.5. Saga Classic Rock “106.9 The Fox” WAFX trends up to fourth 4.0 – 4.6 – 5.3.Cox Classic Rock “96.9 The Eagle” WJGL trends up 9.0 – 9.6 – 10.3 with Huff noting that is its highest share since 1982 as CHR WAIV. Renda AC 96.1 WEJZ holds in second up 9.0 to 9.9. Cox News/Talk 104.5 WOKV-FM is fourth down 7.9 to 7.8, while sister Soft AC “Easy 102.9” WEZI rises 6.1 to 7.2.Hubbard Hot AC 97.9 WRMF jumps up 8.4 to 10.4 to lead West Palm Beach. iHeartMedia AC “Kool 105.5” WOLL is second down 7.6 to 7.4, while sister Classic Rock “Gater 98.7” WKGR riues to third 5.3 to 5.9. Hubbard Classic Hits “107.9 Sunny-FM” WEAT falls 6.8 to 5.8, while their Adult R&B “X102.3” WMBX trends up 3.7 – 4.1 – 5.1.iHeartMedia Adult R&B “V101” KJMS remains on top in Memphis up 9.5 to 9.9. Co-owned Gospel “95.7 Hallelujah-FM” WHAL-FM rebounds 8.0 to 9.3 to tie for second with Cumulus Adult R&B 103.5 WRBO (steady at 9.3).iHeartMedia’s R&B Oldies 1070 WDIA trends up 3.1 – 3.5 – 4.6 and Classic Rock “Rock 103” WEGR moves up 3.3 – 3.5 – 4.4. Cumulus Country “Kix 106” WGKX jumps 2.7 to 3.7. […]

In recent years, North Americans following the Eurovision Song Contest have been like Americans conversant in Premier League soccer — there seem to be more of them with each year. Certainly there was enough of a following for Will Ferrell’s American-made Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga last year that I remember seeing social-media postings about the movie from friends I thought would have had no interest in it, even as goofy spectacle.Ferrell’s movie was all we had of Eurovision in 2020 because of COVID. Ironically, the 2021 competition, with finals to be held in Rotterdam on May 22, comes as the 2019 winning song, “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence, becomes the first Eurovision winner to become an American hit of any sort in the 45 years since Brotherhood of Man’s “Save Your Kisses for Me” in 1976. Abba’s career-launching “Waterloo” came two years earlier.AccuRadio has two Eurovision-themed channels, both curated by Ewan Spence, who has also helped syndicate the show to U.S. radio at Portuguese-language WJFD New Bedford, Mass., in recent years. Both are built around nominees, not just winners. Eurovision Song Contest Classics plays ‘70s through ‘90s titles. The Music of the Eurovision Song Contest plays contenders from the last 25 years.There is a thru-line between the two channels, the big-production international ballads that often sound as if they could come from 1978 or 2008. In general, the dividing line for the channels happens around the moment when Max Martin made Europop less exotic in the U.S. Both the old and newer station are based on Europop, but the older one conjures memories of when Abba was the sound’s chief representative in the U.S. Even if you didn’t experience 2000s Eurovision contestants, most would not have sounded out of place on the radio here.Here’s an hour of Eurovision Song Contest Classics, as monitored on May 12, 2021:Teach-In, “Ding-a-Dong” (1975, Netherlands contest winner by a male/female act that was more MORish than Abbaesque. But I hear its echoes in Gabrielle’s much hipper ‘90s U.K. hit “When a Woman”);France Gall, “Poupée de Cire, poupée de Son” (1965, Luxembourg contest winner; Bacharach-style ‘60s MOR written by Serge Gainsbourg);Bucks Fizz, “Making Your Mind Up” (1981, UK contest winner; male/female group that recalled early Abba as opposed to their more ambitious songs of the early ‘80s);Johnny Logan, “What’s Another Year” (1980, Irish contest winner. Logan is Eurovision’s only two-time winner as well as the author of a third winner. Even without knowing anything about this song, you’d guess it was from the yacht-rock era, and its sax solo anticipates Spandau Ballet’s “True”);Dana, “All Kinds of Everything” (1970, Irish contest winner; polarizing MOR ballad that is still talked about in Europe the way “You Light Up My Life” is in America;Udo Jurgens, “Merci Chérie” (1966, Austrian winner; lush piano ballad that recalls “Can’t Help Falling in Love”);Linda Martin, “Why Me” (1992, Irish winner, written by aforementioned winner Johnny Logan);Gina G, “Ooh Aah … Just a Little Bit” (1996, UK nominee. Only an eighth-place finisher, but probably better known to readers than most of the winners as the Eurodance hit heard frequently during the first year of Top 40’s American comeback);Swarbriggs, “That’s What Friends Are For” (1975, Irish nominee – midtempo pop with the feel of a ‘70s TV theme);Cliff Richard, “Congratulations” (1968, British nominee.  Uptempo MOR’ish pop that recalls Petula Clark’s two-years-older “My Love”);Toto Cutugno, “Insieme” (1992, Italian winner. You may know him for “L’Italiano,” particularly because a 2004 remake of that song by Angelo Venuto became a hit on WKTU New York);John Teigen, “Mil Etter Mil” (1978, Norway nominee with a George Harrisonesque feel);Sandra Kim, “J’aime La Vie” (1986, Belgian winner, synthpop reminiscent of “Flashdance … What a Feeling”).I enjoyed the ‘70s/’80s Eurovision contenders more than I did most of the more recent titles. The songs I heard in an hour of the newer station covered a lot of familiar styles of the last 20 years — dance/EDM (including two songs with the “Mr. Saxobeat”-style retro-‘20s feel), ukulele-driven acoustic pop, trap pop, Evanescence/Linkin Park-style rock. Surprisingly, I did not hear much of the Euro-flavored turbo-pop that was the highlight of CHR in the late ‘00s/early ‘10s. As Americans have become a little more familiar with Eurovision, I’ve found myself less enthusiastic about the music myself. Beyond “Waterloo,” many of the early Eurovision hits were songs that Americans just didn’t get. Some of the more recent nominees were songs of the sort we already had.The good news is that I really like this year’s Eurovision nominees. Just as dance music has revitalized UK Top 40 in particular, there’s more energy here. There’s a wide range of styles, from the German pre-rock-flavored (but with a message for our times) “I Don’t Feel Hate” by Jendrik to Portugal’s retro-jazz-soul “Love Is on My Side” by Black Mambo. There’s a lot of dance pop, from Shum’s “Go A” (Ukraine) to Albina’s “Tick-Tock” (Croatia) to Benny Cirsto’s “Omaga”(Czech Republic). There’s also a Danish entry by Fyr & Flamme that wouldn’t sound out of place on the original Eurovision channel. You can hear a number of the contenders on my Summer Energy 2021 playlist.  […]