Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The Top 20 of 2015



Well, it's that time of the year again. That time when every music blog and station on the planet issues their own Top 10/20/100/whatever for the twelve months past.

Not being one to be left standing, or having all you listeners and followers wonder why I didn't issue one, I decided to pool everyone's choices (taken from the weekly Top Ten) and compile a This is Lounge Top 20 of 2015. of our own.

I'm sure that you are all in suspense, wondering who made it to number one!

Wait no further, for that honour goes to the Maestro of Chillout, Michael e!!!! I'm sure that you agree, that this man has done so much for the genre. 

Congratulations, Michael! I'd like to think that the honour is truly special, despite the fact that we are still in our infancy as a station (18 months, actually), and your continued support and your grassroots "word-of-mouth" spreads the word about our existence., and continues to help keep us on the air.

So, without further ado, I give you the Top 20 of 2015, plus some Honourable Mentions (in no particular order).





Honourable Mentions



Saturday, December 26, 2015

The Top Ten



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

We're all in holiday mode here at This is Lounge. The music has been programmed and the staff is spending their time with their family.

Therefore, the Top Ten will remain as is for another week. Thanks again for tuning in, and thanks for any generous donations.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

The Top Ten - week ending 19 December 2015


Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas, my fellow loungers!

This is the last Top Ten list before Christmas, so allow me to wish everyone peace and happiness over the holidays. Thank you for tuning in over the year, and enjoying the music. Thank you for supporting the station and the artists we play. Your donations are always welcome in keeping the music alive.

As we head into the final days before Christmas, the chart continues to evolve. St. Germain hits number one, and Daniela Nardi's Espresso Manifesto follows in behind in the number two spot.

Herb Alpert's take on the jazz classic, Take The A Train, continues to enjoy a welcome place on the chart, as it sits at number three.

Christophe Goze enters the chart this week after Bubbing Under for a while, with his breezy, summery tune, The Nightly.

Speaking of Bubbling Under, we have four jazz tracks that are all Canadian artists! We here at the station enjoy bringing the talent of this country to light, and we have three artists with New Releases added this week.

Barbra Lica's recent Christmas CD sees two tracks getting some major airplay - Christmas On The Beach (a fitting title for the music we play here, and Noel a Paris, a song who's sentiments are well understood, no matter what the language is.

Jill Barber is one who has released an album of songs in our other official language, but this month she has blesses us an EP of Standards, of which her cover of the classic 60's song, Sukiyaki, appears. 

Also released just in time for the holidays, local Toronto Smooth Jazz guitarist, Rob Tardik's Moments album sneaks into Bubbling Under, with the song Eros, added to the playlist a couple of days ago.

Once again, a big thank you for your support. We all love something for free, but during this gift-giving season, take a moment to give back, with a donation to the station. Your generosity supports new music, as well as internet costs, and with a planned new website we we'll need continued funds to get that project up and running.

Also, your continued financial support of the artists through your favourite digital media retailers keeps them alive as well. 

Thanks for your word-of-mouth support that brings new listeners. It is always most appreciative when you can spread the word. After all that shopping, take a few minutes to chill. Or listen while preparing that sumptuous Christmas dinner.

Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth..... Imagine.



Bubbling Under


Saturday, December 12, 2015

The Top Ten - week ending 12 December 2015


Between the hectic pace of Christmas shopping, and those dreaded seasonal office parties, thanks for taking some time for yourself, some time to reflect and relax, and tuning into This is Lounge.

As the year draws closer to a close, a heartfelt Happy Holidays to all my personal, web, and Facebook group friends. You are all spread out across this planet, but we share a close kindred spirit in our love of a specialized genre of music. Your love and inspirational posts have helped influence me and the music I play on the station. Thank you....grazie.....merci.....

Now, to the Top Ten.....

This week, Marijan makes it to number one, no doubt he is close to sharing that position with the original artist of the song, Drake.(...who, in turn, is battling it out with Adele on the Pop charts of the world!)

St. Germain slips into number two, and Canadian-Italian Daniela Nardi and her Espresso Manifesto round out the top three. 

As Da Drillah slips below the top ten, Quiet Nights Lounge and their track, Waterfalls, makes the well-deserved move into the chart from it's Bubbling Under position. 

Seeing that is tis the season, what better way than to see a New Release Christmas song appear to be Bubbling Under! Barbra Lica's recent Christmas Present release is a joy to listen to. Often mistaken for fellow jazz singer, Stacey Kent, this Canadian's sweet tone will break your heart. We've chosen a couple of tracks to play - Christmas On The Beach is an upbeat, but fittingly titled chillout sentiment, while Noel a Paris is a timely track that I feel continues the healing process of a few weeks ago.

To all you romantic loungers, a big thank you for tuning in and supporting the station and it's artists. Spread the word, and grow along with us.


Bubbling Under


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Cocktail Nation - Best of 2015

Well, it's time for Koop to take his annual Christmas vacation, but before he turns off the mike for a few weeks, he's compiled a couple of "best of' shows for you to enjoy, and reacquaint yourselves with. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas from the Cocktail Nation!

www.cocktailnation.net


The Best of 2015: Part One

Some stand out tracks for 2015 in the world of Lounge and Exotica and this week we play some of them as we count down the tracks in what I like to call the best of the best for 2015 plus we replay some of our interviews with the stars of lounge and tiki.

Tiki Delights - Cosmopolitan
Kim Nazarian with John Pizzarelli - Gotta Be This Or That
James Spencer - In a Blue Mood
Jimmy Borges - Luck Be A Lady
Jetset Unlimited - The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Daniel Pemberton - Bugs Beats And Bow Ties
Perry Beekman - SWonderful
Tikiyaki Orchestra - Idol Worship            
Seth Mc Farlane - No One Ever Tells You
Uptown Jazz Quartet - He Was The Cat
Satin Chaps - Stompin
Jimmy Psycho - Thunderbirds
Codename Carter - Perfect Clarity Perfect Cut
Tiki Delights - Swank
Robert Drasnin - La Mer Azure
Tiki Cowboys - Blue Tiki





The Best of the Best Product Releases 2015


This week, the best product releases of 2015 from movies books and websites, photography and, of course, the best lounge and exotica from across the globe.

Voodoo Organist - Rattlesnake Rhumba
Cocktail Inn- Days Of Wine And Roses
Jack Costanzo - Latin Fever
Stacey Kent- Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour
Jetset Unlimited - The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Combustible Edison-Millionaires Holiday
Dinah Shore - It Had To Be You
Martini Kings - Two Fools
Laurie Allyn - Your So Bad For Me
Buddy Greco - Autumn In Rome

Nathan Haines - Cocktails
Tiki Lounge Crew - Smoke and Lager
Warren Barker - Flute Route




Friday, December 4, 2015

The Top Ten - week ending 5 December 2015


Merry Christmas, loungers! It is now December and officially Christmas season! I'm sure that you've been enjoying those memorable classics of the season on This is Lounge. They do bring an added touch to the playlist...a nice change from the Pop station fare, don't you think?

Anyway, let's have a look at this weeks Top Ten, shall we?

Ms. Del Rey continues her reign as Queen of number one, topping the chart again this week. Marijan's cover of Hotline Bling continues it's parallel rise along side the original in the Pop charts. Sliding into number three this week is St. Germain, with his laid-back lament, Mary L.

Nice to see Daniela Nardi's cover of Joe Barbieri's song move up a few notches. Both are very talented musicians, and are more than deserving of a spot on the chart and playlist here.

Welcome to Matteo Brancaleoni's Italian classic, Senza fine, joining the chart at number ten this week. We also find a new Bubbling Under track this week getting some interest and airplay - The Dining Rooms' Space Is The Place, taken from their new release, Do Hipsters Love Sun (Ra)? Something a little different, The Dining Rooms sound has a bit of a change this time around. This new song is like chillout from a dream - The sound is true, but the feeling seems a little askew, if you know what I mean. Whatever the case, I hope you enjoy it.

Please be sure and support all of the stations artists through your favourite digital retailer. Thank you for your financial support of the station. Your kind donations continue to help bring you the sounds you love.


Bubbling Under