Plus: Finger Eleven and Arkells & Portugal. The Man rises to the top on the Rock Airplay charts. This week’s debuts include tracks from Alex Porat, Lights, Tyler Shaw and more.
Boi-1da and Nelly Furtado’s kickoff to the World Cup has hit the Billboard Canada Airplay charts.
Celebrating Canada’s cultural and athletic achievements, the all-star producer and Canadian singer's singer’s track “Electric Circus” debuts on the Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 Airplay chart at No. 35, dated May 9.
From the first note, the track packs a punch, balancing upbeat rhythms with Furtado’s captivating vocals. It’s a melody that feels utterly nostalgic, channeling the singer’s golden Y2K era. Its title pays homage to the iconic Citytv and MuchMusic show that aired from the late '80s to the early 2000s, which Furtado says the pair were watching during their studio season.
advertisement
“The vibe of the dancers on Electric Circus inspired the feeling of ‘everybody outside,’ which is the feeling of the World Cup when everyone is outside on restaurant patios watching the games and celebrating together,” she shares. “We wanted to capture that energy.”
It’s the first single from Furtado since she said she was stepping away from performing last October. Still, she’s maintained her place in the music industry and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at this year's Juno Awards.
“Electric Circus” was the first release from Canada Soccer Foundation’s Perfect Pitch album, What If It All Goes Right? out June 5, led by Boi-1da. In addition to Furtado, the record will feature tracks from the program’s stacked roster of Canadian ambassadors, including Charlotte Cardin, The Tragically Hip, Connor Price, Jessie Reyez and more.
Five spots higher, Alex Porat plants herself at No. 30 with “Kissing You.”
The catchy pop tune is one of six tracks from the Toronto singer’s latest EP, Crushed! released last June. “Kissing You” is easily one of the standout tracks from the release — it’s a kaleidoscopic rush of sound and feeling, underscored by Porat’s soft yet powerful vocal delivery about the overwhelming, obsessive thoughts of having a new crush.
advertisement
In her words, the EP is “a peek inside of my insane brain when I came down with a terrible case of having a crush.” She adds: “This one took over me like no other, and in true girlhood fashion, I am here to tell anyone who’s willing to listen about it.”
Last year, Porat hit the Airplay charts with “Face Like Yours,” an upbeat pop moment from the same project about the early stages of lust.
Over on the Rock Airplay charts, two Canadian acts climb to the top. On Mainstream Rock, Finger Eleven to the No. 1 spot with “The Mountain,” after 13 weeks on the chart, marking a major feat for the '90s CanRock band. The track rides musical peaks and valleys, blending the group’s quintessential heavy, head-bangable sections with melodic, powerful vocals about a quest for meaning.
“At its core, it’s a song about trying to find the music,” explains frontman Scott Anderson. “When I step back it’s talking about our own journey, but it’s dressed up in a different way.”
Topping this week’s Modern Rock chart is a newer Canadian group: Arkells. Their collaboration with Portugal. The Man, the reward-reaping hit “Money,” climbs 2-1 in its 16th week on the chart. Exploring society’s complex relationship with the topic, the two rock bands channel their anxiety and fear within an alt-pop banger that's elevated by shimmering synths and punchy drums.
advertisement
Calling Portugal. The Man lead singer John Gourley, his “favourite American with a streak of rebellion,” Arkells frontman Max Kerman shares that the track was almost done before they looped in the Oregon band, noting Gourley “was exactly the voice to bring it home.”
Elsewhere, Tyler Shaw scores two chart entries with “Run To You.” The heartfelt ballad debuts at No. 40 on All-Format and No. 30 on AC. On Hot AC, the track rises 22-13, hitting a new peak. A few spots down, Cameron Whitcomb’s “You And Me” arrives at No. 36.
advertisement
After cracking the top 10 on CHR/Top 40, Frank Walker, Josh Ross and Norma Jean Martine's cross-genre collab, “Lay It On Me,” debuts at No. 24 on AC. Meanwhile, Preston Pablo’s pensive hit “Cause I Do” zooms in at No. 19.
On Country, Saskatchewan’s Kalsey Kulyk vows to “Cut Him Loose” as she lands at No. 51. Eight spots below, Dawson Gray gets his “Chevy Back” at No. 59. Visionary artist Lights asks listeners to “Come Get Your Girl” at No. 38 on Modern Rock.
Olivia Dean finds it “So Easy To Fall in Love,” with the top spot, as she climbs to No. 1 on CHR/Top 40, bumping Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” to No. 2. Still, Mars tops the All-Format, AC and Hot AC charts. Meanwhile, Luke Combs is “Sleepless In A Hotel Room” for another week on Country.
Check out the Billboard Canada Airplay charts here.
