Craig Allen’s New Music Favorites

Seeing as I play music for a living, and talk about it, I am often asked what music I LIKE!

I've always been very attuned to the hits...of all decades. To me, that's the 1960's right through today.

I not only play, but am a big fan of "Jersey's Favorite Hits" (it is a plus in the radio world when you like the music that you play on the job...with ever-changing formats, when as a personality you survive the turbulence...you're not always left playing music that you like).

That being said, I am often asked what I listen to when I'm not playing Jersey's Favorite Hits...

The answer: New music!

I have always been a huge fan of "Top-40" (new music) radio!

When I did nights and weekends on New Jersey 101.5's sister station, SoJO 104-9, I would often say: "One of the best things about playing the HITS is, I can have a new 'favorite' song EVERY week!"

Here is what I'm cranking up on the radio, or playing on my iPhone and iPad, or via CD, this week:

DNC "Cake By The Ocean"

(disclaimer: the official video above drops a few "f-bombs")

DNCE is Joe Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers) along with Jack Lawless (also part of Jonas Brothers projects), JinJoo Lee and Cole Whittle.

The band formed last year...and was named after a song from the debut album...the song describing being too drunk to spell the word "dance." Jonas adds that they like the name, as it describes the "imperfect awesomeness" of the four guys playing together.

Before officially going public as a band, the guys played secret shows in New York City, as rehearsal for their 14-city "Greatest Tour Ever." The limited tour was a November sell-out.

"Cake By The Ocean" is the first single from the 4 track EP "SWAAY"

The guys are scheduled to be the opening act for Selena Gomez's "Revival Tour."

Check out DNCE on Instagram.

On a totally unrelated note, the last time I can remember there being a hit song about a cake (outside), it was "MacArthur Park." The cake left out in the rain..."the sweet green icing flowing down."

Choose your favorite:

Richard Harris (#2/1968).

Donna Summer's remake...(#1/1978).

But I digress...its just a part of my love for the "Classics."

Back to the NEW MUSIC!

Flo Rida "My House"

Flo Rida was born Tramar Lacel Dillard in Coral City Florida, on September 16, 1979.

He has 7 sisters, some of whom sang in a gospel group. Meanwhile, Flo Rida joined an amateur rap group called the GroundHoggz. He stayed with the group for 8 years, and while some of his work earned him attention, nothing major came of it.

After graduating high school, Flo Rida started studying international business management, before getting a call from an entertainment group.

His debut song, "Low" was #1 for 10 weeks in 2008...and broke a record for digital downloads at that time.

"My House" is Flo Rida's 10th "Top-10" hit, and it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart earlier this spring.

Check out Flo Rida's official site by clicking here!

Justin Bieber "Love Yourself"

I know...I really LIKE a song by the Biebs! It IS his most...."adult" record to date.

Justin Drew Bieber was born in London, Ontario, Canada on March 1, 1994.

A talent manager discovered him through his YouTube videos in 2007...and he was signed to a record deal. His 2009 debut album "My World" was certified platinum. "The Biebs" became the first artist to have 7 songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

His fan base (mostly early to mid-adolescent aged girls) have been dubbed "beliebers."

He has won numerous fan awards, and has garnered 3 Grammy nominations. Forbes Magazine has listed him among the Top 10 Most Influential Celebrities in the World for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

I need not spend time on Justin Bieber's much-written-about drug problems over the last few years, and his 'spoiled brat' image....

Just enjoy the song for what it is.

What is Justin Bieber up to right now? Hit up his official site here!

Lukas Graham "7 Years"

On the above video:  "A mix of Christiania, Copenhagen and Los Angeles is combined to give you a beautiful imagery to help the song along. I really hope you like it."-- Lukas Graham.

"Lukas Graham" is a Danish pop band made up of vocalist Lukas Graham Forchhammer (born September 8, 1988), bassist Magnus Larsson and Kasper Daugaard on keyboards.

Their debut album climbed up the Danish charts in 2012...and they became a popular live act in Denmark. Soon, the rest of Europe caught on, as did Warner Brothers Records, in 2013.

"Lukas Graham (Blue Album)" is the band's second overall album, and its first worldwide studio album...

"7 Years" has gone to #1 across various international charts...its currently at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100...

Enjoy this song that looks forward and backwards across the (many) years of life...

If you are headed to Europe in the coming months, Lukas Graham is playing live venues...click here!

Mike Posner "I Took A Pill In Ibiza"

Michael Robert Henrion Posner was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 12, 1988.

He grew up in the northern suburb of Southfield Michigan. His dad is a criminal defense attorney, his mom a pharmacist. He has an older sister.

Mike Posner ran track and cross country at Groves High School. He graduated from Duke University with a Sociology degree, and a 3.59 GPA.

Posner started out as a record producer...helping Detroit friends with their mixtapes!

Posner's own (second) mixtape "A Matter Of Time" started getting some industry attention in 2009. It was released under the name "Mike Posner & The Brain Trust," while he was still in college.

The release was unusual in that it was distributed for free via "i Tunes U," a channel designed for educational audio! Although Posner wasn't the only artist to make use of a distribution loophole, his work garnered the most responses: going to #1 on the iTunes U chart!

Posner signed a record deal (in 2009), while a junior at Drew...opting to finish his studies..while touring on weekends, and recording music for a debut album! WOW!

That debut album, "31 Minutes To Takeoff" was released in August 2010.

His debut single, "Cooler Than Me" went to #6 (2010).

Now to the pesent: The current hit single is a remix!

"I Took A Pill In Ibiza" was released on April 15, 2015. The original version was made available online to his fans, and later made available as part of an EP download.

What we are enjoying on the radio is a remix by the duo SeeB....which got 200 million streams on Spotify...and has topped the charts in Holland, Norway, England and Scotland. It was a Top 10 hit in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and here in the US!

And, there's more coming from Mike Posner...his new album "At Night Alone" came out...yesterday!

Check out Posner's official website by clicking here.

What will be the BIG songs of the Summer? Stay tuned!