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#HitsOfTomorrow – A Weekly Rundown of the ‘Should-Be’ Hits

From Epik High and Hwa Sa to Anne-Marie, Peach PRC, Jake Shears and other artists

Amit Vaidya

Feb 04, 2023

We’re already into the second month of the year and that also happens to be Grammy weekend! In my opinion, we might have the first AOTY contender for next year’s awards show. RAYE’s debut album My 21^st Century Blues is seven years in the making and the artist who famously went independent last year is probably making every label executive shake their heads as she has created an unapologetic masterpiece. The album is so consistently powerful, catchy and memorable, it’s hard to think of another album in recent times as authentically eclectic and believable as this.

Ironically, the other big album release this week comes from an icon who also has been challenged professionally and personally in more ways than we can imagine. Shania Twain is back and more confident than ever. Queen Of Me is Twain’s strongest LP in decades and if radio can get over their ageism bullshit, they’ll realize that the country-pop singer has more hits on this album than even Taylor Swift has on Midnights!

Beyond these two powerful women making their mark, we’ve got new big singles from GloRilla with “Internet Trolls,” Morgan Wallen is releasing “3 Songs At A Time” and Ellie Goulding returns with “Like A Saviour.” While these singles will likely impact the charts pretty much on their own, the songs below require a bit more push and thus we’re highlighting them here on this week’s HITS OF TOMORROW – the should-be singles that deserve to be hits!

“SAD B!TCH” – Anne-Marie

So Anne-Marie doesn’t really need the same kind of push the other artists here need as she’s already racked up quite a number of hits, but there is something about the artist that keeps her bubbling under in many markets. Her collaborations always tend to do well globally but her own singles often lack the promotion and “hit” status besides in her native England. I think some of this has to do with her personality not coming across in the music/videos. I believe “Sad B!tch” is the likely game changer. The song is catchy, fun and more than anything, Anne-Marie’s vocals have life that give it that added enjoyment making for one of her strongest solo singles ever. Here’s hoping radio stations across the world take notice and finally give her that massive hit she’s not had yet!

“PERFECT FOR YOU” – Peach PRC

If you would have told me when Paris Hilton’s “Stars Are Blind” released that it would be so legendary, I probably would have scoffed. But here we are today and the song has seemingly enjoyed this massive Renaissance since it appeared prominently in the Carey Mulligan film Promising Young Woman. “Perfect For You” by Peach PRC brilliantly interpolates the single using the melody that was always the catchiest part of the original single to create a whole new vibe but a song that you can instantly sing along to despite all new lyrics. There is zero reason why this single shouldn’t blow up on the charts and give Peach PRC their first massive hit!

“(I GET SO) EMOTIONAL” – James Vickery

While every soul singer seems fixated on the early ’00s, James Vickery smartly takes us back a decade earlier on this Nineties-inspired single “(I Get So) Emotional.” The song so perfectly encapsulates the era that you wonder if the composition is a cover! Vickery has always had that soulful swag but here, he gives us emotions with sincerity and a sprinkle of cheese. That added touch makes all the difference because the music becomes far more enjoyable, believable and frankly memorable. At a time when so many R&B artists across the globe are just trying to follow fads, it’s refreshing that Vickery continues to buck the trend – now radio stations need to take notice, because as they’d say back in the day…this song’s the jam!

“ICE CREAM MAN.” – RAYE

As if there weren’t enough praises above for RAYE’s album, it was important for me to highlight the ballad “Ice Cream Man.” It’s been a long time since Top 40 had such a brutally confessional song like this with a message, that also happens to be incredibly catchy. RAYE’s brilliance even during her caged-up years at her label was that despite not having creative control, she always left her mark in even the most standard dance-pop fair. That’s because at her core, she’s a fantastic songwriter and she’s always been able to spit bars without batting an eye no matter what the content (from “Tequila” to “Natalie Don’t”). I really hope this is released as the next single because empowerment never sounded this big a hit!

“CATCH” – Epik High, Hwasa

With the release of their EP Strawberry, Epik High have really started a whole new chapter in their music career. With help of stars like Jackson Wang and Hwasa, there is something for everyone. It is Hwasa’s feature on the single “Catch” that really is the winner. The hip-hop trio have a loyal fan base but with this track, they have the ability to not only crossover but truly make a dent in the global hip-hop scene as the track is incredibly infectious and truly slaying for the win!