Elton John has sparked renewed public and industry speculation following the release of a mysterious promotional teaser for his classic holiday track "Step Into Christmas". Originally issued in November 1973, the seasonal single previously experienced a late-career surge during the 2025 festive season when it achieved a new peak of Number 7 on the Official Charts Company singles ranking. The timing of the newly deployed promotional material has prompted observers to anticipate an early campaign as the official Christmas music cycle commences across the United Kingdom.
Irish singer-songwriter Kynsy Drops "Eleanor" Single
Dublin-born singer-songwriter Ciara Lindsey, who performs under the moniker Kynsy, has officially released her highly anticipated new indie-pop single, titled "Eleanor."
Serving as the definitive first glimpse into an upcoming body of work, the track marks a significant milestone for the artist as her first new musical output since her critically acclaimed 2024 extended play,"Utopia", issued via Nice Swan Records. Stylistically, the composition intricately merges a brooding, jagged indie-rock foundation with contemporary pop hooks, layered beneath highly deliberate, off-kilter production elements. According to Lindsey, the thematic architecture of the song provides a dark and poetic examination of unrequited teenage infatuation, drawing structural inspiration from the restless, fractured sonic landscapes of British alternative group Sorry.
The single was co-produced in collaboration with members of her established live touring band, specifically drummer Rory Gilmore — who also operates within the electronic music sphere as Body Clinic — and guitarist Tyler Darrington. To celebrate the launch, the artist has finalized a series of live promotional performances across the United Kingdom and Ireland scheduled for late November and December, reinforcing her rising prominence within the domestic contemporary music landscape.
To view the rest of today's Songwriting News Stories, click HERE.
To view today's Songwriting Obituaries, click HERE.
Jim Liddane
Today's Top Song Worldwide - "Housewife"
•
Limerick City, Ireland
Today's Top Song Worldwide is
"Housewife" by
Tate McRae.
Released as a single on 15th October 2026, the recording marks an interesting new chapter in the Canadian singer-songwriter's career. It is her first new studio release since the deluxe edition of her third album, "So Close to What", and introduces a slightly different perspective on the themes of independence, relationships, ambition and female identity that frequently appeared in her work.
The title - I think - is deliberately provocative. Traditionally, the word housewife suggested a woman whose principal role revolved around her husband, children and domestic responsibilities. McRae approaches the idea from a very different angle. Rather than rejecting domestic life or romantic commitment, she imagines a woman who can enjoy the comforts and pleasures traditionally associated with being a housewife without surrendering her financial independence or personal freedom.
In the song, the narrator expresses a desire to make considerable money, enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and have a loving partner, but on terms that she herself has determined. The underlying message is that she wants a relationship because she chooses to have one, rather than because she needs a man to provide for her. McRae described the central character as a woman who "can't be contained", a succinct explanation of the song's attitude and its underlying philosophy.
The song emerged from a writing collaboration involving six credited writers: McRae herself, Julia Michaels, Ryan Tedder, Grant Boutin, Jasper Harris and Pablo Díaz-Reixa, better known professionally as El Guincho. Tedder and Boutin received the principal production credits, with Harris and El Guincho also involved in the production.
The collaboration brought together some considerable contemporary pop-writing experience. Michaels established her reputation through her work with artists including Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, while Tedder, best known as the frontman of OneRepublic, enjoys a particularly successful career as a songwriter and producer for other performers.
There is an amusing story behind the song's creation. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Tedder explained that the composition originated during a writing session in January or February of 2026. It was only the second or third session for McRae's forthcoming project, and the participants included McRae, Michaels, Tedder and Grant Boutin.
While they experimented with an instrumental backing, somebody in the room came out with the idea of wanting to make a lot of money while being a good housewife. Tedder could not remember whether McRae or Michaels first suggested the phrase, but he immediately recognised its potential. He described it as a T-shirt hook: a memorable line that could be printed on a T-shirt and which people might actually want to wear. He also explained that, in his experience, a lyric that made the writers laugh because of its apparent absurdity often possessed precisely the kind of memorable quality that a successful pop song required.
There was another interesting aspect to the collaboration. In a subsequent interview with Elvis Duran, Tedder explained that McRae arrived with a particular musical direction in mind. He regarded the song as an opportunity to revisit the early-2000s pop sound that had influenced some of her earlier successes, particularly "greedy" and "Sports Car". He felt that McRae had helped revive interest in that musical approach and believed that an artist who helped establish a trend should also know when to bring it to a conclusion. "Housewife" therefore became something of a deliberate summation of that particular period in her musical development, rather than simply another attempt to reproduce an established formula.
He also revealed that she had been quietly advertising the song before its release. The word "Housewife" appeared on the screen at the beginning of her performance at the Lollapalooza festival in August 2026, some three months before the single appeared. She subsequently joked that her fans were remarkably unsuccessful at recognising the clues she left for them, despite their enthusiasm for interpreting every detail of her performances and public appearances.
The accompanying promotional video, directed by Pierre-Ange Carlotti, was filmed in the south of France. Its luxurious surroundings, elaborate choreography and images of wealth and romantic fantasy complement the song's subject matter. The video is deliberately more than a straightforward celebration of material success, however. Its glamorous atmosphere gradually gives way to a quieter, more reflective mood, suggesting that the freedom to live entirely on one's own terms could carry an emotional price. This introduces an interesting element of ambiguity into what might otherwise have been a fairly uncomplicated declaration of independence.
Musically, "Housewife" occupies an interesting position between contemporary dance-pop, electropop and the more rhythmically driven pop music of the early 2000s. It is an upbeat, polished recording, built around a persistent electronic rhythm, a prominent bass line and bright synthesiser textures. The production is relatively uncluttered, allowing the vocal and the central lyrical idea to remain at the forefront.
One of its most attractive characteristics is the contrast between the rhythmic confidence of the backing and McRae's rather understated vocal delivery. She does not rely on an especially powerful or theatrical performance. Instead, she employs a conversational, occasionally breathy style, with clipped phrases, vocal repetitions and carefully placed harmonies. This gives the recording a teasing, self-assured quality, as though she were enjoying the absurdity of the situation she described.
The chorus is particularly important to the song's success. Its central phrase is immediately memorable, and the repetition of the words and syllables help establish a hook that was both rhythmically effective and easy to recall. The repetition also reinforces the playful character of the composition. There is something deliberately cheeky about the way McRae presents her ambitions, and she seems entirely comfortable with the apparent contradiction of wanting to be both financially independent and pampered.
The songwriting is strongest in its central concept. The traditional housewife was generally understood as a woman dependent upon her husband's income, but McRae reverses that arrangement. Her narrator wants the house, the money and the romantic companionship, but she wants to be the person who paid for everything. Her prospective partner is welcome to share her life, but he is not essential to her financial or personal survival.
This is more than a superficial exercise in female empowerment. The distinction between needing somebody and wanting somebody is central to the song's argument. The narrator can enjoy romantic involvement without allowing it to define her identity. In this respect, the song reflects a contemporary attitude towards relationships in which independence and intimacy are not necessarily incompatible.
There is also a more interesting, slightly darker dimension to the lyrics. McRae makes references to the pressures of the music industry and the potentially destructive consequences of fame. Her desire for money and a comfortable domestic existence could therefore be interpreted as a fantasy of escape from the demands of celebrity. The imagined housewife is not simply somebody who wants an easier life; she is somebody who wants to determine what that life involves.
I particularly like the way the recording avoided becoming excessively earnest. A song dealing with independence, financial security and the pressures of the entertainment business could easily have become a rather heavy-handed statement of intent. Instead, McRae approaches the subject with humour, self-awareness and a degree of irreverence. The result is entertaining without entirely sacrificing its underlying message.
Nevertheless, there are some limitations. The song's central idea is considerably more original than some of its supporting lyrical material. Once the principal hook has been established, the composition does not always develop its argument with the same inventiveness.
Similarly, McRae's restrained vocal performance is appropriate to the material, but I occasionally felt that the song could have benefited from a more dramatic vocal contribution. She has demonstrated elsewhere that she can move between intimate, breathy passages and more forceful expressions of emotion. Here, the deliberately controlled delivery occasionally reduces the opportunities for a really memorable vocal climax.
The production is - as you would expect - more than accomplished, although it does not represent a particularly radical musical departure. Its early-2000s influences are evident, and although Tedder and his collaborators handle the arrangement with considerable professionalism, there are moments when the familiarity of the musical approach work against the song's originality. It is a very effective contemporary pop recording, rather than a composition that fundamentally extends the boundaries of the genre.
I also found the contrast between the song's confident lyrical personality and the more ambiguous message of its accompanying video particularly interesting. The video suggests that the pursuit of absolute freedom might involve sacrificing genuine emotional attachment. That interpretation adds a degree of maturity to the material, because it acknowledges that independence, however desirable, does not necessarily guarantee happiness.
Ultimately, I regard "Housewife" as a clever, engaging and commercially astute piece of contemporary pop songwriting. Its principal achievement lies in taking a familiar social stereotype and turning it into an amusing declaration of self-determination. McRae's performance is assured, the chorus is infectious, and the production provides an attractive rhythmic framework without overwhelming the song's personality.
It is not, in my opinion, one of those compositions that would necessarily stand out as a major songwriting achievement when compared with the finest examples of the pop genre. Its lyrical development is somewhat limited, and its musical construction occasionally relies on familiar conventions. Nevertheless, it demonstrates McRae's growing confidence as a songwriter and her ability to identify an unusual idea and turn it into an immediately accessible pop song.
My overall assessment? "Housewife" is a smart, entertaining and well-constructed single, with a particularly appealing central concept. Its humour, contemporary relevance and infectious chorus make it an attractive addition to Tate McRae's catalogue. I would regard it as a successful piece of mainstream pop craftsmanship, even if its considerable initial appeal is perhaps greater than its lasting musical significance.
Jim Liddane
Today's Top Song In All Continents
•
Limerick City, Ireland
Here is today's breakdown of the Top Song in each of the following territories.
North America
Today's Top Song in North America is
"Housewife"
- recorded by Tate McRae
and written by
Tate McRae, Julia Michaels, Ryan Tedder, Jasper Harris, Pablo Díaz-Reixa (El Guincho), and Grant Boutin.
See "Today's Top Song Worldwide" above for further information on the song.
Latin & South America
Meanwhile, today's Top Song in Latin & South America is
"Poquito"
- recorded by
Daddy Yankee & Diljit Dosanjh
and written by
Daddy Yankee & Diljit Dosanjh.
Daddy Yankee & Diljit Dosanjh is a massive cross-cultural musical collaboration that brings together two of the world's most influential regional icons: the Puerto Rican "King of Reggaeton" and the Indian Punjabi music superstar.
The duo teamed up for the track "Pokito" (a stylized spelling of the Spanish "poquito", meaning "a little bit"). Released as a lead single on Daddy Yankee's concept album "La Postal", the song features a distinct bilingual back-and-forth where Diljit handles the Punjabi verses and Daddy Yankee brings his signature Latin flow, tied together by a catchy, infectious hook ("Poquito a poquito").
Europe
Crossing over to Europe, Today's Top Song is
"Housewife"
- recorded by Tate McRae
and written by
Tate McRae, Julia Michaels, Ryan Tedder, Jasper Harris, Pablo Díaz-Reixa (El Guincho), and Grant Boutin.
See "Today's Top Song Worldwide" above for further information on the song.
Africa
Moving along, Today's Top Song in Africa is
"Nayvee’s Prayer"
- recorded by
DJ Zinhle, Nayvee Womculo & Young Stunna
and written by
Ntsako Rigege and Sandile Fortune Msimango.
The song is in the form of a prayer asking God to remain present through all phases of life, and it has become the fastest song by a South African female artist to reach two million streams on Spotify, hitting that milestone in mere days after its late September release.
Australia - Oceania
Meanwhile in Australia - Oceania, Today's Top Song is
"Housewife"
- recorded by Tate McRae
and written by
Tate McRae, Julia Michaels, Ryan Tedder, Jasper Harris, Pablo Díaz-Reixa (El Guincho), and Grant Boutin.
See "Today's Top Song Worldwide" above for further information on the song.
Asia
Finally, Today's Top Song in Asia is
"Ai Must Be"
- recorded by
Sakurazaka46
and written by
Yasushi Akimoto (lyrics), and composed and arranged by Tadashi Tsukida.
Hinatazaka46 is a popular Japanese idol girl group produced by Yasushi Akimoto and signed to Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Despite its title - the song is not about AI as in artificial intelligence, but instead explores "Ai" (which can also mean love in Japanese - covering unconditional love, parental love, family love, and compassion for living things!)
It moves past traditional, restrictive social structures or rituals (such as wedding traditions shown in the music video) to a firm declaration of how one chooses to care for the world.
So now you know!
Jim Liddane
ISA • International Songwriters Association (1967)
internationalsongwriters@gmail.com
The News
Today's Songwriting News
Songwriting and Music Publishing news is widely covered nowadays, even in the mainstream media. Here we present the latest news, covering all musical genres, and assembled hourly from 27 different sources
Today's Songwriter Obituaries
The International Songwriters Association remembers and honours the songwriters, music publishers performers, musicians, record producers, and music industry personnel who have recently died
Todays Record Sales Charts
The top selling songs of today, comprising physical sales, streaming and airplay, compiled daily from a wide variety of reputable sources and encompassing multiple musical genres worldwide
Jim Liddane's Blog
Jim Liddane's daily blog recounts the stories (some of them allegedly true!) behind the great songs, along with advice and anectdotes from top songwriters interviewed by the International Songwriters Association
The Interviews
Below is a brief list of interviews.
To view the full list, click
HERE
Andrew Lloyd Webber Interview
The New York Times have named Andrew "the most commercially successful composer in history" while ISA members have consistently voted "Evita" as the best musical of all time
Richard Addrisi Interview
Richard Addrisi wrote "Never My Love" intending to record it himself. The Association took it, and made it the second most-played song on radio and television of the 20th century in the USA
Dennis Locorriere Interview
He found fame as the voice of Dr. Hook, with hits like “Sylvia’s Mother” while as a songwriter, his work has been recorded by Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson!! His name? Dennis Locorriere
Buck Ram Interview
His songs have been recorded by simply everybody! Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, The Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston etc etc etc!
Jim Lauderdale Interview
A Grammy-winning performer who once backed Fats Domino, before going on to pen hit songs for George Strait, while releasing 36 solo albums to date. His name? Jim Lauderdale
Chip Taylor Interview
What could Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Cliff Richard, Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield and Shaggy have in common? They've all recorded songs penned by Chip Taylor!
Charles Strouse Interview
His first song sold a million. His musical "Annie" became one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. But the song that sold 10 million was by rapper Jay-Z. His name? Charles Strouse
John D Loudermilk Interview
When the first song you've ever written is a Top 10 hit and you yourself get offered an RCA recording contract - well you just have to have it made! Well John D Loudermilk had anyway!
Graham Lyle Interview
Graham penned not only Gallagher & Lyle's "I Wanna Stay with You", "Heart On My Sleeve" and "Breakaway", but also Tina Turner's "What’s Love Got To Do With It". And many more!
P J Proby Interview
He went to Hollywood to become an actor, released records, did demos for Elvis, wrote songs for Ricky Nelson and Johnny Burnette before finally emerging as a full-blown rock star himself
Larry Henley Interview
He scored a #1 as a singer with "Bread & Butter" before writing for everybody from Tina Turner to Wille Nelson, But he's still best known for the classic "Wind Beneath My Wings"
Simon May Interview
Cliff Richard, "EastEnders", The Pointer Sisters, "Howard's Way", Richard Clayderman, "Eldorado", and Ruby Turner all share just one thing in common. Which is? Simon May!
Beth Nielsen Chapman Interview
She's written songs for Tanya Tucker, Bette Midler, Faith Hill, Neil Diamond, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, but has in addition also released several outstanding solo albums
Gary Osborne Interview
His first song was published at age 15. He has had covers ranging from Cliff Richard to Jennifer Warnes - yet is still best known for his co-writing with Elton John and Jeff Wayne!
Jona Lewie Interview
As a teenager, he backed Gene Vincent. Then scored his first hit "Seaside Shuffle" in 1972, going on to produce "Stop The Cavalry" and "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties"
Mitch Murray Interview
The Beatles record your first song, but you're not too impressed. Instead, you go on to pen dozens of hits for other acts, and a country issues a set of postage stamps in your honour!
Wayland Holyfield Interview
To date, he has scored more than forty US Top Ten Country hits, including fourteen Number Ones, and he even got to pen his own state's song - "Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)"!
Dan Hill Interview
An international singer-songwriting star at 23 whose first hit "Sometimes When We Touch" was covered by more than 130 other singers, Dan Hill is undoubtedly the stuff of legends
Les Reed Interview
When he can pen songs recorded by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Bing Crosby, Marvin Gaye and Luciano Pavarotti, then Les Reed is clearly no ordinary songwriter!
Chas Hodges Interview
He worked with Joe Meek, backed Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent, played with hit-makers Deep Purple, to finally emerge as one-half of one of Britain's most loved acts - Chas & Dave
Steve Harley Interview
Most often praised for an innovative approach to music, his band, Cockney Rebel and the song "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)", bear testament to a unique musical talent
Guy Clark Interview
A luminary in the realm of American folk and country music, Guy Clark leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those who have been fortunate enough to listen to his compositions
Mel Tillis Interview
He has released a hundred singles, scored six Number One hits, and penned million-sellers not just for himself, but also for such luminaries as Kenny Rogers, Tom Jones and Patsy Cline
Bill Anderson Interview
He wrote his very first hit in 1958, his latest was nominated for a Grammy in 2023, and Steve Huey of AllMusic called him "one of the most successful songwriters in country music history"
Eric Woolfson Interview
Starting out as a session pianist during the heyday of Merseybeat, Eric Woolfson emerged as a songwriter of note, before founding what would become the legendary Alan Parsons Project
Mike Read Interview
When you are an iconic BBC DJ, and have edited the "Guinness Book of Hit Singles", what is left to do? Well how about penning a raft of hit songs? Mike Read has done all this. And more
Marty Wilde Interview
Marty Wilde is an iconic singer, songwriter and record producer - one of the tiny number of music personalities to have scored a British hit in every decade from the 1950s to the 2020s
Nik Kershaw Interview
Nik has released 27 singles, and 20 albums. Has worked with everybody from Elton John to Genesis' Tony Banks. And he also performed at Live Aid, alongside Sting, Queen and Bowie!
Jerry Reid Interview
As a singer-guitarist, he is the tops. As a songwriter, well how about his songs for Elvis and Johnny Cash? And as for his acting - well there's always "Smokey & The Bandit". 1, 2 and 3!
Ron Miller Interview
Ron Miller pens hits for Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles - yet manages to maintain the lowest profile of any hit songwriter we know. But he spoke to us!
Stephen Schwartz Interview
Stephen Schwartz conquered Broadway at the age of 23 with 'Godspell' and his work includes 'Wicked', 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' and 'Enchanted', winning 3 Grammys and 3 Oscars!
Keith McCormack Interview
Given just how many new songs are released each and every day, what are the chances of a new songwriter penning the best-selling song for any given year? Well Keith McCormack did!
Hank Cochran Interview
He arrived in Nashville on a bus, but within a year, his songs were at the top of the Billboard charts. Since then, every country star of importance, has recorded at least one of his tunes
Mick Hanly Interview
Limerick-born Mick Hanly is the only Irish songwriter to be awarded both the prestigious BMI Most Played Country Song Of The Year Award and the equally prestigious BMI MillonAir Award
Bruce Welch Interview
Bruce Welch co-founded The Shadows who backed Cliff Richard. But then, he went on to pen million-selling songs for Olivia Newton John and to set up his own music publishing company
Guy Chambers Interview
His production and songwriting credits include Queen, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, James Blunt and Kylie Minogue, while his co-writing with Robbie Williams has so far sold fifty million units
Dallas Frazier Interview
He cut his first record at fourteen, and three years later, had his first US Number One as a songwriter. Elvis Presley, Number 1s, Gold Discs and Grammies, Dallas Frazier has done it all
Bill Martin Interview
Bill Martin, the Eurovision-winning writer whose songs have been recorded by everybody from Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Van Morrison & The Bay City Rollers, to country's Waylon Jennings!
Tony Hatch Interview
Tony Hatch has written hits for Petula Clark, Chubby Checker, Jackie Trent, Bobby Rydell and Connie Francis. And of course, he also penned the legendary theme for TV's "Neighbours"!
Janis Ian Interview
Janis wrote and recorded her first Top 20 hit at 14, and since then has had songs covered by Celine Dion, Bette Midler, Joan Baez, Cher, Shirley Bassey, Sheena Easton & Dusty Springfield
Gordon Lightfoot Interview
Gordon remains Canada's greatest singer-songwriter whose songs have been covered by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton, and Olivia Newton John
Gene Pitney Interview
A legendary star in his own right, Gene Pitney was also a talented songwriter who penned several hits for other stars, including Phil Spector, Bobby Vee, Roy Orbison & Ricky Nelson
Roger Cook Interview
Starting out as a pop star, Roger wrote 50+ hits for people like Cliff Richard, before moving to country music, becoming the only British songwriter in the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Mike Batt Interview
Mike Batt introduced The Wombles to TV. Then he discovered, and wrote hits for Katie Melua, penning 'Bright Eyes' for Art Garfunkel, and even setting up his own hit-making record label
