Category Archives: MUSIC MONDAY

The Happiest Playlist

One of the reasons music exists is to enhance any and all situations; some is best for thinking, others are for distraction, and then there’s music for celebrating (to name a few). The celebrating kind is easy to pick out – it’s punchy, exhilarating, and just plain happy! Now we all know that it’s the little things in life that matter and whether it’s an entire night of extravagance or simply getting three and half minutes of bliss through your headphones, any moment of joy can certainly become an occasion.

As if you needed any more reasons to jump for joy on a Friday — goodbye, work – hello, world! — we’ve put together a list of the happiest tracks to get you on your way to a fabulous weekend.

  1. “Can’t Stop This Feeling” by Justin Timberlake
  2. “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE
  3. “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars
  4. “Geronimo” by Sheppard
  5. “My House” by FloRida
  6. “All in My Head (Flex)” by Fifth Harmony ft. Fetty Wap
  7. “Cheap Thrills” by Sia ft. Sean Paul
  8. “The Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
  9. “Valerie” by Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
  10. “New Soul” by Yael Naim

 

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5 Things You Should Know About Beyonce’s Album, Lemonade

 

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed member of the Beyhive or just another innocent onlooker, the fact that Beyonce just released a brand new album will not have escaped your attention – at least not if you’ve so much as glanced at social media in the last week.

If you’ve heard anything deeper about the release, it’s likely to be this: The central theme is her husband Jay Z’s infidelity. There’s allegedly truth in that, and make no mistakes, Queen B is full of vengeance in the first few chapters of the album. (The visual version is laid out much like a novella.) Before now, we’ve seen her Crazy in Love and then, a little later, Drunk in Love; but this is the first time we see her truly angry in love. It’s something rare and beautiful to see her show this darkly fierce side within her music; and it’s fascinating too.

If that plot line – the one where her husband cheats on her and she repays him by immortalizing his sin in verse – were the only notable feature of the album, it would still be a masterpiece. Yet, there’s so much more you need to know about Lemonade, about what’s woven between each sure-to-be hit single and why it’s culturally important.

 

The album features an array of pure musical legends

There’s just no denying the fact that Beyonce is a legend in her own right. When you talk to people about her and her work, everyone has a firm, unyielding opinion. She divides people so that we fall into two camps: Either people recognize her as one of the world’s great contemporary artists, or they resent the fact that she’s become so popular, given that they can’t see what all the fuss is about. Those in the latter camp will do all they can to persuade you that her fame and all that surrounds her is nothing more than well-thought-out marketing – an illusion of sorts. Still, the rest of us know the truth. Like legends before her, she has weathered the storms of the music industry, grown and changed with each release and still managed to remain relevant.

So, arguably, to work with her on a project like this one, you’d have to be someone of notability – another great of the industry. Here, Beyonce has pulled together some of music’s most creative artists. From an unexpected collaboration with Jack White and writing credits from Robert Plant to her sampling the likes of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Animal Collective, this is a highly diverse album. Forget your average pop record; Beyonce has used her industry influence to entice some spectacular artists. That in itself should be reason enough to listen to it in one sitting – from start to finish.

 

The visual album will be submitted for an Emmy

For those of you still under the impression that Lemonade is merely a collection of music videos and catchy tracks, perhaps this will change your mind. Since the visual album first aired on television a little more than a week ago, it is actually eligible for Emmy consideration. Unsurprisingly, the executives at HBO have decided to submit the video release. Despite the fact that the album was available for just 27 hours, it still had its initial release on TV – and that’s all the panels needs to go on. Sadly, you can no longer catch the full visual album on the channel, but there are still options. You can buy the album on iTunes, which comes complete with all the videos, or you can sign up for TIDAL (that’s Jay Z’s music streaming service) and watch it there.

beyonce lemonade screen grab
Screen grab from LEMONADE Trailer

 

It absolutely is about the experiences of black women

Aside from the undeniably real focus on the instability of her marriage, there is yet more to this album than a mere tale of a love story gone wrong. Within the visual album, she quotes Malcolm X, stating:

“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” 

Those who listen to and watch the album without acknowledging this fact may still enjoy it on a surface level, but it is by no means something that should be overlooked. Throughout the videos, she includes a selection of symbolic imagery to this effect: hoards of black woman coming together to hold hands and tell their individual stories to the camera. These women are here to be seen.

This is Beyonce making a statement about her history and heritage, about the struggles that many women like her face when it comes to being recognized by the greater community. It is her telling the world that this is still an issue today, even in a Western society that many of us perceive to be more equal than ever.

It’s a convincing and weighty sentiment. What’s more, it marks a change in Beyonce’s statements, a more political side of the songstress. This is the woman who just three years ago, in Vogue, replied to the question of whether she was a feminist with:

“I don’t know. That word can be very extreme. But I guess I am a modern-day feminist.”

 

“Hot Sauce” turns out to be a baseball bat

Back in January, Beyonce released the single “Formation” – the same song she performed live at the Super Bowl less than a month later. The song and performance were controversial for numerous reasons; but among all the hype, there was one lyric that stuck in all our minds: “I got hot sauce in my bag.” Wait, what? Why was Beyonce carrying hot sauce everywhere she went? Surely, she’s the kind of lady who frequents the type of restaurants where the condiments are thrown in free of charge, right? We were all a little baffled by this reference in an otherwise flawless, not to mention sensical, song.

Well, all becomes clear when you watch the second video of her album, the one that accompanies the song “Hold Up.” Clad in an outrageous yellow dress, Beyonce is seen smashing up the streets with a baseball bat. Look a little closer and you’ll see a faint inscription on the weapon: “hot sauce.”

 

The poetry between songs is just that – and it’s not by Beyonce

While the audio album is nothing short of brilliant, it lacks something that the visual album has to offer – poetry. In the film version, Beyonce punctuates the gap between each song with readings of strangely vivid poetry extracts. In fact, the words are the work of another rising star. Warsan Shire is a Somali–British poet who already has a cult-internet following. I’ll admit that before this, I had no idea who she was; I’d not so much as heard the name. I doubt I’m alone. Now, though, she will undoubtedly widen her audience further still, and so she should.

A stand-out line, which is likely to stick with you long after you’ve finished the album, plays with the idea of love – both family love and romantic love:

“My father’s arms around my mother’s neck, fruit too ripe to eat. I think of lovers as trees … growing to and from one another. Searching for the same light.”

Hearing Beyonce’s voice-over of these words – this striking imagery against the backdrop of her bizarre visuals – is utterly awe-inspiring.

Of course, you don’t have to know all of the above to find joy in Beyonce’s latest musical offering. It stands alone as a catchy R&B album with a few rare digressions into soul and even country too. It asks nothing more of you if you’ve nothing you’re willing to give. Dig a little deeper, though, and it’s a work of unlike any other in mainstream music; showcasing the most mature version of the star yet and allowing her to break violently into a new era of her career.

Electric Ladies, Meet Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monae is WCW every day for her amazing, soulful voice, empowering and creative music, as well as her down-to-earth treatment of her fans and her work as an activist. Here are a few things we love about The Electric Lady herself.

MUSIC

Janelle Monáe has won Black Girls Rock! awards, a Soul Train Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and numerous other awards. From this, you can tell there is something extraordinary about her. One of her most well-known tracks is “Q.U.E.E.N.” from her 2013 album The Electric Lady.

While there are a lot of empowering songs out there, this song is fantastic because it addresses and empowers marginalized groups with a groovy blend of funk and hip-hop.

 

FAN INTERACTION

Janelle Monáe cares very deeply about her fans, often encouraging them to embrace what makes them unique and underlines the fact that they don’t have to be perfect. At the 2012 Black Girls Rock! Awards, she delivered a moving speech telling them not to change who they are because she didn’t have to do so to become a Covergirl.

In 2014, she got up close and personal with a ten year old fan named McKynzie Duhon on The Queen Latifah Show. After hearing how Mckynzie was inspired by her, Janelle Monáe decided to surprise her backstage before the show and gave her sound advice on air.

 

ACTIVISM

One of the lyrics in Janelle Monáe’s song “Q.U.E.EN.” is, “March through the streets ‘cause I’m willing and I’m able”. Last year, she put these lyrics into action when she led peaceful protest marches with members of her record label Wondaland in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In addition to this, she also released the protest song “Hell You Talmbout” and performed it during the protest marches in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York.

Music to Move Past a Breakup

Sometimes it feels like the whole world is in love except you. Everyone in the park is holding hands, all the people in restaurants are on dates, and you are the only one left on the planet without some one’s hand to hold. During these times, it’s simple to fall into a world of despair, deciding to just stay home and wallow in your tears, not daring to leave the comfort of your home for fear of the sadness you may encounter outside.

It’s at the height of this heartbreak that it seems even every radio station and song is boasting about lovers and the romance of life. Seeing the truth of true love feels impossible and unrelatable after a breakup. This is the perfect moment to actually let music raise your spirits. Turn off the radio and find something new and inspiring to get you through the pain of lost love.

When your emotions are overcome with heartache, finding the perfect musical outlet can be a challenging feat. Here’s a mix of songs that’ll uplift your spirits and have you dancing in your underwear singing at the top of your lungs, heartbreak and all.

  1. “Play It Right” by Sylvan Esso
  2. “REALiTi” by Grimes
  3. “Follow The Sun” by Xavier Rudd
  4. “Featherstone” by The Paper Kites
  5. “Holy Roller” by Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
  6. “Medicine” by Rising Appalachia
  7. “Slow Motion” by PHOX
  8. “Better Go” by Mal Blum
  9. “Budding Trees” by Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People
  10. “As I Am” by Paper Bird

Incredible Female Singers You Need on Your Playlist

When you pop in your earphones and hit play, what do you expect? Music should do so much more than merely entertain us. It should engage and captivate us in a way that no other medium does. If you take the time to discover them, there’s a wealth of masterful female singers and songwriters you may just adore. With their insightful lyricism and skilled composing, these women have the ability to inspire whilst at once entertaining. If it’s high time you updated your music collection, here are four incredible female singers you simply must include.

Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple makes turning her classically trained hands to soulful, sullen ballads seem almost effortless. If you’ve yet to experience (because it is an experience) one of her tracks, you must rectify that as soon as possible. Her lyrics are weighted in her own emotions, which range dramatically from record to record. At times she is doused in dripping sorry, while at others her outlook is positively joyous. My favorite songs include “Shadow Boxer” and “Dull Tool”; but her back catalogue is astounding, so you should really explore it yourself. Don’t be alarmed if you recognize her husky, seductive voice immediately. During her career, she’s written and sung some popular theme tunes, including her latest for the hit series The Affair.

Regina Spektor

Somewhat overlooked in discussions of female singers, Regina Spektor is an uplifting songwriter, whom we all should appreciate more than we do. Yet another classically trained pianist, she’s gained a cult following since her debut back in 2001. If you’ve heard any of her songs, it would be “Us.” It may be her most famous tune, yet it’s by no means her greatest. Her 2012 album “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats” is perhaps the finest example of her talents. To give you the highlights, “Oh Marcello” verges on comedic writing, while the power ballad “How” showcases Regina’s impressive lung capacity. The album is a must-listen and will make you fall in love with this female singer’s addictively innocent voice.

Joan Armatrading

It would be darn rude to write this piece and neglect to mention the sublime Joan Armatrading. Her career is as long as it is varied. Though she begun writing and singing back in the 1970s, her music and the vivid pictures it paints have stood the test of time among female singers. Forget Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Woman.” Joan’s “Me Myself and I” is the original anthem for independence. When she assertively proclaims, “I wanna be by myself, I came in this world alone,” you believe every word of it, and that’s just the beginning. This woman really ought to be an inspiration to not only her own generation, but all that have followed.

Amanda Palmer

amanda palmer bookIf I could tell you just one thing about New York-born Amanda Palmer, it would be that she started the “Rebellyon.” After claiming that her ex-label Roadrunner Records wanted to edit one of her music videos because they thought she looked “fat” in it, this inspiring lady took to the internet. Having always had a mass following online, she reached out to her adoring fans. What followed was unbelievable – a storm of real belly photos, some with lyrics and supportive messages, appeared on Twitter and the like. Her fans spoke out. They supported her decision to maintain a “normal” weight; more than that, they encouraged it actively and even aggressively.

This example is by no means defining of Amanda Palmer, but it shows her spirit. She’s feisty and independent (literally from any record label now). This is evident in her music, which is immensely engaging. Her writing is witty and wry, entwined with in-jokes and laden with double entendres. Favorites include the rather fierce “Girl Anachronism” from her days with the Dresden Dolls and “Runs in the Family” from her 2008 album. Whether you listen to her bands or solo material, it doesn’t matter. She stands out from other female singers. Her music is at once charming and ferocious.

Amanda doesn’t confine herself to the medium of music; last year, she released her first non-fiction book. Part autobiography, part self-help, the book reaches into this woman’s compelling history and draws out meaningful life lessons. If you already like her music, think of “The Art of Asking” as an ideal companion piece to it.

I Want To Be Alicia Keys

It doesn’t have to be a Wednesday to say that Alicia Keys is WCW now and always, for wowing, amazing, and bringing us to tears with her soulful, unwavering voice and moving lyrics, as well as her work as an actress, producer, and activist.

Here are some of our favorite things about this Girl on Fire.

Music

Keys won five Grammies with her very first album, which went 5X Platinum, but that’s not nearly all. She’s won 15 Grammies, 5 AMAs, and countless others, too many to name here. From this, you can glean that she’s got plenty of chart-toppers in her repertoire. But our favorite is Fallin’ off her debut album Songs in A Minor from 2001.

While there are plenty of songs about falling in and out of love with someone, this one may be the best at conveying the euphoric and, at the same time, heart-wrenchingly painful feelings of off-and-on romance in every note sung and key played.

She’s also been playing the piano since age seven, shortly after which time it became clear she was a child prodigy.

Movies

She’s been in multiple films and television series, including The Nanny Diaries, Smokin’ Aces, and most recently, Empire, the highest rated scripted program for 2014-15. Our favorite remains Keys as the cellist with a tough exterior (but truly kind and compassionate), June, in The Secret Life of Bees.

Producer

Keys cares about addressing the issues that “people aren’t really comfortable talking about,” as she stated at a discussion on education at the White House with Michelle Obama in 2014. She shared her own personal history when discussing The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, a movie she co-produced about inner-city youth and their struggles.

AIDS

Keys cofounded Keep a Child Alive, which helps bring care and support to those affected by AIDS and their families.  In 2011, she traveled with five Americans to see the organization’s funded sites in South Africa and documented the whole process to bring awareness to their efforts.

In November 2015, she ran the NYC Marathon to raise funds for Keep a Child Alive. That’s no small feat.

For the above reasons and more, Alicia Keys is the embodiment of the lyrics in her song, Girl on Fire.

Looks like a girl, but she’s a flame…You can try but you’ll never forget her name.

10 Songs to Inspire You to Love Yourself

It’s Monday and you’re feeling down on yourself. You’ve forgotten how much you’re worth and need a pick-me-up. One of my favorite tracks that makes me feel better about myself is P!nk’s “Perfect”. Yet, there is so much more to musical self-esteem boosters than pop ballads. There are empowering songs in other genres such as R&B, rock and funk. Give the feel-good vibes of this eclectic playlist a try to love yourself more.

  1. “Unpretty” by TLC
  1. “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
  1. “Perfect” by P!nk
  1. “Special” by Janet Jackson
  1. “Q.U.E.E.N.” by Janelle Monae
  1. “Everybody Is A Star” by Sly and The Family Stone
  1. “The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston
  1. “Insecure” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
  1. “The Whole World Is Watching” by Within Temptation
  1. “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi

Lipstick Traces

While girl groups such as the Spice Girls, Destiny’s Child and Wilson Phillips made their mark on ’90s pop with an intoxicating blend of melancholic melodies and heartbreaking harmonies, a new generation of young women has seized on the hidden strength of those classic maidens of melodrama and infused the tradition with a tough, punky edge. Here’s a set of girl group tunes from then and now for the tough- and tenderhearted alike.

 

 

  1. “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles
  2. “Our Lips Are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s
  3. “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child
  4. “No Scrubs” by  TLC
  5. “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips
  6. “What’s Up”  by 4 Non Blondes
  7. “My Boyfriend’s Back” by The Angels
  8. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls 
  9. “If I Could Change Your Mind” by HAIM
  10. “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony 

 

New Christmas Classics for the Holiday Season

Christmas music is as much a holiday tradition as the cookies, the tree, the presents and even the big guy himself, Santa Claus. And every year your local radio stations crank up the Johnny Mathis, Dean Martin and Brenda Lee, playing the same tunes, beloved though they may be, ad nauseam. While these songs are cherished for a reason, they need to make room for a new, swingin’ set of seasonal favorites. Look, you’ve done the jingle bell rock, you’ve seen mommy kissing Santa Claus and you’re well aware that “baby, it’s cold outside” (and, while we’re on the topic, you’re probably none too thrilled about the implication either). So with that in mind, here’s a Christmas playlist of shoulda-been, coulda-been and surely soon-to-be yuletide classics.

 

1. Coldest Night of the Year

by Vashti Bunyan

Well, it’s supposed to be cold in December, and even if it isn’t, this folk-pop number from British chanteus, Vashti Bunyan, is a lovely alternative to the many “please stay so we can make-out” standards of the season.

 

2. I Wish You a Merry Christmas

by Big Dee & Little Eva

No Christmas party is complete without this upbeat swinger from the lady who taught us all how to do the Locomotion. Pour some eggnog and cut a rug.

 

3. Presents for Christmas

by Solomon Burke

You can practically hear the wrapping paper being ripped to shreds as this classic from the 1968 Atlantic Records Soul Christmas LP plays. It’s guaranteed to make those socks you’re bound to get a little more interesting.

 

4. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)

by The Ramones

Let’s not kid ourselves: the holidays are stressful. Sure, there’s good cheer, peace on Earth and all that, but disagreements are inevitable. Should you encounter an acrimonious moment or two this Christmas, worry not, as the boys from Queens have just the solution.

 

5. Merry Christmas Everybody

by Slade

A monster of a hit in England and an official “Christmas number one” on the British airwaves (a unique radio tradition in the UK), Slade’s holiday anthem has slowly, but steadily found its way to the States. And with good reason: it’s a warm, nostalgic and totally rockin’ ode to December 25.

 

6. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

by Wizzard

A sentiment that in theory we can all probably get behind, “I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday,” evokes that joyous feeling you get when everything is in full swing, everyone is having a grand time and you really don’t want the season to end. Of course, a day later you might feel quite different. (Note: this song can be quite effective during the dog days of summer as well.)

 

7. Rock and Roll Santa

by The 5.6.7.8’s

Everyone’s favorite all-female Japanese retro-rockablly trio tackle this yuletide rave-up by first generation rockabilly singer, Little Joey Farber. It delivers an instant party.

 

8. Back Door Santa

by Clarence Carter

You can’t have the “nice” without the “naughty.” This fun, raunchy ode to Santa as a lovable cad also provides the sample for Run-DMC’s classic, “Christmas in Hollis.”

 

9. Jesus Christ

by Big Star

Christmas is, of course, a religious holiday whether we celebrate it with that in mind or not. Though not a religious man himself, Big Star frontman, Alex Chilton, knew what made a good tune. The jangling guitar pop of “Jesus Christ” has emerged as a holiday staple for a new generation of revelers.

 

10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

by Aimee Mann

While Mann is better known for her melancholy numbers about life’s more tragic characters, her recent foray into Christmas has presented a new side to her artistry. Her rendition of this holiday standard evokes both the beauty and the subtle mournfulness of the season.

 

11. Silent Night

by The Temptations

Motown is perhaps the definitive American record label, once called “the Sound of Young America,” so it’s no surprise then that the label’s Christmas albums would be a source for new holiday standards. The Temptations take on perhaps the most solemn of Christmas carols, from their 1970 album The Temptations Christmas Card, is handled with a deep soulful warmth thanks in large part to the bass vocals of Melvin Franklin.

New Orleans State of Mind: Remembering Allen Toussaint

The recent passing of composer, producer, singer-songwriter and pianist, Allen Toussaint, is a reminder of the rich and stunning musical legacy of the Crescent City. Here’s a set of songs celebrating the life of a true New Orleans music legend and the city he called home.

  1. “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” by Jessie Hill
  2. “Cissy Strut” by The Meters
  3. “Sweet Touch of Love” by Allen Toussaint
  4. “12 Red Roses” by Betty Harris
  5. “A Certain Girl” by Ernie K-Doe
  6. “Fortune Teller” by Benny Spellman
  7. “It’s Raining” by  Irma Thomas
  8. “Over You” by Aaron Neville
  9. “Lady Marmalade” by Labelle
  10. “Working in a Coal Mine” by Lee Dorsey
  11. “Yes We Can” by Allen Toussaint