Category: Music Mondays

Music Monday – Volume Eighteen

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1)      Michael Jackson – Cry

One of Michael’s more understated and underrated tracks. Written by R.Kelly, this was the second and final single off what was to become MJ’s final studio album in his lifetime, 2001’s ‘Invincible’. It’s one of my favourite MJ songs and it’s such an uplifting beautiful track. In the same vein as ‘Man in the mirror’ and ‘Heal the world’, it’s an inspiring change-the-world song.

2)      Ed Sheeran – Afire love

This is so beautiful it’s unreal. Fell in love with this upon hearing it on the radio the other day. Ed is such an incredibly talented guy.

3)      Ed Sheeran – Bloodstream

‘X’ is an amazing album. I really love this track. It’s a little dark but it’s catchy. Interesting that Rudimental was involved in the creation of this track.

4)      Mark Morrison –Return of the Mack

An absolute classic. Heard it on the radio and was reminded what an awesome tune this is!

5)      Raleigh Ritchie – Stronger than ever

Love this. So powerful and emotive.

6)      Michael Jackson- Man in the mirror

Classic Michael Jackson song. I always loved it but the fact on the day of his death, this was being played everywhere, this song now has an even deeper meaning for me. Beautiful lyrics and a beautiful song.

7)      United we stand – What more can I give

Between 1999 and 2002, Michael Jackson organised an almost Part 2 of USA for Africa (who achieved major chart success in 1985 with ‘We are the world’.) Michael was inspired to write the song after meeting President Nelson Mandela in the last 90’s and was originally rumoured to perform it live at some of his concerts. The song was pushed aside, however, until the 2001 9/11 terrorist attacks. Encouraged by a friend, Michael re-wrote the song and selected a team of A-list artists to contribute to the project. Artists such as Beyonce, Nsync, Celine Dion, Usher, Luther Vandross, Anastasia amongst others contributed vocals towards this incredibly beautiful song. They also performed it live at 2002’s ‘United We Stand’ charity performance. Ultimately, the song was never fully released as a singe. It’s a terrible shame when it’s such an incredible song.

8)      Blackstreet – Joy

An idea by Michael Jackson sparked this track off. Teddy Riley (producer of Michael’s Dangerous album) then took this idea and turned it into a full-blown song with his band Blackstreet. I love how smooth and soulful this is.

9)      Beady Eye – Kill for a dream

Beautiful little song. Love Beady Eye.

10)   Beady Eye – Soon come tomorrow

A haunting, dreamy little song. Great song.

Music Monday – Volume Seventeen

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1)      Beady Eye – For anyone

Love the simplicity and the old-school feel to this song. It’s so Beatle-esque and it’s just a fantastic song.

2)      Oasis – Cast No Shadow

Beautiful little song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6thmKcSRwc

3)      Ellie Goulding – I’ll hold my breath

Really, really love this. ‘Lights’ is an incredible album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fd3PwRJmbY

4)      Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Stop the clocks

This is almost like a Part 2 to ‘Champagne Supernova’. Great ending track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJTnP6ylTK8

5)      Phil Collins – You’ll be in my heart

One of my favourite of Phil’s amazing collection of songs. The perfect ending to the ‘Tarzan’ movie and a truly beautiful song. One of the greatest love songs ever written.

6)      All Saints – Pure Shores

I watched ‘The Beach’ (the movie in which this song is included) and fell in love with this song all over again. SO summery.

7)      Take That – The Garden

One of Take That’s finest songs of their career. It’s a beautiful, inspiring song and it’s lovely to hear all the boys have lead vocals on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKNzxG5CXdM

8)      Robbie Williams – Me and my monkey

Robbie’s lyrics have always been some of the best and this song features storytelling as its finest. Very clever lyrically and a fantastic song overall. ‘Escapology’ was an incredible moment in Robbie’s career.

9)      Ellie Goulding – This love will be your downfall

Another fantastic, well-produced track from Ellie’s ‘Lights’ album.

10)   Ellie Goulding – The Writer

I’ve always loved this song. It’s truly beautiful and it’s one of her most underrated songs in my opinion. Great to play on the piano.

Music Monday – Volume Sixteen

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1)      Drake & Alicia Keys – Fireworks

Not a massive fan of Drake but I really love this song. Pretty dark but nice and emotive. Love Alicia Keys too, very talented.

2)      Snoop Dogg – Different Languages

Found this in a Summer playlist and have been really enjoying it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xl9SZ7laT8

3)      Passion Pitt – Sleepyhead

So damn catchy.

4)      Le Youth – Cool

Heard this at a party once and fell in love. Ridiculously catchy.

5)      Oasis – Champagne Supernova

Heard a cover of this by The Pretty Reckless in Radio 1’s live lounge and really enjoyed it. Then checked out the original and haven’t stopped listening to it since. Amazing song. One of the best closing tracks to an album ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3C7DECI0jU

6)      Lana Del Rey –West coast

Love how dreamy this is. Bits of it remind me of ‘Pure Shores’ by All Saints – another amazing summer track.

7)      Ella Henderson – Ghost

A pleasant surprise by a former X Factor contestant. Amazing, catchy song co-written by one of my favourite songwriters, OneRepublic front man, Ryan Tedder.

8)      Arctic Monkeys – Snap out of it

Love the feel of this track.

9)      Example- Stay with me

SO 90’S, SO GOOD.

10)   Oasis – Don’t go away

I’d never heard this before but I have fallen head over heels in love with it. SO beautiful.

Music Monday – Volume Fifteen

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1)      Sam Smith – Restart

SO catchy. I have no idea why this is only available on the deluxe edition because it’s probably my highlight of the album.

2)      Darius – Maliblue

I found this in someone’s summer playlist on Spotify. A really catchy electro track.

3)      Ella Henderson – Ghost

Heard this on the radio the other day and loved it. Had no idea who it was until Grimmy mentioned after and it was a pleasant surprise! I always liked Ella on the X Factor but wasn’t sure if she’d go anywhere after the show. This is easily one of the best songs around at the moment so she’s heading in the right direction! Co-written by one of my favourite songwriters, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder.

4)     Laura Mvula – She

LOVE this. The harmonies are gorgeous and it’s just a very powerful, beautiful song.

5)      Alexia Keys & John Mayer – Lesson learned

Beautiful song by two very talented artists. Very chilled out.

6)      Peter Andre – I feel you

Bit of 90’s cheese. I know he’s not liked by any but I really like him as a person and as an artist. Love this soppy ballad 🙂

7)      Matt Cardle – It’s only love

This man is so bloody underrated. Such a talented guy. Really love this song.

8)      Kelly Rowland – Can’t nobody

Bit of a throwback. Really love how catchy this is.

9)      Usher – Good kisser

So damn catchy. Love those dreamy harmonies!

10)   Laura Mvula – Yellow

The original by Coldplay is one of my favourite songs of all time. I love Laura Mvula and I found her performance of this the other day on YouTube and fell in love with her all over again. One of the most talented women to emerge from the UK in years. Stunning piano-vocal version of a beautiful song. Some of those chords give me goosebumps!

Music Monday – Volume Fourteen

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1)      John Mayer – Edge of desire

A song I’ve always loved but I fell even deeper in love with it in this past week after watching a live performance of it. The lyrics are some of the best ever written and it’s such a beautiful, emotional song that I can really relate to.

2)      Peter Andre – I do

People may scoff at Peter Andre but he has created a great swing/retro album. This is a lovely song.

(You’ll have to Spotify this one!)

3)      John Mayer – Free fallin’

One of those rare songs that happen to be better than the original. Amazing.

4)      Katy Perry – Teenage dream

This never gets old. Reminds me of summer 2010 – it will always remain my teenage anthem.

5)      East 17 & Gabrielle – If you ever

An underrated 90’s R&B classic, this is SO good. Another song that is better than the original. Brian Harvey’s vocals are silky smooth and Gabrielle has one of my favourite female voices EVER.

6)      The Cranberries – Linger

Just absolutely unique and beautiful.

7)      S Club 7 – Show me your colours

Again, before people scoff at this being by S Club 7, listen to the track first. Awesome song.

8)      Pharrell – Angel

Catchy as hell. Pharrell is a genius.

9)      TLC – No Scrubs

This girl group were one of the best of the 90’s. This remains an absolute tune. SO good.

10)   Katy Perry – Thinking of you

An underrated track by Katy, this is one of her best. One of very few songs she wrote on her own, this needs to be heard by more people so they realise how talented she actually is. Beautiful, relatable lyrics.

Music Monday – Volume Thirteen

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1)      The Days – Never give up

This came on shuffle the other day and I fell in love with it all over again. Never heard anything else by these boys but this is still SO good. So catchy and upbeat.

2)      Roxette – You can’t put your arms around what’s already gone

Another little song that popped up on shuffle! This band is so good – the album this is from is incredible. Great lyrics to this track.

3)      John Mayer – Vultures

A song I always overlooked until about a month ago. John Mayer is such an underrated writer. Amazing lyrics and I just absolutely love this.

4)      Simon Webbe – Free

Simon is of course a member of British boyband Blue. His debut solo album ‘Sanctuary’ is one of my favourite albums released, surprisingly enough. It’s just a perfect balance of upbeat and slow tracks and every song is fantastic. This is co-written by one of my favourite songwriters and I love how soft and beautiful this is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZj_dNPiiD8

5)      BBMak – Next time

These guys were such an awesome band. Most of the current boybands would envy these harmonies. There’s not enough harmony in boybands these days in my opinion. Great little song.

6)      Pharrell Williams – Frontin’

This was on The Nixtape on Radio 1 and I forgot what an absolute tune it is! Pharrell is a genius.

7)      The 1975 – So far it’s alright

This = my jam. That is all!

8)      John Mayer – All we ever do is say goodbye

One of my favourite songs of all time. The lyrics are so perfect and so easy to relate to. I fell in love with this over a year ago and it just always reminds me of summer. It also, for some reason, reminds me of one of my favourite movies, ‘Brokeback Mountain’. I have no idea why this is but it makes the track even more special for me.

9)      Ronan Keating – Lost for words

Just really love the feel of this song. Lyric content is great too.

10)   Sam Smith – Leave your lover

I think Sam Smith is incredibly talented but every song he has released so far (aside from ‘Latch’ and ‘La la la’) has really annoyed me. I’ve been waiting for something to really impress me and not become irritating. Well he’s finally done it. This is so, so beautiful. So soft and delicate with fantastic lyrics.

Music Monday – Volume Twelve

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1)      Wet Wet Wet – Goodnight Girl

Just absolutely beautiful.

2)      Michael Jackson – Lovin’ you

Love both MJ’s original demo and the new version by Timbaland. Very jazzy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJS5PBgF8is

3)      Michael Jackson – Xscape (Original version)

The original version. I love hearing how MJ wanted his songs, not them all remixed by ‘hot’ producers. The new version is unrecognisable and utterly crap. I remember the original leaking years ago and always loving this track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uXHUq70Bl4

4)      Alanis Morisette – Thank You

Depressing but fab.

5)      Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow

Hauntingly beautiful. One of his most underrated songs from his career and my favourite MJ song. Incredible video too. Captures loneliness perfectly.

6)      Deniece Williams – Let’s hear it for the boy

Irresistible pop fun!

7)      Whitney Houston – Run to you

Absolutely stunning. This woman was incredible, as were the writers of this song.

8)      Whitney Houston – I wanna dance with somebody

SO catchy!

9)      Dolly Parton – Here you come again

Love Dolly! Such a beautiful song. Easy to relate to as well.

10)   Melanie C – What if I stay

This woman is SO incredibly underrated. Love this – so beautiful and heartfelt. Also very chilled out.

Music Monday – Volume Eleven

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1)      John Mayer – Something’s Missing

I can SO relate to this song sometimes. When you wonder exactly why you are feeling down when, in fact, you are lucky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrlNN-RsJUc

2)      Keith Urban – Sweet Thing

Found this through watching a concert Keith & John Mayer did together a few years back. I can’t get enough of this song right now, so uplifting! Really fallen in love with Keith’s music.

3)      Fleetwood Mac – Gypsy

My favourite Fleetwood Mac song. Just love the idea, the lyrical content and the beautiful harmonies. They are an incredible band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WZ3na8NGjY

4)      The Common Linnets – Calm After The Storm

Yes, sounding like ‘Every breath you take’ aside, it’s a very beautiful song. I missed Eurovision this year but checked out this song because of the controversy. Love it.

5)      Paloma Faith – Stargazer

Love Paloma and this is a great song.

6)      Zero 7 – Destiny

Always reminds me of summer – so smooth, so beautiful and an incredible song.

7)      Robbie Williams – Deceptacon

So hauntingly beautiful it’s unreal. Underrated track by far.

8)      Bombay Bicycle Club – Feel

This is an incredible song. Pays homage to Indian music but in a way that makes it mainstream. So damn catchy.

9)      Coldplay – Stawberry Swing

Just love this, I really do. It’s the instrumentation – so unique.

10)   Foster the people – Pumped up kicks

Irresistible. So catchy 🙂

Music Monday – Volume Ten

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Music Monday 10

1)      Pharrell  – Here

This man is an absolute genius. Taken from the latest Spiderman film, this is a perfect movie song. Don’t be put off if you don’t like Pharrell, this is a beautiful and rare ballad for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoE5ifeWX8U

2)      The Vamps  – She was the one

Loving the Vamps at the moment. Beautiful song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seHYL974VDg

3)      The Vamps – Dangerous

Love this so much. Reminds me a little of McFly.

4)      Pharrell Williams & Alicia Keys – Know who you are

This is an awesome song – love the reggae feel to it.

5)      The horrors – So now you know

Just really love this song.

6)      Snow Patrol – You could be happy

Perhaps the most heartbreaking song ever written. Certainly one of my favourite songs of all time. The lyrical content is just so incredibly beautiful and I love the music-box sound that runs the way through the song.

7)      Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake – Love never felt so good

All of us MJ songs have known about this song for years – it’s appeared online and on a couple of MJ compilations. The new polished versions, both solo and with JT sound fantastic, however. I especially love this, being a fan of both MJ and JT.

8)      Paramore/The Castro Family – Still into you

I’m not a massive fan of Paramore and especially not this song. But just check out this stunning cover. The harmonies are mesmerising. Definitely in the style of Fleetwood Mac

9)      Fleetwood Mac – Everywhere

Been listening to Fleetwood Mac loads lately – they’re just incredible. This is an absolute classic – so magical.

10)   The Flying Picketts – Only You

I am still loving ‘Only you’ as a song – it’s so beautiful. Love this acapella version.

Music Monday – Volume Nine

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1)      Snow Patrol – Just Say Yes

Forgot what an incredible song this is. Been listening to it loads this week – so catchy, so honest and so different from what Snow Patrol normally do. Love it and I love them.

2)      The Castro Family/The 1975 – Chocolate

Everyone knows Chocolate is one of my all time favourite songs. I usually hate YouTube covers as people tend to make it into a ballad which just doesn’t work. Part of its charm is the catchiness! LOVE this interpretation though! A little cheesy but love the harmonies and the arrangement.

3)      Roxette – Wish I could fly

One of the most beautiful songs ever and one of my all time favourites. So underrated. Love the pairing of the orchestra and drum machine. Special song for me.

4)      Genesis – Throwing it all away

This kept coming on during Shuffle and I love it so much! Love Genesis and Phil Collins anyway but I’m really enjoying this song at the moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ZdlFKYd84

5)      Prince – Purple Rain

Prince is one of my music heroes. This is so depressing and so long but sometimes it’s so necessary! It’s an incredible song, very emotive and powerful and the length is needed. I used to think it was perhaps too long but these days I appreciate the whole piece. Electric.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYUvCStLYJI

6)      The Vamps – Another World

I dismissed The Vamps a while ago but I gave their album a listen and I really love it! The second half in particular. I can’t get enough of this song at the moment. Generic maybe but very beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7tNpUcxrFA

7)      R. Kelly – Happy People

I remember hearing this on the car journey home from a theme park when I was around ten years old. It’s just such a smooth, happy song that always makes me feel great. R.Kelly is a musical genius.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Gmaurug0I

8)      Coldplay – Oceans

SO in love with this and so excited for the album. Very beautiful and very reminiscent of the Parachutes era.

9)      Keane  – Bedshaped

So, so beautiful. Keane are one of my favourite bands and this song is just stunning. Love the video too.

10)   George Michael – Kissing a fool

Only found this recently but I love it! So jazzy, so chilled. Definitely one of George’s more underrated songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RvANwJLZQ4