As always, here’s what I’ve been listening to this past month.
Tag: Favela
August Mixtape
Each new month brings a new mixtape. Here’s 20 songs we’ve been loving over the past month.
June Mixtape
Happy June! Here’s 20 songs we’ve been loving this past month.
Music Monday – Volume Forty Six
1) Simply Red – Say You Love Me
One of their best yet most underrated songs. Mick Hucknall is a musical genius. Gorgeous ballad from the fantastic ‘Blue’ album with soulful vocals, soft guitar strums and predominant piano chords throughout.
2) Simply Red – To be free
A great feel-good song also from the 1998 ‘Blue’ album. Great song with thoughtful lyrics.
3) Simply Red – You’ve Got It
Love, love, LOVE this song. Another underrated single by the band, this time from 1989’s ‘A New Flame Album’. Co-written with legendary soul writer Lamont Dozier, this soulful ballad has the same feel as his songs written in the ’60’s but with Simply Red’s 80’s sound blended in. Mick Hucknall and Lamont Dozier was a winning combination. Mick Hucknall’s stunning vocals really shine on this track. Love the interesting chords too.
4) Simply Red – Your Eyes
Yep, I’ve been having a Simply Red week… 1999’s ‘Love and the Russian Winter’ was more or less a commercial failure, a shame when it’s such an adventurous and fantastic album. It’s my favourite Simply Red album infused with a more computerised/electro sound. ‘Your Eyes’ was the lead single. A smooth R&B/Pop love song, it’s an awesome song. Mick Hucknall sure knows how to write a great love song. Should have faired much better in the charts.
5) Taylor Swift – Style
One of her best singles to date, I’ve loved this since the release of her ‘1989’ album and am so glad she’s released this as a single. Catchy with great production and fantastic Swifty lyrics, it’s awesome.
6) One Direction – You & I
Months later and the departure of Zayn Malik made me return to my obsession with this song. I love the lyrics, I love the vocal performance of each of the boys but most of all, I love how the song builds. Particularly in the single version, percussion doesn’t enter the song until after the first chorus and the song ends in a mesmerising climax after the second chorus in which wailing guitars, heavy drums and Zayn Malik’s gorgeous falsetto kick in. Beautiful song.
7) Michael Jackson – Ghosts
A catchy new jack swing number from 1999’s ‘Blood on the Dancefloor’ album, the paranoia in the lyrics and that crazy drum beat makes it an awesome song.
8) John Mayer – In Repair
A rather long but great song from John’s 2005 ‘Continuum’ album, I love this. Lyrically, it’s about being in a state of repair – getting back to being yourself again, something I am more than able to relate to.
9) Annie Lennox – No More I Love You’s
A song originally by 80’s New Wave group ‘The Lover Speaks’, covered by Annie Lennox on her second solo album ‘Medusa’. The original is a dark indie song but Lennox truly made the song what it is. Her pop version released in 1995 became a massive hit and added an extra depth missing from the original. Her vocal performance is incredible (as always), Stephen Lipson’s production is on point and it’s just a beautiful song, one of my all time favourites.
10) Favela – Easy Yoke
A song I found on a Spotify playlist last year that I rediscovered recently. Love the chords, love the chilled-out vibe of this and the meaningful lyrics. It’s a shame this song isn’t known by more because it’s beautiful and catchy at the same time.
Music Monday – Volume Twenty Nine
1) One Direction – Fireproof
There’s been a bit of a mixed reaction to this track which was made available for free for 24 hours this week. It’s a lot more mature with a soft beat and gorgeous harmonies and I absolutely love it. Such a great song.
2) Favela – Easy Yoke
Found this on a Spotify placement I was listening to yesterday and have listened to it over and over since. Such a beautiful song. Very spaced out and the strings are just stunning.
3) The 1975 – Heart Out
I’ve loved this since I purchased The 1975’s début album almost a year ago but the release of the video last week has given the song a new lease of life for me. So catchy it’s unreal and I love the saxophone break.
4) Ten Walls – Walking with elephants
Been hearing this on the radio a lot lately and I really love it. It’s great to have a classic instrumental club track in the charts.
5) Nina Nesbitt – Two worlds away
Found this completely by accident and have fallen in love. Such a pretty acoustic-based song.
6) John Mayer – Say
One of John’s more underrated efforts and one I feel even he neglects sometimes. This was written for and appeared in the movie ‘The Bucket List’ although I came to know it through the modern re-adaptation of ‘The Karate Kid’ a few years back. It’s the song that got me into John Mayer and it’s so pretty. It’s one of the most inspiring songs and I just love it so, so much.
7) Coldplay – True love
Hauntingly beautiful. Love this.
8) George Ezra – Barcelona
This man is such a talent. Really love this song.
9) George Ezra – Song 3
Another incredible song off George’s debut album. Awesome.
[Unfortunately this isn’t on YouTube]
10) Beck – Morning
I went and saw ‘If I stay’ at the cinema the other day and this appeared in the movie. I instantly fell in love with the soft guitars and the haunting melody. Such a haunting, stunnning song.
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