Every Friday, we are adding three tracks to our Feel-Good Friday Spotify playlist. The aim? To create a definitive playlist featuring the best uplifting, feel-good tracks in the world!
Check here every Friday to check any additions!
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Catchy, chilled-out tropical house-influenced track with ambient and electro elements. Will Heard’s rich, soulful vocals are a perfect match for Anne Marie’s jazz-influenced ones.
Chilled-out neo-soul track with electro elements. Katy B’s layered harmonies are gorgeous and the entire track has a relaxed vibe.
Near enough a note-for-note cover of the Tame Impala original. It’s just as psychedelic and moody but it’s a fine cover.
Effervescent electro track featuring giggling synthesisers, scatty vocal samples and buoyant percussion.
This gentle acoustic ballad is a throwback to 90’s Britpop in a similar vein to Oasis. Despite somewhat shabby lyrics, it’s a pretty little track.
Gentle synthpop track with punchy percussion and warm, fuzzy synthesisers. Sivan’s bruised vocals drift softly over the catchy backing track and it’s a lovely song.
Chilled-out hip hop track on which Tiller’s autotune coated vocals float over eerie sounds and transient beats.
Lovely dream-pop/indie folk track from Irish singer-songwriter SOAK.
Gorgeous and haunting piano ballad on which Seal’s raspy vocals reverberate infinitely into beautiful piano chords and eerie synths.
Gorgeous piano ballad which closes Rihanna’s highly anticipated ‘Anti’ perfectly.
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1) James Taylor – Walking Man
Gorgeous folk/easy listening track with gentle guitar strums.
2) Nothing But Thieves – Graveyard Whistling
Haunting and gorgeous track from one of the best bands currently around. Conor Mason’s vocals are incredible, particularly during the falsetto chorus and the track builds up to a dramatic climax.
3) Nothing But Thieves – Last Orders
Love the unique chords on this haunting track from the band’s ‘Graveyard Whistling’ EP.
4) Nothing But Thieves – Emergency
Another heartfelt and dark track from Nothing But Thieves. The falsetto chorus drowned in reverb in this is stunning.
5) Snow Patrol – How To Be Dead
6) Snow Patrol – Grazed Knees
7) Coldplay – Adventure of a Lifetime
Epic and eclectic disco track with amazing guitar riffs and a mesh of vocal clips. As has been the case on much of Coldplay’s material over the past four years, it’s another change in direction but one which works beautifully. Catchy and upbeat.
8) One Direction – History
Pleasant acoustic-based track from the band’s forthcoming ‘Made in the A.M’ album. A power-house middle eight breaks up the song nicely and it’s a great feel-good pop track.
9) Seal – Love
Stunning piano ballad which closes Seal’s latest album ‘Seal 7’ beautifully. Seal’s trademark raspy vocals soar gorgeously over gentle synths and lovely piano chords.
10) Ellie Goulding – Codes
Catchy track from Ellie’s latest album ‘Delirium’. It’s far more pop based than Goulding’s previous efforts but a track which works brilliantly.
1) 5SOS – Don’t stop
I do think this band is very overrated. Having said that, this song is irresistibly catchy and I do enjoy hearing it on the radio very much.
2) Usher – Good Kisser (Disclosure Remix)
Those that follow me on Twitter will know how much I love this song through my excessive tweeting about it. I’ve also already included this track in one of my previous editions of Music Monday but this is slightly different as it’s the Disclosure remix. I love the Disclosure boys – their debut album is amazing, their songs are fantastic and their remixes are awesome. Love this.
3) Chris Braide – Last great hope for mankind
You may not have heard of him but Chris Braide is the writer of many well-known and much loved songs. He’s one of my favourite song-writers. Along with his writing, he has also released a handful of his own material on a collection of albums. I love this song and how happy it is.
(Unfortunately there are no videos on YouTube for this – Spotify or iTunes it if you can!)
4) Lady Antebellum – Can’t take my eyes off you
I’ve always loved Lady Antebellum’s single releases but this week I decided to check out their albums. I fell in love with a lot of songs, the harmonies, chord structures and country-feel to each song but I especially loved this one.
5) Jess Glynne – Birthday/I wanna be your lover (Live in the Radio 1 Live Lounge)
Jess Glynne is definitely an artist to watch. She was lead vocalist on Clean Bandit’s awesome song ‘Rather be’ and also on Route 94’s ‘My love’. This was a live version of Katy Perry’s amazing track, ‘Birthday’ which in itself was already great. But then she mixed it up with some of Prince’s ‘I wanna be your lover’ and made it even more crazy. Awesome.
6) Nerina Pallot – Learning to breathe
This is a wonderful song. After re-discovering ‘Sophia’, I decided to check out the album the track was from. I loved all of the songs but I really fell in love with this song. Catchy and emotive chorus.
7) Nerina Pallot – Sophia
This song gives me lots of fond memories. I loved it upon its release back in 2006 and I remember listening to it in the car on my way home from school during my first few weeks of secondary school. It’s an absolutely gorgeous song and I love it very much. Nerina Pallot is amazing.
8) Bipolar Sunshine – Deckchairs on the moon
I keep hearing this on the radio and I love it. I love the piano and how summery/space-y it feels. Very electronic and catchy. One of the best new tracks I’ve heard in a while.
9) Lower than Atlantis – Here we go
This is quite a heavy track for me to like but I’m really loving this!
10) Oasis – Guess God thinks I’m abel
I love the guitar and chord structure on this track. Awesome song
1) The Jacksons – 2300 Jackson Street
A little-known single released by The Jacksons in 1989 when Michael had left the band. This album was pretty underrated in my opinion. It’s a shame it didn’t fare better in the charts. This is a gorgeous song that Michael contributed vocals to and it’s so soulful & smooth.
2) Samantha Ronson – Built this way
Yes, I watched Mean Girls & this played pretty much all the way through so I kinda found myself liking it!
3) Fat Larry’s Band – Zoom
So summery. Love this.
4) Fleetwood Mac – Sara
God, I love Fleetwood Mac! Stevie Nicks’ voice is divine and this is an amazing song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHJb87nNsGY
5) Fleetwood Mac – Family Man
Catchy as hell, this is an awesome song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeIwuyCGhQc
6) Robbie Williams – Monsoon
A shamefully honest song that could be written and performed by no-one else other than Mr Robbie Williams. Such a powerful, awesome song.
7) Robbie Williams – Feel
Hauntingly beautiful – that piano introduction and the lyrics are just beautiful. “Come and hold my hand, I wanna contact the living” – what a line. One of the best lyrics ever written.
8) The Vamps – Somebody to you
The more I hear by The Vamps, the more I love them. Love this song.
9) Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
I watched the 1998 movie ‘Stepmom’ with Julia Roberts the other day and this song was played in the opening segment. One of my favourite Queen tracks, with that irresistible bass line (years before it was nicked by Vanilla Ice) and a fantastic duet between two amazing singers – Freddie Mercury & David Bowie.
10) Thomas Newman – Any other name
‘American Beauty’ is one of my favourite films of all time and part of what makes it so appealing for me is Thomas Newman’s hauntingly beautiful score. ‘Any other name’ is a piece of music commonly played in media and it’s just stunning. One of my favourite pieces of music ever produced.
As it’s Valentine’s Day, and I happen to be a big fan of slushy love songs, I thought I would compile and publish a list of just some of my favourite songs ever written/released. This is not a definitive list by any means – I can think of many more I love just as much/lots of iconic songs that aren’t here. This is just a selection of ones I either think deserve more recognition or that I absolutely love. Many of these have been played time and time again! I’ve chosen not to talk about all of them as that would have taken me ages but I’ve just selected a few to discuss why I love them so much.
1) Shania Twain – You’re still the one
An absolute country classic which I’d forgotten about until hearing it a few days ago. It’s such a beautiful, simplistic song and I adore the harmonies in the chorus. Definitely one of the greatest love songs ever written.
2) Olly Murs – Hand on heart
An underrated track, I’ve always loved this since my first listen. I just think it’s a really powerful, emotive song which also somehow manages to be really catchy.
3) Take That – Rule the world
My favourite song of all time had to be in there somewhere! I adore everything about this – from the piano chords, Gary’s vocals, the harmonies, the lyrics – it’s just beautifully written. “All the stars are coming out tonight, they’re lighting up the sky tonight for you” – it’s so simple but gorgeous.
4) Gary Barlow – My Commitment
Hidden gem on Gary’s debut album, it’s astonishingly soppy but also very beautiful. Proper piece of 90’s cheese, this!
5) George Michael – I can’t make you love me
Not the original but perhaps the best version. Bonnie Raitt’s beautiful original is fantastic too though. I just prefer the instrumentation on George’s – Bonnie’s features a synthetic sounding keyboard whereas George’s features all real instruments and beautiful strings. This is just so amazingly heartfelt, so emotive and absolutely stunning.
6) George Michael – Amazing
7) Michael Jackson – Butterflies
Another hidden gem. This appeared on what would become Michael’s last solo album in his lifetime- ‘Invincible’ and was written by UK female duo Floetry. It’s silky smooth, full of soul and sweet falsetto – it’s just perfect.
8) Daniel Bedingfield – If you’re not the one
Yes, I can’t deny that this one is incredibly cheesy but it has become one of my all-time favourite songs in the last few years. I just think the lyrics are incredibly beautiful and relatable.
9) Katy Perry – Thinking of you
Not many know this song by her as it’s overlooked by the more commercial stuff but it’s the song that made me love her. It’s a shame this isn’t as well-known as some of her other tracks as this really does show how talented she is. One of only a handful of songs written by Katy alone, this was a single from her debut ‘One of the boys’. It’s a pop-rock style track which contains some of my favourite lyrics ever written. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
10) Will Young – Who am I
This was a hit back in 2006 but I never hear it anymore which is a shame because again, it’s beautiful. Written about not wanting to let your lover down, it’s an interestingly written song.
11) Will Young – Love is a matter of distance
12) Michael Jackson – You are not alone
A masterpiece by R. Kelly written for Michael’s HIStory – Past Present Future Book 1 album. I see this less as a love song for a lover but more of a song of support for loved ones, as cheesy as that sounds. Particularly as it was released in a time of turbulence for Michael, I see it as being an important song to him which is perhaps why I find it so beautiful. I love the last few seconds as it fades out – just really like MJ’s ad-libs and the chord progression.
13) Gwen Stefani – Cool
This is just a brilliant song. Taking influences from 1980’s synth-pop, this is a piece of pop heaven. A song about remaining ‘cool’ with an ex or an ex crush, again, it’s a uniquely written song.
14) Leon Jackson – Stargazing
This song is so incredibly underrated! Written by Michael Buble’s co-writers, this is a stunning song. Romantic, with soft acoustic guitars and sweeping strings, Leon croons this soppy ballad beautifully.
15) Mark Owen – Alone Without You
Most people know how I feel about Mark’s solo career anyway but this song is concrete proof why I feel like I do. I love the lyrics and the rawness and openness of this track. Amazing song.
16) Take That – Like I never loved you at all
Another underexposed song as it’s only an album track. I just love this song as it’s so acoustic based and just so beautiful. I don’t think this has to just be about lost love, I also see it as a song about lost friendship which is part of what makes it such a perfect song. Definitely one of my favourite Take That songs ever.
17) Lawson – Standing in the dark
I remember listening to the premiere of this song on Radio 1 and instantly falling in love with it. It has so much power through its hard rock sound and Andy Brown’s flawless vocals. It’s such an emotive song and it never fails to give me goosebumps.
18) Sara Bareilles – Gravity
Another example of how simplicity can sometimes be the best. This track relies on Sara’s beautiful voice, a piano and strings and tells of not being able to get over someone. It’s really worth a listen.
19) John Mayer – Back to you
20) Neyo – Go on girl
21) Coldplay – Yellow
22) Phil Collins – You’ll be in my heart
23) Beverley Knight – Gold
Beverley is without a doubt the most underrated singer the UK has. She has an absolutely incredible voice and her music is up to the same standard. ‘Gold’ is one of my all-time-favourite songs
24) Lawson – Taking over me
25) Prince – One kiss at a time
This reminds me of summertime – it’s a very chilled out, optimistic track about love from Prince’s awesome three disk 1995 album ‘Emancipation’. Unfortunately I can’t link it as it’s not available on Spotify or YouTube.
26) Prince – The most beautiful girl in the world
Prince’s only UK Number One single to date, this is an awesome song. I love the intro and middle eight, the lyrics and Prince sounds absolutely incredible on it. Particularly gotta love the high notes he hits at the end.
27) John Legend – Ordinary People
Sometimes simplicity is key in music and this is a prime example. A jazzy piano instrumentation and John Legend’s silky vocals over the top with a few strings at the end for good measure, this is just bliss. It’s an honest take on the ups and downs of love.
28) Kylie Minogue – Never too late (Abbey Road version)
The original version of this is, of course, a cheesy pop Stock-Aitken-Waterman written and produced track released in the late 1980’s. Kylie transformed this into a beautiful pop ballad for her 2012 album ‘The Abbey Road Sessions’ and really emphasised what a great song this is.
29) Lemar – Invincible
Lemar’s entire ‘Invincible’ album was severely underrated and overlooked but the lead single in particular deserved more attention. ‘Invincible’ is a beautiful pop-rock track about lost love.
30) Chris Brown – I should’ve kissed you
Overlooking the personality and the man himself, Chris Brown manages to write some great tracks. This was a track from his album ‘F.A.M.E’ – it’s schmaltzy but catchy and incredibly sweet.
31) Whitney Houston – I have nothing
32) Maroon 5 – She will be loved
This is without a doubt one of the greatest love pop tracks ever written. Adam Levine has such a beautiful voice and it’s just an all-round great song.
33) Simply Red – Say You Love Me
This reminds me of being very young as this’d often be played around the house. As I’ve grown older I’ve come to love it even more as I’ve paid more attention to the lyrics.
34) Wet Wet Wet – Goodnight girl
Another simple song which features nothing more than a guitar, piano and vocals, this song is about secret love, distinguishing it from other more cliché love songs. Marti Pellow has such a great voice and it’s an incredibly beautiful song and one I love very much.
35) East Seventeen & Gabrielle – If you ever
I believe this to be one of the best boyband tracks ever. Originally an A capella track by US band Shai, this was transformed into a 90’s pop track for East Seventeen with a little help from Gabrielle. Gabrielle has one of my favourite female voices and Brian Harvey sounds perfect with her. The harmonies are impeccable on this too.
36) Seal – Kiss from a rose
37) Mark Owen – Makin’ out (acoustic version)
The original is great too but I fell in love with this song after hearing Mark perform it acoustically on YouTube. The lyrics are really sweet and it’s a fantastic song.
38) Amy Winehouse – Love is a losing game
39) John Mayer & Katy Perry – Who you love
40) Oasis – Wonderwall
41) Busted – Sleeping with the light on
42) Mel C – Immune
Mel C’s solo career is incredibly underrated. This song was co-written by Busted member James Bourne for Mel’s 2007 album ‘This Time’ and is definitely worth a listen. Beautiful song.
43) Gabrielle – Out of reach
44) Duffy – Warwick Avenue
45) Blue – Breathe easy
Mr Lee Ryan’s vocals on this are insane. Stunning, powerful song.
46) The Script – Millionaires
47) Avril Lavigne – I’m with you
48) Britney – Everytime
Whatever you say about Britney, you can’t deny this is one breath-taking song. Perhaps the best she’s ever released.
49) Conor Maynard – Just in case
It’s easy to write Conor Maynard off as a not all that credible artist but this is a great song. Love the piano arrangement in it and the lyrical content. There was a time when this meant a lot to me.
50) The Corrs – What can I do
51) Duncan James – Can’t stop a river
52) Jennifer Lopez – Baby I love you
53) Mike Dignam – Lungs
I bought Mike’s EP after being impressed with him supporting Lawson on their Chapman Square tour last year. This song is one of my favourites; such a sweet little song with a great chord progression.
54) Lee Ryan/Andy Scott Lee – Guardian Angel
Written by Blue member Lee Ryan for an album that remains unreleased, this track was also a contender to be entered as the UK’s entry into the 2005 Eurovision Contest. It ended up being beaten by Javine’s Touch My Fire. Don’t let the fact it was a Eurovision song contender discourage you, however – it’s an absolutely beautiful (admittedly rather cheesy) track and Andy sounds amazing on it. The reason I’ve credited it to both artists is because there’s confusion on YouTube of who’s singing the track.
55) John Mayer – Your body is a wonderland
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