Music Monday – Volume Eleven

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

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

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

Music Monday – Volume Eight

1)      Rebecca Ferguson & John Legend – Burning bridges

Stunning. Love both artists, particularly John. Their voices blend together perfectly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvBOG9I3kpo

2)      Paloma Faith – Impossible Heart

So catchy. Love Paloma!

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

3)      John Mayer – Wildfire

An awesome country-styled song that makes me feel really summery

4)      One Direction – You and I

Before anyone scoffs, give this a listen a few times and you may realise what I mean when I say this is so beautiful. Probably one of my favourite songs from this year so far and I love it more with every listen. Fantastically written, I particularly love the climax of the song with the guitars and Zayn’s amazing high note.

5)      One Direction – Little black dress

Love the rock edge this song has. Really catchy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h70qwjL-jzM

6)      The 1975 – Settle down

Been in love with this for a while but Radio 1 keep playing it and it sounds so good on radio.

7)      George Michael – Through (Symphonica version)

Normally I don’t allow myself to include a song twice in these playlists but this is a different version. I love this song anyway but live, with an orchestra, it makes it even more powerful. The lyrics are fantastic and the orchestra makes it so beautiful.

8)      George Michael – A different corner

I’d never taken much notice of this until I bought George’s Symphonica album. I really paid attention to the lyrics and everything and I’ve fallen in love with it. Very simple but powerful all the same. “Turn a different corner and we’d never have met” is an awesome lyric. I’ve included a live performance from Parkinson in the late 90’s as I love the more acoustic version!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JGfC9SyPJs

9)      Snow Patrol – Batten down the hatch

I bought ‘Up To Now’, their Greatest Hits and whilst I know about 40% of the songs, the rest I don’t. I haven’t been disappointed though! This is an awesome song.

10)   Snow Patrol – Cartwheels

I never knew of this track either but I am also loving this right now.

Music Monday – Volume Seven

I’d say this is perhaps my most heavily modern weighted playlist yet! I’m just really loving a lot of the current chart music at the moment which is pretty rare for me. Hope you’ll discover some new songs through this playlist and remember to check back every Monday where I’ll post my ten favourite songs of the moment.

1)      Gary Barlow – Jump

Beautiful song co-written by Gary with another of my favourite writers – Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane. I’ve always found it a greatly inspiring song but hearing it live and seeing the visuals at Gary’s 02 Arena gig I attended last week made me fall even deeper in love with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NrVR-Wkp48

2)      Mr Probz – Waves (Robin Shulz remix)

Love the feel of this track. So chilled out yet so catchy – loving hearing this on Radio One at the moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MH9qWemtPo

3)      Kings of Leon – Temple

Love a bit of Kings of Leon! This reminds me a little of their previous song ‘Supersoaker’ which I also love. Just catchy and fantastic as always.

4)      Duke Dumont – I got you

I know this has been around for a while now but I’ve only just sat up and took notice of it! My love for this track grows with every listen – it is SO catchy and so summery. Cannot get enough of this. Best thing about this track is the steel pans!

5)      John Mayer – The Age Of Worry

I’ve loved this for ages but only fully paid attention to the lyrics of this track lately. So inspiring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHsCGwH7P6g

6)      Katy Perry – Birthday

SO glad Katy has decided to release this track as her next single. It’s my favourite from ‘Prism’ – full of cheeky innuendo and so incredibly catchy.

7)      Sigma –  Nobody to love

I wasn’t sure what to make of this on the first few listens but it’s so damn irresistible. Repetitive but awesomely catchy.

8)      Whitney Houston – I have nothing

I watched ‘The Bodyguard’ which happens to be one of my favourite films on Saturday night and so I’ve been going through a Whitney obsession again. This track was kinda overshadowed by ‘I will always love you’ but it’s still my favourite from the soundtrack. Incredible song and as always, Whitney’s voice was flawless.

9)      Whitney Houston – I will always love you

Despite its fame I was never really fussed about this song until a couple of years ago. It’s just a beautiful interpretation of an original track by Dolly Parton. Definitely one of the greatest, if not THE greatest pop vocal performance of all time.

10)   John Mayer – Queen of California

This sounds so great in the sun as it’s SO summery. Been listening to this loads recently.

Music Monday – Volume Six

1)      Mutya Buena/Tracy Chapman – Fast Car

Such a great song. Obviously the original is the definitive version but I love Mutya’s version too. People may scoff as it’s an ex-Sugababe member but she has a really distinctive tone and it’s a fab version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8_4sCOZpDc

2)      Leanne Mitchell – To love someone like you

Winner of the first series of The Voice UK who disappeared quickly from the public eye. A real shame too – she has an incredible voice. Anyway, this song is truly special and very beautiful. It reminds me of something Whitney might have done in her career.

3)      Kelly Rowland – Train on a track

This was something suggested to me on Spotify based on my listening habits and I’m so glad it was. Such a smooth, beautiful song and I can’t get enough of it right now.

4)      Eric Clapton – Blue Eyes Blue

Gorgeous song – very soppy but I love it so much. Definitely check this one out.

5)      The 1975 – Falling for You

This is really chilled-out and beautiful. We all know that sense of awareness we have of falling for somebody and this song documents that.

6)      Eurythmics – There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)

I’ve heard this a couple of times recently and have been reminded of what a great track it is. LOVE Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart is an amazing writer/musician.

7)      Joni Mitchell – Both sides now

One of my favourite songs of all time. I love the original but the version I love most is a jazz version Joni recorded in 2000. I first came across it in ‘Love Actually’ during one of the most heartbreaking scenes in a movie ever. It’s just an absolutely stunning song. Was reminded of this by the gorgeous version by Sally on The Voice UK.

8)      John Waite – Missing You

Another track I was reminded of after a performance on The Voice UK. This reminds me of a crush I had a few years ago!

9)      Vanessa Carlton – Thousand Miles

One of the greatest piano-based pop songs ever written. I adore the piano instrumentation on this track and it’s such a sweet song.

10)   Gary Barlow – Lie to Me

One of the greatest Barlow compositions ever and yet it’s pretty heartbreaking it never got the recognition it deserved. It could have been a massive single. So emotive, so well-written and the production is so polished. Gary Barlow’s song-writing at its best.

Music Monday – Volume Five

1)      Yazoo/The 1975 – Only you

Came across The 1975’s live cover from Dermot O’Leary’s Radio 2 breakfast show the other day. It’s a beautiful simplistic cover which made me look at the original in an entirely new light. Since then, I have been listening to both over and over again. Vince Clarke – the writer and musician on the original track is a genius and Alison Moyet’s voice is amazing.

2)      The Vamps – Last night

This is just so catchy and irresistible. Really love this

3)      Gary Barlow – Since I saw you last

One of my favourites when I first listened to the album but I placed it on the back burner for a little while whilst I enjoyed other other songs. Since the release of the video, however, I have fell head over heels back in love with this. It’s so powerful, so emotive and so catchy.

4)      John Mayer 3×5

A catchy, well-written little track towards the end of John’s debut album ‘Room for squares’. I love listening to this on a calm, warm day when I am walking on the way to somewhere. The lyrics are fantastic.

5)      Jakwob – Somebody new

Keep hearing this on Radio 1 and I think it’s awesome.

6)      Meanie C – Be The One

A track off Mel’s debut album ‘Northern Star’, this is so simple but so beautiful. I find it very summery and have been listening to it on repeat recently.

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

7)      Kylie Minogue – Fine

The closing track to Kylie’s current album ‘Kiss me once’, this is so fresh and so current yet also loyal to Kylie’s iconic sound. Can’t get enough of this right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkd6i05uUfs

8)      Paloma Faith – Only love can hurt like this

This is an awesome track penned by Diane Warren (who’s written with and for Celine Dion, Aerosmith, Sugababes, Beyonce, Gary Barlow and others). I love it’s retro/motown feel and Paloma sounds incredible on it.

9)      The 1975 – Robbers

Yep The 1975 are in yet another one of my playlists. This song is just so beautiful and emotive. Really looking forward to seeing the video once it’s done.

10)   One Direction – Strong

A friend told me to listen to this and I haven’t looked back since. Say what you want about One Direction but they have some great hits and songs to their name and this is one of them. Really love the power of the chorus, especially the melody. Discovering new favourite songs through friends is the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZmcSUjdq0U

Music Monday – Volume Four

Bit of a strange combination of tracks this week, admittedly! There’s always a fair amount of diversity in my music taste but I think this week’s is the one to fully highlight that. Anyway, here’s the 10 songs I have been loving/listening to this past week.

1)      The 1975 – AntiChrist

I knew this song existed of course but for some unknown reason, I just never listened to it. I think I dismissed it as an instrumental off one of their E.Ps. How wrong I was though. Some fantastic, inquisitive lyrics and it’s an incredibly powerful song. The last minute really reminds me of something Coldplay might do. Awesome track.

2)      London Grammar – Hey Now

Similarly to the above, this is pretty haunting but very beautiful. Love this band.

3)      Chris Malinchak – So Good To Me

Heard this on Radio 1 again the other day and was reminded of what a great song it is. So chilled out despite it being a club track.

4)      George Michael – It doesn’t really matter

I’ve loved this ever since I stumbled across the ‘Older’ album last Summer. It’s so chilled-out and so perfect. It’s one of those songs where I can’t necessarily relate to what it was written about but it’s so personal that it still manages to come to mean something to you. The lyrics are perfect too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13GWxB9ZVpM

5)      Melanie C & Lisa ‘Left eye’ Lopes – Never be the same again

I’m a massive Melanie C fan as many of you know. As well as loving The Spice Girls, Sporty Spice has always been my favourite and had the best voice. Her solo career is massively underrated and I own a great deal of her solo material which I love listening to. This song is just awesome and thankfully was a big hit over here. It’s just well written, a perfect pop track and I love the randomness of having Lisa Lopes rap on a Spice Girl solo track!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klCXBkn0VGs

6)      Drake – Find your love

Heard this on the Nixtape on Radio 1 last week and was reminded of what an awesome song it is. Not a fan of Drake at all but this is the only song he’s ever done that I’ve thought anything of. Love the production, the beats, the chords and it’s just a great tune.

7)      George Michael – Though

Beautiful penultimate track off George’s ‘Patience’ album. Very personal and very underrated.

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

8)      Jennifer Lopez – Baby I Love U!

Perfect pop cheese. My favourite track in this week’s playlist! This happens to be my favourite J-Lo song ever. SO good.

9)      Wayne Wonder – No letting go

A classic that I’d forgotten about! Again, heard this on The Nixtape and was reminded of this awesome song. Gives me some beautiful fond memories of Summer 2003 listening to this really loud 🙂

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

10)   Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody

Not the original of course but a bloody good version. Really fantastic version of a great song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlZnmEYYXu4

Music Monday – Volume Three

1)      Kaiser Chiefs – Coming Home

I’ve always respected the Kaisers even if I haven’t been a big fan of their music, though obviously ‘I predict a riot’ and ‘Oh my god’ are classics. I was checking out their latest stuff through being impressed with Ricky Wilson on The Voice UK. This is their latest single and I love it. Really love the melody to the verses. Video’s awesome too.

2)      Beverley Knight – After You

I’ve neglected Bev for a while despite her being one of my favourite artists. She’s one of the most underrated singers in the UK by far. Love this track – so catchy and so summery.

3)      The 1975 – You

Been obsessed with this on and off since January. I’d always enjoyed this track but the first time I really took notice was hearing it live. I got completely lost in the track which has never happened live before. It’s probably one of the most underrated tracks ever – the sweeping guitars, Matt Healy’s echoing voice and the way it builds up into a heavy ending. It’s so honest and so emotive. I’ve included my favourite live version instead of the studio one because I think it captures more emotion live.

4)      Kylie Minogue – Sexy Love

All right, I’m cheating a little as I’ve only heard this for the first time today! But this is catchy as fuck. Reminds me so much of ‘Wow’ – another of my favourite Kylie songs. Awesome track, loving that our princess of pop is back ❤

5)      John Mayer – Queen of California

Really, really summery. Perfect for when the sun is out.

6)      Kylie Minogue – Into the blue

Great track.

7)      Scissor Sisters – Mary

A song largely forgotten about but an incredibly beautiful track. Many compare this to something Elton John would do and that doesn’t discredit the song in the slightest. Apparently Jake Shears wrote this for a friend who had a tough time about her weight. Knowing the meaning makes the song even more meaningful. Love the piano and saxophone on this.

8)      George Michael – You’ve changed

The original is a classic of course but I love George’s version which appeared on his 1999 cover album ‘Songs from the last century’. I particularly love the last few seconds where he sings “I miss you” – really gets me!

9)      Lenny Kravitz – California

Lenny Kravitz is a musical genius and this is my favourite by him. So damn catchy and I love those harmonies. I’d love to write a song like this!

10)   Lawson – Love locked out

Again, SO catchy. Really different to Lawson’s usual stuff but I love the groove to this song.

Presenting Music Mondays

In order to keep myself blogging and to share my love of music, I am going to begin a series of blogs called Music Mondays. Music Mondays will feature a playlist of ten songs I am currently loving. Some may be new releases whilst others may be older but they will all be songs that I am listening to over and over again.

So with no further ado, here’s this week’s playlist!

1) Arctic Monkeys – Why’d you only call me when you’re high

Just amazingly catchy and so damn cool.

2) Toby Burke and George Michael – Waltz away dreaming

A George Michael song I had no idea existed until a scroll through his complete Discography. This is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.

3) The 1975 – Head.Cars.Bending

Glitchy, energetic – awesome song.

4) The 1975 – Pressure

I always overlooked this track on the album but recently I’ve fallen in love with it – very catchy and the lyrics are awesome.

5) Jake Bugg – Songs about love

Not overly keen on all of Jake’s stuff but he’s incredibly talented. Keep hearing this on the radio and it’s definitely my favourite track by him. Very acoustic based and a beautiful song.

6) Eric Clapton – Change the world

Was reminded of this when I found a video of Andy Brown (lead singer of Lawson) covering it on YouTube. Such a great acoustic based track which makes me smile a lot.

7) Neil Young – Harvest Moon

Heard this when watching the movie Eat Pray Love the other day and instantly fell in love with it. Very soft and very romantic. 

8) Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne – Rather be

There’s something very unique about this track and I love that. It’s so catchy and so upbeat, I really love it.

9) Beyonce – XO

This has had a lot of stick but it’s my favourite track Beyonce has ever done. I agree that lyrically it’s not the best and it’s quite generic for a Beyonce song but I find it really powerful, really emotive and very addictive. 

10) Coldplay – Magic

This was only released to the world today so this is brand spanking new! Again, it’s had a lot of stick from Coldplay fans about the change in music direction but I love this. I love Coldplay’s older stuff and I also love their newer sound too. I love this because it’s very chilled out and very special. I’ve already listened to this countless times today!