Music Monday – Volume Thirty

September 22, 2014October 28, 2015 MarcyB0yLeave a comment

1) Jason Segel & Peter Linz – Man or Muppet

Yes, it’s a song by The Muppets from their 2011 Disney movie. It’s comical but yet utterly beautiful at the same time. I think the reason I love it so much, besides the fact it involves The Muppets which I love, is that is reminds me of 1980’s power ballads and musically, it’s a little like Elton John’s ballads. Reminds me a little of one of my favourite songs by The Scissor Sisters (‘Mary’) too. Just a beautiful little song.

2) Simply Red – Fairground

One of the best pop-house tracks from the 90’s. Such a feel-good, catchy song. Awesome drum track, sing-song melody and a bloody brilliant chorus. SO good.

3) The Script – No good in goodbye

The Script got mixed reviews for their previous album, ‘#3’ and so it seems they wanted to return to form with new album ‘No sound without silence’. And that, they have. This is the opening track and it’s unbelievably good. Great, well-written lyrics and I love the chord progression of the chorus, though it does sound rather like Duran Duran’s ‘Ordinary World’! Can’t get enough of this right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfahSzwCNHM

4) Paolo Nutini – Iron Sky

Incredibly haunting, beautiful and dark. Paolo’s vocal performance on this is insane. SO emotive.

5) Chris Brown – Add Me In

As much as I can’t stand Chris Brown as a human being, I do love a lot of his music. Latest album ‘X’ is great and this is my favourite track off it. A little like something that would have appeared on Michael Jackson’s ‘Off the wall’ album but with a modern twist. Great song.

[Not on YouTube yet]

6) Alt-J – Every other freckle

Another haunting song, this is a little creepy. Awesome record, though.

7) SecondCity featuring Ali Love – What can I do?

SO good. One of those rare new songs that I loved upon my first listen. Sounds a little like a 90’s house track which is part of what makes it so endearing. Summer hasn’t disappeared just yet!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXTTwCNj6o

8) Jamie Cullum – Photograph

I love Jamie Cullum – he’s one of the most underrated artists in the UK. This is a beautiful little song I came across after reading an interview with him in which he discussed this song. Great lyrics and I love how the song builds and develops. Love this.

9) Simply Red – Your Eyes

Taken from one of Simply Red’s most underrated albums and one that happens to be my favourite by them; ‘Love and the Russian Winter’. Great, great song.

10) Ariana Grande & Nathan Sykes – Almost is never enough

I loved this when it came out but forgot all about it until reading about Nathan Skyes reportedly working on a solo album. A chilled, jazzy affair with incredible vocal performances by both artists. I’m expecting big things from Nathan – what a voice! One that wasn’t showcased enough in The Wanted. Just hope he gets with the right song-writers/musicians.

Music Monday – Volume Twenty Nine

September 15, 2014October 28, 2015 MarcyB0yLeave a comment

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.

Music Monday – Volume Eighteen

June 30, 2014October 28, 2015 MarcyB0yLeave a comment

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 Fourteen

June 2, 2014October 28, 2015 MarcyB0yLeave a comment

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

May 26, 2014October 28, 2015 MarcyB0yLeave a comment

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 Eleven

May 12, 2014October 28, 2015 MarcyB0yLeave a comment

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.