After adapting Music Monday to make it strictly about current and new music, we realised that there was no way to draw focus to older music on this blog. So we have decided to publish a mixtape (or Spotify Playlist) of 20 songs on the first day of every month.
This makes January’s rather late but with no further ado, here’s the Music Box’s January Mixtape:
1) Shura – Touch
Slick and smooth, this is an effortlessly cool R&B jam by Shura.
2) Tame Impala – Yes I’m Changing
Melancholic and moody but a brilliant track which mirrors lots of ’80’s pop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhlPXa6g4C8
3) The 1975 – Ugh!
The 1975 dropped another incredible track this week. This is reminiscent of some of Prince’s funkiest material and it’s bloody awesome.
4) Girls Aloud – The Loving Kind
Completely forgot about this track until it appeared as a suggested video on YouTube the other day. Written by The Pet Shop Boys, this is one of their best.
5) Donny Hathaway – This Christmas
Smooth and soulful, this is old-school Christmas music at its best. Absolutely brilliant track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSBvJG2yLJQ
6) Snakehips ft Tinashe & Chance the rapper – All my friends
Love the chilled out nature of this and the chorus is very anthemic.
7) Roxette – It Must Have Been Love (Christmas for the Broken Hearted)
Before this track came to prominence, it was actually a Christmas song. Not a lot had to be removed to turn it into a generic track and both versions are lovely. One of the best and most emotive power ballads from the ’80’s.
8) James Bay – Hold Back The River
This is still an incredible, rousing and uplifting track. James performing it on the BBC Music Awards reinforced that for me.
9) Cliff Richard – Young Love
Anything by Cliff is a guilty pleasure. I have no idea how I came across this but it’s a nice little song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXc7REiJwMc
10) The Pretenders – 2000 Miles
An often forgotten about Christmas song. It’s not the most cheery of festive songs but it’s a brilliant song and Chrissie Hynde’s vocals are still some of the best out there.
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