What Do You Mean

1) Seal – Every Time I’m With You

Seal returns with a gorgeous and triumphant ballad abundant with his signature raspy vocals, gentle guitar strums and sweeping strings. This is Seal’s first original track in five years; previous two albums were cover albums of Soul classics. ‘Every Time I’m With You’ is the lead single from Seal’s upcoming album ‘Seal 7’, released on 6th November.

2) Frances – Grow

Beautiful, emotive piano ballad by up and coming British indie artist Frances. Gorgeous song definitely worth a listen.

3) Frances – What Do You Mean (Radio 1 Live Lounge)

Frances was fortunate enough to be invited to perform in Radio 1’s Live Lounge following The Libertines’ cancellation. She performed a gorgeous piano cover of Justin Bieber’s huge Summer smash ‘What Do You Mean’. Beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9skelI9roZc

4) Jamie Woon – Sharpness

Soft soul track featuring a punchy bass line, catchy percussion and gentle vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhNBG4yycY

5) Duran Duran – Pressure Off

Effortlessly catchy track from Duran Duran’s latest studio album. Aided by Chic mastermind Nile Rodgers, Mark Ronson, Mr Hudson and Janelle Monrae, ‘Pressure Off’ is a rousing pop track featuring funky guitar riffs, punchy percussion and a huge stadium-anthem chorus. Awesome track.

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

6) Duran Duran – You Kill Me With Silence

Dark, hip-hop influenced verses evolve into a soaring and infectious chorus on this emotive synthpop track. Produced by Mr Hudson, it builds up to an eerie and eclectic ending rife with giggling synthesisers, distorted sounds, wailing sounds and hip hop beats.

7) Death and The Stars – Sad Drive

Awesome ’80’s-esque driving rock ballad masterminded by Ben Mark (frequent Take That and Mark Owen co-writer).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjpNrjz38AI

8) Sam Smith & Disclosure – Hotline Bling (Radio 1 Live Lounge)

Incredible interpretation of Drake’s R&B jam. Sam Smith sprinkles his emotive vocals over Disclosure’s funky tropical house backing track full of punchy bass, steel-pan like keys and air crushing synths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDCcC_psV24

9) Nathan Sykes – Ordinary People (Live)

Ex member of The Wanted Nathan Sykes showcases his syrupy smooth, soulful vocals on this acoustic interpretation of John Legend’s beautiful ‘Ordinary People’. A fine, relaxing cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIZ21oMzU6k

10) James Bay – Scars

James Bay once again reinforces why he is one of the biggest stars in the UK right now. Emotive and raw folk-rock track comprised of nothing but organic instruments. Gorgeous.

‘Music Monday’ is a weekly blog in which I compile a list of ten songs I have been enjoying in the past week. This edition features Robbie Williams, The Weeknd, Kings of Leon amongst others.

1) JoJo – Save My Soul

JoJo is best known for 2005 smash R&B hit ‘Leave (Get Out)’, released when she was just fifteen years old. Since then, she took a hiatus and returned a five years ago but with limited success. ‘Save My Soul’ is a powerful and emotive ballad from her latest EP ‘III’ with a soaring melody, crashing percussion and haunting piano chords. Stunning.

2) Tove Lo – Talking Body

Sensual and seductive synthpop song by Swedish recording artist Tove Lo. A fine pop track; catchy with an easy sing-along chorus.

3) Steve Angello – Wasted Love

Epic dance track with the Coldplay-esque euphoria. Dougy, lead singer of The Temper Track lends his vocals to this powerful and uplifting song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAODa-4S2B0

4) Daniel Bedingfield – Never Gonna Leave Your Side

This was always a little inferior compared to Bedingfield’s other famous ballad, the gorgeous ‘If You’re Not The One’. It’s a beautiful song nevertheless and a lovely pop ballad.

5) Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting For You

Slushy and sentimental ’80’s power ballad, a little cheesy but gorgeous nonetheless. One of the most beautiful ballads in pop history, evident from its extensive list of covers.

6) Kings of Leon – Use Somebody

A plea for help but refreshingly presented in an alternative rock format instead of as a ballad. An epic, emotive track full of stadium-rousing ‘oh’s’, wailing guitars and Caleb Followill’s raspy vocals. Still as good now as it was upon release back in 2008.

7) Robbie Williams – Different

One of Williams’ most underrated singles of his career. Co-written by Gary Barlow and Jacknife Lee, it’s a haunting and powerful pop-rock track aching with sincerity. Williams’ forte has always been the ability to put his heart on his sleeve and channel this into well-written lyrics. This deserved to fare SO much better on the UK chart.

8) Justin Bieber – What Do You Mean?

Bieber appears to have made it through his rough Britney-esque meltdown and has returned triumphantly with his best music yet. ‘I Need U’, a collaboration with Diplo and Skrillex was an incredible comeback and ‘What Do You Mean’ continues Bieber’s new electronic-dance-music sound. ‘What Do You Mean’ uses minimalistic instrumentation and gentle, funky production built up of squeaky, steel-pan-like synthesisers, skippy percussion and Bieber’s gentle vocal.

9) The Weeknd – As You Are

Dark, powerful and catchy track from The Weeknd’s (real name Abel Tesfaye) third and current album ‘Beauty Behind the Madness’. Canadian Tesfaye has been in the industry for a while but is only now finding worldwide success, aided greatly by ‘Earned It’, featured in this year’s Fifty Shades of Grey movie. Tesfaye is a pioneer of the ever-developing PBR&B (an alternative version of R&B music) and ‘As You Are’ is a strong demonstration of this. With slamming 80’s-styled percussion, echoing vocals and gentle synthesisers, it’s an explosing and haunting track. Incredible song.

10) The Weeknd – I Can’t Feel My Face

It’s easy to dismiss this song at first with it’s slightly deranged lyrics but it is also unmistakably catchy with its funky guitar riffs and heavy percussion. Very MJ.