Patti Smith was born on this date in 1946. A handful of songs from her are included on today’s playlist.
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My Favorite Songs Of 2024
- Good Luck, Babe! – Chappell Roan
- HOT TO GO! – Chappell Roan
- TEXAS HOLD ‘EM – Beyoncé
- Houdini – Dua Lipa
- I KNOW ? – Travis Scott
- Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
- girl, so confusing – Charli xcx & Lorde
- Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
- I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All – Father John Misty
- Like That – Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
- Training Season – Dua Lipa
- Jerkin’ – Amyl and The Sniffers
- Nothing Matters – The Last Dinner Party
- Water – Tyla
- Guess – Charli xcx feat. Billie Eilish
- Broken Man – St. Vincent
- Please Please Please – Sabrina Carpenter
- Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
- Starburster – Fontaines D.C.
- Abigail – Soccer Mommy
- Step Into Your Power – Ray LaMontagne
- What About the Children? – Gary Clark Jr. feat. Stevie Wonder
- LUNCH – Billie Eilish
- WILDFLOWER – Billie Eilish
- MY HOUSE – Beyoncé
- Mamushi – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
- Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves
- yes, and? – Ariana Grande
- My Golden Years – The Lemon Twigs
- All In Good Time – Iron & Wine feat. Fiona Apple
- Taste – Sabrina Carpenter
- Lights Camera Action – Kylie Minogue
- The Architect – Kacey Musgraves
- That’s How I’m Feeling – Jack White
- Dancing in the Flames – The Weeknd
- BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
- Femenine – Empress Of
- Saturn – SZA
- Once in a Lifetime – Joshua Idehen with the Social Singing Choir
- Capricorn – Vampire Weekend
- The Door – Teddy Swims
- Calling You Out – Charly Bliss
- Mess It Up – The Rolling Stones
- Eusexua – FKA twigs
- x-ray eyes – LCD Soundsystem
- Grace – IDLES
- Too Sweet – Hozier
- Young Lion – Sade Adu
- Baddy on the Floor – Jamie xx and Honey Dijon
- Euphoria – Kendrick Lamar
- Life – Jamie xx & Robyn
- Mother Nature – MGMT
- JOLENE – Beyoncé
- The Rest of Me – Michael Kiwanuka
- Worth It. – RAYE
- Dream Job – Yard Act
- Mood Swings – Little Simz
- All You Children – Jamie xx & The Avalanches
- The Light Nights – Camera Obscura
- J CHRIST – Lil Nas X
- Weightless – Romy
- 360 – Charli xcx featuring Robyn and Yung Lean
- LEVII’S JEANS – Beyoncé featuring Post Malone
- Sinner – The Last Dinner Party
- Sticky – Tyler, the Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
- Too Much – girl in red
- Well, Alright – Johnny Cash
- Peaceful Place – Leon Bridges
- Clams Casino – Cassandra Jenkins
- Sympathy Is a Knife – Charli xcx feat. Ariana Grande
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – Lana Del Rey
- Racist Piece of Shit – Fishbone
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Lucinda Williams
- Classical – Vampire Weekend
- Bells and Whistles – Bright Eyes
- Alimony – Miranda Lambert
- Genesis. – RAYE
- Neva Play – Megan Thee Stallion feat. RM of BTS
- Disease – Lady Gaga
- BLACKBIIRD – Beyoncé with Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell and Tiera Kennedy
- Flea – St. Vincent
- Friend of a Friend – The Smile
- HIND’S HALL – Macklemore
- HISS – Megan Thee Stallion
- Timeless – The Weeknd with Playboi Carti
- 16 CARRIAGES – Beyoncé
- we can’t be friends (wait for your love) – Ariana Grande
- On My Mama – Victoria Monét
- Death Valley High – Orville Peck featuring Beck
- Tennessee Rise – The Tennessee Freedom Singers
- The Feminine Urge – The Last Dinner Party
- Surround Sound – JID feat. 21 Savage & Baby Tate
- Talk Talk – Charli xcx
- Cinderella – Remi Wolf
- Afterlife – Sharon Van Etten
- Real Good – Homeboy Sandman
- Sexy To Someone – Clairo
- Beaches – Beabadoobee
- Favourite – Fontaines D.C.
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Tunes Du Jour Presents Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, dropped like a thunderclap in 1991, marking the band, along with Nirvana, as torchbearers of the burgeoning grunge movement. Tracks like “Jeremy,” “Alive,” and “Even Flow” introduced a raw, emotionally charged sound that resonated deeply with listeners navigating the angst of the era. “Alive” in particular became an anthem of resilience, while “Jeremy” showcased the band’s ability to channel societal issues into compelling narratives. The soaring guitar work of Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder’s visceral vocals remain unforgettable.
Over the years, Pearl Jam evolved beyond grunge, displaying a restless creativity. Vs. and Vitalogy expanded their sonic palette, producing standout tracks like “Daughter,” a haunting meditation on miscommunication, and “Better Man,” which blends poignancy and pop sensibility. Meanwhile, songs like “Spin the Black Circle” and “Corduroy” spotlighted their punk-rock influences, proving the band’s versatility. Vedder’s lyrics often straddle the personal and political, giving their music a timeless relevance.
Pearl Jam’s commitment to artistry extends beyond their studio albums. Their live performances, exemplified by their electric cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” and the soulful fan favorite “Yellow Ledbetter,” capture the band’s dynamic energy. “Last Kiss,” a surprise hit, has a unique backstory: Vedder discovered an old 45 of the early 1960s version, and the band initially recorded the song as a Christmas gift for fan club members. After its inclusion on a charity album, it unexpectedly became their biggest single, underscoring the unpredictable nature of their career.
Vedder’s solo work, particularly “Hard Sun” from the Into the Wild soundtrack, reflects the introspective side of Pearl Jam’s ethos. Meanwhile, quirky tracks like “Bugs” reveal a band unafraid to experiment with sound and subject matter. Their activism is woven into their art, from the anti-war anthem “World Wide Suicide” to their environmental and social justice efforts.
For over three decades, Pearl Jam has maintained their fiercely independent spirit while forging a deep connection with their fans. A key to the band’s enduring appeal is that they have never wavered on their commitment to intimate storytelling, emotional intensity, and staying true to their creative muse.
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Tunes Du Jour Presents Earth, Wind & Fire
Few bands have shaped the landscape of funk, soul, and R&B quite like Earth, Wind & Fire. Founded in Chicago in 1969 by Maurice White, the group created a signature sound that blended African and Latin musical elements with funk, soul, jazz, disco, and rock. Their innovative fusion approach, coupled with spiritual lyrics and elaborate stage shows, helped establish them as one of the most successful and influential bands of the 1970s and early 1980s.
The band’s commercial peak came with a string of hits that remain iconic today. Songs like “September,” “Shining Star,” and “Let’s Groove” showcase their masterful combination of uplifting lyrics, tight horn arrangements, and irresistible rhythms. The distinctive falsetto of Philip Bailey complemented by Maurice White’s tenor vocals created vocal harmonies that became a hallmark of their sound, particularly evident in songs like “That’s the Way of the World” and “Sing a Song.” This dynamic vocal partnership could shift seamlessly between unison power and intricate interplay, while their individual strengths added another dimension to the group’s vocal arsenal.
What set Earth, Wind & Fire apart was their ability to transcend musical boundaries while maintaining broad appeal. “That’s the Way of the World” and “Fantasy” exemplify their talent for creating music that was both commercially successful and artistically ambitious. The incorporation of African instruments like the kalimba (thumb piano), along with their integration of jazz elements and complex orchestrations, brought a unique sophistication to popular music of the era.
The group’s influence extended beyond their musical innovations. Their positive messages of universal love, spiritual awareness, and self-empowerment resonated with audiences across racial and cultural lines. Their elaborate live performances, featuring disappearing acts, levitation, and Egyptian-themed costumes, set new standards for concert spectacle and influenced generations of performers who followed.
Looking at their body of work, represented in this playlist of their most celebrated songs, it’s clear why Earth, Wind & Fire has endured as one of popular music’s most respected acts. Their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, their lifetime achievement Grammy, and their Kennedy Center Honors all speak to their lasting impact. Perhaps most telling, though, is how their music continues to bring joy and inspiration to new generations of listeners, proving that their message of positivity and musical excellence truly transcends time.
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