I’ve been a fan of Santigold since she was Santogold. She changed her stage name to avoid a lawsuit from the maker of the film Santo Gold’s Blood Circus (my least favorite kind of circus, for those keeping notes). FUN FACT: When Santigold vomits she actually vomits gold sparkles. Don’t ask me how I know that.
Santigold was born Santi White on this date in 1976. A few of her tunes are included on today’s playlist.
Hearing this band’s early demos, a friend remarked that they sounded like garbage. Voila! This band now had a name. (An alternate version of the origin of their name comes from a journal entry producer Butch Vig wrote as the band kept recording: “I hope that all this garbage will become something beautiful!”)
Garbage’s Shirley Manson was born on this date in 1966. The band is well-represented on today’s playlist.
Today’s playlist celebrates the December 11 birthdays of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), Big Mama Thornton, Pérez Prado, Brenda Lee, Bread’s David Gates, Jermaine Jackson, J. Frank Wilson, Jon Brion, and Sister Double Happiness’s Gary Floyd; and the December 12 birthdays of Dionne Warwick, Frank Sinatra, MC5’s Rob Tyner, The Association’s Terry Kirkman, Manu Dibango, Sheila E., The Ruts’ Malcolm Owen, Grover Washington Jr., Georgia Satellites’ Dan Baird, Connie Francis, The Fixx’s Cy Curnin, and Bob Dorough.
Today’s playlist celebrates the September 13 birthdays of Fiona Apple, MC5’s Fred “Sonic” Smith, Blood Sweat & Tears’ David Clayton-Thomas, Chicago’s Peter Cetera, Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, The Church’s Steve Kilbey, Aterciopelados’ Andrea Echeverri, Was (Not Was)’s Don Was, Swizz Beats, and Hooverphonic’s Geike Arnaert; and the September 14 birthdays of a-ha’s Morten Harket, Amy Winehouse, Nas, Algiers’ Franklin James Fisher, The Marcels’ Cornelius Harp, Strawberry Alarm Clock’s Ed King, and Akinyele.
Prince, Elvis Costello, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Kool & the Gang. It must be my list of favorite songs of 198-, uh, 2021. The aforementioned veterans rub elbows with Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Wet Leg, serpentwithfeet, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, The Avalanches, Adele and Little Simz.
Here are my top 100 songs of 2021:
Same Size Shoe – serpentwithfeet
Love Again – Dua Lipa
Body – Megan Thee Stallion
Black Like Me – Mickey Guyton
Easy On Me – Adele
Thot Shit – Megan Thee Stallion
Up – Cardi B
Save Your Tears – The Weeknd
Good Days – SZA
Under the Table – Fiona Apple
Wet Dream – Wet Leg
Rumors – Lizzo & Cardi B
Find My Way – Paul McCartney
Levitating – Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby
Chaise Longue – Wet Leg
I Love You, I Hate You – Little Simz
Best Friend – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
Brando – Lucy Dacus
So I Lie – Miguel
We Go On – the Avalanches feat. Cola Boyyy & Mick Jones
Twerkulator – City Girls
MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X
Butter – BTS
Cold Heart – Elton John & Dua Lipa
Therefore I Am – Billie Eilish
Your Power – Billie Eilish
INDUSTRY BABY – Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow
Point and Kill – Little Simz feat. Obongjayar
Scratchcard Lanyard – Dry Cleaning
Security – Amyl and the Sniffers
Puppy and a Truck – Jenny Lewis
Don’t Judge Me – FKA twigs, Headie One, Fred again…
Pursuit of Happiness – Kool & the Gang
Savage Good Boy – Japanese Breakfast
Pay Your Way in Pain – St. Vincent
ARE YOU WITH THAT? – Vince Staples
Hot Summer – Prince
Diamond Studded Shoes – Yola
Solar Power – Lorde
chinatown – Bleachers feat. Bruce Springsteen
The Divine Chord – the Avalanches feat. MGMT & Johnny Marr
Don’t Go Yet – Camila Cabello
Strong Feelings – Dry Cleaning
Rainforest – Noname
Working for the Knife – Mitski
Take My Breath – The Weeknd
Boomerang – Yebba
ooh la la – Run the Jewels feat. Santa Fe Klan & Mexican Institute of Sound
Candypaint – Joey Purp
Free from Gravity – Django Django
Spanish Doors – Liz Phair
Roaring 20s – Flo Milli
Rhetorical Figure – John Grant
THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X
The Doll – Audiobooks
Strange – Celeste
WUSYANAME – Tyler, the Creator feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign
White Dress – Lana Del Rey
family ties – Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
Starlight – Yola
The Melting of the Sun – St. Vincent
Pick up Your Feelings – Jazmine Sullivan
I am not a woman, I’m a god – Halsey
Hertz – Amyl and the Sniffers
Please – Jessie Ware
The Adults Are Talking – the Strokes
Got Me – Laura Mvula
We’re Good – Dua Lipa
Kiss Me More – Doja Cat feat. SZA
I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War on Drugs feat. Lucius
If I had to recommend just one Fiona Apple album, it would be Tidal. Or Extraordinary Machine. Or Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Or The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. Or When The Pawn Hits The Conflicts He Thinks Like A King What He Knows Throws The Blows When He Goes To The Fight And He’ll Win The Whole Thing ‘Fore He Enters The Ring There’s No Body To Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won’t Matter, Cuz You’ll Know That You’re Right. Heck, all of her albums deserve a home in your collection. Hopefully today’s playlist demonstrates why.