Today’s playlist includes a few tracks from Janelle Monáe, who celebrates a birthday today.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 12-2-22
Today’s playlist celebrates the December 2 birthdays of Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Naughty By Nature’s Treach, Whale’s Cia Berg, and Joe Henry; the December 3 birthdays of Ozzy Osbourne, Montell Jordan, Andy Williams, Starship’s Mickey Thomas, Jam & Spoon’s Rolf Ellmer, .38 Special’s Don Barnes, Lil Baby, and City Girls’ JT; and the December 4 birthdays of Carl Wilson, Jay-Z, The Byrds’ Chris Hillman, Anna McGarrigle, Adamski, Freddy Cannon, BTS’s Jin, Southside Johnny, Miss Toni Fisher, Dionne Farris, and Pansy Division’s Jon Ginoli.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 9-28-22
Today’s playlist celebrates the September 28 birthdays of St. Vincent, The Drifters’ Ben E. King, Jeezy, Koko Taylor, The Farm’s Peter Hooten, Cigarettes After Sex’s Greg Gonzalez, Moon Zappa, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, and Keni Burke; and the September 29 birthdays of Jerry Lee Lewis, The London Suede’s Brett Anderson, Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner, Booka Shade’s Walter Merziger, The Posies’ Jon Auer, Blues Image’s Mike Pinera, Bros’s Matt and Luke Goss, Mr. Vegas, Halsey, Mike Post, Debelah Morgan, and Madeline Kahn.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 9-11-22
Today’s playlist remembers the events of September 11, 2011; celebrates the September 11 birthdays of The Kingsmen’s Jack Ely, The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft, Moby, Metronomy’s Joseph Mount, Ludacris, Ted Leo, The Monotones’ Charles Patrick, and Styx’s Tommy Shaw; and the September 12 birthdays of George Jones, Barry White, Ben Folds, America’s Gerry Beckley, The Foundations’ Colin Young, BTS’s RM, Maria Muldaur, Judy Clay, Mount Kimbie’s Dom Maker, The Gentrys’ Larry Raspberry, The Free Design’s Chris Dedrick, Jennifer Hudson, and Kelsea Ballerini.
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My Top 100 Songs Of 2021
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
- Magnificent Hurt – Elvis Costello & The Imposters
- 34+35 – Ariana Grande feat. Doja Cat & Megan Thee Stallion
- Just One Sec – the Antlers
- Love Is Back – Celeste
- Let Me Love You Like a Woman – Lana Del Rey
- Down – St. Vincent
- Amoeba – Clairo
- Don’t Forget Your Neighborhood – Cola Boyy feat. The Avalanches
- All My Favorite Songs – Weezer
- Sober & Skinny – Brittney Spencer
- Unblu – Jenny Lewis/Serengeti
- Living Proof – The War on Drugs
- Prisoner – Miley Cyrus feat. Dua Lipa
- NDA – Billie Eilish
- In His Arms – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
- Walking at a Downtown Pace – Parquet Courts
- Lost Cause – Billie Eilish
- Dancing with the Devil – Demi Lovato
- Hope – Arlo Parks
- Oh My God – Adele
- My Path – Raphael Saadiq
- Unsmart Lady – Dry Cleaning
- t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l – Willow feat. Travis Barker
- Reason to Believe – Vagabon feat. Courtney Barnett
- Paprika – Japanese Breakfast
- Thumbs – Lucy Dacus
- Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
- Be Sweet – Japanese Breakfast
- Hurt – Arlo Parks
- More Life – Cordae feat. Q-Tip
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (9-29-20)
Inspired by International Coffee Day and the September 29 birthdays of Jerry Lee Lewis, Suede’s Brett Anderson, Grand Funk’s Mark Farner, Halsey, Debelah Morgan, Mike Post, Madeline Kahn, Blues Image’s Mike Pinera, and Bros’ Matt and Luke Goss.
My Top 99 Songs Of 2018
I listened to a lot of music. I crunched the numbers. The result? My top 99 songs of 2018. Here they be, followed by a Spotify playlist:
1. Make Me Feel – Janelle Monae
2. Ric Flair Drip – Offset & Metro Boomin
3. Nice for What – Drake
4. Alone – Halsey featuring Big Sean & Stefflon Don
5. Where Angels Fear to Tread – Disclosure
6. Mr. Tillman – Father John Misty
7. Thunderclouds – LSD (Labrinth, Sia, Diplo)
8. IDGAF – Dua Lipa
9. This Is America – Childish Gambino
10. Finesse – Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B
11. Stir Fry – Migos
12. LOVE. – Kendrick Lamar featuring Zacari
13. Missing U – Robyn
14. Bodak Yellow – Cardi B
15. The Weekend – SZA vs Calvin Harris
16. Mona Lisa – Lil Wayne featuring Kendrick Lamar
17. Boys – Lizzo
18. Lemon – NERD featuring Rihanna
19. Honey – Robyn
20. Boo’d Up – Ella Mai
21. Now – Miguel
22. High Horse – Kacey Musgraves
23. Apeshit – The Carters
24. Tints – Anderson .Paak feat. Kendrick Lamar
25. 5 Dollars – Christine and the Queens
26. Nameless, Faceless – Courtney Barnett
27. When I’m with Him – Empress Of
28. Two Slow Dancers – Mitski
29. Nobody – Mitski
30. Got My Name Changed Back – Pistol Annies
31. 1999 WILDFIRE – BROCKHAMPTON
32. I Like It – Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin
33. I Might Need Security – Chance the Rapper
34. Microfiche – Open Mike Eagle
35. If You Know You Know – Pusha T
36. All the Stars – Kendrick Lamar with SZA
37. Mr. Jukebox – Joshua Hedley
38. Crayons – CupcakKe
39. Washing Machine Heart – Mitski
40. Pynk – Janelle Monae featuring Grimes
41. Duck Duck Goose – CupcakKe
42. Bloom – Troye Sivan
43. He’s Got His Mother’s Hips – John Grant
44. HEAVEN – The Blaze
45. Day I Die – The National
46. Fast Slow Disco – St. Vincent
47. Kong – Neneh Cherry
48. Sangria Wine – Pharrell Williams and Camila Cabello
49. Look Alive – BlocBoy JB featuring Drake
50. Yes Indeed – Lil Baby featuring Drake
51. BOOGIE – BROCKHAMPTON
52. Need a Little Time – Courtney Barnett
53. You Should See Me in a Crown – Billie Eilish
54. Bardier Cardi – Cardi B featuring 21 Savage
55. SAN MARCOS – BROCKHAMPTON
56. Bad Bad News – Leon Bridges
57. Fireworks – First Aid Kit
58. Party for One – Carly Rae Jepsen
59. New Rules – Dua Lipa
60. I’ll Never Love Again – Lady Gaga
61. La Di Da – The Internet
62. Doesn’t Matter – Christine and the Queens
63. Moon River – Frank Ocean
64. No Tears Left to Cry – Ariana Grande
65. 1999 – Charli XCX and Troye Sivan
66. Only Love – Mary J. Blige
67. Pissed – Saweetie
68. Chun Li – Nicki Minaj
69. Powerglide – Rae Sremmurd featuring Juicy J
70. Call out My Name – The Weeknd
71. A$AP Forever – A$AP Rocky featuring Moby
72. Sword of Damocles – Rufus Wainwright
73. Back 2 You – Selena Gomez
74. Christmas Song – Phoebe Bridgers
75. The Gypsy Faerie Queen – Marianne Faithfull
76. Doves in the Wind – SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar
77. Suspirium – Thom Yorke
78. Charity – Courtney Barnett
79. If You’re Over Me – Years & Years
80. My My My! – Troye Sivan
81. Time Today – Kero Kero Bonito
82. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino – Arctic Monkeys
83. A Little Pain – Margo Price
84. Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song) – Bleachers
85. In My Feelings – Drake
86. Django Jane – Janelle Monae
87. Meteorological – Guerilla Toss
88. Psycho – Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
89. Entitlement Crew – The Hold Steady
90. oh baby – lcd soundsystem
91. God’s Plan – Drake
92. Electricity – Silk City with Dua Lipa
93. Trouble on Central – Buddy
94. BBO (Bad Bitches Only) – Migos featuring 21 Savage
95. MJ – Now, Now
96. Walk It Talk It – Migos featuring Drake
97. The Ways – Khalid featuring Swae Lee
98. Girlfriend – Christine and the Queens
99. Geyser – Mitski
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Cool New Music (7/2/18)
I interrupt my interruption to bring you twenty new(ish) songs that are rocking my world these days. Let me know which ones hit you.
Regular blogging will resume at some point this year. Maybe.
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Not Your Typical LGBTQ+ Pride Playlist
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Tune du Jour celebrates with this playlist consisting of two hundred songs by and/or about Ls, Gs, Bs, Ts and Qs. Happy Pride!
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Meet Oscar Nominee Anohni
In a moment I’ll introduce you to Anohni, who was nominated for an Oscar this year in the category of Best Original Song, but first I want to talk a little about Kesha, Grimes and Sam Smith.
You may have heard about Kesha’s much-publicized battle to get out of her recording agreement. She claims that Dr. Luke, the producer to whose company, Kemosabe Records, she is signed, drugged and sexually assaulted her on several occasions. As a courtroom proceeding about those allegations had not yet been tried, a New York Supreme Court justice denied Kesha’s motion for a preliminary inunction extraditing her from recording for Kemosabe.
This led to the proliferation of the hashtag #FreeKesha. A group of fans protested outside Sony Music’s headquarters, demanding that the music corporation free Kesha. Kesha isn’t signed to Sony Music, but no matter. Sony should cease distribution of Kemosabe Records, which would leave Kesha still signed to Kemosabe, but hey – it was a nice day for a good protest, and what else is there in the world to complain about? Ongoing wars? Poisoned public water supplies? Human rights violations? More important to get a pop star out of her recording agreement. #Priorities
Many public figures offered support to Kesha, among them Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Adele, Janelle Monáe, Fiona Apple, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Tegan and Sara, HAIM, Alessia Cara, Lorde, Wale, Best Coast, George Takei, Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, Lena Dunham, Mariska Hargitay, Troye Sivan, Halsey, Iggy Azalea, Sara Bareilles, JoJo, Adam Lambert, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Margaret Cho, Zedd, and Jack Antonoff. Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to Kesha to help with her financial needs.
Also supporting Kesha is Claire Elise Boucher, the Canadian singer-songwriter who records under the name Grimes. In response to a question from a Time Out reporter about Kesha’s legal situation, Grimes, whose “Kill v. Maim” is #3 this week in Glenn’s Ten, said the following about recording agreements: “You shouldn’t be allowed to sign a human being, regardless of what the allegations are or what anyone said or did. It’s basically like slavery.” Yes, making millions of dollars doing your dream job is basically the same as being forcibly taken from your home and forced to do a job you don’t want to do for no pay, much like Spaghetti Carbonara is basically the same thing as a nuclear missile, which is to say, both exist. (Grimes’ two most recent albums were released by the 4AD label, with whom, I assume, she is signed to a recording agreement.)
If Kesha’s allegations against Dr. Luke are true, then I hope at the very least she is let out of her agreement with Kemosabe, as being forced to aid your rapist make money is unconscionable, and that is where the slavery comparison applies.
British singer-songwriter Sam Smith may or may not know what slavery is, but he exhibited a lack of grasp on history last weekend at the Academy Awards. As he couldn’t pronounce Anohni or The Weeknd, Common announced as the winner of the Best Original Song award the easiest name to remember and pronounce, Sam Smith.
In his acceptance speech, Smith claimed to be the first openly gay person to win an Oscar, which is true, if you don’t count Dustin Lance Black, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, John Schlesinger, Stephen Sondheim, Bill Condon, Alan Ball, Scott Rudin, Pedro Almodovar and the other openly gay people who have won. Maybe Smith meant to say he’s the first openly gay person to win an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2016. He says he got his information from actor Sir Ian McKellen via an interview Smith read, which is true, if you leave out the part where McKellen refers to no openly gay winners in the Acting categories.
It was pointed out to Smith that he is not the first openly gay person to win an Oscar, to which he responded “I think I’m the second openly gay person to win it,” which is true, if you don’t count Dustin Lance Black, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, John Schlesinger, Stephen Sondheim, Bill Condon, Alan Ball, Scott Rudin and the other openly gay people who have won less one. In the real world, Smith is not even the first openly gay person in the category of Best Original Song. When told that openly gay Howard Ashman won that category twice, Smith replied “I should know him. We should date.” Ashman died of AIDS-related complications in 1991, the year for which his title song from Beauty and the Beast won, but sure, Sam, date him. You’ll be the first openly necrophiliac to win an Oscar. #Trailblazer. I do agree with one thing Smith said. He should know of Ashman.
Which brings us to Anohni. Along with her collaborator, J. Ralph, Anohni was nominated for Best Original Song for “Manta Ray” from the film Racing Extinction. Unlike Sam Smith, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga, Anohni, a transsexual woman, was not invited to perform her nominated song at the Oscar ceremony. In a year in which The Academy was taken to task for a lack of diversity among the nominees, the producers felt it was more important for the president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to give a speech on the show about the importance of diversity in Hollywood than it was to allow only the second transgender person to be nominated for an Oscar to perform (not a Sam Smith second person, but truly the second). Besides, The Danish Girl received nominations, including one for Best Actor for Eddie Redmayne as the titular character Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of gender correction surgery, and who better to represent trans women at the Oscars than a heterosexual cisgender man? Also, the award show needed time for clueless Clueless actress Stacey Dash insult the .04% of viewers who know who she is. #Priorities
Here’s your chance to get to know Anohni, who previously recorded under the name Antony. Her distinctive voice will grab you and her songs will move you. Check out twenty of her best, including guest appearances on other artists’ tracks:
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