Today’s playlist includes a few tracks from Janelle Monáe, who celebrates a birthday today.
Tunes Du Jour Presents The Weeknd
The Weeknd is one of the most successful and influential artists of the 21st century. His music spans genres from R&B to pop to new wave, and his lyrics explore themes of love, loss, addiction, and identity. He has won multiple Grammy Awards, sold over 75 million records worldwide, and set several streaming and Billboard chart records. Beyond his musical achievements, The Weeknd is also a generous and outspoken philanthropist who supports various causes around the world.
The Weeknd was born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye in Toronto, Canada, to Ethiopian immigrant parents. He grew up speaking Amharic, one of the two main languages of Ethiopia, and attended an Ethiopian Orthodox church as a child. His cultural roots have influenced his music and his philanthropy. In 2016, he donated $50,000 to the University of Toronto to help establish an Ethiopian studies program. In 2021, he donated $1 million to the United Nations World Food Programme to provide meals for people affected by the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
The Weeknd has also shown solidarity with other communities in need. In 2020, he donated $300,000 to Global Aid for Lebanon to help the victims of the Beirut explosion, which killed more than 200 people and injured thousands more. He also donated $500,000 each to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund and to frontline health workers at Scarborough Health Network, the health care network in his hometown. Additionally, he has been a vocal advocate for racial justice and social change. He has donated to organizations such as Black Lives Matter, the Equal Justice Initiative, and the Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative. He has also used his platform to raise awareness and call for action on issues such as police brutality, systemic racism, and human rights violations.
The Weeknd’s music reflects his passion and his vision. His songs often feature collaborations with other artists from different backgrounds and genres, such as Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, and ROSALÍ. His albums showcase his artistic evolution and experimentation, from the dark and gritty House of Balloons to the bright and more pop-oriented After Hours.
The Weeknd is more than just a musical star. He is a humanitarian star who uses his talent and his influence to try to make a positive difference in the world. Thirty of his best tracks are in the playlist below. Hit play and enjoy The Weeknd!
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My Top Songs Of 2022
Congratulations to Megan Thee Stallion, who has placed a song in my year end top five every year since 2019. Her “Her” is my number two song of ’22, kept from number one by Beyoncé, who guested on the remix of MTS’s “Savage,” my number 4 song of 2020. 2022 was a year that left me wanting, so my top 100 has 92 songs. Here they are:
- BREAK MY SOUL – Beyoncé
- Her – Megan Thee Stallion
- About Damn Time – Lizzo
- As It Was – Harry Styles
- This Hell – Rina Sawayama
- Coconuts – Kim Petras
- Goodbye Mr. Blue – Father John Misty
- Wild – Spoon
- Sacrifice – The Weeknd
- All the Good Times – Angel Olsen
- BILLIE EILISH. – Armani White
- Measure of a Man – FKA twigs feat. Central Cee
- Meet Me at Our Spot – THE ANXIETY, WILLOW & Tyler Cole
- Burning – the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- CUFF IT – Beyoncé
- TV – Billie Eilish
- If I Was a Cowboy – Miranda Lambert
- Mistakes – Sharon Van Etten
- I Hate U – SZA
- Simulation Swarm – Big Thief
- Big Energy – Latto
- The Smoke – The Smile
- Bad Habit – Steve Lacy
- Boyfriend – Dove Cameron
- Hideous – Oliver Sim feat. Jimmy Somerville
- Gasoline – The Weeknd
- edamame – bbno$ feat. Rich Brown
- Lift Me Up – Rihanna
- Slide Tackle – Japanese Breakfast
- Don’t Let the Light Go Out – Panic! At the Disco
- MORE – j-hope
- Pressurelicious – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Future
- MAGIC – Vince Staples and Mustard
- Late Night Talking – Harry Styles
- Once Twice Melody – Beach House
- Edge of the Edge – Panda Bear and Sonic Boom
- Music for a Sushi Restaurant – Harry Styles
- Out of Time – The Weeknd
- Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Bruce Springsteen
- Another day in America – Kali Uchis & Ozuna
- Out of My Head – First Aid Kit
- Lost Track – HAIM
- Tonight – Phoenix feat. Ezra Koenig
- Beach House – Carly Ray Jepsen
- Tomorrow – Waxahatchee
- Funny Girl – Father John Misty
- Softly – Arlo Parks
- EDGING – Blink-182
- Cash In, Cash Out – Pharrell Williams feat. 21 Savage & Tyler, The Creator
- Falling Apart (Right Now) – Wilco
- Father Time – Kendrick Lamar feat. Sampha
- camera roll – Kacey Musgraves
- My Babe – Spoon
- Popular – M.I.A.
- Silent Hill – Kendrick Lamar with Kodak Black
- The Lightning – Arcade Fire
- The 30th – Billie Eilish
- The Curse of the Blackened Eye – Orville Peck
- Fractals – Beth Orton
- Should’ve Been Me – Mitski
- Ur Mum – Wet Leg
- Catch Me in the Air – Rina Sawayama
- new body rhumba – LCD Soundsystem
- Megan’s Piano – Megan Thee Stallion
- Sweetest Pie – Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa
- Die Hard – Kendrick Lamar feat. Blxst and Amanda Reifer
- The Ick – Panic Shack
- Get Inspired – Genesis Owusu
- Cheat Codes – Danger Mouse & Black Thought
- Postman – Toro y Moi
- The Only Heartbreaker – Mitski
- hollaback bitch – Mura Masa with Channel Tres & Shygirl
- Male Fantasy – Billie Eilish
- Stay Soft – Mitski
- Fruit – Oliver Sim
- Run the Credits – Oliver Sim
- B-Side – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
- Down – Hot Chip
- Can I Get It – Adele
- No Decent Shoes for Rain – Dry Cleaning
- Unconditional I – Arcade Fire
- Fleez – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- N95 – Kendrick Lamar
- Angelica – Wet Leg
- Rich Spirit – Kendrick Lamar
- 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) – Lizzo
- One Right Now – Post Malone with The Weeknd
- Bam Bam – Camila Cabello feat. Ed Sheeran
- Love Me More – Mitski
- Change – The War on Drugs
- Strange – Miranda Lambert
- High Priestess – Santigold
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My Top Songs Of 2020
I’m not going to write an essay about 2020. That’s been done elsewhere and I have nothing to add to the conversation. Though the three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote, “stink, stank, stunk,” there were some bright spots. Here are 85 things that brought me joy. Happy New Year, everyone!
- everything i wanted – Billie Eilish
- WAP – Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
- deathbed (coffee for your head) – Powfu feat. Beabadoobee
- Savage – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
- Stay High – Brittany Howard
- Dynamite – BTS
- Shameika – Fiona Apple
- Tap In – Saweetie feat. Post Malone, DaBaby & Jack Harlow
- Delete Forever – Grimes
- Mariners Apartment Complex – Lana Del Rey
- Polyaneurism – of Montreal
- Didn’t Want To Be This Lonely – Pretenders
- Stupid Love – Lady Gaga
- Call My Phone Thinking I’m Doing Nothing Better – the Streets feat. Tame Impala
- Surrender – Will Butler
- JU$T – Run the Jewels feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack De La Rocha
- BLACK PARADE – Beyoncé
- Lifetime – Romy
- Fool’s Gold – Lucy Dacus
- Identical – Phoenix
- ilomilo – Billie Eilish
- Hallelujah – HAIM
- Quarantine Boogie (Loco) – Walter Martin
- Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America – the 1975
- Texas Sun – Khruangbin and Leon Bridges
- Ghosts – Bruce Springsteen
- Settling Down – Miranda Lambert
- He Loves Me – Brittany Howard
- Pictures of Flowers – Jess Williamson feat. Hand Habits
- The Valley of the Pagans – Gorillaz featuring Beck
- my future – Billie Eilish
- hot girl bummer – Blackbear
- Drinks – Cyn
- I disappear in your arms – Christine & the Queens
- Say So – Doja Cat
- Sea Salt & Caramel – Dent May
- Gaslighter – The Chicks
- 4 American Dollars – U.S. Girls
- No Time to Die – Billie Eilish
- Murder Most Foul – Bob Dylan
- Lockdown – Anderson .Paak
- When the Way Gets Dark – Lucinda Williams
- Straight to the Morning – Hot Chip feat. Jarvis Cocker
- Sleep at Night – The Chicks
- Jason – Perfume Genius
- Black Qualls – Thundercat feat. Steve Lacy & Steve Arrington
- Smiley Face – Duck Sauce
- Blinding Lights – the Weeknd
- Country Radio – Indigo Girls
- One and Done – Bright Eyes
- Hole in the Bottle – Kelsea Ballerini with Shania Twain
- Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
- FTP – YG
- You Can’t Rule Me – Lucinda Williams
- Don’t Wanna – HAIM
- Rager teenager! – Troye Sivan
- SUGAR – BROCKHAMPTON
- Bad Decisions – the Strokes
- Miracle of Life – Bright Eyes feat. Phoebe Bridgers
- Dora – Thierra Whack
- On the Floor – Perfume Genius
- Don’t Stop – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Young Thug
- Front Lines – Conway the Machine
- xanny – Billie Eilish
- On My Own – Shamir
- Without You – Perfume Genius
- Why I Still Love You – Missy Elliott
- The Streets Where I Belong – Annie
- Leader of the Delinquents – Kid Cudi
- Song 33 – Noname
- Anthem – Father John Misty
- Lilacs – Waxahatchee
- Body Memory – Jess Cornelius
- Come Thru – Summer Walker with Usher
- Aries – Gorillaz feat. Peter Hook & Georgia
- Riding Solo – Hinds
- Cool Off – Missy Elliott
- Sweeter – Leon Bridges feat. Terrace Martin
- Video Game – Sufjan Stevens
- Love Is a Drug – Empress Of
- Kyoto – Phoebe Bridgers
- ATM – Too Free
- Momentary Bliss – Gorillaz feat. Slowthai and Slaves
- Harlem River Blues – Steve Earle
- In My Bones – Jacob Collier feat. Kimbra & Tank and the Bangas
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (7-4-20)
Inspired by Independence Day (US) and the July 4 birthdays of Bill Withers, Fleetwood Mac’s Jeremy Spencer, The Babys’ John Waite, Post Malone, Gertrude Lawrence and UTFO’s Educated Rapper.
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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My Top 100 Songs of 2017
Without any comment, herewith is my list (and playlist) of my 100 favorite tracks of 2017.
Okay, one comment: I was a Johnny-come-lately regarding Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow,” so I’m saving that for my 2018 list.
1. On Hold – the xx
2. Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane
3. Slide – Calvin Harris featuring Frank Ocean and Migos
4. Young, Dumb & Broke – Khalid
5. Mask Off – Future
6. Los Ageless – St. Vincent
7. The Story of O.J. – JAY:Z
8. Pills – St. Vincent
9. New York – St. Vincent
10. Everything Now – Arcade Fire
11. Praying – Kesha
12. Pure Comedy – Father John Misty
13. Passionfruit – Drake
14. Havana – Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
15. Feels – Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean
16. Bad and Boujee – Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert
17. HUMBLE. – Kendrick Lamar
18. Be the One – Dua Lipa
19. Love on the Brain – Rihanna
20. We the People… – A Tribe Called Quest
21. Green Light – Lorde
22. Candy May – Alex Cameron
23. To the Moon and Back – Fever Ray
24. Name for You – the Shins
25. Sign of the Times – Harry Styles
26. rockstar – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
27. It’s a Shame – First Aid Kit
28. (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano – Sampha
29. Bank Account – 21 Savage
30. Hot Thoughts – Spoon
31. The Way You Used To Do – Queens of the Stone Age
32. Bad Liar – Selena Gomez
33. Chanel – Frank Ocean
34. Liger – Young Thug & Carnage
35. 4:44 – JAY:Z
36. High Ticket Attractions – The New Pornographers
37. Stranger’s Kiss – Alex Cameron with Angel Olsen
38. Tonite – LCD Soundsystem
39. Thinking of a Place – The War on Drugs
40. Over Everything – Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile
41. Ascension – Gorillaz featuring Vince Staples
42. All Night – Beyoncé
43. Little of Your Love – Haim
44. Waiting on a Song – Dan Auerbach
45. Accelerator – Paul White ft. Danny Brown
46. iSpy – Kyle featuring Lil Yachty
47. Shine on Me – Dan Auerbach
48. The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness – The National
49. No. 28 – Methyl Ethel
50. I Feel It Coming – the Weeknd feat. Daft Punk
51. Better Than Me – Blood Orange feat. Carly Rae Jepsen
52. Call the Police – LCD Soundsystem
53. Love Galore – SZA featuring Travi$ Scott
54. DNA. – Kendrick Lamar
55. No Plan – David Bowie
56. Holding On – The War on Drugs
57. Runnin’ Outta Luck – Alex Cameron
58. Amputation – Jesus and Mary Chain
59. Love – ILoveMakonnen featuring Rae Sremmurd
60. Malibu – Miley Cyrus
61. Want You Back – Haim
62. Carin at the Liquor Store – The National
63. Long Time – Blondie
64. Secrets – The Weeknd
65. Wyclef Jean – Young Thug
66. Slip Away – Perfume Genius
67. Bop N Keep It Dippin’ – Dizzee Rascal
68. XO Tour Llif3 – Lil Uzi Vert
69. Dis Generation – A Tribe Called Quest
70. Play the Field – Partner
71. PRBLMS – 6lack
72. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – DMX
73. Colors – Beck
74. BagBak – Vince Staples
75. I Think of You – Jeremih feat. Chris Brown
76. Perplexing Pegasus – Rae Sremmurd
77. Wreath – Perfume Genius
78. Swang – Rae Sremmurd
79. Shining – DJ Khaled feat. Beyoncé and Jay-Z
80. Say Something Loving – the xx
81. Dear Life – Beck
82. Heatstroke – Calvin Harris feat. Young Thug, Pharrell Williams & Ariana Grande
83. Zayn Malik – Swet Shop Boys
84. Give It Up – Angel Olsen
85. Sky Walker – Miguel featuring Travi$ Scott
86. Total Entertainment Forever – Father John Misty
87. Hallelujah Money – Gorillaz feat. Benjamin Clementine
88. Ballad of the Dying Man – Father John Misty
89. I’m Better – Missy Elliott featuring Lamb
90. Told You So – Miguel
91. Mad as Hell – U.S. Girls
92. LOYALTY. – Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna
93. Bam – JAY:Z featuring Damian Marley
94. I Dare You – the xx
95. Andromeda – Gorillaz featuring D.R.A.M.
96. Rage – Vic Mensa
97. Whiteout Conditions – The New Pornographers
98. Stick to Your Guns – Watsky feat. Julia Nunes
99. When I Was Young – MØ
100. Never – J.I.D.
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