Keeping it real on today’s playlist.
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Tunes Du Jour Presents 1985
The year 1985 was a remarkable one for music, as it showcased a variety of genres, styles, and influences. From pop to rock, from synth to soul, from rap to reggae, the music of 1985 reflected the diversity and creativity of the artists and the listeners. Whether it was the catchy melodies, the powerful lyrics, or the innovative sounds, the music of 1985 had something for everyone.
One of the most notable trends of 1985 was the emergence of new wave and synth-pop, which dominated the charts and the airwaves. Artists like Tears for Fears, a-Ha, Simple Minds, and The Cure blended synthesizers, guitars, and drums to create catchy and memorable songs that captured the mood and the spirit of the times. Songs like “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”, “Take On Me”, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, and “Close to Me” became anthems for a generation that was looking for fun, freedom, and adventure.
Another trend of 1985 was the influence of dance and disco, which brought energy and excitement to the music scene. Artists like Madonna, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Dead Or Alive, and Sade combined dance beats, catchy hooks, and sensual vocals to create songs that made people want to move and groove. Songs like “Into the Groove”, “Relax”, “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)”, and “Smooth Operator” became hits that defined the style and the attitude of the era.
A third trend of 1985 was the resurgence of rock and roll, which showed the diversity and the versatility of the genre. Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Dire Straits, and The Smiths demonstrated their musical skills, their lyrical talents, and their artistic visions. Songs like “Born In The U.S.A.”, “Raspberry Beret”, “Money For Nothing”, and “How Soon Is Now” became classics that showcased the range and the depth of rock music.
A fourth trend of 1985 was the rise of social awareness and activism, which inspired many artists to use their music as a platform for change and charity. Artists took part in USA For Africa and Band Aid to raise funds and awareness for famine relief.
The music of 1985 was a year of diversity and innovation, as it offered a wide range of musical experiences and expressions. The playlist below features some of the best songs of 1985, which represent the different trends and influences of the year. Enjoy the music and relive the memories of 1985!
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 10-18-22
Today’s playlist celebrates the October 18 birthdays of Chuck Berry, Laura Nyro, The Association’s Russ Giguere, Wynton Marsalis, The Bluetones’ Mark Morriss, Ne-Yo, Exile’s Jimmy Stokley, Eruption’s Precious Wilson, and The Murmurs’ Heather Grody; and the October 19 birthdays of George McCrae, Fugees’ Pras, Peter Tosh, The Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons, Thundercat, World Party’s Karl Wallinger, Jeannie C. Riley, Gloria Jones, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Gayles, Divine, and Patrick Cowley.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (3-5-21)
Inspired by the March 5 birthdays of Andy Gibb, The Fall’s Mark E. Smith, The Equals’ Eddy Grant, Teena Marie, Murray Head, Paul Evans, The Proclaimers’ Craig and Charlie Reid, Steve Arrington, Tommy Tucker, Rex Harrison and Eddie Hodges.
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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 (3-5-20)
Inspired by the March 5 birthdays of Andy Gibb, The Fall’s Mark E. Smith, Teena Marie, Eddy Grant, Murray Head, Steve Arrington, the Proclaimers, Tommy Tucker and Rex Harrison.
Clowns Angry At Media (+ It’s Friday And I Need To Dance!)
The new season of American Horror Story features a character named Twisty the Clown. Twisty the Clown is a psychopath who murders people with scissors and imprisons children in a school bus. The character is getting professional clowns’ knickers in a twisty.
Glenn Kohlberger, president of Clowns of America International, is quoted in The Hollywood Reporter as saying “Hollywood makes money sensationalizing the norm. They can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare.”
His sentiments are echoed by the United States’ second largest clown trade group, the Society of Clowns for the Advancement of Realistic Expression (SCARE). “Business was going great for me until the autumn of 2001,” said that organization’s president, Slappy bin Laden. “You have to ask yourself ‘Why would business suddenly drop off?’ The answer must be the media’s portrayal of clowns.” Bin Laden points to The Simpsons’ Krusty the Clown as an example. “[Krusty the Clown] is a buffoon masquerading as a clown. He’s not a real clown.”
“Things have not improved since then,” bin Laden continues. “We got a Batman movie in which a clown called The Joker is a sociopath. We got a sitcom called Modern Family in which a clown is actually a homosexual. These portrayals give clowns a bad name.”
“Hollywood is not going to change unless it is pressured to do so.” That is why bin Laden pitched a new sitcom that portrays clowns in a positive, and per bin Laden, more truthful light. Everybody Loves Slappy will premiere on the FX network in January 2015. In the show, bin Laden plays Slappy Hussein, a sportswriter living with his family in Lynbrook, NY. “The show is good clean entertainment. It’s about a clown who works hard and loves his family, though he’s an alcoholic who beats his wife, because all clowns do that.”
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Friday is dance day at Tunes du Jour. You can vogue, hustle or do the twisty. Put on your dancing shoes (or big clown shoes) and hit the floor!
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It’s Friday And I Need To Dance!
I’m at a place in my life where I very much wish to try new things. To enter into places not completely familiar. I’ve accomplished a lot utilizing my knowledge of popular music and negotiation skills. From college graduation until last September I’ve always worked at record companies. Is there somewhere else where I can use these attributes?
Figuring out the next step on one’s own can be challenging. Having a career coach is helpful. Better yet would be meeting someone who sees what you (or, in this case, I) have to offer and gives you (me) a job, or, optimally, collaborates with you (me) on a new venture.
I think about this fairly often. This morning it occurred to me that it came to be for me a couple of weeks ago, though not directly related to my record company jobs.
When I lived I New York I performed and-up comedy at night. I did well with it. I won contests, had an agent, and played to sold-out theaters. I understand comedy structure, know how to formulate a joke, and have good timing.
Two weeks ago a friend and I started working together on a TV sitcom pilot. I can write relatable characters and punchlines. My friend, who has a terrific sense of humor as well, can take what I do and add in his knowledge of script formatting and sitcom structure. I’m enthusiastic about our new venture.
In 1987, singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega scored a huge hit with “Luka,” from her album Solitude Standing. Her biggest hit to date, the song went to #3 on the United States pop charts, and also hit the Top 40 in countries such as The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, The Netherlands, France, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand, Austria, and Ireland.
Vega can write great lyrics and catchy hooks. ”Luka” also performed well on the Rock chart. Vega is like me in this story, and the British production duo who called themselves D.N.A. are my friend with whom I am writing the television script.
D.N.A. took Suzanne’s skills, in particular the a capella track that opens the Solitude Standing album, and added a dance beat to it. The result was another top ten pop hit, this one credited to D.N.A. featuring Suzanne Vega. The song, “Tom’s Diner,” also brought Vega to the top 15 of the Dance Club chart, the Modern Rock chart, and the R&B chart.
Vega didn’t plan this success. By chance D.N.A. entered her life and together each reached new heights. Hopefully our sitcom pilot will have the same success.
Today Suzanne Vega turns 55. We’ll kick off our Friday dance party with the DNA mix of “Tom’s Diner.”