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 1969
The music of 1969 captures a unique crossroads in cultural history—a year teetering between optimism and cynicism, unity and rebellion. Looking at a playlist from this year reveals a blend of genres and voices, each reflecting a society in flux. The playlist’s tracks encompass themes of love, social change, disillusionment, and raw individualism, echoing the era’s contradictions and bold spirit.
On one end of the spectrum, songs like Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” and Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” echo traditional themes of love, loyalty, and heartbreak, though with a hint of modern skepticism. Presley’s soulful performance marked his return to chart-topping success, while Wynette’s hit became a polarizing anthem, embraced by some for its devotion and questioned by others for its apparent passivity. Meanwhile, Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” captured a more introspective side of the decade, blending pop and country into a haunting portrayal of loneliness and perseverance.
But 1969 wasn’t all about introspection; it was also a year of unrestrained expression and pushing boundaries. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” hinted at a sense of looming danger, with its ominous lyrics striking a nerve during a time of political upheaval. In contrast, “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones embraced the gritty allure of rock and roll without aiming for a larger societal message. Jagger’s tales of chance encounters and gin-soaked nights represent the Stones’ unapologetic celebration of indulgence, sidestepping introspection in favor of pure hedonism.
Amidst the wild spirit of rock, 1969 also offered more uplifting messages with a hint of idealism. Sly & The Family Stone’s “Everyday People” and The Youngbloods’ “Get Together” conveyed calls for unity that resonated deeply in an era fraught with political and racial tensions. Sly Stone’s anthem became a rallying cry for acceptance, emphasizing individuality while embracing common ground. Similarly, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by The 5th Dimension captured the essence of the countercultural movement in all its utopian ambitions, even if the optimism was a bit idealistic in hindsight.
Then there was the music that addressed disillusionment head-on, perhaps best captured by Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” and Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” Both songs offer reflective, sometimes jaded perspectives on life’s struggles and the disappointments that can accompany maturity. Where “The Boxer” tells the story of a young man grappling with hardship and loss, Lee’s dry wit in “Is That All There Is?” confronts the emptiness that can lie beneath life’s surface pleasures.
Ultimately, this playlist from 1969 feels like a time capsule of an era balancing between hope and disillusionment. From the raw proto-punk of The Stooges to the tender balladry of Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour,” the year’s music speaks to a generation grappling with unprecedented social changes. Through these songs, 1969 continues to resonate, reminding us that music often reflects the spirit of its time while challenging listeners to consider where they stand.
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Tunes Du Jour Presents Holland-Dozier-Holland
Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, collectively known as Holland-Dozier-Holland (H-D-H), are synonymous with the sound of Motown. Their string of hits in the 1960s and beyond fueled the success of the record label, shaping popular music and paving the way for R&B to dominate the airwaves. Each song on this playlist, from The Four Tops’ powerful “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” to The Supremes’ iconic “Where Did Our Love Go,” credits one or more members of H-D-H. With a blend of melody, rhythm, and hooks that remain timeless, the team’s work redefined what hit songwriting could accomplish.
This songwriting trio didn’t merely write songs—they crafted narratives of love, heartbreak, and resilience that resonated with audiences across generations. Tracks like “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” by The Isley Brothers and Marvin Gaye’s “Can I Get a Witness” reveal the emotional depth in their compositions, supported by rhythms and production styles that have endured decades of cover versions. Their songs often feel instantly recognizable, whether it’s the infectious chorus of Chairmen of the Board’s “Give Me Just a Little More Time” or the stomping beat of Junior Walker & the All-Stars’ “(I’m A) Road Runner.”
The irony, however, is that Eddie Holland, despite being a key member of the team, had only one top 40 pop single as a solo artist, “Jamie”—and it wasn’t written by any member of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Instead, it was penned by Barrett Strong and William “Mickey” Stevenson, fellow Motown talents who contributed in their own right to the label’s powerhouse status. Though Eddie found his calling behind the scenes rather than as a performer, his experience as an artist gave him unique insight into the singer’s perspective, a quality that helped make H-D-H’s songs vocally compelling and relatable.
Beyond Motown, the trio’s influence stretched into rock, pop, and soul genres, as evident from covers and reinterpretations by artists like The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, and Bananarama. These renditions, like Linda Ronstadt’s cover of “Heat Wave” or James Taylor’s soulful take on “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” show how their music transcended genre boundaries. Each version emphasizes the versatility of H-D-H’s songwriting, capable of adapting to various musical expressions while retaining its core appeal.
Ultimately, the legacy of Holland-Dozier-Holland isn’t just in their impressive catalog but in their contributions to the very essence of popular music. They captured the spirit of a generation through music that continues to find new audiences, sounding as fresh today as it did over half a century ago. Their work endures, a testament to their genius, and is rightly celebrated by the many artists who’ve covered and revived their timeless songs.
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