Happy New Year 2015! Here’s my gift to you, as a playlist on YouTube…
Team by Lorde. Is this what the kids are listening to these days? How refined. Nothing like the hip hop and brash beats we ground to at homecoming in 2003.
Real Love by Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne. Piano + soulful vocals, mixed with a modern beat.
We’re All We Need by Above & Beyond featuring Zoë Johnston. Serious and sad, but uplifting in its slow and steady beat. Fascinating voice Zoë has.
Love Me Harder (Country Club Martini Radio mix) by Ariana Grande. If nothing else, a motivational spin-class song. Applies just the same to running or any other endurance exercise.
Shake It Off by Taylor Swift. Love to hate it, and vice versa. Listen to this song, and you won’t have full control of your shoulders or hips. SO FUN.
Tribe (featuring Jesse Boykins III) by Theophilus London. A lot of bleeding-edge musical shit is coming out of the U.K. Tribe is intelligent, endearing hip hop I can groove to, at the gym, in the car. It’s a lot of fun.
Parachute by Olivia Somerlyn. Total top 40 trash, but a great anthem for the independent men and women in the audience. “I’d rather crash than reach for you.” Amen.
Close (featuring MNEK) by Sub Focus. Just one of the several sweet tracks off this (also) English musician’s album. Features a vocalist who’s also on Gorgon City’s Ready For Your Love.
Bang Bang (3LAU Remix) by Jessie J., Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj. Three divas come from diverse backgrounds to create a playful pop hit. Today’s Lady Marmalade. Yes.
Never Say Never by Basement Jaxx. A twerking robot. And you thought it couldn’t happen.
Hold The Line (featuring Lisa Shaw) by Andy Caldwell. “Don’t forget, who you are. You’re the one, shining star.” Well, thank you. Ultra chill, this is my musical red wine.
Monument (featuring Robyn) by Röyksopp (The Inevitable End Version). The last track, in all Swedish seriousness. I loved Robyn in the 90s, and saw her in concert in Ybor after her reboot; she’s a fascinating person to experience live.