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(07/13/16 10:13pm)
Whether it’s a budding romance, a summer fling, or you’re finally reunited with your long distance partner, here’s a playlist to celebrate summer love:
I’m Alive - Michael Franti & Spearhead
If the song wasn’t lively enough, the music video is a explosion of color and energy. If you like doing happy dances, you’ll like this song.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw0oOjZydZY[/embed]
Kick Drum Heart – Avett Brothers
This upbeat, heart-thumping track is my favorite era of Avett Brothers
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_xnWRFpYhA[/embed]
Simple and Sweet - Jon Bellion
I’m a sucker for songs with a twist at the end, and I love the pause in this song – that’s when you crank up the volume before the drop with your windows open on a hot summer day.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXUaoDl3Rgs[/embed]
Come Dance With Me – Frank Sinatra
Perfect for all the lovers out there born in the wrong decade
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQaUyBBL_M8[/embed]
Prosthetic Love – Typhoon
A mix of romanticism and realism song by my all-time favorite band, “Prosthetic Love” is a raw, authentic expression of what it means to be dependent on someone.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hneF9Iu71g[/embed]
Coffee – Miguel
If you want a more sensual summer lovin’ song, Miguel is the answer. Smooth, sexy, and a good cup of coffee – what more could you want?
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJAelCB8hdY[/embed]
Back to You – Twin Forks
This song is everything a summer song should be – upbeat, danceable, and carefree.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uIOSj_49Bo[/embed]
Summer - Calvin Harris
Yes, this is pretty mainstream electro-pop, but it’s also basically a summer fling dance anthem.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXbLfLACGM[/embed]
5 Years Time – Noah and the Whale
This lighthearted song is a reminder that you don’t always need to plan everything in your love life, but just have fun and enjoy the moment.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4[/embed]
(02/16/16 6:53pm)
There are plenty of fair complaints from a logistical standpoint about why it’s completely ridiculous Taylor Swift’s 1989 won the 2016 Grammy for Album of the Year, such as that it came out in 2014 or that last year’s Grammy’s was already swept by Swift’s “Shake It Off.” But I want to take a minute to rant about why it is much more important culturally.
There is no denying that Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly was the true album of the year in 2015. Not only was it critically acclaimed by a variety of news outlets (try this or this or this or WIUX’s review), not only did it include President Obama’s favorite song of 2015, but it was an important cultural statement that both educated, influenced, and empowered many different people.
To Pimp A Butterfly unashamedly embraced African American culture in the music, the lyrics, and the videos. Lamar approaches the issues of police violence, systematic racism, the legacy of slavery, and mental illness. He talks about the guilt that followed his success and navigating how to approach his newfound role as a speaker and leader in the black community. “Alright” even became an anthem of some #BlackLivesMatter protests.
All this is to say that the Grammy’s had a unique opportunity to show the world it recognized excellent work not only musically, but work that is inherently political and in many ways inherently black. Instead, Taylor Swift won. Again. It makes it feel as if the diversity we see in the Grammy’s is all a show, making them not much better than #OscarsSoWhite. After all this time, despite the rise of hip hop into mainstream, popular music, they’re still favoring a Western aesthetic.
Wait, let me fix that last part: they’re still favoring someone who appropriates the parts of black music they want and then disguises it under a white aesthetic. Taylor Swift’s use of a heavy rhythmic beat and rap verses uses the popularity of hip hop to catapult her sales and the audience of her music. I’m not saying 1989 isn’t catchy - it is. I’m not saying Taylor Swift is the worst appropriator of black music (I think we know who is). But I am saying that the Grammy’s decided to award someone who benefits from black musical aesthetic and influence rather than someone who comes from that actual experience. The Grammy’s told us that they’re not willing to step out on a limb and declare that a hip hop album, a black album was the best album of the year. Just like they’re willing to let Kendrick Lamar perform and express himself artistically and musically, but they’re careful to tell you “It’s not necessarily that we endorse what’s being said.”
Since I’m not the best at being eloquent in my current stage of rage, let me summarize why this makes me so angry: Not only are the Grammy’s denying an album that proved to be the most musically inventive and impressive of year, they are saying that it’s better for music to be non-controversial, to be apolitical, to adhere to a Western aesthetic, to be white.
(02/09/16 5:15pm)
Sampling has been at the heart of hip hop since its origins in the Bronx, though it’s not always used today and often takes a backseat to beats. I think it’s possible to use samples poorly (see: “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo), but Kanye West tends to sample in memorable and really creative ways. I’m hoping that he finds some more innovative ways to use samples on the new album, but until then here’s some of the most interesting/infamous times Kanye sampled:
Side note: Sorry, it’s very obvious that I love Watch the Throne.
"Otis" (Watch the Throne)
This is one of a few super obviously samples, as much of the Kanye and Jay-Z track just plays the original (it’s raw for the first 30 seconds). However, I think this song is used brilliantly. It’s so catchy while retaining the spirit and the music of the original, especially since they didn’t cover it with a ton of new instrumentals.
"Clique" (Cruel Summer)
Despite the fact that the best line in this song is actually Jay-Z’s (“I’m way too black to burn from sun rays”), this song uses a fairly unknown song in a brilliant way. “Zero-G” by African Voice 161 on the super generic album Zero G 1999 is used to create the distinct beat in this song. Even though it came from a generic African world music album, shout out to Yeezy (and his producers) for the effort to use non-Western aesthetics in a popular rap song. Thanks to the amazing website WhoSampled, you can hear the original and the sample here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOrLNHbEzMg
"Blood on the Leaves" (Yeezus)
Much like “Otis”, this song samples “Strange Fruit” as covered by Nina Simone (it’s originally sung by Billie Holiday) in a very direct way. Even though this song isn’t political, I love how Kanye used the lyrics of the original song in such a direct way, as is clear in the title and in the symbolism of using fruit to reference female sexuality.
"Gotta Have It" (Watch the Throne)
These James Brown samples are out of control. This song samples four songs from the Godfather of Soul: “My Thang”, “Don’t Tell a Lie About Me and I Won’t Tell the Truth on You”, “I’m a Greedy Man”, and “People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul”. James Brown marks an essential turning point in the popularity of music that embraced African musical aesthetics and performance, so I love seeing his music being recreated today.
"Spaceship" (College Dropout)
Marvin Gaye is one of my all time favorite artists, which makes it even more impressive that I love the way this song uses his song. The “Heaven Knows” you hear repeatedly comes from Gaye’s song “Distant Lover”. I like the play of distance/heaven/space, plus the song is just silky smooth.
"Gold Digger" (Late Registration)
This track famously samples Ray Charles’ whole chorus from “I Got A Woman”. I just think it’s amazing how the chorus of one song can be known by new generations as only related to a different song. But then again, I’m a music nerd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vwNcNOTVzY
(02/06/16 5:35pm)
I recently got back from a semester abroad in Kraków, Poland, and despite the fact that most people listen to American and British pop, I still discovered some awesome international music. Here are a few of my favorite songs (+ one artist):
Nic do Stracenia – Mrozu
It only seems right to start with a Polish song, since that’s where I lived for four months. “Nic do Stracenia” which basically means “Nothing to Lose” is pop meets gospel in the best way possible. I’m a sucker for bright horns and this catchy beat. Plus, you can see a Polish pop star trying to dress really cool in the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuHakRzq5yE
Vart Jag Mig I Världen Vänder - Den svenska björnstammen
I’m going to be honest. I have no idea what this Swedish song means. Or how to pronounce the artist’s name at all. But something about the weird flute intro and the harmonizing a capella sections makes me love this song.
Balada Boa – Gusttavo Lima
Spanish music is extremely popular across all of Europe. This song, along with Pitbull’s “Taxi” followed me everywhere I went. Multiple artists have sung this over time, but it’s hard to find a good version. Especially when at first I thought the lyrics were “che che de leche” and they’re “tche tche tcherere.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3BgqJe0fcY
Na Pewno – TABB & Sound’n’Grace
Another Polish song that is similar in many ways to “Nic do Stracenia,” this is just a simple Polish pop jam. The lyrics are very positive and uplifting, something along the lines of “Don’t give up, you’re never alone.” The song’s name, “For sure” corresponds with the line “Nothing is for sure.” There’s nothing like an upbeat existential crisis in another language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P-juL9-OgE
Gabriel Rios
Gabriel Rios is a Puerto Rican/Belgian artist who sings in English and has the most beautiful, smooth voice. His music is very acoustic, usually guitar, cello, standup bass, and his vocals. His entire latest album This Marauder's Midnight is amazing, but this is the major single from it, “Gold”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO4lJc98Svo