Song of the Day - Medellin - Madonna, Maluma

Talk about good timing!  I am leaving for Europe today and yesterday, Madonna dropped a brand new single!  The song is called Medellin and it features Colombian reggaeton superstar Maluma.  I can't really describe it better than Ann Powers at NPR:

The first single from Madonna's upcoming Madame X suggests that the doyenne of dance pop is making canny decisions in her 60^th year. "Medellin" is a carefully dosed combination of the coolly narcotic dance-pop she's often made with the track's producer, Mirwais, and the energetic reggaetón of the track's featured guest, the Colombian star Maluma, and suggests this global pop sound will be the foundation of her fourteenth studio album. Starting with a whispered "one, two, cha cha cha" from Queen Madge that lends the arrangement a witty vintage feel, the song proceeds to relate a fantasy that's both sexy and slightly nostalgic. "I took a pill and had a dream," Madonna murmurs, her voice artfully Auto-tuned. "I went back to my seventeenth year."

Well, I love the sound and am so looking forward to the new record due out in June.  In the meantime, here's Medellin...

Well, I am off to Amsterdam and s few other places for the next twenty days, so I will catch you on the other side!

Song of the Day - Ci Sei Tu - Nek

Italian!  Once upon a time, I bought this bootleg CD of Italian songs in Little Italy in Manhattan and fell in love with several of the tunes from it.  One song in particular, La Vita E, Or Life Is, by Nek became one of my favorites and I liked it so much I purchased his entire album of the same name, making Nek one of a couple of Italian artists I fellow semi-regularly.  This song, When You're Here, is the acoustic opener to the album and one of my favorites.  Check out Ci Sei Tu...

Song of the Day - La Vie En Rose - Grace Jones

This Sunday, I will be in Paris, France, where the unthinkable happened yesterday.  Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you most likely saw the terrible blaze that took down much of Notre Dame in that City of Lights.  Almost 800 years that cathedral withstood wars and the test of time and who would have ever thought an accidental fire would bring it down.  Though I'd passed it on all three of my trips to Paris, we never got to go and see it up close.  Funny, but my pal Kristen actually said she was going to try and bring the group to it this time.  Now...

MSNBC

I don't know too many French songs, and even though Grace Jones is not French and the song is about a happy life, the music and song to me are beautiful and so my way of paying some sort of tribute to that lost, beautiful structure which indeed had a Vie en Rose...

Song of the Day - Hold On Tight - R3HAB, Conor Maynard

The first stop on the Europe trip is Amsterdam, and so here's this Dutch deejay/producer, R3HAB, teaming up not too long ago with a very talented British crooner named Conor Maynard.  Check out the beautiful Hold On Tight...

Song of the Day - Claudion - Helena Deland

I'll be heading to Europe later this week and for the rest of my days here posting, I'm going to try and post some stuff with at least a European flavor.  I wanted to start with a French song, but couldn't find one I was excited enough to with to post, and then I found this.  Claudion is a beautiful, sophisticated synth-pop song that I added to my collection a long, long time ago.  It's from Montreal-based singer Helena Deland and the title sounds like it could be French (though it's Latin).  It's part of my Chillaxing playlist and every time I come to it, I have to remind myself to listen more.  Here's Claudion...

Song of the Day - Starry Night - Peggy Gou

Today's jam is brought to you via Berlin and Peggy Gou, an obviously talented musical artist who's new song, Starry Night is a bit of neo-disco delight.  Oh so love the hook!  Check it out...

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Island Girl - Elton John

Vintage Elton!  Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Song of the Day - Yours - Greyson Chance

If you haven't heard of Greyson Chance before, well that's about to change.  Chance recently did an appearance on Ellen to promote his new album, Portraits.  The 21 year old singer came out of 'retirement' to create this very personal and mature record and this is one of my favorites.  Here's Yours...  

Song of the Day - Carolina - Harry Styles

I just saw a post on Twitter that Harry Styles marvelous eponymous debut album was released just about two years ago.  I was fortunate enough to see Harry when he stopped at Madison Square Garden last June and he played the entire, ten-song masterpiece.  The record is still one of my go-to albums when I just feel like some good music.  Here's one of the tunes that I never posted before.  It's the head-bopping Carolina...

Song of the Day - Who's Got Your Love - Cheat Codes, Daniel Blume

I've been feeling like I haven't been sharing much recent music lately, and that's going to change a bit.  The one thing I absolutely love about music is its fluidity.  No matter how much music gets put out there, there's always something to love, and this light and airy tune by EDM trio Cheat Codes, with Daniel Blume, is chock full of happy vibes.  Check out Who's Got Your Love...

Song of the Day - I Can't Get Enough - Benny Blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin

Here's a hot, recent, Latin-inspired jam from producer Benny Blanco with some most excellent company.  Check out the sexy I Can't Get Enough...

Song of the Day - I Try - Macy Gray

I heard this Macy Gray classic sometime yesterday and had it in my head the rest of the entire day.  Great tune!  Here's I Try...

Song of the Day - In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel

I watched the movie Say Anything last night for the first time in years.  Still a great movie, and of course this song, in this scene above, is absolutely iconic.  Ah, nostalgia!  Here's Peter Gabriel and In Your Eyes...

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Hey Ya! - OutKast

Hey Ya, it's finally Friday!  Enjoy!  

Song of the Day - Unspeakable Joy - Kim English

Saw some sad news on the Twitterverse yesterday that dance music singer Kim English passed away.  English, 48, died of complications relating to kidney failure.  Though she had several charting songs in the late-90's and early 2000's, she will always be best known for this club anthem, which I actually shared here not too long ago.  Here's Unspeakable Joy...

Hump Day Song of the Day - Clap Your Hands - Jessy Wilson

Happy Hump Day...we're all on the down-swing now, oh yes, and here's a new jam by a new artist, at least in my world.  Here's singer Jessy Wilson with a rock-funk superjam that I'm loving more and more with each listen.  Check out Clap Your Hands...

Song of the Day - Next To Me - Emeli Sande

For my dad...happy birthday!

Song of the Day - In My Arms - Ferreck Dawn, Robosonic, Nikki Ambers

Here's a nice little dance jam to start your week.  It's by Dutch producer Ferrick Dawn, and his German partner on the record, Robosonic.  It's mindless, dance floor filler, with oh so good beats and a catchy set of lyrics.  Check out In My Arms...