Song of the Day - Beautiful - Christina Aguilera

Today is a special day for me...and for Christina Aguilera, oddly enough.  You see, I read this morning that today is the twentieth anniversary of the release of her eponymous debut album.  I immediately began thinking of posting one of her songs from that album, but none of them markedly fit the day for me.  Besides, I was never really a big fan of Christina until her classic Stripped album three years later.

Today is the very first one-year anniversary I've experienced since 1988, with my ex Joe.  That relationship went to twenty, and I don't think I'll ever reach that milestone again, but in the twelve years since he and I parted ways, I haven't managed any sort of relationship longer than six months...until now.  

For his own privacy, I won't share his name, but today's song surely relates to the significance of our existence as a couple.  You see, it was one year ago today I journeyed over to Cherry Grove on Fire Island with a bunch of friends.  There was this guy I, and a couple of my friends, had noticed all around that afternoon and evening.  He was there alone and he was beautiful.  I tried not to give him one thought, thinking he was just too beautiful to like me.  I was wrong!

At one point later in the evening, I had gotten frustrated with some of my friends and went of to dance on my own.  That was when he jumped in.  I was surprised, and a little suspicious as to why, but we danced and chatted for a long time...and yeah, he was beautiful!  He liked good music and he could dance pretty good, so that was a bonus, but I still wasn't thinking anything about he and I until he asked for my number.

So I gave him my number and we parted ways, running into one another again on the ferry ride back.  I was nursing an inebriated friend, and he was sitting across from me, motioning me over.  I was still surprised that he was interested in me.  That was when I caught another glimpse of him up close, (and he loves this part!), and all I could muster up to say was "You're beautiful!" 

I've learned, though, in the year that has now passed, that though he is still...beautiful...to look at, but he is even more beautiful on the inside.  I've been spending my weekends and occasional evenings...even a week in San Francisco with a person who is kind, considerate, sweet, and oozing with love for others.  So happy anniversary babe!  Here's to us and here's Beautiful...     

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Beautiful - Christina Aguilera

It's Pride Weekend in New York City and we're getting things started off with a classic by X-Tina.  And always remember, YOU are beautiful no matter what they say cause words won't bring us down!  Peace!

New Music Fridays, June 15th, 2018 - Plenty of Great Stuff!

I knew within the first half-hour or so during my discovery of New Music Fridays on Spotify that this was going to be a special week.  There are so many great tunes in this week's crop of new music that I could have highlighted twenty of them.  Alas, most of the ones I really liked are indeed found within, either in music form or as an honorable mention.  Man this week's going to give me long periods of music pleasure!  Check it out...

Dance to This - Troye Sivan, Ariana Grande

One of the most exciting new tunes of the week comes in the form of a brand new collaboration by two of today's hottest stars, Troye Sivan and Ariana Grande.  With pulsating rhythms and soft, sensual vocals, this one's already on fire.  Check out Dance to This...

Bed - Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande appears as a vocalist on not one, but two new tunes by other artists this week, and both tunes are kind of on the softer side of things.  This one, from Minaj's upcoming Queen, is steamy and from the looks of it, the video is gonna be too.  Check out Bed...

Growing Pains - Alessia Cara

This new song by talented young Alessia Cara is our first new taste of what's to come from the singer's sophomore album, and by the sounds of it, it's going to be good. Check out Growing Pains...

I'm a Mess - Bebe Rexha

Brooklyn born singer Bebe Rexha has got a new tune out and it's drawing comparisons to Meredith Brooks' I'm a Bitch.  Check out the similarities between the songs on Billboard, and in the meantime check out I'm a Mess...

Let Me Live - Rudimental, Anne-Marie, Major Lazer, Mr. Eazi

This star-studded collaboration by Rudimental and Major Lazer has got a sweet, reggae-tinged sound and with Anne-Marie's vocals, this one's outta the park.  Check out Let Me Live...

Maria - Christina Aguilera

By far the best song I've heard so far from Christina's new record is this soulful piece of joy.  Check out the beautiful Maria...

Just My Type - The Vamps

It's really a shame that Brit band The Vamps don't get more attention here in the States.  They've got a pop sensibility that's really always spot on, with songs that are always catchy, always fun, including this new track.  Check out a live performance of Just My Type...

Blurry Eyes - Hotel Garuda, RUNN

Here's yet another song I couldn't resist spotlighting here.  You know I love dance music and this one is funky!  Check out Blurry Eyes...

As promised, here are plenty of other new tunes for you to check out.  They're all stellar in their own way.  

Don't Sleep - Chromeo, French Montana, Stefflon Don

Superlove - Whethan, Oh Wonder

Rather Be - Malte Ebert

Train - Lil Halima

Ocean - Martin Garrix, Khalid

Make It Up (As I Go) - Mike Shinoda, K. Flay

Not Thinkin' Bout You - Ruel

Do It All Over - BONNIE X CLYDE

Just Thought You Should Know - Betty Who

Waiting - Yellow Claw, Rochelle

Baby Daddy - Tofer Dolan

Angels and Demons - Just Loud

New Music Fridays, May 3rd, 2018 - New Stuff From X-Tina, Shawn Mendes, Troye Sivan and More

Where last week's New Music Fridays was jam packed with great new stuff from relatively new artists, we find new gems from tried and true artists this week, including the return of Christina Aguilera, some youthful infusion from Shawn Mendes, Khalid and Troye Sivan, and much much more.  Check it out...

Youth - Shawn Mendes, Khalid

Shawn Mendes has an eponymous album, his third, coming out later this month and the songs he's been putting out thus far have shown a natural progression towards pop music perfection.  Such is the case with his newest, a collaboration with fellow crooner Khalid.  The song features dueling vocals blended perfectly together in what just may become one of the hottest hits of the year.  Check out Youth...

The Way I Am - Charlie Puth

Charlie Puth keeps his string of hot releases going with this pleasingly upbeat, yet introspective tune.  Check out The Way I Am...

I'll Be There - Jess Glynne

I am loving Jess Glynne.  Who would have thought that she'd come back from her guest vocal on Clean Bandit's monumental Rather Be right to her own solo debut and the great success of Hold My Hand?  Well, with a spot on Rudimental's These Days, the British singer has surely established herself as a force in the music world.  Now Glynne is back with yet another inspirational gem that's sure to be on my playlist for some time to come.  Check out I'll Be There...

Accelerate - Christina Aguilera, with Ty Dolla $ign, 2 Chainz

One of the most talked-about songs of the week is Christina Aguilera's first new song in five years.  Earlier in the week, Ms. X-Tina announced the release of her sixth studio album, Liberation, coming out in June, and the buzz among her fans, including me, is well, we're excited.  The new song features rappers Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz and is a quick-moving, rap-infused song that I'm thinking I need to listen to more to get into.  By the way, the tune is also reportedly produced by Kanye West, in case you might be wondering.  Check out Variety for more on the album and check out Accelerate right here...

Bloom - Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan adds to three the number of pre-released songs ahead of his next studio album.  Whereas the somber reflection of The Good Side hearkens to reflections from a past life, Bloom continues where My My My left off, finding Sivan in a blissful place in his life, singing about life and love and well, just being happy.  Check out the cool lyric video for Bloom here...

Well I could seriously go on and on and on.  Lots of honorable mentions here, even the return of Guns n Roses, which I actually thought about highlighting.  Check out some more really good stuff...

Move to Miami - Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull

Genius - Sia, Diplo, Labrinth

Jump - Julia Michaels, Trippie Redd

Shadow of Your Love - Guns N Roses

Hunger - Florence + the Machine

Run Wild - Thutmose, NoMBe

Hold On Tight - R3HAB, Conor Maynard

Energy - Jean Deaux, ROMderful

MJ - Now Now

So Rude - ORKID

Song of the Day - AIn't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera

Every once in awhle I turn to my Christina Aguilera playlist on my iPod and I still enjoy her music. Will she ever record again?  

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Can't Hold Us Down - Christina Aguilera, featuring Lil Kim

I've been revisiting the catalog of Christina Aguilera the past couple of days and especially loving the Stripped album all over again, and I even blogged about the song Cruz last night over at John's World.  Oh man, that album is classic X-Tina and I'm remembering all over again why I played this one out back in the day.  With so many great songs like the two I mentioned above and Fighter and Infatuation and Walk Away and Beautiful and, and...so click play, relive a memory or two, and go out and have a great Friday...

Song of the Day - Oh Mother - Christina Aguilera

So Mother, I thank you

For all that you've done and still do

You got me, I got you

Together we always pull through

It's a beautiful May day outside and a perfect one to celebrate mother's everywhere.  A mother is one of the most enduring and important relationships one has in life.  Her love is unconditional, and as such she deserves to be treated like a queen not only on Mother's Day, but every day.  Happy Mother's Day!