In the afterglow of a great birthday, I'd like to share one of my favorite songs of all time. It fits the life I realized again last night for the umpteenth time, in that I am surrounded by people that I love and will always be there for, and it goes both ways. To those who reached out to me yesterday, I thank you, and for those who came to help me celebrate yet another year of life on this Earth, big giant hugs. Here's Jess Glynne...
Going to be really busy the next couple of weeks, so expect sporadic posts from here until I am all settled into my new place. In the meantime, here's an all-time favorite...
Well, this turned out to be a nice week for new music. Of course, the biggest news was the release of Ariana Grande's Sweetener, but none of the new songs on the album match the intensity of its' first three singles. And so you won't find any of them in this week's spotlight, but you will see and hear new stuff from Janet Jackson, Calvin Harris with Sam Smith, and other great new tunes to whet your appetite. So without further adieu, here we go...
Promises - Calvin Harris, Sam Smith
One of the most interesting new music tracks of the week comes from Calvin Harris, featuring the beautiful voice of Sam Smith on vocals. Promises is Smith's first foray into dance music since guesting on Disclosure's 2013 Latch, and to me this one is way easier to get into. I usually shy away from Smith, mostly because I'm not a huge fan of ballads, but this one is oh so good. Check out Promises...
All I Am - Jess Glynne
I love the sound of Jess Glynne's voice and I almost always love the inspirational/fee-good vibe to her songs, and this new one's got both. Check out All I Am...
How Does It Feel - M22
If you love a big dance song with strong female vocals, then this is a song for you. British dance music duo has come up with a big one featuring the powerful vocals of one Miss Hayley May. Great vibe on this one...check it out...
Made For Now - Janet Jackson, Daddy Yankee
Janet Jackson is back in a big way with a somewhat surprising and pleasing new single (possible album in the works??!!!). This one's got the feel of a vintage Janet tune, happy and catchy, and the addition of Daddy Yankee into the fold will surely expand the listening base of this one. The two debuted the tune on Jimmy Fallon the other night, but there is also a video. Check out Made For Now...
Exit (The Wrong Way) - Marsheaux
Ooh, I love this one. It's by Greek synth-pop duo Marsheaux and it's got the feel of an 80's synth-heavy club jam. Love, love, love! Check out Exit (The Wrong Way)...
Here's a song I spotlighted in my most recent post in New Music Fridays. Been listening to it a lot this week and I am loving it. Such a sing-along song! Check out I'll Be There...
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...
Here's a fresh track from British drum and bass band Rudimental. The tune features the vocals of Macklemore and Jess Glynne and is as sweet as it is romantic. Check out These Days...
Oh man, there were a lot of new songs released this past week! I spent no less than two hours combing through all the new music tracks on Spotify's New Music Fridays. Surprisingly, there weren't too many tunes I bookmarked, but the ones I did will be on my playlist for a long time, I am sure. Exciting new stuff here, folks especially the debut of Kylie Monogue's Dancing and new stuff by Troye Sivan and The Chainsmokers, among others. So let's get right to it...
Dancing - Kylie Minogue
After what seemed like an eternity, Aussie superstar Kylie Minogue is back with a brand new song from a forthcoming album called Golden. The song is not as immediately memorable as the debut to her last album, Kiss Me Once's Into the Blue, but the mid-tempo tune is Kylie through and through nonetheless. Check out Dancing...
Sick Boy - The Chainsmokers
After what seemed like a long hiatus from music, The Chainsmokers are back with a darker, more serious sound. Sick Boy is eliciting some unfavorable reviews from critics, and I can understand why, but to a point. No, this new track isn't fun at all, and its dramatic undertones might disappoint some fans, but to me it just might attract them some new ones. I'll let you decide...
The Good Side - Troye Sivan
A week after releasing My My My! in advance of his new album, Troye Sivan put out a new track, The Good Side. This one's more like the stuff on his Blue Neighborhood album, and possibly an apologetic nod to a former lover mentioned on that album. The ballad is straightforward and honest, and a perfect second release for Sivan. Check him out performing the song on SNL this week...
These Days - Rudimental, Macklemore, Jess Glynne, Dan Caplen
British band Rudimental has released a new, beautiful and inspiring track. These Days features fellow Brits Jess Glynne and Dan Caplen and Seattle-based rapper Macklemore. Check out this beautiful song...
Heaven's Gate - Burna Boy, Lily Allen
Nigerian rapper Burna Boy is just beginning to become internationally known. After appearing on Fall Out Boy's Sunshine Riptide, the performer has just released his own single. Heaven's Gate features Lily Allen on vocals, and her unique voice blends well with this up tempo, island rap jam. Check out the very cool Heaven's Gate...
With the unusually high number of new music releases this week, of course there's got to be some honorable mentions. Check out these noteworthy new tunes...
I love music, especially happy music that does nothing really more than make you feel good when you listen to it. Jess Glynne's Hold My Hand is one of those special songs that just puts a smile on your face and a lil warmth in your heart whenever you hear it. So click play, enjoy and Happy Saturday!
It's a beautiful day to start the holiday weekend and it deserves a truly beautiful song. I don't think I know anybody who doesn't love Clean Bandit's Rather Be. It's such a soothing song with a beautiful melody and of course, Jess Glynne's rich voice. Check out Rather Be and then go on out and have an awesome day...
One of my favorite songs of the year is this sparkler by English singer Jess Glynne off of her debut record I Cry When I Laugh. I don't know anyone who doesn't like this one, so click play below and enjoy...
Standing in a crowded room and I can't see your face
Put your arms around me, tell me everything's okay
In my mind,, I'm running round a cold and empty space
Just put your arms around me, tell me everything's okay
Darling hold my hand
Oh, won't you hold my hand?
Cause I don't wanna walk on my own anymore
Won't you understand?
Cause I don't wanna walk alone
I'm ready for this, there's no denying
I'm ready for this, you stop me falling
I'm ready for this, I need you all in
I'm ready for this, so darling hold my hand
Many of you may not know Jess Glynne by name, but hopefully that'll change soon. The best way to tell you just who this red-headed singer with the big voice is would be to tell you that she's the girl who sang on Clean Bandit's smash hit, Rather Be. Well, Jess Glynne is an English recording artist who just recently released her debut solo album, I Cry When I Laugh. Hold My Hand is the third single off the record, following Home and Right Here, and it's one of my favorites off the album, along with Gave Me Something. The song is sweet and uplifting and almost as likable as the awesomely wonderful Rather Be. Check it out...
For those of you who don't know who Jess Glynne is, well she's the silky-voiced singer on Clean Bandit's smash, Rather Be. Well, the British singer has a whole new album out called I Cry When I Laugh. I took a chance based on what I knew of her from that Clean Bandit tune and downloaded the set, and I'm glad I did. Here's the opening track, a rhythmic, mid-tempo gem that's a great sample of what's found on the album. Check out Gave Me Something.,.
