Just like in summer when I don't have to work, my sleep schedule is all screwed up these days. I've been awake at 3 a.m. and sleepy at 10. I think I need work to have better sleep! Somehow, though, I don't think that's why Janet is getting no sleep here (wink)...
I hope everyone out there is doing okay and keeping safe in this unprecedented time we're living in. If anything, I hope my posts give you pause for at least a minute or two in your day to listen to, or even just think of, a good song to brighten your day just a little. Here's one of my favorites by crooner John Legend...
I have been loving British singer RAYE's work as guest vocalist on some really great dance tracks with Jax Jones, Martin Solveig, and David Guetta, so when I saw she had a new song out all on her own I had to check it out. All Of My Love is a slow jazzy type of pop ballad that's pretty damned hypnotic. Check it out...ooh, and check out the cover!
It's been awhile since I've posted any R&B, and the 90's was a great place to find some awesome grooves like this classic from Blackstreet. Check out No Diggity...
For the first time in a long time, I've been relegated to listening to CD's in the car. You see, I've been driving a rental vehicle for the past few days and the bluetooth will not connect to my phone. So I went into my attic and dug through my old CD collection and have been listening to a lot of stuff I'd forgotten about. In the coming days and weeks, I'll be posting some of these newfound classics, beginning with this uplifting song by the late, great Luther Vandross. Here's Power of Love/Love Power...
Former X-Factor contestant Bea Miller teams up with Grammy-nominated rapper 6LACK on this infectious, R&B track. This one's very smooth! Check out It's Not U It's Me...
In 1999, former old school rappers TLC changed direction musically to a more mature, rhythm and blues sound and it worked. Their sophomore album CrazySexyCool and its lead single, the sultry Creep, propelled these gals into the stratosphere, which continued with their later smash, Waterfalls. Here's Creep...
It was the very beginning of the 90's and three former members of 80's R&B boy band, New Edition, formed their own group and put out a hot record. Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe dubbed themselves Bel Biv DeVoe and the rest is history. They brought a hard driving, fast-paced sound into the 90's with their debut song, Poison. Check it out...
First time I ever heard the expression Dark Child was in this song. One of my favorites of the decade and still just as catchy and dancey! Enjoy He Wasn't Man Enough For Me...
The third and final single from Grammy Award-winning Lauryn Hill's 1998 debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, is a serious blend of styles, all coming together in one hella cool video. Check out Everything Is Everything...
Back in 1994, there was this musical duo from Philly with a sound that was, and still is, all that! The songs from Zhane's debut, Pronounced Jah-Nay, were all groovilacious and all perfect for an intimate night with your love. This, their debut single, is a classic R&B groove, so check out the delicious Hey Mr. D.J....
Here's a little neo-disco for your Sunday morning with Theophilus London and Tame Impala, covering a tune Steve Monite back in 1984. The song's a little on the rhythm and blues side, but late night disco, for sure! Here's Only You...
Moroccan/Queens girl Dounia has got a unique brand of music. With high-pitched vocals and smooth, contemporary R&B sounds, her new song is definitely a winner. Check out How I See It...
Here's a song that's grown on me more and more everyday ever since I first highlighted it on New Music Fridays a couple of weeks ago. From the sounds of this easy-to-like R&B jam by Zhavia, it's clear that the singer will be on my radar for some time to come. Check out the wonderful Deep Down...
I'm going to finish off my little impromptu week of 80's R&B with Teena Marie, who was a longtime collaborator and friend of one Rick James. I had a big wow moment earlier in the week when this one came on my Spotify and I knew I wanted to post if for any of you who remember this, by far the singer's biggest hit. So here's Lovergirl...
This has been an oddly good week in new music, though at first listen, I wasn't crazy about any of the tunes spotlighted here. The ones I chose are varied in genre, but all pretty damned good, so check out this week's offerings...
Don't Matter to Me - Drake, Michael Jackson
Undoubtedly the biggest new music story of the week was the dropping of Drake's brand new double album, Scorpion. Not a huge Drake fan here, but there are definitely some tunes in his catalog that I do love, and they all tend to be more on the R&B side, like this whopper of a surprise. Apparently, the Canadian rapper/singer delved into some of Michael Jackson's later work and used the King of Pop's vocals withing the overall construction of this song. Pitchfork has an incredibly amazing piece on this. Check out a sound-clip of Don't Matter to Me...
Lovers - LoKii, REMMI
Here's a sweet, catchy tune by dance artists LoKii and REMMI. Check out Lovers...
Bad Love - Sean Paul, Ellie Goulding
It's been a long time since we've heard anything from Ellie Goulding, but now she's back with a funky new reggae-tinged dance track featuring none other than Sean Paul. Check out Bad Love...
Everybody Needs a Kiss - Benny Benassi, Sofi Tukker
Here's a brand new collaboration between Italian producer Benny Benassi and the hot hot Sofi Tukker. This one, like virtually anything ST touches, is golden. Check out Everybody Needs a Kiss...
Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You - Sheryl Crow, Annie Clark
Wow! I haven't paid virtually any attention to Sheryl Crow in years, but this new collaboration with fellow female guitarist extraordinaire Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, is wicked good! The song is a political rant against climate change deniers and you've just got to hear it. Here's Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You...
I think I'm going to skip any honorable mentions this week. Nothing really particularly stands out to not here, but you can always check out the New Music Fridays playlist on Spotify.
