Hello and welcome again to my weekly New Music Fridays post, where I put the spotlight on my picks for the best new music of the week. There were a lot of songs I bookmarked this week and it was hard to narrow it down to just five, but here goes...
In My Blood/Lost In Japan - Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes fans were certainly happy this Friday with the release of two brand new songs, In My Blood and Lost In Japan. Both songs continue to show that this young talent is just that...a talent. The first one's got that raw, emotional feel and is instantly likable, while the second is a little more upbeat and sweet! Check out both songs right here...
Flames - David Guetta and Sia
It's been awhile since David Guetta and Sia have gotten together to make some music, and boy did they make a winner this time. Like their previous big hit, Titanium, this one's inspirational and though not as clubby as the former, it's got a really nice groove. Check out Flames...
Say Amen (Saturday Night) - Panic at the Disco
I never thought I would spotlight a Panic at the Disco song on this blog. They're really just not my thing, but this song is just powerfully fun, and so is the video. Check out Say Amen (Saturday Night)...
Nirvana - INNA
I've been a big fan of Romanian singer INNA since her 2010 tropical house tune Sun Is Up. Well, she's got a new album and the title cut has just been released as a single. It is hot! Check out Nirvana...
As I mentioned earlier, there were lots of nice new tunes this week. Here are my honorable mentions, most of whom almost made the cut above. Check them out below and I will see you in a couple of weeks as I will be on vacay...
Psychopath - Charlotte Lawrence, Nina Nesbitt, Sasha Sloan
Here's a song that's been growing on me more and more with each listen. It's the Justin Timberlake-influenced (literally!) trio, The Shadowboxers, with their funky, easy on the ears and on the dance floor jam, Hot Damn. Check it out...
Whoah, what a week in new music! It's only been a little more than twenty four hours now, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed digesting all of the great, noteworthy stuff that's new this week. Which ones to share? For what it's worth, here goes...
Good Old Days - Macklemore & Kesha
Indie turned mainstream rap artist Macklemore has dropped his own solo project without his partner in crime Ryan Lewis and the newest single off the set, Gemini, is a tender, sweet ballad featuring the newly respected, mature Kesha. The song is radio friendly and has already caught quite the buzz, featuring in all of the major music magazines. Check out the vintage-esque video set at a campground...
Sexy Dirty Love - Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato's got a brand new album coming out this week and she's dropped yet another sexy tune from the set that's also catching a lot of buzz. This one is a lot more dance-floor friendly than her previous Sorry, Not Sorry, but still with a lot of rhythm and blues. Great voice, sexy jam! Take a listen to the track on Rolling Stone.
Starlight - Emeli Sandé
I love Emeli Sandé, but usually it's for the positivity and inspiration that she so often sings to. Well now Ms. Sandé has dropped a surprise dance single from her forthcoming third studio album and it is awesome! With a nice groove and her smooth, ethereal vocals, this one is a winner. R+Take a listen to Starlight...
Generous - Olivia Holt
Marvel's Cloak and Dagger actress Olivia Holt has turned singer with this new, irresistible, sexy finger snapper and toe tapper that I loved the very first time I heard it. Such a fun tune, and video! Check it out...
Hot Damn - The Shadowboxers
The Shadowboxers are Justin Timberlake's newest discovery just dropped their newest single and it is hot. The trio of Adam Hoffman, Matt Lipkins and Scott Tyler have been working with Timberlake all summer long and the results are amazing. Hot Damn is definitely within the realm of JT's sound, fast moving and dancey rhythm and blues that is very radio friendly. Take a listen to it on Just Jared, where the tune debuted on Thursday.
Deadly Valentine - Charlotte Gainsbourg
British and French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, whom I'd never heard of before today, has released a new tune from an upcoming album called Rest. The track is described by Spin's Anna Gaca as "dreamy [and] danceable," and I couldn't agree more with that assessment. The tune has a sort of strange, but funky bassline that's just immediately likable and the rest of it is, well, dreamy and danceable! Check out the "offbeat" video to Deadly Valentine...
Borrowed Time - Wyclef Jean
Two of my favorite songs of all time, Gone Till November and Perfect Gentleman, are from former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean. Jean has been largely absent for the past several years, but that's about to change with his new Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee, his latest album which just dropped on September 15th. I gave this song an extra listen because it is Wyclef, and I'm actually glad I did. The tune is a beautiful, socially conscious ballad that actually features sounds never heard before from the planet Jupiter, as recorded by NASA. Pretty cool, huh? It really is a beautiful song! Check it out...
Big Girls (Wiz Mix) - Salt n Pepa
Okay, so I can't find much on this freshly released track from Salt n Pepa, but I love it! It's sounds like it could have been an early recording, a little more rappish than pop, and I can't tell, but I think the recording samples Run DMC somewhere in there. Great tune! Take a listen...
A Different Way - DJ Snake, featuring Lauv
I've been a fan of DJ Snake for a couple of years now, and his latest, A Different Way, only adds to my admiration of his work. Ed Sheeran gets songwriting credits for the tune and smooth-voiced singer Lauv contributes the dramatic vocals. Of course, it is a DJ Snake track, so it's gotta be danceable, and ooh, the dance sequences in the song are actually what make it for me. Snake debuted the single in Paris atop the Arc de Triomphe...cool! Check out A Different Way...
Okay, okay, I need to stop here. You see, I told you there was a lot of great stuff this week, probably the most of any single week since I've been doing New Music Fridays. On top of these nine great songs, there are some really great honorable mentions that you should check out as well. Take a look...
Phases - ALMA, with French Montana Again - Noah Cyrus, XXXTENTACION Hillside Boys - Kim Petras Week Without You - Miley Cyrus Ain't Ready - Hoodie Allen Don't Look Back In Anger - Portugal. The Man. Lost in the Wild - Synead Move You - Kelly Clarkson Ready For It - Taylor Swift Anything - All Tvvns
There's even more, so stay tuned to John's Music World Song of the Day or Spotify's New Music Fridays to check em out.
