Song of the Day - Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes has been flying high ever since the latter part of 2016 with his stellar sophomore album, Illuminate.  Here's the debut single off that record, a song I woke up with in my head this morning.  Check out Treat You Better...

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Family Affair - Mary J. Blige

It's been a long, long time since we've heard anything from Mary J., and a long time since even I've taken a listen.  While we wait patiently for new music from the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, at least we've got plenty of old songs from her catalog to listen to, including this, one of my all time favorite jams.  Check out Family Affair... 

Song of the Day - Reflections - MisterWives

Here's one of those wonderful songs that came and went sadly without much fanfare.  Though I wouldn't expect this 2014 neo-disco/girl-group jam to hit it big again, at least I can give it a little new life here on John's Music World.  Check out the cool cool Reflections...

Song of the Day - Dust My Shoulders Off - Jane Zhang

We continue with some of the best dance/pop songs of 2016 with a very cool tune and an equally fun video by Chinese newcomer Jane Zhang, with a little help from Timbaland.  The lighthearted tune is replete with great vocals and a pleasant, snap your fingers kinda melody.  Click play below...you won't be disappointed! 

Song of the Day - By Your Side - Jonas Blue, featuring Raye

Here's another tune from my in-progress countdown of 2016's best dance tunes.  It's British deejay/producer Jonas Blue and a very Rihanna-ish singer on one hot pop/dance tune.  Check out By Your Side...

Song of the Day - Here Comes the Night - DJ Snake, feat. Mr. Hudson

I am in the midst of compiling my list for the top 50 dance tunes of 2016 and here's one of my favorite entries.  DJ Snake and company have had a busy year, with several hits off the Encore album, including the uber-popular Let Me Love You, featuring the Biebs.  This song is more club and less pop than that one, but loving the vocals and the music.  Check out Here Comes the Night...

Song of the Day - Bucket List - Nelly Furtado

I had a really hard time choosing a first Song of the Day for the New Year.  I wanted, like I do so often, to make some meaning out of my choice relevant to the particular day, and this first day of 2017 just beckons for a meaningful choice.  The year 2016 was a rough one for many of us, and I know there are plenty of people who are glad it's over, including me.  Over the past month especially, there have been so many deaths both in the celebrity world and even in my own personal sphere that you can help but contemplate just how precious life is.

I've been thinking a lot abut life during this recent period and I've come to the conclusion that yeah, life is meant to be lived, and not simply to be going through the motions like many of us do, I am guilty of that myself most of the time.  The concept of a bucket list, which first came to light in the movie of the same name, is a little morbid, perhaps, but it does speak to this idea of living life to its fullest.  And so my choice of Nelly Furtado's song version of the concept is very appropriate for today,  As we all make our resolutions to lose weight or quit smoking in the new year, I am going to make an effort to go through my bucket list more than ever in the coming 12 months.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy Nelly's song.  Happy New Year!