America. "Ventura Highway." America's Greatest Hits - History, Warner Bros. Records Inc., 1975.
Back on the road.
I saw it written and I saw it say
Nick Drake. “Pink Moon.” A Treasury, Universal-Island Records Ltd., 2004.
Stare up at the stars. Take it all in.
I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Van Morrison. “Into The Mystic.” Moondance (Deluxe Edition), Warner Bros Records, 2013.
Checking out to the desert hot springs. Time to soak, unplug, and recharge.
I'm coming home to your tender sweet loving
Leon Bridges. "Coming Home." Coming Home (Deluxe), LisaSawyer63, Inc. under exclusive license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment, 2015.
It's U.S. Thanksgiving, and so we celebrated in what seems like the most American way -- by deep-frying a turkey and surrounding ourselves with friends new and old. Leon was in heavy rotation, the perfect soundtrack to a day of gratitude.
This inside the shoe, kitchen loot eh
GoldLink, Ciscero. "Fall In Love." Fall In Love (feat. Ciscero), 2016.
Boom! This video dropped yesterday and is already in heavy rotation. Nice and fresh, with production from Kaytranada and BADBADNOTGOOD. This one's gonna be my weekend banger for real, for real.
Help clean up this land
Slick Rick, OutKast. "Street Talkin'." The Art Of Storytelling, Def Jam Records Inc., 1999.
Those moments when your Uber driver is bumping that old school hip hop on Pandora and your day is made.
La-Di-Da-Di, mmmmm we like to party
Don't make me get money and platinumize my body
I know this might seem strange
Musiq Soulchild. "Just Friends (Sunny)." Aijuswanaseing, Mercury Records Limited, 2000.
I love taking road trips because it means I get to dig around in my high school CD case, which lives in our car, and travel back in time when I play DJ. Those of you who've known me since high school can imagine that I was pretty stoked this weekend when I remembered Aijuswanaseing was in that case.
I remember when I first saw Musiq Soulchild perform -- it was on BET's "106th & Park" with AJ and Free (yes, I, like most teenage girls back in the late 90s / early 2000s, had a serious crush on AJ) -- and I was instantly hooked by his smooth vocals and modern take on soul music. (There I'm talking about Musiq Soulchild again, not AJ.)
This song has been a karaoke favourite over the past couple of decades, and I even saw Common perform it when he was in San Francisco earlier this year, but the original is still my favourite.
Don't you close your eyes
Childish Gambino. "Redbone." Awaken, My Love!, Universal Music Group, 2017.
Donald Glover's new album is out December 2nd. I haven't been able to stop listening to this track since it dropped earlier this week. I hear elements of Prince and OutKast and I can't wait to listen to the rest.
The yam is the power that be
Kendrick Lamar. "King Kunta." To Pimp A Butterfly , Top Dawg / Aftermath / Interscope, 2015.
In LA for the CTN Animation Expo this weekend and we're bumping Kendrick on the long drives from spot to spot.
Too low to find my way, too high to wonder why
Thievery Corporation. "Lebanese Blonde." The Mirror Conspiracy, 4AD, 1997.
Happy Friday, y'all.
Inocente como a flôr
Jorge Ben. "Chove Chuva." Samba Esquema Novo, Universal Music Ltda, 1963.
Feeling the need for some Brazilian music today. Inspired by one of the tracks Aïsha shared in her interview with me a few weeks back.
Take me down, six underground
Sneaker Pimps. "6 Underground (Nellee Hooper remix)." Becoming X, Clear Up Records Ltd. Issued under exclusive license in America to Virgin Records America, 1996.
Sometimes it's a mad sprint to get everything done. Today this track is just what I need to slow things down for a moment.
Plus, it samples De La Soul's "Breakadawn," which in turn samples Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It." Ah one two, ah one two.
Love is all, all my soul
Air. "Playground Love (with Gordon Tracks)." The Virgin Suicides (Deluxe Version - 15th Anniversary), Aircheology and Parlophone / Warner Music France, a Warner Music Group Company, 2000, 2015.
It's one of those days. Foggy, grey, and misty. Need some Air to slow things down.
🎶 I'm a highschool lover
And you're my favorite flavour
Love is all, all my soul
You're my playground love
Yet my hands are shaking
I feel my body remains
Time's no matter, I'm on fire
On the playground, love
You're the piece of gold
That flashes on my soul
Extra time, on the ground
You're my Playground Love
Anytime, anyway
You're my Playground Love 🎶
Hold on to this feelin'
Jurassic 5. "Freedom." Power In Numbers, Interscope Records, 2002.
I first caught J5 perform live in Toronto at The Guvernment - Kool Haus (formerly Canada's largest nightclub, shuttered in 2015 to make room for waterfront condos).
It was May 2004, the world was still reeling from the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks three years earlier, the US was occupying and at war with Iraq and Afghanistan's Taliban, respectively, Billy Crystal was still hosting the Oscars, and George W. Bush would win re-election in November, but the lyrics on this track still feel relevant twelve years later.
🎶 Imagine life without a choice at all
Given no hope without a voice at all
These be the problems that we face
I'm talkin' poverty in race
But no matter what the case we gotta
Hold on to this feelin', Freedom (Freedom!) 🎶