Summer mix
I leave in an hour or so for San Francisco (CVPR and my brother) and have yet to pack, but I got up at 4 am to work so I’m feeling virtuous enough to send this out. Summer mix, mostly pop, some of it French, a teeny-tiny bit of indie indulgence. Enjoy! (Linked on facebook or email me.)
- Help Myself (Nous ne faisons que passer) by Gaëtan Roussel. I discover French pop by paying attention when the girls sing along to something in the minibus.
- California Gurl by Katy Perry (Ft Snoop Dogg). I have a crush on her, though I don’t think she’s very talented.
- Tell ‘Em by Sleigh Bells. Albums I love so far this year: The National, Jónsi, Sleigh Bells. Pretty different, too. If you hated Crown on the Ground (ahem, Fredo), you’re sure to detest this one as well. If you loved it, go buy the album!
- XXXO Remix (Dirty)(Produced by Rieces Pieces) by M.I.A. Ft Jay Z. New M.I.A. out soon; this is no Paper Planes, but it’s very pop (for better or worse).
- Tightrope (Featuring Big Boi) by Janelle Monae. She is damn good, best new hip-hop artist I’ve heard in years. I need to listen to more.
- Non non non (Écouter Barbara) by Camélia Jordana. This is the non-winner-but-better-singer from Nouvelle Star, which is France’s American Idol. So, their Jennifer Hudson. Who almost made this mix as Glee made me really like that Dreamgirls song.
- Airplanes Ft. Hayley Williams of Paramore by B.o.B.. OK, I realize this song is horrible. But this is a pop mix, and it is certainly very popular right now.
- Dancing On My Own by Robyn. Swedish pop star, lyrics are sad, chorus is terribly catchy.
- Despicable (Freestyle) by Eminem. This song isn’t on the album (it’s an overdub of a Drake song apparently) but Eminem is at his best when freestyling. This is E circa 1999, way better than all his singy stuff recently.
- Drunk Girls by LCD Soundsystem. And now into the indie pop section. I was going to put on All I Want but I couldn’t call it pop with a straight face.
- Living In America by DOM. It’s upbeat, so it qualifies.
- Wait and See. by Diamond Rings. I don’t know this band at all but they’re “getting some buzz in the blogosphere”, to use a tired phrase. I like the song and I like the period at the end of the song title.
- Dieu m’a donné la foi by Ophélie Winter. She’s pretty famous here, and blond and beautiful according to the Internet.
- Open Your Heart by Madonna. You know that episode of Glee with all the Madonna songs? The mashup with Borderline and Open Your Heart made me realize that Open Your Heart is a much better song.
- Defying Gravity (Glee Cast Version) by Glee. Let’s be honest, we’re all a little worried that Glee is only going to last one more season max. And frankly, the writers seem lost; after all the drama of Season 1 Part 1, Season 1 Part 2 was a little boring. Also Will’s wife was basically the best character ever. But we’ll always have the songs to buy, in $0.99 quantities immediately after the episode ends…[side note: Ben Lerner introduced me to this song 3 years ago and I'm tagging him to ask what do you think of the Glee version, and of Glee in general?]