USA for Africa - We Are The World

A: USA for Africa
S: We Are The World

For what it's worth, let's hope the next year will be better than the last. But if you look at this star-studded video from once upon a time, you realize two things. One, where did it ll go wrong. Two, hot freaking hot was Bruce Springsteen!?

... the world must come together as one.

Banks - Gemini Feed

A: Banks
S: Gemini Feed

For all the shit that went down this year, let's not forget the one groundbreaking good thing that happened: German GEMA finally settled their dispute with Youtube, unblocking all music videos. Here's one that was released before and got lost along the way.

... I tried a thousand times.

London Boys - Requiem

A: London Boys
S: Requiem

Guess what. The 80s called and said they want their boys back. Never shy to step back in time, here comes a tune that is as camp as Christmas, yet it goes perfectly with any party happening over the next couple of days.

... the rain was falling in the papercup.

Romare - Your Love (You Give Me Fever)

A: Romare
S: Your Love (You Give Me Fever)

Somewhere between love and fever, between first drinks and after hour, between Christmas and New Year's Eve, plays this little gem like the in betweener you've been waiting for.

... put your arms around me.

Slow Club - Silver Morning

A: Slow Club
S: Silver Morning

Ten years in, Slow Club have probably got a thing or two to share with the new breed. Handy, then, that that’s exactly what the band get up to in their video for Silver Morning. Charles also does some cracking karaoke, if that’s what you’re into.

... but I want you all the time.

Juveniles - Can We Fix It

A: Juveniles
S: Can We Fix It

After a three-year hiatus, Rennes-based synth-pop duo and possible ghosts Juveniles have returned with their catchy new single Can We Fix It. Here’s the beautifully shot video for the track, which was directed by Rodrigue Huart

... I couldn't be further away.

Libera - Carol of the Bells

A: Libera
S: Carol of the Bells

Ever since Bill Maher officially declared the war on Christmas over already, this Carol of all carols definitely deserves a swing in your ears. Having performed in Home Alone 2 and Love The Coopers, it's quite a classic.

... one seems to hear words of good cheer.

Abba - I Am The City

A:  Abba
S: I Am The City

Berlin, my home for over five years now, attacked less than a week ago, has many faces. The most unusual one comes once a year, when the city gets deserted over Christmas, and suddenly friendliness is all around. From both of us, to you, very merry!

... here I am, my arms are open wide.

Jackie Moore - This Time Baby

A: Jackie Moore
S: This Time Baby

Never be afraid to funk things up - disco is always a great choice, even at Christmas, and let nobody else tell you otherwise. After all, all this jingeling goes as perfectly during the festive season as it does all year long.

... I’ve got you on my brain.

Drake - Started From The Bottom

A: Drake
S: Started From The Bottom

Ah well, as you might have read, this is Spotify's most streamed song, and since this blog is about as much about musical mile stones as it is about personal taste, I figure it earned its right to have five and a half minutes in the spotlight.

... boys tell stories about the man.

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Light of Christmas Day

A: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
S: Light of Christmas Day

Plant and Krauss have contributed an original holiday song to the Love the Coopers soundtrack which arrived on November 13th. It’s their first collaboration since 2007’s Grammy winning Raising Sand. And of course it is just as stunning.

... to watch the darkness disappear.

Soap & Skin - Voyage Voyage

A: Soap & Skin
S: Voyage Voyage

Today, much like on any other day, it's important to keep an open mind, refrain from the fearful and hateful rederic, surround yourself with people you like and music you love.

... et jamais ne reviens.

Sons Of The East - Lost Cause

A: Sons Of The East
S: Lost Cause

Never before has a band taken a folk song to such jiving heights.Which is exactly what SOFE want you to do too: We’re unbelievably excited to be sharing this new music with you all. Play it loud, play it proud, share it around, enjoy the sounds and last but not least, have a boogie.

... I thought for a while, my world was your smile.

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

A: Fleet Foxes
S: White Winter Hymnal

Since it is not a white winter yet, I figured this fits perfectly. And if it is a white winter where you are, it fits even better, which makes this the perfect song choice for today. Also it is probaly the most meta explanation ever written about a song choice.

... I turned 'round and there you go.

SOHN - Rennen

A: SOHN
S: Rennen

Taken from SOHN's sophomore album - out on January 13 - comes its title track and today's song. The London-born artist has traded Vienna for the warmth of Los Angeles, but the influence of his former home still lingers.

... my faith don't mean a thing.

Moses Sumney - Man on the Moon

A: Moses Sumney
S: Man on the Moon

Think Son Of A Preacherman and Funk Soul Brother: Moses Sumney knows Future Folk and he can teach you, but he has to charge. Meanwhile Assad is taking back Aleppo and the world is busy being outraged over Trumpi tweeting about Vanity Fair.

... if your body should ever leave your soul.

Mosa Wild - Smoke

A: Mosa Wild
S: Smoke

Listen up listeners, let me introduce you to your new favourite band and their debut track Smoke. Rarely do we stumble upon a first single that instantly seems destined for far greater things and bristling with potential - not to mention a shed load of heart and soul.

... I'm not saying you lied.

Die Antwoord - Banana Brain

A: Die Antwoord
S: Banana Brain

Your favourite South African band enjoys a night of gunfire, drugs and make-out sessions in this insane video. A young woman aka the group's Yolandi Visser doses her religious parents with sleeping pills and hops in her friend's car, en route to a wild house party.

... you’re the apple of my eye.

Bear's Den - Emeralds

A: Bear's Den
S: Emeralds

Straight from the duo’s critically acclaimed second album Red Earth & Pouring Rain comes the new video for Emeralds. Shot around their stomping ground of Shepherd’s Bush, it’s another gorgeously filmed piece from Sam Yates, who worked on the band’s clip for Auld Wives.

... I fell, but how far I'll never tell.

Phantogram - You're Mine

A: Phantogram
S: You're Mine

Yeah, this song! It kind of sounds like Beyoncé's Don’t Hurt Yourself, but better. Just kidding. But it still rips and would be good for a scene where a nerd gets a makeover and walks into prom so fucking hot now.

... no one's gonna look at you the way I do.

John Parr - St Elmo's Fire

A: John Parr
S: St Elmo's Fire

Last weekend, I was out drinking with friends, occasionally picking songs on the jukebox, until a stranger walked over and told me: "I put money for ten more songs into the jukebox, for you to choose, as I am enjoying your selection so far." Best. Night. Ever.

... I'll be where the eagles fly.

Molly Nilsson - Money Never Dreams

A: Molly Nilsson
S: Money Never Dreams

Molly Nilsson has been sparingly sharing tracks from her forthcoming album, IMAGINATIONS, over the past year: Think Pink in the summer and Let’s Talk About Privileges in the fall; yesterday she released Money Never Dreams, just in time for the winter chill.

... no one’s gonna hear you scream.

Martin Creed - It’s You

A: Martin Creed
S: It’s You

Unhappy Christmas y'all! This little charol - showing in the window of a gallery in London - is hilarious.  It’s deliberately weird, artistically weird, rather than just plain weird. This really would make a great Christmas No 1.

... whatever you do, whatever you don’t.

Ryan Adams - Do You Still Love Me?

A: Ryan Adams
S: Do You Still Love Me?

You know Christmas must be just around the corner when Ryan Adams drops a song out of nowhere and announces a new album for next year, February 17, 2017. It sounds like the eighties, tastes like heart break and it feels like right now.

... another sun goes down, snd I'll never see the rays.

Anderson .Paak - Come Down

A: Anderson .Paak
S: Come Down

Paak’s sound is a warm and hazy blend of styles: funk, jazz, New York house, reggae, trap, blaxploitation-era soul, a hint of psych-rock – anchored in R&B and hip-hop. Malibu is much deeper than his light-hearted first album, Venice, and The Guardians number 22 for album of the year.

... now let me come down.

Nick Drake - Pink Moon

A: Nick Drake
S: Pink Moon

Pink Moon is the third and final studio album by the English folk musician Nick Drake. Although signed to Island Records, he failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime, but his work has posthumously achieved wider notice and recognition.

... and none of you stand so tall.

Anohni - Marrow

A: Anohni
S: Marrow

Here's the latest of Anohni's lip-sync clips. It features Lorraine O’Grady, a conceptual performance artist who’s been active for decades. Most of those other videos have a doomy, despairing feeling to them, so it’s oddly powerful to see someone smile in one of these videos.


... we are all Americans now.

Justice - Fire

A: Justice
S: Fire

Here's Justice's new video for Fire, which stars Susan Sarandon driving the French duo through the desert. I guess that makes a nice change from her campaigning for Jill Stein and help elect Trumpi, basically driving Americans off a cliff, all over again.

... love has made me seasoned.

Sufjan Stevens - I'll Be Home For Christmas

A: Sufjan Stevens
S: I'll Be Home For Christmas

Since all the big and small brands have already dropped their Christmas commercials, I guess it's nothing but fair if we start playing some festive songs on here as well. With the indiest version of them all, here's Mr. Stevens for you.

... if only in my dreams.

Beyoncé - All Night

A: Beyoncé
S: All Night

So it's that time a year again when we list the best songs and records of the year. Doing that has never been my thing, and I think it wasn't an exciting year for record releases (and don't even get me started on how shitty 2016 has been in general). So anyway, I guess Lemonade is my fav.

... true love never has to hide.

Travis - Re-Offender

A: Travis
S: Re-Offender

A classic never gets old, and neither does Travis. Always such an ideal soundtrack for a trip down memory lane, it has Trainspotting 2 soundtrack written all over it. Also it would make for a great Scottish doublette with McGregor.

... but I'm fooling myself.