Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Brant's April 2021 Playlist

When you want to take an inspirational COVID vaccine photo, 
but you're also afraid of needles...



It's the last day of March, but since I got my COVID vaccine today it also feels like the first day of post-pandemic life.  I've still got one shot to go (Pfizer, in case anyone's curious), and need two weeks to build up antibodies - but the end is (hopefully!) in sight.  I guess time will tell.  In the meantime, I do have a new playlist!  It's a mix of everything but sometimes the variety is the fun part.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE

1.  Ancestors (Miko Marks and the Resurrectors) - Country singer returns after a 14-year hiatus, with some heartfelt, gospel-tinged Americana.

2.  Seventeen (Sharon Van Etten and Norah Jones) - We had the original version of this song on my August 2019 playlist, but I liked this Norah Jones collaboration so much I had to include it!  

3.  Smile (WizKid and H.E.R.) - H.E.R. is another artist whose collaborations I tend to enjoy.  Here, she teams up with Nigerian singer WizKid for some rhythmic Afrofusion. 

4.  This Is Heaven (Nick Jonas) - Catchy pop from handsome Jonas Bro!  I love the 80s-influenced sax solo. 

5.  Unknown Song (Joe Goddard and Hayden Thorpe) - Hot Chip member goes solo and the output sounds like a slightly hip-hop-tinged Erasure!  

6.  Everybody's Down (Anna Fox Rochinsky) - I was in the mood for something catchy and out-of-the-ordinary.  This definitely fit the bill!  

7.  Power Ranger (Pikes) - I couldn't find out much about this artist, but I like the song!

8.  I Need You (Jon Batiste) - Stephen Colbert's bandleader delivers some retro-flavored jitterbug-ready pop! 

9.  One's on the Way (Loretta Lynn and Margo Price) - An all-time fave teams up with one of my fave newcomers, to revisit one of Loretta's classic tunes.  

10.  I Can't Stop Thinking About You (the Shadowboxers) - This one reminded me of the synth ballads we used to hear back in the 1980s.  It'd fit perfectly on an album by the Cars.  

11.  Real Groove /Studio 2054 Initial Talk Remix/ (Kylie Minogue and Dua Lipa) - Dua Lipa makes everything better!  Even Kylie!  

12.  Tigress and Tweed (Andra Day) - This is from the soundtrack of "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" and Andra is fantastic in the lead role!  Catch it if you can.  

13.  Womxn (Låpsley) - Easygoing world-beats from English singer.

14.  Flowers (Aaron Taylor) - Contemporary R&B from London.  

15.  What a Day (Ben Howard) - The guys from the National seem to be everywhere!  First, they give Taylor Swift an assist on her two quarantine albums, now they're helping out singer-songwriter Ben Howard! 

16.  Want You to Want Me (Alex Mills) - This isn't the Cheap Trick song, but it does have a retro-vibe to it.  I'd say it's more 1990s than 1970s though!  

17.  Hold Me Down (the Happy Fits) - Vibrant alt rock from New Jersey band!

18.  Long Violent History (Tyler Childers) - Sympathetic roots-Americana in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  This seemed like a great way to wrap things up as policeman Derek Chauvin is currently being tried for the murder of George Floyd.  


So that's April's list.  I'm not feeling 100% after this vaccine, so I think I'm going to hit the hay early tonight.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter (those who celebrate), and I'll see you next month!  

No comments: