Spring is just around the corner – officially starting on March 20th. Marbella music muso and radio presenter Giles Brown has carefully curated a positive playlist that will put a spring in your step!
P!nk – Cover me in Sunshine
We all need a little sunshine right now. It only seems like yesterday that punk pop princess P!nk was heading off in best Grrrrrrrl fashion to “Get this Party Started” or “Start a Fight” with floor filling anthems. However, she’s mellowing magnificently with motherhood, as her latest single proves. “Cover me in Sunshine” is brilliantly upbeat, has a chorus that is impossibly catchy and even features a cameo singing appearance from her daughter Willow Sage Hart.
Bai Kamara Jr. – Can’t Wait Here Too Long
Good things come to those who wait. Brussels based Bluesman Bai Kamara Jr’s latest album “Salone” – short for his birthplace, Sierra Leone – has been brilliantly received and nominated for several awards, including best pop/rack album at the renowned 2021 Octaves Music Awards – Belgium’s answer to the Brit Awards. Salone is a mixture of blues styles and influences, with a dash of African instrumentation. “Can’t Wait Here Too Long” brilliantly captures the frantic pace of life in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, including the scuffle that broke out behind Bai while he was filming!
Foo Fighters – Waiting on a War
I have to admit I was a little nervous about “Medicine at Midnight”, the Foo Fighter’s latest album and one that marks 25 years in the business. The previous album “Concrete and Gold” left me cold but Dave Grohl and the boys’ tenth studio album, originally scheduled for 2020, has underlined their status as the world’s favourite stadium filling rock band – when we are finally allowed to go to stadiums that is! “Waiting on a War” could succinctly described as a post pandemic lullaby, which builds to a suitably Foo-esque finger-thrashing finale. Crank up the nearest speaker loud and enjoy!
The Doors – LA Woman
April marks the 50th anniversary of “LA Woman”, The Doors’ last album. Obviously Jim Morrison et al were unable to make an official music video in 1971, but this fan made video brilliantly blends documentary and concert footage of the band, along with car sequences from classic late 60s and early 70s movies including “Bullitt” and “Vanishing Point”. This year also marks 50 years since Morrison’s mysterious death in Paris and if you are fan who believed the ‘Lizard King’ faked his death, then Jim turning off the radio at the beginning should make you smile.
Jorja Smith – Addicted
The first lady of British R&B, Jorja Smith’s new single “Addicted” is a brilliant slow burner of a song, influenced by lockdown – all washed out guitars, a chorus that immediately gets stuck in your head and a video that seems to have been shot mainly on her iPhone. Still only 23, the Brit Award winner and Grammy nominee has come a long way since being spotted by the ridiculously underrated fellow singer/songwriter Maverick Sabre, who has been working with her ever since. This year should give her the breakthrough she deserves.
Beyonce – Work it out
Beyonce underlined her megastar status by picking up her 28th award at the recent Grammys – the most won by any singer. Queen Bey was overcome by emotion at the event saying that she had “…been working my whole life, since 9 years old, and I can’t believe this happened”. To honour the achievement, I thought I would include my favourite Beyonce track. (Yes, I do have one). Forget “Crazy in Love” or “Single Ladies”. For me, Beyonce was at her best channeling her inner Tina Turner as Foxy Cleopatra in the Austin Powers move “Goldmember”. Yeah Baby, Yeah!
