Hey, let’s share some music!

So a while back I made a mixtape (well, uploaded mp3s) for a penpal, and just now I thought hey, why not share it on my blog too? Playlist links, tracklisting, and booklet (explanations) below the fold…

Playlists

• Youtube
• Spotify (please note I had to replace two songs because the ones I wanted were not available, so Youtube is preferable.)

Tracklisting

1. Surf Cowboys – Believe it Or Not
2. Michael Jackson – Behind The Mask
3. Jacques Brel – Grand Jacques
4. Cheb Mami – Ana Oualache
5. Imogen Heap – Glittering Clouds (Locusts)
6. Pink – Runaway
7. Mika – KickAss
8. Nneka – Heartbeat
9. Staff Benda Bilili – Avramandole
10. Wir Sind Helden – Denkmal
11. Gianna Nannini – Alla Fine [Bello e impossibile on Spotify, which is totally not the same]
12. Placebo – Song to Say Goodbye [Bright Lights on Spotify, who barely have any Placebo at all]

 

This isn’t necessarily my Top 12 of all time or anything, since a lot of my favourite artists are quite well known. This is a random mix of music that’s very important to me, and just some fun and new things you might like (or not).
 

“Extended” album booklet with explanations and stuff *hehe*

Surf Cowboys – Believe it Or Not
This is actually a Luxembourgish band! The only one I ever listened to. I quite like this song, tho I hadn’t listened to it in over a decade before choosing it for you, hehe. The Youtube has some short silly intro by some TV dude, but that way you get some taste of Luxembourgish too.

Michael Jackson – Behind The Mask
Ok, I had to include some Michael of course, and since most of his stuff is kinda well known, I thought I’d choose one of the “new” songs (tho it was recorded a long time ago) – the best off the new album according to most fans’ opinion (and I agree). Such raw energy! You have to listen to this REALLY loud, hehe.

Jacques Brel – Grand Jacques
I listen to a LOT of Jacques Brel, tho a big part of his charm is his lyrics, so is difficult to get it across. This song is about his assumptions, he talks to himself, first criticizing others for their stupid bourgeois preoccupations (love, war, and God), then saying to himself “who are you to judge, you have no experience in any of these things”. It’s quite poignant, esp. when you agree with all those opinions and also realize you have no experience in any of them, hehe.

Cheb Mami – Ana Oualache
Cheb Mami is great, and this is one of my favourite songs of his, tho it’s not really his typical Rai style. I used to listen to a lot more Arabic music, I lost some when old CDs stopped working (all very legally downloaded, lol).

Imogen Heap – Glittering Clouds (Locusts)
This was on some weird compilation album called “Plague songs”. It’s one of my favourite songs by her! If you are not familiar with Immy, please do also check out this live video to see how she makes music. She is amazing (and incredibly cute).

Nneka – Heartbeat
She’s a Nigerian artist, and this is my favourite song of hers. I love angry songs!! I don’t even know that much about Nneka tho, I think she is mostly well known (and lives) in Germany. I “found” her through a review in one of the German newsmags I read.

Pink – Runaway
I’m very fond of P!nk, and this song is quite dear to me cuz that album came out shortly before I had my running away summer, and this was my theme song. It’s also an amazing song apart from that. 😛 Most of the rest of the I’m Not Dead album is equally important to me – and listening to it takes me STRAIGHT back to that summer. *sigh*

Mika – Kick Ass
Hm, not sure if I should’ve included this, but it’s a fun song, and Mika is so so so adorable!

Staff Benda Bilili – Avramandole
Africa may be slightly over-represented here, but I had to include them. They are from DR Congo, and they’re becoming more well known now actually, so maybe you have heard of them too. They’re almost all paraplegic, but THEY HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY!!! I went to see them at the Brighton Dome with a friend, and that concert was one of my best live experiences ever. You have to put this really loud as well for full effect. 🙂 I dare you not to wanna dance, hehe. I chose a live version of this to give you an idea.

Wir Sind Helden – Denkmal
Wir Sind Helden are also a band that are known for their clever lyrics with wordplay and stuff, so it’s difficult to translate their genius. But this song is just generally fun to listen to I think, even if you don’t get the meaning 😛

Gianna Nannini – Alla Fine
This is just one of my latest obsessions, it’s SO BEAUTIFUL!!! Not sure why, I’m not usually THAT big a fan of Gianna Nannini.

Placebo – Song to Say Goodbye
Last but by no means least , this is my favourite song by my favourite band. 🙂
I don’t even necessarily think it’s their BEST song, but for some reason I really really love it. I loved it from the very first time I heard it live at Koko Camden after a video shoot (and usually I take a while to warm up to new music). Any year that Placebo don’t tour is a sad year. 🙁

That is all! I hope you enjoyed this somewhat. ^_^