GreatestLoveofAll Posted December 11, 2021 Posted December 11, 2021 Heyyy, sisterns! I've been looking forward to these music recaps for about a month now and while I am so excited to see what everyone has, I'm a bit nervous about mine. I had a lot of songs I discovered much like last year, but I did a pretty poor job when it came to album listening- I can make a claim of what is my favorite but when you've barely listened to enough to make a double digit list, it sort of feel like fanfare. That being said, I wont be having a top albums list this year- only songs. Yes, that might get tiring quick pardon me but I hope those with taste see the ones they like and come kiki with me even for just a little bit. See y'all VERY soon!
GreatestLoveofAll Posted December 12, 2021 Author Posted December 12, 2021 First Batch (these arent ranked in order I just numbered for my own focus) 1. You'll Never Walk Alone (Judy, Brittany, Jessye) Its odd that such a song be so good that it has multiple extraordinary versions. For those who dont know, this song is a Broadway/musical classic from the 1956 movie Carousel. It’s message of hope and determination is simple yet so effective in the words, melody and the power of voice to everyone who does it justice. I am aware there is a popular version by some UK artist, but aside from the original version, there are three main versions I would like to highlight. Rock/alternative singer Brittany Howard did a shortened version back in 2020 which was raw and true. Judy Garland added her magic to it way back in the 60s and being an expert at dynamics, managed to twist such a universal tune to something personal to herself. The greatest version belongs to the late Jessye Norman (who appears again on this list) who I discovered the year she passed. Her version is a sweeping arrangement done with power, grace and emotion that could make the stoniest melt. Spoiler 2. Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart- Alicia Keys How was this not a hit (in the US)? Stepping away from the strict confines of R&B just for a bit here, Alicia’s 2009 popped up on my YT recommendations when I was going through some R&B gems and I was very surprised to hear the steady, pulsing pop/rock vibes she was singing over. It is something fresh and unique from what I’ve heard Alicia do and I’m still obsessing over it. Spoiler 3. Love at First Sight- Kylie Minogue I’m gonna say it now- a large amount of songs I have on this list I discovered at work. I could have a whole playlist because now that i'm working almost full time, I hear so many new songs (over and over again generally) and this pop hook was one of the first to catch my attention. Immediately as I heard “thought that I was going crazy” I almost screamed in my coworkers ear because it was no other than KYLIE. I am not an avid listener of her and it has been a while since I visited Impossible Princess (?) and Light Years aka one of the best pop albums of all time so hearing her voice on the overhead was quite the surprise and I am mad I didnt discover this bop sooner. Spoiler 4. All I Do- Stevie Wonder I dont think many of you will vibe or even know this underrated gem but a friend introduced me to this Stevie cut during the summer and while it’s a bit long, Stevie’s passion and the slick disco/R&B production makes this one of my most listened songs this year. Spoiler 5. I've Been Thinking About You- Londonbeat Even though my workplace overplays this to death, to the point where I’ve grown to get sick of it, nothing will ever beat the first time I heard this. I have no clue who Londonbeat is, but this Europop smash feels timeless. There is a soul in the vocalist's instrument that bounces off the dancefloor production in such a cool and fresh way that makes me want to hear more songs like this in today's music. Spoiler
GreatestLoveofAll Posted December 12, 2021 Author Posted December 12, 2021 On 12/11/2021 at 2:22 AM, Mr. Blue_Shirt said: Yes i'm peached for the list 25 minutes ago, PrinceMichaelFan said: Ready On 12/11/2021 at 1:23 PM, Sunderland 4ever said: Ready for it! On 12/11/2021 at 5:55 AM, TheWayWeWere said: perched omg welcome legends!!
PrinceMichaelFan Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 Love At First Sight !!!! Truly a classic. Huge hit for Kylie in 2001-02. I Remember the cool video.
Ewan Chaos Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 I've been bopping to Love at First Sight all week ironically. Always love to see it getting some praise.
Mr. Loco Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 Try sleeping with a broken heart is such a beautiful gem
TheWayWeWere Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 omg, TSWABH appreciation I can't believe USA ignored Element mostly, it's her best tbh LAFS legend
Lazuli Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 that era for alicia was grossly underrated for her commercially! love at first sight ahh perfection
Mr. Blue_Shirt Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 So many classics Kylie, Stevie, Londonbeat! The way "Try Sleeping..." got me on chokehold when i was a kid Her 2009 album is very underrated i fear i knew about You'll Never Walk Alone months ago because of her Judy Garland history video on youtube. She's was the ultimate MPG wow
Sunderland 4ever Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 18 hours ago, GreatestLoveofAll said: Love at First Sight- Kylie Minogue It still sounds so fresh it could be part of her latest record. Great flashback song.
KasioKas Posted December 13, 2021 Posted December 13, 2021 22 hours ago, GreatestLoveofAll said: First Batch (these arent ranked in order I just numbered for my own focus) 2. Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart- Alicia Keys How was this not a hit (in the US)? Stepping away from the strict confines of R&B just for a bit here, Alicia’s 2009 popped up on my YT recommendations when I was going through some R&B gems and I was very surprised to hear the steady, pulsing pop/rock vibes she was singing over. It is something fresh and unique from what I’ve heard Alicia do and I’m still obsessing over it. Reveal hidden contents A CLASSIC and definitely overplayed on the radio where I lived, everyone knew the lyrics. The production on it was nice too
GreatestLoveofAll Posted December 21, 2021 Author Posted December 21, 2021 Abandoning my own thread? Not like I've done THAT before Thank you for all the comments!!! Second Batch 6. Handshakes- Naliya Such a chill, very much of its time bop but I love it. The singer’s voice is sweet and lyrical as many 2010s female singers are but I do appreciate what it gives. Spoiler 7. Standing Still-Jewel Any Jewel fans? I would think there would be a whole section teaming of them here for some reason. I always saw her name everywhere in 90s music articles but just never cared to listen. I discovered this at my work radio again and it only gets better with every listen. Spoiler 8. It's Only Love- Bryan Adams & Tina Turner She’s the queen of rock and roll for a reason. I have always found it interesting that in the 70s and 80s when rock music had reached the point where it was solely represented by white artists on radio and the charts, that Tina chose not to slide into the R&B/soul/adult contemporary lane so many of her peers like Dionne and Aretha did but delve deeper and deeper into the hard rock thunder that hadnt really been open for a woman of color. This is one way she knocked down doors for women by really overstepping the invisible barrier that kept so many in a stagnant box musically (even though the legends did excellent work in their respective fields). Only Love is a booming, stadium rocker of a song and the vibrant intensity of her vocals and the energy she exudes is contagious. The soundtrack of my working hours indeed. Spoiler 9. Everywhere- Fleetwood Mac soft rock is such an underrated genre on this forum and this iconic band were some of its greatest crusaders. The song has an interesting vocal delivery- at least not one I'd expect from a mainstream 70s band though I am only just discovering Fleetwood’s material. Overall a pretty nice one and out of all the Fleetwood Mac songs I discovered this year, this is by far the most memorable. Spoiler 10. Still Falling for You- Eliie Goulding Ok so ATRL member Delirious has a whole revival thread on this forgotten but special gem of a song and while I overpassed it because I am not avid listener of Ellie (though she has song good songs like On My Mind and First time with Kygo) and found no reason to pay the song a listen. I had been missing out clearly. I fell asleep after staying up to give Adele’s 30 a listen as soon as it dropped and when I woke up, the song playing was this! I was immediately take back by its melody- a beautiful, almost nostalgic sound that really holds the song together. I have never been in a relationship- at least never a truly serious one- but Ellie finds a way to make you miss someone who you never had. “No one can lift me, catch me the way that you do… still falling for you.” Spoiler
GreatestLoveofAll Posted December 21, 2021 Author Posted December 21, 2021 On 12/14/2021 at 1:58 PM, Grumpy Cat said: Kylie!!! A legend ofc On 12/14/2021 at 12:56 PM, Pink Matter said: TSWABH On 12/13/2021 at 3:41 PM, KasioKas said: A CLASSIC and definitely overplayed on the radio where I lived, everyone knew the lyrics. The production on it was nice too On 12/13/2021 at 6:15 PM, JGibson said: TSWABH + LAFS On 12/13/2021 at 9:17 AM, Lazuli said: that era for alicia was grossly underrated for her commercially! love at first sight ahh perfection On 12/13/2021 at 2:08 AM, TheWayWeWere said: omg, TSWABH appreciation I can't believe USA ignored Element mostly, it's her best tbh LAFS legend All this Alicia love im happy yall love one of her best songs
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