Five Song Friday 02/17/17
Bright Lights- Haevn (Sam Fedlt Remix) (jan 2017)
Love this song foreal, foreal. Sam Fedlt is one of the best producers of just groovy shit. It’s not over produced which can sometimes happen with remixes like this. The vocals have this weird Ed Sheeran quality to them, a little nostalgic and hedonistic at the same time. It’s a very well done record and I’m glad to have stumbled onto it. I like the video as well, it’s just a couple of well dressed hipsters walking around and doing outdoor shit. And when I say well dressed, it’s almost distracting. I’m serious, as a guy not that into clothes, half the time I was like, “damn I’d wear that coat. Where the hell do these guys shop?!”
Song: 8/10 Video: 7/10
Safari- J Balvin, Pharrell, BIA, Sky (sept 16)
I’m still all about that Reggaeton. I couldn’t help but to check out this collaboration between a Latin hit maker in J Balvin and US hit maker Pharrell. This song only has 400,000,000 views on YouTube so by Latin standards it’s very much under the radar, (just kidding, that’s still insane). I didn’t hear about this song until recently as I didn’t get my usual dose of Reggaeton in Honduras. But as I watched a video about J Balvin shopping for sneakers (which is funny cause I know nothing about sneakers) they plugged this song so I had to check it out. This is a little bit of a departure from the traditional reggaeton that I’ve heard but I really dig it. It’s grittier than the usual over produced drum beats of other songs. I don’t know if it’s a hit but the production is what one would expect from Pharrell, on point.
Song: 7/10 Video: 7/10
It Ain’t Me- Kygo & Selena Gomez (Feb 17)
I felt like I had to throw in the new Kygo song. He hasn’t put out much since his ridiculous year last year where he literally couldn’t go wrong. Finally back with the new music, I feel like he definitely delivered a solid piece of music. With his familiar melodies in the background you can definitely tell this is a Kygo song. I don’t think this is his best work but I’m much higher on this than the track Martin Garrix just released which seemed like a letdown. I think Selena really adds something to this song which is rare for a vocalist to do that but I think she nailed it. I think if it wasn’t Selena it wouldn’t get nearly the radio time that it’s going to get, I don’t think it’s intrinsically a hit. All I can hope for is more Kygo as the summer approaches because he was front and center on summer playlists everywhere.
Song: 7.5/10 Video: N/A
Shape of You- Ed Sheeran (bvd kult Remix) (Jan 17)
I really wanted to put the Galantis remix on here but even though they are easily the bigger name this remix is far better. This is just enough production to turn the pop song into something more familiar to EDM and electronic music fans. The original song is enjoyable in it’s own right but this gives us a little more to chew on. I feel like this list is filled with “not doing too much” songs. This could have easily been over produced but the restraint they showed makes the listenability that much better. Props.
Song: 7.5/10 Video: N/A
Always Alright- Alabama Shakes (2013)
As festival season approaches the festival that I never thought I’d be going to is the first one that I will be attending. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was never on my radar but here I am with a two day pass and a few friends getting mentally prepared for the insanity that New Orleans will provide. As any self respecting festival goer I needed to do my research and as Alabama Shakes will be headlining I only felt it right to listen to their stuff. Boy oh boy do they deliver! It’s been so long since I’ve heard such a unique sound, one that’s usually reserved for your parents favorite bands. Music has become so one-note (no pun intended, well kinda intended), that when you hear a unique sound it really grabs you. I’m so excited to see them live and eat some etouffe in Naw’Lens.
Song: 9/10 Video: 10/10