Ten Songs on My Shuffle
1. Apologize - Janita
I loved Janita since her cover of Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence. Her voice has a grittiness and a smoothness at the same time. She’s got soul. Not one to miss if you can see her live. Which I have. And enjoyed.
2. Baby Come Over - Hill St. Soul
Smooth booty call fodder with a chorus that sticks in your head.
3. Please Take My Hand - Sounds of Blackness
My homegirl hooked me to this song during our college dorm days. Because of her, I love it. We all have moments when we are like, “God, I’m done. You take this” and this song sings it for you.
4. Who will Love me in Winter - Van Hunt
Van Hunt is another soul man whose self-titled album used to be on heavy rotation. The 70’s guitar riffs and the background vocals will take you back.
5. Tyrone - Erkyah Badu
“Sho’ improve or get the boot . . .” A nursery rhyme for big girls, chorus and all. Check out the video where a very pregnant Badu performs it live. Further proof that I need to be her sidekick.
6. Fairy Tales - Anita Baker
What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Ms. Baker? Huh? Huh? What I love about this song and many other 90’s ballads is instrumentation. A real piano. Real composition. Real notes. Not some studio concoction.
Sometimes - Erykah Badu
“Sometimes, I feel like forgiving you. Sometimes, I don’t . . . ” A must listen when you’re in a schizo mode of a relationship. It’ll make your confusion sound cool.
8. Here without You - 3 Doors Down
I love the lead singers voice.
9. Birdland - Quincy Jones
When I was younger, my father played this cassette tape (remember those?). The album Back on the Block is a classic. When Tevin Campbell was a youngin, Ice-T before Law and Order, Kool Moe Dee, and Big Daddy Kane – remember them?
10. Do you Hear the People Sing - Les Miserables Soundtrack
If you’ve never attended a musical theatre performance, you haven’t really lived. But the next best thing is getting a soundtrack. Two words. Jean Valjean.
(reposted from previous blog)