Friday, June 12, 2009

From Agnes to Wynter: Mel's (Current) Summer Playlist

As summer starts to officially roll in, humidity and all, it's finally time to put together your summer playlist, people! Here are some tracks that I've been listening to non-stop. Some I've spoken of before, others not just yet. I apologize in advance for being so female-heavy, it just seems like the girls are bringing it this year!

Agnes (Carlsson) - Release Me
I first head of Agnes thanks to dear Nikki over at Pop Reviews Now -- but that feels like forever ago. The UK is finally catching up, with "Release Me" going Top 5 and the album finally getting a release date. Please, Agnes, put USA on your to do list too!

Ashley Tisdale - Guilty Pleasure
It's a complete 180 from everything that is featured on the album of its same name, but maybe that's why I love it so much, complete with synth and sweepy vocals.

Candy Coated Chaos - Utopia
The reasons for this are obvious, but the backbeat can be summed up simply with "hypnotic". Big thanks to Mr. Simon Curtis for creating a stunner, and for my girls cCc for executing it so beautifully.

David Guetta/Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over
It's about time K.Row got her due. I've been rooting for her since she first went solo with "Stole." Now, it seems, she's finally found her niche in this pairing with David Guetta.

Demi Lovato - Behind Enemy Lines
I've loved this little bonus "sneak peak" of the new Demi Lovato since it leaked online several months ago. Now, I'm more psyched for her sophomore record than any other Disney artist.

Jadyn Maria - Good Girls Like Bad Boys (feat. Flo Rida)
I've been aware of this track for awhile, except I knew it as "Villian". Apparently, the title has been changed and its official now. As a fan of JM's since "Rock You Senseless" all those years ago, it's about time girlfriend got her due.

Jessie James - Bullet
This song has one of the catchiest choruses I've heard in a long time. Watch out, Taylor Swift.

Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
Yes, I was/am quite partial to Ryan Tedder's demo cut, and a small part of me wishes he gave this track to my beloved Elliot Yamin instead, because it clearly works so well with a male vocal. But Jordin's version is pretty darn perfect too, and let's all say hurrah for a young female singer that women can look up to!

Kaci - Crazy Possessive
Holy flashback Kaci! I thought her career was well and done, as we hadn't heard much from her in several years, and yet she comes back roaring with the positively-dripping-in-attitude "Crazy Possessive". Any pop song that includes a prominent curse word in the hook will get my attention -- I don't know what that says about me, but... -- and this one is f-ing good!

Kristinia DeBarge - Goodbye
That Bananarama channeling chorus will get me every time, and I will tell you now -- I have sang this song into my spoon in my kitchen while making oatmeal in the morning. Just saying.

Lady Gaga - Paparazzi
I much prefer this to "LoveGame" (the latter is fun too, but I just like "Pap" more). The video deserved the hype it got, even if I was left completely confused by it, and I think its a sign that Lady G should pull a Beyonce and release TWO singles at once. "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" should be put to bed (at radio) by now anyhow...

Little Boots - New In Town
I love everything about this song. End of explanation.

Mandy Moore - I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week
Initially, I wasn't too keen on this, but Mandy eventually won me over with this breezy little number. If this doesn't scream summer, I don't know what does.

Mandy Ventrice - Hussy (Let It Burn Pyro Remix)
Ditto the above with this song's remix. At first, I much preferred the original cut, but the remix has gained my full attention now. Here's to a swift release of this song, Ms. Ventrice!

Mary J. Blige - I'm The One (feat. Drake)
This fall is going to be one for the books with estimated releases from Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Mary J. This is her first offering, featuring Rhythmic Radio's favorite new rap star Drake, and while everyone bemoans the Queen of New Soul's use of the vocoder trend, I see it for what it is -- a perfectly good r&pop crossover.

Paradiso Girls - Patron Tequila (feat. Lil Jon)
This one brings me back to my early days of college when Usher's "Yeah" was all over the radio. While it's trashy in lyrical content (to the enth degree, really), it's one of those songs you just can't help dancing to.

Pixie Lott - Here We Go Again
The biggest tragedy is that this Red-One produced stunner ISN'T going to be Pixie's followup single to "Mama Do." Other than that, it's a fun little number.

PCD - Hush Hush; Hush Hush
I know, I know. Holy sacrilege. First "I Hate This Part" and now "Hush Hush". But I just can't help it. It sounds different from everything else on the radio with its tempo changes and its disco callback.

Robyn - Because of Boys
This recently released "foreign exchange" of Robyn's "Cobrastyle" and Yelle's "A Cause Des Garcons" is a lot of fun. It's certainly not enough to hold me over til a new Robyn album (::stamps foot impatiently::) but it'll do.

Tamar Kaprelian - New Day
After hearing this for the first time on "The Hills", I instantly fell in love, and immediately was looking up the lyrics on Google to find out who it was. Finally -- a female artist focused on musicianship first and foremost. So light and airy and AMAZING.

Tina Parol - Who's Got Your Money?
Forget the fact that my past roommate was in her video for this song for a super-split second (more on that later), this song is ultra-catchy. I defy ANYONE to not have that "Who's got your money now/Who's got your money now/Who's got your money now/Me! Me!" out of their heads. Seriously.

v Factory - Love Struck
::Sigh:: What can I say about this that I haven't already said? It seems like such a winning formula: five cute boys that can dance well + Swedish electro pop song written by Darin (should) = hit. Grrr.

The Veronicas - Take Me On The Floor
It's sick that the USA is dragging their feet with this group, because they were at the front of the line trying to usher back this electro trend that is booming. This is hands down one of the best tracks off their incredible Hook Me Up album. It's about time people stopped judging and just started listening...

Wynter Gordon - Surveillance
Although I'm a Wynter fan through and through, I'm still waiting for "Surveillance" to see its day in the sun. So until it does, I will be jamming to it. Grin.

3 comments:

Nikki said...

Oh dear, I think I'm gonna start listening to a lot of the songs here again! Dammit. Hahah.

I do love that Mandy Moore track and I wish it got a lot more exposure, it's brilliant! The rest of her album is a bit too boring for me though.

Myfizzypop said...

so much goodness on here. of course CCC are amazing, and pair them with a simon number and i'm writhing in ecstasy!! Oh and Wynter. I have secretly liked her for a while - i think her sound was totally stolen by Lady G, but i remain alone in that opinion!!

Ken said...

I'd take Wynter anytime. I love her duet with Flo Rida and its growing on me. Very fast.

Agnes is awesome. Definitely one of the few female artists to come up alongside with Pixie, Wynter, Boots and Kristinia.

Overall, a wonderful playlist for your summer. Too bad, summer ended so soon here. Rainy season is up!

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