Author: Emma Weaver
Here are some songs to listen to in the month of April. Whether sulking inside, as you hide from the April showers, or sparkling under the Spring sun, these songs will complete and brighten your day, week, and year. This list includes songs that fall on a broad spectrum. Poignant, dreamy, funky, charming—these songs have a little of everything—this and that, for today and tomorrow. Here is the list (in no particular order):
“Funkier than a Mosquito’s Tweeter” by Nina Simone
Everyone remembers the moment when they first heard Nina Simone’s song “Feeling Good”. Her raspy, androgynous voice bellowed throughout each melody and we were reminded of a Etta James/Billie Holiday style with a pleasant raucous flair added. Nina Simone will always be a constant in the music world and all of her songs deserve more attention and credit. “Funkier than a Mosquito’s Tweeter” is a lyrical, instrumental rendition of Nina Simone’s very special, unparalleled voice paired with melodic drums in the background. The song starts off with: “You’re nothing but a dirty, dirty old man/You do your thinking with a one track mind/Keep talkin’ about heaven glory but/On your face is a different story” and I think that says it all. This song is heavy, raw, and once you hear the first few verses, it’s distinctive power is contagious. If you’re anything like me, you will be dancing and singing in no time. Whether dancing to the intoxicating, fierce drum solos or the complexity of Simone’s booming, overpowering voice, this song will get you moving and in all the best ways possible. This song is funky, as the title so clearly illustrates, and will introduce you to Nina Simone’s treasures.
“Looking for the Magic” by Dwight Twilley Band
“Looking For The Magic” is one of those great, fun 1970s tunes that makes you wish you lived in the ‘70s. It’s almost carefree sound embodies Dwight Twilley Band’s overall style. It’s a pop-rock sound with the wonderful, brilliant unison of vocals and guitar. Think Big Star, The Beatles, or Tom Petty with a little more oomph and power. While their career was very short and their music wasn’t regarded as much as it should have been, Dwight Twilley Band created music that, in my opinion, is a very funky rock sound with their own personalized tones. Twilley and Phil Seymour’s resonant voice reverberates throughout the entirety of the song and contributes to the song’s booming vibrations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voa_7sLL7dQ
“Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac never fails to disappoint. Their songs are such a whimsical rendering of their diverse, unique aesthetics. “Silver Springs” is allegedly written about Stevie Nick’s relationship with Lindsey Buckingham. It’s a great breakup song, still consisting of Fleetwood Mac’s acoustic, soft rock charm. Lyrically, it is one of their best songs in my opinion…“Time cast a spell on you, but you won’t forget me/I know I could have loved you, but you would not let me/I’ll follow you down til’ the sound of my voice will haunt you/You’ll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you.”Stevie Nick’s intense voice bellows throughout this song and you can hear the raw emotion through each verse. The tension is palatable and the heartbreak is relatable. Later on, when asked what she hoped to tell Buckingham with the song, Nicks said, “I’m so angry with you. You will listen to me on the radio for the rest of your life, and it will bug you. I hope it bugs you.” This is all eloquently portrayed in “Silver Springs” and makes us all strive to be half as cool and legendary as Stevie Nicks. This song is so alive and thrilling and consists of the very energy Fleetwood Mac have always possessed and performed so beautifully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwnnpKcP0Gw
“Nonesuch” – Tanlines
“Nonesuch” is such a dreamy song by Tanlines. It is of a certain mood and feeling, that is encompassed by utter seductiveness, relaxation, and emotional renderings. “Nonesuch” is a synth-based song paired with the deep, individualized voice of Eric Emm. The songs opens with “Respond and you want to say/There’s a part of me over you/No matter how long it’ll take/I won’t leave here without you/So say what you want to say/But there’s nowhere to run to/Part of me wants to say/There’s a part of me over you”setting the stage for this romantic, poignant tune. Whether listening while soaking in the tub, or sitting with your crush on their couch, this song puts you in the world of a low key libidinousness. “Nonesuch” is a constant trigger of some semblance of arcane sentimentalism and compelling complexity. It allows you to feel many things in many ways, overall giving off a deep, rhythmically pleasurable silky song.
“The Only One” by The Cure
Listen to more obscure songs by The Cure! Start your deep exploration of their entire discography, you will be hooked and infatuated! The Cure is known for their ability to weave between genres and moods. The Cure is known for their angsty, darker renditions of love, heartbreak, and obscurities, but “The Only One” is one of their more bubbly songs. Robert Smith, the lead singer, is so enthusiastic in this song and puts in many sexual innuendos, which is always fun, right? Some of the lyrics include “Oh I love, oh I love, oh I love/What you do to my head/When you pull me upstairs/And you push me to bed/I love what you do to my head/It’s a mess out there!”and “Oh I love, oh I love, oh I love/What you do to my lips/When you suck me inside/And you blow me a kiss/I love what you do to my lips”.I mean, who can’t appreciate that?? Not only is Robert Smith beautifully talented in the musical side of things, but is a lyricist genius. He is everything we want and truly “The Only One”. This song is off The Cure’s 4:13 Dreamalbum, which includes songs “The Perfect Boy”, “The Scream”, and “The Real Snow White”. The album perfectly represents the wide spectrum they fall on, in terms of genre and style. “The Only One” consists of a little bit of this and a little bit this, capturing every beautiful aspect of The Cure’s sound. There is the booming guitar, and Smith’s bellowing voice that brings you to your safe spot. I wish all music was on the same level as The Cure—I guess that’s what makes them so special.
“Hands of Time” by Groove Armada
Boy, is this a fun, funky song. Richie Havens does the vocals and does it perfectly. His soothing voice is accompanied by a soft, compelling synth and the result: pure bliss. Featured on their Loveboxalbum, “Hands of Time” is a ripe, refreshing mix of soul, funk, and pop. It’s a slick rendition of their psychedelic, soulful sound. This song, and the entire album for that matter, will never fail to disappoint. Each song makes you groove in a different way—each one of your dances will represent the very fun charm they possess. “Hands of Time” will make you sway and bounce to the powerful beat. Do yourself a favor and listen to this song at a party! In your room! While studying! It works for any time/place/mood!
“Common Burn” by Mazzy Star
I have a lot to say about this song. Everyone knows and has cried while listening to Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You”. “Common Burn” will make you cry harder and deeper, though. Hope Sandoval’s voice is so gentle and inviting and the subtle, seen harmonica, xylophone, and guitar in the background creates a sense of solacement. The song begins with“Simple things like your overcoat and your beauty/That’s still burning me, let me hang around/Even if it’s just some way to have some common burn”that really hits hard. There’s this implied remorse and lack of emotional truth that is very relatable, and while this song is somewhat gloomy, it still holds this beautiful elegance to it that makes you want to listen again and again. It’s a perfect song to listen to on those darker days or days spent lost in thought. It is also subtly seductive and dreamy, with the soft echoes of the electric guitar buzzing in the background and the harmonica chimes in. It provides this utter sense of stillness and familiarity that Mazzy Star has been known for mastering. This subdued haze of a song was released 15 years after Mazzy Star’s last release and put them back in the spotlight and reminded us all of their true talent and charm. It’s simple, but idiosyncratic. It’s gentle, but still strong. Overall, its pure beauty.
“Christmas” by The Blue Nile
Off their deluxe Hats album, “Christmas” is a beautifully despondent song that bleeds utter recognition and realism. Hats, as an entire album, holds a multitude of ways in which their voice and sound is expressed. “Christmas” displays their talent through their lyrical brilliance. “The Christmas streets/The ribbons in your hair/I stand and I watch in the window/Take it easy/Take it easy/I believe in you”.Blue Niles has composed many love songs that all range in message and depth, and this song is a prime example of their ability to do so. It captures the reality of a relationship, as the children cry and money runs out and while painting a rather mundane reality, Buchanan portrays a smooth silkiness and sweetness—”Christmas” is one of his sweetest songs. As he sings “Take it easy” it’s almost as if its directed towards himself, but as we listen to him sing “Take it easy” and “I believe in you” over and over, we’re reminded of this beautiful notion of believing in ourself and appreciating what is in front of us. It’s a romance meets adult despair type of song that typifies the very enigma present all throughout The Blue Nile. I could take on an on about Hats (I even wrote a separate article on the album), but I will leave at this: “Christmas”—from the album Hats—is a song that will spark a fire inside you, and allow you to feel present.
“Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell
I listened to “Both Sides Now” over and over, for a long time, after I broke up with my boyfriend. Joni Mitchell is such a beautiful, diverse singer with so many gems. Her songs will relate to you on levels you never imagined, and this is one of the songs. “I’ve looked at life from both sides now/from win and lose and still somehow/It’s life’s illusions I recall…” Joni Mitchell described the song as a meditation of reality and fantasy that delves into deep retrospection. It follows the whimsical way in which children see things- as their very own fantasy unfolds before their eyes. They see “ice-cream castles in the air”, but there are two sides and both sides will be felt. We look at life from both sides once we are older—we feel and remember the fantasy we built for ourselves as we were children, but we simultaneously feel the the transitional pessimism as we mature. Out optimism becomes pessimism; we no longer see the clouds for their beauty, but as a sign for bad weather. This song captures the juxtaposition of a bitter reality and a forged fantasy It makes us realize the very truth of growing up and what the real world holds. Do you see why it’s sad now? Joni Mitchell sings, “Rows and flows of angel hair/And ice-cream castles in the air/And feather canyons everywhere/I’ve looked at clouds that way/But now they only block the sun/They rain and snow on everyone”.But don’t forget who Joni Mitchell is… Her voice still captivates all listeners with her alto tone and thunderous rhythms. Alongside a dreamy orchestra and bass, Joni Mitchell provides an incredibly sad, but refreshing and beautiful song. It tells us what we need to hear and what we’ve been thinking and it allows us to soak it all in. We feel comfortable crying or just listening—whatever it is, this song is inviting and essential.
EMMA WEAVER | KXSU Music Reporter