What I’m Listening To

Here are six songs that I can’t get enough of, to listen to each song click the title.

What I'm Listening To

When I want to discover new music I head to pandora, but over the past few months I have discovered new music thanks to the radio, youtube and even Saturday Night Live. Below I will break down what songs I have on repeat and where I discovered them. To listen to all the songs that I can’t get enough of simply click on the song title.

Saturday Night Live

Thanks to Saturday Night Live I discovered Really Love by D’angelo. After 15 years, D’angelo finally released new music and it was worth the wait. My favorite song that he performed on SNL was Really Love. D’angelo has stuck to his Neo-Soul roots and gave us not only a great song but an amazing album. Really Love begins with a woman speaking french backed by a Spanish guitar (that anywhere else would not work) and that effortlessy transitions into more intruments being added and D’angelo singing about the one he loves.

Another song that I discovered on SNL was Gimme All Your Love by Alabama Shakes. I’m not a fan of Alabama Shakes, but when lead singer Brittany Howard started singing I instantly fell in love. I’m still not an Alabama Shakes fan, but this song may slowly turn me into one. Gimme All Your Love is such an emotionally powerful ballad, it makes me want to cry. Another reason I enjoy listening to Gimme All Your Love is because it has a beginning, middle and end. While the middle is different and uptempo it breaks up the song and leads into a fantastic ending.

Radio

While I’m not big on listening to the radio I have found quite a few songs that I have come to enjoy.

How Bout Now - Drake There is something about this song that makes me feel sad for Drake, but I’m biased because I’ve been a Drake fan since day one. While I enjoy that Drake shares he’s past (which is something that isn’t new to Drake), its the beat and the chorus that seals the deal with this song. Drake raps about a girl that didn’t support his hustle to be rapper, and now he’s asking her what about now? While this song wasn’t on “If You’re Reading This It’s To Late”, I can’t be too mad because it has gotten a good bit of air time on hip hop stations. Here’s to hoping Drake releases his next album very soon and How Bout Now is on it or at least Drake releases it as a single.

Not for Long - B.O.B feat Trey Songz I’m not a fan of B.O.B or Trey Songz, but there is something so sweet and positive about Not For Long. As soon as I hear the beat I feel happy, there’s is something about Songz singing the chorus and what B.O.B has to say when he raps that I feel a connected to this song. Earned It -The Weeknd The only good thing about 50 Shades of Grey becoming a movie was the amazing soundtrack and a great example of that is Earned It by The Weeknd. The Weeknd could sing the phone-book and it would sound sexy. Whenever I hear this song I turn my radio all the way up and sing along in a horrible falsetto that would make dogs cover their ears and hide.

Good Lovin - Ludacris feat. Miguel While Ludacris has been rapping for a while now, Good Lovin has a grown up sound that we haven’t heard from him since 2006’s Runaway Love. If Miguel didn’t sing the chorus it would’ve been just another rap song on the radio. Besides the beat, what I love about this song is that Ludacris isn’t talking about a woman’s looks, but instead he focuses on his past relationship mistakes and that he wants to find love that is real and everlasting.

Nobody Love - Tori Kelly There is something about Nobody Love that makes you want to get up and dance. Kelly has a power house of a voice and it shows in Nobody Love. The only problem I have with this song is that it was released during the winter when it has a perfect beat for summer.

Chains - Nick Jonas Nick Jonas is back and sexier than ever. Between Jealously and Chains, girls everywhere have fallen in love with the youngest Jonas brother all over again. Chains is a pop song, but has an r&b vibe and is more grown up than what Jonas was singing about when he was in that little known band with his older brothers.

Youtube

Spotless Mind - Jhene Aiko Jhene Aiko has such a ethereal voice and a new aged hippie kind of look; which completely shows through in the beat and video for Spotless Mind. This is type of song you put on to relax and through Aiko repeating the chorus she pulls you into her world; which makes you want to listen to Spotless Mind over and over again. It isn’t until the third or fourth listen that you here the lyrics; Aiko describes how she’s been a wanderer her whole life.

Post to Be - Omarion feat. Chris Brown and Jhene Aiko While I think Omarion and Chris Brown are corny, I gave this song a listen because of Jhene AIko. While I like that Omarion and Brown included lyrics and beats from Murder She Wrote, it’s Aiko’s verse that I wait for and sing along to. While Aiko’s lyrics are not safe for work, it comes off as cute and funny because of the way she sings it. I will say Omarion and Brown’s verses have grown on me, but it’s Aiko that keeps me coming back to this song.

Options - Luke James feat. Rick Ross If you’re missing Frank Ocean give Luke James a listen. James has a similar sound to Ocean, but uses beats that are reminiscent of rap songs.

This week's edition of The Three Minute Pop Culture Blog