What kind of music listener are you? Are you up on the newest tracks from your favorite artists, or do you prefer to listen to nothing but oldies? Do you listen to rock, rap, country, or something else? Do your listening habits change from time to time or do you pretty much stick to your usual stuff? We all have our own habits for listening to the music we enjoy, and the variety of music that’s out there is so vast that no two people have the same exact musical tastes or preferences.
One of my favorite things about having an iPod is the ability to organize your music into folders, or playlists (check out Creating Customized Playlists on iTunes and Creating Smart Playlists on iTunes). With this feature, it’s so easy to put songs together that will suit the way you listen to music. Some of the playlists that I keep in my iTunes library include titles such as “Party Songs”, “Sad Songs” and “All Time Faves”, etc. One of the most listened to playlists in my iTunes library is a folder that I like to call “Current”.
“Current” is the folder where I keep the music that I like to listen to the most. It is the one playlist in iTunes that I’m most often changing, and is the purpose for this series. Music is as fluid as anything, and I enjoy adding great new stuff to my music collection. I keep all of my new discoveries (which are not always new!) in the “Current” folder, as well as some favorites from the past year or so. My passion for music motivates me to want to share some of the good music I listen to with other music lovers who share my tastes.
Without further adieu, I present some offerings from my “Current” playlist this summer. They’re the songs I listen to on a daily basis in the car, at the beach, in the house, and everywhere else I love to listen to music. Hopefully you’ll find something new to get excited about.
Individual Songs:
Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
Every day I’m shufflin’
This popular summer song is all party and nothing but fun and this line sticks in your head long after a listen. Check out the video here.
Rolling in the Deep (Various Remixes) – Adele
Adele is having one heck of a year and the remix to the first single off of her #1 “21” is on regular rotation on dance floors everywhere this summer. Check out one of the more popular remixes by famed DJ Tiesto right here.
Give Me Everything – Pitbull, featuring Ne Yo Afrojack and Nayer
Pitbull is certainly everywhere, and this collaboration with the “um hmm” crooning of talented singer Ne Yo makes for a perfect sing-along. Watch the video for the uplifting song here.
Last Friday Night (TGIF) – Katy Perry
Katy Perry recently became the first woman recording artist to have five number ones off the same album with this song, tying a record set by none other than the King of Pop, Michael Jackson (“Bad”). This one is more of the same bubble gum pop music that I think we’re all getting used to from Ms. Perry, but still, I think it’s fun. Watch the equally amusing video for the song here.
Superbass – Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj has been a hot commodity as a guest rapper in the hip hop world the past few years, and she’s finally making inroads with her own “Pink Friday” album released earlier this year. This one is more pop than rap, at least to me, and it’s got a very catchy “boom, ba boom boom bass” hook! Check it out right here.
Little Bad Girl – David Guetta, featuring Taio Cruz and Ludacris
Superstar deejay/producer David Guetta is returning soon with a whole new set of fierce tracks featuring collaborations from some of today’s hottest musical artists. This preview track off the upcoming “Nothing But The Beat” is typical of the hard driving and irresistible stuff Guetta’s known for. Check out the video for “Little Bad Girl” right here.
Why – Sam Project
This one is a recently discovered gem of a dance song, with jazzy beats and funky vocals. It’s a whole lot of fun! Take a listen to “Why” here.
ScheiBe / Black Jesus + Amen Fashion – Lady Gaga
Say what you want about Lady Gaga and her newest music, but I for one love it! Admittedly it took me awhile to learn the intricacies of many of the tunes on “Born This Way,” but once I did I loved them all, especially these two songs. “ScheiBe” is sung in both German and English and has an electronic dance hook that’s off the wall! “Black Jesus + Amen Fashion” is an irresistibly good pop song that unfortunately might never make it to the radio, but it’s right at home on my iPod.
Albums:
4 – Beyonce
Pop diva Beyonce recently released her fourth studio album, appropriately titled “4,” and it is an absolute gem of a record! With the exception of the first single, “Run the World (Girls),” the remainder of songs in the set are beautifully arranged and produced R&B ballads, very reminiscent of songs you might’ve heard back in the 70’s or 80’s. Some favorites include the tender “I Miss You” and the dramatic “I Care.” “End of Time” is a mid-tempo, feel good song and the breathtaking “I Was Here” is heartfelt and absolutely beautiful. Check out the video for her latest single, “Best Thing I Never Had” right here.
Here I Am – Kelly Rowland
Another former Destiny’s Child member, Kelly Rowland, has begun to really come into her own with this one. “Here I Am” was a long time in the making, but the wait was well worth it, as Rowland proves her mettle with such stuff as the hypnotic “Motivation” with Lil Wayne, the funky “Lay It On Me” featuring Jay Sean, and the sultry “Each Other.” Check out the video for “Commander,” with David Guetta right here.
Love CPR – September
Petra Marklund is a Swedish pop/dance singer that goes by the stage name September. Though she’s been around for awhile, I hadn’t known much about her except for great 2005 single “Satellites.” About a month ago, her newest effort, “CPR,” showed up on my recommendations page on iTunes and after sampling some tracks I decided to purchase it. The first single off the album, “Resuscitate Me” is tender and beautiful, and the rest of the album is great, too. September reminds me a lot of that other favorite Swedish singer of mine, Robyn, with intelligently written and produced tracks that are very easy on the ears.
Hot – Inna
In the last issue of “What Are You Listening To?” I mentioned an album (“Ultra Top Ten – April“) that contained a song by Inna called “Sun Is Up.” I had posted the song as a “Song of the Day” on my blog and it is still getting lots of page views for its sunny, island-flavored sound. I recently purchased the singer’s album, which is full of the same kinds of uplifting sounds as that one, and I’m loving it! Songs such as “Left Right,” “On and On” and the title track are all slamming! Check out “Sun Is Up” right here.
So these are some of the songs I’ve been listening to this summer, and of course they’re just what I like: a little bit of pop and a little bit of dance, with a sprinkle of R&B and hip hop thrown in for good measure. Feel free to check out any of the links within to try some of them out for yourself, and please feel free to share in the comments section some of what you’re listening to this summer.
For past issues in this series please see:
What are you listening to? Spring 2011
What are you listening to? Winter 2011
What are you listening to? Fall 2010
What are you listening to? Summer 2010