Ingrid Michaelson - "Light Me Up"

It's no secret that I've loved Ingrid Michaelson for years. Her voice has a calling, yearning, resonant tone that, especially live, sends thrills through the audience. Her songs have always had weight, but it is now, in her most recent album that you start to see how the weight of the world is affecting her songwriting. 

Intimate and personal, she tells trues stories that are at once universal and individual. She holds clearly to her formulas, but plays with meaning and melody making each song sound fresh. 

This song, in a time when so much darkness and hate surrounds us, asks us to re-light the fires that burn within us. Ignite the passions and stand up for the truths we know to be true. 

So today, with weight and wonder, I choose Ingrid Michaelson's divine "Light Me Up" as my, find your fire, ignite the night, shine brighter than you knew you could song for a, press onward and upward, you can not forget where you came from nor ignore where you are headed, lift - rise - radiate, Friday.

Glen Campbell - "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"

For those who don't know, we lost Glen Campbell last week. He was an old school country legend, a man who could play a guitar like no one else and someone who traversed the tricky terrain of country music as it made it's way from 'Country & Western' into 'Country Pop & Mainstream'. 

During his 50 years in show business, Campbell released more than 70 albums. He sold 45 million records and accumulated 12 RIAA gold albums, four platinum albums, and one double-platinum album. He placed a total of 80 different songs on either the Billboard Country Chart, Billboard Hot 100, or Adult Contemporary Chart, of which 29 made the top 10 and of which nine reached number one on at least one of those charts. Among Campbell's hits are "Universal Soldier", his first hit from 1965, along with "Gentle on My Mind", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife", "Galveston", "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights".[2]

Campbell made history in 1967 by winning four Grammys in the country and pop categories. For "Gentle on My Mind", he received two awards in country and western; "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" did the same in pop. Three of his early hits later won Grammy Hall of Fame Awards (2000, 2004, 2008), while Campbell himself won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He owned trophies for Male Vocalist of the Year from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM), and took the CMA's top award as 1968 Entertainer of the Year. Campbell appeared in a supporting role in the film True Grit (1969), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. Campbell also sang the title song, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

He was a very rare kind of performer, and he will be missed. Although his last song, detailing his battle with Alzheimers and the love of his wife, explains exactly why he won't miss us. 

So, today with gratitude and acceptance, I choose Glenn Campbell's "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" as my, with every step I take, memories like a silver stream, hold on to what you can, song for a, break open the good wine, live like there's no tomorrow, open up and let the sun shine in, Thursday.

I'm also giving you his seminal standout hit, "Gentle On My Mind"

Anderson .Paak - "Celebrate"

Anderson Paak broke through with six songs on Dr. Dre's 2015 album, Compton. Born and raised in Oxnard, California, Paak's first experience as a musician came as a teenage drummer in the church band. As an adult, he helped manage a marijuana farm in Santa Barbara while working on a debut album, but when he lost his pot job unexpectedly, the recording costs had put him in deep debt. Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra hired him as an assistant, and with access to the Sa-Ra studio, Paak finished his debut album. O.B.E., Vol. 1 landed in 2012 as a Breezy Lovejoy album, but he didn't get to promote the release much as he soon hit the road as drummer for American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart. His 2013 all-covers EP Cover Art arrived as the first Anderson Paak release, then a year later he issued Venice, an album featuring production from DJ Nobody, Tokimonsta, and others. In 2015 he joined Dr. Dre in the studio and landed on six songs on the legendary producer's third album, Compton. His second proper album, Malibu, was issued in early 2016 and featured collaborations with 9th Wonder, Rapsody, and Kaytranada.

His tenacity and his passion set him apart from the rest of the music scene, but it's really his attention to detail, the small things in his music that makes it sparkle. His music, though influenced with old soul and blues, always has a fresh and exciting feel to it, like it's something you've never heard but are instantly familiar with.

I had the joy of working with Anderson and kKaytranada last year at an event here in Los Angeles, at Clifton's for the Grammy Awards. He was polite and charming, and very welcoming to his fellow nominees. 

So today, with joy and a groove in my heart, I choose Anderson .Paak's "Celebrate" as my, make your own magic, let no own tell you your limits, believe yourself into being the person you want to become, song for a, find every ray of sunshine, while you still can, get out and stroll - you'll be grateful, Wednesday. 

Barbara Cook - "Long Before I Knew You"

After over 70 years of relevance and revelations in the Theatre and Music world, last week Barbara Cook passed away, and I am still reeling from it. Hers was a once in a generation voice. A true soprano who could soar to incredible heights, she also had character and color that you don't commonly see. She was widely regarded as one of the very best interpreters of modern song and we could all take a masterclass from her in that. 

 first came to prominence in the 1950s as the lead in the original Broadway musicals Plain and Fancy (1955), Candide (1956) and The Music Man (1957) among others, winning a Tony Award for the last. She continued performing mostly in theatre until the mid-1970s, when she began a second career as a cabaret and concert singer. She also made numerous recordings.

During her years as Broadway’s leading ingénue Cook was lauded for her excellent lyric soprano voice. She was particularly admired for her vocal agility, wide range, warm sound, and emotive interpretations. As she aged her voice took on a darker quality, even in her head voice, that was less prominent in her youth. At the time of her death, Cook was widely recognized as one of the "premier interpreters" of musical theatre songs and standards, in particular the songs of composer Stephen Sondheim. Her subtle and sensitive interpretations of American popular song continued to earn high praise even into her eighties. She was named an honoree at the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors.

She was a bastion of the golden era of musical theatre, and her ability to craft a song and tell the truth from it was unmatched. She was greatly loved, and she will be incredibly missed. 

Also, I'm giving you a few other snippets of her work, just so you can see the range of her depths.

So today, with tears and triumph, I choose Barbara Cook's "Long Before I Knew You" as my, with clear eyes washed fresh by tears, hands held tightly, now that I've found you, song for a, like a feather on the wind, like an ocean of lanterns filling the sky, with love and grace each step of the way, Tuesday.

Soren Bryce - "Forever's Not Enough"

A Texas transplant from Amarillo to California, there's no wonder why I like her. Her heavy synth laden vocals give you that Lana Del Ray feel but hold with hooks that make you think she might be the next Fiona, Alanis, or (dare I say it) Sia. 

She's got a mature sound and a young face and all the right tricks to be the next big thing. After working with big producers like Kahne I'm really looking forward to her new and revamped sound. 

So today with words like honey, I choose Soren Bryce's "Forever's Not Enough" as my, hold on tight, don't close your eyes, just a little longer, song for an, open up a little wider, don't dare me - I'll do it, sometimes it's fun to do the impossible, Monday. 

Sugarland - "Stuck Like Glue"

Consisting of singer-songwriters Jennifer Nettles (lead vocals) and Kristian Bush (vocals, mandolin, acoustic guitar, and harmonica) Sugarland is this generations country starlets. Like Duos the Judds or Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland picks up the mantle of powerhouse duos that walk the line between sincerity and hilarity with as many touching songs as they have silly ones.  Sugarland was founded in 2002 by Kristen Hall with Bush and became a trio after hiring Jennifer Nettles as lead vocalist.

Signed to Mercury Nashville Records in 2004, Sugarland broke through that year with the release of their debut single "Baby Girl", the first single from their multi-platinum debut album Twice the Speed of Life. Hall left in 2006 before the group released its second album, Enjoy the Ride. This album produced their first two No. 1 singles (in the U.S.), "Want To" and "Settlin'", and won the duo a Grammy for "Stay". In 2008 they released their third album, titled Love on the Inside. This album produced three more No. 1 singles with "All I Want to Do", "Already Gone", and "It Happens". Their fourth album, The Incredible Machine was released on October 19, 2010 in both a standard and deluxe edition. Upon The Incredible Machine being certified platinum, Sugarland has sold in excess of 14 million records. Besides songs written with Kevin Griffin, Nettles and Bush write all of the band's songs. In 2012, after recording a series of tours, the duo went on hiatus due in part to Nettles taking a maternity leave; during the hiatus, both she and Bush recorded solo projects.

"We write songs for different reasons. There are some songs that we want to change your life and there are some that we just want to change your day. That’s what ‘Stuck like Glue’ is," Jennifer laughs. "We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and that’s what fans love." They also flock to Jennifer’s knack for finding the voice of everywoman—or even everyman. One of Sugarland’s many gifts is their ability to write lyrics that transcend gender, like in their 2004 breakout hit "Baby Girl." On The Incredible Machine, the proof is in the acoustic "Little Miss," a profile of a woman who tries to handle everything, all by herself. "I saw my mom as that person. I see pieces of it in my own daughter. Jennifer is certainly one of those women," Kristian says.

So today, sticky and happy, I choose Sugarland's "Stuck Like Glue" as my, not too serious, serious about silliness, happy to be scrappy, song for a, well why not now, why not me, why not fly Friday. 

Pretty Sister - "Drive"

You may recognize the voice the voice behind Pretty Sister – it’s none other than Zak Waters, from Adventure Club’s ‘Fade’! After getting a taste of the industry from that smash and a cover of Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’, Zak is ready to step out on his own with his new project Pretty Sister.

I had the pleasure of watching him for Betty Who last night (another sterling performance we'll talk about later) who's album he co-wrote and helped produce. At first I was a little unsure, though his vocals were solid I just wasn't sold yet, the melodies were fun, but I felt like I'd heard the style before somewhere. Then, out of nowhere he starts laughing with the audience, blasting a wickedly high voice and laser beam vibrato and sails into his 2nd to last song "Don't Fuck With my Jam". I. Lost. My. Shit. 

It was an hilarious song, but also very accurate, and it was just fun. The same kind of happy emotive pop that you expect from Betty Who. So at her concert, it was very appropriate. He closed out with his latest single, "Thirsty" which was fun, be couldn't beat his penultimate number. 

Sadly "Don't Fuck With My Jam" isn't actually out yet, so instead I'm giving you their first single "Drive" which is classic California cruising music with a spicy beat and a delicious lick. 

So, today with comedy and crazy all around, I choose Pretty Sister's "Drive" as my, rollin' with the homies, follow the fun, let creativity bubble out like laughter, song for a, make them laugh, a smile is worth a thousand thank you's, get those heads bobbing - toes tapping - and rumps shaking Thursday.

John Mayer - "Waiting On The World To Change"

At this point we all the the enigmatic ladies man that is guitar virtuoso John Mayer. His raspy whispered vocals have seduced many a hollywood starlet and more of the world that most people care to admit. He somehow got this tabloid wrap for being a lady's man who was solely interested in loving and leaving. Much like Taylor Swift, his music, which is both prolific and diverse, got overshadowed by his own love life, sometimes to the detriment of the melodies being made. 

People began to write off his music just as much as they were writing off his ex's, and that, my friends is a shame. I can't say that I've loved every single one of his songs, or even all of his albums. but what I do, is respect the amount of music he's made, and adore the fact that he's dabbled in so many genre's and played with so many different types of musicians. 

This song, which i certainly loved in 2008, came back to me today as I'm waiting for a plane to take off that I've been stuck on for 3 and a half hours already. I am most definitely waiting for the world to change. 

So, today, with patience I never knew I possessed, I choose John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" as my, with silver wings, on a hope and a prayer, with constant amazement, song for a, patience is a virtue, each little moment, with slow deep breaths, Wednesday.