Lady Gaga - "Hey Girl (ft. Florence Welch)"

Somedays you just need a jam, a bop, a little ditty to get you through that day! Today is that day. 

As the song says "We can make it easy if we lift each other". What a sentiment. Let us all rise, and help each other along the way. 

So today, with solidarity in my soul, I choose Lady Gaga's "Hey Girl (feat. Florence Welch)" as my, get it together, sunday kind of love, the rising tide raises all boats, song for a, my arms like the safest harbor, everyday angels guiding your steps, small little gifts like flowers leaning towards the sun, Friday. 

Hey gurl, let's lift each other up.

Etta James - "Sunday Kind of Love"

Make it soft, make it easy, make it a Sunday. 

Today, with hope in my heart, I choose Etta James' "Sunday Kind of Love" as my, hold out hope, light in the darkness, this little light of mine, song for a, please please please, easy like, move with the tender care of lovers who have learned their partner's steps, Thursday.

Sara Bareilles - "Bittersweet"

So it's no secret how fond I am of Sara. Her voice is clear, her words are true, and her heart is constantly opening. That takes a rare form of bravery. She gives away pieces of herself like there will always be more to give, and I am honestly inspired beyond words. 

So today, with the crushing weight of acceptance, I choose Sara Bareilles' "Bittersweet" as my, little lies full of compromise, songs like children, a heart that doesn't know how to close, song for a, regret nothing, hope through the silver lining, like a star set sail on an ocean at night - let yourself dream your way into a new world, Wednesday.

David West - "Alberto Balsam"

His talent is staggering and his passion is limitless. He has a gift of seeing through the rubble and finding the gems. His ability to whittle down and tune and distill it into something divine is uncanny, and I am certainly in awe.

Although David West might be a new name to many of you he has been around for a very long time. He began his musical journey at the age of 2 when his father, who is a musician himself, put him behind the black and white keys of the piano. David was taught by his father until the age of 6, then it was time for some serious classical training. By the age of 7 David had his first meeting with a synthesizer, and he immediately fell in love with the weird sounds that came out of it. Two years later he got a porta-studio (a 4-channel tape recorder) and started producing his own music, and from there he went to working with computers such as C-64, AMIGA and ATARI.

His professional career started back in 1994 when he teamed up with Robin Söderman and formed Antiloop. The band is a household name in the Scandinavian club circuits and following the success of their debut album, "LP", the name spread fast across the global underground network with cuts such as "In My Mind", “Beauty and the Beast” and "Trespasser" fast becoming techno classics and crossing over in numerous European territories. Most of the Antiloop singles have positioned themselves at the #1 spot in the Scandinavian dance charts. Two Grammy awards (Best Club/Dance Album 1998 – LP) (Best Club/Dance Album 2001 – Fastlane People), six Swedish Dance Music awards, numerous gold and platinum records is proof that Antiloop has made a huge impact on the scene.

The first release from David West on his own was “Envy/Carrier”. It was licensed to Way Out West´s album “Don´t look now”. The track "Larry mountains 54" became one of the biggest progressive trance hits of 2005, made it to all the big compilations and was announced one of the biggest tracks of 2005 at Armin Van Buuren's show, a state of trance. His remixes has been hammered by all the big names. Last year he remixed acts as Tilt, Shiloh, Matt Darey, Inkfish Vs Martin H, Dominic Plaza, Carrie Skipper to name a few. The latest songs to be released by David is “Suffering Island” and “Make U Mine”. Both tracks have already received a warm welcome from all the big names.

Setting up his own label, Aid Recordings, with help from Andy Moor is the project closest to his heart at the moment. Already signing big names and some of the most promising undiscovered artists the world has to offer Aid Recordings is looking to a very bright future.

This tune specifically has something almost mournful about it. This chiming of clocks who know their time is up, and the repetitive  hammering of keys like the tracks of a train that is pulling away into the distance. It resonates with the loss inside you and finds a home the holes of your heart.

So today, with a kiss and a wave, I choose David West's "Alberto Balsam" as my, with an open hand, through bleary eyes, with wetted cheeks song for a, silly little angel, one more small miracle, like a gear worn down into a circle, Tuesday.

Sir John Tavener - "Song for Athene"

Sir John Kenneth Tavener was an English composer, known for his extensive output of religious works, including The Protecting Veil, Song for Athene and The Lamb.

Tavener first came to prominence with his cantata The Whale, premiered in 1968. Then aged 24, he was described by The Guardian as "the musical discovery of the year", while The Times said he was "among the very best creative talents of his generation." During his career he became one of the best known and popular composers of his generation, most particularly for The Protecting Veil, which as recorded by cellist Steven Isserlis became a bestselling album, and Song for Athene which was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana. The Lamb featured in the soundtrack for Paolo Sorrentino's film The Great Beauty. Tavener was knighted in 2000 for his services to music and won an Ivor Novello Award.

So today with solemnity and solitude, I choose Sir John Tavener's "Song for Athene" as performed by the Westminster Abbey Choir as my, diligence and decision, believe and breath, sight and suspicion, song for a, quietly in the night, with moonlight and spirits as your guide, remember the magic that once surrounded you, Monday.

The Shirelles - "Mama Said"

Because some days are difficult. They are all up hill, in the snow, both ways, and you just have to trudge through them. Although the sun is shining outside, and weather is warming into beach season beautifully, I sit in a shaded room nursing a headache the size of Gibraltar and trying to catch up with work I've missed this week. Mama did say there would be days like this.

They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens (later Shirley Alston Reeves), Doris Coley (later Doris Kenner-Jackson), Addie "Micki" Harris (later Addie Harris McFadden), and Beverly Lee and were the first all female group to have Number 1 hit record with "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow". 

Founded in 1957 for a talent show at their high school, they were signed by Florence Greenberg of Tiara Records. Their first single, "I Met Him on a Sunday", was released by Tiara and licensed by Decca Records in 1958. After a brief and unsuccessful period with Decca, they went with Greenberg to her newly formed company, Scepter Records. Working with Luther Dixon, the group rose to fame with "Tonight's the Night". After a successful period of collaboration with Dixon and promotion by Scepter, with seven top 20 hits, the Shirelles left Scepter in 1966. Afterwards, they were unable to maintain their previous popularity.

The Shirelles have been described as having a "naive schoolgirl sound" that contrasted with the sexual themes of many of their songs. Several of their hits used strings and baião-style music. They have been credited with launching the girl group genre, with much of their music reflecting the genre's essence. Their acceptance by both white and black audiences, predating that of the Motown acts, has been noted as reflecting the early success of the Civil Rights Movement. They have received numerous honors, including the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, as well as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and named one of the 100 best acts of all time by Rolling Stone in 2004. Two of their songs, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Tonight's the Night", were selected by Rolling Stone on its list of the greatest songs of all time.

So today, with pain leaving the body like weakness, I choose The Shirelle's "Mama Said" as my, know your limits, push your boundaries, jump off the cliff, song for a, today is another chance, opportunities come rarely, take the golden ticket, Friday.

Audra Mae - "La Isla Bonita"

This song and her voice both come back to me like dreams you can’t ever seem to forget, and yet still can’t quite fully remember. Haunting and beautiful, she takes your heart and carefully wraps it so tightly in her silken voice that you’re afraid it may not be able to beat. 

Even with nothing but a bootleg copy of a performance of hers from 2008, you know that there is magic in it. It’s something that live, was unforgettable.

So I’ve actually posted on Facebook a number of times about Miss Mae. Most of them happened, however, back in 2008 or 2009 before I was actually blogging. Then, I kind of felt like I’d written about her, or her songs, to the point of saturation. So, I rather unconsciously, stepped back from fascination with her, to search out other artists, and to give her a chance to make more music, and boy has she. 

She’s come out with a number of incredible songs lately, and co-written a huge amount of jams with other performers. Seeing so much of her, and hearing about her in so much press has me nostalgic for the years when I discovered and fell in love with her, and when seeing her was as easy as popping over to Mark’s restaurant in West Hollywood to see her kill it at the Upright Cabaret. 

She’s a jewel of a woman, a star of a singer, and an inspiration of a songwriter. Her sound is unique and her words are pure wisdom. Sometimes whimsical, and often flirty, the truth behind her music comes from a life well lived and a talent backed up by hard work. 

Here’s a little of her Bio from her website: 

Audra Mae was born and raised in Oklahoma. After spending her youth in community theaters and costume closets, she moved to TN for a year of college at MTSU in 2003 and quickly decided that a place like Los Angeles might have more to offer an ambitious 19 year-old than a little country town could ever provide. In January of 2004, she packed her grandmother's used car and headed west. 

Many open mics and packages of ramen noodles later, Audra signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell and broke out as a songwriter in 2009 co-writing "Who I Was Born To Be," which was the only original song on Susan Boyle's multi-platinum I Dreamed A Dream. She signed a record deal with Side One Dummy who released Mae's debut The Happiest Lamb in 2010. 

Building on the critical success of her sophomore album, also released by Side One Dummy, 2012's Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound with producer Deana Carter, Audra mapped a new creative direction inspired by work with some of entertainment's greats. Miranda Lambert is currently climbing the country charts with the Almighty Sound's "Little Red Wagon," while Kelly Clarkson climbs the pop charts with Mae's co-written track "Heartbeat Song." 

Mae has recorded with the legendary Burt Bacharach and Celine Dion's comeback album, Loved Me Back to Life, features Mae's co-written "Somebody Loves Somebody" and "Breakaway." Avicii's True has Mae singing lead on the Mac Davis hit "Addicted to You" and her co-written hit "Shame on Me" just to name a few. 

Her music has been featured on several television shows, including Sons of Anarchy, The Good Wife and CSI. Her resume includes national tours with Cory Brannan, Chuck Ragan, Good Old War and an appearance at Miami's Ultra Music Festival with Avicii.”

So, today, with Guts and Guile, I choose Audra Mae’s impressive and nostalgic cover of Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita”, as my find your own paradise, create your own eden, let your heart be the map, song for an, with promises and premonitions, like lips parted for kissing, you may not see it now - but it’s surely on it’s way like a miracle descending to it’s destination Tuesday

Go on and shimmer. Let them see the mundane become the miraculous.

Thank You for your gift Audra, you’re a gem.

Maurice Ravel - "Bolero"

He composed with compassion and precision. His highly sensitive ear helped him to create exacting music that not only moved the listener, but inspired them. His work was some of the first to usher in a new era of classical music, and while his portfolio may not be as prolific as his contemporaries, his work stands above the crowd as each piece gets is better than the last.

Joseph Maurice Ravel was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composers rejected the term. In the 1920s and 1930s Ravel was internationally regarded as France's greatest living composer.

Born to a music-loving family, Ravel attended France's premier music college, the Paris Conservatoire; he was not well regarded by its conservative establishment, whose biased treatment of him caused a scandal. After leaving the conservatoire, Ravel found his own way as a composer, developing a style of great clarity, incorporating elements of baroque, neoclassicism and, in his later works, jazz. He liked to experiment with musical form, as in his best-known work, Boléro (1928), in which repetition takes the place of development. He made some orchestral arrangements of other composers' music, of which his 1922 version of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is the best known.

As a slow and painstaking worker, Ravel composed fewer pieces than many of his contemporaries. Among his works to enter the repertoire are pieces for piano, chamber music, two piano concertos, ballet music, two operas and eight song cycles; he wrote no symphonies or church music. Many of his works exist in two versions: first, a piano score and later an orchestration. Some of his piano music, such as Gaspard de la nuit (1908), is exceptionally difficult to play, and his complex orchestral works such as Daphnis et Chloé (1912) require skilful balance in performance.

Ravel was among the first composers to recognise the potential of recording to bring their music to a wider public. From the 1920s, despite limited technique as a pianist or conductor, he took part in recordings of several of his works; others were made under his supervision.

So today, with precision and passion, I choose Maurice Ravel's "Bolero" as my, be exacting with yourself, be precise with your words, be loving with your actions, song for a, lift them up, give them wings, send them love, Friday.