Patrick Doyle - A Trio of Shakespeare Inspired Songs

Today is Shakespeare’s birthday, and in honor of that I am using the songs of a man who has scored more Shakespeare adaptations than anyone else.

Scottish film composer and longtime collaborator of actor-director Kenneth Branagh, Patrick Doyle is known for his work composing for films such as Henry V (1989), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Hamlet (1996), and Gosford Park (2001), as well as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Eragon (2006), Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Thor (both 2011). Doyle has been nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards, and is the recipient of the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for "outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music".

His music matches the bard’s writing beautifully. Always adding and never overpowering. Like the writing it is inspired by it is complex, light, funny, deep, touching, frightening, scandalous, and romantic in turns.

Here are three small selections of some of the different works he has produced for Branagh’s Shakespeare adaptations.

So today, with understanding looming like a specter, I choose Patrick Doyle’s “Pardon Goddess of the Night” from Much Ado About Nothing, “In Pace” from Hamlet, & “I Loved You Once” also from from Hamlet, as my, find the light you used to hide, say goodbye to the things that no longer serve, do not be precious with yourself, songs for a , burn the rafters, shake the sky, walk with diamonds falling from your fingertips, Tuesday.

Rita Ora ft. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX - "Girls"

This little bop has been out for almost a year and yet I’m still bopping along to it.

The lady-pop anthem is definitely light and fun, and while it’s had some criticism I heartily support Rita’s message of letting go of labels.

So today, kissing who I want, I choose Rita Ora, Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX’s "Girls" as my, shake it don’t break it, keep running as long as you can, tear down the patriarchy, song for a, break your own rules sometimes, learn your lessons, get better as you go, Monday.

Christian Borle - "What More Can I Say?"

This musical is touching and sweet, and hard, and empowering, and tough to watch, but impossible to ignore. It is one of the very few LGBTQ stories that were told during the AIDS crisis. I had the immense pleasure of seeing the Ahmanson Production on Wednesday, and Max Von Essen’s stunning performance as Marvin really held the show together.

It’s important as a tribe, as a culture, that we not forget where we came from, or the sacrifices that have been made, so that the same mistakes of the past are not repeated.

Some days, love is all you need, and so you let yourself slip into the happy abyss that is satisfaction. Hold on to those moments for all long as you possibly can. They are the only ones that matter.

So today, with loves lost lingering in my heart & loves yet to come in my hopeful head, I choose Christian Borle’s delicate rendition of "What More Can I Say?" from William Finn’s “Falsettos” (because I couldn’t find a version of Max’s) as my, hold on to the happy, believe that happy into the now, linger in the love as long as it will let you, song for a, fight on, free yourself, forgive everything Friday.

The Civil Wars - "Dust to Dust"

I’ve written about the Civil Wars many times. Their voices like Oil and Water, came together and would never blend but would constantly create something beautiful, something ephemeral, and something temporary.

An Americana, folk, and country duo formed around guitarist John Paul White and vocalist Joy Williams, the Civil Warsmade a quick name for themselves with the release of a digital album, Live at Eddie's Attic, in 2009. The Poison & Wine EP followed later that year, and the duo partnered with producer Charlie Peacock to begin recording a full-length album in 2010. The result, Barton Hollow, was released in February 2011, topping the digital charts and cracking Billboard's Top 20 during its first week. Live at Amoeba appeared in the spring of 2012, and although rumors of a split for the duo circulated, two projects appeared in 2013, the soundtrack to the movie A Place at the Table, which saw the duo working with producer T-Bone Burnett, and a new full-length studio album, the self-titled The Civil Wars, which was released at the end of the summer. Although it debuted at number one and earned strong reviews, it proved to be their last. White and Williams issued a statement in August 2014 that they had "regretfully decided to permanently part ways."

In February 2014, White and Williams won their fourth Grammy, this time for the track "From This Valley" from The Civil Wars. It won for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

The Civil Wars announced that they would permanently part ways on August 5, and offered a free download of "You Are My Sunshine" as a parting gift. Williams wrote: "I am saddened and disappointed by the ending of this duo, to say the very least. JP is a tremendous musician, and I will always be grateful for the music we were able to create together." White's statement read: "I would like to express sincere thanks to all who were a part of the arc of The Civil Wars—from the beginning, to the end, and all points in between."

So, as a gentle reminder that things don’t always have to be forever to be beautiful, I choose The Civil Wars’ "Dust to Dust" as my, let the chips fall, let the cookies crumble, let the milk spill, song for a, choose now, choose your own heart, choose the love you already have inside, Thursday.

Imagine Dragons - "Bad Liar"

After releasing their 2012 full-length debut Night Visions (featuring the Grammy Award-winning single “Radioactive”), Imagine Dragons spent nearly two years bringing their passionately inventive brand of alt-rock to arenas around the world. To deal with the chaos of a touring schedule that included 130 headline dates and 50 festivals across the globe, the Las Vegas-based quartet threw themselves into creating material for their next album. “So many things were changing for us so quickly, the only way to feel some kind of stability was to keep writing,” says frontman Dan Reynolds, who founded Imagine Dragons with guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman. “Going up to my hotel room to work on new songs became something I looked forward to every night on tour,” Reynolds adds. “There were definitely a few times when the person next door’s banging on the wall because it’s 4 a.m. and they’re trying to sleep and I’m in there belting out some song I just wrote.”

Enter their new album, Smoke + Mirrors. Raw, sweeping, heartbreaking, and touching. They’ve captured lightning in a bottle here, and it’s something that is rare and intangible.

So today, with heartbreak and hope in equal measure, I choose Imagine Dragons’ “Bad Liar” as my, find beauty in the unknown, it’s a great big world out there, fear is the precursor to courage, song for a, I promise I’ll never lie to you, hold my hand, let me butter your toast, Wednesday.

Ben Platt - "Grow As We Go"

The 25-year-old actor, who won a Tony, an Emmy, and a Grammy for his work in Dear Evan Hansen just released the video for his new track “Grow As We Go” – which also happens to be the latest song off of his debut album Sing To Me Instead.

It’s a delicate request to a leaving lover, and then in flows into the hopes for the next. Someone to grow with is something that has been revolving around my heart for a while now and this little ditty hit the nail on the head. Growth doesn’t need to be done alone, but some times it has to be. On the other hand, growing, learning, and evolving together can be a beautiful process.

So here’s to all of you out there growing. It’s an often painful process, and usually means letting go of things that no longer serve you, but it’s also the only way to receive the gifts that are waiting to be given.

So today, growing with each painful breath, I choose Ben Platt’s beautiful “Grow As We Go” as my, find your little miracles, hold on to the things you can, shed the skins that are too small for you, song for a, grow together, grow apart, just keep growing - keep going, Tuesday.

Go on little birds. Yes, I’m good.

Paolo Nutini - "Last Request"

This song has been with me for years. A long time ago when I worked in the travel branch of a Record Label in New York, Paolo was one of our clients and he was the kindest kind of star. I fell in love with is aching, raspy voice and clear crying sound. That record stayed in rotation for quite a while in my life.

This weekend at what became an incredibly touching, beautiful night with friends at a new place, this song came on, and it touched so many old and so many new places in my heart. It’s something bittersweet to know that something wonderful is over, but that at least you had something wonderful for a while.

The scottish singer, songwriter and musician is from Paisley. His debut album, These Streets (2006), peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. Its follow-up, Sunny Side Up (2009), debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. Both albums have been certified quintuple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.

After 5 years, Nutini released his third studio album, Caustic Love, in April 2014. The album received positive reviews from music critics. Caustic Love debuted at number one on the UK Album Charts and was certified platinum by the BPI in June 2014.

In late July 2014, he was referred to by the BBC as "arguably Scotland's biggest musician right now". After extensive touring in 2015 in support of Caustic Love, Nutini took a hiatus in 2016 although he performed an emotional tribute in memory of a Welsh fan in Newport, Wales on 20 July. On 20 September 2016 it was announced that Nutini would headline the Concert in the Gardens, the flagship event of Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party, on New Year's Eve 2016/2017. Tickets were sold out in a record-breaking three hours leading to an unprecedented second show (named "The Night Afore") being announced for 30 December.

So today, with a sea salt and honey on my tongue, I choose Paolo Nutini - "Last Request" as my, hold on to nothing, smile when it comes back around, give yourself permission to let go of all your old labels, song for a, here we are again, let’s learn this lesson this time, one more heart to heal, Monday.

Personally my favorite version is the 2nd, solo piano version.

Sam Smith & Normani - "Dancing With A Stranger"

Sam Smith and Normani have a hit on their hands. The UK singer and Fifth Harmony member's "Dancing With a Stranger" R&B-influenced pop number. The song finds Smith and Normani reminiscing about the difficulties of juggling their personal life with being on tour months at a time. 

The two artists crossed paths while recording in adjacent studios, and a connection was instantly formed. The song is currently riding high on the Billboard Hot 100.

Besides being a pop superstar with a larger-than-life voice, Sam Smith has long been a Harmonizer, heartbroken by Fifth Harmony’s hiatus. Specifically, Smith was an acolyte for the group’s hit “Work From Home,” even telling James Corden that he wants to “walk down the aisle to it in heels.”

Naturally, that joy is basically oozing out of every beat, note and perfectly harmonized line “Dancing With a Stranger,” Smith’s duet  with former 5H member Normani. This sweaty disco-R&B romp isn’t as much of a high-energy pop banger as Smith’s favorite song; instead, it plays to his retro-leaning strengths and Normani’s own solo vision of being a soul-dance diva.

Their soulful, understated delivery suggests a moody narrative of two people looking to get an ex off their mind, falling into the arms of someone exiting, nameless and new. It’s simple and fun, a song that would be welcome to hear past midnight on any dance floor or even on Smith’s own pre-party playlist, right next to “Work From Home.”

So today, with a few smiles and a few tears, I choose Sam Smith & Normani’s "Dancing With A Stranger" as my, let yourself embrace the change, goodbye is only the precursor to hello, striped bare you are still a rival to the stars, song for a, find the endless divinity within you, your power does not lie in your possessions, your light is limitless, Friday.

I’m giving you my favorite version, the acoustic, but also the original because it’s a chill bop.