Listen Here #1
Hello hello! Welcome to the first issue of Listen Here, a song recommendation newsletter!
I listen to a lot of music and I love a lot of songs, and I’m looking forward to recommending many of them, especially at the beginning here. However, I do want to encourage everyone reading to think of a song that they love and share it with the class. My not-so-secret goal for this newsletter is quite selfish, actually: I want to find so many new-to-me artists and songs to love. I know they’re out there. Let’s find them together!
Right at the top, I want to acknowledge that I was very inspired to start this li’l internet publication because of my years-long love affair with The Rec Center. I love (and absolutely stole from) their formatting, which is simple, direct and enormously effective. The Rec Center is truly remarkable in its longevity and quality, week after week. It’s been one of my favorite newsletters for years, and if you are at all interested in fandom or fannish things, get on it! Other newsletters that I love & have been inspired by include Culture Study, Hung Up, Austin Kleon, Two Bossy Dames, Laura Olin, and Ann Friedman. If you want to fill your inbox with good stuff, I heartily recommend all of these.
On to the songs, and happy listening!
<3 Lauren
This Week’s Songs
Any song that was shared via Spotify link has been added to this public playlist for easy access.
Song/Artist: "OH! TENGO SUERTE" by Masayoshi Takanaka
Genre: World / Japanese Jazz Fusion
Feels like: Breezy, Cheerful, Groovy
Loved by: Lauren
Why I love this song: This song makes me so happy every time I hear it. It's light-hearted and playful and SO catchy. Strong contender for my song of the summer 2024.
Other Context: I found this song and this artist because YouTube randomly recommended his album All Of Me, which has an incredible picture of him skydiving on it. Wow!
Song/Artist: "Are You With Me Now" by Cate Le Bon
Genre: Art Rock
Feels like: Reassured, Autumnal
Loved by: Lauren
Why I love this song: It's catchy as hell. Somehow upbeat and chill at the same time? It lowers my blood pressure. I love the guitar riffs & the harmonies!
Other context: I actually don't know much about this artist! This was on a friend's playlist & I started listening to it on repeat last summer.
Song/Artist: "Going Out Of My Head" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
Genre: Samba
Feels like: The perfect embodiment of having a teenage crush on someone.
Loved by: Lauren
Why I love this song: I mean, yes, I first imprinted on this song as a teen, but there's something incredibly delicious about the melodrama of the lyrics. Too shy to talk to the person you like? They don't even KNOW you EXIST??? ……..Day AND night? in this economy? God, I love it.
Other context: Pretty sure that my dad played this cd during a family trip when I was in high school, and I was hooked from the first notes. RIP Sergio Mendes <3 go listen to this whole record!
Song/Artist: "Outra Vez" by Elizeth Cardoso
Genre: Samba? Bossa?
Feels like: Calm, Wistful
Loved by: Lauren
Why I love this song: I somehow stumbled upon this song during 2020, and I think it was in my top ten songs that year? It's just such an exquisite little gem of a song. Beautiful singing, incredible melody, a perfect recording.
Other context: I don't remember how I found this song, but I'm so fricking glad I did.
Song/Artist: "Dance, Dance, Dance" by Lykke Li
Genre: Swedish bossa indie gleam
Feels like: a bop & a half
Loved by: Lauren
Why I love this song: The beat is irrepressible, the words are tender and true, the singing is just gorgeous. Makes me want to dance every time! Also, baritone sax should be in more songs.
Other context: I believe a friend of mine in college put this song onto a bathroom playlist for the dorm bathroom boombox. Legendary behavior, tbh. Anyways, Lykke Li is Swedish and a very very cool person.
Musician’s Corner
I’m looking forward to hearing you <3