favorite songs (of the year) friday

I will always be interested in popular culture, but having a ten year-old has also made me more aware and interested in popular music, too. It is fun watching her have favorites and swoon over current pop stars, as well as watch her come to appreciate some of my golden oldies (The Clash's "I Fought the Law" and Bowie's "Fashion" are favorites) when we give the car radio a rest. But for the most part I listen to the radio with her. I have to draw the line somewhere, however. I refuse to have to suffer some of the songs and artists that the music industry is trying to shove down our throats, like the marble-mouthed Ariana Grande. But there were some bright spots this year. Here are my Top Ten favorites of 2014, in no particular order.

The incomparable Pharrell

"Happy" Pharrell Williams — The song still makes me smile, and his 24-hour version of this video is a pretty amazing feat.

"Love Runs Out" OneRepublic — Just fun, fun, fun.

"La, La, La," Naughty Boy [featuring Sam Smith] — The first time I heard Sam Smith : )

"Night Changes" One Direction — The kid's favorite boy band has grown on me, and they have a folky edge that is coming more to the fore with each song they release. And yes, Harry is my favorite ; )

"Secrets" Mary Lambert — Quirky, clever fun.

"Uptown Funk" Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars — Look out, Prince ... this guy is the funk.

“All About That Bass” Meghan Trainor — Girl power music that is full of fun, too.

"Don't" Ed Sheeran — A twisted anti-love song that never seems to get old, even when you already know the story.

"Tennis Court" Lorde — The kid is talented, and this stripped-down song proves it.

"The Heart Wants What It Wants" Selena Gomez — Another artist inherited from the kid, but she sings this track with real emotion. I like it.


Honorable Mention: Awesome Mix Vol. 1, The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack

Oh, and by the way, the kid compiled her own Top Ten. By next year I'll probably be guesting on her blog ; )

We did cross over on one song ...

favorite song friday: ed sheeran tells another story

Ed Sheeran definitely likes to tell stories, and his latest song, "Don't" tells it like it is. It's a bit similar in vibe to "Sing," but it's also a lot of fun. It chronicles a busted-up love affair from the guy's perspective. Ahhh love ...

I met this girl late last year
She said don't you worry if I disappear
I told her I'm not really looking for another mistake
I called an old friend thinking that the trouble would wait
But then I jump right in

This acoustic version is really nice:

favorite song friday: who is this ed sheeran guy, anyway?

Ed Sheeran has been all over the charts in recent years, but it's highly possible that he is still an unfamiliar face to many. He has written hit songs for One Direction ("Moments," "Little Things") and dueted with Taylor Swift ("Everything Has Changed") and even seen his own songs do well ("The A Team," "Lego House"). But who is this ginger-haired, somewhat unassuming Brit? Only 23, he has been performing since 2005 (you do the math). His latest song, "Sing," seems at first a bit out of character, as it could easily become a dance club hit, but Sheeran's recent rendition of it with a more acoustic approach on The Voice stayed true to his singer-songwriter roots and proved that under all of the production, it is just a really good song.

The official video is pretty humorous, too, and plays with the idea of his known/unknown status. Plus, the mid-way appearance of Pharrell explains the more groovy aspects:



Here's his more acoustic take on The Voice: