Herewith I present to you my top 30 tracks of 2023 thus far, with an asterisk: no more than one song per artist is allowed. It’s only fair that SZA share the spotlight.
When recording started it was called Bird World. Somewhere along the way Lana Del Rey changed the title of her 2019 album to Norman Fucking Rockwell! The actual middle name of artist Norman Rockwell is Percevel. Fucking is a better middle name.
Lana Del Rey turns 38 today. Showing her lots of love on today’s playlist.
Back in 2016, when Donald Trump was a candidate for president of the United States of America without impeachments and indictments on his resume, the classic song “Love Train” was played at the Republican National Convention. The O’Jays were not supportive of this use of their hit. Group member Walter Williams said “Our music, and most especially ‘Love Train,’ is about bringing people together, not building walls. I don’t appreciate being associated with Mr. Trump and his usage of our music without permission.” Added group member Eddie Levert, “I don’t agree, whatsoever, with Trump’s politics to the point where I think he just may be the anti-Christ.”
The O’Jays’ Eddie Levert turns 81 today. A few of his group’s hits are included on today’s playlist.
Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me“ takes me back to Newbury Comics in Cambridge, Massachusetts in late 1982. There was a TV in the shop that showed music videos. That was my first exposure to this song and to Boy George. I was transfixed, partly because the song is so good, and partly because I couldn’t figure out the singer’s gender. We only knew of two genders back then. Though I had not yet been recruited into the homosexual lifestyle, I became fascinated with Boy George. It helped that his band’s music was so good, for a while anyway. His solo catalogue has some worthwhile numbers as well.
My favorite Weezer song is “Buddy Holly,” from their 1994 album titled Weezer, not to be confused with their 2001 album titled Weezer, their 2008 album titled Weezer, their 2016 album titled Weezer, or either of their 2019 albums titled Weezer. My second favorite Weezer song is “Hash Pipe,” from their 2001 album titled Weezer, not to be confused with their 1994 album titled Weezer, their 2008 album titled Weezer, their 2016 album titled Weezer, or either of their 2019 albums titled Weezer. In third place I’d probably put “Island in the Sun,” also from their 2001 album titled Weezer, not to be confused with their 1994 album titled Weezer, their 2008 album titled Weezer, their 2016 album titled Weezer, or either of their 2019 albums titled Weezer. Next for me would be “Beverly Hills,” from an album not titled Weezer, which I find confusing.
Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo was born on this date in 1950 and has never been the governor of New York. To celebrate a handful of Weezer songs are on today’s playlist. Oddly, I didn’t include any of the favorites I mentioned, which is the most confusing part of this post.