On the latest UK Top 100 singles chart, The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” from their 2004 debut album Hot Fuss, moves up from number 66 to number 63 in its 415th week on that chart. I think it’s on its way to hit song status.
The Killers’ Brandon Flowers was born on this date in 1981. A handful of that band’s songs are included on today’s playlist.
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According to my Spotify Wrapped, pop was my top genre of 2023, thanks to the many hits I jammed to this year. But did you know I almost missed one of the greatest pop songs ever? Back in 1999, I barely heard Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” when it was a chart-topper. It was only when the song was descending on the charts and I joined Jive Records, her label, as their head of Licensing that I discovered this masterpiece. I’ve been a loyal fan ever since, even after I left the company.
We had a party at Jive when Britney turned 18. It’s hard to believe that today she turns 42. A few of her hits are on today’s playlist.
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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.
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Today’s playlist celebrates the August 17 birthdays of Dexys Midnight Runners’ Kevin Rowland, The Go-Go’s’ Belinda Carlisle, Phoebe Bridgers, Mark Dining, Luscious Jackson’s Jill Cunniff, The Revolution/Wendy & Lisa’s Lisa Coleman, Maria McKee, The Pack’s Lil B, and Robert DeNiro; and the August 18 birthdays of Arcade Fire’s Régine Chassagne, Aphex Twin, the xx’s Romy, Wu-Tang Clan’s Masta Killa, The Orioles’ Sonny Til, Clairo, House of Pain’s Everlast, The Primitives’ Tracy Tracy, The Move’s Carl Wayne, Mika, The Toys’ Barbara Harris, Johnny Preston, Maxine Brown, The Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Martin Mull, and Denis Leary.
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Any year with Vampire Weekend, Adele, Kanye West, Radiohead, Britney Spears, R.E.M., The Ting Tings, Madonna, “Single Ladies,” “Paper Planes” and two songs named “Lollipop” can’t be that bad. Herewith are thirty music highlights of 2008.
Stating the obvious here: not only were their more openly queer and trans artists making their music heard as we entered a new century, the subject matter of songs related to LGBTQ+ people expanded as well. It’s pretty rad to compare this playlist to the 1950s/1960s one I made to kick off this Pride Month celebration.
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Inspired by the season and the December 10 birthdays of Commodores’ Walter Orange, Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis, The White Stripes’ Meg White, Teyana Taylor, Wang Chung’s Jack Hues, Paul Hardcastle, Peter Sarstedt and Chad & Jeremy’s Chad Stuart.
Inspired by the August 20 birthdays of Boogie Down Productions’ KRS-One, Isaac Hayes, John Hiatt, Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott, The Knack’s Doug Fieger, Demi Lovato, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Jim Reeves, Hawkwind’s Dave Brock, and Nikki Leonti.
Inspired by the August 18 birthdays of Mika, The xx’s Romy Madley Croft, Aphex Twin, Wu-Tang Clan’s Masta Killa, Arcade Fire’s Régine Chassagne, The Orioles’ Sonny Til, House of Pain’s Everlast, The Toys’ Barbara Harris, The Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Maxine Brown, The Primitives’ Tracy Tracy, and Martin Mull.