More flash in the pan sellers falling off the charts just as quickly as they came. You really come to appreciate what Adele‘s 21 achieved last year in anchoring the music industry, don’t you?
This week the sun shines on K-pop star PSY and his incredible viral single ‘Gangnam Style’. Guy Sebastian, Matchbox Twenty, Flo Rida, Ne-Yo and TobyMac also come through with the goods.
Winter may have just kicked in but this album is already one of my favourite rediscoveries of the season.
Alanis Morissette‘s last studio LP Flavors of Entanglement heard her toy with a new sound and it sold squat all.
Having said that, I have nothing but praise for the sonic maneuverings of this album. Alanis has never sounded more worldly and experimental – teaming up with pop producer Guy Sigsworth, who has worked with everyone from Imogen Heap to Britney Spears, to create an album that cohesively combines organic guitar and piano recordings with electronic loops and samples.
While her flirtation with dance music may not be a commanding force in the clubs, tracks like the angsty ‘Straitjacket’ and the strobe lit ‘Giggle Again For No Reason’ are more than adequate agents for an emancipatory boogie.
On the whole, Flavors of Entanglement seems charmingly unaware of its ability to draw us in with its themes of brokenness and healing.
At times, the album plays like a soundtrack to chapters of a break-up phase. ‘Torch’ lists everything she misses about her ex, from the way he walks through her front door with documentaries to the way he loves her dogs. ‘Moratorium’ hears her put a pause on relationships and ‘Incomplete’ is a resolution to find happiness and feel “complete”.
The symbiosis of dance and rock/despondence and hopefulness is what makes Flavors of Entanglement Morissette’s most complex and alluring work yet.
Flavors of Entanglement (2008)
Key tracks: ‘Not As We’, ‘Torch’, ‘Incomplete’ and ‘Tapes’.
Reported worldwide sales: 1.5 million copies
To steal a pop ballad’s sentiment, “nothing hurts like love” – this goes out to the broken-hearted.
One of my favourite playlists (and with 247 songs, it’s quite a monstrous one too), the ‘Heartbreak’ playlist has been a constant companion on grey, rainy days and through the dramas.
It fills the awkward silence in the car.
It is the validating tune to the tragedy screening in my head.
This anthology is a collection of songs expressing everything from struggles in a relationship to break ups, and of course… loneliness.
While it’s impossible to list them all, here are some of my favourites:
Mariah Carey – Breakdown
“In reality I’m slowly losing my mind. Underneath a guise of smile, gradually I’m dying inside…”
Utada – This One (Crying Like A Child)
“This one’s for the happiness, I’ll be missing you forever…”
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2U
“I put my arm around every boy I see. And they only remind me of you…”
Delta Goodrem – I Can’t Break It To My Heart
“I’m circling these patterns. Living out of memories. I’m still a long way from accepting it, that there’s just no you and me.”
Sugababes – Sound of Goodbye
“There is no easy way to break somebody’s heart. When you know what you’re gonna say will leave a mark.”
Pussycat Dolls – I Hate This Part
“I know this is the part where the end starts…”
Alanis Morrisette – Not As We
“From scratch, begin again. But this time I as I, and not as we…”
Toni Braxton – Unbreak My Heart
“Life is so cold when you’re not here beside me…”
Christina Aguilera – Hurt
“Sometimes I want to call you, but I know you won’t be there…”
Mya – All In The Name of Love
“Love. So many people use the word in vain, when it’s convenient to get what they need.”
Natasha Bedingfield – Soulmate
“Most relationships seem so transitory, they’re all good but not the permanent one.”
Alexandra Burke – The Silence
“When I’m with you, it’s like rolling dice. Don’t know when or how you’re gonna make me cry.”
Also on the ‘Heartbreak’ playlist:
Jewel – You Were Meant For Me
Utada – Come Back To Me
Utada – Apple & Cinnamon
Missy Higgins – Where I Stood
Missy Higgins- The Special Two
Natasha Bedingfield – I Bruise Easily
Girls Aloud – Whole Lotta History
Girls Aloud – Girl Overboard
Sugababes – Never Gonna Dance Again
Tata Young – My Bloody Valentine
Athlete – Best Not To Think About It
Bic Runga – It’s Over
Pink – Who Knew
Nelly Furtado – All Good Things (Come To An End)
Robyn – Be Mine! (Ballad Version)
Toni Braxton – Yesterday
Pussycat Dolls – Hush Hush
Little Boots – Earthquake
Mariah Carey – My All
Mariah Carey – Circles
Mariah Carey – We Belong Together
Mariah Carey – Side Effects
Mariah Carey – H.A.T.E.U.
Britney Spears – Out From Under
Pet Shop Boys – Numb
All Saints – Never Ever
Emma Bunton – So Long
Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules – Mad World
Darren Hayes – I Just Want You To Love Me
Will Young – Leave Right Now
Leona Lewis – Naked
Leona Lewis – My Hands
Delta Goodrem – Not Me, Not I
Destiny’s Child – Emotions
Mary J. Blige – If You Love Me
Macy Gray – I Try
Macy Gray – She Ain’t Right For You
Fantasia – Free Yourself
Shakira – Your Embrace
Lily Allen – Littlest Things
This playlist was created for the times when you just wanna smack somebody.
There are moments in life when you don’t wanna rise above the drama. You just want to sink down to their level and fight dirty, nothing burns like the flames fueled by ‘getting even’.
The ‘Bitch’ playlist is a collection of hot-headed songs giving attitude back on everything from infidelity to betrayal – and even just a plain ‘ol hater.
Here are some of my favourites:
Kelis – Caught Out There
“I hate you so much right now… ARGHHH!!!”
LeToya – She Ain’t Got…
“‘Bout to put my foot down on homegurl’s neck. Just to make you see that, she ain’t got shit on me!”
Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know
“It was a slap in the face. How quickly I was replaced. Are you thinking of me when you fuck her?”
Kristinia DeBarge – Powerless
“Taking out your fuses, now you’re just useless. No more doing me wrong…”
VV Brown – Game Over
“So can you get the gist, it’s time to make a move cause the game is over.”
Ricki-Lee – Don’t Miss You
“I used to be kind and care about you, but now you can kiss my behind!”
Alicia Keys – Karma
“Now who’s crying, desiring to come back to me?”
Groove Armada feat. Mutya – Song 4 Mutya
“That’s who has replaced me? What a diss…”
Rihanna – Breakin’ Dishes
“I’m a fight a man tonight. I’m a fight a man!”
Destiny’s Child – Fancy
“You think you’re cute, you think you’re fine. You’re always trying to steal my shine…”
Kate Miller-Heidke – I Like You Better When You’re Not Around
“Don’t really care about your bitchy scene. And I don’t really care who gave who what disease…”
Mya – Case of The Ex
“There’s no need to reminisce ’bout the past. Obviously cause that shit did not last…”
Also on the ‘Bitch’ playlist:
Beyonce – Lost Yo Mind
Beyonce – Ring The Alarm
Ms Dynamite – It Take More
Mya – Whatever Bitch
Lily Allen – Fuck You
Lily Allen – Friday Night
Pink – U + Ur Hand
Che’Nelle – Mantaker
Christina Aguilera – Slow Down Baby
Britney Spears – Piece of Me
Britney Spears – Womanizer
Destiny’s Child – Bills, Bills, Bills
Destiny’s Child – Nasty Girl
Destiny’s Child – Bug A Boo
Kate Miller-Heidke – Are You Fucking Kidding Me?
Katy Perry – Hot N Cold
Kelis – I Don’t Think So
Kelly Clarkson – Never Again
Kelly Clarkson – You Thought Wrong
Kelly Osbourne – Don’t Touch Me While I’m Sleeping
Little Jackie – LOL
Melanie C – Little Piece of Me
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Get Over You
Bardot – ASAP
Kristinia DeBarge – Goodbye
Pussycat Dolls – Bite The Dust
Blu Cantrell – Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)
Annie – I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me
Annie – I Don’t Like Your Band
Black Eyed Peas – Shut Up
Brandy – What About Us?
The Saturdays – Ego
Roisin Murphy – Momma’s Place
Jade Ewen – I Had Him First
Feed Limmy 