by

Song of the Day #5,587: ‘Safe and Sound’ – Capital Cities

The last time I threw back to 2013, I had to go all the way down to #10 before hitting a song I hadn’t featured on the blog.

Well, the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 2013 was awfully static, because today I’m forced — in true Spinal Tap fashion — to go to 11.

The songs making up the top ten are the same batch as last time, in slightly different order: Lorde’s ‘Royals, ‘Katy Perry’s ‘Roar,’ Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball,’ Avicii’s ‘Wake Me Up!,’ Drake’s ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home,’ Jay Z’s ‘Holy Grail,’ Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines,’ Lady Gaga’s ‘Applause,’ and Lana Del Rey’s ‘Summertime Sadness.’

There is one newcomer, slotted right between Drake and Jay-Z. That is Ylvis, with their viral parody song ‘The Fox.’ But alas, I featured that hilarious track on the blog ten years ago.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #5,586: ‘Get Low’ – Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz Featuring Ying Yang Twins

Throwing back to the week of October 18, 2003, we find two repeats in the top spot of Billboard’s Hot 100. At #1 is Beyoncé’s ‘Baby Boy,’ which spent a total of nine weeks in that position. And in the second spot was ‘Shake Ya Tailfeather,’ a collaboration by Nelly, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee.

That brings us to #3, and another ode to shaking one’s ass: ‘Get Low,’ the debut single by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. This pioneering crunk track eventually made it to #2 on the chart.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #5,585: ‘Solid Ground’ – Daniel Gallup

I started the week with a song by Daniel Gallup from his upcoming EP, and I thought it fitting to close the week out the same way.

‘Solid Ground’ is a beautiful song, and my favorite thing Daniel has recorded in his young career. It fires on all cylinders, both musically and lyrically, and in its back half achieves a moment of transcendence that takes it to another level. This is a first class effort, from writing to performance to production.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #5,584: ‘Pretty Isn’t Pretty’ – Olivia Rodrigo

The most exciting new release in the past month or so was definitely Olivia Rodrigo’s latest effort, Guts. I’ve been looking forward to her next move ever since her 2021 debut album Sour made such an impact.

I’m happy to report that Guts tops its predecessor. Rather than suffer a sophomore slump, Rodrigo has refined and sharpened her sound and delivered a batch of songs even more confident and electric.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #5,583: ‘Last Time I Saw You’ – Nicki Minaj

It’s crazy to think that Nicki Minaj has seemingly graduated to an elder stateswoman of rap. It’s been only a little more than a decade since her breakthrough album, Pink Friday, made her the hot new thing.

Her success and unique style influenced a whole generation of young women, artists who names now populate the charts and soundtrack our social media: Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Coi Leray, Saweetie, and Ice Spice, to name just a few.

Continue reading →