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Song of the Day #5,162: ‘CUFF IT’ – Beyoncé

I’ve always been a devotee of Beyoncé as a celebrity, force of nature, and all-around iconic goddess, but I’ve never been a huge fan of her music.

I’ve enjoyed her singles over the years (specifically, ‘Crazy in Love,’ ‘If I Were a Boy,’ ‘Irreplaceable,’ Halo,’ and ‘Single Ladies’) but the accompanying albums never grabbed me.

That changed with the singer’s 2013 self-titled release, her first “visual album,” a contemporary R&B release that hit on all cylinders. Whether it was the erotic hip-hop of ‘Drunk in Love,’ the disco-funk of ‘Blow,’ or the ecstatic pop balladry of ‘XO,’ I suddenly understood the hype.

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Song of the Day #5,161: ‘The Last Laugh of the Laughter’ – Travis

Today we have a Random Weekend selection that coincides with a family birthday, always a fun turn of events. The birthday in question is that of my older sister, Amy, who turns a very young 55 today.

Let’s spin the wheel and see what the Random iTunes Fairy has in store to commemorate the occasion…

It’s ‘The Last Laugh of the Laughter,’ from Scottish band Travis’ 1999 album The Man Who.

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Song of the Day #5,160: ‘Miss Jones’ – The Negro Problem

Here’s a song from the debut album of The Negro Problem, a four-piece band that was the brainchild of singer-songwriter Marc Stewart (who goes by the stage name Stew).

Stew released two albums with The Negro Problem before recording under his own name, in a very different (less overtly pop) sound. His last solo album was 2003’s Something Deeper Than These Changes, a record I have featured on the blog a few times.

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Song of the Day #5,159: ‘Twist of Fate’ – Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John’s film career hit a major bump with just her second movie appearance. She starred as a roller skate-clad muse opposite Michael Beck and Gene Kelly in the 1980 musical Xanadu, a film so bad it led to the creation of the Golden Raspberry Awards.

The glitzy groan-fest has become something of a cult classic since, and even inspired a Broadway musical in 2007 that was nominated for multiple Tonys. But at the time, the film was a massive misstep.

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Song of the Day #5,158: ‘A Little More Love’ – Olivia Newton-John

Riding high on the success of Grease, Olivia Newton-John released her most successful album to date later in 1978. Totally Hot featured the formally wholesome chanteuse clad in leather, mirroring the transformation her Sandy made in Grease.

I remember perusing this album cover among my sister’s vinyl collection, intrigued by how grown-up and dangerous Newton-John looked (this must have been years later, given that I was just six when it came out).

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