Yes, I know. I'm on the edge of late for this one. I have been holding onto this mix for a few months now, waiting for the weather to cooperate with my vision of spring. In true British style, spring seems to have been a non-starter; we had weeks of rain and low temperatures, and suddenly it appears to be almost summer.
I love spring; it is my birthday season, the temperature is moderate and enjoyable, the baby animals are everything, and the blue skies boost our daily moods. For me, a few things truly mark the season for me: Springwatch, a trip to the garden centre for new garden plants, and topping up the bird feeder. Spring is, and I apologise for the cliches, a time for fresh starts: nature is renewing and the sense of hope in nature is bountiful and beautiful. The opportunity for person growth, a sense of rebirth, and a moment for a sunnier disposition is granted with all of these firsts. The first blooms of daffodils, the first day without a cloud in the sky, the first day you see a sunburnt stranger in the supermarket with a six-pack of tinnies and a packet of burgers. You think to yourself, “I hope they brings a jumper; it’ll be cold this evening!” but hey: it’s almost summer. We’ll let them off.
So, the sun is shining. Let’s get started.
As always, the links take us to Spotify, and the entire playlist can be found here.
Now, this is the collaboration you never knew you wanted, but you desperately need. The blur of genre, voice, and style between these three iconic musicians may at first seem incongruous, but the result is a fresh acoustic track that is deeply catchy. Rihanna is the star here, as her voice is so clear and vulnerable. Paired with the classic feel to the guitar and bass, Rihanna sounds so soulful and unlike anything we've heard from her before. The outbursts and cries in the background are so full of joy, like a chorus of celebration. The bridge slows down and takes things seriously for a moment before the sound of the organ feels like rays of light lifting us up again. My favourite lyric is “All of my kindness is taken for weakness,” reflecting a tenderness that threads through this track, but never feels weak. It is a song that encourages joy, and I defy you not to smile when you hear it. FourFiveSeconds was featured in Billboard’s top 25 songs of 2015, but this may be one of my tracks of the decade.
No playlist of mine is complete without a The Beatles track, and this season’s is their French-sounding trippingly playful Michelle. The finger picking, the tender ballad-esque elements, and the crooning French lyrics transport the listener to a little Parisian café along the Seine, sipping un verre du vin and daydreaming of your mysterious love. It is pure escapism, and the perfect soundtrack to romanticising your own life. It is wistful and quirky, but bittersweet as the lyrics sing, “I’ll say the only words I know that you’ll understand.” This song is both about surface language differences, and core difficulties in expression during a relationship. Fundamentally, this is a song about longing and communication: what is there that is getting the way? Why can’t we tell our love what we feel? And why does that pining seem so much sexier in French?
If this song doesn’t encapsulate that feeling of youthful freedom, of escaping to the nearest beach on the hottest day of the year, and of obnoxiously laughing with your friends, then I don’t know what does. The lyrics invite you to throw caution to the wind – “What if / What if we run away? / What if / What if we left today? / What if we said goodbye to safe and sound?” - and live in the moment. It’s an upbeat, synthy pop song that sparkles with fun, all of which compliments Sivan’s smooth vocals perfectly. It’s a song to be played loudly, in a euphoric state of fun.
This whole album is phenomenal, but Green & Gold has such a warmth to it, thanks to La Havas’ rich soulful voice and the stupendously good use of saxophone. The song is self-reflective in it’s lyrics – “Six years old / Staring at my nose in the mirror / Trying to dip my toes in the mirror / Thinking 'Who's that girl?' / And 'Does the mirror world go on forever?'” – while embodying a shimmering passion in the form of laying back on vivid viridian grass and watching the amber and salmon skies with your lover - “Every sunrise I know / Those eyes you gave to me / That let me see / Where I come from.” Frankly, this song drips with a springtime sex appeal, that is understated and invitingly golden.
Lean back and enjoy the vocals of Leon Bridges on this mellow, hazy, warm track by Khruangbin. It evokes a charming image: hands dancing in the breeze out of a car window, mid afternoon sun reflecting off the driver’s aviators, the smell of tropical suncream. Close your eyes, enjoy the warm air on your skin, and listen to this moment of peace and warmth.
I really love Michael Kiwanuka. To me, he has the perfect voice: characterful and complimented by gorgeous vocalisations and a simmering drum beat here. The bass deserves an honourable mention, too. You may recognise this song as the opening track of Big Little Lies, and whenever I hear it, I think of overcast days at the beach. There is such a tenderness in this song, which honestly feels like pulling a cardigan on as dusk settles.
This song is largely instrumental for the first two and a half minutes. There is a gentle bounce to the bass before violins, like a cool breeze, drift in. The guitar and steel pans gently build warmth and glowing atmosphere of sun. Then, the lyrics of UK lyricist Holly Walker: “Over in our glasshouses / Making hot air rise / All this time / Now it rains inside” perfectly encapsulate the unpredictable nature of British weather. There is a fragility to the warmth, that in a heartbeat may become fragile as glass and cool as rain. The song is wonderfully layered: at once both gentle and powerful, cool and sunny. A beauty of a track.
Can you believe this song came out in 2006, and still sounds as fresh as it does? I was ten, and I can still remember this album playing in my mother’s car CD player. My brother and I used to bug my mum to let us put the windows down, and much to his annoyance I would always sing along. The lyrics are equally as iconic, and the section "Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely / Sipping tea in a bar by the road side /(Just relax, just relax)" is powerfully poetic relatable. The images are visual, and the sentiment strong. "Maybe sometimes we feel afraid, but it's all right" becomes all the more poignant in times of heightened anxiety. This song is a staple, now, for when the days grow warmer and longer. I pull it out year after year, like a favourite pair of sandals. It is joy and melancholy perfectly held in balance, and I will always come back here in a repetition that somehow still feels like a fresh start.