Today is a weird combination of nervousness and ambition. I am waiting to hear on a job I’m interviewing for, a job I want, and can see myself doing. But all the waiting, even though there is a lot of positive movement, is a lit powder keg explosive to my anxiety. I’m combating it as best I can. Yoga and therapy this morning. Coffee. Lots of water. Music. Lots of music. Remembering to eat and take my meds. Writing. It’s helping. Some. But inside, I’m jittery and a jangled up box of nerves.
The state of the world is more than upsetting. I find myself longing to be back in the 90s, not that they were perfect, but some of the things we are facing right now, back then, I would never have believed would be a possible future. It scares me, shakes me, knocks me over in grief, but it is also fueling a fire in me. I need all that fire right now. I think we all do.
I need all the music, too.
GIVE ME FIVE…JUNE 27, 2022
Available to listen on Spotify and YouTube
SONG 1: “WAVEY” by ALIKA and CLIQ
“So, let me tell you like this.
I’m who you’re looking for,
I’m the wiz.
You ain’t seen another like this.”
Another new discovery from the series I’m watching – Conversations with Friends. Oh how I love a show with good music in it. This track makes me want to move, dance, jump up and down. It is part of the fire me up soundtrack.
Alika McGillivary adds vocals to CLiQ and DJ/producers Robin M and The Shapeshifters’ Max Reich, on this high energy track from 2017. Alika is a singer-songwriter from West London. To learn and hear more from Alika, dance on over HERE.
SONG 2: “SPITTING OFF THE EDGE OF THE WORLD” BY YEAH YEAH YEAHS AND PERFUME GENIUS
“Dark, dark places shall be none.
She’s melting houses of gold.”
Karen O and Michael Hadreas (Perfume Genius) together? Exactly what I needed today.
I’ve been a Yeah Yeah Yeahs fan since the “Maps” era, and fell hard for Perfume Genius after hearing “Queen” in a quintessential Mr. Robot scene (one of my all-time favorite music-in-a-series instances). I would love to see both play live someday.
For more Yeah Yeah Yeahs, say yes and click HERE.
For more Perfume Genius, spin your fingers over HERE, and click.
SONG 3: “BYE BYE BYE” BY SUZANNA SON
“I know that I can’t take no more.
It ain’t no lie.
I wanna see you out that door.
Baby, bye bye bye.”
I was this many days old when I realized how much I wanted a cover to ‘NSync’s “Bye Bye Bye”. Thank you, Suzanna Son, for the gift I never knew I wanted.
I’ve not seen the film, Red Rocket. Not sure I’d even heard of it until today. I happened on this fabulous cover while aurally perusing my Spotify Discovery playlist today. What a great discovery.
Suzanna Son is an actor, model and singer. You can learn and hear more of her HERE.
SONG 4: “BEFORE YOU GOTTA GO” BY COURTNEY BARNETT
“Before you gotta go, go, go, go.
I wanted you to know, know, know, know.
You’re always on my mind.”
It’s been a slow-burn of a music love affair for me and Courtney Barnett. I’ve liked her. I’ve liked her a lot. I’ve liked her a lot for a long time. But now, that like has evolved into love in all caps.
I had a chance to see her play live during her last tour, and wasn’t able to go. I’m still sad about it. Hoping for another chance soon.
This song is my latest Courtney crush song.
SONG 5: “MOTION SICKNESS” BY PHOEBE BRIDGERS
“I have emotional motion sickness.
Somebody roll the windows down.
There are no words in the English language,
I could scream to drown you out.”
It’s been awhile since I listened to “Motion Sickness”. I’ve spent more recent Phoebe listening time with her Punisher album (though I do love “MS” and the Stranger In the Alps album, too). I woke up this morning with the part of the song I lyric-quoted above in my head and it felt appropriate to right now in so many ways.
I know this song was written about a past relationship Phoebe had, but those lyrics fit the state of things right now – and I do, truly, feel like I have emotional motion sickness.
Phoebe is the best.
To hear more of Phoebe Bridgers (and you should, really, you won’t regret it), click HERE.
