Hi <<First Name>> <<Last Name>>! For the best viewing experience, view this email in your browser. |  | | Week Ending March 7th40 years ago today, Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill became the first rap album to hit No.1 on the Billboard 200, paving the way for the 237 other rap albums that have since achieved this feat. Click here for a Spotify playlist with the songs mentioned in this email. | | | BIGGEST Songs of the Week 📈 |  | Last week, we wrote about how non-English songs are dominating airwaves and topping charts. Camila Cabello’s new single Bam Bam, which was released on the Cuban-Mexican singer’s 25th birthday, isn’t quite a non-English song, but it does feature bilingual vocals and a salsa/cumbia-infused beat. The Fifth Harmony alumnus has had incredible success with Latin-influenced pop songs in the past, including her No. 1 hits Havana and Señorita. But unlike Señorita, which was a song about summer lust, Bam Bam tells the story of a bittersweet breakup. In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Cabello explained, “We had this chorus, and it basically came from the idea of a lot of my favorite Latin music that I listened to growing up, lyrically, they have this life message in a song and it’s very mostly this theme of, ‘I’m heartbroken and sometimes life sucks,’ but having a sense of humor about it and being like, ‘That’s f***king life.’ And I love the juxtaposition of that, of it being you’re dancing, but you’re also like, ‘Haha, I got fired and divorced. Haha” On the chorus, Cabello sings “Así es la vida sí,” which translates to “such is life.” The lyrics on Bam Bam directly reference fellow singer Shawn Mendes, from whom Cabello split with late last year. The singer calls out her ex for taking up surfing, something he said he’d never do, and later references selling their shared Hollywood Hills home. In December, Mendes released his own breakup song, It’ll Be Okay. In contrast to Mendes’ emotional ballad, Bam Bam is a party anthem which begs listeners to get back on their feet. 1. Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, Bam Bam (Salsa) 😑 2. Labrinth, Zendaya, I’m Tired (Art Pop) 👍👍 3. Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Wayne, ay! (Emo Trap) 🗑️ 4. Gucci Mane, Publicity Stunt (Gangsta Rap) 👍👍 5. Justin Bieber, Omah Lay, Attention (Afrobeats) 😑 6. DaBaby, NBA YoungBoy, Neighborhood Superstar (Trap) 😑 7. Charli XCX, Baby (Synth Funk) 👍👍 8. 5 Seconds of Summer, COMPLETE MESS (Pop Rock) 😑 9. Khalid, Last Call (Contemporary R&B) 😑 10. Dave, Starlight (UK Hip Hop) 👍 | | Noteworthy 📰 |  | This summer, New Kids On The Block, Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue will co-headline the second Mixtape Tour. Ahead of the tour, the late-’80s and early-’90s stars have teamed up on the single Bring Back The Time, whose video recreates iconic ‘80s music videos, including ones by Journey, Devo, Talking Heads and Madonna.
| | BEST Songs of the Week 🔥 |  | Last week, rising star Bartees Strange released his latest single Heavy Heart and announced that he had signed with the iconic London-based label 4AD. Strange’s signing to 4AD, the home of indie rock heroes The National, is especially significant given that his first release, Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy, was largely made up of The National covers. Besides The National, Strange is now also labelmates with artists such as Big Thief, Deerhunter, Future Islands and Tkay Maidza. Heavy Heart is the indie rockers first hint of new music in two years, which suggests the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2020 debut Live Forever is on its way. The anthemic tune is laced with triumphant horns, propulsive drums and sleek guitars. Despite the track’s soaring energy, Heavy Heart is a song about guilt and regret. As noted in his press release, Strange is expressing the guilt he has felt for years; guilt for the sacrifices his father made, guilt for the passing of his grandfather, guilt for the time he spent away on tour; and guilt for the success he experienced while the world suffered from the pandemic. Fortunately, Strange has an optimistic outlook on the future, even with his heavy heart. 1. Bartees Strange, Heavy Heart (Indie Rock) 👍👍👍👍 2. Wallows, At the End of the Day (Alternative Dance) 👍👍👍 3. Nilüfer Yanya, The Dealer (Indie Rock) 👍👍👍 4. Sharon Van Etten, Used To It (Ethereal Wave) 👍👍👍 5. PUP, Matilda (Power Pop) 👍👍👍 6. Nigo, Pusha T, Hear Me Clearly (Gangsta Rap) 👍👍👍 7. Wet Leg, Angelica (Indie Rock) 👍👍 8. Mallrat, Teeth (Alt Pop) 👍👍 9. Kevin Morby, This is a Photograph (Folk Rock) 👍👍 10. THUS LOVE, Inamorato (Post Punk) 👍👍 Honorable Mention: Cochise, DO IT AGAIN (Cloud Rap) 👍👍 | | Albums Spotlight 💿 |  | What genre is that? Few artists have made this question as difficult to answer as West London’s Nilüfer Yanya who effortlessly slides between sonic stylings. On her 2019 debut Miss Universe, Yanya floated between slacker rock, neo-jazz and indie pop, incorporating traces of hip hop and house throughout. On her sophomore album PAINLESS, Yanya returns with a refined palette. Though more restrained than Yanya’s debut, PAINLESS doesn’t shy away from diversity. Yanya sheds much of her soul and jazz influences in favor of garage rock sounds, inspired by artists like Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins and PJ Harvey. From the grungy Nirvana riffs on chase me, to the hypnotic Radiohead-inspired midnight sun, to the post-punk fusion with early 2000’s pop on belong with you, the direction Yanya takes her listeners is rarely predictable. Not only is the music on PAINLESS more focused than on Yanya’s debut, but so is the content. Miss Universe was a brilliant concept album which satirized the wellness industry with fake adverts and press releases. On PAINLESS, Yanya ditches the obfuscation which comes with a concept album, baring all of her anxiety and self-awareness for us to see. Nilüfer Yanya, PAINLESS (Indie Rock) 👍👍👍 vein.fm, This World is Going to Ruin You (Metalcore) 👍👍👍 Stromae, Multitude (French Dance Pop) 👍👍 The Weather Station How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars (Chamber Pop) 👍 DaBaby, NBA YoungBoy, BETTER THAN YOU (Trap) 🗑️ Other Notable Projects: Band of Horses Things Are Great, Charlotte Adigéry, Bolis Pupul, Topical Dancer, Cherry Bullet Cherry Wish (EP), Diplo Diplo, Guided By Voices Crystal Nuns Cathedral, King Von What It Means To Be King, Luna Li Duality, Rocket Punch YELLOW PUNCH (EP), Sabaton The War to End All Wars, Your Old Droog YOD Wave | | Limited Edition Vinyl Giveaway 🎁 |  | You can win a limited edition, double blue marbled vinyl of Black Country New Road’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Ants From Up There. The negative effected sleeve comes with a 20 page booklet, sticker and unlimited streaming via Bandcamp, plus high-quality download files. Ants From Up There, which was released last month, arrived a year after the band’s momentous debut For the First Time. On the record, Black Country, New Road reestablished themselves by taking their sound into unrecognizable territory — a brilliant opus on which to end frontman Isaac Wood’s tenure with the band. How it works: When you refer a friend using this sign-up link, you get entered into a raffle to win. The more you share, the better chance you have. Please note that your email should be listed in the optional box at the bottom of the form, the other three fields should reflect your friend’s information. Winners will be chosen at the end of the month. | | WORST Song of the Week 🗑️Madonna, Sickkick, Fireboy DML, Frozen (Remix) (Trap) | | Next week: Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa release their single Sweetest Pie. Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe here. Have any comments or suggestions? Contact us here. | | To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe here. | |
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