wongie's music world

WONGIE SOUL SONG OF THE WEEK: rebecca ferguson - too good to lose / too good to lose (seamus haji remix)

2012-02-03T01:22:00.000-05:00

rebecca ferguson - too good to lose
[now this is more like it, rebecca ferguson offers her latest single and it's the perfect blend of retro and modern soul (you can hear shades of the soul house classic 'you got the love' in the background). the video makes no sense whatsoever (um... did they really have to fly over to venice beach to walk down it aimlessly?), but it is nice to see our shy UK x-factor runner up smile so freely in the sun.]

want a more upbeat interpretation? check out this perfectly hands up in the air remix by the ever reliable seamus haji:

rebecca ferguson - too good to lose (seamus haji remix)

INDIE GAL: beth jeans houghton & the hooves of destiny - sweet tooth bird

2012-02-02T10:00:00.012-05:00

beth jeans houghton & the hooves of destiny - sweet tooth bird
[with their debut album due for release next week, beth jeans houghton and the hooves of destiny offer up a fresh example of their idiosyncratic music (with trumpets and layered vocals all in tow!) these guys are definitely on the radar for 2012, so hopefully we'll be hearing alot more of them in the coming months!]

WONGIE SWEET SONG OF THE WEEK: francois & the atlas mountains - les plus beaux

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

francois & the atlas mountains - les plus beaux
[get ready to get your awwww on! francois marry and his band of merry men bring us the sweetest sunset roadtrip soundtrack for the new year. throw in elements of graceland and a singalong chorus and it truly is the most beautiful one! le sigh...]

LIVE WONGIE: girls generation - boys (live @ david letterman / live @ kelly)

2012-02-02T03:12:00.001-05:00

unleashing onto the US national airwaves in the past 24 hours, girls generation offered up their brand of catchy watered down pop and collective dance moves to hopefully a nice kpop crossover segway. weirdly, i can't look away even though everything about them screams "factory made". what do you guys think?

girls generation - boys (live @ late show with david letterman)

girls generation - boys (live @ kelly)

and finally if you wanna see the original video check it out below:

girls generation - boys

WONGIE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: ke$ha feat wiz khalifa, andre 3000, T.I. and lil wayne - sleazy (remix 2.0)

2012-02-01T11:00:00.001-05:00

ke$ha feat wiz khalifa, andre 3000, T.I. and lil wayne - sleazy (remix 2.0)
[director nicholaus goossen really brings on the sleazy and i can't look away!]

AUDIO BUZZ: chairlift - met before

2012-02-01T10:00:00.026-05:00

chairlift - met before
[they're baaack! the "bruises" duo have dropped their cutesy pop sound and returned with a hybrid mix of cinematic retro-electro soundtrack with uplifting catchy choruses. edgy pop? don't care, just as long as it's wonderful to listen to!]

WONGIE INDIE SONG OF THE WEEK: lianne la havas - forget

2012-02-01T09:00:00.023-05:00

lianne la havas - forget
[though we've gone gaga over lianne since discovering her back in november, it's especially exciting to see her release material that showcases another side of her musical talents. funked out with an indie edge, this track will no doubt be a showstopper when performed live (and definitely a reason to check out this girl when she gigs at a city near you).]

DANCE BITCH DANCE: david guetta feat nicki minaj - turn me on

2012-02-01T03:13:00.000-05:00

david guetta feat nicki minaj - turn me on
[offering one of her worst rap verses ever (i-i-i-i-i-i ?!), thank goodness nicki's vocals rise above what we've heard from her in the past. the song is crazy popular, so what do i know?]

POP GALS: stooshe feat travie mccoy - love me

2012-01-31T10:00:00.014-05:00

stooshe feat travie mccoy - love me
[there's something so londonTLC about this trio (the over the top outfits, the sassy but safe attitude) that i'm kind of curious about them. the song follows the retro goodiness formula that is so popular these days which is probably why i haven't offered my undying love. but they're on the radar...]

WONGIE SOUL SONG OF THE WEEK: maverick sabre - no one

2012-01-31T09:00:00.002-05:00

maverick sabre - no one
[third single from maverick sabre's hotly anticipated debut album 'lonely are the brave' and it's mega catchy and mega lush! i'm so in!]

NEW BAND OF SKULLS!: band of skulls - bruises

2012-01-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

band of skulls - bruises
[okay, i admit that i was less than flattering in my previous posting about the band back in april 2011. i was really turned off by their derivative songwriting skills (everything sounding like something else) and kind of wrote them off. now fast forward to 2012 and it looks like the UK trio have regrouped and come back with new material that showcase a possibly exciting new upcoming album. i'm digging the current single and will await their album 'sweet sour' to figure out if this is a one off or a possible new love affair!]

WONGIE SONG OF THE MONTH: clock opera - once and for all

2012-01-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

clock opera - once and for all
[oh boy... for those who know the wongie favored style of music, will know instantly that this track is just pure aural gold. building melodies leading to a soaring chorus of pain and heartbreak with the instrumentation to back the drama; THIS is heaven! throw in the fact that this london quartet strip down sounds only to bring them back together in loops and harmony makes them an interesting live act to chase down for 2012. i'm buzzing yo!]

WONGIE (too short) VIDEO OF THE WEEK: perfume genius - hood

2012-01-29T11:00:00.000-05:00

perfume genius - hood
[nothing like bringing in gay porn daddy arpad miklos as your fictitious tender lover. with a way too short video, perfume genius (aka mike hadreas) offers up a borderline feasible explanation of this relationship (something about the makeup and the costumes are his freaky deaky true self that he'll never show his lover... um whatevs) and enough interest to checking out his upcoming album 'put your back n 2 it']

WONGIE REMIXES OF THE WEEK: florence and the machine - no light no light (spector ryan gosling remix) / (tv on the radio remix)

2012-01-28T09:00:00.002-05:00

florence and the machine - no light no light (spector ryan gosling remix)
[uk band spector offer up a massive sounding remix of flo's current single and i have to admit that i definitely like it better than the original! yaay for remixes!]

florence and the machine - no light no light (tv on the radio remix)
[this just in, dave sitek from tv on the radio has also offered his hand at the remixing decks and come up with this solid chaotic rerub that once again kicks the original version in the bum. yaaay!]

WONGIE (other) SONG OF THE WEEK: the shins - simple song

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

the shins - simple song
[they're baaaaaack!!! after 5 long years (wtf?!) james mercer brings wonderful new material and a new band for 2012! i am beyond happy! nuff said really!]

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: ed sheeran - drunk

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

ed sheeran - drunk
[3rd single off the wonderful '+' album and i'm still in sigh mode when i hear his music!]

DANCE BITCH DANCE: dj fresh feat rita ora - hot right now

2012-01-26T10:00:00.016-05:00

dj fresh feat rita ora - hot right now
[though not as instant as their #1 smash 'louder', this track definitely has the instant likeability factor that'll infuse the pop charts with a bit of dubstep lite. definitely not a problem!]

WONGIE INDIE DANCE SONG(s) OF THE WEEK: jess mills - pixelated people / gabriel (roy davis jr cover)

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

jess mills - pixelated people
[produced by sam frank, UK songstress jess mills looks set to take on 2012 as a one to watch in the club/dubstep/uk funky world. these tracks are killa and definitely going on repeat for the week!]

jess mills - gabriel (roy davis jr cover)
[oh i forgot about this 1997 gorgeous house track! so wonderful that jess offers up a lovely tribute cover just as classy as the original!]

WONGIE POP SONG OF THE WEEK: gym class heroes feat neon hitch - ass back home (aka "get yourself back home")

2012-01-25T10:00:00.016-05:00

gym class heroes feat neon hitch - ass back home (aka "get yourself back home")
[them gym class heroes sure know how to write a catchy hook! this time they bring in saucy gal neon hitch into their chart successful web.]

WONGIE BALLAD OF THE WEEK: jason mraz - i won't give up

2012-01-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

jason mraz - i won't give up
[after breaking the top 10 of the billboard charts with very little radio play and promo, it's safe to say that jason mraz has nothing to fear about coming back after such a long break. with his album not due til may (!!), it looks like jason will be doing a few mini concerts creating the kind of word of mouth love that he cultivated over the past few years. i'm totally in!]

want more? check out jason perform the song live with toca rivera at a house show below!

jason mraz and toca rivera - i won't give up (live @ house show)

WONGIE INDIE SONG OF THE MONTH: sleigh bells - comeback kid (video premiere)

2012-01-25T08:05:00.001-05:00

sleigh bells - comeback kid
[we loved the audio of the song so much we called it our indie song of the month, now here is the kickin new video premiered just for your pleasure! TURN IT UP!!!!]

FREE MP3 YO!: rusko - somebody to love

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

rusko - somebody to love
[i swear to you that when i'm around the age of the adults in the video, i will still be bopping my geriatric head to some serious beatz! this i promise you! while i'm at it, give it up to the lovely folks over at rcrd lbl for rusko's latest single free mp3!]

WONGIE INDIE SONG OF THE WEEK: justice - on'n'on

2012-01-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

justice - on'n'on

[file this under F-ing awesome! director alexandre courtes (white stripes, u2) brings on the trippy and practically insists that the next bond movie should be composed by this duo! prog rock in the house and i LOVE it!]

WONGIE LOVELY SONG OF THE WEEK: ryan adams - chains of love

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

ryan adams - chains of love
[bring on the sighs cause ryan adams offer up a case of the lovely's with his latest single.]

NEW SNOW PATROL!: snow patrol - in the end

2012-01-23T09:00:00.011-05:00

snow patrol - in the end
[3rd single off their 'fallen empires' album, this song in particular sounds a tad too coldplay-esque for my tastes. though i have to admire the growing drama of lead singer gary lightbody in his videos these days!]

WONGIE SOUL SONG OF THE WEEK: emeli sande - next to me

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

emeli sande - next to me
[we have been in love with emeli since the first time we heard her and with her latest single we heart her to new spiritual heights. i simply cannot wait to hear the rest of her debut album coming out next month!]

WONGIE INDIE SONG OF THE MONTH: sleigh bells - comeback kid

2012-01-22T23:30:00.000-05:00

sleigh bells - comeback kid
[they're baaaaack! and they are rocking the walls off with their latest single. calling their tunes more r&b, i'm sure their hipster fans would be shocked to align themselves to that genre of music. i'm game whatever they throw in my face and in this case it's a blast of pure stank facing genius! can't wait to hear more from their upcoming album reign of terror!]

NEW MIIKE SNOW!: miike snow - paddling out

2012-01-22T22:00:00.000-05:00

miike snow - paddling out
[embracing their inner disco fiend, the official first single off miike snow's 'happy to you' album is out and i'm secretly hoping that a barrage of killer remixes will be up their sleeve (cause i'm kind of underwhelmed with the original). still loving these guys and can't wait to hear more!]

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

2012-01-21T06:34:00.000-05:00

WONGIE INDIE SONG OF THE WEEK: arctic monkeys - black treacle

2012-01-21T04:44:00.000-05:00

arctic monkeys - black treacle
[already the 4th single off the arctic monkeys' 'suck it and see album', i'm definitely feeling this is their catchiest most crossover track from the album (and since i'm such a pophead, it's a good thing for my simple tastes!). i always love the band when alex turner offers his cabaret vocals, throw in the retroness of the track itself and you've got our fave indie single of the week! huzzah!]

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: nicki minaj - stupid hoe

2012-01-21T04:25:00.000-05:00

nicki minaj - stupid hoe
[representing her latest alter ego roman zolanski, nicki's latest single is a nasty beat ridden frontin' piece of genius. it's sounding that 'pink friday: roman reloaded' is going to be alot more edgy than the poppiness of 'superbass'. i'm not complaining, i'm just trying to figure out how the heck i'm going to booty shake to this...]

Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: santigold - big mouth

2012-01-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

santigold - big mouth
[four LONG years!! so with much ecstatic pleasure let us welcome the return of santigold (with the chaotic help of buraka som systema on the producing tip!) turn this mutha up! oh and if you want it for free, go to her website now!]

WONGIE HAPPY SONG OF THE WEEK: grouplove - tongue tied (live @ jimmy kimmel)

2012-01-19T09:00:00.001-05:00

grouplove - tongue tied (live @ jimmy kimmel)
[popping up on jimmy kimmel last night, los angeles by way of NYC band grouplove offered up their brand of happy happy to a national audience. already buzzed since it was the main track for the ipod touch ad campaign late last year, i'm hoping these kids break through to crossover status very very soon!]

wanna hear the original? check out the catchy as hell original recording below:

grouplove - tongue tied

WONGIE POP SONG OF THE WEEK: katy perry - the one that got away (acoustic version)

2012-01-18T02:25:00.000-05:00

katy perry - the one that got away (acoustic version)
[i've been hoping for an acoustic version of this song since the beginning and here we have it! produced by jon brion, this is glorious!]

NEW ONE DIRECTION!: one directions - one thing

2012-01-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

one directions - one thing
[3rd single by 1D! cue screaming tweens (and maybe 1 wongie) now!]

NEW AZEALIA BANKS!: azealia banks - needsumluv

2012-01-16T22:05:00.001-05:00

azealia banks - needsumluv
[though this isn't as amahzing as 212 (it honestly sounds a tad robyn, which is not a bad thing), this new track does showcase the soul side of our gal azealia banks. i'm still in but hoping to hear something kicking soon (she is recording with paul (rolling in the deep) epworth yo! oh and you can download it if you love this song!]

WONGIE INDIE POP SONG OF THE WEEK: fun. feat janelle monae - we are young

2012-01-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

fun. feat janelle monae - we are young
[i admit that i first heard this song on an episode of glee late last year and kind of fell in love with it. anthemic and sweet without being too cheesy, i was even more surprised to see that the awesome janelle monae had leant her star power to the original track. hailing from new york, this rock/pop act look set to make 2012 a crossover year for them. you have been warned!]

wanna see the performance that started it all:

glee - we are young (fun. cover)

HAPPY SUNDAY: 2 versions of gotye's 'somebody that i used to know'

2012-01-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

enjoy these random variations of the gotye song! happy sunday y'all!

walk off the earth - somebody that i used to know (gotye cover)

the jane doze - kids, set fire to somebody that i used to know (mash up featuring sebastian ingrosso, adele and gotye)

DANCE BITCH DANCE: beyonce vs jack beats - countdown (top billin party edit)

2012-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

beyonce vs jack beats - countdown (top billin party edit)
[just in time for carnival! turn it up yo!!!!]

WONGIE COVER OF THE WEEK: nicola roberts - memory of you (girls aloud cover)

2012-01-13T10:00:00.002-05:00

nicola roberts - memory of you (girls aloud cover)
[pop gal nicola roberts has gone and done something so smart for her (still struggling solo) career! she will be re-recording a few classic girls aloud (the girl band that she started with) b-sides for the hard core fans. interestingly enough, this electronic kylie-esque cover is actually good enough to be a proper single. perhaps a double A side release people?]

NEW CHIDDY BANG!: chiddy bang - ray charles

2012-01-13T09:00:00.001-05:00

chiddy bang - ray charles
[oh the fun loving rap duo of chiddy bang return with a fun loving ode to the soul legend ray charles! i can only assume that their upcoming album 'breakfast' will be chock full of catchy tracks and surprising collaborations, which also means your party soundtrack for the next few months! bring it!]

WONGIE SONG(s) OF THE WEEK: graffiti6 - free / rolling in the deep (adele cover)

2012-01-12T10:00:00.003-05:00

graffiti6 - free
[back in 2007 we fell in love with a soulful singer/songwriter with a voice of butter named jamie scott. unfortunately his music got lost in the midst of all the releases that year and he found himself losing out on the success that he so deserved. fast forward to 2012 and something about the crazy harmonies and strong soulful approach of this song 'free' made me perk my ears up. so imagine my happiness when i discovered that my beloved jamie teamed up with producer tommy d (adele/kanye west) and created the new incarnation of graffiti6. the collaboration is magical and i am definitely putting their debut album 'colours' on my radar for the year. welcome back jamie!]

want more? check out jamie and co's lovely cover of adele's classic track below:

graffiti6 - rolling in the deep (adele cover)
[breathless!]

WONGIE SONG OF THE MONTH: dry the river - weights & measures

2012-01-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

dry the river - weights & measures
[i really shouldn't say too much about this song only that it's epic, beautifully heartbreaking and well... our song of the month. thank you dry the river!]

dry the river - weights & measures (live @ bush hall)
[check out this amazing song performed live by the boys (especially the acapella intro sans mic!)]

WONGIE INDIE SOUL SONG OF THE WEEK: various cruelties - great unknown

2012-01-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

various cruelties - great unknown
[we tipped this soul sourced rock band back in april and it looks like they are gaining momentum in 2012 as their current single is playlisted on the influential UK indie stations xfm and bbc radio 6. i have a good feeling about these boys and look forward to seeing them gain major appreciation in the coming months!]

NEW MIKE POSNER!: mike posner - looks like sex

2012-01-11T08:03:00.000-05:00

mike posner - looks like sex
[um... at least there's a new anthem for strippers this 2012!]

WE HEART EMELI SANDE!: emeli sande - next to me / heaven (alpines remix)

2012-01-11T07:46:00.003-05:00

with her recent status as the brit awards critics choice for 2012, singer/songwriter emeli sande is starting up her amazing year with a new single AND her highly anticipated debut album 'our version of events'. below is single number 3 'next to me' and an atmospheric remix of her amazing 'heaven' track by the alpines. we continue to heart emeli sande in 2012!

emeli sande - next to me

emeli sande - heaven (alpines remix)

WONGIE POP SONG OF THE WEEK: cher lloyd feat astro - want u back

2012-01-11T07:32:00.000-05:00

cher lloyd feat astro - want u back
[wow, this is sure fast! x-factor US contestant astro gets his first dib at a proper gig with this catchy gem from good ol cher lloyd. the fun song is too good to mess up and astro gets a kickin intro into the world market... win win!]

AUDIO BUZZ: goldfrapp - melancholy sky

2012-01-11T07:16:00.000-05:00

goldfrapp - melancholy sky
[the other new track taken from their upcoming greatest hits 'singles' album, goldfrapp offer up a lush mellow tune for the new year. le sigh!]

WONGIE POP SONG OF THE WEEK: scissor sisters vs krystal pepsy (aka azealia banks) - shady love

2012-01-02T09:34:00.002-05:00

scissor sisters vs krystal pepsy (aka azealia banks) - shady love
[it's 2012 and scissor sisters offers up the 1st pop gem of the year! it's a mess but weirdly genius at the same time. even though the track fuses sass and dub and disco and latin house all in one go, it's still a scissor sisters track (and one that sounds relevant to the times which they seem to have missed out on with the last album). cool points go to azealia banks who has sprinkled some of her cool dust on these guys!]

BEST OF 2011: best songs #1-25

2011-12-31T13:48:00.001-05:00

#1-25 (the youtube player has all the videos above in a playlist, press >> for the next song)
1. Rihanna feat Calvin Harris – We Found Love
[there's no doubt that this is wholly a calvin harris production, but it's riri's melancholic vocals over his drowning beats that bring this club tune to the top of my 2011 list. i haven't felt so elated and yet kind of bummed out at the same time in ages...maybe cause it's a running theme of my year? screw it, lets dance!]

2. Ed Sheeran – Lego House / The A Team
[the storytelling abilities of young ed is made only more impressive with the fact that his knack for strong melodies and shaggy presentation crossed over into the UK mainstream in a BIG way this year. proof that there is still love for the singer/songwriter in this day and age. easily my favorite debut artist of the year!]

3. Beyonce – Countdown / Who Runs The World (Girls)
[none of her songs became zeitgeist hits this year. instead they filtered down slowly to where people kind of had to discover songs from '4' on their own (it didn't help that every week there was a new single released to crowd the market). but when they did discover the tunes, boy was it fun. some would probably highlight the more mid tempo/ballad aspects of the album, but for me, these two tracks were the ultimate zig zag messed up tunes that just kept on giving with each listen. genius!]

4. Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
[when a 5 year old can sing along to your music, you know you've hit the jackpot! like a boom ba doom boom superbass jackpot!]

5. Emeli Sande – Heaven / Daddy
[brit awards critics choice for 2012 deserves all the accolades she's been getting over the past few months as one of UK's most sought after songwriters AND a dynamic voice in the charts today. perhaps it's the heavily influenced massive attack soul structure that makes me love her so much, but whatever my reasons, she came up with two seriously strong songs for the year and i can't wait to hear a proper album from emeli in 2012!]

6. Lana Del Rey – Video Games
[my personal issues with the lana del rey 'creation' aside, this haunting song is just brilliant on it's own merit.]

7. The Wanted – Glad You Came
[during birthday 2011 (yes i title my birthday's) this song easily became the theme song for the month long experience (yes i celebrate in month form). what would have been in my guilty pleasure list, got the wanted a hot slot in my top 10! oh and it helps that the song is so cheesy good!]

8. James Blake – Wilhelm Scream / A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)
[if you didn't discover james blake during 2011, then you certainly missed out on the james blake experience. if you don't know what that means, then plug your headphones in your player, press play for the above two tracks, close your eyes and let your heart break. sigh.]

9. Maverick Sabre – Let Me Go
[the UK is pumping out these amazing rapper/vocalists (or is it a vocalist/rappers) these days (thanks to success of plan b in 2010) and maverick was easily the one that got the most traction. with this awesome song, i feel like we've only hit the tip of his potential talents. more in 2012 yo!]

10. The Vaccines – If You Wanna / Wetsuit
[something about the vaccines that makes me love them so! maybe it's their self proclaimed love of "50's rock 'n' roll, 60's garage and girl groups, 70's punk, 80's american hardcore and good pop music". easily my fave indie band of the year!]

11. Adele – Rumor Has It / Set Fire To The Rain / Rolling In The Deep (Jamie XX shuffle)
[you're probably wondering how is it possible that adele didn't rank higher on the chart and the reason is that 'rolling in the deep' and 'someone like you' actually was my #5 of last years (unpublished) chart. so the above tracks were the only ones eligible for 2011... and boy were they dramatic ones! throw in the amazing jamie xx shuffle of 'rolling' and you've got adele representing very nicely at #11!]

12. Gotye feat Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know
[the most bitter breakup song of the year is also the most whimsical and most australian (their song of the year yo!)]

13. Ben Howard – The Fear / Keep Your Head Up / Old Pine
[my favorite folkie singer/songwriter of the year offered up the amazing 'every kingdom' album filled with sweet gentle tracks and uplifting lyrics that also offered images of dreamy escapism. if there is any soundtrack to fit your rural farm to table outdoors lifestyle, THIS is it! love this guy!]

14. SBTRKT feat Roses Gabor - Pharoahs
[though this isn't the track that got sbtrkt their critical props, it IS the track that got my dance loving, neck boppin head rolling. if there is such a thing of hipster house, then this would be their 2011 anthem!]

15. The Civil Wars – Barton Hallow / Poison & Wine
[joy williams and john paul white are harmonizing monsters! their brand of americana meets country meets AC balladry is a cross genre success story for the year. with a debut so phenomenal and assured, one can only imagine what the next 12 months will be like for this talented duo.]

16. Pistol Annies – Hell On Heels
[who'd have thought that miranda lambert and her two gal pals ashley monroe and angaleena presley would make one of the best down and dirty sassy country blues tracks of the year. when their three part harmonies collide, these gals are definitely dangerous in both feminine swagger and earthy confidence... and i LOVE that!]

17. Little Dragon – Ritual Union
[there's something about the mellow intensity of these swedes that just draws you in and keeps you there. perhaps it's the cool demeanor of lead singer yukimi nagano or the intricate electronica playing in the background. whatever the reason it sure is hypnotic and brilliant!]

18. Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks
[how could you not love this massive pop crossover indie track?]

19. The Milk – (All I Wanted Was) Danger
[i have to admit that i discovered this essex band via the amazing record of the day website. at the time, i knew nothing of these guys except for the fact that they wrote killer retro soul tracks and the lead singer could surely belt. fast forward to this month and the band just announced their signage to a major label which means you'll be hearing ALOT more of these guys in 2012!]

20. Nicola Roberts – Lucky Day / Beat of My Drum
['the ginge one' from girls aloud stepped up to the plate and offered an album full of left of center pop gems. though the public didn't appreciate it as much, nicola roberts sure surprised and entertained the rest of us who did.]

21. Florence and the Machine – Shake It Off
[in 2011, flo reached a point in her career where she not only got the love of the fashion elite, but confirmed her standing as a tremendous live stage presence. unfortunately her 2nd album 'ceremonials' was kind of meh and the only track that matched her larger than life machine was this epic one. shame really...]

22. Cher Lloyd feat Mike Posner – With UR Love
[cutesy never sounded so good! x-factor UK alum cher lloyd offered one of the catchiest pop tracks of the year and still threw us some stank face in the process. i kind of love her!]

23. Azealia Banks - 212
[this gal is going to be HUGE in 2012! azealia manages to front nasty and yet still come off as a sassy gal with a twinkle in her eye. i can't get enough of this track and you shouldn't too!]

24. Michael Kiwanuka – I’m Getting Ready / Home Again
[there is something so simple and comforting from the very second you hear michael's vocals. with his acoustic soul made better with lush orchestrations, the kiwanuka effect is akin to curling up under your fave blanket and feeling wonderful. le sigh...]

25. Metronomy – The Bay
[this slice of chilled disco electronica was easily THE soundtrack for sunset getaways and lazy waterfront dreaming. if there's ever been an excuse to kick back and just soak it all up, it is now!]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!: zooey deschanel & joseph gordon levitt - what are you doing new years eve

2011-12-31T00:18:00.002-05:00

zooey deschanel & joseph gordon levitt - what are you doing new years eve
[happy new years folks!]

BEST OF 2011: best songs #26-50

2011-12-29T01:38:00.287-05:00

#26-50 (the youtube player has all the videos above in a playlist, press >> for the next song)
26. Jessie J – Nobody’s Perfect / Abracadabra / Domino
[though i'm a fan of the jessie j, i do feel that the hard selling of this talented artist (the harsh image, the overproduced videos, the way she sings so hard live that she goes sharp) has turned me against her by the end of the year (but still not enough to showcase three wonderful highlights from her album). it's a shame cause this girl can be great... she just needs to tone it down a notch!]

27. Bombay Bicycle Club – Lights Out, Words Gone
[featuring the lovely harmony of lucy rose, this dreamy indie pop number has a disarmingly mature groove underneath that showcases just how solid their music really is. brilliant!]

28. Young The Giant – Cough Syrup / My Body
[what a wonderful debut from this irvine, cali band! lead singer sameer gadhia has a killer caberet-esque quality to his vocals that draws you in instantly. throw in the fact that they write incredibly catchy hooks and you've got one of the better new acts of the year.]

29. Rizzle Kicks – Mama Do The Hump
[you gotta give it up to the rizzle kicks boys as they cranked out one sweet gem after another in 2011 (they also collaborated very nicely to #1 with olly murs). but it was this norman cook (fatboy slim) produced number that made the best impression... i mean they even got their mum's to perform in the video! do the hump mama!]

30. Maroon 5 feat Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger
[one of the peppiest songs of the year reminded us that both maroon 5 and christina still had it in them to be a part of the pop zeitgeist. it was instant love during the summer and remained a crowd pleaser for the rest of 2011]

31. David Guetta feat Sia - Titanium
[though david guetta had alot of solid collaborations on his hit friendly album 'nothing but the beat', it was this awesome number with the always smashing sia that kicked them all to the curb. i'm a sucker for defiant anthems and this one really made the cut for 2011!]

32. Wretch 32 feat Josh Kimbra – Don’t Go
[my fave british rapper of the year, wretch 32 not only brought grime into the mainstream but still managed to produce this beautiful mid tempo breakup ballad to the top of the UK charts. sweetness!]

33. Calvin Harris – Feel So Close / feat Kelis - Bounce
[calvin just cranks out the hits doesn't he? producing smart dance songs that also translate to the top of the charts, this DJ/producer made a massive impact in 2011, but more on that in the next half of my year end list!]

34. Lady Antebellum – We Owned The Night
[if there is any such thing as a 'stadium' song for lady antebellum, this is it. three part harmonies, bygone lyrics and a sentiment that just asks for collective 'whoa'-ing at the end!]

35. Professor Green feat Emeli Sande – Read All About It
[emeli's part in this massive hit is easily my favorite vocal hook of the year! but as for professor green's lyrics about his daddy... i don't really have any strong opinion about it. oh well, back to emeli! i wanna sing... i wanna shooooout...]

36. M83 – Midnight City
[anthony gonzalez really knows how to make shoegaze electronica with a strong nod to the 80's! the layers of vocals and riffs is just one of the most glorious sounds of the year. love!]

37. Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend
[robyn is the only electro dance diva that comes up with lyrics that is filled with such yearning. she ruled the 'best of' list (#1 yo!) last year and then came back in june with this insta-love experience! desperation never sounded so good!]

38. Joe Goddard feat Valentina - Gabriel
[just like hot chip member joe goddard to throw down beats and grooves to make valentina's vocals into a house anthem with lo-fi leanings. genius!]

39. Switch feat Andrea Martin – I Still Love You
[a heartbreaking soulful song wrapped around a minimalist beat and yelp loop made this song into one of the saddest club tracks of the year. brilliant]

40. Kanye West and Jay Z – Niggas in Paris
[the back track is so balls hard that shit crazy! easily my fave track from their solid 'watch the throne' album.]

41. Amy Winehouse – Our Day Will Come
[sigh... we miss you amy]

42. Nero feat Alana - Promises
[easily my fave crossover dubstep track of the year due to the awesome waawaawaa bass line that kicks in during the chorus. solid!]

43. Sugarland and Matt Nathanson – Run / Tonight
[jennifer nettles is one of my favorite female vocalists around at the moment and i openly claim my love for sugarland and everything she does. so there!]

44. Lianne La Havas – Age / Final Form (Everything Everything cover)
[many of us fell in love with lianne's jazzy vocal sway on jools holland with the confident simplicity of her 'age' performance. so much so that i have strong anticipation for 2012 when lianne will show us just how potentially incredible her talents will be. bring it!]

45. James Vincent McMorrow – Higher Love (Steve Winwood cover)
[nothing like folkie james to bring back the love to this steve winwood classic. simply beautiful.]

46. Kelly Clarkson – What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)
[one of pop strongest voices returned this year with this solid dance rock electro disco mash anthem. try not to fist bump to this when you hear it at your next bar mitzfah/wedding/top 40 party!]

47. Laura Marling - Sophia
[oh laura... fast becoming the folk voice of our generation... finally finding the confidence in her music to create something so very 'laura marling'. the gut feeling is that the next album will be the definitive example of her true talents, this is just a teaser.]

48. Washed Out – Amor Fati
[chill out 80's electronica made all the better with the accompanying journeyman video shot entirely in iceland. just so dreamy!!]

49. Birdy – Skinny Love (Bon Iver cover) / White Winter Hymnal (Fleet Foxes cover)
[at only 16, young birdy offered up a collection of indie covers with sparse arrangements and haunting innocent vocals. an obvious marketing hook, but yet worked quite lovely in the long run.]

50. Flux Pavillion and Doctor P – Supabad / Bass Cannon
[bringing the stankface to the mainstream! i LOVE the breakdowns of flux pavillion, heck they even make 70's blacksploitation stankface cool!]

YEAR END MASHUP!: dj earworm mashup - united state of pop 2011 (world go boom)

2011-12-28T00:45:00.001-05:00

dj earworm mashup - united state of pop 2011 (world go boom)
[happy year in pop yo!]

NEW LANA DEL REY!: lana del rey - yayo

2011-12-27T08:28:00.000-05:00

lana del rey - yayo
[i was going to write off lana after my meh feelings for her last viral release 'off to the races', but 'born to run' is growing on me and now lana goes and offers up this beautiful number that's a few years old (and not confirmed for the debut album). argh...i'm so torn!]

WONGIE DEMO OF THE WEEK: the xx - open eyes (demo)

2011-12-27T08:19:00.000-05:00

the xx - open eyes (demo)
[as the xx are still in the studio working on their long anticipated follow up, they offered their fans a bit of an xmas gift with a brand spanking new demo giving us just a peek into the direction of their new album. it's haunting and gorgeous and i can't wait to hear more in the coming months!!]

BEST OF 2011: guilty pleasures #1-10

2011-12-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

1. Britney Spears – Til The World Ends
[here's the deal, even though this is a britney track that she probably read into a machine, the end result is still a solid club track that proved skanky kesha is secretly a talented songwriter that can crank out hooks with the best of them. best guilty pleasure of the year and i'm proud to admit to that!]

2. Pixie Lott – All About Tonight
[i literally sang "i bought a new pair of shoooooooes........" in my best ethel merman voice for a good month when i found myself loving this dance pop ditty that only a middle aged auntie would love. F... am i now a middle aged auntie?]

3. The Saturdays – All Fired Up
[no matter how much i mocked this stupid club song (it's literally made up of ONLY 'club slangs'), i still found myself bopping along to it at all times of the day. it beat me down people... and i'm all fired up for it!]

4. Katy Perry – The One That Got Away
[to be perfectly honest, this song is wonderful enough to make it onto the main 'best of...' list. it's just that i couldn't find placement anywhere on my large chart (you'll see). hence this sentimental gem got shafted to the sidebar, kind of apropos with it's title really...]

5. One Direction – Gotta Be You / What Makes You Beautiful
[the runner up best boyband of the year (though i'm sure loads of tween gals will disagree) bring on the goods with two very easy on the ears tracks that i definitely would listen ONLY in the confines of my ipod or singing in the shower. "cause it's gotta be yooooooouuuuuuuuu!" oh wait, you can hear that? crap...]

6. Ke$ha - Blow
[skank queen kesha brings on a surprisingly genius solid club track that definitely doesn't blow. i still feel like i picked up a venereal disease after listening to it, but at least i had fun doing it!]

7. JLS - Take A Chance On Me / She Makes Me Wanna (feat Dev)
[the JLS boys join in on the eurotrash pop with their 'she makes me wanna' gem (heck even 2011 guilty pleasure mainstay dev makes an appearance) then switch it up with the mid tempo cheesey brilliance of 'take a chance on me'! solid pop output makes for a great year for these boys!]

8. Alexis Jordan – Good Girl
[how alexis goes from coy to a full on dramatic plead is pretty impressive for anyone looking for a girlfriend from hell. all ingredients for the perfect guilty pleasure if you ask me!]

9. Dev – Dancing In The Dark
[the genius with this track is how it starts off guido thumpalicious and turns into a miami club track instead. the fact that i love it so much tells me that i am trashy on multiple levels! sweet!]

10. 2ne1 – I Am The Best
[with a crazy ass video and a hook ridden sassy track to boot, 2ne1 is probably one of the few kpop acts that will do the crossover into english language radio. PLUS, these gals look like they would cut you if you pissed them off in an alley (which makes me kind of love them even more)!]

VIRAL SENSATION: alex day - forever yours

2011-12-25T23:44:00.002-05:00

alex day - forever yours
[showing that the power of the online world can now break music acts, musician (and doctor who uberfan) alex day offered up his latest DIY pop ditty 'forever yours' for a shot at the UK xmas #1 last week. by word of mouth via twitter, a cute dorky video on youtube and some serious facebooking, the song not only sold 50,000 copies on itunes but also ended up as the #4 song for the official UK xmas chart! all this without record labels or radio to push it there. a dawn of a new era? i'm in!]

BEST OF 2011: guilty pleasures #11-20

2011-12-25T07:59:00.000-05:00

11. Olly Murs feat Rizzle Kicks – Heart Skips A Beat / Dance With Me Tonight
[alot of my newfound love of olly murs stems from his co-hosting gig on the UK xtra factor. his affable demeanor and catchy retro pop sound is just too crowd pleasing to ignore!]

12. Chris Brown feat Benny Bennasi – Beautiful People / Chris Brown feat Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes – Look At Me Now
[the open club silliness of 'beautiful people' is just too brilliant to ignore. with a pulsating beat and preposterous lyrics about inner beauty, it's definitely a gem unto itself! flip side to 'look at me now' and chris brown turns into a swagger filled lyrical hoodlum with the help of busta and lil wayne. the end result is two diverse sides to a fabulous coin that deserves props for 2011]

13. Bruno Mars – It Will Rain
[it's probably the most overproduced, over the top, oversung ballad of the year and yet it still managed to be one of the best cheesy songs o the year. bravo!!!]

14. Lady Gaga – The Edge of Glory
[to be honest, i love this song cause i sound like a real dude when singing this at karaoke. (fist pump) alright! alright! alright!]

15. Labrinth feat Tinie Tempah – Earthquake
[the best bassline for a pop song i've heard all year also has the stupidest lyrics about earthquakes and bombs and groundbreakers. it's rare that one can offer stank face grooves and still be awesomely silly in one go. brilliant!]

16. LMFAO – I’m Sexy And I Know It
[i love that the lmfao guys are basically a club clown act and own it (plus they work out!). wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah!]

17. Nicole Scherzinger – Don’t Hold Your Breath / Right There
[nicole offered two perfectly derivative songs for the year and proved that if you pay big bucks for strong songs you will be part of the music landscape... no matter how meh you are in real life!]

18. Cobra Starship feat Sabi – You Make Me Feel
[it's just so damm catchy... i have no other reason!]

19. Pitbull feat Neyo, Afrojack and Nayer – Give Me Everything
[i'm convinced that the lyric is 'grab somebody sexy time so hey!']

20. Gym Class Heroes feat Adam Levine – Stereo Hearts
[every time i hear a GCH track it takes me ages to admit that i like it. throw in the fact that i'm lukewarm about adam levine and well... it's only taken me til the end of the year to admit that this is a solid pop song for the guilty pleasure section]

WONGIE XMAS: bing crosby & david bowie - the little drummer boy / peace on earth

2011-12-24T09:00:00.012-05:00

bing crosby & david bowie - the little drummer boy / peace on earth
[maybe it's the xmas season and i'm getting incredibly sentimental in my older age, but this is such a lovely touching xmas performance (especially since bing passed a month later after this recording). it's easily one of my all time favorite xmas performances and i thought it fitting to offer it today. hug a loved one this weekend! happy xmas!]

WONGIE COVER OF THE WEEK: james blake - a case of you (joni mitchell cover)

2011-12-24T03:04:00.000-05:00

james blake - a case of you (joni mitchell cover)
[oh my gosh, this heartbreaking joni mitchell classic gets a haunting melancholy translation by the incredible james blake. with a wonderful video by seb edwards, featuring actress rebecca hall in typical bipolar fabulousness when actresses star in videos, the end result is a hypnotic cover that just asks to be played on repeat.]

DANCE BITCH DANCE: redlight feat nicole jackson - get out of my head

2011-12-24T02:39:00.001-05:00

redlight feat nicole jackson - get out of my head
[i love how this track throws together classic 90's piano house and early rave in one go, all the while giving it a current uk funky feel. it's kind of genius really!]

WONGIE DANCE SONG OF THE WEEK: david guetta feat sia - titanium

2011-12-24T02:21:00.000-05:00

david guetta feat sia - titanium
[easily my favorite song from his nothing but the beat album, this cool video plays like an x-men origins storyline (starring super 8 actor ryan lee) with nary a shot of either musical collaborator in sight (does a drawing of david in the school hallway count?). nevertheless, this falls under one of my fave dance tracks of the year and i'm super excited it's getting a proper release!]

WHY UK X FACTOR IS BETTER: little mix - cannonball

2011-12-24T02:02:00.001-05:00

little mix - cannonball (uk x factor winners)
[first of all, these lil muffins (tulisa's words, not mine) went from soloist to group act to underdogs to breaking the curse of the girl groups to eventual x-factor winners (a first for any group in the series). not only that but their solid work ethic showed week in week out AND no one seemed to throw a stroppy diva fit off camera. add to the fact that their big official single is a classic damien rice number and you have the ingredients for a respectable future girl band. i'm in!]

NEW CHER LLOYD!: cher lloyd - want u back / dub on the track (feat mic righteous, dot rotten and ghetts)

2011-12-24T01:48:00.000-05:00

cher lloyd - want u back
[two new items from cher lloyd. to be honest, when she first came out with the horrendous 'swagger jagger' back in july, i was ready to write her off. but since then cher has proven that she's got a few pop tricks up her sleeve and we like it! please note: the new video is going to premiere in a few hours, but i figured i'd jump the gun and offer up the track for you to enjoy first!]

cher lloyd feat mic righteous, dot rotten and ghetts - dub on the track (sb.tv)
[oooh cher is hard yo! ok maybe not so much, but girl can defo do stank face with the best of them!]

NEW FOSTER THE PEOPLE!: foster the people - don't stop (color on the walls)

2011-12-24T00:33:00.000-05:00

foster the people - don't stop (color on the walls)
[it's nice to know that foster the people have gotten so big that they can now get celebs like gabourey sidibe to co-star in their video and do crazy stunts AND throw in a tender cop love moment to boot! sweetness!]

WONGIE POP SONG OF THE WEEK: kelly clarkson - stronger (what doesn't kill you)

2011-12-23T23:37:00.001-05:00

kelly clarkson - stronger (what doesn't kill you)
[aw... kelly started a flash mob! love the song, love her, love love!]

NEW LANA DEL REY!: lana del rey - born to die / off to the races

2011-12-23T23:27:00.001-05:00

lana del rey - born to die
[draaaaaaaaaaama!!!!! no matter what i think of her new songs, team del rey sure know how to present the girl in epic cinematic form!]

lana del rey - off to the races
[um... ok... if you like this random song, you can get it for free now!]

HOT SOUNDTRACK: jonsi - gathering stories (we bought a zoo OST)

2011-12-23T23:06:00.000-05:00

jonsi - gathering stories (we bought a zoo OST)
[earnestness got itself a hipster soundtrack fully scored by jonsi!]

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: taylor swift feat the civil wars - safe & sound (the hunger games OST)

2011-12-23T22:43:00.001-05:00

taylor swift feat the civil wars - safe & sound (the hunger games OST)
[oh this is a wonderful gift! not only does taylor showcase a non-surprise face adult track, but she's got the amazing civil wars in on the glorious harmonies. a definite treat AND a tease of what may be a kick ass soundtrack for the upcoming film!]

VIDEO PREMIERE: rihanna - you da one

2011-12-23T22:27:00.002-05:00

rihanna - you da one
[just in case you didn't know what area she's referring to in the song, riri shows you exactly where she wants it! happy xmas everyone!]

WONGIE'S MUSIC WORLD ON BREAK THIS WEEK!

2011-12-12T23:57:00.000-05:00

hey fans of wongie's music world, i'm taking a break this week! so check out my previous postings and remember to come back over the weekend when i get back from my mini vacation!

WONGIE XMAS: kelly clarkson - i'll be home for christmas

2011-12-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

kelly clarkson - i'll be home for christmas
[ms kelly just nails it perfectly! her voice is goosebumpingly great!]

WONGIE XMAS: the raveonettes - the christmas song

2011-12-10T09:00:00.019-05:00

the raveonettes - the christmas song
[though the raveonettes recorded this xmas track back in 2001, they are finally officially releasing the song this year. loving the wall of sound!]

WONGIE POP SONG OF THE WEEK: diana vickers - music to make the boys cry

2011-12-09T14:02:00.000-05:00

diana vickers - music to make the boys cry
[gosh fridays are really turning into a treasure trove of music! x-factor UK alum diana vickers offers up a wonderfully catchy new tune to tease her upcoming album. as you can hear, it's a synth-tastic pop ditty that just makes you smile and swoon and wish you had a bag of happy glitter sitting next to you.]

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: goldfrapp - yellow halo

2011-12-09T13:34:00.000-05:00

goldfrapp - yellow halo
[oh my gosh, how much can i love this song? as part of 2 new tracks for their upcoming greatest hits collection, this video was shot entirely in south america on an iphone! sit back and let this song caress you on this chilly friday afternoon!]

NEW MIIKE SNOW!: miike snow - devil's work

2011-12-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

miike snow - devil's work
[though this isn't an official single, it is a taster of what to expect from their upcoming as yet untitled album. based on this track alone, it'll be lush!!! i can't wait to hear more!]

NEW KARMIN!: karmin - crash your party

2011-12-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

karmin - crash your party
[viral sensation karmin just released their 1st major label single to the masses, and it sure is catchy and busy! i'm hoping things will tone down in other releases, but right now it's hella mess (but then again maybe their younger fans like that kind of stuff)]

WONGIE FUN SONG OF THE WEEK: rizzle kicks - mama do the hump

2011-12-08T12:30:00.011-05:00

rizzle kicks - mama do the hump
[this fun song could actually end up on my year end list cause it's just so much fun! written and produced by a certain norman cook (aka fatboy slim) no wonder the track is so catchy! now grab your mama and do the hump!]

LIVE WONGIE: ben howard - only love (surprise flash mob performance)

2011-12-08T12:00:00.013-05:00

ben howard - only love (surprise flash mob performance)
[while doing a live performance on a 2nd floor patio, fans from holland were called to show up as a flash mob audience! ben and co truly didn't know anyone was coming, so the look on his face is priceless!]

WONGIE LUSH SONG OF THE WEEK: patrick wolf - together

2011-12-08T09:00:00.020-05:00

patrick wolf - together
[ah this harks back to the patrick wolf of yore... dramatic, campy and elegant at the same time with a sprinkle of hypnotic confidence (definitely the sweeping strings help as does the gorgeous video)!]

WE HEART AMY WINEHOUSE: amy winehouse - love is a losing game (live @ other voices)

2011-12-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

amy winehouse - love is a losing game (live @ other voices)
[the amazing irish music program other voices released this wonderful performance of amy's back in 2006 and it's well... just press play]

amy winehouse - hidden treasures story
[the making of lioness]

WONGIE DISCOVERY: tanya lacey - letter to my ex / born to fly

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

bristol raised soulstress tanya lacey is getting a big push as a hot new voice in the UK r&b scene. with an almost MC approach to her vocal stylings, tanya is going to be a one to watch in 2012. check out 2 releases from her below:

tanya lacey - letter to my ex

tanya lacey - born to fly

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: agnes obel - riverside

2011-12-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

agnes obel - riverside
[though i am late on discovering danish singer/songwriter agnes obel's haunting beautiful song (it's already been a massive hit throughout europe during the summer), i can now make up for lost time by checking out the rest of her award winning debut album philharmonics!]

WONGIE DISCOVERY: theme park - wax / milk

2011-12-06T09:00:00.026-05:00

oooh i think i have a fave new band on my radar! firstly how old are these london boys? secondly, they got an official stamp of approval by the bombay bicycle club! thirdly and probably why i dig them is the fact that their songs are quirky and musical in the best way. check out two wonderful examples below!

theme park - wax
[simple yet warm like listening to a sunset. i kind of love this song!]

theme park - milk
[the vocals are talking heads-esque but that's a good thing!]

WONGIE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: jack beats - end of love

2011-12-05T12:30:00.002-05:00

jack beats - end of love
[uk duo jack beats offer up a complex video repeat-athon with various points of view of a seemingly simple house party. i'm visually boggled just watching this once! thanks to directors mayson and mayson for the head trip!]

INDIE DANCE BITCH DANCE: nero - reaching out / hall & oats -

2011-12-05T12:00:00.001-05:00

nero - reaching out
[sampling the hall and oats track 'out of touch' (see below), nero revisits yet another pop classic for the new age. i wish they had other tricks up their sleeve since i really loved their #1 smash 'promises', but for now it's all about 80's soul retread. shame...]

hall and oats - out of touch
[still an amazing song after all these years!]

INDIE SOUL DANCE BITCH DANCE: joker feat william cartwright - on my mind

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

joker feat william cartwright - on my mind
[this is a perfect example of how you should just listen to the song and ignore the crappy music video. definitely nice to hear dubstep soul done properly, joker hooks up with soulster william cartwright on this interesting collaboration!]

WONGIE COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK: chase & status and sub focus feat takura - flashing lights

2011-12-04T09:00:00.012-05:00

chase & status and sub focus feat takura - flashing lights
[oooh something wicked this way comes! models are the worst influences especially after watching this vice filled video! thanks to director ben newman for the evilness!]

WONGIE XMAS: lady gaga - white christmas (a very gaga thanksgiving special)

2011-12-03T12:00:00.017-05:00

lady gaga - white christmas (a very gaga thanksgiving special)
[last weeks gaga thanksgiving special offered up a slew of gems (and a new side of the superstar which she showcased via music and interviews), but one of my favorite highlights has to be the xmas number she performed with a jazz quintet. classy and simple, this is probably the gaga incarnate that i'm most looking forward to listening to in the future.]

WONGIE XMAS: guster - tiny tree christmas

2011-12-03T09:00:00.003-05:00

guster - tiny tree christmas
[currently being used as the advertising theme song for time warner cable's xmas campaign, this year old xmas tune definitely holds up to it's festive spirit! just over 20 days away, you in the spirit yet?]

VIDEO PREMIERE: taylor swift - ours

2011-12-02T22:17:00.002-05:00

taylor swift - ours
[fans of taylor will be more than familiar with this bonus track from the grammy nominated 'speak now' album. but now she offers a video version initially washed in a sea of grey, only to turn into a colorful experience once zach gilford (friday night lights) show up (heck, zach would bring color to anyone's lives)! sit back and swoon!]

AUDIO BUZZ: lana del ray - born to die

2011-12-02T16:40:00.001-05:00

lana del ray - born to die
[the follow up single to her massively hyped indie crossover hit 'video games' got a release today and though it's not as impressive, there is some kind of bored gal meets 007 vibe going on that makes it interesting. maybe it'll be a grower?]

WONGIE FOLK SONG OF THE WEEK: frank turner - wessex boy

2011-12-02T12:00:00.001-05:00

frank turner - wessex boy
[singer of the people, frank turner, manages to offer up an ode to his hometown of winchester. definitely more folk than his previous releases, he still has that rousing voice that makes you want to walk down the street and sing along with his music (as the fans do in the video). we heart frank!]

NEW BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB!: bombay bicycle club - leave it

2011-12-02T11:00:00.011-05:00

bombay bicycle club - leave it
[4th video release from their wonderful 'different kind of fix' album! the lovely songs just keep on coming don't they?]

FOLK FRIDAYS: fleet foxes - battery kinzie

2011-12-02T09:00:00.007-05:00

fleet foxes - battery kinzie
[just glorious! happy folk fridays folks!]

VIDEO PREMIERE: lady gaga - marry the night

2011-12-01T19:12:00.003-05:00

lady gaga - marry the night
[its here people! check out gaga's longest video to date (13'47" mins yo!) and completely directed by the lady herself. press play and sit back!]

REEEMIX!: dems - house (rusher returns remix)

2011-12-01T12:30:00.000-05:00

dems - house (rusher returns remix)
[we fell for the electronic layerings of dems a few weeks back and now remixer rusher adds even more to the lovely song 'house'. just beautiful!]

VIDEO PREMIERE!: delilah - love you so

2011-12-01T12:00:00.020-05:00

delilah - love you so
[just added onto the playlist of bbc radio 1, there's something very epic bubbling under this song but somehow delilah's mellow vocals just can't quite match up to the largeness of the track. maybe it's a grower...]

WONGIE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: the naked and famous - no way

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

the naked and famous - no way
[call me a sucker for slow motion (and things breaking along the way!), but new zealand indie band the naked and famous offer up a nice kill bill-esque themed video that's mesmerizing yet simple (thank you directors special problems). it helps that the song is pretty awesome too!]

WONGIE LIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: lady gaga and sugarland - you and i (live @ grammy nomination special)

2011-12-01T02:19:00.002-05:00

lady gaga and sugarland - you and i (live @ grammy nomination special)
[i don't know how else to express this, but this performance is just aMAHzing!!!! adding a bit of sapphic energy to an already exciting down and dirty southern vibe classic, lady gaga and jennifer nettles just give it up. press play, be awed! thank you mr yardie for the clip!]