FEATURE:
The December Playlist: Grammys Special
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IT is that time of year again!
I am not referring to Christmas but the whatever-number-we-are-on-th Grammy Awards. It is that occasion where some of music’s best – and those thoroughly undeserving – get recognised for their hard work. There are some notable omissions from the nominations (naming no names) but some great acts recognised. Beyoncé leads the list, and so gets one of her songs featured, but there are other great acts getting their music exposed – including Metallica and Frank the Rapper. Of course, there are some new releases from the ‘ordinary’ artists out there: those not in the Grammy sightline; going about their careers as always. As December starts to blossom, I will start leaning towards Christmas tracks: until that merciless moment arrives, enjoy some wonderful non-tinsel-infused songs.
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Biffy Clyro – Re-Arrange
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DTmvMsEbE4&w=560&h=315]
Joe Goddard - Lose Your Love
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5j-IrPcwvM&w=560&h=315]
Bonobo (ft. Rhye) – Break Apart
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/296497286" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]
Justice – Fire
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkaEpUBUQDw&w=560&h=315]
MUNA – I Know a Place
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FagZ-KOBmg&w=560&h=315]
Emma Ballantine - Secret Tunnel
https://play.spotify.com/album/2JhebF4C8z8tsOEXFYtiAQ
Gurr – Moby Dick
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3N8LW2srA0&w=560&h=315]
Gabriella Cohen – Downtown
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR_SF2wiGMY&w=560&h=315]
The Rolling Stones – Ride ‘Em On Down
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEuV82GqQnE&w=560&h=315]
Anohni – Obama
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVD50Q114-s&w=560&h=315]
The Magic Gang – Only Waiting
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkRwFao6x0I&w=560&h=315]
Elbow – Magnificent (She Says)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbxqtmjycLA&w=560&h=315]
Imagine Dragons – Levitate
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0a9k1gSMsw&w=560&h=315]
Parcels - Older
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hznxLHB0oy8&w=560&h=315]
Bruising – I Don’t Mind
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhDGA-mkylc&w=560&h=315]
Peter Doherty – Down for the Outing
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXf5qu8jJ1Q&w=560&h=315]
PHOTO CREDIT: Nicky Kelvin Photography
Vaults – One Day I’ll Fly Away
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCoZOAn_98A&w=560&h=315]
Jake Bugg - The Love We’re Hoping For
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EyRbwZs7e0&w=560&h=315]
Fort Hope - Say No
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmGfb22Ay7s&w=560&h=315]
The Shires - A Thousand Hallelujahs (Live at The Pool)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxkTFq6mgNI&w=560&h=315]
Angelina – Rose Cascade
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/290803961" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]
The Last Shadow Puppets – This is Your Life
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7248jOewb0&w=560&h=315]
The LaFontaines - Release the Hounds
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXPDQQEJHDk&w=560&h=315]
Beyoncé – Hold Up
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeonBmeFR8o&w=560&h=315]
Adele – Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk4BbF7B29w&w=560&h=315]
Sturgill Simpson - In Bloom
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpDYfkymaSE&w=560&h=315]
Chance the Rapper – Summer Friends
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT4wUByldo4&w=560&h=315]
Drake – Child’s Play
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBnI5QevaKA&w=560&h=315]
The Chainsmokers (ft. Halsey) – Closer
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT2_F-1esPk&w=560&h=315]
Kelsea Ballerini – Peter Pan
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmU0b8bxlG8&w=560&h=315]
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WbCfHutDSE&w=560&h=315]
Anderson .Paak - Put Me Thru
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK2-XuLByuQ&w=560&h=315]
Demi Lovato - Confident
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwLRQn61oUY&w=560&h=315]
Flume (ft. Kai) – Never Be Like You
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly7uj0JwgKg&w=560&h=315]
Sia - Confetti
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNdmBL2mdQg&w=560&h=315]
Underworld – I Exhale
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4izZYfo58-E&w=560&h=315]
Twenty One Pilots – Heathens
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprcpdwuwCg&w=560&h=315]
Sofi Tukker - Drinkee
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlF1KxtArCg&w=560&h=315]
Metallica – Hardwired
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhBHL3v4d3I&w=560&h=315]
Carrie Underworld - Church Bells
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2-yVryNjUM&w=560&h=315]
Desiigner - Panda
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ONTXHS2mM&w=560&h=315]
Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R03cqGg40GU&w=560&h=315]
Alabama Shakes - Joe (Live From Austin City Limits)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WV-MV18JCU&w=560&h=315]
René Marie - Sound of Red
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ64fMe0Xh4&w=560&h=315]
Blue Highway - Hallelujah
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX6xD-IWm2E&w=560&h=315]
Radiohead - Burn the Witch
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2oS2hoL0k&w=560&h=315]
Rhiannon Giddens (ft. Bhi Bhiman) – Freedom Highway
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOs0fGWjSxE&w=560&h=315]
Cage the Elephant - Trouble
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA-gGl6qihQ&w=560&h=315]
Ro James - Permission
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp1Pq2Fuw30&w=560&h=315]
Maren Morris - My Church
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWQ25O-Mcg&w=560&h=315]
Leon Bridges - River
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hegd4xNfRo&w=560&h=315]
Jamie xx - Gosh
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTGJfRPLe08&w=560&h=315]
Jill Scott - Can't Wait
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5FDlbfnSVU&w=560&h=315]
Iggy Pop – Sunday
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjSnrDikc4M&w=560&h=315]
PJ Harvey – The Wheel
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ReW0jJkag8&w=560&h=315]
Rihanna - Kiss It Better
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49lY0HqqUVc&w=560&h=315]
Bon Iver - 8 (Circle)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPsBFPX_yU4&w=560&h=315]
Solange – Don’t Touch My Hair
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTtrnDbOQAU&w=560&h=315]
Kanye West – Famous
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOlf2eju0pI&w=560&h=315]
Lalah Hathaway – Angel
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wawY5WcPhf0&w=560&h=315]
Two-and-a-bit weeks to go and it is Christmas. I am noticing a decided slowing-down among music’s most prominent and prolific. Maybe there is less demand this time of year – as the awards have been handed and end-of-year lists cemented – so there is less impetus and demand. Be sure to brace yourself for a wave of 2017 music in a few weeks. Musicians will be racing out the blocks in an attempt to make that first, big strike – what an exciting proposition!