Jumping out of winter and into spring means starting fresh, and this begins with your home. Many see cleaning as the most mundane of all tasks but here’s a Spring Cleaning playlist to help liven things up! You might as well dance as you clean, right?
1) Freaks and Geeks – Childish Gambino
When I’m cleaning, I become possessed by the spirits of both Tupac and Biggie and think I’m some kind of reincarnated rap goddess. This is my favourite song to rap along to, especially if nobody is home and I can use my spray bottle as a mic.
Best for: getting into the cleaning mood, doing your audition tape for Young Money.
2) Are You That Somebody – Aaliyah
I also enjoy dancing while I clean and as a wee youth I had the choreography from this video memorised. I’ve realised that I still know about 50 per cent of the moves (coincidence because my middle name is Alia? I think not!) and always decide that I should try them, especially if I am in the bathroom where the lighting is good.
Best for: cleaning grout, performing for yourself in the mirror.
3) Chocolate – The 1975
I’m obsessed with this song and have been trying to find a way to jam it into this column for ages (seriously, I think all the YouTube views might just be me. You’re welcome, The 1975!) I have a recurring iPod fever dream where I am the lead singer of a band which has the popularity of One Direction but the credibility of an indie band. Yes, it’s very elaborate; I don’t expect non-insane people to understand. Annyway, this song is our lead single and we perform it on talk-show stages which are actually my bathroom. The moral of this story is that a fun fantasy actually makes cleaning super fun and rewarding, even if the rewards are entirely in your mind.
Best for: making cleaning way less boring.
4) Scream & Shout – will.i.am and Britney Spears
What’s the deal with Britney in this song? Is she British? Why is she British? This in-depth analysis has led to me listening to this song an alarming number of times and is perfect at distracting me from some of my most hated jobs. Grossed out by the hair that has been living in your U bend? Just put this song on and Brit’s dulcet faux-English tones will take you to your happy place (unless you’re me and find bad accents displeasing).
Best for: doing gross out jobs such as removing hair from various place and having to decide which of your treasured cat sweaters should be given to charity.
5) F—kin Problems – A$AP Rocky ft. Drake and 2 Chainz
For all the EDM fans out there, Swedish House Mafia’s One Last Tour looks EPIC, as it should, as it’s their final journey together.
The music trio decided to move on to different projects over the summer, writing on their website on June 24: “Today we want to share with you, that the tour we are about to go on will be our last. We want to thank every single one of you that came with us on this journey. We came, we raved, we loved.”
Their final album Until Now, which was released on Oct. 22, 2012, is the official soundtrack the One Last Tour. You can find more information about tickets and tour dates on their website.
Watch their final tour video here
The Hives – “Go Right Ahead”
In The Hives’ new video for their latest single “Go Right Ahead,” which we previously featured on Musical Prozac, the boys (men?) suit up, leave the garage behind and head to the studio. The video was filmed in Benny Andersson from ABBA’s brand new studio in Stockholm. The Hives were lucky enough to be the first band to record here. The whole video looks they shot it in one take, though with all their energy the rowdy song doesn’t need anything more to carry it. Oh, and top hats are included. The Hives’ new album Lex Hives will be released on June 1.
Nelly Furtado – “Big Hoops”
The bigger the better, the bigger the better, the bigger the better…. Hoops that is. As in, Nelly Furtado’s new single “Big Hoops” off her fifth album, The Spirit Indestructible (June 19.) Nelly’s first music video in three years delivers, with Native American hoop dancers, and Nelly herself wearing stilts, towering over LA. The song has some serious swag and is on par with her new hip-hop style. Also, as Nelly adamantly sings, she can move fast, she can move slow, she can go places nobody else goes! Wait, we’re still talking about hula hoops right?
Grimes – “Nightmusic” ft. Majical Cloudz Read more…
Skrillex is raking in on his collaborations lately. He recently released a track with the surviving members of The Doros and teamed up with his girlfriend Ellie Goulding and Swedish House Mafia, reportedly for Goulding’s new album.
Last week he dropped “Make It Bun Dem,” with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, which is available on iTunes today. The tune combines the DJ’s electronic sounds with Marley’s softer reggae, making it the perfect tune for summer. You’d think the two styles wouldn’t work together but it’s a nice mix of mellow vocals with harder beats.
Listen to it here:
Songbird Ellie Goulding performed “Lights” on Ellen today, from her CD of the same name, and her performance just confirms that the Brits are on a roll. After her performance Ellen said she loves the song and Ellie — who was still on a music high — looked like she couldn’t believe she was there.
It was recently announced that Ellie and her boyfriend Skrillex will be recording with Swedish House Mafia for her new album. Only good things can come of this collaboration!
Watch her performance below:
