1. Mos Def - Umi Says (Zero 7 Remix). If you know me at all or have been reading this blog for a while you know I have a thang for the Mighty Mos/Dante Smith/Pretty Flaco, etc etc. The message is..life is uncertain, live up to your potential now. This song would have been #2 but the Zero 7 remix put it at the top for me.
2. Prince - Adore (live). What makes this one of my favorite songs? The voice, the lyrics, the sexiness...the crush I've had on him since I was 13 and never been able to get over? All of the above. Of course you really haven't heard the song until you've heard him perform it live. So thanks to my musical angel Camille, I've included the live version here.
3. Maxwell - Fortunate. The ultimate love song. Plus I love me some Max. He'll release another album...as soon as I unchain him and let him out of the basement, LOL. And for the record Todd, I know you instituted the "one song per artist" rule so I wouldn't do a radio.blog full of Maxwell. Hmph!
4. Des'ree - I'm Kissing You. It's the passion and the way she sings it that reminds me of my husband and how powerful and passionate it feels when we kiss, still one of our favorite things to do after 15 years.
5. Fiona Apple - Slow Like Honey. This is a hauntingly beautiful song. It could be about obsession, addiction or anything that seems to overtake you. "..slow like honey, heavy with mood". Warning, if I'm listening to Fiona, Sade, and Nina Simone all together, you know I'm the special guest at my own pity party.
6. Art Of Noise - Moments in Love. I believe there is a subliminal message in this song telling you to feel all sexy and whatnot because everytime I hear it, my clothes start falling off, LOL. Am I the only one feeling that? I have to be honest, I like this song because it makes me horny. Tell the truth and shame the devil, hehe.
7. Donny Hathaway - A Song For You. Brilliant in every way. My favorite part, the piano after the lyrics.. "listen to the melody because my love is in there hiding".
8. Sade - Cherish The Day. It's a little different from her usual melancholy songs (which I love). This one's got a funky beat that moves me and makes me feel good. The message aint bad either.
9. Nas - One Mic. Powerful and revolutionary. Besides Mos, one of my favorite emcees.
10. Lauryn Hill - The Sweetest Thing. Those guitar strings and her voice. That does it for me.
11. Stevie Wonder - Ribbon In The Sky. It's just one of Stevie's beautiful ballads. I couldn't decide between this one and "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Need You)", my other Stevie favorite.
12. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew. I could mention how Miles helped create a whole new music genre with the fusion of jazz and rock, or the haunting echo of his horn, or even that it's a 26 minute electro-funk-jazz masterpiece that makes this track one of my favorites. But here's the real reason. My husband (the jazz head) introduced me to this period of Mile's music on a road trip to New Orleans. To this day, whenever I hear this song, I get flashbacks and feel phantom motions of ...well uhhh you get the picture.
