2010: The year in popular music

Now that the year is closing, here is a round-up on the year in popular music.




Robyn:  In 2010 Robyn cemented her name is the queen of pop. Sending out no more than three albums filled with great tracks such as Indestructible, Dancing on my own, Fembot and Hang with me.

Marina and the Diamonds: Marina and the Diamonds made her debut in February, after tons of hype through blogs and other websites. Much anticipated.

Jason Derulo:  Nobody could escape Jason Derulo. With several hits he pestered the radio stations firstly all over America and then Europe.

Train: Train hit the charts with Hey soul sister.

Mumford and Sons: Mumford and Sons hit the British charts and cemented their name, also in Denmark.

Pendulum: Watercolour turned out as a master hit in UK and Australia.

Vinnie Who: charted in Denmark over spring and summer with firstly What you got is mine and secondly the remedy. Confused everybody whether it was a female or male singer.

Lady Antebellum: Need you now took over America and then Europe, which is very rare for a country song in this digital beat continent.

Eminem feat Rihanna: Love the way you lie. Surprised with the uncommon mix of Rihanna and Eminem, secondly the violent video. But the song stayed on top of charts. Later Rihanna released a softer version of the same song feat Eminem. Watch the cutest parody here and listen to Rihannas softer version here

Katy Perry: Once again Katy Perry dominated the radio stations for a summer, first with a California gurls with Snoop Dog and second with Teenage Dream. With at later release of her second album, that got her a nomination for a grammy award as the album of the year, although receiving mixing reviews.

Rebekkamaria. In early 2010 Rebekkamaria released her second album in Denmakr (earlier with the alias AsinRebekkamaria) receiving criticial acclaim.

Fallulah: Fallulah took over Denmark with Lay my head and bridges, debuting early in the year.

Melissa Horn: Melissa Horn came to play in 2010. She is a story of musical streaming going well. Receiving massive attention through Spotify gaining a wider audience.

Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga continued engaging the charts with another run (like 2009) with scoring two top spots as well as walking away with 8 awards at the MTV vmas. She also released the more than nine minutes long music video for the song Telephone, featuring Beyonce, linking to movies such as Thelma and Louise and Kill Bill.

Stromae: Alors On Danse. Totally took over the charts in Europe this summer, and became one of the summer anthems for 2010.

M.I.A: made another controversy when releasing her video to Born Free, featuring a group of US soldiers who invade a town and hunt down readheads to be massacred in the desert. She also released MAYA. Link to XXXO.

CoverWeeks

i just completed CoverWeeks, on my facebook music group: A song a day. What usually is just one week, or six days, was extended to two fun weeks of great and the worst out there in cover versions. My own personal favorites from the two weeks are Nostalgia 77 feat Alice Russell covering The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army", Placebo covering the Kate Bush classic "Running up that hill" and the Bird and the Bee making an insane low key and sexy cover of Rihanna's "Don't stop the music". For the full blowout and some bonus tracks, here is the complete playlist. Havent joined the A song a day revolution yet? What are you waiting for?

Florence and the Machine

Well I'm sure you have heard "Dog days are over" blasting from the radiospeakers or maybe sneaked in several movie soundtracks. Even though the debut album was released a year and a half ago, in June 09, it seems that it has only been within the last six months "Dog days are over" has been playing here and there on the radio etc.  I must admit that I have enjoyed the album in the background, but I havent been listening to it intensively, except for the mad wicked song "Drumming Song". All that changed when I was doing dishes and listening it loud in my head phones. The album is actually really good. I especially enjoy "Howl" and "Blinding", which I have killed on repeat, doing dishes, biking, in the shower. Love them!! If you havent discovered "Lungs" yet, give it a listen. Here are my two new favorites:

Cheesy90LoveWeek

Last week I celebrated the cheesy love songs of the 90's on my facebook group a song a day. You can view and listen to the entire playlist right here. Feel free to join the A song a day revolution right here.

Melissa Horn

I just realised that I have never blogged about Melissa Horn, even though I have loved her with a passion this year. I have had the great priviledge of experiencing her live twice, and she is so captivating. She can with her little fragile voice silence a huge audience, and you can almost hear a needle drop. Being just 23, her lyrics shows increadible depth, and you honestly feel like she had a therapy session with you and then wrote your story afterwards. Melissa Horn is one of the artists who sprung out of the Scandinavian Spotify generation, generating popularity through free streaming.  Here are some of her songs.

Oh Land EP

Today I have been listening to Oh Land EP over and over while studying. It is such a gem!!!! I especially adore "White Nights" that I have been waiting with anticipation on a recording ever since I saw her perform it in Submarine Sessions. (If you havent seen it: view it here), the recording turned out so much better that I had hoped for. There are numerous videos and versions out there, here are three different versions you can choose from, all very different. First is the album version, second is a live performance and third is a... well watch it and see....

1) White Nights album version



2) White Nights Live Performance



3) White Nights Big Ugly Yellow Couch


White Nights by Oh Land from Big Ugly Yellow Couch on Vimeo.


The EP includes all great songs and I am very fond of all of them in each way. Today I have had White Nights in my ipod on headphones on repeat and singing out loud. And while biking I enjoyed, for me, the sad song, Rainbow.

Willow Smith: Whip my hair

Everybody is talking about Willow Smith this week, after the video of "Whip my hair" has been released. What is so mentionworthy of this video? Well first of all the girl sounds like Rihanna in the making. Second of all she headbangs the s... out of her hair in this video. Third, she is nine. See for yourself here:

The Ting Tings: We're not the same

The Ting Tings brand new single from upcoming album Kunst, just landed in my inbox, revealing an edgier sound from the group. The previous single from Kunst, Hands, was more electronic. I didn't expect The Ting Tings to be this rock inspired. I think I need to listen to it over the weekend to get a more feel into it. The single is displayed in Tommy Hilfiger's new ad campaign for the LOUD scent and you can listen to some of the single here:

Kill Screen Music: Us the Two-Headed Horse

Danish Kill Screen Music just released their debut album, which is rock with an electronic twist. Even though you can tell that most of the plays are made on a computer, as is tradition in the Danish rock scene, I love how the electronic is embraced like a deep Depeche Mode sound. The single Traffic was aired on Danish radio this spring, but I love the first track The Sand Is Washing Us Away, the XX inspired sound in the track Breathing and the playful Echoes Will Die.

Below is The Sand Is Washing Us Away:

Hang with me - Robyn vs. Paola

Robyn gave us a little appetizer of Hang with me on Body Talk pt 1 in an acoutic version followed by the full electronic one in Body Talk pt. 2. And I think she did a great job.  Hang with me is actually a cover version of Swedish Paola who released it in 2002. And at that time it was a really nice little song, but I think Robyn managed to take to song up a notch into appropriatly the sound of 2010.

Here are the two version:

Robyn:



Paola:

Twin Sister: Vampires with Dreaming Kids & Color Your Life

I am really enjoying Twin Sisters two eps these days: Vampires with Dreaming Kids & Color Your Life. I love the deep adventurous mysterious universe is presented to me, without it being too experimental. I love that can actually sing a long on the sublime fun "Lady daydream". Another track I enjoy is "Dry Hump", that somehow reminds me of a cross between Sufjan Stevens and Fever Ray. Perfect for a night time drive, or riding through the city on your bike at night. The two eps  "Vampires..." were both released in September. Check out their stuff on their own blog.

Below is Lady Daydream:



Dry Hump:

Ting Tings: Hands

I can't get enough of this these days. Instant boost!! The Ting Tings are set to release their second album "Kunst" sometime this fall. To get more Ting Tings check out That's not my name and Great DJ

Mark Ronson: Bang Bang Bang

New sounds from Mark Ronson are in!!!!! I think I need to listen to it a couple of times before it gets under my skin.
View video here

This is Head

On Thursday Swedish This is Head released a downloadable Adam Lundberg remix of 0011 on their website. This is a tune that is made of dreamers and imagination, and is not a mainstream crowd pleaser. However it is a very beautiful. This is Head's website is full of great gems and remix downloads, and I can especially recommend the sassy dancegroove Kasper Bjorke Remix found here.

Donkeyboy: Sometimes

Have been going absolutely crazy over this 80's tunes this summer. I know I am little late, since the Norwegians went crazy over Donkeyboy a year ago. But better late than never!!! Enjoy!

Eliza Doolittle: Pack up

This tune just brings a huge smile to my face. The 22 year old British singer-songwriter is hitting the UK charts this summer with this song that is from her just-released album "Eliza Doolittle". Give it a spin!!




View the official video here

Admiral Radley: I heart California

Just came across this album that was released just a couple of days ago. Admiral Radley is Granddaddy's Jason Lytle and Aaron Burtch. The album has a lot of diversity to it, but to my own liking is the downtempo songs like Ghosts of Syllabus and Lonesome Co. To listen to the entire album click here

or enjoy an acoustic peak from youtube below:



Don't forget to become a member of my group on Facebook, A Song A Day

Welcome to Animalweek

the "A Song a Day" revolution has just embarked on another great week of tunes. This week's theme is Animals. Follow the group and join the revolution here

See exclusive sneekpeaks of the week to come right below:

Retroweek

Here's the playlist for retroweek, just press play and listen....

Join the "A song a day" revolution

Every day requires a song. Join me in the fun when I explore music through a theme each week presenting a song every day to go with that theme. A collected update will also be notified every week.
Join the facebook group by clicking here

Blip: Retro week

Great retro sounds have been popping up everywhere the recent years. I love how the sound is a mix of old and a spin of new. I always carry retro tunes with me when I dj or whenever I am entertaining people.
The newest album of retro tunes to be recommended is The Black Keys: Brothers, Gin Wigmore: Holy smoke, and Sharon Jones & The Dap kings: I learned the hard way. This week starting today I will be presenting a retro song each day through blips on twitter. Tune in right here on my twitter page and follow the link to enjoy a new retro song every day.

The Black Keys: Tighten Up.



Gin Wigmore: I do



Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings: Without a heart

Great dancetunes for this summer

I have been doing a little pop-digging, and found some great dancetunes to play this summer.

1. Lady Gaga Vs Ace Of Base & Kalomira - Return Of Alejandro (Robin Skouteris Mix)
This is one of the more succesfull mash-ups I have heard in a while. It contains a mash-up between Lady Gaga, Ace of Base and Kalomira.



2. Madonna: Dance 2Night [Bray's back 85 remix]
This is rather a fun remix project. Experimenting with Madonna's album "Hard Candy", the remix project tried to get a tune back resembling an 80's sound. I think this song in particular did a good job, meshing the two decades.



3. M.I.A: Xxxo
M.I.A. is releasing her new album in July and I can't wait. This is an album to anticipate and look forward to this summer. She is one of the more interesting artists out there, and I love how it always take time and many listens to really get into her music. Her first single from the upcoming album is "Xxxo". It took me a couple of listens to get hooked. By then, I was hooked.



4. Robyn: Fembot
Swedish Robyn is also releasing a new album, "Body talk pt. 1" a little week from now. Fembots have feelings too....



5. Rox: I don't believe
In an entirely different genre than the previously more electronic bits, Rox is bringing retro on the dancefloor, from her upcoming album: Memoirs.

Eurovision song contest

Tonight is Eurovision song contest, and even though I know it is completely faux pas to say this if you are a musiclover, I love to watch it. Throughout the years it is increasingly reflecting political, cultural and georgraphical situations in Europe. i love the cultural and musical diversity, reflecting how many cultures Europe consists of, and I love that every year I can get to watch a show and yell laugh and diss the performances, and mostly complain about the Russian mob countries coming to take over the show. It is a full blown two-three hour laugh of wacked out crazy bad performances, with bad costumes or the lack hereoff (semi nude women) bad choreography.
Here are some of the worst this year:

This song is from Armenia, and I am wondering whether it has a hidden message. I am sure it is not an apricot stone in her hand that needs watering??? I am surprised that Armenia would let a song like this with a blatant message like Madonna's "secret" pass the country lines:



This song is from Georgia, and I got so distracted by the horrific strangeling choreography that completely took over the song. And has nothing to do with the song.



This song is from Slovenia. Is this a joke?



I suspect this song, from Germany will win tonight:



Even though it could be cool if Denmark won:

Jonathan Johansson

The smooth Swedish Jonathan Johansson, is slowly taking Denmark by storm. And I love, love his album.
From Tears for Fears cover "Everybody wants to rule the world" to upbeat and slow, and I have to use the word smooth again, sounds. Seeing him live is a very interesting experience and to be recommended. Otherwise just pop his album in the player and cruise the city.
Here is a few of my faves:

The Heavy: How do you like me now?

I just enjoy this cool tune!! This song was exposed in the Kia's Sorento commercial and aired during the 2010 Super Bowl. Definitely to be featured on my next set list.

Kerli: Love is dead

Look out Evanescence and Lacuna Coil! Estonian Kerli is coming up. Although her album is from 2008, her "Love is dead" is resurrecting with music awards across Europe, and is starting to take over American MTV. Enjoy it here!



See the some of the best of Evanescence and the Italian band that inspired them, Lacuna Coil by clicking on the bandnames.

Plan B: She said

The British rapper, Plan B is slowly creeping up on radiostations across Europe. I love the combination of retrosounds and distinct british rap.

Sia: We are born

Australian Sia is about to give birth to her new album, "We are born", in the beginning of June.
Heard a couple of sneakpeaks from it, and it is a killer on the dancefloor. Can't wait to pop it on the cd player and drive around this summer.

Here is a couple of songs from it:

Clap your hands



You've changed

Sea Wolf: The Violet hour

Just enjoyed this in my ears yesterday on my way home from school. Enjoy!

RebekkaMaria live performance

I can't get enough of RebekkaMarias new album "Sister Sortie". Here is a video of her performing Corollaceous live this weekend.

Fallulah: Hold your horses

I can't get enough of Fallulahs new album "The black cat neighbourhood". Check out her very moving performance in submarine sessions here.

And enjoy Bridges below:

Goldfrapp

Despite really really bad reviews I am really enjoying the new album "Head first" from Goldfrapp. I have been a fan of Goldfrapp for a while, especially their album supernature won me over with the sublime songs Ride a white horse (see buttom of page) , Ooh la la and Lovely 2 C U.

"Head first" is a much lighter and slightly easier "work" done by Goldfrapp, but I enjoy the joie de vivre in the sound, and reminds me a little of Roisin Murphy's excellent album "Overpowered." So far my favorites on the album is "Head first", "Voicething", "I wanna life" and "Rocket". Perfect for biking through the city.

I could only find Rocket to post for you but check out Goldfrapp's own website to get snippets from the album.

The Xx: Islands

Love this tune. I have had forever on my ipod, but i just really listened to it intently on Saturday night. Here is a live session clip for you.

Keren Ann: In your back

This is an oldie, but very lovely. Her whole album is great!

You need flowers I need flora

Love the new single from Rebekkamaria. Can't wait until her new album comes out in March. Meanwhile you can enjoy her new video right here.

Hello Fallulah!!

This girl is the bomb! Already been playing on the Danish national radio since fall with "I lay my head", I have been really anticipating her release this upcoming Monday. Love her sound! She just got an amazing review in Danish music magazine Gaffa (5 out of 6 stars) and you can check her out and stream some of her music here.

White Pony: K-town stomp

I absolutely can't wait for the white pony release on feb 8th. I especially enjoy their cover of the hip hop classic by Dirty Old Bastard "shimmy shimmy ya" that so far hasn't been released to my great dissapointment. Back in the early fall I got acquainted with this song and was dying to play it in one of my djsets, but couldn't get a hold of it anywhere. Meanwhile before the release I've also been enjoying playing "Down at Jimmies".

You can stream their entire album here: Stream white pony: K-town stomp

Broken Bells

I was recently introduced to this band, who is a product of a collaboration between Danger mouse and James Mercer. I really like Danger Mouse, loved his recent thing with Sparklehorse, but Broken Bells is definitely also very cool. So far they have only one single out, the high road.

Listen to it here: