As we near the end of October, here are some tunes to help get you in that chilly November mood.

Monday- “Leave the Door Open” by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, and Silk Sonic (2021)

Moving in a more modern direction to kick off the week is the fresh Bruno Mars’ track, “Leave the Door Open.” The song was released in March, and is just insanely catchy. While Bruno Mars is not necessarily my favorite artist, I can’t say anything but positives about this song. With the relaxed feel of the song and Mars’ vocals, it has a throwback feel to it, providing a nice change on pop-music radio stations. The tune will get you in the mood to start your week off strong. 

Tuesday- “Black” (Live)- MTV Unplugged by Pearl Jam (1992) 

Originally released in 1991, the ‘92 live rendition of “Black” is the first live performance included in Listen Up. Pearl Jam, one of the biggest bands of all time, scored a huge hit with the song “Black” off their album Ten, in 1991. However, I personally like this live acoustic performance more. Lead singer Eddie Vedder’s outstanding vocal ranges are shown in this song, as he grieves a breakup. As the rest of the band’s melodic vocals back Vedder up, this song is sure to give you goosebumps. 

Wednesday- “Good Day” by Nappy Roots (2008)

Bringing you some 2000’s summertime hip hop on a Wednesday afternoon! Rap quintet Nappy Roots released “Good Day” in the summer of 2008. The song is positive and uplifting, and is one of my favorite hip hop tracks. Nowadays, it seems as if all “rap” music is filled with negativity and explicit content. Before I get into my rap music ranting, let me just say that “Good Day” is an upbeat song that will be sure to put a smile on your face. 

Thursday- “Prayer in C” by Lilly Wood & The Prick and Robin Schulz (2010)

Staying in relatively newer music this week, we move to the 2010 dance-techno song “Prayer in C.” The song’s signature guitar riff is actually very difficult to play, and is one that will get your foot tapping. The song is very creative, and combines elements from various styles of music that resulted in a massive 2010 hit. As far as the message of the track goes, the song is a plea to fix the cruelty and injustice in the world. Be sure to give it a try. 

Friday- “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (1982)  

With Halloween on Sunday, I figure that it is appropriate to pay homage to the most popular Halloween song ever, “Thriller.” With its music video nearing 800 million views on YouTube, it seems as if everybody knows “Thriller’s” iconic chorus. The song is the 4th single off of Michael Jackson’s studio album Thriller, which is the best selling music album of all time. It has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, and the popularity of this track helped catapult Michael Jackson into fame. If you are not familiar with the song already, definitely check it out.