Hey everybody! Welcome back to another edition of Listen Up! I’m back kicking off the week with 5 new tracks to get you going. Check it out. 

Monday- “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (From Encanto) (2021) 

Over the weekend, I watched Encanto for the first time. I was eager to see what the hype was all about, especially regarding the movie’s soundtrack, and the number one song in America, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Now, I’m not a movie critic, so I won’t voice my opinion on the actual film itself, but the music was outstanding. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (I swear, everything he writes is good), the soundtrack, especially “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was excellent. The song combined Latin-American elements mixed with hip-hop accents that helped boost this track to the most popular in America. Be sure to check this one out, if you haven’t already.

Tuesday- “D’yer Mak’er” by Led Zeppelin (1973) 

Transitioning into Tuesday with some Led Zep! One of my favorite bands ever, I picked a lesser- known, “deeper cut” track to include on this week’s playlist. “D’yer Mak’er” is one of my favorites, because it combines Robert Plant’s uncopyable vocals with a reggae-based guitar riff. The song has flourishes of soul, reggae, blues, and classic rock (as most Zeppelin tracks do), which is why they have been so influential to many modern-rock bands such as Greta Van Fleet. 

Wednesday- “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King (1961)

This Wednesday, we have a real oldie. From a historical perspective, “Stand by Me” has been one of the most covered, influential songs of all time. It all started in 1961, when soul vocalist Ben E. King wrote “Stand by Me.” Since its release, the classic love song has been performed by countless artists amongst the likes of John Lennon, Tina Turner, U2, and Bruce Springsteen. Although this song is nearly sixty years old, it has remained one of the most famous and well-respected songs (and messages) in all of music history. 

Thursday- “Higher Ground” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (1989)

Piggybacking (in a way) off of “Stand by Me,” is the 1989 RHCP cover “Higher Ground.” The song was originally released in 1973 by another extremely influential soul singer/pianist Stevie Wonder, and has since been covered by numerous artists. My favorite is the 1989 rendition of this song by Red Hot Chili Peppers. The song’s signature slap-bass intro, fast-paced guitar parts, and funk/pop elements make it one that will be getting you moving. In addition to the Chili Peppers’ cover, check out Wonder’s original version here.

Friday- “Wonderwall” by Oasis (1995)

Wrapping up this week is a trip straight into the ‘90s, with Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” Not only was it one of the biggest hits of the ‘90’s, but has been one of the most widely listened to songs ever. Oasis burst onto the ‘90s Brit-pop scene with tracks like “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and “Champagne Supernova,” but it was no doubt that “Wonderwall” was their biggest hit. Lead vocalist Liam Gallagher’s vocals cut perfectly through the mix of mellow indie acoustic guitar. As simple as the track is, it never fails to move the listener, no matter how many times it is played.