A Romantic Situation
Kent Yaşamı - Senay: This cover of Rod Stewart’s “If You Think I’m Sexy” comes from Turkish singer Senay. While making a name for herself in the Turkish Pop Charts in the 60’s and 70’s, she was also gaining attention for her outspoken political support for Bülent Ecevit, the Turksih Prime Minister from 1974-2002. Ecevit was a member of the Republican People’s Party, which was dubbed “left of center” and boasted the accolade of being the “first Political Party of Turkey.” I’ll let you continue this deep dive into the modern political landscape of Turkey on your own time, but trust me, once you start down that slide it is a very slippery one
Ancient Walls of Flowers - Marcy Playground: This song is so 90’s that it’s wearing JNCO’s and playing hacky sack down at the fuckin skate park. But the reggae-lite guitar track and the heavy handed drugs metaphors make this one of those cuts that just put a smile on your face. It’s cute and dorky and reminds me of Paris from Gilmore Girls for some reason
Preta Pretinha - Novos Baianos: There was a time in my life where I had a much different view of what “easy listening” was. Without telling on myself too much and avoiding embarrassment, let’s just say Novos Baianos have become a regular mainstay on my “sitting outside with an FCO (Fresh Cold One) on a hot summer day” queues
How Could You Hurt Me So - The Marvells: I wipe the soda from my eyes and throw the refreshingly cold liquid onto the ground. People are starting to realize what just happened. “Wait, wait!” I call, drying my hands on my jeans and sliding awkwardly out of the booth. She isn’t waiting though, she is hastily making her way to the door, fuming. Laughter starts to trickle in from onlookers realizing that she had thrown not only her freshly refilled Coke in my face, but had followed it up with my cheeky Fanta. The orange and brown splashes showing two distinct impacts on my fresh white shirt. And then, the unthinkable. The amount of liquid coming off my face and clothes causes my right leg to slip from underneath me. It shoots out sideways causing me to topple over like a brick shithouse. Laughter erupts, booms in the soda shop and the tears are about to kick on. But I choke them back and rise to follow her out the door. The door bells ring once, then twice as I’m right behind her. I’m soaked, my cigarettes rolled in my sleeve are drenched and my brand new “Flaming Sceptre” patched silk jacket is irreparably stained. I catch up with her and turn her to face me. She’s holding back a laugh. “How could you hurt me so?”
Track and Field - Enchanting ft. Kali: Yeah I’m putting you on to the next big thing coming out of Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records right now. Fort Worth, Texas native Enchanting glides over the booming drums on this cut that would make Megan thee Stallion proud. I’m sure you could’ve already guessed that this one would be the Driving Track of the Week
In an Emergency Such as the End of the World - Chase Petra: I’ve featured this band a while back, this whole album is really solid but I think the chorus and 2nd verse on this song are super interesting and are worth an honest listen. This is some shit that would change my life if I were a few years younger
I Miss the Rage (Majetso Mixer Remix) - Majetso Mixer feat. Mario Judah: I have no problem with Trippie, with Carti. I’m going to be honest here, I feel like I owe you all that; I thought this was the original version of this song after hearing it on someone else’s recommendation. Plus I fuckin love Mario Judah, he’s like a modern Ronnie James Dio, not necessarily in raw talent, but in sheer commitment to the power. I’ll always support those who fully send it
Immigrant - Sade: Basically the Miyamoto Musashi of love songs, Sade leans towards the dark on the this track from her 2000 album Lovers Rock. Exploring prejudice and racism, this to me sounds like something that Lin Manuel Miranda was listening to during his come up writing Hamilton. The harmonies on the chorus of this track are icy, almost Gregorian in tone. Every once in a while you gotta show them that you can do it all; never let them forget you’re still dangerous
ZaZa and Some Runtz (Smoke Break) - Terry Presume: You ever wonder what would happen if Playboi Carti decided that he had to do a collab with Cage The Elephant? In my head this is exactly what this is. That old school, fuck you Cage vibe with the modern rap phrasing and vocal manipulations and an absolute shlap of a groove layered on a chunky kick centered drum track. This is the first joint I’ve heard by Naples born Nashville transplant Terry Presume, but I’ll definitely be keeping a much closer eye on this guy, who’s coming off an already solid first half of the year, dropping his debut EP, What Box? Looking forward to hearing more from Lil Terry
There are times in your life when you feel like Harry picking out his wand at Ollivander’s. The feeling hit me hard when I first held a copy of Dune. It was a Christmas gift from the Czar himself, and the moment kind of overtook me. I felt my hair stand on end and my face flush. I was in A Romantic Situation with a book right in the middle of the fuckin living room. This was a journey that would change the course of my life forever. I wouldn’t finish my first read of it until I was in college, about 3 years later, but that feeling of unwrapping that paperback behemoth is something I’ll always remember. Let those romantic situations take hold of you, that’s a stroke of luck
Sleepybear
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