On Lily’s iPod: The Lost and Found Playlist

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With a merciful two week break from Zumba workouts AND a month and a half sabbatical from ballroom dancing – yours truly has been on a musical tear as of late. And I have to say…life is good on the iPod!

It’s been a great mix of new artists, different sounds, fun lyrics, and old favorites. With that in mind, I’ve compiled what I’m calling a “Lost and Found” playlist. Naturally you have your new stuff (“Found”), but there’s a bunch of old stuff from back in my day that I heard for the first time in a long time (“Lost”) and it made me go “Oh yeah…that song was the BOMB!”

Take a spin or a chance on these! I’m sure you’ll find something you like!

“A Post Card to Nina” by Jens Lekman – For those of you who like Amy Winehouse’s sound…but not the destructive streak, meet Swedish pop vocalist, Jens Lekman. This is a really cute song about a guy who poses as a boyfriend for a girl who is afraid to tell her father she’s a lesbian. I know…it’s a stretch, but it reminds me of Smokey Robinson. Just give it a shot, okay?

“At the Playground” by Another Bad Creation – I don’t know about you, but I think about the band ABC, it isn’t British guys singing about looks of love. Nope, my ABC is CHRIS, MARK, RED, DAVE, ‘RO! This more hip-hop flavored mini-pre-teen-version of Boyz II Men had tracks laid down by Dallas Austin and big puffy jackets twice their size. But you couldn’t argue with the fact that you could dance to it at the playground, ya know?

“Torre de Babel (Reggaton Mix)” by David Bisbal feat. Winsin y Yandel – Blame the abs/belly dance portion of my workout for this particular one. David Bisbal is a Spanish Grammy winning pop star, Winsin y Yandel are Latin hip-hop’s dynamic duo. Together, they pull a U2 social issues song with a heavy Middle Eastern club flavor.

“Love Song” by Sarah Bareilles – Singer/songwriter Bareilles crafts a very catchy song and rocks the piano like Carole King and Billy Joel’s love child. Bareilles continues my love affair with quirky song chicks like Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson, and Feist.

“Misery Business” by Paramour – It’s a girl on girl vengeance rock song. How can I turn it down?

“Kimi no Mado Kara (Through Your Window)” by Takako Kuwata – Years and years ago, Lenny and watched a Japanese anime series called The Sakura Diaries. The cartoon storyline…very OC/Beverly Hills:90210/One Tree Hill teen angst stuff. But we never got tired of the theme song. It’s the little things sometimes.

“Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance – Anyone…and I mean ANYONE that has ever had, worked with, or will be dealing with teenagers has earned the right to sing along with the chorus: Teenagers scare the living sh*t outta me! The song reminds me of something bands like Poison or Motley Crüe would get their arena full of fans singing along to. If you are old enough to know what I’m talking about…you can sing the chorus too.

“At This Moment” by Billy & the Beaters – ATTENTION ASIANS IN YOUR 20’S AND 30’S! If you had access to a karaoke machine in the late 80’s and early 90’s I guarantee you’ll remember the adults in your family belting out this really great (better when they’re drunk) song about love and loss.

“Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Honestly, I don’t remember where I got a lead on this song. But it’s so pretty and the duet vocals are so simple, yet haunting. Fans of indie rock band, The Frames will recognize Glen Hansard’s steely voice.

“I’ll Never Be You” by Dane Cook – Another song that I stumbled across by accident. Who knew Dane Cook could sing? Granted, its more Tenacious D-esque, but a song nonetheless. BUT IT’S HILARIOUS! Another class warfare song – not for those who are against cuss words and graphic descriptions.

“Let’s Hear it for the Boy” by Denise Williams – Okay, so I remembered this song in a weird way. I was at a wedding reception, and I heard Footloose. Who can’t get up and dance to that? But then I thought, “Oh…what was the OTHER song?! The one where the OTHER guy dances?” And that’s how it ended up on my iPod. Tie a side pony tail and boogie down to this one!

“Tango Till They’re Sore” by Tom Waits – There’s just something macabre, but fun about this song. Don’t know if it’s Waits’ gravely voice, or the off kilter piano chords that drew me to it – but if you like it a little weird, this song is for you. It feels like I should be walking with a jazz funeral.

“Whatever Happened” by The Strokes – I admit, I had to warm up to The Strokes. I got them confused with The Vines a couple years back…so I always felt stupid listening to them. But this song…it’s got a fresh sound that just makes you want to hit replay.

“Unintended” by Muse – Again, simplicity at it’s best. Muse is known for their big, gamer-theatrics sound, and great lyrics. But strip them down to piano and an acoustic guitar; mix in Matthew Bellamy’s bittersweet interpretation of finding the second love of your life and you’ve got yourself what Emo really wishes it could be.

“Everything is One Million Miles Away” by J. Ralph vs. Four Tet Via Tocci – Hey there instrumental fans. Remember this one from the Volkswagen commercial? Who would have thought a song could make V-Dubs sexy?

“Your Ex-Lover is Dead” by Stars – Really bad title. Really pretty song. Who said Canada was only good for bacon and hockey?

“Diablo Rojo” by Rodrigo y Gabriel – Two former Mexican metal band guitarists decide to get rid of the metal and keep the guitars. What you get is a sound unlike anything you’ve heard on a regular guitar. This cut from their self-titled album is intense, passionate, and just plain awesome!

“Stars” by Au Revoir Simone – First of all, this NYC trio of ladies named themselves after a Pee Wee’s Big Adventure reference. Second, its synth-pop and we haven’t heard good, sweet synth-pop since the 80’s. Finally, this song contains the lyrics, “You make me want to measure stars in the backyard with a calculator and a rule baby.” Sold.

“Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam – You know a song is catchy and good enough for my list if more than TWO people in a car can sing along to it word for word while saying, “I totally jammed to this in Jr. High.”

“J’Ai Deux Amours” by Madeleine Peyroux – Okay, I basically LOVE Madeleine Peyroux’s entire album, Careless Love. But I’m a sucker for a song sung in an entirely different language. While some people knock Peyroux for sounding too much like Billie Holliday, I say she’s more like the female Harry Connick, Jr.: A rich, buttery jazz voice that can lull you to sleep, sing of unbelievable heartbreak, or be a ray of sunshine at any given moment.