The real deal: What’s in your “Top 25 Most Played”?

How often do you play a song that is purely guilty pleasure listening? Would you share such guilty pleasures with the world? These days we are able to engage with music on so many different platforms it seems that your library’s top played songs are an intimate look into your true musical self. And with your library creating exactly this playlist on all computers, we can all have our guilty pleasures revealed.

Go on, take a look for yourself: you might be surprised that your listening habits aren’t quite what you thought they were!

Below is part one: Anita’s top 25 …can you say retro obsessed!

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“Back In The Day” from Erykah Badu‘s Worldwide Underground EP – I never thought of myself as a huge Erykah Badu fan. Parts of me think she is quite obnoxious and her voice is a little stringy. That being said, I keep finding myself swooned by her music. She challenges the status quo in ways that satisfies my thirst for the abstract but keeps things conventional enough for serious repeated listening. This song was on a playlist I used to listen to when going to bed, which is why it has so many players over time. It is chilled out and relaxing but I would also blast it very loud in my car if I had one. Back in the day when I did have one I blasted Erykah all over the place. There are some other Erykah songs on my top 25 from the same playlist but I will not turn this space into an Erykah fan page. This song is by far the best one on there.

“People Make The World Go Round” from the Crooklyn soundtrack vol. 1 – This song is a classic. I wouldn’t say that this version is particularly magical but it definitely soothes the soul. I am very aware of the cheese factor. It isn’t hip in many ways because it isn’t retro but I love it. As a teenager the whole Crooklyn soundtrack actually significantly influenced my understanding of classic New York tracks and a sentimentality around these genres I would get to know intimately years later. Who cares about the cheese the message is true!

“Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me” written by Stevie Wonder, performed by Patti Austin and featured on Qiuncy Jones’ album The Dude – I had always heard this track played out in my favorite little dance, funk, soul scene in New York. When I finally got my hands on one of the DJ Bobbito and DJ Spinna Wonderful albums that pays tribute to Stevie Wonder‘s legacy I started listening to this track on headphones too and really fell in love with it. This song has a combination of melody and rhythm that gets under your skin. For anyone who knows this song it may be easy to guess why it was on repeat at a certain time in my life. Music is healing, that is all I am going to say.

“What You Won’t Do For Love” originally written by Bobby Caldwell performed by Roy Ayers. This song has been sampled left and right and done all over from top to bottom. I just love this version and keep adding it to playlists for some reason over and over for the many years I have been a huge Roy Ayers fan et voilà here it is on my top 25!

 

“Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin – These guys sure know how to write a solid love ballad. My real Led Zeppelin phase came in the summer between grade 8 and 9 following a very healthy Bob Marley phase. That sumer had a lot of camping, staring at stars and life contemplation in it, back then I was more of an artist. Since I am obviously still a little obsessed with ‘retro’ musical offerings it isn’t surprising that I had to go back and fetch this goodie out of my past obsession. As a teenager the hard rocking guitar driven Led Zeppelin songs really stirred me. As an adult I am still into guitar but their love songs melt my heart. I know I am not the only one but it certainly still feels special each time I listen to it.

“Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” by Marvin Gaye – My first year in Brooklyn after college I was so broke that I literally walked everywhere. I used to make sure this song was on when I was making the big trek over the bridge into Brooklyn. Beats that sound like heartbeats and bells that sound like they are coming from the heavens – that is what despair and anxiety sounds like when it is being processed by a calm mind.

 

“As One” by Jay-Z Feat. Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Young Guns, Peedi Crakk, Sparks & Rell – The Earth Wind and Fire sample on this track is such a perfect contrast to all these tough rappers spitting rhymes over it I just can’t resist it. Besides having a soft spot for Memphis Bleek I openly appreciate Jay Z despite his super mainstream tendencies.

“Every Little Step I Take” by Bobby Brown – He used to be so sweet. What ever happened to him?

 

 

 

“Don’t Look Any Further” by Dennis Edwards – I really dig the beat in this song and have it on several playlists including one by Kenny Dope that remains my most consistently played DJ mix throughout time. It is just a classic, why look any further?