Tracks To be Thankful For This Season
By Jimmy Newsum
With so much negativity everywhere you look (and to be fair, there are plenty of problems in the world that need solving), it can be refreshing to indulge in some gratitude every now and then. So let’s be thankful for some of the good things that happened this year. Among them, FX’s Pose, the success of Love, Simon, the return of Will & Grace, the ouster of Roseanne from The Connors, and lots of new gay anthems. Here are the top tracks we’re most thankful for this season.
“Wanna Be Me”
PrettiBoiRoc
Everyone’s favorite twink returns with a nasty jam about self-empowerment and confidence. PrettiBoiRoq wrote “Wanna Be Me” in response to comments he received after the music video for his previous single, “You Don’t Own Me,” went viral on the internet and the adorable little red head was body shamed for not looking like porn star Arad Winwin, featured in the video. The song isn’t as pop infused as we’re used to hearing from PrettiBoiRoq. It has a more trap sound to it that works. It allows him to flex a more traditional hip-hop beat. The song’s music video is as bright and badass as the song. It’ll make ya want to pinch the little naughty boy’s cheeks.
“Kingdom: The MixTape”
David Hernandez
From Pop to R&B, with influences of soul, no one song on the sexy American Idol’s new album is the same. Many reflect on the heartbreaks and loss he has endured over the last decade since rising to fame from the show. The title track is a mid-tempo power ballad that soars with electric guitars, triumphant drums and a grand piano. “Beautiful” is a pop anthem while “Last Supper” and “Animal” are beat driven dance numbers. Then there’s “Break,” an introspective mid-tempo song, where David opens up about his struggles with addiction. It’s a powerful album where David proves he is an adept salesman of emotions, especially of matters of the heart and distance.
“Time Machine”
Jack Tracy
The latest song from out actor/musician is a call to action, urging liberals to stand together and fight the oppressive right. With an 80s Prince-inspired militaristic beat, it stands apart from most anything else playing on today’s dance floors and that, along with it’s smart lyrics, is what it makes it special. The music video is a nod to Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” shot in black-and-white and featuring many of the same iconic dance moves from the 1989 hit.
“Drama Queen”
Kfir
The first single off of Kfir’s Free Delivery EP is catchy, funky and almost a futuristic throwback to the disco era. In addition to it being sung by a dreamy singer who makes his dance floor debut directly from the stages of Broadway, what makes the track stand apart from mainstream releases is it’s biting attitude that seems to take a page from queen of soul Aretha Franklin by unabashedly pointing a critical finger at people who fail to pay proper respect. It doesn’t get more NYC than this.
“Self Control”
Kendra Erika
Kendra Erika’s latest single release pays homage to her musical hero, Laura Branigan on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the deceased icon’s 80’s dance hit, “Self Control.” The song has become one of the defining songs of the 1980s and has received a number of recorded remakes over the years. Notable covers include Ricky Martin’s in 1993 and a hit dance remake by Branigan herself in 2004, the same year of her death from an undiagnosed cerebral aneurysm. Kendra Erika’s version, produced by Grammy Award winning producer Damon Sharpe, adds a futuristic new age spin to the dance classic. Its remix package includes exclusive productions by Ralphi Rosario, Moto Blanco, and Dirty Werk.
“I’m in Love with You”
Jason Walker
Two-time Grammy nominated dance producer Tony Moran and Out Music Award winner Jason Walker are together again in a brand new euphoric dance anthem. It is the third #1 from the powerhouse duo whose previous tracks, “So Happy” and “Say Yes,” also climbed to the top position on the Billboard club charts. Written by Tony Moran, Ryan Shaw and Mike Greenly and produced by Tony Moran, “I’m in Love with You” is meant to be a bold declaration of the love we hold in our hearts for those who matter most to us and features another awe-inspiring vocal performance by Walker.
