Hot Half Dozen is vacationing this week in the Mexican holiday week of Three Kings (lots of cake and tamales and tequila) so I am going to give you a blast from the past – 5 songs you may have missed last year plus, one new one that came in last week I just have to tell you about. Next week we will dive into the submissions – there will probably be 300 of them, and give you hottest of the Hot Half Dozen.
New this week
You Only Love Me single and a very funny video by Rita Ora. Fun, as only she can do, high energy to keep you moving, and a twist in the lyrics. Earworm hooks and sophisticated production make this a pleasure no matter how many times you stream it. On All platforms.
Blasts from the past…
Floracita Rock-Era, album by Flor de la Toloache. With 10 songs that re-invent classic Latin anthems in Spanish, the Latin-Grammy-winning NYC group celebrate International Women’s Day with iconic rock songs. Each song is a standalone work of art, but I have my favorites, like El Matador, Stream on all platforms. Spanish
Guadalupe Reyes, single and video by Nancy Sanchez and Luckas O. What a kick! The fusion of mariachi and cumbia tells the story of Luipita, who went off to church and wound up in a 26 day-long party. The song and the video by the Mexican-American blues/mariachi/pop singer-songwriter Nancy Sanchez and the Guadalajara-based singer-songwriter Luckas O. will make you want to party for at least that long. I predict this will be a classic party song. Stream on Spotify. Catch the great Guillermo More / Polie Pérez video on YouTube. Spanish.
Hold On My Heart, single by Amanda Abizaid. A bit of melancholy, a bit of blues, a bit of earworm rhythm, and a lot of power, this new release is polished, emotional, cathartic, and addictive. Available on all major platforms.
The Sun Is Shining Down, album by John Mayall. As classic blues as they get as only Mayall can do it. The album features Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers, Marcus King, Buddy Miller, Carolyn Wonderland, Scarlet Rivera, Jake Shimabunkuro ad Melvin Taylor. Stream or buy on all major platforms.
Fotos and Recuerdos single by Kat Von D. Wow! Kat Von D’s reimagining of the Chrissie Hynde/Ricky Vela song popularized by Selena will blow you away. Von D brings all of her considerable power to the song while weaving dreamsounds into the music’s fabric. Spanish. Stream/buy on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer.
