First, RIP to Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and Sly Stone, who both died recently at the age of 82. Wilson was the leader and chief songwriter of The Beach Boys and created and introduced the world to surf music. His classics live on in hundreds of millions of streams. Sly Stone was a pioneering musician and producer whose innovative fusion of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music with his band Sly and the Family Stone helped shape the sound of the late 1960s and 1970s. His groundbreaking work broke racial and gender barriers in the music industry, influencing countless artists and leaving a lasting legacy on popular music.
Good Vibrations, single by Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. One of Brian Wilson’s most celebrated and innovative compositions, co-written with Mike Love and performed by The Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations” was released as a single on October 10, 1966, and quickly became a massive hit, reaching number one in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and later achieving platinum status for selling over a million copies and currently has over a half billion streams on various platforms. Stream everywhere.
Family Affair single by Sly and the Family Stone. This song became the most successful of their career, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and also topping the Billboard R&B Singles chart for five weeks. While the band had several other major hits—including “Everyday People,” “Thank You”, and “Dance to the Music”, “Family Affair” stands out as their biggest chart success.
La Vida, single by Eljudi. Another earworm from the mistress of guitar. It opens with a guitar riff that grabs you and then continues through the song as she soars and dips and keeps you moving. Spanish.
Goodbye Captain Fantastic, single by Kris Angelis. A goodbye story with a good-feeling musical arrangement that takes full advantage of Angelis’ lovely voice. A good story set to good music. Stream on Bandcamp and Spotify.
Big Baby Bogata, single by Francisca Valenzuela in collaboration with Grammy-winning band Portugal. The Man, blends her emotionally rich lyrics with the group’s expansive and experimental pop production. The result is an atmospheric and confessional track that keeps your foot tapping. Spanish
Nube de Paso, single Dámaris Bojor. The 2024 single showcases her distinctive blend of regional Sonoran influences and contemporary folk. As with all of her music, it moves along with poetic lyrics and rich acoustic instrumentation, reflecting her connection to her Sonoran roots and her evocative storytelling. This is authentic and emotionally resonant Mexican music by one of its rising regional stars. Stream on Spotify and most major platforms
BONUS
Reinas Mexicanas, single by Dulce. Dulce was one of the icons of Mexican regional music and recorded up to her death last year. Reinas Mexicanas is a different take on Mexican regional. An urgent voice backed by electronic wash. The melody is her voice, which is not in the soaring, smooth vocals found in most female regional singers, but high-pitched, almost scratchy, giving it its urgency. We will miss her. Stream on Spotify and most major platforms.
Patrick O’Heffernan
