• Teddy Swims, Funeral (Pop/R&B)- The July 16 playlist winner “Funeral”, is unlikely popstar, Teddy Swims’ follow up single to the global #1 “Lose Control”.  Swims (Jaten Dimsdale) is a face-tatted 5’6” stocky former high school football player from Georgia- who became famous singing on YouTube- and like his other hits, “Funeral” provides a platform for his rich baritone blue-eyed soul voice.

• Jimin, Who (K-Pop)- BTS member, Jimin’s catchy and saccharine “Who” debuted this week as the world’s #1 most streamed song.  While having a song debuting at #1 globally is impressive, it is even more so, given that Jimin recorded it on break from mandatory Korean military duty and getting his MBA.  Is it just me, or does Jimin’s vocal in this song sound vaguely like Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon?

  
  

• Charli XCX, Apple (Pop/Alternative)- While this cut from Ms. XCX’s smash LP “brat” was released back in May 2024, it is majorly trending on TikTok by virtue of the "Apple dance", with even Charli and Troye Sivan joining the fun (https://youtu.be/IC0tq6n1zkY). Charli's "360" from the June 16 Neuphoria playlist, is also trending on TikTok as Charli tweeted “Kamala IS brat”- and a deluge of TikTok’s featuring “360” and Kamala Harris followed (example https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRoHYgvp/).  Unsurprisingly, both "Apple" and "360" are now moving up the Top 20 streaming charts in the US and UK.  

  
  

• Kesha, Joyride (Pop/Dance/Electro)- What a long road it’s been for Kesha. She overcame an upbringing in a poor, single-parent household and later hospitalizations for eating disorders to chart 10 Top 10 singles between 2009 and 2013, including the presciently named “Tik Tok” (note that the TikTok App was not launched until 2016). In mid-2023, Kesha finally settled her 9 year-long lawsuit with her producer and label owner Dr. Luke, which included allegations of sexual assault. The irreverent and liberating “Joyride” is her coming out single. Enjoy the ride!

• Shirin David, Bauch Beine Po (Pop/Dance)- “Bauch Beine Po” is the part Lithuanian, part Iranian (is that called "Lithiranian"?😏) Ms. David’s 6th #1 single across the German-speaking world. While Ms. David usually sings about female empowerment, she is more technically ambitious this time, attempting to cover three complex anatomical subjects in “Bauch Beine Po”, which translates to “Abs, Thighs, Buns”- …….........................  

  
  

• Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding, Free (Dance)- While British mega-DJ Harris has charted over 20 top 5 UK hits, arguably his most successful pairing has been with fellow Brit Ellie Goulding, evidenced by 2023’s “Miracle”, which spent 7 weeks at #1.  While “Free” is not a departure from Harris’ normal well-crafted dance anthems, it is sure to get you moving. 

Trivia- The posh Ms. Goulding is practically British royalty, reportedly being a former flame of Prince Harry’s and headlining at Prince William and Kate’s wedding reception.

• ROLE MODEL, Scumbag (Alternative)- “Scumbag” is from “Kansas Anymore”, ROLE MODEL’s newly released sophomore LP, which full of well-crafted pop rock songs.  Despite “Kansas Anymore’s” easy sounds, ROLE MODEL’s (Tucker Pillsbury’s pseudonym) lyrics display a clever and self-aware take on relationships and homesickness. Check out the entire LP.

• Joshua Bassett, Biting My Tongue (Pop/Alternative)- Without Disney Channel alums, such as Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Justin Timberlake, Dove Cameron and Zendaya, the current pop music landscape would be barren.  Mr. Basset is the latest Disney alum to emerge, releasing his debut LP last week, which features the surprisingly beautiful lilting “Biting My Tongue”.  

• Charley Crockett, Trouble and Misery (Country)- The prolific Neuphoria favorite Crockett released “Visions of Dallas, $10 Cowboy, Chapter II” last week.  Crockett shows that he is an astute student of country music, by making this obscure Hoyt Axton tune sound like a classic, featuring a deep country guitar riff and banjo accessorizing.

Trivia- Hoyt Axton’s mother co-wrote Elvis Presley’s 1st #1 single “Heartbreak Hotel”.

• Clairo, Juna (Alternative)- Why is Clairo on the playlist again, you ask?  Well, “Juna” has recently gone viral on TikTok…….quite possibly due to Clairo’s brilliant performance of the song on Fallon’s Tonight show last week….. or maybe because it is Clairo’s “favorite song” on the LP…….. or most likely, because the lyric resonates with “self-critical girls, who may now be in a rewarding relationship” (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRoH1qXY/)

• Khalid, Ground (R&B)- “Ground” is the first single from Khalid’s forthcoming follow up to his 2019 “Free Spirit” LP which was #1 globally.  Surprisingly for the 6-time Grammy nominee, “Ground” is experimental R&B, with dreamy lyrics and Sampha/James Blake-like vocals- a welcome change in direction.  

• Seyi Vibez, Doha (Afrobeats)- Charting at #1 in Western Africa, “Doha” is the latest in the string of #1 hits by the 24-year-old grill-toothed Nigerian, Seyi Vibez.  In “Doha” and his recent EP “Loseyi Professor”, Mr. Vibez eschews his former rougher tribal sound for a subtle Afrobeat and sings about his transition from humble beginnings to jet setting while alternating between English and Yoruban.

• TSHA & Ingrid Witt, Drive (R&B/House)- “Drive” is the 2nd single from London producer, TSHA’s forthcoming 2nd album, “Sad Girl”.  Not unlike recent Neuphoria hits, “Out of Time” and “Tears”, “Drive” features an Anglo singer/songwriter (Ingrid Witt in this case) teaming with an accomplished DJ/Producer to great effect.  However, for “Drive”, the aesthetic is less anthemic and more atmospheric drum & bass, which makes sense because according to Apple Music, TSHA’s mother used to regale her with tales of 80’s raving (hmm- that hits pretty close to home)

• Edith Piaf, Hymne A L’Amour (Chanson/Caberet)- Celine Dion’s stirring rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne A L’Amour” was a highlight of the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony, given the traditional importance of the song in France and it being Dion’s first appearance since she withdrew to private life after her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis. Piaf wrote and dedicated the song to the love of her life, boxer Marcel Cerdan who was killed in a 1949 plane crash- one of many tragedies in Piaf’s relatively short life.

Trivia- “Hymne A L’Amour” has been performed at the last two Olympic Summer Ceremonies, with the singer, Milet performing the Japanese version at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Closing Ceremony.

Happy listening!

D😏