"Release, Let Go, and Have a Good Time"

Is it me or does it seem like Calvin Harris is focused on making the best summer playlist possible? First it was Slide with Frank Ocean, now he enlisted the help of Pharrell, Young Thug, and Ariana Grande on an equally carefree new one in Heatstroke. I'll put it this way, if you're a Young Thug fan you're gonna eat this one up. He's all over the track from the drop, chipping in two verses and even lending a hand to Pharrell on the hook. It's not very electronic, more smooth, pop funk. The sound is something you'd expect from a Daft Punk track, not a Calvin Harris single. It'll be run through the gamut of Top 40, but it's perfect cruising music, so by all means get at this before you hear it at every beach or lounge party you go to this summer...#HeatStroke

Calvin Harris feat Pharrell, Young Thug & Ariana Grande - Heat Stroke

Slushii Goes In On Ariana's Side To Side

Last night it was Mat Kearney sounding identical to Chris Martin. Tonight, you'd be hard pressed convincing me the remix below wasn't created by marshmello. It's no secret that Slushii and marshmello have a knack for turning vocal samples into high pitched chord progressions, but this one in particular could have been a coin flip as to who created it. Like me, you're probably just as sick of Ariana's original version of Side to Side, so hearing a completely different take on it wasn't the worse thing in the world.

It's a solid remix, but I'll admit, it's not quite as exciting as hearing the teaser to Slushii's new collabo with Tiesto. Sure, it's a 10 sec clip, but there's no denying it goes hard. You know the drill, iTunes or Spotify if you've pressed play below more than once...#SideToSide

Ariana Grande - Side To Side (Slushii Remix)

"You Just Don't Know How Beautiful You Are"

Is it me or has Mac Miller significantly evolved his music? This whole live band, funky routine he's been sticking with of late is a good look! Between his previous single with Anderson .Paak (Dang!) and his new one below, he's providing all the motivation necessary to check out his new album, The Devine Feminine. Sure, it helps that the apple of his eye is now chipping in stellar vocals, making his music that much more interesting, but Mac has always been able to spit. Maybe his style just needed a little time in the wine cellar to appreciate over time. Whatever the case, I'm picking up what he's putting down in a big way.

Oh and in case you're into celeb gossip and such, it would appear Mac and Ariana's friendship has organically morphed into something much more. Aren't they just adorable?...#TheDevineFeminine

baabyyy

A photo posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Sep 6, 2016 at 4:28pm PDT

Mac Miller feat Ariana Grande - My Favorite Part

Videos of the Week April 1st

All in all, it was an eclectic mix of videos this week. There wasn't a real discernible pattern to the top five, just a bunch of randomness, which is fun if you're in the mood. Leading the way was the internet bending Ariana Grande video for Dangerous Woman. That video needs no intro if you're a guy as you may find some enjoyment in seeing Ariana in lingerie for about four minutes straight. A natural segue from that video is to another woman who is equally sexy, Jennifer Lopez. She, on the other hand, is clothed for the entirety of the video, but her and James Corden had a lot of fun singing karaoke and texting Leo DiCaprio.

If Hip Hop and animation is what you're after, you'll enjoy the more than a little weird double video for Big Grams' Born to Shine and Run for Your Life. Simply put, nobody does weird like Adult Swim. Moving on to the world of live performances where Zedd and Aloe Blacc performed their latest hit Candyman on GMA. The horns section with Zedd on the keys was definitely a good look. And rounding out the top five was a new gem from Skylar Grey in the form of Moving Mountains. I'm not used to hearing her sing over acoustic guitar, but that's not a problem when you've got her voice...#MovingMountains
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman (Video)

Jennifer Lopez & James Corden Carpool Karaoke

Big Grams + Run the Jewels - Born to Shine/Run for your Life

Zedd & Aloe Blacc Perform Candyman on Good Morning America

Skylar Grey - Moving Mountains (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week November 6th

If you thought that somehow there wouldn't be multiple Hotline Bling themed videos this week, you're sorely mistaken. Funny enough, the best of the bunch was a seriously awesome acoustic cover of the track by Dan Henig. I'm not at all familiar with his music, but I'll definitely be on the look out after hearing his cover. On the other side of the spectrum is Bernie Sanders getting down to Drake's newest single on Ellen. Yes, it's Jib Jab quality, but admit it, you thought to yourself for a minute, is that really what my grandpa would look like dancing to a Drake track?

In other news, Ariana Grande is eye candy and she went all Willy Wonka style on her new video for Focus. Some choose to sell sex, others like Sia sell dance and choreography. There was no Maddie Ziegler sighting, but the martial arts choreography for her new video Alive was intense! Finishing out the week on a funny note was Aziz Ansari impersonating Bobby Jindal. Needles to say, he does look similar and he did a spot on job of poking fun at how terrible he's doing in the polls with his dated views...#FeelTheBern2016
Dan Henig Cover of Drake's Hotline Bling (Video)

Bernie Sanders Gets Down to Drake's Hotline Bling on Ellen
Ariana Grande - Focus (Video)

Aziz Ansari Plays Bobby Jandal on Fallon

Sia - Alive (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week September 18th

If you're a fan of late night comedy and festival after movies, then this week is right up your alley. Between Tomorrowland and the Spring Awakening, this may as well be an advertisement for electronic music. One was in Belgium and one was in Chicago, but they both ratcheted up the energy in their own crazy ways. Being from the Midwest, Spring Awakening is without a doubt in the top five on my festival bucket list.

In other news, Ariana Grande might have a career in acting the way she can impersonate other pop divas on Fallon. On the other side of the late night able now sits Stephen Colbert who found a way to roast celebrity lifestyle brands by creating one of his own. Really pumped he's back on television and you can bet there will be plenty more snippets of his shows in the future. Rounding out the top five is Disclosure's new video for their latest single Jaded. It was cool to hear Howard Lawrence's vocal debut on the track over their typically awesome production. Caracal is a week away, color me excited as hell to listen to their album from front to back...#Caracal
Disclosure - Jaded (Video)

Tomorrowland Festival Aftermovie

Spring Awakening Festival Aftermovie

Ariana Grande Impersonates Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera & Celine Dion on Fallon

Stephen Colbert Goes to Town on Celebrity Lifestyle Brands (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week January 2nd

It was a surprisingly active week for videos despite the holidays over the past week. Leading the way is my new favorite single Get You Alone by Maejor and Jeremih. Such an interesting beat, not to mention the glowing, beautiful women. Two other male/female collaborations got videos this week in the form of an acoustic version of Love Me Harder and You Know You Like It. One thing I know for sure is that Ariana Grande can do no wrong right now as she is being featuring on everything of late.

Rounding out the top five are a behind the scenes look at how many localized takes Jimmy Fallon does on a nightly basis. When Fallon, Martin Short and Jerry Seinfeld are all on stage, you know it's going to be a fun watch. Last but not least, Drake took over Marquee on New Years and part of it was recorded. Seeing anyone perform at a club isn't usually on my priority list, but I will say that Drake definitely plays better in a smaller, more intimate environment versus an amphitheater. It's hard to go back to that once you're capable of selling that many tickets, but I'm going to continue hoping that I can recreate moments like this in the future...#Drake
Maejor feat Jeremih - Get You Alone (Video)

Ariana Grande feat The Weeknd - Love Me Harder (Acoustic Live)

Jimmy Fallon Gets Distracted by Martin Short, Seinfeld During Commercial Break

DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge - You Know You Like It

Drake Perfroming at Marquee in Vegas on New Years

Photo Credit: YouTube

Major Lazer Set the Tone for Mocking Jay Part 1

Much of the last week in music has centered around the interesting collaborations on the new Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1 Soundtrack. Previously I posted Lorde's Yellow Flicker Beat and The Chemical Brothers' collabo with Miguel on This is Not a Game. Both songs don't compare to the awe inspiring rhythms that Major Lazer was able to put together on All My Love with Ariana Grande.

I'll say this about the track, up until this point I have yet to post any music from Ariana Grande. I'm not a huge fan of hers, but she did well with a lot of help to Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshyfire. The tribal, soca inspired beat was on point like a decimal. The high pitched, uniquely whiny synths made a lasting impression on me. On a soundtrack chalked full of talent, this is the that needs to be circled with a red marker...#AllMyLove

Ariana Grande feat Major Lazer - All My Love

Videos of the Week August 29th

An overall great week for music videos with Jessie J, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande leading the way with their eye candy filled Bang Bang. If you're in the mood for dancing, you're going to need to check out both The Chainsmokers video for Kanye and Usher's newly minted visuals for She Came to Give it To You. Without a doubt, the most memorable video of the week was Beyonce's VMA Vanguard Medley that had a tearful ending with Jay Z and Blue Ivy. And as if you hadn't seen enough ice bucket challenges, how about a special one from Jimmy Fallon. Who would have known the National Ice Council would be so outraged...#IceBucketChallenge
Jessie J feat Nicki Minaj & Ariana Grande - Bang Bang (Video)

The Chainsmokers - Kanye (Video)

Beyonce's MTV VMA Video Vanguard Medley (Video)

Usher feat Nicki Minaj - She Came to Give it To You (Video)

Jimmy Fallon National Ice Council Outraged by Ice Bucket Challenge

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week August 15th

With the NFL season on the horizon, this week has a bit of a football theme with The Manning Brothers' Fantasy Football Hip Hop commercial leading the way. Was it me or did Broadway Joe play to his stereotype a bit too comfortably when he was feeling up on that woman mid-way through the video? On an even less serious note, how bout that super, extravagant Madden commercial? It shares the same silliness as The Manning video, but with a little bit more crazy. I don't even play Madden anymore, but that video got me pumped.

In other news, Fences new video with Macklemore is an entertaining and artsy watch. David Guetta put together a perfectly Western video for Lovers of the Sun. And last, but certainly not least, Ariana Grande is in fact decent looking and it's not everyday you see her shoot rockets out of her ta-tas...#Madden15
Peyton & Eli Manning Fantasy Football Hip Hop Video

FENCES feat Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Arrows (Video)

Ariana Grande feat Zedd - Break Free (Video)

David Guetta - Lovers of the Sun (Video)

Madden NFL 15 Madden Season (feat Kevin Hart and Dave Franco)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Merry Christmas Larry Lovestein Style

Usually on Christmas Day the last thing I'm thinking about is writing a post because I'm spending some quality time with the fam. It just so happens that in looking for something Christmas related to quick post tonight, I came across a new track by @macmiller featuring @ArianaGrande aka Nickelodeon star Cat Valentine. Evidently she recently released a single called Do You Love Me? featuring @SkysNuts and it will be on her debut studio album called Daydreamin' in early 2013. Not sure yet what her tie is with Mac, but it's an interesting collabo to say the least.

What's most entertaining about the track is Mac's alter ego @SweetLarryLove, who is an aspiring vocalist. Simply put, Ariana has an angelic voice and Mac is still a great rapper. Not sure if Larry is going to make it as a singer, but he did provide some entertainment value to me on Christmas day and that's about all I could ask for...#MerryChristmasYall

Mac Miller feat Ariana Grande - Baby's It's Cold Outside