Video & Audio: Binders full of people

They/them/yihaa/yihem energy

Corook: “They”

This might end up being the most effective political song of the year—it doesn’t try to convert the meanest people on the Internet, it just makes it feel like that if you have no problem with gay and lesbian people, acceptance of being non-cisgender should be the most obvious thing in the world. That the music is clever enough for life outside TikTok (listen for the variations in the high synth accompanying the “they/them energy” chants) is also essential.

Dolly Style: “Yihaa”

Dave Moore only had to compare this to 2Yoon’s “24/7” to make me go all in on this creditable fifth-placegetter in Sweden’s Eurovision qualifier. This reconstruction of Shania’s ersatz cowgirlism ends up recalling the horse drawing meme, which is to say: nice musical hindquarters, and the breezy key changes help you skim past the rest.

Laurie Torres: “Reflets”

It’s chill, yes, but it’s Haitian-Canadian intellectual chill: improvised piano where the melodic emphasis seems to keep shifting between left and right hand, creating a highly pleasant undulating effect. Then a synth that she’s presumably playing with her toes comes in; the three-and-a-half minutes run out before she has to stick her tongue out.

Anatii, Busta Rhymes, Chley, MarC, Almighty: “Boom”

There’s an amusing clip of Busta, on a South African tour, having or feigning a come-to-Jesus moment listening to 3-step; clickbait says he’s pondering taking S.A. citizenship, but said clickbait also calls him “the late Busta Rhymes” so idk. Anyway, this is mainline amapiano with excellent vocals from Chley as well as Mr. Rhymes. Send Ambassador Bus to Kampala next: if anyone can work out how to rap well over Nyege Nyege beats, it’s him.

Lady Gaga: “Abracadabra”

I’ve always been on Team “Artpop was a good idea badly executed”, and having not heard the new album yet, I’m hoping she’s redoing Artpop but with, like, pop this time. This takes early 2010s synth settings, now rendered more grotesque by the passage of time, and her classic Italianate low-meaning syllables, and it doesn’t relent for four minutes.

Janne Valkeajoki: “L’entretien des Muses”

Yeah, I’m getting singles picks from the NYT classical section now. This takes a piece from a 1724 Rameau harpsichord suite and rearranges it for accordion, which turns out to be such a melancholically pretty idea that I might have to listen to the whole album. 18th century melodicism: it’s not just for K-pop stars anymore!

Tito Double P: “Tattoo”

Tito’s ex has just covered her tattoo with a “fuck you” (in English, no less) and he’s telling everyone in the strip club how sad he is. I like this better than most of what his cousin Peso Pluma’s done lately: regional Mexican fundamentals (those banda horns!) are adhered to, and his performance sells his desperation while making it clear he’s the loser here.

Ibex Band: “Zerafewa”

Other Dave flagged “Yezemed Yebada” from the upcoming Mr Bongo reissue of this golden age Ethiopian band’s 1976 recordings. The pre-release tracks seem major; “Zerafewa”, with its keyboard-driven major-minor fluctuations and flute and sax solo, is my early fave.

J.P.: “Bad Bitty”

Still catching up on my 2024 TikTok dance meme pop-rap hits. Since Will Smith’s comeback does not appear to be soundtracked by Milwaukee 808s, maybe Division III college basketball players will be the ones with the work ethic and common touch to bring back the kind of normal person rap that appreciates twerking for what it is rather than what it symbolizes.

Decius, Lias Saoudi: “Queen of 14th St”

They’re English, but the monarch they’re paying tribute to appears to be in Greenwich Village (guess “Queen of Piccadilly” would be in danger of being mistaken for Camilla.) They purvey catchy house-rock with low-key cool. Nothing here’s original or virtuosic, it’s just useful and professional: even the one-finger keyboard hook is performed off-time with aplomb.

DJ K, DJ Knote Original, MC Kaique da Sul, MC Poke, MC Guh da B13, MC Menor Douglinhas: “Me Viu no Fluxo ZS”

I was a bit underwhelmed by NTS’s acclaimed Funk.Br São Paulo compilation: sure, it’s all hard, but the nonparametric statistics midterm I’m currently writing is also hard and you don’t hear me blasting that at 90 decibels from my automotivo. This one has audacity enough, however, with the Mario coin sound introducing an even higher dissonant chime.

Marshall Allen, Neneh Cherry: “New Dawn”

My favorite music video of the year so far: Marshall Allen just being 100 and working and existing (and uh smoking, kids don’t try this etc.) There’s a shot of him putting his headphones on a younger musician that’s comparably beautiful to his alto solo.