4th of July Dance Party!

What better way to celebrate the holiday with some pure fun dance music?  Friends, family, fireworks, good grub and some amazing music is how I love to spend my holiday.  So I continue the dance music of summer with this fun playlist.  I decided to bring back the videos as well! That way you get the full song on YouTube and the direct link from amazon to purchase if you so choose!

Everyone have a wonderful and safe 4th of July.  Happy Independence Day USA!!  Let's Party in the U.S.A.:)


MONDAY - "4th of July" - Kelis - What a great song to start off the week! Very fitting and definitely going to get your body moving on this holiday!






















TUESDAY - "I Like It" - Enrique Iglesias - Keep that party moving with this guilty pleasure.  Somehow Enrique still makes me move.  This is definitely going to be a summer anthem in the clubs!






















WEDNESDAY - "XXXO" - M.I.A. - I heard this song on SYTYCD this week and have been obsessed ever since!  Did you know I first heard "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga on this show about 2 years ago? That's how I discovered Gaga!  They are always at the forefront for great music!






















THURSDAY - "Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do" - Robyn - Can I ever get tired of Robyn? Definitely not!  This is another amazing song from her recent album!  I actually won this album from the 'music slut' via Twitter.  Check them out here, http://themusicslut.com. Thanks guys!
























FRIDAY - "Bionic" - Christina Aguilera - This is the title track of her recent album and the only song I actually really like from this album.  Most of the lyrics on the other song are so ridiculous I can barely even stomach them when I'm drunk.  This one on the other hand, pumps me up for sure!
























SATURDAY - "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz - Another great song by Taio, I'm literally obsessed with this guy!  I may have to download the entire album since his singles are so amazing!






















SUNDAY - "Happiness" - Alexis Jordan - A singer from the first season of America's Got Talent and just added to Jay-Z's label, this 18yr old has definitely got a hit here!  A great way to end the week, I wish everyone happiness on this holiday weekend!  No link from amazon yet, so enjoy the video here!

Summer time!

Summer is finally here...well if you are in Chicago, we don't know for sure!  This is my favorite time of the year and one of the main reasons I stay in Chicago.  From festivals every weekend to alfresco dining to rooftops decks to pools to beach volleyball, Chicago I do love you!


Music is always right there next to me to further help me enjoy every experience.   From the slow jam to the disco party, here are some great tunes I'm enjoying this week.  Load up your I-pod!


MONDAY - "None of Dem" - Robyn feat. Royksopp - So with the release of Body Talk, Pt. 1 this week, it was EXTREMELY difficult to choose my favorite song for the week!  So this is my first choice.  Please pick up the album, it's truly amazing!




















TUESDAY - "Touch" - Natasha Bedingfield - This is the lead single of her new album due this summer.  Although her songs usually annoy me after a few listens, this one hasn't...yet!




















WEDNESDAY - "Amongst the Waves" - Pearl Jam - I know right, me and Pearl Jam.  Huh? Actually Eddie Vedder and I go way back...way back to the 90's.  My new friends I met on my trip to Mexico re-introduced me to the band.  This is off Backspacer album that came out last year, and I really dig it!




















THURSDAY - "Game Over" - V.V. Brown - This is the second appearance of VV on my blog.  Her album Traveling like the Light was released in February this year and it's really cool!  It's got a great retro vibe but still current!





















FRIDAY - "Compliments" - Band of Horses - If you haven't heard this band, you are missing out!  A great chill-out band for any summer party.  This is off their first single off their new album released May 18, 2010!  I want to see them on tour.   I bet they are amazing! When are they coming to Chicago?!?  I'll find out!





















SATURDAY - "American Slang" - Gaslight Anthem - This is the current single of the week on I-tunes, you can get it free there until Tuesday I believe.  If not, it's here on amazon.com.  Another rock steady band I'm really starting to get into!




















SUNDAY - "Dirty Picture" - Taio Cruz  feat. Ke$ha -  OK, I know I vowed to never put her on my blog but it's more for Taio! (although I'll admit, her part is kinda sexy!)  This is probably one of the cheesiest and stupidest songs I've put on my blog, but it's just damn catchy and the video is hot!  I'll probably hate it next week.:)






















Have a great week!  I hope everyone has realized they can not only purchase the song on amazon but also preview it too!

I'm baaack!

Hi fellow music lovas, I hope you missed me.  I apologize for not being your personal DJ lately.  I've been really busy with weddings, trips, birthdays and general craziness but I haven't forgot about you.  With summer right around the corner, I thought this would be a perfect time to bring you some great new summer anthems.

Also due to requests about finding the music, I decided it would probably be more efficient to provide you a direct link.  So you can purchase any of these MP3's directly from amazon.com.  I have come to realize amazon.com is great for everything especially MP3'S because they are often cheaper than I-tunes!

I'll try to come back often....because there are a lot of great albums coming out this summer!  Here are a few HOT new tracks!


MONDAY - "Push Push" - Kat DeLuna  - This first single off her upcoming album, this one will definitely get you moving all summer long.




















TUESDAY - "All the Lovers" - Kylie Minogue - If this is any preview of where the new album is going, it's going to be hot.  I honestly listened to this song 50 times in one week...slightly obsessed!  Look for Aphrodite in July!





















WEDNESDAY - "Dancing on my Own" - Robyn - A bit over zealous with three new albums?  Definitely not, if they sound like this!  Body Talk Pt. 1 releases June 15th!





















THURSDAY - "Commander" - Kelly Rowland ft. David Guetta - This seems to be an amazing partnership! Who can forget last summer's anthem "When Loves Takes Over"!?  Now they duo is back with another summer anthem!




















FRIDAY - "Pacific Coast Highway" - Hole - Love or hate her, Courtney love definitely has a point of view. This is the second single off Nobody's Daughter.  Catch her live in Chicago July 14th or 15th at The Vic.  I'll be there on the 15th to experience this trainwreck live!















SATURDAY - "Ridin' Solo" - Jason Derulo - I was a fan from the get-go when he sampled Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek" and became and even bigger fan after the amazing "In my Head".  Now he has released a song countering "All the Single Ladies" with a song that I like to call "All the Single Fellas".  :) Enjoy















SUNDAY - "Fire with Fire" - Scissor Sisters - The triumphant return of the sisters with some new material is June 29, 2010 with their album Night Work.  And this lead single is amazing and available June 20!  I'm addicted!

Just call me Paula

So I thought I would try to continue to deliver the goods in the form of FREE music...well GOOD free music that is! Since you can find just about anything on the web these days, I'll do my best to find you the keepers. I'll do the dirty work and be your unemployed Paula Abdul...judging the tunes before I tell you where you can get them.

Speaking of Paula, I totally miss her on Idol. Ellen is just not going the trick! And don't get me started on Kara! Sadly, this will probably be my last year watching Idol. Next year without Simon, it's going to be baaad. This year's talent isn't very good anyway or even memorable.

Rumours of Paula are floating around for her return to TV...from the US version of X-Factor to a re-vamp of Star Search to the next season of SYTYCD...we'll see if any pan out! Paula, where are you? We miss your crazy yet heartfelt comments!

Seven free songs every week is going to be kinda hard so I'll try my best every week to at least find a few. I have couple ditties I enjoyed this week, some free and some not. Here they are:

Monday - "Rocket" (Richard X One Zero Remix) - Goldfrapp - Get excited, their new album is out this week and it's going to be hot! I have previewed some of the songs on Itunes and they are great! Head First is released this week! This first single remix I found on amazon.com for free. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/s/ref=dm_tw_0309week_free/?node=334897011&field-date=20100309-20100315

Tuesday - "One in a Lifetime" - Monica - Ok, ya'll know I'm not a huge R&B fan, but I thought some of my readers might like it, so thought I'd cater to ya. Actually, the only song I really liked from Monica was that duet with Brandy from 4ever ago. Although slightly depressing and uplifting at the same time, this song has grown on me. Her new album Still Standing is out this week too. Here is the free link for a limited time!

http://www.amazon.com/One-In-A-Lifetime/dp/B003BT7MEO/ref=dm_tw_monica_free

Wednesday - "Animal" - Neon Trees - I have told you before about the free weekly tune on Itunes every week. Sometimes they are great and sometime they suck! This weeks is good. Keep in mind they change every Tuesday, so you only have today to get this song. Just go to the free section on Itunes near the bottom of the homepage. This band hales from Utah and the single is off their debut Habits album released last week. I'll check out the rest and report back but I do love this single!




Thursday - "Take Control" - Julissa Veloz - I WISH this song was free but it was only $1.99 on Itunes for 3 versions and let me tell you, they are HOT. I can see this being that summer anthem especially in the clubs! I don't remember her but apparently she was nicknamed "Tiara girl" from her American Idol auditions from Season 8. She didn't make it past Hollywood week.






Friday - "All This Time" - OneRepublic - I slow it down a bit with this selection. This song is so pretty and I'm totally obsessed. Not to be super cheesy, but this song would be perfect for a wedding. In true Paula fashion, I would totally be balling at this selection. This is off their new album Waking Up which is really good. Pick it up if you haven't yet, I like it better than their




first!Saturday -"The Journey" - Dolores O'Riordan - I used to have a cranberries obsession and not just for my vodka:) Back in the 90's, The Cranberries were one of my favorite bands! Did you know Dolores has released two solo albums? This is off her second one No Baggage released last year. This is a perfect song for a long run or at least for me it is. I really like these motivating songs for my runs.





Sunday - "Tea Party" - Kerli - This is off the Almost Alice soundtrack, and is another great song by this Estonian Princess. Look for her new album this spring!

Free Music!!!!

Now that I got your attention, don't you wish it was true!?! Hahaha

Shameful and tacky in an attempt to lure readers and fans?...Totally! I know.

Actually if you know me, I'm anything but those two words...(at least I hope). So this week, all the tunes are free!! Just click the links and download the MP3's. See good things can be free to those who read!

I won't drown you with words since it's the tunes you want! Here you go, 7 free songs!


Monday - "Memories" - David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi (Armand Van Helden Remix) - I already featured this song in my playlist a few weeks ago. Well now you have a hot remix for your dancing pleasure!


- Memories (feat. Kid Cudi) (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix)


Tuesday -"She Don't Wanna Man" - Asher Roth (Yes Giantess Remix) - So this should totally be the theme song to the Ellen show. Take a listen! HAHHAAHHA. Naa seriously, Roth is a American rapper and this is off his Asleep in the Bread Aisle released last year. That is Keri Hilson you do hear in the background of this vocal. The new Eminem?


- She Don't Wanna Man (Yes Giantess Remix)


Wednesday - "Sleepyhead" - Passion Pitt (Cassette Club Remix) - Hailing from Cambridge, MA this electronic band's biggest hit is this single from their Manners album last year. One of my fellow colleagues and blog followers got me into this band, thanks Brian!


- Sleepyhead (Cassette Club Remix)


Thursday - "Proxy" - Echo & The Bunnyman - Talk about an old skool post-punk band! They formed a year after I was born but still are releasing albums. This is off their 2009 Fountains album and this ditty fits right into the current music trend..a somewhat collaboration of Vampire Weekend meets Fall Out Boy if you will!


- Proxy


Friday - "Your Love is a Drug" - Leighton Meester - Your favorite bitch, Blair Waldorf, from Gossip Girl is releasing her debut album this April. Her first single with Robin Thicke, "Somebody to Love", slowly grew on me last year. This pop perfection is my new obsession of the week! Upper East Siders, let's so hope B brings some more HOT tunes this spring!


XOXO,
tone4thedef





Saturday - "Baby Can't Stop" -Lindstrom & Christabelle - Disco fever! OMG this song is totally going to be on SYTYCD next season! An infectious, poptastic track from the Norwegian pair’s first collaborative effort, Real Life Is No Cool.


- Baby Can't Stop (Radio Edit)



Sunday - "Hustle" - Tunng - Have you heard of Folktronic? Yeah, me either! But you guessed it. It's folk music infused with electronic beats. For that reason alone, you have to listen to this song. Give it a few seconds, it starts off slow but the melody and vocal styling are great! Plus any remix with the words 'bloc party' in it and you it's going to be good! This is the first single off their next album ...And Then We Saw Land which is to be released on March 1st, 2010.


- Hustle (Bloc Party Remix)

I hope your IPOD is happy! Be sure to follow me on this blog or leave a comment so I know who is listening! Tweeters, find me @tone4thedef!

The Current Soundtrack of My Life

Did everyone watch the Oscars last night? I did for the most part. However, I feel next year I may only watch the Red Carpet on E! and then the last hour. All that drab in the middle made me switch between my Judge Judy on DVR and the live telecast. Yes, Judge Judy...obsessed!

With the show just yesterday, I thought I'd dedicate my blog to movies this week...sorta;) This week's theme is soundtracks. Remember when movie soundtracks dominated the billboard charts? It's been a few years but "The BodyGuard", "City of Angels", and "Garden State" are few that come to mind.

My all time favorite soundtrack is probably from the movie "Cruel Intentions" or "Go". I know old skool right?

I found some new songs and soundtracks for this week's playlist. A lot of them are dominated by the new movie I was dying to see Alice in Wonderland. Although I still am going to see it, don't you hate when critic reviews ruin it? I heard it's not too uhmazing. Oh well, I'm A.D.Dicted to 3-D after Avatar so I'll definitely see it in the theater.

Here are some great tunes from soundtracks for you to check out!

MONDAY - "Stay Here Forever" - Jewel from the "Valentine's Day" album - So I didn't see this movie based purely on the shiteous critic reviews but honestly I never had a desire to see it. It looked like a ripoff of "He's Just Not That Into You" or "Love Actually". I do love me some Jewel. If you haven't seen her life, do it! She tells the most hilarious stories in between her songs!




TUESDAY -"Wunderkind" - Alanis Morissette from The Chronicles of Narnia and The Vancouver Olympics soundtrack - If you didn't watch the closing ceremonies from this year's Olympics, you missed an amazing performance by Canada's best musical export. Damn, girl looked HOT!! Way to go! Show Mr. Ryan Reynolds what he is missing out on! Scarlet Shmarlet:)




WEDNESDAY -"Strange" - Tokio Hotel feat. Kerli from the "Almost Alice" soundtrack - So I have never got into Tokio Hotel basically just because I never heard any of their songs. I know they were quite the rage a year or two ago. Anyway, I do love Kerli a.k.a the Estonian Lady Gaga! Please check out her "Love is Dead" album from 2008. Also her new album due in May!




THURSDAY - "Follow me Down" - 30h!3 feat. Neon Hitch from the "Almost Alice" soundtrack - This electronic band hales from Boulder, CO and get their name from the 303 area code for Colorado. You may have heard them featured in Ke$ha's new "Blah Blah BLah" song. BTW, that is the last you will hear of her in the blog. She is mega annoying and you will never hear her in this playlist!




FRIDAY - "My Life Would Suck Without You" - from the Glee Soundtrack volume 2 - Are you a Gleek? I totally am! How could you not? It's super cheesy fun with great humour and popular remixes of songs new and old! Tuesday April 13 is the date it returns! On a side note, Miss Kelly Clarkson joins Lilith Fair 2010. I'm so there!




SATURDAY -"Keep Holding On'" - from the Glee Soundtrack Volume 1 - Almost better than the original version from Avril Lavgine who coincidentally had her version featured in the 2006 "Eragon" dragon movie and has a super annoying song on the "Almost Alice" soundtrack . NPH and JLo are supposedly making guest appearances this season and they are even having a Madonna music only episode! So excited to put Glee music in my playlist without you thinking I'm a total GLEEK!





SUNDAY - "No Sound but the Wind" The Editors from the "Twilight: New Moon Saga" - So I can't leave the vampire craze outta my movie playlist. Look for the "Eclipse" soundtrack later this year. I didn't love this soundtrack, a tad gloom for me but I did like the track and totally like the movies.




So did anyone notice that the Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris "Break My Heart" song I featured more than a month ago in my "Love is in the Air' playlist is now #1 on Itunes this week? I told you I find the music first for you! Here is the official video!

My March Madness

Welcome to my March Madness! The madness for me is not basketball but rather deciding to give up alcohol for Lent the year. The overwhelming question I get is 'Why, are you crazy?' But yes, I've heard everything.

From 'Are you serious?' to 'That's the one thing you're not supposed to give up' to 'Wow, that's awesome' to 'More power to you' to 'You'll last a week'!

The reality was after a couple back to back Sunday Fundays, I decided a needed a break and so did my liver. Also throw in a couple weekday starts with a bad hangover and the idea of slitting my wrists looking like the means to the end, Ash Wednesday happened to fall right on the calendar at the perfect time. Yes folks, I did it for Jesus!

Actually not being super religious, I'm using this time as a time of penance and fasting for my own spiritual being. Not entirely a devotion to God, but more a devotion to myself and to prove to myself I can do it. Also, ask pretty much anyone who knows me, and they'll tell you that I'm a man of my word. So when I say I'm going to do something, I do it. So my dear friend alcohol, I'll see ya on Easter.

My first test was this weekend for one my best friend's birthday, and surprisingly it went well! There was only a few minor setbacks like the server not even bringing my Diet Coke when I ordered it but coincidentally remembering my friend's Vodka drink, and a case of the stink eye when I turned down a shot. I know right, who turns down free shots? Other than than that, my alternating between Diet Coke and Red Bull kept me right on track with my fellow drinkers and few even noticed.

So who says you need alcohol to have fun? Me....any other day but these 40 days:)

Here's your madness playlist for the week!


Monday - "Fight for You" - Morgan Page - I featured this DJ in a playlist a few weeks ago. This is another song off his "Believe" album...no, not Cher's "Believe" album. I'm digging this album!





Tuesday - "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" - Alicia Keys - I'm not the biggest Alicia Keys fan. Don't get me wrong, I think she is an amazing voice and talent. Sometimes her songs are a little slow and bland for me, but this one I do love! This is off her latest album "The Element of Freedom".





Wednesday - "When I'm Small" - Phantogram - An American rock duo hailing from NY, these Jr. high school friends formed a band in 2007. They've played with Yeasayer before which I have featured in this blog. Hooping loops, synth pop, dance beat and haunting lead vocals from Sarah Barthel, you can't go wrong with this single.




Thursday - "Scars" - Allison Iraheta - Ok, if you watch Idol, you saw this song on the results show this week. Reminiscent of a P!nk song, this is a rather slow song but I do like it. Although she is slightly awkward during interviews, she does have a great voice.





Friday - "Pyramid" - Charice - You've likely seen this young 17yr old singer on Ellen or Oprah who rose to fame on youtube. This is her fist single off her international debut slated for later this year. From the Philippines, this singer made her debut on the Filipino version of Idol but only took third place. I have her feeling her voice will take her much further in the US!





Saturday - "Fall Hard" - Shout Out Louds - This song reminds me of the indie band Owl City but the Swedish version. Off their "Work" album released this month, this is a fun catchy ditty. For Passion Pitt fans, they did a great "Summertime Radio Remix" version of this song but its a tad slower. Check it out!




Sunday - "Never Forget You" - The Noisettes - So this is the perfect theme song for me this week. Don't you love how I someone can find perfect songs for every theme?

What you’re drinkin’
Rum or whiskey
Now don’t you have a…
Double with me

ACTUALLY...Yes, puhleeeze I will take a double Vodka on Easter...thaaaaanks!