Hold me like a child, run your fingers through my hair

Hannah Georgas. "Don't Go." For Evelyn, Beetle Bomb Music Inc. Under Exclusive license to Dine Alone Music Inc., 2016.

I had the pleasure of seeing Vancouver-born and now Toronto-based Hannah Georgas perform this Friday at the Pandora offices in Oakland for our regular artist "Whiteboard Sessions."

Stripped down to just a keyboard, guitar, and her ethereal vocals, Hannah gave a hauntingly beautiful rendition of this song, which she described as being about the "unbearable pain" of losing her mother.

There's something so comforting to me about hearing a Canadian accent, especially in song. Hannah's voice reminds me of the great Leslie Feist and I simply adore the way she sings the lyrics "lying on your couch." Enjoy, SVP.

You must follow your heart

City and Colour. "Against The Grain." Bring Me Your Love (Special Edition), City and Colour, under exclusive license to Dine Alone Music Inc., 2007.

We're doing it. More Canada. It's been raining here in the Bay Area for the better part of the week, and this feels like just the thing. 

Friends and family have been feeling some loss and pain lately and there are some nuggets of wisdom in Dallas Green's lyrics that have been speaking to me as I keep them in my thoughts.

🎶 If you feel you've paid the price, and your wounds should cease to heal // And everything you love in life spins like a winding wheel // If you should wake to find you're abandoned, and the road you traveled leads to a dead end // When death creeps in to play it's part, you must follow your heart 🎶 

Don't hide yourself away, let it shine

Sloan. "Everything You've Done Wrong." One Chord To Another, murderecords, 1996.

Uh oh. Here we go down a rabbit hole of classic Canadian music videos from the late 90s.

🎶 Do your time, and then come home for good. 🎶

Bonus: just had to include this, because if it feels good, do it. Feeling nostalgic for the days of Much on Queen West.

We'll spend the night together, wake up and live forever

Jamiroquai. "Alright (Remastered)." Travelling Without Moving, Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, 1997.

This morning it was pouring rain in LA (I know, right, does that ever happen?) -- with thunder and torrential downpour and the whole thing -- so we had to put on some sunny dance music to wake up right and get in a good mood.

Jay Kay and his team usually does the trick.

(Oh, and apparently they're releasing a new album in November!) Happy Monday.

I done got myself together baby, and now I'm havin' a ball

Marvin Gaye. "Got To Give It Up (Album Version)." Gold, Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc., 2004.

First released in 1977 and inspired by the Johnnie Taylor hit "Disco Lady," this track was originally called "Dancing Lady" and came off a request from Marvin Gaye's label that he perform disco.

We're here in LA this weekend and last night had a taste of the full Hollywood experience — a film premiere at the historic Grauman's (now TCL) Chinese Theater for the Screamfest LA horror film festival, followed by a wrap party at the Hotel Roosevelt's cocktail bar / bowling alley, The Spare Room. The DJ was spinning vinyl jams from the 1970s and 1990s R&B all night, and when this track came on it was one of those "no more standing there beside the walls" situations, as Marvin would put it.

Thanks to Johnny Galecki for all the drinks and an incredible performance in the film, which he also produced. If you're into creature movies and comedic horrors, go see The Master Cleanse. The legendary Anjelica Huston and Oliver Platt also feature in the cast, which was top notch. Plus, the creature puppets (no CGI here) were simultaneously adorable and repulsive — and the movie will get you thinking about the demons you have trapped inside of yourself.

Boy was high, girl fly like kite

De La Soul. "A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays.'" De La Soul Is Dead, Tommy Boy, 1991.

Produced by Prince Paul and featuring vocals from Q-Tip and Vinia Mojica, this track samples Chicago's "Saturday In The Park" (another classic) and always makes me want to head to the roller disco when I put it on.

🎶 Saturday, it's a Saturday // 5 days of work, 1 whole day of play // C'mon everybody, wear your rollerskates today 🎶

You are my shining star, my guiding light

Luther Vandross. "Never Too Much." Never Too Much, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 1981.

Happy Friday, y'all.

We're taking things back to the 80s with this one. The music video might be pure cheeseball, but there's just something about it that never fails to put me in a good mood. Is it those classic boombox stereos? The Walkmans? Luther's sweet K-Way jacket number he's rockin' in the studio? Who can say?

Whatever it is, it's never too much.

A treasure time won't steal away

Michael Jackson. "The Lady In My Life." Thriller, MJJ Productions Inc., 1982.

Sadly, songwriter and musician Rod Temperton passed away earlier this month. He left us with many incredible songs that became instant classics, including this one from Michael Jackson's record-breaking Grammy award-winning album Thriller, produced by the legendary Quincy Jones almost 35 years ago.

Some of you may have picked up on the sections of this track that have been sampled over the years since it was first released -- there are over 30 counts according to WhoSampled -- my favourites of which include LL Cool J's "Hey Lover (feat. Boyz II Men)," Ghostface Killah's "Daytona 500 (feat. Raewkon & Cappadonna)," and People Under The Stairs' "Ambien Hallway Music." If not, check them out below.

I tried to put one in the air

Solange. "Cranes In The Sky." A Seat At The Table, Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, 2016.

The remixes for this track just keep on coming in, and they are good. Real good. First, Kaytranada's banger dropped last week, and yesterday Common released his version with a verse exclusively on The FADER. 

Check out the gorgeous cinematography, choreography, and costume design in the official video below, directed by Alan Ferguson and Solange herself, or visit Solange's website to read her beautiful digital lyrics book via ISSUU.

🎶 Sometimes I don't want to feel those metal clouds 🎶

In an email to The FADER, Common explained just how special the song is to him.

““Every once and a few years, there are certain songs that come out and have the sound of forever. “Cranes in the Sky” is that song for me,” he said. “Every time I listened to it, I keep wanting to hear it again and again. I started mumbling some words to it and then decided I want to write a verse. This is an un official remix simply inspired by the love of art. Check it out.””
— http://www.thefader.com/2016/10/18/common-solange-cranes-in-the-sky-remix

I've been a bad, bad girl

Fiona Apple. "Criminal." Tidal, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, 1996.

Another Mark Romanek-directed music video. I think we all fell in love with Fiona Apple just a little bit two decades ago when this one dropped. The whole Kate Moss heroin chic look, snapping photos on the living room floor, that scene in the bathtub, the vibrant colours. Squeezing dish soap into the air has never looked sexier.

🎶  Heaven help me for the way I am // Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done // I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand // But I keep living this day like the next will never come 🎶 

This is a re-quest, Mr. Radio Man

Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray. "Request + Line/ Empire Strikes Black." Bridging The Gap, Interscope Records, 2000.

Remember this album? Well, if you don't, there was a time when, before Fergie and all that shit, the B.E.P. were a good hip-hop crew, touting positive lyrics and collaborating with some of the best producers, lyricists, and vocalists out there at the time -- Bridging The Gap alone featured guest appearances from Common, Les Nubians, Macy Gray, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 & Ozomatli, Esthero, Mos Def, and Wyclef Jean.

Throwing things back to the 2000s to start the week off right.

(For those of you who like finding those secret tracks, skip ahead to the 4:57 mark, or just wait through the silence in between.)