I'm coming home to your tender sweet loving

Leon Bridges. "Coming Home." Coming Home (Deluxe), LisaSawyer63, Inc. under exclusive license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment, 2015.

It's U.S. Thanksgiving, and so we celebrated in what seems like the most American way -- by deep-frying a turkey and surrounding ourselves with friends new and old. Leon was in heavy rotation, the perfect soundtrack to a day of gratitude.

I know this might seem strange

Musiq Soulchild. "Just Friends (Sunny)." Aijuswanaseing, Mercury Records Limited, 2000.

I love taking road trips because it means I get to dig around in my high school CD case, which lives in our car, and travel back in time when I play DJ. Those of you who've known me since high school can imagine that I was pretty stoked this weekend when I remembered Aijuswanaseing was in that case.

I remember when I first saw Musiq Soulchild perform -- it was on BET's "106th & Park" with AJ and Free (yes, I, like most teenage girls back in the late 90s / early 2000s, had a serious crush on AJ) -- and I was instantly hooked by his smooth vocals and modern take on soul music. (There I'm talking about Musiq Soulchild again, not AJ.)

This song has been a karaoke favourite over the past couple of decades, and I even saw Common perform it when he was in San Francisco earlier this year, but the original is still my favourite.

Take me down, six underground

Sneaker Pimps. "6 Underground (Nellee Hooper remix)." Becoming X, Clear Up Records Ltd. Issued under exclusive license in America to Virgin Records America, 1996.

Sometimes it's a mad sprint to get everything done. Today this track is just what I need to slow things down for a moment.

Plus, it samples De La Soul's "Breakadawn," which in turn samples Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It." Ah one two, ah one two.

Love is all, all my soul

Air. "Playground Love (with Gordon Tracks)." The Virgin Suicides (Deluxe Version - 15th Anniversary), Aircheology and Parlophone / Warner Music France, a Warner Music Group Company, 2000, 2015.

It's one of those days. Foggy, grey, and misty. Need some Air to slow things down.

🎶 I'm a highschool lover
And you're my favorite flavour
Love is all, all my soul
You're my playground love

Yet my hands are shaking
I feel my body remains
Time's no matter, I'm on fire
On the playground, love

You're the piece of gold
That flashes on my soul
Extra time, on the ground 
You're my Playground Love

Anytime, anyway
You're my Playground Love 🎶

Hold on to this feelin'

Jurassic 5. "Freedom." Power In Numbers, Interscope Records, 2002.

I first caught J5 perform live in Toronto at The Guvernment - Kool Haus (formerly Canada's largest nightclub, shuttered in 2015 to make room for waterfront condos).

It was May 2004, the world was still reeling from the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks three years earlier, the US was occupying and at war with Iraq and Afghanistan's Taliban, respectively, Billy Crystal was still hosting the Oscars, and George W. Bush would win re-election in November, but the lyrics on this track still feel relevant twelve years later.

🎶 Imagine life without a choice at all
Given no hope without a voice at all
These be the problems that we face
I'm talkin' poverty in race
But no matter what the case we gotta
Hold on to this feelin', Freedom (Freedom!) 🎶