Sometimes it's a video that makes the song, and in the case of this track from Kwes., it is ALL about the video. Not to say that "Bashful" isn't an entertaining song, but with this video in mind, the sounds and moods take on a whole new life. The video is quite artistic, showing the singer's entrance into an old-time elevator where we are introduced to the cast of characters. What makes "Bashful" such a fun video is that many of the sounds in the song are punctuated in the video, either by lighting changes or actual actions from the characters as they tap, clap, snap, and sing the words to the song. All the while, they look coyly at one another, obvious attraction and interest on their faces but, aha, too "Bashful" to anything about it.
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Image Courtesy of Warp Records.
Well this is kind of epic. Granted, Elton John was fully on board and endorsing this mixed interpretation of some of his works, ranging from lyrics from "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Tonight", as well as instrumentation from both "Gulliver" and "Funeral for a Friend". Together with beats from Pnau, the whole thing sounds like a dreamy romp through some alternate dimension where everything is soft and fun. "Good Morning to the Night" is but the first of 8 tracks from an album of Pnau-re-imagined Elton John tracks. More information can be found at 
In the ongoing saga of Marilyn, the Musical, Katharine McPhee's character, Karen Cartwright, sings this little ditty under the instruction of musician and writer Ryan Tedder. While the characters in Smash were clearly offended by the track, and just how removed it is from both musical theater and the story of Marilyn herself, the dance junkie in me couldn't help but think how well this would do on the dance floor. And it seems I'm not alone in this estimation, as Jody Den Broeder, Jump Smokers, and DJ Kue have mixed it for peak floor consumption. Each mix emphasizes just how good McPhee sounded in the original version. What makes this whole production that much more entertaining is how, unlike Glee, Smash is almost completely comprised of original musical works. "Touch Me" may just be the first one that's single and dance floor worthy.
Heralding his return to releasing his own music, Sparro releases "Happiness", the lead single to his upcoming 2012 album Return to Paradise. This is pure disco funk in the way we've come to know from Sparro. The groove is hot, Sparro's voice is as seductive as ever, and the bass guitar is electrifying. As a marker of new material, "Happiness" is what it suggests it is, in it's purest form. And with mixes leaking from Sparro's second single, "I Wish I Never Met You" (without the actual song leaking), it's just a matter of time before we can't stop salivating for new material from this talented artist. "Happiness" is here for now and more than worth drooling over.