The Contenders, Vol. 14: The songs we can't stop playing this week
Jul 23, 2024
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Moses Sumney, Alisa Amador, and Orville Peck discuss their latest songs in this episode. Topics include Moses Sumney's sensuality and intuition in music, Alisa Amador's hopeful track 'Woke Up Today', and Orville Peck collaborating with Beck on 'Death Valley High'. The hosts also explore emotional impacts of various songs and artist collaborations.
Orville Peck and Beck's 'Death Valley High' showcases a whimsical blend of styles and characters reflecting fun and escapism.
Moses Sumney's 'Gold Coast' delves into sensuality and connection, combining emotional resonance with danceable beats.
Deep dives
Orville Peck and Beck Collaboration
Orville Peck and Beck recently collaborated on a song called 'Death Valley High' from Peck's upcoming album 'Stampede.' The song showcases a unique blend of their styles, drawing comparisons to Vegas Elvis and Tom Jones. Their shared whimsical and demented characters in the song reflect a sense of fun and escapism in the city of lights.
Nilufer Yanya's Song 'Call It Love'
Nilufer Yanya's song 'Call It Love' from her album 'My Method Actor' navigates themes of deep introspection and subtle tension. The lyrics capture a sense of ambiguity and internal struggle, culminating in a message of possibility and self-discovery. Yanya's husky voice guides the song's exploration of romance, providing a mix of immediate gratification and underlying angst.
Moses Sumney's Single 'Gold Coast'
Moses Sumney's single 'Gold Coast' from the EP 'Softcore' delves into the intersections of sensuality and intuition, showcasing a blend of deep emotional resonance and danceable beats. The song captures the essence of an all-night party experience, exploring themes of connection and intimacy amidst a whirlwind of haze and desire. Sumney's sonic experimentation and clear artistic vision shape a hypnotic and captivating musical journey.
Neil Young's Early Version of 'Helpless'
Neil Young's early version of 'Helpless,' recorded with Crazy Horse, offers a raw and emotive take on the classic song. Stripped of harmonies, the rendition emphasizes Young's vulnerability and introspective lyricism, reflecting on childhood memories and the inevitability of one's roots. The song evokes a sense of bittersweet longing and self-reflection, resonating with themes of nostalgia, hope, and helplessness.
We update our running tally of the year's best songs with a return from Moses Sumney, 2022 Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador, Orville Peck's collaboration with Beck and more.
Featured songs and artists: 1. Orville Peck and Beck: "Death Valley High," from Stampede 2. Nilüfer Yanya: "Call It Love," from My Method Actor 3. Alisa Amador: "Woke Up Today," from Multitudes 4. Moses Sumney: "Gold Coast," from Sophcore 5. Neil Young and Crazy Horse: "Helpless," from Early Daze 6. Rema: "YAYO," from HEIS
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Questions, comments, suggestions and feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org