Time to Celebrate
The Playlist to kick-off Summer 2021
Everybody is saying and feeling it; this has been an unbelievable and unprecedented 20 months. Look what we all have been experiencing; working from home, job loss, remote learning for students of all ages, long lines to get into banks, grocery stores and the motor vehicle offices, death of unarmed black men, women and children at the hands of law enforcement, shelves empty of toilet paper, paper towels and disinfectant, emptiness of our favorite bars and restaurants, missing cheers in arenas and stadiums for our favorite sports teams and musical performers, traveling for business and leisure, a capitol insurrection and family fun became extinct; compounding on this time, the extraordinary loss of life and how we mourn and send our loved ones to their new land of glory.
This pandemic has been beyond stressful; defining our personal relationships and stretching our boundaries of mental, physical and financial health; not to mention our psychological fears. We been through it!
To date, the CDC is reporting half of Americans have received their first vaccination shot, shots for young people as young as 12 are becoming available, the mandate for mask is loosening, gathering entertainment spots is becoming a thing again, airline travel is increasing and a mid-summer goal of first shot vaccinations for 75% of Americans is the new target. The sun is beginning to shine again… as we begin to see some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, we should take a moment to rejoice.
If there is anything, we should have learned from the past two years, is not to take any of life’s joys for granted and celebrate! Yes, celebrate every aspect of life; our families, friends, loved ones, careers, faith; let’s celebrate all the things. Let’s take in the moments that brings us pure joy; a simple hug, a graduation ceremony, going to the movies, spending quality time with our loved ones, face to face conversations with people, young folks excelling in their extracurricular activities; we need to celebrate life at every available opportunity.
What better way to celebrate life then the sounds of music; beats, rhymes, rhythm and vocal artistry.
We are still in a pandemic, but it is becoming safer for us to embrace the happiness that has been missing from our lives. As I begin my summer road trips, backyard cookouts or chilling on the front porch, I will be enjoying this playlist to celebrate and create my next memory as we move further away from this pandemic.
After 7 – Bittersweet
Alex Parchment f/ Phillip Doc Martin – Vibin’ In Time
Andra Day – Tigress & Tweed
Audrey Nuna – Space
Blossom Dearie – Blossom’s Blues
Chris Botti – The Last Three Minutes
Dixson – Kream
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Brand New Funk
Dojo Cat f/ SZA – Kiss Me More
Drake + Lil Baby – Wants and Needs
Funk Flex f/ Rowdy Rebel – Re Route
Gene Noble – Matching Tattoos
Gwen Bunn + Faith Evans – Between the Lines
H.E.R. – Fight for You
H.E.R. + Chris Brown – Come Through
Hiatus Kaiyote – Red Room
Hil St. Paul – One Life
J.D’s Time Machine + Cleveland Jones – Kiss of Freedom
James Brown – Doing It to Death
Jazmine Sullivan – Pick Up Your Feelings
Julian Vaughn f/ Donald Hayes – On Notice
KAMAUU + Adeline Masego – MANGO
Karyn White – Slow Down
Kindred The Family Soul – Break It Down
Leela James – Complicated
Lil Baby + EST Gee – Real As It Gets
Lonr. + H.E.R. – Make The Most
Loui + Saweetie – Talkin’ Bout
Maeta – Doesn’t Mean A Thing
Mary J Blige – U + Me
Paul Brown f/ Richard Elliott – Notorious
Prince – Welcome 2 America
Raheem DeVaughn – Mr. Midnight
Raiche – Pick A Side
Robert Glasper + H.E.R. + Me;Chelle Ndegeocello – Better Than I Imagined
Sevyn Streeter + Chris Brown + AS$P Ferg – Guilty
Silk Sonic – Leave The Door Open
Snoh Aalegra – Find Someone Like You
Skip Marley f/ Ari Lenox & Rick Ross – Make Me Feel
Stevie Wonder – Love Life In Flight
Tyler Dumont – You
VanJess – Slow Down
What songs will make your summertime playlist?