time travel : december
Time travel is a monthly newsletter where we listen to one song from each decade (60s to 020s) picked by me, your old year’s resolution.
The moment has finally come…we spent the entire year exploring new sounds and this is the last ‘time travel’ newsletter. We are closing off the year grooving to some tracks that will hopefully shake up your algorithm and relax you in this liminal period between christmas and new year’s eve. I didn’t have a plan for this one, and it ended up being a loungey mix of soul, reggae and soft pop. have fun
60s: Walk On By - Isaac Hayes
Trust me, I love Dionne Warwick but this has got to be one of the best reinterpretations of a song in the history of music. Isaac Hayes' soulful take is timeless and although I added the single edit, there is also an eleven minute version of the song in his album ‘Hot Buttered Soul’.
If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by
70s: Olha Eu Aqui Oh! Oh! Oh! - Evinha
A bossa nova track with quirky synth sounds and playful vocals by the fabulous Brazilian singer, Evinha. This one is from her 5th album, “Eva”, released in 1974.
Apesar de tudo
Morro mas não mudo de opinião, opinião
Você não é de gelo
Mas se assim for vou derreter seu coração
80s: I Am in Love - Jennifer Lara
You can find different versions of this song out there but this reggae cover by Jennifer Lara has that groovy bass that gives more depth and passion to the lyrics than Evelyn King’s cover or even more than the original disco-version by Patrice Rushen.
Sometimes you can't tell if love is real
If love is real
There ain't no doubt about the way i feel
The way i feel, yeah
90s: Ondulé - Mathieu Boogaerts
Now we fast forward to France in the 90’s with this track from the singer-songwriter’s debut album, Super 2. Mathieu Boogaert is known for producing amateur films that accompany his songs, and the one for this one is a one-take video of him getting a haircut and shave.
Ondulé
Par-ci par-là luné
Pas les idées bien installées
It is a shame
I never feel the same
00s: I Love My Car - Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian have spent years creating indie pop songs that manage to sound lovely and effortless while hiding a complexity and depth in both their lyrics and musical arrangements. This one is from their fourth album, Push Barman to Open Old Wounds released in the year 2000.
I wish I could say the same for you
The day will come soon when I look in your eyes but
I won't see you
10s: Mar Diamante - Reina Republicana
Reina Republicana’s sound mixes c86, bossa nova, and indie pop while giving a nod to other famous spanish bands like Los Planetas or La Buena Vida. Mar Diamante is one of the first songs they released, back in 2012, and it shows the band’s signature innocent, fresh, and sparkling sound.
20s: High Tide, Storm Rising - Skinshape
Skinshape usually finds a nice merge of genres like funk, soul and psychedelic rock and this is no exception. The song is part of the album he released this year, and the theme of it being Nostalgia reflects perfectly the feeling of this time of year. beginnings and endings. beginnings. endings. beginnings !
Thank you for reading and listening to these monthly articles, if you want to check out the previous playlists you can find them all in my spotify profile. Make sure to follow me on instagram @signodepesos to stay connected.
Bye!