 |
Since childhood, my family has emphasized that the arts are the true universal language of human connection. While I wasn’t blessed with the talent to play an instrument, I have a deep reverence for artists and the "magic" they share with us, regardless of the tongue in which they speak.
Catchy beats and quality lyrics are my kryptonite. I find immense joy in deciphering the hidden meanings and subtle "vibes" within a track, allowing them to anchor my own memories and reflections. I’ve always believed that some of life’s most vital lessons—and its most resilient joys—aren't found in textbooks, but in the rhythm of a favorite album or chorus.
Music has been one of my constants through every major transition:
The Relocations: Living abroad. Moving between countries and states. Visiting 5/7 continents.
The Grind: Late nights in labs & long shifts of field research. Motivation while grading & writing. Evening reflections and overthinking before falling asleep.
The Journey: Group/solo road trips, long cruises/flights, and the quiet hours before sunrise.
The Joy: Impromptu dances in the kitchen/house/yard and concert sessions with friends/family.
Below is a curated selection of "Sounds" that remind me that distance is merely a transformation in the landscape. I’ve learned that we often listen to a song on repeat not because we are "stuck," but because the melody says what we aren't yet ready to put into words. I hope these sounds offer you a similar sense of comfort, joy, reflection, and vibes that they provide me. This is a living page and will be updated.
French
Aya Nakamura: Dis-moi, Djadja (remix with Maluma), Hypé, La dot, Sucette
Black M: Bon, Comme moi, Je suis chez moi, La route des princes, Mama, Mon beau frere, Mon défaut
Dadju: Amour Toxic, Compliqué, Dieu Merci, Elle me demande, Ma Woman, Mon soleil, One Time, Poison ou Antidote (album), POA Live session- Mashup Gentleman 2.0, Toko Toko
Franglish: Biberon, Bolingo, Boucan, Ça c'est bien, Comme Ça, Peur D'aimer
Indila: Dernière Danse
KeBlack: A la vie a la mort, Bazardée, Dolce Gabbana, Hypocrite, J'ai déconné, KEBLACK 2.4.3, Madame, Ouhlala, Pas permis, Richard, T'es à moi, Tout gâcher
KeBlack: A la vie a la mort, Bazardée, Dolce Gabbana, Hypocrite, J'ai déconné, KEBLACK 2.4.3, Madame, Ouhlala, Pas permis, Richard, T'es à moi, Tout gâcher
Kendji Girac: Andalouse, Bebeto, Cool, Conmigo, Dernier métro, Dans mes bras, Que Dieu me pardonne, Tiago
Louane: Avenir, On était beau
Maître Gims: Belle, Est-ce que tu m'aimes, Hola Senorita, Laissez Passer, Le Pire, Ma beauté, Ou aller, Oulala, Touché, Tout Donner
M. Pokora: Mieux que nous, Tombé
MHD: Bella, Bébé, Bravo, Full, Pololo, Tudo Bem
Naza: C'est Toi, Joli bébé, Moi Je Vérife, On Est équipé
Ronisia: Atterrissage, Comme moi, Doucement, Hey Boo, Jolie madame, Mélodie, Nha Terra, Swipe
Scridge: Karma, Les Clés de l'Appart, Pour Walou
Soprano: Barman, En feu, Le diable ne s'habille plus en Prada, Mon précieux, Roule
Stromae: Alors on Danse, Fils de joie, Formidable, Mon amour, Papaoutai, Pardon, Tous Les Mêmes
Tiakola: Gasolina, Manon B, Meridian, Psychologique, R.I.Peace Si j'savais, T.I.A
German
Adel Tawil: Lieder, Zuhause
Alligatoah: Monet, Narben
Andreas Bourani: Auf Anderen Wegen, Auf uns
Axwell ^ Ingrosso: More Than You Know
Bausa: Was du Liebe nennst
Cro: 1 Million, 2kx, Baum, Bye Bye, Dein Song, In Love, Meine Zeit, Melodie, Traum, Vielleicht, Whatever
Joris: Bis an Ende der Welt, Herz über Kopf
Mark Forster: 194 Länder, Au revoir, Einmal, Flash Mich, Gerade Jetzt, Nimmerland, Soweiso, Was du nicht Tust, Wir sind groß
Layla: 24/7, Dichter, Massari Mami
Levin Liam: Aufwachen, 2 Neue Songs Leak 2021
Max Giesinger: 80 Millionen, Die Reise, Legenden
Namika: Comic, Je ne parle pas français, Kompliziert, Lieblingsmensch, Mailbox, Na-Mi-Ka, Que Walou
Philipp Dittberner: Das ist dein Leben, In Deiner Kleinen Welt, So kann es weitergehen, Wolke 4
Teesy: Dinge die ich meinen Eltern nicht sag, Girls, Jackpot, Likes, Stranger
Sido: Astronaut, Tausend Tattoos
Yvonne Catterfeld: Pendel
Wincent Weiss: Die Guten Zeiten, Wer wenn nicht wir
Zartmann: dafür bin ich frei, eehhhyyy, Tau mich auf
Spanish
Bad Bunny: Me Porto Bonito, Monaco, Moscow Mule, Ojitos Lindos, Perfumito Nuevo
Enrique Iglesias: Bailando, Duele el Corazon, Subeme la Radio
Karol G: +57, Contigo, QLONA, Mientras me Curo Del Cora, Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido
Maluma: Felices los 4, Hawai, Mala Mia, Pa'Ti, Que Pena, Sobrio
Myke Towers: Lala
Dutch
Kenny B: Parjis
Monica Geuze ft. Ronnie Flex, Mafe, Frenna, Emms & Abira: Laten Gaan
Monica Geuze ft. Ronnie Flex, Mafe, Frenna, Emms & Abira: Laten Gaan
Nielson: De kleine
dingen, Hoe, Hotelsuite
English
6LACK: Alone, Know My Rights, PRBLMS, Seasons
Aitch: Close to Home, Learning Curve, Louis Vuitton, My G, Party Around My Place, The Palm
Allstar Weekend: Come Down With Love, Dance Forever, Not Your Birthday
ArrDee: Art Not Accolades, Come & Go, Early Hours, Trouble
Ayra Starr: Commas, Last Heartbreak Song, Love Don't Cost a Dime, Pinacolada, Who's Dat Girl
Avicii: SOS, The Days, The Nights, Waiting for Love
Blxst: About You, Chosen, Every Good Girl, How Many, Overrated, Paper Route, Why
Black Sherif: So it Goes
Bruno Mars: Count On Me, Grenade, It Will Rain, Just The Way You Are, Liquor Store Blues, Marry You, That's What I Like, When I Was Your Man
Bryson Tiller: 502 Come Up, Ciao!, Don't, Let Em' Know, Run Me Dry, Somethin Tells Me, Sorry Not Sorry
Burna Boy: Big 7, Calm Down, Cheat On Me, Last Last, Love, Onyeka, Pardon, Solid, Wild Dreams
Calvin Harris: I Need Your Love, My Way, Slide
Camidoh: Sugarcane, Sugarcane Remix
Central Cee: Band4Band, Iceman Freestyle, Limitless, Sprinter, Truth in the Lies, Wagwan, Y Fi Dat
Chiké & Simi: If You No Love, Running to You
Chris Brown: Ayo, Don't Judge Me, Don't Wake Me Up, Graffiti (Album), Pills & Automobiles, Sing Like Me, Sweet Love, Tempo, Yellow Tape
CKay: Emiliana, Love Nwantiti Remix
Clean Bandit: Rather Be, Symphony
Colbie Caillat: Brighter Than The Sun, Bubbly, Fallin' For You, I Do
Connor Price: Chess, Love Language, Marathon, ROOTS, Spinnin, SPLAT, Straight A's, These Days
DaBaby: Blind, Doo-Wop, Don't Insult Me, Find My Way, Mo Money Mo Problems, Rain Rain
Daniel Powter: Bad Day
Dave: 175 Months, Chapter 16, Clash, History, Location, Professor X, Starlight, The Boy Who Played the Harp
Demi Lovato: I Love Me, La La Land, Made in the USA, Neon Lights, Really Don't Care, Skyscraper, Sober, Sorry Not Sorry
Doja Cat: Agora Hills, Cyber S*x, Freaky Deaky Juicy, Need To Know, Vegas, Won't Bite
Domani: Forever, Homesick, I Know It's Real, I Want You
Drake: All Me, Take Care (Album), Mia, Miss Me, Nice For What, Over,
Ed Sheeran: + (Album), Castle On The Hill, Don't, Don't/Loyal/No Diggity/The Next Episode/Nina, Photograph, South of the Border, What Do I Know
Ghetts: Blood on my Hands, Hallelujah, King's Speech, Little Bo Peep, Mount Rushmore
Hailee Steinfeld: Let Me Go, Starving
Hot Chelle Rae: I Like It Like That, Tonight Tonight
Imagine Dragons: Believer, Bleeding Out, Demons, Every Night, It's Time, On Top of the World, Radioactive, Thunder, Underdog
J Cole: 1985, Applying Pressure, Crooked Smile, Middle Child, Forest Hills Drive (Album), Pride is the Devil
JAE5: Love Made Me Do It
James Bay: Hold Back the River, Let It Go
Jason Mraz: I'm Yours, I Won't Give Up
Jesse McCartney: Beautiful Soul, Leavin, Shake
JoJo: Baby It's You, Too Little Too Late
Jonas Blue: Fast Car, Mama, Rise, What I Like About You
Jordin Sparks: Battlefield, No Air, One Step At A Time, Tattoo
Jonas Brothers: Lovebug, S.O.S., Sucker, Year 3000
Justin Bieber: Baby, Confident, Daisies, Holy, Honest, Intentions, Love Yourself, One Time, Sorry, Speed Demon, What Do You Mean, Yukon, Yummy
Kalpee: Climb, Colorful, Gimme de Ting, Lessons, No One, What About Us, Wherever You Are
Katy Perry: California Gurls, Dark Horse, Part of Me, Teenage Dreams, The One That Got Away
Kanye West: All Falls Down, Clique, Heard 'Em Say, Hey Mama, Mercy, Never Let Me Down, Through the Wire
Khalid: American Teen, Be Like That, Free Spirit (Album), Keep Me, Love Lies, Retrograde, Saturday Nights, Therapy
Koffee: Lockdown, Pressure, Rapture (Remix), Toast, West Indies
Kranium: Can't Believe it, Gal Policy, Just the Style, Nobody Has to Know, We Can
Kygo: Happy Now, Higher Love, It Ain't Me
LADIPOE: Know You
Lil Baby: California Breeze, Close Friends, In a Minute, Insecurities, On Me, Right On, The Bigger Picture
Lifehouse: You and Me
Louis Tomlinson: Back to You
Maleek Berry: Balance, Been Calling, Lately, Let Me Know
Mariah The Scientist: Always n Forever, Burning Blue, Is It a Crime, Spread Thin
Maroon 5: Beautiful Mistakes, Don't Wanna Know, Maps, Memories, Misery, Payphone, Sugar, Wait
Masego: Just A Little, Mystery Lady, Tadow
Niall Horan: This Town
Nasty C: Cassanova, Everything (live), Jack, Leftie (Dlala Ngcobo), Let's Go, Lie, UOK
NF: Careful, Dreams, Drifting, Let You Down, The Search (Album), GONE, HAPPY, HOPE, If You Want Love, Just Like You, Let You Down, Remember This, You're Special
Nico & Vinz: Am I Wrong, Black Star Elephant (Album), Imagine, Listen, People
Olly Murs: Dear Darlin, Dance With Me Tonight, Troublemaker
Omar Lay: Understand
One Direction: Best Song Ever, History, Live While We're Young, Night Changes, One Thing, Rock Me, What Makes You Beautiful
Owl City: Fireflies, Good Time
Pheelz: Finesse, Finesse Remix
P!nk: Just Give Me a Reason, Just Like Fire, Raise Your Glass, So What, True Love, Try, Who Knew
PnB Rock: High, Misunderstood, Unforgettable (Freestyle)
Polo G: Black Hearted, Distraction, I Know, Martin & Gina, Party Lyfe, Rapstar
Popcaan: Elevate, Firm and Strong, Next To Me, Risky, Silence, St. Thomas Native
Pop Smoke: Backseat, Enjoy Yourself Remix, Hello, Mood Swing, Paranoia, What You Know About Love
Rihanna: Believe It, Disturbia, Te Amo, We Found Love, What's My Name, You Da One
Ruger: Asiwaju, Dior, Toma Toma
Russ: Best on Earth, Break, Congrats Freestyle, Crazy, Go Up, Handsomer, Live From the Villa, Me You, Maybe, Movin, Pent Up in a Penthouse, Prosper, Status, Yes Sir
Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come, Chain Gang, What a Wonderful World
Sam Hunt: Body Like a Back Road, Breaking up was Easy in the 90s, House Party
Sean Kingston: Beat It, Beautiful Girls, Eenie Meenie, Letting Go, Me Love, There's Nothin
Sia: Cheap Thrills, Hey Boy, Santa's Coming For Us, Snowman, The Greatest
Shawn Mendes: Life of the Party, Stitches, There's Nothing Holding Me Back
Sleepy Hallow: Marie
Stormzy: Mel Made Me Do It, Sorry Rach!, Toxic Trait, Vossi Bop
Swae Lee: Denial, Sunflower
The Fray: How To Save a Life, Over My Head, You Found Me
The Greatest Showman: A Million Dreams, From Now On, This is Me, The Greatest Show, The Other Side
The Neighborhood: Sweater Weather
The Script: Breakeven, If You Could See Me Now, The Hall of Fame
The Wanted: Glad You Came, We Own The Night
Timbaland: Apologize, If We Ever Meet Again, Say Something
Tion Wayne: Streets a Lie, Wid it
T-Pain: 5 O'Clock, Bartender, Best Love Song, Boo'd Up, Can't Believe It, Chopped N Skrewed, Freeze, I'm Sprung, Jerry Sprunger
Zedd: Clarity, Happy Now, Stay, Stay the Night, The Middle
"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." Nathaniel Hawthorne