X-Rated SWIKs

After my bout with the flu, I finally returned to dance class last week for a workout and discovered a new song by Amanda Blank, “Something Bigger, Something Better.” A few months ago one of my music-pushers, Robbie (see Summer Tours), mentioned her debut album, I love You, which came out in August. But I never got around to listening to it. I was immediately hooked on “Something Bigger, Something Better” which sounded like it could have been produced by rapper Missy Elliott. I finally got around checking out Blank’s album. Of course, through my research it turns out that I missed her recent show in NYC with electroclash diva Peaches. I’m, once again, a step or two behind here. But I keep trying anyway. Even though I missed the live show it seems like a good time to say a few words about these X-rated singer-songwriters. (Yes, their lyrics are explicit, so you’ve been warned.)

A SWIK Workout Mix

The past few weeks at work were so busy that I could barely breathe, let alone put some thoughts down about new music. Hence, no SWIK post last week. When I get this busy and feel like I’m just hanging on by a thread, the one thing that I try to do is get to the gym. Either take the dance class (see Trina and Madonna posts) or go for a run. Due to meetings that kept me at the office long after dance class and sunset, it was a hopeless week for working out. Dance class is the one place where I think about absolutely nothing else. I have to concentrate to learn the routine and keep up. We move fast so I get a good workout and the music motivates me to push myself. Running on the other hand, I don’t particularly like. I try to think of it as a chance to listen to new music, but it has to be music that keeps me motivated, to essentially imagine that I’m dancing. I tend to like fast and catchy pop tunes and hip-hop for running. Honestly, this is where my inner top 40 pop teenager comes out. Last week, I didn’t manage to get my sneakers on until Saturday. Here’s what was on my iPod as I attempted move my body after all the madness.

A SWIK Summer Dance Mix

As the summer solstice and the longest day of the year draw to a close, I’m thinking about songs of the season. What is it about summer music that seems to stay with us forever? Even if you’re not a passionate music geek like me, there are songs that whenever you hear them they bring you back to a particular moment and feeling. Of course, music can bring you back to any significant moment in life. But the songs of summer, they’re different. They capture a spirit and a feeling. For me, an overall sense of freedom and joy that came with summer and being out of school. Somehow it seemed that there was just a little less supervision. Once we leave school, it becomes more difficult to capture these warm weather sentiments. Summer vacation is only a week or two, if we’re lucky. So with the equinox and the official start of summer, here are a few songs for a SWIK Summer Dance Mix. Because summer, of course, includes a lot of dancing.