Twostepcublog

    Eurovision national finals season is on, and today's SYSK is from the leading contender in the contest to represent the Baltic nation of Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the Netherlands this coming May. The Roop , who had been the country's pick last year with "On Fire", my favorite for the unfortunately cancelled 2020 competition, are back with a " Discoteque " (not to be confused with the campy U2 song), a new look, and a jam that even tops their previous effort. Lead singer Vaidostas says about the song,   “The new song “Discoteque” talks about personal inner liberation. Rather often we say that we are free and that we live in a free world. But most of our restraints come from the inside. So, this song and movement aims liberate our minds, which contains too much self-criticism, fear of appearing different, reluctance to accept your body, even limiting your attractiveness.” May the TikTok dance meme commence. And I really hope ...

    It's the start of Eurovision season national finals, and tonight's the first night for Estonia's Eesti Laul competition to vie for the chance to represent the Baltic country in the annual Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam in May. Koit Toome has gone there twice before, once on his own with " Mere Lapsed " in 1998 where he finished 12th in the finals, and again in 2017 where his duet with Laura Poldvere, " Verona ", was criminally left behind in the semis. He's trying for the third time with " We Could Have Been Beautiful ", a ballad he co-wrote with Joonas Parkkonen and Peppina Pallijeff. It's his most nuanced vocal yet, and an emotional journey of letting go of a love that has moved on.      

    " Too Much Heaven " is a cut from Barry Gibb 's new collaborative album Greenfields, Vol 1 . Originally a #1 pop hit for his group the Bee Gees, bluegrass legend Alison Krauss joins Barry for a soft-rock update of the ballad. Although most of the album has Barry transforming his older songs into a country pastiche, this one is more straightforward, and Krauss' voice shines on this.      

    " True Crime " is the new single from the rock trio DREAMERS featuring singer DeathByRomy . Written by the band, the song previews their upcoming third album. The power-pop gem continues the mainstream rock resurgence in radio.      

    " Material Boy " is the new single from L.A. trio Sir Sly . Released so far as a one-off single, the song was written by the group (Landon Jacobs, Jason Suwito, and Hayden Coplen). They previously had two top-ten alternative rock hits with "High" and "&Run". On this one they explore a damaged psyche over top some killer retro synth fills.      

    " The Divine Chord " is the new single from Australian modern rock band the Avalanches . The song also features American act MGMT as well as iconic British guitarist Johnny Marr. Written by the members of both bands, the track is built on a sample of the Shirelles' classic "It's Love That Really Counts". It appears on their critically acclaimed album We Will Always Love You . Give it a listen.      

    Today's song you should know comes from British-based singer Rina Sawayama , whose debut album Sawayama was on many a music critic's (and music fan's) best of 2020 list. Now that a "deluxe" version has been released in December, which includes her new single "Lucid". Written by Rina and British songwriter Lauren Aquilina along with producer BloodPop (Michael Tucker), the neo-disco nugget is a perfect entry-point to her work for the masses, mirroring the hits from Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga that are currently ruling at radio. Hopefully radio will be smart and grab on to this to get through the cold winter months of quarantine.      

  For today's song you should know, I'll offer something warm and breezy to take us away from these cold sleety northern days with Brazilian singer John Moonstone and his new single "Coracao Em Brasa" (Red-Hot Heart), where he cavorts on the beach searching for love. 

 " Treat People With Kindness " is the new song from British pop star Harry Styles . Appearing on his album Fine Line , the song sends a positive note that is perfect to kick off this new year with. The music video was directed by and stars Styles with actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge of the critically acclaimed show Fleabag , as a throwback to the big musical movies of way back when, even shooting in black and white. The song itself harkens to Motown in a big and reverent way.

    Icelandic singer/musician Daði Freyr has just released a collaboration with singer ÁSDÍS , " Feel The Love ", that is the perfect way to start out 2021. Featuring George N Roses , the music video follows a solitary custodian as Daði and ÁSDÍS play employees of his brain (and other body functions) as they turn into a supernova of expressive emotion. Definitely watch to the end. Freyr was intended to be Iceland's entry to the COVID-canceled Eurovision Song Contest in 2020 with his winner-worthy "Think About Things", but thankfully will be representing them in 2021.       

" Tempo " is the new single from R&B singer Lizzo featuring hip-hop legend Missy Elliott. I could go on and on about the special effects, Lizzo's outfit, the lyrical content, and all, but really it's all about that damn flute solo. All this while Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" is in the pop top ten at #6 and rising. Grab her Cuz I Love You album pronto.

" Hot Air Balloons " is the new single from the New Orleans alt-soul/rock band Tank and the Bangas . Appearing on their sophomore album Green Balloon , the song features singer Alex Isley , who previously lent vocals to Kendrick Lamar's "These Walls", which went to #94 on the pop chart in 2016. The video features the group cavorting in a day trip I really want to be on.

" Quayside " is the new single from singer/songwriter Tom Goss . Drawing from a dark place with the perils that come with a non-monogamous relationship, it's a daring new direction for Goss, best known for his song about the " Bears ". Also, the song is written not by Goss, but by Gregory Douglass , and produced by Scottish studio engineer Ian Carmichael who has helmed albums from shoegazers The Pastels , which may have hinted at the sonics change.

" Birds " is the new single from the deluxe re-release of alternative rock heroes Imagine Dragons ' Origins album. While the stunning animated music video that was just released doesn't pull from the revamped version of the single featuring Italian singer Elisa , nonetheless the storyline portrayed here is just a lot of emotional pushes, and fits their anti-bullying crusade well...

" Antisocial " is a cut off the new Ed Sheeran album No.6 Collaborations Project . This track teams Ed up with rapper Travis Scott as they go all in for one of those music videos that harken to the outrageousness of the MTV 1980s as it trashed the norms of social media (the Twitter allusion alone it striking). It was last week's highest debut on the pop Hot 100 chart in Billboard , landing at #37.

" What You Do For Love " is the new single from British veteran alternative rock band Skunk Anansie . The group, led by singer Skin (Deborah Dyer), reunited for a 25th anniversary tour recently. There most recent album, Anarchytecture , came in 2016. They had scored ten consecutive top-40 hits in Britain between 1995 and 1999, but the biggest, " Brazen (Weep )", just missed the top ten at #11.

" Castles " is the new single from English indie-pop singer/songwriter Freya Ridings . Appearing on her stellar self-titled debut album , the song inevitably will draw comparisons to Florence + The Machine and the Killers but in a positive way. So far "Castles" has become Freya's second top-40 hit in the UK, while reaching the top ten in radio airplay. I just its combination of power and vulnerability in her lyrics of self-care.

" Gone " is the new collaboration single between English pop singer/songwriter Charli XCX and French gender-fluid indie-pop artist Christine & The Queens (aka Heloise Letissier). Coming from Charli's upcoming third full-length album Charli , the bouncy bass-heavy single finds the pair cavorting in the rain in this new steamy music video. A worthy addition to your beachtime playlist...

I know I'm late to the party, but I can't ignore the delightfully eager new original song from Elton John 's semi-biopic movie Rocketman . " (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again " was written by Elton with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, and is sung by the master with the actor who portrays him in the film, Taron Egerton. Interspersed with old footage as well as stuff from Rocketman , I honestly can't tell at times which of the old video clips is actually Elton. And the lyrics are something I needed to hear this week.

" Maybe I'm Afraid " is the third single from alternative rockers lovelytheband 's debut album Finding It Hard To Smile . The group, whose breakthrough hit " Broken " spent over a year on the rock radio charts, saw this single climb to #13 on Billboard magazine's Alternative format list. The video is quite a nice short movie.