Tag: Facebook

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Magdalena Bay “Last Christmas/Instant Crush” (2016)

girl singing into a microphone while a guy stands in the background playing guitar while wearing a santa hat

Self Released
Buy: Stream on Facebook

I am going to have to take a break from writing about Exnovios (those rascals apparently have ANOTHER Christmas song). This post is really for my friends over at Under the Radar (subscribe!), who I know are in love with LA’s Magdalena Bay. I happened to sniff out this cover of “Last Christmas” that they dropped on their Facebook page back in 2016, the year that the band first got together! It has been scientifically proven that nobody needs another cover of “Last Christmas,” thus, when you put this on your mix, you may get an initial sideeye from your snobby friends. But when Magdalena Bay works Daft Punk and Julian Casablancas’ “Instant Crush” seamlessly into the song, your friend’s face will scrunch up, and they’ll ask, “Who is singing this?” Followed by a, “Fuck, that was fun.” Enjoy!

Bottom Line: A fun nugget from the past with a band of the future!

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Junkie Thrown “Natten går tunga fjät (The Night Sleeps Heavily)” (2016)

Junkie Thrown "Natten går tunga fjät"

Self Released
Buy: Streaming on FB

Göteborg, Sweden’s Junkie Thrown is in the midst of a Facebook Advent calendar right now, and while the entries are not necessarily meant to be seasonal, she found herself compelled to create a new take on a old, Swedish language, Saint Lucia Day song. Saint Lucia Day is generally celebrated throughout the Scandinavian world, as well as in Italy, and signals the arrival of the “Christmastide.” While many different cultures recognize Saint Lucia Day, but Sweden has a particular way of celebration. Traditionally, towns, schools, and eventually (via a televised event) the nation chooses a girl to represent Lucia, and there are great processions, celebrations and caroling. However, this year there has been much debate, and public (one might say, racist) furor over a big company using a young black boy as Lucia in an advert. He subsequently became the target of cyber-bullies, culminating in his parents asking the company to pull the ad. This sounds like something that could happen… well pretty much anywhere; This is the world we are living in. Junkie Thrown has created a haunting version of a traditional, Saint Lucia Day song, with the words “Alla kan vara Lucia,” which means “everyone can be Lucia,” displayed throughout. A nice sentiment… and fuck racism.

Bottom Line: I love the meaning behind this song, and just as with 2014’s “Fairy Christmas Day,” it is beautifully performed.

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