June has arrived! May was not such a great month – so here’s hoping June will turn things around and start the summer months right. Who’s with me?

Meanwhile, it’s Monday, and Monday means music! This week is a freebie week, so grab your favorite tune(s) and dance along with us, won’t you? Let’s get this party started!

Let’s start with a pop singer who just released the music video of his newest song, filmed during his concert in Manila last month. It’s a confessional song about his struggles with depression, which he finished writing while he was on his flight to the Philippines.

In the clip, the American artist was seen surrounded by his adoring Filipino fans during his performance at the Araneta Coliseum. He explains in it that he wanted the video and the song to serve as a way to erase the stigma of seeking out medication for depression, sharing that he himself used to have a distrust for it.

The proceeds for this song will go to several mental health organizations around the world, including one in Cebu — the Wellbeing Cluster– and their efforts to remove the stigma.

Give a listen to Lauv with “Sad Forever”:

Next up is a song Princess Nagger wanted to make sure made the cut for this week, since it’s one of her (recent) favorite bands and song. It’s a slow building rocker that was debuted by this group at their May 2013 Ventura, California gig on the band’s US Tour. It was released on iTunes on June 19, 2013.

The song debuted at #11 on the UK singles chart, the band’s best placing since one of their previous songs peaked at #5 in 2007.

Here’s Arctic Monkeys with “Do I Wanna Know?”:

Next up is a song by a group that I stumbled across while perusing YouTube. They’ve just released a new song from their forthcoming album. The music video features home video footage from lead singer Sam Harris and his brother, keyboardist Casey Harris’, childhood growing up in Ithaca, NY.

Casey has been visually impaired since birth. The video gives an inside look at the bond between these two brothers, something that has been a theme throughout their music. The lead singer was quoted as saying:

“’[This song]’ is a song about devotion. Saying to that one person / those people in your life, ‘no matter what happens, I will always be there for you.’ My brother and I have lived through a lot together over the last 30 years, so I dedicate this one to us.”

Give a listen to X Ambassadors with “Hold You Down”:

Last, but certainly not least, is an artist who’s back and better than she’s been in years. Her 2017 album was a disappointment, and with her sometimes annoying antics as “American Idol” judge, some were beginning to worry that the long-reliable pop queen would never return to her perch at the top of the charts.

But with her new single released early Friday morning, she has an undeniable earworm that should prove to be a strong song-of-summer contender.

The pulsing breakup anthem finds her mulling over an ex years later, singing, “Oh, we were such a mess, but wasn’t it the best? Thought it was done, but I guess it’s never really over.”

The song’s message is ultimately about self love, which she drives home in its therapy-themed music video, where she attends a utopian retreat and dances in fields in a flowing dress and long blonde wig. This is the artist’s first solo single in two years.

Fun fact: She’s newly engaged to actor Orlando Bloom.

Without further ado, here’s Katy Perry with “Never Really Over”:

That’s a wrap for this week – see you on the dance floor!

Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:   PhotobucketI have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and while our beloved Callie of JAmerican Spice is taking a break, our friend Michelle from Musings and Merriments with Michelle is helping out with hostess duties!

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!



9 Comments

  1. Well, you have certainly covered a broad spectrum of sounds, subjects, and artists. I think Arctic Monkeys might be my favorite here. There is something about their sound that is kind of a throw-back to 60’s hard rock sounds. Katy Quirky Perry is a pure artist. Everything she does (including annoying AI antics) is done with the purpose of selling her brand. She’s kind of a PG-13 Miley Cyrus. Thanks for introducing me to a couple of new artists. Have a blessed week.

  2. An interesting lineup of tunes! I liked most of them and was touched by the stories attached to Lauv and X Ambassadors. As for Katy Perry; those AI antics were definitely annoying. Can’t say the song did much for me, either, but she is a good entertainer and sings well. 🙂

  3. Nice selection this week. It’s a good thing that Lauv is doing; I think there’s less stigma about taking meds for depression and other mental disorders than there was in the past, but there’s still a lot of prejudging people.

  4. Hi Stacy,
    Some great new introductions for me here. I love what Lauv is doing for the destigmatation of depression and mental illness. So many people globally suffer so deeply and continue because depression is one of those things that everyone keeps hush-hush. Secretly suffering is hopefully the way of the past and it’s bold courageous moves like that of Lauv here that will help create the new views on the matter. Great job Lauv!

    I love the song by X Ambassadors. They are new-to-me and I like their sound. It’s nice to see siblings being so supportive and loving.

    The Katy Perry song is good but I really don’t know that much about her or by her. I probably should get a bit more familiar with her considering her incredible name recognition and reputation.

    Have a great week,

    Michele at Angels Bark

  5. Hoping June is a great month for you and that it’s full of similar great music!

  6. So far our June is quite rainy. But just gotta deal. I’m thankful that we are not flooded right now.

    That’s really great that they are helping mental health organization with the proceeds of that song. We do have to take it seriously and they do need help.

    Thanks for the music, Stacy.
    Have a great week!

  7. I have heard of the Arctic Monkeys, and of your set, I enjoyed their selection the most. For best video, the X Ambassadors. Living an hour’s drive from Ithaca, New York, I can imagine growing up there, Cayuga Lake and lots of snow! The bond between those brothers is strong and beautiful. Lauv, I wish I could have gotten into the song because mental health issues have impacted both my family (I had an aunt and a first cousin with schizophrenia- the cousin also struggled with OCD) and my husband’s (a bipolar cousin who ended up killing himself several years ago). We have a long way to go in destroying the stigma and in developing effective treatments for these illnesses.

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