i’ll be drinking Mai Tais while i’ve got my Eyes On You relishing the Memories on this New Year’s Day

And just like that… 2024 is coming to a close. Where did the time go, people? Hopefully you have something enjoyable planned for tomorrow night – as for me, the hubby has a gig, so we’ll be enjoying fun music at least until midnight. 😉 Since it is Monday, that, of course, means music! This week’s theme is “Got those post Christmas Blues? Pick yourself up with some lively upbeat music to bring in the new year!” Let’s get this New Year party started!

Let’s start with a Hawaii-inspired tune that has a relaxed melody that really feels like chillin’ on the beach:

I’ll be sippin’ Mai-Tais / Looking back at my life / Remembering the highlights / Thinking how the time flies / I’ll be sippin’ red wine / Looking back on my life / Remembering the stage fright / The butterflies at night

The band debuted the new tune back in 2019 with a special world premiere performance alongside an episode of Magnum P.I., and as a bonus, the frontman guest starred as himself on the episode. The band was quoted as saying:

“Now you can have a cocktail on a beach somewhere no matter what time of year it is. We had nothing but good vibes while making this one together with Skylar. We hope you enjoy it!”

Get ready to get your chill on; here’s Train and Skylar Grey with “Mai Tais”:

Next up, this upbeat bop comes with an adorable video that has the artist reluctantly agreeing to watch his neighbor’s kitten. Of course, he falls in love with it—so much so that the end of the video suggests he’s started a relationship with the neighbor just so he can continue hanging out with the kitten. He was quoted as saying:

“I wrote this song after a special person in my life moved to California. We were finally in the same state, and it felt so good to be close to them. The weekend before I wrote it, I had gone to a country concert and was inspired by how fun and energetic country songs can be, as well as how full they feel live. I wanted to try to capture those feelings with this song.

The combination of those two events was enough for me to write a fun love song you can sing in your car or scream along with all of your friends at a concert.”

Get ready to dance (and be thoroughly charmed), here’s Nicky Youre with “Eyes On You”:

Next up is one of my favorite songs from this group, a sparse, reflective track where the lead singer looks back on the good times with a loved one while enjoying some drinks with friends. The effects of the alcohol and camaraderie with his pals cause his emotions to bubble up as he remembers their times together. He was quoted as saying.

“This song is for anyone who has ever experienced loss. In other words, this song is for all of us.

No matter what happens in the world around you, think about those people you love and share some good memories. We wrote this song to bring people together. It’s an important message for right now.”

This song was released in 2019 – the year before I lost my BFFL (Best Friends For Life), so in these subsequent years, it has really hit home. Happy Heavenly New Year, Peggy; I miss you like crazy.

Give a listen to Maroon 5 with “Memories”:

Last but certainly not least, is a song that has become my all-time favorite New Year’s tunes since its debut in November 2017 to share on New Year’s Day. The story behind the song as told by the artist:

“We threw a big New Year’s Eve party in London this year, and I was thinking about how everybody talks and thinks about who you kiss at midnight. Like it’s this big romantic idea of like, ‘Who are you gonna kiss at midnight, like ring in the New Year.’ And I think that is very romantic.

But I think there’s something even more romantic about who’s gonna deal with you on New Year’s Day. Who’s willing to give you Advil and clean up the house. I think that states more of a permanence. So I was thinking about that, and I wrote this song called ‘New Year’s Day.'”

The artist debuted the song a day before the album’s release during a special performance shot at her Rhode Island home in a candle-lit living room and surrounded by fans.

Get ready for goosebumps, here’s the inimitable Taylor Swift with “New Year’s Day”: 

That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! See you on the dance floor!

Wishing you all a Safe and Happy New Year!

Now, onto the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:

I 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 Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!

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!

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!