Léon - "Think About You"

Lotta Lindgren was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1993. She came from a musical household; her mother is a cellist and her father a composer and conductor. Léon began her musical career as front-woman of a hip hop and soul group in her teens before embarking on a solo career with producing partner Agrin Rahmani in 2015.She has cited Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Beyoncé, Etta James, Sam Cooke, and Stevie Wonder as musical inspirations.

Her first single, "Tired of Talking", off her debut release, Treasure - EP, gained the support of Chris Anokute and the singer Katy Perry, and most recently appeared in Vogue Italia.

In October 2016, Léon was confirmed to play at the 31st edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen, Netherlands. Her second EP, For You, was released on 3 March 2017.

In March 2019, Léon released her first studio album, titled LÉON, which garnered praise with songs such as "You And I" and "Falling". In the fall of 2019, she opened for Louis The Child on their North American tour. In Spring 2019, Léon embarked on the European and North American "You And I" tour.

After a series of singles, including "And It Breaks My Heart" and "Chasing a Feeling," Léon released her sophomore studio album, titled "Apart."

So today, with consideration, I choose Léon’s “Think About You” as my, with my head, with my heart, with my spirit, song for a, fall into the rhythm, find the ride, hold steady, Tuesday.

Dolly Parton - "Just Because I'm A Woman"

Just Because I'm a Woman is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on April 15, 1968, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's title track was the only single released and it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

The title song, in which a woman admonishes her boyfriend for passing judgment on her previous sexual encounters even though he is guilty of the same behavior, was regarded as something of a daring statement to make at the time. It was written by Parton in response to her husband's questioning (and subsequent reaction) if she'd ever been with a man before him. "The Bridge", distinctive because of its subject matter and rather abrupt ending, details the story of a woman who falls in love with a man and becomes pregnant with his child. His abandonment leads the woman back to the bridge where she apparently commits suicide. The last verse states, "My feet are moving slowly, Closer to the edge, Here is where it started, And here is where I'll end it..." before simply ending, midway through the verse.

Billboard reviewed the album in the issue dated April 27, 1968, saying that "Dolly really makes it with this package. Her performances are packed with sincerity and style. The songs include "You're Gonna Be Sorry", "False Eyelashes", "Try Being Lonely", and some more earthy, realistic tunes."

Cashbox published a review of the album which said, "After one duet smash with Porter Wagoner, and another just beginning to make the climb, Dolly Parton makes her first RCA solo flight with this LP. Soaring to some pretty heady heights with a dozen well-chosen tracks, the lark spreads her wings like a veteran, especially on such tracks as "Try Being Lonely" and "You're Gonna Be Sorry", as well as the title track, and can count on some excellent response."

Mark Deming of AllMusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "one of Parton's best early albums and a superb showcase for her gifts as both a singer and songwriter." He noted that although there are only four Parton compositions on the album, they are four of the best songs included. He concluded by saying that "the album still sounds like a winner decades after its initial release."

So this International Women’s Day, I choose Dolly Parton’s "Just Because I'm A Woman" as my, equality, equity, empathy, song for an, everything in between, beyond binary, free to be you and me, Monday.

Laura Marling - "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind (Dolly Parton Cover)"

Laura Beatrice Marling (born 1 February 1990) is a British folk singer-songwriter. She won the Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist at the 2011 Brit Awards and was nominated for the same award at the 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 Brit Awards.

Born in Berkshire in southern England, Marling joined her older sisters in London at age 16 to pursue a career in music. She played with a number of groups and released her debut album, Alas, I Cannot Swim, in 2008. Her first album, her second album I Speak Because I Can, her fourth album Once I Was an Eagle, and her seventh album Song for Our Daughter were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2020, respectively. Her sixth record, Semper Femina, was also nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Folk Album category, as was Song for Our Daughter.

So today, with delicacy, I choose Laura Marling’s cover of “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” as my, hold the memory, like gossamer wings, the breath of light, song for a, small miracles, believe in your heart, sing the truth, Friday.

Greg Laswell - "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

Greg Laswell is an American musician, recording engineer, and record producer from San Diego, California. He attended high school at Valley Christian High School in Cerritos, California. He has released 7 studio albums: Good Movie in 2003, Through Toledo in 2006, Three Flights from Alto Nido in 2008, Take a Bow in 2010, Landline in 2012, I Was Going to be an Astronaut in 2014, Everyone Thinks I Dodged A Bullet in 2016, and Next Time in 2018, as well as several EPs and special singles. Many of his songs have been featured in films and television shows.

So today, with an eye towards joy, I choose Greg Laswell’s indigo cover of Cyndi Lauper’s"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" as my, see the joy, find the beauty, look to the lights, song for a, find your own joy, bring your own party, laugh like it’s going out of style, Thursday.

Amber Mark - "Thong Song"

I’ve been on her jock for a few years now. Monsoon was my jam for a full summer. So get into it if you haven’t already.

Amber Mark (born December 29, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. She released her debut album, 3:33am, in May 2017. Her multifaceted style implements sounds from hip hop, R&B, soul, and bossa nova. She was nominated for "Best Engineered Album" at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

So today. wearing my big girl panties, I choose Amber Mark’s cover of “Thong Song” as my, break open the sky, let it rain, wash down the sickness, song for a, build the little kingdom, surprise even yourself, flaunt what you’ve got, Wednesday.

Fiona Apple - "Pure Imagination"

Belief is what makes things real. Energy made matter because it believed itself into solidity. Imagine, all that you can be if you believe.

So today, heart full and bones weary, I choose Fiona Apple’s delicate cover of "Pure Imagination" as my, listen to the light, warm yourself, know the truth, song for a, with every small step, one more dream, a little more sparkle, Tuesday.

The Supremes - "You Can't Hurry Love"

In honor of Black History Month all of February’s posts will feature black artists and artists of color.

The Supremes were an American female singing group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and are, to date, America's most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Most of these hits were written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland. At their peak in the mid-1960s, the Supremes rivaled the Beatles in worldwide popularity, and it is said that their breakthrough made it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success.

Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, the original group, were all from the Brewster-Douglass public housing project in Detroit. They formed the Primettes as the sister act to the Primes (with Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, who went on to form the Temptations).[3] Barbara Martin replaced McGlown in 1960, and the group signed with Motown the following year as The Supremes. Martin left the act in early 1962, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio.

During the mid-1960s, the Supremes achieved mainstream success with Ross as lead singer and Holland-Dozier-Holland as its songwriting and production team. In 1967, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. In 1970, Ross left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Jean Terrell and the group reverted to being The Supremes again. During the mid-1970s, the lineup changed with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene joining until, after 18 years, the group disbanded in 1977.

So today, practice patience, I choose The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love” as my, breathe, hang in there, look up, song for a, stay present, this moment, the now, Thursday.

Mary Wells - "My Guy"

In honor of Black History Month all of February’s posts will feature black artists and artists of color.

Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer, who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s. Along with The Supremes, The Miracles, The Temptations, and the Four Tops, Wells was said to have been part of the charge in black music onto radio stations and record shelves of mainstream America, "bridging the color lines in music at the time."

With a string of hit singles composed mainly by Smokey Robinson, including "The One Who Really Loves You", "Two Lovers", and the Grammy-nominated "You Beat Me to the Punch", all in 1962, plus her signature hit, "My Guy" (1964), she became recognized as "The Queen of Motown" until her departure from the company in 1964, at the height of her success.

So today, charging ahead, I choose Mary Wells’ “My Guy” as my, hold on, press down, believe, song for a, shaken up, spun around, lifted up, Wednesday.