Special Surprises on Venus Sings Radio: July 31, 2010 Playlist

Ana Tijoux was one of the artists I played during the extra Venus Sings Radio edition on July 31, 2010.

KINGSTON, RI - Venus Sings Radio is a monthly radio show that airs on WRIU, a broadcast service of the University of RI and a station run by students and alumni of URI - and other community members. WRIU falls on 90.3 FM on the radio dial - in and around RI - and it is run out of URI's Memorial Union in Kingston, RI. The station's programming can also be heard online through links found at www.wriu.org, a website where you can find other information about the station.

Venus Sings Radio is part of Voices of Women, a weekly show dedicated to women in music, which airs on Saturdays from 9 - 11 AM. The slot is run by Liza, Beth, Gail, and me, Venus Sings. Every once in a while, the months hold 5 Saturdays instead of 4. Saturday, July 31 was one of those days, and I was the chosen one, so to speak, to carry the torch forward.

The week before, during my regular Venus Sings Radio edition, I used the time to not only share music, but to talk with Pawtucket, RI-based singer, Michelle Cruz, about an upcoming full length album she was releasing and the EP that was available in the interim. The show was incredible, with a variety of excited callers giving love and with the stories and anecdotes Cruz had to share about being a working musician.

But as I reflected on July 31, it was clear to me that music had to be the priority - not conversation - and new or fresh music at that because I was in the mood for hip hop, funk, and ish to which you can dance. Enter in my selection of artists like 1) Melissa Czarnik and Ana Tijoux who raps in Spanish, 2) American neosoul singers, Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu, 3) remixes like the one with international superstar, MIA, and the one from Gilles Peterson and 4hero; and 4) cuts by global hitmakers, Quantic and Estelle and I can proudly say...Yeah, I delivered.

Check out the list, look up a few of these folks, and tune in on the 4th Saturday of every month to Venus Sings Radio on WRIU. (Artist, Song Title, Album)

1. Ana Tijoux / 1977 / 1977
2. Ana Tijoux / Crisis de un MC / 1977
3. Adrianna Calcanhotto / Justo Agora / Putumayo Presents: Women of Latin America
4. Major Boys ft. Aurelia / Sous de Soleil / Global Groove
5. Melissa Czarnik / Anattiude (Radio Edit) / Rasberry Jesus
6. Ceu / Sonambulo / Vagarosa
7. Janelle Monae / Locked Inside / The Archandroid
8. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings / Without a Heart / I Learned the Hard Way
9. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings / The Game Gets Old / I Learned the Hard Way
10. The Kim Trusty Band / Comfort and Joy / I Will Be Waiting
11. Erykah Badu / Window Seat / New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
12. Alicia Keys / Unthinkable (I'm Ready) / Element of Freedom
13. Sade / Soldier of Love / Soldier of Love
14. Billie Holiday / They Can't Take that Away from Me / Billie's Best
15. Erykah Badu / Love / New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
16. Erykah Badu / The Healer / New Amerykah, Part One: 4th World War
17. B-Mor 7 / Headknocker / Magma Musik
18. Estelle / Let's Fall in Love
19. Quantic and His Combo Barbaro ft. featuring Nidia Gongora / Un Canto a Mi Tierra / Tradition in Translation
20. MIA / Paper Planes / The DFA Remix
21. The Phenomenal Hand Clap Band / 15 to 20 / The Phenomenal Hand Clap Band
22. Havana Think Twice / The 4hero Remix ft. Danay and Carina / Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura: Remixed
23. Amy Winehouse / In My Bed / Frank
24. Valerie Simpson / Sinnerman / Exposed
25. Gabrielle Cilmi / Cigarettes & Lies / Lessons to be Learned
26. Janelle Monae / Tightrope / Archandroid
27. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings / Thing on My Mind / Dap Dippin with...
28. Ana Tijoux / Avaracia / 1977