Wink's July Playlist

As July ended, we're hit with a rude awakening that summer is winding down. Luckily, we think we're able to get out a few more months of great tunes before the autumn grooves settle in.

Take a listen here:

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Let's talk about the songs:

1. Trouble by Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Hudson // An unlikely duo, but one we hope to see more of. Jennifer's ability to belt combined with the pop-riddled rapping by Iggy leaves us with a song that feels like a little bit of Broadway hitting us right in our office.
2. Shed a Light by Robin Schulz, David Guetta, Cheat Codes, and HUGEL // This song was discovered while Payge was casually (not casually at all) creeping on Matt's Spotify. When this song came pouring through the speaker, we were alarmed by how quickly this song was able to transport us to a simpler time of summer darties (day parties, for short) and sipping margaritas on rooftop bars. This song is perfect for when you're in task-mode and want to do some busy-work while dancing around a bit.
3. Barefoot in the Park by James Blake ft. ROSALÍA // Barefoot in the Park, inspired by the 1960's film by the same title, is a vignette about a woman in command of her femininity, eroding the rigidity of her man so that he relaxes completely into her. Coloring this familiar theme, is the far more ambiguous mood which Rosalía’s flamenco inspired vocals (driven by the romantic depth of the Spanish language) evoke. It may remind one of a contentedness that has a respect for and awareness of the coexistence of profound love alongside pain and suffering — not of one’s self in the moment, but collectively, and timelessly. My best analogy for how this song feels is a passage in Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, a novel illustrating the brutality of the Spanish Civil War through the eye’s of its protagonist, an American volunteer dynamiter named Jordan, fighting on the side of the rebellion against Francisco Franco. After making love to Maria, a Spanish rebel he’s fallen in love with, he experiences all of existence (via nature) at once, and then suddenly all of Nothingness (à la Heidegger, as far as I can tell), instantly. Later, talking about their love, Maria asks, “I die each time. Do you not die?“. Jordan replies, “No. Almost. But did [you] feel the earth move?“. She says: “Yes. As I died…”
4. Nobody Love by Tori Kelly // Nobody Love is a true pop song that reminds us of late 2000's bops from Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor, and others. This song brings nothing but good vibes and fun harmonies.
5. I Want You to Know by Zedd and Selena Gomez // Selena Gomez's voice is unmistakable for anyone else's – her throaty notes make this song one that nearly anyone can sign to with ease. And, rest assured, we did. Zedd's EDM buildups also provide a perfect opportunity to do some midday hair whipping and head bopping.
6. Soulmate by Lizzo // Once again, Lizzo's lyrics are female anthems, and this song is no exception. With a woman-led business, you have to expect many of these anthems to play throughout the month, and this one is one that stuck on our July playlist to hit with a cold, hard dose of girl power. We love the lyrics, "That bitch in the mirror like yeah, I'm in love", because in the words of the great RuPaul, "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?! Can I get an amen?" AMEN.
7. Hurt Me by Meghan Trainor // Meghan Trainor continues to come out with some really fun songs. This one, especially, is a very fun retaliation song, singing about an ex dragging her down. She uses a breakup to move on with her life and look forward, not back, which aptly depicts the mantra of getting through quarantine. This song is a great one to hear when you need a little end-of-day energy while watering plants, answering emails, or wrapping up some coding.
8. Pineapple by Grant Schaffer // This song popped onto Payge's Discover Weekly playlist at the beginning of the month, and it was one of those songs that, love it or hate it, will be stuck in your head all day. The acoustic guitar provides a really great melody to hum to.
9. Bouncin' by Kiana Ledé ft. Offset // If clubs were open right now, this song would be one that brings everyone to the dance floor. This upbeat song is easy to listen to at any time of the day to give yourself a little bit of mojo. Club Wink was bumping this song all month.
10. Contigo Tengo Feeling by GABIFUEGO and Astrid S // Who doesn't love a great summer Spanglish song?! This song, again, would have been an iconic club jam for 2020, but due to the closure of bars and clubs, is existing within the confines of home speakers, office speakers, and earphones. Though the beat of the song and Astrid S's voice feel rather innocent, GABIFUEGO turns up the heat with his verse, and gives us some sexy vibes.
11. Go Crazy by Chris Brown and Yung Thug // Chris Brown always releases timeless R&B songs, and this song is no exception. We love the combination of the smoothness of Chris Brown's voice with Yung Thug's choppy rapping. The beat supports both parts equally and gives us a song that is a true BOP. You can thank us later when you listen to this song 10x in a row and still aren't sick of it. ;)
12. Eleven by Khalid ft. Summer Walker // Guaranteed, if you're a radio listener, you've been hearing this song all summer. We love, along with just about everything Khalid does, because of it's slow beat and tender vocals. This song is perfect to put on when you're needing a little concentration.
13. Bottled Up by Dinah Jane, Ty Dolla $ign, and Marc E. Bassy // This song is playing constantly in Payge's headphones because of Dinah's lyrics and Marc E. Bassy's harmonies in the chorus. Bottled Up is the song playing every time we start any SEO reporting.
14. boyfriend by Ariana Grande ft. Social House // Boyfriend is the perfect song to wrap up the playlist because of its upbeat energy, and the verses by Social House. Our favorite lyrics of the song say "Stress high when the trust low. Bad vibes, where's the fun go?" because we feel like it perfectly sums up why our at Wink Digital team works. Low stress (most of the time 😉), high trust, and all good vibes.

Thank you for reading, listening, and being a part of the Wink community.