Post Festival Summer Mix

The Ananzi Dancers. Photo by Buddha Mather for Virgin Islands Festival

We've had a week long party here on the island for the Emancipation Festival. For the past 3 days it was in Carrot Bay, so our sleepy little fishing village was throbbing (literally - our windows were rattling the music was so loud) with gangsta rap, fungi, reggae, calypso, R & B and more Rihanna than anyone should ever have to listen to in a lifetime. It's been a lot of fun, but after three nights of no sleep the novelty had definitely worn off although last night we watched the Olympic Closing Party (lets be honest there was about 3 seconds of 'ceremony') which was just as fabulous. A total jorl as we would say in South Africa. We particularly liked the nuns on rollerblades.

Carrot Bay Donkey Races: We're there somewhere in the crowd

Anyhow since the good old motto of "if you can't beat 'em,  join 'em" definitely applied this week, here's my contribution on the party front for a good summer playlist and what we are listening to at the moment (I've tried to only do 'lyric-only' You Tube posts to try and help with the SA crappy bandwidth challenges):

Uno numero with  Madeon Finale: A classic, happy Ibiza-type dancy song which usually kicks off our housework on Saturday morning as it's always on BBC's Radio One (until we cannot stand another second of dubstep that is);

Next up is the Dawson 2012 Summer Anthem, the Rudimentals Feel the Love. The video is also fantastic and it's so uplifting it could get one through 13 miles of half marathon if played on a loop. Think it's going to be played a lot on the Floating Gin Palace SG;

OK, we've heard this a few (million) times in the past week: Young Jeezy's I Do ft Jay Z and Andre 3000. It makes one want to drive around in a droptop Bentley with fake Olympic Gold medals of a summers evening (well, not literally);

Sticking with the theme: " I just want it all" by Kidink. I can relate to the words but maybe not the brands, or the lifestyle for that matter. Anyway still like the song.

Since we're now fully in Miami party mode, might as well stay there with Avicii's Levels. I'm sure I recognise half the people in the video from the Soggy Dollar and the Willie T.

OK, enough mindless dance music, time for some goody Jamaican dancehall. By the way, how cool was Jamaica at the Olympics? TEK DAT as we say here in the islands with the whole of the Caribbean rooting along as well as stellar performances by T & T, Bahamas & Domincan Rep. I'd play some more local music but am having trouble trying to find out what half of it's called. Anyway we all love Movado. This was his beeeeeg hit played to death on the radio 'Delilah' and a newer one with Laza Morgan. Video could have been made here.

Since I've not been very successful at id'ing local music we need some Superstylin for good measure. We've been listening to this for about a 100 years and it plays everytime. One more festival dance biggie: Ne-Yo's Let Me Love You. Almost over this, I think. 

Okey dokey. Time to mash it up (arn't I just the funkster?) with Ed Sheeran & Rudimental. I didn't like the original version of this, but I love this one.  It's enough to make one teetotal.

Sticking with indie: Cage the Elephants "Shake me down". Another Radio One favourite but doesn't quite do it for the mop swinging however.

As we all know it hasn't been the easiest 6 months for us with very little seeming to go our way. I've always loved the Stereophonics and Maybe Tommorw just about sums up how it's been along with Jack Johnsons Crying Shame. I know we'll look back on all of this and laugh oneday, but it's been pretty gruelling. Things are absolutely on the up now finally. Oven parts are being couriered from New York as I type, shelving and counters are being installed today and the outdoor paving is starting this week. It is actually going to happen.

Some more good 'fight-back' music beloved of both Tyler & I and played heavily on our long car drives from Joburg to Plett: Devil by Stereophonics and then time to end on a high note with some South African music: Dave Matthews Band and some good rousing kick-a$$  rocking that has kept us from keeling over with self-pity.

Hopefully soon we'll be able to do a "Live from the Bakery" double compilation album with more Dawson favourites. We'll aim for a Christmas release by which time the bakery should be open....
Enjoy xxx