1: All By Myself – Celine Dion (and later by Leona Lewis on X Factor). Even on a happy day this is a bad idea.
2: On My Own – Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald. I don’t care for the 1% attempt at positivity at the end, the other 99% is pure depression.
3: It Hurts Like Hell – Aretha Franklin. Courtesy of twitter buddy and fellow blogger OhLovelyInga. I don’t know this song personally but with a title like that I have no intention of getting familiar with it either.
4: Until You Come Back To Me – Aretha Franklin (and later by Katherine McPhee on American Idol). Ordinarily I love this song but on Valentine’s day it could perhaps encourage stalker like tendencies.
5: Congratulations – Vesta. I’d never heard this song before and for good reason. V-day or not I’d have to carry out an intervention on anyone I caught listening to it. Thanks to thehaitianqueen on twitter for the warning.
6: Love Don’t Live Here Anymore – Rose Royce. Oh it’s so haunting! Thanks to twitter buddy misssmith11 for this suggestion
7: Bust Your Windows – Jazmine Sullivan. Angry enough to make any girl do something stupid. Don’t let this one send you over the edge people. Thanks again to missmith11 for this one.
8: Love – Keisha Cole. If you love your sanity stay far away from this song. You have been warned.
9: I Who Have Nothing – Shirley Bassey (and later by Jordin Sparks on American Idol). Even Simon Cowell wanted to jump of a bridge after this rendition. Don’t do it to yourself people.
10: Single Ladies – Beyonce. So you put your hand up, did a little two step and flashed your ring finger. Still single? I thought so.

Now take a deep breath everybody. I know that was hard but we are now moving on to the happier portion of this post…

1: Golden – Jill Scott. This song is a serious dose of happy, I’m surprised it’s available without prescription.
2: Carl Carlton – She’s a Bad Mama Jama. Something to get your strut on to, plus the video’s a giggle.
3: Fine – Mary J. Blige. Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine whoooo. Enough said really.

5: Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough – Michael Jackson. Who cares what the lyrics say this song is all about dancing.
6: Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder. I thought this song was officially called You Can Feel It All Over but no, it’s Sir Duke. You learn a new thing everyday.
7: Here Comes The Sun – Nina Simone. To remind you that every cloud has a silver lining.
8: Lively Up Yourself - Bob Marley. If you are feeling moody, this song is like having a parent telling you to fix up. What else can you do but obey.
9: Survivor – Destiny’s Child. Even if it’s just for the joke you catch impersonating Michelle in the lifeboat. Survive, what!
10: Le Freak – Chic. So if none of the above works and you really must freak out, why not do it to this.

Apparently I was already behind the times as way back in 2005 K’Naan received critical acclaim for his album ‘The Dusty Foot Philosopher’ (check out Soobax) but in anticipation I did post a teaser pic in my I Spy section (see right hand sidebar) for a while last year.

Anyway four years on, K’Naan is releasing the album Troubadour and if this track and genius video is anything to go by, I’m expecting big things.

I know this photo of Maxwell posing for Gap is over a year old but man I love it! What is new for this year is his new long-awaited album, hurray! Black is the first of three albums to span the next three years and will be released this year, Summer will come out 2010 and Night in 2011.

PS: Maxwell Twitters too! Follow him @_Maxwell_ and me @harlemloves

PPS: If you’re as impatient as me check out his tribute to Al Green at the 2008 BET Awards where he performed alongside Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton… I may need to get some smelling salts.

In doing so I’ve come to ‘follow’ several interesting characters who I’m quite likely to blog about in future, including the cool dude himself, Q-Tip who announced he had been listening to Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack singing that magic track, Where Is The Love.

I had intended to add a christmassy number for today’s throwback track but this song has been so stuck in my head ever since that I thought I’d share it instead. That said, I promise to share my favourite xmas tunes in time for the big day.

Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack – Where Is The Love