Join us on a ramble this month with our latest playlist. Take a listen on Spotify here
Or have a browse of all our playlists here.
DJ: Frances Ambler; Illustration: Shutterstock
DJ: Frances Ambler
Playlist | Summer memories
Our August playlist sees us take a trip down memory lane. Take a listen on Spotify here.
Have a browse of some of our other playlists, from a bit of midsummer magic to lazing on a sunny afternoon.
Image: Shutterstock; DJ: Frances Ambler
Playlist | Hello & Goodbye
Wave hello to our playlist for our July issue – full of good greetings.
Take a listen on Spotify here.
Have a browse of all our playlists.
Order a copy of July WAVE.
Playlist | The best of the festivals
Image: Shutterstock
In our June LINGER issue we take a look back at the history of the music festival. Pop this playlist on as you have a listen to really immerse yourself in the moment – and take a read of the stories behind our selection below.
Listen to the playlist on Spotify here.
DJ: Julian Owen
The Wailing Boat by Ted Heath
Recorded at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival (1959)
Up Jumped the Devil by The New York City Ramblers
Recorded at the Newport Folk Festival (1961)
It’s All Over Now by The Rolling Stones
Studio version of a song they played at the National Jazz & Blues Festival in 1964
Light my Fire by The Doors
Their first hit, heading up the charts as they played the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival in 1967
Shake by Otis Redding
Live at Monterey (1967). Has there ever been a better festival set opener? Look up Monterey Pop, filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker’s magisterial overview of the pioneering Californian gathering.
Woodstock by Matthews Southern Comfort
With a respectful nod to the Joni Mitchell original, which isn’t available on Spotify
Oh Happy Day by The Edwin Hawkins Singers
On the same June weekend that Woodstock rocked upstate New York, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and Nina Simone headed a stupendous line up of funk, gospel and soul as the Harlem Cultural Festival hit the city – this is a live recording from that event (aka the Summer of Soul) in 1969.
So Long, Marianne by Leonard Cohen
Live at the Isle of Wight in 1970.
54-56 Was my Number by Toots & The Maytals
One of the stars of the 1970 Caribbean Music Festival at Wembley. As featured in Reggae, an evocative look at reggae’s impact on Britain
I’ll Take You There by The Staple Singers
Recorded at Wattstax in 1972 – in 1972, the celebrated Stax label put on a Los Angeles benefit concert to commemorate the Watts riots, showcasing its stellar soul roster.
Kama K’iwacu by The Drummers of Burundi
Recorded at the first WOMAD in 1982
It’s Like That by Run-D.M.C. Vs. Jason Nevins
The old school rappers headlined the first Creamfields in 1998, the year after Jason Nevins’ remixed their 1983 debut single
If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow
Recorded at the notorious Woodstock 99 and thereby drenching the “… it can’t be that bad” payoff in irony
Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
Recorded at Glastonbury 2000
Photo: Corine Cumming / EBU
Playlist | Eurovision
It’s Eurovision week! Time for camp costumes and ridiculous sets, at-home score cards and barefaced political voting.To get you in the spirit, our resident Eurovision enthusiast Fiona has put together a playlist of some favourites from over the years. You can have a listen on Spotify here, or see the full track listing below. Have we included your favourites?
Remember, some Eurovision songs should only be experienced in all their bizarre staged glory: see Finland’s monstrous 2006 hit, Hard Rock Hallelujah, Ukraine’s fabulous 2007 drag act Verka Serduchka and Moldova’s ‘epic sax guy’ from 2010.
Download at-home score cards here, or just make your own by scoring Song, Performance, Staging and Surprise factor out of 10.
The Eurovision playlist track listing
DJ: Fiona Hamilton
Nel Blu Dipinto Del Blu by Domenico Modugno
Italy, 1958
Boom Bang A Bang by Lulu
UK, 1969: WINNER!
Puppet On A String by Sandie Shaw
UK, 1967: WINNER!
Waterloo by ABBA
Sweden, 1974: WINNER!
Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood of Man
UK, 1976: WINNER!
Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz
UK, 1981: WINNER!
Love Shine A Light by Katrina & The Waves
UK, 1997: WINNER!
Fly on the Wings of Love by The Olsen Brothers
Denmark, 2000: WINNER!
Divine by Sébastian Tellier
France, 2008
Fairytale by Alexander Rybak
Norway, 2009: WINNER!
Amar Pelos Dois by Salvador Sobrai
Portugal, 2017
Sebi by Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
Slovenia, 2019
Think About Things by Daði Freyr
Iceland, 2020: Eurovision cancelled due to Covid
Voilá by Barbara Pravi
France, 2021
Set Me Free by Eden Alene
Israel, 2021
Love Is On My Side by The Black Mamba
Portugal, 2021
Stefania by Kalush Orchestra
Ukraine, 2022: WINNER!
I Wrote A Song by Mae Muller
UK, 2023: WINNER?
Image: Shutterstock; DJ: Frances Ambler
Playlist | Kings & Queens
Take a listen to our really royal playlist on Spotify here.
Or browse all our playlists.
Listen | ENO Breathe calming playlist
Image: Adobe Stock
Just certain tracks can motivate you to run faster or exercise longer, in the same way, listening to calming music has been proven to decrease our levels of stress hormones. The ENO have a playlist precisely for this. Take a listen on Spotify here.
“These songs are a salve of song,” says Suzi Zumpe, “moments from operas chosen for their soothing, calming atmosphere.” Zumpe is the Creative Director of ENO Breathe, an online programme designed by the English National Opera in partnership with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to tackle post-Covid breathlessness and associated anxiety.
To find out more about how breathing in the right way can help you feel better, inside and out, see our feature ‘Let it go’ by Johanna Derry-Hall in the May issue of The Simple Things.
ENO Breathe – A calming playlist
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Anneliese Klos
Playlist | Enchantment
Our latest playlist celebrates the magic that can be found all around us. Take a listen here
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Anneliese Klos
Playlist | spring light
Welcome the return of spring light with our playlist. Take a listen on Spotify here.
DJ: Frances Ambler; Image: Shutterstock
Playlist | Awake
Songs for mornings… and for late nights.
Take a listen to our playlist on Spotify
And browse our previous playlists here.
Playlist | Starry skies
Heaven’s above! We’re getting a little starry eyed with this month’s playlist. You can listen to it on Spotify here.
And have a browse of all our playlists here
Playlist | A Christmas mood
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock
Want to listen to something to get you in the Christmas mood? You find our playlist on Spotify here.
We’ve plenty more actually good Christmas playlists. Take a listen here, here and here.
Playlist | Northern Soul
A guest playlist from Northern Soul DJ Jordan Wilson. Take a listen to the full playlist on Spotify here
Check out his record label and read more about Jordan and his fellow Northern Soul Modern Eccentrics in the November 2022 issue of The Simple Things.
Playlist | Harvest
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock
“Now we’re gonna live, now we’re going to work it out, the pain is now over and the harvest is here”
Take a listen here
And browse our back issue playlists here
DJ: Frances Ambler; Illustration: Shutterstock
Playlist | Clever covers
You can tell everyone that this is your song… But is it actually Elton’s song, or maybe Billy Paul’s? We’ve gathered together some of our favourite cover versions to make a playlist – let us know if we’ve missed any ones that you love.
Take a listen on Spotify here
And browse our back catalogue of playlists here
DJ: Frances Ambler | Image: Shutterstock
Playlist | Lazing on a sunny afternoon
Playlist | Blue space
Our soundtrack to July
”Nothin’ but blue skies do I see…”
Take a listen on Spotify here
Or find a playlist for every mood by searching ‘simplethingsmag’ on Spotify
Playlist | Midsummer magic
Let her dance…
Music to enjoy late into the evening
Take a listen here
Or search ‘simplethingsmag’ on Spotify to find all of our monthly playlists.
Image: Shutterstock
Playlist | Sing aloud songs
Whether you’re in the shower, the car or a karaoke booth, these are tried-and-tested favourites for belting out.
Take a listen here
Or search ‘simplethingsmag’ on Spotify to find all of our monthly playlists.
Image: Shutterstock
Playlist | What's in a name?
What’s in a name? April, May or June… just a few of the women who have inspired songs.
Take a listen on Spotify here
Or search ‘Simplethingsmag’ on Spotify to find all our playlists