14/17 - I'm Going Where My Nervous Blood Will Sway

Let's go all Swedish on this list. Since I'm a Swede in Sweden after all.

Evert Taube - Fritiof och Carmencita

The most classic of Swedish classics. With the profoundest of life wisdoms:

Carmencita, lilla vän, akta dig för rika män!
Lyckan den bor ej i kalvar eller kor
och den kan heller inte köpas för pengar!

Olle Nyman - Don't Let Those Bastards Reel You In

A discovery from Staden's interview with Mattias Alkberg. The resistance knows no borders.

Christian Kjellvander - Portugal

I just finished reading José Saramago, so I've spent some weeks in a melancholic 1930s Lisbon, parallell to the city of my birth. 

All that I love will disappear
even if I stay

Freddie Wadling - Trubbel

One of the best Swedish songs ever, in a version by one of the best Swedish singers ever. It might not be evident from a first listen, but this is so, so devilishly good. It also chimes remarkably well with another good novel I read in the past few days: Lena Andersson - Wilful Disregard

Och trots all kärleks brist och trasighet och fransarDig ska jag älska livet ut, dig har jag kär...

Jan Johansson - På ängen stod en björk

The right way to collude with Russia.

13/17 - Everyone's Reckoning Something Is Beckoning

It's all about the vocalists on this list from my parents' house.

Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb and his Orchestra - Undecided

I'm listening to so much Ella. She is music. And her early recordings have got such an irresistible cockiness to them.

Ivie Anderson with the Duke Ellington Orchestra - Delta Bound

One of the lesser known classic jazz singers, despite so many amazing recordings with Duke. Once you've seen her swaggering performance in A Day At The Races, it is highly unlikely for you not to be in love with Ivie.

Rihanna - Needed Me

That chorus! It's like a perfect backscratch, sharp-nailed and pleasure-inducing.

Kate Tempest - Perfect Coffee

First I was skeptical. Then I was curious. Then I found a favourite hit. Now I am a complete convert. Watched her absolutely awe-inspiring gig from Glastonbury and was in actual tears by the end of it.

You think it's coming up 'round here?
It's falling on its sword

Ella Fitzgerald - Airmail Special

Did you miss the memo at the beginning that Ella is the shit? Get with it! I will never tire of listening to the first lady burning down the barn with nothing but the slightest drumshuffle to back her. Who's on the mountain?!

Duke with Ivie and Ella. Just chillin' with two of the greatest vocalists ever