Adding to my 2026 Contenders this week are two new songs from Carly Simon’s album Comes in Waves, a song from an artist that is new to me, Vera Blue, and a new track from one of my favorite bands, Kakkmaddafakka. Let’s check them out!
Love the Way I Do – Carly Simon
After the quirky and very catchy singles Howl and Peaches, which are both still high on my weekly playlists, Simon has released her entire new Comes in Waves album. It’s her first in 18 years and is filled with her characteristic deeply introspective songs about love and life. This one is a beautiful love song that gets right to the core: “Pity the poor man who never knew love/Love the way I do.” Clearly Simon has had her share of loves and with these lyrics she confidently embraces her current beau. She says she’s “absolutely satisfied” by the guy. I really like the arrangement on this song, including its use of a chorus featuring her adult children Ben and Sally and one of the song’s co-writers Natasha Bedingfield. If I may, it’s a new Carly Simon classic!
Maybe I Never Loved You – Carly Simon
On the contrary is this spare but beautifully orchestrated song in which she questions the love she may or may not have had with someone in the past. Of course, most people are speculating that this one is about her former husband James Taylor but I’m not sure. She mentions having “a kid” with him but she actually had two (mentioned above.) I don’t think it really matters. This could be about anyone looking back on a relationship and wondering if the love was real or not. She doesn’t have any easy answers but just considers maybe…
Go Lucky – Vera Blue
Vera Blue is an Australian singer who released this song back in February. It’s from her third album and she’s said she wanted this one to “feel like a nostalgic 90s dance-inspired, feel-good track that lifts you the moment it starts.” It’s about embracing life’s challenges and making the decision to choose love. I find it pretty exuberant and infectious.
She Wants to Party – Kakkmaddafakka
This has been one of my favorite bands from Norway in the past decade. They never fail to surprise me with each new release. Their last album, 2022’s Revelation, featured the Reggae-tinged track Bombibidy which was about a drug stop in Germany. Their new album Untitled includes this jazzy number featuring Glambek about a girl who just wants to party. It’s unlike any of their previous works suggesting just how much they like to experiment with different music genres. The chorus becomes an earworm after the first time hearing it. Kick back and enjoy!
What’s new to YOU this week?
Check out my 2026 Contenders Playlist here!
Thanks for reading PalCinema, Television, & Music! This post is public so feel free to share it.
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.