Difficulty: Intermediate
Ireland
Listen to U2's “You're the Best Thing about Me.” Rolling Stone magazine defines the song as “a joyous ear-worm about romantic dissatisfaction.” The video is set in New York City. The opening and closing lines of the video come from “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, a sonnet written to raise funds for the Statue of Liberty's pedestal.
Difficulty: Beginner
Australia
Australians Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave of the band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds sing a beautiful but macabre duet about a man who brought his sweetheart to a river and killed her. A 19th century Irish song entitled “Down in the Willow Garden” inspired Cave to write the song.
Difficulty: Intermediate
United Kingdom
Sometimes all you need is a flashlight to find your way in the dark. That's how Jessie J feels about her boyfriend.
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
The Hooters, a Philadelphia rock band, has received a lot of attention in Europe, and particularly in Germany. The song and video raise awareness about the homeless who “sleep all night on a pillow of stone.”
Difficulty: Intermediate
Jamaica, United Kingdom
The title "Rockabye" is taken from the famous nursery-rhyme lullaby "Rock-a-bye baby on the tree top." The song is an electronic pop lullaby, and touches on the hardships of single mothers trying to bring up their babies right. It is sung by Anne-Marie in the role of the mother comforting her baby, and by Sean Paul who gives his support, singing in Jamaican English, so be on the lookout for unconventional grammar in the lines he sings.
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
Ed Sheeran delivers his love song “Perfect” in a wintery wonderland. The romantic ballad is about falling in love with his girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn. Despite the thick orchestral accompaniment, and some UK pronunciations, such as in "grass" and "dancing," the song has a country western feel to it. In the video, Sheeran's girlfriend is portrayed by the actress Zoey Deutch.
Difficulty: Intermediate
USA Hawaii
Bruno Mars talks about his musical background and his collaboration with Philip Lawrence. They started working together in Los Angeles and their collaboration has led to numerous recordings, concerts, and awards. Both artists are Grammy-winners. Music critic Sarah Rodman wrote that Bruno Mars has an “indefatigable ecstatic approach to performing.”
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
"Issues" is the very personal debut single by American singer and songwriter Julia Michaels, recorded for her extended play, Nervous System. The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Song of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
Difficulty: Beginner
United Kingdom
This song is from Katie Melua's seventh studio album, In Winter. Melua wrote the music and lyrics with Joel Harries. The enchanting animation was created by Karni & Saul of Sulkybunny.
Difficulty: Intermediate
USA
Barbadian singer Rihanna is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Here, she performs "Stay," an intimate, melancholy piano ballad from her seventh album Unapologetic. It also features Mikky Ekko on the vocals.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
United Kingdom
"Insomnia" is a song recorded by British dance group Faithless. Released as the band's second single, it became one of their most successful.
Difficulty: Beginner
Ireland
Written about the Polish Solidarity movement, this song is also a great listen for the new year. It's a song that U2 often performs in concert and has been chosen by both Rolling Stone and Pitchfork as one of the greatest five hundred songs of all time.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Ireland, United Kingdom
The Pogues' alternative Christmas song is not about snowflakes, mistletoe or angels, but broken promises and ruined dreams, as well as time spent in the drunk tank. There have always been lots of policemen in New York City with Irish ancestry, hence the connection with the NYPD (New York Police Department).
Difficulty: Beginner
USA
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon presents Gwen Stefani performing "Under the Christmas Lights," a Christmas-season love song from her album You Make It Feel Like Christmas.
Difficulty: Beginner
United Kingdom
This ballad, performed by the band Coldplay is set at Christmastime, with all its colorful lights, but is actually a sad break-up song and contrasts bleak inner sentiments with the bright lights outside. But all those lights can bring hope.
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