The Winter That Isn't Mix

I hope that in making this I jinx the mild 40 degree weather and we can finally get some snow. But for the time being, it looks like this is the winter global warming made. I like my seasons to be distinct, thank you very much. I've come to expect winter mixes to be sparse, pretty, and down tempo. As I made my own, I realized it was more in tune with my restless temperament and the current weather than that gorgeous silence a fresh snowfall brings. Hope you enjoy it, whatever the weather may be.

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1. Islands - This Is Not A Song
2. Cold Specks - Holland
3. Matt Pond PA - Amazing Life
4. Big Harp - Everybody Pays
5. Dead Man Winter - Nicotine
6. Yukon Blonde - Choices
7. Fort Frances - The Lowlands
8. Boca Chica - Snow Angels
9. World Atlas - The Winter Stories
10. The Gertrudes - Wind from the South
11. Hip Hatchet - Coward's luck
12. Boy Without God - The Snow Speaks
13. Blake Mills - Wintersong
14. Jenny O. - Won't Let You Leave (Spirit Animal Remix)
15. Coeur de Pirate - Wicked Games (Weeknd cover)
16. Kris Orlowski - Your Move
17. Mina Tindle - Bells
18. Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Snowship
19. Decibully - I Want
20. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Bats in the Attic
21. Anna Ternheim - Walking Aimlessly
22. of Montreal - Wintered Debts

Coeur de Pirate - Wicked Games (Weeknd Cover)

Béatrice Martin is Coeur de Pirate of Montreal whose 2008 self-titled debut was widely successful. It came out when I was living in the french speaking part of Switzerland and it was all we heard on the radio and in the shops. We even had to write the lyrics to her songs in french class. I fell for that album and it led me into a world of french pop with which I'm still steadfastly obsessed. While she sings mainly in french she is bilingual and has done some great covers in english in the past.

The most recent cover is the song "Wicked Games" by the highly buzzed about Toronto group, Weeknd. What Coeur de Pirate usually sings is sweet, romantic, and innocent and this song is not at all PG. She simply plays the piano and sings lyrics like "let me motherf*ing love you" and somehow still sounds like her felicitous young self. The effect is not unlike when Anya Marina covered T.I.'s "Whatever you Want". It's easily one of the best covers of the year.

Coeur de Pirate - Wicked Games (Weeknd Cover)

Weeknd - Wicked Games 

Thanks to Chromewaves for this one. 

If you want to see what she sounds like singing in French, the lovely Wood & Wires filmed her singing at the piano for two songs from her new record, Blonde, which is out today. The songs are "Place de la République" and "Adieu". It's a gorgeous video. 

Cœur de Pirate- Wood & Wires Session from Adrian Vieni (Wood & Wires) on Vimeo

Coeur de Pirate - Comme des enfants

Ok, one more french song. This is a 20 year old Quebecois girl's single from her first album. This one is happier and I love it almost equally. The name of the band is Pirate heart and the song is "like kids". The whole album is really excellent. The lyrics in this one are a little bit more complicated to understand and again the theme is love triangle. The chorus says: "And he still loves me, and I love you a little more strongly."You can check out the official video here. Hope you like it!