The rain dance: A playlist for the senses

Local weather has been predictable of late. Overcast clouds and light showers, with the occasional downpour. Times like these can surely trigger our senses and make us weak in the knees, opening up a floodgate of emotions… from sexual overtones, to reflective posturing, a plethora of feelings surface.

When it comes to release, music is the tool of choice.

And, to further enhance one’s mood, it would be best to take a long steady drive on the road… to nowhere, really. After all, the destination is the least important subject here. What is of utmost significance is the journey.

But, before we collectively insert our keys into the ignition and scream in orgasmic unison… we should first arrange a play-list of sorts. A play-list that’ll bring out a gamut of atmospheric highs and lows and take our emotionally musical flight into oblivion.  

When creating a play-list for a rainy road-trip, it is essential to plot the tunes in stimulating order. You’ll need songs to get you going and set the tone, then you’ll need songs to get you anxious as the ride moves along, then you slowly and deliberately shift gears with songs that literally and lyrically get you more involved, then before your eyes swell, insert a track or two that’ll lift your spirits once more. Before you know it you’d have gone through a rainbow of emotions and have magically revitalized your soul.

It’s just like making love, really.

Let’s begin.

(Editor’s note: Jay Ortega is the frontman of the rock band DRT and has been in the music industry for more than a decade.)

1. Satori

Rodrigo Y Gabriela  

A compellingly beautiful piece from a Mexican duo that used to churn out trash metal tunes, and now delivers flamenco-inspired acoustic and percussive opuses. A perfect trip starter.      

2. Big Love  

Fleetwood Mac        

A nice follow-up to “Satori”, Fleetwood Mac’s “Big Love” also reeks of haunting flamenco guitar playing and its lyric laments of unbridled love. This live version is relentless and full of passion.

3. Sexual Healing  

Ben Harper   

A remake of the Marvin Gay classic, Sexual Healing takes into account a man’s feverish lust for the woman he longs for. Ben Harper takes this song and makes it his own with a powerful and sensual live performance.           

4. In Your Eyes       

Peter Gabriel

It is the artist’s biggest hit, and one of my personal lyrical favorites. “Love, I get so lost sometimes, days pass and this emptiness fills my heart. When I want to run away, I drive off in my car… But, whichever way I choose, I come back to the place you are…” That about says it all.         

5. Anyone In A Daydream            Brain Salad 

This song was recorded and written through a collaboration of my old friends David Aguirre, Louie Talan, and Brian Velasco of Razorback, as well as Basti Artadi of Wolfgang fame. Collectively they were known fleetingly as Brain Salad. Here, David’s lyric professes literally of being able to make love to anyone in a daydream. What a wonderful thought.       

6. Everybody Here Wants You    Jeff Buckley

“Twenty-nine pearls in your kiss, a singing smile… coffee smell and lilac skin, your flame in me…” words from a very poignant and revered Jeff Buckley. This song has probably spawned more babies than any R&B track released in the last decade or so.  

7. This Moment Is All There Is     Lenny Kravitz         

Any respectable play-list built for a rainy day should include a Lenny Kravitz tune and this one in particular, coming from his latest release, is a must-have. In this song Kravitz professes… “Life is real, don’t you fake it. The future no one can see, so step aside and let it be, tomorrow may wash away, don’t put off what you do today, take advantage while you are here, cause this moment is all there is…” Words we can all live by.   

8. Touch       

Seal   

Just like Kravitz, Seal’s voice is very soulful, and raspy, a little dark even, and can make the maudlin seductive. “Touch” was reportedly written for his muse Heidi Klum.      

9. Knock’s Me Off My Feet           Stevie Wonder        What else can I say about the man everyone tries to emulate, sound-like, and outright copy? WONDER-fully genius. This song is perfect to place us on the right track towards the tail end of our journey.