It’s that time of the week again! This Weekly Windup has an offering of of upbeat, fun songs that will bring a smile to your face. The only time I really listen to any Top 40 songs is when I’m in my car, listening to the radio and am in the mood for some, as my friend Nicole would call them, pump up jams, so there’s a few of those on here. C’mon, we’ve all got a few Top 40 songs we’d consider guilty pleasures and I am not ashamed to admit I’ve found myself singing along to these as I’ve been driving. Also included is an electronic song with an infectious melody and the latest single from local band Spark Society whose album was released last week.

Enjoy!

Florence + The Machine– Spectrum
Say my name and every color illuminates
We are shining and we’ll never be afraid again
This group is pretty stellar, Florence Welch is one powerhouse singer and this song is simply stunning, from the instrumentation (the harp line is beautiful) to the vocals. I first heard the Calvin Harris remix of this song which is perfect for when you’re in the mood to dance and have fun, and of course had to go back and listen to the original, which, while still upbeat, has more of a chilled out feel. Lyrically brilliant, the song seems to be about finding yourself in the light, the beauty of being in the light, being illuminated. And really, what would life be without light and colour?

M-3ox feat. Heidrun- Beating Of My Heart (Matisse & Sadko Remix)
It was the beating of my heart, how could I resist the chance to fall for you
It’s hard not to sing along with this song, especially since we can all relate to that feeling of our hearts beating a million times a minute, aware that undeniable feeling you have for someone. It’s a tell-tale song and the bright synths and twinkling piano echo this well, along with that driving drum beat. In the middle of song, there’s a short piano solo, I can imagine alluding to that moment where you realize you’re falling for someone. I love the original and this euphoric remix by Matisse & Sadko picks it up by adding progressive beats that lend well to Heidrun’s vocals; it’s hard not to dance and sing along.

Spark Society– Dark Water
Please just say that you’ll try and make it through this, I mean you as well
There’s still hope in a place you call home, you must still see that
Kristin and I saw these guys jamming out in a room at Hotel Hamilton during Art Crawl and boy did it look like they were having a blast! Many people passed by their jam sesh, some stopping out of curiousity, just for a moment to listen to the music, others peeking in and some eventually stepping in to grab an instrument and join in. They were on our radar and soon popped up again with the release of their latest album Just Get Well. This primarily instrumental track is lovely, opening with the twinkle of piano as a cymbal crashes softly in the background. Slowly the drum picks up and you hear strains of trumpet that continues to grow along with the drum. It has a melancholic feel and the verse sung towards the end alludes to this, trying to find hope in a dark place.

Fun.– Some Nights
This is it boys, this is war
Fun. made a splash with “We Are Young” and to be honest, the song was catchy at first, then it was on Glee, THEN I kept on hearing it and I got sick of it. Seriously. It happens. And I was like, please not this song anymore! Their latest single, definitely a bolder choice, however is one I will be careful to listen in moderation because I quite like it. A lot. What makes this song for me is the strong vocals, the harmonies and the percussion. Man, the DRUMS in this song add so much rhythm. The entire song actually has an rhythmic Afrobeat sound to it, in the vocals and instrumentation, probably another reason I like it. Also, if you look at the song lyrics carefully, it’s kind of brilliant and the music vid reflects the Civil War -esque story told in the song.

Hedley– Kiss You Inside Out
Yeah, I wanna know you inside out, I’ll spend my life trying to figure out
When I first heard this song, I was hooked. It’s one of those infectious songs and actually, I had no idea it was a Hedley song until midway through when I was like, “Wait a second, is that Jacob Hoggard singing??” Then it clicked. I remember him back when he was on Canadian Idol and he was a standout. While I’m not by any means a Hedley fan these days, this song is a guilty pleasure and perfect in that it embodies that sense of being young and free, living life and being with someone you love, without a care in the world.