Music and Wine: October 2019

Welcome to Delectable's column, Music and Wine! If you’re on the lookout for newly released music, grab your headphones. If you’re searching for a fresh bottle, grab your glass. And if you’re looking for the perfect wine to pair with that pop song you can't stop playing on repeat, then sit back, relax, and enjoy these Delectable tunes. Each month, we gather a playlist of newly released songs and pair them with wines that hit all the right notes. Listen on Spotify now 1. Did It To Myself – Orla Gartland The seasons are changing; October has arrived; it’s time for all things cozy, pumpkin-themed, and spooky. Orla Gartland’s latest single doesn’t discuss anything related to fall; however, this song gives us strong fall vibes. Change floats in the air when a new season begins, and with change comes reflection. “Did It To Myself” captures the moment after a relationship ends: the space in bed next to you is empty, you wonder what they are doing now, and the sense of failure lingers. Gartland pens an honest reflection on a past relationship that feels appropriate to blast through your headphones as you experience the transition into fall. We think you should grab a cold cider , sit in reflection, and then pick yourself up and embrace the shift in seasons ahead. 2. Get Happy – Renée Zellweger and Sam Smith Released in late September, Judy, the original soundtrack to the upcoming film of the same name, marked 50 years since Judy Garland’s passing. In the film, Renée Zellweger depicts The Wizard of Oz star’s life during her final performances in the late 1960s. Zellweger flies solo on most of the album with the exceptions of a feature with Sam Smith and another with Rufus Wainwright. A song that makes you snap your fingers, the classic hit “Get Happy” brightens the mood of the room and makes you sway even if you try and fight it. Zellweger and Smith’s voices pair seamlessly and offer up a light, fun, and familiar song. Whether you’re listening to the song on its own or hearing it while watching the film, we think you should sip on a glass of fruity Riesling and sway along. 3. Gone – Charli XCX & Christine and the Queens If you’re looking for a pop album that sounds truly pop to its core while simultaneously pushing the limits of the genre, no need to look further than Charli XCX’s third album, Charli. From Lizzo to Troye Sivan to HAIM, Charli XCX collaborates with a multitude of artists throughout the album. “Gone”, the synth-pop song featuring Christine and the Queens, offers an interesting juxtaposition between sound and lyrics. You can’t help but move when you listen to this song and solely listening to the beat makes you label it a fun pop song; however, the lyrics give off a different vibe. Charli sings about the feelings of isolation present when surrounded by people you don’t like. “Gone” mixes vulnerable lyrics with a sound that we will definitely dance to whenever it comes on. We think you should dance around with a bottle of white Bordeaux nearby (out of the dancing zone, of course) . 4. Rollin’ – Hootie & The Blowfish Hootie & The Blowfish are set to release their sixth studio album, Imperfect Circle on November 1. Leading up to this release, they shared their first single “Rollin’” and later “Miss California”. “Rollin’” exemplifies the idea of throwing your hands up and just letting it go. If “Did It To Myself” captures reflection, then “Rollin’” captures moving forward and leaving things, people, and situations you can’t control behind. While this song doesn’t break out of any country molds, it is a solid and relaxed song that makes you pause, take a breather, and move forward. To join you on your breather, we recommend a wine that would be great after its own pause in the air. Why not try a Langhe Nebbiolo ? 5. I Just Wanna Shine – Fitz and The Tantrums In need of a simple jam that is easygoing and fun to listen to? “I Just Wanna Shine” is here to save the day. Band members Michael Fitzpatrick, Noelle Scaggs, Jeremy Ruzumna, Joseph Karnes, John Wicks, and James King make up the sounds and vocals of this Indie Pop group. Out of the long list of 17 songs off their newest album, “I Just Wanna Shine” finds itself third on the list. Can a song personify the sun? If so, this is the song that does just that. This song says goodbye to stress and hello to feeling good and being the best version of yourself you can be. With its sunny and summery feel, we think you should pop a bottle of Rosé Champagne and climb that mountain. 6. Show Me Love – Alicia Keys (feat. Miguel) It’s really hard for Alicia Keys to do wrong, and “Show Me Love” is another exceptional song that she’s added into a masterful repertoire already overflowing. Keys’ voice melds perfectly with Miguel’s smooth vocals, intertwining to create a piece that wraps the listener in a warm embrace of sensuality and reflection. Of course, Keys didn’t just stop there — the artistic visual that goes along with the song is just as exquisite, originally presented as a 360 degree visual experience at an NYC art space and featuring Zoë Saldana and husband, Michael B. Jordan, as well as Keys and Miguel. Each illustrates different types of love. Saldana and husband representing the difficulty of love, Jordan representing the journey towards self-love, and Keys/Miguel representing an artistic love. With such a sensory experience, we think this song deserves an equally impactful wine, such as a dark Argentina Malbec . 7. Hold Me Anyway – Wilco Alt-rock veterans Wilco return with their eleventh album, Ode to Joy. It’s casual and made for easy-listening, with a general feeling that it’s begging to be placed into an indie movie. “Hold Me Anyway” is one of the few semi-upbeat songs on the album, and sounds like it could be derived from an early 2000s indie release. The lyrics are relatively simple while still prompting you to listen closely, perfectly match the whimsical yet layered tune, “Are we all in love, just because? No, I think it’s poetry and magic.” Try pairing this song with a bubbling glass of Sekt ; one that is also layered and delicious. 8. Affection – Amber Run The third studio album from British Indie/rock band, Amber Run tackles the subject most fervently discussed throughout all art forms and all genres of music: love. Whether it’s platonic, romantic, or self-love, Amber Run takes the listener on a journey from start to finish sweeping them up in love’s whirlwind. While you could listen to these songs out of order, we recommend listening from beginning to end to fully digest the wide range of emotions Amber Run emphasizes on the rollercoaster of love. The first track is a 42 second piano build that leads right into one of the most upbeat songs off the album. A headbanger that comments on the circus of life and love greatly contrasts one of the slower and more melancholy songs, “Affection”. A cry for love, this haunting song calls out the positive and negative sides of affection and hits right to your core. To accompany you on your listening journey and to help along the rollercoaster of love, we recommend opening a bottle of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that develops over time. Listen to last month's playlist here .