Firstpost Playlist: Listen to tracks by Ives, Eric Clapton, The Beatles and more

From the background score for La La Land by Justin Hurwitz  to a classic by The Beatles — here’s the music you should be listening to this weekend!

Calling ur Phone by Ives

The only acceptable place to use ‘ur’ is in song titles and only if are by Ives. Alt-pop artiste from New Zealand, Ives is relatively undiscovered. The cello composition at the beginning of the song makes this debut track by Ives all the more addictive. Her voice is remniscient of Alina Baraz and Odesza, but that’s not to say that Ives lacks her own unique potential. The music is great company for long drives to and from your daily mundane commute to work.

— Vishnupriya Bhandaram

Layla by Eric Clapton

This song is rather traditional in the force that drives it. And what is a troubadour who doesn’t agonise over love? Like every good rocker, Clapton too must turn to the arts when the heart strings tug.

Then in love with his best friend George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, he based this song on the story of Layla and Majnun, an old Persian tale about forbidden love.

But there’s something precious about the acoustic version. It starts with Clapton asking an audience “if they can spot this one?” and two bars in, they explode with applause. “What’ll you do if you get lonely?” he sings the first line and then he isn’t himself anymore. He is Derrek of the Derrek and the Dominos, and Derrek is that eternal lover.

Even though Boyd and Clapton later got married and then divorced, Layla and Derrek, of course, must live forever.

— Eisha Nair

Epilogue by Justin Hurwitz (La La Land soundtrack)

The Epilogue scene in La La Land is a film within the larger film – and just as glorious. The seven-minute scene is a visual spectacle, and the soundtrack that accompanies it just enhances the surreal experience. But even without the video, the instrumental track is a delight to hear. It brings together the best of the film’s music, combining the soft notes with the saucy beats of the classic jazz that the film celebrates. The piano work is simply extraordinary, mixing the ebb and flow of all the various songs in the film to create this one, big, melodious masterpiece.

It’s the kind of track you put on loop and let it wash over you in the background as you focus on the more mundane work in the foreground.

Justin Hurwitz has cast a neat spell with the potentially award-sweeping soundtrack of La La Land and this one track will let you sample the musical genius of his work. Special mention to Mia and Sebastian’s theme, which is the best piece of music I have heard in Hollywood for a long, long time.

Give it a listen, and then go watch the film (if you haven’t already).

— Zenia D’cunha

‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles

‘Hey Jude, take a sad song and make it better’

Sang Paul McCartney to the young son of John Lenon, who was devastated by his parents divorce. Don’t we all need that moment to placate us when we are heartbroken?

This is the perfect song for all maladies

Did you get your heart broken? Here are a few helpful lyrics

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool By making his world a little colder

Bad day at work? Paul McCartney and John Lenon have words of wisdom:

So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin You’re waiting for someone to perform with And don’t you know that it’s just you, hey Jude, you’ll do The movement you need is on your shoulder Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah yeah

— Ankita Maneck

New Person, Same Old Mistakes by Tame Impala

In a song filled with introspection, Australian band Tame Impala explores the idea of evolving as a person while still somehow repeating the errors of one’s past. Frontman Kevin Parker adds his unique voice to this really catchy track, which he describes as “a goodbye to my old self when I have a strong feeling that it’s time to move on.” The song caught the attention of pop icon Rihanna, who also covered the song. The original still remains the best version though.

— Derrek Chundelikkatt