For today’s edition of Best Songs, Kazu Makino of the legendary Blonde Redhead tells us about some of her favorite music. We are not speaking lightly over here at Nina HQ when we say it is an honor to have her voice on the website; Blonde Redhead is one of the most important indie rock bands of the past 30 years—it would be hard to downplay their influence, especially on a newer generation of rockers. And Makino’s picks are just as interesting and deep as you might imagine from a member of a band that has never stopped exploring and growing. A true Friday treat! Read the piece below.

Best song that you discovered this year?

“لا تسل عن سلامته صامت لو تكلم | التغريبة الفلسطينية | فريد الخولي” by drfareedffk91 

Since late 2023 I have been consumed in absorbing all things cultural. Especially music from this region.

Best song that reminds you of touring in the 1990s?

 

“For Love” by Lush

One of the bands that made me realize what I am attracted to in music. 

Best song to listen to while drinking matcha in the morning?

 

“Ma Kedert Neseet” by Fairuz

Her voice and her ability to express so much with minimal effort is breathtaking. Also the sheer volume of songs she recorded is surreal … My lifetime isn’t enough to listen to everything she has sung, so I start my day with her. Her voice is as pure and deep as matcha.

Best song by a Japanese noise rock band? 

“A” by Nisennenmondai

Them, Boris, and Boredoms are the bands I actually saw live. Their sheer volume is engulfing, all of them have girls, and all of them with such great band names. What is it about Japanese DNA that is so natural for us to manifest noise?

Best song that makes you feel alert?

 

“سلم عليها” by Abdel Fattah Owainat

Palestine is what keeps me alert. I think music there has another sense of urgency and critical purpose that serves the people and their spirit. 

Best song that makes you feel sleepy?

 

“Ya Mariyam El Bekr” by Fairuz

 

There is not enough time to absorb all her work and the emotions she delivers with her voice. So I start and finish my day with her. This is a Christian song, and it is significant to realize that people who are closest to the creator in the heart of Jerusalem, where he was from, are suffering and being destroyed which make this song particularly heartbreaking. This song is so beautiful that it makes me believe that these are the people the creator wanted all of us to be like.

Best song that is just vocals and guitar?

“Time In A Bottle” by Jim Croce

I don’t know much about this artist, but I love this song.

Best song that is all electronic?

“東風” by Yellow Magic Orchestra　 

It is Ryuichi Sakamoto’s first band, and there are a few versions of this song … It just came to my mind.

Best song to play after a great show?

 

“Baltimore” by Nina Simone

Nina forever … When I was still in Japan, I discovered this song, it was the song this small club played when they closed for the night.

Best song for dancing alone? 

 

“ لو مرة بس”  by Bigsam

 

Only because nobody plays music from there in public.