Golden globe songs: pick one

Can Celeste win a Golden Globe next week for 'Hear My Voice' an authentic sounding song that the singer co-wrote with Daniel Pemberton who scored the soundtrack for Aaron Sorkin's very watchable courtroom drama The Trial of the Chicago 7? By the way Mark Rylance as William Kunstler acts everyone into a cocked hat in the film.

It would be quite an achievement if Celeste wins on the night. She certainly has a fine jazz voice more than even soul. The song is lush and strings-laden so there is no jazz connotation beyond her voice and while it is not a stop the traffic dead in its tracks song it is still very appealing.

Other songs in a very strong field up for best song are: the retro soul jewel 'Fight for You'; tearjerker '(Seen) Lo Si' (one for the Celine Dion fans out there); the gorgeous 'Speak Now' effectively accompanied by crisp guitar; and then there's the super-vintage choice 'Tigress & Tweed' even if not at all Lady Day-like.

Guessing game: My hunch is the Leslie Odom has the best vocal of all and the song paints on a big canvas. The deliciously styled 'Tigress and Tweed' may well pick up the nod, more a vintage song with a neat contemporary twist and accessible beatz. Good luck Celeste!

Tags:

Press replay. From Friendy Fire 'H' picks up the story from hearing some of the new band's work back in the autumn. An acoustic sax/piano/bass/drums quartet Friendy as noted in these pages are worth getting to know. Their debut album Friendy Fire is now out and 'H' the second track of the GSI Records release is excellent. The band's members Zohar Amar (tenor saxophone), Noam Borns (piano), Daniel Ashkenazy (double bass) and Shai Yuval (drums) have played together for over a decade and listening to the album their rapport and understanding of what it means to play as a band clearly shine through. Yes it's like James Farm, and also a bit like Vein when that stellar outfit hook up with a sax player. Hot? Yes. And cool. You/we dig.