Hi all, and welcome to the Second Edition of JAM: Just About Music by JAMboreé Chicago. The purpose of this blog is to discuss each author’s two favorite songs and why they are meaningful to them.
Two songs, three requirements: The songs have to be House Music or Dance Music. One of the two songs has to have been released within one month of the article’s publishing date; the other song should be any House or Dance song you love.
All songs from JAM will be continuously added to a Spotify Playlist for easy listening.
We look forward to collaborating with guest authors to continue discovering what songs bring people joy.
I Could Be Madonna — Sammy Virji and Barry Can’t Swim
When I originally heard the ID from a random clip of Barry Can’t Swim’s NYC Rooftop Set, I immediately fell in love. To combine the creativity of Sammy Virji and Barry Can’t Swim, you just knew the song was going to be a belter. Both artists utilize classic instruments in such a fun and unique way.
The best way I can describe it, is that both Sammy Virji and Barry Can’t Swim bring their love of dance music (and music in general) through every track they create. They do it for the love of the game. You can feel the glee they had when they made the track. That piano solo on the last drop? Oh my goodness.
Two artists I would love to have at JAMboreé one day.
This song, like many of their others, makes you want to just get up and dance wherever you are. It brightens your mood, it makes you smile.
Secrets - Tiesto and KSHMR
While Secrets has always been considered a classic, everytime I listen to the song it takes me back to Ultra Music Festival 2024. It was my first time ever in Miami for Miami Music Week / Ultra, having saved up for my first “adult” vacation post-grad.
With Ultra being one of my bucket list festivals, I couldn’t have been more excited to see a Tiesto Sunset Set.
During his set, the weather took a turn and created an atmosphere that inspired me to establish JAMboreé Chicago.
It started torrentially down pouring. No lightning, still hot as hell. The sky turns completely grey.
Tiesto drops Secrets, everyone loses their minds. Then he mixes in Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain for the second drop.
The heavy rainfall removed any sense of judgement the crowd had with each other. Everyone was drenched, it didn’t matter what outfit you had on.
The crowd belts out the lyrics louder than the song itself. It still gives me chills to the day.
Did he read the room and mix Set Fire to the Rain in on the fly? We may never know, but it was perfect for the moment regardless.
In my mind, it felt like a “fuck you” to the rain barreling down on us, we were gonna dance anyway.
I’ll always remember this moment each time Secrets appears in my queue, and I am forever grateful I got to experience it.
Both tracks are on the JAM playlist below. See you next week.
