At Mailtape, we sometimes assume we’re a bit old-fashioned, from the generation of Walkmans, those from the 90s, into which we’d put old cassettes, sometimes recorded ourselves. Then came portable CD players (with scratched CDs and those that skipped some parts), and then the first MP3 players. Since then, it’s been a musical orgy. But some of us have kept the spirit of the MP3 player: carefully collecting fabulous tracks, downloading them, and listening to them on our little device, in various contexts, often intimate.

Some of these tracks have stood the test of time. They’re still there, stuck in the player, unable to escape, because they’re too tasty, too precious, too essential… You can’t imagine the joy we feel in bringing them out of obscurity and sharing some of them with you! This is MP3 Nostalgia!

Curator’s selection

Gilbert Bécaud - Contre Vous

Anto: ” As a child, my mother forced me to listen to what I call “dead singers”: French variety singers whose cassettes and CDs played on repeat on the radio of the family car. Bécaud was one of them. I was sick of hearing those great classics of French song like “Natalie” or “L’important c’est la rose.” A few years later, I stumbled upon this track edited by Good Old Boys, and I recognized the voice, singing lyrics I didn’t know. Without hesitation, I listened to the original version and delighted in discovering a playful, incredibly jazzy, and utterly irresistible song. Since then, it’s been a staple on the MP3 player. “

Meiko Kaji - おんな叛き唄

Anto: ” I don’t know the original title of this song; I only have the Japanese characters. My translator tells me it means “woman’s rebellion song,” which doesn’t surprise me all that much. Meiko Kaji cultivated her image as a warrior woman, with a whole mystique specific to old Japan. Her classic “Urami Bushi” is perhaps a bit more famous; it’s been years since it also entered my MP3 player without leaving. “

Soom T -Alright

Anto: ” While I regret the evolution of this exceptional singer (she’s sunk into religious fundamentalism and adopts very biased and, to say the least, conservative stances), I remain deeply attached to some of her hits, which have had me moving like crazy at sound system parties. Her flow is inimitable. Here, over a beat by Jungle Invaders, she showcases the full extent of her talent, alternating between incisive toasts and perfectly sung verses. It’s enough to elevate a rhythm that’s otherwise difficult to follow and inhabit. I’ve listened to this track hundreds of times and it still blows me away every time. “

Le cri du Caire - Pearls for Orphans

Anto: ” Warning: this is a knockout. It’s a track that only appeared on my MP3 players a few years ago, but it’s explosive. Rare are the voices that send shivers down your spine while simultaneously bringing tears to your eyes. Musically, it’s as simple as it is technically brilliant. Just a few notes and you find yourself suspended on a thread, gripped by a voice that overwhelms you, that speaks perhaps more to your gut than your ears. A knockout. “

Smith – Baby it’s you

Anto: ” Well, you probably know this one. If memory serves, it appears on a Tarantino OST. However, I can’t resist sharing it here. It’s a 1969 track performed by a band called Smith. It’s also carried by a voice that touches the heartstrings, alternating between sensuality and intensity. There’s something magical about these heartfelt songs, when they carry contagious emotions with them… In a completely different vein, there’s also this soul/R&B version, quite different but just as breathtaking. “

Téhu – Timeline

Anto: ” In the realm of mesmerizing performances, you should definitely check out the video of this incredible live show. Téhu, with his golden fingers, moves seamlessly from one keyboard to another, composing marvelous melodies that transform into friendly loops, all set to a killer beat. The virtuosity is extraordinary; this video blew me away the first time I saw it, and the pleasure remains undiminished when I listen to the track on my MP3 player. “

Rendez-Vous – Euroshima

Anto: ” And then a touch of brutality to properly close this playlist. The sheer energy displayed on this track, as on the rest of the album, is fantastic. It’s not my usual style of music, but there are a few tracks like this one that I love having with me. Perhaps it’s because the person who recommended it to me had a significant impact on my life, but sometimes there are songs that speak to parts of ourselves without us quite knowing why… This one is definitely one of them. ”

So that’s it for today’s selection. It’s a bit different than usual because there’s no guest, but we didn’t want to go another week without an episode, while artists are preparing their concerts or new projects and volunteers like us are enjoying the spring or getting hammered at work.

Thank you to Noémie for taking the time to create a visual that so perfectly illustrates today’s episode theme. We’re really enjoying experimenting with slightly different formats and continuing to spread positive vibes; we hope you like it too.

See you very soon for new adventures!