Posted by Katherine St Asaph on 03/10/2012 at 4:12 PM News

The Popdust Files: weekend playlist

I don’t know where you are, but here in New York, it was 75 degrees out. It’s March. March is supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. It isn’t supposed to come in like a lion that suddenly doffs its mane, shrinks three times and becomes basically a housecat.

But so it has, and it’s not even mid-March and the fan’s already wrong. It’s essentially spring and almost summer here, the first truly new season of a new year. Our playlist’s like that, mostly new songs and summery ones. We’ll keep this short so you can go outside (seriously, do) once you’ve got them all queued.

USHER – CLIMAX

Because it’s the best song Usher’s done in years, the best song Diplo’s done in years and, amid all the tension-by-template tracks on the radio, a standout.

NINA SKY – DAY DREAMING

Because it’s also the best song Nina Sky’s done in years (of course, it’s not a one-to-one comparison, as you’d have to subtract Usher’s last album cycle from it) and would also be a similar standout.

CASSIE – KING OF HEARTS

Because it’s the perfect background music for a certain interview; because it’s a bit of levity in the playlist so far.

NORAH JONES – HAPPY PILLS

Because Norah Jones produced by Danger Mouse could have been an unmitigated disaster but turns out to be quite OK.

NICKI MINAJ FT. LIL WAYNE – ROMAN RELOADED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ehgAU1EuAk

Because there is no reason for “Starships” to ever have left the hard drive when this exists.

For Estelle, Fun and summery tracks, click NEXT.