The Temper Trap, "Sweet Disposition"

Heard this weekend when we rented 500 Days of Summer... enjoy!

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: ∆, "Breezeblocks"

From Ray, a very cool, very unsettling video from alt-J (or ∆)... check it out.

The Band, "It Makes No Difference"

Rest in peace, Levon Helm.

Kool Moe Dee, "How Ya Like Me Now"

From 1987's album of the same name, this was one of many shots at LL Cool J (note the Kangol hat under the wheel of the car on the album cover). Perhaps more memorable for an impressionable youngster in the '80s was its pairing with Hakeem (or Akeem) Olajuwon highlights in the first NBA Superstars video.

Now brothers are riding me
Like a pony
I'm no phony
I'm the only real micaroni. 

Enjoy!

Pharaohe Monch, "Body Baby"

The Cars, "You are the Girl"

Another recommendation by Maura, Child of the '80s.  Enjoy...

U2, "Red Hill Mining Town"

One of Maura's favorites, Larry Mullen called this one (from The Joshua Tree) "one of the lost songs."
 

N.A.S.A., "Gifted" (f. Kanye West, Santigold & Lykke Li)

Perhaps Monday is too early for something like this.  Perhaps not.  Prepare to be taken away.

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: OutKast, "Jazzy Belle"

Compliments of Seiji, who takes you back to some old school, southern bounce with this track off ATLiens.  Enjoy!

HTRMOS: Cansei de Ser Sexy, "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex"

OK, so maybe this connection is a little tenuous, but if a couple of notes went down instead of up in that opening line... couldn't you splice it with this?  

Billie Holiday, "Strange Fruit"

Originally a poem by Abel Meeropol (aka "Lewis Allan"), "Strange Fruit" was conceived as a reaction to a photo published in 1930 of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith in Marion, Indiana.  An All Things Considered piece chronicled the event on its 80th anniversary in 2010.  The third young man targeted that day--James Cameron, a 16-year-old--escaped alive.  He went on to found the National Black Holocaust Museum (originally in Milwaukee, now residing online).

Holiday's haunting, definitive version of the song was recorded 73 years ago today.
 

Bright Eyes, "Lua"

2Pac & Snoop Dogg, "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" ("Live" at Coachella 2012)

If you have been living on the bright side of a cave the last few days, you've likely already seen this (or at least heard about it).  Still, it deserves its own Tuna Day.  How far we've come since Leia's plaintive cry for help.
 

Common, "The People"

Elliott Smith, "Somebody That I Used to Know"

Not to confuse you, but a great, slightly older song by the same name...

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: Walk Off the Earth, "Somebody That I Used To Know" (Gotye Cover)

Courtesy of Shon, here's another one that millions and millions of people have gotten hip to before the Tuna did.  Regardless, both the cover by WOTE and the original are pretty great in their own ways.  Enjoy!

"Hey, that reminds me of..." SATURDAY: The xx, "Islands"

We've got our Open Request Sunday, and we just wrapped up a month of cover songs.  Now--just when you thought the Tuna Supercommittee couldn't introduce any more gimmicks--may we present a weekly (?) dose of songs that kind of remind us of other songs.  The inaugural selection comes from the Londoners of The xx, whose "Islands" makes us imagine what would result if "Tape Song" and "L.E.S. Artistes" had a baby, then slipped it some Ritalin.  Enjoy!

Jennifer O'Connor, "Exeter, Rhode Island"

Maura and I caught Jennifer when she opened for Hotel Lights a few years ago, and promptly bought two of her albums.  This one can be found on Over the Mountain Across the Valley and Back to the Stars.  If you ever get the chance to see her live, I would highly recommend it.  Enjoy!

Paul Revere & The Raiders, "Kicks"

I can't decide which is better: the high-stepping guitarists facing off or the faces the drummer makes for the camera.  Enjoy!

Dire Straits, "Lady Writer"

Tapes 'N Tapes, "Freak Out"

More great music out of MSP.  Enjoy!

Little Dragon, "Ritual Union"

From last year's album of the same name.  Enjoy!

Norah Jones, "Don't Know Why" (Sesame Street)

Sorry, Norah--Y couldn't make it to your gig because he had a prior commitment... Emily's birthday party.  Happy Birthday, Emily!

Jack White, "Sixteen Saltines"

First came his appearance on SNL last week, then the video to the second single (this was the first) from Mssr. White's first solo album, Blunderbuss, made its online debut two days ago.  Thwack!

Handsome Furs, "Officer of Hearts"

From 2009's Face Control.

Piney Gir, "Oh Lies"

Alison Krauss & Union Station, "On the Outside Looking In"

From last year's Paper Airplane, featuring a marvelous Dan Tyminski on vocals.  Enjoy!

James McMurtry, "God Bless America"

Over the Rhine, "Trouble"

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: Portishead, "Sour Times"

From Violette (on back order).  Hopefully your big day is opposite day... at least in terms of this song.  Wait, it's April Fool's, too... I'm so confused.  Happy Birthday!