♫ “I’ve Got The Victory” ♫

“I’ve Got The Victory” – Pastor James R. Adams and the Abounding Life COGIC Mass Choir and Musicians

A successful New Year’s Eve starts with celebrating the victory of the year that is ending. With feeling.

♫ “Frostbite” ♫

“Frostbite” – Myrrhna

Things that are pretty can also be dangerous. Especially in winter. Especially at Christmas time. Especially when you’re listening to a remake of a Bah & the Humbugs song by a well-known icy-voiced Celtic singer.

♫ “Jet” ♫

“Jet” – Paul McCartney

Live from New York, it’s . . . Paul McCartney!

♫ “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” ♫

“I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” – Wilson Phillips

Perhaps the most California-oriented version ever of this classic English Christmas single.

♫ “Military Man” ♫

“Military Man” – John Payne and Erik Norlander

On Veterans Day, new rehearsal video of a military song from the 1994 Asia album Aria. (Also an experiment with the new YouTube iframe video player. If you have trouble viewing the video, watch on its YouTube page instead.)

♫ “Peace Train”/“Crazy Train” ♫

“Peace Train”/“Crazy Train” – Yusuf and Ozzy Osbourne

A musical train wreck at today’s Rally to Restore Sanity. (YouTube video)

♫ “Gimme Some Truth” ♫

“Gimme Some Truth” – John Montagna

A new performance of an old John Lennon song, to mark Lennon’s 70th birthday.

♫ “Red Velvet Car” ♫

“Red Velvet Car” – Heart

The new Heart album is called Red Velvet Car, but what is a red velvet car? You have to listen to the song to find out. Live recording from World Cafe.

♫ “Loca” ♫

“Loca” – Shakira

See Shakira on wheels in the video for her new single. The new album is Sale el Sol — in English, The Sun Comes Out. (video)

♫ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” ♫

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – Santana

Carlos Santana following in the footsteps of Eric Clapton and George Harrison? Listen to this song just once and you’ll understand why this idea makes sense. (video)

♫ “Heat Wave” ♫

“Heat Wave” – Phil Collins

The new Phil Collins 45 sounds like an old-time weather forecast. You know, on AM radio. (YouTube video)

♫ “King of Anything” ♫

“King of Anything” – Sara Bareilles

On her new tour, Sara Bareilles will be playing piano and setting you straight. Like on this song. (streaming Flash audio)

♫ “Run” ♫

“Run” – Extreme

Heavy riffs, rock ’n roll philosophy, and a Japanese audience. Bonus material from the new live set, out now. (video)

♫ “Butterfly, Butterfly” ♫

“Butterfly, Butterfly (The Last Hurrah)” – a-ha

On its last release, a-ha is thinking about freedom.

♫ “American Woman” ♫

“American Woman” (karaoke) – Sam the Eagle

A song called “American Woman” must be one of those patriotic marching band pieces by John Philip Sousa, right? Well . . .

♫ “Waka Waka” ♫

“Waka Waka” Sharam Arena Remix – Shakira

Energy music — if this official arena remix of a song from The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album doesn’t make you want to get out in the arena and kick a soccer ball around, I don’t know what will.

Update: the official music video.

♫ “What’s It Gonna Be” ♫

“What’s It Gonna Be” – Orianthi

If you can’t decide whether to watch the fingers on the guitar strings or listen to the lyrics, it must be Orianthi in concert.

♫ “Not Afraid” ♫

“Not Afraid” – Eminem

This new song has a startling level of personal presence, even for Eminem — as the song says, “I ain’t playing around.” (Language advisory)

♫ “Don’t Take My Shadow” ♫

“Don’t Take My Shadow” – Kings Go Forth

This is something you wouldn’t have predicted: a 10-piece Americana-soul band from Milwaukee that sounds a little like Three Dog Night, Chicago, and Rare Earth. Album out today.

♫ “Gypsy” ♫

“Gypsy” – Shakira

It’s all dance and sweat in the video for the new Shakira single. If she ends up stealing your clothes, you can’t say she didn’t warn you. (video with commercial)

♫ “Finger on the Trigger” ♫

“Finger on the Trigger” – Asia

The fourth studio album from the original Asia lineup is coming in just one month — and here’s a surprisingly energetic advance track, as polished as anything on the band’s first album, but going even farther in the direction of 1970s British power pop. This song pushes drummer Carl Palmer to the foreground. (MP3)

♫ “Irrational Number (Pi Part One)” ♫

“Irrational Number (Pi Part One)” – Paul Nordquist

Sunday is Pi Day — and what else could be as easy as pi?

♫ “No Sugar Tonight” ♫

“No Sugar Tonight” – Burton Cummings

At the Olympics, video from a live performance at B.C. Place.

♫ “Fearless Love” ♫

“Fearless Love” – Melissa Etheridge

A live acoustic performance, recorded days ago in San Diego, of the new single. This is a song for anyone who has to choose between going along with the crowd and living their own life. “I think it sets the tone for the album, sets the tone for everything that’s coming from me now. Where I’m at in this journey is about fearlessness.”

♫ “The First Snowflake” ♫

“The First Snowflake” — Bah & the Humbugs

A special repeat performance of this song — for areas in the northeast United States getting their second major snowstorm in less than a week.

♫ “According to You” ♫

“According to You” – Orianthi

Another angry breakup song — this one with some hot guitar licks. (with Vevo commercial)

♫ “Down” ♫

“Down” – Femke/One Song a Week

Sooner or later, everyone is going to need an angry breakup song.

♫ “This Too Shall Pass” ♫

“This Too Shall Pass” – OK Go

The biggest OK Go video ever, featuring a marching band. The Notre Dame marching band. The new album “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” is available for download now.

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.

♫ “Sold My Soul to Rock n Roll” ♫

“Sold My Soul to Rock n Roll” – Dave Evans

This new song, from a hard rock singer who once worked for AC/DC, is for people who think that straight-ahead rock ’n roll is not a joke. Did I mention that it’s almost Saturday night?

♫ “Only One” ♫

“Only One” – Yoso

Put the lead singer from Toto together with musicians good enough to have played with Yes, and what could you call the new band but Yoso? The new album and concert video are coming soon, and the sound is serious, smooth, and soulful.