Kristen Zwicker

No genre knows love better than R&B. The Motown songbook alone contains enough lessons of the heart to fill several medical textbooks. Sure, many great soul songs are about the dark side of love – jealousy, betrayal, breakups, etc. But that’s not why you came to this list, is it?  It’s to find those songs that speak directly to the joy of being with someone else. Whether it’s innocent infatuation, all-consuming obsession or lustful intoxication, there’s an awesome jam out there to communicate exactly what you’re feeling. And not all of them are of the smooth, old-school variety either. Here, we’ve compiled the absolute best R&B love songs, and while you’ll find plenty of ‘60s classics, there are several modern, chart-busting pop bangers as well. So let’s get it on, shall we? RECOMMENDED:🏩 The best love songs of all time😭 The best heartbreak songs🍆 The sexiest songs of all time🕺 The best party songs of all time

Welcome 2023 to the sound of your favorite musical act (of the ones that are in town...). We've round up the top picks for New Year’s Eve concerts in NYC. After the show, you can watch the fireworks or stop by one of the many New Year’s Eve parties still going on around the city. For more music to take in the season with in December, make sure to hit up the best Christmas concerts in NYC leading up to the years end! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to New Year’s Eve in NYC

Alright: time to get physical and also musical. Contrary to what the very ripped personal trainer at the gym keeps screaming at you, sometimes the best motivation for working up a sweat isn’t the grunting encouragement of a stranger clutching a protein shake. Often, you just need the right song to get your blood pumping, your body moving and you mind in the zone. The perfect workout song is, to some extent, an elusive beast that heavily depends on what type of music you’re into: presumably there are people out there who work out to showtunes, and good for them. The unifying factor is enough energy to power the national grid, and a decently fast beat to help you keep the pace up. Beyond that, all bets are off,  To help you on your fitness journey, we tapped our stable of music geeks – some of which are in much better shape than others – to scour their knowledge of hip-hop, pop, classic rock and for 55 high-energy motivators. Some may seem like pretty leftfield choices, but all of them should get your pulse racing. Strap on the sweatband and get ready to move.  Written by Kristen Zwicker, Marley Lynch, Hank Shteamer, Gabrielle Bruney, Brent DiCrescenzo, Sophie Harris, Andy Kryza, Andrew Frisicano, Nick Leftley, Tim Lowery, Carla Sosenko, Kate Wertheimer, Steve Smith and Andrzej Łukowski. RECOMMENDED:🏃 The best running songs💪 The best motivational songs🤩 The best inspirational songs🎸 The best classic rock songs⚡️ The best songs about power

It’s been a long time since video killed the radio star, so all things considered, it’s kind of amazing that the music-video form is still thriving in the age of YouTube and TikTok. Now, with Beyoncé’s Lemonade and other blockbuster album-length videos on the rise, we might just be on the verge of a new music-video golden age. It’s a great time to be a fan, and it’s never been easier to cue up videos for your favorite party songs or pop songs from the comfort of your computer or phone (and there’s nothing to stop you from hitting that replay button over and over). For our money, these videos comprise the pinnacle of the art form—the best music videos of all time—so far at least. Listen to these songs on Amazon Music RECOMMENDED:📸 The best album covers of the ’90s🎸 The best cover songs🎶 The best ’80s songs🎵 The best ’90s songs🎤 The best karaoke songs

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but where does that leave reinvention? The best cover songs don’t simply repackage something familiar – they completely reinterpret the source material, dismantling the song and reassembling its parts into something exciting while keeping the core of what made it great. It’s not just a matter of taking a pop song and adding a metal twist or parodying a relic of the past (sorry/not sorry, Limp Bizkit). A good cover can be a novelty, but the best are forged in love and innovation, oftentimes surpassing the source material but always living side by side with it. The 30 artists below exemplify how to do covers right, approaching hits from the heart and leaving their own stamp on the song’s legacy. From pop reimaginings to soulful makeovers, they’re the best cover songs of all time. Listen to these songs on Amazon Music RECOMMENDED:🎶 The best ’90s songs🎉 The best party songs ever made🎸 The best classic rock songs🎤 The best karaoke songs🕺 The best pop songs of all time

The month of July marks summer hitting full swing—which for music fans means the outdoor concert season is at its peak! The list of NYC concerts in July 2019 is definitely something to get excited about, along with its offerings of summer music festivals. Save some energy for the night, though, because our list of the hottest parties has you covered at all the best clubs in NYC. Dig into our list of our favorite upcoming concerts this month. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to concerts in NYC

Don’t let the wintry mix snow you in this December. From visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to digging into the best pies in NYC, there’s a host of stellar seasonal events to shovel your way down to. As always, NYC hosts some of the best Christmas concerts around (Radio City Christmas Spectacular is always a can’t miss)—so might we suggest taking a break from the cold outdoors to catch one of these awesome shows? RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in New York

Greenwich Village is home to one of the best New York attractions—Washington Square Park—but there's plenty more to do during the day in the neighborhood. Visit a museum or have lunch in one of the city's best parks, and make sure to leave time to take a leisurely stroll around the quaint Village streets. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Greenwich Village, NYC

Afropunk began as a platform for black punk bands, but has since expanded to highlight black musical "alterity" in a variety of genres. Similar to summer music festivals like Panorama and Governors Ball, you'll find a cross-genre lineup bringing both larger acts—e.g. Erykah Badu and Janelle Monáe—and smaller local bands. Unlike those festes though, Afropunk Brooklyn takes place in the enviably accessible (if sometimes a bit crowded) Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene. To help you prep for this year's fest, here are our favorite acts playing Afropunk Brooklyn. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Afropunk Festival

SummerStage is one of the great things to do in the summer in New York, offering a killer spread of worthwhile shows featuring everyone from legendary hip-hop artists to up-and-coming indie-rockers. It’s also one of the absolute best free things to do in NYC (though we did include some of the series’s ticketed “benefit” shows as well). The complete schedule can be a bit daunting, which is why we narrowed down the list to the gigs in the best NYC parks you definitely won't want to miss this summer. Get tickets here.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to SummerStage

New York City might not have too many wide open spaces, but you can still find plenty of ways to bring nature into your everyday life. Plan a picnic in one of the best NYC parks, hit up outdoor summer parties all season long and take day trips from NYC when you really need an escape. You might even be able to find some sweet oasis right here in the city if you know where to look: several stories up to the the rooftop gardens and farms. Check out some of the prettiest ones we've got here, from trendy rooftop bars to urban farms. RECOMMENDED: More things to do on NYC rooftops

New Year's Eve in NYC means celebrating the future while reflecting on the past (check out our best albums of 2015 and most anticipated albums of 2016 lists)—not to mention, unwrapping all those shiny new tour announcements. For you forward-looking optimists, futurist indie gems like atmospheric dream-poppers Beach House and post-punks Savages are airing tunes from their new albums. And for the traditionalists out there, timeless favorites are playing massive comeback shows: Rowdy rockers AC/DC seek the title of "top-selling live act" for a second year and '80s sad-sacks The Cure take over the Garden for 3 nights. Whichever temporal bent you're taking in 2016, make sure to snap up tickets quickly before they sell out. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best of 2016

The Mermaid Parade is back, baby. Now in its 36th year, Coney Island's annual seaside bacchanal features more than 3,000 near-naked revelers dressed as mermaids, mermen and other sea creatures parading down the main drag at one of the best beaches in NYC. Each year, the procession is led by the noble Queen Mermaid and King Neptune (this year it's singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer and her husband, fantasy fiction icon Neil Gaiman), who are surrounded by thousands of jovial spectators. It's a great chance to revel in the fabulous kitsch of one of the most iconic Brooklyn attractions. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the event, then slap on some sunscreen and glitter and check out one of the best NYC events in June. When and where is the Mermaid Parade? The Coney Island Mermaid Parade takes place Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 1pm. The parade begins at Surf Avenue and W 21st Street and travels along Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk to Steeplechase Plaza. Show up by 11am for a good view, or pony up $200 to become a Coney Island USA member and nab spot in the covered Judge’s Stands. Will there be any street closures from the parade? You bet. The following street closures will be in effect Saturday from 10am to 6pm: -West 10th Street between Surf Avenue and Boardwalk-West 21st Street between Surf Avenue and Boardwalk-West 22nd Street between Surf Avenue and Boardwalk-West 23rd Street between Surf Avenue and Boardwalk-Boardwalk between West 10th Street and West 15th S

It's that magical time of year when riding in an old train car doesn't mean major delays, earsplitting brakes and doors that only open halfway. The MTA and the New York Transit Museum resume their longtime annual tradition this Sunday, trotting out the Holiday Nostalgia Train. The train, which consists of eight cars made in the 1930s that were in operation until the 1970s, features quaint throwbacks like rattan seats, ceiling fans, incandescent bulb lighting, drop-sash style windows and original ads. The Holiday Nostalgia Train runs every Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, chugging along the F line between Second Avenue and Lexington Avenue/63rd Street, and the Q line between Lexington Avenue/63rd Street and 96th Street. It departs from the Second Avenue subway station at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm and from the 96th Street station at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm on each of the days that it is in service. If you prefer above–ground transport, hop aboard one of the MTA's vintage busses, running weekdays between 9am and 5pm from December 4–22 on the M42 route. A ride on an old-timey train or bus costs the standard fare, plus it affords you the unique opportunity to use the words “mass transit” and “charming” in the same sentence. Sign up to receive great Time Out deals in your inbox each day.

Comedy is about baring one's soul on stage—but how many comedians can bare their bodies? The gloves come off—along with everything else—at Naked Roast, where comedians strip down to their knickers (and beyond) and insult the living daylights out of each other. The show features host Zac Amico and featuring Keith Carey, Lindsey Jennings, Joel Walkowski, Jasmin Leigh and more performing in the nude. Over the rest of the three-day Skankfest comedy party at Creek and the Cave on June 23–25, you can check out clothed stand-up sets from over 100 performers, including heavy hitters like Reggie Watts, Artie Lange, Jim Gaffigan, Michelle Wolf, Bert Kreischer, Ari Shaffir, Dan Soder, Chris Gethard, Matteo Lane and more. Visit the Skankfest website to see the full roster.In addition to top-notch stand-up, attendees can check out live podcasts of Legion of Skanks, Kill Tony, Tuesdays with Stories and more, get tattoos, rub elbows with the comedians at meet and greets and indulge in tasty eats and good cheap booze, something the brave comics participating in the Naked Roast will surely need plenty of.Passes are sold out, but the fest is selecting a random Twitter follower every Friday to receive two free VIP passes, so follow @skankfestnyc and try your luck.

Electronic-music fans, rejoice! The annual Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival returns this Friday and Saturday, and as usual the lineup is chock full of amazing talent. Now in its seventh year, the two-day, multi-venue fest boasts a diverse array of exciting electronic innovators, from tech house stalwarts like Booka Shade to up-and-coming beatsmiths like the Whooligan. Below are five acts you shouldn't miss this weekend. And if you still want more, check out the full lineup in our guide to the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, and read our interview with fest owners Jen Lyon and Katie Longmyer to find out what goes on behind the scenes. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival Renegades of Rhythm with DJ Shadow + Cut Chemist Verboten, Fri 7, 11pm The inimitable turntable maestros roll up their sleeves and dig into hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa's personal vinyl collection for a body-moving, planet-rocking set of seminal tunes. White Material Stage with Universal Cell Unlock (live) + Young Male + Alvin Aronson + Morgan Louis Villain, Fri 7, 11pm The budding Brooklyn label has quickly established a name for itself as a purveyor of high-caliber house and techno. Expect a night of top-tier left-field dance cuts. Alessandro Cortini + Deru 1979 + Bitchin Bajas Villain Fri 7, 7pm Nine Inch Nails' Alessandro Cortini helms this evening of hypnotic ambient soundscapes. Come here to vibe out before you dance the night away. Eats Everything + Jackmaster + Jas

Cats are so 2015. Performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson will be serenading dogs in a free concert honoring 9/11 first-responder canines on Monday, January 4 at 11pm as part of Times Square's ongoing Midnight Moment series. Human attendees will wear "silent disco" headphones, while canines listen via low-decibel speakers. Headphone distribution is first-come, first-served and begins at 11pm, with the show commencing at 11:30pm and culminating with a three-minute adaptation of Anderson's Academy Award–nominated feature film, Heart of a Dog, at 11:57pm. The shortened version of film will show in Times Square every night at 11:57pm through the end of January. It's not the first time Anderson has put on a show for our furry friends. In 2010, she played a concert at the Sydney Opera House as part of the city's Vivid arts festival, which she curated alongside her husband, late rock & roll icon Lou Reed. Originally, she had planned to perform material that was entirely above the range of human hearing, but ultimately decided to bring everything down a few octaves, so the pups' parents could have a little sonic entertainment, too. Peppered with electronic swoops and high-pitched whale sounds, it ain't exactly pop hits, but hell, we would listen to ice in a blender if it meant we could sit amongst a bevy of pooches. RECOMMENDED: Full coverage of concerts in NYC

We're midway through August and you know what that means: You should be dropping absolutely everything to make the most of the waning summer. And, honestly, how better to do it than dancing under an open sky with a nice summer drink in your hand? Luckily for you, there are some really top-notch shindigs this weekend that will allow you to do just that. (And if you're hungry for more, check out our summer party guide.) RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do outside in NYC Select Fridays Fri Aug 22, 3pm, Le BainJules Kim and Katie Longmyer's after-work get-together offers cocktails, crêpes and stunning city views—the perfect way to toast the week and glide into the weekend. SwimROOT Fri Aug 22, 5pm, McCarren Hotel & PoolROOT Studios hosts this Friday evening pool bash, with DJs, drinks and—of course—plenty of sun The SOUP Beach Party: Mark Farina Sat Aug 23, Noon, A Place to BeachA bevy of talented selectors deliver a groovy set of house tunes at this beach soiree, hosted by the good people at Supporting Our Underground Properly. Mr. Mushroom Jazz himself, Mark Farina, plays at sunset. Warm Up 2014: Kevin Saunderson + Éclair Fifi + DJ Earl + Shamir (live) + The Range (live) + Gifted & Blessed (live) Sat Aug 23, 3pm, MoMA PS1One of the godfathers of Detroit techno descends on MoMA PS1's weekly summer bash. LuckyMe rising star Éclair Fifi adds an eclectic, party-igniting set. SummerStage & Fania Records present: Armada Fania Sun Aug 24, 6pm, Central Park, Rumsey PlayfieldLegenda

New York summers are teeming with great outdoor parties (really, just have a look at our summer party guide), but all good things must come to an end. As the season draws to a close, so do all of those marvelous shindigs—but don't fear, it's not too late! Take note of these remaining summer soirees (and their end dates) and make sure they don't pass you by. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do in the summer in NYC Mister Sunday Sun Sep 7, 3pm, Industry City Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin spin top-tier house, techno and disco records for an enthusiastic crowd at their weekly gathering in Sunset Park. How many parties are left? Four shindigs to go: Mister Sundays are scheduled through Sep 28. (Weather permitting, they may extend into October, but we don't recommend chancing it!)   Tiki Disco Sat Sep 6, 2pm, Output Eli Escobar, Lloydski and Andy Pry serve up top-notch dance jams at their popular summer get together. How many parties are left? This Saturday's event is the penultimate soiree for the season, miss it at your own risk.   Warm Up 2014: Evian Christ + Lone (live) + Sophie + Forest Swords (live) Sat Sep 6, 3pm, MoMA PS1 This edition of MoMA PS1's weekly Warm Up series features a slew of talented U.K. producers. Prepare yourself for hard-knocking experimental beats. How many parties are left? This weekend's event is the final installment, make haste!   Sundays on the Roof: Garth b2b Jenö + Paul Raffaele Sun Sep 7, 2pm, Output Drink in the city views and, well, have a

It's been four decades since seminal New York outfit the Ramones' released their self-titled debut and unleashed their fast, funny, back-to-basics brand of punk rock upon the world. To celebrate, the Queens Museum is partnering with the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles for a bicoastal retrospective, "Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones and the Birth of Punk." The east coast installment, opening April 10, will highlight the Ramones' influence on both music and art, featuring rare paraphernalia from the band's Queens roots, including early press packages, concert footage and fliers, alongside works from artists including Matt Groening and Shepard Fairey. Several of Dee Dee Ramones' paintings will also be on view, as well as the band's original lyric manuscripts, guitars and, of course, no Ramones retrospective would be complete without leather jackets.        

Surprise! Kind of. The iconic New York outfit will be headlining Coachella this year, and reuniting for a full-on tour and new album to boot. It's been a short five years since LCD had their "funeral" at Madison Square Garden, not exactly the over-two-decade absence that an Axl-Slash Guns N' Roses incarnation has seen (that band is also reuniting for a Coachella top slot and tour, in case you've been doing some sort of new-year's-resolution-induced internet cleanse, or have been in a New-Year's-Eve-induced state of semi-consciousness for the past week). Possibly you saw this coming a mile away, possibly you feel that the band's tear-jerking MSG farewell is being "cheapened" (as alleged by James Murphy in his lengthy open letter posted to the group's website), possibly you're relieved that this will likely distract Mr. Murphy from opening wine bars and attempting to make subway symphonies, or possibly you liked that stuff. Whatever your feelings, count on some lively shows full of classic hits and some sparkly new jams—or to borrow the words of James Murphy, "This is just the bus full of substitute teachers back from their coffee break with new music and the same weird gear."  

Rumors of a GN'R reunion, which have been circulating for months, have experienced an uptick recently in response to a number of mysterious omens, like the band's website being updated to display its original logo, its Facebook profile photo changing to a shot of an ecstatic live crowd, and the crowd footage overdubbed with "Welcome to the Jungle" that aired prior to some screenings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And now, Billboard has reported that the hard rock icons will be occupying the headlining slot at Southern California fest Coachella, taking place April 15–17 and 22–24. And that's not all, the band supposedly has a stadium tour in the works for this summer. Odds are you're already shirtless with one hand on a bandana, but be warned: This has yet to be verified by representatives from the band, though Billboard does claim to have confirmation from "multiple sources." Given that Axl Rose and Slash haven't shared the stage in over 20 years, you'd be forgiven for getting a little excited. To help pass the time until the official announcement, here's a 15-minute video of Axl repeatedly asking for reggae. We just never get tired of those moves.

Yay science! The board of trustees of the American Museum of Natural History has approved the design for its new $325 million addition, the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The six-story building will house exhibition spaces, classrooms, and theaters, all focusing on STEM (for those not in the know, that's science, technology, engineering, and math). The design, developed by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, boasts a soaring, cavelike aesthetic and aims to improve visitor circulation in the museum by linking 10 buildings through 30 connections. “We uncovered a way to vastly improve visitor circulation and Museum functionality, while tapping into the desire for exploration and discovery that are emblematic of science and also part of being human,” says Gang. The museum will be taking down three of its existing buildings to make room for the new space, a decision made largely in response to concerns voiced by the Defenders of Teddy Roosevelt Park Inc., a newly formed organization which strongly opposes the museum's invasion of public parkland.  The Gilder Center is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2020. Until then, have a look at the renderings below and get excited for many an afternoon of scientific exploration and discovery.  Credit: American Museum of Natural History   Credit: American Museum of Natural History                    

Ah, the eternal question. Ist thou, or ist thou not a real New Yorker? Residents of this fair city have devised one million and one different ways to divine whether or not a person has the stripes, be it the correct pronunciation of Houston, or bubonic-level avoidance of Rockefeller Center during Christmastime. The question surfaced on Quora, and not surprisingly, folks were more than happy to answer it.  "Real New Yorkers, at least those who were in NY in the 80s and 90s, don't look at other passersby directly in the eyes when walking down the street. It was a survival tactic back then, look at the wrong person the wrong way and you were asking to get mugged."—Bill Yao "Real New Yorkers are not embarrassed to ask you about your rent the first time they see your apartment. When you reach the point where you also have no hesitation to blurt out: Nice! What are you paying?, then congratulations, you are now a Real New Yorker." —Jack Cheng "A real NYer would never root for the Philadelphia Eagles. Ever."—Michael A. Anatole "A real NYer stands on line to buy a hero and a soda at a deli. If he's friendly with the staff, he may ask one of them about their pop. A fake NYer stands in line to buy a grinder/hoagie/sub and a pop/coke at a store."—Peter Flom "Real New Yorker: Knows that it takes up to 3 streets to precisely define where you are. Fake New Yorker: 'Meet me downtown.'" —Matt Schlenker All good answers, but possibly our favorite response came from Christopher Keelty, who had