Dance this Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander’s Heritage Month to Beautiful Rhythms

Many pieces of our culture cannot be fully described in words. Culture sometimes demands to be felt. Music is one of the ways that a culture can be felt. That’s why Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) staff members from the ACLU of Maryland came together to build a playlist of songs that they cherish and that hold a piece of their culture within them.

This month, we would love to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month by sharing that playlist. Enjoy the melodies and beats. We hope they make you smile and dance, but most of all, feel!

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1. "Kalam Eneih" by Sherine
2. "Cha La Head Cha La" by Hironobu Kageyama
3. "We Gotta Power" by Hironobu Kageyama
4. "Suzume" by Radwimps
5. "Lost in Paradise" by ALI
6. "夜に駆ける(Yoru ni kakeru)" by YOASOBI
7. "Alones" by Aqua Timez
8. "Yukon" by Joji
9. "My Love Mine All Mine" by Mitski
10. "Bad Apple" by Sailor Honeymoon
11. "The Season | Carry Me" by Anderson Paak
12. "Bed Peace" by Jhené Aiko and Childish Gambino
13. "This House" by Japanese Breakfast
14. "Like the Sun" by Tanukichan
15. "Cheated Hearts" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
16. "Laws of the Universe" by Toro y Moi
17. "How Much is Weed?" by Dominic Fike
18. "Closer (feat H.E.R.)" by Saweetie and H.E.R.
19. "Diving Woman" by Japanese Breakfast
20. "Best Part (feat H.E.R.)" by Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.
21. "Little Do They Know" by Pool Cosby
22. "PISTOLWHIP" by spill tab
23. Smokin Out The Window by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, and Silk Sonic
24. "E Ala E" by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
25. "Don’t Know Why" by Norah Jones
26. "Your Way (feat. Day Wave)" by Jai Wolf and Day Wave
27. "Everybody Wants to Love You" by Japanese Breakfast
28. "Cleaner Air" by Yeek
29. "6 Summers – Instrumental" by Anderson .Paak
30. "OooWee" by Rapsody and Anderson .Paak

And here’s a special spotlight on three songs that Frank particularly wanted to share:

1. "You Can Have It" by Nuvo
   Nuvo was the dominant pop music band in Thailand in the late 80s-90s. This song got stuck in my head the summer I visited my family in Thailand more than 30 years ago!
2. "Maya" by Joey Boy
   Written by Joey Boy, the "Godfather of Thai Hip Hop”, Maya is one of the songs I remember from my visit to Thailand more than 20 years ago. I have no idea what the song is about but it’s nice to listen to!
3. "Dern Kala" by Khruangbin
   “Khruangbin" means airplane in Thai and is the name of this instrumental trio from Texas. They have a laid-back psychedelic sound and much of their first album was influenced by 1960s Thai music, particularly from the countryside.

Check out some of the other playlists staff members from the ACLU of Maryland put together: Black History & Futures Month; Latinx/e Heritage Month; Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian Heritage Month; and Pride Month.