David Holmes - I Heard Wonders as heard during Olympics opening ceremony

Joe writes: This was a surprising, lesser-known highlight of Danny Boyle's London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony

Isles of Wonder indeed

Nina Simone - My father

Phil writes: Some time ago I saw a clip of Judy Collins singing this song of hers and wondered about posting it then. I knew it was a good song but wasn't quite sure how good. I just caught this Nina Simone version on a film of her last recorded live performance. I find it very moving and deeply felt, in a way that the original doesn't quite match.

"Laura, you're more than a superstar"

Joe writes: I'm a convert to Bat For Lashes thanks to her new single Laura, and the artwork for her forthcoming album The Haunted Man. Both are brave and classic, recalling a bygone era in several different ways, all of them welcome.

Asaf Avidan & The Mojos - One Day / Reckoning Song (Wankelmut Remix)

Joe writes: Wankelmut is a DJ/producer from the Berlin-Mitte minimal scene. Asaf Avidan is an Israeli singer-songwriter. Wankelmut sampled Asaf's 2008 track Reckoning Song and the resulting track has come through the Berlin clubs to become a phenomenon in Germany. Despite coming from a very cool minimal club scene, it comes off sounding like the midpoint between Rednex and Moby. Fun.

"It's too late when we die to admit we don't see eye to eye"

Joe writes: I've taken to posting songs on This Is My Jam regularly, even though I would never use the phrase "This is my jam". At present, my jam (ugh) is The Living Years by Mike & The Mechanics, one of my all-time favourites and an apposite song for people of my generation with parents approaching old age. Make time for them; you never know when it might be too late. The lyric was written by BA Robertson.

The King Blues feat. Tim Armstrong - Booted Out Of Hell

Joe writes: This is my favourite track from the final King Blues album, and it features one of The King Blues' heroes, Tim Armstrong of Rancid. Big hooks and a great lyric.



My favourite Tim Armstrong track is probably Diamonds & Guns by The Transplants, and Tim owes a lot to The Clash so here's London Calling:

Daddy I've fallen for a monster

Joe writes: Loving bad men has been the theme of some of the biggest and best songs of recent times including Stooshe's current UK hit Black Heart with its wonderful lyric "Daddy I've fallen for a monster".

See also the biggest hit of 2010, Love The Way You Lie by Eminem feat. Rihanna.

And one of the biggest albums of recent years, Back to Black by Amy Winehouse.

And if you haven't heard Lying Lips (Words I Should Have Said) by Tanya Stephens before, you must.