If there’s one thing you can expect on MBE, it’s the unexpected. We’re time-warping this Thursday with Gene Autry’s “Rudolph the Red‐Nosed Reindeer” from 1947, as requested by weatherman David Lynch. Hey, we could all use a little holiday cheer right about now! (Even if it is over half a year early.)

Stay on your toes as Nigerian-born, London-based singer Obanjayar defies genres on the title track of his debut album “TRY.”

And another bizarre but brilliant collaboration for a cause crops up between super producer Mark Ronson, Gorillaz’s Damon Albarn, and Nigerian-American rapper Wale. “Bird Calling” is on Volume 1 of “For the Birds: The Birdsong Project,” a five-volume collection of over 200 tracks of original music inspired by birds and their singing. Proceeds from the project help various bird protection agencies.