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Musicians providing the soundtrack for “10 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in February 2019” include Ariana Grande, Badflower, and John Legend.

Most playlists served up on The Musical Hype have a concept – a theme.  In this case, the concept for the playlist is merely the date.  All of the songs on 10 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in February 2019 were released as singles or as an album track in February 2019.  Pretty simple, right? Right.  With that said, a no extra analysis or explanation necessary, musicians providing the soundtrack for this ‘favorites’ playlist include Ariana Grande (“Ghostin”), Badflower (“Girlfriend”), Cardi B & Bruno Mars (“Please Me”) and John Legend (“Preach”) among others.

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1. India.Arie, “Rollercoaster”

Worthy • BMG Rights Management • 2019

Genre: R&B

“Let me off this rollercoaster / I don’t wanna ride no more (I don’t wanna ride no more) / I don’t wanna ride no more, I don’t wanna ride no more, no more.” “Rollercoaster” is one of the brightest moments from Worthy, the long-awaited, 2019 album by Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter India.Arie. Interestingly, “Rollercoaster” bears some harmonic similarities to a past India.Arie record (“There’s Hope” from 2006’s Testimony: Vol. 1 Life & Relationship).   This contemporary protest anthem finds India taking a long, hard look at the ills plaguing the world from her perspective. Among the notable topics India raises on this soulful, bass-heavy gem include the Flint, Michigan water crisis, Colin Kaepernick, misogyny, and mumble rap.  Give her credit for standing up for what she believes in – “And I don’t care who thinks I’m preachin’.”

2. Rex Orange County, “New House”

New House [Single] • Rex Orange County • 2019

Genre: Alternative

“I can see us in a house next year / (You’ll be) making your mind up / You can figure out what goes where / (And stay) keeping it real with me all the time.” Incredibly gifted.  That’s the best way to describe British alternative musician Rex Orange County (Alex O’Connor). After releasing the triumphant LP Apricot Princess in 2017, he returned in 2019 with a brand-new single, “New House”.

Perfection is hard to achieve, yet, Rex Orange County achieves or nearly achieves it on “New House.” The production work is absolutely magnificent.  The sound palette is broad, including piano, drums, strings, brass, and synths.  Beyond the backdrop and instrumentation, O’Connor sounds great vocally, never forcing anything, but delivering with ‘cool, calm, and collected’ approach without sounding casual or nonchalant.  With production, musicianship, and a ripe set of pipes on his side, perhaps the biggest reason that “New House” is nearly perfect is the songwriting.  O’Connor is a clever writer, with the ability to surprise you with his lyrics. Interestingly, he explores the creative process (“You know that I haven’t been inspired since like I was 18”), in addition to the progression of his relationship, as the aforementioned chorus suggests.

3. Chaka Khan, “Too Hot”

Hello Happiness • Diary / Island • 2019

Genre: R&B, Funk

“I’m too hot to touch / Too hot, I’m too hot to touch / Baby, are you man enough? / Too hot.” Da-yum! After a 12-year hiatus, one of R&B’s most dynamic voices, Chaka Khan returned with a hella funky, fell-good album of originals, Hello Happiness.  The song at hand, “Too Hot,” appears as the fourth track from Hello Happiness. Chaka Khan is ‘turned all the way up’ with her feisty, sharp-cutting vocals clearly in command.  Arguably the crème de la crème of “Too Hot” is the pre-chorus.

On the pre-chorus, Chaka asks:

“Who’s gonna feed my fire

When I need it to sweet up

And if you think you’re man enough for me

Then, baby, do you like it rough?”

4. Badflower, “Girlfriend”

OK, I’M SICK • Big Machine • 2019

Genre: Alternative 

One of the very best records from OK, I’M SICK , the debut album by Los Angeles doesn’t arrive until the 11th track, and it’s a non-single at that! “Girlfriend” is funky to the nth degree, in the most alternative-rock way possible.  Here, frontman Josh Katz makes someone he’s checking out online his ‘girlfriend’ without ever meeting or ultimately, building a relationship.  Perhaps it’s exaggerated for effect, but again, it’s not far-fetched, particularly with the millennials and even younger generations.

There’s an element of hilarity, as well as an element of truth.

“I wanna see you shaking in your boots

Sucking on your fingers to the music I made

So, you could fuck me

It’s a fantasy, probably, but honestly, I can’t shake it…”

5. Wallows, “Scrawny”

Nothing Happens • Atlantic • 2019

Genre: Alternative

“Scrawny motherfucker with a cool hairstyle.” What an utterly profane chorus – day-um! Rising alternative collective Wallows, fronted by actor Dylan Minnette, dropped a brief, irresistible, and profane alternative single, “Scrawny” in advance of their 2019 debut album, Nothing Happens.  Obviously, the best lyric from “Scrawny” is the aforementioned bullet that Minnette repeats four times on the chorus.  Besides his potty-mouthed delivery there, he shows off feistiness on the second verse, asserting, “I say the wrong shit at the right times / If I’m offending them, I don’t mind.” It’s this attitude that really sells this up-tempo joint to the fullest.  Lyrically, Minette paints a picture encompassing anxiety, awkwardness, and being comfortable in your own skin.

While there’s at least a layer of seriousness, there’s also that tongue-n-cheek vibe, which makes this irresistible and infectious.

“Question though, how do I look to you?

Am I so thin that you can see through?”

All in all, Wallows delivers an up-tempo, kickass gem with “Scrawny.”  At just under three minutes, Dylan Minette and company keeps things tight and thrilling to the nth degree. “Scrawny” is a rousing success thanks to ample personality, and a respectable musical backdrop as well.

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6. Cardi B & Bruno Mars, “Please Me”

Please Me [Single] • Atlantic • 2019

Genre: Hip-hop, rap, pop

Cutting straight to the chase, Cardi B and Bruno Mars make a formidable, totally kickass team. On their latest collaboration, “Please Me”, the results are nothing short of stellar – totally must-hear ear candy. “Please Me” is comprised of sleek, urban contemporary production. The record possesses some old-school contemporary R&B sensibilities, not far removed from Mars’ Grammy-winning 24K Magic (2016).

Mars delivers smooth, high-flying vocals on the ‘irresistibly good’ chorus:

“Please me, baby

Turn around and just tease me, baby

You know what I want and what I need, baby

(Let me hear you say)

Please

(Let me hear you say)

Please.”

Cardi B raps on both verses, exhibiting a compelling flow. On the first verse, she delivers one standout, freaky line: “Better fuck me like we listenin’ to Jodeci.” The second verse is briefer, and she manages to break out some Spanish.  Additionally, she sings on the pre-chorus, with Bruno Mars joining her on the tail-end of this section.  Ultimately, the ear-candy and the pleasure are legit.

7. Myylo, “Cyborg”

Cyborg [Single] • Myylo • 2019

Genre: Pop

“I wish that I could make myself a cyborg / Shoot up into space with my jet pack / Bounce around the heavens till I found God / And ask her why I ever let you go, go, go, go…” Matters of the heart are affecting Nashville-based LGBT pop singer/songwriter Myylo on his brief, uniquely-titled single, “Cyborg.” Myylo is one hell of a unique musician, “mixing idiosyncratic lyricism, janky classical guitar, lo-fi saxophone licks, and sky-high falsettos to create something truly special.”

Of course, it’s not every day that a cyborg is referenced in a song, let alone ends up being the song title.  The self-described ‘drama king’ (“Oh god, I’m so dramatic”) drops the aforementioned outlandish chorus to convey his feelings of regret regarding an ex-boyfriend that he let go.  It’s obviously not just the chorus that is colorful.  On the ‘Elton John’, name-dropping first verse, the “Rocket Man” is “Swooping in like a space force cowboy / Tryna get you back.” Yeah, admit it – the lyrics are damn clever.  Furthermore, on the second verse, while he’s less outlandish, he still successfully delivers the “we don’t talk about your boyfriend” because “you’d rather be mine.”

8. John Legend, “Preach”

Preach [Single] • Columbia • 2019

Genre: R&B

“Every day I wake, and, everything is broken / Turnin’ off my phone just to get out of bed.” Hmm, that’s troubling.  John Legend delivers ample pessimism on his powerful new single, “Preach”. But, as Legend mentions the struggles of the world, he also makes it clear he has to take action – “I just can’t preach, baby, preach.”

There’s plenty to love about “Preach.” The listener is treated to moody production from the onset, which sets the tone.  This is a record that is chocked-full of soulfulness, yet also feels and sounds relevant in 2019. As great as the mood, sound, and vibe are, it’s the signature soulful, nuanced vocals from John Legend that make this an elite record.  Also, John gets some help with the addition of backing vocals, accentuating his commanding lead during the pre-chorus and chorus sections.  Speaking of the chorus, it’s totally ‘amped-up’ – robust and ear-catching.  Furthermore, the songwriting is on-point – memorable and thoughtfully-penned.

“I can’t sit and hope, I can’t just sit and pray that

I can find the love when all I see is pain

Fallin to my knees, and though I do believe

I can’t just preach, baby, preach.”

Soulful production, soulful vocals, and great songwriting make “Preach” a superb record and among the crème de la crème of February 2019.

9. Ariana Grande, “Ghostin’”

Thank u next • Republic • 2019

Genre: Pop, R&B

“I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again / Over him / I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again / ‘Stead of ghostin’ him.” Perhaps “7 Rings” or “Break up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” are the talk of thank u, next, but “Ghostin” is arguably the most innovative record on the LP.  Perhaps “Ghostin” isn’t a ‘game changer’ per se, but up to this point in her career, Grammy-winning pop singer Ariana Grande hasn’t released a ballad that sounds quite like this one.  Her vocals are hella smooth (expected), while the lyrics that she sings are beautiful and thoughtfully-penned.  This is among the crème de la crème of thank u, next if not the outright crowning achievement. ILYA and Max Martin outdo themselves on the production, which is radiant to the nth degree – awe-inspiring.

10. Kehlani, “Nunya”

Ft. DOM KENNEDY

While We Wait • Atlantic • 2019

Genre: R&B

“Why you askin’ ‘bout X, Y, Z? / Why you worried ‘bout who was fuckin’ me?” “Nunya” keeps While We Wait, the 2019 mixtape by Grammy-nominated R&B singer, Kehlani afloat, enlisting rapper DOM KENNEDY for the assist.  Even with DOM’s guest verse, Kehlani is easily in command.  Her vocals are smooth and rhythmic, while the lyrics are current and representative of the vernacular.  The centerpiece is the feisty chorus, where she asserts, “Ain’t nunya business / Ain’t nunya business/ To know who I’m with / Or none of my shit.” Oh snap!

[Photo Credits: Atlantic, Big Machine, BMG Rights Management, Diary, Columbia, Island, Myylo, Pixabay, Republic, Rex Orange County]

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