10 Flavorful Strawberry 🍓 Songs | Playlist 🎧

1. Lil Uzi Vert, “Strawberry Peels”

Ft. Young Thug & Gunna

💿 Eternal Atake (Deluxe) – LUV vs. the World 2 • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2020

After more than a two-year hiatus, 🎙 Liz Uzi Vert returned with 💿 Eternal Atake (and 💿 Eternal Atake (Deluxe) – LUV vs. The World 2) in 2020.  The fun AF 🎵 “Strawberry Peels”, featuring Young Thug and Gunna, appears as the sixth track on LUV vs. The World 2. What is Uzi Vert getting at on the banger? Well, per Urban Dictionary, strawberry peels are slang for “Candy dipped in TCH, put in lean mixed with strawberry Fanta and trolli strawberry puff candy…” OK…

Focusing on the song, “Strawberry Peels” is a total banger. Sure, it’s not even two minutes long, but man, those strawberry peels are potent AF! Again, Lil Uzi Vert enlists the services of 🎙 Young Thug and 🎙 Gunna, letting his featured guests drop their bars first.  A prime example – Thugga’s first verse:

“Cop what I want and my wrist and my style is on crunk and it’s real
Half of my niggas get high off a seal
Brand new pints and they all teal
I put my dick in her bladder, yeah, yeah
And I’m fuckin’ her friends and they all here.”

He also gives Young Thug the best part of record, besides the banging production that is (🎛 Wheezy) – the chorus! “Strawberry peels, strawberry peels…” – you get the idea.

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2. Melanie Martinez, “Strawberry Shortcake”

💿 K-12 • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2019

🎙 Melanie Martinez was among the most compelling contestants on NBC’s vocal competition, 📺 The Voice.  She released major label debut album, 💿 Cry Baby, in 2015. In 2019, she returned with another distinct, conceptual affair with her ‘school-centric’ 💿 K-12.  Cry Baby, the central character on Cry Baby, returned on K-12.  Sweetening up this list of strawberry associated songs is yummy 🎵 “Strawberry Shortcake.”

“Instead of making me feel bad for the body I got / Just teach him to keep it in his pants and tell him to stop.” On-point to the nth degree, “Strawberry Shortcake” continues the excellence of K-12, tackling the unfair objectification of women.  “Sayin’ it’s my fault, it’s my fault ‘cause I put icing on top,” Martinez sings on the catchy, thought-provoking chorus, continuing, “Now, the boys want a taste of the strawberry shortcake.” “Strawberry Shortcake” sends the message of treating women with respect, not as sexual objects.

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3. YUNGBLUD, “strawberry lipstick”

💿 Weird! • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2020

“I’ve got a toxic attitude and lack self-control / A reasonably fucked up individual.” Wow! The brief 🎵 “strawberry lipstick” is quite a song, if I do say so myself.  Appearing as the third track on 💿 weird!, the 2020 sophomore album by British alternative standout 🎙 YUNGBLUD (Dominic Harrison), it definitely grabs your attention the very first time you hear it.  The aforementioned lyrics, excerpted from the first verse, should tell you that much!

“They’re gonna lock me in the closet but I’m coming out,” he later continues on the first verse, adding, “Singing fuck all the oppression and the self-doubt.” Clearly, Harrison is nonconformist to the nth degree, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  His accent is quite prominent throughout “strawberry lipstick,” and he’s remains assertive from the jump. The first verse, which we’ve highlighted, doesn’t come off as particularly melodic, but he makes up for it by the incredibly catchy chorus:

“So take it easy, take it easy, take it easy, girl
Take it easy, take it easy on me
I know you’re so hard to please
Just take it easy, take it easy on me.”

On the second verse, the listener gets a better idea of the melodic identity of the song, as well as the memorable line, “She gonna suck on my strawberry lipstick.” Also, adding to the glory and liberation of this track are the dynamic, ‘in your face’ guitars.  Rock TF on!

4. Janet Jackson, “Strawberry Bounce”

💿 Damita Jo • 🏷 Virgin • 🗓 2004

“Ooh baby / Let me be your playground / Push it out and catch it on the rebound / Turn it out, swinging from this pole.” Got-day-um, 🎙 Janet Jackson!  Jackson’s 2004 album, 💿 Damita Jo, certainly couldn’t have arrived at a more inopportune time.  It followed the infamous SuperBowl XXXVIII controversy, not to mention being released the same week as 💿 Confessions (yes 🎙 Usher’s diamond-selling masterpiece).  Ultimately, what made the album ‘problematic’ for Jackson at the time was how sexually charged it was, not a good look given the nip-slip.  It was unfair, and to this day, 🎙 Justin Timberlake still hasn’t taken fair blame for his role, but let’s focus on the song at hand, 🎵 “Strawberry Bounce,” shall we!

“La-la-la-la / La-la-la-la / I like to make it / You know I’ll make it / Now can you take it / Lose control!” “Strawberry Bounce” marks one of the sexiest and most sexed-up moments from Damita Jo – carnal to the nth degree: “The way I work, it’s gonna keep you coming.”  That’s one of many instances where Jackson totally titillates.  While there’s actual sexual innuendo, Jackson often provides just enough details to show what she’s really going for.  Indeed, she makes us all feel sleazy on the bridge.  Produced by Jackson, 🎛 Terry Lewis, 🎛 Jimmy Jam, 🎛 Kanye West, and 🎛 Roc The World, “…Bounce” manages to sample both 🎵 “Can I Get A…” (🎙 Jay-Z) and 🎵 “Love Makes the World Go Round” (🎙 Deon Jackson) successfully.

5-6. Shuggie Otis/ The Brothers Johnson, “Strawberry Letter 23”

💿 Freedom Flight • 🏷 Sony BMG • 🗓 1971

💿 Right on Time • 🏷 A&M • 🗓 1977

“A present from you / Strawberry letter twenty-two / The music plays, I sit in for a few.” 🎵 “Strawberry Letter 23” is a soul gem often attributed to the funk/soul group, 🎙 The Brothers Johnson.  Even though The Brothers Johnson deserve credit for making “Strawberry Letter 23” a hit, believe it or not, they didn’t originally record it. Their ‘cover’ of the song arrived on their 1977 album, 💿 Right on Time.

So, who did write and originally record “Strawberry Letter 23?” That would be singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist 🎙 Shuggie Otis. Otis first wrote and recorded it in 1971 – as a 17-year-old, mind you – on his album, 💿 Freedom Flight. And if that’s impressive he was merely 17, Freedom Flight wasn’t even his debut album!  Anyways, the original “Strawberry Letter 23” arrived six years before The Bros. Johnson’s version, which was produced by the legendary 🎙 Quincy Jones.  Naturally, as is the case with awesome covers, there are differences between both versions; they’re distinct despite being the same song, which is cool.

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7. Rauw Alejandro, “Strawberry Kiwi”

💿 Afrodisíaco • 🏷 Sony • 🗓 2020

“Tus besos saben a kiwi con fresa / Bajé y su juguito me tomé…” 🎵 “Strawberry Kiwi” appears as the second track on 💿 Afrodisíaco, the 2020 debut studio album by Puerto Rican artist 🎙 Rauw Alejandro.  Worth noting, the English translation of Afrodisíaco, is Aphrodisiac, which suggests sex/sexiness is key to the project.  On “Strawberry Kiwi” itself, you can bet it’s not really about strawberries 🍓, kiwi 🥝, or the fusion of the two!

Examine translations of the Spanish lyrics, and it’s clear that Rauw is taken by her.  He’s also taken by her sex.  By taken, she has him wrapped around her finger (“Baby, I have an addiction, how do I escape from it?”). When the lyrics mention drinking juice, well, again, it doesn’t seem to be fruit juice… we’ll leave it there.  Ultimately, “Strawberry Kiwi” is enjoyable, featuring lovely vocals by Alejandro and lovely, sleek production courtesy of 🎛 Alejandro Ramírez “Sky Rompiendo” and 🎛 Raul Ocasio “El Zorro.”  

 8. Fetty Wap, “Strawberry Kush”

💿 Bruce Wayne • 🏷 300 Entertainment • 🗓 2018

“Love it when I touch you, I can smell you in the air / I love how you love me, feel your love all the way over here.” Nothing like mixing marijuana and love together, or so many musicians of various genres have expressed to date.  While there is weed in the mix, 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Fetty Wap focuses mostly on love on 🎵 “Strawberry Kush,” despite referencing substance in the title.

While it’s good that Fetty does focus on matters of the heart instead of substance, now I’m curious.  What is strawberry kush – I mean, we know it’s weed, but what makes it distinct? Well, it’s a hybrid strain that can be described as “Strong and sweet…one well-rounded lady.” Interesting! That definitely explains why Fetty Wap is so into her… his lover we assume.

“...I love how you love me got me feelin’ like you care
And the way I think about you evidently make it clear that
I want you forever, so forever I’ll be there
And I really meant forever, baby, not a couple years, baby.”

9. Justin Timberlake, “Strawberry Bubblegum”

💿 The 20/20 Experience • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 2013

“Baby please don’t change nothing / Because your flavors so original,” 🎙 Justin Timberlake sings, continuing, “And It all started when she said / Hey, hey, hey, smacking that Strawberry Bubblegum.” Hmm, that 🎵 “Strawberry Bubblegum” seems like it’s something truly special (and/or sexual) for sure! “Strawberry Bubblegum” appears as the fourth track from 💿 The 20/20 Experience, the 2013 comeback album from Timberlake.  Prior to The 20/20 Experience, the last album from the former curly-haired teen heartthrob arrived in 2006 (💿 FutureSex/LoveSound), when informed us he was “bringing sexy back / Them other fuckers don’t know how to act.” Just quoting Justin!

Focusing on “Strawberry Bubblegum,” like so many JT joints, it runs long – eight minutes long to be exact! Despite its exhaustive length, this record exemplifies the modern pop, contemporary R&B sound – 2013 style mind you! It features electronic, synthesized sounds and a relatively low-key vibe, all of which play to Timberlake’s strengths.  A specific detail about “the record worth noting are the melodic changes on the second verse.  Here, the listener hears more piercing falsetto from Timberlake, which is always a win.

“So, tell me why, we’re making love like professionals on the first time
Acting unprofessional but it works out
‘Cause you don’t wanna work here anyway
And baby I, girl I’m all addicted and I won’t fight
You and me that’s the recipe for a good time
And it ain’t really nothing but clothes in the way.”

10. The Beatles, “Strawberry Fields Forever”

💿 Magical Mystery Tour • 🏷 Universal • 🗓 1967

🎙 The Beatles are NOT overrated and don’t ever let anybody ever tell you that shit 💩. The innovative spirit of the iconic 60s-70s band should NEVER be muzzled.  Not many bands can flaunt that every album they released was a classic.  The Beatles can, especially when the album is 💿 Magical Mystery Tour from 1967.  Our interest in Magical Mystery Tour for this particular list is thanks to the beloved masterpiece that is 🎵 “Strawberry Fields Forever,” the eighth track.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” marks a more complex record by the band – it’s not nearly as simple as some of their four chord songs.  The sound itself plays a sizable role in the innovativeness and overall success of the record.  Notably, “Strawberry Fields Forever” uses the mellotron, specifically the famous flute sound that can be found in DAWs and synthesizers widespread these days.  It’s one of many colors that shape this particular record.  Alongside the mellotron, the timbre is further accentuated with trumpet, cello, and perhaps most intriguingly, swarmandal (an Indian harp).  Adding to the intrigue, there’s awesome timbrel contrast throughout the song.

Of course, it’s not only the instrumental that draws great attention to “Strawberry Fields Forever.”  The vocals by John Lennon are on-point, as always.  The melody of this particular tune easily gets stuck in one’s head.  Furthermore, the lyrics are nothing short of excellent in their own right – dreamy, reflective, trippy.

“Let me take you down, ‘cause

I’m going to Strawberry Fields

Nothing is real, and nothing to get hung about

Strawberry Fields forever.”