Senses I

1. Billie Eilish, “you should see me in a crown”

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? • Darkroom / Interscope • 2019

“Bite my tongue, bide my time / Wearing a warning sign / Wait ‘til the world is mine…” Billie Eilish conquered the world in 2019 with her brilliant debut album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?.  One of the best moments from the LP comes by way of “you should see me in a crown”. Among the many impressive things about Eilish is her vocal poise, eschewing gospel histrionics.  On “you should see me in a crown,” her vocal tone is breathy as she opts for the more understated.

Even though she’s not screaming aggressively, her teenage angst is in full force, aided by sleek, electronic-infused production.  The best example comes on the chorus, the crowning achievement:

“You should see me in a crown
I’m gonna run this nothing town
Watch me make ‘em bow
One by one by one
One by one by...”

Impressively, Eilish doesn’t have to be profane to frighten you with her attitude.  She just relies on her mesmerizing instrument, alluring songwriting, and laser-sharp production.  At the end, the synths really pop, further amplifying the excellence of the record. “You should see me in a crown” previously appeared on Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 1.

2. Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nevermind • Geffen • 1991

“Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry, “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance, and even  “Disposable Teens” by Marilyn Manson are incredibly popular teen songs.  But perhaps the most famous of them all, or at least the most iconic, comes courtesy of Kurt Cobain and Seattle grunge band, Nirvana.  “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is undoubtedly the band’s crowning achievement, and still resonates to this day.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is an example of a transcendent, timeless record – something that’s often strived for but rarely attained.  Besides the assertive, gritty vocals by Cobain, it’s the clever lyrics that take “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to the next level.

“With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah.”

3. Logic, “Heard Em Say”

No Pressure • Def Jam • 2020

“I saw a kid with no smile on his face today / ‘Where is my place in this bright future?’ I heard him say.” No Pressure serves as a reminder of just how good Logic is when he’s at his best. It’s a fitting final studio album from the retiring rapper – NO CAP!  He earns a spot on this FIVE SENSES driven list thanks to his sense of hearing on “Heard Em Say.”

“Say I ain’t good enough, they say I ain’t hood enough / Even if I signed to Yeezy, I wouldn’t be good enough (Good enough) / Killin’ myself to make a killin’ / Fuck the bullshit, I’ma just write what I’m feelin’…” Day-um Logic! “Heard Em Say,” unsurprisingly does interpolate the Kanye West, Late Registration classic.  This is also one of the few records from Under Pressure with a chorus, performed by Chris Thompson, via another sample, “Lies (Through the 80s)” by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.  It’s impressive how the many samples are broken down and rebuilt throughout the course of Under Pressure. Logic remains on autopilot, period.

4. Ozzy Osbourne, “Eat Me”

Ordinary Man • Epic • 2020

Question: is there a bad song on Ordinary Man, the long-awaited, comeback album by iconic hard rock, heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne? No – at least not from my perspective. “Eat Me” certainly isn’t a weak link, following two of the album’s very best (“Ordinary Man” and “Under the Graveyard”).

On “Eat Me,” the music continues to be on-point, with ultra-aggressive, jagged guitars (those riffs man), an anchoring bass, and those drums (!!!).  But Ozzy is fully invested as well, even as he seems to be, um, self-sacrificing for the sake of ‘nutrition’:

“I’m on the menu, you won’t get indigestion
I even come with dessert.”

I’m no cannibal, but I certainly don’t mind feasting on this straightforward rock bop!

5. Ro James, “Touchy Feely”

MANTIC • By Storm Entertainment / RCA • 2020

“Hands on you, hands on me / I’m on you, she’s on me (Yeah)…” “Touchy Feely” appears as the third track from Ro James’ sophomore album. MANTIC. Significantly shorter than the preceding song, James continues to effectively convey romantic, sexy vibes.

James certainly sings with conviction, balancing the soulfulness of the R&B of old with the swagger and hip-hop vibes of the modern edition of the genre.  MP808 gives him a nice lift regarding the production. Undoubtedly, this little gem makes you want to do a lil sumthin’, sumthin’!

Senses II

6. Ghost, “See the Light”

Prequelle • Loma Vista • 2018

Grammy-winning, Swedish metal band Ghost returned with some serious bite – well, melodic bite – in 2018 with the band’s fourth studio album, Prequelle. According to mastermind Tobias Forge (via Revolver), Prequelle is “loosely themed around the concept of death and doom. It’s…themed around medieval times, but … [clings] onto a lot of very current things.” Despite the darkness, Prequelle shines brightly, filled with compelling metal and incredible musicianship. Plus, the collective totally “See the Light” on the album’s fourth track.

In the context of Prequelle, “See the Light” begins much kinder and gentler compared to “Rats” and “Faith.” “Many a rat I have befriended / And so many a thorn stood between,” Cardinal Copia (Forge) sings on the first verse. After showcasing poise and restraint on the verses, him and Ghost turn up on the pre-chorus and chorus sections.  “Drink me, eat me,” he sings with incredible assertiveness (he rolls the R on “drink”), continuing, “Then you’ll see the light.” Clearly, the communion is a bit sketchy, and the band isn’t exact in their intent, which actually makes things more intriguing.  Beyond the most dynamic parts of “See the Light,” there are superb musical touches, such as the keyboard that appears on the second verse, accentuating the vocals. “See the Light” previously appeared on Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 1.

7. Jack Harlow, “SMELLS LIKE INCENSE”

Sweet Action • Generation Now / Atlantic • 2020

“…She got a one bed one bath / And it smells like incense in it (Incense in it).” For the most part, Louisville, Kentucky-bred rapper Jack Harlow keeps things brief on his 2020 album (EP), Sweet Action.  While the crowning achievement is certainly the Billboard Hot 100 smash, “WHATS POPPIN”, that record just doesn’t fit the SENSES criteria of this list.  But, the 2020 XXL Freshman has another song under two-and-a-half minutes in duration that does indeed fit the bill: “SMELLS LIKE INCENSE.” Yep, I’d say that safely covers the sense of smell!

“I don’t jerk it when I’m finna get some / And it paid off for me ‘cause I’m finishin’ strong (Ayy, ayy) / But I don’t let the kids live long…” Ooh Jack – you so nasty! Obviously, the rapper has plenty of confidence – swagger for days.  The record encompasses a universal three-letter word, which the aforementioned lyrical excerpt speaks to. That lyrics hails from the first verse, and of course there’s more reference to what’s going down on the second verse. The crowning achievement, of course, is the chorus:

“She already chose, why you trippin’?
She ain’t that significant
Used to have a gimmick (Gimmick)
Glad I never went big with it (Ayy)
Now I got the big wigs spendin’ (Big spendin’, hey, hey, hey, hey)
I got Titos on the rocks
With some cranberry mixed in with it, oof (In with it, ayy, ayy)
She got a one bed one bath
And it smells like incense in it (Incense in it).”

8. Lewis Capaldi, “Before You Go”

Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent (Deluxe) • Universal Music • 2019

Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent marked the debut album by Scottish musician Lewis Capaldi, who sings like an angel. While the album features a number of memorable songs – “Fade” and of course, “Someone You Loved” – the biggest selling point is the incredibly distinct and gifted Capaldi himself.  While it would be awesome to rave over “Someone You Loved,” it is a cut from the deluxe edition of Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent that gets our attention on this list.

The deluxe edition of Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent adds three additional songs.  The crown jewel, our focal point, is “Before You Go.”  “Before You Go” references a difficult subject: suicide.  The lyrics are poetic and reflective throughout.  Of course, the chorus is the crème de la crème:

“So, before you go
Was there something I could’ve said,
To make your heart beat better?
If only I’d have known you had a storm to weather
So, before you go
Was there something I could’ve said,
To make it all stop hurting?
It kills me how your mind can make you feel so worthless
So, before you go.”

Capaldi wishes he could’ve prevented the devastating event, a feeling that many people feel when someone they know and loved commits suicide. “Before You Go” previously appeared on 12 Simply Terrific Before or After Songs.

9. Nick Jonas, “Bacon” 🥓

Ft. Ty Dolla $ign

Last Year Was Complicated • Island • 2016

There are few things that taste better than bacon – at least in my opinion.  you can’t go wrong with it.  Furthermore, for all you vegans out there, Morning Star sells vegetarian bacon.  No, it doesn’t capture the glory of the real thing, but it’s pretty good if I do say so myself.  “Bacon” is a gem courtesy of Nick Jonas, featuring Ty Dolla $ign, from his 2016 album, Last Year Was Complicated.

“Pretty mind, silk thoughts / Start a fire when you turn the lights off / Oh my, my God / When he made you, he did a fine job.”  Okay, so, this lyric has nothing to do with the scrumptious food associated with breakfast most often, yet, can be chowed upon at any time.  Obviously, Nick makes reference to the cooking that’s occurring in the bedroom as opposed to the kitchen – a different kind of bacon, perhaps.  Honestly, he only makes one legit reference to bacon, and that’s the incredibly infectious, swagger-filled chorus: 

“Late nights, doing what I wanna do
I got sleep eyes; I woke up like this
Feelin’ like, aw shit, throw some bacon on it
One thing I love more than being with you
And that’s no ties, no drama in my life
Yeah, I, woke up like this
Feelin’ like, aw shit, throw some bacon on it
One thing I love more than being with you.”

So, the takeaway here? Nick seems to enjoy his freedom, without that BS known as drama, and at least he shouts out bacon in a totally awesome way. “Bacon” previously appeared on Time to Eat – Dinner is Served!.

10. Cascada, “Everytime We Touch”

Everytime We Touch • Robbins Entertainment LLC • 2007

“‘Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling / And every time we kiss, I swear I could fly.” There is no better way to conclude 10 INTRIGUING SONGS THAT REFERENCE THE 5 SENSES than with “Everytime We Touch!” Cascada – Natalie Horler, DJ Manian, and DJ Yanou – is known for one hit and one hit only. Fittingly, “Everytime We Touch” serves as the title track of the German music act’s– 2007 album.

Of course, the part of the song that instantly comes to mind is the aforementioned chorus, period. The chorus continues:

“Can’t you feel my heat beat fast? I want this to last
Need you by my side.”

Honestly, this dance gem is quite tasteful when it comes to matters of the bedroom. Oh, the power of innuendo, sigh.