10 Songs Comprised of Teaching and/or Learning | Playlist 🎧

‘10 Songs Comprised of Teaching and/or Learning’ features music courtesy of Fantasia, G-Eazy, Halsey, Musiq Soulchild & Surfaces.

Apparently, people enjoyed the playlist 11 Awesome or Not-So-Awesome Songs About Teachers a lot.  To provide some background, the teacher-driven playlist was one of the first playlists to be published on The Musical Hype, materializing in July 2016 (The Musical Hype was born mid-June 2016).  So, what better way to celebrate popularity, excellence, and such with a playlist inspired by a surefire winner – a “bop” if you will! 10 SONGS COMPRISED OF TEACHING AND/OR LEARNING features songs associated with two important happenings of schooling – teaching (teacher) and learning (students, as well as the teacher honestly). There are five teaching songs and five learning songs.  10 Songs Comprised of Teaching and/or Learning features music courtesy of Fantasia, G-Eazy, Halsey, Musiq Soulchild, and Surfaces among others.  Prepare to be totally schooled!!!

1. G-Eazy, “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime”

Everything’s Strange Here • RCA • 2020 

G-Eazy actually gets off to a good start on Everything’s Strange Here despite the strangeness (and flawed nature) of the album.  “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” is a cover of British pop band, The Korgis.  Ultimately, the James Warren-penned classic gets a respectable interpretation, overall. While the harmonic scheme remains true to the original, the production is updated to make it sound ‘brand-new’ and idiomatic of 2020. Honestly, it’s one of the better moments from Everything’s Strange Here.  As the opener, it gives the listener hope that there are possibilities that this could be a successful album.  Unfortunately, that isn’t ultimately the case…

2. Nick Jonas, “Teacher”

Nick Jonas • Island • 2014

Yes, “Teacher” originally appeared on 11 Awesome or Not-So-Awesome Songs About Teachers, but it felt fitting to reprise this pop gem. Nick Jonas became quite the sex symbol beginning in 2014. On “Teacher,” Jonas has embraced being “one who teaches.” What grades does Nick Jonas instruct? Umm… adults, specifically females like the one in this song whom he wishes to bed.

“Why you wear that dress, and my heart can’t take it anymore?
Why you act like this, it’s like your momma never told you how to love
So, let me teach ya.”

Obviously, “Teacher” is NOT the ideal model for a classroom… any classroom!

3. Halsey, “Still Learning”

Manic • Capitol • 2020

“But I’m still learning to love myself…” “Still Learning” serves as the penultimate record from Manic, the third studio album from Grammy-nominated alternative pop artist, Halsey.  In the context of Manic, “Still Learning” marks another personal record. Here, she reflects on life, particularly as she’s became a famous pop star.  On the second verse, she sings, “You think I’m swimmin’ in green / But it’s passed around my family tree / No man wants to really commit / Intimidated ‘cause I get paid and shit.” What’s amazing about “Still Learning” is how this quick-paced, slick pop cut manages to go so deep.

4. Bryson Tiller, “Teach Me a Lesson”

True to Self • RCA • 2017

Back in 2015, Bryson Tiller scored. What did he score exactly? Hits with “Don’t” and “Exchange”, the two best moments from his debut album, T R A P S O U L.  I don’t think it would be far-fetched to assert both songs, particularly “Exchange,” set up Tiller’s 2107 sophomore album, True to Self, for massive success.  Unfortunately, True to Self lacked hits on the same level,” and ultimately didn’t give him that big moment.  Still, True to Self has its moments, and we’re going to dive into “Teach Me a Lesson” on this teaching-learning centric list.

“You’re going to find someone / That’s ready for you / And teach me a lesson, baby.” We’ll keep it brief.  Tiller reflects on the potential repercussions of his inability to properly love a particular girl he’s obsessed with. The big repercussion is being single because his girl breaks up with him and finds a man who’ll treat her right – one “who gets it,” as Tiller asserts.  He sets the tone on the first verse, singing:

“I had asked myself
So, what would you do if she left?
What would you do?
Would I find someone to distract myself?
Detach myself
Get my mind off you.”   

5. Surfaces & Elton John, “Learn to Fly”

“Learn to Fly” • Surfaces Music / TenThousand Projects • 2020

“Our music exists too spread love and positivity across the word. For those hurting, for those lost, we want every song to be a pathway that can lead anyone to brighter days.” Those words hail from Surfaces, a pop duo comprised of Forrest Frank and Colin Padalecki (best known for their breakthrough hit, “Sunday Best”). On “Learn to Fly,” the positive vibes are endless.

“All the broken people put your hands up high,” they sing on the chorus, later adding, prudently, “If you loosen up, you might just learn to fly.” They even manage to get the rare featured appearance from musical icon Elton John, who like Forrest and Colin, spreads the good vibes on the second verse: “Just keep your head up, don’t you worry, it will be alright.”

6. Fantasia, “Teach Me”

Back to Me • 19 Recordings Limited / J • 2010

“Teach me how to love you / Show me, I’m willin’ to learn, oh / Followin’ every instruction, I’ll be your scholar when you’re done…” “Teach Me” is one of the underrated gems from Back to Me, the third studio album by Fantasia.  Back to Me serves as the source of the American Idol winner’s sole Grammy to date – Female R&B Vocal Performance (“Bittersweet”).  But this isn’t about the album or “Bittersweet” but rather about “Teach Me.”

“Teach Me” features soulful production which fits Fantasia superbly. It features a robust bass line and sleek guitar. She’s a spirited, soulful artist, and the backdrop complements this. Also, worth noting, there’s a dash of reggae.  Even so, “Teach Me” is never obnoxious with its reggae cues; it’s more subtle.  Other notes regarding the excellence that is “Teach Me” are the background vocals, the aforementioned chorus, and a marvelous bridge section, which plays out a little something like this:

“All this love, yes, it’s yours
Mold me to your perfection
Say the word, if I make a wrong turn
Just give me some direction, oh
It’s your world, you can have anything I have
I give you all my trust, oh, oh, oh.”

7. Kesha, “Learn to Let Go”

Rainbow • Kemosabe • 2017

“Learn to Let Go”, the third single from Rainbow, the Grammy-nominated third album by Kesha.  “Learn to Let Go” is a prime example of the newfound maturity associated with Kesha in 2017 (she’d have a bit more fun on High Road in 2020). She reflects on the past on “Learn to Let Go” but arrives at the point that she must move forward in order to heal.  Being an encourager to others, she realizes she needs to embrace her own advice for herself.

“I think it’s time to practice what I preach
Exorcise the demons inside me
Whoa, gotta learn to let it go
The past can’t haunt me if I don’t let it
Live and learn and never forget it
Whoa, gotta learn to let it go.”

8. Musiq Soulchild, “teachme”

Luvanmusiq • Atlantic • 2007

“Girl, I know I lack affection and expressing my feelings / It took me a minute to come and admit this but, see I’m really tryna / Change now, wanna love you better…” In the 00s, Musiq Soulchild was one of the prominent R&B stars.  A proponent of the neo soul style, his music always had one foot in the door to the past.  Among his best albums of aughts is Luvanmusiq, released in 2007.  Luvanmusiq yielded two Grammy nominations. Amazingly, an R&B performance Grammy for “teachme” wasn’t one of the two nominations.  I’m calling bull 💩.

“Teachme” is a lush, grown-folks R&B ballad that seemed to be much rarer beyond the aughts. Musiq sings beautifully without ever forcing things.  Does the man even break a sweat? I don’t think so.  What exactly does he seek to learn? How to love, period.  The best example occurs on the chorus, where he petitions her for guidance:

“Teach me how to love,
Show me the way to surrender my heart
Girl, I’m so lost,
Teach me how to love,
How can I get my emotions involved?
Teach me, show me how to love…”

9. Ne-Yo, “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)”

R.E.D. • Motown • 2012

“Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)” certainly has an exhaustive, wordy title. Even so, the record ends up being a well-rounded record – one of the best from R.E.D. On “Let Me Love You…,” Grammy-winning R&B artist Ne-Yo aims for pop-crossover, much like previous hits “Closer” and “Beautiful Monster”. On the chorus, he sings, “Girl let me love you and I will love you / Until you learn to love yourself… don’t be afraid, girl let me help…” Essentially, this relationship is beneficial to both parties.  Ne-Yo loves her, and even if she lacks confidence and love for herself, he is going to show her true love, so she begins to love herself.

10. Morrissey, “The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils”

Southpaw Grammar • Rhino • 1995

Morrissey wins the award for the most frightening song on this list, as well as the aforementioned, teacher-driven list, 11 Awesome or Not-So-Awesome Songs About Teachers. “The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils” is nothing short eerie and haunting. Clearly that’s the vibe the former Smiths front man was going for.

Lyrically, Morrissey matches the intensity with multiple knockout punches. He nails the imagery of the classroom:

“So, you stand by the board
Full of fear and intention
And if you think that they’re listening
Well, you’ve got to be joking.”

True. Another knowledgeable insight comes as Morrissey sings, “Say the wrong word to our children / We’ll have you, oh yes, we’ll have.”  Also, TRUE.  Was Morrissey a teacher?

10 Songs Comprised of Teaching and/or Learning [Photo Credits: 19 Recordings Limited, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Island, J, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, RCA, Rhino, Surfaces Music, TenThousand Projects]