10 Songs Focused on Lay | Playlist

1. Shelley FKA DRAM, “The Lay Down”

Ft. H.E.R. & watt

  Shelley FKA DRAM •   Atlantic / EMPIRE •   2021

  Shelley FKA DRAM embraces R&B exclusively on his sophomore album, Shelley FKA DRAM.  Shelley, which runs just 10 tracks deep and 38 minutes long, proves to be well worth the wait, with a number of gems.  Among those gems is   “The Lay Down,” where DRAM truly outdoes himself.

On “The Lay Down,” the lushness and buttery smooth vibes are breathtaking.  This particular record definitely shows various faces of R&B. DRAM sings angelically, as does his   Oscar and Grammy-winning co-vocalist,   H.E.R. The chemistry is epic.  Also, throw in   watt writing and working behind the boards and “The Lay Down” only grows into a bigger juggernaut.  The two best moments: the chorus and a stellar guitar feature.

Also appears on :

 Lay: 5ive Songs No. 40 (2021)

2. Isaiah Rashad, “Lay Wit Ya”

Ft. Duke Deuce

  “Lay Wit Ya” •   Top Dawg Entertainment / Warner •   2021

Top Dawg Entertainment standout   Isaiah Rashad taps fellow rapper   Duke Deuce for the entertaining, dirty south banger,  “Lay Wit Ya”. There’s plenty to heart about this record with the sound and vibe arguably being the biggest triumph.  Hollywood Cole does a fantastic job producing this hardcore southern record.  Part of the reason that the ‘dirty south’ is firmly in play is sampling a  Three 6 Mafia classic,  “Ridin’ n’ tha Chevy”.

From there, both rappers really bring heat.  Isaiah Rashad kills it on a hella catchy chorus, followed by a short but enjoyable verse.  He doesn’t change the game with his rhymes, but you’ve got to love lines like “I’m a cold piece of work / Whippin’ up to serve, what was for dessert? / I’m a Gucci Mane, you a Captain Kirk.” Woo! Duke Deuce actually gets the longer verse, which is confident and tough.  Deuces clearly gives no Fs:

“The pussy ass rappers keep fuckin’ with me
You’re hustling backwards, I pull up in Raptor
I’m strapped with them triple M brothers with me.”

“Lay Wit Ya” may not change the game, but it’s definitely a B-A-N-G-E-R.  Great production, confident lyrics and the overall dirty south aesthetic make it a vibe.

Also appears on :

 Lay: 5ive Songs No. 40 (2021)

3. Vance Joy, “Lay It on Me”

  Nation of Two •   Atlantic •   2018

“I found you / Hidden in plain sight / Why’d I take so long?” Well, that’s a good question,   Vance Joy. The Aussie singer/songwriter is a vibe, period.  His best attribute (besides his handsome looks), is his voice, characterized by his smooth, gorgeous tone. On his sophomore album,  Nation of Two, one of the highlights is the ‘lay’ song,   “Lay It on Me,” which appears as the second track.

“Your love’s always finding me out
Who am I kidding?
If all my defenses come down, oh baby, yeah
Will you lay it all on me now?”

“Lay It on Me” was written by Joy and   Dave Bassett, who also produces the record.  Bassett definitely kills it behind those boards.  While “Lay…” holds back more initially, it builds, toward a truly magnificent, electrifying, horn-filled chorus.  Here, Vance also ups the vocal intensity.  He shows off the top of his vocal register, singing the titular lyric, yet still manages to maintain control.  Thematically, he has a brilliant topic to work with: L-O-V-E.

4. Sam Smith, “Lay Me Down”

  In the Lonely Hour •   Capitol •   2014

“Told me not to cry when you were gone / But the feeling’s overwhelming, it much too strong.” On   “Lay Me Down,” a gem from   In the Lonely Hour,   Sam Smith is devastated.  Their love is gone, and they miss everything about him. They tug at the heartstrings on the chorus, which is particularly relatable to anybody who’s experienced heartbreak.

“Can I lay by your side, next to you, you?
And make sure you’re alright
I’ll take care of you
I don’t want to be here if I can’t be with you tonight.”

The music video amplifies the significance from the LGBTQ perspective .  Initially set as a funeral, it ends in a same-sex marriage at a London church.  The Church of England is notably divided about homosexuality.  The funeral scene seems to be symbolic – subject to interpretation.  Perhaps Smith lays their past to rest and embraces the present.  Perhaps it represents the death of the old guard and birth of the new – freedom to marry whoever.  Regardless, they make a statement which serves as a catalyst for conversation, debate, and discussion.

Also appears on :

 A Compendium Comprised of 100 Notable LGBTQ+ Songs

 Lay: 5ive Songs No. 40 (2021)

5. Kelly Price, “As We Lay”

  Mirror Mirror •   UMG Recordings, Inc. •   2002

“As we lay / We forgot about tomorrow / As we lay / As we lay / We didn’t think about the price we’d have to pay.”   Kelly Price remade the beloved   Shirley Murdock classic,   “As We Lay” (1986), on her superb sophomore album,   Mirror Mirror from 2002.  Notably, Murdock’s original six-minute song extends to nearly six-and-a-half minutes in Price’s hands.  Retained from the original are the potent lyrics and harmonic scheme, one of the defining features musically.  Beyond that, Price makes some distinct changes.

The biggest change, of course, is updated production work with producers   Anthony “Schappell” Crawford and   Shep Crawford capturing a sophisticated, sleek sound with the gorgeous, heavenly backdrop. Price’s newer take sounds pleasing and polished even two decades after being released.  She gives an awesome performance showing off expressive, nuanced vocals with some truly sublime runs.  Those commanding, gospel-tinged vocals are epic to the nth degree as Kelly sells the infidelity tackled within the song awesomely. She makes “As We Lay” feel and sound as if she were the original artist.

Also appears on :

2  Shirley Murdock vs. Kelly Price: Head 2 Head No. 14

6. The Weeknd, “Love to Lay”

  Starboy •   Republic •   2016

“You made me fall again, my friend / How can I forget when you said love was just pretend?” On   “Love to Lay” (  Starboy, 2016),   Grammy-winning R&B superstar The Weeknd addresses a familiar topic: S-E-X. I mean, that definitely plays to his sensibilities, right? Right.  That said, in this particular case, he’s not the horny party – she is!

“Cause she loves to lay
I learned the hard way
She loves to lay, I’m all to blame
I learned the hard way...”

Basically, per The Weeknd, she doesn’t care about a dedicated relationship.  Instead, she only cares about hooking up.  You might say, Abel Tesfaye turns the tables on here.  He wants something more than pleasure, believe it or not.

“I feel there’s someone else
Worth your time, from the start
He’s just one call away
From your mind, and your heart.”

7. Al Green, “Lay it Down”

  Lay It Down •   Blue Note •   2008

During the aughts, legendary soul singer   Al Green returned to his roots.  After embracing gospel music after his storied soul career (he is a pastor, too), Green dropped three R&B albums.  The best of the three was undoubtedly   Lay It Down, released in 2008. With Lay It Down, Green truly recaptured his vintage, Memphis soul sound.  One of the prime examples is “Lay It Down,” the title track featuring fellow   Grammy-winner   Anthony Hamilton (on backing vocals) and produced by   James Poyser and   ?uestlove.

“Lay it down, let it go, fall in love / Lay your body.” Al Green managed to be ‘sexy’ on “Lay It Down” without crossing any lines.  Vocally, he sounds pure – a ripe as he did in his heyday to be honest.  Furthermore, the organ, strings, and horns may be vintage, but they sounded incredibly refreshing in the late aughts.  No, Green didn’t necessarily win over a new generation, but he certainly pleased those who followed him back in the day.

Also appears on :

 Lay: 5ive Songs No. 40 (2021)

8. James, “Laid”

  Laid •   Mercury •   1993

  James, an alternative rock band from Manchester, was more popular in Britain than in the United States.  That said, the collective has the perfect song that fits the ‘lay’ of this playlist.  That song, of course, would be   “Laid” from their 1993 album, also named   Laid.  As to be expected, “laid” does include sexual references.  I mean, it had to, right? What fun would a song named “Laid” be if there wasn’t the act of getting, well, laid?

“This bed is on fire
With passionate love
The neighbors complain about the noises above
But she only comes when she’s on top.”

Yep, that is the first verse of the song – the first lyrics we hear.  Yes, it could be more graphic, like the music of today tends to be, but still, sharing how she orgasms isn’t PG-rated in the least.  The third verse is also eyebrow raising:

“Dressed me up in women’s clothes
Messed around with gender roles
Line my eyes and call me pretty.”

Hmm, definitely not vanilla, that’s for sure.  Clearly, she’s the dominant one in this relationship, evidenced throughout “Laid.” Definitely an intriguing record, nearly 30 years after its release.

9. Shirley Murdock, “As We Lay”

  Shirley Murdock •   Elektra / Asylum •   1986

Sometimes it just takes one song to solidify your legacy.  For big-voiced R&B singer   Shirley Murdock, that one gem is   “As We Lay.”  A truly breathtaking mid-80s R&B record, Murdock ‘gives her all’ as she performs.  Her performance is characterized by incredible authenticity, expression, and nuance.  Perhaps it’s not fair when some folks assert ‘they don’t make music like this anymore.’ That said, are they totally wrong or wrong in the least?  Worth noting, “As We Lay” was written by    Billy Pack and   Larry Troutman and produced by   Roger.

  Kelly Price would go on to remake this beloved classic on her superb sophomore album, Mirror Mirror from 2002 (also on this list).  Also, “As We Lay” has become a popular sample and for good reason – the harmonic progression, the arrangement, and overall sound are totally on-point. Of course, it all goes back to Shirley Murdock, who masterfully imparts the tale of two people in a separate relationship having a one-night stand.

“Yes, we’ve stolen this moment
We forgot to face one simple fact
We both belong to someone else
As we slept the night away.”

Damn.  The chorus, the centerpiece, perfectly captures the repercussions:

“As we lay
We forgot about tomorrow
As we lay
As we lay
We didn’t think about the price we’d have to pay.”

Also appears on :

 Lay: 5ive Songs No. 40 (2021)

2  Shirley Murdock vs. Kelly Price: Head 2 Head No. 14

10. Henry Purcell, Patricia Petibon, La Cetra Barockorchester Basel & Andrea Marcon, Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 / Act 3: “Thy Hand, Belinda… When I am laid in earth”

  Nouveau Monde: Baroque Arias and Songs •   Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin •   2012

“When I am laid, am laid in earth, may my wrongs create / No trouble, no trouble, in thy breast.”   “When I Am Laid In Earth” hails from the Baroque mythological-based opera, Dido And Aeneas, written by English composer    Henry Purcell in 1689. As old as “When I Am Laid in Earth” (“Dido’s lament”/ “Thy Hand, Belinda… When I am laid in earth”) may be, it is one of the most moving, emotional pieces of music you’ll ever hear in your life. Even if opera doesn’t tickle your fancy, this one’s hard to resist, including a dynamic performance by the late, great   Jessye Norman.  The soprano at hand,   Patricia Petibon, does a truly awesome job in her own right capturing the sheer emotion on her performance from her 2012 album,   Nouveau Monde: Baroque Arias and Songs.

Musically, this particular aria from Dido and Aeneas represents one of the truly historic moments in music.  Among the key musical features is the ground bass, something often studied in music history and music theory classes considering it was innovative… in 1689, of course.  Melodically, it’s also incredibly stunning, featuring a host of colorful features including some notable leaps (the sixths in particular) as well as key repeated portion on the lyric, “Remember me.”  Honestly, any soprano has one of the greatest melodies at their disposal, in addition to being one of the saddest.