10 Songs That Get Low | Playlist 🎧

10 Songs That Get Low features ‘low’ music courtesy of Ezra Furman, Future, Jon Bellion, and Lenny Kravitz among others.

Get prepared to go “low” with 10 Songs That Get Low.  The premise is simple to the nth degree – every song on this playlist features some form the word “low.”  Honestly, there’s only one instance where the form of the word is changed (looking at you Ezra Furman).  Besides the Transangelic Exodus musicians, others contributing to these low songs include Future, Jon Bellion, and Lenny Kravitz.  Without further ado, “make it do what it do” and get low…something like that!

1. Lenny Kravitz, “Low”

Raise Vibration • BMG Rights Management • 2018

Four years after releasing his tenth studio album, Strut, Grammy-winning rock artist Lenny Kravitz dropped his 11^th studio album, Raise Vibration.  One of the best moments from the LP happens to be the hella groovy, soulful “Low.” The chorus is absolutely infectious, finding Kravitz dipping into a sweet falsetto.  One of the key lyrical moments occurs on the second verse, when he asks, “Is my sexuality / Creating such a tragedy?” Socially-conscious Lenny Kravitz – a force to be reckoned with Y’all!

2. Elley Duhé, “WAY DOWN LOW”

DRAGON MENTALITY • RCA • 2018

“Even when we’re way down, way down low / We dream, yeah / We dream on up / When we’re way down, way down low / The stars light a new hope in us…” American pop singer Elley Duhé shines on “WAY DOWN LOW”, a highlight from her six-song, 2018 EP, DRAGON MENTALITY.  The third track from the EP features glorious, smooth synths, contrasted with a busier, ‘hyper-rhythmic’ beat.  The production is solid – nothing too crazy but ultimately compelling.  Duhé serves up assertive lead vocals, with a distinct, powerful set of pipes on her hands. Arguably the best section of the song is the pre-chorus, which is catchy and incredibly effective.

Thematically and lyrically, Duhé sings about conquering love.

“And we all half alive, half alive

I’ll go to war, baby I’ll go to war for you

Just come back to life, back to life

We will survive We gonna see this through.”

All in all, “WAY DOWN LOW” ends up being enjoyable and well executed.

3. Ezra Furman, “God Lifts Up the Lowly”

Transangelic Exodus • Bella Union • 2018

Spirituality is a prominent theme throughout the course of Transangelic Exodus, among The Musical Hype’s best albums of 2018.  Given numerous references to angels, that’s not totally surprising.  “My angel’s got eyes like a housing project / He was born inside a guitar.” On the expressive ballad “God Lifts Up the Lowly,” Furman paints pictures of the downtrodden, forgotten, and misfortunate, as evidenced by the aforementioned lyrical excerpt.  Ultimately, he provides some sense of encouragement, and Biblical for that matter, as he sings the titular lyric, “I know God lifts up the lowly.”

4. Zedd & Liam Payne, “Get Low”

Get Low – Single • Interscope • 2017

“Chained to a love / But that don’t mean much /… I’ve been drowning in you, lost in the rush / Faded, you stuck? I’ll help you up.” DJ and producer Zedd equipped his 2017 single, “Get Low”, with just the right ingredients to be successful.  Well produced, the beat drives throughout. Initially, particularly on the verse, the music is rather low key, but still has intensity.  This allows for Liam Payne to shine vocally, never inhibited by the production work.  With more steam, the production also cranks it up as well, but to quote the late, great Luther Vandross, “Never Too Much.” Payne is on his game throughout, clearly opting for a sexy persona.  While he’s suggestive, there’s still a hint of innocence – he never crosses any lines. All in all, “Get Low” is an entertaining, fun record.

5. Jon Bellion, “All Time Low”

The Human Condition • Capitol • 2016

“I was the knight in shining armor in your movie…/ Now I’m a ghost, I call your name, you look right through me / You’re the reason I’m alone and masturbate.”  Hey, at least he’s honest.  Pop singer/songwriter and producer Jon Bellion is at an “All Time Low” because his relationship has ended. Bellion goes from being a “knight” to being a “ghost” and has to resort to self-pleasure as opposed to the intimacy he once experienced with her.  Bellion goes on to sing on The Human Condition standout that “I’ve been trying to fix my pride / but that shit’s broken, that shit’s broken.” Despite trying to better himself, his “pride” is already broken – he’s totally messed up.

6. James Vincent McMorrow, “Get Low”

We Move • Mahogany Books / Burning Rope • 2016

“Heard you’re getting married (get low) / Everybody say (get low) / Greatest man alive (get low) / I’ve been told (I could never show I could never show).” Irish alternative singer/songwriter James Vincent McMorrow returned with his third studio album, We Move in September 2016.  We Move was headed by single “Get Low”. “Get Low” opens with a soulful, urban-pop oriented intro, triggered by guitar. The record incorporates a modern bag of tricks including vocal effects and hip-hop drum programming (808s). McMorrow delivers simply beautiful, expressive vocals; his tone is stunning. The vocals are never inhibited by the production work, always sitting at the forefront.

Additionally, the songwriting is memorable. “Get Low” is anchored by a catchy hook.

“I love the way your heart had no rules

Loving what your heart becomes

Even when you smile, you’re still cruel

Loving what your heart becomes

Remember when my hands, they turned blue

Loving what your heart becomes

I love the way you hang with no fools

Loving what your heart becomes.”

7. Future, “Low Life” (Ft. The Weeknd)

EVOL • Epic • 2016

“I just took some molly, what else? / Got some bitch from Follies with us / She gon’ fuck the squad, what else? / I fuck her broads, what else?” “Low Life” indeed Future.  One of the most popular hits from the Atlanta rapper’s catalogue appears on his 2016 album, EVOL.  Prominently featuring The Weeknd, expectedly, the Canadian R&B musician plays right into the shallowness Future served up on the aforementioned song intro.  On the first verse he sings, “Girl go ‘head and show me how you go down / And I feel my whole body peakin’ / And I’m fuckin’ anybody with legs wide / Gettin’ faded with some bitches from the West Side.”  Of course, Future maintains the low-life status without a doubt – “Turn a five-star hotel to a trap house / Roaches everywhere, like we forgot to take the trash out.”

8. MAX, “Lights Down Low”

Hell’s Kitchen Angel • DCD2 / Crush • 2016

“And I will give you everything baby / But can you feel this energy? Take it / You can have the best of me, baby / And I will give you everything.”  Clearly, on “Lights Down Low,” MAX was deeply invested into his girlfriend, now wife. Appearing on his album Hell’s Kitchen Angel, “Lights Down Low” serves as a breakthrough hit for the New York pop artist.  His voice is beautiful, chocked-full of authenticity, while the record itself is well produced, courtesy of Nathaniel Motte (of 3OH!3).

“Oh, turn the lights, turn the lights down low
Yeah, now I’m feeling you breathing slow, oh
‘Cause, baby, we’re just reckless kids
Trying to find an island in the flood.”

9. X Ambassadors, “Low” (Ft. Jamie N Commons)

VHS • Interscope • 2015

“I’m nothing but a low life / Thinkin ‘bout my own life / I can’t help myself from falling…” In 2015, alternative rock band X Ambassadors released their debut album, VHS.  Eventually, the album would be certified platinum.  While “Low Life” wasn’t the main attraction from the LP (that would be the likes of “Renegades” and “Unsteady”), it was definitely a worthwhile cut.  Contrasting the busy “Nervous” that precedes it, the band gets a lift thanks to British singer/songwriter Jamie N Commons’ gruff and expressive vocals (“Wanna be a better man, but it’s a hard life / Without that love inside you, it’s cold bind”). It doesn’t supplant the best of VHS, but, certainly worthwhile.  There is also a remix that adds rapper A$AP Ferg.

10. Kelly Rowland, “Kisses Down Low”

Talk A Good Game • Republic • 2013

On “Motivation” (Here I Am, 2011), Rowland showed off her risqué, sexy side.  She’d take it to the next level on “Kisses Down Low” from her 2013 album, Talk a Good Game.  Producer Mike Will Made It provides Rowland with a superb backdrop. “Kisses Down Low” isn’t brash regarding sexual endeavors, but it’s certainly not innocent either.  Like the Usher record that precedes this on the playlist, the kisses go beyond the lips…

“I like my kisses down low
Makes me arch my back
When you give it to me slow
Baby just like that that.”

Photo Credits: Bella Union, BMG Rights Management, Burning Rope, Capitol, Crush, DCD2, Epic, Interscope, Mahogany Books, RCA, Republic