11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in September 2019 features songs by Brittany Howard, Melanie Martinez, Raphael Saadiq & Sam Fender.

Ah, we continue to be ‘tickled’ monthly on The Musical Hype.  In August, I selected 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in August 2019, including standouts from BROCKHAMPTON (“If You Pray Right”), Missy Elliott (“Throw it Back”), Myylo (“Skinny Boys”) Slipknot (“Unsainted”), and Volbeat (“Cloud 9”).  Now, post-August 2019, we do the same with “11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in September 2019.” All of the songs on 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in September 2019 were released as singles or as an album track in September 2019. Musicians that made our ears perk up in the month of September include Brittany Howard (“Georgia”), Melanie Martinez (“The Principal”), Raphael Saadiq (“Rikers Island”), and Sam Fender (“White Privilege”) among others. Without further ado, here are 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in September 2019.

1. Sam Fender, “White Privilege”

Hypersonic Missiles • Polydor • 2019

British singer/songwriter Sam Fender is pretty rad.  So is the British singer/songwriter’s entire debut album, Hypersonic Missiles.  What makes Hypersonic Missiles the ‘cat’s meow?’ Excellent musicianship from Fender in regard to vocal performances and colorful, creative, and poetic songwriting.  The crown jewel from Hypersonic Missiles arrives early on – “White Privilege”.  “White Privilege” is one of my personal favorites on this edition of Awesome songs that tickled my fancy!

“The patriarchy is real, the proof is here in my song / I’ll sit and mansplain every detail of the things it does wrong…” “White Privilege”, the profane third track gracing Hypersonic Missiles, is quite accomplished.  “White Privilege” finds Sam Fender examining white privilege (“‘Cause I’m a white male, full of shame / My ancestry is evil, and their evil is still not gone”), including his own, and the layers of such privilege, as well as a number of political and social issues plaguing both England and the world.  Brexit gets colorful treatment (“Don’t wanna hear about Brexit, them old cunts fucked up our exit / My generation was duped, the youth were left out of the loop”), while political correctness is brilliantly addressed as well (“Everybody’s offended, the joke that keeps on giving / I’m not entirely sure the nitpicking can count as progression”).  Ultimately, Fender does a marvelous job of providing perspective and analysis on a number of relevant issues.

2. Melanie Martinez, “The Principal”

K-12 • Atlantic • 2019

Keeping it 100, the NBC hit vocal competition, The Voice, hasn’t exactly catapulted many of its alumni into big-time success in the music business.  That said, arguably its most unique contestant, season three’s Melanie Martinez, has achieved her fair share of success. Quite a quirky, alternative individual, it paid dividends on her 2015 major label debut, Cry Baby. Four years later, she returned with another distinct, conceptual affair with her ‘school-centric’ sophomore album, K-12.  Cry Baby, the central character on Cry Baby, returned on K-12, which is notably accompanied by a 90+ minute film.  One of the awesome songs from K-12 that totally tickled my fancy in September 2019 is “The Principal,” already previously featured on the playlist, 11 Fascinating Songs That Reference Various Occupations.

“The Principal,” the third track from K-12, is arguably the first truly transcendent number.  Melanie Martinez certainly doesn’t paint a favorable picture of the principal, yet she’s actually thinking bigger than the administrator of the school she sings about.  Likely, the administrator who she’s pointing the finger at is the 45^th President of the United States, Donald Trump. The chorus definitely suggests Martinez is tackling societal problems affecting children, including mental health, violence, drugs, cyberbullying, and politicians, including the ‘Chief’ amongst them, who fail to address such issues.  “Oh, where’s the principal?”

3. Raphael Saadiq, “Rikers Island”

Jimmy Lee • Columbia • 2019

Eight years.  That’s how long it had been since Grammy-winning R&B musician Raphael Saadiq released a new studio album.  Sure, the 53-year old standout appeared on the Mudbound original motion picture soundtrack in 2017, but prior to 2019, his last album arrive in 2011 – Stone Rollin’. The good news is, Saadiq returned with a contemporary masterpiece – his very personal, socially-changed, fifth studio album, Jimmy Lee [NOTE: You can check out an extended, analytic, track-by-track review of Jimmy Lee on The Musical Hype beginning September 30, 2019]. The crown jewel of Jimmy Lee is “Rikers Island”, a song that ‘tickled my fancy’ so much, I selected it as my ‘track of the week’ for September 23, 2019 on the playlist I curate for Music to, Music to Atone to.  Yes, Jimmy Lee arrived in late August, but yours truly didn’t hear the album or this fantastic track until September.

To reiterate, “Rikers Island” is the crown jewel on Jimmy Lee.  “Too many niggas in Rikers Island / Why must it be?” Saadiq sings on the powerful, socially-changed chorus, continuing, “Too many niggas in Rikers Island / Set ‘em free.” Safe to say, he begins an entirely new conversation, and it’s not merely limited to the infamy of “Rikers Island.” The big takeaway is the statement that Saadiq makes about the number of black men that are incarcerated.  Yes, it’s a horrible situation at Rikers Island, and universally panned correctional facility, but the theme transcends beyond this particular facility.  It’s amazing that this record with disturbing, hurtful subject matter for black families is arguably the funkiest of the album.

4. Brittany Howard, “Georgia”

Jaime • Brittany Howard / ATO • 2019

“I just want Georgia to notice me…” Brittany Howard is best known as the frontwoman to the Grammy-winning, soul-infused, alternative rock collective, Alabama Shakes.  On Jaime, Howard ‘goes solo,’ releasing quite the unique and captivating project.  One of the songs that caught my attention while listening to Jaime was “Georgia.” “Georgia” isn’t necessarily the crowning achievement of this particular album like “White Privilege” (Sam Fender) or “Rikers Island” (Raphael Saadiq) was to their respective projects, but it’s certain an attention getter that is quite honest and open.

The aforementioned lyrics, which hail from the chorus, could be interpreted a couple of ways without context.  Perhaps Howard is referencing the state of Georgia, though we all know that she’s from Alabama… Yeah, that doesn’t make sense! The interpretation that is accurate is her attraction to/crush on Georgia, a lady, of course.  She confirms this on the verses, as she opens up about her sexuality essentially.  On the first verse, she sings, “Georgia, see you don’t know it, but / I’m afraid to tell you how I really feel.”  On the second verse, she adds, “And I can’t help the way that I was born to be / I ain’t no little boy.” Then there’s the bridge, where Howard asks, “Is it unnatural? / Georgia, is it cool? / I wanna tell you that I love you…” Add another awesome song to the LGBTQ+ playlist.

5. TOOL, “Invicible”

Fear Inoculum • Tool Dissectional, L.L.C. / Volcano Entertainment II, L.L.C. • 2019 

It had been 13 years since Grammy-winning metal collective TOOL released a new album (10,000 Days, 2006).  Maynard James Keenan remained active during the group’s extended hiatus, dropping three projects as Puscifer and another with A Perfect Circle (Eat the Elephant, 2018). 2019 has been the year for the band. First, they FINALLY released their discography digitally to streaming services.  Even more notably, after much buzz and speculation, the band’s fifth studio album, the 90-minute-long Fear Inoculum, arrived August 30, 2019, and debuted robustly at number one on the Billboard 200. “Fear Inoculum”, the title track, appeared on 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in August 2019.  This month, “Invicible” appears as one of the awesome songs that tickled my fancy! 

“Beating chest and drums / Beating tired bones again /Age-old battle, mine / Weapon out and belly in…” “Invincible” runs nearly 13 minutes, good for the third longest record on Fear Inoculum (only “7emptest” and “Descending” are longer). The usual tricks are in play, including mixed meter, potent rhythmic grooves, and the liberal use of space – letting things be static at times, and again, slowly evolving.  Thematically, age and relevance seem to be the M.O. One of the best allusions is historical:

“Tears in my eyes
Chasing Ponce de Leon’s phantoms
So filled with hope
I can taste mythical fountains.”

6. Lana Del Rey, “The Greatest”

Norman Fucking Rockwell! • Interscope • 2019

Grammy-nominated alternative pop singer/songwriter Lana Del Rey delivered arguably her best album to date with the explicitly titled, sixth studio album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!. Some people adore Lana, while others are mixed.  She’s a truly polarizing musician, yet, possesses quite the distinct, beautiful musical instrument.  Arguably, she’s only improved over the years.  She shines on “The Greatest,” among the crème de la crème of NFR!.

“I want shit to feel just like it used to / When, baby, I was doing nothing’ the most of all.” Ah, “The Greatest” provides some more punch to NFR!, with its spirited guitars and retro-tinged sound. This is one of the late, truly great songs on the album.  Here, Lana Del Rey is reminiscent, missing a past romance (“I miss Long Beach and I miss you, babe”), New York, and rock (“I miss New York and I miss the music / Me and my friends, we miss rock ‘n’ roll”).  The outro is quite scintillating, as Del Rey lists the current happenings, which include forest fires in Los Angeles and Kanye West’s state of mind.

7. Korn, “Idiosyncrasy”

The Nothing • Roadrunner • 2019

You know, it seems fitting that Korn released its 13^th album, The Nothing, on September 13, 2019, which just happened to be Friday the 13^th! The Nothing is far from a happy or jubilant affair, built on relentless darkness, heaviness, and intensity.  According to frontman Jonathan Davis via an interview with NME, he states,  “I think the new record is really about all the processes of grieving… There’s everything I was going through. Emotions I was feeling, things I felt were conspiring to stop us from making the record. It really was the worst year of my life.” As difficult as it is to hear somebody struggling with grief over the loss of their wife and mom (“…Other than my sister, I basically lost all of the women in my life”), The Nothing as an album is quite an intriguing listening experience from start to finish. One of the very best records of The Nothing arrives with the fifth track, “Idiosyncrasy.”  Safe to say, it truly ‘tickled my fancy.’

Korn serves up a bit of everything, which truly makes “Idiosyncrasy” quite idiosyncratic, in addition to its lyrics based around idiosyncrasy itself.  The verses are set in this bright major key, while the pre-chorus shifts to a more aggressive, snarling sound.  The chorus blends the melodic nature of the verse with the darkness of a minor key, finding Davis proclaim at the end, “You hold disgust in your heart / You just fucked with me, idiosyncrasy.” As awesome as the chorus is, arguably the best section of the song is the truly ‘idiosyncratic’ bridge where against chromatic ascending lines Davis states, “God is making fun of me / He’s laughing up there, I can see.”

8. Alessia Cara, “What’s on Your Mind”

This Summer (EP) • Def Jam • 2019

At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards (2018), Alessia Cara won her first Grammy, the highly coveted Best New Artist.  The win arguably arrived at least a year later than it should’ve, but few can deny the talents of the Canadian pop/R&B singer/songwriter.  Unfortunately, the stars didn’t shine on Cara when her sophomore album, The Pains of Growing, arrived later that same year.  Safe to say, the ‘sophomore effect’ was a real thing, not to mention suspect promotion for an overall strong LP.  Cara returned in 2019 with new singles, which ultimately appear on the enjoyable, six-track EP, This Summer.  One of the best songs appears as the second track on the EP, “What’s on Your Mind.”

“Ready” was a fine way to open This Summer (EP). “Had a one-way talk with your voicemail / Called out, but you weren’t there…” “What’s on Your Mind” keeps summer alive and well on the EP.  “What’s on Your Mind” features a throwback vibe with a soulful, dusty groove, vintage piano touches, and funky sensibilities.  Furthering those throwback vibes is the prominent use of harmonized vocals.  Even though ‘old school’ is firmly planted, “What’s on Your Mind” still has contemporary touches, including pitch shifted vocals.  On the centerpiece, the chorus, Cara asserts:

“How am I supposed to know what’s on your mind?
I don’t have a crystal ball
I can’t see through your walls
You should know better
How am I supposed to know what’s on your mind?
I’m tired of cracking codes
If you want me, let me know
You should know better
Ah, better.”

9. Post Malone, “Take What You Want”

Ft. Ozzy Osbourne & Travis Scott

Hollywood’s Bleeding • Republic • 2019

Hollywood’s Bleeding – certainly a dramatic album title by Post Malone to say the least.  After experiencing ample success post-Beerbongs & Bentleys, the Grammy-nominated pop-rapper returned ‘sooner than later’ with his third studio album. Post Malone amplifies the pop more pronouncedly on Hollywood’s Bleeding compared to his debut, Stoney, or sophomore LP, Beerbongs & Bentleys.  One of the awesome songs on Hollywood’s Bleeding worth highlighting on this month’s edition of Awesome songs that tickled my fancy is “Take What You Want.”

“I feel you crumble in my arms down to your heart of stone / You bled me dry just like the tears you never show / Why don’t you take what you want from me?” “Take What You Want” pairs Post Malone with Ozzy Osbourne (!) and Travis Scott.  Can you say vibes?  Ozzy Osbourne sounds particularly awesome here, singing the aforementioned chorus at the beginning and following Travis Scott’s verse (verse two).  Of course, Post sings the first verse and his own version of the incredibly catchy chorus following his verse.  Easily among the crème de la crème of Hollywood’s Bleeding.

10. A$AP Rocky, “Babushka Boi”

Babushka Boi [Single] • RCA • 2019

“I would like to dedicate / To the scar on my face / All the stars of the globe / This world is yours, Scarface.” Prior to the release of his single, “Babushka Boi”, things had been a bit ‘sketch’ for A$AP Rocky.  In 2018, he released his third studio album, TESTING, which honestly wasn’t nearly as good as his first two. Beyond the album, there was also the whole Sweden controversy – not a good situation. The good news is, “Babushka Boi” absolutely slaps.

The main reason “Babushka Boi” shines is thanks to the flow of A$AP Rocky. He doesn’t say anything that’s drenched in depth mind you, but his confidence – “Nigga, Flacko Jodye season” – is noteworthy to some extent.  Expectedly, he references his luxury babushka on the third verse (“Buck fifty, my babushka”), among other drippy moments.  Beyond the flex, “Babushka Boi” thrives off its awesome production work by Héctor Delgado and Boys Noize. It should be noted, of course, that “Babushka Boi” gets a lift from Da Crime Click. The song “You Hoes Gone Get Kidnapped” is sampled, making that babushka swag even more, well, ‘swagalicious.’

11. Leon Else, “Easy Love”

Easy Love [Single] • Leon Else • 2019

“I need some easy love to get me through the night / I need someone to come and take you off my mind.” Apparently, British pop LGBTQ singer/songwriter Leon Else seeks to ‘escape’ through ‘easy love’ – shallow hook-ups that ultimately mean nothing.  Actually, that’s exactly how Else characterized his single, “Easy Love”. “The song is a reflection of a period in my life where I felt everything was falling apart, and sex became something that was like a drug to me.” He continues, “I used sex as a way of escapism to try and forget the pain of what was happening around me, and it became a monster I need to feed… I was constantly chasing a sexual high all the while knowing it wasn’t the answer.” Damn, that’s a brilliant subject for a pop song.  Expectedly, “Easy Love,” released at the end of August 2019, is just that – brilliant!

“Easy Love” features lovely production work that’s bright and set in a major key. A pop song that embraces an electronic script, the synths are certainly the crème de la crème.  That said, the beat is quite effective as well.  Beyond the production, the vocals certainly earn a distinguished rating. Leon Else sings with incredibly ease, never once perspiring as he sings (at least it sounds that way!). The performance is incredibly refined.  Sure, he’s singing about sex, essentially atoning for taking a ‘L’ in some parts of his life (mental health plays a role specifically to Else), but even if it’s a messy situation, he makes it sound classy.  This is a simply, but well-written song about seeking a means to atone the pain.  Else made a sketchy choice by relying on meaningless sex to fulfill him, but ultimately, he delivers quite a relatable, surefire bop that people really need to hear.

Honorable Mentions: Charlie Puth, “Mother”; DaBaby, “INTRO”; Myylo, “Sad Boys”

11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in September 2019 [Photo Credits: Atlantic, ATO, Brittany Howard, Brent Faulkner, Columbia, Def Jam, Interscope, Leon Else, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Polydor, Roadrunner, Tool Dissectional L.L.C., Volcano Entertainment II L.L.C.]