11 Captivating Songs Associated with Doors | Playlist 🎧

1. The Strokes, “At the Door”

💿 The New Abnormal • 🏷 RCA• 📅 2020

Prior to the release of 💿 The New Abnormal, it had been more than seven years since 🎙 The Strokes released a new studio album.  💿 Comedown Machine arrived in 2013, getting respectable reviews overall, but generally, wasn’t hailed a triumph for 🎙 Julian Casablancas and company.  Personally, I only vaguely remember the album.  While that’s not unusual considering the gap between it and The New Abnormal, typically, a really great album sticks with you.  Perhaps Comedown Machine wasn’t a really great album, but The New Abnormal is.  💿 Is This It is still the standard to beat, but The New Abnormal certainly rocks.

“At the Door” continues The Strokes’ victory lap – have they had a glaring miscue on The New Abnormal? Absolutely not.  The electronic element is one of the biggest selling points as there’s some experimentation and innovative spirit. No worries – there are still plenty of guitars to complement the gorgeous electronic palette.  Further strengthening this cut are lovely lead vocals, a simple but highly effective, perfectly suited harmonic progression, and a memorable chorus:

“Struck me like a chord
I’m an ugly boy
Holdin’ out the night
Lonely after light
You begged me not to go
Sinkin’ like a stone
Use me like an oar
And get yourself to shore.”

2. slowthai, “Doorman”

Ft. Mura Masa

💿 Nothing Great About Britain • 🏷 Method • 📅 2019 

Despite the fact that 🎙 slowthai asserts there’s 💿 Nothing Great About Britain, he’s definitely pretty great.  That greatness is shown on his 2019 debut album and specifically on the punk-driven record at hand, 🎵 “Doorman.” “Doorman” appears as the distinct, alt-rap sophomore track on Nothing Great About Britain.  Assisting the rapper on this highlight is the talented producer, 🎛️ Mura Masa.

Slowthai gives an assertive performance, regardless of those purposefully distorted vocals.  He serves up catchy rhymes, filled with personality (“We go on walks, she never talks / I pour my heart out, she laps up my blood”). He’s particularly potent on the chorus:

“Nicotine, can’t quit it
Two’s up, two’s down
You stub it out before I finish
On my arm and I scream out, ‘Wow’.”

Mura Masa gives him energetic production work – ‘rock star’ energy – with some awesome sound effects thrown into the mix. Perhaps there’s Nothing Great About Britain, but “Doorman” is three-minutes (and change) of fun, period.

3. Ryan Beatty, “Flowers at the Door”

💿 Dreaming of David • 🏷 Boy in Jeans / Mad Love / Interscope • 🗓 2020

“Draw on the pages, I won’t erase it / I want your mark on me, eternal.” Clearly, 🎙 Ryan Beatty is totally feeling ‘some type of way’ about him! Cutting straight to the chase, while the aforementioned lyrical excerpt also suggests a deep connection with a partner, 🎵 “Flowers at the Door” (💿 Dreaming of David) seems to be most thankful about a hot, freaky sexual experience. The sexual experience is artfully executed sans profanity. That said, lyrically, it’s clear that Beatty isn’t the least bit ‘innocent.’

Key lyrics from the first verse include the brilliant “Our heads connected, I got the message / You had your hands around my skull,” and “I look up to you when I’m below.”  Ponder it, and you realize it’s poetically portraying oral ‘pleasure.’ The chorus extends upon the ‘happening,’ as Beatty sensually asks, “Why don’t you turn me around?” (aka hit it from the back to quote the rappers).  The bridge also sheds some light: “What’s so wrong with wanting more? / Rollin’ on the hardwood floor.” Clearly, Ryan is thankful for the ‘bouquet of flowers received at the door,’ and can’t wait for more…

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4. Murda Beatz, “DOORS UNLOCKED”

Ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Polo G

🎵 “DOORS UNLOCKED” • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

“Suicide Ghost with the chrome on top / In the rich neighborhood with the doors unlocked.” Despite the fact that it is 🎙 Ty Dolla $ign who offers his smooth vocals on the chorus of 🎵 “DOORS UNLOCKED” (and dominates the song), this record is attributed to producer 🎛️ Murda Beatz.  Murda produces “DOORS UNLOCKED” alongside 🎛️ Charlie Handsome, delivering a certified bop. We get a contemporary trap beat with a backdrop that’s actually quite smooth and sleek.

As aforementioned, Ty Dolla $ign truly puts in work on “DOORS,” singing the catchy, memorable chorus, which ultimately serves as the centerpiece.  Additionally, Ty gives us sweet vocals on the first verse, asserting at the end, “I got whips, I got angels on my hood when I ride out.” 🎙 Polo G joins the show on the second verse.  Notably, he also gives a melodic performance, complementing the work put in by Ty earlier.  His focus isn’t the car but rather love/sex (“In a two-seater, I’m caressing her thighs / Right now a man ain’t fit for her pride”). Running just under three minutes, “DOORS UNLOCKED” is not only the perfect length but also pretty sweet.

5. Luke Combs, “Refrigerator Door”

💿 What You See Ain’t Always What You Get • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2020 

🎙 Luke Combs’ ascent in country music has been incredibly quick.  Where some country musicians are struggling, Combs has been tearing up the charts.  What DOOR song does Mr. Combs bring to the table? Well, that would be the 🎵 “Refrigerator Door,” which appears as the second track on his 2019 album, 💿 What You See is What You Get, as well as the 2020 expanded version, 💿 What You See Ain’t Always What You Get. “Refrigerator Door” was written by Combs along with 🎼 ✍ Jordan Brooker, while 🎛️ Scott Moffatt handles the production.

So, does “Refrigerator Door” have anything to do with the contents inside the refrigerator? That would be a no, JAMES! “Refrigerator Door” is a prime example of singer/songwriter country song, reminiscing on the memories posted on the refrigerator door – ah, those magnets come in handy. “My first day of kindergarten when I was five years old,” Luke sings on the second verse, listing the contents posted on the Kenmore, continuing “A postcard that my cousin sent from Cancun, Mexico…” The chorus, sung marvelously by Combs, best sums up the significance of that door:

“‘Cause they’re just pictures hanging side by side
Forgotten memories from another time
Just the places that I’ve been before
Couple magnets, recipes, and Polaroids
Yeah, but that’s my life on the ‘frigerator door.”

6. Aesop Rock, “Dog at the Door”

💿 Spirit World Field Guide • 🏷 Rhymesayers Entertainment LLC • 📅 2020

“Huh? Who’s there? / Dog at the front door barking at the air.” Woof, woof, WOOF!  Despite being underrated, underground rapper 🎙 Aesop Rock (Ian Matthias Bavitz) is absolutely and utterly awesome.  I dare you to argue otherwise! 🎵 “Dog at the Door,” which runs just a minute-and-a-half, appears on his 2020 album, 💿 Spirit World Field Guide.

“Dog at the Door” features a groovy, old-school, underground sound.  Perfect! Aesop Rock handles the production duties himself – what a pro he is! Furthermore, Aesop blesses the listeners with his ever-distinct, colorful flow. Sure, he’s working with a limited duration, but that’s more than enough for him to put his stamp on it. Sigh, gotta love and appreciate his rhymes and distinct style. He closes the sole verse with quite a bang:

“The mutt goes quiet, one last sniff, lopes inside
Fine, it might've been a baby squirrel who tumbled from the nest
It’s probably just you motherfuckers missed.”

Again, woof, woof, WOOF!

7. Lil Pump, “Butterfly Doors”

💿 Harverd Dropout • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2019 

There are some pros for rapper 🎙 Lil Pump regarding 🎵 “Butterfly Doors”, a single appearing on 💿 Harverd Dropout (2019).  First and foremost, it’s brief.  Another “W” for Pump is the minor-key, minimalist production work.  The beat is sleek, while the synth is sketchy and seedy sounding.  His flow is appealing overall, while his agile, quick-paced rhymes are basic AF with nothing transcendent to be found.

Cutting straight to the chase, “Butterfly Doors” appears on this list because it references butterfly doors, which appear on lux, high-performance sports cars, specifically Lamborghinis.  Additionally, he references hustling, guns, and money. Of course, the polarizing “Gucci Gang” rapper goes beyond those doors and gets controversial, thanks to a tasteless reference to Asians on the chorus: “They call me Yao [Ming] ‘cause my eyes real low.”  To quote The Boxer Rebellion, 🎵 “What the Fuck” was he thinking?

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8. Caroline Polachek, “Door”

💿 Pang • 🏷 Perpetual Novice • 📅 2019

In 2019, singer, songwriter, and producer 🎙 Caroline Polachek released her debut studio album, 💿 Pang.  While Pang marks her official debut, Polachek has been in the music business for a while, notably as part of the synth-pop collective, 🎙 Chairlift.  Enough background though, as this isn’t about a biography but rather a song associated with the door/doors in some form or fashion. 🎵 “Door,” which appears as the penultimate track on Pang, definitely gets the job done.  “Door” features smooth, incredibly sleek production work courtesy of Polachek, 🎛️ Daniel Nigro, 🎛️ Jim-E-Stack, and 🎛️ Danny L Harle (All serve as songwriters 🎼 ✍ as well).

“Back in the city / I’m just another girl in a sweater / Perpetual Novice / Signature on a check made out to you…” “Door” begins abruptly with those lyrics, sung by the enigmatic, yet radiant, calming vocals by Polachek. Following the initial mystery, “Door” begins to settle in, with some cool production effects and unique ideas thrown in.  Vocally, Caroline sounds simply amazing.  Some of the best moments come courtesy of classy, elegant harmonized vocal moments, sigh.  Of course, the songwriting is nice too, with both descriptive moments (“And we’re waking up sore and dizzy / From a ten-year concussion / and the rainfall makes you miss me…”) as well as simpler ones, such as the chorus. The chorus is quite catchy, featuring ample repetition of the word DOOR, of course (“You open the door / To another door, to another door”)!  Though this record runs nearly five-and-a-half-minutes in duration, it’s a glorious chunk of time that never grows boring.

9. I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, “Door”

💿 RAZZMATAZZ • 🏷 Fearless • 📅 2020 

“If I’m out of line / Just show me the door / I promise you I / I won’t come here no more.” “Whoomp – there it is”! 🎵 “Door” appears as the penultimate track on 💿 RAZZMATAZZ.  RAZZMATAZZ is the 2020 debut album by alternative collective, 🎙 I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME.  “Door,” notably, precedes the titular track. At just 1:33, it’s quite short, yet even sweeter – no cap.

“Door” features dreamy production, which includes ukulele.  Likewise, front man Dallon Weekes (formerly a member of 🎙 Panic! At The Disco), delivers smooth, truly beautiful vocals.  Weekes ultimately writes and produces this simple but highly effective door-driven joint, which features just one verse.  Among the key lyrics: “Promise the next time that you take my hand / Is to show me the door.”

10. Alessia Cara, “Girl Next Door”

💿 The Pains of Growing • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2018

Following an impressive debut album (💿 Know-It-All, 2015), 🏆 Grammy-winning pop artist 🎙 Alessia Cara returned with her sophomore album, 💿 The Pains of Growing. Despite being a strong album, The Pains of Growing wasn’t a commercial success.  That’s truly a bummer for an artist as gifted as Cara who didn’t deserve the dreaded sophomore effect.  But enough background and small talk.  Let’s focus on the reason why Alessia appears on this door-driven list: 🎵 “Girl Next Door.”

No, “Girl Next Door” isn’t a key selection from The Pains of Growing.  That said, it is a record that fits the narrative of the album and shows incredible maturity.  Here, Alessia Cara reflects on her various character traits and idiosyncrasies – she totally owns it.

“I get uncomfortable, hide behind my walls
And I talk in circles, but at least I say what I mean
And I rock my heart on the sleeve of my T-shirt.”

That said, Cara also makes it clear that “No, you won’t forget… this girl next door.” 

11. Rick Ross, “Lamborghini Doors”

Ft. Anthony Hamilton & Meek Mill

💿 Rather You Than Me • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2017

Prior to 🎵 “Lamborghini Doors,” 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Rick Ross had a cosmic experience on 💿 Rather You Than Me, thanks to 🎵 “Scientology.” Makes perfect sense, right? Right! But this isn’t about religion in the least, unless it’s a sports car with 🎵 “Butterfly Doors”, of course.  On “Lamborghini Doors,” Ross is assisted by good company: 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B artist 🎙 Anthony Hamilton and 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Meek Mill.

Here’s the interesting thing though.  Anthony Hamilton, known for his soulful pipes DOES NOT deliver the hook! Instead, Mr. Hamilton is used for an interlude…  Nonetheless, his tone is radiant – when hasn’t it been? As for Meek Mill, he handles hook duties:

“Started off poor with plans to own more
To ridin’ under stars, the life we lived for
Dreamin’ of things, we can’t afford
But now we comin’ up like them Lamborghini doors, ooh...”

Meek Mill also drops a ferocious verse where he’s on autopilot.  As for the Boss himself, he’s automatic too.

“Homicides rise as the sun falls
Watch your dog die as my gun bark
These helicopters rise for the one in charge
If I sentence you to die, well that's a hundred shots.”