11 Captivating Songs Where the BAND Leads the Charge | Playlist

11 Captivating Songs Where the BAND Leads the Charge features songs by 5 Seconds of Summer, Alex Schor x Digbar, Donny Hathaway, Drake, and Wings.

Noted, Matty Healy. He says more, involving his penis, but we’ll save that bust for later.  Anyway, it’s time to strike up the BAND 🤘! Band is the keyword in 11 Captivating Songs Where the BAND Leads the Charge. Previously, five of the songs that reappear on this band-themed list originally appeared on Band: 5 Gems No. 15 (2026). Also, it should be noted that band has various meanings. It’s not all about the instruments, believe it or not! Sometimes, it’s never about them 11 Captivating Songs Where the BAND Leads the Charge features songs by 5 Seconds of Summer, Alex Schor x DigBar, Donny Hathaway, Drake, and Paul McCartney & Wings.  So, without further ado, let’s dive into the band-centric 11 Captivating Songs Where the BAND Leads the Charge, shall we?!

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~ Table of Contents ~

1. 5 Seconds of Summer, “Boyband”	2. Central Cee, “BAND4BAND” (Ft. Lil Baby)	3. The 1975, “Part of the Band”
4. Alex Schor & DigBar, “Bandsexual”	5. R. Kelly, “Marching Band” (Ft. Juicy J)	6. Drake, “10 Bands”
7. Juicy J, “Bandz A Make Her Dance” (Ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)	8. Barry Manilow, “Bandstand Boogie”	9. Paul McCartney & Wings, “Band On The Run”
10. Freda Payne, “Band of Gold”	11. Donny Hathaway, “Magnificent Sanctuary Band”

 

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1. 5 Seconds of Summer, “Boyband”

EVERYONE’S A STAR » 5SOS, LLC / Republic » 2025

5 Seconds of Summer, comprised of Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, and Michael Clifford, have been frequently characterized as a boy band.  On “Boyband”, they embrace being a boy band! “Boyband” is the fourth track from their 2025 album, EVERYONE’S A STAR. Irwin, Hood, Hemmings, Jason Evigan, John Ryan, and Simon Wilcox penned “Boyband.” Evigan and Ryan produced it.

“Boyband” also sounds like a boy band song. Synths and electropop cues are firmly planted from the get-go.  The pummeling, rhythmic drums are a welcome touch.  Notably, processed lead vocals match the electro-centric, boy band-driven cues. Luke Hemmings performs the first verse, initial pre-chorus. “When I’m dead and gone, bury me in stardust,” he sings in the first verse, and adds, “King of the river city, look at what it gave us, oh.” Calum performs the chorus, bridge, and second verse. “Love me when I’m skinny and we never, ever age / Same four chords, but it never feels the same,” he sings in the second verse, adding in the bridge, “Boy in a boyband / Make that monkey dance.” Woo! Throughout, the rhythmic, melodic lines are a selling point.  Notably, there is plenty of gimmickry, instrumentally and vocally.  While there are some rock elements (those drums), this song is firmly planted in pop. The chorus, excerpted earlier, is relatively tuneful. Adding some spice are the f-bombs by Ashton that appear at the end, describing the song: “That was fucking amazing,” and “I had to admit, it was really fucking awesome, come check it.” All in all, “Boyband” is a bop.

 

Appears in 🔻:

BOY, These Songs Are About You, Part 5 (2026) Band: 5 Gems No. 15 (2026)

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2. Central Cee, “BAND4BAND” (Ft. Lil Baby)

CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS » Columbia » 2025

That came directly from the horse’s mouth: Central Cee (Oakley Neil Caesar-Su).  The Gen-Z British rapper is rolling in the dough, so much so that he squanders it.  He paired up with Grammy-winning rapper Lil Baby (Dominique Jones) on the single, “BAND4BAND”.  “BAND4BAND” is the 13^th track from Cench’s 2025 debut album, CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS.  The single had success on the pop charts, reaching number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.  Ghana Beats and geenaro produced it.

Speaking of production, it features a dramatic, minor-key backdrop.  The syncopated beat, a drill music cue, is lit. The theme of “BAND4BAND” is luxury, luxury, and more luxury! The drip is dripping in this brief rap banger. Central Cee’s heavy, inescapable British accent is charming. He is on autopilot, delivering agile, confident, and hard-nosed rhymes.  “So, I jumped on a private jet, and / I’m askin’ the pilot the ETA,” he raps, and continues, “Lambo’ parked on the landin’ strip, everyone in my gang and my DJ paid.” The chorus is crème de la crème.  Here, Cench and Lil Baby trade bars.

“We can go band for that

Fuck that, we can go M for M

Quarter mil’ for the Maybach truck

Double R with the factory rims

I got the 90, the Urus, the Virgil, the Brabus, I’m really a threat

It’s got to the point that I don’t even care,

I got the jewels in the safe that I don’t even wear.”

Woo! Lil Baby serves up his typical, melodic rap vibes throughout the second verse. Like Cench, he rides the beat like a champ. “‘Rari truck, it look like a spider, it’s crawlin’ a dollar on just accessories (Damn),” he raps, and continues, “She made me wanna go harder, I like her whole aura, I think I’m obsessed with her.” He impresses her with his financial status: “UK Selfridges with a cute one (ooh), bank account look good, this a new one (yeah).” Cench interjects during the verse (“We can go band for band”), before Lil Baby concludes (“I done got rich, but I’m still with the shit, land in London and go to the ends”). Central Cee and Lil Baby conclude with the chorus in all of its confident and luxurious glory.  All told, “BAND4BAND” is one hell of a rap banger.

Appears in 🔻:

Central Cee & Lil Baby, BAND4BAND: Dazzling Duets No. 11 (2026) Band: 5 Gems No. 15 (2026)

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3. The 1975, “Part of the Band”

Being Funny in a Foreign Land » Dirty Hit » 2022

🍆 💦 Wow, Matthew Healy… not sure how to respond to that!  The 1975 frontman clarifies this act took place “In my, my, my imagination.”  Those lyrics, from “Part of the Band”, a highlight from Being Funny in a Foreign Land, aren’t the only ear-catching moments.  There is some queer energy in the second verse, as Healy asserts, “And I fell in love with a boy, it was kinda lame / I was Rimbaud, and he was Paul Verlaine / in my, my, my, imagination.” Interesting! Do some research, and influential poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine were in a scandalous relationship, you might say. Moving on, in the chorus, Matthew is home but unhappy, and masturbating his pathetic life away (“Cumming to her look-alikes”). Wow!

Of course, if you’re going to be fierce, it takes more than a same-sex reference and solo fun!  In the third verse, for good measure, Matthew Healy finds a way to throw in ejaculations…  While that should be the most interesting aspect of the verse, it’s the second half that takes the cake: “‘I like my men like I like my coffee / Full of soy milk and so sweet, it won’t offend anybody’.” Of course, there is plenty to unpack in those lines, and so many other lyrics from the jam-packed “Part of the Band”.  That doesn’t even account for the production (Healy, George Daniel, and Jack Antonoff), sound, or the quality of the vocals and vocal production.  This poetic promo single from Being Funny in a Foreign Land is truly special.

Appears in 🔻:

The 1975, Part of the Band: FIERCE Pop + Rock No. 9 (2023)

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4. Alex Schor & DigBar, “Bandsexual”

“Bandsexual” » hssndusqooq records » 2025

Woo! Alex Schor said what he said on the chorus of the rap banger, “Bandsexual”.  His sexuality and relationship status are unimportant, but the money – that’s a big deal! Schor is incredibly entertaining in the first and catchiest part of the song we hear, the chorus.  He may have ADHD, but, “I just can’t sit still ‘ cause this motion is perpetual.” Woo! Schor doesn’t ‘bandsexual’ all on his own.  He collaborates with DigBar, who is a trip himself.  Both rappers wrote “Bandsexual”,  while Schor also produced it.

Following the chorus, Alex Schor also takes the reins in the first verse.  He talks a lot of shit.  As with the chorus, money turns Alex on: “It’s money, power, fame, like an addict with cocaine.” Colorfully, the bars are something else, whether it’s “Feelin’ like mitosis the way I had to double up,” or asserting, “Got no money left for tax, I’m uppin’ the budget / Frick the government, I got a fake ID like McLovin.” Superbad, huh? DigBar gets into the action in the second verse.  For him, “Money get me horny, when I see it, I be jackin’ off / Break into the bank, butt naked, then I grab it all.” O…K… then… Like Schor, he maintains the philosophy regarding the love of money, whether it’s, “I got hella commas, I cannot stand decimals,” or “Made her nigga jealous, but I’m sorry, don’t want any drama / I’m just bandsexual, I promise, don’t want any problems.” Over a sophisticated, rhythmic, groovy backdrop, Alex Schor and DigBar, who should be taken with a grain of salt, tout their love for money, PERIODT.  What else needs to be said? “Bandsexual” is what it is.

Appears in 🔻:

Alex Schor & DigBar, Bandsexual: Dazzling Duets No. 25 (2026)

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5. R. Kelly, “Marching Band” (Ft. Juicy J)

The Buffet » RCA Records » 2015

Well, at one time… I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again: R. Kelly is NOT a good person. He brought his musical downfall on himself.  That said, Kelly has written some spectacular songs in his career.  Some of his songs only amplified his issues involving the universal three-letter-word, sex.  On “Marching Band,” the fifth track from his 2015 album, The Buffet, the marching band is NOT that innocent.  “Marching Band” confirms Kells can compare any and everything to SEX.  Whether it makes you shake your head, cringe, or laugh (probably pre- sex-cult Kells), this song is a trip. See the chorus, performed by R.:

“She blow me like a tuba

I beat it up like a snare drum

That girl make me want it

Cause every time we in the bedroom

It be soundin’ like a marching band

It be soundin’ like a marching band

It be soundin’ like a marching band

I know the neighbors next door can feel that bass

Cause every time we in the bedroom

It be soundin’ like a marching band.”

Need I say more? Of course, during his verse, R. Kelly keeps it filthy, bragging, “I keep that pussy cummin’ like I ran a tab on it,” and stating, “Botty so big got a nigga hearin’ trumpets.” Damn, more like, gah-damn. But it’s not only Kells who’s a bad boy.  Juicy J delivers his own head-shakable sexed-up lyrics in the second verse: “In the lobby Four Seasons with like ten or twelve broads / all head to my suite, it’s a million THOT march.” SMH! Even before that, Juicy informs us, “She like it on her chin like a violin.” Use your imagination for what he means there.  “Marching Band” in R. Kelly and Juicy J’s hands is a far cry from the one I was a member of throughout high school and college. Just sayin’!

 

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6. Drake, “10 Bands”

If Youre Reading This Its Too Late » Cash Money Records Inc. » 2015

Ooh-wee! Well, I mean, we don’t have to discuss it, Drake, if you really don’t think we should 🤷🏾‍♂️. But “10 Bands” from 2015’s If Youre Reading This Its Too Late deserves to be discussed! It’s kind of a big deal. Sure, it peaked modestly on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 58, but it deserved better!

“10 Bands” is set in a minor key, giving it a darker, more menacing, and tougher sound. With Boi-1da, Sevn Thomas, and Ging behind the boards, the production work is sleek. I love the keys/synths and the rhythmic drum programming.  The backdrop is perfect fuel for Drake’s fire.  He delivers an assertive performance that is more hard-nosed. He performs with a compelling cadence and flow from start to finish. His confidence is through the roof. The chorus, excerpted earlier, is the crème de la crème – the crowning achievement.  Still, there are plenty of lyrical gems from the verses, too. I adore his melodic moments in the second verse, where he breaks character from the un-pitched rhymes: “I been in the crib with the phones off / I been at the house takin’ no calls / I done hit the stride, got my shit goin’ In the 6, cookin’ with the wrist motion.” Oh, snap! In short, Drake ate and left no crumbs on “10 Bands”. “6 God, put both hands together, that’s amazin’ grace / 6 God, selfish with the love, I need all the praise (Woo).” WORD 🙏!

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7. Juicy J, “Bandz A Make Her Dance” (Ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)

Stay Trippy » Columbia » 2013

To quote Wale via a particular Waka Flocka Flame hit, “She said, ‘Look ma, no hands!’” Of course, this isn’t “No Hands” we’re talking about. This is “Bandz a Maker Her Dance,” Juicy J’s biggest hit as a solo artist. The best way to describe the chorus is sketchy, yet infectious. Essentially, Juicy J is throwing money (bands) at these strippers to satisfy his lust.  If it wasn’t clear, the strippers are ‘clapping’ using their cheeks…

“Bandz A Make Her Dance” is representative of Juicy J at his juiciest. In the first verse, he spits, “She put that ass up in my hands, I remote control it (yeah ho).” Lil Wayne promotes good ole sex on his guest verse (“…bands a maker her dance, Tunechi make her cum / Hit it from the side like a motherfucking bass drum…”) as does 2 Chainz (“…Let me see that ass clap, standing ovation / If yo girl don’t swallow kids, man that ho basic…”). Nasty, tasteless, and misogynistic, it’s irresistibly so, but at least Juicy J manages to Stay Trippy, fueled by a sleek Mike WiLL Made-It beat.

Appears in 🔻:

11 Songs Associated with the Word STRIP (2018) 15 Fantastic Booty Shaking Anthems (2019) Band: 5 Gems No. 15 (2026)

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8. Barry Manilow, “Bandstand Boogie”

Tryin’ To Get The Feeling » Arista Records LLC » 1975

Barry Manilow? Sounds like so much F-U-N! Take one listen to “Bandstand Boogie”, and it screams fun! It is the fourth track from his 1975 album, Tryin’ To Get The Feeling. “Bandstand Boogie” was written by Manilow, Charles Albertine, Bruce Sussman, Bob Horn, Larry Elgart, and Les Elgart. Why are there so many songwriters? The song was originally an instrumental, first recorded by Les Elgart & His Orch. The Manilow version adds those hoppin’ lyrics! Manilow and Ron Dante produced it.

“Now for all you Joes, here goes my American handstand / Because I’m on, because I’m on the American Bandstand.” Noted, Barry Manilow! “Bandstand Boogie” swings much more than a 1970s pop song should.  The instrumental dates back to the 1950s, so that makes sense! This big band, easy listening, showtune-like record fits Manilow perfectly, given its theatricality. The arrangement is fabulous, jazzy, with a tight rhythm section and exuberant horns. Also, shout out to the pianist, who has their fair share of ear-catching moments.  The star of the show, however, is none other than Manilow. He delivers a personality-filled, tongue-in-cheek vocal performance.  His tone is remarkable.  His phrasing is impeccable.  The performance is silly, but in the most stellar way possible.

“I’m on Bandstand (Bandstand)
And I’ll jump, and hey, I may even show ‘em my handstand
Because I’m on, because I’m on the American Bandstand.”

You can tell Barry is having fun.  Likewise, the listener has fun with this infectious and irresistibly delicious gem. “And we’ll rock and roll and stroll on American / Lindy hop and slop, it’s American Tune in, I’m on / Turn on, I’m in, I’m on / Today (Bandstand).” Woo! “Bandstand Boogie” is another reason why Barry Manilow is one of the most successful pop artists to ever do it.

Appears in 🔻:

Barry Manilow, Bandstand Boogie: Throwback Vibez No. 52 (2026)

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9. Paul McCartney & Wings, “Band On The Run”

Band on the Run » MPL Communications Inc/Ltd » 1973

Food for thought. Imprisonment is one of the themes of the Paul McCartney (b. 1942) and Wings classic, “Band On The Run”, the opening track from the 1973 multi-platinum album of the same name. This five-minute-plus song is comprised of three distinct parts.  It was inspired by numerous things, including drug criminalization, the music business (related to The Beatles), and imprisonment. McCartney and his wife, Linda McCartney (1941 – 1998), composed this ambitious song. Paul produced it.  It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single as gold.

“Band On The Run” is adventurous. It commences with part one, which begins with a compelling guitar riff. Some ear-catching instrumental sounds appear during the intro, including an eventual recurrent keyboard riff.  There is a great harmonic progression, with the bass line providing a firm foundation. Paul McCartney delivers lovely lead vocals.  Also, the supporting vocal harmonies are marvelous. “Stuck inside these four walls / Sent inside forever / Never seeing no one nice again,” he sings, and adds, “Like you / Mama, you.” Confinement? Incarceration? It could mean a lot of things, but it seems more metaphorical than literal. Still, a lot was going on around the time “Band On The Run” was released. 1:19 in, the feel and sound of “Band On The Run” change.  Part two feels like a brand-new song.  The guitar riffs continue to stand out, as does the bass.  With more intriguing sounds supporting him, McCartney, once more, delivers memorable lyrics and a tuneful melody. The incarceration is still happening… “If I ever get out of here,” he sings, and continues, “If we ever get out of here.” Of course, he and the band get out… of the section, at least, beginning with part three. At 2:06, things shift once more, led by grand orchestral riffs.  These riffs lead into the acoustic guitar-led, folksy-rock section, which eventually features the titular lyrics. The third and final part of “Band On The Run” is a complete entity.  Still, it is intertwined with the other two parts that precede it. There are three verses.  A pre-chorus and chorus follow each verse.   The songwriting is intriguing in the verses. In the third verse, McCartney asserts, “In town, they’re searching for us everywhere / ‘Cause we will never be found.” The band got out! Of course, the best part of the record is the utterly infectious chorus:

“For the band on the run

The band on the run

The band on the run (Yeah!)

Band on the run.”

“Band On The Run” is a musical masterpiece. This influential pre-Yacht Rock classic covers a lot of ground lyrically, thematically, and musically.  Paul McCartney crafted an ultra-creative,  innovative, once-in-a-lifetime song. So much more can be said, but, as I say all the time, the music speaks for itself.

Appears in 🔻:

Paul McCartney & Wings, Band On The Run: Throwback Vibez No. 39 (2026)

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10. Freda Payne, “Band of Gold”

Band of Gold » HDH / Invictus » 1970

Woo! Versatile singer and actress Freda Payne (b. 1943) earned the biggest hit of her career with her 1970 single, “Band of Gold”.  “Band of Gold” appeared on Payne’s album of the same title. It also appeared on her Greatest Hits compilation, released in 1991.  “Band of Gold” was written by Ron Dunbar and Edyth Wayne. Edyth Wayne was a pseudonym for the legendary songwriting/production collective comprised of Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, and Lamont Dozier.  “Band of Gold” was a pop hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified gold by the RIAA.

“Band of Gold” is incredibly catchy, as exemplified by the excerpted chorus.  Furthermore, the music is groovy as well – it’s a soul classic through and through.  Vocally, Payne shows off her versatility without a hitch.  That said, what often draws the most interest in this song beyond its elite musicianship is the theme.  In the most general sense, literally right after becoming husband and wife, the marriage is effectively over, like, oh snap! “We kissed after taking vows,” she sings in the first verse, continuing, ‘but that night of the honeymoon / We stayed in separate rooms.” That’s exactly why Payne is singing “All that’s left is a band of gold!” Similarly, the second verse testifies to this sus union: “I’d wait in the darkness of my lonely room / Filled with sadness, filled with gloom / Hoping soon / That you’d walk back through that door.”  What’s interesting is that this record is subject to multiple interpretations, with two popular takes including the sexual inabilities of the man in the relationship, as well as the fact that she may have married a gay man.  Regardless, it’s a fabulous, fabulous record.

Appears in 🔻:

Freda Payne, Band of Gold: Throwback Vibez No. 101 (2022) 11 Songs That Are Golden to the Core (2022) 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 6 (2023) 13 Blingy, Hella Icy Jewelry Songs (2023) Incredible Songs: 1970s, Vol. 1 (2023) Band: 5 Gems No. 15 (2026)

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11. Donny Hathaway, “Magnificent Sanctuary Band”

Donny Hathaway » Atlantic » 1971

Donny Hathaway (1945 – 1979).  Despite his short life, Hathaway left an indelible musical legacy.  Had he lived, given the sheer breadth of his collection, there’s no telling how many more classics he would’ve unveiled.  Notably, spirituality plays a gargantuan role in Mr. Hathaway’s music. “Magnificent Sanctuary Band”, which appears on his self-titled 1971 album, provides the perfect blend of gospel and R&B/soul. Dorsey Burnette composed it.

“Magnificent Sanctuary Band” is one of the funkiest records you’ll ever hear.  The groove – infectious. “Magnificent Sanctuary Band” bears a positive, soul-stirring message derived from the black church.  “From the book I read, not one but all must follow him,” Hathaway sings on the first verse, and continuing, “Come and join the magnificent sanctuary band.” Amen! Donny doesn’t stop there, singing on the second verse, “Seems like temptation rules over the land / You know, those people should just remember his commandments / Come and join the magnificent sanctuary band.” As you’d expect, the centerpiece is the chorus, where Hathaway encourages all to believe, embrace, and embody Christ:

“Singing in the band, talking to the man

Bringing in the sheep all over the world as fast as he can

… Dropping everything you’re doing and join the sanctuary band.”

Hathaway is chock-full of spirit, singing his face off.  His ministry is felt for sure, forty years after the song first arrived.

Appears in 🔻:

Donny Hathaway, Magnificent Sanctuary Band: Sunday Refresh No. 15 (2021) 13 More Songs That Provide That Spiritual Refresh (2021) Donny Hathaway vs. Susan Tedeschi: Head 2 Head No. 29 (2021) 15 Soul Oldies That Tickle My Fancy (2021)  Band: 5 Gems No. 15 (2026)

 

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11 Captivating Songs Where the BAND Leads the Charge (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 5SOS, LLC, Arista Records LLC, Atlantic, Dirty Hit, HDH, hssndusqooq records, Invictus, MPL Communications Inc/Ltd, Republic; David Brown, Franco Monsalvo, Nicolas Arroyo, RDNE Stock project from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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