11 Fresh Songs About Shoes 👟| Playlist 🎧

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11 Fresh Songs About Shoes features music by Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, JoJo, LoveLeo, and Luke Bryan among others. 

Folks – get ready to put them shoes on! There’s no sugarcoating and definitely no 🐂💩 – well – you can be the judge of that yourself! After dabbling in clothes previously with the likes of 20 Songs About Apparel: Clothes & Shoes Reloaded, we are focusing merely on shoes on this list.  That’s right, 11 FRESH SONGS ABOUT SHOES is all about S-H-O-E-S.  Some of the songs previously appeared on the full-fledge apparel list, while all five of the songs from Heels… 5ive Songs make the cut, with perhaps a smidge more commentary from ya boi! The musicians giving us these fresh tunes are Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, JoJo, LoveLeo, and Luke Bryan among others. So, get your favorite kicks and dive right into this 💩!

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1. Frank Ocean, “Nikes” 👟

Blonde • Blonded • 2016

“These bitches want Nikes / They looking for a check / Tell ‘em it ain’t likely / She said she need a ring like Carmelo / You must be on that white like Othello / All you want is Nikes…” So, within the first four lines of “Nikes” 👟 we get reference to shoes, a profession basketball player without a word championship (he did win an NCAA title, though), drugs, and a Shakespeare classic? DAAMN! ⬇️

Frank Ocean commences Blonde, his sophomore album, intriguingly with “Nikes.”  Throughout the first part of the record, his vocals are drenched in autotune. Normally this might be a turn-off, but in this case, the effect is alluring; it shows Ocean’s experimental spirit essentially.

During the second half of the song, Ocean uses his natural voice sans autotune, quasi-rapping and singing. “Nikes” dabbles in materialism, provides shout outs and memorials (“RIP Trayvon, that n***a look just like me”), and sex (“But if you need dick I got you and I yam from the line”).

2. LoveLeo, “Head Over Heels” 🙆⤵👠

LOOK AT THIS MESS IVE MADE • GODMODE / Republic • 2020

“Head Over Heels” 🙆⤵👠 appears as the fourth track from LOOK AT THIS MESS IVE MADE, the debut EP by LoveLeo (Leo Reilly). The handsome, talented musician and model is the son of actor John C. Reilly. The pop artist earned a breakout, viral hit at the end of 2019 with “BOYFREN”, which also appears on LOOK AT THIS MESS IVE MADE.

“Head Over Heels” thrives off being both catchy and groovy. Reilly has swagger for days, coming off as one of the coolest guys you’d want to meet.  He successfully paints a picture of trying to impress as well as being afraid to speak up for himself.  One of my favorite lyrics – which seems to reference Mac Miller (R.I.P.) – occurs during the bridge:

“You better take off your shoes
(Before you walk in my mind)
I’ve got the G.O.O.D. AM blues
Feminine so divine…” 

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3. Anderson. Paak, “Good Heels” 👠

Ft. Jazmine Sullivan

Ventura • Aftermath Entertainment • 2019 

“I don’t mind waitin’ if it don’t take too long / I don’t mind stayin’, baby, we drove your car…” Hmm, sounds like two people are totally creepin’! “Good Heels” 👠, the fifth track from Ventura, the fourth album by Grammy-winner Anderson .Paak, is DISAPPOINTING. Why – is the affair that’s going down? No – who am I to judge! The main reason “Good Heels” is disappointing is because the track is so short! Other than its brevity, “Good Heels” allures as much everything else on Ventura, which earned Paak two awards at the 62^nd Annual Grammys.

Paak taps Jazmine Sullivan for the vocal assist with top-rate results.  We’d expect no less from one of the most talented vocalists in the game – FACTS.

“Oh, damn, oh, friend
Too much fun in the AM
I forgot my keys and my clothes
Is your girl comin’ home?”

Again, with so much to practically salivate over, we totally needed more of this groovy gem beyond one-minute-and-forty seconds.  A crime, especially with ‘good heels’ involved!

4. Greyson Chance, “Boots” 🥾

“Boots” • Arista • 2019

“Ooh, I feel like I’m running…” definitely had a pretty nice year in 2019, Fresh off his comeback LP, Portraits, Greyson Chance blessed us with “Boots” 🥾, a single where he shows us what a legitimate cowboy looks like as opposed to faux ones constructing faux ‘Western imagery’. 🤠 From the jump, it’s pretty clear that Chance has a gem on his hands.  At under three minutes in duration, the record is brief but incredibly effective.  Bram Inscore, a co-writer alongside Chance and Sean Kennedy, construct a fine backdrop (canvas if you will) for Chance to paint upon.

Following his ‘running’ intro, Chance wastes no times cowboying it up like the Oklahoma-bred boy he is, dissing the fake cowboys of California.  “I’ve been western before all of these punks,” he sings, continuing, “These punks in California who think they can punch.” Later, he trades ‘punks’ for ‘stars,’ singing, “These stars in California who think that they are hard.”  That, of course, goes beyond the cowboy lifestyle. He couldn’t have a killer boot song without referencing Nancy Sinatra, right? Right! “Boots with the big heels, hot like I’m Nancy” is the perfect way to commence the second verse.  Also, concluding the verse with the confident line “‘Cause I’ve been making people mad since the start / And making too much money to be wasted in this bar,” is pretty sick as well.  Don’t think Chance is totally ‘old fashioned’ – he gets a weed reference in towards the end (“I’m smoking way too loud 💨; I’m feeling good high now”).

5. Luke Bryan, “Knockin’ Boots” 🥾

Born Here Live Here Die Here • Capitol Nashville • 2020

“Yeah, birds need bees and ice needs whiskey / Boys like me need girls like you to kiss me… / Boots need knockin’, knockin’ boots / Knockin’ boots, me and you, oh.”  You see, when you’re a country artist, and you want to tackle matters of the bedroom, well, you’ve got to be clever about it.  Luke Bryan couldn’t be outright explicit – he had ‘make love’ in a country sort of way.  He does so effectively, if utterly cornily on “Knockin’ Boots” 🥾, the opening track from his delayed 2020 album, Born Here Live Here Die Here.  

One of the pros for Mr. Bryan is the fact that he doesn’t go too modern in regard to the sound of “Knockin’ Boots.” This may not be the most traditional country cut ever recorded, but it also doesn’t force the modern pop hand. Bryan keeps things semi-traditional as he sings about a relatable topic without getting TMI.  Additionally, he’s able to incorporate the usual country clichés – his truck (“This truck needs a half tank / These wheels need a two-lane”), drinking (“Cheap drinks need a-slingin’”), and of course, love and ‘making love’ without crossing the line (“That dress needs to slip off” and “And backseats need I want you so bad”).  Unsurprisingly, the crème de la crème is the chorus, excerpted at the top in all its vanilla, sensual glory 😂.

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6. NoMBe, “Heels” 👠

“Heels” • TH3RD BRAIN • 2020

“Silk and high fashion / Only the best / She wears Chanel’s finest / Mixed with coffee and sex…” NoMBe brings those refreshing vibes to the table with his brand of electric soul (he’s branded under the umbrella of ‘alternative’).  The musician whose real name is Noah McBeth previously appeared on 20 Songs About Apparel: Clothes & Shoes Reloaded with “Heels,” which fittingly reappears on 13 FRESH SONGS ABOUT SHOES.

“Heels” possesses an alternative R&B sound, which instantly pleases the ears. I adore the use of guitar throughout, but particularly how overt it is during the chorus section. Complementing the production, with its pop, electronic, and 80s elements are soulful vocals by McBeth. The harmonic progression, while simple overall, has a couple of quirks, particularly chromaticism. Lyrically, sex is loud and clear, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  “My baby’s she’s blessed / Ready for action / And dressed for revenge,” he sings on the first verse, adding on the second, “I wish we could make up / Maybe undress / Just like mother earth made us / No fabric, no tags.” The best part should come as no surprise – the infectious, kinky chorus:

“So, go on put your favorite heels on
So, go no put your favorite heels on
Go put your favorite heels on and walk all over me.”

7. Beyoncé, “6 Inch” 👠

Ft. The Weekend

Lemonade • Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia • 2016

“Six-inch heels, she walked in the club like nobody’s business / Goddamn, she murdered everybody, and I was her witness.” Well, the woman that is the subject of “6 Inch” 👠 is confident AF to say the least – fierceness exemplified.  “6 Inch,” of course, appears on the superb Grammy-winning Beyoncé album, Lemonade, which arrived in all its illustrious glory in 2016.  The most fascinating part of “6 Inch” is the aforementioned sultry chorus, sung in her low register over an Isaac Hayes sample (“Walk on By”). Also, worth mentioning, she enlists The Weeknd for the assist.  Safe to say, he’s a perfect match.

“She stack her money, money everywhere she goes / She got that Sake, her Yamazaki straight from Tokyo,” Beyoncé sings ono the second verse, continuing, “Oh baby you know, she got them commas and them decimals / She don’t gotta give it up cause she professional.” Clearly, this woman is on the grind, working hard for her money.  Of course, all said and done, it’s the ‘inch’ that earns “6 Inch” a spot on this measurement-driven, quantification list. “6 Inch” previously appeared on both 20 Songs About Apparel: Clothes & Shoes Reloaded and 10 Intriguing Measurement, Quantification Songs.

8. Todrick Hall, “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels” 💅👱‍♀️👠

Haus Party, Pt. 1 • Todrick Hall • 2019

“My nails, hair, hips, heels / Nails, hair, hips, heels…” Yeah, that’s about the size of the chorus of “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels”💅👱‍♀️👠. All in all, multifaceted entertainer Todrick Hall brings mad attitude and energy to his 2019 album, Haus Party 1, Pt. 1. The penultimate joint is no exception.

When you listen to this dance/house-inspired cut, the first word that comes to mind is FABULOUS.  Todrick Hall says it best on the first verse asserting “Bitch, I’mma big deal” and “This whole club is my runway, run bitch.” On the pre-chorus, ‘that attitude’ doesn’t fade in the least expressing that “I work (work), I don’t play / I slay (slay), I don’t walk / I strut, strut, strut and then sashay (okay)…” The second verse is much like the first, with the confidence overflowing – “Where’s my sash and crown, ‘cause I win bitch.” The bridge goes H.A.M., with actions including “Tongue pop for me,” “Pose for me,” and my personal favorite, “Shablam for me.” “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels” previously appeared on the playlist, 11 Songs Loosely Associated with Hair, published in July 2019. Worth noting, Hall recorded a COVID-19 version, “Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs,” which appeared on his album, Quarantine Queen.

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9. Myylo, “Doc Martens” 🥾

I’m a Nice Boy (EP) • Myylo • 2019

“My music is pretty preoccupied with boys and love,” Myylo answers when I inquired about what makes him distinct or unique as a musician.  The Nashville-based LGBTQ pop musician ‘knocked it out of the park’ on his alluring, independently released, second EP, I’m a Nice Boy, in 2019. One hell of a unique artist, he “mixes idiosyncratic lyricism, janky classical guitar, lo-fi saxophone licks, and sky-high falsettos to create something truly special.” “Doc Martens” 🥾 gets our undivided attention on 13 FRESH SONGS ABOUT SHOES.

“Doc Martens and cotton Ts / Blessed to death with his daddy’s genes / Skinny body by creatine / I think I’ll make him fall in love with me.” Have shoes ever sounded as hot as they do in Myylo’s hands on “Doc Martens”? That’s rhetorical, so, of course not! The stellar “Doc Martens” isn’t really about the shoes, but more about the man that Myylo is digging.  He definitely does sound like a hunk! There’s so much to love about “Doc Martens” – the exuberant production, the tongue-n-cheek songwriting – everything! That said, if you could pinpoint one indisputable selling point, it’s the flawless, ripe falsetto. The vocals are definitely ‘on fire’ here. One of my favorite parts of the song besides the aforementioned verse:

“Get him back him to my house
Kiss him up in my bedroom
Spilling all of our secrets
Curled up on my pillows
Make him bacon in the AM
So, we don’t break up till the world end.”

10. Bhad Bhabie, “Gucci Flip Flops” 👡

Ft. Lil Yachty

15 • Bhad Bhabie • 2018

Bhad Bhabie, the “cash me outside” girl from Dr. Phil, somehow managed to build a music career for herself.  It’s scary when you try to take the time to analyze, so, I’d advise you not to. On “Gucci Flip Flops” 👡, Danielle Bregoli is bad as ever, tapping Lil Yachty for the assist. I say, 30 Roc, INDEED “you a fool for this one.” Ugh!

Bhad Bhabie ‘brings the heat,’ rather the 🗑️ to the chorus, which encompasses shallow, material things (flips flops and a watch), as well as the profane.  Following the chorus, she informs the world, “Bhad Bhabie got these bitches bustin’ for cash…” Charming. ‘Bitch’ is her favorite swear word, but no worries, ‘fuck’ gets plenty of fame too. Shallowness is what Lil Yachty excels at, so he’s at home on “Gucci Flip Flops.”  His verse entails money and material, guns, and sex. “Can’t fuck the bitch ‘til she got her virginity…” At the time, Bregoli was just 15, so… not a great choice Yachty…

11. JoJo, “High Heels.” 👠

Mad Love. • Atlantic • 2016

“High Heels.” 👠 ranks among the feistiest moments of Mad Love., the comeback album by former teen-pop/R&B musician, JoJo. When Mad Love. materialized in Fall 2016, JoJo was a fully grown 25-year old. Focusing on “High Heels.,” in addition to its ‘feisty status,’ it also marks the crème de la crème of Mad Love. 

A ‘kiss-off’ to a cheating boyfriend, JoJo proves any ounce of her teen days are done.  Why? Well, she memorably calls him a “bad motherfucker.” Basically, with them high heels on, she DGAF, whatsoever!

“I put my high heels on, walk right out the door
Best believe, I’mma leave, don’t need you no more
Put my black dress on, boy you’ve done me wrong
Leave the keys, burn the sheets and then move along
I’m a look damn good for all your friends
Don’t cry when you see me again
I put my high heels on.”

There’s nothing worse than a woman scorned 💯.

11 Fresh Songs About Shoes [Photo Credits: Aftermath Entertainment, Amanda Vick, Apostolos Vamvouras, Arista, Atlantic, Bhad Bhabie, Boys Don’t Cry, Brent Faulkner, Caitlyn Wilson, Capitol Nashville, Cedric Wilder, Clem Onojeghuo, Columbia, GODMODE, Jordan Whitfield, Marcus Lewis, The Musical Hype, Myylo, Noah Buscher, Parkwood Entertainment, Republic, REVOLT, TH3RD BRAIN, Todrick Hall, Unsplash]

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