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‘11 Intriguing Songs Focused on a Side’ features music courtesy of Ariana Grande, Jessie Reyez, Justin Timberlake, SZA, and Whitechapel.

Sides, sides, sides! Which SIDE are you on – “That is the question!” Well, maybe not, but it is for our intents and purposes here! Lou Reed, well, he said, that “She says, ‘Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side.’” I can’t move past “Walk on the Wild Side” and its famous oral sex reference (“But she never lost her head / Even when she was giving head”).  Anyways, on “By Your Side”, Sade sings, “Oh, when you’re low / I’ll be there / By your side, baby.” So romantic! There are more sides as well. Kelly Clarkson reminded us, “Everybody’s got a dark side” on the fantastic hit from her 2011, Stronger.  And there’s also Jason Derulo, who demands, “Tonight, take me to the other side / Sparks fly like the Fourth of July / Just take me to the other side.” 

Honestly, when it comes to songs that reference a SIDE or SIDES, the list is endless. 11 INTRIGUING SONGS FOCUSED ON A SIDE could’ve been a much longer playlist.  No worries though – the 11 songs selected are indeed ‘intriguing’ as the title states.  11 Intriguing Songs Focused on a Side features songs courtesy of Ariana Grande, Jessie Reyez, Justin Timberlake, SZA, and Whitechapel among others.  Without further ado, it’s time to analyze all sides and focus on one… or something like that!

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1. SZA & Justin Timberlake, “The Other Side”

TROLLS World Tour • RCA • 2020

SZA and Justin Timberlake join forces, bringing positive, uplifting vibes on “The Other Side”, which served as the promo single from Trolls World Tour soundtrack. “The Other Side” is quite a funky, upbeat pop joint.  It features production by Justin Timberlake alongside Grammy-winning producer Ludwig Göransson (“This is America”).  Considering it’s intended for a children’s film, it’s not surprising that SZA and Timberlake maintain such positivity.  That said, you don’t have to be a child to appreciate those positive vibes!

SZA kicks things off, singing the first verse in uplifting fashion, “You’re preachin’ to the choir, stop hatin’ on yourself,” later adding, “The clouds will open up, blue skies are willing.” As for JT, he handles most of the second verse, singing, “I promise the stars will light the path you walk, don’t give in.”  Both join forces on the chorus, clearly the centerpiece of “The Other Side”:

“Back on your feet again, lift your head, hold it high
You wanna run it back, but you can’t turn the time
You start to feel like you’re losing your shine
But the grass ain’t always greener on the other side
The other side…”

Ultimately, SZA and Justin Timberlake make a great team.  “The Other Side” is a fun, positive, and well-rounded children’s song.  The positive vibes and messaging (“…The grass ain’t always green on the other side”) is sound advice for the young and older alike.

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2. Black Atlass, “By My Side”

Ft. Sonia

Dream Awake • XO / Republic • 2020

After a two-year hiatus, Canadian-bred, LA-based musician Alex Fleming, better known as Black Atlass, returned with  his third album, Dream Awake (April 3, 2020). Dream Awake is an enjoyable, sexy, and well-rounded contemporary R&B album.  Those comparisons to The Weeknd – well, their definitely not far-fetched.  That said, Fleming does a fine job throughout the album showing he’s a superb musician in his own right. One of the best songs from Dream Awake is perfectly suited for this side-driven playlist, “By Your Side.”

“By My Side” is the sole collaboration on Dream Awake, featuring Sonia. The result of the second single is a contemporary R&B record with ample pop sensibility.  Black Atlass dominates the first part of the song, with Sonia providing contrast on the second verse and pre-chorus.  They join forces beautifully and energetically on the following chorus, pretty much through the end, exhibiting fine vocal chemistry – their voices mesh extremely well. There’s definitely only one side to the song, and it’s definitely the good side!

“Heaven can wait
‘Til we get it all out the way
Make no mistake
Never switchin’ lanes
‘Cause I don’t see myself without you by my side (Ooh yeah)
So I'm not wastin’ any time (Ooh yeah)
And you know that I’ll always need you in my life (Ooh yeah)
‘Til we see the other side (The other side).”

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3. Jessie Reyez, “Same Side”

Before Love Came to Kill Us • FMLY / Island • 2020

“How come I can’t leave ya? / Talk to myself at night, wondering why / I feel like I am tied down to someone / Who’s making me cry more than making me smile…” Yah, not a good situation it seems, sigh. “Same Side” appears as the eighth track on Before Love Came to Kill Us, the debut album by Canadian R&B singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez. Produced by Tim Suby, he provides Reyez with a pretty sweet backdrop where guitar leads the charge.  Worth noting, “Same Side” commences with more tender vocals from Reyez.  With quite the distinct, powerful instrument on her hands, surprisingly, her vocals aren’t nearly as robust and cutting edge as usual. Of course, there’s a BUT involved…

Perhaps we don’t get those gargantuan, cutting vocals by Jessie Reyez but make no mistake – she remains a feisty, unapologetic personality. Exhibit A – the chorus:

“You’re such an asshole, but I see a prince
And I’m a good girl, but you see a bitch
I wanna make love, you wanna burn a bridge
So, I wish I was a bad guy
So, we could just be fighting on the same side, yeah.”

Killing it for sure! She continues to sing expressively, and certainly does not restrain from a salty word or two.  No f-bombs though! Interestingly, she’s the one being apologetic on the bridge, even though, admittedly she asks, “I’m sorry, can you be sorry instead?”

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4. Wallows, “Sidelines”

Nothing Happens • Atlantic • 2019

At least one member of the rising alternative rock band Wallows should be familiar.  Who? Actor and singer Dylan Minnette, perhaps best known for his role as Clay Jensen on the polarizing, yet thrilling Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, which debuted its fourth and final season on June 5, 2020. Minnette, along with fellow members Cole Preston and Braeden Lemasters released a fine if underrated debut album, Nothing Happens, in 2019.  Nothing Happens has its fair share of truly memorable, electrifying moments. “Sidelines” ranks among the best moments, and it fits the side-oriented nature of this playlist – F-n-A (Yeah, I know nobody says that, but whatever)!

“Sidelines” arrived as an advance single from Nothing Happens (the third advance single to be precise).  Here, the pace is slackened, while a major key remains ‘the law of the land.’ Much like “Only Friend” and “Treacherous Doctor” that precede it on the album, there is no shortage of firepower – Wallows are locked in.  Falsetto and a tuneful melody are among the selling points.  Also, worth noting, “Sidelines” kicks the synths up a notch, expanding the script.

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5. Whitechapel, “The Other Side”

The Valley • Metal Blade • 2019

“Eternal doom is coming for me / I don’t think I’ll make it.” That’s definitely damning, particularly depending on what lies on “The Other Side.”  Of course, on the second verse, well, the lyrics show the opposite perspective: “Eternal doom is a distant memory / I’ve finally made it.” Wow! “The Other Side” appears as the seventh track on The Valley, the 2019 album by Tennessee metal (deathcore) collective Whitechapel.  Whitechapel is fronted by Phil Bozeman, who definitely packs a punch vocally, showing ample aggression in his performance on the track at hand.

So, focusing on the lyrics, it seems that there’s pessimism on the first verse, as well as the chorus initially.  “Dripping sweat, I make my way to the other side / I don’t think I’ll make it,” he sings, ultimately showing more resolve as he sings, “We’ll overcome and make it out / To the other side.” On the second verse and a variation of the chorus, he’s made it:

“Dripping sweat, I make my way to the other side
I’ve finally made it
Clench my jaw and pull myself up to my feet
I’ve finally made it out...”

The most triumphant part of this record? Definitely the bridge and the outro where Bozeman pretty much ‘pounds his chest’ and states, “I am now free, I am godlike.” Definitely a shift from his fears that he wouldn’t make it to the other side, right?  While I focused exclusively on the lyrics and Bozeman’s vocals, the music is epic AF.  Jagged, malicious sounding guitars, pummeling drums – all that usually goes with death metal.

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6. Blackbear, “1 SIDED LOVE”

Anonymous • Alamo / Interscope • 2019

It’s pretty easy to pinpoint the biggest hit by singer, songwriter, and producer blackbear: “Do, re, mi, fa, so fuckin’ done with you, girl.” Yep, “do re mi” served as a breakout hit, though it should be noted he served as one of the songwriters on the Justin Bieber hit, “Boyfriend”.  Still, it was the profane pitch-syllable anthem helped to ‘put him on the map.’ He returned in 2019 with Anonymous, his first new project since a prolific 2017 in which he released three projects:  mansionz (with Mike Posner), digital druglord, and a mixtape, cybersex.  Fitting the criteria for 11 INTRIGUING SONGS FOCUSED ON A SIDE is 12th track on Anonymous, “1 Sided Love.”

 

“1 Sided Love” was released as a single prior to the release of Anonymous.  Compared to the preceding “Heartbroken” track, blackbear sounds much gentler as he lets his self-centered lover down easily.  “You’re too busy talking over me to hear what I’m saying,” he sings on the chorus, later adding, “You’re so into yourself, everyone else is overrated / And everything’s changin’; is your heart worth breakin’?” More often than not, blackbear sings about how he’s been wronged in various relationships.  “1 Sided Love” is another great example.

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7. Lil Wayne, “Dark Side of the Moon”

Ft. Nicki Minaj

Tha Carter V • Young Money • 2018

“Intergalactical love / The sky is falling, intergalactical, intergalactical love / And I’ll be waiting for you, for you, for you / On the dark side of the moon.” Nicki Minaj joins Lil Wayne on the R&B-infused, melodic rap of “Dark Side of the Moon.” “Dark Side of the Moon” appeared on the long-awaited, highly-anticipated Tha Carter V, which arrived a whopping seven years after Tha Carter IV!

While Lil Wayne’s vocals are a bit sketchy on “Dark Side of the Moon,” the vibes of this record make it a highlight.

“The quiet calms my quasars, the eclipse is eclipsin’
My astronaut helmet kinda shifted, full of lipstick
Planet of the aches, and she is my prescription
We out of this world, baby, we have been evicted.”

Many times, Nicki Minaj is criticized for her singing vocals, but she sounds fabulous here, definitely eclipsing the slightly faded sounding Wayne.  There are definitely times on her 2018 album, Queen, where you wish she sounded this strong. “Dark Side of the Moon” originally appeared on the nighttime playlist, 13 Songs About and/or Associated with Nighttime and 17 Thrilling Songs Infused with Darkness.

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8. Troye Sivan, “The Good Side”

Bloom • Capitol • 2018

Within the context of Bloom, “The Good Side” maintains the utmost consistency of the album. The record commences with an electronic harp-sound synth/sound effect, before rhythm acoustic guitar shifts to a more intimate backdrop.  That initial electronic palette recurs throughout. South African-born Aussie pop artist Troye Sivan sounds refined, thoughtful, and naturally beautiful, amplified by superb vocal production. Lyrically, Sivan is open and honest.

“I got the good side of you
Send it out into the blue
The people danced to the sound of your heart
The world sang along to it falling apart
...Then I got the good side of new
Found arms to fall right into
I know how it looked, it wasn’t the plan
And someday I hope that you’ll understand.”

Centered around love, “The Good Side” is addressed to his ex- and references his new boyfriend. He apologizes for how things went down, singing, “But I sympathize, and I recognize / And baby, I apologize / That I got the good side / The good side of things.” “The Good Side” previously appeared on the playlist, 15 Really ‘Good’ Songs… It’s That Simple!.

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9. The Chainsmokers, “Side Effects”

Ft. Emily Warren

Sick Boy • Disruptor / Columbia • 2018

After releasing multiple singles throughout 2018, Grammy-winning dance duo, The Chainsmokers, release their second full-length album, Sick Boy. Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart struggled mightily with their 2017 full-length, debut album, Memories…Do Not Open. That project earned three stars, but in hindsight, that was being far too kind.  On Sick Boy, the duo has more noteworthy moments to showcase, but don’t call it triumphant or ‘the second coming.’ Regardless, on a list that focuses on a side, one side – hell, anything ‘side’ related – “Side Effects” is a perfect fit.

 

“Side Effects,” which features the boys’ ‘ace in the hole,’ Emily Warren, feels a bit abrupt at the onset, commencing with a very brief intro. Nonetheless, the duo spoils the listeners with a cool bass line. Also, the power of the groove and danceable nature of the record is undeniable.  Another pro is the addition of the piano on the chorus. Listening to “Side Effects,” personally, I’m most tuned into the music, as opposed to Warren’s singing or lyrics necessarily.  Furthermore, the rapping on the bridge is as sketchy as a four-letter word that rhymes with duck. Regardless, it’s easy to see what The Chainsmokers/Warren were going for, even if ‘side effects’ suffered by the listener are the imperfections of the record.

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10. Muse, “The Dark Side”

Simulation Theory • Warner • 2018

“I have lived in darkness / For all my life, I’ve been pursued / You’d be afraid if you could feel my pain / And If you could see the things, I’m able to see.”  “The Dark Side” marked one of the best advance singles from Simulation Theory, the eighth studio album by Grammy winning, alternative rock collective, Muse.  The arrival of Simulation Theory followed a three-year hiatus and prolonged promo campaign for Matthew Bellamy and company.  Enough background about the album – let’s focus on the darkness of “The Dark Side.”

 

Among the best attributes of “Dark Side” is the 80s-inspired, New Wave-infused vibe. Incredibly groovy from the onset, the band thrives off the driving, energetic beat. Things are further amplified by the minor key scheme, and synth arpeggiation.  Beyond the backdrop itself, Matthew Bellamy is on-point with lovely falsetto and overall compelling vocals. He uses his full voice on the centerpiece, the chorus.

“Break me out, break me out
Let me flee
Break me out, break me out
Set me free.”

The second verse is the first instance where Bellamy explicitly mentions “the dark side” after referencing it on the aforementioned first verse.

“I hail from the dark side
For all my life, I’ve been besieged.”

There is no lack of energy throughout the record. Interestingly, “The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Version)” graces the deluxe edition. “The Dark Side” previously graced the playlist, 17 Thrilling Songs Infused with Darkness.

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11. Ariana Grande, “Side to Side”

Ft. Nicki Minaj

Dangerous Woman • Republic • 2016

“And boy I got ya / Cause tonight I’m making deals with the devil / And I know it’s gonna get me in trouble / Just as long as you know you got me.” Question: Is Ariana Grande metaphorically speaking on “Side to Side”? Answer: Hell nah bruh! The innuendo is turnt TFU. No, “Side to Side,” which appears on the album Dangerous Woman (2016) isn’t the shallowest song ever.  That said, it’s also not incredibly deep.  Strike that – it’s not deep at all.

The same lyrics that offer “Side to Side” potential to be wholesome also play to the pleasures of the bedroom on the chorus.

“I’ve been here all night
I’ve been here all day
And boy, got me walkin’ side to side.”

Clearly, Grande sought to reinvent herself as a ‘dangerous woman.’ She’s walking ‘side to side’ because of some truly passionate sex… There I said it.  Making the song even more sexual is none other than Nicki Minaj:

“...Wrist icicle, ride dick bicycle
Come true yo, get this type of blow
If you wanna Minaj I got a tricycle.”

“Side to Side” previously appeared on the playlist Mad Innuendo and Sex, 2015 and Beyond.

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11 Intriguing Songs Focused on a Side 🎧 [Photo Credits: Alamo, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Columbia, Disruptor, FMLY, Interscope, Island, Metal Blade, Pexels, Pixabay, RCA, Republic, Republic, the Musical Hype, Warner, XO, Young Money]

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