11 ‘New’ Songs That Will Tickle Your Fancy | Playlist

“11 ‘New’ Songs That Will Tickle Your Fancy” features music courtesy of Backstreet Boys, Dua Lipa, Greta Van Fleet, Rex Orange County, and Rich the Kid.

The concept of this playlist keeps things pretty simple.  The concept? New. No, not every song on this playlist is brand-new – we have songs from 2015, and at publication time, it’s 2019.  The only requirement is that every song’s title must feature the word ‘new,’ period. No, 11 ‘New’ Songs That Will Tickle Your Fancy is nothing game changing, revolutionary, or transcendent, but there are some damn good songs, and that is worth something, right? Right. Musicians fueling the ‘newness’ of this playlist include Backstreet Boys (“New Love”), Dua Lipa (“New Rules”), Greta Van Fleet (“The New Day”), Rex Orange County (“New House”), and Rich the Kid (“New Freezer”).

1.Rex Orange County, “New House”

New House [Single] • Rex Orange County • 2019

“I can see us in a house next year / (You’ll be) making your mind up / You can figure out what goes where / (And stay) keeping it real with me all the time.” Incredibly gifted.  That’s the best way to describe British alternative musician Rex Orange County (Alex O’Connor). After releasing the triumphant LP Apricot Princess in 2017, he returned in 2019 with a brand-new single, “New House”.

Perfection is hard to achieve, yet, Rex Orange County achieves or nearly achieves it on “New House.” The production work is absolutely magnificent.  The sound palette is broad, including piano, drums, strings, brass, and synths.  Beyond the backdrop and instrumentation, O’Connor sounds great vocally, never forcing anything, but delivering with ‘cool, calm, and collected’ approach without sounding casual or nonchalant.  With production, musicianship, and a ripe set of pipes on his side, perhaps the biggest reason that “New House” is nearly perfect is the songwriting.  O’Connor is a clever writer, with the ability to surprise you with his lyrics. Interestingly, he explores the creative process (“You know that I haven’t been inspired since like I was 18”), in addition to the progression of his relationship, as the aforementioned chorus suggests.

2. Backstreet Boys, “New Love”

DNA • RCA • 2019

“Who are you, the sex police? / My sex ain’t got no rules / Got a million options next to me, yeah / Let me do what I do.” Go ‘head! Iconic 90s boy band Backstreet Boys returned in a big way in 2019 with their number one album, DNA. “New Love” appears as the fourth track from the LP.  In the context of the album, “New Love” keeps things poppin’ with one of the nastiest, sickest grooves of the LP.  This is a record that drips in swagger – falsetto too for that matter.  The attitude bodes well in Backstreet Boys’ favor.  Who says guys approaching middle-age (or already there) can’t still have fun and slay the pop game?

“Don’t say it’s the wrong thing

‘Cause it don’t feel like the wrong thing

I stay on my own thing

That night bein’ a long thing

And I call it new love.”

3. Dua Lipa, “New Rules”

Dua Lipa (Complete Edition) • Warner Music UK • 2018

“My love, he makes me feel like nobody else, nobody else / But my love, he doesn’t love me, so I tell myself, I tell myself.” Dua Lipa definitely can thank her fierce, breakout hit single “New Rules” for helping her to win the Grammy for Best New Artist at the 61^st Annual Grammy Awards. “New Rules” hails from her excellent self-titled album, originally released in 2017, with a Complete Edition with bonus tracks issued in 2018.  Honestly, the more Dua Lipa, the better.

Dua Lipa refuses to reconcile with, or be ‘done wrong’ by an ex, no matter how tempting it is, as the aforementioned ‘bridge’ indicates. To prevent this from happening, she sets “new rules” for how things are going to roll.  Regardless whether you’re a man or woman, this girl-power anthem is simply too good and too fun to resist.

“One: Don’t pick up the phone

You know he’s only callin’ ‘cause he’s drunk and alone

Two: Don’t let him in

You’ll have to kick him out again

Three: Don’t be his friend

You know you’re gonna wake up in his bed in the morning

And If you’re under him, you ain’t getting’ over him

I got new rules, I count ‘em.”

4. Greta Van Fleet, “The New Day”

Anthem of the Peaceful Army • Republic • 2018

“Let the new day shine it’s light on me / Shake the old way, nights too dark to see / Free tomorrow, it’s bright with something new / Believe the righteous, and it will come true. Okay… The Led Zeppelin comparisons have run rampant for Grammy-winning rock band Greta Van Fleet.  Are they overblown? Perhaps, but what’s undeniable is the fact that the band has an old-school, traditional rock vibe.  The song at hand, “The New Day” appears from the band’s sophomore album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army.  A polarizing effort, at least from a critical standpoint, “A New Day” itself has its share of positives.

Frontman Josh Kiszka definitely has some serious, cutting pipes on his hands. The tone of his voice is a bit of an acquired taste, as is the vocal mix on “The New Day,” but the energy and grit he brings to the table is undeniable.  The production has plenty of pros, including a robust bass line, rhythmic acoustic guitar, and punchy drums.  Obviously, the centerpiece of “The New Day” is the chorus, followed up by a post-chorus.

“You’re a child in the garden

You’re growing up I’ll watch you bloom

And your dreams are not forgotten

You’ll be a woman soon

Love isn’t greed it’s a need that goes unspoken

Love doesn’t leave when you fade away

Pain isn’t vain if it means your heart’s been broken

Pain is the same as a means to heal.”

5. Rita Ora, “New Look”

Phoenix • Atlantic UK • 2018

Question: “What ya gonna do when the sun goes down? / Who ya gonna love when I’m not around?” Following a lengthy hiatus between albums, British-Albanian pop artist Rita Ora delivered an enjoyable, well-rounded, and much-better-than-anticipated sophomore album in Phoenix, which was released in November 2018.  On “New Look,” Ora keeps things short, sweet, and hella groovy. It’s a great combination, one that keeps Phoenix rolling along without a hitch.  Rita Ora sells “New Look” well with high-flying vocals, a decadent, rhythmic melodic line, and a simple, but memorable chorus.

“If you find a new look now

Would you kick the old one out?”

6. Rich the Kid, “New Freezer” (Ft. Kendrick Lamar)

The World is Yours • Interscope • 2018

In 2018, rapper Rich the Kid released his debut studio album, The World is Yours.  Among the highlights from The World is Yours is the single at hand, “New Freezer,” featuring Kendrick Lamar.  Within the context of the album, “New Freezer” is the first gem.  A quirky banger of sorts, Rich the Kid raps about ‘ice’ and foreigns –cars and girls that is.

“My bitch too foreign, need a visa

I don’t need her

Pull up drop top with a eater

Two-seater

New bitch wanna fuck to my AP

New freezer

I woke up thinkin’ ‘bout bands

Hop off the jet to a check when I land.”

This isn’t a track you’d normally associate K-Dot with, but he brings his own unique approach as he does with his more meaningful, transcendent solo material.

“How can I shop with like 64Ms?

Talkin’ to Top [Dawg] about business again

He want a lot with new Bentleys again

I want some top from like two sets of twins

Twinnie twin twins, yeah, yeah.”

7. Lights, “New Fears”

Skin&Earth • Warner Bros. • 2017

“‘Cause I have these new fears / I carry with me / So you can feel stronger / And you can know peace.” Ah, “New Fears” appears as the fifth track from Skin&Earth, the under-appreciated 2017 LP by Canadian pop musician Lights.  “New Fears” is sleekly produced, characterized by its sharp synths and hyper-rhythmic beat.  As awesome as the production is, the main reason why “New Fears” shines are the high-flying, cutting vocals of Lights herself.

Lights is at her best on the chorus, where the overall intensity picks up a notch.

“So just, hold on tight

I’ll be coming, I’m coming for you, oh-oh

And every night I’ll be burning, burning for you, oh-oh

And I, I will back you up

I will show you love

I will give you all I got ‘til I cannot

Hold on tight

I’m breathing, breathing for you, oh-oh.”

It should also be noted that “New Fears,” and Skin&Earth overall, is conceptual – it’s a “comic-book” album. Furthermore, an accompanying ‘post-apocalyptic comic book series’ was released.

8. Ed Sheeran, “New Man”

Divide (÷) • Atlantic • 2017

“He’s got his eyebrows plucked and his arsehole bleached / Owns every single Ministry CD / Tribal tattoos and he don’t know what it means / but I heard he makes you happy, so that’s fine by you.” “Shape of You” was the crowning achievement from Divide (÷), the third studio album by Ed Sheeran, but “New Man” is no slouch whatsoever. The quick-paced, acoustic-pop driven sound is familiar from the jump on “New Man.”

The lyrics are fresh, as Sheeran literally describes his ex’s ‘new man’:

“I heard he spent five hundred pounds on jeans

Goes to the gym at least six times a week

Wears boat shoes with no socks on his feet

And I hear he’s on a new diet and watches what he eats.”

Essentially, Sheeran uses the opportunity to suggest his ex misses him as well as make it clear that he personally doesn’t care to hear about her new man.  The melodic lines are incredibly agile, embracing hip-hop sensibility.

“I don’t wanna know about your new man

‘Cause if it was meant to be

You wouldn’t be callin’ me up tryin’ to

‘Cause I’m positive that he don’t wanna know about me…”

9. Panic! At the Disco, “Emperor’s New Clothes”

Death of a Bachelor • Fueled by Ramen • 2016

“If it feels good, tastes good / It must be mine / Dynasty decapitated / You just might see a ghost tonight.” Those could only be the lyrics of Brendon Urie, the frontman and force behind Panic! At the Disco. We add some royalty to this ‘new’ playlist with “Emperor’s New Clothes,” just one of many wild, creative numbers gracing the Grammy-nominated album, Death of a Bachelor (2016).

In addition to the use of the royal title, emperor, additional lyrical references (“I’m taking back the crown / I’m all dressed up and naked”), help make “Emperor’s New Clothes” quite the ambitious, unique listening experience.

“Sycophants on velvet sofas

Lavish mansions, vintage wine

I am so much more than royal

Snatch your chain and mace your eyes.”

10. Halsey, “New Americana”

Badlands • Astralwerks • 2015

On “New Americana,” alternative pop musician Halsey paints a portrait that doesn’t look like your parents’ America: “We are the new Americana / High on legal marijuana / Raised on Biggie and Nirvana / we are the new Americana.” Previously appearing on the proud 53 LGBTQ Songs That Beam With Pride, beyond the marijuana and gangsta rap, Halsey tackles same-sex marriage, breaking stereotypes.

“Young James Dean, some say he looks just like his father

But he could never lover somebody’s daughter

Football team loved more than just the game

So he vowed to be his husband at the altar.”

A good-looking dude on the football team who is also gay and eventually marries a guy?  All part of “The New Americana.”

11. Adele, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

25 • Columbia • 2015

“Mmm, told me me you were ready / For the big one, for the big jump / I’d be your last love, everlasting, you and me / Mmm, that was what you told me.” 25 gave Adele her second Grammy for Album of the Year.  On that 2015 project, the crowning achievement was “Hello”, which managed to take home the other two most prestigious awards (Record and Song of the Year).  As awesome as “Hello” is, another single from 25, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” is pretty swell in its own right.  Here Adele urges her fraud of an ex- to treat his new girlfriend better than he treated her.

The chorus serves as the centerpiece.

“Send my love to your new lover

Treat her better

We’ve gotta let go of all our ghosts

We both know we ain’t kids no more.”

[Photo Credits: Astralwerks, Atlantic, Columbia, Fueled by Ramen, Interscope, Pexels, Pixabay, RCA, Republic, Warner Bros.]