11 News Songs That Are Definitely Newsworthy | Playlist

1. Aaron Frazer, “Bad News”

Introducing… • Dead Oceans • 2021

Aaron Frazer, a member of Durand Jones & The Indications, steps out on his own his 2021 debut album, Introducing…. Throughout the retro-soul LP, Frazer definitely makes the best of a soulful backdrop and his ability to croon like an absolute boss.  Perfectly fitting this newsworthy list is the song, “Bad News.”

“If I left you, what would you do?
All I know is
That'd be bad news.”

Despite its title, there’s no ‘bad news’ regarding the quality of “Bad News.” Clearly, this is a record that seeks to emulate 70s soul – think Marvin Gaye.  Frazer continues to impress with his smooth, effortless, never sounding as if he dares to break a sweat.  Equally awesome as the vocals is the instrumental, which really solidifies this retro sensibility.  The songwriting is solid, keeping things relatively simple, particularly on the chorus, highlighting the titular lyrics.

2. Fiona Apple, “Newspaper”

Fetch the Bolt Cutters • Epic • 2020 

Fiona Apple only releases an album “once in a blue moon.” It’s true; there is a gap of at least three years between every album in her discography. After releasing The Idler Wheel…, her sole album of the 2010s, her fifth album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, arrives nearly eight years later! Fetch the Bolt Cutters earned top honors on our 40 Best Albums of 2020.  Now on to the reason why Fetch the Bolt Cutters gets some love on 11 News Songs That Are Definitely Newsworthy, “Newspaper”!

The five-minute-plus “Newspaper” was named after the percussion orchestra file created by Apple, according to Vulture.  She also states this rhythmic joint is “about two specific people,” who she doesn’t “think … will even be aware of it.” Hmm, interesting! Apple lacks vocal finesse on “Newspaper,” but that’s actually a big part of the charm.  She’s aggressive, assertive, and raw.  The key lyric:

“I wonder what lies he’s telling you about me
To make sure that we’ll never be friends.”

Damn! 

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3. Aries, “Bad News”

WELCOME HOME • WUNDERWORLD • 2020

Sigh, there is definitely plenty of bad news for Aries on “Bad News,” the opener on his 2019 project, WELCOME HOME.  For the rapper, that bad news seems to be substance abuse but also those devastating matters of the heart.  From the beginning, the listener senses that things are sketchy for Aries, even if he never explicitly utters the phase, “bad news.”

“Blacked out, how’d the other night last?
Maybe come around for a minute, shit, I like that
I could never catch, taking aim, might’ve missed you
Couple hundred miles out, if I her the text, mm.”

Beyond the chorus, Aries mentions popping pills and drinking.  He also references his potential death, most notably on the first verse, asserting, “My death be regicide, that’s if I’m ever gone.” It’s a contradiction of sorts, but the following line, he asks, “If you pop me in my face, please spare the better side.”  Regardless of the negative connotation, “Bad News” is by no means bad, musically speaking!

4. PARTYNEXTDOOR, “THE NEWS”

PARTYMOBILE • Warner / OVO • 2020 

“What’s news too you, it ain’t news to me / And what’s blue to you, it ain’t blue to me.” Hmm, somebody’s been caught, we can presume… Anyways, “The News” appears as the third track on PARTYMOBILE, the 2020 album by Canadian R&B musician PARTYNEXTDOOR.  This is a R&B record that’s definitely a vibe, idiomatic of the hella slow (lethargic), moody R&B we’re accustomed to hearing from Canada.  From the start of “The News,” there’s definitely a heaviness.

Contributing to the vibe of this four-and-a-half-minute number isn’t only the moody vocals of PND, it’s also the production.  As is often the case, the backdrop, courtesy of Hoskins and Bizness Boi, is sleek, supporting the moodiness of the artist.  If the aforementioned chorus weren’t enough to confirm where PND stands, there are numerous lyrical examples.  Exhibit A: “Hurt me, then tell me, ‘Man up’ /… Ask me questions, then don’t care about the answers.”  Yeah, never good. Exhibit B: “Deep down, I feel tied down.” Also, not ideal. Then there’s the outro, where he totally exposes her:

“You got a side that nobody’s seen, yeah
You got a volume nobody’s heard
Promised me somethin’, not with your words
You told me there’s nobody else
But I see different.”

5. Kehlani, “Bad News”

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t • Atlantic • 2020

Following the rousing “Can I,” Grammy-nominated R&B standout Kehlani slackens the pace on her sophomore album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t with “Bad News.” Despite the negative connotation of the song title, where the listener is concerned, Kehlani serves up no bad news, just continued musical excellence.  My question is, how in the world did the Grammys manage to neglect It Was Good Until It Wasn’t a nomination for best progressive R&B album? Whatever.

Focusing on “Bad News,” it excels in its role as a slow jam.  The chorus in particular is quite catchy, in all its explicit simplicity? Kehlani’s gonna “Make you wanna give all that shit up…” What shit exactly? Essentially, his dangerous, and suspect ways.  She urges, on the second verse of this lush Jahaan Sweet production, “Just be on some cool shit with me.” There it is… I think!

6. Mac Miller, “Good News”

Circles • Warner • 2020

“Good News” is the crowning achievement of Circles, the posthumous album by Mac Miller. One of many Jon Brion co-productions on the album, “Good News” sounds quite refined, with plucked strings, a subtle, but highly effective, dusty drum groove, soulful electric guitar, and superb, modest keyboard/synthesizer touches. It’s quite ear-catching, even if it floats as opposed to being dynamic and ‘in your face.’

Beyond the backdrop, Miller is on-point – he’s in reflective mode. “I spent the whole day in my head / Do a little spring cleanin’,” he raps on the first verse, continuing, “I’m always too busy dreamin’, yeah / Well, maybe I should wake up instead.” On the second, he asks, “Why I gotta build something beautiful just too go set in on fire?” The third verse is quite chilling and eerie, with the key lyric, “There’s a whole lot more for me waitin’ on the other side…” The centerpiece, of course, is the chorus. “Good News” is the total realization of Miller’s talent. 

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7. LANY, “bad news”

mama’s boy • Polydor • 2020 

“I’ma make your mama love me / Every time you take me home.” Well, that’s good LANY – you definitely want to be in with your significant other’s parents.  “I’ma make your daddy hate me / Every time that we’re alone.” Well, likely, most parents won’t approve of the nasty going down in their midst – just saying.  So, the question is, is this ‘good news’ or “bad news” as the title of the song from mama’s boy suggests?

Well, per Paul Klein, “I’m no good for you / Baby, I’m bad news.” The reasons for Klein’s bad news are various, despite the assets he brings to the relationship.  He has good intentions, but he’s obviously busy, doubts his abilities to be a good boyfriend, and simply doesn’t want to hurt her. Fair enough.  “Bad News” is a sleekly produced pop joint, with Noah Conrad, King Henry, and Chad Copelin joining LANY behind the boards.

8. Black Eyed Peas, “News Today”

TRANSLATION • BEP Music LLC / Epic • 2020 

Keeping it 100, it’s been a while since Black Eyed Peas have been a force in pop music. It happens to the best of musicians, of course.  Post-Fergie in particular, BEP are just a different, less relevant group – no disrespect.  Anyways, in 2020, will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo released a new album, TRANSLATION.  Notably, the closing song, “News Today,” is a perfect fit for this newsworthy list.

On “News Today,” Black Eyed Peas seem to come from a good and thoughtful place.  No, “News Today” has nothing to do with “phunking with any hearts” or “lovely lady humps.” It reflects on the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic that totally screwed 2020. Here, all members of the trio speak upon the happenings that changed the whole world, referencing how things blew up in New York and Italy, the deaths to vulnerable populations, and of course referencing ‘the hoax’ assertions.  While I’m not sure that I’d call “News Today” transcendent per se, again, BEP’s hearts are definitely in the right place.

“COVID-19 got us on our knees
Got the temperature risin’, 106 degrees.”

9. Leon Bridges, “Bad Bad News”

Good Thing • Columbia • 2018 

“They tell me I was born to lose / But I made a good, good thing out of bad, bad news.” “Bad Bad News” has the distinction of following “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand”, the Grammy-winning record from Good Thing.  Good Thing, of course, is the sophomore album by contemporary soul standout Leon Bridges. On “Bad Bad News,” he contrasts the balladry of opener, opting for a mid-tempo joint that successfully fuses soul and jazz.

While “Bad Bad News” does retain old-school vibes, Bridges also incorporates a dash of hip-hop, with the shout outs incorporated via call-and-response sections. Bridges sounds stellar, fully invested, delivering a balanced vocal performance.  For all the old souls out there, “Bad Bad News” is anything but bad news – NO CAP.  Adding to the goodness are the horns and a jazzy guitar solo.  Definitely good news!

10. Anthony Hamilton, “The News”

The Point of It All • RCA • 2008

Anthony Hamilton ranks among the best and most soulful contemporary R&B artists in the game.  His career hasn’t been an easy one as he’s had to put in incredibly hard work to achieve the success that he has.  He would finally breakthrough in 2003 with his platinum-certified album Comin’ From Where I’m From, thanks to an incredible single, “Charlene.” While Hamilton has never quite attained the same degree of success again, the Grammy-winner has been incredibly consistent with each album release and racked up some surefire R&B hits.  One of those hits is “The News,” which appears as the opener from his 2008 album, The Point of It All.

“Ooh, I think I seen it on the news
What am I to do?
Brothers dyin’ from the blues
Send us someone with a song where we could sing along
Fill us all with a spirit where we could carry on.” 

Sure, by 2008, the neo-soul movement had sadly lost some steam, but nobody gave Anthony Hamilton that message.  “The News” initiates The Point of It All drenched in soul, thanks to marvelous production by Mark Batson.  Batson constructs a backdrop led by classy piano, robust bass, and horns – the whole soul aesthetic.  Of course, it’s Hamilton that gives us “The News” with those signature gritty, southern vocals. Worth noting, he deviates from his usual performance to some degree, blessing the listeners with an otherworldly falsetto.  Safe to say, Hamilton does the damn thing, with the best sections being the chorus, as well as the gospel-infused bridge section, where he and his backing choir assert passionately, “Brothers gon’ work it out.” Now that’s the news, bruh!

11. Fleetwood Mac, “Second Hand News”

Rumours • Warner • 1977

“When times go bad / When times go rough / Won’t you lay me down in the tall grass / And let me do my stuff?”  Those are key lyrics from “Second Hand News,” the opening record from Rumours.  Rumours, of course is the Grammy-winning masterpiece by Fleetwood Mac released back in 1977.  Despite its age, Rumours ranks among the most beloved and most popular albums of all time.

“Second Hand News” is a bright, fun record.  Even so, matters of the heart are clearly in play, regardless of those infectious “Bow-bow-bow-bow-buh-buh-bow” lyrics on the chorus.  On the third verse, Lindsey Buckingham makes it crystal clear that, “I ain’t gonna miss you when you go / Been down so long / I’ve been tossed around enough” (Stevie Nicks sings backing vocals on this one).  So, the big question is, when does the news, specifically that “second-hand news” come into play? Not until the end of this three-minute bop: “I’m just second-hand-news / I’m just second-hand news, yeah.”