11 Number Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason | Playlist 🎧

1. Luke Bryan, “One Margarita”

Born Here, Live Here, Die Here • Capitol • 2020

“Lettin’ go a little, little by little / Sippin’ on a frozen drink.” Yeah, Luke Bryan is no stranger to singing about, or partaking in, alcoholic consumption. “One Margarita”, the fourth single from his seventh studio album, Born Here, Live Here, Die Here, is no exception.  Rather than sing about beer – one of his favorite topics – he opts for margarita(s).

As is the expectation of a Luke Bryan song, the production is strong – high budget.  Thankfully, Bryan has laid to rest the pop-crossover sound, embracing ‘country’ firmly.  The sound is guitar-heavy, with banjo, dashes of organ, and pummeling drums. Beyond the sound, Bryan is true to self, thematically and vocally.  His sound is heavy on twang. If you’re a fan of his ‘good ole southern boy’ charm and voice, well, you’ll be onboard with “One Margarita.”  He does nothing drastically different from anything he’s done in the past; the needle is not moved. Basically, this is your beached-out, spring break joint from a man approaching his mid-40s.  Exhibit A – the chorus:

“One margarita, two margarita, three margarita, shot
Don’t worry ‘bout tomorrow
Leave all your sorrow out here on the floatin’ dock
When that sun lays down, we’ll be on our way
One more barefoot round, one more last chance to say
Hey Señorita, don’t you think we need a salt and a Marley song?
One margarita, two margarita, three margarita
We’ll be gone
We’ll be gone.”

2. Kiana Ledé, “Second Chances.”

Ft. 6LACK

Kiki • Republic • 2020

“I’m too fuckin’ real to wear my heart up on my sleeve / Fuck that back and forth shit, if I leave then I’m a leave / I’ma have you begging, have you pleading on your knees.” Well, damn! 2020 saw singer and actress Kiana Ledé release her full-length, debut album, KIKI.  While KIKI hasn’t exactly lit up the charts, the album did debut in the top 30 of the Billboard 200.  More importantly, KIKI has its fair share of notable moments, including “Forfeit.” (featuring Lucky Daye) and the numeric song at hand, “Second Chances” (featuring 6LACK).

As the opening lines of the first verse indicate, you really don’t want to mess with Kiana Ledé.  “Can’t you tell a bitch is fed up with your nonsense,” she goes onto say on the brutally honest first verse.  She’s still feisty on the second verse, where she’d rather troll him than respond to his texts, and informs, “You missed out on a blessing, I mad you the king of my world.”  On the chorus, she just makes it crystal clear she done with it – “No more second chances, chances / Always tryna take advantage, ‘vantage / … So, I’d rather walk away.”  As you might expect, 6LACK provides the male response, owning up to his shortcomings.   Still, he knows it’s all for naught.   But, the pain from both perspectives is our listening pleasure, along with solid production work courtesy of Boston, Cam Griffin, Derrick Milano, Mike Woods, and Roark Bailey.

3. Britney Spears, “3”

The Singles Collection • RCA • 2009

“1, 2, 3 / Not only you and me / Got 180º, and I’m caught in between.” Kinky… Psychology Today defines a paraphilia as “a condition in which a person’s sexual arousal and gratification depend on fantasizing about and engaging in sexual behavior that is atypical and extreme.” The paraphilia that Britney Spears sings about in her no. 1 hit “3” is Troilism, described by Psychology Dictionary as a “carnal activity where three people are engaged.”

Naturally, a threesome comes to mind.  There are parallels between the two, but troilism seems to focus on the troilist fulfilling their sexual desires. Given the selfishness of troilism, Britney Spears ensures she’s the beneficiary aka the troilist.

“…Counting 1, 2, 3
Peter, Paul and Mary
Getting down with 3P
Everybody loves counting.” 

Clearly, “3” is more risqué than it seemed upon arrival. It previously appeared on the quirky, risqué 12 Paraphilic, Fetish Songs (sometimes I still ask myself, why did you write that list) as well as the more tame, much more reasonable 9 Songs That Reference the Number ‘3’.

4. Arctic Monkeys, “Four Out of Five”

Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino • Domino • 2018

“Take it easy for a little while / Come and stay with us, it’s such an easy flight / Cute new places keep on popping up…” “Four Out of Five” ranks among the best songs from the strange but alluring Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino.  That’s surprising given the fact that at its simplest, Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner is singing about the rating that the Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino taqueria received. Nonetheless, Arctic Monkeys make this record incredibly intriguing lyrically, musically, and vocally. It appeared among the 100 Best Songs of 2018.

Worth noting, “Four Out of Five” was the first single from Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino.  “Four Out of Five” is arguably the most commercial moment on a non-commercial album. Commercial is contextual, of course.

“I put a taqueria on the roof, it was well-reviewed,
Four stars out of five
And that’s unheard of.”

5. Travis Scott, “5% TINT”

ASTROWORLD • Epic • 2018

“Who’s that creeping through my window? (my window) / ‘Fore you come outside, I got the M4 (M4) / Took her to the endzone from the Enzo…”ASTROWORLD was certainly one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2018.  It marked the third studio album by Texas rapper, Travis Scott.  The colorful and enjoyable ASTROWORLD does a superb job capturing his left field, experimental spirit.  The song that best fits this numeric, no rhyme or reason playlist from the album is none other than one of my personal favorites, “5% TINT.”

“She like, iced out wrists, iced out-iced out wrists / Fuck don’t kiss, fuck, she fuck don’t kiss…” Yeah… okay… In the context of ASTROWORLD, “5% TINT” marks the rare Travis Scott solo moment. “5% TINT” features awesome production from the jump (FKi 1^st), led by the beat as well as the piano.  Regarding the subject of window tinting, Generally, 5% tinting is an illegal tint – incredibly dark.  Worth noting, Michigan allows any degree of window tinting, though the next darkest state is New Mexico… 20%. Anyways, focusing on “5% TINT” the song, Scott is explicit and tough while also successfully exhibiting his eccentricity and left-field sensibilities.

6. Alec Benjamin, “Six Feet Apart”

“Six Feet Apart” • Alec Benjamin • 2020

“They say distance is relative / And relative to the relatives I have / I’d say I’m relatively close / To breaking down / Because right now / I feel so alone…” Like many musicians, pop singer/songwriter Alec Benjamin decided to write a song about and related to the coronavirus pandemic.  Of “Six Feet Apart”, he states, “This song was inspired by COVID-19.  Been missing the world and I miss you guys.” Benjamin sings about the isolation of social distancing.  Social distancing, of course, is the chief means of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Oh, I miss you most at six feet apart when you’re / Right outside my window, but can’t ride inside my car / And it hurts to know how lovely you are / And bee too far away too hold…” “Six Feet Apart” is a relatively simple, minimalist record – guitar and vocal.  Even so, it’s pitch-perfect in message and theme given the times; very thoughtful.  Alec superbly captures how hard it is to be away from friends, families, and for entertainers, their beloved fans.  On the chorus, he sings:

“So far, so far, but oh so close
Like a star out in the cosmos
Can’t touch the beauty I see
That’s how it feels at six feet.”

“Six Feet Apart” previously appeared on the playlist, 10 Songs That Capture & Embody the Pandemic.

7. Ariana Grande, “7 Rings”

Thank u, next • Republic • 2019

“Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch / Who woulda thought it’d turn me to a savage?” Ariana Grande sounds incredibly fierce on “7 Rings”, one of the many highlights appearing on thank u, next, among the best albums of 2019. The song itself is a bit polarizing – some love it, while others are annoyed by it or absolutely loathe it.  While, admittedly, being as high as I was about it on 50 Best Songs of 2019 (So Far) was a stretch (to quote Oprah, “What was I thinking” when she reflected back on a godawful dress she’d worn), it’s still a key, inescapable song from 2019, earning a spot as the 11^th best song on  51 Best Songs of 2019.

“7 Rings” features moody production that’s dark, enigmatic, and set in a minor key. This standout lifts from the melody of “My Favorite Things” (The Sound of Music). Sleek, hip-hop oriented cues are full throttle during the addictive, instantly catchy chorus. Grande is confident AF on the pre-chorus and choruses. The pre-choruses exemplify a flex-fest (“My wrist, stop watchin’, my neck is flossin’ / Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin’…”), while the chorus is simple, but effective. In addition to the bold line appearing at the top from the first verse, on the second verse, Grande asserts, “Whoever said money can’t solve your problems / Must not have had enough money to solve ‘em.”

8. Bon Iver, “8 (circle)”

22, A Million • Jagjaguwar • 2016

Bon Iver returned triumphantly in 2016 with 22, A Million, an eclectic album that sounded like nothing else released that year.  Incorporating electronic cues and acoustic cues alike, 22, A Million is an intriguing listen.  While lyrically it is a challenging effort, drenched in spirituality, numerology, and the most accessible, romance, 22, A Million certainly makes its listeners think.

“Philosophize your figure
What I have and haven’t held
You called and I came, stayed tall through it all
Fall and fixture just the same thing...”

“8 (circle)” is one of the most epic and warmest moments of 22, A Million.  The lengthiest song of the album, clocking in over five minutes, it’s well worth the duration.  Vocally, “8 (circle)” is arguably frontman Justin Vernon’s tour de force.  Lyrically, it continues references to numerology, spirituality, and obscure, incredibly specific references, as well as incorporating elements of love and sex.  Musically, the saxophones – Colin Stetson, Michael Lewis, and Sad Sax of Shit – in particular provide a lift.  “8 (circle)” previously appeared on the playlist, 11 Circular Songs Sure to Keep You Goin ‘Round in Circles.

9. Panic! At the Disco, “Nine in the Afternoon”

Pretty. Odd. • Fueled by Ramen • 2008

“Back to the street where we began / Feeling as good as lovers can…” With “Nine in the Afternoon,” we have the oldest record to grace 11 Number Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason.  The second song from the aughts after an earlier appearance by Britney Spears, “Nine in the Afternoon” hails from Pretty. Odd, the 2008 sophomore album by Panic! At the Disco.  At the time, Pretty. Odd. Wasn’t only viewed as being ‘pretty odd,’ it was quite an about face for the alternative collective.  Personally, I loved the album, but others weren’t as sold given its stark differences from A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.

Focusing on the ‘9’ song at hand, “Nine in the Afternoon” is quite eclectic in sound. It’s ‘alternative’ in every sense of the word, incorporating retro, psychedelic sensibilities, folk-pop, and Baroque pop.  The Baroque pop element of Panic! At the Disco’s music isn’t far-fetched considering “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” was filled with such cues.  The songwriting is reminiscent of the likes of Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson. Back in 2008, this was a record that sounded little like anything else being released.  The production work is swell, including an assortment of instruments, including brilliant horns, strings, ripe, assertive guitars and harmonized background vocals.

“‘Cause it’s nine in the afternoon
And your eyes are the size of the moon
You could ‘cause you can, so you do
We’re feeling so good just the way that we do…”

Brendon Urie, as always, shows off his distinct and gorgeous vocal tone.  Among the best moments of the song are his a cappella vocals – well – nearly a cappella.

10. Rex Orange County, “10/10”

Pony • Sony Music Entertainment • 2019

Alex O’Connor, best known as Rex Orange County, gained more exposure with his 2017 sophomore album, Apricot Princess, quite a creative effort blending old and new seamlessly. O’Connor returned with his third studio album, Pony, in 2019. Throughout Pony, he’s honest and open about personal matters in his life, namely anxiety. Among the crème de la crème of the brief LP is the opener and 10^th song to grace this playlist, “10/10.”  

“I had a year that nearly sent me off the edge / I feel like a five, I can’t pretend…” “10/10” is an aspirational, reflective, and thoughtful record.  O’Connor continues the lyric from the first verse singing beautifully, “But if I get my shit together this year / Maybe I’ll be a ten.” Besides the fine lyrics of the verses, O’Connor has some great moments on the chorus, with some variations throughout, including the humorous gem, “Sometimes you gotta cut a bitch out.” Couldn’t agree more Alex, sigh.

11. Khalid, “Eleven” / “Eleven (Remix)”

Ft. Summer Walker

“Eleven” • RCA • 2020

“Late at night, eleven, we’re crusin’ / Lately, I’ve been watchin’ your movements / If I’m the only one that you’re choosin’ / Am I favorite drug you’ve been usin’?” Reviewing “Eleven” in January 2020, I asserted the contemporary R&B record checked off boxes that we’ve come to expect from Grammy-nominated R&B artist, Khalid.  His voice is excellent – distinct and quite beautiful. The production, courtesy of Digi and Simon Says, provides inspiration for him to flourish. The sound is idiomatic of contemporary R&B, yet it can also fly on pop radio.

Of course, the production by Digi and Simon Says is retained on “Eleven (Remix)”, which brings the ubiquitous Summer Walker into the fold.  When I think about these two artists separately, the first word that comes to mind is vibe. Seeing these two together isn’t far-fetched in the least.  Walker definitely elevates “Eleven” to a higher level.  Following familiar sections from the original (first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus), Walker, replaces Khalid’s second verse from the original – a welcome contrast. With “Eleven” being respectable but lacking some innovative spirit and risk taking, the addition of Walker provides a boost.