11 Remarkably Beautiful Songs | Playlist 🎧

1. Maroon 5, “Beautiful Mistakes”

Ft. Megan Thee Stallion

🎵 “Beautiful Mistakes” • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2021

In 2021, 🎙 Maroon 5 released a new single, 🎵 “Beautiful Mistakes” and tapped 🎙 Megan Thee Stallion for the assist.  More of a pop collective for while (or even an 🎙 Adam Levine solo act, lol), on “Beautiful Mistakes,” Maroon 5 continue to embrace the ultra-sleek, modern pop sound.

As always, Levine sings well, even with ample vocal processing. Melodically, “Beautiful Mistakes” is tuneful enough without being game changing.  Maroon 5 does muster up a catchy chorus, aimed squarely at the pop crowd.  Megan Thee Stallion provides a tame but rhythmic verse that flows respectably. She also incorporates some singing, complementing the melodic vibe of this cut.  Still, she’s at her best when sexed-up and unapologetic AF. Ultimately, “Beautiful Mistakes” uses the formula Maroon 5 have employed for years.  It’s enjoyable enough without being innovative or transcendent.  Hmm, maybe this one isn’t quite as remarkably beautiful as promised in the intro to this list?

2. KAROL G, “Beautiful Boy”

Ft. Ludacris & Emilee

💿 KG0516 • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 2021

Colombia is in the house! In 2021, 🎙 KAROL G released a new album, 💿 KG0516.  As to be expected, it’s predominately in Spanish.  That said, KAROL invites a couple of guests who perform mostly in English: 🎙 Emilee and Grammy-winning rapper, 🎙 Ludacris.  They join her for the 14^th track from KG0516, 🎵 “Beautiful Boy.”

Emilee takes first blood on “Beautiful Boy,” interpolating the aughts 🎙 Sean Kingston gem, 🎵 “Beautiful Girls” (also on this list!).

“You’re way too beautiful, girl
That’s why it’ll never work
You have me suicidal, suicidal
When you say it’s over.”

From there, KAROL G takes the reins, riding the smooth production (🎛 Ovy on the Drums) like a champ. She sings beautifully, and honestly, even if you don’t understand much Spanish, you don’t need to – it’s a vibe merely listening.  On the chorus, we get a mix of English and Spanish with both KAROL and Emilee singing at times.  On the second verse, Ludacris joins the party, spitting a couple of Spanish lines along with English in his signature style.  He keeps things clean and classy, fitting the overall aesthetic of this enjoyable cut. Following another awesome chorus, Emilee sings us out on the outro, which is similar to the intro.  Of course, we can’t leave out the shout out to producer Ovy – “O-O-Ovy on the Drums!”

3. Ed Sheeran, “Beautiful People”

Ft. Khalid

💿 No.6 Collaborations Project • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2019

“We don’t fit in well ‘cause we are just ourselves / I could use some help gettin’ out of this conversation…” 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Ed Sheeran commences his 2019 album, 💿 No.6 Collaborations Project, respectably with 🎵 “Beautiful People”.  No 6 Collaborations Project marks Sheeran’s fourth studio album.  It notably follows up a lesser-known 2011 EP, 💿 No.5 Collaborations Project.  Keying in on the song at hand, “Beautiful People” is about being socially uncomfortable, awkward – not fitting in with the crowd.

Sheeran blesses the track with clear, boyish vocals, showcasing a great tone and lovely falsetto.  He sings the first verse, the initial aforementioned excerpted pre-chorus, and the catchy chorus. There’s also a post-chorus (“That’s not who we are (we are, we are, we are) / We are not beautiful”).  As for the featured guest, 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B standout 🎙 Khalid, he sings the second verse and pre-chorus with his ever beautiful, distinct tone.  The production (Sheeran, 🎛 FRED, 🎛 Max Martin, and 🎛 Shellback) is solid, if not extraordinarily ear catching. The opener could’ve used a smidge more oomph mind you, but overall, it’s a success for Ed and Khalid.

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4. Queen Naija, “Beautiful”

💿 missunderstood…still • 🏷 UMG Recordings Inc. • 📅 2021

“And now I see that the struggle was beautiful.” Now those lyrics are definitely thoughtful and incredibly B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! R&B standout 🎙 Queen Naija released an expanded version of her 2020 album, 💿 missunderstood in 2021 – 💿 missunderstood…still.  Regardless of the version of the album you listen to, the beautiful 🎵 “Beautiful” appears on both as the final cut (18^th or 25^th cut, respectively).  As she always does, the Queen serves up beautiful vocals, never getting to high but always giving an expressive, nuanced, and well-rounded performance.

Besides great vocals and some thoughtful and poetic songwriting (“Didn’t feel I could survive / Felt like I had broken wings, I couldn’t fly…”), we also get solid production courtesy of a team comprised of 🎛 JV, 🎛 Tiffany Johnson, 🎛 Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, and 🎛 Harmony Samuels. The sound is chill, lush, and radiant to the nth degree. This complements Queen Naija perfectly, as she sings over the dreamy background with incredible ease, barely breaking a sweat. Throw in the reflective, authentic lyrics and “Beautiful” is nothing short of beautiful.

5. Declan McKenna, “Beautiful Faces”

💿 Zeros • 🏷 Tomplicated / Sony UK • 📅 2020

🎵 “Beautiful Faces” served as an advance single from 💿 Zeros, the sophomore album from British singer/songwriter 🎙 Declan McKenna. Another well-written song by the wunderkind, he describes the record to NME as “a brave new anthem for doomed youth.” Producer 🎛 Jay Joyce helps craft a compelling backdrop comprised of energetic guitars, punchy drums, a robust bass line, and some bright, energetic synths (via keyboards).

Vocally, McKenna is potent, particularly on the catchy chorus:

“Beautiful faces smiling over us
Lift your hands up and lead us back home
Beautiful people won’t remember you, honey
I bet you can’t get enough.”

Of course, it’s not just the chorus that’s electrifying.  The verses feature the usual ‘woke’ lyrics from the British standout.  “Tonight, I must demand a raise so I can grab, let’s say,” he sings on the second verse, “Some part replacements and strawberry laces, no spaces.” Definitely not your typical lyrics, right? Then there’s also my personal favorite verse, verse three:

“Tonight, I’m good staying inside
But I’ll be dancing for sure
Going to the stores, pulling socks out of the drawers
Of the people who you don’t love anymore.”

McKenna is a beast, and not enough folks are aware of his sheer excellence.  He’s a capable songwriter, a compelling singer, and honestly, awesome AF.  “Beautiful Faces” is truly beautiful!

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6. Halsey, “Finally//beautiful stranger”

💿 Manic • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2020

“Beautiful stranger, here you are in my arms and I know / That beautiful strangers only come along to do me wrong /… But I think it’s finally, finally, finally, finally safe / For me to fall…” On her third studio album, 💿 Manic, 🎵 “Finally // beautiful stranger” gives alternative pop artist 🎙 Halsey a pop/rock, singer/songwriter cut.  It also happens to be a love song, confirmed by the aforementioned chorus. The rich, robust rhythmic guitars are a bit unexpected, given the abundance of electronic sounds usually associated with Halsey’s music.

Besides superb production courtesy of 🎛 Greg Kurstin, the songwriting is strong.  Vocally, she sounds alluring, giving a relatively balanced performance, yet also bringing a bit more oomph on the chorus.  The songwriting is strong, as she sings lovingly of her boo with an assortment of charming and descriptive lyrics: “You got hips like Jagger and two left feet” (verse one) and “Used to think that loving meant a painful chase / But you’re right here now and I think you’ll stay” (verse two). In addition to the memorable chorus, and lyrical highlights from the two verses, the pre-chorus is pretty sweet as well, particularly as she sings, “I’ve never seen a mouth that I would kill to kiss / And I’m terrified, but the truth is this…” Considering this is supposedly the first love song she’s ever written, it’s a truly accomplished one.

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7. Lil Peep, “Life is Beautiful”

💿 Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2 • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2018

Sadly, emo-tinged rapper 🎙 Lil Peep passed away at the age of 21 on November 15, 2017. Although the heavily tatted, often ‘sad’ rapper is no longer living, there have been a number of posthumously issued projects, including 💿 Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2 released a year after his untimely demise.  A fine representation of where Lil Peep was going artistically, one of the best songs from the project is 🎵 “Life is Beautiful.”

“I know it hurts sometimes, but it’s beautiful.” “Life is Beautiful” is arguably the deepest, most meaningful, and socially conscious song ever released by Lil Peep.  Notably, the record features more lyrics and more variation than most by the rapper/singer. On the first verse, he references racial injustice, police brutality, and America’s justice issues.  On the second, he’s clearly depressed (“Woke up in the morning, now you doing the impossible”), while the third verse references the possibility of suicide (“And if I try suicide, would you stop me?”). Even more morbid, there’s eventual death (“There comes a time when everybody meets the same fate / I think I’ma die alone inside my room”), making this beautiful record nothing short of chilling.

8. Snoop Dogg, “Beautiful”

Ft. Charlie Wilson & Pharrell Williams

💿 Paid Da Cost to Be Da Bo$$ • 🏷 Priority • 📅 2002)

“Oh, oh, oh, oh / Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.”  Woo! That, folks, is the instantly recognizable intro to a surefire 🎙 Snoop Dogg classic. Snoop goes on to rap on 🎵 “Beautiful,” “I know you gon’ lose it, this new Snoop shit / Come on baby boo, you gots to get into it.” You heard the man!

Honestly, it wasn’t all about going 🎵 “From Tha Chuuuch to da Palace” on the rapper’s 2002 album, 💿 Paid Da Cost to Be Da Bo$$.  Back when and before “dropping it like it’s hot”,  Snoop Doggy Dogg collaborated with 🎛 The Neptunes, 🎙 Pharrell Williams and 🎙 Charlie Wilson for this beautiful, groovy, totally infectious Hot 100 top-10 smash.  Yes, Snoop is ‘the shiznet’ as he always is (“We just blow dro and keep the flow movin’ / In a ’64, me and baby boo crusin’”), but Pharrell kills it on the chorus:

“Beautiful, I just want you to know
You’re my favorite girl
(Yeah, oh yeah, there’s something about you).”

9. Mariah Carey, “#Beautiful”

Ft. Miguel

💿 Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2014

“You’re beautiful, and your mind is fucking beautiful / And I can’t pretend that that doesn’t mean a thing.” 💿 Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse didn’t perform particularly well on the charts. Bummer for sure. In all honesty, the delayed 2014 studio album by 🏆 Grammy-winning icon 🎙 Mariah Carey was actually better than expected when it actually arrived.  Carey did manage to earn a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single “#Beautiful” featuring 🏆 Grammy-winning standout Miguel. Among the best moments of this gem is the aforementioned chorus, which includes the f-bomb – yay!

Of course, there’s more to rave about besides the f-word, which honestly, has been around for minute.  Another lyrical gem comes from Miguel, who memorably sings, “Hop on, the back of my bike / Let the good wind blow through your hair,” on the first verse. He continues with the flattery, finishing the line: “With an ass like that and a smile so bright oh, you’re killing me, you know it ain’t fair.”  Damn! That’s of course where that chorus sums up the sentiment exceptionally. Moving on, Carey isn’t upstaged, shining on the second verse:

“I like when you run red lights
Don’t stop ‘til you thrill me, oh how you thrill me.”

Yeah, that calls for another damn, more like da-yum.  Anyways, throw in signature Carey cues – ad-libs, whistle tones – and she’s on autopilot.  #Beautiful? You bet!

10. Sean Kingston, “Beautiful Girls”

💿 Sean Kingston • 🏷 Epic • 🗓 2008

“Damn all these beautiful girls, they only wanna do you dirt / They’ll have me suicidal, suicidal, when they say it’s over.”  🎙 Sean Kingston definitely has a point on the sole no. 1 hit of his career, 🎵 “Beautiful Girls.” Of course, this same scenario is applicable to a smoking hot guy who potentially does the same. Just an observation…

Often, it seems to be girls who are leery of dudes cheating on them or rejecting them.  Here, Kingston sings from the guy’s perspective where rejection and broken relationships make for a state of mind as serious as being suicidal because of the wrecking of emotions.  Love can be awesome, but it can also be a train wreck that potentially ruins, ends, or threatens to end your life. As bad as the scenario may be, what’s not the least bit objectionable is how awesome this standout from Sean Kingston’s 2007 💿 self-titled album is.

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11. Christina Aguilera, “Beautiful”

💿 Stripped • 🏷 Sony • 📅 2002

🎙 Christina Aguilera is a prodigiously gifted singer.  Sure, she can milk the song a bit much, and opt for one too many growls and runs, but overall, she is one of the very best, period.  It is, however, sort of hard to believe that the same artist who recorded 🎵 “Dirrty” on 2002’s 💿 Stripped could also deliver the powerful, 🏆 Grammy-winning ballad, 🎵 “Beautiful.” That, of course, is exactly what Aguilera does and it’s safe to say that “Beautiful” has much more substance.

“I am beautiful no matter what they say,” Aguilera sings with incredible authenticity on the chorus, continuing, “Words can’t bring me down.” Amen sister, Amen! Empowerment always wins and so does “Beautiful,” ranking right at or near the top of Aguilera’s extensive musical catalog. Additionally, this beautiful, uplifting ballad just might be the very best song that singer/songwriter extraordinaire 🎼✍ Linda Perry has ever penned. “Beautiful” settled for the no. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 back in the day.  If you’re asking yourself the question, how in the hell didn’t it reach no. 1, well, you’re not alone.