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“11 Songs About Those Fine-Feathered Things Called Birds” features music courtesy of The Black Keys, Denzel Curry, Drake, Father John Misty, and Sia.  

“I’m like a bird, I’ll only fly away / I don’t know where my soul is (soul is) / I don’t know where my home is.” Well, if Nelly Furtado didn’t give it away with her Grammy-winning pop hit “I’m Like a Bird,” this playlist is all about birds. ‘Course, you could’ve saved some time and simply read the colorful playlist title… Cutting straight to the chase, “11 Songs About Those Fine-Feathered Things Called Birds” features music courtesy of The Black Keys (“Eagle Birds”), Denzel Curry (“Birdz”), Drake (“Two Birds, One Stone”), Father John Misty (“Birdie”), and Sia (“Bird Set Free”).   

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1. The Black Keys, “Eagle Birds”

“Let’s Rock” • Nonesuch • 2019

“See twin eagle birds up / In the tree / One for you and there’s / One for me.” Despite being a brief record, The Black Keys pack quite a mean punch on “Eagle Birds”, the second single from the highly-anticipated album, “Let’s Rock.” “Let’s Rock” arrives after a five-year hiatus by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. Regardless of the wait that fans had to endure, they make up for it on this two-minute-and-forty second gem.

“Eagle Birds” begins with a compelling drum groove by Patrick Carney, adorned with distorted, old-school rock guitars. Dan Auerbach sounds rock solid, maintaining his composure, yet delivering an effective, expressive performance (there’s still distortion on his vocals btw). Lyrically, The Black Keys keep things simple; there are a limited number of lyrics in each verse. The first verse is excerpted above, while on the second, Auerbach sings: “…All night long I / Had you on my mind / Flying high.” Later, there’s also a third verse, which brings the eagle/birds into the picture: “…Eagle bird I / Heard you fly on by / Late last night.”

Between each verse is a chorus, which is extended following the second and third verses.  It plays out, at its most basic as, “Don’t nobody wanna be lonely / Everybody oughta be loved sometime…” Also, worth noting, a superb guitar solo follows the chorus after the second verse. It can be described as bluesy, turned-up, and perfectly suited to this alternative rock cut. All in all, “Eagle Birds” is nothing short of awesome.  “Eagle Birds” previously appeared on the playlist 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in April 2019.

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2. Denzel Curry, “Birdz”

Ft. Rick Ross

ZUU • Loma Vista • 2019

Despite its brief runtime, ZUU gives Carol City, Florida rapper Denzel Curry a strong, well-rounded album with no shortage of hard-hitting bangers. Curry definitely seems to be ‘on his way’ to superstardom – or at least he should be judging by ZUU. Curry is quite the electrifying rapper, something he exhibits on the ‘all Carol City banger,’ “Birdz.”

“Don’t test my dawg, they got holsters for real / Fuck a Pop-Tart, we carry toasters for real.” Woo! Unsurprisingly, Denzel Curry’s collaboration with fellow Carol City rapper, Rick Ross, is one of the best moments of ZUU. “Birdz” features a heavily distorted sound that exemplifies trunk-rattling satisfaction.  As he’s been the entirety of the project, Curry is ‘on 10’ as evidenced by his stellar ‘Pop-Tart’ line from the first verse.  Add some killer sound effects, another elite chorus, and a drippy verse from Rick Ross – including a Nipsey Hussle shout-out – and “Birdz” kicks some serious ass.

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3. Avril Lavigne, “Birdie”

Head Above Water • BMG Rights Management • 2019

“I ain’t your prisoner / You can’t lock me up no more /… You can’t chain me down no more / Goddamn, it’s gonna hurt / So fly away, little bird.” On the well-rounded “Birdie,” Avril Lavigne delivers a mid-tempo, uplifting ballad. Head Above Water, her long-awaited, comeback album, has its fair share of ballads, for better or for worse.  While all of them are uplifting, obviously, some are more accomplished than others. “Birdie” doesn’t rank among the crème de la crème necessarily, but it’s a worthwhile listen.

“Like a bird locked up in a cage called love / He clipped her wings when she was born to fly / He said, ‘A pretty bird, you can’t sing / But I’ll buy you diamonds and ruby rings’…” Where the centerpiece (“Head Above Water”) of Head Above Water dabbles in faith, “Birdie” instead explores escapism, ultimately seeking to be “set free.”

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4. Maroon 5, “Three Little Birds”

Three Little Birds [Single] • Interscope • 2018

“Don’t worry / About a thing / Every little thing’s gonna be alright.” In 2018, Grammy-winning pop collective Maroon 5 traded modern-, urban-pop for reggae (Note: this occurred long before frontman Adam Levine would take off his horrid looking tank at the Super Bowl to show his ripped, tatted bod).

No, the band didn’t record a reggae original. Instead, they covered the Bob Marley classic, “Three Little Birds”. On “Three Little Birds,” Maroon 5 ‘handle business’ effectively.  While Maroon 5 does Bob Marley justice, it’s safe to say this spirited, solidly executed cover doesn’t trump the original, no matter how successfully Levine channels his inner Marley. “Three Little Birds” has previously appeared on multiple playlists: 9 Songs That Reference the Number ‘3’, 11 Songs to Channel Your Inner Animal,  10 Songs That Go Strictly by the Numbers, and 13 Little or Small Songs That Transcend Size.

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5. Trippie Redd, “Bird Shit”

LIFE’S A TRIP • TenThousand Projects, LLC • 2018

“Leave that bullshit to the birds / Drippin’, drippin’, ha!” Well… Trippie Redd is one of a kind – understatement.  Unsurprisingly, “Bird Shit,” which appears on his 2018 LP, Life’s a Trip, is indeed ‘a trip.’  Naturally, the idiosyncratic rapper highlights ‘shit,’ bullshit, and birds throughout the course of this colorful, s-bomb filled affair.

A prime example is the ‘refrain’ section that occurs after the intro and prior to the first verse.

“All that bullshit for the birds, ay
You ain’t sayin’ nothing but a word, ay
Shitty n*ggas, you some turds, ay
Hating on a boy ‘cause I’m in first place.”

Beyond the refrain, Trippie Redd flexes like a boss and asserts, “N*gga cannot stress me / ‘Cause I’m getting’ money with the fucking gang.” Similarly, on the second verse, he spits, “Because I said I ball n*gga like Vince Carter / Slaughter your daughter, bitch, I go harder, like Mr. Carter.” If that didn’t confirm the flex, the chorus does, with its references to VVS, money, and girls. He caps off the chorus with the line, “Let the birds talk, pussy n*gga let the birds walk.” “Bird Shit” was featured on previous playlists 13 Songs with Every Kind of Poo Imaginable and 15 Songs Featuring Profanity in their Titles.

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6. Father John Misty, “Birdie”

Pure Comedy • Sub Pop • 2017

“Take off, little winged creature / It’s nothing but teens in ravines / … Are you really as free as all the great songs would have me believe?” Father John Misty perfectly illustrated societal flaws throughout the course of his 2017, Grammy-winning alternative album, Pure Comedy. The title track, “Pure Comedy”, sets the tone of the album, featuring ambitious lyrics finding Josh Tillman referencing issues such as women’s rights, religion, and politics.  Another gem, “Two Wildly Different Perspectives”, is open to multiple interpretations, but there seems to be an intentional connection to the dangers of politics.  Of course, neither song belongs on this bird-centered list.  Thankfully, part of the Pure Comedy is “Birdie.”

“Some dream of a world written in lines of code / Well, I hope they engineer out politics, romance, and edifice / Two outta three ain’t bad.” Say what? On “Birdie,” Tillman paints a picture of eventual freedom that’s freer than the bird he uses as an example throughout. Essentially, “Birdie” is jam-packed full of escapism.  See the second verse:

“Soon, we’ll live in a global culture devoid of gender or race
There’s just one tiny line:
You’re either born behind or you’re free to peek inside…” 

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7. Sia, “Bird Set Free”

This is Acting • RCA • 2016

“Clipped wings, I was a broken thing / Had a voice, had a voice but I could not sing / You would wind me down / I struggled on the ground.” Sigh just read those poetic, thoughtful lyrics once again.  Adding to the awesomeness are expressive, authentic, powerhouse vocals by Sia. Amazingly, somebody passed on the liberating, unleashed, soaring ballad, “Bird Set Free,” which commences the pop singer/songwriter’s 2016 album, This is Acting.

 

“And I don’t care if I sing off key
I found myself in my melodies
I sing for love; I sing for me
I shout it out like a bird set free.”

Again, why did anyone pass this up? Regardless, Sia absolutely kills this awesome song, co-written by the great Greg Kurstin. “Bird Set Free” previously appeared on the playlists 11 Songs to Channel Your Inner Animal and more recently, 13 Songs That Exemplify Being Free.

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8. Drake, “Two Birds, One Stone”

Two Birds, One Stone [Single] • Cash Money / Young Money • 2016

Since 2015, Drake has been busy and prolific AF. He dropped two mixtapes in 2015 (If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late and What A Time to Be Alive) and released a new album in 2016 (Views). Prior to releasing More Life in 2017, Drizzy issued several advance singles: “Fake Love”, “Sneakin’”, and “Two Birds, One Stone”. Arguably, “Two Birds, One Stone” is the crème de la crème of the bunch.

“Two birds, one stone, my aim is amazin’ / I need to start losing my shit on you n*ggas that’s hatin’…” “Two Birds, One Stone” opens with an enigmatic sound from the jump.  The distortion and sample create an unsettling vibe. Also, add drum programming to the mix, amplifying the excellence crafted by Kanye West and Noah “40” Shebib who handle the production duties. If you’re in search for a Drake record that compares, “Two Birds, One Stone” is reminiscent of “Tuscan Leather” (regarding sound and vibe) from Nothing Was the Same. There is no hook – NO PROBLEM.

“More time with family and friends, more life
More time to get it right
It’s only me, but I’m seeing four shadows in the light
My demons visit me every night
To the Most High, I’m forever indebted…”

While he references “more life” a couple of different times throughout, somehow, “Two Birds, One Stone” didn’t end up on More Life.  Regardless, he makes many more references (God, his parents, Meagan Good, El Chapo, etc.), as well as delivers numerous notable, worthwhile lyrics (“Fuck the rap game, it’s all lies and it’s all filthy / Two percent of us rich and the rest of these n*ggas all milk it”). There’s also that early dig at Pusha T prior to “Duppy Freestyle” and the infamous “The Story of Adidon”.

“But really it’s you with all the drug dealer stories
That’s gotta stop though
You made a couple chops and now you think you Chapo…”

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9. Solange, “Cranes in the Sky”

A Seat at the Table • Columbia • 2016

“I tried to drink it away / I tried to put one in the air / I tried to dance it away / I tried to change it with my hair…” Grammy-winning record “Cranes in the Sky” is one of the most meaningful moments of A Seat at the Table, the most accomplished album by R&B singer/songwriter Solange. Throughout “Cranes in the Sky,” she attempts to eliminate hurtful things by avoiding them.

Despite this, those feelings of pain and hurt remain, even as she does any and everything to make them go “away.” According to her, “…It’s like cranes in the sky / Sometimes I don’t wanna feel those metal clouds.”  And just to clarify in case anybody has a blonde moment, we are referring to cranes that are birds, not the machines… “Cranes in the Sky” previously appeared on playlists 27 Contemporary Songs That Capture the Black Experience and 13 Contemporary Protest Anthems.

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10. Marilyn Manson, “Birds of Hell Awaiting”

The Pale Emperor • Loma Vista • 2015

On his superb 2015 album, The Pale Emperor, Marilyn Manson bestows his gift of darkness upon all who are brave enough to listen.  As sinful as it is to say, Manson’s gifts are triumphant –hellishly speaking of course.  He totally blesses this playlist (suspect word choice, I know) with the eighth track from The Pale Emperor, “Birds of Hell Awaiting.”

So, just to reiterate, if it hasn’t been made clear already, “Birds of Hell Awaiting” exemplifies everything hellish.  How so you ask? Well, there’s demonic screams and malicious production.  Marilyn Manson’s coarse, biting vocals definitely nail this blues-driven, six-eight record.  Manson makes one thing clear: “This ain’t no phoenix, baby / It’s your death’s desire.”  Really, what the ‘hell’ can you really say to that?  Of course, three years later, Manson made it clear, “WE KNOW WHERE YOU FUCKING LIVE”.

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11. Steve Miller Band, “Fly Like an Eagle”

Fly Like an Eagle • Capitol • 1976 

“I want to fly like an eagle / To the sea / Fly like an eagle / Let my spirit carry me…” Steve Miller Band definitely struck gold with their 1976 classic, “Fly Like an Eagle.” Like some of these other bird-centric songs, “Fly Like an Eagle” has appeared on a previous playlist, 13 Basketball Songs to Celebrate March Madness. While it’s pretty obvious why “Fly  Like an Eagle” gets a nod on 11 Songs About Those Fine-Feathered Things Called Birds, why did it get the nod on the aforementioned basketball playlist?

Two words: Space Jam.  The Seal cover from the 90s basketball film definitely revived interest in the song. Also, amplifying the basketball angle, “Fly Like an Eagle” could be interpreted in March Madness as ‘soaring’ past the various rounds of the NCAA tournament and ultimately coming out victorious in the championship game.  But of course, this is all about the birds in this context.  Honestly, it’s self-explanatory, right? “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’…”

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“11 Songs About Those Fine-Feathered Things Called Birds” [Photo Credits: BMG Rights Management, Capitol, Cash Money, Columbia, Interscope, Loma Vista, Nonesuch, Pexels, Pixabay, RCA, Sub Pop, TenThousand Projects, LLC, Young Money]

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