Playlist “11 Songs by Male Artists Centered on Blood” features music courtesy of 5 Seconds of Summer, Ezra Furman, Khalid, and Shawn Mendes among others.

Cutting straight to the chase, the title of our latest playlist is self-explanatory: 11 Songs by Male Artists Centered on Blood. The keyword is blood, meaning that the word MUST be featured in the title of the songs that appear on this list in some form or fashion.  Simple, right? Right.  Among artists with songs that appear on this playlist are 5 Seconds of Summer, Ezra Furman, Khalid, and Shawn Mendes among others. Interestingly though originally not intentionally, all songs arrive courtesy of male artists.  That means no “Bad Blood” Taylor Swift fans… Don’t feel so bad though Swifties – since we kept this list ultra-current, Kanye West gem “Blood on the Leaves” missed the cut.

1. Shawn Mendes, “In My Blood”

Shawn Mendes • Island • 2018

Canadian pop heartthrob Shawn Mendes masterfully exhibits vulnerability, resolve, and soulfulness on the emotionally-driven, powerful, and resolute “In My Blood”. From the start, he exhibits his best attribute – his voice.  On the first verse, Mendes shares his struggles: fears, insecurities, and loneliness.  He casually sings portions of this verse in his lower register, amplifying his vulnerability.  The second verse is shorter, but a bit more melodic. By the pre-chorus/chorus sections, the full scope of his vocal expressiveness is unleashed. The soulful beastliness of his vocals, plus the ad-libs, arrive in their full, youthful glory on the titular lyric (“It isn’t in my blood”).

2. 5 Seconds of Summer, “Youngblood”

Youngblood • Capitol • 2018

“Young blood / Say you want me, say you want me out of your life / And I’m just a dead man walking tonight / But you need it, yeah you need it all the time.” “Youngblood” arrives as the second advanced single from Youngblood, the highly-anticipated third studio album from 5 Seconds of Summer. Not only is “Youngblood” the title track and second single, it kicks off the album.  It’s an energetic, slickly produced pop cut.  As far as sound is concerned, there are guitars in the mix, but more synths are in play compared to past 5SOS.  Even so, the sound suits the collective.  While the vocal performance is a bit more restrained on the verses, the vocals are edgier on the chorus, cutting through the production sheen you might say.

“…Say you want me, say you want me back in your life

So, I’m just a dead man crawling tonight

‘Cause I need it, yeah, I need it all of the time

Yeah, ooh, ooh, ooh.”

3. BØRNS, “God Save Our Young Blood”

Ft. Lana Del Rey

Blue Madonna • Interscope • 2018

“God Save Our Young Blood” superbly commences Blue Madonna, the sophomore album by BØRNS. The vocals begin relatively low-key, while the sound is cool, yet mysterious. There’s an air of chill, yet BØRNS still exhibits energy. Throughout, Lana Del Rey sings alongside him (NOTE: The only woman who appears on this particular list), as opposed to being featured in a substantial solo role.  The pairing of the two distinct voices is strong. A true fever pitch occurs on the chorus, where the enigma grows more enigmatic, with synth-driven production leading the charge. As the ear adjusts and familiarizes itself to “God Save Our Young Blood,” the magic is revealed in all its glory.

4.Ezra Furman, “Suck the Blood from My Wound”

Transangelic Exodus • Bella Unison • 2018

Gender-fluid rock musician Ezra Furman maintains something of cult-following. Self-described as a ‘Queer Outlaw Saga,’ Furman’s 2018 album Transangelic Exodus is incredibly underrated as well as incredibly special. “I woke up bleeding in the crotch of a tree,” Furman sings on phenomenal opening highlight, “Suck the Blood from My Wound.”

Furman sings with incredible grit, delivering his concept of transangelicism.

“Blood on my angel’s lips blends with his make-up

… Peeling off bandages to unfold his wings

The doctors said they’d have to stay on for another three weeks

Fuck it baby, let ‘em bruise, let ‘em break

But bleed, let ‘em bleed.”

5. Ab-Soul, Anderson .Paak & James Blake, “Bloody Waters”

Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired • Interscope • 2018

Kendrick Lamar assembled and recorded a well-rounded compilation soundtrack with Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired.  The three advance singles, “All the Stars”, “King’s Dead”, and “Pray for Me” are all highlights, but so is “Bloody Waters,” credited to Ab-Soul, James Blake (intro and outro), and Anderson. Paak (chorus). Ab-Soul gets to work on a post-chorus, before dropping two ripe verses over some of the album’s most minimal, but unique production work (Sounwav/Kendrick Lamar).

“Blood on my hands, I’ma need hot agua

You gon’ meet yo maker, I won’t say it in Patois

Hope I strike a nerve like a package of matches

You might wanna bypass, this smoke ain’t gas trick.”

“Bloody Waters” marvelously segues to the aforementioned highlight, “King’s Dead.”

6. alt-J, “In Cold Blood”

Relaxer • Atlantic • 2017

Alt-J outdo themselves on “In Cold Blood,” a standout from their 2017 album, Relaxer. “In Cold Blood” features a sharp, gritty sound palette. Furthermore, the record features the use of binary code, and more notably, clever word play.  An incredibly fun record, it’s also a deadly, murderous one. Essentially, a fun, summer pool party turns into a killer one:

“Lifeless back slaps the surface of the pool

Pool killer, killer pool, pool killer…

Pool, summer, summer, pool, pool, summer vibes killed

In cold blood.”

The identity of the murderer is never reviewed, but the quirky, sometimes ridiculous lyrics do suggest there’s a pool killer. Alt-J themselves admit the lyrics aren’t “massively deep”.

7. Kendrick Lamar, “BLOOD.”

DAMN. • Interscope • 2017

“‘Hello ma’am, can I be of any assistance? / It seems to me that you have lost something / I would like to help you find it.’ / She replied: ‘Oh yes, you have lost something / You’ve lost…your life.’” Kendrick Lamar packs a punch with “BLOOD.”, the brief opener from his Grammy-winning, Pulitzer-winning album, DAMN.. Following an intro sung by Bēkon, Lamar tells a story about offering to help a blind woman, who ultimately shoots him (aforementioned). After he is shot, excerpts from Fox News negatively discuss the rapper’s lyrics on police brutality.

8. Khalid, “Cold Blooded”

American Teen • RCA • 2017

“Ooh, and cold blooded, cold blooded / You want what I’m giving up / But my love is not enough.” Sigh, with American Teen, Khalid delivered an album chocked-full of hits which seem ready-made for playlists.  Just saying!  Another gem from his 2017 Grammy-nominated album, “Cold Blooded,” features swoon-worthy production. In addition to the awesome backdrop, the melody shines, particularly on the pre-chorus.

“And I feel your fear

Surrounded by your skin

You feel my heartbeat vibrate so violent

Inside of your head

I see it in your eyes (see it in your eyes)

That you’re no good for me

And love is blind.”

9. The Chainsmokers, “Bloodstream”

Memories…Do Not Open • Columbia • 2017

“I’m fucked up, I’m faded / I’m so complicated / Those things that I said / They were so overrated.” Hmm, perhaps we should’ve included “Blood on the Leaves.” Anyways, The Chainsmokers got off to a bumpy start with their first full-length album, Memories…Do Not Open. “Bloodstream” marked the third consecutive song that Drew Taggart busted out the ole f-bomb. He must not have graduated from his frat days… The purpose of the profanity on the record to amplify the emotional intensity, given the continual ups and down of love, not to mention the fact that he’s drunk: “But I-I-I…, yeah, I meant it / Oh yeah, I…, really fucking meant it.”

10. Sampha, “Blood on Me”

Process • Young Turks • 2017

On Process, the debut album by Sampha, nothing trumps “Blood on Me”.  Although groovy from the onset, “Blood on Me” isn’t a particularly exuberant record. Don’t let the radiant and soulful pipes of Sampha sway you away from the terror! “Blood on Me” has dark tilt that can be interpreted literally and metaphorically. The chorus sums up the imminent danger that Sampha faces: “I swear they smell the blood on me / I hear them coming for me.” Essentially, he erects a song that where he feels he’s being hunted down or forced to run from a devastating threat. He paints a frightening portrait throughout the course of the verses.

11. John Mayer, “In the Blood”

The Search for Everything • Columbia • 2017

Despite the fact that The Search for Everything was an enjoyable, well-rounded affair, John Mayer only mustered up lukewarm success.  It happens. Maintaining consistency throughout the course of the album, Mayer shines on “In the Blood,” showcasing clear vocals, never obstructed by production work. With rhythmic acoustic guitar leading the charge for the accompaniment, “In the Blood” sports a folk-rock sensibility.  From the start, it’s promising, with the best moment arriving on a catchy, well-written refrain:

“I can feel the love I want, I can feel the love I need

But it’s never gonna calm the way I am

Could I change if I wanted, can I rise above the flood?

Will it wash out in the water, or is it always in the blood?”

Photo Credits: Atlantic, Bella Unison, Capitol, Columbia, Interscope, Island, Pixabay, RCA, Young Turks