11 Songs Filled with Immense Gratitude & Thanks | Playlist 🎧

11 Songs Filled with Immense Gratitude & Thanks features songs by Clairo, Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Lisa Page Brooks, ScHoolboy Q, and William DeVaughn.

Count your blessings, folks! While November is the month set aside to be grateful and give gratitude and thanks, we should be grateful all the time, every day! 11 Songs Filled with Immense Gratitude & Thanks is exactly what it says it is… for the most part.  Every song on the list mentions thanks-related words such as grateful, gratitude, and thanks.  However, all songs are thankful for various things – God, children, a significant other, themselves, etc. 11 Songs Filled with Immense Gratitude & Thanks features songs by Clairo, Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Lisa Page Brooks, ScHoolboy Q, and William DeVaughn. So, without further ado, let’s embrace the gratitude, shall we?!

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1. Lisa Page Brooks, “The Grateful Chant”

2. William DeVaughn, “Be Thankful for What You Got”

3. Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiësto & W&W, “Thank You (No So Bad)”

4. Clairo, “Thank You”

5. ZAYN, “Grateful”

6. ScHoolboy Q, “Thank god 4 me”

7. Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown, “Thank God”

8. Diana Ross, “Thank You”

9. Charity Gayle, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood”

10. Andrew Gold, “Thank You for Being a Friend”

11. Earth Wind & Fire, “Gratitude”

1. Lisa Page Brooks, “The Grateful Chant”

“The Grateful Chant” // FlowNeeNee Music // 2024 

“The devil is a liar / Yea, yea, yea, yea!” Amen 🙏👏 🙌! Sometimes, positive messages come from unlikely sources. Lisa Page Brooks earned a rare, viral, gospel moment with “The Devil is a Liar”. The big-voiced gospel singer and pastor gave the internet much-needed inspiration and uplifting vibes. First, she called out the devil for what he is, twice. Then, in the brief clip, she proclaimed, “Victory is mine.” Perhaps the best part of the clips is where Brooks riffs in her robust, lower register on the “yea(s)” affirming syllables. Listening to this anointed singer sing this clip once is not sufficient.  This is a video/sound clip you’ll play on repeat multiple times a day.  Where so many viral trends are secular for entertainment purposes only, Brooks entertains and ministers.  Now that’s a two-for-one I can proudly support.

“Anybody grateful? Anybody thankful?” We all should be, Lisa Page Brooks. Fittingly, Brooks recorded a sleek, spirited studio version entitled “The Grateful Chant”. Brooks penned “The Grateful Chant” alongside David Outing, Gerald Haddon, and Natasha Lockhart. Released in September 2024, in “The Grateful Chant,” she speaks to all the grateful people who are thankful for the goodness of God.  Encouragingly, she sings, “If you believe / You will receive.” Oh, the power of faith! She adds, “You’ll never be defeated / You’re gonna win / You’re always gonna prosper / Until the end.” Is the Christian life free of trials and tribulations? No. Is the Christian lifestyle perfect? No, of course not.  But despite the arduous moments and hardships that come, Page Brooks claims victory in all situations because God is all-mighty, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Amen 🙏👏 🙌!! The devil will try to play spoils, but HE’S A LIAR, YEA, YEA, YEA!

Appears in 🔻:

• Lisa Page Brooks, Devil is a Liar: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 38 (2024)
• Lisa Page Brooks, The Grateful Chant: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 41 (2024)

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2. William DeVaughn, “Be Thankful for What You Got”

Be Thankful for What You Got // Unidisc Music Inc. // 1980

“Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac / … You may not have a cart at all / But remember brothers and sisters / You can still stand tall.” How so, William DeVaughn? It’s simple: “Be Thankful for What You Got”! “Be Thankful for What You Got” was written by DeVaughn and produced by Frank Fioravanti and John Davis.  No, this is not a Curtis Mayfield classic – it’s all William DeVaughn! A memorable and ultra-successful soul classic, it peaked at no. 1 on the R&B charts.  It also gave William his sole hit on the pop charts, peaking at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. DeVaughn may only be renowned for this song and its remixes, but, it’s a whale of a song to be renowned for.

“Be Thankful for What You Got” is groovy to the nth degree.  It’s not only the drums and percussion, though.  The warm organ, rhythm guitar, and robust bass also contribute to the sheer excellence.  Even as dynamic as the instrumental is, the song lays back, never coming off as overwrought or too much.  DeVaughn sings gloriously, never forcing things, yet oozing with soul. The lyrics are positive and uplifting, promoting gratitude – counting your blessings.  Also, the chorus is cool and iconic: “Diamond in the back, sunroof top / Diggin’ the scene with a gangsta lean / Woo-ooh-ooh.” Indeed! DeVaughn also gets a lift from background vocals, who also maintain a sense of ‘non troppo’ (not too much). “Be Thankful for What You Got” is potent yet characterized by its cool energy.  This classic has often been sampled by others including songs by N.W.A. (“Gangsta Gangsta”), Ludacris (“Diamond in the Back”), and De La Soul (“Keepin’ the Faith”).

Appears in 🔻:

• William DeVaughn, Be Thankful for What You Got: 1 Hit WONDERful 42 (2024)
• 15 Ear-Catching FOR Songs (2024) 

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3. Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiësto & W&W, “Thank You (No So Bad)”

“Thank You (Not So Bad)” // Cheeky // 2023 

DJs and producers love a remix/reworked version of a popular song.  On “Thank You (Not So Bad),” Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiësto, and W&W join forces for a remake/remix of the Dido classic, “Thank You”.  In their hands, “Thank You” gets a more modern sound. The synths are sharp, the beat is sick, and the energy is high. Fittingly, Dido sings the track. How could she not? She made “Thank You” a top 10 hit on the pop charts in 2001 (it peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100). Before things ratchet up, the vocals are barely discernible (“And I can’t see at all / But your picture on my wall / That it’s not so bad, it’s not so bad”). Soon enough, the most iconic and memorable lyrics from “Thank You” are presented clearly by Dido:

“My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why I got out of bed at all

The morning rain clouds up my window and I can’t see at all

And even if I could, it’d be all grey, but your picture on my wall

It reminds me that it’s not so bad, it’s not so bad.”

Does “Thank You (Not So Bad)” supplant the original ‘thankful’ song? No, but it reintroduces it to an entirely new generation.  That, my friends, is something to be thankful for!

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4. Clairo, “Thank You”

Charm // Clairo // 2024

“Sometimes I wonder if you were the one / When you opened the door, cracked me wide open.” Uh-oh, I sense regret… “When you’re lonely, you’ll just do anything / … It’s the memory / That’s when it all aligns, I can really see / What you meant to me.” The past tense signifies the end of something that, perhaps, Clairo (Claire Cottrill) didn’t fully appreciate at the time or wasn’t ready for.  “Thank You” is the fifth track from her third studio album, Charm, released in 2024. Cottrill penned the reflective and thoughtful “Thank You” with Homer Steinweiss, Kevin Martin, Leon Michels, and Nick Movshon. She sings smoothly, never breaking a sweat.  She’s supported by a gorgeous instrumental (produced by herself and Leon Michels) with cues recalling past music. The prominence of the piano (Michels) is a highlight within the accompaniment. Also, the flutes and synthesizer (also Michels) shine. Lovely melodies, a sweet harmonic progression, and sound composition instrumentally and lyrically make “Thank You” sensational.  The chorus is one of the brightest, most memorable spots:

“I really hate to admit it

I put my pride on the line

‘Cause when I met you, I knew it

I’d thank you for your time

I’d thank you for your timе

Thank you for the time.”

Ultimately, what is Clairo thankful for? Their time spent with this person despite the fact it’s over.

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5. ZAYN, “Grateful”

ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS // Drop Zed Music, LLC / Mercury // 2024 

“These days I live to my depiction / Nowadays, I’m findin’ no affliction / These days, I’m needin’ no restriction / Feel like I’m finding new addiction.” That’s lots of rhyming words, Zayn: depiction, affliction, restriction, and addiction.  Before the chorus of “Grateful,” the third track from his 2024 ‘alternative’ album, ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS, Zayn states, “I’m grateful for you.” Zayn penned “Grateful” and produced it with Dave Cobb. Who is he grateful for? It seems to be his daughter, Khai (with ex, Gigi Hadid): “I see your mother’s shine in your eye / I know you’re mine and I’m cryin’.”  Zayn shows a different maturity on “Grateful” – he’s grown from the past. Even with changes, he’s not wasteful or hateful but rather “grateful with what I got.” As always, soulful pop artist sings authentically and beautifully, supported by a radiant backdrop (rhythm section and warm strings). His middle register and falsetto are equally brilliant.

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6. ScHoolboy Q, “THank god 4 me”

BLUE LIPS // Interscope / Top Dawg Entertainment // 2024

“I swear to God my whole thang been wicked / Tried to keep the peace but all I piece around is bitches.” Interesting, ScHoolboy Q. “THank god 4 me” is the third track from BLUE LIPS, the 2024 album by the Grammy-nominated West Coast rapper (“Real life, nigga, no Grammys”). Like many ScHoolboy Q songs, the production (Kal Banx, DJ Fu, and J.LBS) is distinct.  There is a ‘beat switch’ that keeps things interesting. After drifting from the initial production, the early sounds are reintegrated seamlessly. In the case of “THank god 4 me,” ScHoolboy Q is thankful for himself:

“Thank God for me, all my bitches gon’ lie for me (Suu, suu, suu)

Thank God for me, lil’ G-Wag’ and that Tesla cheap (Suu)

Thank God for me, all my niggas gon’ slide for me (Shh)

All my niggas gon’ ‘shh’ for me (shh).”

Word… I think.  One thing that ScHoolboy Q makes clear – he doesn’t like snitches! “If it’s allegations, you snitchin’, then I promise, nigga,” he threatens in the first verse, adding in the second verse, “Blue lips, really, I’m speechless.” “THank god 4 me” is intriguing.

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7. Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown, “Thank God”

Different Man // Sony Music Entertainment // 2022

Country singer Kane Brown and his talented wife, Katelyn Brown are thankful for each other. Ah, the gift of love ❤️! They showcase their dedication and gratitude to one another on “Thank God” from Kane’s 2022 album, Different Man. In the first verse, Kane credits Katelyn for finding “a way to bring me back,” later adding, “Girl, I’m a witness of your love ‘cause you don’t be givin’ up / And it’s crazy how you saved me.” In the pre-chorus, he asserts, “Girl, what we got’s worth thanking God for.”  In the second verse, Katelyn addresses Kane, singing, “Never thought I’d find an angel undercover / Made a change to everything from my heart to my last name.” Of course, the centerpiece of this uplifting, matrimony-centric joint is the chorus, performed by both:

“I thank God I get to wake up by your side

And thank God your hand fits perfectly in mine

And thank god you love me when you didn’t have to

But you did and you do, and He knew

Thank God for giving me you.”

This sweet gem speaks for itself.  It gives you the longing and hopes to find a love like this, or, perhaps you relate to experiencing love like this.

Appears in 🔻:

• Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown, Thank God: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 41 (2022)

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8. Diana Ross, “Thank You”

Thank You // Decca // 2021

After a 15-year-hiatus, Diana Ross returned with a brand-new studio album, Thank You. “Thank You” proved to be a compelling and fitting lead single. An exuberant and impressive showing, Ross’ energy is infectious to the nth degree.  As you listen to the Troy Miller-produced number – patterned after the pop and soul of old with the advances of modern technology – you feel the nostalgia of The Supremes/Ross solo cuts of old.  Her assertive, cutting, and timeless voice, coupled with a playful performance, gave music enthusiasts something they’d been missing for years.  Ross is ‘giving’ from start to finish, particularly moments when she ad-libs and shows off an awesome personality. “Thank You” is an awesome reintroduction for an icon.  She sings well, showcasing tremendous personality.  The production is the right balance of old school while sounding refreshing in the 2020s.  The songwriting, also, is fitting for a queen.

Appears in 🔻:

• Awesome Songs : July 2021
• An Alphabet of Random Songs (2021)
• 15 Must-Hear YOU Songs (2021)
• Best Songs of 2021: 50-36

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9. Charity Gayle, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood”

Endless Praise // Charity Gayle / The Fuel Music // 2021

“I was a wretch / I remember who I was / I was lost, I was blind / I was running out of time,” Charity Gayle sings in the first verse of the uplifting, CCM song, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood”. “Thank You Jesus for the Blood” is the third track on Gayle’s 2021 album, Endless Praise.  She penned it with Bryan McCleery, David Gentiles, Ryan Kennedy, and Steven Musso. Kyle Lee produced. In the first verse, she adds, “But from the far side of the chasm / You held me in Your sight.” That You, of course, was J-E-S-U-S 🙌.

Gayle goes on to laud and magnify His holy name.  In the second verse, she sings with conviction, “And there, at the cross / You paid the debt I owed / Broke my chains, freed my soul / For the first time, I had hope.” AMEN 🙏! In the third verse, she expounds on the sacrifice made by Jesus. It is so impactful that Charity proclaims, “For I have been transformed / By the blood of the Lamb.” In the chorus, she gives all the praise and glory to Him, who “saved my life / Brought me from the darkness / Into glorious light.” All the while, Charity sings beautifully and powerfully.  She’s supported by a reverent backdrop filled with spiritual vibes.  There are keys, a warm organ, rhythm guitars, and percussion. In the second chorus, background vocals add to the power, making “Thank You Jesus for the Blood” more dynamic.  The bridge also ups the ante, with Charity showing off the sheer power of her pipes, touting “the wonder-working power / Of the blood.”  This song is the perfect way to say thank you 👏 🙌!

Appears in 🔻:

• Charity Gayle, Thank You Jesus for the Blood: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 40 (2024)
• 15 Ear-Catching FOR Songs (2024)

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10. Andrew Gold, “Thank You for Being a Friend”

All This and Heaven Too // Elektra / Asylum // 1978

“Thank you for being a friend / Traveled down the road and back again / Your heart is true / You’re a pal and a confidante.” Ooh-wee Andrew Gold (1951 – 2011)!  The late soft rock musician delivered a gem with the friendly, thankful, and infectious “Thank You for Being a Friend”. “Thank You for Being a Friend” is the sixth track from his 1978 album, All This and Heaven Too. Famously, it was used as the theme song for the iconic television series, The Golden Girls, sung by Cynthia Fee. “Thank You for Being a Friend,” written and produced by Gold, was one of two top 40 hits (it peaked at no. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100).

What makes “Thank You for Being a Friend” the sugar honey iced tea? It’s a well-rounded song that gets a memorable, well-rounded performance.  Andrew Gold sounds exceptional from the onset, showing off his marvelous voice.  Beyond his instrument, the melodies he sings are memorable – tuneful to the nth degree.  The songwriting, particularly the lyrics, are unforgettable and speak to the authenticity of a legitimate friendship:

“And if you threw a party

Invited everyone you knew

You would see

The biggest gift would be from me

And the card attached would say

‘Thank you for being a friend.’”

Adding to the excellence is the musical accompaniment. The production is bright, joyful, and perfectly supports the friendship that Gold sings about.  Early on, the keys play a crucial role in establishing a rhythmic foundation.  Soon enough, the full rhythm section enters the mix, providing a sound anchor for Gold.  Gold plays keys and percussion, joined by Waddy Wachtel (guitar), Kenny Edwards (bass), and Jeff Porcaro (drums).  Gold, Edwards, and Brock Walsh are the background vocalists, adding colorful harmonies to this timeless cut. “Thank You for Being a Friend” will never not rock 🤘!

Appears in 🔻:

• Andrew Gold, Thank You for Being a Friend: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 163 (2024)

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11. Earth, Wind & Fire, “Gratitude”

Gratitude // Columbia // 1975

“Wanna thank you, yeah.” Ah, the beauty of “Gratitude”, Earth, Wind & Fire! “Gratitude” is the 13^th track on the iconic band’s 1975 double-live, triple-platinum album, Gratitude. The musicianship is top-notch on “Gratitude” – nothing short of delightful! The listener’s ears are blessed with a funky, sickening groove.  Besides the work put in by the drums, there’s a fabulous, big bass line, marvelous rhythm guitar, and electrifying horn riffs.  From the onset, “Gratitude” is feel-good.  Verdine White, Larry Dunn, Maurice White, and Philip Bailey penned this thankful funk/soul gem.  Maurice White and Charles Stepney produced.

Besides the epic instrumental accompaniment, the vocals are fire too.  The vocal performance is playful and, thankful. “We just wanna give gratitude, yeah / Got plenty of love we wanna give to you, yeah.” Indeed, EW&F.  They continue, exuberantly, “Through good music, we’re tryin’ to say, yeah, yeah / That the good Lord’s gonna make a way / Gonna make a way, gonna make a way.” Amen! Hallelujah! With an awesome “holy sound,” Earth, Wind & Fire take us to church while still keeping things hella funky.  The lyrics are few, but they speak volumes while the music takes the cake. Earth, Wind & Fire had many big-time pop hits, but we must extend gratitude for a superb album track like “Gratitude”.

Appears in 🔻:

• Earth, Wind & Fire, Gratitude: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 170 (2024) 

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11 Songs Filled with Immense Gratitude & Thanks (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Asylum, Charity Gayle, Cheeky, Clairo, Columbia, Decca, Drop Zed Music, LLC, Elektra, FlowNeeNee Music, The Fuel Music, Interscope, Mercury, Sony Music Entertainment, Top Dawg Entertainment, Unidisc Music Inc.; Anna Shvets from Pexels]