11 Songs That Either Kick or Push features music courtesy of Bring Me the Horizon, Luke Bryan, Michael Bublé, Ne-Yo, and TWENTY88.

“And so, he kick, push, kick, push / Kick, push, kick, push; coast.” Ah, referencing that Lupe Fiasco classic just felt right for this particular playlist. Here, we present to the world 11 Songs That Either Kick or Push.  Honestly, the distribution between the “kick” songs and the “push” songs is totally unfair – 73% (eight songs) versus 27% (three songs).  It is what it is though, sigh.  Musicians providing that kick or push include Bring Me the Horizon (“Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?”), Luke Bryan (“Kick the Dust Up”), Michael Bublé (“I Get a Kick Out of You”), Ne-Yo (“Push Back”) and TWENTY88 (“Push It”) among others.

1. Bring Me the Horizon, “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?”

Amo • Sony UK • 2019

“But tell me why you gotta kick me when I’m down? / You better pray I don’t get up this time around.” After a four-year hiatus, English rock band Bring Me the Horizon returns with an alluring, bold, and incredibly eclectic sixth studio album, amo. Arguably, nothing on amo sounds anything remotely close to Sempiternal Bring Me the Horizon – there’s no “Shadow Moses”.  Regardless, there’s one surefire, inescapable, dynamic moment from amo – “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?”

“Why you gotta kick me when I’m down” blends rock, hip-hop, and classical seamlessly.  What makes “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?” so good? A primary school children’s choir, badass brass, haunting strings, and even some pop-rap style vocals from Sykes.  Furthermore, he’s loose, dropping a couple of f-bombs (“Oh, God, what the fuck have you done? / I loved your like daughters, I loved you like sons”).  “Shadow Moses” remains king, but “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down” is no slouch – it’s among the crème de la crème of amo without question.

2. YoungBoy Never Broke Again, “Kick Yo Door”

Kick Yo Door [Single] • Never Broke Again • 2019

YoungBoy Never Broke Again (also known as NBA Youngboy) has solidified his status as one of the more popular, rising rappers in the game.  Like many of his rap contemporaries, YoungBoy isn’t shy about dropping a heaping dose of new music. “Kick Yo Door” marked the rapper’s first brand-new single of 2019. “Kick Yo Door” is only two-and-a-half-minutes long, common in modern rap music. A banger, it’s set in a minor key, anchored by a hard-hitting beat, featuring simple synths that are effective enough but could stand more punch.

“Kick Yo Door” commences with an intro, followed by the chorus:

“Bow, bitch, kick yo’ door, uh
Mission, find the stash spot
Make ‘em hit the floor, uh
I say hold yo’ hands high, don’t make me let it blow (Gang)
This ain’t the time for games now, bitch, I’ma wipe your nose…
This shit could go straight, or I could leave here with yo’ head split
Bitch (uh).”

NBA Youngboy has a respectable flow – not game changing, but he brings ‘that attitude.’ On the first verse, he’s tough as nails, making threats if you mess with him (“Play with me, you must want death, I tell my shooter make a wish”). On the second, he references bitches (shocker), bodies/cases, and material.  All in all, he checks off the appropriate boxes, without being transcendent per se.

3. ONE OK ROCK, “Push Back”

Eye of the Storm • Fueled by Ramen • 2019

“It’s like they’re holding their gun to our heads / They’re tryin’ to tell us what to think / We’re stuck on the edge / So, go ahead and push us back.” Japanese rock band ONE OK ROCK, known for their punk-oriented style, show resilience on “Push Back,” a highlight from their 2019 album, Eye of the Storm.  The aforementioned chorus marks the crowning achievement of the record, where the guys essentially state they won’t be shaken by adversity.

The verses are short and get directly to the point.  On the first verse, ONE OK ROCK lists ‘fixes’ at the beginning of each line but goes on state that such fixes have been ineffective (“They call it medication, we’re still in pain”).  The second, likewise, is pessimistic, showing the face of adversity (“Your precious reputation goes up in flames”).  Even so, the pre-chorus exemplifies the resolve and battle-ready spirit of the band.

“Now we’re back in the fight and never losing our strength
We tried too many times just waiting patiently, patiently.”

4. Ne-Yo, “Push Back”

Ft. Bebe Rexha & Stefflon Don

Good Man • Motown • 2018

“See mi whine up the ting ‘til it pile up / Big bumper, girl, just a whinin’ and wile up…” Say what Stefflon Don? Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo is in tropical-pop mode on “Push Back”, a standout from his 2018 LP, Good Man. The groove is infectious, while the vibe screams beach.  Vocally, on his end, he’s playful and a bit gimmicky, embracing the sound of the islands.  Even so, the vocals are still respectable – he doesn’t sacrifice his refined, enjoyable instrument.  Even so, he keeps things calm, cool, and collected.

The same can be said of Bebe Rexha, who follows.  A powerful vocalist, Rexha actually holds back here, with respectable results nonetheless.  Stefflon Don caps off things with her distinct, reggae, tropically-tinged sound. All in all, “Push Back” is enjoyable, fun, and infectious – there’s no push back. Ne-Yo and company don’t reinvent dance, pop, or urban contemporary music, but “Push Back” excels at being fun.

“Baby, push back when I jump behind it, when I jump behind it
So when I jump behind it, push back on me
So baby, push back when I jump behind it
Baby, let me know you like it
Tonight, let’s give ‘em something to see.”

5. Tech N9ne, “Kick it With Myself”

Planet • Strange Music • 2018

“I was the only child ‘til I was 13 / Rather be lonely while dealin’ with Earthlings / Still I am reclusive with drug and liquor abuses / Having a solitary time was never the worst thing.” Veteran Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne remained captivating and incredibly consistent on his 20^th album, Planet.  It’s amazing how prolific Tech has been over the years, regularly releasing studio albums and collaborative projects. “Kick it With Myself” benefits from a unique, rock-influenced, rap backdrop.  Tech N9ne’s bread seems to be buttered with eclectic production work – he’s incredibly versatile.

“Sick and twisted, I can kick it, we’re just lickin’, spliff get lifted / Some say I’m a misfit by the way that I’m drifted / But this gets the business, chips, bitches I’m gifted.” As expected, ‘Nino’ flexes hard, never missing a beat.  Clearly, he doesn’t need anybody else to help him to do anything – he’s perfectly capable to “Kick it with [himself].” Furthermore, he could care less what others think, period. Yup, Tech N9ne definitely possesses that nonconformist spirit.

“Kick it with myself, kick it with myself, by myself
I don’t need no help, I don’t need no help, no one else.”

6. Michael Bublé, “I Get a Kick Out of You”

Love (Deluxe) • Reprise • 2018

Traditional pop standout Michael Bublé remained consistent on his 2018 album, Love.  Like his previous albums, Love featuring classics and a couple of brand-new songs. Unfortunately, if you got cheap and failed to purchase the deluxe edition of the album, or don’t partake in streaming, then, you might’ve missed out on “I Get a Kick Out of You,” which appears on the deluxe edition as the 13^th track.

There’s nothing unlucky about “I Get a Kick Out of You” – no triskaidekaphobia here! As he does with everything else, Michael Bublé does wonders with this Cole Porter classic.  He sings expressively, while also singing with incredible ease and poise.  The arrangement takes it back to the Big Band era, retaining a classic sound, yet sounding refreshing at the same time.  Sure, nothing new comes out of this tried-and-true gem, but we totally still get a kick out of hearing it covered for the millionth time.  Of course, Frank Sinatra is known for famously singing this gem.

7. TWENTY88, “Push It”

TWENTY88 • Def Jam • 2016

In April 2016, the world was given quite a surprise – the release of a collaborative project by Big Sean and Jhené Aiko, TWENTY88.  The duo fittingly named their collaborative debut TWENTY88.  Keeping things short and sweet, the album only featured eight songs, including the pick that fits this particular playlist, “Push It.” When one thinks about Jhené Aiko, a sensual, calm, cool, and collected brand of R&B comes to mind.  When shifting to Big Sean, the Detroit rapper has never shied away from sex, with plenty of blunt and explicit lyrics to be found throughout his catalogue.  Basically, what we’re saying is, is that “Push It” encompasses a mutual favorite topic by both musicians – sex.

On the first verse, Aiko sings, “On the sink / On the couch / On the bed / On the floor,” clearly referencing ‘what’s going down.’  As for Big Sean, at the end of his verse he spits, “I’m gonna play this Johnny Gill, Vandross and Sade, and Goapele / And you gon use that mouth to take these pants off.” On the chorus both just might as well say they want to ‘do it’ if you catch my drift.

“I want it outside inside
I take you inside outside
Bring you outside inside.”

8. Wheeler Walker, Jr., “Eatin’ Pussy / Kickin’ Ass”

Redneck Shit • Pepperhill • 2016

“So, after work I went to his house / Ate his wife’s pussy and kicked his ass.” Oh brother! First and foremost, it’s important not to take Walker Wheeler, Jr. the least bit seriously.  Wheeler is part comedian and part country musician.  Actually, he’s mostly comedian judging by his musical output.  In 2016, he shocked the world with his debut album, boldly titled Redneck Shit.  Yeah, country artists have managed to squeeze in the s-bomb every now and again with little flack, but it’s not often it graces the album’s title.  Again, Wheeler, Jr. is more comedian than anything else.  Going back to the song titles from his debut album, beyond the title track: “Can’t Fuck You off My Mind,” “Fuck You Bitch,” and our song at hand, “Eatin’ Pussy / Kickin’ Ass” among them.  Wow, just wow.

It’s best to take the explicit “Eatin’ Pussy / Kickin’ Ass” ‘with a grain of salt.’ As the aforementioned quote from the first verse suggests, Walker performed cunnilingus on another man’s wife.  Factor in the first two lines of the first verse, we discover it’s his boss that he hates.  SMH.  Later, on the second verse, the sexual references continue as Walker sings, “Girl at the counter said, ‘Do you want a job?’ / And I said, ‘okay,’ and then I ate her pussy.” Yeah, that’s the shit – rather, the Redneck Shit – that you get from Walker Wheeler, Jr.  Oh, and as for the chorus, well, it just reiterates the titular lyric: “Eatin’ pussy and kickin’ ass.”

9. All Time Low, “Kicking & Screaming”

Future Hearts • Hopeless • 2015

“History repeats itself in phrases / Scribbled in dark places / Like notches on a belt / They’re chasing after you but…” Amazingly, in 2017, All Time Low showed the world they were ready to ‘grow up.’ Last Young Renegade was a much mature album for the pop-punk/emo collective.  It didn’t sell particularly well, but Alex Gaskarth and company figured out they were no longer teenagers, but rather, 30.   Still, one has to go back only to the band’s 2015 album, Future Hearts, to hear those f-bombs, sick choruses, and compelling production work.  To be fair, there’s an f-bomb on Last Young Renegades too, but they’re more prevalent and potent pre-Last Young Renegades. The song at hand, “Kicking & Screaming” definitely isn’t a representation of grown up All Time Low.

“I’m chasing after rock and roll / Kicking and screaming.” Rock on, rock on! “Kicking & Screaming” is chocked-full of energy – understatement.  The tempo is quick, a direct contrast to the album’s opening cut, “Satellite.”  The band’s bread is buttered on the chorus. Who’s surprised?

“I’ve been waiting for you to call
And dress me up in sucker love
And drag me ‘round kicking and screaming
So long and thanks for all
The make-believe, the memories
Of you and me kicking and screaming.”

Pretty irresistible, but who can resist when Gaskarth gets all riled up and drops the bomb on the second verse?

“Say goodbye to all the pretty faces
Dark places, I know too well
Fantasy competes to be my only
I’m fucking lonely
Like bottles on the shelf.”

Sigh.

10. Luke Bryan, “Kick the Dust Up”

Kill the Lights • Capitol Nashville • 2015

There are a number of different camps when it comes to country music.  Some fans are traditionalists, while others embrace a modern take on country music the incorporates elements of pop, electronic, and of course, hip-hop.  Luke Bryan is part of the camp unafraid to modernize the genre with his fair share of fans as well as those less enthusiastic.  An example of Bryan less successful experiments came in 2013 with his album, Crash the Party.  His 2015 effort, Kill the Lights was a much better-rounded affair.  A standout like “Kick the Dust Up” is a good reason why.

“Kick the Dust Up” is firmly planted in country music, with its use of acoustic and electric guitar, as well as pummeling drums.  Set in a minor key, there’s a bite – a ferociousness – about the record that helps make it a surefire winner. That said, “Kick the Dust Up” also isn’t totally removed from pop.  Why? The use of drum programming, some synths, and general some sounds not associated with traditional country.  Regardless, Bryan gets the blend right here, and “Kick the Dust Up” reaps the benefits – well, rather music fans do!  The chorus is among the best moments.

“We go way out where
There ain’t nobody
We turn this cornfield
Into a party
Pedal to the floorboard
Eight up in a four door
Burnin’ up a back-road song
Park it and we pile out
Baby, watch your step now
Better have your boots on
Kick the dust up…”

11. Sleeping with Sirens, “Kick Me”

Madness • Epitaph • 2015

“Fuck you and your opinion / How could you be so blind? / What goes around / Comes back around in time.” Woo! If you need a totally angry record in your life, well Kellin Quinn and Sleeping with Sirens have one for you – understatement.  It’s safe to say that “Kick Me,” a highlight from their 2015 album Madness perfectly exemplifies being totally pissed off.

The pre-chorus is only amplified by the profanity.  Quinn sings:

“You don’t know shit
You don’t know shit
About me
You don’t know shit, shit, shit
Don’t know a god damn thing about me.”

Hmm, so let’s see.  We have five ‘shits’ and one ‘god damn.’  I guess Sleeping With Sirens decided to save the f-bombs for the verses.  Another arrives on the second verse, which is styled much like the end of the first: “Fuck you and your decision / Cause it’s not mine / What comes around / Comes back around in time.”  Sure, “Kick Me” isn’t for anyone who is easily offended by the profane, but the energy and the vibe are electrifying.  Again, one keeps asking, how can Quinn sing so high and with so much punch?

[Photo Credits: Capitol Nashville, Def Jam, Epitaph, Fueled by Ramen, Hopeless, Motown, Never Broke Again, Pepper Hill, Pexels, Pixabay, Reprise, Sony UK, Strange Music]