11 Songs That Are Incredibly Sweet | Playlist

11 Songs That are Incredibly Sweet includes music courtesy of Ariana Grande, Frank Ocean, Harry Styles, and Maroon 5 among others.

Some people prefer salt. Me, I like my sugar.  The sweeter, the better, that’s my motto.  That’s also the motto of this playlist, “11 Songs That are Incredibly Sweet.” Every song dabbles in sweetness, whether explicitly using a form of the word ‘sweet’ or not.  Artists appearing on this highly-sweetened affair includes Ariana Grande (“Sweetener”), Frank Ocean (“Pretty Sweet”), Harry Styles (“Sweet Creature” ), and Maroon 5 (“Sugar”) among others.

1. Ariana Grande, “Sweetener”

Sweetener • Republic • 2018 

“I like the way you lick the bowl.” Oh, my Ariana Grande… Pharrell Williams is on the boards on, “Sweetener,” the naughty title track from Grande’s fourth studio album.  Like the majority of Sweetener, Ariana Grande embraces the hip-hop and urban contemporary realms.  While “Sweetener” places more emphasis on sexy than high-flying, virtuosic pipes, it’s pretty chill, ‘sweet’ ear candy.

“When life deals us cards

Make everything taste like it is salt

Then you come through like the sweetener you are

To bring the bitter taste to a halt

And then you get it, get it, get it, get it Hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it…”

2. BØRNS, “Sweet Dreams”

Blue Madonna • Interscope • 2018

“You didn’t’ even call to wish me sweet dreams / Really thought we made a sweet team / But don’t cry / Consider this a lullaby / Bye and sweet dreams.” BØRNS flaunts his tender, but beautiful vocals on “Sweet Dreams” (Blue Madonna, 2018). His falsetto is on-point, while his overall execution is smooth, yet energetic.  “Sweet Dreams” is well organized in regards to form, while the lyrics are straightforward and memorable. Once more, the production thrills.

3. James Bay, “Sugar Drunk High”

Electric Light • Republic • 2018

“We’re young enough to lose teeth / But not old enough for enemies / Still steering with both hands.” James Bay impresses with the aggressive, high-energy rocking joint, “Sugar Drunk High” from his 2018 album, Electric Light. On “Sugar Drunk High,” he ditches the falsetto of the preceding gospel-infused “I Found You” for fully-commanding, distorted vocals. He’s lethal in that capacity folks.

“We were just kids living young and naïve

Running round streets like the King and Queen

Gas light flicker in your eye, what are hopeless dreams?

Staying out waiting ‘til they call off the search

Chewing gum, cherry coke until our brains burned

A sugar drunk high, we were the only ones.”

4. Harry Styles, “Sweet Creature”

Harry Styles • Columbia • 2017 

“Oh, we started / Two hearts in one home / It’s hard when we argue / We’re both stubborn / I know, but oh.” “Sweet Creature” (Harry Styles, 2017) has a throwback quality, resembling the folk music from the 60s and 70s.  The rhythmic guitar lines sound tried-and-true, despite the fact “Sweet Creature” is a new song. Ultimately, Harry Styles successfully channels the past, delivering a balanced vocal performance.  It’s imperfect, however, sometimes coming off too static.  Because of its stripped, acoustic nature, there’s less room for error and a lower ceiling. He adds a hint of excitement, even if “Sweet Creature” doesn’t possess the same potency as say “Sign of the Times,” the crème de la crème of his self-titled debut.

“Sweet creature, sweet creature

Whenever I go, you bring me home

Sweet creature, sweet creature

When I run out of road, you bring me home.”

5. Weezer, “Sweet Mary”

Pacific Daydream • Atlantic • 2017

“Sweet Mary” (Pacific Daydream, 2017) features a delightful sound, with the combination of piano and rhythmic acoustic guitars. In addition to the instruments, the background vocals sound particularly celestial. The record commences with the chorus, where Rivers Cuomo sings about a girl – shocker.

“When I am all on my own
One foot is in the grave
My Sweet Mary comes
To help me to find my way
So I give her my thanks
I don’t know what I would do
Without out my Sweet Mary love
To help me to make it through.”

The girl’s not just any girl – her name is Mary.  This makes the lyrics a bit cleverer, as it seems Cuomo also references Mother Mary, who plays a pivotal role in Christianity, particularly Catholicism.

6. Thomas Rhett, “Sweetheart”

Life Changes • Big Machine • 2017

“Sweetheart, God could’ve never made two / Nobody quite like you / Woah, sweetheart, one kiss and I come unglued / You are the reason I fall to pieces.” Thomas Rhett is clearly infatuated to the nth degree on “Sweetheart,” a record appearing on his third studio album, Life Changes.  “Sweetheart” sounds as if it came directly out of the 1950s as opposed to 2017.  Is it quite as authentic as the music from that time? Nah – that would be a stretch – but give Rhett credit for the throwback vibes.

“When the world gets cold on those sleepless nights
Oh, girl, you should know that you will always be mine.”

7. Frank Ocean, “Pretty Sweet”

Blonde • Boys Don’t Cry • 2016

“Now / To the edge I’ll race / To the end I’ll make it / All the risk, I’ll take it… / This is the blood, the body, the life right now.” Frank Ocean has an affinity for ‘sweet’ songs.  In 2012, he wowed us with “Sweet Life” from his Grammy-winning debut album, Channel Orange.  He returns with more sweetness on “Pretty Sweet” from his 2016 sophomore LP, Blonde.

“Pretty Sweet” is indeed pretty sweet, though initially in a cacophonous fashion.  Clearly the oddest moment of Blonde, it’s oddity at its most brilliant and intriguing.

“We know you’re sugar
We know you’re sweet at azúcar
Pretty sweet
Pretty sweet.”

8. Travis Scott, “Sweet Sweet”

Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight • Epic • 2016

“Cause you’re sweet – sweet – like cocoa / But all you wanna do is the coco / Hangin’ out with you is a no-go / ‘Cause you’re sweet.” “Sweet Sweet” ends up being one of the better songs off of Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, the sophomore LP by Houston rapper Travis Scott.  While “Sweet Sweet” isn’t the second coming, it possessed more commercial appeal than most of the tracks from the album.

“Like my time, like my juice (sweet, sweet)
We been downstairs in the basement with the moves
Shout my town, shout my troops (shout, shout)
Shout my jeweler, made my chain look like Fruit Loops.”

9. Jessie J, “Sweet Talker”

Sweet Talker • Republic • 2014

“Sweet talk to me, oh yeah.” British pop/R&B singer Jessie J is totally ‘turned on’ on “Sweet Talker.” Basically, this guy has her willing to do just about anything, and one specific thing of course.

 No need to prolong this blurb. Look no further than the chorus to sum up the happenings of this particular record.

“So here we are, it’s going down
Such a sweet talker, turning me around
You ain’t gotta look like a movie star
‘Cause boy you sound so sweet, you can have it all…
Sweet talk me all night, honey pie.”

10. Maroon 5, “Sugar”

V • Interscope • 2014

“I’m hurting baby, I’m broken down / I need your loving, loving I need it now / When I’m without you, I’m something weak / You got me begging, begging on my knees.” Damn, Adam Levine sounds desperate.  Anyways, you simply can’t have a ‘sweet’ playlist without a sugary sweet song like “Sugar” by Maroon 5. “Sugar” appears on V, the fifth studio album by the band which was a marked improvement over the flimsier Overexposed that preceded.  No, the Songs About Jane days have yet to recur, but “Sugar” is incredibly slickly produced, and frontman Levine shines vocally.  The chorus is the crowning achievement, easily.

“Sugar, yes please
Won’t you come and put it down on me?
I’m right here, ‘cause I need
Little love, a little sympathy.”

11. Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day”

Daydream • Sony BMG • 1995

“And I know you’re shining down on me from heaven / Like so many friends we’ve lost along the way / And I know eventually we’ll be together / One sweet day.” “One Sweet Day” was not only the best R&B song from 1995, but arguably, it was the best song of the year regardless of genre. Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men on the same song? That’s legendary star power to the nth degree – a formidable team to say the least.  While “Despacito” managed to tie this classic for most weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (16 weeks), it was unable to take the crown.  Even if it had, we know which song is truly iconic.

[📷: Atlantic, Big Machine, Boys Don’t Cry, Columbia, Epic, Interscope, Republic, Sony BMG]