11 Songs That Are Sure to Catch Your Eyes features music courtesy of Bradley Cooper, Gary Clark, Jr., Halsey, Quadeca, and Shania Twain. 

“You’re just too good to be true / Can’t take my eyes off of you / You’d be like heaven to touch / I wanna hold you so much…”. Question: was it Frank Valli or the cover by Lauryn Hill who ‘caught your eyes’ with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”?  What do both performances have in common? Well, (1) they’re both awesome and (2) the focal point of both are ‘eyes.’  Guess what? The focal point of this playlist is – drum roll please – EYES! 11 Songs That Are Sure to Catch Your Eyes includes music courtesy of Bradley Cooper, Gary Clark, Jr., Halsey, Quadeca, and Shania Twain among others.

1. Quadeca, “Eyes”

Voice Memos • Quadeca • 2019

“I woke up and my eyes were sore / I gave you every last tear that I had I don’t think I can cry no more / All of this red on my eyes looking like I never gotten high before…” “Eyes” appears as the penultimate track on Voice Memos, the 2019 album by teen rapper and YouTube personality Quadeca. On “Eyes,” Quadeca is backed by lush, soulful production work, allowing him to rhyme with incredible ease.  He never gets too high, nor is he too casual in his approach, delivering a well-rounded performance sure to ‘open the eyes’ and ears of those who’ve never heard the rising rapper.

The memorable chorus, excerpted above, continues:

“…This is not regular love, this shit is a mile more
I think this is God’s way of reminding me I need to smile more.”

2. Gary Clark, Jr., “I Got My Eyes on You (Locked & Loaded)”

This Land • Warner Bros. • 2019

“I got my eyes on you, no turning back / Locked and loaded, I’m gonna lay you down… Who do you think you are? Oh yeah…”  Are your eyes open? Gary Clark, Jr. returned in 2019 with an ambitious new studio album, This Land.  Throughout the course of the album, Clark Jr. not only continues to highlight his best attribute – his guitar skills – but also messes around with a number of different styles.  The record at hand, “I Got My Eyes on You (Locked & Loaded)” finds the musician blending soul, blues, and rock with incredible prowess.  Vocally, Clark, Jr. sounds incredibly expressive, delivering an authentic, heartfelt performance. This includes some impressive falsetto.

The best moments of the record? The chorus and following post-chorus/refrain (aforementioned) are pretty epic to say the least. Also, the overall production, Clark Jr.’s exuberant guitar included, also makes “I Got My Eyes on You (Locked & Loaded)” quite the sight to behold – rather hear.  That production also includes some synths, if you can believe it.

3. Bradley Cooper, “Black Eyes”

A Star is Born • Interscope • 2018

One song comes to mind when the soundtrack or film A Star is Born is mentioned: “Shallow”. Rightfully, the conversation should be about the Grammy-winning and Academy Award-wining hit – it’s that damn good.  But, “Shallow” doesn’t fit the parameters of this list, so, we go with “Black Eyes,” a song performed by Bradley Cooper (sorry Lady Gaga, we didn’t choose “Music to My Eyes” this round).

“Black eyes open wide / It’s time to testify / There’s no room for lies / And everyone’s waitin’ for you.” “Black Eyes” is actually the first full-length song that appears on A Star is Born, following a brief intro.   Cooper, who is known more for his acting prowess, sounds strong here, delivering a commanding, assertive performance.  He’s gritty and locked-in, not over-singing, yet impressing with various ad-libs and nuances. In addition to his Cooper’s mean-sounding performance, the guitars rock hard, giving “Black Eyes” an alluring edge and overall intensity.

4. Gorillaz, “Souk Eye”

The Now Now • Parlophone • 2018

“LA, why you’re so complicated for me, twilight / Waiting on the planet to turn to me, dark side / If loving you’s a felony now, then I’m a renegade, riding / Trying to find tomorrow ain’t easy ‘til you dive in.” Sigh, throughout the course of their 2018 album, The Now Now, Gorillaz (Damon Albarn) references different places including “Hollywood,” “Kansas,” and “Idaho.” “Souk Eye” concludes the album, once more referencing ‘the city of angels,’ otherwise known as Los Angeles.  Beyond L.A. itself, as the aforementioned excerpt highlights, love is key.  Love, of course, is another topic that’s covered in various instances on The Now Now.

Damon Albarn sings on the chorus:

“I will always think about you
That’s why I’m calling you back on my way through.”

Besides basic observations, depending how much you read into the conceptual aspects of Gorillaz, there’s more, but we’ll leave “Souk Eye” right there.

5. YUNGBLUD, “Polygraph Eyes”

21^st Century Liability • Geffen • 2018

“Get away from the teenage everyday cliché pressure / Absent on absinthe, dancing to bad synths / Saturday night ain’t about romancing anymore / Just you getting lit in the queue to the dance floor.” English alternative musician YUNGBLUD (Dominic Harrison) made quite a splash with his 2018 debut album, 21^st Century Liability. No, Harrison didn’t produce amazing numbers or anything like that, but he masterfully established the type of artist he was – youthful, aggressive, and ‘rough around the edges.’ Yeah, Harrison enjoys dropping his fair share of f-bombs – cues up “Wild’n Cuz I’m Young”.  Staying focused, among the many highlights gracing 21^st Century Liability is “Polygraph Eyes,” a record that perfectly fits this playlist (it features the word ‘eyes’ of course!).

“Polygraph Eyes,” the ninth track on 21^st Century Breakdown, focuses on when “A bit of fun turns to regret.” YUNGLBUD sings about guys taking advantage of girls sexually. On the first pre-chorus, he sings, “Too many blokes are getting heavy / When a girl looks unsteady… / As she stumbles on the floor / We all know what happens next…” Yep. He urges, on the chorus which follows, “Leave it alone mate… / But you hear what you want when she can’t even talk.” YUNGBLUD doesn’t stop there, as he expands on the story, including depicting the nameless girl’s reaction to being taken advantage of, and essentially continuing to paint some guys as, well total assholes for lack of a better word.

6. Halsey, “Eyes Closed”

Hopeless Fountain Kingdom • Astralwerks • 2017

“Eyes Closed”, an advance single from Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017), begins mysteriously, possessing a darker quality. Alternative pop artist Halsey delivers vocals drenched in reverb on the first verse that sound hazy. Much like the sound established, the vocal vibe is similarly enigmatic. Matching the haze of the vocals are simple lyrics that ultimate lack depth: “I, I know where to lay / I know where to say / It’s all the same…”  Her vocals are clearer on the second verse. Lyrically, there’s repetition as opposed to particularly distinct words, based around the lyrics, “Would’ve gave my all for you…”

The chorus serves as the best moment of the record:

“Now if I keep my eyes closed, he looks just like you
But he’ll never stay, they never do
Now if I keep my eyes closed, he feels just like you
But you’ve been replaced
I’m face to face with someone new.”

Ultimately, “Eyes Closed” is easy on the ears, if not particularly accomplished – perhaps it’s not eye-catching per se.  The vibe is harder hitting than the lyrics or the song itself, while the chorus is the crème de la creme.

7. Jay-Z, “Caught Their Eyes”

Ft. Frank Ocean

4:44 • Roc Nation • 2017

4:44 – an album chocked-full of hits by Jay-Z.  Unfortunately, the album failed to win a single Grammy award it was nominated for.  Jay-Z would later diss the Recording Academy (among others) in the song “APESHIT” from Everything is Love: “Tell the Grammy’s fuck that 0 for 8 shit.” But, that’s a separate matter, and really has nothing to do with the song at hand, “Caught Their Eyes,” featuring a fellow Grammy-winner, Frank Ocean. 4:44 marks the second consecutive project where Jay-Z has collaborated with Ocean.

Nina Simone (“Baltimore”), notably, is sampled on “Caught Their Eyes.” “Caught” encompasses deception and shadiness on the first verse. On the second verse, Jay-Z takes shot at the estate of Prince following his death, calling them “greedy bastards.” Also, he takes a shot at his former little brother, Kanye West. “Don’t big bro me, don’t ‘Big Homie’ / I’ve seen pure admiration become rivals.”

Hova has no shortage of fire, while his bud Frank holds things down as well, specifically on the chorus:

“Ready for it, deep breath, fill up the void
Eyes open them up, check off the coins
Still stingin’ from tears, they try to see you
I’m ready for earth, ready for real
Solipsistic, admit it, I see you there 
So it seems, so you seem
I can’t tell if you’re image or are just the flare
In my dreams, in my dreams.”

8. Shania Twain, “Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed”

Now • Mercury • 2017

“Fist up in the air / Throw like we don’t care / Swingin’!” In 2017, Canadian country-pop artist Shania Twain returned after a 15-year hiatus with her sixth studio album Now.  While Now wasn’t necessarily an elite return for Twain, it had its share of respectable moments, including the opening record, “Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed”. There’s plenty to dig about “Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed.” The production work has a little bit of everything stylistically.  There’s some country, some reggae, and some pop. Vocally, Twain sounds respectable, if a tad too even keel at times.

Give here credit for the chorus – it’s definitely catchy.

“I’m swingin’ with my eyes closed
Got my hair down, a wide-open road
I’m swingin’ with my eyes closed
Only God knows how far it goes.”

9. The Flaming Lips, “Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)”

Oczy Mlody • Warner Bros. • 2017

Experimental rock band The Flaming Lips returned in 2017 with an interesting album, Oczy Mlody.  Among the highlights from Oczy Mlody was advance single, “Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)” sounds groovy from the jump. The record blends a dash of urban music and the psychedelic rock the band thrives on. The piano sound stands out. Notably, it is drenched in effects, with reverb among them. Lyrically, “Sunrise” covers the sunrise, the sunbeams, and the sunset on respective verses.

On the first verse, frontman Wayne Coyne sings, “The sunrise insists on gladness / But how can I be glad / Now my flower is dead…” On the second verse, the key word seems to be child, finding Coyne reflecting on seemingly unrealistic dreams: “The sunbeams / Burnin’ my child dreams / The machine that brings me joy / Now it’s just a stupid toy…” ‘Sunset’ closes, adding a dash of profanity into the mix:

“Oh, the sunset, is fuckin’ with my head
Feels like a dying love in the eyes of the young
Tell me love is neither living or dying.”

Each shows the progression of age, with youth dying with each successive verse. A hook-less song, a dramatic instrumental with some backing vocals arrives in-between verses. The music in between adds some unpredictability, keeping “Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)” fresh.  Disheartening perhaps, “Sunrise” is among the crème de la crème.

10. John Legend, “History Has Its Eyes on You”

The Hamilton Mixtape • Atlantic • 2016

“Let me tell you what I wish I’d known / When I was young and dreamed of glory / Don’t nobody have control / Who lives, who dies, who tells your story.” John Legend has a voice like none other, chocked-full of soul and grit. If you are a vocalist, it is easy to be envious of the contemporary soul singer – who wouldn’t want to sound like him? He was a perfect fit for a spot on The Hamilton Mixtape, a compilation that featured contemporary artists covering standouts from the Broadway musical.  The song he covers, rather reinvents, is “History Has Its Eyes on You.” He compels with a thrilling old-school, gospel-tinged performance.

Legend successfully contrasts the original, expanding the length, and putting his own soulful mark on it.

“History has its eyes on me
History, history, history
Ah, history has its eyes on me
History, history, history.”

11. Queens of the Stone Age, “Keep Your Eyes Peeled”

…Like Clockwork • Matador • 2013

“Don’t look, just keep your eyes peeled / Thoughtless, traipsing my mind’s field…” “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” commences Queens of the Stone Age’s 2013 album, …Like Clockwork mysteriously. Worth noting, …Like Clockwork marked the first new album by Queens of the Stone Age in six years (Era Vulgaris, 2007).  Focusing on the song at hand, “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” sounds almost ghostly, as if an apparition is about to touch down.  A stable six-eight groove settles in and Josh Homme goes to work lyrically, yielding plenty of memorable moments including “Fallen leaves realize they are no friend of autumn…” Hmm, poetic to say the least.

Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘bring it on home’ moment arrives on the chorus:

“And I know you’ll never believe
I play this as though I’m alright
If life is but a dream, then
Wake me.”

Homme provides ample rock-n-roll grit throughout the performance, giving …Like Clockwork a ‘swell’ start.  Yeah, “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” is a pretty ‘eye-opening’ experience.

[Photo Credits: Astralwerks, Atlantic, Geffen, Interscope, Matador, Mercury, Parlophone, Pexels, Pixabay, Quadeca, Roc Nation, Warner Bros.]