11 Songs That are Truly SOMETHING

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11 Songs That are Truly SOMETHING features music courtesy of Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Dixon Dallas, Post Malone, and Rufus & Chaka Khan.

Sometimes, we are all in search of SOMETHING. Do we always know what that something is? Of course not. Do we know what it is when we find it? Perhaps. That said, this list isn’t about deep, philosophical things. The keyword, my friends, is something. Every one of the 11 songs that appears on this playlist, 11 Songs That are Truly SOMETHING, features the word, something, in their respective title. This musical compendium features music courtesy of Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Dixon Dallas, Post Malone, and Rufus & Chaka Khan among others. So, without further ado, prepare for music that is truly SOMETHING else!

1. Post Malone, “Something Real”

Austin • Mercury / Republic • 2023

“Give me somethin’ I can feel / Light a cigarette just so I can breathe / Give me somethin’, somethin’ real / Seven hundred feet off the coast of Greece.” Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and rapper Post Malone desired “Something Real” in 2023. The tuneful song, which appeared on his 2023 album, Austin, was written by him, Louis Bell, watt, and Billy Walsh. Likewise, Post, Bell and watt produced the record. Sadly, this song, the crème de la crème of Austin, was NOT a big hit, spending just one week on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 67. Regardless, this banger was used as the musical anthem for 2023-24 college football season on ESPN, which is hella cool.

“It’s a double-edge sword, cuttin’ off ties with the ones I know / So tell me, how the fuck am I still alive? It’s a miracle, oh.” Word. Beyond its college football anthem status, you know what else is hella cool? This song itself! Post Malone, who has embraced a singer/songwriter spirit, is locked-in, sounding utterly fantastic. Even with a strong vocal performance (and that signature vibrato), more important is the authenticity he exhibits – the pain and vulnerability he expresses lyrically. In the pre-chorus and chorus, Post seeks things to fulfill him, including material (“And I can’t believe, ran through a B at Louis V / It’s what I need right now”), sex (“I could play that pussy like it’s Für Elise”), and drugs (“How much psilocybin can a human eat?”). Ultimately, however, the drip, pleasure, and substances, and perhaps, even fame, aren’t sustainable ‘real’ things – he needs REAL: “I would trade my life just to be at peace.” While the theme and lyrics are arguably the crowning achievement of “Something Real”, the supporting instrumental plays a sizable role, particularly on the titular lyric (the guitars, synths, and even how the backing vocals fit into the backdrop). This song is the sugar honey iced tea – deserving of much more recognition than it’s received!

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2. Rufus & Chaka Khan, “Tell Me Something Good”

Rags to Rufus • MCA • 1974

“You ain’t got no kind of feeling inside / I got something that’ll sho nuff set yo stuff on fire.” Oh, really, Chaka Khan?  Please, continue diva! “You refuse to put anything before your pride / What I got will knock all your pride aside.” Oh, snap! “Tell Me Something Good” is one of the best funk/R&B records of all-time, period.  Chaka is the lead vocalist, but “Tell Me Something Good” preceded her solo career.  This no. 3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, hence, is attributed to Rufus. 

Khan electrifies from a vocal perspective.  She brings plenty of attitude, personality, and power behind her pipes.  Beyond her superb vocals during the tuneful verses, her ad-libs during the crowd-pleasing chorus are equally impressive. Of course, when talking about “Tell Me Something Good,” you can’t omit the playful, breathy, nonsensical vocals that precede the chorus. 

“Tell me something good 

Tell me that you love me, yeah 

Tell me something good 

Tell me that you like it, yeah.” 

So, beyond great vocals and memorable songwriting, you must commend the musicians and the lit backdrop on “Tell Me Something Good”.  The riffs are tight, the groove is cooking, and the nostalgia of this 1974 classic (Rags to Rufus) makes you yearn for music that sounds like this again.

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3. Dixon Dallas, “Something to Feel”

“Something To Feel” • Dixon Dallas • 2023 

“I need a man to lay me down and give me something to feel / Come pull me closer, bend me over, I’m just here for the thrill.” Oh, shiitake mushrooms! Dixon Dallas excels at his role of gay cowboy, gay country music, and titillating by singing about gay sex. “Something To Feel” is the latest record by the versatile Jake Hill to raise eyebrows among other things.  Sexual themes + a countrified sound = lit-ness . Although brief, Hill sufficiently arouses us – “No strings attached, I’ll arch my back and let you do what you want.” Amplifying the lustful, sexual experience is a minor key.  Also, adding a bit more of modern touch is a hip-hop beat. Vocally, Hill sounds amazing.  It’s interesting that he characterizes Dallas as being a bottom – little spoon – yet he performs with this deep, incredibly masculine sound that is idiomatic of country music.  All told, “Something To Feel” is incredibly fun.  Maybe it makes heterosexuals feel some type of way about the likes of “Getting hot, you really got me cocked and loaded” or “I like it rough, it ain’t enough until I’m screaming your name,” but as for me, YEE HAW, GAY COWBOY !   

Appears in :

Awesome Songs: November 2023

4. Kirk Franklin, “Something About the Name Jesus”  

The Nu Nation Project •  GospoCentric • 1998

The Nu Nation Project is one of my favorite, if not my favorite Kirk Franklin album. Sure, it arrived back in 1998 but it’s an album that doesn’t sound like it’s approaching three decades old.  One of the best songs from this stacked affair is “Something About the Name Jesus.” The late, great Bishop Rance Allen sings lead on this epic affair, showing off truly anointed pipes.  What stands out about Allen’s performance is both his upper register as well as the grit he sings with.  He nails a high Ab with ease when the key modulates from C major to Db major, one of the signature moments of the record.  Furthermore, he’s able blend and oscillate between falsetto and grittier, cutting-edge vocals seamlessly – musically impressive while also being spiritually fulfilling and refreshing.  Beyond Allen’s vocals, the songwriting is ‘pitch perfect’ as well.  The gist of the song is how awesome Jesus is, even the mere mention of his name.  

“Something about the name Jesus 

Something about the name Jesus 

It is the sweetest name I know 

Oh, how I love the name Jesus 

Oh, how I love the name Jesus 

It is the sweetest name I know.” 

Indeed!

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5. Carrie Underwood, “Something in the Water”

Greatest Hits: Decade #1 • 19 Recordings Limited / Sony Music Nashville • 2014

“He said, ‘I’ve been where you’ve been before / Down every hallway’s a slamming door…” Closed doors can be utterly devastating in the context that Grammy-winning country musician Carrie Underwood mentions them. One of Underwood’s Grammys came for Best Country Solo Performance for “Something in the Water”. She continues singing in the first verse of this uplifting gem, “No way out, on one to come and save me / Wasting a life that the good Lord gave me.” The highlight from her 2014 compilation album, Greatest Hits: Decade #1, is a powerful, four-minute record that centers around a five-letter word: FAITH. This faith-based, Christian country song was penned by Underwood, Brett James, and Chris DeStefano. In addition to the authentic, vulnerable lyrics, the backdrop – the production – is marvelous in its own right. On the Billboard Hot 100, “Something in the Water” debuted and peaked at no. 24. On the Hot Christians Songs chart, it spent 26 weeks at no. 1.

Eventually, after the pain, trials, and tribulations, Underwood clings onto her faith on “Something in the Water.” “They said, ‘Just a little faith, it’ll all get better’ / So I followed the preacher man down to the river and now I’m / Changed / And now I’m stronger,” she sings, confirming that “There must’ve been something in the water.” Throughout, Carrie sings with a great tone. Her voice is beautiful and incredibly commanding. Firmly planted in country, with a Christian message, Underwood still manages to crossover, yielding a record that transcends music style. Of course, her authentic performance, particularly on the dynamic and tuneful chorus, easily draws the flock in. She also references one of the greatest hymns ever written, “Amazing Grace” (“And now I’m singing along to ‘Amazing Grace’ / Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face”). Yes, yes, yes! The baptism just hits different, something that “Something in the Water” showcases exceptionally. Anyone surprised this is a multiplatinum single? Didn’t think so!

Appears in :

Carrie Underwood, Something in the Water: Music Lifts No. 4 (2024)

6. Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”

American Heartbreak • Belting Bronco / Warner • 2022

“Please turn those headlights around,” Zach Bryan begs on “Something in the Orange.” Uh-oh – it’s those pesky matters of the heart at work! “Something in the Orange” appears on the country’s singer’s gargantuan, two-hour-long, triple-disc album, American Heartbreak.  So, what’s going on with Zach’s relationship on “Something in the Orange?” Well, it seems as if Bryan is working hard to mitigate damage, if the damage isn’t already too severe. Throughout this superbly penned, heartfelt number, Bryan tries to convince her to say and that “Somethin’ in the orange tells me [him] we’re not done.” He states, “It’ll be fine by dusk light, I’m tellin’ you, baby,” but it seems to be easier said than done. He makes it clear that she means the world to him – “To me, you’re all I am.”  Furthermore, without her, he is hopeless.  Sadly, he realizes, “I poisoned myself again, somethin’ in the orange / Tells mе you’re never comin’ homе.” The orange, of course, is the sun.  Oh, that American Heartbreak stings something awful, but the song itself is epic!  

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7. Justin Timberlake, “Say Something” (Ft. Chris Stapleton)

Man of the Woods • RCA • 2018 

“Maybe I’m looking for something I can’t have.” Perhaps, Justin Timberlake, perhaps. “Say Something” comes closest to the characterization that Timberlake provided regarding his 2018 LP, Man of the Woods.  The guest appearance and co-write by Chris Stapleton confirms the country music influence, but it’s also perceptible within the production, specifically rhythm guitars, vocal harmonization, and other intentional cues.  Still, Timberlake doesn’t shy away from the pop, vocally and percussively. The repetition of the chorus – pre-chorus, chorus, and post-chorus – perfectly exemplifies modern pop, and urban music.

“Everybody says, ‘Say something’

Then, ‘Say something, say something’

… I don’t want to get caught up in the rhythm of it.”

Timberlake and Stapleton deliver compelling performances, particularly when they join forces. Repetition bodes in Timberlake’s favor here, particularly the infectious, memorable chorus. 

“But I can’t help myself, no, I can’t help myself, no, no

Caught up in the middle of it

No, I can’t help myself, no, I can’t help myself, no, no, no

Caught up in the rhythm of it.”

Appears in :

101 Best Songs of 2018

8. Panic! At The Disco, “Something About Maggie”

Viva Las Vengeance • Fueled by Ramen • 2022

There’s “Something About Maggie” in the ninth track from Viva Las Vengeance, the final studio album by Panic! At The Disco. “Maggie, don’t you know? / He’s got a real fuse about to blow,” Urie sings in the chorus, urging her, “You gotta let him go /… You gotta hit your boyfriend back.” Hmm, it’s interesting songwriting and concept.  There’s an abusive boyfriend (Gilly) who seems to take out his anger on his girlfriend. Maggie, the girlfriend, has yet to leave or defend herself, judging by the lyrics.  Brendon, and everybody else, encouraged her to run and, of course, hit him back.  As always, the chorus is awesome.  That said, the verses are incredibly colorful, including poetic lines and a dash of profanity too (“God damn the Holy Rollers / Makin’ the matters worse”).  Musically, “Something About Maggie” retains the theatrical vibes we’ve come to adore Panic! At The Disco for. 

9. The Chainsmokers, “Something Just Like This” (Ft. Coldplay) 

Memories…Do Not Open • Columbia • 2017

One of the few bright spots on The Chainsmokers’ questionable debut album, Memories…Do Not Open, is “Something Just Like This”, featuring Coldplay.  Chris Martin naturally handles lead duties.  He utilizes his lower register, which works, but truly soars once he switches to his calling card, his falsetto. The record’s best moments come in the chorus, which is chocked-full of exuberance, courtesy of the vocals, synths, and driving rhythm. The production is superb throughout. 

“But she said, where’d you wanna go? 

How much you wanna risk? 

I’m not looking for somebody 

With some superhuman gifts 

Some superhero 

Some fairytale bliss 

Just something I can turn to 

Somebody I can kiss.” 

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10. Chris Brown, “Feel Something”

11:11 • RCA • 2023

“I need to feel something,” Grammy-winning R&B artist Chris Brown asserts on “Feel Something”. He adds, in the refrain, “‘Cause, damn, it’s so good / And, damn, you’re so bad / I hit it so good / I’ll make it talk back.” Damn, indeed! Brown is referencing kitty cat – sex – on the fifth track from 11:11. “Feel Something” was produced by DSTRK, RoccStar, and Prince Youngblood. The talented singer is supported by a slick, sensual backdrop. It’s fitting given the sensual nature of this song, which Brown eats up – yum, yum! Even with sex as part of the script, “Feel Something” looks back to a previous relationship as opposed to the present. For some context, see the previous track from 11:11, “That’s on You” (“Never thought you’d let a lame nigga change up the way that you move /… If you’re cool with this shit, baby, then that’s on you”). In the verse of “Feel Something,” Brown recollects love, specifically the sex. “I remember all them times, baby / Baby, undress, I’m talkin’ rough sex.” Ooh-wee, Chris! They put it down! He adds, “You call me names they wouldn’t know me as / I pull your hair back / You start to act bad…” Clearly, she was motivated by the joystick – catch my drift. However, no matter how good their ‘connection’ was, it’s over and “Feel Something” offers no resolution. However, can you knock Brown for reminiscing on fulfilling coitus, specifically when it comes down to a song as good as “Feel Something”? Of course, you can’t!

Appears in :

Chris Brown, Feel Something: Midnight Heat No. 7 (2023)

11. Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr., “Something Happens”

Best Days Yet • Tehillah Music Group / Light / Entertainment One • 2012

Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. is renowned for both his ministry and music ministry. He elevates the spirit on the epic, seven-and-a-half-minute gem, “Something Happens (Jesus)”, which appears on his 2012 album, Best Days Yet. Like many CCM songs, the lyrics are simplistic – easy to remember and sing along by the congregation.  Even with few lyrics and a lack of depth-laden songwriting, the message is potent. “Jesus / Something special / Supernatural about your name,” the choir sings reverently, continuing, “Jesus / Something happens / When I mention…” Beyond those repeated lyrics, carried by the choir and ad-libbed and riffed on by the Rt. Reverend, we move on two other key, uplifting passages.  The first is the song’s namesake: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus / Jesus, Jesus, Jesus / Something happens / When I call you.” From there, we get repetition on the lyrics, “When I call you /… Something Happens.” Again, the lyrics aren’t complicated – they’re accessible to people of all ages within the congregation. “Something Happens (Jesus)” is geared toward Christians and believers, but everyone should take something away after listening.   

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11 Songs That are Truly SOMETHING (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 19 Recordings Limited, Belting Bronco, Columbia, Dixon Dallas, Entertainment One, Fueled By Ramen, GospoCentric, Light, MCA, Mercury, RCA, Republic, Sony Music Nashville, Tehillah Music Group, Warner; MART PRODUCTION from Pexels; Gerd Altmann, Malkhai Cora from Pixabay]

11 Songs That are Truly SOMETHING | Playlist

Published by the musical hype on March 20, 2024March 20, 2024