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11 Songs That Embrace Togetherness features music courtesy of Chris Brown, Dan + Shay, ILLENIUM, King Princess, and Mariah Carey.
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The Beatles serve up six iconic words, “Come together, right now / Over me,” on their 1969 classic, “Come Together,” from Abbey Road. Sigh. Three years later, Al Green soulfully sang, “Ooh, baby, let’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’ / Lovin’ you whether / Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad,” on the iconic Let’s Stay Together LP. 25 years later, Janet Jackson had ‘togetherness’ on her mind on “Together Again” from The Velvet Rope (1997) – “Dream about us together again / What I want: us together again, baby / I know we’ll be together again…”
The keyword in all of the aforementioned classics is TOGETHER. This playlist is all about embracing togetherness. That means that every song selected on this playlist must feature the word ‘together’ in its song titles. There are no exceptions whatsoever – NONE! With that said, “11 Songs That Embrace Togetherness” features music courtesy of Chris Brown (“Come Together” featuring H.E.R.), Dan + Shay (“Alone Together”), ILLENIUM (“All Together” with OEKIIN), King Princess (“Ain’t Together”), and Mariah Carey (“We Belong Together”) among others.
1. Vampire Weekend, “We Belong Together”
Ft. Danielle Haim
Father of the Bride • Sony • 2019
“…We go together like give and take / Pains and aches, real and fake / We go together, don’t be opaque / It’s clear we go together.” That’s pretty clever – opaque and clear. Anyways, “We Belong Together” is the third (and final) cut where Danielle Haim (Haim) ‘officially’ appears as a featured guest during the course of Father of the Bride. Like their previous collaborations, Koenig and Haim make a formidable team, singing separately as well as – you guessed it – together! The best of their collaborations on FOTB is arguably “Married in a Gold Rush,” but “We Belong Together” is pretty sweet as well, another moment of consistency on the album. It’s pretty straightforward, with the chorus summing things up excellently:
“We belong together We belong together Baby, there’s no use in being clever Baby, it don’t mean we’ll stay together.”
2. Chris Brown, “Come Together”
Ft. H.E.R.
Indigo • RCA • 2019
“I can’t say that I never dreamed of touchin’ on you / Ain’t that what wild dreams are made of,” Chris Brown sings on the pre-chorus, continuing, “So many feelings involved / We can’t pretend, don’t play it off / I wanna feel everything and I want you, whoa.” Fair enough. As aforementioned, “Come Together” is among the finer moments on Indigo. Brown collaborates with fellow Grammy-winner H.E.R. There’s a cool throwback sensibility, coupled with the über-slick backdrop that clearly has 2019 written all over it. The vocal chemistry between the two is arguably the biggest selling point. “Come Together” is sensual from both sides, but Brown favors suggestiveness as opposed to utter explicitness. It bodes well in his favor here. Maybe, just maybe, he should consider it more often, and let his dynamic voice shine as opposed to his penchant for the hedonistic. That said, filthy single “Wobble Up” is a bop…
3. King Princess, “Ain’t Together”
Cheap Queen • Zelig • 2019
“We say, ‘I love you’ but we ain’t together / Do you think labels make it taste much better? / Darling do you think that if I talk enough / I will make you wanna be mine? We ain’t together.” “Ain’t Together” arrives on Cheap Queen as the fourth track. As King Princess tells it on this intriguing pop track, “Everybody knows / That you and I got that something,” but the problem is, “We ain’t together.” Why aren’t they together? Well, apparently, given the fact that the song can be used for various occasions, per the artist, it depends. According to a tweet by King Princess:
There it is. Besides relatable lyrics, regardless of your sexual preference, “Ain’t Together” features a sweet backdrop courtesy of King Princess and Mike Malchicoff.
4. The Black Keys, “Get Yourself Together”
“Let’s Rock” • Nonesuch • 2019
In the context of “Let’s Rock”, “Get Yourself Together” segues from “Every Little Thing,” providing an energetic contrast. The harmonic progression is simple but potent, with the bass emphasizing I, IV, and V more often than not – standard AF for all the non-musicians/music theory nerds. The guitars are remarkable – incredibly colorful and creative in the various ways they’re used. A catchy chorus, urging ‘babe’ to ‘get herself together’ is pretty sweet as well.
“You gotta get yourself together babe Try to keep it cool You wanna make it last forever maybe Get behind the new You gotta get yourself together babe Keep your motor clean We wanna make it run forever maybe I’m your gasoline.”
5. ILLENIUM, “All Together”
With OEKIIN
ASCEND • Astralwerks / Nick Miller • 2019
OEKIIN serves up brilliant vocals throughout the course of “All Together,” sensationally conveying this narrative of clashes against one another. “You can go ahead and judge me / Just so you can say you’re right,” he sings on the first verse, later asserting on the pre-chorus, “When a war with each other / Is a war against ourselves / We both lose when we start the fight, oh no.” He has a legitimate point. Even if you’re not all in on the ‘lack of faith’ exhibited on the chorus, the embrace of togetherness is quite prudent.
Of course, “All Together” appears on an album by ILLENIUM, so we should probably definitely mention his contributions! Miller is a beast behind the boards; the production absolutely, positively kicks ass. It’s dark, enigmatic, and sleekly produced. The sound palette is rich and quite pleasing to the ear, even with a minor key in play. ILLENIUM co-produces alongside Devrim Karaoğlu and Rock Mafia. It totally slays.
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6. Dan + Shay, “Alone Together”
Dan + Shay • Warner Music Nashville • 2018
“We can be blue as a neon light Singing them sad up songs all night We can say goodbye, just head home But if we're gonna be alone.”
“Alone Together” makes up part of a great opening trio of songs on Dan + Shay. Specifically, “Alone Together” serves as a stellar opener – song ‘numero uno’ – characterized by its pummeling drums, rhythmic guitars, and clean and clear vocals. The chorus shines thanks to thoughtful songwriting and great vocal chemistry, particularly the harmonies. =
“We should be alone together Kissing over there in the corner Where nobody else can see Keeping each other company We should be alone together Leaning up against my car door Parked outside on the street Where it's just you and me We should be alone together.”
7. Mike Shinoda, “Hold It Together”
Post Traumatic • Warner Bros. • 2018
“They say take it slow / But the world keeps spinning / And that I don’t control…” Interestingly, his understanding of ‘a lack of control’ seems to refer back to another record on the album, “Promises I Can’t Keep”. There he has an epiphany of sorts – he realizes that his ‘control’ and his abilities as a human being only go so far. “Hold It Together” previously appeared on the playlist 13 Songs Trying to ‘Hold’ it Together, published in June 2018.
8. Cheat Codes, “Put Me Back Together”
Ft. Kiiara
Put Me Back Together [Single] • 300 Entertainment • 2018
“You take me high when I’m dropping low And you show me places I never know Even when we just running ‘round town getting stoned Boy, you put me back together again A Coca-Cola Hennessey Everybody says you’re no good for me But you’re my fucked-up remedy Boy, you put me back together again.”
From the Cheat Codes’ perspective, there’s plenty to love about “Put Me Back Together.” They blend more traditional pop (guitar and keyboard), with urban and electro-pop sensibilities. The listener is blessed with hyped-up, hyper-rhythmic drums, exuberant synths, and the overall finesse of the EDM script. The boys don’t go too eccentric, serving up a well-crafted backdrop for Kiiara to paint those aforementioned profane, but beautiful vocals on.
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9. Daley, “Alone Together”
Days & Nights • Republic • 2014
“I can’t help but think that this doesn’t add up I’m trying to separate the facts from all the fiction We’re living in a world of contradictions And if baby you’re the truth when I’m lying next to you.”
“Alone Together” ranks among the crème de la crème of Days & Nights. Daley is paired with fellow British R&B singer Marsha Ambrosius, formerly of Floetry notoriety, not to mention being a formidable solo artist. The vocal chemistry between the two is top-notch, particularly on and following the bridge: “You’re the desert sand, I’ll be your water and you’re the perfect plan I never thought of…” Can you say ‘power duet’ – methinks.
10. Taylor Swift, “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Red • Big Machine • 2012
Piggybacking on the idea that Red is a transitional Taylor Swift album, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was co-written by Swift with pop producers Max Martin and Shellback (they produce the track as well). Naturally, the production encompasses ‘pop’ cues including a pounding beat, rhythm guitar. It doesn’t go as far to the left as “I Knew You Were Trouble.” from the same album – it eschews dubstep and whacky synths – but this is pop music. Swift’s vocal performance is catchy, cutesy, and playful, while the chorus specifically was among the catchiest of 2012:
“We are never, ever, ever, ever, getting back together …You go talk to you friends talk To my friends talk to me/but we are never, ever, ever, getting back together.”
Pop has certainly worked out for Taylor Swift, hasn’t it?
11. Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together”
The Emancipation of Mimi • Island Def Jam • 2005
“When you left, I lost a part of me / It’s still so hard to believe / Come back, baby, please / ‘Cause we belong together.” “We Belong Together” is simply an enjoyable, well-rounded R&B break-up song. Mariah Carey misses her man and begs him to come back because, in her eyes, they “belong together.” It’s well produced (Carey, Jermaine Dupri, and Manuel Seal) without being incredibly flashy. The production does get a lift from two samples – “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” (Bobby Womack) and “Two Occasions” (The Deele featuring Babyface). Its simplicity and straightforwardness serve it well. The biggest selling point? The voice – marvelous!
“11 Songs That Embrace Togetherness” [Photo Credits: 300 Entertainment, Astralwerks, Big Machine, Brent Faulkner, Island Def Jam, Mariah Carey, Nick Miller, Nonesuch, Pexels, RCA, Republic, The Musical Hype, Sony, Warner Bros., Warner Music Nashville, Zelig]
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