11 Stranger Songs Totally Worth Spinning | Playlist

1. Adam Lambert, “Stranger You Are”

Velvet • More is More • 2020

“Now I’m rockin’ Versace with my dog / In my shades, I’m a slay one day, y’all…” Slay on Adam Lambert – slay on! The pop musician is locked-in on “Stranger You Are,” the third track from his hella funky, fourth studio album, Velvet (2020). Worth noting, Velvet arrives nearly five years after unleashing the great, but underrated The Original High (2015).

Although fierce (“But I’m 6’3”, baby, with boots on…”), “Stranger You Are” isn’t necessarily the ‘crowning achievement’ from Velvet. Still, it’s another consistent, incredibly enjoyable moment from this electrifying LP. Throughout the record, Lambert exhibits mad personality, high-flying vocals, and some truly decadent ear candy. “Stranger” hearkens back to the past for its inspiration, which means expanded instrumentation that includes horns.  Ah, there’s nothing like horns!

2. Halsey, “Finally//beautiful stranger”

Manic • Capitol • 2020

“Beautiful stranger, here you are in my arms and I know / That beautiful strangers only come along to do me wrong /… But I think it’s finally, finally, finally, finally safe / For me to fall…” On her third studio album, Manic, “Finally // beautiful stranger” gives alternative pop artist Halsey a pop/rock, singer/songwriter cut.  It also happens to be a love song, confirmed by the aforementioned chorus. The rich, robust rhythmic guitars (production by Greg Kurstin once more) are a bit unexpected, given the abundance of electronic sounds usually associated with Halsey’s music.

Besides superb production courtesy of Greg Kurstin, the songwriting is strong.  Vocally, she sounds alluring, giving a relatively balanced performance, yet also bringing a bit more oomph on the chorus.  The songwriting is strong, as she sings lovingly of her boo with an assortment of charming and descriptive lyrics: “You got hips like Jagger and two left feet” (verse one) and “Used to think that loving meant a painful chase / But you’re right here now and I think you’ll stay” (verse two). In addition to the memorable chorus, and lyrical highlights from the two verses, the pre-chorus is pretty sweet as well, particularly as she sings, “I’ve never seen a mouth that I would kill to kiss / And I’m terrified, but the truth is this…” Considering this is supposedly the first love song she’s ever written, it’s a truly accomplished one. “Finally//beautiful stranger” previously appeared on the playlist, 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in December 2019.

3. Niall Horan, “Arms of a Stranger”

Heartbreak Weather • Capitol • 2020

“When I was on my knees in the darkness / Yeah, you’d be there to break my fall / But now, I’m lyin’ so helpless / But somehow, I just still want more.” Sigh, “Arms of a Stranger” ranks among the highlights of Heartbreak Weather, the 2020 sophomore album by Niall Horan. Here, Horan realizes his relationship is over and done with, but he’s still coping, trying to figure out his next, meaningful move.

The emphasis is on ‘meaningful’ as Niall doesn’t feel the same way about the ‘strangers’ he’s associating with in order to move on from ‘true love.’  Clearly, he was dedicated to his ex, so much so that on the first verse he asks, “If we’re not gonna do this honestly / Baby, won’t you give me back what you took apart?” Horan’s pain is authentic on the epic chorus, as he sings vulnerably, “You left me with nothing / Now I’m lyin’ in the arms of a stranger / But why do I think of you?” Sigh, it feels so wrong for listeners to be ‘tickled fancy’ by Horan’s pain – oh, the schadenfreude!

4. Sam Smith & Normani, “Dancing with a Stranger”

Love Goes • Capitol • 2020

Grammy-winning British pop musician Sam Smith collaborates with former Fifth Harmony standout Normani on the marvelous “Dancing with a Stranger”.  “Dancing with a Stranger” features sleek production work with a driving groove and warm synths.  Smith serves up compelling vocals on the first verse, including their signature, masterful falsetto.  They goes on to shine on the memorable chorus: “Look what you made me do, I’m with somebody new / Ooh, baby, baby, I’m dancing with a stranger.”

Normani contrasts Smith’s vocals on the second verse with huskier, sultry pipes. She asserts, “But, boy, I need to get you off of my mind.” She later sings alongside they on the second iteration of the chorus.  Short and sweet, “Dancing with a Stranger” is pretty straightforward, well-rounded record that’s highly effective. “Dancing with a Stranger” was selected among the 51 Best Songs of 2019 (#32).  “Dancing with a Stranger” appears on Smith’s 2020 album, Love Goes.

5. Vampire Weekend, “Stranger”

Father of the Bride • Sony • 2019

“I used to freeze on the dance floor / I watched the icebergs from the shore / But you got the heat on, kettle screaming / Don’t need to freeze anymore…” That’s nice… I think.  Anyways, Ezra Koenig and Danielle Haim (HAIM) make a formidable team. Haim makes multiple appearances on the Grammy-winning alternative album, Father of the Bride.  Her three credited appearances are opener “Hold You Now”, “Married in a Gold Rush” (perhaps the best of the trio), and “We Belong Together.” While she’s credited thrice, she also contributes to the country-tinged, alt-rock gem at hand, “Stranger.”  

Ultimately, “Stranger” is another fine moment from Father of the Bride.  Ezra Koenig delivers another well-rounded vocal, there’s a strong anchoring groove, and once more, it possesses that Vampire Weekend eclecticism.  The main reason why “Stranger” didn’t have more buzz – there’s simply more distinct songs on the album, plus, it appears near the end.  Here, the context of “Stranger” isn’t an unfamiliar, non-acquaintance as is the scenario on most of the songs on this list, but rather, oddness, weirdness – STRANGENESS.  Look no further than the chorus, performed by Koenig and Haim:

“I-I-I, things have never been stranger
I-I-I, things are gonna stay strange
I-I-I-, I remember life as a stranger
I-I-I, but things change.”

6. Sigrid, “Strangers”

Sucker Punch • Island • 2019

“Strangers”, which appears on the 2019 album, Sucker Punch, delivers quite the vibe before its rising Norwegian star, Sigrid ever sings a note.  Calling the record moody would be an overstatement, but there’s a curiousness; a mysteriousness. Vocally, Sigrid is poised – cool, calm, and collected – on the first verse (“Just like in the movies / It starts to rain and we / We’re the broken beauties / Blindfolded minds collide, and we fall”).

By the chorus, the production grows more dynamic and intense. Similarly, the lead vocals also grow more dynamic and intense, with Sigrid exhibiting more punch and emotion.  In regard to the overall sound, “Strangers” can be described as danceable, characterized by its electronic palette.  Even as Sigrid digs in more on the chorus, she doesn’t break too much of a sweat, never overreaching. “Strangers” previously appeared on the playlist 12 Friends & Strangers Songs.

7. Jonas Brothers, “Strangers”

Happiness Begins • Republic • 2019

On “Strangers,” the longest song from the comeback, Jonas Brothers album, Happiness Begins, apparently, the strangers already know each other. Yes, it’s far-fetched logistically, but the point the Jonas men are making is about chemistry, true love, and passion.  Sure, that passion likely encompasses pleasure too, but the Nick Jonas pre-chorus focuses on chemistry – perhaps the elusive ‘love at first sight: “Time stand still and it’s only us / What we fell started way before we ever touched.”

Where Nick takes the reins on the pre-chorus, Joe Jonas takes over on the chorus, where we learn about the strangers being acquainted – or something like that.

“I just saw the lightning strike
Knew it right then when I looked in your eyes
And I said to myself, ‘it’s no surprise we ain’t strangers’
Strangers tonight
Must be from a different life
Been here before and it just feels right
No, this ain’t the first time for you and I, we ain’t strangers
Strangers tonight.”

Fair enough, I supposed. While this Greg Kurstin-helmed joint wasn’t the biggest attraction from Happiness Begins, revisiting it, it’s pretty fun.  It’s quite sound with a clear-cut form, thrilling vocal harmonies, and high energy level.

8. Kali Uchis, “Just a Stranger”

Ft. Steve Lacy

Isolation • Virgin • 2018

“She’s a hurricane, feel the earth shake / If the devil was asleep, she’d knock him wide awake.” Woo! Kali Uchis released a fantastic debut album in 2018 with Isolation.  Much of Isolation is chocked-full of retro vibes, highlighting soul music and nostalgic vibes.  That’s the case with the third track from the album, “Just A Stranger.” Steve Lacy (The Internet) co-produces, as well as sings on the gem.

“Just A Stranger” is groovy, continuing the vintage script of the album without a hitch.  The crowning achievement is undoubtedly the catchy, if repetitive and simple chorus. “She wants my hundred-dollar bills, she don’t want love.” Uchis does a fantastic job of characterizing herself, rather the character she plays – she’s all about the money.

“Go and say what you want, you are just a stranger
Watching from the bleachers ‘cause you can’t take the danger.”

“Just a Stranger” previously appeared on the playlist, 12 Friends & Strangers Songs.

9. Halsey, “Strangers”

Ft. Lauren Jauregui

hopeless fountain kingdom • Astralwerks • 2017

Alt-pop artist Halsey, who is bisexual, tackled a lesbian relationship on her 2017 hit, “Strangers”, which appears on her sophomore album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. Its content is different from most of the songs featured on the album. Early on, it establishes itself as an LGBTQ song.  On the first verse, she sings: “She doesn’t kiss me on the mouth anymore / ‘Cause it’s more intimate, than she thinks we should…”

The chorus confirms the LGBTQ tilt:

“Said that we’re not lovers, we’re just strangers
With the same damn hunger
To be touched, to be loved, to feel anything at all.”

Lauren Jauregui, a member of Fifth Harmony (also bisexual), similarly shares her side of the story on the second verse. Both unite on the bridge:

“I miss the mornings with you laying in my bed
I miss the memories replaying in my head
I miss the thought of a forever, you and me
But all you’re missing is my body.”

“Strangers” has appeared on multiple playlists including 12 Friends & Strangers Songs, 12 Interesting Songs That Reference Bisexuality, and A Compendium Comprised of 100 Notable LGBTQ+ Songs.

10. DNCE, “Kissing Strangers”

Ft. Nicki Minaj

“Kissing Strangers” • Republic • 2017

Like previous records by pop band DNCE, fronted by Joe Jonas, single “Kissing Strangers” thrives off its groove.  Rhythmically, the record is incredibly unified. There’s no escaping the one-two punch of the bass line coupled with the drums. The production work is slick AF, for lack of a better description.  Musically, it’s sound, if not necessarily game changing.

“Kissing Strangers” isn’t far-fetched in sound or conception from the band’s seminal hit “Cake by the Ocean,” particularly given its nonsensical, carefree syllables.  Like “Cake,” this is incredibly tongue-n-cheek, evidenced from the jump. Lyrically, depth is NOT the M.O.  Per the usual, “Kissing Strangers” is heavy on flirty and lite on nutrients and legit substance.  Nicki Minaj doesn’t necessarily ‘up the ante’ on her guest verse – blame it on the quick tempo, or the shallowness of the song itself, sigh.

“I got a boy that I kinda like
This is a kiss-kiss, tongue him down kind of night…
Drip, drip, with a kitty cat, put it in his lap
Sip, sip, on the tip, tip, lick on his lip-lip
I think he tryna hit young Nic’ like a quick pick.”

“Kissing Strangers” previously appeared on two playlists: 12 Friends & Strangers Songs and 17 Songs Where the Kisses are Everything.

11. Marilyn Manson, “Killing Strangers”

Killing Strangers • Loma Vista • 2015

“We’re killing strangers / We’re killing strangers, so we don’t kill the ones that we / Love…” Wow… that shit’s disturbing… While “Killing Strangers” (The Pale Emperor, 2015),  didn’t receive its own dedicated spot on 11 Wickedly Thrilling Songs About Weapons, I did used the eerie, totally unsettling Marilyn Manson song as a preface.  Again, just read the aforementioned lyrics and you’ll see why it was the perfect intro for a list of songs about weapons.  Furthermore, honestly, couldn’t the spirit of the lyrics, particularly the fact that Manson references strangers, accurately portray the most repugnant, heartless members of society? Serial killers, mass murderers, and such?

Manson doesn’t stop there – I know you’re not the least bit shocked.  Adding even more grit and toughness, Manson brings the weapons – guns – into the mix. On the bridge of this totally hellish, malicious number, he asserts, “And we got guns, we got guns / Motherfuckers better, better run.” Yeah, he’s not lying when he tells MFs to run! When you think about it, there are few weapons, or arguably things in general more frightening than guns.  Why? Just as aforementioned, guns in the wrong hands and the right aim can definitely cause a great amount of death. “Killing” previously appeared a number of playlists including  12 Friends & Strangers Songs and 5 Songs That Reference Gun Violence & Gun Control.