11 Triggering Border, Borderline Songs | Playlist 🎧

1. Brandy, “Borderline”

b7 • Brandy Nu, Inc. / Entertainment One U.S., LP • 2020

There is some serious tension on “Borderline,” among the top tier of b7, the comeback album by Grammy-winning R&B singer, Brandy. On the five-minute-plus “Borderline,” listeners are treated to gorgeous, lush, harmonized vocals.  Perhaps more notably, listeners easily perceive the love pain experienced by the singer.

“Heart drops to the floor / ‘Cause there’s no you and I,” she sings on the fourth verse, continuing, “Maybe in another lifetime (Right place) / Caught me at the wrong time (Wrong time).” If nothing else, one appreciates the consistent authenticity and personal nature of the lyricism throughout b7. “Borderline” previously appeared on Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: August 2020.

2. Tame Impala, “Borderline”

The Slow Rush • Modular Recordings Pty Ltd / Island • 2020

Tame Impala reworked “Borderline” compared to the original single released in advance of The Slow Rush. The drums are hard hitting and quite potent. Groove bodes well in Kevin Parker’s favor throughout the LP.  Furthermore, the keyboards are also hard hitting, remaining firmly planted throughout this four-minute standout.  Vocally, the listener gets a heaping dose of falsetto, further enriched by the band’s most beloved studio effect, reverb.  “Borderline” also gives Parker another golden chorus, with lyrical variations throughout.

“We’re on the borderline
Caught between the tides of pain and rapture
Possibly a sign
I’m gonna have the strangest night on Sunday.”

3. Baby Rose, “Borderline”

To Myself • OVRCST, LLC / Island • 2020

“We may both be grown but / You make me feel like a child / Is this something worth saving?” That, of course, seems to be a legitimate question Baby Rose.  I mean, if you aren’t being treated like an adult and you are an adult, well, something’s amiss! On “Borderline,” the distinct-voiced, soulful R&B artist is in a precarious position you might say in regard to her relationship.  As the excerpt from the first verse shows, things are clearly imperfect.

On the second verse, we get more of the same.  Baby Rose seems to be torn between love (perhaps blind love) and being utterly foolish.  And on the centerpiece, the chorus, there’s no resolution:

“Maybe if I could just stop
Thinking of him I’ll be fine
I don’t know what to decide
I’m still at the borderline...”

Yeah, she has no clue what she’s going to do.  It seems like she’s not going anywhere at this point… Her pain is our pleasure though.  Nuanced pipes, soulful, throwback vibes – it’s all good on our end as the listeners.

4. Ariana Grande, “borderline”

Ft. Missy Elliott

Sweetener • Republic • 2018

Pharrell Williams serves as a producer on numerous songs from Sweetener, the fourth studio album by Ariana Grande.  Among the tracks he helms is “Borderline.” Here, the beat is sick – a surefire catalyst for head nodding and foot tapping, period. Perhaps the bigger news is that Missy Elliott is a featured guest – ICONIC!

Of course, the person who I’ve least mentioned is the lead artist, Ariana Grande! As always, Ari sounds exceptional and exhibits plenty of personality from start to finish.

“Baby, I just want you to be mine
Won’t you give me a bit o’ your time? Oh, whoa
Chasin’ you, no, I won’t stop tryin’
Just meet me at the borderline.”

5. Ed Sheeran, “South of the Border”

Ft. Camila Cabello & Cardi B

No.6 Collaborations Project • Warner • 2019

“South of the Border” arrives as the second song off of No.6 Collaborations Project, the 2019 studio album by Grammy-winner Ed Sheeran. On “South of the Border,” he enlists Camila Cabello and Cardi B for the assist. As title and personnel suggest, Sheeran opts for a fun, Latin-tinged pop joint.  It is well organized in regard to form, and quite catchy from the start, especially the chorus.

Cabello continues to ‘kill it’ in a featured role, exhibiting marvelous chemistry with Sheeran on the chorus/bridge sections.  As for Cardi B, she provides a welcome contrast, keeping it tasteful, sans the “Legs open, tongue out, Michael Jordan” line.  Still, “South of the Border” isn’t, um, merely about geography…

6. Solange, “Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)”

Ft. Q-Tip

A Seat at the Table • Sony • 2016 

“Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)” (featuring Q-Tip) represents another powerful moment from A Seat at the Table, the 2016 studio album by Solange. A Seat at the Table is engrained with social issues, particularly those tied with the black experience. On “Borderline,” she “takes an intermission” from the issues that have been plaguing the world and focuses on taking care of herself and her own. She’s not neglecting mind you; she’s ensuring she’s in a good place mentally with everything going on. She confirmed this mindset on “Borderline” via an interview from W Magazine.

“You know I have the world to think
And I know I gotta go ahead and take some time
Because the last thing that I want
Is think that it’s time to leave the borderline.”

7. Jordan Rakei, “Borderline”

Origin • Ninja Tune • 2020

“I wait here at the borderline / Always my alibi,” sings New Zealand-born/Australian-bred musician Jordan Rakei on “Borderline.” “Borderline,” which is the perfect addition to this border-driven playlist, appears as the 12^th track from Rakei’s 2020 album, Origin.

Elegant, well-rounded production perfectly suits Jordan Rakei’s voice on “Borderline.” Rakei possesses a truly beautiful instrument, singing quite expressively yet with incredible ease. It never sounds as if he breaks a sweat. In addition to the strong production ad vocals, “Borderline” gives us equally strong lyricism: “Your wickedness unequivocally / Undresses me similarly / Too much for my mind / You try to caress but I’m seeing through your disguises.” The chorus, unsurprisingly, is the centerpiece. Here, we get excellent harmonized vocals, vocal production, and of course, well-rounded songwriting.

“Fall in love, will you stay?
I’m begging you for it
We’re making up, in each way
‘Cause I’m closer to the borderline
The borderline.”

“Borderline” is quite accessible, featuring a standard form (verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus), but is by no means a bore; it’s a winner through and through.

8. Sam Fender, “The Borders”

Hypersonic Missiles • Polydor • 2019

“We were like brothers / Everybody said we looked the same / You were a little taller, and broader, and bolder…” Nice characterization to say the least! Let’s add some context, shall we? Hypersonic Missiles is an album that far too many people missed out on in 2019. Sam Fender absolutely DID THAT – that superb, underrated album that is! The British singer/songwriter has a fantastic, powerful voice, and brings plenty of musical goodness to the table.  Part of the musical goodness comes by way of “The Borders,” the second song from his debut album.

“The Borders” runs five-and-a-half minutes in duration, earning the honors of the longest song on the album. It may be long, but the narrative is alluring, even without the aid of a chorus.  On this energetic, up-tempo record, where sound and performance are concerned, the Bruce Springsteen comparisons are quite pronounced.  The biggest difference? Fender has quite the inescapable British accent.  The songwriting = LIT.

“Heard you glassed a boy back in the borders
Some naughty family boys are after you
You pinned me to the wall and said my mother
Stole your inheritance from you, oh yeah?”

9. ZAYN, “BoRdErSz”

Mind of Mine • RCA • 2016

“So, take it off, let’s break down all of our walls / Right now, I wanna see it all / I don’t wanna cool off, so let’s cross the lines we lost.” Hmm, wonder what ZAYN is referencing when he encourages him and his girlfriend “break down all of our walls?” While there’s an emotional component that’s referenced throughout “BoRdErSz,” there’s also a sexual one as well.  And, just ask yourself, would the sexual component be far-fetched for Mr. Malik? He definitely seems to be right on the border with this standout from his 2016 debut album, Mind of Mine.

“Just like the ocean, you change what I see.” On “BoRdErSz,” ZAYN doesn’t go nearly as far as “Pillowtalk” (“In the bed all day, bed all day, bed all day / Fucking and fighting on”), but “BoRdErSz” definitely doesn’t come off as innocent either. His sensual falsetto alone should be evidence to refute innocence 😉. I mean, lyrics like “Taste your sweet profanity / It’s all for a good cause, think you’re doing a good job” makes me wonder the context of that profanity…

10. Madonna, “Borderline”

Madonna • Warner • 1983

“Borderline – feels like I’m going to lose my mind / You just keep on pushing my love over the borderline.” Sigh, “Borderline” is one of my personal favorite Madonna songs and I have no problem whatsoever owning it! Hailing from her landmark 1983 self-titled debut, “Borderline” would be the catalyst for a run of iconic hits to come in a truly illustrious career.

Few will characterize Madonna as an elite vocalist (myself included), and that shouldn’t be an insult. While she’s no powerhouse, her performances tend to be a vibe that pack significant punch. Catchy songwriting, attitude, sex appeal, and marvelous production tend to be the modus operandi for Madge.  That’s a successful formula that’s not ‘borderline’ in the least. On “Borderline,” she sounds great, again without particularly wowing you from a vocal perspective.  Her upper register pipes fit the bright, welcoming major-key backdrop constructed by Reggie Lucas.  It’s 80s to the core, yet still makes your ears perk up nearly four decades later.

11. Elton John, “Border Song”

Elton John • Mercury • 1970

Elton John, with the help of his long-time lyricist, Bernie Taupin, is a hit machine.  He’s written and performed numerous songs, all of which are classics.  That said, even some of John’s gems are greatly overshadowed by others.  One truly awesome record that doesn’t get the love of his bigger hits is “Border Song,” which appears on his 1970 self-titled album.  You could say that “Border Song” has received more of its just due after the fact than it did back in the day.

“Holy Moses, I have been removed,” Elton John sings soulfully on the first verse, continuing, “I have seen the specter, he has been there too.” The record has a gospel-tinged rock sound, something that John has done consistently throughout his career.  Arguably, “Border Song” leans even more heavily on the soul side of things, directly borrowing cues from the genre.  It’s a rousing record that features choral vocals, which come directly from the gospel music playbook.  Notably, Aretha Franklin would record a killer rendition as the final song on her 1972 album, Young Gifted and Black (“Border Song (Holy Moses)”). Taron Egerton performed this ‘lesser known’ John classic on the Rocketman soundtrack.