13 Alluringly Awesome After Songs
features music by Black Atlass, Cyndi Lauper, Ed Sheeran, Janet Jackson, Joji & Taylor Swift.
You know, some say that the AFTERparty is sweeter than the party itself. Perhaps, thatโs the case, and perhaps, itโs not really important either. What is important is the word AFTER, which purposely appears in ALL CAPS because itโs what drives this, the 177th playlist on The Musical Hype in 2020. Previously, weโve bestowed the likes of 11 Songs Where the โBeforeโ is Key (2019) and
12 Simply Terrific Before or After Songs (2020). Now, we show some love exclusively to all things after-!
13 Alluringly Awesome After Songs features music by
Black Atlass,
Cyndi Lauper,
Ed Sheeran,
Janet Jackson,
Joji and
Taylor Swift among others. Even with these sweet songs tickling our afterwards fancy, there were numerous others omitted! Shame on us. Nonetheless, sink your teeth into this hearty helping of after-, where thereโs a little something for everybody!
1. Ed Sheeran, โAfterglowโ
โAfterglowโ โข
Atlantic โข
2020
โOh, I will hold on to the afterglow.โ
Grammy-winner
Ed Sheeran returned with a new single,
โAfterglowโ, just days before Christmas Day
2020. โAfterglowโ is a singer/songwriter-style pop cut, which in a sense, is a return of the Sheeran of old. Early on, the accompaniment arrives courtesy of rhythm guitar, delivering a simple but effective harmonic progression. Eventually, thereโs synthesizer, courtesy of one of the songโs producers,
Parisi, which adds more depth. Still, thereโs always this sense of simplicity, yet it feels sufficient. In addition to Parisi, Sheeran produces alongside
FRED.
Ed Sheeran sounds quite nice here, delivering a mix of tender and more energetic and emotionally charged vocals on this โstrippedโ number. Itโs not truly stripped, thanks to the addition of synthesizer, as well as the use of vocoder. Still, that seems to be the effect Sheeran was going for, and he successfully executes. It should come as no surprise, like so many musicians in love, โAfterglowโ is written about his wife.
โWe were love-drunk, waiting on a miracle Tryna find ourselves in the winter snow So alone in love like the world had disappeared Oh, I wonโt be silent, and I wonโt let go I will hold on tighter โtil the afterglow And weโll burn so bright โtil the darkness softly clears.โ
2. Joji, โAfterthoughtโ
Ft. BENEE
Nectar โข
88rising /12Tone Music โข
2020
โWhen life gets too complicated / Please stand with me after dark / Iโll stay in the limelight / Like a beautiful afterthought.โ On
โAfterthought,โ
Joji continues to deliver a sweet listening experience on his sophomore album,
Nectar. He doesnโt do it all by himself either, enlisting BENEE for the assist โ F-N A!
On โAfterthought,โ Jojiโs vocals float along; he never forces things. The same can be said of BENEE, who provides contrast on the second verse. One of the most beautiful sections is the outro, where both artists, separately, sing, โI donโt wanna forget about you.โ Aww !
3. Meghan Trainor, โAfter You (Remix)โ
Ft. AJ Mitchell
Treat Myself โข
Epic โข
2020
Treat Myself, the delayed third album by Grammy-winning pop artist,
Meghan Trainor, arrived more than a year later than its original release date. None of the singles from Treat Myself really caught on, and the album debuted modestly on the Billboard 200 (a tepid no. 25). With a delay, poor commercial performance, and perhaps still having trouble shedding some narrow minded views from her past, is Treat Myself worth the time? It has its moments, including the โafterโ song at hand,
โAfter You.โ Worth noting, โAfter Youโ originally appeared on
The Love Train (EP), released in 2019.
AJ Mitchell is one of the few male collaborators on the Treat Myself. Mitchell provides Trainor a lift on the ballad, which I previously criticized for feeling โa bit too โvanilla.โโ The vocal harmonies are quite lovely as they sing together, while the vocal production is pretty sweet as well. Their bread is buttered on the chorus, as well as the bridge section.
โDonโt wanna give my heart to someone new Wonโt be anybody after you And even if one day, our time is through Wonโt be anybody after you, after you Iโll never find another lover after you.โ
Overall, the remixed version of โAfter Youโ is a winning record, thanks to assertiveness from Trainor who eschews any cutesy stuff, as well as adding Mitchell.
Also appears on :
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4. Black Atlass, โNight After Nightโ
Dream Awake โข
XO / Republic โข
2020
After a two-year hiatus, Canadian-bred, LA-based musician
Alex Fleming, better known as
Black Atlass, returned with his third album,
Dream Awake. Dream Awake is an enjoyable, sexy, and well-rounded contemporary R&B album. Those comparisons to The Weeknd โ well, their definitely not far-fetched. That said, Fleming does a fine job throughout the album showing heโs a superb musician in his own right.
โIf I can make you love me again / Iโll keep the summertime on your skin / You speedinโ past all our exes / I donโt wanna end up like them.โ On โNight After Nightโ the vibe of Dream Awake continues pops, with sleek production work courtesy of
DANNYBOYSTYLES and
Oligee. The record brilliantly uses an electronic-based backdrop (keyboards, synths, programming), while remaining idiomatic of R&B, particularly that stellar Canadian R&B sound. Fleming is consistent, continuing to build a love-driven, sensual script, particularly as he โbrings it on homeโ on the chorus.
โMy woman Iโll be your man And baby Iโll give you my life in your hands I know you wanna feel alive, donโt you? Night after night (Night after night) Night after night (Night after night).โ
Also appears on :
12 Simply Terrific Before or After Songs
5. Taylor Swift, โAfterglowโ
Lover โข
Taylor Swift โข
2019
โHey, itโs all me, in my head / Iโm the one who burned us down.โ
Grammy-winner
Taylor Swift takes responsibility for her actions in the relationship on
โAfterglow,โ the 15th track on her Grammy-nominated pop album,
Lover. No, โAfterglowโ doesnโt approach the top echelon of the album, but itโs certainly another worthwhile moment.
From the get-go, Swift is apologetic for her wrongs: โI blew things out of proportion, now youโre blue / Put you in jail for something you didnโt do.โ On the second verse, sheโs similarly bothered by the situation she created: โItโs so excruciating to see you low / Just wanna lift you up and not let you go.โ Basically, on this Frank Dukes,
Louis Bell, and Swift-produced track, she wants to atone for her mistakes and preserve the relationship. Sensible and relatable by all means.
6. Tame Impala, โPosthumous Forgivenessโ
The Slow Rush โข
Island / Modular Recordings Pty Ltd โข
2020
โPosthumous Forgivenessโ is a standout from
The Slow Rush, the 2020 comeback album by Australian alternative collective
Tame Impala. Essentially,
Kevin Parker is forgiving his father after heโs passed away. On the first part of the song, he sings about how much admiration he had when he was younger for his dad but became aware of his flaws. โDid you think Iโd never know? Never wise up as I grow?โ he sings on the chorus. Furthermore, Parker is bothered by the fact that his dad wasted time, and ultimately, โโฆDecided to take all your sorrys to the grave.โ
On the second part of the record, Parker embraces forgiveness more. Sure, he still mentions their estranged, tenuous relationship, but also, he wishes he had the opportunity to atone and repair for the relationship. Although a lengthy number, itโs quite intriguing from a lyrical and thematic standpoint, as well as musically. Musically, Tame Impala provide a backdrop incorporating psychedelia, retro cues, and marvelous soulful elements. Vocally, Parker remains utterly superb, singing beautifully and expressively on this gem.
Also appears on :
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7. Kali Uchis, โAfter the Stormโ
Ft. Tyler, the Creator & Bootsy Collins
Isolation โข
Virgin โข
2018
โDid you ever wonder? / Yeah, do you ever wonder / What he might be going through on his own, and / The demons that heโs facing alone.โ Colombian American R&B singer Kali Uchis impresses on her soulful, if quietly released debut album,
Isolation. The crowning achievement of Isolation is
โAfter the Stormโ, featuring the legendary
Bootsy Collins and a classy rap from Grammy winner,
Tyler, the Creator (โKali, what you mean? I take it offensive / โCause Iโm the hottest flower boy / That popped up on the sceneโฆโ).
Uchis delivers cool, calm, and collected vocals, yet still manages to pack a punch and exhibit both artistry and personality. Thematically, she reflects upon a breakup. The chorus is vital to say the least:
โThe sunโll come out, nothing good ever comes easy I know times are rough, but winners donโt quit So, donโt you give up, the sunโll come out But weโve been struggling endlessly Someday, weโll find the love โCause after the stormโs when the flowers bloom.โ
The feel-good, 70s-sounding soul gem is produced by hip-hop jazz collective BADBADNOTGOOD.
Also appears on :
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8. The Weeknd, โAfter Hoursโ
After Hours โข
Republic โข
2020
โAfter Hoursโ (
After Hours) is a throwback for
The Weekend; it sounds like his ultra-moody music of the past. Itโs long (north of six-minutes), but the vibe, vocal performance, and the production compensate. The production (
Illangelo,
Jason โDaHealaโ Quenneville, and
Mario Winans) is satisfying to the nth degree: dark and moody (in a minor key) with cutting-edge synths and an infectious groove. Of course, itโs that potent falsetto by The Weekend atop the backdrop that seals the deal.
Beyond the sound and vocals, the theme encompassing matters of the heart amplifies excellence. He thrives on heartbreak. The crowning achievement is the chorus. Abel Tesfaye is in his zone here, and thatโs always a winning formula.
Also appears on :
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9. Shawn Mendes, โAftertasteโ
Handwritten โข
Island โข
2015
Back in 2015,
โSomething Bigโ was indeed happening. What was it you ask? Why, it was the ascent of a teen heartthrob,
Shawn Mendes. Back then, the 16-year-old had already began turning heads with his voice, and of course, his looks. No, he hadnโt matured into the artist heโd become, but the potential definitely โshine(d) bright like a diamondโ,
Rihanna! Anyways, this list is all about AFTER songs, and Mendes gives us one early in his career with
โAftertasteโ
On โAftertaste,โ the young Mendes is angry about being dumped. He ultimately takes solace in the fact that his now his ex wants him back:
โAnd now youโre gonna say, โPretty please forgive meโ Fool me once, told you twice, gonna regret it Now youโre all alone.โ
Itโs relatable regardless of age but feels like typical teenage love issues. Worth noting, however is a reference to โred wineโ in the first verse. At the time, Mendes, again, was only 16 โ JUST SAYING!
10. Janet Jackson, โAfter You Fallโ
Unbreakable โข
Black Doll, Inc. / BMG Rights Management โข
2015
Following Super Bowl XXXVIII, iconic,
Grammy-winning R&B artist
Janet Jackson never quite regained the success sheโd enjoyed prior to the controversy. Bummer! Regardless, she still enjoyed a degree of success, and many of us fans were quite excited to experience her 2015 comeback,
Unbreakable. Did it make an impactful, sizable hit? No, not to the degree a Janet album wouldโve done in the past, but it still managed to secure her another no. 1 album.
โAfter you fall / Whoโs gonna be there?โ One of the most beautiful performances from Unbreakable arrives courtesy of its sixth track, โAfter You Fall.โ You could argue that โAfter You Fallโ isnโt characteristic Janet Jackson. Why? Itโs a ballad. Sure, Jackson has released ballads in the past, but we all know that her calling card are quicker, often times sexier pop-oriented R&B joints. โAfter You Fall,โ which runs nearly five minutes, is restrained, with more of a serious tone that eschews sex โ no
โSexhibitionโ or
โStrawberry Bounceโ to be found here! Perhaps not the most exciting moment of her career, Jacksonโs tender, poised performance exudes sheer radiance ultimately.
11. Arcade Fire, โAfterlifeโ
Reflektor โข
Arcade Fire โข
2013
โAfterlife, oh my God, what an awful world / After all the breath and the dirt and the fires are burnt.โ While
Everything Now (2017) had its fair share of moments,
Arcade Fire had a stronger project four years prior with their Grammy-nominated double album,
Reflektor. While the title track earned the most buzz for the project, single
โAfterlifeโ was another compelling and fantastic moment from Reflektor.
Appearing on the second disc of the LP, contextually, โAfterlifeโ has a variety of meanings. For one, it can be tied to the Eurydice and Orpheus storyline thatโs prevalent on the second disc. โCan we work it out? / We scream and shout โtil we work it out?โ Win Butler sings on the chorus. Heโs backed by his wife and fellow bandmate,
Rรฉgine Chassagne. While the chorus can fit old-school, mythological tales involving underworld (Genius cites Dido and Aeneas), the lyrics feel wide-open. Afterlife is best examined loosely here, not only focusing on mortality, but also love and relationships. After all, โItโs just an afterlife / Itโs just an afterlife / Itโs just an afterlife with you.โ
Also appears on :
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12. Panic! At the Disco, โNine in the Afternoonโ
Pretty. Odd. โข
Fueled by Ramen โข
2008
โBack to the street where we began / Feeling as good as lovers canโฆโ
โNine in the Afternoon,โ hails from
Pretty. Odd, the 2008 sophomore album by
Panic! At the Disco. At the time, Pretty. Odd. Wasnโt only viewed as being โpretty odd,โ it was quite an about face for the alternative collective. Personally, I loved the album, but others werenโt as sold given its stark differences from
A Fever You Canโt Sweat Out.
โNine in the Afternoonโ is quite eclectic in sound. Itโs โalternativeโ in every sense of the word, incorporating retro, psychedelic sensibilities, folk-pop, and Baroque pop. The Baroque pop element of Panic! At the Discoโs music isnโt far-fetched considering โI Write Sins Not Tragediesโ was filled with such cues. The songwriting is reminiscent of the likes of Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson. Back in 2008, this was a record that sounded little like anything else being released. The production work is swell, including an assortment of instruments, including brilliant horns, strings, ripe, assertive guitars and harmonized background vocals.
โโCause itโs nine in the afternoon And your eyes are the size of the moon You could โcause you can, so you do Weโre feeling so good just the way that we do...โ
Brendon Urie, as always, shows off his distinct and gorgeous vocal tone. Among the best moments of the song are his a cappella vocals โ well โ nearly a cappella.
Also appears on :
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13. Cyndi Lauper, โTime After Timeโ
Sheโs So Unusual โข
Sony Music Entertainment โข
1983
โIf youโre lost, you can look, and you will find me / Time after time.โ Classic! Iconic! When you think 1980s, it definitely must include
Cyndi Lauper โ itโs a non-negotiable people! Lauper secured her status as a musical legend with her debut album,
Sheโs So Unusual. That 1983 gem features three key hits:
โGirls Just Want to Have Funโ,
โShe Bopโ, and the song at hand,
โTime After Time.โ
โTime After Timeโ was one of two no. 1 hits by Lauper ( โTrue Colorsโ, from her 1986 sophomore album of the same title, being the other). Written with
Robert Hyman and produced by
Rick Chertoff, โTime After Timeโ wins you over the very first time you hear it. We get great, memorable lyrics (โSecrets stolen from deep inside / The drum beats out of timeโ), awesome vocals, and a vibe and overall aesthetic that could only be created by Lauper. Timeless โTime After Timeโ listening to it!