13 Bangin’ Back Songs | Playlist

13 Bangin’ Back Songs features songs by GIVĒON, kwn,  Luke Combs, sombr, Teddy Pendergrass, and The Kid LAROI. 

Grammy-nominated country singer-songwriter Luke Combs asserts. As for kwn, she “wanna get drunk in the BACK of the club with you [her]” 🍺 😈.  There’s also the case of sombr, who asks, “How can we go BACK to being friends / When we just shared a bed?” Sex can complicate things… or so I’ve heard 😏. Anyway, all of these musicians’ songs share the word BACK in their song titles. Back fuels 13 Bangin’ Back Songs, the first playlist in the year of our Lord, 2026!

13 Bangin’ Back Songs marks the first back-driven playlist on The Musical Hype in more than five years! It follows Alluring Songs Where the Keyword is Back, Vol. 1 (2019) and Alluring Songs Where the Keyword is Back, Vol. 2 (2020). 13 Bangin’ Back Songs features songs by GIVĒON, kwn, Luke Combs, sombr, Teddy Pendergrass, and The Kid LAROI.  So, without further ado, let’s embrace all things B-A-C-K on 13 Bangin’ Back Songs!

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~ Table of Contents ~

1. Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle”	2. sombr, “back to friends”	3. kwn, “back of the club”	4. GIVĒON, “BACKUP PLAN”
5. Morgan Wallen, “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” (Ft. Post Malone)	6. The Kid LAROI, “Baby I’m Back”	7. Halle, “Back and Forth”	8. Beats By AI, “Straight In The Front Gay In The Back”
9. Jack Murnin, “Back N Forth”	10. Yung Gravy, “The Boys Are Back In Town” (Ft. Pouya, Ramirez & TrippyThaKid)	11. Perfume Genius, “Put Your Back N2 It”	12. Teddy Pendergrass, “When Somebody Loves You Back”
13. The Doors, “Back Door Man”

 

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1. Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle”

“Back in the Saddle” » Seven Ridges » 2025

Grammy-nominated country singer/songwriter Luke Combs came back turned up on his enthusiastic, in-your-face single, “Back in the Saddle”. “Like a long lost out west outlaw outta his mind,” he sings in the second verse, and continues, “I’m ridin’ in the town, no turnin’ back now.” Combs, Dan Isbell, and Jonathan Singleton penned this assertive song while Combs, Singleton, and Chip Matthews produced it.  Here, Luke is accompanied by beefy guitars and truly sick countrified riffs. With mean instrumentation supporting him, particularly during the gargantuan chorus, Combs is commanding and powerful in his own right. He is confident about his return, evidenced in the excerpted lyrics from the verses. The crème de la crème, the crowning achievement, is the chorus. “‘Cause I’m back in the saddle like some old cowboy, who dug his way out of his grave,” he sings, assertively, adding, “Don’t worry where I’ve been, I’m back in the saddle again.” Yee-haw, cowboy 🤠! Referencing the instrumental once more, I can’t neglect to highlight that mean electric guitar with those badass effects. Epic! Luke Combs exemplifies a go big or go home attitude on “Back in the Saddle”. It rocks – in a countrified way! 

Appears in:

15 Striking I-N In Songs (2025)

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2. sombr, “back to friends”

I Barely Know Her » SMB Music LLC / Warner » 2025

Aww, sombr (Shane Boose) – the feels, the feels, feels! Unfortunately, the ascending Gen-Z singer-songwriter became far too attached on “back to friends”. “Back to Friends” is the fourth track from Boose’s 2025 debut album, I Barely Know Her.  The song, which he wrote and produced himself, marks his highest charting hit to date on the Billboard Hot 100.  “It was last December / You were still layin’ on my chest,” sombr asserts in the second verse, and adds, “Didn’t want you to move your head.”  Despite the sweet, intimate moments sombr recalls, he and she weren’t exclusive. The unforgettable chorus, the crowning achievement of “Back to Friends,” spells out the conundrum clearly.

“How can we go back to being friends

When we just shared a bed?

How can you look at me and pretend

I’m someone you’ve never met?”

Relatable to the nth degree. The bridge speaks more to the actuality of their relationship, labelling it as casual.  Despite the bummer of this lack of exclusivity, sombr eats, delivering a beautifully crafted and enjoyable alternative pop song.  His vocals, drenched in distortion, are authentic, nuanced, and sincere, while the musical accompaniment is striking with keys, guitar, and big drums. “Back to friends” is another winner from a young artist with plenty of potential.

Appears in:

60 Best Songs of 2025

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3. kwn, “back of the club”

with all due respect » RCA » 2025

British singer-songwriter and rapper kwn (Khyra Leah Wilson) asserts in “back of the club”.  She continues, “But you said on my lips, it’s good.” Ooh-la-la! “Back of the club” is the fourth track from her 2025 album, with all due respect. The four-and-a-half-minute gem commences strikingly with a distinct, picturesque pad, setting the tone for a romantic and sensual atmosphere. The sound of the song reminds me of the contemporary R&B of the late 1990s and 2000s. There are classic vibes without sounding anachronistic or vintage necessarily. The song was written and produced by kwn, FaxOnly, and Zeek. The lush backdrop features smooth keys and softer, colorful synths. The beat provides a mighty anchor.

Kwn shows off her gorgeous, husky, and rich vocals in the first verse. Excerpted earlier, she adds, “I don’t drink no white wine, but I’ll buy it twice / If it’s you saying I should.” Clearly, she’s feeling this girl. She ups the ante on the second verse, digging in more, showcasing more grit and more vocal range. “Uh, I might get one more shot / This might just be our ninth round,” she sings, and continues, “And girl, you know damn well / I don’t wanna leave this club.” Yep, that’s loud and clear. Infatuated, kwn notes, “And it’s just you and I in this corner, girl /… Your hands ain’t left my face / And our favorite songs are playing.” Oh, snap! The chorus is the crowning achievement:

“I wanna get drunk in the back of the club with you

Where it’s hot, and it’s wet

But you won’t take your eyes off mine

And them hips stay stuck to my waist

Girl, I’ll treat you like a holster

…Oh, I wanna get drunk in the back of the club with you.”

Beyond the tuneful melodies and memorable lyrics of the verses and chorus, the bridge distinguishes itself.  Two lines express it best: “Girl, I’m locked in 🔒 / And I wanna spend all the rest of the night with you, whoa.” Whoa, indeed! “back of the club” is a surefire vibe. Kwn puts in work on this one, even if she barely breaks a sweat!

Appears in:

kwn, back of the club: Midnight Heat No. 96 (2025)

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4. GIVĒON, “BACKUP PLAN”

BELOVED » Epic / Not So Fast LLC » 2025

GIVĒON (Giveon Evans) encourages her on the first verse of his song, “BACKUP PLAN.” He continues singing, “Lately you and I, you and I / Been needin’ some love.” Intriguing. “BACKUP PLAN” is the 10^th track from the golden-voiced, R&B singer-songwriter’s soulful, Grammy-nominated 2025 album, BELOVED. GIVĒON penned “BACKUP PLAN” with producers Maneesh, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, Sevn Thomas, and Matthew Burnett.  Matters of the heart dominate “BACKUP PLAN,” where something is clearly off in the relationship. After getting the silent treatment in the first verse, this silence continues in the second: “You used to fight a little longer / Now you choose silence over war / Making small things bigger than they have to be.” Word.  By the chorus, the crowning achievement, GIVĒON knows that she must have a backup plan:

“Something’s different in the way you yell

Something missin’ lately, I can tell

You done listening to what I feel, uh

Not to mention, I’ve been treatin’ you well, uh

Must got a backup plan, uh

You got a backup man, uh, uh.”

GIVĒON drops another R&B bop with “BACKUP PLAN.” He sounds fantastic, singing expressively and sincerely.  Not only does his voice ooze with soul, but so does the backdrop, which hearkens back to the R&B/soul of old. A robust bass line, a dusty anchoring drum groove, swelling organ… etc.! Unfortunately, the love is on the struggle bus, yet Evans’s relationship problems are our listening pleasure. Oh, die Schadenfreude!

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5. Morgan Wallen, “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” (Ft. Post Malone)

I’m The Problem » Big Loud / Mercury / Republic » 2025

Grammy-nominated country musician, Morgan Wallen collaborates with a familiar face on “I Ain’t Comin’ Back”: Post Malone (Austin Post). “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” is the 27^th track (!) from Wallen’s 37-track (!) fourth studio album, I’m The Problem. The writers are familiar: Wallen, Malone, Louis Bell, HARDY, ERNEST, and Charlie Handsome.  Joey Moi produced it. Wallen establishes who he is in the first verse, excerpted above. He concludes the verse with a bang: “And I’m the gambler / I’ll take the over on the underdog, huh.” He goes on to sing the pre-chorus (“Girl, half of this town has got a name for me…”), as well as the chorus.  It is in the chorus where Morgan asserts, “There’s a lot of reasons I ain’t Jesus, but the main one is that I ain’t comin’ back.” His vocals are robust and filled with southern twang. Post Malone contrasts in the second verse with his signature vibrato.  Playing into the unwanted theme, Post sings, “Go throw your pebbles / I’ll be somewhere gettin’ stoned.” Gettin’ stoned has a double meaning, of course! Post sings most of the chorus that follows, with Wallen handling the bridge (like the pre-chorus), and both musicians performing the final chorus. Ultimately, “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” is an enjoyable and respectable song, though not as catchy as their previous collaboration, “I Had Some Help”.

Appears in:

Eye 👁 This List of Must-Hear “I” Songs, Vol. 4 (2025)

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6. The Kid LAROI, “BABY I’M BACK”

THE FIRST TIME (DELUXE VERSION) » Columbia » 2024 

Woo! Word, The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard). The Australian pop singer brings the heat on “BABY I’M BACK,” the opening track from THE FIRST TIME (DELUXE VERSION), released in 2024. Notably, it samples the 1977 hit, “Baby Come Back” by Player. The iconic chorus appears in the intro and reappears. Antonio “Dopamine” Zito and Rogét Chahayed produced it, integrating the sample superbly and giving Howard a mean, hip-hop-oriented backdrop to rap melodically and sing upon.

The Kid LAROI is on autopilot beginning with the first verse.  His cadence and flow are compelling.  He performs with ample emotion.  “And I promise, it’s too real for me to care what they think,” he sings in the first verse, and continues, “I promise I don’t give a fuck because I know who I am.” Clock it! “I told my baby, ‘Let them talk,’ that’s the caption,” he asserts in the second verse, referencing his now ex-girlfriend, Tate McRae.  He also colorfully mentions how those who didn’t believe in him are feeling him now that he has achieved success.  That’s fame for you! The chorus is the crème de la crème:

“Played me like a fool, I see

But it’s been so long since I’ve thought about you

I swear, okay, baby, I’m back

I guess you weren’t the one for me

But it’s been so long since I’ve thought about you

I swear, okay, baby, I’m back.”

All told, “BABY I’M BACK” is another engaging, honest, and well-rounded song from The Kid.

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7. Halle, “Back and Forth”

love?… or something like it » Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia » 2025

Halle (Halle Bailey) sings in the chorus of “Back and Forth”. She continues, “No, I don’t wanna do it (Back and forth) / Just come right over here and (Shut the door).” So, why is the door being shut? Use your Imagination. In the brief eighth track from Bailey’s 2025 debut album, love?… or something like it, she depicts the ups and downs, rather, the back and forth of love. Halle wrote it while Needlz produced it.

Starting with the production, there is ample, decadent ear candy.  It begins with unique, detuned synths.  The backdrop is refined, adding bass and a subtle drum groove to those glorious keys. Halle delivers buttery smooth vocals. Her tone is celestial. She never forces things, barely breaking a sweat as she sings.  “Back and Forth” never gets too nasty, but is steamy, nonetheless.  In the first verse, Halle urges, “Get out of your feelings for me, babe / No one has loved you like me, I would never fool you.” Intimacy arrives in the second verse: “I might be selfish, I’ll be baby / But I don’t care, just come and touch me everywhere.” Damn! Furthermore, per the pre-chorus, “I got a fire in me, and you’re the only one that tames it / Come on, won’t you taste it?” Beyond her celestial lead vocals, the backing vocals are angelic themselves. The section to beat is the simple but memorable chorus excerpted above. “Back and Forth” is not the most overt love or sex song, but it is sexy.

Appears in:

Halle, Back and Forth: Midnight Heat No. 32 (2025)

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8. Beats By AI, “Straight In The Front Gay In The Back”

“Straight In The Front Gay In The Back” » Beats By Ai Records » 2025

Fudge gets packed 🤔?  So, our protagonist is bisexual, I presume? Sexually fluid? Who knows with Beats By AI, who continue to shock with their outlandish, AI-created country songs. “It’s a two-lane highway, one-size brick / The other’s that dirt road, taking that dick.” Gah-day-um! Country artists rarely touch on queer sexual experiences. Even when it comes to straight sexual experiences, they only go so far… Like Dixon Dallas, there’s some “bouncing off my booty cheeks” and “pumping deep inside”. This two-minute joint is entertaining and incredibly not safe for work.

Expectedly, “Straight In The Front Gay In The Back” is countrified sound from the get-go. Also, as the excerpted lyrics suggest, it is bold from the onset. The boldness doesn’t stop as sex is the modus operandi.  It’s sort of a situation where what happens one way goes down another… something like that. A prime example: “When I pump, pump, pump in a sweet vagina / While he humps my dump truck, big behind / Oh, I tear it up, and he tears it up / And the air smells crazy in my pickup truck.” Wow… Another example: “Sucking her tits while he nuts in my crack.”  No further explanation necessary, pervs.  So, how about one final thrust 😈?  “When he thrust his knee-deep in my b-hole / I get extra push pumpin’ in her p-hole / Extra push mean, extra gush mean / Oh my fuck, it feels so good.” It’s amazing how hyped up the AI singer gets about this three-way sexual experience. Fittingly, there is a country-rocking guitar solo, putting the cherry on top of this wild sex! Like all Beats By AI songs, take “Straight In The Front Gay In The Back” with a grain of salt.

Appears in:

Beats By AI, Straight In The Front Gay In The Back: Midnight Heat No. 81 (2025)

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9. Jack Murnin, “Back N Forth”

Hillside (EP) » Jack Murnin » 2024

Word, Jack Murnin. The alternative singer-songwriter dropped an intriguing single in “Back N Forth,” which appeared as the fifth track on his 2024 EP, Hillside. The sound of the record is key to the intrigue.  It features a warm, yet rhythmic backdrop.  I love the anchoring groove, as well as the ripeness of the guitar.  Even with the striking sounds of the musical accompaniment, it is the distinct, raspy vocals by Jack Murnin that shine brightest. Even with the rasp, Murnin matches his assertiveness with smoothness as well.  He serves up some lovely ad-libs, highlighted by an impressive falsetto.

The melodies are tuneful throughout “Back N Forth” as Murnin sings about those complicated,  pesky matters of the heart. “Too late to make amends / I hope you know it hurt,” he sings, sincerely, and continues, “I tried to make it work / You kicked me to the curb.” Oh, snap, Jack! Later, the back and forth is far more evident as Jack has difficulty determining where things stand in their relationship… whatever it is… was… etc.

“I don’t wanna fight

I don’t want this life

Kissing on my on my pearly whites

Locked in for the night, baby

… Sick of puppy love, I want it so real

So, tell me what you need, and I can make you feel

She touching me like it’s a game

But I ain’t playing

Stop laying in my bed, making things complicated.”

What more can be said but, wow!  The “Back N Forth” is legit, and so is this authentic, beautiful, and relatable alternative pop song by Jack Murnin.

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10. Yung Gravy, “The Boys Are Back In Town” (Ft. Pouya, Ramirez & TrippyThaKid)

Sensational » Republic » 2019

Oh, shit! Sometimes, rap bangers are bite-sized; short and sweet. Yung Gravy (Matthew Hauri) keeps it brief on “The Boys Are Back In Town”, the fourth track from his 2019 debut album, Sensational.  Not only is the Minnesotan rapper giant in stature, but he also exudes a giant personality, particularly on “The Boys Are Back In Town.” Hauri isn’t the only boy back in town on the two-and-a-half-minute track, though.  He enlists Pouya, Ramirez, and TrippyThaKid to assist him. The results are sick!

“The Boys Are Back In Town” features well-rounded production (Yung Gravy, swvde., and Y2K). The backdrop is colorful with the drum programming, seedy, sus-sounding synths, and minimalist ideas. Notably, the song samples a 1984 song by Dennis Edwards featuring Siedah Garrett, “Don’t Look Any Further”. The chorus (“You ain’t with the shits…”) is one of the most fun parts of the song.  Still, the verses, and there are plenty, slap. Gravy brings ample confidence and swagger. His compelling cadence and flow shine early: “Bitch, I’m dead fresh, I might pull up in a casket / You be lookin’ sweet like a fuckin’ fruit basket.” His partners in crime are no slouches either, kicking ass and taking names throughout.  TrippyThaKid asserts, “Don’t think nobody gonna fuck with me like I do.” Ramirez touts “Heat-seeking missiles, I load up and hit you / I carry the coffin and drop it in grave (Ho),” and later, he’s “Pimpin’ these bitches, I’m breakin ‘em off as they hangin’ up off my nutsack.” D-d-d-da-yum! Pouya isn’t to be left out with the striking lyrical gems, “Baby Bone got a bone to pick with you, yeah / Hold up, Ricky Bobby, I’m jacked up on Mountain Dew, yeah,” and the charming, “I just fucked your bitch in the back of my ‘96 DeVille.” No extensive analysis is necessary. “The Boys Are Back In Town” is what it is, a brief, fun, and unapologetic rap banger that slaps something fierce!

 

Appears in:

Yung Gravy, The Boys Are Back In Town: Bangerz N Bopz No. 75 (2025) 11 Thrilling ARE Songs, Part 4 (2025)

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11. Perfume Genius, “Put Your Back N2 It”

Put Your Back N 2 It » Perfume Genius / Matador » 2012

What is there still grace in Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas)? Intimacy and sex… as a gay man. Hadreas keeps the lyrics minimal but meaningful on “Put Your Back N2 It”. “Put Your Back N2 It” is the 10^th track from Perfume Genius’ 2012 album, also titled Put Your Back N 2 It. Of the album, Christina Lee penned in an article in The Fanzine in 2012:

Put Your Back insists that there’s grace in gay sex, and that his love, boiled down to its essence, is no different from anyone else’s love.

Eloquently stated.  The out-and-proud musician approaches this song therapeutically, asserting there should NOT be shame regarding sexuality. He’s damn right.

The song title might be misleading. Without hearing the song or examining the lyrics, it suggests an aggressive sexual experience.  Furthermore, when it comes to gay sex, it carries a negative connotation.  It’s considered dirty, filthy, unnatural, etc.  Perfume Genius paints a much different picture with his radiant pipes and the undeniable authenticity and sincerity of his performance.  In the second verse, Hadreas asserts, “There is love with no hiding / Nothing you show me –  I will never leave you.” Aww! The chorus, like the verses, is brief but potent: “Let me be the one to turn you on.” The musical accompaniment shimmers, led by the synthesizer of his partner, Alan Wyffels.  “Put Your Back N2 It” is one of the most refined and gorgeous songs about intimacy you’ll ever hear. Homophobes be damned!

 

Appears in:

Perfume Genius, Put Your Back N2 It: Midnight Heat No. 17 (2025) 13 Randomly Curated Your, Yours, or Yourself Songs (2025) 13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 5 (2025) A Poppin’ Compendium of P Songs (2025)

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12. Teddy Pendergrass, “When Somebody Loves You Back”

Life Is A Song Worth Singing » Sony Music Entertainment » 1978

Amen, Teddy Pendergrass (1950 – 2010)! “When Somebody Loves You Back” is one of the many memorable soul classics from the handsome and talented Philly soul singer’s catalog of songs. “Somebody” is the seventh track from his 1978 platinum-certified sophomore album, Life Is A Song Worth Singing. Gamble & Huff (Kenneth Gamble, b. 1943, and  Leon Huff, b. 1942) penned and produced this reciprocated love non-single.

As expected from Gamble & Huff, the production work is sleek and exquisite. The sound palette is colorful, representative of the lush, symphonic brand of 1970s soul.  Among the instrumentation is the standard rhythm section – keys, guitar, bass, drums, and percussion – and orchestra, featuring strings prominently. There are plenty of memorable riffs upping the ante.  The star of the show, fueled by five-star accompaniment, is Teddy Pendergrass.  His vocals are dynamic, and he seems to give his all with each note.  He brings the memorable, love-centric songwriting to life. “To be loved and be loved in return / It’s the only thing that my heart desires,” TP sings in the first verse, and adds, “Oh, you’re the one who’s got me inspired / Keep on liftin’, liftin’ me higher.” Word.  In the second verse, he expresses, “We can build a world of love, a life of joy / Make our goal each other’s happiness.” Oh, the feels! The chorus is crème de la crème – the centerpiece!

“So good, good lovin’ somebody

When somebody loves you back

It’s so good needin’ somebody

When somebody loves you back.”

“When Somebody Loves You Back” features tuneful melodies from start to finish, with the chorus, once more, being the crowning achievement. The mostly spoken word outro is notable too, with Teddy continuing to focus on L-O-V-E (“I think we’ve got something that a lot of people don’t seem to have / Talkin’ ‘bout a 50-50 love, yeah”). Another impactful song from TP, “When Somebody Loves You Back”, showcases just how gifted, talented, and soulful this legend was.   

Appears in:

Teddy Pendergrass, When Somebody Loves You Back: Throwback Vibez No. 183 (2025)

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13. The Doors, “Back Door Man”

The Doors » Elektra Entertainment » 1967

Debunked earlier, “Back Door Man”, by Howlin’ Wolf (1910 – 1976), and covered by The Doors, is NOT about anal sex. This song is often misinterpreted, and those of us with dirty minds probably want this song to be about back-door play.  Butt, rather, but, to reiterate, Jim Morrison (1943 – 1971) was singing about having an affair with a married woman and sneaking out the back door. The Doors’ version, which dramatically contrasts with Howlin’ Wolf’s one-chord original, appears as the seventh track on their 1967 album, The Doors.

Jim Morrison tears it up on “Back Door Man.” The frontman was electrifying – quite the presence. From the beginning, Jim is on, encouraging us, “Yeah, c’mon.” Turned up, he drops the epic chorus, asserting, “‘Cause I’m a back door man / The men don’t know / But the little girls understand.” The chorus is the centerpiece, but the other sections of the song kick some serious ass, too! Getting all the gals, Morrison brags, “I eat more chicken / Than any man ever seen.” Earlier, he informed us, “Hey, all you people that tryin’ to sleep / I’m out to make it with my midnight dream, yeah.” That man is a bad, bad boy! But, honestly, look at Jim – he was hot!  Of course, it’s not all Jim or the lyrics regarding clandestine romantic experiences.  The band cooks. The guitar and bass (Robby Krieger) and drums (John Densmore) are locked in. Arguably, the key ingredient is the keyboard playing of Ray Manzarek (1939 – 2013), particularly his organ playing via the legendary Vox Continental, sigh. In the hands of The Doors, “Back Door Man” is epic.

Appears in:

The Doors, Back Door Man: Covers No. 20 (2025)  Howlin’ Wolf vs. The Doors: Head 2 Head No. 24 (2025)

 

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13 Bangin’ Back Songs (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Big Loud, Columbia, Elektra Entertainment, Epic, Jack Murnin, Matador, Mercury, Not So Fast LLC, Perfume Genius, RCA, Republic, Seven Ridges, SMB Music LLC, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner; Anderson Rangel from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay; Adrian “Rosco” Stef on Unsplash, Corey Serravite on Unsplash]

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