13 Compelling Songs About Specific People | Playlist 🎧

13 Compelling Songs About Specific People features music courtesy from Hozier, Kelly Clarkson, Mad Tsai, Ryan Gosling, and Victoria Monét.

Sometimes, the best songs are those that reference specific people.  Over the years, many, many musicians have addressed various people in their songs.  A prime example that comes to mind is 🎙 Taylor Swift and 🎵 “Dear John” from her album, 💿 Speak Now (both the original and Taylor’s Version). If you’ve followed Swift, she’s written about a lot of folks, and is unafraid to use a proper name! That said, she doesn’t appear on 🎧 13 Compelling Songs About Specific People… No worries, as she’s been featured on numerous playlists on the site including previous name-based musical compendiums (see 🎧 13 Songs That Feature Names, Vol. 3). Proper names are allowed on this playlist, but, it is also suitable to reference a person sans proper name 😉. 🎧 13 Compelling Songs About Specific People does feature music from 🎙 Hozier (thrice to be precise), 🎙 Kelly Clarkson, 🎙 Mad Tsai, 🎙 Ryan Gosling,  and 🎙 Victoria Monét among others.  So, without further ado, be prepared for a specific people/person experience with 🎧 13 Compelling Songs About Specific People!!!  

1-3. Hozier, “Francesca” / “De Selby” 

💿 Unreal Unearth • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2023  

“My life was a storm since I was born / How could I fear any hurricane.” 🎵 “Francesca” is EASILY one of the best songs of 💿 Unreal Unearth, the third studio album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated, Irish singer/songwriter, 🎙 Hozier. It’s also one of the best songs of 2023. We commence his person-based playlist with a triple dose of the Irishman – the more Hozier the better, right? This advance single from Unreal Unearth draws inspiration from 📚 The Divine Comedy by ✍️ Dante, specifically Francesca da Rimini in Canto V and the second circle of hell, lust. “Francesca” speaks to the tragedy of love, specifically an infamous affair that ended in murder. Despite the fact that Francesca and the man she had the affair with, Paolo are in hell, the gargantuan chorus isn’t as hellish as you might expect:  

“I’d tell them, ‘Put me back in it’ 

Da-ah, darlin’, I would do it again (Ah-ah-ah-ah) 

If I could hold you for a minute 

Da-ah, darlin’, I’d go through it again (Ah-ah-ah).”  

No regrets? The sound of “Francesca” also makes it a rousing success, with its accompanying keys at the onset (and organ patch), rhythmic guitar providing a driving feel, and a wall of sound at the end of the cut. 

Prior to “Francesca,” the first two tracks from Unreal Earth, 🎵 “De Selby (Part 1)”  and 🎵 “De Selby (Part 2),” were named after de Selby from the ✍️ Flann O’Brien book, 📚 The Third Policeman.  “De Selby (Part 1)” commences in restrained fashion, featuring guitar accompaniment initially. Strings 🎻 enter prior to Hozier singing his first lyrics. He sounds radiant, showcasing some rich, ripe falsetto.  He’s accompanied by a colorful backdrop. There are three verses, sung in consecutive fashion. Unsurprisingly, the songwriting is incredibly poetic, referencing God (“The likes of a darkness so deep / That God at the start couldn’t bear”). Following the three verses, he begins singing in Irish (“Bhfuilis soranna sorcha / Ach tagais ‘nós na hoíche / Trína chéile; Le chéile, claochlaithe”), which keeps things engaging. The second iteration of the outro gets a far bigger, more dynamic backdrop.

“And your heart, love, has such darkness / I feel it in the corners of the room.” The best de Selby is 🎵 “De Selby (Part 2),” which starkly contrasts “De Selby (Part 1).” Part 2 is  incredibly funky and incorporates some more modern textures.  This joint grooves from the onset, thanks to the drums, bass, and riffs. Hozier collaborates with a talented team of writers (🎼 ✍ Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, Bēkon, Sergiu Gherman, Daniel Kreiger, and Peter Gonzales) and producers (🎛 Marius Feder, Bēkon, Gonzales, and Gitelman). He continues to sing with incredible powerful and soul, particularly in the pre-chorus and chorus. The chorus is incredibly catchy: “I wanna run against the world that’s turnin’ / I’d move so fast that I’d outpace the dawn / I wanna be gone.” I love the build-up of the strings during the bridge section, leading into the final chorus.  

4. Victoria Monét, “On My Mama” 

💿 JAGUAR II • 🏷 Lovett Music, Inc. / RCA • 🗓 2023 

“Put that on my own mama, on my hood / I look fly, I look good / You can’t touch my bag, wish you could / I look fly, I look too good.” 🎙 Victoria Monét is confident AF on 🎵 “On My Mama”, the very best song from her 2023 debut album, 💿 JAGUAR II, PERIOD! Basically, you can’t touch her – she’s the sugar honey iced tea! On this fab record, she gets a groovy, soulful backdrop from 🎛 Deputy and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman.  It’s not all neo-soul vibes though as 🎙 Chalie Boy brings the hip-hop swagger in the post-chorus, gassing up Ms. Monét ⛽️.  While the chorus takes the cake, EVERYTHING about “On My Mama” is the cat’s meow 🐈. Monét has opted against being humble – an understatement.  “Tell me, is you down / ‘Cause I’m tryna go up tonight,” she sings in the first verse, continuing, “Hoes and hoochies left and right / I just wanna live in a fantasy / I think we deserve it, right?” WOO! Furthermore, she brags, “Sex game go stupid / Snappin’ like a toothpick /… Might be too fine to hit it from behind” Lawd Jesus! As untouchable as she is,  There is no way you can deny how entertaining she sounds on 🎵 “On My Mama”. Gotta love the fierceness!

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: June 2023 

5. Kelly Clarkson, “rock hudson” 

💿 chemistry • 🏷 Kelly Clarkson / Atlantic • 📅 2023 

“You were my Rock Hudson / It was real, but it wasn’t / No, I never saw it comin’ / I was never what you want and…” 🎭  Rock Hudson was a beloved actor.  He was tall, dark, handsome, and, although discreet, gay. It is that wrinkle that makes 🎵 “rock hudson” (💿 chemistry ) even more intriguing as a 🎙 Kelly Clarkson song.  The 🏆 Grammy winner likens her ex to Hudson, a desirable, hunky man, who she thought was the real deal, yet, ultimately, it failed to work. Obviously, women desired to be with Hudson, but he was ultimately unattainable because he was gay. In the case of Clarkson and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, she believed she’d found her real life movie star, but in reality, it just didn’t work out.  “Rock hudson” is one of the more thought-provoking songs from chemistry thanks to the actor Clarkson name drops, and how she characterizes her love troubles. 

6. Mad Tsai, “Stacy’s Brother”  

🎵 “Stacy’s Brother” • 🏷 Mad Tsai • 📅 2022

“I’ve been hanging out with Stacy / Everybody thinks we’re dating?” Oh, really? Hmm 🤔. You are truly mad if you have not embraced the gift that is 🎙 Mad Tsai.  The young, bisexual pop artist knows how to make a bop – NO CAP.  Furthermore, he’s pretty easy on the eyes 😍 – just an observation! Honestly, can you feel guilty complimenting his looks after seeing the hot 🥵 music video for 🎵 “Stacy’s Brother”? Not only do we see shirtless Mad Tsai but there are also other shirtless boys in the mix. That said, while the sexy, objectification piece is in play on this LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 bop, it’s the song’s drama and narrative that truly seal the deal. 

So, the deal is, the rumors are that Mad Tsai is dating Stacy, who is incredibly beautiful and the popular girl. It makes sense in a straight world, right? Hot guy (Mad Tsai) scores hot girl (Stacy), etc.  But, ultimately, Tsai is attracted to Stacy’s brother! “I lose my cool when he’s around / And I don’t know if this is just a crush / How do I find the words to tell her? / I’m in love with Stacy’s brother.” Oh, the scandal!  Eventually, he’s not just in love with Stacy’s brother, he admits, “I hooked up with Stacy’s brother,” and at the end, admits, “The way I’ve behaved is a crime / Oh, Stacy, I got to tell ya / I’m in love with your big brother.” Woo! Oh, and for what it’s worth, in the music video, Stacy’s brother is pretty hot, so, can you blame Mad Tsai? Absolutely not 😂! 

Appears in 🔻:  

• Mad Tsai, Stacy’s Brother: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 No. 19 (2023)  
• Brother: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 34 (2023)  
• 12 Brotherly Songs That Exude Brotherhood (2023) 

7. Lana Del Rey, “The Grants”  

💿 Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2023

In advance of her ninth studio album, 💿 Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,  🏆 Grammy-nominated alternative pop standout  🎙️ Lana Del Rey released three singles.  Arguably, the third single, 🎵 “The Grants”, was the best of the three. Interestingly, “The Grants” commences with a mistake. The intro features the soulful vocals by gospel vocalists (🎙️ Melodye Perry, Pattie Howard, and Shikena Jones), who, while learning the chorus, make a mistake. Del Rey loved this mistake, and informed co-producer to include it at the top of the song, which is also the first song from Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd – pretty cool.  After the intro, there is a change of pace with  more structure, just before the one-minute mark. Here, Del Rey takes over, sounding true to self 😍. Furthermore, melodically, “The Grants” is utterly stupendous. The arrangement and production are gorgeous (Del Rey, 🎛️ Drew Erikson, Zach Dawes, and Mike Hermosa), including a blend of piano, acoustic guitar, and strings.  As the record progresses, it expands in scope with a more dynamic instrumental, and of course those soulful, gospel-infused choral backing vocals 🤩.

Beyond elite vocals, background vocals, and production, the songwriting is elite too! The lyrics are not complicated but poignant and marvelously penned.  The pre-chorus stands out, as Del Rey sings, “Do you think about heaven? / Oh-oh, do you think about me? / My pastor told me when you leave, all you take / Oh-oh, is your memory.” Some key takeaways regard legacy and memory, particularly related to family (“My sister’s first-born child / I’m gonna take that too with me / My grandmother’s last smile”). All told, 🎵 “The Grants” is an awesome way to commence 💿 Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.  Lana Del Rey is true to herself and her style, yet, there are enough tweaks to make this record different from anything else she’s ever released.

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: March 2023 

8. Kevin McHale, “James Dean”  

💿 Boy (EP) • 🏷  Kevin McHale • 📅 2019  

“I like this boy, right / I said I like this boy, right.” Romance and intimacy are the M.O. of 🎵 “James Dean”, and the results are incredibly sexy.  🎙 Kevin McHale is probably best known for playing Artie Abrams on 📺 Glee.  Beyond that, McHale was a member of a boyband (🎙 NLT).  The gay musician released a five-song EP in 2019, 💿 Boy, featuring “James Dean.” McHale is quite playful with his performance, amplifying the innuendo and comes off incredibly authentic.    

Personality is one of the biggest selling points, shining throughout the song, especially in the descriptive chorus: 

“Your breath smells a little bit like a cigarette  

Your sin covers your sins like a silhouette  

But your kiss is the softest thing I’ve ever felt before  

Wearing thrift store James Dean jeans, you’re made for sex  

Used to spend the nights alone on the dark internet  

And now you spend the nights instead with me in bed you know.”   

Adding to the excellence is a slow tempo and excellent production work in a pop/R&B style. Throw in a steamy music video accompanying “James Dean,” and McHale definitely has a progressive, must-hear pop hit on his hands.

Appears in 🔻:  

• 11 Awesome Songs: June 2019  
• A Compendium Comprised of 100 Notable LGBTQ+ Songs (2020) 

9. Ariana Grande, “pete davidson”   

💿 Sweetener • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2018

“Universe must have my back, fell from the sky into my lap / And I know you know that you’re my soulmate and all that / I’m like ooh, ooh, my whole life got me ready for you, ooh, ooh.” Hmm, unfortunately for 🎙 Ariana Grande, her 2018 song, 🎵 “pete davidson,” hasn’t aged well.  Why? Mainly because her and 🎭 Pete Davidson eventually broke off their engagement.  In fact, that engagement was broken off the same year the song was released 😬. Sure, she asserts he’s “Got me happy, happy” in the chorus of this brief, 14th track from her 🏆  Grammy-winning LP, 💿  Sweetener, but that happiness was clearly short-lived.  To Ari’s credit, she does mention Davidson on her follow-up album, 💿 thank u, next, specifically on the title track: “And for Pete, I’m so thankful…” Of course, still, ultimately, it was a case of, “Thank you, next / I’m so fuckin’ grateful for my ex.”

10. AJR, “God Is Really Real” 

💿 The Maybe Man • 🏷 AJR Productions LLC / Mercury / Republic • 🗓 2023 

“God is really real when you really, really need Him.” The lyrical highlight from 🎵 “God Is Really Real” (💿 The Maybe Man), courtesy of millennial trio 🎙 AJR, is true. When something adverse happens in your life, or to your loved ones, the natural inclination is to pray harder, and find or rediscover faith. 🎙 Jack Met continues singing in the chorus, “Karma just appears when you suddenly believe it / Hear it loud and clear, just as long as it’s convenient (Convenient) / Life’s fuckin’ long ‘til it stops, and God’s fuckin’ fake ‘til He’s not.” Hmm, a mic drop moment for the collective, isn’t it?  

Providing a bit more context, AJR were going through a family emergency.  The brothers’ father, Gary was becoming sicker and has since passed. Besides the prudent chorus, AJR provide insight into his condition (“And my dad can’t get out of bed”), and how it affected them, including touring. Additionally, the lyrics mentioned how the world continues on, but the pain of a loved one dying weighs incredibly heavy.  In the fourth verse, there is escapism, as Jack imagines getting his dad out of the hospital and being “a roadie for the band.” The encouragement for him to get well is touching, even if the result they desired didn’t happen.  Another noteworthy moment is the final verse, which finds the band addressing toxic masculinity: “And we can’t face our feelings, so we’re makin’ lots of jokes / And we won’t cry about it, no, we’ll be manly men.” There is so much to unpack about 🎵 “God Is Really Real”, which has some of the characteristics and music cues of many AJR songs but also feels starkly different.  This particular song is deeper and definitely special.   

Appears in 🔻:  

• 11 Songs Where Spirituality is Sus… (2023) 

11. SZA, “Kill Bill (Remix)” (Ft. Doja Cat)   

🎵 “Kill Bill (Remix)” • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 🗓 2023 

“I might kill my ex, not the best idea,” 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 SZA asserts on 🎵 “Kill Bill”,  one of the very best songs from her critically acclaimed sophomore album, 💿 SOS.  In the record, she sings gorgeously despite being pissed off.  Like the 🎬 Quentin Tarantino films she  references, she’s angry at her ex, eventually confirming she kills him and his new girlfriend 😮.  Ultimately, her love pain, and violence, is our listening pleasure, accentuated even more on 🎵 “Kill Bill (Remix)” featuring fellow 🏆 Grammy winner, 🎙 Doja Cat.  Doja appears at the beginning of the remix, replacing the original verse by SZA.  It is colorful, painting a violent picture, as a result of her ex-boyfriend being a dick.  Doja ends up going to his new house, the new girlfriend is angry, and ultimately, after the new girlfriend charges at Doja, she shoots her.  Memorably, she closes the verse with a bang: “Y’all crisscrossed, saw her fall to the floor / Then you paused there in horror, that shot wasn’t for her.”  From there, we get the rest of the original “Kill Bill,” beginning with the unforgettable, ex-killing chorus, and second verse by SZA (“I try to ration with you, no murders, no crime of passion / But, damn, you was out of reach”). Stellar track!  

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: April 2023 
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 

12. Ryan Gosling, “I’m Just Ken”  

💿 Barbie The Album • 🏷 Atlantic / Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. • 📅 2023   

“Can you feel the Ken-ergy?” One of the best (if not the best) moments of 💿 Barbie The Album arrives courtesy of 🎙 Ryan Gosling on 🤩 🎵 “I’m Just Ken”. 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt pen and produce a bop where the actor, embracing his full-on Ken-ness, is in reflective mode.  It is interesting because we don’t associate Ken dolls (himbos) with having the self-awareness to be introspective – transcend beyond the six pack abs and perfect body most of us won’t have. But, Ryan, aka Ken, does just that… in his own way, mind you. “I have feelings that I can’t explain / Drivin’ me insane,” he sings, adding, “All my life, been so polite / But I’ll sleep alone tonight.” Interesting, isn’t it? In the second verse, he admits to wanting love, asking, “And is my moment finally here or am I dreaming?” Of course, the chorus is a big deal, where Ken admits, “Anywhere else I’d be a ten / Is it my destiny to live and die a life of blonde fragility? /… What will it take for her to see the man behind the tan and fight for me.” Aww 🥰!  Basically, 🎵 “I’m Just Ken” is that fierce pop joint you didn’t know you needed in your life! Shout out to Ryan Gosling! It’s giving #KEN!        

Appears in 🔻:     

• Ryan Gosling, I’m Just Ken: FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘 No. 32 (2023)   
• Awesome Songs: July 2023 

13. Phantogram, “Bill Murray”  

💿 Voices • 🏷 Republic • 📅  2014

“Am I lonely? / Oh, it feels like when the day breaks / Am I wanted inside? / Say goodbye, do you feel like?” 😢 😢 😭 🎙 Phantogram (🎙 Josh Carter and 🎙 Sarah Barthel) makes the most out of a soul sample (🎙 The Chi-Lites’ 🎵 “The Coldest Days of My Life”) on their 2014 song, 🎵 “Bill Murray”. No, the actor’s name is never mentioned in this sad song, which fitting samples one soul’s saddest songs, but Carter says it was named after him “because we always pictured a sad Bill Murray for the visuals of that song.” There aren’t many lyrics, but those included are potent and thoughtful, sung by Barthel: “If I look up, can you keep me alive? / Wave goodbye to your family and friends / Those lost ants 🐜.” Love and loneliness play key roles, not to mention references to the Bill Murray / 🎭 Scarlett Johansson film, 🎦 Lost in Translation (2003). An underrated gem from  2014, and a surefire highlight from the duo’s 💿 Voices LP, “Bill Murray” is mysterious, spacey, and lush.  Most of all, it’s simply beautiful, “Burning star” and all.  

13 Compelling Songs About Specific People (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; AJR Productions LLC, Atlantic, Columbia, Interscope, Kelly Clarkson,  Kevin McHale, Lovett Music, Inc., Mad Tsai, RCA, Republic, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.; Addy bronzzz, Arvind shakya, Daniel Kondrashin, Sherman Trotz, Spencer Cooper, VALERIA MARQUEZ GONZALEZ from Pexels]