13 Fantastic GO Songs features songs by Andra Day, Chappell Roan, Gunna, John Summit, Jung Kook, and Rina Sawayama.
Question: Are you prepared to GO? If not, the light is green๐ฆ, so get your foot off that brake and press that gas pedal, baby! This playlist, 13 Fantastic GO Songs, has nothing to do with cars, green lights, or gas. The focus is the word, GO! GO has received love in the past on The Musical Hype via 11 Go, Going, Gone, Gonna Songs (2020), but the lovinโ was inadequate.ย Why? Only a couple of GO songs appeared on that list.ย Plus, as of the publication date, that list was published four years ago in the heart of the pandemic! 13 Fantastic GO Songs will be the first of future GO lists.ย Even when compiling this one, more GO songs deserve to be highlighted. ย This music compendium features songs by Andra Day, Chappell Roan, Gunna, John Summit, Jung Kook, and Rina Sawayama.ย So, without prolonging this wild introductory paragraph, LETโS F๐คฌ๐คฌKING GO!
~ Table of Contents ~
1. Jung Kook, โNever Let Goโ
2. Chappell Roan, โHOT TO GO!โ
4. Andra Day, โWhere Do We Goโ
5. Bloodstone, โWe Go a Long Way Backโ
6. Rina Sawayama, โHoly (Til You Let Me Go)โ
7. The Weeknd, โHere We Goโฆ Againโ
8. Teddy Pendergrass, โCome Go with Meโ
11. John Summit & Sub Focus, โGo Backโ (Ft. Julia Church)
12. Deon Jackson, โLove Makes the World Go Roundโ
13. Louis Armstrong, โGo Down Mosesโ
1. Jung Kook, โNever Let Goโ
โNever Let Goโ // BIGHIT MUSIC // 2024
If the handsome, talented Jung Kook makes nothing else clear in โNever Let Goโ, heโll โNever let go, go, go, go, go, go.โ The irresistible single from the BTS standout is sleekly produced, characterized by its dance beat.ย Bak, Sim Fane, star boy, and Outtatown fabulously produced โNever Let Goโ constructing a colorful accompaniment to fuel the pop starโs fire. The South Korean superstar co-wrote โNever Let Goโ alongside the producers, Jesse Bluu, Melanie Joy Fontana, and Michel โLindgrenโ Schulz. Lots of cooks in the kitchen but it works out well.ย He sings sublimely.ย The melody lines are rhythmic and tuneful.ย Thematically, he shares gratitude to his fans. โOh, every day, I wonder if this all is just a dream,โ he sings in the first verse, adding, โI tried to put it into words, but it donโt measure up / My pen and paper could never do quite enough.โ In the second verse, he sings, โYou were the light that led me to you.โ Aww.ย The lyrics not only show gratitude but also show love.ย โNever Let Goโ, could double as a love song โ part of its charm.ย Ultimately, itโs a simple but enjoyable, fun, and well-rounded pop song from Jung Kook.
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2. Chappell Roan, โHOT TO GO!โ
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess // KRA International Inc. / Island // 2023
โFive, six / Five, six, seven, eight.โ WOO! The ascent of Chappell Roan (Kayleigh Rose Amstutz) was swift! The Midwest-born and bred, Los Angeles singer/songwriter experienced one of the biggest breakouts of any musician in 2024.ย The biggest song fueling her ascent was the infectious, top 10 hit, โGood Luck, Babe!โ.ย โGood Luck, Babeโ doesnโt appear on her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.ย Another must-hear bop, top 30 hit, โHOT TO GO!โ, does. โHOT TO GO!โ is the seventh track from the critically acclaimed debut LP.ย She penned it alongside producer Daniel Nigro.
โI donโt want the world, but Iโll take this city / Who can blame a girl? Call me hot, not pretty.โ From the beginning, Roan is filled with attitude and energy. The instrumental accompaniment, likewise, is exuberant. 1980s dance and synthpop are written all over the cheerleader-inspired bop. The synths shimmer while the groove is giving dancefloor.ย The lyrics are engaging and fun to the nth degree.ย Chappell is playful throughout. โBaby, do you like this beat? / I made it, so youโd dance with me,โ she asserts in the refrain, adding, โItโs like a hundred ninety-nine degrees / When youโre doing it with me, doing it with me.โ Oh, the sexual innuendo! The refrain precedes the pre-chorus, where Roan spells! โH-O-T-T-O-G-O /โฆ Dance it out, youโre hot to go.โ And, for emphasis, the chorus emphasizes being โhot to go,โ of course! The second verse is similar to the first, driven by desire: โNo oneโs touched me there in a damn hot minute.โ Ooh-wee, Chappell! The second refrain is slightly altered, trading doing for sleep ๐. Eventually, Roan closes the song with the outro where she asks, โWoo, you coming home with me? / Okay, itโs hot / Iโll call a cab.โ โHOT TO GO!โ is the sugar honey iced tea, just like Chappell Roan is. If you havenโt already done so, youโll have this LGBTQ ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ bop on repeat! #SICKENING!
Appears in ๐ป:
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3. Gunna, โgo crazyโ
a Gift & a Curse // Young Stone Life / 300 Entertainment Inc. / Gunna Music, LLC // 2023
โItโs deeper than rap and this life can get crazy.โ Gunna has a point. โGo crazyโ appears as the 11th track on his 2023 album, a Gift & a Curse. ย While it is hard to decipher the Grammy-nominated rapper without the lyrics for reference, his cadence and flow are alluring. โTook a L, niggas thinking itโs gravy,โ he spits in the first verse, continuing, โNiggas gotta be crazy.โ Simple, the lyrics allude to the infamous YSL RICO case. Other gems from the rapper include, โI been talking to my accountant a lot, tryna make what I got stack tall like KDโ (verse one), and โCome to find out her P stand for pussy and she give it to any player thatโs payingโ (verse).ย Hmm, thatโs a different โPushin Pโ isnโt it? The chorus invites the crazy into the picture:
โAll this money, Iโm going crazy
All these bitches, Iโm going crazy
Missed some millions, Iโm going crazy
All these killers, Iโm going crazy
Itโs deeper than rap and this lifeโll get crazyโฆโ
Throughout, Gunna is backed by a classy and refined backdrop, produced by EVRGRN, Kenny Stuntin, and Zoo Kids. The instrumental accompaniment is led by a sweet piano. โGo crazyโ may not change your life but itโs a vibe.
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4. Andra Day, โWhere Do We Goโย
CASSANDRA (cherith) // Warner // 2024ย
โWhere do we go? / How you been living? / Iโm just passing through your neighborhood / From down on Woodman.โย Academy Award-nominated actress and Grammy-winning singer Andra Day returned inย 2024 with the soulful โWhere Do We Goโ, an advance single from her third studio album, CASSANDRA (cherith). A five-minute-long record, โWhere Do We Goโ is a juggernaut โ in a positive manner.ย Day penned this song alongside Caleb Morris, Charles Jones, David Wood, Nando Raio, Shay Godwin, Spencer Guerra, and Zachary Moore. Similarly, Day, Jones, Wood, Raio, and Godwin produce. It commences with a soulful instrumental โ think neo-soul.ย The instrumental backdrop is sensational, including keys, organ, guitar, and drums when they enter the mix.ย The most important piece of the song is Day who delivers authentic, expressive, nuanced, and refined vocals. Her tone is stunning. Furthermore, her runs are marvelous.ย The melodies she sings are lovely.ย Thematically, the record encompasses matters of the heart โ a fitting topic for an R&B joint.ย โMake me weak staring into my eyes / Quit trying to stare into my eyes,โ she sings, continuing, โI knew I shouldโve just driven by, gotta say goodbye / Youโre all I want, boy.โ Day lets it rip, upping the ante with dynamic, passionate vocals as she confesses, โYouโre all I want boy.โ At the end, she brings it back down after reaching a fever pitch.ย All in all, โWhere Do We Goโ marks a magnificent song from an incredible talent.
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Appears in ๐ป:
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5. Bloodstone, โWe Go A Long Way Backโย
We Go A Long Way Back // Columbia // 1982
โYou and me, girl / Go a long way back / And Iโm so proud, Iโm so proud.โ Oh, the love! Oh, the soulful vibes! Bloodstone is such a gifted R&B/soul collective! Bloodstone is best known for their 1972, pop breakthrough hit, โNatural Highโ. Yes, thatโs their โace in the hole,โ but the group also has other bops in its arsenal, including the 1982 hit, โWe Go A Long Way Backโ. Fittingly, their album was also titled, We Go A Long Way Back. Sadly, the record didnโt earn the pop accolades that โNatural Highโ did but honestly, a lack of crossover appeal doesnโt take away from its excellence.ย Itโs safe to say that songwriter and vocalist Charles Love knocks this romantic gem right out of the park!ย In the first verse, Love recalls how tough the relationship was early on: โI remember when loving you wasnโt easy /โฆ Sugar, we made it through it all.โ In the second verse, he flips the script, taking responsibility for his contributions to love difficulty.ย Ultimately, Love asserts, โBut you stuck on in there with me and you see? Huh, we made it.โ Essentially, through thick and thin, Charles Love and his lady, have history, and they want to continue to make even more.ย Beyond the sentimental, thoughtful lyrics, the sound, production, and overall aesthetic is awesome.ย The bass line is robust, just like we desire in an R&B classic, the groove is electric for a slow jam, and the vocals โ both Loveโs and the backing vocals from Bloodstone โ are marvelous.ย Looking back on โWe Go A Long Way Backโ, it is so hard to fathom why this single did not perform well on the pop charts.ย
Appears in ๐ป:
- Bloodstone, We Go A Long Way Back: Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ 45 (2023)
- Incredible Songs: 1980s, Vol. 1 (2023)
- 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 11 (2023)ย
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6. Rina Sawayama, โHoly (Til You Let Me Go)โย ย ย
Hold the Girl // Dirty Hit // 2022ย ย
โHeavenly, that was me / A vision at seventeen / Loves to read, loves to dream / The college of Magdalene.โ The talented Rina Sawayama had tremendous ambition.ย The singer, songwriter, and actress has accomplished a lot regarding her education and career.ย However, in โHoly (Til You Let Me Go)โ, sheโs been wronged โย judged, bullied, and made to feel less.ย There arenโt specifics about how she was wronged given on the sixth track from her marvelous 2022 LP, Hold My Girl, but, sheโs experienced pain.ย In the second verse, she asserts, โTried to pray the pain away / Just like you taught me (But something had changed).โ The spiritual references are part of the charm of this gem penned by Sawayama, Nate Campany, Chris Lyon, and Stuart Price (โI was the martyr who paid for your lifeโ).ย ย
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The chorus is dynamic โ the most memorable section of โHoly (Til You Let Me Go)โ:ย ย
โI was innocent when you said I was evilย
I took your stones and build a cathedralย
Found my peace when I lost my religionย
All these years I wished I was differentย
But, oh, no, now I knowย
Iโm holy till you let me go.โย ย ย
Thatโs deep, Rina.ย Notably, Sawayama is pansexual which goes against the grain of the heteronormative world. Also, per Variety, she shares that trauma inspired Hold the Girl. She was groomed at 17. โHoly (Til You Let Me Go)โ conveys trauma and overcoming it.ย Beyond the theme, lyrics, lovely melodies, and sickening vocals by Sawayama, the music is sweet. The instrumental intro is warm, fueled by piano and synths.ย The production by Sawayama, Price, and For Those I Love is shimmering and sleek. โHoly (Til You Let Me Go)โ is epic.ย ย
Appears in ๐ป:ย ย
- Rina Sawayama, Holy (Til You Let Me Go): Bangerz N Bopz ๐ฅ 64 (2024)
- 13 Compelling Holy Songs (2024)
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7. The Weeknd, โHere We GoโฆAgainโ (Ft. Tyler, The Creator)ย
Dawn FM // ย Republic // ย 2022
On โHere We GoโฆAgain,โ The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) enlists fellow Grammy winner, Tyler, The Creator, for the assist.ย In the context of his underrated, 2022 LP, Dawn FM, Tesfaye continues to excel. He sings about his come-up during the first verse, asserting, โWe still celebratinโ Super Bowl / Catalog lookinโ legendary / Ring froze like itโs February / XO, thatโs a mercenary.โ WOO! He also speaks about his ex and his new girlfriend.ย As for TTC, heโs skeptical regarding love but if it does happen, he asserts, โYou gonโ sign this prenup.โ Damn! Worth noting, the radio vibes that characterize Dawn FM appear once more with Tesfaye singing, โThe number one station to free your soul (Free your soul) / Dawn 103.5.โย
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8. Teddy Pendergrass, โCome Go with Meโ
Teddy // Sony Music Entertainment // 1979
โCome on and go with me / Come on over to my place.โ Ooh-la-la ๐คญ! โCome Go With Meโ commences Teddy, the third studio album by the late, great Teddy Pendergrass (1950 โ 2010).ย Teddy earned the gifted Philly soul singer (and sex symbol) his third consecutive platinum album.ย While โCome Go With Meโ failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at no. 14 on the R&B charts in October 1979. It is the second-biggest song from Teddy; โTurn off the Lightsโ takes top honors.ย Even as a โbridesmaidโ and not the bride on Teddy, โCome Go With Meโ is thrilling. The opener was written and produced by the dynamic, iconic tandem of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.ย Pendergrass excelled with their songs, PERIOD.
As always, Teddy Pendergrass sounds epic singing โCome Go with Me.โ His baritone was one of a kind โ among the greatest and most soulful voices ever.ย The musical accompaniment is equally alluring.ย The lush, sophisticated sounds of 70s soul, specifically Philly soul, are perfectly captured here. As always, Gamble and Huff โput their footโ into it. Besides sensational vocals, tuneful melodies, and an elite backdrop, it is the theme and lyrics that make โCome Go with Meโ a classic. โI donโt feel like beinโ lonely tonight / You see, I want, I want some company,โ Pendergrass sings in the first verse, adding โAnd you wonโt be under any kind of pressure / You see, weโll just let, weโll just let the eveninโ flow.โ Call it what it is โ NSA, no strings attached!ย In the second verse, itโs suggestive without screaming โitโs going downโ per se (โLetโs sit by a cozy fire / And we can be in each otherโs companyโ). No worries, though, the third verse encourages the rendezvous:
โMy carโs right outside
We can leave right now
Thatโs if youโre ready to go
I know youโre just meeting me
You see, Iโd understand it
Iโd understand it if you said no
But donโt you do it, baby.โ
We all know what Gamble, Huff, and Teddy had in mind.ย A one-night stand is never explicitly mentioned, but, going over to a strangerโs house where โromanceโ is on the mindโฆ Weโll leave it there. โCome Go With Meโ deserves as much praise as any other Teddy Pendergrass song. Itโs marvelous!
Appears in ๐ป:
- Teddy Pendergrass, Come Go with Me: Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ 119 (2024)
- 15 Spicy Songs One-Night Stand Songs (2024)
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9. Doja Cat, โGo Offโ
Scarlet // Kemosabe / RCA // 2023
On โGo Off,โ you donโt mess with Lilโ mama. Why? โโCause she might just popโฆ / She that bitch in charge, she the real top dogโฆโ Essentially, Grammy-winning rapper/singer Doja Cat (Amala Dlamini) paints a portrait of a bad bitch, with plenty of entertaining bars. โShe mixed the Fendi with the Shein, she donโt slide in no DM,โ she spits in verse one. โShe snap just like a Pocky, I put that all behind me,โ she asserts in the second verse, adding, โThese bitches all admire, she buildinโ her empire.โ Ultimately, โGo Offโ marks one of many enjoyable, pleasant moments from her 2023 LP, Scarlet.
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10. Latimore, โLet Me Goโ
It Ainโt Where You Been // Henry Stone Music // 1976ย
โLet me go, babe / Iโve already stayed too long.โ Hmm, she canโt let you go, Latimore (Benjamin Latimore)! Wonder why, hmm ๐ค. Even though he doesnโt want to go either on โLet Me Goโ, the sixth track on his 1976 LP, It Ainโt Where You Been, he sings, โBut Iโve got to be gettinโ on home.โ Continue listening and sheโs his side pieceโฆ Songs about infidelity from the 1970s hit different, donโt they? The southern blues/R&B musician deserves far more recognition, specifically for this rousing gem. โIโve overstayed my time, babe / Iโll be back tomorrow night,โ Latimore asserts, telling her, โBut until then / Let me go.โย And thatโs the premise of โLet Me Go.โ He sounds commanding, bluesy, and gritty. When he ascends into his upper register, heโs equally if not more impressive.ย Besides his high-flying vocals, the music is epic.ย The production perfectly captures the soul aesthetic.ย The piano is piano-ing, with the tinkling being a surefire vibe. The bass is active yet fat (who wouldnโt have it any other way).ย The drums anchor, keeping things groovy and steady. Besides the core rhythm section instrumentation, there is epic saxophone soloing and lush strings.ย From a music theory standpoint, the harmonic progression stands out with some more distinct moments.ย Popular music can opt for simpler harmonic underpinnings, but itโs even cooler when rarer chords spice things up. Shame on Latimore for his infidelity but โLet Me Goโ is an incredible song.
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11. John Summit & Sub Focus, โGo Backโ (Ft. Julia Church)
Comfort in Chaos // Experts Only / Darkroom // 2024
โGave you a part of my soul to keep / Forever, forever.โ Deep. Julia Church provides sweet vocals on โGo Backโ, the penultimate/11th track from Comfort in Chaos. โIโm frozen in that time / But melting in your eyes,โ she sings in the second verse, continuing, โFeel our worlds realign / Iโm a dreamer, take me deeper.โ Word. Comfort in Chaos is the debut album by DJ/producer John Summit.ย In addition to collaborating with Church, who sounds composed and poised, never breaking a sweat, Summit collabs with Sub Focus. Summit, Sub Focus, and Eddie Jenkins produced โGo Back.โ It features a dizzying, hazy instrumental intro. The production is rhythmic and driving with some mean synths.ย The drop is electrifying, and we wouldnโt have it any other way.ย I love the building intensity of the music during the pre-chorus.
The chorus is tuneful โ the section to beat.
โWhen I hear that sound, and the lights go down
I wanna go back, I wanna go back
When the silence fades, and I fall like rain
I wanna go back, I wanna go back.โ
Besides impressive instrumental effects and sounds, there are stellar vocal effects (during the drop/instrumental sections) that keep things fresh. The best moment from โGo Backโ not named the chorus or drop is the build-up when the tempo accelerates past the two-minute mark. After the new, quicker tempo settles in during the second drop (โI wanna go back, I wanna go backโฆโ), it lasts the remainder of the song. Of the accelerando, Sub Focus asserts, โWe came up with the idea of speeding up the tempo in the middle of the song between House and Drum & Bass, and the crowd reaction has been amazing every time we play it.โ It was a dope musical choice.ย John Summit, Sub Focus, and Julia Church dropped a whale of a banger with โGo Backโ. Itโs giving a BOP!
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12. Deon Jackson, โLove Makes the World Go Roundโ
Love Makes the World Go Round // Warner Music Group โ X5 Music Group // 1966
โYou know love makes the world go round.โ R&B singer/songwriter Deon Jackson had a legitimate point.ย He adds in โLove Makes the World Go Roundโ (released in December 1965), โAnd love makes the seesaws go up and down / And it makes trees grow tall / And the most important thing of all / It makes a boy and a girl, oh / Say they feel so fine, now.โ He wrote and originally performed the opening track from his album,ย Love Makes the World Go Round, released in July 1966. โLoveโ peaked at no. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March โ66. โLove Makes the World Go Roundโ was his sole top 40 entry. Jacksonโs sole hit is an elite and sweet one.ย His lead vocals are smooth and soulful. He sings expressively without forcing things.ย This is a playful cut, a common sound of songs from the 60s. โLoveโ is groovy from the beginning, where the beloved riff first appears in all its glory. Janet Jackson sampled the classic on her naughty song, โStrawberry Bounceโ from 2004.ย There is nothing naughty aboutย โLove Makes the World Go Roundโ with its innocent, dreamy, pro-love lyrics. โWithout love, flowers wouldnโt grow in the spring,โ Jackson asserts, adding, โAnd without spring, yeah, the birdies just couldnโt sing / Everybody needs love.โย Maybe โThese facts of loveโ arenโt scientifically accurate, but Jacksonโs heart and pen were in the right place.ย From the vintage, joyful instrumental (piano, biting horns) and Jacksonโs awesome singing and writing, the brief but potent โLove Makes the World Go Roundโ is special โ unforgettable, baby!
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13. Louis Armstrong, โGo Down Mosesโ
Louis And The Good Book // The Verve Music Group // 1958ย
โGo down Moses / Way down in Egypt land / Tell old Pharoah / To let my people go!โ โGo Down Mosesโ is a traditional, African American spiritual. Sy Oliver plays a pivotal role in the arrangement that the late, great Louis Armstrong (1901 โ 1971) performs on his 1958 album, Louis And The Good Book.ย The Sy Oliver Choir is the first voice heard on this Milt Gabler-produced recording, singing the excerpted lyrics dramatically and expressively.ย This precedes both the swinging groove and Armstrong entering the mix. With a groove established, Armstrong wows with his bass singing voice.ย He takes over the lead, in a commanding fashion, while the choir embraces their role as the response.ย โOh, when Israel was in Egypt land,โ he sings, with the choir answering, โLet my people go!โ While โLet My People Goโ still has gospel vibes, Armstrong is true to self, bringing those jazzy, traditional pop vibes.ย He never forces things, performing authentically.ย Beyond delivering a nuanced performance, throughout three verses, he and The All Stars deliver a sweet instrumental performance near the end (in a contrasting key), in a Dixieland style. His trumpet playing is dynamic and exuberant, blending superbly with the spirited clarinet, and the saucy trombone.ย Meanwhile, Sy Oliverโs Choir continues to shine with their haunting harmonies. โGo Down Mosesโ in the hands of Louis Armstrong = masterpiece.
Appears in ๐ป:
- Louis Armstrong, Go Down Moses: Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ 4 (2024)
- Incredible Songs: 1950s, Vol. 1 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~
13 Fantastic GO Songs (2024) [๐ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 300 Entertainment Inc., BIGHIT MUSIC, Columbia, Darkroom, Dirty Hit, Experts Only, Gunna Music, LLC, Island, Kemosabe, KRA International Inc., RCA, The Verve Music Group, Warner, X5 Music Group, Young Stone Life; Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay]
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