13 Fantastic UNTIL Songs | Playlist 🎧

13 Fantastic UNTIL Songs feature songs by Alexcis, Aretha Franklin, Jill Scott, Juice WRLD,  Stephen Sanchez, and The Weeknd.

As both a musician and writer, I have an extensive backlog – it goes with the territory. 13 Fantastic UNTIL Songs is one of those playlists that have been in the backlog for a substantial amount of time.  Finally, after successfully compiling the songs and organizing my commentary into sufficient blurbs, the musical compendium sees the light of day.  It wasn’t all dark for those UNTIL songs though. Back in 2021, when miniature playlists were still a thing on the site, I teased the until-ness with Until: 5ive Songs No. 53 (2021).  All ‘5ive’ of those until songs reappear on this expanded 13-song list. 13 Fantastic UNTIL Songs feature songs by Alexcis, Aretha Franklin, Jill Scott, Juice WRLD, Stephen Sanchez, and The Weeknd. Without further ado, let’s embrace UNTIL songs, shall we?!

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~ Table of Contents ~ 

1. Stephen Sanchez, “Until I Found You”

2. Juice WRLD, “Until the Plug Comes Back Around”

3. Nessa Barrett, “I hope ur miserable until ur dead”

4. Alexcis & T-Pain, “Until The Day”

5. The Weeknd, “Until I Bleed Out”

6. Jill Scott, “Until Then (I Imagine)”

7. James Vickery, “Until Morning”

8. Daley, “Until the Pain is Gone” (Ft. Jill Scott)

9. Nick Jonas, “Until We Meet Again”

10. Monica, “Until It’s Gone”

11. Ne-Yo, “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)”

12. Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé, “Until The End of Time”

13. Aretha Franklin, “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)”

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1. Stephen Sanchez, “Until I Found You”

Angel Face // Republic // 2023

“Georgia, wrap me up in all your / I want ya in my arms”. Aww, Stephen 🥰! Stephen Sanchez is firmly a member of Generation Z (born in 2002). However, judging by the sound of his music, you’d guess he’s much older.  The ‘old soul’ struck gold with “Until I Found You” which originally appeared on What Was, Not Now.  The multiplatinum single reappeared on his 2023, gold-certified debut album, Angel Face. Written by Sanchez, Ian Fitchuk and Konrad Snyder produced it.

“Until I Found You” embraces old-school, retro-pop.  While it’s sound hearkens to the past, it’s ultimately refreshing.  The guitars sound particularly gorgeous.  Sanchez serves up beautiful, expressive vocals. He’s supported by strong background vocals that contribute sweet vocal harmonies.  “Until I Found You” benefits from fabulous songwriting and tuneful melodies, particularly in the centerpiece, the chorus:

“I would never fall in love again until I found her

I said I would never fall unless it’s you I fall into

I was lost within the darkness, but then I found her

I found you.”

The ‘Club Deluxe’ version of Angel Face includes the Em Beihold version of “Until I Found You”. Beihold sings a brand-new second verse (“Heaven / When I held you again / How could / We ever just be friends?”). Whatever rendition of “Until I Found You” you listen to is utterly sweet and satisfying.

Appears in 🔻:

• Stephen Sanchez, Until I Found You: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 57 (2024)

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2. Juice WRLD, “Until the Plug Comes Back Around”

Fighting Demons // Grade A Productions / Interscope // 2021

“It goes down, down, down when the plug is in town.” Who is this plug that Juice WRLD (Jarad Higgins) speaks of? A drug dealer. The late rapper had serious substance abuse issues, ultimately dying of an accidental overdose. Many of his songs, alive and posthumously, address these including the song at hand, “Until the Plug Comes Back Around.” “My prescriptions, fill ‘em out, pills get passed around / Run, run, run, run away from my pain now,” he sings in the honest and vulnerable chorus, adding, “Runnin’ out of pills, now it’s time to ration out / Until the plug comes back around.” Higgins’s reliance on substances seemed to be his way of numbing pain, unfortunately. The 16^th track on Higgin’s second posthumous album, Fighting Demons, was produced by Max Lord, Gezin, No Love For The Middle Child, and Audio Jacc. As always, Juice WRLD impresses with his candid melodic rapping and singing.  Despite experiencing his come-up (“I got rich, bought my momma a crib”), he states, “This money don’t mean shit.” He keeps it a buck asserting, “All my demons standin’ up in my face.” I’ve said, so many times, I wished that Juice WRLD could’ve overcome his demons.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.

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3. Nessa Barrett, “I hope ur miserable until ur dead”

pretty poison (EP) // Warner // 2021 

“I hope you never fall in love again / I hope you be yourself and lose your friends / I hope they call you out for shit you said / I hope you’re miserable until you’re dead.” Woo! Well, it’s safe to say that Nessa Barrett isn’t happy on “I hope ur miserable until ur dead.” She’s bitter AF on the stand out from her debut EP, pretty poison. She wants this person to suffer until they’re no longer living! Calling this pop/rock song aggressive would be an understatement.  From the jump, Nessa is angry, which she admits as she sings, “But you drag me through mud, here I come, now I’m petty as fuck.” In the second verse, she asserts, “Been keeping your shit to myself / If I said it out loud, you’d be burning in hell.” Geez! She closes out the verse with the observation “One day it’ll come around but fuck you for now.” Whatever this nameless person did to Nessa, they pissed her TF off! Her bitterness and pain are our listening pleasure!

Appears in 🔻:

• 15 Songs Filled with Hope (2023)

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4. Alexcis & T-Pain, “Until The Day”

Life Goes On // Ready Set The Label / EMPIRE // 2022

“Take you on a date, dinner on a roof / Baby we could fuck in the photo booth.” Fuck in the photo booth, Alexcis? To each their own.  The Mexican American rapper/singer collaborates with Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter T-Pain on “Until The Day.” “Until The Day” is the 11^th track from his 2022 album, Life Goes On.  Produced by Tony Choc, “Until The Day” features Mariachi and Latin music cues mixed with hip-hop. Sounding a bit cartoonish and novel, that is part of the song’s charm. Alexcis delivers a melodic, tuneful performance filled with confidence and swagger.  His performance is also playful.  “She said she don’t fuck with me, that’s alright with me / One day I’ll get my checks,” he asserts in the first verse, continuing, “Then, she’ll fuck with me, hit me up at three / Talkin’ ‘bout, ‘Where you at?’” T-Pain is the perfect collaborator, bringing his big personality to the second verse.  His vocals are exuberant and dynamic and match the confidence of Alexcis (“How you drippin’ water, got it froze on the chain (yuh) / Girl, I got you grippin’, whippin’ slow in the lane”). The chorus, excerpted at the top, is the section to beat. It’s infectious, easily getting stuck in one’s head. “Until The Day” = BOP. 

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5. The Weeknd, “Until I Bleed Out”

After Hours // Republic // 2020

“I wanna cut you outta my dreams / ‘Til I’m bleeding out / ‘Til I’m bleeding out.” Well, that’s disturbing, and morbid with the “bleeding out” part.  Of course, that’s Grammy-winning Canadian R&B superstar The Weeknd for you, sigh.  He concludes his best album, After Hours, dramatically with “Until I Bleed Out.” FYI, The deluxe version adds three more tracks.  The lyrics hail from the chorus, which sums up the song to a T.  The chorus continues: “I wanna cut you outta my mind / ‘Til I’m bleeding out / ‘Til I’m bleeding out.” Pessimistic, the pain of Abel Tesfaye is our pleasure.  Oh, the schadenfreude. On a positive note, he desires sobriety (“And I don’t even wanna get high no more / I just want it out of my life”).

Appears in 🔻:

• 13 U Songs: No Rhyme or Reason (2021)
• Until: 5ive Songs No. 53 (2021)
• 13 Songs Drenched in Blood 🩸 from the Bleeding 🩸(2024)

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6. Jill Scott, “Until Then (I Imagine)”

The Light of the Sun // Babe Blues / Warner // 2011 

“I’m your kitty cat, love what we do / I adore the taste of every thought of you.” Few artists compose and perform sensual songs than R&B singer/songwriter Jill Scott.  Early in “Until Then (I Imagine)” the 11^th track from her 2011 LP, The Light of the Sun, the sexual innuendo is ripe.  Kitty cat, do, and taste all suggest where Scott is going with this song.  She penned it with R&B/contemporary gospel producer Warryn Campbell. There is nothing gospel-tinged about this song: “Got me dickmatized and I want some more.” If you’ve ever been dickmatized, you understand that “frenzied state” Scott is coming from. Campbell captures the sensual vibes marvelously in the instrumental.

The first verse of “Until Then (I Imagine)” prefaces a chorus filled with desire. The tone is set. “I imagine myself on my knees / Waiting for you to come over and see me.” Hmm, please, continue. “…Waiting for you to come over and feed me.” Feed me? Ooh, girl, that’s nasty but hot 🥵! When you fantasize, the mind is free of restriction. In this song, Scott is ready for him to free her. Feeling wild, she asserts, “I’m your lioness in the jungle, babe / And I’m hungry now and it’s you I crave / I drink you, my suga, consume your soul.” Admit it, that drink you lyric is fire 🔥!  On the bridge, she tells him how she wants him to do it. She admits that she’s “Submissive dominant freaky.” As always, Scott sings sensationally. She’s sexy, smooth, and soulful.  Also, she’s honest about the pleasure she desires.  Sex positivity has grown exponentially since the arrival of “Until Then (I Imagine)”. But, back in 2011, Scott had shit on lockdown.  To quote Jill, “That shit is nice.”  

Appears in 🔻:

• Jill Scott, Until Then (I Imagine): Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 56 (2024)

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7. James Vickery, “Until Morning”

Songs That Made Me Feel // TH3RD BRAIN // 2021

“I could wash you down like a glass of wine 🍷 / And I don’t need to think anything twice.” James Vickery ‘brings the heat,’ and marvelously nuanced vocals, on “Until Morning.” “Until Morning” is the fourth track from the British R&B singer/songwriter’s 2021 album, Songs That Made Me Feel. “Until Morning” is a soulful, slow jam.  Vickery milks it for all it’s worth and it’s nothing short of fabulous. “You know I wished you were here all the time / Living my fantasies out in real life,” he sings in the pre-chorus. The melodies are tuneful, and Vickery never gets in a rush, taking his time sharing the musical goodness. “Morning” was penned by Vickery, Louis Collard-Watson, and producer, Louis Mattrs. Mattrs puts in serious work behind the boards of this sleekly, smoothly produced joint. The crowning achievement of “Until Morning” should come as no surprise – the chorus:

“Everything I’ll give to you, darling, but

Until we reach morning you’re mine

And don’t you worry now, baby

I’m the man you been craving this time.”

Aww🥰! Matters of the heart never grow old.  Neither does Vickery and his inspired performance on “Until Morning.”

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8. Daley, “Until the Pain is Gone” (Ft. Jill Scott)

The Spectrum // BMG Rights Management // 2017

“In this world where love is prone to lose / Still I’m ready to give this thing a try / But how do I give to someone / Who wants what they can’t have?” Daley (Gareth Daley) is an extremely talented artist.  Vocally, the British R&B singer has mad chops.  He returned with a captivating sophomore LP in 2017, The Spectrum.  Among the highlights from the album is the promo single “Until the Pain is Gone”, featuring Grammy-winning R&B artist, Jill Scott. Daley amplifies emotions in the soulful ballad which initiates lushly.  Old school, the vibe is refreshing.  Making a formidable team, Daley and Scott deliver authentic performances about the plight of love, highlighted by the centerpiece, the chorus.

“So, if you need love, say it

I know that you feel it but, I can’t

Keep holding on and on and on

I need to know that I’m the one

Yeah ‘cause I know that you get lonely

So, show me the things you’re scared to show me

We can go on and on and on

‘Til the pain is gone.”

There is no pain in this song here… from a listener’s perspective that is!

Appears in 🔻:

• 15 Songs Filled with Hurt & Pain (2018)

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9. Nick Jonas, “Until We Meet Again”

 “Until We Meet Again” // Island // 2020

Encouragement is vital during hard times, particularly something so unprecedented as the COVID-19 pandemic. Nick Jonas served up just what the doctor ordered with “Until We Meet Again”. What makes “Until We Meet Again” a bop is authenticity, messaging, and sincerity. It is a pop record with soulful, gospel vibes.  This is where that encouraging, uplifting sensibility comes from, coupled with the lyrics.  “Wish I could reach through the distance / Show you my heart and all that I’m feeling,” Jonas sings in the first verse, capturing the anxiety and longing social distancing constructs.  Even though it seems things have taken a toll, he expresses those positive vibes, from the chorus and beyond:

“So, until we meet again

I’ma keep smile, smile, smile, smiling

We could be miles apart

But you know I’m never too far

My friend, until we meet again.”

In the second verse, Jonas sings, “Gonna find light for facing tomorrow,” far more optimistic than the lament of the first verse.  While the bridge highlights potential struggles, it keeps its eyes on the prize for better days.

Appears in 🔻:

• Songs That Capture & Embody the Pandemic, Vol. 3 (2020)
• Awesome Songs: May 2020
• Until: 5ive Songs No. 53 (2021)

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10. Monica, “Until It’s Gone”

New Life // RCA // 2012

“I guess it’s true what people say/ You never know/what you have until it’s gone…” One of the best songs from New Life, the 2012 album by Grammy-winning R&B singer Monica is “Until It’s Gone.” Honestly, I consider “Until It’s Gone” to be among the top tier of the Monica collection overall.”  Mo sings radiantly, selling “Until It’s Gone” with superb authenticity.

“One thing that I know for sure

Is that you gon’ miss me when I go

And it’s gon’ hurt babe

When you’re all alone…”

Beyond the singing and memorable lyrics, the production (Missy Elliott and Cainon Lamb) is magnificent.  The big reason is thanks to a few distinct samples: The lush The Spinners’ “I Don’t Want to Lose You” and Boogie Down Productions’ “9MM Goes Bang”.  The result is one sensational R&B record.

Appears in 🔻:

• Until: 5ive Songs No. 53 (2021)

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11. Ne-Yo, “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)”

R.E.D. // Motown // 2012

“Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)” has an exhaustive, wordy title. Even so, the record is well-rounded – one of the best from R.E.D., the 2012 studio album by Ne-Yo (Shaffer Smith). Smith penned “Let Me Love You…” alongside Mark Hadfield, Mike Di Scala, Sia (Sia Furler), and StarGate (Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen). StarGate, Di Scala, and Hadfield produced this ‘pop &B’ gem. On “Let Me Love You…,” the Grammy winner aims for pop-crossover. In the chorus, he sings: “Girl let me love you and I will love you / Until you learn to love yourself… don’t be afraid, girl let me help…” This relationship is beneficial to both parties.  Ne-Yo loves her, and even if she lacks confidence and love for herself, he’ll show her true love, so she begins to love herself.

Appears in 🔻:

• 11 Empowering Songs About Loving Yourself (2020)
• Learn: 5ive Songs No. 6 (2020)
• 10 Songs Comprised of Teaching and/or Learning (2020)
• Until: 5ive Songs No. 53 (2021)

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12. Justin Timberlake & Beyoncé, “Until The End of Time”

FutureSex/LoveSounds (Deluxe Edition) // Zomba Recording LLC // 2006 

Yes, Justin Timberlake did a damn good job of bringing “SexyBack” in his 2006 sophomore album, FutureSex/LoveSounds.  However, it wasn’t merely that dominant no. 1 hit or the other no. 1 hits that exuded sexiness. His duet with Beyoncé, a remix of “Until The End of Time”, is a sexy winner too. It didn’t top the charts but securing a top-20 hit is always a win. “Until The End of Time” features smooth, contemporary R&B-styled production by Timberlake, Danja, and Timbaland – what a formidable team! Timberlake and Beyoncé deliver top-rate vocals – exquisite! Timberlake sings the first verse: “There’s so much darkness in the world / But I see beauty left in you girl / and what you give me lets me know that I’ll be alright.” Aww, the feels 🥰! Beyoncé responds in the second verse, “I just wanna spend time bein’ your girl / And what you give me lets me know that we’ll be alright.” See what she did there 😜? The memorable chorus is one of the biggest selling points of this 13^th track on FutureSex/LoveSounds deluxe edition (also Timberlake’s best album in my opinion):

“‘Cause if your love was all I had

In this life

Well, that would be enough

Until the end of time

So, rest your weary heart

And relax your mind

‘Cause I’m gonna love you, girl

Until the end of time.”

The five-and-a-half-minute, love-oriented slow jam never gets hurried, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  Also, shout out the collaborative bridge section where JT and Bey trade lines. “Until The End of Time” = an aughts pop bop.

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 13. Aretha Franklin, “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)”

Let Me In Your Life // Atlantic // 1974 

“Though you don’t call anymore / I sit and wait in vain,” Aretha Franklin sings in the first verse of her soul classic, “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)”. She continues, persistently, “I guess I’ll rap on your door (Your door) / Tap on your window pane (Tap on your window pane).” In other words, man, she’s going to make you come back to her, PERIOD! This love song is the fifth track on her 1974 LP, Let Me In Your Life. The songwriting is sublime, thanks to the pen of Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax, and – wait for it – the one-and-only Stevie Wonder! “Until You Come Back to Me” IS a Stevie Wonder cover.  It reached no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 after debuting on the charts in 1973. Franklin, Arif Mardin, and Jerry Wexler produced this 1970s pop-soul gem.

All aspects of “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” make it a showstopper.  The relatable songwriting goes a long way.  The relationship has expired, yet, the love hasn’t – at least from one person’s perspective.  “I’m going to swallow my pride (My pride) / I’m going to beg you to please, baby please see me (Baby won’t you see me?)” Franklin and her awesome background vocalists proclaim in the second verse.  Her dynamic lead vocals are the biggest draw of “Until You Come Back to Me” – no surprise.  She’s commanding, expressive, nuanced, and playful with her vocal performance. Call it what it is, a masterclass.  But, also, the instrumental – the musical accompaniment – is the cat’s meow too! The palette is smooth and soulful, idiomatic of the 70s.  The bass line is robust and the groove cooks. One of the finest features is the flute soloing by Joe Farrell.  All told, “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” is EVERYTHING.  This is one of the best songs in the Aretha Franklin catalog.

Appears in 🔻:

• Until: 5ive Songs No. 53 (2021)
• Aretha Franklin, Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do): Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 75 (2024) 

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13 Fantastic UNTIL Songs (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Babe Blues, EMPIRE, Grade A Productions, Interscope, Island, Motown, RCA, Ready Set The Label, Republic, TH3RD BRAIN, Warner, Zomba Recording LLC; Tazz Vaughn from Pexels]

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