13 Irresistible YOU Songs features songs by Chappell Roan, Donny Hathaway, Gracie Abrams, Omar Apollo, Tommy Richman, and Whitney Houston.Β
Remember, YOU can make a difference and be influential in so many ways. You are a big deal. Β You, as a second-person pronoun, appears in many songs.Β This playlist, 13 Irresistible YOU Songs, celebrates the power of β wait for it β Y-O-U! You, or some form of the word is the only requirement for songs selected on this list.Β That means βKnowing U Existβ by Medium Build is perfectly acceptable (βUβ is a form of βYouβ).Β Besides Medium Build, 13 Irresistible YOU Songs features songs by Chappell Roan, Donny Hathaway, Gracie Abrams, Omar Apollo, Tommy Richman, and Whitney Houston.Β So, without further ado, prepare to be wowed by these irresistible Y-O-U songs!
~ Table of Contents ~
1. Tommy Richman, βTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEβ
2. Whitney Houston, βYouβre Still My Manβ
3. Odetari, βYOUβRE TOO SLOWβ
4. MALARKEY, Shackles (Praise You)
5. Omar Apollo, βLess of Youβ
6. Medium Build, βKnowing U Existβ
7. Gracie Abrams, βI Love You, Iβm Sorryβ
8. Kevin Atwater, βwhy did you invite me to your weddingβ
9. Kem, βWhy Would You Stayβ
10. Paul Young, βEvery Time You Go Awayβ
11. Chappell Roan, βPicture Youβ
12. Jerry Butler, βNever Give You Upβ
13. Donny Hathaway, βI Love You More Than Youβll Ever Knowβ
1. Tommy Richman, βTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEβ
COYOTE // ISO Supremacy / PULSE / Concord // 2024
According to Tommy Richman, βI thought you were the one, ah / I thought you were the one that got away.β Word. βTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEβ continues a prolific 2024 for the Virginia-bred musician. Richman wrote the highlight. He produced it with Elliot, Limo, and Jonah Roy. βOh, I know you love me / Oh, you push and you shove me out.β Hmmβ¦ There is lots to like about the promo single from his debut album, COYOTE. The sound and instrumental accompaniment is a big selling point. It has a nice old-school vibe.Β The groove is fabulous, while the rhythmic, detuned synths, keys, and big, infectious synth bass line catch the ears. Furthermore, there is a degree of nostalgia about this cut. The vocals by Richman mark another selling point. The melody is rhythmic and tuneful. The theme is simple yet complicated β matters of the heart.Β At the end of the verse, he asserts, βI still know weβre a good fit, baby, good fit / I donβt know what to say, but fuck it anyway / I know weβll have some good kids, baby, good kids.β Word. All in all, Richman delivered another winner with βTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEβ.
Appears in π»:
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2. Whitney Houston, βYouβre Still My Manβ
Whitney // Arista // 1987Β
βOn the day that you left me / You said no regrets / Thereβs a bond between us / That hasnβt been broken yet.β Those matters of the heart always fuel the fire for a wonderful musical selection. Once-in-a-lifetime vocalist Whitney Houston sang the wonderful βYouβre Still My Manβ on her 1987 tour de force, Whitney. The soaring ballad is the eighth track from the Grammy-nominated LP (βI Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)β won a Grammy, FYI).Β βYouβre Still My Manβ was written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser. Houston thrives on this ambitious, big, and beautiful ballad.
βYouβre Still My Manβ wasnβt one of the 40 songs that Houston charted on the Billboard Hot 100.Β It is, however, a solid album track from Whitney that deserves even more love.Β Broken up from βher man,β per Houston, and the unforgettable chorus, βYouβre still my man / Nothing can change it / We still be long together.β Ooh-wee! She goes on to add, βOur love will last forever.β With a second verse continuing to tout their bond and a bridge where she vows, βIβll wait for you / The thought that keeps me going each day / Is to believe you still love me,β her bread is its most buttery in the final choruses.Β Here, Whitney navigates some epic key changes, showcasing the power and versatility of her pipes.Β The ad-libs are epic.Β Listening, Iβm in sheer awe that someone possessed the ability to sing so celestially and perfectly.Β Like the big singles from Whitney, βYouβre Still My Manβ deserves its flowers too.
Appears in π»:
- Whitney Houston, Youβre Still My Man: Throwback Vibez πΆοΈπΆ 161 (2024)
- Whitney Houston Ryland James: Head 2 Head No. 41 (2024)
- 13 Super STILL Songs (2024)
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3. Odetari, βYOUβRE TOO SLOWβ
DOOR TO DUSK // Odetari / Artist Partner Group, Inc. // 2023
β(Youβre too slow!) / Try and keep up with me now.β Word, Odetari. The Gen-Z, Palestinian-American rapper, producer, and songwriter delivers gimmicky vocals and a playful performance in the sub-two-minute βYOUβRE TOO SLOW.β βYOUβRE TOO SLOWβ falls under the umbrella of dance/electronic music, particularly given its sleek instrumental backdrop and sound effects. The production is busy and rhythmic. The opening ascending sound effect sets the tone of this ear-catching joint. Β Odetari is a one-man show in the 11th track from DOOR TO DUSK (2023).Β The chorus is catchy, while the verses are entertaining too. βTryna tell them boys, they way too slow, they need to tap in,β he asserts in the first verse, adding, βI got a notebook with some names I wanna curse.β Woo! Furthermore, in the second, he states, βI, I, showed you wrong, Iβma shit on you.β Holy β wait for it β shit! Fittingly, there is a slackening of the pace which unleashes a chopped-and-screwed style.Β βYOUβRE TOO SLOWβ is a surefire vibe βNO CAP!
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4. MALARKEY, Shackles (Praise You)
Β βSHACKLES (PRAISE YOU)β // HEXAGON // 2021
βTake the shackles off my feet, so I can dance (so I can dance) / I just wanna praise You (just wanna praise You).β UK-based DJ/producer/songwriter MALARKEY (Sam Butler) remixed the contemporary gospel classic: βShackles (Praise You)β by Mary Mary.Β Gospel and electronic dance music seem worlds apart, at least on paper.Β However, Butler transforms the βpoppierβ song of praise into one fitting for the dancefloor. In the hands of MALARKEY, βShackles (Praise You)β takes on a much quicker tempo. The increase in speed makes it more characteristic of dance. The dance music cues work seamlessly on this remix.Β Butler adds an infectious beat with a thudding kick intact, colorful synths, and that signature, rhythmic house piano. Woo! Even as Butler tweaks the original by Mary Mary, many of the contemporary gospel music vibes remain intact.Β The sped-up vocals by the duo maintain their soulfulness and high-flying praise.Β The chorus that solidified βShacklesβ as a pop hit for the duo is still lit. MALARKEY proves on βShackles (Praise You)β that gospel dance music is legit. Praise Him π!
Appears in π»:
- MALARKEY, Shackles (Praise You): Covers No. 31 (2024)
- Mary Mary vs. MALARKEY: Head 2 Head No. 32 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
5. Omar Apollo, βLess of Youβ
God Said No // Omar Apollo / Warner // 2024Β
βIs this the last time I see you?β Omar Apollo asks his partner in βLess of Youβ, the third single from his sophomore album, God Said No. βIs this goodbye?β All indications suggest itβs the end of them. Omar, expectedly, is deeply affected. He sees their bond dissipating, yet, he still lusts after him.Β Matters of the heart look good on the handsome, Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter.Β He penned and produced βLess of Youβ with Teo Halm. The third track from God Said No finds Omar Apollo being true to himself, emotionally and thematically (βI seeinβ less of you / Iβm still undressing you / Am I depressing you? / Felt like a blessinβ, youβ). Heβs reflective and vulnerable.Β Where the contrast comes into play is the sound. βLess of Youβ is an about-face compared to most of his work. He dips into synth-pop, dance-pop, and modern disco.Β A far cry from his ballads, his bravery to βgo against the grainβ and βshake things upβ is admirable. He continues to sing well, even if his vocals arenβt big, robust, powerhouse vocals. One cool moment is the post-chorus, where his voice is drenched in vocoder (βI still got a lot to say / Donβt wanna end the night this wayβ). The aesthetic and vibe is sublime, reminiscent of the gay π³οΈβπ club scene. βLess of Youβ is a fun one.
Appears in π»:
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6. Medium Build, βKnowing U Existβ
Country // Medium Build, LLC / Island // 2024Β
βFuck, I just love laughinβ with you / The way your face gets all scrunched up.β What better way to start a song than the f-bomb? Thatβs how Medium Build (Nicholas Carpenter) rolls on βKnowing U Existβ. He adds in the first verse, βFuck, I just love starinβ at you / When youβre chewinβ on your tongue.β Carpenter is having a fuckinβ blast, you might say! βKnowing U Existβ is the sixth track from his 2024 LP, Country.Β Medium Build, Abby Gundersen, Andy Park, and Laiko penned the country track.Β Medium Build, Laiko, and Park produced too. Short but sweet, βKnowing U Existβ clocks in under two-and-a-half minutes.Β Thatβs enough time for more f-bombs in the second verse.
βFuck, I just love snackinβ with you,β Carpenter sings, adding, βFuck, I just love teasinβ on you / And calling you a βbitch.ββ Ooh, wee! Beyond being profane, Carpenter also seems to be turned on, judging by the refrain:
βAnd when the nasty thoughts come rushinβ into me
Knowing you exist takes a load off me.β
A load, huh? Clever word choice! The Anchorage-based queer musician delivers a surefire vibe with βKnowing U Existβ.Β He sings well, bringing a βcool energy,β despite his potty mouth.Β The accompaniment is celestial, with the guitar as well as radiant strings.Β No deep analysis is necessary for this song.Β Its excellence speaks for itself!
Appears in π»:
~ Table of Contents ~
7. Gracie Abrams, βI Love You, Iβm Sorryβ
The Secret of Us // Gracie Abrams / Interscope // 2024
βTwo Augusts ago / I told the truth, oh, but you didnβt like it, you went home.β Say what, Gracie Abrams? The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter made a splash with her sophomore album, The Secret of Us. In βI Love You, Iβm Sorryβ, the fourth track, matters of the heart rule. The first verse, excerpted, is sung in the past tense. As for the second, itβs set in the future: βTwo summers from now / Weβll have been talking, but not all that often, weβre cool now.β Β βI Love You, Iβm Sorryβ was penned by Abrams, Aaron Dessner, and Audrey Hobert. Abrams and Dessner produced.Β The sound is alternative pop, singer/songwriter through and through, led by consistent rhythm guitar.
Gracie Abrams delivers lovely vocals. No, theyβre not extraordinary but are sound and well-rounded. She never gets too high.Β Tuneful melodies up the ante, particularly during the choruses. The choruses vary lyrically, though Gracieβs love endures, and, she βapologizesβ for it:
βThatβs just the way life goes
I like to slam doors closed
Trust me, I know itβs always about me
I love you, Iβm sorry.βΒ
The bridge marks another intriguing moment. Memorably, Abrams asserts, βI was a dick, it is what it is / A habit to kick, the age-old curse.β Oh, snap! In the final choruses, lyrics from the bridge are intertwined, making the record even more intriguing. Is βI Love You, Iβm Sorryβ a banger? No, thatβs not an appropriate characterization. But itβs a highlight from The Secret of Us.
Appears in π»:
~ Table of Contents ~
8. Kevin Atwater, βwhy did you invite me to your weddingβ
βwhy did you invite me to your weddingβ // Kevin Atwater // 2023Β
βI got your message last night around 1:00 / Youβre getting married, and you want me to come.β Kevin Atwater continues, βYou miss me a lot and the weddingβs next month / I think you were drunk, you spelled βweddingβ wrong / I used to break wishbones and pray that you liked me.β Misspelling wedding is questionable. Still, the more telling lyric is the latter.Β In βwhy did you invite me to your weddingβ, there is a bond between Kevin (or his character) and this man who is now getting married. The bond seemed to transcend friendship, at least from Kevinβs perspective. Still, a 1:00 am text from a soon-to-be groom whom we presume is marrying a woman (he paints his crush as a jock)? Sounds gay, or at least, there was something thereβ¦
The point is that this reconnection has Kevin in his feelings.Β He penned a relatable song that captures the plight of gay romance. Did he crush on a βstraightβ guy, hoping there was a chance? That is the question. Atwater has feelings for someone who may or may not reciprocate those feelings in the way heβd hoped β boyfriend and boyfriend.Β The second verse recalls an incident that speaks to the fact that maybe, the groom-to-be wasnβt so straightβ¦???
ββ¦Caught in the moment
I kissed you and then you got quiet
You couldβve hurt me, it wouldβve been easy
β¦ But you took my hand and asked me to dance
To nothing and never brought it up again.β
His friend is one of the nice boys β marriage material. He also could beβ¦ you knowβ¦ In the final chorus, things are confused.Β Kevin has questions, notes how things have changed, and knows heβd mess things up for his friend/crush and bride-to-be. As much as βI wanna call you with a hand in my pants,β rightfully, Atwater closes the chapter without closing it: βIβll never know why / Cause Iβll never reply / So you can just stay nice / In the back of my mind.β Atwater drops an honest, thought-provoking gem with βwhy did you invite me to your weddingβ. Atwater sounds radiant, backed by warm, dreamy-sounding production (Hazey Eyes).Β
Appears in π»:
- Kevin Atwater, why did you invite me to your wedding: Beaming with Pride π³οΈβπ 51 (2024)
- 15 Intriguing Songs Filled with WHY (2024)
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9. Kem, βWhy Would You Stayβ
Intimacy // Motown // 2010
βThereβs a light shininβ on you / And baby, Iβm tremblinβ inside / Loved a woman that I barely knew / I mustβve been outta mind.β Underrated. Kem (Kem Owens) is a class act in the adult contemporary, grown-folks R&B market.Β His music is refined, sophisticated, and thoughtful.Β Among his best songs is βWhy Would You Stayβ, Β the seventh track from his third studio album, Intimacy (2010).Β βWhy Would You Stayβ failed to reach the pop charts (heβs only charted once on the Billboard Hot 100).Β It did, however, impact the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at no. 17.Β Notably, Intimacy debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard 200, his best showing. It was eventually certified gold by the RIAA. Β Also, despite a lack of pop success for βWhy Would You Stay,β he was nominated for two Grammys: Male R&B Vocal Performance and R&B Song.Β He penned the love song, producing alongside Rex Rideout. The verses are beautifully written while the chorus is the crΓ¨me de la crΓ¨me β the centerpiece:
βOh, I
I’ll never hurt you again
Girl, I
I know you deserve a better man
Hey, I
I was a fool to ever let you down
So why would you stay?β
Kem delivers an ultra-sincere performance.Β His vocals are refined β sophisticated to the nth degree.Β Showing off top-notch musicianship, he ups the ante instinctually, never over-singing. Ultimately, βWhy Would You Stayβ exemplifies adult contemporary R&B at its finest.Β The sound and production β keys, rhythm section, and strings β are decadent.
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10. Paul Young, βEvery Time You Go Awayβ
The Secret Of Association // Sony Music Entertainment // 1985
To recap, Daryl Hall & John Oates (Hall & Oates) originally recorded βEverytime You Go Awayβ. It was written by Hall, the non-single appeared on their 1980 album, Voices. English singer Paul Young released a sweet cover of βEvery Time You Go Awayβ on his 1985 album, The Secret Of Association.Β Kind of a big deal, it reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.Β The sound is quintessential of soft rock in the β80s. Laurie Latham produced the distinct remake.
βAnd every time you go away
You take a piece of me with you.β
Thatβs about the size of the section to beat, the chorus.Β Itβs simple but telling; ultra-relatable. Adding to the allure of that memorable section are harmonized vocals β always a win! Before the chorus ever arrives, there is an enigmatic intro which is unrushed.Β Again, this rendition is characteristic of the β80s with its drum machine, detuned synths, heavenly keys, rhythm guitar, and fretless bass (Pino Palladino).Β There are ample rhythmic lines instrumentally. Also, there are vocals mixed in the background that set the tone (βDonβt leave me all alone / Picking up the piecesβ). The main attraction is Paul Young, of course.Β His vocals are smooth and commanding, and, his tone is beautiful.Β A beautiful tone to sing tuneful melodies is a match made in heaven!Β The chorus sums up the record, but the verses yield magic as well.Β βEvery Time You Go Awayβ in Youngβs hands is pretty sweet.
Appears in π»:
- Paul Young, Every Time You Go Away: Covers No. 34 (2024)
- Hall & Oates vs. Paul Young: Head 2 Head No. 38 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
11. Chappell Roan, βPicture Youβ
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess // KRA International Inc. / Island // 2023Β
βDraw the blinds / Light every candle / Slip off my pretty dress down my chest.β Ooh-la-la, Chappell Roan (Kayleigh Rose Amstutz) β itβs getting hot π₯΅ in here! Amstutz released her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in September 2023.Β The critically acclaimed LP βblew upβ in 2024 thanks to the popularity of βHOT TO GO!β and a non-album track, βGood Luck, Babe!β. βHOT TO GO!β is the song to beat from The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess but the album is loaded with bops. βPicture Youβ, the ninth track, is one of βem. Amstutz and producer Dan Nigro penned the fabulous, sexy, retro-pop, compound duple ballad.
βCounting lipstick stains where you should be,β Chappell concludes the first verse memorably.Β The pre-chorus is even more memorable because it raises eyebrows: βOh, I need you around / Iβm getting close now.β Use your imagination π.Β Anyways, βPicture Youβ thrives off of tuneful melodies during the verses.Β The melody is most tuneful during the memorable, high-flying chorus where she asks:
βDo you picture me like I picture you?
Am I in the frame from your point of view?
Do you feel the same? Iβm too scared to say
Half of the things I do when I picture you.β
Hmm, things she does, huh? Men are more notorious for it, but women do it too π π. The songwriting is engaging songwriting from the opening tip to the closing note.Β In the second verse, Chappell wants to know βall your perversions.β Spicy! Beyond strong lead vocals and memorable lyrics, Amstutz gets a lift from background vocals and a classy, refined musical backdrop. βPicture Youβ is sexy, βself-indulgent,β and utterly sweet.
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12. Jerry Butler, βNever Give You Upβ
The Ice Man Cometh // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1968
βNever gonna give you up / No matter how you treat me / Never gonna give you up / So donβt you think of leavinβ.β Jerry Butler had a successful musical career, particularly in the 1960s.Β Notably, Butler was also a politician.Β One of Jerryβs most important albums is The Ice Man Cometh, released in 1968. The biggest hit from the LP is βOnly The Strong Surviveβ. Beyond that strong gem, βNever Give You Upβ, the seventh track, is superb too. It peaked at no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Butler penned βNever Give You Upβ with the iconic songwriting and production duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.
With Gamble and Huff behind the boards, the backdrop is classy, refined, and sophisticated to the nth degree.Β The orchestration is marvelous (the beauty and punch of brass), while the rhythm section is tight. Butler sings over the backdrop like a champ.Β He gives an authentic, nuanced, and well-rounded performance. βGirl, you treat me bad, and I know why,β Butler sings in the first verse, continuing, βYeah, Iβve seen you runninβ around with another guy / And you think, if you hurt me, that Iβll go away.β Oh, my! In the second verse, her tactics are similar: βYou think youβre gonna take me and put me on the shelf? / Girl, Iβd rather die than see you with somebody else.β Oh, snap! The section to beat is the chorus, among the most memorable of Butlerβs career (excerpted at the top). Β Butler is NEVER GONNA GIVE HER UP! Even though his βfriends say heβs a fool,β heβs resolved to win her affection.Β Love makes you do crazy things and the ultra-memorable βNever Give You Upβ is a prime example. Jerry Butler shines.
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~ Table of Contents ~
13. Donny Hathaway, βI Love You More Than Youβll Ever Knowβ
Extension of a Man // Atlantic // 1973
βIf I ever leave you, baby, you can say I told you so / And if I ever hurt you, you know I hurt myself as well.β Grammy-winning, highly influential musician Donny Hathaway possessed one of the most expressive and soulful voices, which he shows off in βI Love You More Than Youβll Ever Knowβ.Β Shockingly not a Hathaway original, it was written by Al Kooper. Blood, Sweat & Tears originally recorded it.Β Hathaway covered it on his 1973 album, Extension of a Man. βI Love You More Than Youβll Ever Knowβ modestly impacted the pop charts, peaking at no. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Hathaway is a selfless, trustworthy man in the song. In the second verse, he reminds her, βYou know I brought it home [my paycheck] to you baby / And I never spent a red cent.β In the third, heβs willing to be whatever she wants him to be: βI can be king of everything / Or just a tiny grain of sand.β The centerpiece is the chorus:
βIs that any way for a man to carry on?
Do you think I want my loved one gone?
Said I love you
More than youβll ever know.β
The bridge, which differentiates itself from the rest of the song, has a strong argument as the section to beat (βIβm not trying to be / Just any kind of manβ¦β).Β Part of the reason is the music. Beyond his dramatic, expressive, and soulful vocals, the instrumental accompaniment is divine. It is marvelously orchestrated, embracing the symphonic nature of soul music in the 1970s (winds and strings in addition to the rhythm section). Hathaway was a skilled arranger.Β During the bridge, the instrumental is at its best with orchestral touches. Notably, David βFatheadβ Newman plays a mean tenor saxophone.Β Hathaway also plays (piano and organ) alongside his arranging and singing chops.Β Hathaway scored two top 10 hits, neither of which is βI Love You More Than Youβll Ever Knowβ.Β Regardless, this is one of his best songs, showcasing top-notch musicianship.
Appears in π»:
~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~
13 Irresistible YOU Songs (2024) [π·: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista, Artist Partner Group, Inc., Atlantic, Concord, HEXAGON, Island, ISO Supremacy, Medium Build, LLC, Motown, Odetari, Omar Apollo, PULSE, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner; Designecologist, Mikael Blomkvist from Pexels]
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