13 Little or Small Songs That Transcend Size features music courtesy of 6LACK, Florida Georgia Line, Mac Miller, Maggie Rogers, and Regina Spektor. Â
According to country singer Joe Nichols, âHeâll feel her world with laughter / Size matters, size matters.â The question is, does size really matter? On this particular playlist, not so much. All of the songs on 13 Little or Small Songs That Transcend Size feature either the word little or small in their respective title. That said, the songs themselves clearly transcend size, at least in regard to quality. Musicians contributing to this little/small-centric playlist include 6LACK (âPretty Little Fearsâ), Florida Georgia Line (âSmall Townâ), Mac Miller (âSmall Worldsâ), Maggie Rogers (âGive a Littleâ), and Regina Spektor (âSmall Bill$â) among others.
1. Maggie Rogers, âGive A Littleâ
Heard It in a Past Life âą Capitol âą 2019
âIf you would open up your heart / Drop your weapons, drop your guard / Just a little trust is all it takesâŠâ Maggie Rogers â That NYU student who once caught Pharrell Williamsâ attention for her single, âAlaskaâ â commences her full-length debut album, Heard It in a Past Life, with a bang with âGive a Little.â From the onset, the groove is driving and absolutely infectious to the nth degree. Rogers delivers commanding vocals without ever coming close to over-singing â cool, yet also has ample âoomph.â Rogers keeps the melody on the verses relatively simple, with multiple repeated notes â just an observation!
The best moment of âGive a Littleâ comes by way of the chorus.
âBut if you give a little, get a little Maybe we could get to know each other Give a little, get a little, give a little And if you give a little, get a littleâŠâ
Yeah, itâs repetitive, but infectious.
2. Florida Georgia Line, âSmall Townâ
Canât Say I Ainât Country âą Big Machine âą 2019
âI bet you been sittinâ on a John Deere tractor / Bet you been fishinâ with an old cane pole / Been cow-tippinâ in a big green pasture / Burned up a clutch on a red dirt roadâŠâ Okay⊠In the context of Canât Say I Ainât Country, the fourth studio album by country duo Florida Georgia Line, âSmall Townâ continues the countrification, or at least the confirmation of such. This is a popular topic in country music, so much so that itâs become clichĂ©. Thatâs the case on âSmall Townâ which is harmless and inoffensive, yet nothing âbrand-newâ in concept.
The guitars are souped-up, the twang full-throttle, and the melodic lines chocked-full of rhythm. Maybe the most âinnovativeâ aspect is the rap, or pseudo-rap. Does FGL have bars? Um⊠weâll leave that alone.  The key reason why âSmall Townâ made this list? Well, it features the world âsmallâ in its title, so, it meets the criteria. The chorus continues as follows:
âHomegrown twist, a pinch of tobacco Shiner Friday night, the sun settinâ real slow In the parking lot with the party crowd Little bit of love in the truck way out If youâre pickinâ up what I'm puttinâ down You might be from a small town You might be from a small town.â
3. Alessia Cara, âA Little Moreâ
The Pains of Growing âą Def Jam âą 2018
Grammy-winning pop/R&B artist Alessia Cara keeps it brief and stripped on âA Little Moreâ, which appears on her underrated sophomore album, The Pains of Growing. Just about two-and-half-minutes in length, sheâs accompanied chiefly by electric guitar, pads and textures, and background vocals. Naturally, thereâs an intimacy and simplicity about the record, which is appropriate given the theme â getting closer with her boo. While sheâs not working with an array of sounds to ornament her voice, save for the more dynamic ending, she delivers absolutely stunning vocals. Her ability to deliver with authenticity and honesty is her biggest selling point, particularly with this uncomplicated little ditty.
âHey you Hey, Mister knock on my door Iâm sorry that Iâve been emotions galore Am I crazy for wanting a little bit more?â
4. 6LACK, âPretty Little Fearsâ
Ft. J. Cole
East Atlanta Love Letter âą Interscope âą 2018
âShe know my stick nothing but magic babe / I be swinging it back and forth, âtil you in your casket, bae, mm.â Confident, freaky, and just plumb nasty 6LACK, but also one of the most memorable lines from âPretty Little Fears,â a highlight from East Atlanta Love Letter. While 6LACKâs game as the lead artist is intriguing on this song, the deepest lyrics hail from J. Cole. On his guest verse, J. Cole is chocked-full of dedication, rapping, âYou the flower that I gotta protect / To keep alive in the winter time, aye, donât you die yet.â Sweet.
Going back to 6LACK, his chorus, sung somewhat stoically, is also worth mentioning.
âNow I just wanna know Donât you sugarcoat Iâll say it all if you wonât Now could you tell me like it is? Pretty little fears Music to my ears.â Â
âPretty Little Fearsâ appeared on previous playlists 15 Beautiful, Gorgeous, or Pretty Songs and Songs Centered on Fear.
5. MGMT, âLittle Dark Ageâ
Little Dark Age âą Columbia âą 2018
In 2018, after nearly a five-year hiatus, alternative duo MGMT (Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser) dropped their fourth studio album, Little Dark Age. Among the crĂšme de la crĂšme of Little Dark Age is the title track, âLittle Dark Ageâ, which was originally released in Fall 2017.
âLittle Dark Age,â commences with alluring, mysterious synths, which serve as the pre-cursor to a sick, infectious, alt-pop groove. The production is arguably, the best feature of the record. Even so, vocally, VanWyngarden quickly proves he hasnât missed a beat, sounding as tuned-in as ever. Throughout âLittle Dark Ages,â he compellingly delivers the âfrightening,â poetic lyrics. Adding to his effectiveness is the vocal production. While he doesnât force things, VanWyngarden sounds more assertive compared to the past, which suits the lyrical content and theme.
6. Mac Miller, âSmall Worldsâ
Swimming âą Warner Bros. âą 2018
âNo need for shame, I get more peace at slow speeds.â âSmall Worldsâ is a highlight from Swimming, the final studio album from the late, Grammy-nominated rapper, Mac Miller (1992 â 2018).  âSmall Worldsâ was one of three singles released prior to the album and was the only one to make the album.  Mac Millerâs nonchalant, chilled-out attitude is quite effective. Beyond his mellowness, he has a superb backdrop to work with, in all its soulful glory.
The old-school production is representative of soulful sounds of Pennsylvania and the East Coast rap sound. Like âWhatâs the Useâ, âSmall Worldsâ is hypnotic, feeling and sounding âfaded.â There is notable a change of pace within the last minute, where heâs accompanied by piano and finger snaps, while his rhymes pack a bit more punch. Thereâs plenty to dig about âSmall Worlds,â including a distinct golf/sex reference:
âShe say that I glow below the waist And a stroke is just so PGA.â
7. Maroon 5, âThree Little Birdsâ
Three Little Birds [Single] âąÂ Interscope âąÂ 2018
âDonât worry / About a thing / Every little thingâs gonna be alright.â In 2018, Grammy-winning pop collective Maroon 5 traded modern-, urban-pop for reggae (Note: this occurred long before frontman Adam Levine would take off his horrid looking tank at the Super Bowl to show his ripped, tatted bod). No, the band didnât record a reggae original. Instead, they covered the Bob Marley classic, âThree Little Birdsâ. On âThree Little Birds,â Maroon 5 âhandle businessâ effectively.  While Maroon 5 does Bob Marley justice, itâs safe to say this spirited, solidly executed cover doesnât trump the original, no matter how successfully Levine channels his inner Marley.
8. Dustin Lynch, âSmall Town Boyâ
Current Mood âą Broken Bow âą 2017
Tennessee country artist Dustin Lynch amps up the southern charm on âSmall Town Boyâ, the second single from his third album, Current Mood. âSmall Town Boyâ has ample pros. First and foremost, it plays directly to his southern roots. Rather than trying to employ the modern bag of country tricks â rather pop tricks â Lynch keeps it country.  Heâs southern, heâs from a small town, and thatâs what she wants. Not only is that what she wants, but for the traditional country audience, thatâs what they want too. Perhaps itâs clichĂ©, even platitudinous, but isnât southern charm and southern-ness huge in country music? Thatâs rhetorical by the way.
The chorus is a huge selling point:
âShe loves a small-town boy like me Sheâs my ride or die baby Sheâs my cool, sheâs my crazy Sheâs my laid back in the front seat Sheâs my with me to the end girl Iâm turning it up to ten, girl She can have anybody that she wants Or be anywhere she wants to be She loves a small-town boy like me.â
Of course, Dustin, thereâs lots of girls that feel that way, and plenty of guys who envy you. Just saying!
9. Token, âLittle Boyâ
Little Boy [Single] âą Token âą 2017
âAye, younginâ with a little bit of fame, Iâm prayinâ / It donât mess me up, I need to tone it down / Yeah, fuck it, fucked around and did some shit in Amsterdam / Iâll probly never tell a soul about.â On his infectious single âLittle Boyâ, up-and-coming Massachusetts rapper Token showcases a flow thatâs nothing short of irresistible. âLittle Boyâ isnât his debut single, but, itâs certainly an attention-getter. The first thing to note about âLittle Boyâ is the production, which is hot, fueling the young rapperâs fire. It has âbangerâ written all over it, thanks to the quirky, extraterrestrial synths and slick, anchoring drums. Once Token begins rapping, heâs on autopilot. His flow is tight, while his rhymes are chocked-full of confidence, game, swagger â the works.
Thereâs not much substance in his rhymes, but the killer instinct provides atonement. The hook is fire.
âShit changed, you ainât, no, no (little boy) Car fast, life fast, donât slow (little boy) She fast, cash fast, donât dope (little boy) Stone cold, hot, hot, tsst, tsst (little boy) Oh, shit! God damn! What? (little boy) Whatâs that? Aw, man! What? (little boy) âŠâ
10. Jidenna, âLittle Bit Moreâ
The Chief âą Epic âą 2017
Initially, when âLittle Bit Moreâ was released, it felt a bit underwhelming. Contextually, the record is more alluring. The production is a pro, fitting the consistent international music cues appearing throughout The Chief. Is âLittle Bit Moreâ the second coming? No, but respectable.
Take one listen to Jidennaâs latest single âLittle Bit Moreâ and itâs clear that a certain artist is being emulated. That artist would be Drake. Many of Drakeâs records mix various styles and oscillate between rapping and singing or pop-rapping. Thatâs exactly what Jidenna does here â dance, pop, hip-hop, anchored with tropical sensibility via the groove. From a production standpoint, to quote La Shun Pace, âAll Things Working.â Yeah, she was referring to God, but in this instance, the man above blessed the boards (great synth work). While the production is a mark in Jidennaâs favor, the song itself is okay at best. Even though there are pros, one of the cons is distinctiveness. âLittle Bit Moreâ doesnât distinguish itself well from other pop songs utilizing similar formulas. Returning back to the Drake comparisons, Drake executes similar records more proficiently than Jidenna.
11. Idina Menzel, âSmall Worldâ
Idina. âą Warner Bros. âąÂ 2016
âGoodbye gravity / Goodbye enemies / Iâm going up to a place where the world is small / Where I can fly above it allâŠâ Hmm, you can see where this one is going! âSmall Worldâ, an uplifting and inspirational record, serves as one of the singles and gems from Idina., the self-titled, 2016 studio album by actress-singer Idina Menzel. âSmall Worldâ features beautiful production work, while the sound is firmly planted in the adult contemporary vein.
Perhaps âSmall Worldâ suffers ever-so-slightly from the âpredictability bugâ and being âmiddle of the road,â but da-yum, itâs uplifting. A perfect example of the uplifting vibe â the empowering chorus, excerpted above and continued below.
ââŠIf I donât make it see my soul From here Iâm weightless And you sound so famous And the world is small.â
12. Highly Suspect, âLittle Oneâ
The Boy Who Died Wolf âą 300 Entertainment âą 2016
âLittle Oneâ is a well-written, personal single from frontman Johnny Stevens and Highly Suspect, released in advance of the bandâs sophomore album, The Boy Who Died Wolf.  âLittle Oneâ comes from a place of pain and regret. Stevens conveys these emotions perfectly, delivering clear and gritty vocals. Musically-speaking, âLittle Oneâ features an excellent harmonic progression, established by the guitar from the onset. Among the strongest moments is the powerful, heavy chorus.
âHey, little one Iâm so scared of what this could have been I know that today I lost my only friend My little one.â
In addition to the chorus, there are an assortment of meaningful lyrics throughout the course of âLittle One.â On the first verse, the highlight is, âIâm tired, youâre angry, and everyone looks blurry / I love you, Iâm leaving â so long.â The second verse focuses on Stevensâ junkie status:
âThe places I took you, they seem so fucking empty I have trouble going anywhere at all Especially my own bedroom And it stays awake to haunt me So passed out, black out, drunk in another bathroom stall.â
At one point, he asks, âHow long must I justify my pain through these songs? / How long, how long?â The record concludes in tender fashion.
âItâs raining; itâs sunny It doesnât make a difference I donât care about anything at all.â
13. Regina Spektor, âSmall Bill$â
Remember Us to Life âą Sire âą 2016
âSmall Bill$â is clever and well-rounded, like most Regina Spektor songs. Face it â sheâs a boss. The highlight from Remember Us to Life captivates from the jump. It features an exceptional percussive groove thatâs clearly distinct. In addition to the beat, the harmonic progression is interesting, sporting quirks that make it clever. The sound of the record is definitely a selling point, incorporating elements of alternative, pop, soul, jazz, and hip-hop. Hip-hop and Regina Spektor? Yep, and it actually works.
Other than the sound, another brilliant aspect of âBill$â are Spektorâs nonsensical vocals. The âla laâsâ are irresistibly delicious! The verse vocals embrace that hip-hop sensibility given their rhythmic nature. Lyrically, Spektor isnât shabby in the least. Among the crĂšme de la crĂšme is:
âAll the poets in the alley coughing up blood And their visions and their dreams are coming up They can neither wake up or go deeper But itâs so dangerous to wake a deep sleeper.â
[Photo Credits: 300 Entertainment, Big Machine, Broken Bow, Capitol, Columbia, Def Jam, Epic, Interscope, Pexels, Pixabay, Sire, Token, Warner Bros.]