13 More Songs Centered on Life | Playlist 🎧

1. John Legend, “One Life”

💿 Bigger Love • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 2020 

“Let’s go everywhere and nowhere / … Let’s bathe in the moonlight / Dance around the stars / Maybe go too far…” In the context of 💿Bigger Love, the sixth studio album by 🎙John Legend, 🎵“One Life” feels like a perfect fit for the soulful, Grammy-winning musician.  Legend is known for being incredibly ‘woke’ to the music of old, while bringing and bridging it into the 21^st century. Notably, this groovy gem is produced by a 🏆Grammy-winner in his own right, 🎙Anderson .Paak, as well as 🎙Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman. I can’t emphasize enough what wonders they do for Legend.

On “One Life,” there’s a heaping dose of love and dedication – the optimism about marriage and unshakable monogamy is definitely on 10.  On the aforementioned second verse, by the end, Legend goes on to state, that together, it feels “Like even outer space could be attainable.” On the chorus, he sums it up perfectly:

“We’ve got one life
I won’t waste it, one life
I’m gon’ taste the joy in every minute
Beginnin’ ‘til the finish
We’ve got one life
Get lost together, one life
We’ll go wherever, ‘til the ride is over
Everywhere and nowhere, we’ll go.”

Perhaps a younger R&B fan will miss the sleazier side of the genre with something this refined, but they probably aren’t vibing with Legend anyways TBH!

2. Future, “Life is Good”

Ft. Drake

💿 High on Life • 🏷 Epic • 🗓 2020

🎙Drake and 🎙Future – a match made in heaven.  Okay, maybe that’s overreaching, but honestly, ‘The 6 God’ and Future Hendrix have collaborated a lot over the years.  Apparently, there can never be enough collaborations between the Toronto rapper/singer and an Atlanta rapper.  Their latest musical union, 🎵“Life Is Good” is credited to Mr. Hendrix as the lead artist, and ends up on his 2020 studio album, 💿High on Life.

Drake handles the first part of this two-parter, which is essentially divided by artist contributions.  He begins by delivering a slick, melodic, and catchy chorus that finds him in the zone.  He follows the chorus with one verse, which like the chorus, encompasses the come up, flexing, and of course, haters.  After one final iteration of the chorus, Future drops an interlude before the second part of the song is a complete 180.  Sure, Drake’s portion was anchored with a hard beat and banging production suited to him, but Future gets a backdrop that is characteristic to his style.

On the chorus, the first section of the second part of the song, Future flexes like a boss.  Indeed, “Life is Good” – “Yeah, hunnid thousand for the cheapest ring on a n***a finger, lil’ bitch, woo!” Where Drake only served up one verse, we get two verses of Hendrix, with the colorful chorus separating them.  Furthermore, the chorus follows the second verse, as does an outro that highlights the aforementioned opening line of the flex-heavy section.  The verses are just about what you expect: Future drenched in autotune, referencing drip, drugs, and of course, sex.  Ultimately, it’s shallow as albeit. “Life is Good” is enjoyable enough without being ‘the second coming.’ It’s neat that there are two distinct parts, yet it’s disjointed simultaneously. It previously earned a spot on 🎧11 More Really ‘Good’ Songs… It’s That Simple.

3. Kehlani, “Change Your Life”

Ft. Jhené Aiko

💿 It Was Good Until It Wasn’t • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2020

“I’m tryin’ to switch up your cadence / Book flights and vaca-ca-cations / Tequila and rela-la-lations / Kissin’ on new places, oh whoa…” 💿It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, the highly anticipated sophomore album by R&B singer 🎙Kehlani, finally arrived in May 2020.  Among the crème de la crème of 2020, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t is an enjoyable contemporary R&B effort that finds the singer ‘keeping it 100’ from start to finish. Perhaps the album whole won’t change your life, but Kehlani, alongside featured guest 🎙Jhené Aiko, have the ability to change their lover’s lives on 🎵“Change Your Life.”

“Change Your Life” provides us with some girl power.  While I don’t automatically envision a collaboration between Kehlani and Jhené Aiko, it’s actually not far-fetched.  Both are great at establishing a ‘vibe,’ and neither are characterized by gospel histrionics when they sing.  They join forces on the second chorus, but only sing in unison on select lines, otherwise holding down their respective parts.

“Baby, let me change your life
You wanna see (Everything)
That you can be anything you want (anything)
Baby, let me change your life
You oughta be (everything)
You oughta be anything (anything)...”

The premise of the song, as aforementioned is that they’re gonna change the lives of their lovers. Why? Because they are powerful, loving, and loyal women.

4. Trevor Daniel, “Past Life”

💿 Nicotine • 🏷 Alamo / Interscope • 🗓 2020

Pop singer/songwriter 🎙Trevor Daniel definitely delivers a ‘vibe’ on his brief but entertaining debut album, 💿Nicotine. Though Daniel only gives us 10 tracks running 25 minutes, quality is > than quantity.  For a little background, he first garnered attention thanks to his 2018 single, “Falling”. Notably, “Falling” received a Summer Walker remix in January 2020, months before Nicotine would arrive (March 27).  The big takeaway after listening to Nicotine is how much potential Trevor has. Of course, on 13 MORE SONGS CENTERED ON LIFE, we’re focused on the one song that features the word ‘life’ in its song title, 🎵“Past Life”.

The penultimate record is well-written and reflective. Daniel delivers an expressive and nuanced vocal performance.  He begins singing in his mid-lower register, ascending on the pre-chorus and hitting the goldmine on the chorus.

“Last night was the last night of my past life
Got me here like you can never figure me out
Last night was the last time, was the last time
I’ll never let you figure me out
Sitting here, talking to myself
Thinking how I used to use you
Only thing I’m used to
Last night was the last night of my past life, woah.”

The repetition of words on the chorus exhibit a sense of anxiety and emotional instability, while the reflectiveness is exhibited on the verses (“And if I could convince myself to feel it / You know I would feel it, I would”).  Ultimately, this satisfying record also features production work by 🎙FINNEAS and 🎙Sean Myer, with a marvelous backdrop comprised of guitars and keyboards, eventually expanding with a sleek, urban beat. “Past Life” is satisfying in every facet.

5. Perfume Genius, “Whole Life”

💿 Set My Heart on Fire Immediately • 🏷 Matador • 🗓 2020

On his fifth studio album, 💿Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, 🎙Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas) showcases a high level of musicianship, delivering a truly unique, artful listening experience.  Unsurprisingly, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately landed near the top of the stacked 🎧21 Best Albums of 2020 (So Far). The album commences with a bang – albeit a beautiful one – with 🎵“Whole Life,” a perfect fit for 13 MORE SONGS CENTERED ON LIFE.

“Half of my whole life is gone / Let it drift and wash away / It was just a dream I had / It was just a dream I had.” To reemphasize, Hadreas commences Set My Heart on Fire Immediately beautifully, poetically, and introspectively with “Whole Life.” “Whole Life” is a ballad with many retro cues and sensibilities – the lushness of the sound is ‘to die for.’ Hadreas sings with great sincerity as he reflects on age and his evolution in life in general. Among the key, memorable lyrical moments are, “I once hummed the seasons / Now, I’m whistling.”

6. Sia, “Saved My Life”

🎵 “Saved My Life” • 🏷 Monkey Puzzle / RCA • 🗓 2020

🎵“Saved My Life”, the second song released by 🎙Sia (Sia Furler) in 2020 is a standalone single born out of the coronavirus pandemic. “Saved My Life” was debuted during Americares’ COVID is NO Joke livestream fundraiser, according to Rolling Stone.  “Saved My Life” definitely has credentials behind it, written by Furler, 🎙Dua Lipa, and 🎙Greg Kurstin. The record commences with a lovely piano introduction.  One of the selling points is how the song establishes itself and percolates.  Sia initiates her vocal performance with the memorable lyric, “Boom, boom, boom / Beats my heart,” marking the beginning of the first verse. From the start, she delivers excellent vocals, which continue on throughout the record. Her performance is authentic, beautiful, and expressive through and through.

Shifting to the production, in addition to radiant piano that graces the backdrop, the groove established is also strong.  Definitely well-produced, Greg Kurstin unleashes his magic once again. As far as the songwriting, there’s a lot of repetition on the verses.  Even so, it’s effective in this particular instance, successfully conveying the point. After the enigmatic start of the first verse, the second verse is more stable and established, with the full complement of instrumentation behind it. The crowning achievement is the soaring chorus, which is empowering, memorable, and thoughtful:

“Well, someone must have sent you here to save my life
Someone must have sent you to save me tonight
I know that in darkness, I have found my light
I know that in darkness, I’ve been given sight
In your loving arms, I feel delight
In your loving arms, I’ll be alright
Someone must have sent you to save me tonight
Someone must have sent you here to save my life.”

I love the ad-libs by during the final chorus.  They further amplify the power and grandeur of “Saved My Life.” Ultimately, Sia has done it again! “Saved My Life” is a winner through and through. It’s a relatively simple but potent record.  “Saved My Life” previously appeared on 🎧Songs That Capture & Embody the Pandemic, Vol. 2.

7. Norah Jones, “This Life”

💿 Pick Me Up Off the Floor • 🏷Capitol • 🗓2020

It’s certainly true that success can be fleeting.  🎙Norah Jones has certainly experienced more success than many could ever dream of achieving.  That said, it’s been years since the eclectic pop/jazz/singer-songwriter has had the same level of relevancy that she once had.  To show you how far Jones have fallen commercially, her quietly released 2020 studio album, 💿Pick Me Up Off the Floor, debuted modestly at no. 87.  This, is from the same artist who is one of the rare artists with a million-selling week under her belt, not to mention a top-two album as recent as 2016.  But, that’s definitely LIFE, and that’s what this playlist is about, so, let’s focus on Jones’ song, 🎵“This Life.”

For those who have rode with Norah Jones since the beginning, “This Life” is vintage Norah through and through.  The instrumentation keeps things simple but highly effective.  So, what are we working with? Bluesy, jazzy piano, string bass, and drums.  Also, we get some soulful background vocals, in addition to the refined, cool lead vocals of Jones.  Lyrically, “This Life” keeps things pretty simple as well – nothing in the least is complicated.  The majority of the lyrics come down to one line: “This life as we know it… is over.” That’s essentially the chorus, which appears at the beginning and end of the song. In the middle, we get a verse (“Some may run, but I won’t hide /… God might see us through”) and a bridge of sorts (“Hearts frozen / … bonds breaking”). Well under three minutes, “This Life” is a pretty sweet record, all in all.

8. Lil Uzi Vert, “Bigger Than Life”

💿 Eternal Atake (Deluxe) – LUV vs. The World 2 • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2020

“I thought she was G, when I put in my D / She was screamin’, she said, ‘Come on, take it out…” Certainly, an eyebrow raising lyric from the chorus of the song, 🎵“Bigger Than Life.” “Bigger Than Life” appears on 💿Eternal Atake / Eternal Atake (Deluxe) – LUV vs. The World 2, among the most successful albums of 2020. 🏆Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙Lil Uzi Vert returned after more than a two-year hiatus, delivering some compelling moments throughout. On the 9^th track from Eternal Atake, Uzi’s flow is compelling AF – he definitely raps his a$$ off.

That said, what does Lil Uzi Vert rap his a$$ off about? What’s the big takeaway from “Bigger Than Life,” beside an outlandish cock – I mean – sexual reference? Well, the outlandish reference speaks directly to just how cocky and confident Lil Uzi Vert is.  Sure, he states he’s not cocky, but the proof is in the pudding, not to mention the song title. There are also plenty of lyrical examples such as “I’m switchin’ my hoes, same way I’m switchin’ my clothes,” “Hand wet, I ain’t playin’ with her coochie,” and then the simple, “Yeah, a n***a like me be show-stoppin’.” Big Dick Energy is a thing, supposedly, and Lil Uzi Vert has it… maybe…

9. Declan McKenna, “The Key to Life on Earth”

💿 Zeroes • 🏷 Tomplicated • 🗓 2020

🎙Declan McKenna has proven himself to be wise behind his years – quite woke to say the least. His 2020 sophomore album, 💿Zeros, arrives via Tomplicated Records, and includes the impressive, life-referencing single, 🎵“The Key to Life on Earth”. “The Key to Life on Earth” excels across the board.  First and foremost, McKenna is a star, delivering bright, expressive, and energetic vocals. He possesses a degree of rawness, which easily cuts through the production.  He’s also assisted by some pretty sweet, multitalented background vocalists. The production is bright and shimmering, bursting with energy.  Like Declan’s vocals, the enthusiasm level is high.  What stands out specifically is the tone color and timbre, particularly the keyboards and guitar.

The vocals are great, and the instrumental is too, so, that leaves lyrics and theme.  As expected, McKenna brings in some socially conscious elements.  He sings about young people in England:

“Holy smokes
You kids and your jokes
Asking where we got our jeans and where the hell we found our coats
‘Cause dirty streets these days are graced by Nikes of black and green
And headstrong boys in chinos barely grasp what that could mean.”

Also, he references being ‘trapped’ because, “They’ve got it in for me”:

“We’ve been held back for after-school meetings
They’ve got it in for me
For all it’s worth
The key to life on Earth
Jokers, happy go xenophobe locals
Have got it in for me
For all I’m worth
The key to life on Earth.”

The outro is quite a treat too. Honestly, Declan McKenna is ALWAYS a treat, and “The Key to Life on Earth” is a prime example. #Winning. “The Key to Life on Earth” previously appeared on 🎧11 Captivating Songs About the Earth – Well – Some of Them and 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: April 2020.

10. Vampire Weekend, “This Life”

💿 Father of the Bride • 🏷 Sony • 🗓 2019

In 2019, Grammy-winning alternative collective 🎙Vampire Weekend returned with an alluring, consistent, and well-rounded fourth studio album, 💿Father of the Bride.  There was no shortage of highlights, and honestly, I wasn’t the east bit surprised that the album was a contender for the highly coveted Album of the Year. Perhaps 🎵“This Life” isn’t the first bop from Father of the Bride that comes to mind (Looking at you “Harmony Hall and “2021”), yet, it’s pretty sweet.

The thrilling “This Life” thrives off of its major-key, optimistic sound. Even more alluring are the lyrics and themes.  So, what do you cover 🎙Ezra Koenig? Do you actually “give a fuck about an Oxford Comma”, now, haha (couldn’t resist, sorry).  In all seriousness, “This Life” includes literal, mutual relationship issues (“I’ve been cheating on, cheating on you”), war (“I just thought the drums of war beat louder warnings”), and existential matters (“Baby, I know death probably hasn’t happened yet / ‘Cause I don’t remember living life before this”).  Well, safe to say, “This Life” is definitely a song centered on life!

11. BROCKHAMPTON, “Love Me for Life”

💿 GINGER • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 2019

“I wish you’d love me for life / Love me for life, love me for life, wish you would lie…” 💿GINGER, the fifth studio album by 🎙BROCKHAMPTON, ranked among the very best albums of 2019. Prior to the release of GINGER, the boys whetted listeners’ eager palates with stellar advance singles 🎵“I Been Born Again”, 🎵“If You Pray Right”, 🎵“Boy Bye”, and “No Halo.” In addition to those gems, GINGER has plenty more standouts.  While 🎵“Love Me for Life” wasn’t among my favorites from the album, it is still worth talking about by all means.

The penultimate record gets sick production work, characteristic of the modern hip-hop sound.  🎙Kevin Abstract performs the first verse, notably referencing grills and shouting out a lost friend (“Diamond on my tooth / R.I.P. my brother Luke”). 🎙Joba delivers a beautifully sung second verse, including standout lyrics like “Keep a blade, heaven sakes, had to raise the stakes / Dracula, in a cave, a bit lonely, mane / Grab a stake, have a cape, it don’t work no more.”  As lovely and mellow as it is, 🎙Merlyn Wood brings a third verse that’s turnt-up to the nth degree – LIT:

“Shoot me a sheriff for Trayvon Martin
King, Ali, and Bob Marley
Dirt on me, I’m finna blossom.”

🎙Bearface appears on the closing refrain, excerpted above.  BROCKHAMPTON certainly seem to have a lot on their minds with this particular cut.  Oh the heaviness of life!

12. Coldplay, “Everyday Life”

💿 Everyday Life • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2019

“‘Cause everyone hurts / Everyone cries / Everyone tells each other all kinds of lies / Everyone falls / Everybody dreams and doubts / Got to keep dancing when the lights go out.” Very inspiring, 🎙Chris Martin, very inspiring.  Perhaps that’s the silver lining considering something happened to multiplatinum, multi-Grammy-winning alternative rock collective, 🎙Coldplay that never happens – or at least, it hadn’t up until this point. Coldplay released their eighth studio album, 💿Everyday Life, in 2019 and it ended up being a commercial flop.  Nonetheless, the closing track, 🎵“Everyday Life”, is indeed a bright spot.

“Everyday Life” concludes the ambitious LP, totally feeling like the coda. The production includes piano, keyboards, and lush, emotional strings. In regard to songwriting, Martin and the gang opt for the more transcendent and meaningful. On the first verse, Martin has legitimate, open-ended questions: “What kind of world do you want it to be? / Am I the future or the history?” On the second, he sings, “How in the world am I going to see / You as my brother / … Not my enemy?” The concept should be simple, yet, it’s incredibly complicated given the amount of racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and other hindrances that exist worldwide.  Racism is certainly at the forefront in 2020.

13. Sturgill Simpson, “Life of Sin”

💿 Metamodern Sounds in Country Music • 🏷 High Top Mountain • 🗓 2014

🎙Sturgill Simpson had a pretty sweet run in the 2010s.  In 2014, he delivered one of the most critically acclaimed country albums of the decade with 💿Metamodern Sounds in Country Music.  A 🏆Grammy-nominated album, Simpson would win the Grammy for Best Country Album for another excellent country album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, which was also nominated for Album of the Year.  But the focus is Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, specifically the second track on the album, 🎵“Life of Sin.”

On the intentionally vintage, retro country joint, Sturgill Simpson “Thank(s) God for this here life of sin.” His honesty is appreciated throughout the course of the record, apparent from the jump.

“Well, lately things have been a little more complicated
Quality of life has got me down
Well, sex is cheap, and talk is overrated
And the boys and me are still working on the sound.”

That’s only the beginning of the laments for Simpson.  Love comes into play, as does the bottle, with Simpson adding, “But the paranoia is slowly creepin’ in / I keep drinkin’ myself silly.” Of course, the self-hatred is quite relatable when he asserts, “Every morning when I rise look in the mirror and despise / The sight of everything and all that I’ve become.” Been there Sturgill, been there! This is a modern, old-school country record at its best.  “Life of Sin” previously appeared no the playlist, 🎧 12 Thrilling, But Utterly Sinful Songs.