Reading Time: 18 min read

13 Rad Fitting, Clothing-Related Songs (2025) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Daria Liudnaya, Edmond Dantรจs, fauxels, Luรขn Phan, Michael Obstoj, Tazz Vaughn, TMA Management from Pexels; AcatXIo from Pixabay]13 Rad Fitting, Clothing-Related Songs features songs by Kane Brown, Kehlani, KETTAMA, Kim Petras, Leon Thomas, and Lizzo.

Shirts! Polos! Jeans! Undies! Shoes! YITTY! All of those garments appear on the clothes-based playlist, 13 Rad Fitting, Clothing-Related Songs. This clothing-related musical compendium should not be confused with 13 Songs Focused Exclusively on Clothes, published earlier in 2025.ย  In that list, some form of the word clothes was a requirement. On this clothing list, the word clothes isnโ€™t necessary, but some form of garment, or something related to wearing something, IS a requirement. 13 Rad Fitting, Clothing-Related Songs features songs by Kane Brown, Kehlani, KETTAMA, Kim Petras, Leon Thomas, and Lizzo. So, without further ado, grab your lucky pair of undies (whatever your preference is) and a pair of headphones, and check out these 13 Rad Fitting, Clothing-Related Songs!


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1. Lizzo, โ€œYITTY ON YO TITTYS (FREESTYLE)โ€ 2. Kehlani, โ€œFoldedโ€ 3. Leon Thomas & Kehlani, โ€œDirt On My Shoesโ€ 4. KETTAMA, Shady Nasty & Fred again.., โ€œAir Maxesโ€
5. Kim Petras, โ€œPoloโ€ 6. Kane Brown, โ€œ2 Pairโ€ 7. Thomas Day, โ€œUnderwearโ€ 8. Tonio Armani, โ€œHelp Me Find My Drawlsโ€
9. Owen Pallett, โ€œLewis Takes Off His Shirtโ€ 10. Gogol Bordello, โ€œStart Wearing Purpleโ€ 11. The Dynamic Superiors, โ€œShoe Shoe Shineโ€ 12. James Cleveland, โ€œTouch The Hem Of His Garmentโ€
13. Sam Cooke, โ€œTouch The Hem of His Garmentโ€ ย  ย  ย 

 


1. Lizzo, โ€œYITTY ON YO TITTYS (FREESTYLE)โ€

MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING ยป Nice Life Recording Company / Atlantic Recording Corporation ยป 2025

Lizzo, MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING [๐Ÿ“ท: Nice Life Recording Company / Atlantic Recording Corporation]At the end of June, Grammy-winning rapper/singer/songwriter/flautist Lizzo (Melissa Jefferson) dropped a surprise mixtape, MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING. ย Amazingly, MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING was recorded in only three days. Rather than focus on pop, she showed off her bad bitch side, rapping rather than singing for the most part. Among the songs on the project that catches the ears the most, if for no other reason than its title, is โ€œYITTY ON YO TITTYS (FREESTYLE)โ€. โ€œYITTYโ€ finds Lizzo talking her shit. With a sweet, minor-key trap backdrop produced by prxdbyjai, One Play Mike, and Zaytoven, โ€˜Lizzyโ€™ goes in. Worth noting, โ€œYITTYโ€ samples โ€œWHIM WHAMIEEโ€ by PLUTO and YKNIECE. โ€œBitch, itโ€™s Lizzo, call me Lizzy / I been fat and I been skinny, bitches still ainโ€™t fuckinโ€™ with me,โ€ she bites in the chorus, adding, โ€œBitch, itโ€™s summer, we outside, put some Yitty on your titties (we outside, ho).โ€ In case you were confused about the swimwear sheโ€™s promoting, it is called YITTY (by Fabletics). She mentions her weight throughout, including the recurring lyric from the chorus, as well as the likes of, โ€œNigga wanna smash real bad, this nigga burnt out (He burnt out) / Never fucked a big bitch before, I got him turnt out.โ€ Ultimately, โ€œYITTY ON YO TITTYS (FREESTYLE)โ€ is an enjoyable record without being game changing or transcendent.

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2. Kehlani, โ€œFoldedโ€

โ€œFoldedโ€ ยป Atlantic Recording Corporation ยป 2025

Kehlani, Folded [๐Ÿ“ท: Atlantic]โ€œItโ€™s so silly of me to act like I donโ€™t need you bad / When all, all I can think about is us since I seen you last.โ€ Those pesky matters of the heart have reared their ugly head on โ€œFoldedโ€, one of the best songs by Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Kehlani (Kehlani Parrish) [she/her/they/them]. Kehlani co-wrote โ€œFoldedโ€ with Andre Harris, DIXSON, Kamal Wilson, Don Mills, Donovan Knight (D.K. the Punisher), and Khris Riddick-Tynes. Harris, Mills, D.K. The Punisher and Riddick produced it.ย  The backdrop is gorgeous: lush, striking, and sleekly executed in every way. Parrish has ample fuel for her vocal fire, though sheโ€™s on autopilot from the get-go.

Kehlani delivers one of the premier vocal performances of her career.ย  Her instrument sounds pitch-perfect and radiant, delivering impressive runs and utterly sublime nuances. Her performance sounds authentic, as she lays it out there for this person.ย  She brings the oomph to the tuneful melodies, while the lyrics are incredibly memorable. ย In โ€œFolded,โ€ she seems to battle between still loving and being open to try again with this person, yet she is also prepared to send them on their way. โ€œCan you come pick up your clothes? / I have them folded / Meet me at the door while itโ€™s still open,โ€ she sings in the unforgettable chorus, continuing, โ€œI know itโ€™s getting cold out, but itโ€™s not frozen / So come pick up your clothes / I have them folded.โ€ With the door still ajar, in the pre-chorus, Parrish asserts, โ€œIโ€™ll let your body decide if this is good enough for you / Already folding it for you / Already folding it for you.โ€ Superb vocals, writing, and production earn โ€œFoldedโ€ a spot near or at the top of Parrishโ€™s fabulous catalog.

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3. Leon Thomas & Kehlani, โ€œDirt On My Shoesโ€

MUTT Deluxe: HEEL // UMG Recordings, Inc. / EZMNY ยป 2025

Leon Thomas, MUTT: Deluxe HEEL [๐Ÿ“ท: UMG Recordings, Inc. / EZMNY]Two of R&Bโ€™s freshest, most talented artists, Grammy winner Leon Thomas and Grammy nominee Kehlani (Kehlani Parrish), duet on the dazzling โ€œDirt On My Shoesโ€. โ€œDirt On My Shoesโ€ is the penultimate track from Thomasโ€™ 2025 album, MUTT Deluxe: HEEL. Thomas and Parrish co-wrote the gem with Khris Riddick-Tynes, Alex Goldblatt, D. Phelps, Joseph McCue, and Freaky Rob (Rob Gueringer). From the production side of things, Thomas and Parrish co-produced with Goldblatt, Phelps, Riddick-Tynes, Freaky Rob, and Jester Beats.

Kehlani draws first blood, singing the first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus. She sounds amazing, wooing and wowing us with her angelic tone and expressiveness. Parrish asserts he deserves the truth, singing, โ€œCan you just close your eyes / So you donโ€™t see the mess I hide.โ€ The lyrics resonate in the pre-chorus as Kehlani characterizes him as โ€œdamn matureโ€ and admits, โ€œAnd I didnโ€™t think to pack / On the first night that we had / Came back with some baggage / The reason that Iโ€™m damaged.โ€ Thomas brings it in the second verse, pre-chorus, and chorus.ย  She joins him sparingly during his verse and fully collaborates in the pre-chorus and chorus.ย  Like Parrish, Thomas has his shortcomings.ย  Brilliantly, he highlights, โ€œYou got post-therapy clarity / And I got good sex and sincerity.โ€ He adds vulnerable lines like, โ€œYou saw my heart and said you wasnโ€™t scared of me,โ€ and โ€œโ€˜Cause I been playing this terribly, uh / Forget whatโ€™s fair to me / But you deserve serenity.โ€ Thomas sounds top-notch, bringing the melodies to life and impressing with his nuances. Their vocal chemistry is electrifying when they sing together, particularly in the chorus:

โ€œAnd I knew I messed up the room

I had dirt up on my shoes

And I still walked into you

I still walked into you (Oh)

Oh, itโ€™s such a mess (A mess)

We can make it up in bed

Dirt all on my shoes (My shoes)

And Iโ€™m tracking it all over the house

Tracking it all over the house

Tracking shit all over the house (Oh)

Would you still want me walking around?

Still got me walking around (Oh).โ€

Ooh-wee, that is fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ! Leon Thomas and Kehlani put their foot into โ€œDirt On My Shoesโ€.ย  The vocals are elite, the songwriting sumptuous, while the musical backdrop is utterly sublime โ€“ lush and chock-full of soul.

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4. KETTAMA, Shady Nasty & Fred again.., โ€œAir Maxesโ€

Air Maxes ยป Steel City Dance Discs powered by co:brand ยป 2025ย 

KETTAMA, Shady Nasty & Fred again.., Air Maxes [๐Ÿ“ท: Steel City Dance Discs powered by co:brand]โ€œTheyโ€™re burninโ€™, canโ€™t catch up to me, I need to be a doctor / Ayy, mental in this hire car / Close โ€˜em eyes, close โ€˜em eyes and let the driver speak.โ€ Irish ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช DJ/producer KETTAMA (Evan Campbell), Sydney-based ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ band Shady Nasty, and UK ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Fred again.. collaborated on the intriguing single, โ€œAir Maxesโ€. The minimalism and subtlety of the musical backdrop, produced by KETTAMA and Fred again.., are part of the charm. Itโ€™s striking without being the slightest bit ornate. The vocals from Shady Nasty do the heavy lifting on the rhythmic, wordy sections of the song (the verses and refrain).ย  The first verse, excerpted above, sets the tone against the chill yet potent instrumental.ย  In the second verse, the Air Maxes ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ are mentioned early (โ€œThankinโ€™ them for Air Maxes and thankinโ€™ them for skylines / Couldnโ€™t be without them bothโ€). Although the refrain is a bit unusual, it endears itself with successive listens. โ€œRight foot like an anchor / Iโ€™m loaded up heavy / Could not thank you more for all these things Iโ€™m carryinโ€™ to the graveyardโ€ฆ,โ€ they sing, adding โ€œMaybe I need a taser to my chest / But then I think about the rest, like.โ€ The chorus is the least verbose and most melodic section: โ€œSecrets, I donโ€™t wanna have โ€˜em / Regrets, I donโ€™t wanna have โ€˜em.โ€ Ultimately, โ€œAir Maxesโ€ is an engaging, enjoyable, and striking record from these three talented musical acts.

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5. Kim Petras, โ€œPoloโ€

โ€œPoloโ€ ยป Amigo / Republic ยป 2025ย 

Kim Petras, Polo [๐Ÿ“ท: Amigo / Republic]โ€œI got them alligators left and right, uh / My Ralph Lauren, tight and teeny, letโ€™s go.โ€ Lacoste? The polo is a key part of Kim Petrasโ€™ brief but fun song, โ€œPoloโ€. The Grammy-winner co-wrote โ€œPoloโ€ with atlgrandma, Madison Love, and Nightfeelings (Nick Weiss). She co-produced alongside Margo XS and Nightfeelings. Lyrically, Petras has no shortage of striking moments.ย  Beyond the first verse (excerpted earlier,โ€ she drops a pair of gems in the second. โ€œYou wanna pull it with your teeth / Chow-chow,โ€ she sings, adding, โ€œSweat dripping down my upper thigh (Polo) / You wanna hit it with that polo stick (Right).โ€ Polo stick, eh? The chorus is the crรจme de la crรจme โ€“ the section to beat:

โ€œYou wanna get me out my polo shirt (uh-uh)

โ€ฆ My polo and my mini skirt (Uh-uh)

Titties poppinโ€™ out my bra (Like wow)

You wanna throw that to the floor (Right now)

Slap that logo on my ass (Uh-uh)

Make that pony come in first (Right now).โ€

Petras exhibits plenty of attitude and personality as she sings about sex.ย  As intriguing as her vocals are, the production slaps, too!ย  Ambitious, sleek, and soaked in the hyperpop aesthetic, the instrumental is prime fuel for Petrasโ€™ fire.ย  The beat and the malicious, sharp synths are everything! Kim puts her foot into โ€œPoloโ€.

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6. Kane Brown, โ€œ2 Pairโ€

โ€œ2 Pairโ€ ยป Sony Music Nashville ยป 2025ย 

Kane Brown, 2 Pair [๐Ÿ“ท: Sony Music Nashville]โ€œHey, I need some for work, I need some for church (Hey) / I need some for getting down dirty in the dirt.โ€ Sometimes,ย  Kane Brown overdoes it in โ€œ2 Pairโ€.ย  Yes, there is a need, particularly when โ€œI wear โ€˜em out till thereโ€™s holes on the outsole,โ€ but at other times, the country music standout likes it and wants to flex: โ€œDamn, I probably donโ€™t need no more / But the second I walk through the doorโ€ฆโ€ More on that in a moment.ย  โ€œ2 Pairโ€ has no shortages of writers.ย  Brown co-wrote it with Andrew Haas, Gabe Foust, Ian Franzino, Jacob Hackworth, and Jaxson Free. Jordan Schmidt produced it. As the title suggests, Kane is doubling up! In the chorus, he splurges:

โ€œGive mะต two pairs of Luccheses

All-white shirt and somะต bootcut jeans

Iโ€™ll go all night, stomping to the beat

I just got a check, blew it all on my feet like

Oh, ooh

Ain’t shit you can tell me, I feel like Nelly

Give me two pairs of Luccheses

All-white shirt and some bootcut jeans, yeah.โ€

Not only do rappers drop a bag, but so do country singers. Brown seems to have a fit that he digs: Lucchese boots ๐Ÿฅพ, white shirt ๐Ÿ‘•, and bootcut jeans ๐Ÿ‘–. And, of course, heโ€™s looking damn good, so much show that โ€œLilโ€™ shorty came with a man, but she still starinโ€™, damn.โ€ Ultimately, in โ€œ2 Pairโ€, Brown sings well, the lyrics are entertaining, and the sound is contemporary country through and through. The music during the chorus is quite robust โ€“ those mammoth-sounding drums.ย  Yee haw, cowboys and cowgirls ๐Ÿค !

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7. Thomas Day, โ€œUnderwearโ€

โ€œUnderwearโ€ ยป Arista ยป 2025

Thomas Day, Underwear [๐Ÿ“ท: Arista]โ€œWhat a thing to do.โ€ Thomas Day is heartbroken in his ballad, โ€œUnderwearโ€.ย  Despite its title, โ€œUnderwearโ€ isnโ€™t about undies, though they are mentioned: โ€œYou left your underwear / But still bought another pair / Like you really had to / Did you have to?โ€ Day and Noah Nockels composed the emotional song about an ex, who Thomas still has feelings for. Rudey produced it. Thomas sounds angelic as he bears his soul. โ€œWhy did you leave me there? / Why are you set on running out,โ€ he asks, later asking, โ€œWhy you had to change your tone?โ€ In the chorus, heโ€™s dejected, as his ex encourages him to move on:

โ€œYou wanted me to love somebody else

But Iโ€™m still in love with you

You wanted me to go and fuck myself

โ€˜Cause Iโ€™d do anything for you.โ€

Bummer. Beyond emotional lyrics and a strong vocal performance, Day is backed by lovely musical accompaniment.ย  The sound is rhythmic yet tender, complementing his hurt feelings.ย  Going back to the lyric excerpted above, โ€œWhat a thing to do,โ€ Day is hurt and angry that reconciliation isnโ€™t a possibility.ย  Itโ€™s over whether he likes it or not.ย  โ€œUnderwearโ€ is a winner. Heartbroken, but relatable.

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8. Tonio Armani, โ€œHelp Me Find My Drawlsโ€

โ€œHelp Me Find My Drawlsโ€ ยป Armani Music Group ยป 2024

Tonio Armani, Help Me Find My Drawls [๐Ÿ“ท: Armani Music Group]โ€œSo, I told her / If I come, I canโ€™t stay too long.โ€ Hmm, we know where this is going, Tonio Armani (Travis Antonio Gardner) ๐Ÿ˜ ๐Ÿ˜ˆ. The southern soul singer/songwriter from Columbus, Georgia, continues singing on his entertaining 2024 single, โ€œHelp Me Find My Drawlsโ€, โ€œSoon as I get to the room / We got right down to it / We start gettinโ€™ it on.โ€ After getting busy with this woman who โ€œwanna get nasty,โ€ Armani is in search for his drawls, aka underwear.ย  The desperation is real, yโ€™all โ€“ heโ€™s got to find those boxersโ€ฆ or briefsโ€ฆ whatever his preference is!

Tonio Armani โ€˜brings the house downโ€™ on โ€œHelp Me Find My Drawls.โ€ His voice is distinct from the get-go.ย  He is gritty and raspy, oozing with soul.ย  The throwback vibes are refreshing as he โ€˜puts his allโ€™ in this sex song. Yes, they โ€˜do it,โ€™ hence why heโ€™s searching for his undies, but he refrains from being explicit or TMI.ย  Instead, his tale of this rendezvous is only secondary, while the search for his underwear is hilarious:

โ€œHelp me find my drawls

(Help me find my drawls)

I got somewhere to be

Yes, I do, lady

Somewhere in the bedroom

Oh Lord

Thatโ€™s the only place they could be.โ€

The southern charm and personality that Armani brings amplify the song. This is especially evident in the extended outro where he still has not found them (โ€œOh, you got to find my drawls todayโ€).ย  Making โ€œHelp Me Find My Drawlsโ€ even better is the musical backdrop, which is infused with the soul of old yet sounds vibrant and fully representative of 2020s R&B.ย ย 

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9. Owen Pallett, โ€œLewis Takes Off His Shirtโ€

Heartland ยป Domino Recording Co Ltd ยป 2010

Owen Pallett, Heartland [๐Ÿ“ท: Domino Recording Co Ltd]โ€œAs soon as I got on the horse, I forgot about the math.โ€ Owen Pallett continues singing on โ€œLewis Takes Off His Shirtโ€, โ€œForgot about the odds against an adolescent standing up to all of Owenโ€™s wrath.โ€ Hmm, is Owen (the character) like Goliath? To alleviate some confusion, our talented violinist, singer, and songwriter is singing from the perspective of Lewis, who wants to kill Owen, the creator. โ€œLewis Takes Off His Shirtโ€ is the eighth track from Pallettโ€™s 2010 conceptual LP, Heartland. Pallett wrote and produced it. He delivers some of the most accomplished and intriguing music youโ€™ll ever hear.

โ€œLewis Takes Off His Shirtโ€ begins enigmatically. Even when the relentless, repeated rhythmic lines enter the mix, the song sounds distinct and unusual, truly, one of a kind. The orchestra parts are epic, particularly the riffs, providing ample flavor. The blend and contrast of acoustic and electronic instruments is exceptional. Pallett delivers beautiful vocals, never forcing things. As alternative as this song is, it has its fair share of tuneful moments. Beyond the prodigious musical backdrop, the lyrics, songwriting, and theme are captivating, too, as excerpted earlier.

โ€œThe heat of prairie summer is impossible to take

I grab the hem and lift the fabric over my sweet head

I know what youโ€™re looking for, and Iโ€™m never gonna give it to you

Iโ€™m never gonna give it to you.โ€

So, what is Owen looking for that Lewis is not going to give to him? ย The next lines provide answersโ€ฆ sort of.ย  โ€œGovernment rule established by a dazzling light show / A hegemony armored with a thousand-watt head and seven inches of echo,โ€ Pallett sings, continuing, โ€œI keep up my velocity, my spurs are in her sides / I donโ€™t know what Iโ€™m doing, and it is the only way / Toward the range Iโ€™ll ride, singing, Iโ€™m never gonna give it to you.โ€ Uh-huh.ย  The fun answer is that Pallett is using double entendre, specifically regarding the thousand-watt head and seven inches of echo.ย  Is he intentionally bringing some queerness? The most reasonable explanation centers around hegemony and the concept/theme of Heartland.ย  Also, there are poetic lyrics regarding art, โ€˜Lewisโ€™ asserting he is a vector, and showing resolve despite fear: โ€œMy knuckles grip so tightly my fingers start to bleed / If what I have is what you need / Iโ€™m never gonna give it to you.โ€ Taken out of the context of the album, โ€œLewisโ€ is less accessible. But, there is a heaping dose of ambition and some queerness, too. If the celestial, cerebral sounds of โ€œLewis Takes Off His Shirtโ€ are a product of losing his top, then Lewis should never wear a shirt, like, EVER. Utterly sublime!

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10. Gogol Bordello, โ€œStart Wearing Purpleโ€

Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike ยป SideOneDummy ยป ย 2005

Gogol Bordello, Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike [๐Ÿ“ท: SideOneDummy]โ€œStart wearing purple, wearing purple / Start wearing purple for me now,โ€ Eugene Hรผtz sings in the chorus of โ€œStart Wearing Purpleโ€.ย  He continues, โ€œAll your sanity and wits, they will all vanish / I promise, itโ€™s just a matter of time.โ€ Hรผtz is the frontman of Gogol Bordello, a unique band of immigrants. โ€œStart Wearing Purpleโ€ is the ninth track from Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike, released in 2005. โ€œPurpleโ€ remains unusual two decades later.

Hรผtz is the star of the show.ย  His vocals are distinct and dynamic, while his Ukrainian accent is charming.ย  Also charming is the personality Hรผtz brings to the performance. ย The tunefulness of the chorus goes without saying, inciting purple-wearing, but the verses are fun too.ย  โ€œI know you since you were a twenty, I was twenty,โ€ Hรผtz asserts in the first verse, adding, โ€œA purple little, little lady will be perfect / For a dirty old and useless clown.โ€ Oh, snap! Fittingly, Hรผtz sings some lyrics in his native language (in the second and third verses).ย  Still, the biggest draw is to start wearing purple, PERIOD!ย  Stylistically, โ€œStart Wearing Purpleโ€ encompasses rock, punk, folk, and Romani music.ย  It thrives on an infectious groove from the beginning.ย  The use of an accordion specifically (Yuri Lemeshev) enhances the timbre. ย This purple-clothed song slaps!

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11. The Dynamic Superiors, โ€œShoe Shoe Shineโ€

The Dynamic Superiors ยป UMG Recordings, Inc. ยป 1975ย 

The Dynamic Superiors, The Dynamic Superiors [๐Ÿ“ท: UMG Recordings, Inc.]โ€œFirst of all, letโ€™s get one thing straight / All the things you desire will have to come late / Ainโ€™t handing you no jive / Tellinโ€™ you it is what it ainโ€™t.โ€ Word. Washington, D.C.๐Ÿ“ย Motown quintetย The Dynamic Superiors charted only one song on the pop charts, โ€œShoe Shoe Shineโ€. ย โ€œShoe Shineโ€ peaked modestly at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the lack of commercial success, The Dynamic Superiors were a respectable, well-rounded 70s Motown collective.ย Tony Washingtonย (d.ย 1989), the lead singer, was openly gay, which was a big deal for Motown and the 1970s.ย However, most important is the talent that Washington and his fellow bandmates brought to the table.ย โ€œShoe Shoe Shineโ€ is the opener from their self-titled 1975 album.ย It was written and produced by Motown royalty:ย Nikolas Ashfordย (1941 – 2011) andย Valerie Simpsonย (1946 – ),ย best known asย Ashford & Simpson.

The Dynamic Superiors eat on โ€œShoe Shoe Shine.โ€ This underrated soul gem has smooth, lush, and soulful vibes from the beginning.ย  The sound is characteristic of the โ€˜70s, with dramatic, striking orchestration (winds and strings).ย  Furthermore, the rhythm section is in the pocket, providing sweet accompaniment for Tony and company.ย  Washington sounds elite, with his high tenor delivering truly ripe, high-flying falsetto. ย He keeps it real in the first verse, excerpted earlier. The second verse is written similarly, โ€œYou might as well get rid of those crazy ideas / Rainy days will outnumber the ones you see clear / The picture in your dreams, no / That ainโ€™t the way itโ€™s gonna be.โ€ Ugh, bummer! The best moment of the song should come as no surprise โ€“ the incredibly tuneful, nostalgic chorus performed collectively, led by Tonyโ€™s prodigious pipes:

โ€œShoe, shoe shine used to cost a dimeA penny could buy you plentyA nickel was the fare to take you anywhereTroubles, we didnโ€™t have manyI may not have much to speak ofBut thereโ€™ll always be plenty of love.โ€

The shoes and shoe shine arenโ€™t important. But, recollecting about those good old days is. The Dynamic Superiors deserved far more notoriety, particularly for the superb โ€œShoe Shoe Shineโ€.

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12. James Cleveland, โ€œTouch The Hem Of His Garmentโ€

Breathe On Me ยป Savoy ยป 1989

James Cleveland & The Northern & Southern Choirs of G.M.W.A., Breathe On Me [๐Ÿ“ท: Savoy]โ€œLord, I believe that it is your will / I believe that it is your perfect will / That my mind be found / And my bodyโ€ฆ be healed.โ€ Amen ๐Ÿ™! So many inspirational songs, particularly gospel, address the power of faith โ€“ believing in something that you are unable to physically see.ย  The late, great James Cleveland (1931 โ€“ 1991) and The Northern & Southern Choirs of G.M.W.A. released a powerful testament of faith with โ€œTouch The Hem Of His Garmentโ€.ย  This uplifting record is the sixth track from the 1989 album Breathe On Me. Calvin Bernard Rhone composed this gem.

Like the earlier Sam Cooke / The Soul Stirrers classic, โ€œTouch The Hem Of His Garmentโ€ references Matthew 9: 20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8: 43-48. Those scriptures mention a woman who had a blood disease for 12 years and sought healing. She went to the right person โ€“ Jesus. โ€œLike the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve long years,โ€ the dynamic lead vocalist sings in the first verse, adding, โ€œBut just as the woman knew that she could be set free.โ€ Jesus, of course, is who could set her free.ย  Throughout โ€œTouch The Hem of His Garment,โ€ the melodies are gorgeous and tuneful. ย The musical backdrop is terrific, too, particularly the piano accompaniment. The lead vocals are enthusiastic and soulful, masterfully bringing out this faith-driven songwriting (โ€œBut I know, I know what I must do, I got to reach by my faith and just touch Youโ€). The chorus is nothing short of magnificent.ย  There are dynamic backing vocals supporting the lead, especially during the centerpiece, the chorus:

โ€œ(If I can just touch the hem of Your garment)

All I want to do is touch the hem of your garment, then I know

(Then I know Iโ€™d be made whole)

I got the faith to be believe

(If I can just touch the hem of your garment)

If I just touch the hem

Then I know I will be made whole

(Then I know I would be made whole).โ€

The vocalist has the faith that God can heal him and do anything.ย  What does it require? โ€œJust a little bit of faith.โ€ Beyond the chorus, the bridge concludes โ€œTouch The Hem Of His Garmentโ€ powerfully. Beyond the lyrics, the harmonic progression catches the ears, particularly the โ€˜punctuatingโ€™ chord that is struck. James Cleveland directed a beloved, moving gospel masterpiece with this one.

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13. Sam Cooke, โ€œTouch The Hem of His Garmentโ€

The 2 Sides of Sam Cooke ยป Specialty ยป 1970

Sam Cooke, The 2 Sides of Sam Cooke [๐Ÿ“ท: Specialty]โ€œWhoa, there was a woman in the Bible Days / She had been sick, sick so very long / But she heard โ€˜bout Jesus was passinโ€™ by / So she joined the gathering throng.โ€ The Bible, indeed, mentions the woman that the legendary Sam Cooke (1931 โ€“ 1964) sings about in โ€œTouch The Hem of His Garmentโ€, sung with The Soul Stirrers. See Matthew 9: 20-22:

20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.ย 21 She said to herself, โ€œIf I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.โ€

22 Jesus turned and saw her.ย โ€œTake heart, daughter,โ€ he said,ย โ€œyour faith has healed you.โ€ And the woman was healed at that moment.

In the first verse of โ€œTouch The Hem of His Garment,โ€ โ€˜The King of Soulโ€™ continues singing, โ€œSomeone asked her, โ€˜What are you trying to doโ€™/ She said, โ€œIf I could just touch the hem of His garment / I know Iโ€™ll be made whole.โ€ โ€œTouchโ€ is a song of mighty faith. With no one else to turn to, this woman understood that Jesus Was the only way.

โ€œShe cried, โ€˜Oh, Lord (Oh, Lord), and whoa, Lord (Oh, Lord)

โ€ฆ Said โ€˜If I could just touch the hem of his garment

I know Iโ€™ll be made whole.โ€

The theme and lyrics are meaningful throughout โ€œTouch The Hem of His Garment,โ€ which Cooke wrote himself.ย  Besides his compelling pen based on The Bible, Cook delivers incredibly gritty, raspy, and soulful vocals.ย  Every lyric he sings, you buy because of the authentic, heartfelt, and sincere nature of the performance. โ€œWhen she touched Him, the Savior didnโ€™t see / But still, he turned around and cried, โ€˜Somebody touched meโ€™,โ€ Sam sings in the thoughtful second verse, continuing, โ€œShe said, โ€˜It was I who just wanna touch the hem of your garment / I know I’ll be made whole right now.โ€™โ€ The Soul Stirrers provided marvelous supporting vocals to Cooke. The musical backdrop is on-point, too, particularly the piano, which cooks. Ultimately, โ€œTouch The Hem of His Garmentโ€ is a brief but meaningful gospel gem from Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers.ย  The song is an oldie but continues to endure and resonate.

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13 Rad Fitting, Clothing-Related Songs (2025) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Amigo, Arista, Armani Music Group, Atlantic Recording Corporation, Domino Recording Co Ltd, EZMNY, Nice Life Recording Company, Republic, Savoy, SideOneDummy, Sony Music Nashville, Specialty, Steel City Dance Discs powered by co:brand, UMG Recordings, Inc.; Daria Liudnaya, Edmond Dantรจs, fauxels, Luรขn Phan, Michael Obstoj, Tazz Vaughn, TMA Management from Pexels; AcatXIoย fromย Pixabay]

 

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the musical hype

The Musical Hype (he/him) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education and music theory/composition, respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Music and writing are two of the most important parts of his life.