13 Songs Driven by the Power of BE features songs by Ariana Grande, CeCe Winans, Four Tops, Jimin, and Omar Apollo.ย
B-E, Be, is a powerful verb. ย Word. It fuels the fire of the musical compendium, 13 Songs Driven by the Power of BE.ย The criteria are simple: the song title must feature the word, be. No further explanation is necessary.ย This playlist has a simple concept. 13 Songs Driven by the Power of BE features songs by Ariana Grande, CeCe Winans, Four Tops, Jimin, and Omar Apollo. So, donโt BE lame, aim to BE awesome like these 13 Songs Driven by the Power of BE!
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โโ1. Four Tops, โReach Out Iโll Be Thereโ
2. Ariana Grande, โwe canโt be friends (wait for your love)โ
3. Omar Apollo, โBe Careful With Meโ
4. CeCe Winans, โBe Still and Knowโ
6. Benedict Cork, โI Know Heโll Be Gone in a Little Whileโ
7. Billy Porter & Luke Evans, โAlways Be My Manโ
8. Edwin McCain, โIโll Beโ
9. Charlie Puth, โCharlie Be Quiet!โ
11. Donny Hathaway, โSomeday Weโll All Be Freeโ
12. Nina Simone, โDonโt Let Me Be Misunderstoodโ
13. The Ronettes, โBe My Babyโ
1. Four Tops, โReach Out Iโll Be Thereโ
Reach Out // Motown // 1967
โNow if you feel that you canโt go on (Canโt go on) / Because all of your hope is gone (All your hope is gone)โฆโ Hmm, if youโre feeling hopeless, what should you do? According to the late, great Levi Stubbs (1936 โ 2008) and the rest of the Four Tops (Renaldo โObieโ Benson, Abdul โDukeโ Fakir, and Lawrence Payton), you should โ(Reach out) Reach out for me.โ Word. โReach Out Iโll Be Thereโ, released as a single in 1966, is one of the best songs by the Grammy-nominated, Motown quartet.ย It is one of the best songs in the soul catalog.ย To take it a step further, it is one of the greatest songs ever.ย โReach Out Iโll Be There,โ which peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, appeared as the opening track from Reach Out, released in July 1967.ย It was penned by the iconic songwriting trio of Holland-Dozier-Holland (Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, and Lamont Dozier).ย Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier produced the masterpiece inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (1998) and the Library of Congress National Registry (2022).
Perfect songs are hard to come by but โReach Out Iโll Be Thereโ is one of them.ย The arrangement, production, and overall sound are marvelous and innovative. This includes the unforgettable flute/piccolo riff and galloping percussion sounds.ย According to Dozier (via Genius via Wall Street Journal), โI alternated the keys โ from a minor Russian feel in the verse to a major gospel feel in the chorus.โ At the beginning of the first verse, an iconic โYahโ gives โReach Out Iโll Be Thereโ ample personality before the assertive, powerful lead of Levi Stubbs blesses the listener.ย His gritty performance sounds like heโs singing for his life.ย Itโs easy to buy what he sells because of the authenticity and sheer exuberance he sings with. He continues singing in the first verse, โAnd your life is filled with much confusion (Much confusion) / Until happiness is just an illusion (Happiness is just an illusion) / And your world around is crumbling down, darlinโ.โย The second and third verses are patterned similarly to the first, with Stubbsโ infectious vocals and awesome backing vocals by Benson, Fakir, Payton, and others. Of course, the section to beat is the chorus, with its distinct change of key to major:
โIโll be there to love and comfort you
And Iโll be there to cherish and care for you
Iโll be there to always see you through
Iโll be there to love and comfort you.โ
โReach Out Iโll Be Thereโ is a timeless, once-in-a-lifetime gem. And to think, Four Tops didnโt want to release it ๐คฏ!
Appears in ๐ป:
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2. Ariana Grande, โwe canโt be friends (wait for your love)โ
eternal sunshine // Republic // 2024
โI donโt wanna tiptoe, but I donโt wanna hide / But I donโt wanna feed this monstrous fire,โ Ariana Grande sings in the first verse of โwe canโt be friends (wait for your love),โ a juggernaut from her stupendous seventh studio album, eternal sunshine. She continues singing in the first verse of the second single from the LP, โJust wanna let this story die / And Iโll be alright.โ I love the subtlety of the thudding beat (four on the floor), which is part of the tasteful nature of the production. In the chorus, the thuds and the intensity of the backdrop become more dynamic, fitting given the rise to the occasion.ย โWe canโt be friendsโ features colorful synths and a driving bass line โ always a winning formula for the accompaniment! Another part of the winning formula is the violins, which appear at the end. With her elite vocals being her calling card, Grande delivers an honest and memorable chorus:
โWe canโt be friends
But Iโd like to just pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again.โ
Lyrically, โwe canโt be friends (wait for your love)โ marks one of the cleverest songs of eternal sunshine, making you question if sheโs referencing her ex-husband (Dalton Gomez), the media, or both simultaneously.
Appears in ๐ป:
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3. Omar Apollo, โBe Careful With Meโ
God Said No // Omar Apollo / Warner // 2024
โA fire burns between my eyes / Canโt always read between the lines / I tried to be someone you liked / But itโs just too much compromise.โ Oh, snap, Omar Apollo (Omar Velasco).ย God Said No found the Grammy-nominated Mexican American pop singer/songwriter more open, transparent, and vulnerable. ย On โBe Careful With Me,โ the opening track from his far underrated sophomore album, he reflects on a past relationship. Omar sings beautifully with a โpluckedโ production (including guitar and synthesizer). Heโs more restrained in the first verse.ย In the second, heโs more overt, asserting, โYouโre thinking โbout the last time I undressed ya, ooh,โ adding, โI just know that it ainโt often you come acrossย this / Itโs hard to let it go, itโs hard to let you go.โ The chorus is ultra-repetitive, but Velasco makes his point โloud and clearโ: โBe careful with me / Me, me, me, me, me me, me me.โ โBe Careful With Meโ was penned by Apollo, Billy Walsh, and producers Teo Halm, Carter Lang, and Blake Slatkin.ย The resulting track is a sweet album opener.
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4. CeCe Winans, โBe Still and Knowโ
More Than This // Pure Springs Gospel, Inc. // 2024
โWhen I look around and it all seems hopeless / I wonโt fear / I wonโt fear.โ The reason why Grammy-winning, gospel artist CeCe Winans wonโt fear is because of GOD! In โBe Still and Knowโ Winans testifies about the omniscience and wonderworking power of The Most High. Winans penned the second track from her 2024 album, More Than This with Alvin Love III, and producer, Kyle Lee.ย The spiritual, musical lift is REAL! Winans provides superb vocals on this inspiring, contemporary Christian/gospel song.ย Winans shows poise early on, rising to the occasion as the music grows more dynamic.ย The text is spot-on โ relatable and speaking to the soul.ย The melodies are tuneful, particularly in the section to beat, the chorus:
โBe still and know
Know You are God
Youโre right here with me
Through all my troubles
Iโll be still and know
Know You are God
You are the light and rest for my soul
Youโre God and Iโll be still and know.โ
Yes, yes, yes ๐! Beyond the chorus, the bridge is powerful, amplified by choral voices, pummeling drums, and, eventually, a timely key modulation that leads into the final chorus. Winans proclaims, โYou are the well / That never runs dry / No valley too deep / No mountain too high.โ In โBe Still and Knowโ CeCe Winans delivers a pitch-perfect message.
Appears in ๐ป:
- CeCe Winans, Be Still and Know: Music Lifts ๐ถ ๐ 19 (2024)
- 13 Marvelous Songs in the KNOW (2024)
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5. Jimin, โBe Mineโ
MUSE // BIGHIT MUSIC // 2024
โBaby, come, baby come / Show me what / Show me what love is, yeah, yeah.โ Ooh-la-la, JIMIN! The South Korean pop singer is best known as a member of the Grammy-nominated K-pop band, BTS.ย On โBe Mineโ he steps out on his.ย This matters of the heart, sexy-fueled joint appeared on his 2024 โalbum,โ MUSE.ย โBe Mineโ was written by a team comprising Jimin, Ryan Tedder, Ali Tamposi, Jacob Kasher, EVAN, and producers Pdogg and GHSTLOOP.ย A smooth cut set in a minor key, the musical accompaniment is sweet: lovely keys/synths and guitar which adds even more character.
The star of the show is Jimin.ย He serves up sweet, sexy vocals. His upper register and falsetto are particularly ripe. Also ripe is the sexual innuendo. โI know what you want, and / Baby, I want the same / Love โtil the morning,โ he sings in the first verse. In the refrain, he urges her, โBaby come, baby come / Show me what / Show me what love is, yeah, yeah.โ Word. In the centerpiece, the tuneful chorus, he asserts, โMovinโ, cominโ, lovinโ, yeah, yeah, yeah / I want you to be mine.โ The bridge separates itself instrumentally from the rest of the song, yet itโs still firmly connected lyrically and thematically.ย The dash of horns at the tail-end is a stellar touch. Closing out this surefire vibe are fabulously harmonized vocals and ad-libs in the final chorus and outro.ย Jimin โdoes the damn thingโ on the infectious โBe Mineโ which is sexy without crossing the line.
Appears in ๐ป:
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6. Benedict Cork, โI Know Heโll Be Gone in a Little Whileโ
Notes On A Hopeless Romance // Benedict Cork // 2024
โHe comes at midnight / He promises the world and all that / But he can leave his shoes on.โ Why, Benedict Cork? โโCause I know heโll be gone in a little while.โ Oh, snap! The English singer/songwriter shines on โI Know Heโll Be Gone in a Little Whileโ, the 10th and final track from his 2024 debut album, Notes On A Hopeless Romance. But, heโs pessimistic regarding the relationship.ย Bummer! Cork penned and produced the record alongside Hoost.ย The second verse is similar to the first.ย โHe says heโll call me / When heโs flying through my city,โ Cork sings, adding โBut I let the promise die.โ Word. Itโs not happening. In the chorus, Benedict had high hopes, but, itโs a case of โsame shit, different day,โ or โanother boy, same resultโ: โI thought things might be different / But Lord knows Iโve been through this one too many times.โ The situation is relatable regardless of how you identify sexually.ย Love and relationships are hard.ย In the LGBTQ+ community, they can be far more challenging. Despite another failure for Benedict, he sings angelically, barely breaking a sweat.ย His falsetto is ripe, and the overall vibe of the performance is cool.ย The accompaniment is delightful too, despite that โI Know Heโll Be Gone in a Little Whileโ.ย It is a bloody brilliant way to conclude Notes On A Hopeless Romance!
Appears in ๐ป:
- Benedict Cork, I Know Heโll Be Gone in a Little While: Beaming with Pride ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ย 59 (2024)
- 13 Marvelous Songs in the KNOW (2024)
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7. Billy Porter & Luke Evans, โAlways Be My Manโ
โAlways Be My Manโ // Island / Republic / Universal Music Operations Limited // 2023ย
The incredibly talented Billy Porter collaborates with Luke Evans โ fellow actor, singer, and member of the LGBTQ+ ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ community โ on ย โAlways Be My Manโ. This touching duet appears in the motion picture, Our Son, starring both actors. The first voice heard on โAlways Be My Manโ is Porter, with his distinct, raspy instrument. Evans contrasts, with his smoother instrument. After Evansโ turn, Porter initiates the vocal power-up section, unsurprising given the robustness and gospel-influence of his pipes.ย Evans, likewise, rises to the occasion, matching his on-screen hubbyโs power.ย Grammy winner Robert Glasper produces this heartwarming, romantic, and thoughtful record, written by Porter, Connor Reeves, and Joseph Peter Michael Killington. Besides the standard rhythm section (keys, guitar, bass, and drums), strings add elegance to the mix, arranged beautifully by Derrick Hodge. All told, โAlways Be My Manโ is sweet. Furthermore, itโs rare to hear two men sing a duet about mutual love, even in 2024 with as much as the LGBTQ+ ย catalog has expanded. This song is a winner in my book. Kudos Mr. Porter and Mr. Evans!
Appears in ๐ป:
- Bops That Pop: January 2024
- 15 Epic Songs That Appear on Movie Soundtracks (2024)
- 50 Bops from 2024 That Make You Beam with Pride ๐ณ๏ธโ๐(2024)
- Marvelously Memorable Duets, Vol. 1 (2024)
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8. Edwin McCain, โIโll Beโ
Misguided Roses // Atlantic // 1997
โIโll be your cryinโ shoulder / Iโll be loveโs suicide / And Iโll be better when Iโm older / Iโll be the greatest fan of your life.โ Ah, โIโll Beโ โ a love song for all time.ย It is the ace-in-the-hole for South Carolina rocker, Edwin McCain (his sole top-five hit).ย The fourth track from the 1997, platinum-certified album, Misguided Roses, wasnโt intended as the great love and wedding anthem itโs become. According to an interview with Songfacts, McCain states, โI didn’t really write the song as a love song. It was kind of a Hail Mary prayer for me, personally.โ He adds, โIt was this admission of failure and this prayer that I could be a better person, wrapped up as sort of the end of a relationship kind of thought.โ Matt Serletic produced this 90s gem. The sounds include a standard, pop/rock rhythm section, saxophone, and strings.ย ย
Besides the radiant instrumental, McCain โputs in workโ vocally.ย He delivers a compelling performance.ย Heโs commanding and expressive from start to finish.ย Soundly executed, he impresses with tasteful ad-libs, never over-singing or forcing things.ย His performance feels natural.ย The songwriting is a big selling point, particularly the sing-along chorus.ย The verses are well-penned too, while the pre-chorus is the perfect preface to the โcrowning achievement.โ
โAnd tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
Iโll be captivated, Iโll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above.โ
Adding to the sheer excellence, the melodies are tuneful. Although McCain had a different interpretation in mind for โIโll Beโ, itโs become one of the greatest love songs.
Appears in ๐ป:
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9. Charlie Puth, โCharlie Be Quiet!โ
Charlie // Atlantic // 2022
โCharlie, be quiet, donโt make a sound / Youโve got to lower the noise a little bit now / If she knows youโre in love, sheโs gonna run away.โ Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter/producer Charlie Puth refers to himself, in the third person, in the short but relatable โCharlie Be Quiet!โ. Why does Charlie tell himself to be quiet on this gem from his third studio album, Charlie? He doesnโt want to get hurt (as in heartbreak) or ruin his chance at love.ย Even as Puth is excited about a prospective serious relationship, he asserts, โโฆ Itโs all getting too loud.โย He doesnโt want to get ahead of himself, hence, heโs toning things down.ย A prime example occurs in the second verse: โIโll act like I donโt even care, yeah / Iโm not going out looking dumb.โ Even though heโs quieting down, the chorus is big, showing off his upper range, and his ability to pack a punch behind his vocals.ย It contrasts the quieter, more tentative verses, which represent being tame โ calm, cool, and collected โ regarding love.ย Besides relatable songwriting and respectable vocals, โCharlie Be Quietโ is respectably produced.
Appears in ๐ป:ย
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10. Beyoncรฉ, โBe Aliveโ
โBe Alive (Original Song from the Motion Picture King Richard)โโฏ// Parkwood / Columbia // 2021
โIt feels so good to be alive / Got all my family by my sideโฆโ Grammy-winningโฏR&B/pop singer Beyoncรฉโฏโbrings the heatโ on โBe Alive (Original Song from the Motion Picture King Richard)โ. Beyoncรฉ deservingly earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. On โBe Alive,โ she serves upโฏpowerfulโฏlead vocals.โฏSheโs commanding but inโฏtotalโฏcontrol, never growing overwrought. โฏAlso impressive areโฏglorious, harmonized vocals.โฏ Iโฏlove the warmth ofโฏherโฏtoneโฏthatโs introduced at the beginning.โฏIn the intro, she prefacesโฏthe eventual chorus, which isโฏmemorable and quite tuneful.โฏThe chorus, excerpted above, continues as follows:
โ…Couldnโt wipe this black off if I tried
Thatโs why I lift my head with pride
Now we’re sitting on top of the world again, huh.โ
In the verses, Beyoncรฉ focuses on fightingโฏand working hard to attain success โ it wasnโt easy andโฏwasnโt absent of adversity. โThe path was never paved with gold,โ she sings in the first verse, adding, โWe worked and built this on our own.โ Despite adversity, thereโs also a sense of black achievement and black excellence, which is uplifting and encouraging to the black community (โLook how weโve been fighting to stay alive / So when we win, we will have prideโ). Shout out superb production work by Dixson, which provides the perfect palette for Bey to sing this inspired number over.
Appears in ๐ป:ย
- 13 Captivating Songs That Are Alive & Well (2022)
- Beyoncรฉ, Be Alive: Music Lifts ๐ถ ๐ No. 12 (2022)
- 13 Litย ๐ฅ Songs To Lift You Up (2022)
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11. Donny Hathaway, โSomeday Weโll All Be Freeโ
Extensions of a Man // Atlantic // 1973
โHang on to the world as it spins around / Just donโt let the spin get you down.โ Prudent words, Donny Hathaway. Mental health is real, something more readily acknowledged in the 21st century compared to the 20th when Hathaway lived. Sadly, the short-lived, musical genius, passed away at age 33 in 1979. Despite an untimely death, he left his mark with a brilliant catalog, including the ballad, โSomeday Weโll All Be Freeโ. โKeep on walking tall / Hold your head high,โ he sings, in an uplifting fashion, in the second verse, adding, โLay your dreams right up to the sky / Sing your greatest song / And youโll keep going, going on.โ Word!
โSomeday Weโll All Be Freeโ is the second track on Hathawayโs 1973 album, Extension of a Man. He composed it alongside Edward Howard (lyricist) with Arif Mardin producing the soulful gem. โSomedayโ features a gorgeous palette of sounds: guitar, electric piano, bass, drums, and orchestra. The highlights of the orchestra include a dynamic trumpet solo, performed by Marvin Stamm.ย Beyond the instrumental, the soulful pipes by Hathaway shine brightly. Furthermore, he nails the tuneful melodies. The harmonic progression is also sweet, while Howardโs lyrics, sung utterly sublimely, are where Hathawayโs bread is buttered. Of course, the liberated, one-line chorus marks the lyric to beat: โTake it from me, someday weโll all be free, yeah.โ โSomeday Weโll All Be Freeโ is a masterpiece, PERIOD!
Appears in ๐ป:
- Donny Hathaway, Someday Weโll All Be Free: Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ 67 (2024)
- Donny Hathaway vs. Bobby Womack: Head 2 Head No. 19 (2024)
- 15 Songs Filled with ALL (2024)
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12. Nina Simone, โDonโt Let Me Be Misunderstoodโ
Broadway–Blues–Ballads // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1964
โBut Iโm just a soul / Whose intentions are good / Oh, Lord / Please donโt let me be misunderstood.โ The late, great Nina Simone is among the most iconic and revered musicians. More than a musician, Simone was a civil rights activist who embraced blackness to the fullest. While โDonโt Let Me Be Misunderstoodโ didnโt impact the pop charts, it ranks among the top of Simoneโs illustrious catalog.ย โDonโt Let Me Be Misunderstoodโ is the opening track from her 1964 album, Broadway-Blues-Ballads. It was written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell (Horace Ott used his wifeโs name instead of his), and Sol Marcus. Hal Mooney produced it. Simone was the first to record it.ย There have been many covers courtesy of The Animals and Lana Del Rey.ย Also, many musicians have sampled it.
The songwriting is a major selling point of โDonโt Let Me Be Misunderstood.โ โDonโt you know, no one alive can always be an angel,โ Simone sings in the first verse, concluding, โWhen everything goes wrong, you see some bad.โ In the second verse, she asserts, โAnd then sometimes again it seems, that all I have is worry / And then youโre bound to see my other side.โ Word. Of course, the lyrics to beat are the chorus, excerpted earlier. The musical accompaniment and production are top-notch as well.ย Set in a minor key, the backdrop is dark, enigmatic, and lush. The dramatic strings and melancholic piano fuel the musical fire. Simone has the perfect backdrop to sing upon.ย She sings authentically, dynamically, and expressively.ย Her commanding, robust tone is otherworldly โ truly, anointed. โDonโt Let Me Be Misunderstoodโ was tailor-made for the one-and-only Nina Simone.ย It never grows old, 60 years after its release.
Appears in ๐ป:
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13. The Ronettes, โBe My Babyโ
Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica // Phil Spector // 1964
โSo, wonโt you say you love me? / Iโll make you so proud of me / Weโll make โem turn their heads every place we go.โ โBe My Babyโ, one of the greatest songs ever, appeared on The Ronettesโ album, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica.ย Fun fact: Veronica was the birthname of the late Ronnie Spector (1943 โ 2022), the lead vocalist of the collective. Besides Ronnie, The Ronettes consisted of Ronnieโs older sister, the late Estelle Bennett (1941 โ 2009), and their cousin, Nedra Talley (1946 – ). The iconic soul cut was written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, and producer, Phil Spector.ย Notably, Ronnie was married to Phil Spector from 1968 โ 1974. Phil Spector became infamous later in life, dying disgraced.ย However, early on, he was an innovative producer, renowned for his wall of sound, in full display on โBe My Baby.โ The drums are big and heavy-handed, anchoring the production fiercely. The drum intro is iconic. Additionally, the orchestration is an impressive โwall of soundโ โ strings, horns, and the rhythm section.
โSo wonโt you please (Be my, be my baby)
Be my little baby? (My one and only baby)
Say youโll be my darlinโ (Be my, be my baby)
Be my baby now (My one and only baby)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh.โ
โBe My Babyโ was the highest charting single by the girl group, who landed two top 10 pop hits. It peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. Ronnie is commanding and powerful, flaunting distinct lead vocals.ย The chorus, excerpted above, is the section to beat. It is infectious to the nth degree, performed in a call-and-response style. Estelle and Nedra provide superb background vocals. They get some help including Sonny Bono (1935 โ 1998) and Cher. As for the rest of the verses, Ronnie urges him to โbe hers,โ plain and simple.ย She makes a compelling argument: โFor every kiss you give me, Iโll give you three.โ Word. To reiterate, โBe My Babyโ is one of the greatest songs ever, regardless of genre. More than 60 years later, it remains โthe stuff.โ
Appears in ๐ป:
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13 Songs Driven by the Power of BE (2024) [๐ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Benedict Cork, BIGHIT MUSIC, Columbia, Island, Motown, Omar Apollo, Parkwood, Phil Spector, Pure Springs Gospel, Inc., Republic, UMG Recordings, Inc., Universal Music Operations Limited, Warner; The Digital Artist, Werner Moser from Pixabay]
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