13 Songs Where the Focus is TWO | Playlist 🎧

1. Carrie Underwood, “Two Black Cadillacs”

💿 Blow Away • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited / Sony • 📅 2012

“And the preacher said he was a good man / And his brother said he was a good friend / But the women in the two black veils didn’t bother to cry…” 🏆 Grammy-winning country singer 🎙 Carrie Underwood is at her best when she’s able to exhibit ‘that attitude.’ While the song at hand, 🎵 “Two Black Cadillacs” doesn’t get the same love of the likes of 🎵 “Jesus Take the Wheel”, 🎵 “Before He Cheats”, or 🎵 “Last Name”, in my personal opinion, it ranks among the crème de la crème of her catalog.  The narrative-driven number appears as the third track on her excellent fourth studio album, 💿 Blown Away (2012).

From the onset, “Two Black Cadillacs” sounds magical, instantly engaging the listener. There is a mysteriousness and sketchiness about the production, which sets the tone before Carrie Underwood sings a note. There is a clearly defined rhythmic groove, but it’s understated which bodes well. Of course, the narrative of the song is utterly superb with Underwood setting things up perfectly the first verse:

“Two black Cadillacs driving in a slow parade...
One is for his wife
The other for the woman who loved him at night
Two black Cadillacs meeting for the first time.”

Later, the second verse expounds upon what went down – “His wife called the number on his phone / Turns out he’d been lying to the both of them for oh so long…” Of course, on the bridge, it’s clear the women secretly conspired, “Shared a crimson smile and just walked away / And left the secret at the grave.” Regardless, the centerpiece is the chorus, excerpted at the beginning of the blurb. It continues, depicting the feelings of the two women:

“...Yeah, they took turns laying a rose down
Threw a handful of dirt into the deep ground
He’s not the only one who had a secret to hide
Bye bye, bye bye, bye bye.”

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2. Justin Bieber, “2 Much”

💿 Justice • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2021

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  Agreed! 🎵 “2 Much” serves as the brief opener on 💿 Justice, the 2021 album by 🏆 Grammy-winning pop superstar, 🎙 Justin Bieber. “2 Much,” which really isn’t about the number two, commences with a sample from 🎙 Martin Luther King, one of two that occur during the course of the album.  Does it quite work? Meh, but we kinda see where Bieber was going… maybe.

Anyways, beyond MLK Jr., Justin goes on to pay ode to the love of his life (Hailey).  He  makes it clear, “Don’t wanna close my eyes, I’m scared I’ll miss to much.” He goes on to say on the chorus, “Two seconds without you’s like two months.”  The big takeaway is he loves his wife, as he should. For some reason, I totally want to cue up 🎙 Luther Vandross’ 🎵 “Never Too Much”.  Is that random or what?

3. Christina Aguilera, “Twice”

💿 Liberation • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2018

Ballad 🎵 “Twice” marks one of the best moments from 💿 Liberation, the 2018 studio album by 🎙 Christina Aguilera. Here, the 🏆 Grammy winner asks previous lovers a series of questions on the first verse, ultimately confused by the situation.  On the second, she seems focused more on her role in the relationship, and like her lovers, it seems to be a mix of good and bad.  On the pre-chorus, she highlights imperfection, necessity, and pain.

The centerpiece of “Twice,” unsurprisingly, is the chorus:

“Well, sometimes I wonder what is the meaning of my life?
I found the price of love and lost my mind
Oh, I will forgive them all of my wrongs and my rights
I do it all again and won’t think twice, no
Won’t think twice.”

Beyond theme and lyricism, “Twice” is a great fit for Aguilera because it allows her to show off the emotion and the sheer power of her pipes.

4. Lil Baby, “Sum 2 Prove”

💿 My Turn • 🏷 Quality Control Music / UMG Recordings Inc. • 📅 2020

On 🎵 “Sum 2 Prove” (💿 My Turn), 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Lil Baby blesses us with an agile flow.  From the jump, he raps like his life depends on it.  No, the lyrics aren’t characterized by a great deal of depth but give him credit for being invested in what he spits. With some notable one-liners (“I’ma shoot by myself like a technical foul”), the crowning achievement, in regard to form and memorability, when it comes the lyrics, is none other than the chorus.

“Yeah, my diamonds be VV’s
They don’t wan’ see us on TV unless it’s the news
I got somethin’ to prove
Yeah, I’m young, but got somethin’ to lose
In the street, I done paid all my dues
No extortion, ain’t talkin’ bout literally
I be walkin’ on beats, is you hearin’ me?
I just pray that my kids be a bigger me, they can’t get rid of me.”

Furthermore, the production (🎛 Twysted Genius) is pretty sweet. He’s backed by a trap beat, with knocking drums. The backdrop is nothing brand-new mind you, but certainly ignites the rapper’s fire.

5. girl in red, “two queens in a king sized bed”

🎵 “two queens in a king sized bed” • 🏷 world in red / AWAL • 📅 2020

“Two queens in a king-sized bed / There’s no mistletoe above our heads.” So, would it be safe to call 🎵 “two queens in a king sized bed” a queer/lesbian 🏳️‍🌈 Christmas 🎄 song?  Yep, for sure.  Pretty rad 🎙 Marie Ulven, better known as 🎙 girl in red. Sure, “two queens in a king sized bed” is a holiday number, but it fits perfectly on this bed-centric list.

Initially, the record features piano-driven production (girl in red and 🎛 Matias Tellez), before the addition of more sounds. Still, many of the sounds incorporated end up being keyboard-based.  The Norwegian singer delivers chill vocals, exhibiting a beautiful tone.  Furthermore, besides her radiant, passionate performance, I adore the vocal production.  Further confirming the ‘bop status’ of “two queens” is the passionate, catchy songwriting, particularly on the centerpiece, the chorus:

“I don’t have a lot to give
But I would give you everything
All my time is yours to spend
Let me wrap you in with my skin
With my skin.”

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6. 24kGoldn, “3, 2, 1”

💿 El Dorado • 🏷 Records Label / Columbia • 📅 2021

“Three sides to the story / Yours and mine and the goddamn truth, girl…” 🎵 “3, 2, 1” appears on 💿 El Dorado, the debut album by ascending pop artist, 🎙 24kGoldn. Of course, 24kGoldn elevated his profile with the massive success of his single, 🎵 “Mood”, featuring 🎙 iann dior.  “3, 2,1” runs just 2:12, but it’s a worthwhile 2:12 to say the least.  Producing this pleasant number is a star-studded cast: 🎛 Omer Fedi, 🎛 Blake Slatkin, 🎛 Nick Mira, 🎛 KC Supreme, and 🎛 Rio Leyva.

First things first, “3, 2, 1” begins abruptly. Only one note of the instrumental plays before 24kGoldn delivers the chorus. Because of the abrupt start, as a listener, you’re a bit off-put at first – where is he going with this? Later iterations of the chorus actually pack more of a punch and reveal the full-fledged glory. Following the opening chorus, on the first verse, the production evolves more with a more robust beat and additional instrumentation, which is pretty sweet.  Thematically, no one should be surprised that 24kGoldn is dealing with those ever-relatable matters of the heart (“Started with a kiss, ended with a dub / Better if you leave ‘cause I feel better when you’re gone”). Of course, nothing sums things up better than the catchy chorus!  Excerpted at the top, the chorus continues as follows:

“Two lies that you told me
Say you love me, and you hate me, I don’t know what to do, girl
One thing’s for sure
You can back that ass up and, baby, I want more
But I need to know
Can you make me a promise to always be honest?”

7. Kiana Ledé, “Second Chances.”

Ft. 6LACK

💿 KIKI. • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020

“I’m too fuckin’ real to wear my heart up on my sleeve / Fuck that back and forth shit, if I leave then I’m a leave / I’ma have you begging, have you pleading on your knees.” Well, damn! 2020 saw singer and actress 🎙 Kiana Ledé release her full-length, debut album, 💿 KIKI.  While KIKI hasn’t exactly lit up the charts, the album did debut in the top 30 of the Billboard 200.  More importantly, KIKI has its fair share of notable moments, including 🎵 “Forfeit.” (featuring Lucky Daye) and the numeric song at hand, 🎵 “Second Chances” (featuring 🎙 6LACK).

As the opening lines of the first verse indicate, you really don’t want to mess with Kiana Ledé.  “Can’t you tell a bitch is fed up with your nonsense,” she goes onto say on the brutally honest first verse.  She’s still feisty on the second verse, where she’d rather troll him than respond to his texts, and informs, “You missed out on a blessing, I mad you the king of my world.”  On the chorus, she just makes it crystal clear she done with it – “No more second chances, chances / Always tryna take advantage, ‘vantage / … So, I’d rather walk away.”  As you might expect, 6LACK provides the male response, owning up to his shortcomings.   Still, he knows it’s all for naught.   But the pain from both perspectives is our listening pleasure, along with solid production work courtesy of 🎛 Boston, 🎛 Cam Griffin, 🎛 Derrick Milano, 🎛 Mike Woods, and 🎛 Roark Bailey.

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8. Louis Tomlinson, “Two of Us”

💿 Walls • 🏷 78 PRODUCTIONS LIMITED / Simco Limited / Sony • 📅 2020

“So, I will keep you, day and night, here until the day I die / I’ll be living one life for the two of us / I will be the best of me, always keep you next to me / I’ll be living one life for the two of us.” 🎙 Louis Tomlinson, of 🎙 One Direction fame, delivered his best and most meaningful single as a solo artist with 🎵 “Two of Us” (💿 Walls, 2020) dedicated to his late mum.

“Two of Us” is a ballad that is built on authenticity, realness, and sincerity as opposed to how many f-bombs can be thrown in to toughen up the sound.  As always, Tomlinson sounds expressive, his best attribute being his angelic, boyish tenor.  Even though he sounds much younger than his 27 years, he convincingly sells this dedicatory ballad.  “You’ll never known how much I miss you,” he sings on the first verse, continuing, “The day that they took you, I wish it was me instead.”  Of course, the aforementioned chorus is the moving, incredibly thoughtful centerpiece of “Two of Us.”

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9. Father John Misty, “Two Wildly Different Perspectives”

💿 Pure Comedy • 🏷 Sub Pop • 📅 2017 

“One side says / Y’all go to hell / The other says / If I believed in God, I’d send you there.” Literally, 🎵 “Two Wildly Different Perspectives” (💿 Pure Comedy, 2017) covers TWO wildly different perspectives. Interestingly, the response that 🏆 Grammy winning alternative artist 🎙 Father John Misty (Josh Tillman) personally has towards both sides is pitch-perfect: “But either way we make some space / In the hell that we create / On both sides.”

“Two Wildly Different Perspectives” is open to multiple interpretations. It seems that Mr. Tillman is referencing the dangers of politics. The polarization caused by both sides is at an all-time high – even higher since he wrote and recorded this standout from Pure Comedy! And like Tillman suggests, the back-n-forth between both totally creates HELL.

10. Nick Jonas, “2Drunk”

💿 Spaceman • 🏷 Island • 📅 2021

“Too drunk and I’m all in my feelings / Oh, well, now I’m high as the ceiling.” Well, at least 🎙 Nick Jonas is being honest, right? Right! 🎵 “2Drunk” is one of the standouts from his 2021 solo album, 💿 Spaceman.  The record was written by Jonas, 🎼✍ Maureen “Mozella” McDonald, and 🎼✍ Greg Kurstin. Kurstin, additionally, serves as the producer on this gem.

On “2Drunk,” Nick is affected by two things.  First and foremost, a defunct relationship: “Should I send that text? Maybe not / But I miss that sex, quite a lot.”  Secondly, inebriation – No shit Sherlock (🚫 💩 🕵️‍♂️)! Essentially, Jonas is a hot mess, drowning his sorrows in the bottle.  Nonetheless, it’s quite relatable by all means!

11. Fantasia, “Two Weeks Notice”

💿 Fantasia • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited • 📅 2006

“This is my two-week notice / I resign my position because / You ain’t treating me right…”  Well, soulful 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer 🎙 Fantasia lays things out clearly on 🎵 “Two Week Notice,” a highlight from her sophomore album, 💿 Fantasia.  Released in the crowded fourth quarter of 2006, Fantasia debuted so-so (no. 19) but eventually earned gold certification, fueled by second single, the certified hit 🎵 “When I See U”.  Moving beyond the background, let’s focus on the song at hand, shall we?”

As the aforementioned excerpt from the chorus suggests, Fantasia is fed up with this man.  She’s no longer in love with him and must move on from her role as his girlfriend.  “The love that me and you shared expired,” she sings at the beginning of the first verse, continuing, “So there will be no renewing our contracts.” Oh snap! Love, love, love the lyrics – 🎼✍ Missy Elliott, 🎼✍ Corte Ellis, and 🎼✍ Craig Brockman wrote this gem.  Adding to the gloriousness of the lyrics is the neo-soul, throwback vibes of the record, produced by Brockman and Elliott.  Continuing with the lyrics, Fantasia goes on to say she’d be foolish to take him back and that he has not right to be mad at her because he messed things up.  Of course, the best moments of the entire song occur on the chorus, which continues as follows:

“I been working on the job
Just busting my ass
Pleasing you every day and night
I get no raises or no benefits
To stay with this establishment
I’m gone, this is my two-week notice.”

12. Adam Lambert, “Two Fux”

🎵 “Two Fux” • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2017

🎵 “Two Fux” is a well-produced record from American Idol runner up 🎙 Adam Lambert.  How the hell he didn’t win the show still irks me to this day.  I have some thoughts, but I’ll keep those to myself.  Nonetheless, Lambert has carved out some success and became the first openly gay musician to have an album debut at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.  But enough background! Let’s stay on topic and actually give “two fux” about the song “Two Fux” (see what I did there)

“Two Fux” blends pop, rock, and even a dash of R&B flavor superbly.  The best moment comes near the end when Adam lets loose vocally, showing off his magnificent, dynamic pipes.  “Two Fux” speaks to owning nonconformity and being unafraid to be different.  Honestly, that’s a pretty ‘fuxing’ good message if you ask me, best exemplified by the chorus.  Tis a shame this brilliant single never appeared on an album.

“If you think that what I do and how I live’s too much
I don't really, really give two fux
If you think that what I say and what I give ain’t love
I don't really, really give two fux
Here, right here, right here
Namaste right here, right here, right here
Ooh, ooh, ooh.”

13. Fleetwood Mac, “Second Hand News”

💿 Rumours • 🏷 Warner • 📅 1977

“When times go bad / When times go rough / Won’t you lay me down in the tall grass / And let me do my stuff?”  Those are key lyrics from 🎵 “Second Hand News,” the opening record from 💿 Rumours.  Rumours, of course is the 🏆 Grammy-winning masterpiece by 🎙 Fleetwood Mac released back in 1977.  Despite its age, Rumours ranks among the most beloved and most popular albums of all time.

“Second Hand News” is a bright, fun record.  Even so, matters of the heart are clearly in play, regardless of those infectious “Bow-bow-bow-bow-buh-buh-bow” lyrics on the chorus.  On the third verse, 🎙 Lindsey Buckingham makes it crystal clear that, “I ain’t gonna miss you when you go / Been down so long / I’ve been tossed around enough” (🎙 Stevie Nicks sings backing vocals on this one).  So, the big question is, when does the news, specifically that “second-hand news” come into play? Not until the end of this three-minute bop: “I’m just second-hand-news / I’m just second-hand news, yeah.”

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