13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 4

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13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 4 features songs by Denise LaSalle, ETHAN, Pharrell Williams x Miley Cyrus, Teddy Pendergrass, and Twisted Sister.

Can you guess what it is about? It (this playlist) contains songs about it. It can be many things. It can be a pronoun or a noun, for example. It’s safe to say, it can represent anything. So, The Musical Hype has compiled a musical compendium series comprising IT. The criterion is self-explanatory; it must be included! Following 13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 1 (2024), published in October 2024, and 13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 2 (2024), published in December 2024, and 13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 3, published in March 2025, we unveil 13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 4 (2025)! 13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 4 features songs by Denise LaSalle, ETHAN, Pharrell Williams x Miley Cyrus, Teddy Pendergrass, and Twisted Sister. So, without further ado, let’s jump into IT… VOL. 4!

~ Table of Contents ~

1. Pharrell Williams & Miley Cyrus, “Doctor (Work It Out)”	2. ETHAN, “Like It”	3. Denise LaSalle, “Lick It Before You Stick It”	4. Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth”
5. Ciara, “Run It Up” (Ft. BossMan Dlow)	6. Joe Jonas, “Work It Out”	7. Bebe Rexha, “Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)”	8. Twisted Sister, “We’re Not Gonna Take It”
9. Camila Cabello, “I LUV IT” (Ft. Playboi Carti)	10. Eminem, “Just Lose It”	11. Backstreet Boys, “I Want It That Way”	12. Teddy Pendergrass, “It Don’t Hurt Now”
13. Ohio Players, “Let’s Do It”

1. Pharrell Williams & Miley Cyrus, “Doctor (Work It Out)”

“Doctor (Work It Out)” // Columbia // 2024

When Pharrell Williams and Miley Cyrus join forces, plenty of magic is unleashed. These Grammy-winning standouts bring the heat on “Doctor (Work It Out)”. This three-minute and change joint was penned by Williams, Cyrus, and Michael Pollack. Pharrell hands the work behind the boards, kicking things off with his signature, four count. From there, over a minimal but potent instrumental, following the tone-setting, introductory bar, Miley gets to work! “I could be your doctor / And I could be your nurse / I think I see the problem / It’s only gon’ get worse,” Cyrus sings, in all her ‘medical’ glory in the tuneful chorus. She continues, “A midnight medication / Just show me where it hurts / I need to rock you, baby / Before your body bursts.” Ooh-wee! In the post-chorus, for good measure, she asserts, “Let lil mama work you out.” Gah-day-um! The record only features a sole verse, but Miley makes it worthwhile whenever and whatever she sings. Her lead vocals are expressive and playful, while the background vocals add to the fun and allure with their tongue-in-cheek vibes. The songwriting isn’t deep, nor is it intended to be – “Are you on the fence? / Still playing on the side / Are you on the fence? / Don’t waste my damn time” – but ultimately, “Doctor (Work It Out)” is entertaining… also, groovy.

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2. ETHAN, “Like It”

DIVINE INTERVENTION (EP) // ETHAN // 2024

“Pull an all-nighter / Ain’t ‘bout to save it for later / We on that puppy love time / Clean up then we back on site.” Oh, shit! It’s easy to like “Like It”. ETHAN (Ethan Choryin Luo) adds in this sexy single from DIVINE INTERVENTION, “Drunk on that punch boy / Taste it on your tongue boy, hey.” He penned this naughty gem alongside Maribelle and Alex the Astronaut. Vetta Borne produced this sensational queer sex song. ETHAN sounds amazing – that tone, those sickening runs – as well as amazingly titillating, giving the listeners ‘something they can feel.’ “Make it rain, boy / The way you pour that strawberry chocolate, yuh / You know it fill me up,” he sings, naughtily.

In the bridge, the passion is elevated:

“Ready now, lay me down

Turn it around

Switch it up, me on top

Boy turn me out

Just the right type of dangerous

Don’t talk, savor it.”

Damn! Is hooking up between them becoming more? It’s a concern, as he emphasizes, “I just need a weekend lover, had too many weak ass lovers,” and in the chorus, declares (1) “Don’t try to make it, make it something it’s not,” and (2) “Don’t wanna get together, if it won’t last forever.” Still, whatever this thing is between them, especially in one of the sexiest music videos you’ll ever see, it’s piping hot! The steamy “Like It” is the sugar honey iced tea.

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3. Denise LaSalle, “Lick It Before You Stick It”

This Real Woman // ORDENA // 2000

“You’re making her feel good / But you can make her feel better / If you treat your lady like a stamp on a letter.” A stamp on a letter, eh, Denise LaSalle. The advice the late R&B, soul, and blues singers gave was “Lick it / Before you stick it”. Oh, boy! Is LaSalle referencing what I think she’s referencing? Yes, she’s talking about cunnilingus (safe, educational, non-pornographic link). The ‘it’ referenced in her bold and unapologetic song, “Lick It Before You Stick It” (This Real Woman) is her vagina. That means what is potentially being ‘stuck’ after the licking is his penis. Wow…

Denise LaSalle keeps it a buck on “Lick It Before You Stick It.” It’s risqué but music has become far more graphic since this eyebrow-raising joint. But, since we’re on the lyrics, they are a treat:

“And some men think a little tittie kissing

is the answer to every woman’s dream

But let me tell yah how to kiss her

If you really want to hear her scream.”

Ooh-wee! The chorus is the section to beat – where the infectious licking before sticking happens . It’s not all sexed-up lyrics though. The musical accompaniment is jubilant with an organ, a robust bass line, an awesome rhythm guitar, and biting horns. LaSalle sounds fantastic – nuanced and dynamic in her vocal performance. Is LaSalle’s vice sound on “Lick It Before You Stick It”? Perhaps, but more sound, for our intents and purposes, is the raunchy but captivating song itself.

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4. Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth”

Buffalo Springfield // Atco / Atlantic // 1966

“There’s something happening here / But what it is ain’t exactly clear / There’s a man with a gun over there / A-telling me I got to beware.” Word. When Buffalo Springfield is mentioned, one song comes to mind: “For What It’s Worth”. For what it’s worth, “For What It’s Worth” was the sole top 40 hit for Buffalo Springfield, a short-lived collective comprising Neil Young , Bruce Palmer , Dewey Martin , Stephen Stills , and Richie Furay . The opening track from the Los Angeles-formed band’s reissued, self-titled album peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. A song that defines the 1960s, it is considered among the best songs ever written and recorded. Stills penned and performed this epic song.

“For What It’s Worth” is revered as one of the greatest protest songs. Is it the anti-war anthem that it’s often portrayed to be? No, believe it or not – that wasn’t Still’s intent. Nonetheless, it fits the bill! “There’s battle lines being drawn / And nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong,” Still sings, continuing, “Young people speaking their minds / Are gettin’ so much resistance from behind.” The verses are impeccably penned. Even so, the crowning achievement – the crème de la crème – is the chorus:

“It’s time we stop

Hey, what’s that sound?

Everybody look what’s going down.”

During the chorus, the remainder of Buffalo Springfield joins Stills, singing in harmony. Besides top-notch songwriting, the musical accompaniment is top-notch, too. Buffalo Springfield don’t overplay in the least. There’s a subtlety that speaks volumes, particularly the signature, haunting guitar riff. “For What It’s Worth” is an indisputable rock classic. With a song that so much can be said about it, the lyrics speak volumes. Although they disbanded in 1968, it would not be the last we heard from these musicians. Fittingly, the collective was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Appears in :

Buffalo Springfield, For What It’s Worth: Throwback Vibez 198 (2024)

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5. Ciara, “Run It Up” (Ft. BossMan Dlow)

“Run It Up” // Beauty Marks Entertainment, Inc. // 2024

“Drivin’ way too fast, I don’t see no one in front of me /… Run it up, run it up, run it up, run it up.” Woo! Grammy-winning R&B/hip-hop artist Ciara (Ciara Harris) brings the heat on “Run It Up”. She enlisted Florida rapper BossMan Dlow (Devante McCreary) to assist in the banger. The enjoyable song was written by Harris, McCreary, Courtlin Jabrae, and Theron Thomas. Harris, Jabrae, J. R. Rotem, and Andy D. Park produced. “Run It Up” is turned up from the beginning with the energetic instrumental intro and “ohs” sung by Ciara. Set in a minor key, it features a banging beat and malicious minor-key synths. Its rhythm is among the best features. Following the repetitive chorus highlighting the titular lyric “Run it Up,” BossMan Dlow drops the first verse. What makes it interesting is his unique flow. Lyrically, he doesn’t offer much depth, unless you consider the likes of, “You with a boss now, bae, let’s have sex on a yacht” to be deep. Ciara keeps it hella agile and rhythmic during the second verse. “No matter how many points I put up on the board / Just believe me, you know they gon’ hate,” she asserts, adding, “I’m in a league of my own, I’m a wife, I’m a mom / I go pick up my kids in a Wraith.” Word. She also drops a rad bridge: “Get back up when they knock you down /… You on a whole ‘nother level now.” “Run It Up” is a certified vibe.

Appears in :

Bops That Pop: August 2024

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6. Joe Jonas, “Work It Out”

Music For People Who Believe in Love // Republic // 2025

“Sometimes I wish I had powers to be invisible.” Doesn’t everybody? “Work It Out” marked the first single by Joe Jonas since 2022. It is far more momentous. Why? It is the promo single from his delayed sophomore album, Music For People Who Believe in Love. Jonas penned the single alongside Jason Evigan, Bianca Atterberry, Kane Ritchotte, and Victoria Evigan. Jason Evigan and Kane Ritchotte produced. There is no shortage of intriguing lyrics. After wishing for invisibility, Joe asserts, “Even baddies get saddies, and that’s the hardest truth / Call your mommy and daddy, they don’t know what to do.” In the second verse, he owns up to the fact, “Okay, maybe I’m a little dramatic / Okay, maybe I’m a little manic / Some days, I wanna float away / Sometimes, I need remindin’.” The crème de la crème – the crowning achievement – is the chorus. Stop whining, “Brush your shoulders off, life’s gonna work it out.” Word. Jonas delivers energetic vocals, including showing off some sweet falsetto. The instrumental is a blend of driving pop, rock, and a dash of synth. The brief but potent “Work It Out” is unique – something Joe needed to release as a solo artist. Enjoyable overall, it’s a song that grows on you with successive listens.

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7. Bebe Rexha, “Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)”

“Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)” // Warner // 2024

“I do things my way / Or take the highway / But my heart, it never missed a beat.” Bebe Rexha has spoken. Those lyrics hail from the first verse of her brief but entertaining single, “Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)”. In the second she asserts, “I’ve been on a vibe, babe / Breaking out of my cage / Living on the wilderness of my escape.” “Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)” serves up those dance-pop vibes – a good look for the pop star. It was penned by Rexha, Aluna Francis, and Chris Lake. Providing the sleek production work is Lake. The beat is infectious while the keys and synths shimmer. “Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)” thrives off of lightness. It never gets too heavy. Rexha delivers solid vocals, never forcing things. Does she break a sweat? No, particularly during the drop/post-chorus: “Mm, da-da-da, da-da-da…” Those lyrics are nonsensical but ear-catching. Before that, she shines in the chorus, asserting, “Chase it / I’ll never chase it / I won’t leave alone tonight.” She’s determined! Plenty of vocal effects make things even more colorful – pitch shift, reverb, etc. “Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)” is a vibe, particularly for summertime. Bebe let’s dance!

Appears in :

Bops That Pop: May 2024

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8. Twisted Sister, “We’re Not Gonna Take It”

Stay Hungry // Atlantic // 1984

“Now drop and give me twenty!” Twisted Sister is best known for one song and one song only: “We’re Not Gonna Take It”. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” was one of three songs by the heavy metal band to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (“Leader of the Pack” and “I Wanna Rock”). HOWEVER, only the song at hand reached the top 40 of the pop charts, peaking at no. 21. Furthermore, “We’re Not Gonna Take It’ is the sole song by Twister Sister to be certified gold by the RIAA. It should come as no surprise that the single bolstered its parent album, Stay Hungry, the sole multiplatinum LP by the band.

Dee Snider deserves lots of credit for making “We’re Not Gonna Take It” a big hit. He wrote it and provided those high-flying vocals. The best part of the song is the chorus, which is catchy as albeit:

“Oh, we’re not gonna take it

No, we ain’t gonna take it

Oh, we’re not gonna take it anymore.”

This sing-along chorus is one of the quintessential ones! The verses have more meat on the bone lyrically. “We’ve got the right to choose, and / There ain’t no way we’ll lose it,” Snider snarls in the first verse, adding, “We’ll fight the powers that be, just / Don’t pick our destiny.” In the second verse, he asserts, “Oh, you’re so condescending / Your gall is never ending / We don’t want anything, not a thing from you.” WOO! The music is as assertive and amped up as the lyrics – “WE’RE RIGHT! (YEAH!) / WE’RE FREE! (YEAH!) / WE’LL FIGHT! (YEAH!) / YOU’LL SEE! (YEAH!).” The music includes some mean guitar playing (and soloing) and pummeling drums that hit you right in the chest. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” is timeless, easily cementing the band’s musical legacy.

Appears in :

Twisted Sister, We’re Not Gonna Take It: 1 Hit WONDERful 12 (2024)

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9. Camila Cabello, “I LUV IT” (Ft. Playboi Carti)

C,XOXO // Camila Cabello / Geffen / Interscope // 2024

“Supersonic / In your orbit / And I’m bad / Diabolic…” Um, sure Camila Cabello, whatever you say! The Grammy-nominated (!) pop singer enlists Playboi Carti for “I LUV IT”, the promo single from her fourth album, C,XOXO. When reviewing the El Guincho / Jasper Harris-produced single that samples “Lemonade” by Gucci Mane, I was too kind… Revisiting this energetic joint, Cabello doesn’t say much. See the repetitively annoying chorus: “I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it / I love it, I love it, I love it.” Hmm… I will still spot her the ‘memorable’ lyric, “I go soprano, baby, go down low” from the first verse. I have been consistently ‘out’ on Playboi Carti’s performance, which requires the lyrics to discover he references Novocain, drugs (weed, lean), foreigns (Lamborghini Aventador SVJ), and women (Clermont twins) in his rap.  Camila Cabello is the ‘star of the show’ on “I LUV IT” but it is a bizarre song much like C,XOXO overall. 

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10. Eminem, “Just Lose It”

Encore // Aftermath Entertainment / Interscope // 2024

“Grab your left nut, make your right one jealous.” Leave it to Eminem to reference testicles. The Academy and Grammy award winner has experienced his fair share of controversy throughout his career. “Just Lose It”, the 13^th track from his 2004 album, Encore, is a prime example. Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo produced it. The lyrics are controversial first and foremost. “Come here, little kiddies, on my lap / Guess who’s back with a brand-new rap?” he raps in the first verse, continuing, “And I don’t mean ‘rap’ as in a new case / Of child molestation accusa-.” Eminem references Michael Jackson. Later, he claims he’s not jabbing at Jackson, but I’m not so sure (“I done touched on everything but little boys / And that’s not a stab at Michael”). Beyond MJ, Em enjoys poop references:

“And it’s cool if you let one go

Nobody’s gonna know, who’d hear it?

Give a little poot-poot, it’s okay

Oops, my CD just skipped

And everyone just heard you let one rip.”

So, shade towards MJ. Referencing nuts. Dropping poopy bars. The chorus is one of the most memorable of Eminem’s career, once more jabbing at Jackson.

“Now I’m gonna make you dance

It’s your chance, yeah, boy, shake that ass

Whoops, I mean girl, girl, girl, girl…”

Beyond the lyrics, the music video is another source of controversy. Why? Eminem makes fun of Jackson, including parodying the infamous Pepsi Commercial hair-burning incident. Jackson was upset with the rapper. BET banned the video, but it was eventually re-aired. “Just Lose It” is polarizing – there is no doubt about that. Still, the single peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified double platinum in 2018.

Appears in :

Eminem, Just Lose It: Controversial Songs No. 4 (2024)

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11. Backstreet Boys, “I Want It That Way”

Millennium // Zomba // 1999

“You are my fire / The one desire / Believe when I say / I want it that way.” WOO! Ah, those Backstreet Boys were one of the biggest boy bands in the late 1990s. Bubblegum pop was all the rage, and BSB exemplified it, particularly on the Millennium (1999) highlight at hand, “I Want It That Way”. This record is pop schmaltz at its best, with many characterizing or decoding the want – the desire – in NSFW ways. Do you think “I Want It That Way,” which spent 31 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at no. 6, is really about anal sex? Kat George of Bustle seems to think so, citing the lyrics, “But we are two worlds apart / Can’t reach to your heart / When you say / That I want it that way”:

“[It] might sound like some emo Romeo and Juliet melodrama to some people, but what it really sounds like to most of us is that someone doesn’t want to put it in the stinker after they were asked politely.”

Oh, snap ! Perhaps if “I Want It That Way” were officially about pulling up to the bumper, it would be hella fierce. Ultimately, the fierceness of “I Want It That Way” relies on puppy dog love from good-looking young men. “Am I your fire? / Your one desire…” Well now… To be fair, the songwriting (Andreas Carlsson and Max Martin) is questionable. The verses, in particular, are odd. Perhaps that’s why the outlandish assertion that this song is about anal is worth talking about. Ultimately, the tunefulness of the melody and a catchy chorus helped make “I Want It That Way” a 1990s classic. Notably, this ‘oddly written’ song was nominated for three Grammys (including Song of The Year).

Appears in :

Backstreet Boys, I Want It That Way: FIERCE Pop + Rock 31 (2023)

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12. Teddy Pendergrass, “It Don’t Hurt Now”

Life Is a Song Worth Singing // Sony Music Entertainment // 1978

“I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat / I’d just sit at home, and I’d weep.” Sigh, the late, great Teddy Pendergrass (1950 – 2010) was “down bad” on “It Don’t Hurt Now”. “It Don’t Hurt Now” is the sixth track from Life Is a Song Worth Singing, one of four platinum-certified albums by the late, great soul musician. The good news for Teddy, we learn as the track progresses, is “But now all that has changed / I’ve found someone to ease my pain.” Good news! “It Don’t Hurt Now” was written by Sherman Marshall and Ted Wortham. Marshall also produced this highlight from the Teddy Pendergrass catalog.

Throughout “It Don’t Hurt Now,” Pendergrass delivers robust, soulful vocals. He gives his all as he recalls the heartbreak and pain he experienced. “It used to be every night / I would cry my heart out over you,” he sings in the first verse. In the second, he adds, “It used to be every time / I would hear a sad song, I would die.” Bummer! But, as previously stated, he reveals the pain is gone. As tuneful as the melodies are in the verses and pre-chorus, the chorus is where Pendergrass’ bread is buttered. Of course, this is also where he shares:

“And it don’t hurt now (No, not now)

Baby it don’t hurt now (No, not now)

Well, there’s no more sleepless nights

No more heartaches, no more fights

And it don’t hurt now, not now.”

Besides dynamic vocals and relatable songwriting, “It Don’t Hurt Now” benefits from exquisite production. This is a Philly soul record through and through. It features lush orchestration with the horns and strings, alongside the rhythm section, as well as smooth, celestial background vocals supporting Pendergrass’ marvelous lead. “It Don’t Hurt Now” is one of Teddy’s best. It wasn’t a pop hit, but that doesn’t diminish its excellence.

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13. Ohio Players, “Let’s Do It”

Honey // UMG Recordings Inc. // 1975

“It takes a L and a O and a V, and a E / It takes you, it takes me, together / Oh, let’s love, we only got one day / Oh, let’s love, to pass the time away.” Grammy-nominated funk band Ohio Players were among the greatest bands ever to do it. Their seventh studio album, Honey, released in 1975, is among their most highly regarded. “Let’s Do It”, the third track, is a stunning ballad focused on matters of the heart. The chorus, excerpted above, is the section to beat. That said, there’s not a dull moment on “Let’s Do It.”

Perhaps it’s not a ‘go-to’ comment, but the harmonic progression is sick. The ascending chromatic portion is epic, sounding ‘churchy.’ Beyond the musical underpinnings, the orchestration and production work are top-notch. The instruments that stand out are the piano, bass, and horns. The drums also ‘hold down’ this love-oriented ballad. Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner (1943 – 2013) wows, delivering stellar vocals that ooze with soul. “I’ve only known you for a moment / Oh, but I love you desperately, girl,” he asserts in the first verse. Oh, snap! In the second, he sings, “They say that I’m mean and I’m evil, oh girl / Oh, but how else can a starving man be?” Word. He adds, “If you wouldn’t listen to what they say behind my back, child / You would be making love to me, alright.” The high-flying, high-pitched vocals/ falsetto are everything during the bridge, bringing contrast and amplifying the celestial, romantic listening different (“Let’s do it, please do it / Even you and me can do it…”). “Let’s Do It” is a prime example of an album track that is so good it deserved to be a single. Ohio Players ‘put their foot’ into this one.

Appears in :

Ohio Players, Let’s Do It: Throwback Vibez 20 (2025)

~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~

13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 4 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Aftermath Entertainment, Atco, Atlantic, Beauty Marks Entertainment, Inc., Camila Cabello, Columbia, ETHAN, Geffen, Interscope, ORDENA, Republic, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings Inc., Warner, Zomba; Leonardo Goncalves wild from Pexels; AcatXIo from Pixabay;]

13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 4 | Playlist

Published by the musical hype on April 4, 2025April 4, 2025