13 Songs That Say It Thrice

Reading Time: 13 min read

**13 Songs That Say It Thrice features music courtesy of Destiny’s Child, Kelly Clarkson, *NSYNC, Paul McCartney, Ricky Dillard, and Troye Sivan.**

Repetition can be a beautiful thing! Reiterating things can be powerful, particularly when it happens thrice. Yes, there are some awesome songs that have songs that repeat words not just twice but thrice. Why? Perhaps it’s because ‘third time’s charm.’ Regardless, the thrice songs that appear on 13 Songs That Say It Thrice are entertaining to the nth degree. This list features some oldies as well as more contemporary standouts. 13 Songs That Say It Thrice features music courtesy of Destiny’s Child, Kelly Clarkson, *NSYNC, Paul McCartney, Ricky Dillard, and Troye Sivan among others. So, without further ado, embrace the power of thrice on 13 Songs That Say It Thrice!

1. James Brown & The Famous Flames, “Please, Please, Please”

💿 Please, Please, Please • 🏷 Universal • 📅 1958

“Please, please, please, please (Please, please don’t go).” Those iconic lines hail from “Please, Please, Please,” a beloved gem from music icon James Brown. “Please, Please, Please” is a prime example of early R&B at its best.  It was released in 1956 as single, eventually appearing on Brown’s debut album, fitting titled, Please, Please, Please.  Worth noting, this song is attributed to James Brown & His Famous Flames.   

What stands out most about “Please, Please, Please” is exactly what you’d expect – JAMES BROWN.  This record truly foreshadows the greatness to come for The Godfather of Soul.  His voice is incredibly nuanced.  He can pull back, he can push – he does a little bit of everything in this complete performance.  I’m not sure if he convinces her not to go, but he sure convinces me.  I mean, I’d be a fool to leave after he gives his all on this spirited gem! “Please, Please, Please” is iconic!  

Appears in 🔻:

13 Please Songs That You Must Listen To (2023)

2. Troye Sivan, “My My My”

💿 Bloom • 🏷 Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd. • 📅 2018

In 2018, Grammy-nominated, out pop musician Troye Sivan delivered a terrific single with “My My My!”. “My My My!” appears as the second track on his sophomore album, Bloom. Troye keeps things groovy and honest.  It features sleek, modern production (OZGO) that perfectly complements the low-key vocals of Sivan.  Despite a ‘calm, cool, and collected’ approach, “My My My!” packs a punch. Lyrically and vocally, he gives off a sexy vibe.  In the first verse, he sings, “Don’t make me wait another day / ‘Cause passion is passion / You know it just as well as me,” later adding, “Now, let’s stop running from love / Let’s stop, my baby.” The arrival point is the chorus, which amps up the energy level.  He’s not known for gospel histrionics, but his passion and authenticity are indisputable like my, my, my!

3. Rick Ross, “Trap Trap Trap” (Ft. Young Thug & Wale)

💿 Rather You Than Me • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2017

“Trap Trap Trap” featuring Young Thug and Wale, is a clear-cut highlight from Rather You Than Me, the ninth studio album by Rick Ross, released in 2017. A souped-up banger, the chorus latches instantly: “I took my roof off at the red light / I took my roof off at the red light / Trap, trap, trap, trap, trap, trap.” Ross handles the first verse, testifying about toughness.  He flexes hard over the epic, malicious production work of Yung Coke, exhibiting a tight flow.  Young Thug takes the second verse, warning of the dangers of the trap, being rich, and violence – he’s armed and dangerous.  As for Wale, he goes against the grain, making an uncharacteristic record work near-perfectly.  After all, he “ain’t nothin’ like them trap guys.”  

Appears in 🔻:

4. Destiny’s Child, “Bills Bills Bills”

💿 The Writing’s on the Wall • 🏷 Sony BMG Music Entertainment • 🗓 1999

“Can you pay my bills? / Can you pay my telephone bills? / Do you pay my automo’ bills?” Three legit questions, Destiny’s Child. In the chorus of the no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Bills Bills Bills”, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Latavia Robinson, and LeToya Luckett continue singing: “If you did, then maybe could chill / I don’t think you do / So, you and me are through.” “Bills Bills Bills” was written by Beyoncé, Rowland, Luckett, Kandi Burruss, and producer, Kevin Briggs. The sound of “Bills Bills Bills” remains epic 25 years after its release. Briggs puts his foot into the production, which is hella rhythmic and colorful keys. Notably, the hip-hop-infused quality matches the attitude of the songwriting and the vocals.

The chorus, excerpted above, is a big reason why “Bills Bills Bills” was such a success. It’s not the sole reason for the platinum single’s success though. Beyoncé slays in the verses. “And now you ask to use my car / Drive it all day and don’t fill up the tank,” she asserts in the first, adding, “And you have the audacity / To even come and step to me and / Ask to hold some money from me / Until you get your check next week.” Woo! How about Kelly Rowland in the pre-chorus, where she informs him, “You trifilin’, good-for-nothin’ type of brother / Silly me, why haven’t I found another?” Right, Kelly – this boy a scrub! At least the girls have come to their senses, breaking it off with these lame, no-good guys. “Bills Bills Bills” will forever be one of Destiny’s Child’s best, and one of the great songs of the 1990s.

Appears in 🔻:

Destiny’s Child, Bills Bills Bills: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 13 (2024)

5. NSYNC, “Bye Bye Bye”

💿 No Strings Attached • 🏷 Zomba Recording LLC • 🗓 2000

Three words: “Bye Bye Bye”! *NSYNC dropped a pop banger in 2000 with this hella catchy, ‘thrice’ song title. The opener from their multiplatinum album, No Strings Attached, is one of six top-10 hits by the boy band. While “Bye Bye Bye” didn’t top the pop charts like “It’s Gonna Be Me” would later the same year, it reached no. 4 which is highly respectable. This pop bop was penned by Andreas Carlsson, Jake Schulze, and Kristian Lundin. Schulze and Lundin also produced the track. Sigh, you gotta love those Swedish songwriters and music producers, particularly from late 90s/early 00s pop!

“Bye Bye Bye” is a blast. JC Chasez takes the lead in the first verse, crying foul about this no-good girl. He sings, “I loved you endlessly / And you weren’t there for me / So now, it’s time to leave / And make it alone.” FACTS! Chasez goes on to add in the pre-chorus, “I know that I can’t take no more / It ain’t no lie.” Guess what *NSYNC ends up singing, dynamically? “Bye, bye, bye (Bye Bye)!” In the second verse, it’s Justin Timberlake who takes the reins, reaching the same conclusions as JC: “I lived for you and me / And now, I really come to see / That life would be much better / Once you’re gone.” Word! Of course, the section that sums up the goodbyes to this girl who doesn’t care is the chorus. The boys arrive at the fact, “Don’t wanna be a fool for you / Just another player in your game for two / You may hate me but it ain’t no lie / Baby, bye, bye bye (Bye, bey).” Pop doesn’t sound like “Bye Bye Bye” anymore, even if it remains gimmicky and tongue in cheek. That said, this song, approaching 25 years of age, remains fresh – ICONIC!

Appears in 🔻:

*NSYNC, Bye Bye Bye: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 15 (2024)

6. Andrea Bocelli & Jennifer Lopez, “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás”

💿 Passione • 🏷 Sugar Srl / Universal International Music B.V. • 📅 2013

“Siempre que te pregunto / Que cuándo, cómo y dónde / Tu siempre me respondes / Quizás, quizás, quizás.” Um, yes, now what’s the translation? “Every time I ask you / That when, how and where / You always answer me / Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.” Ask yourself this question: did you ever expect Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, and pop superstar, Jennifer Lopez to collaborate? The likely answer to the question is a resounding NO. However, in 2013, Bocelli and Lopez duetted on “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” (“Perhaps, Perhaps Perhaps”) the fifth track from his passionate album, Passione. “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” is a classic, penned by Cuban songwriter, Osvaldo Farrés, back in 1947. This thrice-titled number has been covered by numerous artists. Bocelli and Lopez perform it sensationally. With distinctly different voices, Lopez’s lighter, higher vocal contrasts with Bocelli’s more robust tenor sensationally. The playful nature of this duet is a big reason for its success, which seems to capture the intent of the songwriter. In addition to a strong vocal performance, and elite songwriting, the production (Kuk Harrell and David Foster) and orchestration (Nathan Kelly) deserve shout outs.

Appears in 🔻:

Nat King Cole vs. Andrea Bocelli: Head 2 Head No. 9 (2024)

7. Buster Poindexter, “Hot Hot Hot”

💿 Buster Poindexter • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1987

“Ole, ole, ole, ole / Ole, ole, ole, ole.” And so, begins the Caribbean pop of “Hot Hot Hot” by Buster Poindexter. Buster Poindexter is a persons of New York Dolls singer, David Johansen. Who says you can’t have multiple personas as an artist? Anyways, it should be noted that “Hot Hot Hot” is credited to Buster Poindexter & His Banshees of Blue. Those Banshees provide some sweet music! While this novel, summery, tongue-in-cheek earned popularity in the U.S. thanks to Johansen (no. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100), it is a cover! That’s right folks, this song belongs to the late Montserratian musician, Arrow (Alphonsus Cassell). Cassell composed this exuberant gem, which appeared on his 1982 album, Hot Hot Hot.

Besides those infectious “ole, ole” lines, it’s no secret what the most popular and prevalent lines of the song are. “Me mind on fire / Me soul on fire, feeling hot, hot, hot.” That’s just – wait for it – HOT 🥵! There’s just something when it occurs thrice, it hits different! Buster Poindexter fully embraces the novel nature of this tropical cut, infusing ample personality. Thematically, the song embraces partying, and it’s a surefire vibe. “See people rocking / Hear people chanting, feeling hot, hot, hot.” Yeah! In addition to the simple but utterly fun lyrics, the production – the sound of the record – is hot as well. It’s the percussion and those horns. All told, “Hot Hot Hot” is a lit four minutes and change we will never forget!

Appears in 🔻:

Buster Poindexter, Hot Hot Hot: Covers No. 6 (2024)

8. KC and The Sunshine Band, “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty”

💿 KC & the Sunshine Band, Pt. 3… and More • 🏷 Warner Strategic Marketing • 🗓 2004

“Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake / Shake your booty! Shake your booty!” Woo! KC & the Sunshine Band had some hits back in the day. Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch had a mighty pen game, writing songs for the band as well as others (see George McCrae). The energetic, fun, and utterly infectious “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty” reached at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. Notably, it’s one of five no. 1 hits by the band. In 2022, the single was certified gold by the RIAA – pretty cool 😎. Depth is not the modus operandi, but it’s hard not to move body, particularly the booty, to this one!

“Ah everybody, get on the floor, and let’s dance!” Fo’ sho’ KC & the Sunshine Band! “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty” begins with a bang thanks to a lit groove – drums, rhythm guitar, and a robust bass line. Furthermore, the horn arrangement is fabulous. Even though the booty shaking is set in a minor key, it’s one of the happier minor-keyed records you’ll ever hear. Casey sings jubilantly, even with ultra-simple lyrics. Regardless, those potent words, particularly in the infectious chorus, incite the discoing. Honestly, nothing more needs to be said regarding “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty” as this disco era classic speaks for itself. “Ah, don’t fight the feeling!”

Appears in 🔻:

KC & the Sunshine Band, (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 28 (2024)

9. Motley Crüe, “Girls Girls Girls”

💿 Girls, Girls, Girls • 🏷 Eleven Seven • 🗓 1987

“Joyously sleazy and stupid, they became one of the top, heavy metal bands of the ‘80s but garnered more headlines for their infamous antics.” Sounds like an accurate description of Mötley Crüe to me, David Jeffries.  One song seems to fit the colorful characterization of cock rock: “Girls, Girls, Girls” (Girls, Girls, Girls, 1987).

“Girls, girls, girls
Long legs and burgundy lips
Girls, girls, girls
Dancing down on Sunset Strip
Girls, girls, girls
Red lips, fingertips.”

Ultimately, that sums up the shallow “Girls, Girls, Girls.” The record is all about hooking up and nothing more.  Is there the sense that any of the guys in MC were looking for an emotional connection? No, of course not; they simply wanted to do it with hotties! Then there’s the line, “I’m such a good, good boy, I just need a new toy… / Dance for me, I’ll keep you over-employed.” Yep, this is cock rock exemplified!

Appears in 🔻:

50 Awesome Boy or Girl Songs (2020)

10. Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson, “Say Say Say”

💿 Pipes of Peace • 🏷 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd / Concord Music Group, Inc. • 🗓 1983

“Say, say, say what you want / But don’t play games with my affection.” Ooh-wee! “Say Say Say” marks one of 23 top-10 hits by Paul McCartney and one of 30 top-10 hits by Michael Jackson. This gem, which appears on McCartney’s 1983 album, Pipes of Peace, marks one of the biggest collaborations of all-time. Paul! Michael! That’s huge! Unsurprisingly, “Say Say Say” spent six weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in December 1983. In 1992, this superstar collab was certified platinum by the RIAA. “Say Say Say” was written by McCartney and Jackson and produced by George Martin. The lyrics are memorable while the music slays.

“Say Say Say” features an electrifying groove from the onset, which sets the tone of this 80s pop classic. The instrumental is extra smooth. Instruments worth highlighting include the keys, guitars, harmonica (!), and those exuberant, rhythmic, and highly articulated horns. Both McCartney and Jackson serve up superb vocals. The vocal chemistry, as well as the contrast between Paul and Michael is excellent. Another pro from “Say Say Say” are the melodies, which are tuneful throughout. McCartney handles the verses, while MJ takes the chorus, with variations:

“All alone, I sit home by the phone

Waiting for you, baby

Through the years, how can you stand to hear

My pleading for you, dear?

You know I’m crying, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.”

Ooh-wee! The bridge separates itself from the verse and chorus – a solid lead into the third and final verse. Ultimately, “Say Say Say” doesn’t require deep analysis lyrically or musically – it’s greatness speaks for itself.

Appears in 🔻:

Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson, Say Say Say: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 27 (2024)

11. Kelly Clarkson, “Run Run Run” (Ft. John Legend)

💿 Piece by Piece • 🏷 RCA• 📅 2015

“And you waited on the rain / Through tears, my heart is caged / And we fall through fate, and we rise and rise again / And I run, run, run, run, run.” Kelly Clarkson, assisted by fellow Grammy winner, John Legend, transforms “Run, Run, Run” into a duet. This Tokio Hotel cover appeared as the sixth track on her 2015 album, Piece by Piece. Compared to the three-and-a-half-minute duration of the original, in the hands of Clarkson and Legend, the song lasts a minute longer.  With two world class vocalists, there’s just no way that this performance wouldn’t be lit 🔥.  The vocal harmonies that appear in the chorus, sung exclusively by Clarkson following her first verse are chilling. Legend arrives singing the second verse, with his distinct, soulful voice.  Soon enough, during that verse, the record becomes the duet.  When that duet materializes, the intensity increases, while the audience listens in awe hearing the vocal chemistry between Clarkson and Legend.  “Run, Run, Run” is percussion-less for about the first three minutes before mammoth drums take the record to the next level.   There’s an added section where Clarkson and Legend sort of riff – vibe out over the awesome source material. This ‘vibe’ section makes this cover grander and more dramatic than the original. Even as “Run, Run, Run” reaches a fever pitch, Clarkson and Legend bring things back down to close things out, which is a thoughtful, finesse touch.  

Appears in 🔻:

12. The Byrds, “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)”  

💿 Turn! Turn! Turn! • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 1965  

So, let’s get a little ‘spiritual’ – a little Biblical – shall we?  From the Book of Ecclesiastes, specifically Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV): 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 A time to kill and a time to heal… No, here at The Musical Hype we aren’t promoting religion (that’s everyone’s own choice to make) but we are providing the source of The Byrds’ 1965 classic, “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season).” The folk-rock record, written by the legendary Pete Seeger, is based on the text from Ecclesiastes 3 from the Old Testament.  Even if you’re not particularly religious, this passage of scripture, and song itself, is quite prudent and thoughtful.  If you’ve never encountered “Turn! Turn! Turn!” at some point, you’re totally missing out.   

Appears in 🔻:

13. Ricky Dillard & Lisa Knowles-Smith, “Jesus Jesus Jesus (Live)”

💿 Choirmaster II • 🏷 Capitol CMG • 📅 2024

“Jesus Jesus Jesus” gives Choirmaster II, the 2024 album by gospel standout, Ricky Dillard, one of its most highest-flying moments. This Jesus3 gem features commanding lead vocals by Lisa Knowles-Smith. In addition to her gritty testament to the power of J-E-S-U-S, she gets a punchy choral response – the call and response form at its best. When Dillard and company vamp on this seven minute juggernaut, it’s EVERYTHING! Meanwhile, the musicians excel. The keyboards are bright, the bass line athletic, and those trumpets, biting. Of course, shout out to the choirmaster himself, Dillard, and Pharis Evans for the utterly sublime songwriting.

13 Songs That Say It Thrice (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol CMG, Concord Music Group, Inc., Eleven Seven, Epic, MPL Communications Inc/Ltd, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, Sugar Srl, Universal, Universal International Music B.V., Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd., Warner Strategic Marketing, Zomba Recording LLC; András Matesz from Pexels]

13 Songs That Say It Thrice | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on March 22, 2024March 22, 2024