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13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 6 (2026) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; VICO ORTIZO from Pexels; Gordon Johnson, Niek Verlaan,ย OpenClipart-Vectorsย  fromย Pixabay]13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 6 ย features songs by Artemas, Bleachers, Joji, Michael Bolton, Sasha Keable, and Tammi Terrell.

Remember,ย YOUย can make a difference and be influential in many ways. You are a big deal. ย You, as a second-person pronoun, appear in many songs. That is an understatement.ย 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 6ย follows up five previous YOU lists from 2025-26. It celebrates the power of Y-O-U!ย Youย or some form of the word is the only requirement for songs selected on this playlist.ย 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 6ย ย features songs by Artemas, Bleachers, Joji, Michael Bolton, Sasha Keable, and Tammi Terrell. So, without further ado, prepare to be wowed by MORE irresistible Y-O-U songs!


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1. Bleachers, โ€œyou and foreverโ€ 2. Sasha Keable, โ€œtell me what you wantโ€ 3. Artemas, โ€œtime alone w uโ€
4. The Red Clay Strays, โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know Youโ€ 5. Jon Secada & Shanice, โ€œIf I Never Knew Youโ€ 6. RYANN, โ€œNow Iโ€™ve Swiped You to the Leftโ€
7. Joji, โ€œLove You Lessโ€ 8. The Kid LAROI, โ€œBACK WHEN YOU WERE MINEโ€ 9. Gustaph, โ€œBecause of Youโ€
10. Jazmine Sullivan & Ne-Yo, โ€œU Get On My Nervesโ€ 11. Michael Bolton, โ€œHow Am I Supposed to Live Without Youโ€ 12. Edwyn Collins, โ€œA Girl Like Youโ€
13. Tammi Terrell, โ€œAll I Do Is Think About Youโ€ The YOU series on The Musical Hype

 


1. Bleachers, โ€œyou and foreverโ€

everyone for ten minutes ยป Dirty Hit ยป 2026

Bleachers, everyone for ten minutes [๐Ÿ“ท: Dirty Hit]

โ€œWho could catch their breath at a crime scene? / Born and raised to keep dark findings in my mind.โ€
Those lyrics are intense, Bleachers.ย  Weโ€™d expect no less from the ever-prolific Jack Antonoff.ย  The lyricism is thought-provoking throughout โ€œyou and foreverโ€. Even so, a four-letter word plays a crucial role: LOVE. โ€œYou and foreverโ€ serves as the promo single and the fifth track from the projectโ€™s fifth studio album, everyone for ten minutes. Antonoff wrote and produced the intriguing record.

โ€œYou and foreverโ€ commences with what sounds like harmonized a cappella vocals. These recur throughout.ย  As it settles in, the record evolves into a driving, rhythmic groove. I adore the build-ups that occur throughout. Sigh, there is nothing like a powerful crescendo and music that hits you right in the chest!ย  Additional elements that earn โ€œyou and foreverโ€ high marks from a musical perspective include the lovely harmonic progression.ย  Also, at the end, our ears are blessed with beautiful saxophone harmonies (Zem Audu). Of course, Jack Antonoff is the star of the show.ย  He contributes a strong vocal performance that is assertive, authentic, and passionate.ย  โ€œWell, walking with a ghost that shit was tearing me to shreds,โ€ he sings in the second verse, and adds, โ€œI had never known my name until you spoke it from your chest.โ€ Aww, the feels! During the intense refrain, we get an f-bomb for good measure:

โ€œSo damn, the bastards called it out

Everyone they stop from doing just an inch of good

They hate themselves, forever war, it paves their hell

Fuck everything that Iโ€™ve been told โ€˜cause I just saw the heavens open up.โ€

In the chorus, it should come as no surprise that you and forever are the priorities. The power of love despite the craziness of lifeโ€ฆ or something like that.ย  All in all, Bleachers returns superbly with the well-written, well-produced, and well-performed โ€œyou and foreverโ€.

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2. Sasha Keable, โ€œtell me what you wantโ€

ACT II ยป The Flight Club Records Limited / Sasha Keable ยป 2026

Sasha Keable, ACT II [๐Ÿ“ท: The Flight Club Records Limited / Sasha Keable]

โ€œTell me what you want from me / Is it my hands all over your body? / Or should I touch myself?โ€
Ooh-la-la, itโ€™s getting โ€œHot In Herreโ€, Sasha Keable! The queer British/Colombian R&B singer-songwriter brings the heat without question on her steamy single, โ€œtell me what you wantโ€, which appears on her 2026 album ACT II.ย  Who has Keable hot and bothered? Whoever this lady is that Sasha sings about throughout the record. Keable penned โ€œtell me what you wantโ€ alongside P90pope and producers Eddie Lopes, Charlie Pitts, and Kent Azares.

Sasha Keable doesnโ€™t hold back on โ€œtell me what you want.โ€ At the end of the first verse, she asserts, โ€œGot me bitinโ€™ harder on your necklace / Girl, just wanna thank you for your service.โ€ Day-um! Sasha is more overt in the second verse, singing, โ€œFuck is a break when Iโ€™m on all fours for you? / Told me you ate, well, here I got some more for you.โ€ ๐Ÿ˜ˆ ๐Ÿ˜ˆ ๐Ÿ˜ˆ Keable keeps it risquรฉ in the pre-chorus following each verse, including the likes of โ€œYour fingers so deep inside my body ๐Ÿ‘€,โ€ and โ€œBreak it down, do your little dance on my body / Couple grand keep it real nasty for me.โ€ That, of course, leads to the centerpiece, the chorus, in all its glory. Sasha praises this girl something fierce, given her inspired sexual performance:

โ€œAinโ€™t gotta keep countinโ€™

Stay down there till youโ€™re drowninโ€™

Still got endless rounds left

Girl, you make me the proudest

You done made me up a plateful

On my knees, Iโ€™m so grateful

Feels so good inside, I could die.โ€

Oh, and the sex doesnโ€™t stop there, extending in the post-chorus.ย  All the while, Keable impresses with her commanding and soulful pipes.ย  She sings about sex expressively, and itโ€™s easy to buy what sheโ€™s selling! Beyond her fabulous voice, tuneful melodies, and risquรฉ lyrics, the production and sound of โ€œtell me what you wantโ€ is impressive (keys, programming, etc.).ย  All in all, Sasha Keable ate and left no crumbs on this queer, contemporary R&B gem.

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3. Artemas, โ€œtime alone w uโ€

โ€œtime alone w uโ€ ยป Artemas ยป 2025

Artemas, time alone w u [๐Ÿ“ท: Artemas]

โ€œI wanna feel our bodies intertwined / Love it when your skinโ€™s on mine / You make me wanna take my time, ooh.โ€
Assertive, sex-positive English singer-songwriter Artemas drops another surefire bop driven by the bedroom. He penned and produced โ€œtime alone w uโ€. What makes โ€œtime alone w uโ€ the catโ€™s meow? The sound is dark and sensual.ย  Even though itโ€™s dark, itโ€™s set in a major key.ย  It commences with an unforgettable, striking synth riff.ย  Colorfully assertive, hard-nosed synths accompany Artemas.ย  The beat provides a mean anchor.ย  With sublime musical fuel, Artemas excels with his naughty-sounding vocals.ย  He sings in an undertone, but the presence of horniness and lust is keenly perceptible.ย  โ€œI know you want me,โ€ he sings in the first verse, and adds, โ€œYou tell me with that look in your eyes that you still love me.โ€ Oh, snap! The second verse, excerpted earlier, is also a surefire vibeโ€ฆ and sexual. Notably, Artemas ascends into his upper register.ย  I love the contrast compared to when he sings in an undertone. The chorus is the crรจme de la crรจme.ย  The melody is tuneful, while the lyrics are unforgettable.ย  Unsurprisingly, matters of the bedroom drive the narrative.

โ€œAll the things that I would do

For some time alone with you

Can’t stop looking at your face

We should make out in your room

We could go the whole way, too

Swear you always act so rude

Until we’re on our own, time alone

Time alone with you.โ€

Beyond the chorus, there is a bridge and an outro, both of which emphasize time alone with youโ€ฆ her, specifically. Once more, Artemas excels at S-E-X on โ€œtime alone w uโ€.ย  Heโ€™s been hornier and more overt in the past, but remains a naughty boy on this brief single released at the tail-end of 2025.

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4. The Red Clay Strays, โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know Youโ€

โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know Youโ€ ยป RCA Records / HBYCO Records ยป 2026

The Red Clay Strays, If I Didn't Know You [๐Ÿ“ท: RCA Records / HBYCO Records]

โ€œYou caught me at a crossroads, you caught me in the nick of time.โ€
Thank goodness! South Alabama country rock band The Red Clay Strays (Brandon Coleman, Drew Nix, Zach Rishel, Andrew Bishop, and John Hall) โ€˜bring itโ€™ on the moving ballad โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know Youโ€. Nix and Natalie Hemby penned โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know Youโ€ while the renowned Dave Cobb produced it. Fun fact: the music video features one of the hottest comedians, Matt Rife, with his hair dyed blonde.

There is so much to love about โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know You.โ€ย  It begins as a piano ballad, with a single piano chord preceding the vocals. Brandon Coleman sounds amazing, delivering authentic and expressive vocals from the get-go. He brings Nixโ€™s and Hembyโ€™s thoughtful songwriting to life masterfully. โ€œI was down and out, running with the wrong crowd / I was walking through every wrong door,โ€ Coleman sings introspectively in the first verse, and continues, โ€œI canโ€™t imagine all the trouble Iโ€™d be if you never made me yours.โ€ Wow.ย  In the second verse, he addresses his beloved, singing, โ€œWell, you found me, lost, I see, tossed and turned around / Held on through the ebb and flow, yeah, you ainโ€™t putting me down.โ€ Notably, the second verse features more fully developed musical accompaniment in the traditional country music style. The chorus is the crowning achievement and the most memorable and tuneful section of the song.

โ€œAnd if I didnโ€™t know you, I wouldnโ€™t know how to love

I wouldnโ€™t know what it feels like to be someoneโ€™s only one

And if I never saw your eyes, it’s like Iโ€™d never see the sun

What would I do if I didnโ€™t know you?โ€

The bridge distinguishes itself from the verses and chorus in harmonic progression. The theme, however, is much the same: she was his savior, of sorts. Coleman brings even more powerful vocals during this section.ย  Following a brief guitar solo post-bridge, the familiarity returns with the high-flying chorus concluding โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know You.โ€ All in all, โ€œIf I Didnโ€™t Know Youโ€ is a gorgeous record. It shines thanks to the thoughtful songwriting, moving, nuanced, and sincere vocal performance, and solid production.

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5. Jon Secada & Shanice, โ€œIf I Never Knew Youโ€

Pocahantas ยป The Walt Disney Company ยป 1995

Pocahontas (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Photo Credit: Disney]

โ€œIโ€™d have lived my whole life through / Lost forever / If I never knew you.โ€
Grammy-winning Cuban American artist Jon Secada (b. 1961) and Grammy-nominated R&B artist Shanice (b. 1973) make musical magic on โ€œIf I Never Knew Youโ€. โ€œIf I Never Knew Youโ€ is the end title from Disneyโ€™s 1995 animated feature, Pocahontas. In the soundtrack for the film, the R&B duet marks the final track (number 28).ย  The love song, with the relationship between Pocahantas and John Smith in mind (๐Ÿ˜), does not have a childrenโ€™s version as it was not featured in the film itself. Alan Menken (b. 1949) composed the music, while Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948) composed the lyrics. Sadly, this lovely duet wasnโ€™t a pop hitโ€ฆ Another end title, released as the promo single, earned far more buzz: โ€œColors of the Windโ€ by Vanessa Williams.ย  Regardless, Secada and Shanice made a mean duo.

As a standalone love song, โ€œIf I Never Knew Youโ€ is sweet. The musical backdrop is quintessential 1990s R&B โ€“ the adult contemporary sound. Jon Secada kicks things off, showing the beauty of his voice. โ€œAnd if I never held you / I would never have a clue,โ€ he sings, and continues, โ€œHow at last Iโ€™d find in you / The missing part of me.โ€ Aww! He continues the affirmation of love, asserting, โ€œI can see the truth so clear / In your eyes, so dry your eyes / And Iโ€™m so grateful to you.โ€ Shanice also affirms the power and strength of their love in the second verse: โ€œIf I never knew you / Iโ€™d be safe but half as real / Never knowing I could feel / A love so strong and true.โ€ Word.ย  In the chorus (of sorts), third verse, and outro, Secada and Shanice perform collaboratively. They proclaim in the chorus, โ€œI thought our love would be so beautiful / Somehow weโ€™d make the whole world bright.โ€ They trade lines in the third verse.ย  They cap things off superbly with the key lyrics from the first two verses: โ€œLost forever, if I never knew you.โ€ Underrated, โ€œIf I Never Knew Youโ€ is a stellar duet from Jon Secada and Shanice.

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6. RYANN, โ€œNow Iโ€™ve Swiped You to the Leftโ€

โ€œNow Iโ€™ve Swiped You to the Leftโ€ ยป RYANN ยป 2025

RYANN, Now I've Swiped You To The Left [๐Ÿ“ท: RYANN]

โ€œI hate the thought / That all of the guys / I meet on Tinder / Already spoke to you.โ€
Uh-oh, RYANN (Ryan Adriaens)! Oh, snap! The Queer Netherlands pop singer/songwriter continues in the first verse ofย  his 2025 single, โ€œNow Iโ€™ve Swiped You to the Leftโ€, โ€œThe city we live in / Is so small / The guy that I dated / Already knew your name.โ€ Donโ€™t you hate that? Itโ€™s authentic songwriting by all means.ย  If you live in a smaller place and explore dating apps such as Tinder, particularly as a gay individual, youโ€™ve likely encountered the same men as your ex, etc. โ€œNow Iโ€™ve Swiped You to the Leftโ€ not only references those pesky dating apps, but also the struggle of getting over an ex and being upset when you see them with someone else.

โ€œItโ€™s because Iโ€™m jealous of you moving on

And finding a new guy to put your love on

While Iโ€™m still hoping that one day

Youโ€™ll return, and that Iโ€™ll say

โ€˜Iโ€™ve made a mistakeโ€ฆโ€™โ€

The rebound beyond an ex is not looking so hot for Mr. Adriaens, who adds, โ€œI wanna get back to what we had before.โ€ Adriaens wrote and produced this entertaining and relatable pop song.ย 

โ€œNow Iโ€™ve Swiped You to the Leftโ€ commences with a horn-like, notification sound effect and a stomping, enthusiastic, danceable beat. That horn-like riff returns throughout the course of the song.ย  Although he sings with plenty of authenticity, he delivers a relatively chill, easygoing vocal performance.ย  I adore the tone of his voice and his mellowness. The production is respectable throughout. Notably, it grows bigger during the chorus and post-chorus, where pitch-shifted vocals stand out.ย  The second verse features a more developed, fuller sound.ย  RYANN shows off a bit of potty-mouth, dropping a warranted f-bomb: โ€œI know that I should let you go / Believe me, that I try to grow / But healing is just so / Fucking slow.โ€ Facts!ย  Tied to the dating apps concept, one neat thing about this recording is when Adriaensโ€™ vocals pan to the right and left, representative of the swiping action on dating apps, specifically with his former flame: โ€œSeven months ago, I swiped you to the right now to the left.โ€ Another neat element of this intriguing, if quirky, record is the sudden increase in tempo. Itโ€™s giving hyperpop vibes!ย  All told, once more, RYANN drops a striking, queer pop joint with โ€œNow Iโ€™ve Swiped You to the Leftโ€. What more can you say but โ€˜say gayโ€™!

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7. Joji, โ€œLove You Lessโ€

Piss In The Wind ยป Palace Creek / Virgin ยป 2026

Joji, Piss In The Wind [๐Ÿ“ท: Palace Creek / Virgin Music]

โ€œIโ€™m obsessed, youโ€™re not sure / If I love you less, will you love me more?โ€
ย Word. Talented Japanese-Australian singer-songwriter Joji (George Miller) unveiled โ€œLove You Lessโ€, the fourth single from his fourth studio album, Piss In the Wind, at the beginning of 2026. Joji penned โ€œLoveโ€ with Eric Fredric, Fallon King, Nate Mercereau, Alex Vickery, and Ricky Reed. Reed and Mercereau produced it.

โ€œLove You Lessโ€ continues to showcase Jojiโ€™s versatility as an artist. It has an indie-rock, shoegaze vibe. There is a great driving feel about the track with marvelous rhythm. I love the sound of the guitars, as well as the prominence of the bass. I also adore the accompanying โ€œoohsโ€ during the introduction, which are eventually part of the post-chorus. Joji delivers well-rounded vocals. He is always a vibe, particularly when he sings in his lower register in an undertone. โ€œCanโ€™t get enough of you, no, no,โ€ he sings in the first verse, and adds, โ€œBut you wonโ€™t set me freeโ€ฆโ€ He also sounds beautiful when he ascends into his upper register, particularly his falsetto. The pre-chorus marvelously prefaces the crรจme de la crรจme, the chorus:

โ€œIโ€™m obsessed, youโ€™re not sure

If I love you less, will you love me more?

I pull back, you come forward

If I love you less, will you love me more?โ€

The second verse is compelling, like the first: โ€œWastinโ€™ my breath / โ€˜Cause you like it better when thereโ€™s none left.โ€ The second pre-chorus contrasts with the first, keeping โ€œLoveโ€ engaging.ย  There is also a compelling outro. All in all, Joji continues to impress as a singer and songwriter on โ€œLove You Lessโ€. The vibes are real, NO CAP!

Appears in๐Ÿ”ป:
Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 6 (2026)
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8. The Kid LAROI, โ€œBACK WHEN YOU WERE MINEโ€

BEFORE I FORGET ยป Columbia ยป 2026

The Kid LAROI, BEFORE I FORGET [๐Ÿ“ท: Columbia]

โ€œCaught up in the thought of us / And the way you used to feel with me.โ€
Uh-oh! Those pesky matters of the heart have The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard) feeling some type of way, NO CAP! He recalls a previous relationship on โ€œBACK WHEN YOU WERE MINEโ€, the 15th track from his sophomore album, BEFORE I FORGET.ย  While Howard reflects on his feelings, he also tries to capture his exโ€™s feelings on how things are different (โ€œItโ€™s just you and your thoughts now, thoughts now / You thought itโ€™d never be this cold /โ€ฆI bet you thought I’d never sing this songโ€). The Kid LAROI penned โ€œBACK WHEN YOU WERE MINEโ€ with producers Daniel Aged and Zack Sekoff.

โ€œBACK WHEN YOU WERE MINEโ€ commences abruptly with The Kid LAROI singing.ย  His vocals are expressive and radiant. I especially love the pureness of his falsetto. Regarding tenderness, I would argue this is one of Howardโ€™s most refined and smoothest performances. Beyond his lead vocals, the background vocals supporting him are sweet, further expanding the excellence.ย  Beyond the lyrics that marvelously recollect expired love (including the repetitive but moving chorus), and tuneful, sometimes rhythmic melodies, the warm, romantic-sounding musical accompaniment is a big selling point. There are fabulous musical touches thanks to the smooth guitar, present bass line, and the rhythmic percussion.ย  All in all, The Kid LAROI delivers another pleasant, well-rounded song with โ€œBACK WHEN YOU WERE MINEโ€.

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9. Gustaph, โ€œBecause of Youโ€

Look At Us Now ยป 541/N.E.W.S. / GUSTAPHMUSIC BV ยป 2025

Gustaph, Look At Us Now [๐Ÿ“ท: 541/N.E.W.S. / GUSTAPHMUSIC BV]

โ€œAnd when the world got me going crazy / Iโ€™ll carry on / And itโ€™s all because of you / Because of you.โ€
The โ€œyouโ€ in Gustaphโ€™s (Stef Caers) song, โ€œBecause of Youโ€, is clearly someone special. The Belgian ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช singer, songwriter, and producer released this pop gem as Belgiumโ€™s Eurovision Song Contest entry in 2023. โ€œBecause of Youโ€ opens his 2025 album,ย Look At Us Now, co-written with Jaouad Alloul and co-produced with Willem Vanderstichele.

โ€œBecause of Youโ€ is an energetic, superbly produced dance-pop track with a catchy beat and polished synths. Gustaphโ€™s vocals are vibrant and youthful, enhanced by expressive ad-libs and impressive, sustained high notes. Memorable melodies and positive themes, including the transformative power of love and self-acceptance, make the song feel joyful and inspiring. โ€œRemember when they told us / โ€˜Youโ€™re not good enoughโ€™?โ€ he sings in the first verse, and continues, โ€œAnd then you came into my life.โ€ In the second verse, he asserts, โ€œYou told me the right thing at the right time / And got me feeling wild.โ€ The pre-choruses, as well as the chorus, excerpted earlier, maintain the good vibes. The bridge distinguishes itself from other sections yet keeps the theme of love alive and well (โ€œBecause of you, I keep on going, baby, baby, for a brighter dayโ€). Woo! Ultimately, Gustaph delivers a feel-good anthem about epic love.

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10. Jazmine Sullivan & Ne-Yo, โ€œU Get On My Nervesโ€

Love Me Back ยป RCA ยป 2015

Jazmine Sullivan, Love Me Back [๐Ÿ“ท: J]

โ€œLook, thereโ€™s nothing you can say to change my mind / No, I moved on.โ€
Oh, snap! Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan (b. 1987) said what she said! Reuniting with him is #NOT GIVING! On โ€œU Get On My Nervesโ€, she duets with another, talented Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter, Ne-Yo (Shaffer Smith, b. 1979).ย  The result is a duet that wonโ€™t get on your nerves; itโ€™ll only enhance the quality of your playlist! Ah, two perspectives of NOT getting together, delivered in an underrated duet. โ€œU Get On My Nervesโ€ is the eighth track from Sullivanโ€™s sophomore album, Love Me Back, released in 2010. Sullivan and Ne-Yo penned โ€œNervesโ€ alongside producer Maejor.

Following the intro, where Jazmine asserts the relationship is done, Ne-Yo performs the first verse. Defending his position, he states he didnโ€™t call to talk, he just wants to get his shit: โ€œSo, if you didnโ€™t burn it, can I get it back?โ€ But thatโ€™s not all, of course. He responds to her harshness, expressing his lack of interest in reuniting: โ€œโ€˜Cause anything I felt for you, been gone / I was done from the time you busted my windows.โ€ Remember busting those windows? After dropping the colorful and tuneful verse, Ne-Yo keeps things, well, tuneful with the chorus.ย  The key lyrics should come as no surprise: โ€œYou get on my damn nerves / Damn nerves / Damn nerves / So glad weโ€™re not together now!โ€ Of course, the star of the show, Sullivan, puts in her two cents after trading a few lines with Ne-Yo. โ€œI know why you called, but it wonโ€™t work / This ainโ€™t about a watch or a T-shirt,โ€ she asserts, and adds, โ€œI can have your shit Fed-Exed in the morninโ€™.โ€ Ooh-wee! She goes on to call him out on calling her: โ€œYou should never ever have to call me up pretending / โ€˜Cause, baby, I know youโ€™re pretending!โ€ Reading him for filth! Like Ne-Yo, she recalls her hit, window-busting song, before dropping that potent chorus.ย  Ne-Yo takes the reins at the beginning of the bridge, admitting he still has feelings, with Jazmine echoing the sameโ€ฆ By the end, however, both reiterate itโ€™s a bad idea! The vocal chemistry is stellar, with both singers showing off their exceptional instruments.ย  Beyond great singing and memorable songwriting, the musical accompaniment and production are top-notch. Warm piano, bright, colorful synths, and banging drum programming? What more could you ask for? โ€œU Get On My Nervesโ€ is an underrated gem from Sullivanโ€™s stacked Love Me Back album. Pushing two decades later, this duet remains special.

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11. Michael Bolton, โ€œHow Am I Supposed to Live Without Youโ€

Soul Provider ยป Sony Music Entertainment Inc. ยป 1989

Michael Bolton, Soul Provider [๐Ÿ“ท: Sony Music Entertainment Inc.]

โ€œTell me, how am I supposed to live without you / Now that Iโ€™ve been loving you so long?โ€
That is a legitimate question and concern, Michael Bolton (b. 1953)! โ€œHow Am I Supposed to Live Without Youโ€ is the fourth track from the pop singer-songwriterโ€™s 1989 multi-platinum album, Soul Provider.ย  Notably, Bolton covers the Laura Branigan (1952 โ€“ 2004) hit.ย  Notably, Bolton penned the gem alongside Doug James.ย  Yes, itโ€™s still a cover, but he played a role in Braniganโ€™s original success since he wrote it ๐Ÿ˜‰.ย  Michael Omartian produced his version. Boltonโ€™s cover spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.ย  He won his first of two Grammys for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards.ย  What Iโ€™m saying is, โ€œHow Am I Supposed to Live Without Youโ€ is kind of a big deal.

โ€œHow Am I Supposed to Live Without Youโ€ thrives because it is a big-time, soulful adult contemporary ballad.ย  Michael Bolton has a hell of a voice, perfectly attuned to balladry. Beyond his prodigious pipes, which shine brightest during the chorus, the musical accompaniment and production are on point (warm, sophisticated keyboards, programming, ripe guitar, robust bass, drums, etc.).ย  This song sounds like the perfect bridge between two eras โ€“ the 1980s and 1990s. But back to the voice! It is easy to buy what he sells, considering he sings authentically, dramatically, and expressively.ย  โ€œIโ€™m too proud for cryinโ€™, didnโ€™t come here to break down / Itโ€™s just a dream of mine is coming to an end,โ€ he sings, defeated in the second verse, and concludes, โ€œAnd how can I blame you when I built my world around / The hope that one day weโ€™d be so much more than friends?โ€ Thatโ€™s deep, Michael.ย  Of course, the centerpiece is the chorus, in all its big, illustrious, and overblown glory:

โ€œTell me, how am I supposed to live without you
Now that Iโ€™ve been lovinโ€™ you so long?
How am I supposed to live without you?
And how am I supposed to carry on
When all that Iโ€™ve been livinโ€™ for is gone?โ€

Following the second chorus, fittingly, thereโ€™s an exuberant guitar solo (nothing too crazy, though ๐Ÿ˜‰).ย  This prefaces one final pre-chorus and the big one โ€“ the big, closing chorus, that is. In the final pre-chorus, Bolton is turned all the way up, showing off his sick upper register. Yes, โ€œHow Am I Supposed to Live Without Youโ€ was a hit before Michael Bolton recorded it. But Mr. Bolton, after covering the song he co-wrote, made his version the definitive take.ย 

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12. Edwyn Collins, โ€œA Girl Like Youโ€

Gorgeous George ยป Edwyn Collins ยป 1994

Edwyn Collins, Gorgeous George [๐Ÿ“ท: Edwyn Collins]

โ€œAnd Iโ€™ve never known a girl like you before / Never, never, never, never / Never known a girl like you before.โ€
Word. In 1995, Scottish singer-songwriter Edwyn Collins (b. 1959) scored the biggest song of his career. โ€œA Girl Like Youโ€ is the second track from his third solo album, Gorgeous George.ย  โ€œGirlโ€ marked Collinsโ€™ only charting single on the pop charts.ย  Yep, he is a one-hit wonder through and through.ย  The good news is, his only charting song reached the top 40, peaking at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. No, that didnโ€™t make โ€œGirlโ€ the hottest sugar, honey, iced tea on the charts, but, generally, it performed better outside of the United States. Collins composed and produced the worldwide hit.

โ€œA Girl Like Youโ€ slaps.ย  The 1994 alternative pop/rock song features a 1960s-inspired sound. There are vintage, soulful vibes. Itโ€™s not Motown, but Motown/soul adjacent. โ€œGirlโ€ is anchored by an electrifying groove.ย  Beyond the groove, colorful keys, warm vibraphone, fuzzy guitar, and a big, fat bass line add to the ear candy.ย  Edwyn Collins delivers an expressive, nuanced, and well-rounded vocal.ย  His tone is delightful, amplified by his charming Scottish accent. The melody is tuneful and hypnotic, while the lyrics are incredibly memorable. โ€œHere you come a-knocking, knocking on my door / And Iโ€™ve never met a girl like you before,โ€ he sings in the first verse.ย  In the second, he adds, โ€œYou gave me just a taste, so I want more / Now my hands are bleeding, and my knees are raw.โ€ย ย  The chorus, excerpted earlier, is the crรจme de la crรจme.ย  Beyond those verses and the chorus, there is a pre-chorus (following the second verse), a third verse (โ€œToo many protest singers / Not enough protest songsโ€), and an outro that is โ€œalrightโ€ with Collins and me, too.ย  A bop and a half, โ€œA Girl Like Youโ€ is an unforgettable โ€˜90s classic that I wish I had written and performed.ย  Edwyn Collins ate and left no crumbs whatsoever!

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13. Tammi Terrell, โ€œAll I Do Is Think About Youโ€

Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection ยป Motown / UMG Recordings, Inc. ยป 2010

Tammi Terrell, Come On and See Me: The Complete Solo Collection [๐Ÿ“ท: Motown / UMG Recordings, Inc.]

โ€œโ€˜Cause all I do is think about you!โ€
Woo! Ah, the feels, and those pesky matters of the heart! Fun fact: Did you know that the short-lived, Motown legend Tammi Terrell (1945 โ€“ 1970) originally recorded โ€œAll I Do Is Think About Youโ€? ๐Ÿคฏ If you are unfamiliar with the song, released decades after it was recorded in 1966, you may be familiar with the original release, โ€œAll I Doโ€, by Stevie Wonder (b. 1950).ย  โ€œAll I Doโ€ appeared as the second track on Wonderโ€™s 1980 album, Hotter Than July. Terrell originally recorded โ€œAll I Doโ€ as โ€œAll I Do Is Think About You,โ€ but it remained unreleased until 2002.ย  Wonder is responsible for the first release.ย  He penned the original with Clarence Paul and Morris Broadnax.

Listening to the original version of โ€œAll I Do Is Think About You,โ€ it is a shame that it wasnโ€™t released during the 1960s.ย  Tammi Terrell ate and left no crumbs! Her voice is nuanced and powerful, and she sings with incredible sincerity. โ€œYou made my soul a burning fire / Youโ€™re getting to be my one desire / Youโ€™re getting to be all that matters to me,โ€ she sings in the first verse.ย  โ€œAnd let me tell you, boy! / Think of how exciting it would be,โ€ she sings enthusiastically in the second verse, and adds, โ€œIf you should discover you felt like me / If you should discover this dream is for two.โ€ Beyond Terrellโ€™s fabulous lead vocals, the background vocals are excellent, outlining the melody of the chorus, at least how we know it from the Wonder-released version of the song.ย  The vocal arrangement is on point, with the blend of backgrounds and lead being utterly divine.ย  Beyond the vocals, โ€œAll I Do Is Think About Youโ€ย  thrives off a great arrangement and production.ย  The sounds are vintage Motown, featuring the rhythm section (including a vibraphone), horns, and strings. I love how the drums pack a mighty punch. Although lesser known, the Tammi Terrell original of โ€œAll I Do Is Think About Youโ€ is a Motown classic that music lovers shouldโ€™ve heard much sooner than we did.ย  Tammi did that!

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YOUย Series on The Musical Hypeย ๐Ÿ”ป

13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus (2025) 13 More Songs Where YOU Are the Focus (2025) 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 3 (2025)
13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 4 (2025) 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 5 (2026) 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 6 (2026)

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13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 6 (2026) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 541, Artemas, Columbia, Dirty Hit, Edwyn Collins, GUSTAPHMUSIC BV, HBYCO Records, Motown, N.E.W.S., RCA Records, RYANN, Sasha Keable, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., The Flight Club Records Limited, The Walt Disney Company, UMG Recordings, Inc.; VICO ORTIZO from Pexels; Gordon Johnson, Niek Verlaan,ย OpenClipart-Vectorsย  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.

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