13 Thrilling Songs About the Sky

Reading Time: 13 min read

13 Thrilling Songs About the Sky features music courtesy of Greta Van Fleet, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, and Taylor Swift.

“Grab me by my ankles, I’ve been flying for too long,” 🎙 Florence Welch (🎙 Florence + The Machine) sings, continuing, “I couldn’t hide from the thunder in a sky full of song.” Notably, 🎵 “Sky Full of Song” (💿 High as Hope, 2018) appeared in the first SKY driven playlist on The Musical Hype, 🎧 11 Thrilling Songs About the Sky (2019). It’s hard to believe that, as of the publication date of the follow-up at hand, 🎧 13 Thrilling Songs About the Sky, that the original list is four years old 🤯. 🎧 13 Thrilling Songs About the Sky provides 13 sky songs that weren’t featured on the original list, many of which arrived after its publication. 🎧 13 Thrilling Songs About the Sky features sky-high songs courtesy of 🎙 Greta Van Fleet, 🎙 Kim Petras, 🎙 Miley Cyrus, 🎙 Stevie Wonder, and 🎙 Taylor Swift among others. So, without further ado, let’s ascend up to skies with these thrilling tunes, shall we?!

1. Miley Cyrus, “Midnight Sky”

💿 Plastic Hearts • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 2020

“The midnight sky is the road I’m takin’ / Head high up in the clouds (Oh, oh).” 🎵 “Midnight Sky” finds the talented 🎙 Miley Cyrus showing off her superstar power. All boxes are checked off this highlight from her 2020 album, 💿 Plastic Hearts. It’s written and produced by some of the best in the game. Notably, “Midnight Sky” samples “Edge of Seventeen” by 🎙 Stevie Nicks, nothing short of an awesome choice. The sample alone signals an about face for Miley: ‘disco-pop.’ Most importantly, “Midnight Sky” features aggressive, assertive vocals from Cyrus. Her instrument has always been her best weapon. Cyrus has a distinct, cutting, powerful voice. She uses her vocals to command this fresh, yet retro dance/disco pop number. Her most passionate vocals arrive on the centerpiece, the chorus.

“I was born to run, I don’t belong to anyone, oh no

I don’t need to be loved by you (By you)

Fire in my lungs, can’t bite the devil on my tongue, oh no

I don’t need to be loved by you.”

Appears in 🔻:

2. Jonas Brothers, “Montana Sky”

💿 The Album • 🏷 Jonas Brothers Recording / Republic • 🗓 2023

“Montana skies, Georgia sunsets / You’re the one walkin’ in my head.” Ah, Big Sky country! 🎙 Jonas Brothers deliver sweet vocal harmonies and slick production on 🎵 “Montana Sky.” “Sky” arrives as the second track from the Bros’ 2023 album, simply titled, 💿 The Album. In addition to the sick sounds, the Jo Bros also incorporate acoustic rhythmic guitars into the backdrop. This gives “Montana Sky” a blend of Americana and folk-pop. It is NOT a country record, mind you, but it veers beyond the blue-eyed soul of track that precedes it on The Album, 🎵 “Miracle”. Is the record exclusively about Montana? Well, no, 😂. 🎙 Nick Jonas also mentions Virginia (“Got distractions by the river in Virginia that could take up all my time”), New Jersey (“I got brothers in their thirties back in Jersey”), Calabasas, and New York. “Montana Sky” is not game changing record, but totally enjoyable and inoffensive.

3. Kim Petras, “Castle In The Sky”

💿 Feed The Beast • 🏷 Amigo / Republic • 📅 2023

“Don’t stop, baby, until we get to heaven tonight / Beam me up, beam up, yeah!” WOO! Three words: 💿 Feed The Beast. RAWR 🦁!!! The 🏆 Grammy winning trans musician released her debut album in 2023 to mixed reviews. While Feed The Beast was an enjoyable if imperfect pop album, it had its fair share of moments including 🎵 “Castle In The Sky.” “Castle In The Sky” is a pleasant, up-tempo dance cut featuring impressive production work (🎛 Cirkut). Interestingly, Petras is tamer on “Castle In The Sky” – a far cry from much of her work on her 2022 EP 💿 Slut Pop. Still, sans the sex positivity overdrive, “Castle In The Sky” is fun enough, and the pre-chorus expresses a high: “There’s too many drugs, too little time / Let’s do it, let’s do it/ I don’t wanna go to sleep tonight / I wanna get ruined.” The “Castle In The Sky” is sky-high, baby!

4. Rod Wave, “Ribbon In The Sky”

💿 Pray 4 Love • 🏷 Alamo • 📅 2020

“Pray to God that I can see the morning.” True dat, 🎙 Rod Wave. The rapper always brings ample emotional and honesty to his music. 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” from his 2020 LP, 💿 Pray 4 Love is no different. That said, it does strongly contrast what 🎙 Stevie Wonder references in his own “Ribbon In The Sky.” At the beginning, backed by superb production by 🎛 Drum Dummie, Rod exudes toughness: “Picture me rolling in my 500 Benz / I got no love for these niggas, ain’t no need to be friends…” Woo! From there, he dives into trauma and how tough life can be. This is a theme of much of his music where the environment isn’t the easiest. Beginning with the reference to prayer, he focuses on not allowing the demons to consume him, and asserts, “I keep my head to the ribbon in the sky.” What ribbon is Rod referencing? Is it a rainbow or is it merely a metaphor of sorts? Ultimately, it’s unimportant, as it is all symbolic for staying on a straight and narrow path: “Ribbon in the sky / Life too short to be living a lie / It’s too much pain to be living just to die / I keep my head to the ribbon in the sky.” 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” is a terrific song.

Appears in 🔻:

Ribbon 🎗️: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 25 (2023)

5. Taylor Swift, “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”

💿 Midnights (3am Edition) • 🏷 Taylor Swift • 📅 2022

“I’ve got a lot to live without / I’m never gonna meet / What could’ve been, would’ve been / what should’ve been you.” Those lyrics hail are excerpted from the 💿 Midnights bonus cut, 🎵 “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”, the 15^th track. Here, 🎙 Taylor Swift recalls some sort of loss, that’s open to interpretation. As always, the 🏆 Grammy winning singer/songwriter’s pen is sharp – fierce!

“Salt streams out my eyes and into my ears,” Swift sings in the first verse, adding, “Every single thing I thought becomes sick with sadness / ‘Cause it’s all over now, all out to sea.” Dang, that’s sad 😢. Taylor complements the lyrics in the first verse with those in the second: “Every single thing to come has turned into ashes.” Sounds morbid, which, again makes the loss seem subject to interpretation. Of course, the centerpiece of this beautiful record, produced by Swift and 🎛 Jack Antonoff is the chorus. Here, Swift makes the assertion that “You were bigger than the whole sky / You were more than just a short time.” The big question is who is the You. What there is no doubt about is how awesome 🎵 “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”, a bonus cut 🤯, truly is.

Appears in 🔻:

Taylor Swift, Bigger Than The Whole Sky: FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘 30 (2023)

6. Greta Van Fleet, “The Falling Sky”

💿 Starcatcher • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2023

First and foremost, I applaud 🎙 Josh Kizka, the handsome front man of the 🏆 Grammy winning rock band, 🎙 Greta Van Fleet, for coming out and living his truth – that’s a big moment. Also, I must acknowledge that Josh has an incredibly unique voice. It is an acquired taste, something that puts me on the fence regarding Greta Van Fleet – just being honest. Josh is in full-on, distinct/unique mode on 🎵 “The Falling Sky”, the fourth single from the band’s third studio album, 💿 Starcatcher. He’s his most assertive and raucous on the chorus: “Whoa, whoa, whoa / Whoa, holding up the falling sky.” Yup, those are the extent of the lyrics! Of course, Josh milks those whoa(s) for all their worth – it’s given 🎙 Robert Plant vibes, baby!

“The Falling Sky” is more than its chorus. There are also two verses, and a pre-chorus. The lyrics during the verses are more poetic than the simplistic chorus. Notably, Josh incorporates the fun word thwarted in the first. “Life is sorted and never thwarted,” he sings, continuing, “It’s just supported by being well.” Okay… In the second, he catches the ears singing about “seeing double,” “torn-down rubble,” and living with “a pointless forte / That silly board game that you would know.” Um, sure! “🎵 “The Falling Sky” isn’t perfect but the energy and intensity throughout the course of the record is undeniable. The instrumental section also marks a bright spot – shout out to the guitars and prominent bass line. Is the rock on this 🎛 Dave Cobb production serving up the fierceness? At least to some extent, yes!

7. Snoh Aalegra, “Violet Skies”

💿 Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies • 🏷 Artium Recordings / Roc Nation • 📅 2021

“My world was all upside down / Wish I knew you’d come around, wish I knew / If you’d say violet skies were right in front of our eyes / I would doubt you.” 🎵 “Violet Skies,” which hails from the 2021 album, 💿 Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies, is a record soul and neo-soul enthusiasts can get behind. It’s old-school, yet also, refreshing. R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Snoh Aalegra is experiencing anxiety regarding her relationship, getting in her head and unsure if she can totally trust her lover. Aalegra asserts, in the pre-chorus: “If I could go back in time / I’d tell you get out your mind / I’d tell you get out your head / Everything’s gonna be alright.” Her anxiety and doubt are relatable to both men and women. Why? Well, both men and women have commitment and trust issues – it’s not gender-specific.

Appears in 🔻:

8. Zuli, Jr., “Blue Sky”

💿 Stop It God. • 🏷 Nurtured Ideas • 📅 2021

Cutting straight to the chase, 🎵 “Blue Sky” is an absolute bop from 🎙 Zuli Jr. (Ryan Zuli Jr.). Written and produced by Zuli Jr., alongside 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Aire Atlantica, and TK the Architect, “Blue Sky” appears on his 2021 album, 💿 Stop It God.. The rhythmic nature of the production is one of the biggest selling points of the record, which has one foot in the door of the past, while simultaneously feeling fresh enough for the 2020s. Adding to the allure is the song’s underpinnings; the harmonic progression gives the record a lift and a unique sound. The biggest reason why “Blue Sky” is rad is Zuli Jr, who possesses a radiant tone and an incredibly sweet falsetto. Furthermore, the songwriting is excellent. The best part is the chorus, which makes you feel like you’re experiencing a slice of heaven.

“Stop selling me blue sky

In a grey light

Like the clouds won’t fill with rain

Believing a white lie

Like it’s divine

And it holds my fall from grace…”

Appears in 🔻:

9. Gabrielle Aplin, “Skylight”

🎵 “Skylight” • 🏷 Never Fade / AWAL • 📅 2021

“Life gets so loud / We don’t need to listen / You make me feel like Friday / When I’m Sunday PM.” English singer/songwriter 🎙 Gabrielle Aplin gives listeners everywhere a ‘slice of heaven’ with her love-fueled single, 🎵 “Skylight”. The production (🎛 Mike Spencer) is marvelous, consisting of an awesome drum groove, rich bass line, and lovely pad/keys – a lush, warm instrumental. The aesthetic and vibe of the instrumental set up Gabrielle for success. Aplin’s vocals are marvelous! She sings with ease, never forcing things – embodying a state of sheer bliss. Her upper register on the chorus, arguably the best moment of the entire song.

“We don’t need to rush this feeling, feeling

Trying is a waste of time

We don’t need to rush, just breathe out, breathe in

Flying is a state of mind.”

The electrifying ad-libs she serves up as the record percolates and progresses also impress – smooth yet pack a punch 🥊. Besides the talented singer, amplifying the excellence of “Skylight” is a tuneful, magical melody. Further contributing to success is well-rounded songwriting (Aplin, 🎼✍ Anna Straker, Josie Mann, and Liz Horsman) and a relatively straightforward form. “Skylight” is a magnificent record that hypnotizes you from start to finish with all boxes checked off.

Appears in 🔻:

Awesome Songs: December 2021

10. Mathew V, “Dancing in the Sky”

🎵 “Dancing in the Sky” • 🏷 604 • 🗓 2022

“Tell me, what does it look like in heaven? / Is it peaceful? Is it free like they say?” 🎙 Mathew V sings thoughtfully in the first few lines of 🎵 “Dancing in the Sky”, a cover of the 🎙 Dani and Lizzi song released in 2015. Safe to say, Mr. V does it sufficient justice, making “Dancing in the Sky” sound original. He authentically brings the poetic, remembrance-driven lyrics alive. His tone is stupendous as he pays ode to the lost. He asks questions about what heaven is like, shining most on the centerpiece, the chorus. Here, is where he hopes and imagines heaven truly is everything that so many have imagined it to be:

“I hope you’re dancing in the sky

I hope you’re singing in the angel’s choir

I hope the angels know what they have

I’ll bet it’s so nice up in heaven since you arrived.”

No extensive analysis is needed for 🎵 “Dancing in the Sky”, where Mathew V sounds utterly sublime and sincere. He sensationally reminds, and perhaps, introduces, this terrific record to a new audience.

Appears in 🔻:

Awesome Songs: December 2022

11. Gunna, “SKYBOX”

💿 WUNNA • 🏷 300 Entertainment • 📅  2020

🏆 Grammy-nominated southern rapper 🎙 Gunna made us sky-high on 🎵 “SKYBOX”, a single from his 2020 album, 💿 WUNNA. “SKYBOX” was produced by 🎛 Taurus, who sets up the Gunna with an alluring backdrop 💯. He ignites the fire with the anchoring, trap beat, and further sweetens the deal some rhythmic, vibe-filled synths and chilled-out pads. Basically, the fuel is there for Gunna to kill it. As far as flow is concerned, he does a bang-up job. Even if you don’t follow ever word he spits, the rhythm is a selling point, as is his overall tone. The best part of “SKYBOX” lyrically occurs on the chorus, which is memorable enough:

“Gettin’ high in the skybox, I can see, yeah

Hot spot and it’s plushed out, honestly, yeah

Exclusive drop, hmm, Gucci socks, got ‘em drippin’

Fuck the cops, we can’t be stopped, just admit it.”

Basically, it’s all about the drip, baby! Of course, in the verses, he expands his script to include drugs (“We in the low, we smokin’ dope”) and sex (“Fuckin’ her friend, break her in bed”). Okay, maybe ‘expand’ isn’t the right word. That said, can anyone deny that the lyric, “I’m in the castle fuckin’ a genie” is a gem? Didn’t think so! “SKYBOX” won’t change your life, but the production, flow, select rhymes, and of course, the aforementioned sky-high chorus make it worthwhile.

Appears in 🔻:

15 S Songs: No Rhyme or Reason (2020)

12. Stevie Wonder, “Ribbon In The Sky”

💿 Original Musiquarium • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1982

“Oh, so long for this night I prayed / That a star would guide you my way,” 🎙 Stevie Wonder sings adoringly and soulfully, continuing, “To share with me this special day / Where a ribbon’s in the sky for our love.” Ah, that iconic Motown musician is a romantic fella, isn’t he? Interestingly, the ballad 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” didn’t appear on one of his studio albums but rather, a 1982 compilation, 💿 Original Musiquarium. Check out the album cover, and yes, there are fish 🐠 on the music staff 🎼! Anyways, “Ribbon In the Sky,” which was a moderate hit (no. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100), was one of the few new tracks written for this compilation. Even so, this smooth, jazzy, soul ballad has its fair share of fans. Basically, it’s those positive vibes about love – the dedication is lit 🔥. And for good measure, how about when Wonder brings G-O-D into the mix in the second verse: “We can’t lose with God on our side / We’ll find strength in each tear we cry / From now on it will be you and I / And our ribbon in the sky.” 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” is a prime example of a song that’s giving monogamy and matrimony 💍.

Appears in 🔻:

Ribbon 🎗️: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 25 (2023)

13. The Beatles, “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”

💿 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band • 🏷 Apple Corps Ltd • 🗓 1967

“Picture yourself in a boat on a river / With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.” Um, okay, but totally weird and hella trippy, 🎙 John Lennon. “Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly / A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.” Yeah, um, John, what exactly are you getting at on 🎵 “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” [Note: Emphasis on the L, the S, and the D]? Per the songwriter, this controversial gem from 🎙 The Beatles’ 1967 masterpiece, 💿 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was not written about experiences with hallucinogenic drugs, aka LSD. I mean, if the primary songwriter, Lennon, says it’s not about acid, then we have to honor that. STILL, given the lyrical imagery, and the far too clever title that features LSD, it seems far-fetched to think it’s a total coincidence “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” is so, well, high.

The 1960s was a time of free love and the rise of LSD use. The hippies had a certain vibe, period. Lennon experimented with LSD himself. There just seems like there is no earthly way that this was merely a song named/inspired by a drawing by Lennon’s son and makes no reference to drugs. “Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers / that grow so incredibly high.” High, huh? We’re not talking about height here, Johnny boy! Furthermore, moments like “Climb in the back with your head in the clouds / And you’re gone” totally feel like the representation of a psychedelic drug induced trip. Apparently, even though Lennon denied the druggy nature of LSD – I mean, “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” – the beloved band found themselves being labeled controversial 😈. The BBC banned the song. Is there any explicit reference to LSD? No, but the implications explain why this brilliant classic by everybody’s favorite band totally raised eyebrows. Shout out covers by 🎙 Elton John and 🎙 The Flaming Lips.

Appears in 🔻:

The Beatles, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds: Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 6 (2023)

13 Thrilling Songs About the Sky [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 300 Entertainment, 604, Alamo, Amigo, Apple Corps Ltd, Artium Recordings / Roc Nation, Jonas Brothers Recording, Motown, Never Fade / AWAL, Nurtured Ideas, RCA, Republic, Taylor Swift; ]

13 Thrilling Songs About the Sky | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on July 14, 2023July 14, 2023