13 Thrilling Songs About Today | Playlist 🎧

1. August Alsina, “Today”

💿 The Product III: stateofEMERGEncy • 🏷 Shake the World / EMPIRE • 📅 2020

“Get yours, ‘cause I’ma get mine’s today / I’m sure, won’t change my mind today / No choice, I gotta find a way / I’m on the grind three sixty-five, got no time to waste.” On 🎵 “Today,” a highlight from 2020’s 💿 The Product III: stateofEMERGEncy, R&B standout 🎙 August Alsina has no time to waste: “I ain’t certain they won’t put me in the ground today.”

Essentially, Alsina speaks of how he has people to look out for, can’t take any days off because nothing is promised.  It’s definitely a thoughtful message by all means. Providing further context, those who have been following Alsina know he’s had his fair share of life adversity and personal health issues, which further contributes to his ‘grind hard’ spirit.”

2. Ozzy Osbourne, “Today is the End”

💿 Ordinary Man • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2020 

After so many great songs before it on 💿 Ordinary Man, the first brand-new 🎙 Ozzy Osbourne in a decade, 🎵 “Today is the End” manages to solidify its place among the most elite.  “Today is the End” benefits from its chilling harmonic progression and colorful chromatic moments.  Chilling, dark, eerie, and unsettling to an extent, “Today is the End” is pretty mesmerizing from the onset.

The accolades for “Today is the End” only grow with commanding vocals from Osbourne.  Furthermore, ‘woke’ lyricism provides a sizable lift.  The chorus ranks among the crowning achievements of Ordinary Man, seeming to reference school shootings.

“The sun is black, the sky is red
And it feels like today is the end
The kids are running as fast as they can.”

3. Tink, “I Ain’t Got Time Today”

💿 Hopeless Romantic • 🏷 Winter’s Diary / WD / EMPIRE • 📅 2020

“I don’t wanna fight in the middle of the day / If there’s another girl, then you better come clean.” 🎙 Tink definitely doesn’t have time for any bullshit on 🎵 “I Ain’t Got Time Today.” “I Ain’t Got Time Today” appears on her 2020 album, 💿 Hopeless Romantic.  Basically, on the 🎛 Bright Boy-produced opener, she’s not on some f-boy shhh.

“You had another bitch in the whip / Now I’m thinking ‘bout bustin’ out the windows,” she asserts on the first verse, adding, “She ain’t even on my level / I’m the one that made you special.” She makes an even bolder statement on the second verse, stating, “Pussy too good to be givin’ it away.” Wow! Of course, Tink makes it crystal clear on the chorus “I ain’t gonna make you stay, stay, stay / ‘Cause all you do is play, play, play / And I ain’t got time today.” Makes perfect sense to us Tink!

4. Young Thug, “Die Today”

💿 So Much Fun (Deluxe) • 🏷 300 Entertainment / Atlantic • 📅 2019 

“Somebody gon’ die today!” True 🎙 Young Thug, but that’s not really a good thing, right? “Die Today” appears as the third track off of the idiosyncratic rapper’s 2019 album, 💿 So Much Fun. On this 🎛 Wheezy-produced joint, Thugga is definitely true to self.  Take that info and use it however you see fit!

“I’m fresh as a peppermint / A green and white peppermint.” Good to know Young Thug.  It’s a corny line mind you, but we get Young Thug’s point.  When it comes to his rhymes on the verses, well, the trap standout is devoid of substance, but entertaining.  Interestingly, he references sex and violence – sometimes simultaneously. A prime example: “And I told her to pop her a pussy nigga, if he playin’ it’s off with his top” (previously he’d referenced oral, FYI). Besides sex and violence, on the second verse, he brags about his house, with has “twenty-six rooms.” That is a big crib, with plenty of rooms to ‘do it’ in, we presume.

5. Alessia Cara, “Not Today”

💿 The Pains of Growing • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2018

🏆 Grammy-winning pop/R&B artist 🎙 Alessia Cara keeps things ‘short and sweet’ on 🎵 “Not Today”. “Not Today” appears on Cara’s under-appreciated sophomore album, 💿 The Pains of Growing (2018). Despite being brief, “Not Today” is a soulful, thrilling two-and-a-half-minute record.  The production is a blend of old (classic soul palette) and new (sleek, modern drum programming, and some synths).

Vocally, Cara sounds superb, never over-singing, yet packing a punch with commanding, nuanced, and powerful vocals; her performance is captivating and mesmerizing.  Adding to the greatness of “Not Today” are the authentic, honest lyrics.  Among personal favorite lyrical moments hail from the second verse, when Cara asserts, “I’ll be the king of misery management.” Adding to that authenticity and honesty is memorability and catchiness, particularly on the chorus.

6. Wiz Khalifa, “High Today”

Ft. Logic

💿 The Saga of Wiz Khalifa (Deluxe) • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2020 

“I’m rollin’ that dank 💨, she pourin’ that drank / I’m out of my brain, weed got me all faded.” With the song at hand being named 🎵 “High Today” (💿 The Saga of Wiz Khalifa), it should come as no surprise that 🎙 Wiz Khalifa raps (melodically) about getting high.  To his credit, he doesn’t merely focus on weed, but it would be a Wiz joint without some Mary Jane, right?  He embraces living life to the fullest.

Perhaps the ‘highest part’ of the entire song comes at the hands of 🎙 Logic, the featured guest on “High Today.” That would be the melodic chorus, in all its elevation!

“Where is my mind? It’s far away
Up in the sky, I’m high today
Break it on down, then we rollin’ it up
I can see my house from up here
Who needs a jet when you’re fly like me? Tell ‘em
You don’t need a jet to get high like me.”

7. John Prine, “I Have Met My Love Today”

💿 The Tree of Forgiveness • 🏷 Oh Boy • 📅 2018 

“I have met my love today / … Doesn’t really matter what we had to say / I have met my love today.” R.I.P. 🎙 John Prine! The late, great 🏆 Grammy-winning singer/songwriter keeps it short but incredibly sweet on 🎵 “I Have Met My Love Today.” “I Have Met My Love Today” appears on 💿 The Tree of Forgiveness, his final studio album he released while alive.

In addition to being brief, “I Have Met My Love Today” is also quite simple, where songwriting is concerned.  There’s nothing wrong with that in the least as simplicity can carry an incredible amount of wait despite a lack of complexity. John Prine sings with ease, accompanied by guitars (acoustic and electric) and leg percussion.  Notably, supporting him vocally is fellow 🏆 Grammy winner, 🎙 Brandi Carlile.  The big takeaway? Just as the title states: “I have met my love today.”

8. Black Eyed Peas, “News Today”

💿 TRANSLATION • 🏷 BEP Music LLC / Epic • 📅 2020 

Keeping it 100, it’s been a while since 🎙 Black Eyed Peas have been a force in pop music. It happens to the best of musicians, of course.  Post-Fergie in particular, BEP are just a different, less relevant group – no disrespect.  Anyways, in 2020, 🎙 will.i.am, 🎙 apl.de.ap, and 🎙 Taboo released a new album, 💿 TRANSLATION.  Notably, the closing song, 🎵 “News Today,” is a perfect fit for this newsworthy list.

On “News Today,” Black Eyed Peas seem to come from a good and thoughtful place.  No, “News Today” has nothing to do with “phunking with any hearts” or “lovely lady humps.” It reflects on the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic that totally screwed 2020. Here, all members of the trio speak upon the happenings that changed the whole world, referencing how things blew up in New York and Italy, the deaths to vulnerable populations, and of course referencing ‘the hoax’ assertions.  While I’m not sure that I’d call “News Today” transcendent per se, again, BEP’s hearts are definitely in the right place. “COVID-19 got us on our knees / Got the temperature risin’, 106 degrees.”

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 11 News Songs That Are Definitely Newsworthy

9. Phantogram, “News Today”

💿 Ceremony • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020

“I saw you on the news today / You was alive / You was just as healthy and on your way.” Okay! 🎵 “News Today” appears as the seventh track on Ceremony, the 2020 album by duo 🎙 Phantogram (🎙 Sarah Barthel and 🎙 Josh Carter). “News Today” keeps things brief, running just two minutes in duration.  Even though it’s short, the sweetness far eclipses the brevity.  Phantogram have been known for their colorful, experimental music, which incorporates electronic ideas and indie pop.  “News Today” is no different, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Produced by Carter and 🎛 BOOTS, the sound of the record is quite intriguing.  Adding to the intrigue is a unique vocal performance by Sarah Barthel. Calling the performance traditional or straightforward would be an understatement.  Besides her own performance, the vocal production (various effects) is worth noting as well.  Lyrically, this record is pretty simple and certainly abstract. Calling the lyrics poetic would be an overstatement, yet, what Barthel sings definitely carries weight, at least to a certain degree.  “News Today” is definitely an interesting listen experience.

10. YoungBoy Never Broke Again, “Outside Today”

💿 Until Death Call My Name • 🏷 Never Broke Again • 📅 2018

🎵 “Outside Today” is short and sweet highlight from 💿 Until Death Call My Name, the 2018 debut album by rapper 🎙 YoungBoy Never Broke Again. At the top, YoungBoy delivers a memorable hook, painting over a dramatic, minor-key backdrop (“Tryna hide from the cameras, I ain’t going outside today / Couldn’t find Hi-Tec, so I’m drinking on Act today”). He has an appealing flow with his rhyming agility being a big-time pro.

Lyrically, he isn’t deep or transcendent, but he’s cocky, confident, and hungry. Worth noting, on the hook, he goes on to seek prayer for an attempted murder case – YIKES.  YoungBoy has quite the criminal record despite his age.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Outside: 3BOPS No. 9 (2021)

11. Musiq Soulchild, “Today”

💿 Luvanmusiq • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2007 

“Girl, you’re everything I could ever want and need / Now, it’s all clear to me and that’s why / Today, I’ve made up my mind…” In the 00s, 🎙 Musiq Soulchild was one of the prominent R&B stars.  A proponent of the neo-soul, his music always had one foot in the door to the past.  Among his best albums of aughts is the 🏆 Grammy-nominated 💿 Luvanmusiq, released in 2007.  One of the best records from Luvanmusiq is undoubtedly the sixth track, 🎵 “Today.”

“Today” is a lush, grown-folks R&B ballad that hearkens back to the past and sounds removed from much of modern R&B.  As always, Musiq is effortless as he sings, bring soulfulness naturally without dare over-singing or forcing the issue.  His chill but highly effective approach has always garnered my respect to say the least. Besides a fabulous vocal, what else makes “Today” standout? Great production (🎛 Underdogs) and of course, elite songwriting, with the chorus serving as the centerpiece.

12. Mary J. Blige, “Not Today”

Ft. Eve

💿 Love & Life • 🏷 Geffen • 📅 2003

“Uh, this is another one of those heartbreak hotel joints / For the ladies!” 🎛 Dr. Dre definitely stitched up a rad track for 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 Mary J. Blige on “Not Today.” “Not Today” appears on the R&B diva’s 2003 album, 💿 Love & Life, one of her less heralded efforts.  Notably, Love & Life finds Mary reuniting with Diddy, with plenty of respectable moments, even if it didn’t reach the same heights as 💿 No More Drama or 💿 The Breakthrough which followed.  Enough background though – let’s focus on “Not Today!”

“Why won’t you, grow up and be a man someday.” Oh shit!  Blige continues, “I can’t believe that you’re still playing silly games.” As always, she provides fantastic vocals. She paints the groovy, colorful canvas beautifully – no cap.  She’s emotional, passionate, and incredibly soulful. Upping the ante are a couple of things.  The background vocals are awesome on the chorus and bridge, further adding to those emotions and love pains she sings about on the verses.  And then, of course there’s 🎙 Eve, who gives her an edgy, 🔥 rap verse that ends up being censored (Mary would get her first parental advisory label on her 2017 album, 💿 Strength of a Woman).  The centerpiece should come as no surprise – the epic chorus!

“Promises, you told me every day
That you made, you never ever cared
Not with me, I really want to believe
Well not today, not today.”

13. Stevie Wonder, “Love’s in Need of Love Today”

💿 Songs in the Key of Life • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1976 

💿 Songs in the Key of Life = one of the greatest albums of all time.  Likewise, 🎙 Stevie Wonder is one of the greatest musicians to ever live.  The 74-time 🏆 Grammy nominee has been victorious 25 times, including winning the highly coveted award for Album of the Year – his third win.  Honestly, you could say that 🎵 “Love’s in Need of Love Today” is a Grammy-winner itself, considering Wonder was awarded Best Pop Vocal Performance for the entirety of the album (that no longer happens, FYI).

“If love and peace you treasure / Then, you’ll hear me when I say.” For sure Stevie Wonder, for sure! There is no better way to conclude this today-driven playlist than with “Love’s in Need of Love Today.” This seven-minute number is simply glorious, thanks to a gorgeous instrumental, an elite vocal by Wonder, and incredibly thoughtful and prudent songwriting.  The chorus is the most important part, summing up the power and necessity of love.

“Love’s in need of love today
Don’t delay
Send yours in right away
Hate’s goin’ round
Breaking many hearts
Stop it please
Before it's gone too far.”