V | 5ive Songs

1. Migos, “Vaccine”

💿 Culture III • 🏷 Quality Control Music • 📅 2021

🎛 Jabz and 🎛 Buddah Bless definitely set up 🎙 Migos for success on 🎵 “Vaccine.” How so? Well, one of the best features of the song is the sample, which is totally unlikely: Peter Tchaikovsky.  That’s right, the Russian composer sees the famed riff from The Nutcracker, Act 1: No. 2 “March” flipped from major to minor to fit this drippy gem from 💿 Culture III.

Honestly, “Vaccine” is Migos at their best.  It begins with a killer chorus courtesy of the chorus king himself, 🎙 Quavo: “Pop out (Skrrt-skrrt), what’s up? / We makin’ money in quarantine (quarantine) / Dirty my stick and my whip clean (whip clean) / It’s the blue Benjamin’s, vaccine (Vaccine).” From there, all three members, beginning with Quavo, 🎙 Takeoff, and 🎙 Offset drop verses, with the Quavo chorus following each.  Do any of them say anything particularly deep? No, but they ride the Tchaikovsky loop with the robust bass line like champs! Ultimately, “We makin’ money in quarantine,” or so Quavo proclaims regarding his 🏆 Grammy-nominated group.

2. Lil Baby & Lil Durk, “Voice of the Heroes”

💿 The Voice of the Heroes • 🏷 Quality Control Music • 📅 2021

“Just keep on bein’ the voice, I’ll be the hero / and everything I got is a profit, started with zero.” Two of the hottest rappers of the 2020s joined forces.  That’s right, 🎙 Lil Baby and Lil Durk topped the Billboard 200 with their 2021 collaborative album, 💿 The Voice of the Heroes. Of course what better way to commence the album than with the title track, 🎵 “Voice of the Heroes.” “Voice of the Heroes” is produced by 🎛 TouchofTrent and 🎛 Haze, who certainly fuel Baby and Durks’ fire.   

Out the gate, Lil Durk brings it strong with his agile, melodic flow.  On the first verse, he’s very honest about life, whether it’s missing his kids, seeing an uncle die, or seeing hs “Brother stack his bricks up and it look like Tetris.” Following the verse, Durk goes on to give us the heroic chorus, which highlights the titular lyric.  Next, Lil Baby drops his own slaughter fest, with his ever-distinct tone and compelling flow. Like Durk, he keeps things real, dropping the gem, “I showed all my niggas in the trenches it’s a better life / Never get too big for me to listen, I’ll take your advice.” A shorter Durk verse, followed by a shorter Lil Baby verse occurs before the chorus returns.  “Voice of the Heroes” is both a fine opening cut, as well as a totally, worthwhile single.

3. Lana Del Rey, “Venice Bitch”

💿 Norman Fucking Rockwell! • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2019

🏆 Grammy-nominated alternative pop singer/songwriter 🎙 Lana Del Rey delivered her best music to date on her sixth studio album, 💿 Norman Fucking Rockwell! The V-song, 🎵 “Venice Bitch”, ranks among the crème de la crème of NFR!. “Venice Bitch” clocks in at nearly 10 minutes!  Despite being exhaustive, there’s lots to like. Del Rey and the musicians opt for an organic sound that doesn’t aim at being commercial. Del Rey spoils us with her vocal tone. Reverb does her voice wonders, adding more robustness. The accompaniment is lovely, with the guitars embracing a folksy sound idiomatic of alt-pop.

The chorus is also pro (“Oh God, miss you on the lips / It’s me, your little Venice bitch…”). There’s also a noteworthy post-chorus, including the lyrics, “Nothing gold can stay / You write, I tour, we make it work / You’re beautiful and I’m insane / We’re American-made.” The bridge is a selling point, specifically how the intensity picks up by adding drums and elevating the dynamic level. Furthermore, you have to admire the old-school, throwback quality, which would have easily felt at home in the 60s given its psychedelia cues and vibe. 

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4. Panic! At the Disco, “Victorious”

💿 Death of a Bachelor • 🏷 Fueled By Ramen • 📅 2016

“Tonight, we are victorious / Champagne pouring over us / All my friends were glorious / Tonight we are victorious.” 🎵 “Victorious” serves as a fierce opener from 💿 Death of a Bachelor, the 🏆 Grammy-nominated, fifth studio album by 🎙 Panic! At the Disco. 🎙 Brendon Urie serves up a heavy dosage of left-of-center lyrics, robust vocals, and epic production work.

“Victorious” is both quirky to the nth degree and incredibly spirited.

“Oh, we gotta turn up the crazy
Livin’ like a washed-up celebrity
Shooting fireworks like it’s the Fourth of July
Until we feel alright
Until we feel alright.” 

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5. Bruno Mars, “Versace on the Floor”

💿 24K Magic • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2016

“So, baby, let’s just turn down the lights / And close the door / Ooh, I love that dress / But you won’t need it anymore / No you won’t need it no more / Let’s just kiss ‘til we’re naked, baby.” 🎙 Bruno Mars delivers a sensational ballad with 🎵 “Versace on the Floor”, a top-tier number from his 🏆 Grammy-winning third album, 💿 24K Magic.  Here, Mars fully embraces the 80s.

He delivers beautiful vocals, arguably some of the best of his career.

“Versace on the floor
Ooh, take it off for me, for me, for me, for me now, girl.”

In the context of 24K Magic, “Versace on the Floor” is another song that centers around sex. Even so, Mars incorporates legit emotions. Another key feature is a modulation aka key change, common in 80s R&B. The key change allows Mars to further soar vocally on this fabulous V-song.

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