13 With or Without Songs: Vol. 2 | Playlist 🎧

1. The Kid LAROI & Miley Cyrus, “Without You”

🎵 “Without You” • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2021

On 🎵 “Without You,” Australian rapper/singer 🎙 The Kid LAROI concluded the first disc of 💿 F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE) with an emo-infused indie-rock cut, masterfully capturing the ‘fuck love’ sentiment. The addition of 🎙 Miley Cyrus on the remix, 🎵 “Without You (Miley Cyrus Remix)”, only ups the ante, providing additional contrast, perspective, and more to heart.

Early on, Miley appears, singing the hella memorable, EMOtional chorus.  The Kid LAROI follows with the original verse, showing off his youthful, expressive nature vocally.  Cyrus follows with the pre-chorus prior to The Kid delivering the chorus and post-chorus.  Notably, on the pre-chorus, we first hear the lyric, “Can’t make a wife out of a ho.” Cyrus then ‘helps a brother out’ on portions of the post-chorus, before introducing a brand-new verse that totally fits the vibe:

“Feels like sleepin’ with a ghost
I called you up to let you know
I really wish that we coulda got this right.”

From there, we get the original pre-chorus from The Kid, followed by the chorus and outro, where he collaborates at times with Cyrus.  Again, the results are #WINNING.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Without: 5ive Songs No. 39 (2021)

2. Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber, “Stuck with U”

🎵 “Stuck with You” • 🏷 Silent Record Ventures / Def Jam / UMG Recordings, Inc. / Republic • 📅 2020

Is there any way that an 🎙 Ariana Grande / 🎙 Justin Bieber duet can miss, especially considering that said duet is a fundraiser (First Responders Children’s Foundation)? No, it can’t miss, nor does it miss in the least. The resulting no. 1 single, 🎵 “Stuck with U”, is a sensual, but tasteful and romantic quarantine record (born out of the coronavirus pandemic).

“I lock the door and throw out the key / Can’t fight this no more, it’s just you and me / And there’s nothin’ I, nothin’ I’d rather do / I’m stuck with you, stuck with you, stuck with you.” “Stuck with U” exemplifies soulfulness. Producers 🎛 Gian Stone and 🎛 Freddy Wexler help to craft the throwback sound. As far as Grande and Bieber are concerned, both artists, of course, have shown their R&B chops to some extent throughout their careers. The sound is quite old-school; much older and more traditional than both artists tend to be generally.  Each artist possesses the pipes to sell it successfully.  The end in particular is quite high-flying – love the vocal chemistry.

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3. Alicia Keys, “Truth Without Love”

💿 Alicia • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2020

“Such a nuisance tryna kill all the loose ends / Tell me how the truth became so elusive / Them illusions from the fusion, the intrusion / Contusion, you got me confused, man.” Yeah, I’m a bit confused to if I’m being honest! 🎵 “Truth Without Love” gives 💿 Alicia, the 2020 studio album by 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, 🎙 Alicia Keys, a great start.  Sure, “Truth Without Love” is more of an extended intro/interlude than a full-length song, but it is definitely a total vibe.  The production – 🎛 Larrance Dopson and 🎛 Khirye Tyler – is arguably the crowning achievement.

The backdrop is incredibly lush – simply gorgeous! Dopson and Tyler set Keys up for success.  I mean, there are keyboards, dramatic strings, and equally importantly, soulful layered vocal harmonies (highlighting the titular lyric) that remind us of the glorious days of the neo-soul era. Even though the music itself takes top honors, the singing and lyrics are pretty sweet too.

 Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Without: 5ive Songs No. 39 (2021)

4. Sam Smith, “Stay with Me”

💿 In the Lonely Hour • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2014

Throughout the course of 💿 In the Lonely Hour, 🏆 Academy Award and Grammy winning nonbinary singer/songwriter 🎙 Sam Smith dabbles in the plight called love, specifically unrequited love. Openly gay, they imply their sexuality throughout the album.  Post-In the Lonely Hour Smith opened up more about their sexuality. Understanding their perspective, it fills in the blanks for the listener, revealing a larger significance.  The crowning achievement of In the Lonely Hour is 🎵 “Stay with Me,” which would win Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Pop Solo Performance.

“Stay with Me” finds Smith’s emotions at an all-time high.  At one point, he depicts shallow love, singing, “Guess it’s true, I’m not good at a one-night stand / But I still need love cause I’m just a man.” Even so, ultimately, Smith desires something more permanent and meaningful:

“Won’t you stay with me?
‘Cause you’re all I need
This ain’t love, it’s clear to see
But darling, stay with me.”

Smith’s magnificent falsetto, supported by gospel backing vocals help make “Stay with Me” truly awesome.  That said, there’s some controversy with this incredibly successful joint, given its similarities to the 1989 🎙 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers classic, 🎵 “I Won’t Back Down”.  Let’s just say that Petty and co-writer Jeff Lynne now have writing credits on the Smith record.

5. Perfume Genius, “Without You”

💿 Set My Heart on Fire Immediately • 🏷 Matador • 📅 2020

“It’s a blurry shape / It’s a jumbled tape / But sound…” 🎵 “Without You” continues the very personal nature of 💿 Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, the stellar 2020 studio album by 🎙 Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas).  Also, within the context of the LP, the record serves up contrast.  Essentially an alternative country record, Hadreas reflects on body dysmorphia and self-acceptance.

Both body dysmorphia and self-acceptance are incredibly underrepresented in music, particularly from male artists.  So often, male artists focus on confidence, masculinity, and limit the vulnerability. More often than not, songs like “Without You,” run deeper and tend to be much more relatable.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Without: 5ive Songs No. 39 (2021)

6. Jacob Collier, “Time Alone with You”

Ft. Daniel Caesar

💿 Djesse Vol. 3 • 🏷 Hajanga / Decca • 📅 2020

🎙 Jacob Collier is one of the most gifted musicians you’ll ever hear – FACTS. The 🏆 Grammy-winning British singer and multi-instrumentalist exemplifies the characterization of PRODIGY. He has the incredible ability to slide into various genres, with jazz being his specialty.  Indeed, Collier shows off his jazz prowess on 🎵 “Time Alone with You” (Djesse Vol. 3) with the harmonic progression and the adventurous spirit.  That said, he does so, assisted by 🏆 Grammy-winning Canadian R&B standout 🎙 Daniel Caesar, in a contemporary soul setting.

“If you wanna get sunshine / Walkin’ on the rooftop / I’ma go get some / Time alone with you…” “Time Alone with You” is nothing short of a bop.  Daniel Caesar delivers incredible vocals through the majority, while the musical backdrop is compelling to the nth degree. The topic of choice is familiar, love, but doesn’t sound cliché in the hands of these fine musicians.  Collier doesn’t merely handle the songwriting, instrument playing, and production – he provides vocals, most notably on the chorus, the most memorable section of “Time Alone with You.”

“It’s a beautiful Sunday morning
You see the sun up in the sky
It’s gonna shine on you
When I’m alone with you...”

Of course, Caesar and Collier join forces as well, maybe most triumphantly near the end of this thrilling number.

“The most beautiful girl in the whole wide world
And she’s mine, all mine
And I want her to know that my feelings show
I need time
(Gimme time alone with you).”

Also appears on 🔽:

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7. Halsey, “Without Me”

💿 Manic • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2020

“I filled your cup until it overflowed / Took it so far to keep you close… / I was afraid to leave you on your own.” On “Without Me”, an early advance single from 💿 Manic, Halsey is authentic, genuine, and ‘true to self,’ per her Zane Lowe interview, on this “stand-alone record,” where she sings from her own perspective – Ashley Frangipane. Obviously, the slick, urban-pop record ended up appearing on Manic, and finds her focusing on a relationship where she was carrying the weight all by herself.

Halsey elevates her man to the heavens. Essentially, he lets it all get to his head while forgetting about and leaving the person who took him to that level. On the chorus, she confirms her role in the pedestal elevation, and wants to know how it feels since she’s no longer in the picture and he’s fallen off.

“Tell me, how’s it feel sittin’ up there?
Feeling so high, but too far away to hold me
You know I’m the one who put you up there
Name in the sky, does it ever get lonely...”

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Without: 5ive Songs No. 39 (2021)

8. Harry Styles, “Treat People with Kindness”

💿 Fine Line • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2019

“Maybe, we can / Find a place to feel good / And we can treat people with kindness / Find a place to feel good.” YES – say that, say that!!! 🎵 “Treat People with Kindness,” the exuberant, soulful penultimate record from 💿 Fine Line, is quite an unexpected surprise from 🎙 Harry Styles.  The message is simple but definitely heartfelt and true to the nth degree.  The dashing 🏆 Grammy winner sings sensationally, as he has throughout the course of Fine Line.  Even so, it should be noted he gets a substantial lift from his supporting choir – can I get an amen?

“Giving second chances
I don’t need all the answers
Feeling good in my skin
I just keep on dancin’.”

First and foremost, this is among the most thoughtful numbers to grace the album, even if it plays second (or third) fiddle to the likes of the untouchable 🎵 “Watermelon Sugar” or the LGBTQ+ gem, 🎵 “Lights Up”.  Beyond its thoughtfulness, the sound (production by 🎛 Jeff Bhasker) really makes the ears perk up, with its blend of 70s, socially conscious soul with cues from beloved rock collective, Queen.  The point is this is the way to sell an important message

Also appears on 🔽:

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9. Mary J. Blige, “Be Without You”

💿 The Breakthrough • 🏷 Geffen • 📅 2005

Although 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B superstar 🎙 Mary J. Blige wasn’t in need of a ‘breakthrough’ when 💿 The Breakthrough bowed, it ended up being one of the most successful albums of her illustrious career.  Blige exploded onto the Billboard 200 in late 2005, beating out tough competition with another massively successful R&B album, 💿 Unpredictable by 🎙 Jamie Foxx.  I’m still pissed because The Breakthrough didn’t earn a nomination for Album of the Year.  #SNUB! Moving on, Blige peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 with one of the most successful singles of her career, 🎵 “Be Without You.”  

In addition to being a commercially successful contemporary R&B single, “Be Without You” went on to win two highly deserved Grammys (Female R&B Vocal Performance and R&B Song). Notably, it was also nominated for both Record and Song of the Year – it was that big of deal, period.  What makes “Be Without You” so special, first and foremost, is the authentic, heartfelt performance by MJB.  Mary has always been able to sing at an elite level and connect with her audience.  For whatever reason, she seemed to ascend to an even higher level during The Breakthrough, particularly on “Be Without You.” Beyond her own stunning performance, the songwriting is awesome, while the production is incredibly sleek – idiomatic of the mid-aughts R&B sound.  No playlist should BE WITHOUT this one.

10. Lil Peep, “Sex with My Ex”

💿 Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2 • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2018

Sadly, emo-tinged rapper 🎙 Lil Peep passed away at the age of 21 on November 15, 2017. Although the heavily tatted, often ‘sad’ rapper is no longer living, his posthumous, full-length album, 💿 Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 2, arrived in November 2018.  One of the best moments from the LP comes by way of the dramatic, incredibly ‘emo’ 🎵 “Sex with My Ex.”  

On the ‘passionate’ chorus, he asserts, “Fuck me like we’re lyin’ on our deathbed / I can feel that sudden emptiness / I’m here to grant you one last wish.” He follows with one relatively simple, but effective verse, later repeated.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back in town (Back in town)
All I know is that she’ll wait around, for me
All I know is that she’ll hold me down (All I know is that she'll hold me down)
My girl keeps all ten toes on the ground, for me
I can feel it, I can feel it now
I can feel you watchin’ after me, holdin’ my breath.”

There’s also an interesting bridge, where he sings, “Catch a feelin’ / Catch a feelin’ now / I still feel your skin all over me / Sex with my ex.”

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11. Ruben Studdard, “Flying Without Wings”

💿 Soulful • 🏷 J • 📅 2003

“Who can deny the joy it brings / When you find that special thing / You’re flying without wings.” The second season of the original run of 📺 American Idol might’ve been the most competitive season. The final two easily yielded the tightest race ever: 🎙 Ruben Studdard versus 🎙 Clay Aiken.  Studdard came out the victor off of single 🎵 “Flying Without Wings”, an inspiring, beautiful cover from the Irish boy band, 🎙 Westlife (💿 Westlife, 1999) penned by 🎼✍ Wayne Hector and 🎼✍ Steve Mac.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter that Studdard’s winning single was a cover.  Why? Well, most people were unaware of the original, at least stateside. Furthermore, Studdard’s R&B/gospel interpretation truly made it special. Ruben was, unfortunately, unable to beat out Aiken’s own cover single, “Bridge Over Trouble Water” on the Billboard Hot 100, but hey, hitting no. 2 isn’t the end of the world.  Most importantly, the inspirational, uplifting “Flying Without Wings” showed off Ruben’s silky smooth, expressive set of pipes.  At the time, it seemed his potential was through the roof.

“So impossible, as it may seem
You’ve got to fight for every dream
‘Cause who’s to know which one you let go
Would have made you complete?”

Also appears on 🔽:

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12. Big Sean, “I Don’t Fuck with You”

Ft. E-40

💿 Dark Sky Paradise • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2015

“I don’t give a fuck about you, or anything that you do.” WOW! 🎵 “I Don’t Fuck with You”!!!  Phew! This song is totally self-explanatory through and through. On his utterly pissed off, blunt F-U to an ex, 🎙 Big Sean doesn’t give a fuck about her in the least. The wrath is real.

“I don’t fuck with you
You little stupid ass bitch, I ain’t fuckin’ with you...”

In addition to not having sex with her anymore (duh), he doesn’t want anything to do with her.  Sure, rappers have justified calling women ‘bitches’ and trying to put a positive connotation on it but in this instance, Big Sean certainly isn’t being the least bit positive.  That said, by the end of “I Don’t Fuck with You,” he acknowledges how he has gotten over her and moved on. He’s far more positive (“blessings on blessings” you might say).

“I got a new chick that I gotta thank God for
I got a new whip that I gotta thank the lot for
Yeah, I got a lot but want a lot more
Yeah, we in the buildin’, but I'm tryna take it to the top floor.”

Even so, he ‘STILL doesn’t give a fuck’ about his ex.

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13. Mariah Carey, “Without You”

💿 Music Box • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 1993

Born out of the mid-80s, many people my age sometimes end up being more familiar with covers of originals or even covers of covers.  My introduction to 🎵 “Without You” wasn’t from 🎙 Badfinger or 🎙 Harry Nilsson – it was from 🎙 Mariah Carey.  Carey covered this gem on her 1993 album, 💿 Music Box. Her recording preceded Nilsson’s death in January 1994, while she’d release it as a single in the same month.

Mariah Carey always gives a great vocal performance.  That’s the case on “Without You.” Like Harry Nilsson, she showcases more poise on the verses. Notably, her lower register is incredibly rich and refined – quite impressive.  Interestingly, on the first half of the first chorus, Carey continues to showcase her lower register, before ascending on the second half into that ever familiar, dynamic upper register.  Of course, on the second iteration of the chorus, she sings all of it up the octave, unleashing more grit and oomph.  The ad-libs are absolutely stunning, coming directly from gospel and soul music.  Compared to the definitive version by Nilsson, the production gets a R&B update, sounding much more like the 90s as opposed to the 70s.

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