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ā€œ13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songsā€ [Photo Credits: Avril Lavigne, BMG Rights Management, Epic, Hollywood, Island, Island, Mack Avenue, Marshmello, Pexels, Pixabay, Polydor, RCA, Republic, Riser House Entertainment LLC, Roc-a-Fella, Sony, Universal AB]13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs features music courtesy of Avril Lavigne, Bryson Tiller, Future, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Tove Lo.

Lauryn Hill once asserted a need to ā€œTell him, I need him / Tell him I love him / And itā€™ll be alright.ā€ As for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis sang, ā€œTell me baby / Whatā€™s your story / Where you come from / And where you want to go this time, oh.ā€ So, telling, right? Right! Then thereā€™s Jeremih who stated that, her ā€œBody like the summer, fuckinā€™ like no other / Donā€™t you tell ā€˜em what we do.ā€ Thatā€™s pretty steamy telling right there.

Okay, so whatā€™s the common thread between ā€œTell Himā€ (The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998), ā€œTell Me Babyā€ (Stadium Arcadium, 2006), and ā€œDonā€™t Tell ā€˜Emā€ (Late Nights: The Album, 2015)? All three songs are very ā€˜tellingā€™ because they feature some form of the word ā€˜tell.ā€™ Thatā€™s also the theme of this playlist, fittingly titled ā€œ13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs.ā€ Songs must feature ā€˜tell,ā€™ ā€˜tellsā€™, ā€˜tellingā€™, or ā€˜toldā€™ within their respective title or else they donā€™t qualify! Musicians credited to this playlist include Avril Lavigne (ā€œTell Me Itā€™s Overā€), Bryson Tiller (ā€œSomethin Tells Meā€), Future (ā€œPlease Tell Meā€), Mitchell Tenpenny (ā€œTelling All My Secretsā€), and Tove Lo (ā€œDonā€™t Ask Donā€™t Tellā€) among others.


1. Future, ā€œPlease Tell Meā€

Save Me ā€¢Ā Epic ā€¢ 2019

Future, Save Me [Photo Credit: Epic]Future is quite prolific, at least when it comes to quantity.Ā  The song at hand, ā€œPlease Tell Me,ā€ arrives on the rapperā€™s second project of 2019, Save Me.Ā  Save Me keeps things brief, comprised of merely seven tracks and clocking in at a tight 20 minutes.Ā  Even so, Save Me very much finds Future being ā€˜true to selfā€™ including ā€˜flexing on herā€™ on ā€œPlease Tell Me.ā€

ā€œPlease / Please tell me I can throw the sauce on you / Please tell me all the fuckinā€™ bosses want you / Please tell me I can buy Chanel for you / Please tell me one Rolex wonā€™t do.ā€ The key word is clearly ā€˜pleaseā€™ if you didnā€™t catch on to that from the chorus.Ā  ā€œPlease Tell Meā€ is quite repetitive (typical), finding Future worrying about pretty much everything she does. On the first verse, he begins several lines with shawty, she, and put ā€“ so much variety.Ā  All of it comes down to spoiling her as well as his own drip.

ā€œShawty want big dog status
Shawty want big boy carats
Shawty rock big boy Pateks
She ainā€™t never had my status.ā€

2. Avril Lavigne, ā€œTell Me Itā€™s Overā€

Head Above Water ā€¢Ā Avril Lavigne / BMG Rights Management ā€¢Ā 2019

Avril Lavigne, Head Above Water [Photo Credits: Avril Lavigne Music / BMG Rights Management]After a six-year hiatus, Avril Lavigne returned with her highly-anticipated sixth studio album, Head Above Water, in 2019 From the onset, itā€™s clear that Head Above Water is in many ways a stark contrast to previous albums by the Canadian pop star.Ā  The majority of the project eschews the bratty, whiny pop of her past, opting for more maturity ā€“ exhibiting resilience.Ā  Head Above Water is no tour de force, but it has no shortage of strong moments including the ā€˜tellingā€™ song at hand, single ā€œTell Me Itā€™s Overā€.

ā€œBut every time that you touch me / I forget what weā€™re fighting about / Oh, you come and you leave / Shame on me for believing every word out of your mouth.ā€ Avril Lavigne totally surprises on ā€œTell Me Itā€™s Overā€. Here, she dives into soul music, or at least soulful, urban-pop, marking yet another career departure.Ā  Honestly, who ever thought theyā€™d hear the day that Lavigne was accompanied by horns or choral, gospel-infused vocals.Ā  But itā€™s not only the brilliant production work that stands out, but also those high-flying vocals from Lavigne.Ā  The aforementioned lyrics from the pre-chorus are a perfect example of the emotions she superbly conveys. Sheā€™s incredibly believable on this break-up gem, which is summed up simply, yet masterfully on the chorus.


3. James Blake, ā€œTell Themā€ (Ft. Moses Sumney & Metro Boomin)

Assume Form ā€¢ Polydor ā€¢ 2019

James Blake, Assume Form [Photo Credit: Polydor]ā€œYouā€™d like to stay long, through youā€™re a wanderinā€™ soul / And youā€™ve got to move on from the squandered soilā€¦ā€ One of the hippest musicians in the game is none other than British electronic artist, James Blake. Blake is hip thanks to his unique style of production, not to mention his distinct voice, particularly his sweet falsetto.Ā  In addition to great production and vocal skills, he is versatile when it comes to genre ā€“ he fits just about wherever he needs to.Ā  His own albums tend to be experimental and exemplify innovative spirit.Ā  His marvelous fourth studio LP, Assume Form is no exception. Ā The song that matches the ā€˜tellingā€™ criteria of this playlist? ā€œTell Themā€.

In the context of Assume Form, ā€œTell Themā€ marks a second consecutive number featuring Metro Boomin (ā€œMile Highā€), and welcoming Moses Sumney to the fold.Ā  Sumney performs the first verse (excerpted above and continued below) and refrain, while also contributing to the pre-chorus and outro.

ā€œā€¦When you get what you came fore
Will you leave in the dead of night?
In the hall is a wall of horrors
Youā€™re the yonder light.ā€
As for Blake, he performs the majority of the pre-chorus (ā€œI didnā€™t plan to stay longā€¦ā€) and chorus (ā€œHeart, tell them what you came forā€) ā€“ there is only one verse.

4. Marshmello, ā€œTell Meā€

Joytime II ā€¢ Marshmello ā€¢Ā 2018

Marshmello, Joytime II [Photo Credit: Marshmello]ā€˜Relatively anonymousā€™ DJ/producer Marshmello impresses on the brief, instrumental record, ā€œTell Meā€, a single from his 2018 sophomore album, Joytime II. ā€œTell Meā€ is definitely a jam-packed, two-and-a-half-minute joint. The first thing any listener will notice about ā€œTell Meā€ is how bright the sound is.Ā  Itā€™s all feel-good, major-key vibes delivered by the DJ.Ā  Sure, there are minor chords within the progression, but this record is truly ā€˜at homeā€™ in major, sigh.Ā  Marshmello keeps things interesting with pummeling, hard-hitting drums, while balancing kinder, gentler, soft synths with more biting, edgier, hard ones.

Layering ideas upon ideas, ā€œTell Meā€ builds and builds dynamically over its brief duration. Letā€™s throw a little bit of music theory in.Ā  When it seems as if the tonic (primary note of the scale) is going to be the final one, the DJ surprises us at the last second (the fourth).Ā  Itā€™s a bit odd, but definitely maintains the colorful nature of the record. Marshmello reminds us how captivating instrument records can be on ā€œTell Me,ā€ conveying a lot of musical ideas successfully.


5. Macy Gray, ā€œTell Meā€

Ruby ā€¢Ā Mack Avenue ā€¢ 2018

Macy Gray, Ruby [Photo Credit: Mack Avenue]ā€œI have a secret, if I told you, would you keep it? / Would you post it, would you tweet it, would you run?ā€ Macy Gray has never been able to recapture the glory days of Ā her Grammy-winning pop hit ā€œI Tryā€, but that hasnā€™t stopped the distinct-voiced R&B singer from releasing music regularly.Ā  On 2018 she quietly released her 10th studio album, Ruby, which has had a couple of songs appear on other playlists, most notably single ā€œSugar Daddyā€ (11 Songs All About Dads & Fathersā€¦ To an Extent). Now, we have the telling ā€œTell Meā€ appear on 13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs.

ā€œTell Meā€ fully embraces retro-soul ā€“ no doubt about.Ā  Actually, the colorful record takes things a step further, embracing jazz, intact with a big band (horns, string bass, etc.). Ā Macy Gray has the perfect voice in all its nuanced glory to give this record the attitude, feistiness, and tongue-n-cheek sensibilities it deserves.

Of course, the premise seems to be a one-sided crush/love on Grayā€™s end of things:

ā€œI have a secret, this time Iā€™ll keep it
I know you donā€™t feel the same, mmm
But everything, it changes
And dreams do come true, donā€™t they?
So, maybe one day, youā€™ll tell me.ā€

6. Mitchell Tenpenny, ā€œTelling All My Secretsā€

Telling All My Secrets ā€¢ Riser House Entertainment, LLC / Sony ā€¢Ā 2018

Mitchell Tenpenny, Telling All My Secrets [Photo Credit: Sony]ā€œWell, I donā€™t deal with bitches no more / I could call you crazy, curse your name / Throw your shit out the door / But I donā€™t deal with bitches no more.ā€ Unfortunately, Mitchell Tenpenny, ā€œBitchesā€ just doesnā€™t fit the criteria of 13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs ā€“ yeah, thatā€™s a ā€˜bitchā€™ right there.Ā  But, of course, that uncharacteristic, explicit country record definitely raised some eyebrows, appearing on Tenpennyā€™s 2018 debut album, Telling All My Secrets.Ā  If you couldnā€™t ā€˜tellā€™ by the album title, the song that we are analyzing is ā€“ drum roll please ā€“ ā€œTelling All My Secrets,ā€ the penultimate title track.

The majority of Telling All My Secrets features accessible songs that donā€™t run more than three-and-a-half minutes, including the aforementioned ā€œBitches.ā€ However, Mitchell Tenpenny bucks the trend on ā€œTelling All My Secretsā€ which extends beyond the five-minute-mark.Ā  Even so, the penultimate number ends up being well worth it.Ā  First and foremost, Tenpenny has a fantastic voice ā€“ his tone is absolutely beautiful. Adding to the list of pros is excellent production that transcends beyond country music without alienating its traditionalists, and well-rounded songwriting, summed up brilliantly on the chorus.

ā€œGirl, you got me tellinā€™ all my secrets
Promise me youā€™ll keep ā€˜em
And Iā€™ll let ā€˜em loose
Baby, you must be my weakness
Usually, Iā€™m speechless
Bulletproof, oh yeah
Well girl, you got me tellinā€™ all my secrets
Tellinā€™ all my secrets to you.ā€


Ā 7. Demi Lovato, ā€œTell Me You Love Meā€

Tell Me You Love Me ā€¢Ā Island / Hollywood ā€¢Ā 2017

Demi Lovato, Tell Me You Love Me Ā© Island / Hollywoodā€œBad at love, no, Iā€™m not good at this / But I canā€™t say Iā€™m innocent / Not hardly, but Iā€™m sorry.ā€ ā€œTell Me You Love Meā€, the superb title track from the Tell Me You Love Me, features top-notch production work, particularly during the rousing chorus. Beyond the production work comes the voice, as Demi Lovato delivers a terrific performance filled with powerful, heartfelt, high notes.Ā  The premise? That familiar four-letter word, love.

ā€œOh, tell me you love me / I need someone on days like this, I do / On days like this.ā€Ā  The verses capture your attention (the end of the first verse was excerpted at the beginning), while the chorus hits you right in the chest, face ā€“ everywhere.Ā  By the time you get to the final iteration, you personally want to tell Demi Lovato, ā€œI love you.ā€


8. Bryson Tiller, ā€œSomethin Tells Meā€

True to Self ā€¢ RCA ā€¢Ā 2017

Bryson Tiller, True to Self Ā© RCAā€œSomethin Tells Meā€ serves as the final full-length song on True to Self, the sophomore album by Louisville, Kentucky rapper and singer Bryson Tiller. ā€œSomethin Tells Meā€ features excellent production work, firmly planted in a lethargic, urban contemporary sound.Ā  The use of synths and slick drum programming are perfect fuel for Tillerā€™s fire vocally.Ā  Like most of True to Self, ā€œSomethin Tells Meā€ isnā€™t deep. Regardless, itā€™s one of the best, if not the best song from the album.

The theme of ā€œSomethin Tells Meā€ is clearly defined by title, and the catchy, simplistic chorus: ā€œYeah somethinā€™ tells me / We ainā€™t gonā€™ last babyā€¦ā€ Bryson Tiller is both enticed and disillusioned with women on the first verse, asserting, ā€œRubbing shoulders with bitches I used to put on pedestals / But still I keep it professional.ā€ He uses multiple examples where she entices him, yet doesnā€™t want to fulfill his fantasies so to speak: ā€œShower with the door open, why you do that? /ā€¦And I canā€™t concentrate while youā€™re standing there naked.ā€ On the second verse, he bears some of the guilt for why they ainā€™t gonā€™ last.Ā  The most notable reason is because heā€™s slept around:

ā€œYou found a Magnum inside of my bag
Donā€™t know how to explain this
That was in there way before we started dating
This the only music I hate facing, oh.ā€

Yeah, ā€œsomethin DEFINITELY tells meā€¦ā€


9. Tove Lo, ā€œDonā€™t Ask Donā€™t Tellā€

Blue Lips (Lady Wood Phase II) ā€¢ Universal AB ā€¢ 2017

Tove Lo, Blue Lips Ā© Islandā€œAnd baby, donā€™t ask, then donā€™t tell / Already know youā€™re fucked up / And itā€™s cool with me / My past and donā€™t ask and donā€™t tell / No need to share too much / Come on, let it be, ah.ā€ Tove Lo is known for being on the ā€˜unapologeticā€™ side of pop/alternative pop. I mean, her sophomore album was titled Lady Wood, while Blue Lips (lady wood phase II) features songs named ā€œDisco Titsā€ and ā€œBitchesā€. Surprisingly, ā€œDonā€™t Ask Donā€™t Tellā€ is less risquĆ© than weā€™ve come to associate with the Swedish artist, even as she drops that f-bomb on the chorus.

If you prejudged ā€œDonā€™t Ask Donā€™t Tellā€ to be associated with the now defunct, controversial policy, itā€™s not.Ā  There are parallels though as Tove Lo doesnā€™t want her and her lover to dwell on the past, specifically past mistakes (ā€œWeā€™ve both seen the world / Live and learn / Donā€™t know what you heard / But it, but it canā€™t be worse than I knowā€).Ā  Essentially, her point is that everybody has messed up in various regards in the past, but she wants to focus on ā€˜nowā€™ and being in love.

On the bridge, she sums it up brilliantly:

ā€œThereā€™s nothing I donā€™t wanna know, yeah
And I donā€™t believe in lies
Baby, weā€™re so good together
Does it matter what we hide?ā€

10. Miguel, ā€œTold You Soā€

War & Leisure ā€¢ RCA ā€¢ 2017

Miguel, War & Leisure [Photo Credit: RCA]Grammy-winning R&B artist Miguel shined on his fourth studio album, War & Leisure, which was released near the end of 2017. Among the best moments is the brilliant single, ā€œTold You Soā€, which showcases the musician at his grooviest.Ā  While there are synths in play, the pop/rock guitars still play a big role in the success and overall production approach.

The influence of Prince is loud and clear here. While ā€œTold You Soā€ sounded fresh in 2017, it also easily couldā€™ve been at home in the 1980s, nearly three decades prior.Ā  Throughout the course of ā€œTold You So,ā€ Miguel is incredibly soulful, commanding, and clearly on autopilot.Ā  Thematically, amplified by the accompanying music video, this is no ā€˜dance partyā€™ ā€“ it goes deeper. Ā ā€œTold You Soā€ made an appearance on the 100 Best Songs of 2017.


11. The Weeknd, ā€œTell Your Friendsā€

Beauty Behind the Madness ā€¢Ā Republic ā€¢Ā 2015

The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness Ā© Republicā€œIā€™m that nigga with the hair / Singinā€™ ā€˜bout poppinā€™ pills, fuckinā€™ bitches, livinā€™ life so trill.ā€ Safe to say, The Weeknd doesnā€™t tend to sugarcoat anything – UNDERSTATEMENT. He certainly didnā€™t on his 2015 album, Beauty Behind the Madness, which would earn him the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album (he also won Best R&B Performance for ā€œEarned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)ā€). The song at hand, ā€œTell Your Friendsā€ is blunt AF ā€“ straight to the point.Ā  The above-mentioned lyrics, excerpted from the chorus, make that abundantly clear.

Backtracking, on the first verse, The Weeknd asserts, ā€œThat money is the only thing Iā€™m chasinā€™ / And some dope dimes on some coke lines.ā€ Yeah, heā€™s been singing about drugs for a long, long time. He continues, in sexual fashion, singing, ā€œGimme head all night, cum four times.ā€ The Weeknd and sexual subject matter? Also, no surprise.Ā  Again, heā€™s street-smart and brutally honest on this ā€˜tell-allā€™ urban contemporary gem.


12. Kanye West, ā€œCanā€™t Tell Me Nothingā€

Graduation ā€¢ Roc-a-Fella ā€¢Ā 2007

Kanye West, Graduation Ā© Roc-A-Fellaā€œLa, la, la-la / Wait ā€˜til I get my money right / La, la, la-la / Then you canā€™t tell me nothing, right?ā€ For the penultimate song on this playlist, we head back into the 00s, sigh. Kanye West has said lots and LOTS of messed up things ā€“ UNDERSTATEMENT.Ā  While Justin Bieber (no angel mind you) onceĀ denounced the fact that West was anĀ asshole, one wondersā€¦ Regardless, West admits himself that you ā€œcanā€™t tell [him] nothingā€ on his hit, ā€œCanā€™t Tell Me Nothingā€ from his third studio album,Ā Graduation (2007).

The infectious chorus, excerpted above, continues to sum up ā€œCanā€™t Tell Me Nothingā€:

ā€œā€¦Excuse me, was you saying something?
Uh uh, you canā€™t tell me nothing
You canā€™t tell me nothing
Uh uh, you canā€™t tell me nothing.ā€

Throughout the verses, Kanye flexes, and flexes, and then, he flexes some more.

ā€œI had a dream I could buy my way to heaven
When I awoke, I spent that on a necklace
I told God Iā€™d be back in a second
Man, itā€™s so hard not to act reckless.ā€

Also quoting West directly, ā€œNo one man should have all that powerā€.


13. The Killers, Somebody Told Meā€

Hot Fuss ā€¢Ā Island ā€¢ 2004

The Killers, Hot Fuss Ā© IslandFinally, we end this playlist with a most ancient song all the way back from 2004ā€¦ Yeah, that was the year I graduated high school.Ā  Anyways, The Killers who were nominated for a Grammy for ā€œSomebody Told Me,ā€ which appeared on their debut album, Hot Fuss.Ā  Despite the fact that Brandon Flowers and company have yet to win a Grammy, it wouldnā€™t be far-fetched to call the shimmering, up-tempo ā€œSomebody Told Meā€ one of the bandā€™s iconic song. Take it a step further, and letā€™s go on and crown ā€œSomebody Told Meā€ as one of the best alternative songs of new millennium.

ā€œWell, somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
Itā€™s not confidential, Iā€™ve got potential
A-rushing, rushing around.ā€

This is Brandon Flowers at his best yā€™all.Ā  ā€œSomebody Told Meā€ was previously featured on the playlist 15 Songs Where ā€˜Somebodyā€™ Is in the Title.


13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs [Photo Credits: Avril Lavigne, BMG Rights Management, Epic, Hollywood, Island, Island, Mack Avenue, Marshmello, Pexels, Pixabay, Polydor, RCA, Republic, Riser House Entertainment LLC, Roc-a-Fella, Sony, Universal AB]

 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, 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. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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