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 “Tell him, I need him / Tell him I love him / And it’ll be alright.” As for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis sang, “Tell me baby / What’s your story / Where you come from / And where you want to go this time, oh.” So, telling, right? Right! Then there’s Jeremih who stated that, her “Body like the summer, fuckin’ like no other / Don’t you tell ‘em what we do.” That’s pretty steamy telling right there.

Okay, so what’s the common thread between “Tell Him” (The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998), “Tell Me Baby” (Stadium Arcadium, 2006), and “Don’t Tell ‘Em” (Late Nights: The Album, 2015)? All three songs are very ‘telling’ because they feature some form of the word ‘tell.’ That’s also the theme of this playlist, fittingly titled “13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs.” Songs must feature ‘tell,’ ‘tells’, ‘telling’, or ‘told’ within their respective title or else they don’t qualify! Musicians credited to this playlist include Avril Lavigne (“Tell Me It’s Over”), Bryson Tiller (“Somethin Tells Me”), Future (“Please Tell Me”), Mitchell Tenpenny (“Telling All My Secrets”), and Tove Lo (“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”) among others.

1. Future, “Please Tell Me”

Save Me • Epic • 2019

Future is quite prolific, at least when it comes to quantity.  The song at hand, “Please Tell Me,” arrives on the rapper’s second project of 2019, Save Me.  Save Me keeps things brief, comprised of merely seven tracks and clocking in at a tight 20 minutes.  Even so, Save Me very much finds Future being ‘true to self’ including ‘flexing on her’ on “Please Tell Me.”

“Please / Please tell me I can throw the sauce on you / Please tell me all the fuckin’ bosses want you / Please tell me I can buy Chanel for you / Please tell me one Rolex won’t do.” The key word is clearly ‘please’ if you didn’t catch on to that from the chorus.  “Please Tell Me” 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 – so much variety.  All of it comes down to spoiling her as well as his own drip.

“Shawty want big dog status
Shawty want big boy carats
Shawty rock big boy Pateks
She ain’t never had my status.”

2. Avril Lavigne, “Tell Me It’s Over”

Head Above Water • Avril Lavigne / BMG Rights Management • 2019

After a six-year hiatus, Avril Lavigne returned with her highly-anticipated sixth studio album, Head Above Water, in 2019 From the onset, it’s clear that Head Above Water is in many ways a stark contrast to previous albums by the Canadian pop star.  The majority of the project eschews the bratty, whiny pop of her past, opting for more maturity – exhibiting resilience.  Head Above Water is no tour de force, but it has no shortage of strong moments including the ‘telling’ song at hand, single “Tell Me It’s Over”.

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

3. James Blake, “Tell Them” (Ft. Moses Sumney & Metro Boomin)

Assume Form • Polydor • 2019

“You’d like to stay long, through you’re a wanderin’ soul / And you’ve got to move on from the squandered soil…” 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.  In addition to great production and vocal skills, he is versatile when it comes to genre – he fits just about wherever he needs to.  His own albums tend to be experimental and exemplify innovative spirit.  His marvelous fourth studio LP, Assume Form is no exception.  The song that matches the ‘telling’ criteria of this playlist? “Tell Them”.

In the context of Assume Form, “Tell Them” marks a second consecutive number featuring Metro Boomin (“Mile High”), and welcoming Moses Sumney to the fold.  Sumney performs the first verse (excerpted above and continued below) and refrain, while also contributing to the pre-chorus and outro.

“…When you get what you came fore
Will you leave in the dead of night?
In the hall is a wall of horrors
You’re the yonder light.”

As for Blake, he performs the majority of the pre-chorus (“I didn’t plan to stay long…”) and chorus (“Heart, tell them what you came for”) – there is only one verse.

4. Marshmello, “Tell Me”

Joytime II • Marshmello • 2018

‘Relatively anonymous’ DJ/producer Marshmello impresses on the brief, instrumental record, “Tell Me”, a single from his 2018 sophomore album, Joytime II. “Tell Me” is definitely a jam-packed, two-and-a-half-minute joint. The first thing any listener will notice about “Tell Me” is how bright the sound is.  It’s all feel-good, major-key vibes delivered by the DJ.  Sure, there are minor chords within the progression, but this record is truly ‘at home’ in major, sigh.  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, “Tell Me” builds and builds dynamically over its brief duration. Let’s throw a little bit of music theory in.  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).  It’s a bit odd, but definitely maintains the colorful nature of the record. Marshmello reminds us how captivating instrument records can be on “Tell Me,” conveying a lot of musical ideas successfully.

5. Macy Gray, “Tell Me”

Ruby • Mack Avenue • 2018

“I have a secret, if I told you, would you keep it? / Would you post it, would you tweet it, would you run?” Macy Gray has never been able to recapture the glory days of  her Grammy-winning pop hit “I Try”, but that hasn’t stopped the distinct-voiced R&B singer from releasing music regularly.  On 2018 she quietly released her 10^th studio album, Ruby, which has had a couple of songs appear on other playlists, most notably single “Sugar Daddy” (11 Songs All About Dads & Fathers… To an Extent). Now, we have the telling “Tell Me” appear on 13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs.

“Tell Me” fully embraces retro-soul – no doubt about.  Actually, the colorful record takes things a step further, embracing jazz, intact with a big band (horns, string bass, etc.).  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 Gray’s end of things:

“I have a secret, this time I’ll keep it
I know you don’t feel the same, mmm
But everything, it changes
And dreams do come true, don’t they?
So, maybe one day, you’ll tell me.”

6. Mitchell Tenpenny, “Telling All My Secrets”

Telling All My Secrets • Riser House Entertainment, LLC / Sony • 2018

“Well, I don’t deal with bitches no more / I could call you crazy, curse your name / Throw your shit out the door / But I don’t deal with bitches no more.” Unfortunately, Mitchell Tenpenny, “Bitches” just doesn’t fit the criteria of 13 Worthwhile, Incredibly Telling Songs – yeah, that’s a ‘bitch’ right there.  But, of course, that uncharacteristic, explicit country record definitely raised some eyebrows, appearing on Tenpenny’s 2018 debut album, Telling All My Secrets.  If you couldn’t ‘tell’ by the album title, the song that we are analyzing is – drum roll please – “Telling All My Secrets,” the penultimate title track.

The majority of Telling All My Secrets features accessible songs that don’t run more than three-and-a-half minutes, including the aforementioned “Bitches.” However, Mitchell Tenpenny bucks the trend on “Telling All My Secrets” which extends beyond the five-minute-mark.  Even so, the penultimate number ends up being well worth it.  First and foremost, Tenpenny has a fantastic voice – 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.

“Girl, you got me tellin’ all my secrets
Promise me you’ll keep ‘em
And I’ll let ‘em loose
Baby, you must be my weakness
Usually, I’m speechless
Bulletproof, oh yeah
Well girl, you got me tellin’ all my secrets
Tellin’ all my secrets to you.”

 7. Demi Lovato, “Tell Me You Love Me”

Tell Me You Love Me • Island / Hollywood • 2017

“Bad at love, no, I’m not good at this / But I can’t say I’m innocent / Not hardly, but I’m sorry.” “Tell Me You Love Me”, 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.  The premise? That familiar four-letter word, love.

“Oh, tell me you love me / I need someone on days like this, I do / On days like this.”  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 – everywhere.  By the time you get to the final iteration, you personally want to tell Demi Lovato, “I love you.”

8. Bryson Tiller, “Somethin Tells Me”

True to Self • RCA • 2017

“Somethin Tells Me” serves as the final full-length song on True to Self, the sophomore album by Louisville, Kentucky rapper and singer Bryson Tiller. “Somethin Tells Me” features excellent production work, firmly planted in a lethargic, urban contemporary sound.  The use of synths and slick drum programming are perfect fuel for Tiller’s fire vocally.  Like most of True to Self, “Somethin Tells Me” isn’t deep. Regardless, it’s one of the best, if not the best song from the album.

The theme of “Somethin Tells Me” is clearly defined by title, and the catchy, simplistic chorus: “Yeah somethin’ tells me / We ain’t gon’ last baby…” Bryson Tiller is both enticed and disillusioned with women on the first verse, asserting, “Rubbing shoulders with bitches I used to put on pedestals / But still I keep it professional.” He uses multiple examples where she entices him, yet doesn’t want to fulfill his fantasies so to speak: “Shower with the door open, why you do that? /…And I can’t concentrate while you’re standing there naked.” On the second verse, he bears some of the guilt for why they ain’t gon’ last.  The most notable reason is because he’s slept around:

“You found a Magnum inside of my bag
Don’t know how to explain this
That was in there way before we started dating
This the only music I hate facing, oh.”

Yeah, “somethin DEFINITELY tells me…”

9. Tove Lo, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

Blue Lips (Lady Wood Phase II) • Universal AB • 2017

“And baby, don’t ask, then don’t tell / Already know you’re fucked up / And it’s cool with me / My past and don’t ask and don’t tell / No need to share too much / Come on, let it be, ah.” Tove Lo is known for being on the ‘unapologetic’ side of pop/alternative pop. I mean, her sophomore album was titled Lady Wood, while Blue Lips (lady wood phase II) features songs named “Disco Tits” and “Bitches”. Surprisingly, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is less risqué than we’ve come to associate with the Swedish artist, even as she drops that f-bomb on the chorus.

If you prejudged “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” to be associated with the now defunct, controversial policy, it’s not.  There are parallels though as Tove Lo doesn’t want her and her lover to dwell on the past, specifically past mistakes (“We’ve both seen the world / Live and learn / Don’t know what you heard / But it, but it can’t be worse than I know”).  Essentially, her point is that everybody has messed up in various regards in the past, but she wants to focus on ‘now’ and being in love.

On the bridge, she sums it up brilliantly:

“There’s nothing I don’t wanna know, yeah
And I don’t believe in lies
Baby, we’re so good together
Does it matter what we hide?”

10. Miguel, “Told You So”

War & Leisure • RCA • 2017

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, “Told You So”, which showcases the musician at his grooviest.  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 “Told You So” sounded fresh in 2017, it also easily could’ve been at home in the 1980s, nearly three decades prior.  Throughout the course of “Told You So,” Miguel is incredibly soulful, commanding, and clearly on autopilot.  Thematically, amplified by the accompanying music video, this is no ‘dance party’ – it goes deeper.  “Told You So” made an appearance on the 100 Best Songs of 2017.

11. The Weeknd, “Tell Your Friends”

Beauty Behind the Madness • Republic • 2015

“I’m that nigga with the hair / Singin’ ‘bout poppin’ pills, fuckin’ bitches, livin’ life so trill.” Safe to say, The Weeknd doesn’t tend to sugarcoat anything – UNDERSTATEMENT. He certainly didn’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 “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”). The song at hand, “Tell Your Friends” is blunt AF – straight to the point.  The above-mentioned lyrics, excerpted from the chorus, make that abundantly clear.

Backtracking, on the first verse, The Weeknd asserts, “That money is the only thing I’m chasin’ / And some dope dimes on some coke lines.” Yeah, he’s been singing about drugs for a long, long time. He continues, in sexual fashion, singing, “Gimme head all night, cum four times.” The Weeknd and sexual subject matter? Also, no surprise.  Again, he’s street-smart and brutally honest on this ‘tell-all’ urban contemporary gem.

12. Kanye West, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”

Graduation • Roc-a-Fella • 2007

“La, la, la-la / Wait ‘til I get my money right / La, la, la-la / Then you can’t tell me nothing, right?” 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 – UNDERSTATEMENT.  While Justin Bieber (no angel mind you) once denounced the fact that West was an asshole, one wonders… Regardless, West admits himself that you “can’t tell [him] nothing” on his hit, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” from his third studio album, Graduation (2007).

The infectious chorus, excerpted above, continues to sum up “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”:

“…Excuse me, was you saying something?
Uh uh, you can’t tell me nothing
You can’t tell me nothing
Uh uh, you can’t tell me nothing.”

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

“I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven
When I awoke, I spent that on a necklace
I told God I’d be back in a second
Man, it’s so hard not to act reckless.”

Also quoting West directly, “No one man should have all that power”.

13. The Killers, Somebody Told Me”

Hot Fuss • Island • 2004

Finally, we end this playlist with a most ancient song all the way back from 2004… Yeah, that was the year I graduated high school.  Anyways, The Killers who were nominated for a Grammy for “Somebody Told Me,” which appeared on their debut album, Hot Fuss.  Despite the fact that Brandon Flowers and company have yet to win a Grammy, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to call the shimmering, up-tempo “Somebody Told Me” one of the band’s iconic song. Take it a step further, and let’s go on and crown “Somebody Told Me” as one of the best alternative songs of new millennium.

“Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It’s not confidential, I’ve got potential
A-rushing, rushing around.”

This is Brandon Flowers at his best y’all.  “Somebody Told Me” was previously featured on the playlist 15 Songs Where ‘Somebody’ 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]