13 Y Songs: No Rhyme or Reason | Playlist 🎧

1. Doja Cat, “You Right”

Ft. The Weeknd

💿 Planet Her • 🏷 Kemosabe / RCA • 📅 2021

“I got a man, but I want you / And it’s just nerves, it’s just dick / Makin’ me think ‘bout somethin’ new.” Woo! 🎙 Doja Cat keeps 💿  Planet Her fiery with 🎵 “You Right.” “You Right” is a steamy, honest duet featuring 🏆 Grammy-winning Canadian R&B singer/songwriter, 🎙 The Weeknd.

Clearly, Doja Cat is in a situation.  She has a man, but she wants this other man, damn it! Likewise, The Weeknd feels the same, with the sex playing a big role:

“But-but-but this sex will cloud your memory
A couple of strokes to put it in, then you’ll belong to me.”

Woo! Safe to say, that’s some potent D…

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Right: 5ive Songs No. 79 (2021)
🔗 🎧 13 Intriguing Right or Left Songs

2. KYLE, “YES!”

Ft. K Camp & Rich the Kid

💿 See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!! • 🏷 independent. / Atlantic • 📅 2020

“Yes / Shawty know she fuckin’ with the best / Logo shit, I feel like Jerry West / She gon’ blow this whistle like a ref.” Infectious rapper 🎙 KYLE returned in 2020 with 💿 See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!!.  Among the highlights from that exclamatory album is the fun, totally ‘infectious’ single, 🎵 “YES!”. KYLE is assisted by 🎙 K CAMP and 🎙 Rich the Kid. The biggest takeaway from “YES!” is that it is F-U-N to the nth degree.  This banger, produced by 🎛 Naz is totally entertaining.  It starts with the lovable KYLE, who handles the bulk of the chorus (excerpted above).

“Yes
I got plenty tattoos on my flesh
Drip on me, I tactical my vest
Hunnids everywhere, I made a mess
Let’s get it.”

The verses are short throughout with rappers alternating and at times, splitting them. Rich the Kid arrives following the chorus, rapping about his drip, followed by a confident and cocky KYLE asserting, “Shawty now she fuckin’ with the man /… Yeah, they sleep on me, they ought to name me Xans.” Rich returns, referencing his ‘bitch,’ Bali, the Bentley truck, and his Lambo.  KYLE splits a verse with K Camp, before another chorus, which is followed by more of the same.

3. Sam Smith, “Young”

💿 Love Goes • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2020 

🏆 Grammy and Academy Award winner 🎙 Sam Smith delayed his new studio album in 2020.  After releasing singles far in advance of the album release date, Smith scrapped their original third album, eventually releasing 💿 Love Goes on October 30, 2020.  Though Love Goes fails to supplant Smith’s past work, it yields some great moments, including opener, 🎵 “Young.”

“If you wanna judge me, then go and load the gun / I’ve done nothing wrong, I’m young…” Smith commences Love Goes with tremendous authenticity and honesty on “Young.”  Furthermore, they serve up something totally different than we’re accustomed to hearing from them: an a cappella record. “Young” does a sound job of establishing the contrast that characterizes Love Goes, while maintaining Smith’s ‘heart on my sleeve’ persona.  Admittedly, they’ve made mistakes and done stupid things, but they blame it on being young.

4. The Village People, “Y.M.C.A.”

💿 Cruisin’ • 🏷 The Island Def Jam Music Group • 🗓 1978

“Young man, there’s a place you can go, I said / Young man, when you’re short on your dough,” 🎙 The Village People assert on 🎵 “Y.M.C.A.”, the biggest hit of their career.  The collective continues, on the first verse, singing, “Stay there and I’m sure you will find / Many ways to have a good time.”  They have a point considering the Young Men’s Christian Association or simply, “The Y” is a place to have fun without the expense. However, “Y.M.C.A.,” which appears on the collective’s 1978 LP, 💿 Cruisin’ (😏), isn’t thought of celebrating “The Y” for its moral endeavors.

It’s no secret that The Village People were gay. “Y.M.C.A.” was intended to celebrate “The Y” but instead, it’s become one of the preeminent gay anthems.  Nothing wrong with that, of course! Young men having a good time playing sports? They can, of course, but the read into this place of fun is one for those young men hooking up.  Again, it probably didn’t help Village People that the album was titled Cruisin’, a term that’s slang for seeking out sex.  Worth noting, Ys were a spot for gay men to meet. It’s hard to believe that the collective wasn’t referencing sex, particularly on the high-flying chorus:

“It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel.”

The biggest message on “Y.M.C.A.” isn’t hooking up but rather acceptance.  Yes, plenty of gay men ended up at the Y, and yes, they hooked up, but, ultimately, the song is about a positive place.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🌈🎶 Village People, “Y.M.C.A.”: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 No. 2
🔗 🎧 15 Gay Anthems That Exude Joy (Vo1. 1)

5. Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae, “You”

🎵 “You” • 🏷 Ministry of Sound Recordings Limited • 📅 2021

What happens when you put DJ/producer 🎙 Regard, and pop artists 🎙 Troye Sivan, and 🎙 Tate McRae on the same track? That would be a certified BOP, folks. These three standouts come together for the dance single, simply titled, 🎵 “You”.  There’s plenty to “You” considering it runs nearly four minutes in duration.  It’s a solid four-minutes, thanks to sleek production work by Kosovo-Albanian DJ, and a team of songwriters beyond the main musicians including 🎼✍ Frederik Castenschiold Eichen, 🎼✍ Koda, 🎼✍ SAKIMA, and 🎼✍ Tom Mann.

Regard fuels the fire with his electronic backdrop that sounds simultaneously modern and forward thinking. This sets up both singers for success for sure. Troye Sivan takes first blood on the refrain (not to be mistaken with the chorus), singing expressively and showcasing some falsetto. Tate McRae arrives for the first time on the sole verse, singing with smoky, breathy vocals.  She follows with the refrain (or pre-chorus) first performed by Sivan. The centerpiece, of course, is the incredibly catchy chorus:

“Ooh, yeah
When I try to fall back, I fall back to you (Yeah, ayy)
When I talk to my friends, I talk about you (Yeah, ayy)
When the Hennessy's strong all I see is you, is you, is you, oh you.”

On the second chorus, Troye and Tate sing together with tremendous chemistry!  The record features a nice bridge section performed mostly by McRae. During this section, Regard also gives us some more playful touches on the instrumental end. “You” = total vibe.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: April 2021

6. Drake, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross, “You Only Live Twice”

💿 Certified Lover Boy • 🏷 OVO / Republic • 📅 2021

“Don’t act like you’re happy for me now / Don’t act like you wasn’t prayin’ for catastrophic collapses / Catalog is immaculate.” Woo! One of the premiere bangers on 💿 Certified Lover Boy, the 2021 studio album by 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper/singer 🎙 Drake is 🎵 “You Only Live Twice.” On “You Only Live Twice,” Drizzy enlists the assist from a fellow 🏆 Grammy winner, 🎙 Lil Wayne, and a 🏆 Grammy nominee, 🏆 🎙 Rick Ross.

Ross kicks things off with a kick-ass verse where he’s true to self, rapping about money (“Money callin’ so I threw the deuce up”).  Drizzy follows, maintaining confidence and swagger as he asserts, “Still runnin’ the game, don’t ask me about the practice,” which references an epic moment from NBA baller 🏀 Allen Iverson. Lil Wayne isn’t to be outdone, sexed-up to the nth degree and unapologetic AF: “Pull my hammer out her pussy, pull her nails out my back.” Woo! Besides electrifying rhymes, the backdrop (🎛 Bink!) is awesome.

7. Bad Bunny, “Yonaguni”

🎵 “Yonaguni” • 🏷 Rimas Entertainment • 📅 2021

“Tell me where you are, that I’ll grab a flight for you / And I’ll go to Yonaguni.” On 🎵 “Yonaguni”, 🏆 Grammy-winning Latin superstar 🎙 Bad Bunny is willing to go to the ends of the earth to find her – she’s the one. As we’ve come to expect from a Bad Bunny record, he has awesome production supporting him.  In this case, 🎛 Tainy and 🎛 Smash David deliver a sleek, warm backdrop.  The beat plays a gargantuan role in the overall success, inciting foot tapping and head nodding. As for Bunny himself, I love the warm, bright tone he sings with.

Additionally, “Yonaguni” thrive off a tuneful melody. Thematically, Bad Bunny focuses on matters of the heart, including sex.

“You kill it with whichever outfit
Baby, you are different
Shorty, has a big butt
Too, too big
And I’ve studied it, I’m graduating now
And I’ll tattoo it on my face.”

While you can read his intentions, by the end, on the outro (performed in Japanese, mind you), he comes right out and says, “I want to have sex today.” The silver lining: “But only with you / Where are you?” All in all, Benito Martinez executes like a champ, and honestly, we’d expect no less.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2021
🔗 🎧 Japan 🗾: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2021)
🔗 🎧 11 Captivating Songs Associated with Japan
🔗 🎧 An Alphabet of Random Songs

8. Khalid, “Young Dumb & Broke”

💿 American Teen • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2017

“I’m so high at the moment / I’m so caught up in this / Yeah, we’re just young, dumb and broke / But we still got love to give.” 🎵 “Young Dumb & Broke” arrives as the second track on 💿 American Teen, the 🏆 Grammy-nominated, debut album from R&B singer 🎙 Khalid.  In the context of the album, “Young Dumb & Broke” keeps the momentum rolling. Khalid’s vocals are robust, characterized by utter distinctiveness – who sounds like this kid?

Contextually, compared to the album opener 🎵 “American Teen”, Khalid serves up a more biting, grittier sound vocally.  He doesn’t deliver gospel histrionics mind you – he’s cool and chill – but there’s a bit more oomph you might say. “Young Dumb & Broke” superbly balances old- and new-school, featuring production cues from both.  Ultimately, it’s an irresistible record that is infectious from the jump.

“What’s fun about commitment?
When we have our life to live
Yeah, we’re just young, dumb and broke
But we still got love to give.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧11 Dumb, Ignorant, or Stupid Songs

9. 5 Seconds of Summer, “Youngblood”

💿 Youngblood • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2018

“Young blood / Say you want me, say you want me out of your life / And I’m just a dead man walking tonight / But you need it, yeah you need it all the time.” 🎵 “Youngblood” marks one of the best songs from 💿 Youngblood, the third studio album by 🎙 5 Seconds of Summer. Not only is “Youngblood” the title track and second single, but it also commences the album.

“Youngblood” is an energetic, slickly produced pop cut.  As far as sound is concerned, there are guitars in the mix, but more synths are in play compared to past 5SOS.  Even so, the sound plays to the collective’s strengths.  While the vocal performance is a bit more restrained on the verses, the vocals are edgier on the chorus, cutting through that production sheen you might say.

“...Say you want me; say you want me back in your life
So, I’m just a dead man crawling tonight
‘Cause I need it, yeah, I need it all of the time
Yeah, ooh, ooh, ooh.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Celebrate Youth with These 13 Young Songs
🔗 🎧 11 Songs by Male Artists Centered on Blood

10. Joji, “Yeah Right”

💿 BALLADS 1 • 🏷 88rising / Warner • 📅 2018

“Yeah, you bet I go to see you when / I’m feeling like a drum without a beat / Yeah, you dance so good / And I think that’s kinda neat.” 🎙 Joji kicks 🎵 “Yeah Right” from 💿 BALLADS 1 off with a bang, asserting on the intro, “I’ma fuck up my life.”  As he sings, the supporting backdrop is moody – clearly embodying the alternative vein and modern R&B sound of the times. He continues to utter the profane, carefree phrase into the first verse, eventually expounding how this “fuck-up” is going down.

“We gon’ party all night / She don’t care if I die / Yeah, right, yeah, right.” Clearly, he is reacting to trauma in his life, likely a breakup, hence he reacts by partying.  The first person that doesn’t care is his ex.  However, if the music video as well as a mental picture of the partying is considered, the strippers/exotic dancers don’t care either, right? The titular lyric recurs on the pre-chorus before more pain is unleashed on the chorus.

“Yeah, you bet I know that she ain’t
Never give a single fuck about me
Yeah, you bet she know that we ain’t
Never gonna be together...” 

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Right: 5ive Songs No. 79 (2021)
🔗 🎧 13 Intriguing Right or Left Songs

11. Run the Jewels, “Yankee and the Brave (Ep. 4)”

💿 RTJ4 • 🏷 BMG Rights Management • 📅 2020

🎙 Run the Jewels (🎙 El-P and 🎙 Killer Mike) commences their 2020 album, 💿 RTJ4 with a bang on the brief but potent 🎵 “Yankee and the Brave (Ep. 4).” The production has a bit of an experimental vibe, yet also has a foot in the door of the hip-hop of old.  Killer Mike gets the show started, never letting his foot off the gas. El-P follows on the second verse, matching the intensity of his partner.

Some of the best moments of “Yankee and the Brave (Ep. 4)” come towards the end, where both rappers play off each other extremely well. A prime example is when Mike asserts, “I can’t let the pigs kill me, I got too much pride / And I mean it when I said it, never take me alive.” El-P responds, “You try to fuck with my brother, you get the bastard surprise.” “Yankee and the Brave” is a great start to a great album in addition to being a sound song by itself.

12. Mary Mary, “Yesterday”

💿 Mary Mary • 🏷 Sony BMG Management • 📅 2005

It’s rare when gospel can crossover into the mainstream.  Only a select few artists have been able to successfully manage this feat. 🎙 Mary Mary (🎙 Erica Campbell and 🎙 Trecina Atkins-Campbell) are one of a select few.  Furthermore, the voices are truly anointed.  Back in the aughts, the duo experienced their most lucrative period, including their self-titled, gold-certified 2005 album.  Two songs in particular stand out on 💿 Mary Mary: the funky, soul-sampling 🎵 “Heaven” and the soulful compound-duple, traditional gospel joint, 🎵 “Yesterday.” “Yesterday” was penned by the Campbell sisters alongside 🎼✍ Warryn Campbell (Erica’s husband + renowned producer).

On “Yesterday,” The Campbell sisters have decided to end the tears – as of yesterday.  Essentially, they are given themselves an ultimatum: “Either I’m going to trust You, or I may as well walk away / Cause stressing don’t make it better.”  The ‘You’ Mary Mary are referencing is God, of course.  Despite the adversity that has faced them, rather than cry and not help the situation, they are going to lean on faith – trust and believe in a might Savior.  “Any problems that I have / He’s greater, greater than them all.” So true! “Yesterday” is an awesome means to uplift, whether you’re devout or not.  There’s no way you listen to the authenticity of these awesome vocalists and not feel something – at least a sense of hope!

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Mary Mary, “Yesterday”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 No. 26 (2021)

13. Usher, “Yeah!”

Ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris

💿 Confessions • 🏷 LaFace • 📅 2004

“Peace up, A-Town down!” YEAHHHH!!! On 💿 Confessions, the 2004 masterpiece LP by 🎙 Usher, 🎵 “Yeah!” is a surefire, attention-getter. “Yeah” serves as the banger – the club joint.  On the former, 12-week no. 1 single, the 🏆 Grammy-winner receives some help from some of his southern friends: 🎙 Lil Jon and 🎙 Ludacris.  Both Lil Jon and Ludacris earned a Grammy courtesy of “Yeah!” winning Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.  Ludacris, notably, would win two more Grammys a couple of years later during his 💿 Release Therapy era.

Focusing on “Yeah!”, it still bangs as it approaches closer to 20 years of age. Sure, crunk has long fallen by the wayside, but “Yeah!” remains a gem. The beat! Those minor-key synths! Usher epitomizes swagger:

“Yeah, shorty got down low said, come and get me
Yeah, I got so caught up, I forgot she told me
Yeah, her and my girl, they used to be the best of homies
Yeah, next thing I knew she was all up on me screamin’...”

Throw in Lil Jon’s exuberant shouts (“Yeah!”) and Ludacris’ nastiness (“If you hold the head steady, I’mma milk the cow…I won’t stop till I get ‘em in their birthday suit…”), and “Yeah!” showcases ultra-beast mode 💪.