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Questionable songs, ladies and gents! This playlist features 14 songs posed as questions, courtesy of the likes of Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson, and Spoon.

“Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” These are just a couple of examples of questionable songs! Don’t go getting your undies in the twist. The aforementioned aren’t questionable in regards to content – their questionable because the song title is posed as a question. Do you really think we’d label any of the aforementioned as questionable aka sketchy aka they suck? No way! This playlist features 14 songs from 2017 that are posed as questions.

1. Sampha, “What Shouldn’t I Be?”

**Album: Process, 2017**

Young Turks

Sampha delivered one of best albums of 2017 with Process. Process is best known for songs like “Blood on Me” and “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano.” Even so, the album fittingly closes with “What Shouldn’t I Be?” A quiet, chilling song, Sampha seems to be exiting the grieving process. On the first verse, he seems to be talking to himself, specifically trying to find himself once more.

“You can always, you can always come home / I know you’ve been out there, out there on your own…/ I wake up in my own skin again / Thinking all about me.”

One of the most gripping lyrics comes near the end, as he reveals guilt towards his brother.

“I should visit my brother / But I haven’t been there in months / I’ve lost connection, signal / To how we were.”

All in all, “What Shouldn’t I Be?” superbly concludes Process. “What shouldn’t I be today?”

2. Ryan Adams, “Do You Still Love Me?”

Prisoner • Blue Note • 2017

“Why can’t I feel your love? / Heart must be blind / What can I say? / I didn’t want it to change / But in my mind, it’s all so strange.” There’s nothing questionable about “Do You Still Love Me?” by Ryan Adams. “Do You Still Love Me?” has made all editions of the Musical Hype Best Songs of 2017 lists for a reason – it’s that good.

The record opens mysteriously and exhibits sensitivity. The use of organ pad is prudent. That sensitivity is short lived, with guitar interjections intensifying the emotion. Eventually, those interjections develop into Ryan Adams’ familiar musical sound. The pacing and development of the record is superb. Adams begins his vocal performance tenderly. Like the progression of the song itself, he eventually embraces an assertive, gritty approach. “Do you still love me, babe?”

3. Ed Sheeran, “How Would You Feel (Paean)”

Album: ÷

Atlantic

On his questionable ballad “How Would You Feel (Paean)” , Ed Sheeran masterfully shares his dedication to his bae. Once more, a knack for authenticity, driven by personality, bodes well in his favor. We’d expect no less. This romantic ballad should bore after several others preceding it, but ultimately, it’s among the crème de la crème.

“How would you feel
If I told you I loved you?
It’s just something that I want to do
I’ll be taking my time
Spending my life
Falling deeper in love with you
So tell me that you love me too.”

4.Depeche Mode, “Where’s the Revolution”

Album: Spirit

Columbia

Depeche Mode were critical of the current state of affairs on their 2017 album, Spirit. Indeed, Spirit was fittingly chocked-full of spirit, particularly on “Where’s the Revolution.” The source of the frontman Dave Gahan’s anger is government and the game of politics. Even as Gahan criticizes those in power, the chorus points the finger at the people.

“Where’s the revolution? / Come on, people / You’re letting me down.”

By the bridge, the revolution ensues, characterized by repetition:

“The train is coming… / So get on board / Get on board…/The engine’s humming.”

The production is intense, amplified by its minor key.

5. Spoon, “Do I Have to Talk You into It”

Album: Hot Thoughts

Matador

“Do I Have to Talk You into It” marks the first of two questionable appearances by Spoon on this playlist. Both songs hail from the smoking Hot Thoughts. In the context of the album, “Do I Have to Talk You into It” gives the band its third ‘home run.’ Funk is alive and well, thanks to a prominent bass line, clever harmonic progression, and overall superb production. There’s a dash of innuendo, perfectly complementing the throwback sound:

“Do I have to talk you into it? / Do we have to make sense of it? / When I’ve known you such a long time / And we never had to act polite.”

6. P!nk, “What About Us”

Album: Beautiful Trauma

RCA

After a five-year hiatus, P!nk came back strong with Beautiful Trauma. The ‘strength’ isn’t only represented by the quality of the album, but also the commercial performance week-one. She sounds top-notch on “What About Us”, arguably the crowning achievement of Beautiful Trauma. Vocally, while she packs a punch, she also exhibits great control. The chorus is a major selling point:

“What about us? / What about all the times you said you had the answers? / What about us / What about all the broken happy ever afters? / What about us / What about all the plans that ended in disaster? / What about love? What about trust? / What about us?”

7. Joji, “Will He”

Album: In Tongues

88rising / Empire

Filthy Frank aka George Miller aka Joji gets serious, or at least respectable on his EP, In Tongues. One question mark comes courtesy of single, “Will He,” which commences enigmatically. It’s melancholy, indulgent, and heavy. Despite the weight carried by the sound and vibe, it’s quite beautiful and well-produced. Joji delivers respectable vocals, singing the moody lyrics with passion and authenticity. He successfully conveys his feelings and the narrative – ex-girl is with a new boy and it’s not him. While it’s a bit indulgent, all in all, it’s a great way to commence In Tongues and ultimately serves as a gem.

“Will your tongue still remember the taste of my lips? / Will your shadow remember the swing of my hips? / Will your lover caress you the way, that I did? / Will you notice my charm, if he slips up one bit?”

8. Joey Bada$$, “Y U Don’t Love Me?”

Album: All-AmeriKKKan Bada$$

Pro Era / Cinematic Group

For whatever reason, Joey Bada$$ didn’t get the recognition he deserved for All-AmerKKKan Bada$$. It was a great album that simply didn’t perform well on the charts. Regardless, the quality is top-notch, including the brilliant “Y U Don’t Love Me?” “Y U Don’t Love Me” maintains the intrigue of the album. Joey Bada$$ treats America like a bad relationship where love comes at a premium. Approaching the song in a romantic, love-driven sense makes it truly clever – among the crème de la crème.

“Tell me why you don’t love me / Why you always misjudge me? / Why you always put so many things above me? / Why you lead me to believe that I’m ugly?”

9. The Killers, “Have All the Songs Been Written”

Album: Wonderful Wonderful

Island

After a five-year hiatus, The Killers returned with their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful. Filled with some awesome songs, there’s also a questionable one – “Have All the Songs Been Written?” The title of “Have All the Songs Been Written?” sounds simple, yet the concept runs deeper. Flowers asks a series of questions centered around life. While he doubts his ability to write a fresh, relevant song, ultimately, Flowers asserts, “I just need one to get through to you.”

10. Superfruit, “How You Feeling?”

Album: Future Friends

RCA

Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying, members of Pentatonix, dropped a full-length album as duo Superfruit in 2017. Future Friends is an effort chocked full of sleek, modern pop. Future Friends features one questionable song, “How You Feeling?” As referenced above, “How You Feeling?” exemplifies the modern-sounding, slick AF production work that characterizes the album. Mitch generally leads the charge here, filled with the utmost energy and feistiness.

“How you feeling? / Heartbroken and jonesing for a nicotine rush / Like a sad and lonely lush, alright / How you feeling? / Three shots in and hoping I’m not letting you down / Cause I don’t do well in crowds, alright / Drown it out / Turn it out / So tell me, how you feeling? / I’m feeling, I’m feeling, I’m feeling / I’m feeling alright, alright.”

11. Dustin Lynch, “Why We Call Each Other”

Album: Current Mood

Broken Bow

There’s no question that Dustin Lynch fits the role of young, country male artist. He’s a handsome, fit, “small town boy” with a great voice. Where the questions come into play is on “Why We Call Each Other,” a single appearing on his third studio album, Current Mood. Lynch sings in his lower register, a contrast to the songs that precede the record on the album. This contemporary country record embraces the modern script, particularly the drums and incorporation of synths. Even with the modern tricks, there’s still a sufficient number of cues that make it idiomatic of country music.