14 Songs Sure to Lift You Higher includes music courtesy of Kacey Musgraves, Nipsey Hussle, Panic! At the Disco, Tyla Yaweh, and Whitney Houston.

According to Jackie Wilson, back in 1967, “You know your love (your love keeps lifting me) / Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me) / Higher (lifting me) / Higher and higher (higher).” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (United) told a different story the same year, proclaiming “‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’… / To keep me from getting to you, baby.” Moving beyond the 60s into the 90s, specifically 1999, Scott Stapp and Creed ask the question, “Can you take me ‘Higher’?” (Human Clay).  The point of this overly-long introduction is to show you just a small sampling of how many songs have been recorded with a ‘higher’ mindset. Also, this particular playlist shouldn’t be confused with the weed-driven list, The High is Real on These 13 ‘High-Flying’ Anthems.

All “14 Songs Sure to Lift You Higher” include some form of the word ‘high’ in their song title, period. Ultimately, the rare even-numbered list (we made a late, couldn’t-possibly-neglect addition) features music courtesy of Kacey Musgraves (“High Horse”), Nipsey Hussle (“Higher”), Panic! At the Disco (“High Hopes”), Tyla Yaweh (“High Right Now”), and Whitney Houston (“Higher Love”) among others.  Prepare to be lifted “Higher Higher” on this high-flying playlist!

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1. Kygo & Whitney Houston, “Higher Love”

Higher Love [Single] • RCA • 2019

“Bring me a higher love / Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?” In June 2019, the great Whitney Houston sung once more, albeit posthumously.  How so? Well, via a previously unreleased cover of a Steve Winwood song, “Higher Love”, remixed by Norwegian DJ/producer Kygo. In its original ‘cover’ form, “Higher Lover” was recorded in 1991. The Kygo remix features some of the cues we’re accustomed to hearing from his production style/music including vocal loops, bright synths, keyboards, and an anchoring, danceable beat.  Furthermore, there are some pitch-shifted vocals, used in moderation as a cool effect.

What’s great about this recording is that it sounds like classic Whitney Houston, while also sounding like what she might’ve sounded like in 2019.  Houston of course passed away at the age of 48 in 2012. Clearly, “Higher Love” showcases Houston at her peak. Her voice sounds amazing – high-flying as it did during her heyday. All in all, “Higher Love” is an energetic, upbeat, uplifting song; definitely a feel-good pop-soul record.  “Higher Love” was also featured on the playlist 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in June 2019.

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2. DJ Khaled, “Higher” (Ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend)

Father of Asahd • Epic • 2019

At best, the 2019 DJ Khaled album, Father of Asahd, is average.  Even so, the biggest attraction of the album “Higher,” is definitely worthwhile.  “Higher” is a marvelous collaboration between the late Nipsey Hussle and John Legend.  The record elevates Father of Asahd to a ‘higher’ level thanks to soulful, gospel-infused vocals (Legend), awesome rhymes (Hussle), and high-flying, uplifting production work.

 

A change of feel within the production (a beat switch), occurring on the second verse only adds to the brilliance, allowing Hussle to switch up his flow as well.  Clocking in at under three minutes, despite its brevity, “Higher” is a surefire gem.  This is truly a great posthumous song by Nipsey Hussle by all means.  #Victory Lap.  “Higher” appears on a couple of previous playlists: 11 Songs That Tickled My Fancy in May 2019 and 50 Best Songs of 2019 (So Far).

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3. Tyla Yaweh, “High Right Now”

Heart Full of Rage • Epic • 2019

“Girl, I’m so high right now / I don’t think that I’ll ever come down / ‘Cause this feels better to me / Than anybody reality…” The lines between R&B and rap have become more blurred over the years – understatement.  Honestly, the lines between any number of styles have become blurred.  Tyla Yaweh definitely shows those blurred lines on “High Right Now,” the opening track from his major-label debut album, Heart Full of Rage.

“High Right Now” features excellent production work that incorporates some pop/rock cues in addition to embracing melodic rap and urban contemporary.  Those pop/rock cues include the use of acoustic and electric guitars.  In fact, the electric guitar riff is a key feature of the production.  Suring up the hip-hop is the anchoring beat that has become commonplace in top 40 music of all styles.  The chorus, excerpted at the beginning and appearing at the jump on the record itself, is the centerpiece.  It continues as follows:

“I’m floating in the air like I’m weightless

Flying on a cocaine spaceship

Girl, I’m so high right now

I don’t think that I’ll ever come down.”

While the verses remain melodic, there’s a bit more hip-hop sensibility. Even so, there aren’t an abundance of lyrics, with the ‘high’ vibe clearly being the modus operandi.  While high is subject to interpretation to some extent on “High Right Now,” references to a ‘cocaine spaceship’ as well as being “On designer drugs, can’t feel my face” certainly support the fact that Tyla Yaweh is indeed high AF.

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4. James Blake, “Mile High”

Ft. Travis Scott & Metro Boomin

Assume Form • Polydor • 2019

“We just be mile high clubbin’ / I’m on a thousand miles runnin’ / Hit it, go downtown Sunday / Then move it uptown Monday.” 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.  “Mile High” is a perfect fit for this higher-lifting playlist for obvious reasons.

Compared to the title track that precedes it on Assume Form, “Mile High” is a clear change of pace, featuring Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott and producer extraordinaire, Metro Boomin.  Naturally, there are hip-hop sensibilities throughout. Among the best moments is the refrain, where both Scott and Blake join forces (“40 Days, 40 Nights / Feel like a holy night”). Both are also superb separately, with Scott dropping two verses, as well as the aforementioned chorus.  It’s obvious what Scott has on his mind on the second verse:

“Ass fatter than a peach, uh

Ocean water kinda deep, uh

Rollin’ up out the reef, uh

Put me down, straight to sleep.”

 Blake also drops two strong verses, remaining true to self.

“Put to sleep without dreams

Under the moonbeam

Call you for no reason

Hold on like it’s greasy.”

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5. Blackbear, “HIGH1X”

ANONYMOUS • Beartrap / Alamo / Interscope • 2019

“What you get for a year, I get on the side, on the side / And I’m taking my time / Doing everything right, right, right / Only get this high, one time, time, time…” Profane R&B singer Blackbear ( “do re mi” ) returned in 2019 with Anonymous, his first new project since 2017 (mansionz, with Mike Posner, digital druglord, and cybersex).  All in all, he makes up for his absence in 2018 with the enjoyable, 18-track LP. “HIGH1X” serves as a sleek, fitting standout – you noticed the word ‘high’ in the title, right? 

“HIGH1X” is slightly longer than most of the songs from Anonymous, yet shy of the three-minute mark.  The delivery is equal parts melodic as well as rhythmic.  There’s ample swagger, something that the superb production from Twice as Nice screams for – well, not literally.  If Blackbear is a bit more in his feelings on “Changes” that precedes, he’s a bit more carefree on “High1x,” even if he “Only get this high right here one time.”

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6. Kacey Musgraves, “High Horse”

Golden Hour • MCA Nashville • 2018

Addressing the elephant in the room – is “High Horse” really a country song?  While Grammy-winning country musician Kacey Musgraves has a dash of country sensibility vocally, and the production has some subtle country cues and instrumentation, “High Horse” owes a lot to old-school dance and soul.  Maybe some traditionalists won’t be as ‘uplifted’ by how Musgraves exhibits country’s blurred lines here. More open-minded listeners should find the ambiguous nature of “High Horse” more endearing.

Regardless, Musgraves still musters up a good narrative that is fitting for the country fans.  “High Horse” is among the highlights from Golden Hour, which won the prestigious, highly-coved Grammy award for Album of the Year. The premise of “High Horse”? Well, it’s all about someone who thinks they’re “the stuff”.

“‘Cause everyone knows someone who kills the buzz
Every time they open up their mouth
Yeah, everyone knows someone who knows someone
Who thinks they’re cooler than everybody else…

And I think we’ve seen enough, seen enough

To know that you ain’t ever gonna come down

So why don’t you giddy up, giddy up

And ride straight out of this town

You and your high horse…”

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7. Panic! At the Disco, “High Hopes”

Pray for the Wicked • Fueled by Ramen • 2018

Ambition, determination, and hope are some of the virtues that come to mind when hearing the Panic! At the Disco song, “High Hopes”.  “High Hopes” serves as a highlight from the alternative collective’s 2018 album, Pray for the Wicked. The record is incredibly consistent, kicking off with driving brassy, exuberant production work and set in a major key.

 

“Have to have high, high hopes for a living / Shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing,” Brendon Urie sings on the optimistic chorus, continuing, “Didn’t have a dime but I always had a vision / Always had high, high hopes.”  Elsewhere, he speaks about destiny, dreams, “rewriting your history,” and being true to self.  Clearly, this is an anthem for dreamers and encouragement for the non-conformists of the world.  

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8. Martin Garrix, “High on Life” (Ft. Bonn)

High on Life [Single] • STMPD RCRDS B.V. / Epic Amsterdam • 2018

“Killed the demons of my mind / Ever since you came around / We’re a river, running wild / How could I have been so blind?” Deep stuff.  Dutch DJ/EDM wunderkind Martin Garrix tapped pop singer/songwriter Bonn (Kristoffer Fogelmark) for his higher-minded 2018 single, “High on Life.” In addition to writing credits by Garrix and Bonn, “High on Life” is co-written by Albin Nedler and Giorgio Tuinfort.

 

“High on Life” finds Bonn in reflective mode.  On the pre-chorus, he sings about living fast and reckless, until the final line: “But with you, I feel something real.” He continues with the change of tenor on the chorus, asserting, “And I’d walk a million miles, just to see your smile / Till the day I die / Oh, I need you by my side, we get high on life.”  On the verses, he’s regretful.  On the second verse he asks himself, “How could I have let you go?”

As expected, Martin Garrix gives his ‘partner in crime’ a fitting backdrop.  The principle instrument during the verses is piano, which matches the regret Bonn captures regarding love. In addition to the awesome keyboard work, other sounds appear including beautiful strings, a light, but rhythmic groove, and a dash of electric guitar. The backdrop picks up steam on the chorus, adding bright, shimmering, aggressive synths.  The chorus is where Garrix is at his best and most energetic. All in all, Bonn brings goodness to the track with his pipes, while Garrix, assisted by Matisse & Sadko, brings the heat in the production department.

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9. James Bay, “Sugar Drunk High”

Electric Light • Republic • 2018

“We’re young enough to lose teeth / But not old enough for enemies / Still steering with both hands.” Grammy-nominated pop/rock musician James Bay impresses with the aggressive, high-energy rocking joint, “Sugar Drunk High.” “Sugar Drunk High” appears as the 11^th track from his sophomore album, Electric Light.

On “Sugar Drunk High,” he ditches the falsetto of the preceding gospel-infused “I Found You” for fully-commanding, distorted vocals. He’s lethal in that capacity folks.

“We were just kids living young and naïve

Running round streets like the King and Queen

Gas light flicker in your eye, what are hopeless dreams?

Staying out waiting ‘til they call off the search

Chewing gum, cherry coke until our brains burned

A sugar drunk high, we were the only ones.”

“Sugar Drunk High” previously appeared on the playlist 11 Songs That are Incredibly Sweet.

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10. Rihanna, “Higher”

Anti • Roc Nation • 2016

“You take me higher, higher than I’ve ever been, babe / Just come over, let’s pour a drink, babe / I hope I ain’t calling you too late, too late.” Interestingly, one of the best songs from Rihanna’s 2016 album Anti clocks in at just about two-minutes in length.  That’s right, “Higher” is short, but more importantly, incredibly sweet.

 

“Higher” is brilliant from start to finish.  First and foremost, Rihanna sings with an incredibly raspy, distinct tone, which complements the drunkenness of which she sings about (“This whiskey got me feelin’ pretty”) and her longing for his company (“I just really need your ass with me”).  Beyond her awesome tone, honesty, and excellent personality exhibited, the production is sick.  Why? “Higher” thrives off its old-school sound, a backdrop that Rihanna sounds superb singing against (see “Love on the Brain” that precedes “Higher” for the proof).  The crème de la crème is the chorus, excerpted at the beginning of the blurb.

SUPERFRUIT (Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying of Pentatonix) do a fantastic job covering “Higher” and other songs from Anti.  Also, Pentatonix gets into the mix themselves.

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11. Lana Del Rey, “High by the Beach”

Honeymoon • Polydor • 2015

“All I wanna do is get high by the beach / Get high by the beach, get high…” Well, that seems pretty self-explanatory from the one-and-only, Grammy-nominated alt-pop artist Lana Del Rey. Those excerpted lyrics hail from the chorus of “High by the Beach,” among the singles and highlights from Del Rey’s 2015 LP, Honeymoon.

 

Clearly, “High by The Beach” is characteristic Lana Del Rey, though compared to the songs that precede it on Honeymoon, it does provide contrast.  Part of that contrast at the time of release was that the record was more commercial without being a pop hit per se.  Going back to the characteristic part, Del Rey still has some bite, evidenced by the remaining lyrics that appear on the centerpiece, the chorus:

“The truth is I never bought into your bullshit

When you would pay tribute to me ‘cause I know

“All I wanted to do was get high by the beach

Get high, baby, baby, bye bye.”

Of course, the verses, as well as the bridge, crafts the narrative.  Lana Del Rey has no use for him, evidenced bluntly on the second verse: “You could be a bad motherfucker / But that don’t make you a man / Now you’re just another one of my problems.” Damn, no wonder Del Rey only wants to get “high by the beach.” As usual, this is quite the miserable record.

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12. Tove Lo, “Habits (Stay High)”

Queen of the Clouds • Universal Music • 2014

“You’re gone and I gotta stay high / All the time, to keep you off my mind.”  Safe to say, Tove Lo is in total reckless mode to atone for missing her ex. She continues, “Spend my days locked in a haze, tryna forget you, babe / I fall back down.” “Habits (Stay High)” served as a breakout hit for the Swedish alt-pop artist, who has since the 2014 Queen of the Clouds gem released bold numbers such as “Disco Tits” and “bitches”.

 

“Habits (Stay High)” is straightforward and highly entertaining.  On the verses, Tove Lo shares all of her reckless behavior, which includes sex clubs, Twinkie binges (a product of being high), drinking, and hooking up with daddies.  The second verse is quite raunchy when you read into it – the last line especially:

“Pick up daddies at the playground, how I spend my day time

Loosen up their frown, make ‘em feel alive

I make it fast and greasy, I’m numb my way too easy.”

Ultimately, all of her poor choices are a product of loneliness and pain.  But, nothing like the schadenfreude experienced on our end, right?

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13. Arctic Monkeys, “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?”

AM • Domino • 2013

Years before singing about an imaginary hotel and casino, possibly on the Moon on the Grammy-nominated album Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino (2018), British alternative rock band Arctic Monkeys posed a very important question: “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” appears as the ninth song on the brilliant, 2013, platinum-certified AM by Alex Turner and company.

“Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” ranks among the elite cuts of AM, sporting an awesome groove and theme that rivals the opener, the crowning achievement better known as “Do I Wanna Know?”. Turner finds himself ‘trailing’ in the pursuance of the girl.  “Somewhere darker, talking the same shite,” he sings on verse two, “I need a partner, well are you out tonight?”  The chorus is its crowning achievement of the song itself:

“Now it’s three in the morning and I’m trying to change your mind

Left you multiple missed calls and to my message, you reply

Why’d you only call me when you’re high?”

Ultimately, the record rocks despite Alex Turner’s clear lack of game.  “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” previously appeared on the phone-centric playlist, 11 Songs Associated with the Phone.

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14. Bruce Springsteen, “High Hopes”

High Hopes • Columbia • 2013

Bruce Springsteen aka ‘The Boss’ is definitely a boss when it comes to his iconic status in rock and music in general.  His 2014 studio album, High Hopes, was a good Springsteen album, but certainly not the crowning achievement of his illustrious discography.  Regardless, High Hopes had its fair share of high-flying moments including the moving “American Skin (41 Shots)” and the song on hand, title track, “High Hopes.”

“High Hopes” opens the album with ‘tremendous’ hopes, even if the tonal center is firmly planted in a minor key.  The Tim Scott McConnell (aka Ledfoot) re-recorded cover is given an electrifying performance thanks to Springsteen’s enthusiastic and assertive pipes, Tom Morello’s slick guitar contributions, and a brilliant horn arrangement.  Having gospel-tinged backing vocals doesn’t hurt The Boss’ cause, rather his ‘hopes,’ either.

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[Photo Credits: Alamo, Beartrap, Columbia, Domino, Epic, Epic Amsterdam, Fueled by Ramen, Interscope, MCA Nashville, Pexels, Pixabay, Polydor, RCA, Republic, Roc Nation, STMPD RCRDS B.V., Universal Music]

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