“15 Beautiful, Gorgeous, or Pretty Songs” features music courtesy of 6LACK, Bazzi, Carrie Underwood, G-Eazy, and P!nk among others.  

“‘Cause you’re too sexy, beautiful / And everybody wants a taste…” “I feel pretty / Oh, so pretty / I feel pretty, and witty and gay.” “Did you know that you’re gorgeous?”  All of the excerpted lyrics, from songs courtesy of Nick Jonas, West Side Story, and Mansionz, all refer to ‘beauty.’  That’s the theme of this particular playlist as well – 15 Beautiful, Gorgeous, or Pretty Songs. Artists contributing to the beauty include 6LACK, Bazzi, Carrie Underwood, G-Eazy, and P!nk among others.

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1. Bazzi, “Beautiful”

COSMIC » Atlantic » 2018

Rising pop artist Bazzi showcases ample potential on his 2018 debut album, COSMIC.  Throughout the course of the project, he focuses on love, sex, and achieving his dreams in California.  In the context of the album, “Beautiful” arrives prior to the project’s ‘crowning achievement,’ “Mine”. On “Beautiful,” he clearly loves everything about her: “Hey / Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angle / Love your imperfections, every angle.”

He makes some sexual references (“The way that Gucci look on you, amazing / But nothing can compare to when you’re naked”), but contrasting an earlier record, “Cartier” where he aggressively he’s gonna to “Fuck you 24 hours,” he goes beyond the physical.  Notably, there is a remix of the single featuring pop artist Camila Cabello.

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2. Nick Talos, “Hey Gorgeous”

Ft. Mitchl

Hey Gorgeous [Single] » Virgin » 2018

“Hey gorgeous / You know damn well that you’re beautiful / Is that why you act so cold?” Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. German dance, pop, and electronic musician and producer Nick Talos assembles an enjoyable, fun dance single with “Hey Gorgeous”.  On “Hey Gorgeous,” Talos teams up with singer, Mitchl. Beginning with the production, Talos, paired with Máté Spellenberg, craft a sound that is chill and inviting – bright, sunny, and set in a major-key. As for Mitchl, he smoothly sings about being infatuated with a ‘gorgeous’ girl who he knows he should totally forget about.  Despite the advice he’s been given, not to mention what he already knows himself, he still “want(s) to be the one for you.” The chorus perfectly sums up where Mitchl stands with the nameless gorgeous girl.

“Hey gorgeous, oh wait, I don’t care about what you said
You can go with him instead
Hey gorgeous, oh wait, I’ve not felt like this before
But I can’t take this shit no more, no
I’ve been hurting, feeling like a fool
But I still want to be the one for you.”

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3. Carrie Underwood, “Cry Pretty”

Cry Pretty » Capitol Nashville » 2018

“You can pretty lie and say it’s okay / You can pretty smile and just walk away / Pretty much fake your way through anything / But you can’t cry pretty.” “Cry Pretty” reflects upon the aftermath of facial surgery Carrie Underwood had following a bad accident, coping with insecurity. The pulse of the record is initially carried by guitar, panned to the right.  Drums and bass arrive later, confirming the lilting, six-eight meter.  After showcasing restraint on the first verse, Carrie Underwood reaches a fever pitch on the aforementioned powerhouse chorus.  Complementing her soaring vocals is dynamic, ‘souped-up’ production work.  This is ‘country’ music (as opposed to country-pop) in the hands of one of its more skilled singers.  Underwood shows off some incredibly sick vocals, incorporating falsetto, grit, runs, and whelps.  By the end, Underwood ‘lets her rip,’ and it’s nothing short of glorious.  You can sense the authenticity.

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4. Matt Fishel, “The Gorgeous Ones”

M/F » Young Lust » 2018

“…It was fun, we were high, you seemed flawlessly keen / But the truth is you’d ruin it every time that you’d speak.” #Total Buzzkill following fun times.  Context? Openly gay rock singer/songwriter Matt Fishel depicts a good time (a ‘fling’ if you will) with a hot, “incredibly fit” guy on “The Gorgeous Ones,” which appears on his 2018 album, M/F.  The problem is, other than his handsome looks, the dude is shallow and ultimately not worth it. The banging body just isn’t enough to compensate for the drugs, secrets, and sheer wildness.

On the memorable chorus, Fishel sings. “It’s always the gorgeous ones that break your heart in the end / I don’t think it’s ‘cause their special I think it’s ‘cause they’re too stupid to pretend.” Despite the fact that Fishel laments “the gorgeous ones” on this particular record, there’s nothing to lament about this well-written, utterly relatable song about bad guys, regardless of sexual preference.

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5. Luke Combs, “Beautiful Crazy”

This One’s for You Too » River House Artists LLC / Sony Music Entertainment » 2017

“Beautiful, crazy, she can’t help but amaze me / The way that she dances, ain’t afraid to take chances / And wears her heart on her slave / Yeah, she’s crazy but beautiful to me.” Sigh, how freaking beautiful is that? Country singer/songwriter Luke Combs comes over as incredibly authentic and dedicated on “Beautiful Crazy,” arguably the crowning achievement from his 2017 debut album, This One’s for You. Throughout the record, Combs highlights his lady’s idiosyncrasies and quirks, but ultimately, he loves everything about her and wouldn’t change a thing.  On the bridge he sings, “She’s unpredictable, unforgettable / It’s unusual, unbelievable / How I’m such a fool, yeah, I’m such a fool for her.” Ultimately, “Beautiful Crazy” is truly a beautiful, thoughtful, and sincere country ballad.  Strike that – It’s truly a beautiful, thoughtful, sincere ballad, PERIOD.

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6. 6LACK, “Pretty Little Fears”

Ft. J. Cole

East Atlanta Love Letter » Interscope » 2018

“She know my stick nothing but magic babe / I be swinging it back and forth, ‘til you in your casket, bae, mm.” Confident, freaky, and just plumb nasty 6LACK, but also one of the most memorable lines from “Pretty Little Fears,” a highlight from East Atlanta Love Letter.  While 6LACK’s game as the lead artist is intriguing on this song, the deepest lyrics hail from J. Cole.  On his guest verse, J. Cole is chocked-full of dedication, rapping, “You the flower that I gotta protect / To keep alive in the winter time, aye, don’t you die yet.”  Sweet.  Going back to 6LACK, his chorus, sung somewhat stoically, is also worth mentioning.

“Now I just wanna know / Don’t you sugarcoat / I’ll say it all if you won’t / Now could you tell me like it is? / Pretty little fears / Music to my ears.”

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7. Florida Georgia Line, “Sittin’ Pretty”

Florida Georgia Line [EP] » Big Machine » 2018

“That sunset straight up as it gets / Short shorts resting just right on your hips / Kiss chilling on your lips / I’m for sure going to get it in a minute.” The bros – Florida Georgia Line that is – remain chill on, “Sittin’ Pretty,” the closer from their self-titled, 2018 EP.  Like most songs by the duo, “Sittin’ Pretty” is groovy, southern to the core, but possesses just enough hip-hop/pop influence to win over the Top 40 crowd.  The chorus is infectious, but definitely not ‘challenging’ to the brain.

“We got all damn day to do it our way
Like an old tire swing in the shade
Got it made in the sweet spot
Baby, you and me got a couple free seats on cloud nine…
I’m just fine as long as I’m sitting next to you sittin’ pretty.”

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8. G-Eazy, “The Beautiful & Damned”

Ft. Zoe Nash

The Beautiful & Damned » RCA » 2017

“When you move this fast as I’m movin’ / All the toxic things that I’m using / All the substances I’m abusin’ / All the sex, and the drugs, and the boozin’…” Yeah G-Eazy, that’s a pretty ‘damning’ experience to say the least.  Backing up, “The Beautiful & Damned” initiates The Beautiful & Damned, G’s third LP, in foreboding fashion.  Essentially, the record successfully captures a damned sensibility.

The distinct vocals by guest singer Zoe Nash accentuates the assertive, dark vibes of the album opener. “Ever seen a devil with a halo? / Ever seen an angel with some horns,” Nash sings on the chorus, continuing, “Everybody got their own demons / Everybody fightin’ their own war, oh.” Her initial chorus sets up G-Eazy with hard-nosed, unapologetic rhymes.

“‘Throw your brain away, that’s all it takes
Dumb it down, but that’s not what he makes
Then say fuck the sales and fuck the biz
It’s not that easy Gerald, nothing is’.”

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9. Taylor Swift, “Gorgeous”

Reputation » Big Machine » 2017

“You should take it as a compliment / That I got drunk and made fun of the way you talk / You should think about the consequences / Of your magnetic field being a little too strong.”  It should come as no shock that Taylor Swift is singing about boys… Furthermore, the song at hand, “Gorgeous”, is one of the ‘familiar tunes’ – rather familiar script – from her 2017 album, reputation.  It’s respectable to the nth degree – as slickly produced as everything else – though definitely not groundbreaking.  Still, Swift has no problem making her point.  This guy makes her “so furious,” yet, he’s “gorgeous” – ah, the conundrum!

“You’re so gorgeous
I can’t say anything to your face
‘Cause look at your face
And I’m so furious
At you for making me feel this way
But what can I say?
You’re gorgeous.”

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10. The Temptations, “Pretty Wings”

All the Time » Universal Music Enterprises » 2018

“If I can’t have you, let love set you free / To fly your pretty wings around / Pretty wings, our pretty wings / Your pretty wings around.” No playing around here.  Maxwell had one of the best R&B songs of the new millennium with “Pretty Wings” in 2009.  Particularly considering the ‘cool down’ that the genre has experienced, it’s a surefire gem. It’s not surprising that legendary soul collective The Temptations chose to cover the truly “pretty” ballad on their 2018 album, All the Time.  While they maintain the ‘sanctity’ of the original, naturally the Temptations put their own stamp on it as well.

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11. P!nk, “Beautiful Trauma”

Beautiful Trauma » RCA » 2017

“‘Cause I’ve been on the run so long they can’t find me / You’re waking up to remember I’m pretty / And when the chemicals leave my body / Yeah, they’re gonna find me in a hotel lobby.” After commencing as a ballad, “Beautiful Trauma”, the opener for Beautiful Trauma, picks up steam, accelerating the pace, and filling out the production. P!nk impresses vocally, oscillating between smoother and coarser vocals. Also, playing into the coarseness is the addition of some f-bombs here and there (“My love, my drug, we’re fucked up, oh”). Nonetheless, her punchier, more assertive vocals are fabulous, and the vocal production amplifies the excellence. “Beautiful Trauma” is filled with sounds, shifts, and plenty of excitement.  The pre-chorus and chorus sections represent the best moments.

“The pill I keep takin’
The nightmare I wake in
There’s nothin’, no nothin’, nothin’ but you
My perfect rock bottom
My beautiful trauma
My love, my love, my drug, oh.”

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12. Mansionz, “Gorgeous”

Mansionz » Bear Trap, LLC / Monster Mountain LLC / Island » 2017

“Did you know you’re on fire? / Did you know that you’re beautiful? / Did you know you got me fucked up? / Did you know that you’re gorgeous?” Thanks for letting me – rather, this girl – know that she’s ‘beautiful’ blackbear.  Mansionz (blackbear and Mike Posner) keeps it ‘short but sweet’ on “Gorgeous”, taken from their self-titled debut.  The penultimate record, it lays back, retaining the chill vibes that tend to make the album quite the treat.  Both artists have their own respective verse, starting with Posner, who boldly asserts, “I fucked 200 women, said, ‘I love you’ to one.” As for blackbear, on the second verse, he states, “And I’m so high / Could be the drugs, could be the moment / But either way, I can’t keep my eyes off of you.” Romantic… well to an extent.

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13. Walker Hayes, “Beautiful”

Boom. » Monument » 2017

“Baby, why do you have to be so beautiful?” From the onset of boom., it’s clear that singer/songwriter Walker Hayes has a unique, slightly different approach to country music. The sound has country sensibilities, but he’s not content to simply stay within the confines of country music. Opener “Beautiful” highlights Hayes’ uniqueness, featuring unexpected sounds: percussion and a light, flute-like synth. Initially a bit off-putting, it plays out more magically with successive listens. “Beautiful” feels unified by the chorus (aforementioned), which is simple, but catchy. The breezy natures of the vocals here is among the selling points of the song overall.

“I don’t think your stomach’s supposed to hurt quite like this / When you run into a girl you forgot you missed / It’s like the space between us only made me numb / Thought I could just see you and be okay but I’m not okay girl.”

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14. X Ambassadors, “Gorgeous”

VHS » Interscope » 2015

“Nobody understands you / You ain’t nothing they can handle / Every man you put your hands on / You make him feel so goddamn handsome.” Classic hot girl makes seemingly less attractive guy feel like a stud situation, sigh. Taking it back to 2015, on their standout “Gorgeous,” alt-rock band X Ambassadors embrace urban-pop, and it’s awesome. The incredibly effective “Gorgeous” ends up rivaling a Nick Jonas hit, “Jealous”, in regards to sound. Blue-eyed soul is very much alive and well, and X Ambassadors prove it on the utterly gorgeous “Gorgeous.” The chorus is incredibly simple, but definitely fits the title and theme of the record.

“You’re so gorgeous
Cause you make me feel gorgeous
Ooh, you’re so gorgeous
Cause you make me feel gorgeous.”

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15. Zedd, “Beautiful Now”

Ft. Jon Bellion

True Colors » Interscope » 2015

“I see what you’re wearing, there’s nothing beneath it / Forgive me for staring, forgive me for breathing.” “Beautiful Now,” the third track from True Colors, ends up being as enjoyable as everything else on the album. True Colors is the 2015 sophomore album by highly sought after, Grammy-winning DJ/producer Zedd. The record, which features pop singer/songwriter standout Jon Bellion, is definitely appealing, if it falls a wee bit short of certified hit. In my critique of this particular song on the album review for True Colors, I likened it to mild cheddar – tasty, but not as ‘pronounced’ as sharp cheddar. Regardless of that somewhat lame comparison (did I really write that?), “Beautiful Now” deserves plenty of credit, finding Bellion conveying love, lust, and infatuation like a champ. Zedd’s production is pretty awesome in its own right.

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Photo Credits: Atlantic, Big Machine, Capitol Nashville, Interscope, Island, Monument, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Enterprises, Virgin, Young Lust

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