15 Engaging W-I-T-H With Songs features songs by JORDY, Kate Bush, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Mitty Collier, Omar Apollo, and Whitney Houston.
Question: Are you W-I-T-H, with it, or arenโt you? Decide! For 15 Engaging W-I-T-H With Songs, I highly recommend that you get with it, N-O-W, now! The concept and theme are simple, folks.ย Every song must feature the preposition โwithโ.ย In other words, these 15 songs canโt be without it! It isnโt the first time The Musical Hype has explored with-it-ness either: this musical compendium arrives after 13 With or Without Songs: Vol. 2 (2021) and 12 Half โWithโ & Half โWithoutโ Songs (2018).ย This marks the first time we exclude the without-ness, though. With exclusivity! 15 Engaging W-I-T-H With Songs features songs by JORDY, Kate Bush, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Mitty Collier, Omar Apollo, and Whitney Houston. So, if youโre with it, wonโt you join us in celebrating the with-it-ness of 15 Engaging W-I-T-H With Songs?! And if not, you kick rocks, you un-with-it ๐คฌ๐คฌ๐คฌ ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ!

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1. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, โDie With a Smileโ
MAYHEM ยป Interscope ยป 2025
In 2024 music lovers worldwide were bestowed a big-time gift: a collaboration between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. These award-winning, gifted individuals duetted on โDie With A Smileโ. โDie,โ which appears on Gagaโs 2025 album, MAYHEM, earned her and Mars a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.ย Lady Gaga, Mars, Andrew Watt, Dernst โDโMileโ Emile II, and James Fauntleroy penned this number-one hit. Gaga, Mars, Emile, and Watt produced it. The results are sublime. โDie With A Smileโ commences with a rhythm guitar which propels the groove. Mars sings the first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus. โI, I just woke up from a dream / Where you and I had to say goodbye,โ he sings, continuing, โAnd I donโt know what it all means / But since I survived, I realized / Wherever you go, thatโs where Iโll follow.โ As always, his tone is beautiful; he delivers a commanding and smooth performance.
The chorus is big and soulful, in a pop sort of way, welcoming punchy drums:
โIf the world was ending
I’d wanna be next to you
If the party was over
And our time on Earth was through
Iโd wanna hold you just for a while
And die with a smile
If the world was ending
Iโd wanna be next to you.โ
Lady Gaga arrives in the second verse. Mars harmonizes with her (โโCause you already know what you mean to me / And our loveโs the only one worth fighting forโ).ย Their vocal chemistry is undeniable โ two dynamic singing voices meshing celestially.ย Following the dynamic second chorus, there is a change of pace during the brief bridge, where the piano is more prominent in the accompaniment (โRight next to you / Next to you / Right next to youโ).ย With the return of the chorus, this dynamic duo is just that โ dynamic! Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars make a formidable team in their first-ever collaboration.ย โDie With A Smileโ is pop gold.ย

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2. Omar Apollo, โDone With Youโ
God Said No ยป Omar Apollo / Warner ยป 2024
โIโm so done with you, done with you, done with you, done with you, done.โ Iโd venture to say that Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter Omar Apollo (Omar Velasco) is D-O-N-E โ
with him. โDone With Youโ is the fourth track from his 2024 sophomore album, God Said No. โSometimes, love donโt make it right,โ he sings in the pre-chorus. True. During the first verse, Omar reminisces.ย He recollects moments such as talking and missing him when heโs gone. In the second verse, there is clinging to the past: โWonโt you please just let me go? / Iโd be better off alone / Iโm still wearing all your clothes / Let me go, let me go.โ Of course, in the chorus, he swears off him โ
, whether that is true or not. Throughout โDone,โ Omar blesses us with his soulful, expressive, and nuanced vocals.ย His runs are fabulous. He sings over a groovy, R&B backdrop โ think neo-soul/contemporary soul. The melodies are beautiful. Velasco wrote and produced โDone With Youโ with Blake Slatkin, Carter Lang, Teo Halm, Dylan Wiggins, and Scott Bridgeway. One of the best moments adds to the lighthearted nature of the track.ย In the second pre-chorus, we get the fun lyric, โBro, you got better bitches, like.โ Word.
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3. Whitney Houston, โI Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)โ
Whitney ยป Arista ยป 1987โฏ
โOh, I wanna dance with somebody / I wanna feel the heat with somebody / Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody / With somebody who loves me.โ Woo, thatโs #ICONIC!!! She just wants to dance and be in love with someone, sigh (understandable and relatable). Despite living just 48 years ๐ญ, the musical legacy of Whitney Houston (1963 โ 2012) endures, given a catalog filled with hits, including the beloved โI Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)โ.โฏ โI Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),โ written by Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill, graces Houstonโs sophomore album, Whitney, released in 1987.โฏ Spending two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, โI Wanna Dance With Somebodyโ is one of 11 number-one hits and 23 top-10 hits by Houston.
It goes without saying that โI Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)โ is an incredibly fun and infectious listen.โฏ It is up-tempo, and the minute the song begins playing, it is instantly recognizable.โฏ One of the quintessential numbers of the 1980s, it never loses its luster beyond the decade, which is a testament to its legendary, classic status. As excerpted, the chorus is the centerpiece โ the crรจme de la crรจme.โฏ Houston shows off her immense musicianship, singing with ample energy, showing off an incredible personality, and most of all, wowing with THE VOICE.โฏ Beyond the elite singing and the chorus, the verses and the pre-choruses are memorable too, setting up that magnificent chorus. In the second verse, she asserts, โIโve been in love and lost to my senses / Spinninโ through the town / Sooner or later, the fever ends / And I wind up feelinโ down.โ Again, relatable โ who doesnโt want to find love to rid themselves of loneliness? The sound is also marvelous, featuring arranging and production by the great Narada Michael Walden.โฏ All told, โI Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)โ speaks for itself โ a true pop classic. Honestly, โDonโt you wanna dance? Say you wanna danceโฆโ Cโmon, baby!โฏโฏย

โฏย
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4. JORDY, โSEX WITH MYSELFโ
SEX WITH MYSELF ยป JORDY ยป 2024
โItโs better alone โcause I know / Just what to do more than you.โ The sex, I mean, that line โhits different,โ JORDY (Jordy Shulman)! Rather than rely on the stimulation of a boy who isnโt coming to the party, Shulman has decided to have sex with himself on โSEX WITH MYSELFโ.ย The boldly titled โSEX WITH MYSELFโ is the seventh track of his sophomore album, fittingly titled Sex with Myself.ย Yes, the song is quite, um, masturbatory, but it goes beyond the physical stimulation of solo touch.ย โPut on a show of my own / And Iโll follow through,โ the sexy, talented artist continues singing in the pre-chorus. โIโll just have sex with myself / Iโm obsessed with myself / Iโll keep my hands to myselfโฆโ This ode to self-pleasure and acknowledging, โI donโt have to have a man to fulfill meโ was written by JORDY and Perry Xthona alongside producers Alex Borel and Colin Foote.
The sound is danceable, flirty, and, of course, sexy.ย Upping the ante are the playful vocals by JORDY. He seems unbothered that itโs just him and his body. โThink Iโm catching feels / Fall in love, think I might be the one,โ he sings in the second verse, concluding, โMe myself and Iโm getting closer.โ Hmm, getting closer to what, handsome ๐ฅต ๐ฎโ๐จ? Anyways, if the audio titillates, watch the music video. Not only does JORDY have a blast, all alone, the way he simulates the sex with himself, tastefully, mind you, is hawtโฆ On the sleek, sexy โSEX WITH MYSELFโ, Jordy makes โself-sexโ sexyโฆ or sexierโฆ You catch my drift.

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5. Taylor Swift, โI Can Do It With a Broken Heartโ
THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT ยป Taylor Swift ยป 2024
โThere in her glittering prime / The lights refract sequin stars off her silhouette every night / I can show you lies.โ Those sharp lyrics hail from the one-and-only Taylor Swift. Specifically, they appear in โI Can Do It With a Broken Heart,โ the 13th track on THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.ย โI Can Do It With a Broken Heartโ was written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff.ย As always, the Grammy winner delivers her fair share of ear-catching lyrics. โโCause Iโm a real tough kid / I can handle my shit,โ she sings in the pre-chorus, adding, โThey said, โBabe, you gotta fake it โtil you make itโ / Lights, camera, bitch, smile.โ The chorus also marks another stellar moment:
โI’m so depressed, I act like it’s my birthday every day
Iโm so obsessed with him, but he avoids me like the plague
I cry a lot, but I am so productive, itโs an art
You know youโre good when you can even do it with a broken heart.โ
Word! โI Can Do It With a Broken Heartโ features tuneful melodies, something Swift excels at.ย She sings respectably.ย No, itโs not an otherworldly or powerhouse performance, but well-rounded.ย The production is solid, too: a driving, rhythmic instrumental accompaniment, set in an optimistic major key. Swift proves she can do a lot with a broken heart!ย
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6. Lynks, โ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ
ABOMINATION ยป Heavenly Recordings / [PIAS] ยป 2024ย
โIโm on the DLR, on my way to fuck a stranger / Know his age, know his height, donโt know his name,โ Lynks asserts in the first verse of the colorful โ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ. They acknowledge the risks in the highlight from their 2024 album, ABOMINATION: โShould be ashamed, all the danger I put myself in in the name of a shag, and a bad one at that / Itโs a matter of fact, to fuck a stranger is rarely a positive act for me / But I still go back โcause whoโs keeping track.โ Lynks penned and produced the unique electro-tinged alternative joint.ย It is nothing short of an exhilarating ride.
โ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ features intense, noisy-sounding musical accompaniment.ย This establishes a high-energy, intense vibe. Lynksโ vocals are unapologetic, often rapped and talked, using a distortion effect at times. He narrativizes an imminent hookup bringing ample personality to the table.โOh, the wonders of technology when youโre horny / Ordering a man like youโd order a curry,โ they sing in the second verse, continuing, โCall me up, babe, I’ll be there in a hurry / Iโm free delivery and all I really need is you to fuck my brains out.โ Holy cannoli! Lynks, being young and horny, isnโt picky regarding his sexual rendezvous.ย Grindr overdrive! Even though Lynks is receiving pleasure, the satisfaction or deeper connection is missing, which they highlight in the talk-sung chorus:
โRomance isnโt dead, itโs in a coma
Me? Iโm just a dog out, tryna get a boner
I donโt wanna spend my night alone (No)
So, I donโt think about how Iโll feel when itโs over
โCause honestly, Iโll probably feel the same
No miracle, no epiphanies
And disappointment always is the danger
But what did you expect from sex with a stranger?โ
โ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ is a sex-positive song but simultaneously acknowledges the unfulfillment of empty sex.
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7. Juno Lev, โI had gay sex with god (it couldโve gone better)โ
when they find your body ยป Milkboy ยป 2021
โI spent all of last night in godโs bed / Mom, please donโt get upset / โCause now Iโll be immortalized / Iโll be immortalized.โ Ooh-wee, Juno Lev (Jack Braun, who formerly performed as Jackfruit), Iโm speechless ๐ถ! Anytime spirituality is woven into music, it creates a compelling, thought-provoking listen.ย โI had gay sex with god (it could’ve gone better)โ is a prime example of a song with spiritual elements that easily catches the ears. The open-minded and progressive souls will eat this up, while those who are the most god-fearing will cry foul.ย โI saw god in a Trader Joeโs / Buying organic blueberries / Prettiest man Iโd ever seen.โ Noted, Juno Lev. โI had gay sex with god (it could’ve gone better)โ is the fourth track from their 2021 EP, when they find your body. Juno Lev produced this LGBTQ gem with the talented Zach Benson.
ย
After god kissed Juno Lev, with dried apricots in one hand, they assert, โI think my teeth are gonna rot.โ The other experiences with god (Lev uses โgodโ lowercased throughout) are questionable too, including โLips sliding open in a prayerโ (a blowjob), and stating that sex with him was โAs close to heaven as Iโll getโ.ย Arguably the best line: โSecond coming in a bathroom stall / But now god wonโt return my calls, wrote him a love letter.โ Holy shit! Beyond mixing queer sex and god, the music is heavenly on โI had gay sex with god (it could’ve gone better).โ The electronic sound palette (keys and pads) shine.ย The drum programming and snaps that arrive during the second verse are sweet.ย The snare drumming is a superb touch. Of course, Lev is the star, singing expressively and gorgeously.ย They are authentic to the nth degree, even as the lyrics are playfulโฆ and blasphemous ๐คญ. Adding to the allure are tuneful melodies from the get-go.ย Oh, and how about one final lyrical shout-out?ย At the end, can I get an โAmen, ah men?โ Perhaps the sex couldโve gone better on โI had gay sex with god (it could’ve gone better)โ, but the song remains a surefire, queer-to-the-nth-degree bop! We Stan!
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8. Landon Barker, โFriends With Your EXโ
โFriends With Your EXโ ยป DTA / Elektra ยป 2023
In 2023, Gen-Z influencer Landon Barker, the son of Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, dipped his toes into the music biz with his brief, two-minute debut single, โFriends With Your EXโ.ย His father,ย Travis, contributed as a writer and producer. In addition to Landon and Travis, Jaden Pullaro, Dark Waves, and โnoahmadethiss penned โFriends With Your EX.โ Travis, Dark Waves, and noahmadethiss produce.ย โFriendsโ features pop-punk vibes. Landon offers up respectable singing.ย The record gets off to an abrupt start with the intro previewing the chorus, which arrives later in full.ย The chorus is gargantuan โ predictable! Itโs filled with guitars and pummeling drumming. Notably, โFriendsโ is tuneful throughout, with the chorus earning top honors in the melodic department:ย ย
โI was friends with your exย
You were with him when we metย
Guess he hasnโt found out yetย
But I know heโs gonna kill me when he sees me with youย
Youโre a dream in my headย
Now Iโm sleeping in your bedย
He’ll be wishing I was deadย
But I know heโs gonna kill me when he sees me with you.โย ย
Ultimately, โFriends With Your EXโ is an enjoyable and pleasant introduction of Landon Barker to the world.
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9. Kate Bush, โRunning Up That Hill (A Deal With God)โ
Hounds of Love ยป Noble & Brite Ltd ยป 1985โฏ
โDo you wanna know, know that it doesnโt hurt me? / Do you wanna hear about the deal Iโm making?โ โRunning Up That Hill (A Deal With God)โ marks the biggest hit from Kate Bush. It experienced moderate success in the mid-1980s but received greater success in 2022 thanks to being featured in the fourth season of the Netflix series, Stranger Things.โฏ In the U.S., โRunning Up That Hillโ eventually reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. The opener from her 1985 LP, Hounds of Love, is idiomatic of the โ80s to the core. Nostalgic synths and pads stand out, as does the drum groove.โฏ Those drums pummel consistently, creating an intense soundtrack that matches the lyrics and overall aesthetic. Bush serves up a compelling vocal, exhibiting poise at times, but also digging in when things grow more intense. As the record progresses, we get additional rhythm (via rhythmic guitar ๐ธ), additional boxy drums, and additional bite from Bush.โฏ And what about this deal she references in the first verse? The chorus shed some light:โฏโฏย
โAnd if I only couldโฏย
Iโd make a deal with Godโฏย
And Iโd get him to swap our placesโฏย
Be runninโ up that roadโฏย
Be runninโ up that hillโฏย
Be runninโ up that buildinโโฏย
Say, If I only could, oh.โโฏ
Woo! I donโt think such deals go down, but give Bush credit for trying.โฏ The lyrics are incredibly captivating, including the likes of โUnaware, Iโm tearinโ you asunder / Oh, there is thunder in our hearts.โ Like, BOOM ๐ฅ! โRunning Up That Hill (A Deal With God)โ is a prime example of a record being โold but still lit ๐ฅ!โโฏโฏย
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10. JC Chasez, โBlowinโ Me Up (With Her Love)โ
Schizophrenic ยป Zomba Recording LLC ยป 2004
Post-NSYNC, the โbest singerโ from the group, the handsome and talented JC Chasez, was unable to craft a lucrative solo career. Schizophrenic, his sole studio album, debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200, charting for only four weeks.ย Ouch! Chasez only charted two singles on the pop charts, with โBlowinโ Me Up (With Her Love)โ landing in the top 40 (number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100). Mr. Chasez, hence, is a one-hit wonder.ย He penned โBlowinโ Me Up (With Her Love)โ alongside producer Dallas Austin.
โBlowinโ Me Up (With Her Love)โ is a fun pop/contemporary R&B song. JC Chasez brings plenty of energy and personality to the track. His ad-libs are fierce โ soulful.ย The single arrived long before Schizophrenic as part of the Drumline soundtrack. โGirl, itโs just the sexy way / You back yourself into me,โ he sings in the second verse, adding, โYouโve got me all bent out of shape / Thinking โbout you all day.โ Oh, snap! In the pre-chorus, Mr. Chasez states, โI-I-I / I canโt lose you, babe.โ The best part of โBlowinโ Me Up (With Her Love)โ is โ drumroll, please โ the chorus:
โShe was disco lights on a Friday night
She moves across the floor (sugar)
She was, oh so tight, like dynamite
Blowinโ me up with her love.โ
The quicker breakdown section marks another bright spot.ย JC brings the heat as he asserts, โLook at shorty / She was leaning on me / Getting horny / Maybe weโll get naughty.โ Ooh-wee! Beyond the electrifying lyrics, the musical accompaniment is lit.ย The beat, the keys, and the synths are scintillating. Itโs a shame that โBlowinโ Me Up (With Her Love)โ wasnโt a bigger hit for Chasez.

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11. Pat Benatar, โHit Me With Your Best Shotโ
Crimes of Passion ยป Capitol ยป 1980โฏย
โHit me with your best shot / Why donโt you hit me with your best shot,โ Grammy-winning singerย Pat Benatar implores on โHit Me With Your Best Shotโ. She adds, fitting, โFire away.โ Of course, even if he takes his best shot at her, he wonโt win โ she has more fortitude, power, resilience, and toughness than he does ๐ฏ! The fourth track is a highlight from the pop/rock singerโs 1980, multiplatinum album, Crimes of Passion.ย The top 10 hit (peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100), was written by Eddie Schwartz. Keith Olsen and Neil Giraldo produced this gold-certified earworm.ย ย ย
Early on, Pat Benatar is not going to let this man continue his โLong history / Of breaking little hearts like the one in me.โ Woo! In the second verse, citing the fact that he โdonโt fight fair,โ she fires back, โKnock me down, itโs all in vain / I get right back on my feet again.โ You go girl! In the third verse, she plays the stereotypical male role, stating, โBefore I put another notch in my lipstick case / You better make sure you put me in my place.โ Besides superb songwriting by Schwartz, and Benatar bringing those words alive powerfully with her voice, the sound of the record flat-out rocks.ย The instrumental moments are as much of a blast as the vocals โ you canโt beat a marvelous guitar solo! Sigh, thereโs nothing like an independent woman unafraid of standing up to a man! โHit Me With Your Best Shotโ will forever be a BOP!ย ย
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12. Teddy Pendergrass, โCome Go with Meโ
Teddy ยป Sony Music Entertainment ยป 1979ย
โCome on and go with me / Come on over to my place.โ Ooh-la-la ๐คญ! โCome Go With Meโ commences Teddy, the third studio album by the late, great Teddy Pendergrass (1950 โ 2010).ย Teddy earned the gifted Philly soul singer (and sex symbol) his third consecutive platinum album.ย While โCome Go With Meโ failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number 14 on the R&B charts in October 1979. It is the second-biggest song from Teddy; โTurn off the Lightsโ takes top honors.ย Even as a โbridesmaidโ and not the bride on Teddy, โCome Go With Meโ is thrilling. The opener was written and produced by the dynamic, iconic tandem of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.ย Pendergrass excelled with their songs, PERIOD.
As always, Teddy Pendergrass sounds epic singing โCome Go with Me.โ His baritone was one of a kind โ among the greatest and most soulful voices ever.ย The musical accompaniment is equally alluring.ย The lush, sophisticated sounds of 70s soul, specifically Philly soul, are perfectly captured here. As always, Gamble and Huff โput their footโ into it. Besides sensational vocals, tuneful melodies, and an elite backdrop, it is the theme and lyrics that make โCome Go with Meโ a classic. โI donโt feel like beinโ lonely tonight / You see, I want, I want some company,โ Pendergrass sings in the first verse, adding โAnd you wonโt be under any kind of pressure / You see, weโll just let, weโll just let the eveninโ flow.โ Call it what it is โ NSA, no strings attached!ย In the second verse, itโs suggestive without screaming โitโs going downโ per se (โLetโs sit by a cozy fire / And we can be in each otherโs companyโ). No worries, though, the third verse encourages the rendezvous:
โMy carโs right outside
We can leave right now
Thatโs if youโre ready to go
I know youโre just meeting me
You see, Iโd understand it
Iโd understand it if you said no
But donโt you do it, baby.โ
We all know what Gamble, Huff, and Teddy had in mind.ย A one-night stand is never explicitly mentioned, but, going over to a strangerโs house where โromanceโ is on the mindโฆ Weโll leave it there. โCome Go With Meโ deserves as much praise as any other Teddy Pendergrass song. Itโs marvelous!

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13. Tanya Tucker, โWould You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone)โ
Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone) ยป Sony Music Entertainment ยป 1974ย
โWould you lay with me in a field of stone / If my needs were strong, would you lay with me,โ Grammy-winning country musician Tanya Tucker sings in โWould You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)โ.ย She continues, asking him, โShould my lips grow dry, would you wet them, dear / In the midnight hour, if my lips were dry.โ โWould You Lay With Meโ is the opening track from her 1974 album, also named Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone). David Allan Coe penned this love song, and would later record it himself, and Billy Sherrill produced it.ย โWouldโ impacted the pop charts modestly, reaching number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100.ย It topped the country music charts, unsurprisingly. Tucker earned her second career Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.
โWould You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)โ is controversial.ย Why? The song felt โmatureโ for a teenage country singer. Tucker was 15 years old when the song was released as a single in 1973.ย While the lyrics are not explicit by todayโs standards at all, a sexual relationship is implied. The innuendo is loud and clear, particularly the lyrics excerpted above.ย Arguably, the relationship aspects of the song feel premature for someone as young as Tucker.ย โWill you bathe with me in the stream of life / When the moon is full, will you bathe with me?โ she asks, continuing, โWill you still love me when Iโm down and out / In my time of trial will you stand by me.โ Those lyrics confirm what Tucker states Coeโs song was intended to be about: wedding vows.ย Controversy, or minor controversy aside, Tucker sounds marvelous on โWould You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)โ.ย Her voice is beautiful, distinct, and โ wait for it โ more mature than most 15-year-olds.ย Backed by a stunning musical backdrop with country cues and sweet orchestrations, Tucker โate this one up.โ
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14. Tiny Tim, โTip Toe Thruโ the Tulips with Meโ
God Bless Tiny Tom ยป Warner ยป 1968
โTiptoe through the window / By the window, that is where Iโll be / Come tiptoe through the tulips with me.โ Sometimes, a novelty song can translate into a hit.ย That was the case for Herbert Khaury, best known asย Tiny Tim (1932 โ 1996). Khaury transformed a 1929 song, โTip Toe Thruโ the Tulips with Meโ, into a novel hit. Al Dubin and Joe Burke composed the gem first recorded by Nick Lucas.ย Timโs version peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, his sole hit on the pop charts.
โKnee-deep in flowers, weโll stray / Weโll keep the showers away.โ โTip Toe Thruโ the Tulips with Meโ is a brief record that clocks in under two minutes. In the hands of Tiny Tim, it has a haunting quality.ย It wouldnโt be far-fetched to describe the second track from the 1968 album, God Bless Tiny Tom, as odd.ย Notably, Khaury accompanies himself on the ukulele. Beyond the ukulele, the musical accompaniment includes a rhythm section and strings. His voice is distinctโฆ that is an understatement. His pipes are quite an acquired taste, with an incredibly ripe falsetto.ย Beyond tiptoeing in the verses, and being โknee-deep in flowersโ in the pre-chorus, the chorus is memorable:
โAnd if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight
Will you pardon me
And tiptoe through the tulips with me?โ
What more is there to be said? โTip Toe Thruโ the Tulips with Meโ isโฆ something.
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15. Mitty Collier, โI Had A Talk With My Manโ
Talking With Her Man: The Chess Singles 1961 โ 1968 ยป Geffenย ยป 2008
โI had a talk / With my man last night / He reassured me everything / Was still alright.โ Sometimes, Mitty Collier (1941 โ ), we need reassurance, particularly from a significant other.ย The doubts of the former soul singer, who became a pastor and gospel singer, are alleviated with this reassurance on โI Had A Talk With My Manโ: โMy blues got bright / He made me know / I was the star of the show.โ Aww, the feels! The love! The romance! โI Had A Talk With My Manโ appeared on her 1965 album, Shades of Genius, most accessible via the compilation, Talking With Her Man: The Chess Singles 1961 โ 1968.ย Billy Davis and Leonard Caston wrote it in its secular form. According to Secondhand Songs, it was adapted from โI Had a Talk with Godโ, written by the late, great gospel music legend, James Cleveland (1931 โ 1991). Classy and refined, โTalkโ exhibits some gospel sensibilities, evident in its meter, harmonic progression, and the robustness of Collierโs voice. โTalkโ peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest charting song of her career.
โI said I sat down, and had / A talk with my man last night,โ Collier continues enthusiastically, โHe filled my heart with pure delight.โ Sweet! Also sweet is the gorgeous instrumental backdrop that accompanies her. There is a sublime blend of orchestral touches (French Horn, strings, etc.) and the traditional rhythm section. Beyond the orchestration, the musical underpinnings, the harmonic progression shines.ย There are some colorful chord choices, including an epic B-flat minor 7 flat 5 (an altered ii chord with a dramatic effect).ย Still, Mitty Collier is the star, bringing the tuneful melodies and her loving relationship with โher manโ to life. โHe told me that he needed me / More than words could ever say,โ she asserts. What a heart-melting moment!ย โI Had A Talk With My Manโ also closes sensationally:
โI began to cry
He kissed my tears
From my weeping eyes
Oh, yes, he did, yes, he did
Yes, he did, oh, yes
I had a talk with my man last night.โ
Simply put, they donโt make songs like this anymore. Classic, classic, classic!
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15 Engaging W-I-T-H With Songs (2025) [๐ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista, Capitol, DTA, Elektra, Geffen, Heavenly Recordings, Interscope, JORDY, Milkboy, Noble & Brite Ltd, Omar Apollo, [PIAS], Sony Music Entertainment, Taylor Swift, Warner, Zomba Recording LLC; Ulkar Batista from Pexels; AcatXIoย fromย Pixabay] |
