These 15 Songs are About THIS | Playlist 🎧

6. Troye Sivan, “Dance to This”

Ft. Ariana Grande

💿 Bloom • 🏷 Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd. • 📅 2018

“We can just dance to this / Don’t take much to start me / We can just dance to this / Push up on my body, yeah.” 🎵 “Dance to This” has a sexy, danceable backdrop and overall sound.  The record possesses an incredible smoothness with its consistent, driving rhythm, subtle pad, and guitar lead on the chorus. In addition to the core sound, there are some other unique production touches, notably the ‘80s nostalgia’ that arrives with the boxy drums of the bridge.  Enough about the production, let’s focus on the stars from his 💿 Bloom standout, shall we?

🎙 Troye Sivan blesses the track with super smooth vocals on the first verse.  He does an excellent job of showing his flexibility. He sings in both his low/mid-register as well as giving us a taste of his lighter, upper register. 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Ariana Grande arrives in the second verse, showcasing the sheer beauty, richness, and robustness of her instrument. Superb vocal chemistry between Sivan and Grande is the story on the second chorus. “Dance to This” is a thrilling, well-rounded single and great performance by Sivan and Grande.  These two artists make an awesome musical pair to say the least.

Also appears on 🔽:
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7. Vampire Weekend, “This Life” 

💿 Father of the Bride • 🏷 Sony • 📅 2019

In 2019, 🏆 Grammy-winning alternative collective 🎙 Vampire Weekend returned with an alluring, consistent, and well-rounded fourth studio album, 💿 Father of the Bride.  There was no shortage of highlights, and honestly, I wasn’t the east bit surprised that the album was a contender for the highly coveted Album of the Year. Perhaps 🎵 “This Life” isn’t the first bop from Father of the Bride that comes to mind (Looking at you 🎵 “Harmony Hall” and 🎵 “2021”), yet it’s pretty sweet.

The thrilling “This Life” thrives off its major-key, optimistic sound. Even more alluring are the lyrics and themes.  So, what do you cover 🎙 Ezra Koenig? Do you actually “give a fuck about an Oxford Comma”, now, haha (couldn’t resist, sorry). In all seriousness, “This Life” includes literal, mutual relationship issues (“I’ve been cheating on, cheating on you”), war (“I just thought the drums of war beat louder warnings”), and existential matters (“Baby, I know death probably hasn’t happened yet / ‘Cause I don’t remember living life before this”).  “This Life” – a THIS song that is certainly centered on life!

Also appears on 🔽:
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8. Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler, “this is how you fall in love”

💿 brent ii • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2021

“This is how you fall in love / Let go and I’ll hold you up.” Aww, what better subject matter than love for a pop duet? Continue with that excerpt, please! “So, pull me tight and close your eyes / Oh, my love, side to side” Ah – chorus that exemplifies sheer perfection to the nth degree! On 🎵 “this is how you fall in love” from 💿 brent ii, 🎙 Jeremy Zucker and 🎙 Chelsea Cutler join forces delivering a radiant song all about L-O-V-E.  The chemistry between the two is superb, while separately, they sound sweet as well. Zucker and Cutler both wrote and produced this sub-three-minute gem. 

On “this is how you fall in love,” Zucker delivers a gorgeous vocal performance; his tone is impeccable.  He sings with incredible authenticity; he sounds expressive, nuanced, and tender.  One of his best moments is incredibly subtle, when he sings “Oh” on the pre-chorus (it recurs post-second verse). The same praise can be bestowed upon Cutler, who appears on the second verse.  Notably, she has an expanded sound palette accompanying her, as well as getting a lift via layered vocals.  Cutler’s second verse serves as the transition to loftier heights for “this is how you fall in love.”  Even as the record ascends to a fever pitch, Zucker and Cutler’s ‘duet section’ intentionally brings things back down – a great thoughtful touch. “This is how you fall in love” possesses both a degree of simplicity as well as a degree of utter satisfaction.

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9. Marteen, “This Shit Sux”

💿 8 • 🏷 New Mogul / EMPIRE • 📅 2019

“Aye / I guess that he meant more than me…” Sigh, matters of the heart have R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Marteen all messed up.  Love’ll do that shit – just saying!  The Berkley-born standout ‘keeps it 100’ when it comes to being heartbroken on the short, sweet, and pained single, 🎵 “This Shit Sux” (💿 8, 2019). The production is lush and smooth.  The backdrop is the perfect fuel for Marteen to reminisce back on love, the hardships of love, and his present disgust.

Following the short first verse (excerpted above), he drops the reminiscent pre-chorus on the listeners:

“I know we had our off days

I thought that we were always

Remember you would say you were gonna change

But it was hard to fake.”

Expectedly, he drops the ‘s-bomb’ on the memorable chorus.  Sure, there’s not much deep about a line like “This shit sucks” or even its supporting lines, but Marteen perfectly paints the state of his mind and heart.  Furthermore, everyone can relate to the profane, ‘poopy’ titular lyric.  All in all, Marteen drops a respectable, well-executed heartbreak record.  He doesn’t reinvent pain, specifically the struggle of love, but he totally sells the plight he’s experiencing.  Vocally, his youthful pipes are refreshing, and the production work provides him with a lift.  Safe to say, nothing “sux” about this record in the least, or the talented Marteen himself.

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10. Kehlani, “Nights Like This”

Ft. Ty Dolla $ign

💿 While We Wait • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2019

“But all that glitters isn’t gold, I was blinded / Should have never gave you my heart on consignment.” 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B singer 🎙 Kehlani gets the assist from the ever-ubiquitous 🎙 Ty Dolla $ign on 🎵 “Nights Like This”, the crown jewel of her 2019 mixtape, 💿 While We Wait. While “Nights Like This” ends up being more underrated than it ever should be, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into the night-centric track.

Kehlani’s tone and overall performance are a massive selling point. In addition to a sensational, nuanced vocal, “Nights Like This” benefits from its production work, idiomatic of a modern R&B record, yet also featuring classic cues from the 90s and 00s. Adding to the excellence is respectable songwriting this is relatable.  The pre-chorus and chorus sections are among the highlights. All in all, she excels on “Nights Like This.”

Also appears on 🔽:
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11. Childish Gambino, “This Is America”

🎵 “This Is America” • 🏷 mcDJ Recording / RCA • 📅 2018 

🎙 Childish Gambino (🎙 Donald Glover) returned with a bang in 2018 with single 🎵 “This is America”.  While the lyrical approach is simple on this record, the socially-conscious message that Glover makes is pitch-perfect – relevant to the times. Throughout the course of this 🏆 Grammy-winning record, Glover references policing in America and gun violence, important issues in the black community, as well as focusing on excess as a distraction from those truly important matters.

The intro of “This is America” is performed by a black choir.  Notably, there’s a hint of tropical, international flavor – clearly an ‘African’ influence, which seems intentional.  This  lavor is more pronounced on the bridge performed by Gambino.  The tone of the chorus is an about-face from the extended intro/bridge section.  The sound is darker, more pessimistic, and more serious in tone.  Childish Gambino raps, “This is America / Don’t catch you slippin’ up… / Look what I’m whippin’ up…”

The first verse settles into the darker, hip-hop driven sound introduced upon the chorus. Glover is the lead, but there are ad-libs inserted from a variety of rappers.  As aforementioned, Glover makes references to policing in America and gun violence, important issues in the black community. A contrasting refrain, performed by the choir with a response by Glover, embodies the exuberance of the intro with different lyrics: “Get your money, black man (get your money).” Once again, the minor key returns on the chorus, followed by the second verse by Gambino.  Here is where the ‘excess as a distraction’ comes into play. Such excess includes material things, as well as referencing hustling.  Following another refrain that incorporates 🎙 Young Thug for two lines, Thugga provides the outro for this surefire gem.

Also appears on 🔽:
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12. Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”

💿 Born This Way • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2011

“I’m beautiful in my way / Cause God makes no mistakes / I’m on the right track, baby /I was born this way…” Years before 🎙 Kesha was ‘true to self’ on 🎵 “My Own Dance” (💿 High Road), 🎙 Lady Gaga spoke to all of the most unique individual of the world on 🎵 “Born This Way,” the title track from her epic 2011 album. The 🏆 Grammy winner says it best at the top of “Born This Way”: “It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M / Just put your paws up / ‘Cause you were born this way.”

Ultimately, “Born This Way” is an anthem that celebrates every person being special, regardless of sexual preference or otherwise.  Really, is there much more that needs to be added to describe this surefire bop? This is one hell of a fierce record, years after it was first unveiled to the world.

“…Don’t hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you’re set

I’m on the rick track baby

I was born this way.”

Also appears on 🔽:
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13. Morgan Wallen, “This Bar”

💿 Dangerous: The Double Album • 🏷 Big Loud / Republic • 📅 2021

“Those nights what I would give for one more Bud Light.” On 🎵 “This Bar”, another standout from 💿 Dangerous: The Double Album gracing this alcohol-associated list, 🎙 Morgan Wallen continues to be country to the core, for the better on this highlight. Instrumentally, “This Bar” is full-on rhythmic machine, carried by banjo, guitars, and of course, pummeling drums.  Wallen is potent and gritty, continuing to flaunt the twang as he narrativizes the bar.

Like most of Dangerous, he’s emotional and sings with incredible expressiveness. While the alcohol is potent, “This Bar” is indeed more than alcoholic consumption, best exemplified by the catchy chorus:

“I found myself in this bar

Making mistakes and making new friends

Us growing up and nothing made sense

Buzzing all night like neon in the dark

I found myself in this.”

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14. Kanye West, “Use This Gospel”

Ft. Clipse & Kenny G

💿 JESUS IS KING • 🏷 Getting Out Our Dreams / Def Jam • 📅 2019

🎵 “Use This Gospel,” the penultimate track from the critically mixed, 2019 🎙 Kanye West album, 💿 JESUS IS KING, ranks among the best of the LP.  While most of JESUS IS KING approaches ‘gospel’ and religion at a surface level, “Use This Gospel” packs a much more respectable punch overall. The production shines thanks to repurposing – sampling and interpolation.  Here, West notably samples 🎙 Two Door Cinema Club (🎵 “Costume Party”).

Singing the chorus, he sounds respectable, striking gold with one of the more memorable hooks:

“Use this gospel for protection

It’s a hard road to Heaven

We call on your blessings

In the Father, we put our faith

King of the kingdom

Our demons are tremblin’

Holy angels defendin’

In the father, we put our faith.”

West is joined by 🎙 Clipse, with 🎙 Pusha T rapping the first verse, while 🎙 No Malice takes the second.  Maybe most surprising is a 🎷 saxophone solo by the one and only 🎙 Kenny G, which follows No Malice’s verse.  Go figure! Following G’s solo, the groove kicks back in – pretty sick. 

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15. Natalie Cole, “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”

💿 Inseparable • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 1975 

“This will be an everlasting love / This will be the one I’ve waited for / This will be the first time anyone has loved me, oh, oh, oh.” Oh, what a 🎵 “Mighty Love” as 🎙 The Spinners would describe it! There can’t be a conversation about the late, great 🎙 Natalie Cole without her ‘ace in the hole.’  Which of her many hits is her ‘ace in the hole,’ you ask? Well, from my estimations, it’s the bright, exuberant 🎵 “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).” Simply put, Natalie flies high on this jazzy, spirited, instantly recognizable soul classic. The excerpted lyrics are ICONIC!

“Hugging and squeezing

And kissing and pleasing

Together forever through rain or whatever

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah you and me.”

“This Will Be” graces one of Cole’s most important, most notable albums, 💿 Inseparable, released in 1975.  Somehow, “This Will Be” is NOT Cole’s highest-peaking single on the pop charts. Regardless, this ‘THIS’ classic is by far the most decorated song of her illustrious career. It peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 – #HIT! Also, Inseparable was a top 20 album. Cole landed a 🏆 Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance for this song, also winning one for Best New Artist of the Year.  Basically, 🎵 “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” is one of the greatest songs of all time! 

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