15 Songs That Illustrate the Role of Family | Playlist 🎧

1. Troye Sivan, “Rager teenager!”

💿 In a Dream (EP) • 🏷 Capitol • 🗓 2020

Family Member: Teenager

🎵“Rager teenager!” is arguably the crowning achievement from 💿 In a Dream (EP), the 2020 EP by South African/Australian pop sensation Troye Sivan. OZGO (Oscar Görres) spoils us with his production skills with lovely warm pads, big, pummeling drums, and a great harmonic progression. Troye’s sound is ‘liberated’ throughout, particularly the pre-chorus and chorus. His vocals are top-notch, sounding incredibly masculine, expressive, and sexy simultaneously.

Examining key sections, the pre-chorus might be the best.  It’s more dynamic than the chorus, and establishes the ‘liberated’ sound:

“I just wanna go wild
I just wanna fuck shit up and just ride
In your car tonight
In your bed tonight
I just wanna sing loud
I just wanna lose myself in a crowd
In your arms tonight
Or in his arms tonight.”

The pre-chorus is varied each time, keeping things fresh and providing variance. The chorus remains the same each time with no variation. Calmer, it’s potent as well: “Hey, my lil’ rager teenager / Tryna figure it out…”. Besides those two sections, the instrumental outro is a nice touch. Great singing, great writing, and great production makes “rager teenager!” a gem.  The swear words also give it a little more pizzazz!

2. Beyoncé, “Daddy Lessons”

💿 Lemonade • 🏷 Sony • 🗓 2016

Family Member: Dad

“With his gun, with his head held high / He told me not to cry / Oh, my daddy said shoot / Oh, my daddy said shoot.” From Demi Lovato’s “Daddy Issues,” we move on to R&B icon Beyoncé, who sings about 🎵“Daddy Lessons.” “Daddy Lessons,” which hails from her Grammy-winning album 💿 Lemonade, finds ‘Yoncé switching up styles and embracing country music.  Since this is a country song, should the “guns” mentioned in the aforementioned lyrics be taken literally?  Probably not; they feel more metaphorical, particularly when it comes to Beyoncé or the character that she portrays.

Moving on, one line really stood out when “Daddy Lessons” was released:

“He always played it cool
But daddy was no fool
And right before he died, he said remember...”

If it seemed that Beyoncé was talking explicitly about her own father, Matthew Knowles, and adding some meaning to the playlist theme and title, this particular lyric seems to rule it out. Why? Well, Knowles is still alive…

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3. Florida Georgia Line, “God, Your Mama, and Me”

Ft. Backstreet Boys

💿 Dig Your Roots • 🏷 Big Machine • 🗓 2016

Family Members: Significant other, mom

🎵“God, Your Mama, And Me” served as the final pre-release single from 💿 Dig Your Roots, the third album by country duo, Florida Georgia Line. “God, Your Mama, and Me” features pop boyband Backstreet Boys. Despite its pop-oriented guests, “God, Your Mama, And Me” is firmly country.  It perfectly embodies southern principles, with God and family being two of life’s most important things.  The big chorus affirms the “love” spread throughout the record.  The prevalence of voices on the chorus gives the record a gigantic, triumphant sound.

“Never gonna run dry, never gonna come up empty
Now until the day I die, unconditionally
You know I’m always gonna be here for ya
No one’s ever gonna love you more than
God, your mama, and me
God, your mama, and me
Unconditionally, God, your mama, and me.”

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4. Arcade Fire, “Baby Mine”

💿 Dumbo (Soundtrack) • 🏷 Walt Disney • 🗓 2019

Family Member: Baby

“Baby mine, don’t you cry / Baby mine, dry your eyes / Rest your head close to my heart / Never to part, baby of mine.” Grammy-winning Canadian alt-rock band Arcade Fire delivers a terrific reinterpretation of 🎵 “Baby Mine”, the end title from Disney’s 2019 live action version of 📽️ Dumbo.  This performance thrives off of awesome vocals from Régine Chassagne and Win Butler, as well as superb production work.

“Baby Mine” totally works – totally.  Following a lovely, lush intro (choral vocals, some rocking guitar, a brief drum groove), Chassagne delivers haunting, warm vocals on the first verse, excerpted above.  She maintains the lullaby sensibility of the record, while still bringing some of the left-of-center charm that makes Arcade Fire cool. Some of that ‘charm’ includes “old guitars, harp, Theremin, and triangle” apparently. Her hubby, Win Butler, arrives for the second verse, and the remainder of the song, accompanied by a smooth, alternative/retro-rock-tinged backdrop. Even incorporating the indie-rock vibes into the mix, “Baby Mine” stays idiomatic of a theatrical, authentic Disney soundtrack. Perhaps it’s the strings?

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5. Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

💿 Nevermind • 🏷 Geffen • 🗓 1991

Family Member: Teenager

“Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry, “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance, and even  “Disposable Teens” by Marilyn Manson are incredibly popular teen songs.  But perhaps the most famous of them all, or at least the most iconic, comes courtesy of Kurt Cobain and Seattle grunge band, Nirvana. 🎵“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is undoubtedly the band’s crowning achievement, and still resonates to this day.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is an example of a transcendent, timeless record – something that’s often strived for but rarely attained.  Besides the assertive, gritty vocals by Cobain, it’s the clever lyrics that take “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to the next level.

“With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah.”

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6. Rich Brian, “Kids”

💿 The Sailor • 🏷 88rising / 12Tone Music • 🗓 2019

Family Member: children 

“R.I.P. Nipsey, R.I.P. Mac / These inspirations always gon’ motivate me to rap / Let’s celebrate their lives and the people that they impact…”  That’s one of many notable bars from 🎵 “Kids”, a single from 💿 The Sailor, the 2019 sophomore album by Rich Brian.

“Kids” features soulful production work with dusty drums and lush sounds (piano, robust bass line, horns, and synths). Even with a loop in play, the backdrop features contrasts that keeps things intriguing. Brian brings oomph and punch to his performance. He exhibits an excellent flow, riding the beat well: “Amazon Prime flow, you know I’ll always deliver…” Worth noting, there is no chorus; Brian drops straight bars for the most part, though a bridge section divides the first and second verses.  With plenty of notable bars, a favorite is:

“Generations to sacrifice, that we’ll always remember
It’s that circle of life shit, they hold me up like I’m Simba.” 

7. Scissor Sisters, “Take Your Mama”

💿 Scissor Sisters • 🏷 Polydor • 🗓 2004

Family Member: Son, Mom

“Gonna take your mama out all night / Yeah, we’ll show her what it’s all about / We’ll get her jacked up on some cheap champagne / We’ll let the good times all roll out… / Because the dancers don’t mind at the New Orleans…” Scissor Sisters’ monumental debut single, 🎵 “Take Your Mama,” is a must-hear.

On “Take Your Mama,” Shears sings about being gay, having to pretend to be straight, and the effects it has on his mother. Keep in mind, back in 2004, pop music wasn’t nearly as progressive in regard to sexuality as it is now. Interestingly, in this anthem about coming out, Shears’ mama is being taken to a gay bathhouse/club on the hella catchy chorus.

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8. Lukas Graham, “Mama Said”

💿 Lukas Graham • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2016

Family Member: Mom

Lukas Graham hit 🎵 “Mama Said” is fueled by a sample of “It’s A Hard Knock Life”. While the child vocals are key, more pertinent is the content of the song itself.  On the verses, Lukas Forchhammer recollects about his humble childhood, adversity, and his dreams.  On the chorus, he sings about the positive advice he received from his mama, as well as his father.

“When mama said that it was okay
Mama said that it was quite alright
Our kind of people had a bed for the night
And it was ok
Mama told us we were good kids
And daddy told us never listen to the ones
Pointing nasty fingers and making fun
‘Cause we were good kids.”

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9. Badflower, “Daddy”

💿 OK, I’M SICK • 🏷 Big Machine • 🗓 2019

Family Members: Girl, Dad

“And Daddy gives it all ‘cause he loves you the most / He’s stretching your clothes, you’re clenching your toes…” Wow… Badflower delivers an unsettling, chilling number with 🎵“Daddy,” which appears on the band’s full-length, debut album, 💿 OK, I’M SICK (2019). Josh Katz imparts a tale of a girl being sexually abused by the man who should be her role model and protector, her father.  Disturbing, give Badflower credit for tackling such difficult, yet authentic subject matter.

Perhaps the bridge is a bit far-fetched:

“And Daddy lay sick on the hospital bed
She creeps in the room with a bag in her hand
And smothers the face of a terrible man.”

At the same time, it captures the emotions felt by a totally wronged little girl who didn’t deserve such treatment.

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10. Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream”

💿 Teenage Dream • 🏷 Capitol • 🗓 2010

Family Member: Teen

“Let’s go all the way tonight / No regrets, just love / We can dance until we die / You and I, we’ll be young forever.” Katy Perry opened her second pop album, 💿 Teenage Dream with a bang.  To describe title track 🎵 “Teenage Dream” as merely a good opening cut would be an understatement. Dr. Luke delivers strong production, while Perry compels with her breathy vocals on the verses, and assertive, powerful pipes on the catchy chorus. “Teenage Dream” is the exemplification of the type of pop track that suits Perry perfectly.

“You make me feel like I’m living a teenage dream
The way you turn me on
I can’t sleep
Let’s run away and don’t ever look back
Don’t ever look back
My heart stops when you look at me
Just one touch
Now baby, I believe this is real
So take a change and don’t ever look back
Don’t ever look back.”

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11. Lorde, “White Teeth Teens”

💿 Pure Heroine • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 2013

Family Member: Teenager

“We wouldn’t be seen dead here in the day / I guess you’re lucky that it’s dark now… take a shot now…” On 🎵 “White Teeth Teens” (💿 Pure Heroine, 2013) Grammy-winning musician Lorde transcends the literal, making references to battle, such as the aforementioned excerpt from verse one, as well as “I like your reckoning, but we got our methods / And there’s nothing here to stop…” from verse two.  The bridge confirms that the battle is social:

“I’ll let you in on something big
I am not a white teeth teen
I tried to join but never did
The way they are, the way they seem is something else, it’s in the blood
Their molars blinking like lights, in the underpass where we all sit
And do nothing and love it.”

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12. Childish Gambino, “Baby Boy”

💿 “Awaken, My Love!” • 🏷 Glassnote • 🗓 2016

Family Member: Baby, Dad

🎵 “Baby Boy” ranks among the crème de la crème of 💿 “Awaken, My Love!”, the 2016 R&B album by Childish Gambino, aka multi-talented musician, actor, and multi-award winner, Donald Glover. Glover sounds incredibly raw and gritty here, arguably delivering his best vocal of the album. Thematically, he tackles parenthood, potential custody issues, and the broken family in which the child is often the victim.

“I don’t wanna leave you, I don’t want him to see you
But oh, when mama cries from daddy’s lies
Oh my, please don’t take him away, no, no, no.” 

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13. My Chemical Romance, “Teenagers”

💿 The Black Parade • 🏷 Reprise • 🗓 2006

Family Member: Teenager

“All teenagers scare the living shit out of me.” Ah, a classic, iconic line from one of the best songs from 00s standouts, My Chemical Romance, 🎵 “Teenagers.” After growing exponentially in popularity following “Helena” (Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge), 💿 The Black Parade was definitely a big deal.  Besides “Teenagers,” The Black Parade features gems such as “Welcome to the Black Parade” and personal favorite, “Cancer” (not the godawful disease of course).  Essentially, Gerard Way captures the disgruntled teenager to perfection.

“They’re gonna clean up your looks
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you
Because they sleep with a gun
And keep an eye on you, son
So, they can watch all the things you do.” 

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14. Boyz II Men, “A Song for Mama”

💿 Evolution • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1997

Family Member: Mom

“Mama, Mama you know I love you / Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart / Your love is like tears from the stars / Mama I just want you to know lovin’ you is like food to my soul.” Boyz II Men represent one of R&B’s truly iconic groups without question.  There was never a shortage of hits.  Among the hits is 🎵 “A Song for Mama,” one of the truly great odes to mom EVER performed or written.  Boyz II Men sound as ‘smooth to butter’ singing the authentic, thoughtful, and poetic lyrics.

“You taught me everything
Everything you’ve given me
I’ll always keep it inside
You’re the driving force in my life...
When skies were gray
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me.”

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15. Kirk Franklin, “Father Knows Best”

💿 Long Live Love • 🏷 Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA • 🗓 2019

Family Member: Dad, specifically GOD

The crème de la crème of 💿 Long Live Love, the 2019 contemporary gospel album by multi-Grammy-winner Kirk Franklin, is arguably the epic 🎵 “Father Knows Best.” That electric piano is a nice production touch, while the song itself has bit more of a traditional gospel feel. It’s an extension of “Just for Me” that precedes it, trying to understand the reasoning behind God’s decisions.

Ultimately, it’s about trusting in God’s plan, and Kirk Franklin brilliantly likens God to earthly fathers, best showcased on the chorus:

“Oh, that’s what real fathers do
I wouldn’t expect nothing less from you
See, it’s alright to not always understand why
Let Him in, bring tears from your eyes
But God, your ways are better than mine
So, whatever you see, keep working on me
Promise me you’ll hold me close, don’t ever let me go...”

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