15 Songs Worth Talking About | Playlist

1. JMSN, “Talk is Cheap”

Velvet » White Room » 2018

Texas-born, Michigan-bred R&B singer Christian Berishaj – better known as JMSN – shines on his incredibly soulful, sexy new album Velvet.  JMSN takes his time setting up standout “Talk is Cheap”.  The groovy, soulful instrumental dominates the first minute and fifteen seconds of the record.  The sound is delightful and refreshing, hearkening back to the smooth R&B of old.  Neo-soul is supposedly dead and gone, but man, oh man, does a record as celestial as “Talk is Cheap” call for a resurgence – a resurrection.

Speaking of smooth, JMSN is silky smooth once he begins singing, chocked-full of soul and talent.  His falsetto is commanding and ripe on the background vocals of the chorus.  He superbly ad-libs and riffs using his chest voice (regular voice), providing a superb contrast.  The chorus is the centerpiece.

“Talk is cheap
You got to show me it’s real
‘Cause I ain’t got time to waste, no
I don’t sleep
I think you know what the deal is
So, don’t you feed that stuff to me
Talk is cheap.”

2. Rita Ora, “Keep Talking”

Phoenix » Atlantic » 2018

Following a lengthy hiatus between albums, Rita Ora delivers an enjoyable, well-rounded, and much-better-than-anticipated sophomore album in Phoenix. Penultimate cut “Keep Talking” pairs Ora with Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter Julia Michaels.  One of the most notable features of this record specifically is the melody of the chorus, which easily gets stuck in one’s head.  The cool electro-urban-pop production is pretty stunning in its own right. 

“‘Cause there’s nothing you can say to me
That I haven’t said to myself
There’s nothing you can make me feel
That I haven’t already felt
No, there’s nothing you can say to me
That I haven’t said to myself
I’ll take the higher-igher-igher, high road
Keep talking.”

3. Why Don’t We, “Talk”

8 Letters » Atlantic » 2018

“We go, breaking up like cell phones / When I speak, ‘cause you don’t listen when I talk.”  “Talk” (8 Letters) isn’t about cell phones, but rather Why Don’t We’s poor communication within their respective relationships.  That’s certainly highlighted by the aforementioned excerpt from the chorus.  On the first verse, Zach Herron sings about how the relationship seems to be slipping on both ends, with Daniel Seavey expounding upon the poor communication ahead of the super-catchy chorus.  Corbyn Besson proclaims him and his girlfriend are “on different islands, just sounds of silence” on the second verse, which is patterned after the first.

Later, on the bridge, Jack Avery takes the reins. Beyond the chorus there’s a post-chorus, best summed up as the relationship isn’t going to improve. Beyond the lyrics, form, and theme of “Talk,” the production is worth highlighting. There’s a fine hint of the soulful, while keeping it mainstream pop.

4. Quavo, “LAMB TALK”

QUAVO HUNCHO » 300 Entertainment / Capitol / Motown » 2018

QUAVO HUNCHO advance single, “LAMB TALK”, clocks in shy of three minutes.  The hook is incredibly simplistic – #UNDERSTATEMENT.  Need proof? Well, it goes a little something like this: “Lamb talk, uh, yeah / Lamb talk, Lamborghini (woo)…” Moving on, the record is backed by smooth, trap production, already previously delivered on QUAVO HUNCHO.  The drums are hard, while the synths are softer and cooler.  This is a good fit for Quavo, who delivers a solid flow, and rhymes packed with personality – “Then I take the pot, skrrt, skrrt, Fork it, skrrt, skrrt / Gumbo, like I’m from New Orleans.”

5. 5 Seconds of Summer, “Talk Fast” / “If Walls Could Talk”

Youngblood » Capitol » 2018

Ah, we enlist the services of 5 Seconds of Summers for two songs worth talking about.  First, in the context of Youngblood, Calum Hood and Luke Hemmings handle the majority of “Talk Fast.”  Even so, the whole crew pipes in on the chorus, where 5SOS’ ‘bread is buttered’ throughout Youngblood.  The band keeps on shining, keeping things fun and incredibly energetic.

“Oh, talk fast, romance
Oh, it won’t last, I’m okay with that
Oh, burn, crash, romance
Oh, I’ll take what I can get from you.”

“Some things are meant to be secret and not to be heard…” “If Walls Could Talk” certainly isn’t the first pop song to explore what the room might say regarding certain activities (sex specifically).  Kendrick Lamar did a fantastic job of depicting this on “These Walls” in 2015 (To Pimp a Butterfly). 5SOS’ own take may not quite achieve the same heights, or be quite as risqué, but is rock solid at the minimum.  We know what the boys are getting at!

“If these walls could talk, I’d hope they wouldn’t say anything
Because they’ve seen way too many things
‘Cause we’d fall from grace, we’re falling
Yeah, we’d fall from grace.”

6. JID, “Slick Talk”

DiCaprio 2 » Dreamville / Interscope » 2018

One of the rap albums that’s received ample buzz at the end of 2018 was DiCaprio 2, the sophomore studio album by rapper JID.  Lucky for us, we are album to incorporate DiCaprio 2 song “Slick Talk” onto this most talkative playlist.

JID doesn’t disappoint on the album’s second track, which has some serious wordplay beginning on the first verse:

“Activation, activation
Maturation, process, rap game too saturated
Grab your lady, masturbation on her face
An acne patient acting patient, so complacent…”

Interestingly, following the first verse, there’s a compelling beat switch, beginning with an interlude by a Jamaican DJ, before JID gets back to work on the second verse, chorus, and third verse.  Much like the first verse, the talk is indeed slick as he spits fiery bars.

“On a money pile, doing doggystyle
I’m a father now, and you are my child
Or you aren’t my child, I’m on ‘Maury’ now
And I’m talking loud, the results are found
You are not the – wow, I should kill this bitch like a doggy pound.”

7. Florida Georgia Line, “Talk You Out of It”

Florida Georgia Line [EP] » Big Machine » 2018

With “Talk You Out of It”, country duo Florida Georgia Line opts for balladry as opposed to spelling or being geographically-wasted. The modus operandi is a night of fun with a hot girl who “had a long day” and “ain’t feelin’ them downtown lights.” The boys want to talk her out of her “Fine little dress.” “Don’t get me wrong, girl, I love it / Now I just want to talk you out of it.”

Okay, okay, yes, the songwriting is suspect. The most objectionable moment of “Talk You Out of It” referencing the late R&B singer Luther Vandross: “And now you’re lookin’ like a line from a Vandross song.” Why so objectionable? The twang is poured on when pronouncing his last name – totally not cute! It feels totally forced and over-southernized.  Still, clearly, the country bros have some ‘action’ in mind if you catch my drift.

8. Migos, “Walk It Talk It”

Ft. Drake

Culture II » 300 Entertainment / Capitol / Motown » 2018

“I bought a Plain Jane Rollie, these ni**as bought they fame (woo) / I think my back got scoliosis ‘cause I swerve the lane.” Wow, interesting stuff for sure. Anyways, Culture II was a little too much culture from Migos – just being honest. Culture was a shorter, more focused album with more easily perceptible hits, while Culture II is absolutely too damn long. Just keeping it 100.

Even so, Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff struck gold on the catchy “Walk It Talk It,” featuring Drake.  Throughout “Walk It Talk It,” the trio musters up some interesting lyrics, including the aforementioned Quavo reference to scoliosis… not your typical rap subject matter, but to each his own. As for the hook, well, it’s pretty simple: “Walk it like I talk it…”

9. Key Glock, “Talk My Shit”

Glockoma » Paper Route Empire » 2018

“Hold up, real quick, let me talk my shit / They like who the fuck is this with this ice-ass wrist (Glock).” Hmm, not sure how ice, ass, or wrist really works together in the big scheme of things, but whatever. What is clear is that rapper Key Glock ‘talks his shit’ on his totally appropriately-titled song, “Talk My Shit,” which appears on his 2018 mixtape, Glockoma. Note: if you are a stickler for spelling, you know that the album title SHOULD be spelled glaucoma, sigh.  Staying focused on the shit that Key Glock talks, rather raps about, basically, he’s flexing hard because “this young ni**a lit.” It should also be noted that Key Glock doesn’t spend too much time talking his shit – merely 2:20.

10. Linkin Park, “Talking to Myself”

One More Light » Warner Bros. » 2017

“All the walls that you keep building / All this time that I spent chasing / All the ways that I keep losing you.” Sadly, nobody seemed to realize just how depressed that Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington was at the time that One More Light was released in 2017. It would only be until his tragic suicide that everyone would find out just how ‘low’ he was.

In the context of the album itself, “Talking to Myself” once more has pop elements, with renowned producer J.R. Rotem among the names gracing writing/production team.  Even so, the record does have a dash of rock, specifically on the chorus.  Notably, the chorus comes from the perspective of Bennington’s wife, an even bigger revelation regarding the state of Bennington’s mental health.

11. Spoon, “Do I Have to Talk You into It”

Hot Thoughts » Matador » 2017

“Here we go down a long dark road / Same place where we used to go / And the words get stuck on the tip of my tongue / Feeling cut off from everyone.” In the context of Hot Thoughts, the ninth studio album by alternative rock collective Spoon, “Do I Have to Talk You into It” gives the band its third home run. The funk is alive and well, thanks to a prominent bass line, clever harmonic progression, and overall superb production.

Once more, there’s a dash of sexual innuendo on the initial chorus, perfectly complementing the throwback sound. 

“Do I have to talk you into it?
Do we have to make sense of it?
When I’ve known you such a long time
And we never had to act polite.”

It should be noted, there are several variations on the chorus beyond the initial one, all of which focus on *ding-ding-ding* – you guessed it – talking.

“Do I have to talk you into it?
Do I have to talk you into it?
Well, here we go down a long dark road
Been here, man, many times before
I wanna whisper down the tube
All kinds of words you would never use
Do I have to talk you into it?”

12. HRVY, “Talk to Ya”

Talk to Ya [EP] » Universal » 2017

“Girl, I know you’re more than just a number / I know when I look into your eyes / See, I can love you more than any other / I know you’ve been hurt, I’ll make it right.” Aww, how sweet! Teenage British pop musician HRVY showcases incredible potential on his second EP, Talk to Ya. Among the highlights from the EP is the opener, “Talk to Ya,” which kicks things off exuberantly to the nth degree.  This is youthful, energetic urban-infused pop at its best.  The production is sharp, while the vocals by HRVY are even more impressive.  This 18-year old has a superb tone, with falsetto arguably being his best attribute.

The wheel isn’t reinvented, but young Harvey Cantwell proves exactly why we should be ‘talking’ about him. ‘Course, he’s charming a girl here…

“I just wanna talk to ya, talk to ya
Maybe I can mend your heart with mine
I just wanna talk to ya, talk to ya
Take it for my broken paradise
You hit me like a way you’ve gotta pull me under
Don’t give me a chance to escape
I just wanna talk to ya, talk to ya
Take it for my broken paradise.”

13. Watsky, “Talking to Myself”

X Infinity » Steel Wool / EMPIRE » 2016

“Have you felt a little off today / Had a lot to say / But wound up talking to yourself? / I’ve been hunting for a kindly ear / But couldn’t find one near / And wound up talking to myself.” “Talking to Myself” is a reflective, moody highlight from x Infinity, the 2016 studio album released by rapper and poet Watsky (George Watsky). This particular record is one that should be relatable to everyone who hears it.

On the second verse in particular, the rapper goes H.A.M.

“Are there times you’re alone knowin’ nobody’s home, but you walk around
mutterin’ under your breath second guessing shit saying
‘goddammit, goddammit, goddammit’ just whispering soft
Do you ever get lost, deep in your thoughts, tripping when you
think about the cost of seeing this through?
When you tie your stomach into knots that you don’t know how to undo
But do you ever have another moment after that, when you can see
There’s no one way this has to be? or maybe that’s just me.”

14. ZAYN, “PILLOWTALK”

Mind of Mine » RCA » 2016

“Climb on board / We’ll go slow and high tempo.” Someone’s horny! According to Louis Wise of The Sunday Times, former One Direction member ZAYN said the following regarding his solo number one hit, “PILLOWTALK.”

“I think I’m pretty black and white what it’s about,” he says with a little grin. “Everybody has sex, and it’s something people wanna hear about. It’s part of everybody’s life, a very BIG part of life! And you don’t wanna sweep it under the carpet. It has to be talked about.”

Apparently, life post-boy band requires adjustments. Such adjustments encompass sex, and not just any sex.  On “PILLOWTALK,” the big takeaway is that ZAYN sings about having sex.  That’s about the size of it…

“So, we'll piss off the neighbors
In the place that feels the tears
The place to lose your fears
Yeah, reckless behavior
A place that is so pure, so dirty and raw
In the bed all day, bed all day, bed all day
Fucking and fighting on
It's our paradise and it's our war zone
It's our paradise and it's our war zone.”

15. Troye Sivan, “Talk Me Down”

Blue Neighbourhood » Capitol » 2015

“I wanna sleep next to you / But that’s all I wanna do right now / And I wanna come home to you / But home is just a room full of my safest sounds.” Ah, we close this most talkative playlist with a simply stunning record, “Talk Me Down.” A sad song, Troye Sivan seems to yearn for his ex. A common emotion, the accompanying video for amplifies the sadness, showcasing a truly complicated relationship.  Sivan’s ex-boyfriend/friend now has a girlfriend because his father (who’s funeral is being held in the video) didn’t accept his homosexuality.

Ultimately, Sivan’s ex commits suicide by jumping, a reference to the literal and figurative Blue Neighbourhood. Perhaps the song is a wee bit more enthusiastic sans the tear-jerking video, but still, the sadness is evident through Sivan’s pipes.

“I wanna sleep next to you But that’s all
I wanna do right now So come over now and talk me down.”