15 Striking I-N In Songs

Reading Time: 20 min read

15 Striking I-N In Songs features songs by Cub Sport, Julien Baker & TORRES, Luke Combs, The Weeknd, Tyler Childers, and Whitechapel.

According to Luke Combs, “I’m back IN the saddle like some old cowboy 🤠, who dug his way out of his grave 🪦.” The keyword: IN. As for Beats By AI (😏), “Getting scissored IN my Chevy had me breathing so heavy.” Yes, the tribadism is the real ⭐️ but the keyword, once again, is IN. One final example! Jonathan Richman smartly changed bars – he knew where the fun was at! “IN the first bar folks were drinking sips / But IN this bar they could shake their hips.” Yes, the lesbian bar is queen 👸, but for the third time, the keyword is IN. 15 Striking I-N In Songs is all about the preposition, adverb, adjective, or noun, IN. Every song on this playlist must feature the word, IN – NO EXCEPTIONS! 15 Striking I-N In Songs features songs by Cub Sport, Julien Baker & TORRES, Luke Combs, The Weeknd, Tyler Childers, and Whitechapel. So, without further ado, you have a clear pathway IN with these 15 Striking I-N In Songs!

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1. Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle”	2. Lizzo, “IRL” (Ft. SZA)	3. Cub Sport, “This Boy’s In Love” – The Presets cover
4. Honey Bxby, “Laying In His Bed”	5. Whitechapel, “Hymns in Dissonance”	6. Beats By AI, “Scissored In My Chevy”
7. serpentwithfeet, “WRITHING IN THE WIND”	8. Julien Baker & TORRES, “Sugar in the Tank”	9. The Weeknd, “Baptized in Fear”
10. Holly Humberstone, “Kissing In Swimming Pools”	11. Tyler Childers, “In Your Love”	12. Dominic Fike, “Dancing in the Courthouse”
13. Jonathan Richman, “I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar”	14. Rufus & Chaka Khan, “Live In Me”	15. Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”

1. Luke Combs, “Back in the Saddle”

“Back in the Saddle” » Seven Ridges » 2025

“I’ve been gone for a little too long / I’ve been waitin’ on the drummer to kick off a comeback song.”

Grammy-nominated country singer/songwriter Luke Combs came back turned up on his enthusiastic, in-your-face single, “Back in the Saddle”. “Like a long lost out west outlaw outta his mind,” he sings in the second verse, and continues, “I’m ridin’ in the town, no turnin’ back now.” Combs, Dan Isbell, and Jonathan Singleton penned this assertive song while Combs, Singleton, and Chip Matthews produced it. Here, Luke is accompanied by beefy guitars and truly sick countrified riffs. With mean instrumentation supporting him, particularly during the gargantuan chorus, Combs is commanding and powerful in his own right. He is confident about his return, evidenced in the excerpted lyrics from the verses. The crème de la crème, the crowning achievement, is the chorus. “‘Cause I’m back in the saddle like some old cowboy, who dug his way out of his grave,” he sings, assertively, adding, “Don’t worry where I’ve been, I’m back in the saddle again.” Yee-haw, cowboy 🤠! Referencing the instrumental once more, I can’t neglect to highlight that mean electric guitar with those badass effects. Epic! Luke Combs exemplifies a go big or go home attitude on “Back in the Saddle”. It rocks – in a countrified way!

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2. Lizzo, “IRL” (Ft. SZA)

MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING » Nice Life Recording Company / Atlantic Recording Corporation » 2025

Superstar collaboration! Grammy-winning rapper/singer/songwriter/flautist Lizzo (Melissa Jefferson) enlists fellow Grammy winner, SZA, for the assist on “IRL”. “IRL” is the 11^th track from Lizzo’s surprise, 2025 mixtape, MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING. Lizzo draws first blood, setting the tone. Her rap-driven persona fits seamlessly over a sleek, mean-sounding backdrop. Unsurprisingly, she’s a what? A bad bitch, bitch! In the chorus, she tells us, “Can’t be no fake bitch / If it’s real, keep it real, we the only ones / Just make it shake, bitch / I don’t care what you wear if we havin’ fun.” SZA brings a kinder, gentler quality singing in the second verse. She’s still fierce, even with her cooler and smoother approach (“Diamonds dancin’, chain is bouncin’, dick inside me, I need that / Titties up, I need attention, favorite eater, call me back”). All in all, “IRL” is a vibe.

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3. Cub Sport, “This Boy’s In Love” – The Presets cover

“This Boy’s In Love” » Cub Sport » 2025

“This time, fight fire with fire / ‘Cause, baby, tonight the world belongs to you and I.”

Australian indie-pop collective Cub Sport never ceases to amaze. Over the years, Tim Nelson and company have dropped some surefire bops that more folks need to be buzzing about stateside. In 2025, Cub Sport released a cover of “This Boy’s In Love”, originally recorded by The Presets (Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes) in their 2008 album, Apocalypso. Nelson produced the Cub Sport version.

If you were naïve of The Presets’ original, you would assume this was a Cub Sport original. In the indie-pop collective’s hands, it becomes a stripped piano ballad. This is starkly different from The Presets’ original, which is quicker, groovier, with electronic instrumentation. Cub Sport maintains a chilling, cool vibe. Besides the piano, light strings enter, but subtlety remains the modus operandi. Nelson sings beautifully, delivering an authentic, nuanced, and tender performance. The chorus is nothing short of divine!

“This boy’s in love, love

This boy’s in love

Under the city

Under the city lights.”

In Nelson’s hands, as a gay married man (bandmate Sam Netterfield is his husband), “This Boy’s in Love” confirms an enduring same-sex relationship, one where, despite being judged for their love, they will remain ‘locked-in’ until the very end. The second verse (“Don’t tell the world what we’ve known”) grows more dynamic, but still never breaks a sweat. The second chorus is significantly louder than the rest of the song. The ‘come down’ is sweet, with Nelson wowing with his ripe falsetto. This radiant, stripped cover of “This Boy’s In Love” does not need to be overanalyzed – it is a stunning song!

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4. Honey Bxby, “Laying In His Bed”

Raw Honey » Rebirth Ent. / Art@War/ Warner » 2025

“And he can take it off me anywhere he wanna / ‘Cause he fucks me in certain ways,”

Honey Bxby (Ajaysiya Byers) asserts in “Laying In His Bed”, the 10^th track from her 2025 EP, Raw Honey. She adds, “You hold me in other ways / I wish it was you, and it ain’t right.” Holy shit! Yes, you heard and read right. Honey Bxby is thinking about another man while in bed with a different man! To her credit, she admits she’s wrong. Byers, Akil “worldwidefresh” King, and Chloe George wrote this scandalous, infidelity-laden joint (“He think he my only bae / But you bring the fun and games”). Oh, snap! King, Stephen “DiGenius” McGregor, Justus West, and Bankroll Got It produced it.

“Laying In His Bed” features a sickening groove that catches the ear from the onset. The synths are colorful and electrifying. Honey Bxby delivers strong vocals. She sings with attitude and personality as she is transparent about her feelings. She is unapologetic. “Does he notice? I lose focus,” she sings, continuing, “My body craves something that my soul likes / I know he all in, but I’m all out.” Well, da-yum! In the tuneful chorus, while she’s thinking about him, it should come as no surprise that she hopes he is also thinking about her. We get a change of pace during a rapped, fast-paced bridge: “I’m sendin’ pics with my panties on (what?) / I’m on my phone while they sittin’ out (uh) / Playin’ with my cat while the doggy’s out (uh) / See, I’m a good girl when you come around.” Gah-day-um 😳! Honey Bxby keeps it 💯 – an understatement. We listen and we don’t judge, obviously, but, we know that Byers needs to figure shit out on “Laying In His Bed”. How many times has “Tryin’ to Love Two” worked out beyond providing a theme for a bomb song? As honest as you are with us, Honey, be honest with your men!

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5. Whitechapel, “Hymns in Dissonance”

Hymns in Dissonance » Metal Blade » 2025

“Rehtaf fo seil / Rehtaf fo eht ssyba / Ew emoc morf woleb / Nepo ruoy seye gnik Reficul / Redrum meht lla.”

Say what, now?! What the hell does that mean? The lyrics from the intro of “Hymns in Dissonance” are reversed… Dissonance indeed! What Phil Bozeman, the Whitechapel frontman sings is “Father of lies / Father of the abyss / We come from below / Open your eyes king Lucifer / Murder them all.” Hellish to the nth degree! “Hymns in Dissonance” is the second track from the Tennessee death metal band’s ninth studio album, Hymns in Dissonance, released in 2025.

“Hymns in Dissonance” is chaotic, noisy, and infernal from the onset. The pummeling drums and jagged guitars hit you right in the chest. Throughout, there are different musical changes, particularly tempo changes during various sections. Bozeman’s boisterous, unclean vocals catch the ears from the beginning. With reversed lyrics setting the tone, the songwriting draws ample attention. The lyrics are intense and intriguing. “I stand before this withered sepulcher / Saturating my flesh in sulfur,” Phil sings in the first verse, adding, “The fruitful now rotten / Restrained by roots of feces and mold.” Damn – more liked damned! It gets worse: “Feel the worms crawl in your evеry orifice/ Your eyes start to jaundice as they make their way through / Converted to our ways, you can’t ignore this / Saved from the faith that’ll fuck you.” Faith that’ll fuck you, huh? “Hymns in Dissonance,” indeed. In line with sinfulness, in the third verse, Bozeman asserts, “As you lay impaled on this inverted cross / I masticate the throats of your lambs / As I masturbate to the sound of them choking.” Yes, it’s giving unholy shit! The chorus can’t be denied either, referencing previous Whitechapel songs, and memorably stating, “To all that are dead, stay dead / We are the means to a messiahbolical end.” Dark, damning, anti-Christian (“The trinity denied”) and Satanic AF, “Hymns in Dissonance” is something else, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

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6. Beats By AI, “Scissored In My Chevy”

“Scissored In My Chevy” » Beats By Ai » 2025

“Getting scissored in my Chevy had me breathing so heavy / When she pulled my flannel panties off, it broke my levee.”

😳 😳 😳… Face it, folks. Beats By AI is one freaky mf. While country music has loosened up more compared to the past, there is still a limit to the acceptable amount of curse words and sex. And when it comes to queer relationships and sex… watch out! But, because it is an AI song, and outlandishness is striking, the more risqué and queerer, the better! I have written about the queer AI songs, but we can’t leave the girls out! “Scissored In My Chevy” gives us a brief but potent, NSFW, TMI queer female AI song!

From the beginning, “Scissored In My Chevy” is bold. Tribadism is referenced in the title (scissors) and appears in the first line. At the end of the first verse, the nameless AI singer describes their encounter as “love at first queef.” Damn! The queef gets her going, and she asserts, “Damn, I scissor so good with you.” Again, I say, damn! Of course, Beats By AI has to top everything they’ve presented in the song already, with less than a one-and-a-half-minute runtime. Fittingly, they’re “Scissoring sweet in deep Tennessee / And letting our lesbian pussies queef.” K… There’s more, and it’s more NSFW: “We’re rubbing roast beef in the Dixie heat / It’s a melody making our mufflers sing.” Gah-day-um! Holy scissors – I mean – holy shite! After finishing and arriving home late, Ms. Beats By AI apologizes to daddy, asserting, “I was just fishing again, can’t you smell it?” Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh boy! Anything Beats By AI should be taken with a grain of salt… perhaps the entire saltshaker! But, if nothing else, “Scissored In My Chevy” is a striking, overt lesbian sex song. Yee-haw, cowgirl 🤠!

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7. serpentwithfeet, “WRITHING IN THE WIND”

GRIP SEQUEL » Secretly Canadian » 2025

“A mangled heart writing in the wind / Let me mend it, let me mend it.”

Serpentwithfeet (Josiah Wise) takes the initiative to fix this damaged heart. Why? “I’m not who I was then,” he sings, adding, “I wanna make, make amends.” So, he is the culprit of the brokenness on “WRITHING IN THE WIND”? It appears so. “Can you give me a chance?” he asks, pleading, “Boy, give me another chance.” At least Wise seeks to atone for his wrongdoing and heartbreaking ways, albeit briefly. He sings beautifully over gorgeous piano chords, rhythmic, harmonized background vocals, and an active thudding beat. Clocking in under a minute and a half, the fifth track from GRIP SEQUEL is a surefire vibe. Perhaps the biggest flaw of “WRITHING IN THE WIND” is the fact that it doesn’t last longer. Serpentwithfeet has an excellent musical thing going on here, no cap.

Appears in:

Bops from 2025 That Make You Beam with Pride

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8. Julien Baker & TORRES, “Sugar in the Tank”

**Julien Baker & TORRES » Send A Prayer My Way » Julien Baker & TORRES / Matador » 2025**

“I love you all the way to hell and back / I love you tied up on the train tracks.”

Julien Baker is an incredible singer/songwriter, period. Once again, the Grammy winner works her magic with the single, “Sugar in the Tank”. She collaborates with another talented singer/songwriter, TORRES (Mackenzie Scott). They form the formidable duo Julien Baker & TORRES! Baker and Scott penned the epic highlight from their 2025 album, Send A Prayer My Way. Baker, Scott, and Sarah Tudzin produced it. Baker plays multiple instruments in the track (guitars, banjo, mandolin, and keys) while TORRES also plays guitars (both acoustic and electric).

“Sugar in the Tank” opens sensationally with rhythmic guitar and pedal steel that establish a country aesthetic. The Hammond organ, fiddle, and banjo craft the song’s rich sound. Baker sings clearly and beautifully in the first verse: “I love you deadly as a heart attack / I love you halfway in a paper sack.” Torres joins in the chorus:

“I love you swimming upstream in a flash flood

Wondering when I’m gonna drown

Picking up steam on the off-ramp

Getting the hell out of downtown

Let you be the chain that keeps me

Closer to the ground

I love you all of the ways

That I know how.”

The duo exhibits excellent vocal chemistry. Baker follows with a brief but potent second verse: “I love you all the way / Down to the last drag / I’ll love you strung out on the drying rack.” A lovely instrumental interlude follows the second chorus, led by a sweet guitar solo. The final chorus, a repeat of the second, follows the interlude, concluding the delightful “Sugar in the Tank”. Julien Baker and TORRES deliver a strong debut single as a duo.

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9. The Weeknd, “Baptized in Fear”

Hurry Up Tomorrow » The Weeknd XO Music ULC / Republic » 2025

“I fell asleep in the tub, I was met with paralysis / My foot hit the faucet, water started flowing in.”

Uh-oh, The Weeknd – that sounds like a horrible situation. Paralysis occurs when you’re unable to make voluntary muscle movements, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Not good! He continues singing in the sole verse of “Baptized In Fear”, “Couldn’t scream for help, I just slowly felt the pressure hit / Moving one toe was the only form of motion left.” The picture that Abel Tesfaye paints in the sixth track from Hurry Up Tomorrow is life-threatening. Death, in some form or fashion, is possible (“Figure in the corner I can’t quite see / I just know the shadow’s staring at me”). Despite this shadow and his ‘slowing heartbeat’ in the pre-chorus, in the chorus, “Voices tell me that I should carry on.” Word. Who are the voices? Angels?

The Weeknd, Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never), and Nathan Salon composed “Baptized in Fear.” The Weeknd, Salon, Oneohtrix Point Never, and MIKE DEAN produced it. The musical backdrop is sensational – ear-catching to the nth degree. Even so, it is The Weeknd who ‘steals the show’ with his radiant vocals. Tesfaye sings authentically, putting his all into this introspective ballad. “I’ve been baptized in fear, my dear,” he sings in the bridge, adding, “Like Paul, I’m the chief of sin / Washing my soul within, oh.” The Paul he cites was the famous Apostle of Jesus and the author of many books of the Bible. The spiritual references make “Baptized In Fear” that much more special. Is this a religious song? No, but The Weeknd is incredibly reflective as he thinks about life, his musical career, and the future. Marvelous vocals, love, rhythmic melodies, thoughtful songwriting, and superb production make “Baptized In Fear” a surefire winner from Hurry Up Tomorrow.

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10. Holly Humberstone, “Kissing In Swimming Pools”

Paint My Bedroom Black » Holly Humberstone » 2023

“When you found me, I was a train wreck / You gathered my bones in a blanket,”

English singer/songwriter Holly Humberstone sings in the first pre-chorus of “Kissing In Swimming Pools”. The nearly five-minute single appears as the fourth track from her debut album, Paint My Bedroom Black. Humberstone penned “Kissing In Swimming Pools” alongside producer Rob Milton. All told, “Kissing In Swimming Pools” is a strong musical offering from a rising star.

“Kissing In Swimming Pools” commences with guitar accompaniment, keeping things relatively simple. Humberstone serves up sweet vocals. Her tone is excellent, and she never over sings. There are two consecutive verses, with musical cues helping to differentiate both. For example, the addition of drums and bass up the ante in the second verse. “Kissing In Swimming Pools” encompasses matters of the heart. In the first verse, she sings, “I wanna know if you think about me that way.” In the second, she asserts, “I wanna be the one that gets to fix you, honey / I wanna sleep to your sound.” The third, which appears later, may be the most colorful: “Call me up and tell me I’m pretty / Then we’ll get drunk, and I’ll give you, my body.” Ooh-la-la! Of course, the biggest, most important moment of “Kissing In Swimming Pools” is the chorus:

“So, can we kiss your swimming pool?

In this bathing suit, I would die for you

Maybe I don’t have to leave so soon

You look heavenly in this shade of blue

We don’t have to complicate it

I just wanna be alone with you

I – I just wanna be alone with you.”

Also helping the chorus to shine is a more robust sound. Still, even as things grow, Humberstone never overdoes it. All told, “Kissing In Swimming Pools” is gorgeous – a winner through and through.

Appears in:

13 Songs Where It’s All in a Kiss 😘 (2023)

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11. Tyler Childers, “In Your Love”

Rustin’ In The Rain » Hickman Holler / RCA » 2023

“It’s a long hard war / Ah, but I can grin and bear it,”

Kentucky country singer/songwriter Tyler Childers sings, continuing, “‘Cause I know what the hell I’m fightin’ for / And I will wait for you.” Childers wows on “In Your Love” from his 2023 album, Rustin’ In The Rain.  LOVE is the big takeaway on this gorgeous ballad that Childers wrote alongside Geno Seale.  The protagonist is willing to fight for love – give his all for the person he loves (“You’re the finest thing around / So I will stand my ground”).  Childers slaughters.  His voice is marvelous as he sings expressively, in a nuanced fashion.  The authenticity that he brings truly makes the listener buy what he is selling. The chorus is the crème de la crème: “We were never made to run forever / We were just meant to go long enough / To find what we were chasin’ after / I believe I found it here / In your love.” A piano ballad initially, the instrumentation expands to include an idiomatic country sound palette. With the excellence of the song firmly established lyrically, musically, and vocally, the bold, stunning music video deserves mention – a gay love story between two miners that perfectly parallels the songwriting. Haynes told Ann Powers of NPR he was inspired to do the music video by his older cousin, who is gay. With “In Your Love”, Childers delivers one of the very best songs of 2023 – a perfect example of putting more acceptance, love, and respect in the world rather than judgment.

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12. Dominic Fike, “Dancing in the Courthouse”

Sunburn » Sandy’s Boys, LLC / Columbia » 2023

“Weather controls your day / People make up your mind / Until you can’t even tell / When someone gives you a sign.”

Bummer! Alternative, genre-bending standout Dominic Fike urges us to focus on the things we can control and embrace the positives and opportunities in life. The Floridian has us all “Dancing in the Courthouse” (Sunburn), a song that shows him moving beyond adversity, which him and his family have experienced their fair share of. Life hasn’t been easy, however, he’s a prime example of overcoming as that this song superbly conveys. The best moment” is the chorus, where the lyrics captivate, and the melody is tuneful:

“Put ‘em on trial (On trial)

Make ‘em dance for it in the courthouse

Make a stand for it or it don’t count (Or it don’t count)

Be the landlord of the whole town (Of the whole town)

Put ‘em on edge (On edge)

Make the judge jump and hit the two-step (Yeah, hit the two-step)

And make the jury come up with two guesses (Up with two guesses)

And lose interest, then they make up a new sentence.”

Beyond the theme, lyrics, and an intriguing music video, the sound is stunning too. The warmness of the guitar at the onset is a stellar touch. Furthermore, the prominence of guitar throughout is awesome 🤘. Of course, from a vocal standpoint, Fike sounds authentic, honest, and expressive. His instrument can deliver sheer beauty as well as grittier moments. Fike has ample light to share with the world.

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13. Jonathan Richman, “I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar”

I, Jonathan » Rounder » 1992

“Well, I was dancing at a nightclub one Friday night / And that nightclub was a little uptight.”

Bummer! That sucks, Jonathan Richman (1951 – )! I mean, you go out to have fun, not be self-conscious, as he confesses in the first verse of “I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar”. So, who saves him from this awkward, unfun nightclub experience? The lesbians! “‘For dancing come with us’ / And soon… / I was dancing in a lesbian bar, ah-hoo, ah-oo / I was dancing in a lesbian bar, ooh, ooh, ooh.” Ooh-wee, what a difference the venue, and the patrons in that venue make! “I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar” is the fifth track from his 1992 album, I, Jonathan. Richman wrote this infectious, unforgettable gem while Brennan Totten produced it. Can I get a “ooh, ooh, ooh!”

As Richman tells us his initial experience, “I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar” begins dramatically. Guitar is the sole accompaniment, with Jonathan Richman’s vocals and beautiful, warm background vocals. After feeling free, the guitar establishes a stable, chordal rhythmic groove. The bass and drums enter the mix, providing an anchor and firm foundation for Richman to deliver an entertaining performance on this novel record. He consistently delivers expressive, well-rounded vocals, bringing the tuneful melodies and striking lyrics to life. “Well, the first bar things were alright / But in this bar, things were Friday night,” he asserts in the first pre-chorus. Later, he continues to compare the differences, including “Well in the first bar things were stop and stare/ But in this bar things were laissez-faire,” and “In the first bar folks were drinking sips / But in this bar they could shake their hips.” Woo! Beyond their initial appearance, the background vocals are one of my favorite touches, providing sweet harmonies. The verses are rad (“… I was there to check the scene / And hang around”), as are the comparative pre-choruses, but the best section of the song should come as no surprise: the chorus, which highlights the titular lyric. Ultimately, “I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar” is one of the most fun songs you’ll ever hear. If you haven’t heard it, you are sadly missing out. Jonathan Richman put his foot into this one. He can thank the lesbians for allowing him to have fun! Notably, They Might Be Giants covered it.

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14. Rufus & Chaka Khan, “Live In Me”

Masterjam » MCA » 1979

“Groove with the motion, let’s take it to the top / Ride with the feeling, there’s no way I’m gonna stop!”

Rufus and Chaka Khan made a magical musical tandem. Among their best and most electrifying records is “Live In Me”, the fifth track from their gold-certified 1979 album, Masterjam. English musician, songwriter, and producer Rod Temperton (1949 – 2016) composed “Live,” while extraordinary musician, producer, composer, and icon Quincy Jones (1933 – 2024) produced it.

“Live In Me” begins with a lush, smooth instrumental introduction. After the tone is set, the band digs in more, setting a funkier vibe. Instrumentally, there is a stellar rhythm guitar riff, a robust anchor provided by the bass, and a sick drum groove. Later, mean-sounding horns add punch. Chaka Khan is the star of the show with her elite vocals. She sounds sultry during the first verse. “Gonna soothe you, put you in a trance, and get your senses aroused,” she asserts, continuing, “So there ain’t no use in holdin’ back, gotta let that feelin’ out.” She impresses with her upper register during the second verse, showcasing power (“And action speaks more tenderness than words could ever show, so…”). The chorus is marvelous – tuneful and unforgettable!

“Live in me, come in my life
Fill me with all that sweet delight
I’m burnin’ up, steamin’ inside
So give me the love I need tonight.”

Some other notes regarding this fabulous cut. The harmonic progression shines, particularly during the chorus, and during a temporary but dramatic key modulation (following the third verse). Background vocals arrive during the outgoing chorus, adding to the excellence. Ultimately, “Live In Me” marks another masterpiece by the force that is Rufus and Chaka Khan. Funky, memorable, and filled with top-notch musicianship, this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime songs.

Appears in:

Rufus & Chaka Khan, Live In Me: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 121 (2025)

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15. Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”

Bad » MJJ Productions Inc. » 1987

“I’m gonna make a change for once in my life / It’s gonna feel real good / Gonna make a difference, gonna make it right.”

Those iconic lyrics hail from one of Michael Jackson’s best and most beloved songs, “Man in the Mirror”. “Man in the Mirror” is the seventh track from Jackson’s second iconic ‘80s album, Bad, released in 1987. One of the reasons it stands out is that Michael Jackson did not write or co-write it. This was a rare MJ song written by others. Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett composed it. Jackson and Quincy Jones (1933 – 2024) produced it. “Man in the Mirror” spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Adding to the accolades, “Man” was nominated for the Grammy for Record of the Year at the 31^st Annual GRAMMY Awards (Bobby McFerrin won for “Don’t Worry Be Happy”).

After hearing a demo of the song, it was no surprise that Michael Jackson had to approve “Man in the Mirror.” This is the ultimate deep, introspective, socially conscious, and thought-provoking record. In the first verse, Jackson continues, “I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat / Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs.” In the second verse, he asserts, “I’ve been a victim of a selfish kinda love / It’s time to realize / There are some with no home / Not a nickel to loan.” Given all these happenings, Jackson decides, “That’s why I’m starting with me.” What does he do? He delivers one of the greatest choruses of all time – the crème de la crème:

“I’m starting with the man in the mirror

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na.”

Throughout “Man in the Mirror,” Jackson offers up prodigious vocals. He shows incredible control during the verses, while delivering sensational expression and nuance. He ups the ante during the chorus, where he sings more dynamically. Beyond his compelling lead vocals, Jackson is supported by an anointed choir, arranged by the late, great Andraé Crouch (1942 – 2015). Among the background vocalists are Crouch, Sandra Crouch (1942 – 2024), Garrett, and the Winans. Beyond epic songwriting and top-notch vocals, the sound, arrangement, and production are flawless. “Man in the Mirror” is a masterclass in a crossover sound, seamlessly fitting somewhere between pop, rock, and R&B, while bringing big-time, inspirational vibes (“I’ve gotta get that man, that man (Man in the mirror) / You’ve got to, you got to move, shamone, shamone”). #Classic!

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15 Striking I-N In Songs (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Art@War, Atlantic Recording Corporation, Beats By Ai, Columbia, Cub Sport, Hickman Holler, Holly Humberstone, Julien Baker & TORRES, Matador, MCA, Metal Blade, MJJ Productions Inc., Nice Life Recording Company, RCA, Rebirth Ent., Republic, Rounder, Sandy’s Boys, LLC, Secretly Canadian, Seven Ridges, The Weeknd XO Music ULC, Warner;
AcatXIo, Hifen hifencamisetas from Pixabay]

15 Striking I-N In Songs | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on October 15, 2025October 15, 2025