15 Totally & Utterly Foolish Songs | Playlist 🎧

1. Aretha Franklin, “Chain of Fools”

💿  Lady Soul • 🏷  Atlantic • 📅  1967

“Chain, chain, chain / Chain, chain, chain / Chain, chain, chain / Chain of fools.” 🎙  Aretha Franklin.  🎵  “Chain of Fools.” 💿  Lady Soul (1967).  Enough said, right? This is one of the best, most iconic gems from the late soul singer’s collection.  The 🏆  Grammy-winning icon brings attitude, sassiness, and powerhouse vocals.

So, what, exactly fuels Franklin’s sassiness?  What’s got her so riled up? Well, how about a no good, totally trifling M-A-N? Yeah, Aretha, you should’ve left that fool alone! What a bum!

“You told me to leave you alone
My father said, ‘come on home’
My doctor said, ‘take it easy’
Oh, but your loving is much too strong.”

Of course, the heart wants what it wants but so many times it totally fucks messes you up.

 Also appears on 🔽:

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2. Anthony Hamilton, “You Made a Fool of Me”

🎵 “You Made a Fool of Me” • 🏷  My Music Box / BMG Rights Management • 📅  2021

On 🎵  “You Made a Fool of Me”, 🏆  Grammy-winning R&B standout 🎙 Anthony Hamilton oozes with soul and heartbreak. “You Made a Fool Me” is lushly produced, sounding idiomatic of both the neo-soul and adult contemporary vein of R&B.  Especially for us old souls, this is incredibly refreshing in 2021.  “You Made a Fool of Me” possesses the kind of production (🎛   Jermaine Dupree and 🎛  Ramon Montgomery) that always perfectly fuels the fire of Anthony Hamilton.  As always, Anthony gives an authentic, expressive, heartfelt, and nuanced performance.

One thing I’ve always ‘hearted’ about Mr. Hamilton is how he truly ‘gives his all’ in each and every performance.  Here, it is especially easy to do so given the circumstances constructed via the songwriting (Hamilton, Dupree, Montgomery, and 🎼  ✍  Manuel Seal).  Honestly, as the title suggests, [She] “made a fool of” [Him] and doesn’t care about him the way he cared about her.  It’s a classic case of unrequited love as well as C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G since she slept with another man – scandalous!  Hamilton perfectly captures the pain of his heartbreak on this three-and-a-half-minute contemporary soul gem. “You Made a Fool of Me” gives Hamilton another gem where he masterfully preserves the sanctity of soul music.  Everything feels right about this cut: the vocals, the lyrics and theme, and of course, the production.  Even if that weren’t enough, the vibe – the aesthetic – is absolutely awesome.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧  Fool: 3BOPS No. 28 (2021)

3. Kali Uchis, “Feel Like a Fool”

💿  Isolation • 🏷  Virgin • 📅  2018

Retro is the middle name of 🎵 “Feel Like a Fool,” the penultimate gem from 💿 Isolation.  Isolation, of course, is the 2018 debut album by R&B artist 🎙 Kali Uchis.  The key song from Isolation is “After the Storm,” a single that featured assists from Tyler, The Creator and Bootsy Collins.  “Feel Like a Fool, which follows it in the track list, doesn’t receive the same acclaim and love, but it’s still a pretty sweet track from a well-rounded album.

Most of “Feel Like a Fool” could’ve flown back in the 70s, arguably the best period for soul. Horns and strings within the production? Yes please! 🎛 Josh Crocker puts in work behind the boards for sure. However, Uchis’ ‘salty’ language on the second verse – well – it’s a product of more explicit times, of course.

“Love you for being sick and twisted
But pussy is a hell of an addiction
My heart went through a shredder
The day I learned about your baby mothers
‘Cause you’re a grown ass man, now you should know better
But I still run all my errands in your sweater
'Cause the truth is such a pain, too horrible to name
They say don't blame the player, but he played the game.”

Pussy? Grow-ass man? Egad! Those old-school artists just couldn’t do that, and it’s not like Uchis gets extremely filthy…  no s-bombs or f-bombs, sigh.

4. Elvin Bishop, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”

💿 Struttin’ My Stuff • 🏷 The Island Def Jam Music Group • 📅 1975

“I must have been through about a million girls / I’d love ‘em then I’d leave ‘em alone…” Well, haha. If you have never heard the blues-rock, country-soul classic 🎵  “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” you’re totally missing out.  The song hails from 🎙  Elvin Bishop, appearing on his 1975 album, 💿  Struttin’ My Stuff.  Here’s the thing though.  For years, I thought that awesome, nuanced vocalist was Bishop himself.  WRONG! The talented vocalist who brings this terrific gem to life is 🎙  Mickey Thomas, who sang in Bishop’s band.

Thomas definitely sings the absolute [expletive of choice] out of “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” Not only does he have a great melody and lyrics to work with, but also the music accompanying him is heavenly.  I mean, if heaven where a song, I’d like to think that “Fooled round and Feel in Love” would be one of the options.  The musicianship from the starting tip until the ending is awesome.  And yes, while I was blown away by the revelation that Bishop wasn’t the singer, he did write this absolutely fabulous song.  Also, the guitar skills – pretty sweet!

“But then I fooled around and fell in love
I fooled around and fell in love...”

5. Ashanti, “Foolish”

💿  Ashanti • 🏷  Murder Inc. • 📅  2002

Like so many successful musicians, 🏆  Grammy-winning R&B artist 🎙  Ashanti has seen her popularity wane.  But let’s not forget, Ashanti had an incredibly successful run in the early aughts. Honestly, there was nothing ‘foolish’ about her chart-topping single, 🎵  “Foolish” from her 💿  self-titled debut album.  Honestly, “Foolish” was a huge – HUMONGOUS!  While Ashanti would lose the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, the fact that this no. 1 hit was nominated should tell you all you need to know about its impact.

“Foolish” was produced by the team of 🎛 7 Aurelius and 🎛 Irv Gotti.  Like a lot of contemporary R&B at the time, the record makes use of sampling, including the DeBarge classic, 🎵 “Stay with Me”.  This is perfect fuel for Ashanti’s fire, as she informs us, “My days are cold without you / But I’m hurting while I’m with you / And though my heart can’t take no more / I’ keep on running back to you.” Sounds like foolishness to me, but of course, the heart wants what it wants right? Beyond the chorus, which appears at the top, Ashanti continues details the issues with the relationship, singing, “And though my heart is beating for you, I can’t stop crying.” Quite a contradiction to say the least.  Right or not, her pain is our listening pleasure. #Schadenfreude… well, sort of.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧  Fool: 3BOPS No. 28 (2021)

6. Troye Sivan, “Fools”

💿  Blue Neighbourhood • 🏷  Universal Music • 📅  2015

“I am tired of this place; I hope people change / I need time to replace what I gave away…” Deep! 🎵 “Fools,” is a highlight from 💿  Blue Neighbourhood, the debut album by 🎙  Troye Sivan.  “Fools” features exceptional production work from 🎛  SLUMS, 🎛  Alex JL Hiew, and 🎛  Pip Norman.  Furthermore, there are solid vocals by Sivan and fine songwriting (Sivan, Norman, and 🎼  ✍  Alex Hope).

“Fools” is about making the mistake of falling in love and ultimately making a bad investment.  Sivan does a fantastic job of depicting himself as having “stars in his eyes” but coming to the realization that he was indeed foolish – a fool.  There is a clear sentiment of escapism, which ties in with a traditional broken relationship, a very relatable topic.

“I see swimming pools and living rooms and aeroplanes
I see a little house on the hill and children’s name...
But everything is shattering and it’s my mistake...
Only fools fall for you ...”

7. Rick Ross, “Act a Fool”

Ft. Wale

💿  Port of Miami 2 • 🏷  Epic • 📅  2019 

After surviving a fight for his life, 🏆  Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Rick Ross returned with his tenth studio album, 💿  Port of Miami 2, in 2019.  Port of Miami 2, of course, serves as the sequel to his 2006 debut, Port of Miami.  Ross kicks things off with our song at hand, banger 🎵 “Act a Fool.”  “Tell me right now, nigga, whatchu wanna do?” he asks on the chorus, continuing, “20 billboards in the city, who the fuck is you? / I DM all of your bitches when I’m in the mood.” Okay…

“Act a Fool” doesn’t reinvent the wheel for Ross by any means, but it sounds malicious in regard to production (🎛  Beat Billionaire), is chocked-full of braggadocio, and finds 🎙  Wale providing the assist on the third verse.  All in all, it’s typical Rick, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧  Act: 5ive Songs (2021) No. 4

8. Fleet Foxes, “Fool’s Errand”

💿  Crack-Up • 🏷  Nonesuch • 📅  2017 

“Blind love couldn’t win / as the facts all came in / But I know I’ll again chase after wind / What have I got if not a thought?” Poetic, poetic, POETIC! 🎵  “Fool’s Errand,” the second single from 🎙  Fleet Foxes’ 2017 album, 💿  Crack-Up, provides the listener with an approachable moment.  Providing some context, Crack-Up was one of the most complex albums of 2017 – a lot to digest.  That said, it also marked one of the truly elite efforts released as well. The record is not simplistic, but there’s more of a straight-forward sensibility compared to other selections.

“It was a fool’s errand
Waiting for a sign
But I can’t even leave until the sight comes to mind
A fool’s errand.”

“Fool’s Errand” is radiant through and through, particularly the lead vocals of 🎙  Robin Pecknold. The closing stands out in particular.  Near the four-minute mark, there are chilling, a cappella vocal harmonies, sung softly on “ooh.” An enigmatic piano ultimately concludes this fine number.

9. Jazmine Sullivan, “My Foolish Heart”

💿  Fearless • 🏷  J • 📅  2008

When it comes to 💿  Fearless, the debut album by 🎙  Jazmine Sullivan, the first song that comes to mind is 🎵  “Bust Your Windows”.  Hey, it is her ‘ace in the hole.’  The second song that comes to mind from Fearless? Probably 🎵  “Need U Bad”.  My point is, there are a number of songs that come to mind before the foolish song at hand, 🎵 “My Foolish Heart.” Despite the fact that “My Foolish Heart” comes in vastly underrated, it’s as good as everything else on Fearless.

Much like the majority of the album, Jazmine Sullivan looks to the past for her inspiration.  “My Foolish Heart” isn’t anachronistic, but it thrives off its neo-soul sound (produced by 🎛  Ivan Barias and 🎛  Calvin Haggins). It’s fitting of course, given that Jazmine is a Philly girl.  Anyways, here, the soulfully charged Sullivan is open about her foolishness, falling in love with no-good, heartbreaking son of a…

“My foolish heart it made me fall in love with him
I know it goes with how it’s feeling
...My foolish heart was broken when he left us in the cold
Now I’m left to fix the piece.”

Yep, that’s how it goes Jaz’, sigh.  At least, on the chorus, she asserts, “I won’t let you keep hurting me, I’m ‘bout to take you out the game.”

10. ZAYN “fOoL fOr YoU”

💿  Mind of Mine • 🏷  RCA • 📅  2016

“Cause I’m a fool for you and the things you do / I’m a fool for you and the things, the things you do …” Ballad 🎵  “fOoL fOr YoU” (what’s with the stylization) stands tall among the best of 💿  Mind of Mine, the 2016 debut album by former 🎙  One Direction member, 🎙  ZAYN (Zayn Malik).  Here Malik delivers one of his best, most heartfelt vocal performances.  This is a prime example of how gifted he truly is.

As far as the songwriting is concerned, ZAYN does a fine job of conveying matters of the heart.  The chorus (aforementioned) isn’t particularly complex mind you, but it is certainly heartfelt.  On the verses, it may not be a poetic tour de force, but there are some lovely lyrics, beginning with:

“This love is tainted; I need you and I hate it
You’re caught between a dream and a movie scene
In a way, you know what I mean
When the dark turns to mist, I just can’t resist it.”

The production (🎛  XyZ) is definitely fitting.

11. Shawn Mendes “Don’t Be a Fool”

💿  Illuminate • 🏷  Island • 📅  2016

“And don’t be a fool / And wait on me, darling / I know that you don’t wanna hear this / But I’m always on the move.” 🏆  Grammy-nominated pop superstar 🎙  Shawn Mendes showed heightened maturity on his single, 🎵  “Don’t Be a Fool”, which appears on his 2016 sophomore album, 💿  Illuminate. Vocally, Mendes sounds fantastic, showcasing the sheer radiance of his instrument. He infuses every ounce of passion, which is shown through the rasp and earnestness of his voice.

The Canadian heartthrob wrote “Don’t Be a Fool” alongside 🎼  ✍  Geoffrey Warburton and 🎼 ✍  Scott Harris. 🎛  Jake Gosling produces the joint, which sounds old-school – a bluesy, R&B record. It should feel totally anachronistic, but Mendes makes it sound ripe and relevant. The use of background vocals only amplifies the soulfulness. Those runs by Mendes are nothing short of amazing.

“I don’t think you’ll ever understand
I know that you don’t wanna hear this
But darling, please don’t be a fool.”

12. CeeLo Green, “Fool for You”

Ft. Philip Bailey or Melanie Fiona

💿  The Lady Killer • 🏷  Elektra • 📅  2010

“Well, that real, that deep, that burning / That amazing, unconditional insufferable love.” Say that 🎙  CeeLo Green, say that! The 🏆  Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter shined throughout the course of his 2010 album, 💿  The Lady Killer.  While the song at hand, 🎵 “Fool for You,” marks one of the better moments, it’s certainly eclipsed by the crowning achievement, 🎵 “Fuck You”.  Still, this isn’t about the middle-fingered gem, but rather the utterly foolish one!

Like much of The Lady Killer, “Fool for You” features excellent production work, in a neo-/retro-soul (🎛  Jack Splash). This gives CeeLo a superb backdrop to sing over.  Honestly, he’s at his best when working with an old-school production. His vocals are terrific, particularly his upper register. I truly heart the jagged quality of his vocals at the front of the verse. Of course, the vocals by the iconic 🎙  Philip Bailey (🎙  Earth Wind & Fire) provide a lift as well. Worth noting, the single version of “Fool for You” features 🎙  Melanie Fiona instead.  Of course, CeeLo is the star (as he should be), and does a marvelous job conveying his infatuation for her.  He’s a fool!

“I’m a fool
Such a fool
I’m a fool for you baby
... Please be tender, and have mercy on me
Have mercy
Have a little mercy on me.”

13. The Doobie Brothers, “What a Fool Believes”

💿  Minute by Minute • 🏷  Warner • 📅  1978

“But what a fool believes, he sees / No wise man has the power to reason away.” One of the more soulful pop groups you’ll encounter in music history are 🎙  The Doobie Brothers. These dudes can just flat out ‘sang.’ Of course, one of the key pieces of is none other than 🎙  Michael McDonald, who many of us still can’t believe he’s white, haha.  Why? Because the man is soul-a-fied to the nth degree, particularly handling those lead vocals on the song at hand, 🎵 “What a Fool Believes.” “What a Fool Believes” ranks among the most popular songs by the collective, hailing from their 1978 classic, 💿  Minute by Minute.  Worth noting, Doobie Brothers won the highly coveted 🏆  Grammy for Record of the Year, rightfully for this masterpiece. 

“What a Fool Believes” is epic for a host of the reasons.  As aforementioned, when Michael McDonald is your lead vocalist, nothing else need to be said.  Add in incredibly vocal harmonies from the rest of the group, and heaven just might be a Doobie Brothers song – being honest! Beyond the vocals, add the production work (🎛  Ted Templeton), which is quite compelling in its own right.  It’s a fine combination of soft rock and blue-eyed soul with the keys, guitar, bass, and drums.  Of course, the final piece of the puzzle is the songwriting (McDonald and 🎼  ✍  Kenny Loggins).  The verses are sweet, capturing the tale of these two lovers.  The pre-chorus incredibly tuneful, as McDonald asserts, “She had a place in his life / He never made her think twice…” Of course, the centerpiece is the chorus, excerpted at the top and continued in all its glory below:

“... What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
Than nothing at all.”

Also appears on 🔽 :

🔗 🎧  Fool: 3BOPS No. 28 (2021)

14. Chance the Rapper, “Zanies and Fools”

Ft. Nicki Minaj

💿  The Big Day • 🏷  Chance the Rapper • 📅  2019

“It’s possible / It’s possible / It’s possible…” 🎵  “Zanies and Fools” is ‘quite a sight’ to hear – ear catching to say the least! 🎙  Nicki Minaj drops an entertaining verse on this stand out from 💿  The Big Day, the debut studio album from 🏆  Grammy-winning rapper, 🎙  Chance the Rapper. Yep, Chance earned his statues prior to releasing his debut album, which ultimately paled in comparisons to his mixtapes.  It happens… I guess…

Back to the trip that is “Zanies and Fools,” though. Before Nicki gets into the act, there is a slow intro that transforms into quite a zany listening experience. The production (Chance the Rapper, 🎛  Peter CottonTale, 🎛  Nico Segal, 🎛  Nate Fox, 🎛  Greg Landfair, 🎛  Dwayne Verner Jr., and 🎛  Carter Lang) is awesome. Chance is on autopilot, dropping incredibly agile, compelling bars.

“I turn to Casper any time a nigga turn on the slide
Until I turned up at the talent show, a permanent high
I had Jesus behind the wheel before I learned how to drive
‘Cause it's poss’...”

While The Big Day is an album that earned mixed reviews at best, the unique “Zanies and Fools” is a fantastic way to ends things, at least contextually.  In terms of gracing this list, well, it definitely fits given its foolish ways. 

15. The Main Ingredient, “Everybody Plays the Fool”

💿  Bitter Sweet • 🏷  RCA • 📅  1972

In case you needed to know, “Everybody plays the fool, sometime / There’s no exception to the rule.” Facts, courtesy of classic soul collective, 🎙  The Main Ingredient.  Those iconic lyrics, of course, hail from the group’s biggest hit, the 🏆  Grammy-nominated gem, 🎵  “Everybody Plays the Fool.”  There’s nothing ‘foolish’ about this hit, which appears on their 1972 album, 💿  Bitter Sweet. Also, worth noting, another soul icon, 🎵  Aaron Neville, would cover this classic and achieve his own success.  Still, the OG’s of “Everybody Plays the Fool” is none other than The Main Ingredient.

So, what makes “Everybody Plays the Fool” so epic? The production is colorful and incredibly soulful – certainly idiomatic of the smooth, sleek 70s sound (piano, robust bass, winds, strings, etc.).  The vocals are elite – shout out 🎙  Cuba Gooding, Sr..  The lyrics are relatable, capturing that foolishness we all experience at some time with love. “Oh, heaven on earth is all you see,” goes the second verse, continuing, “You’re out of touch with reality / And now you cry, but when you do / Next time around, someone cries for you.” Of course, the chorus nails it, continuing from earlier, “Listen baby / “It may be factual, may be cruel / I wanna tell you that / Everybody plays the fool.”  FACTS!