21 Randomly Curated, Amazing A Songs

Reading Time: 24 min read

21 Randomly Curated, Amazing A Songs features songs by bbno$, Doechii, Grant & Ash, Lady Gaga, Teddy Swims, and Sexyy Red.

Ah, ‘A,’ the first letter of the alphabet! It all begins with this alluring, amazing, and awesome letter! In music, A is a big deal too – the note used to tune, particularly the orchestra. Within this musical compendium, we celebrate the power of A via A songs. It is not the first time The Musical Hype has unveiled alphabetically themed list. We’ve ‘A-ed’ it up before BUT, it has been a minute… years! But guess what? We are bringing the ABCs back, beginning with – you guessed it – A! Each of the 21 songs that appear on 21 Randomly Curated, Amazing A Songs must begin with an a-word – no exceptions, no exceptions, no exceptions! 21 Randomly Curated, Amazing A Songs feature songs by bbno$, Doechii, Grant & Ash, Lady Gaga, Teddy Swims, and Sexyy Red. So, without further ado, let us all embrace the power of A on 21 Randomly Curated, Amazing A Songs! It’s giving a heaping dose of effin’ A!

~ Table of Contents ~

1. Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”	2. Teddy Swims, “Are You Even Real” (Ft. Giveon)	3. Doechii, “Anxiety”	4. Tommy Richman, “ACTIN UP”
5. Lucy Dacus, “Ankles”	6. Miguel, “Always Time”	7. Kehlani, “After Hours”	8. GRANT KNOCHE, “AUTOPILOT”
9. Addison Rae, “Aquamarine”	10. Matt Maltese, “Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow”	11. Sexyy Red, “Awesome Jawsome”	12. bbno$, “antidepressants”
13. Grant & Ash, “A Twink and a Redhead”	14. Lynks, “ABOMINATION”	15. Christina Aguilera, “Ain’t No Other Man”	16. The Kid LAROI, “APEROL SPRITZ”
17. Janet Jackson, “Any Time, Any Place”	18. Isaac Dunbar, “Apartment A”	19. Ben Platt, “Andrew”	20. Pastor Mike Jr., “Amen”
21. CeCe Winans, “Alabaster Box”

1. Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”

MAYHEM // Interscope // 2025

“Like a poem said by a lady in red / You hear the last few words of your life /With a haunting dance, now you’re both in a trance / It’s time to cast your spell on the night.” Well, that’s fascinating, Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta)! The award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress put her dancing shoes on in “Abracadabra”, the ‘magical’ third single from her seventh studio album, MAYHEM. Lady Gaga, watt (Andrew Watt), Cirkut (Henry Walter), John McGeoch, Pete Edward Clarke, Steven Severin, and Siouxsie (Susan Janet Ballion) penned “Abracadabra.” “Abracadabra” interpolates “Spellbound” by Siouxsie and the Banshees. Gaga, watt, and Cirkut produced it.

“Abracadabra” features some sickening dance music cues. An electrifying groove helps “Abracadabra” cook. Also, the darker tilt of the song, alongside the minor key, makes it compelling. As always, Lady Gaga brings her ‘A game,’ delivering a personality-laden performance, showing off her powerful pipes. The songwriting is intriguing. “Pay the toll to the angels / Drawin’ circles in the clouds,” she sings in the first verse, continuing, “Keep your mind on the distance / When the devil turns around.” Word. In the refrain, she asks to “Save me from this empty flight / In the game of life.” Life is a key component of “Abracadabra.” Melodically, the song is colorful, particularly with accidentals that give it a Dorian flavor. The section to be is the Infectious, tuneful chorus with some nonsensical syllables in the mix:

“Abracadabra, amor-oo-na-na

Abracadabra, morta-oo-ga-ga

Abracadabra, abra-oo-na-na”

In her tongue she said, ‘Death or love tonight’.”

In “Abracadabra”, Lady Gaga remains true to herself and the artist we’ve come to know and love. It is another welcome addition to her catalog.

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2. Teddy Swims, “Are You Even Real” (Ft. Giveon)

I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) // SWIMS Int. / Warner // 2025

“Are you even real / Or did I make you up?” Teddy Swims (Jaten Dimsdale) asks in the first verse of “Are You Even Real”, a single from I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2). “How could someone like you / Wanna give me love?” Word. Dimsdale taps Grammy-nominated R&B artist GIVĒON (Giveon Evans) for the assist on this soulful ballad. Set in a lilting, compound duple meter, the aesthetic is old-school. The drum groove and big bass line are big boosts on this Peter Thomas and Julian Bunetta-produced gem. Swims delivers marvelous, smooth vocals. He ‘draws first blood,’ showing off the magnificence of his instrument. This includes ripe falsetto and top-notch ad-libs. GIVĒON is a force too, contrasting Sims with his deeper voice in the second verse: “I can feel the rush / Even when you slow-dance for me / Lookin’ at you layin’ right there / Are you from this world? I swear.” There is more punch instrumentally during Giveon’s verse, upping the energy level. Like Swims, his vocal ad-libs are glorious. The section to beat is the chorus:

“Tell me

Are you? Are you?

…Made up in my head, or are you in my bedroom

Questions that I ask ever since I met you

…Questions that I ask every time that I wake up.”

“Are You Even Real” is a bop.

Appears in :

13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus (2025)

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3. Doechii, “Anxiety”

Alligator Bites Never Heal (Extended) // Top Dawg Entertainment, LLC / UMG Recordings, Inc. // 2025

“Anxiety, keep on tryin’ me / I feel it quietly / Tryin’ to silence me, yeah.” Wait, Doechii… “Anxiety” sounds familiar for a couple of reasons. Notably, it samples a prominent, Grammy-winning one-hit-wonder, “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra. “Anxiety” also sounds familiar because Sleepy Hallow released a song named, “A N X I E T Y”? Notably, Doechii was sampled in the Sleepy Hallow song. Her song dates back to 2019. This is the official, finished version. It was written by Doechii, Luiz Bonfá, and, unsurprisingly, Gotye. Gotye is also credited as the producer.

Doechii delivers a compelling performance over that familiar, indie-pop backdrop that charmed the world ‘back when.’ She sings the chorus, which is one of the best parts of the song (excerpted above). Still, Doechii’s bread is buttered with her rapping. When she begins rapping, her cadence and flow is electrifying. She kicks off the first verse with fun wordplay: “Solo, no mojo / I bounce back, no pogo / Unhappy, no homo / New brands, no logos.” Word! The end of the verse is equally intriguing: “Okay, next thing, my life is a wet dream / I call it a sex scene, the back is a nice tease.” The second verse is alluring as well, referencing Florida, water, and memorably spitting, “No limits, no borders / What’s in that new world order? Marco (Marco), Polo (Polo)…”. In the bridge, she mentions her anxiety, bringing out the anxiousness to a tee in the chorus. Doechii continues to show her range and talent in “Anxiety”.

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4. Tommy Richman, “ACTIN UP”

“ACTIN UP” // ISO Supremacy. / PULSE / Concord // 2025

“Bend it over, break it down, back it up / I just got you a flight, a couple thou’, don’t gas me up (Ah) / And now you think the world is in your hands, you’re actin’ up.” Ooh-wee! “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” extraordinaire Tommy Richman went ‘back to the drawing board’ following a flop of a debut album, COYOTE. The good news is that “ACTIN UP” is a mean hip-hop banger. Bobby Banks, Gio Vaun, Kavi, and Jonah Roy produced the single with its trap stylings, Soulja Boy-lifted steel pans, and distorted drum programming. The minimalist, skeletal backdrop is a fitting canvas for Richman, muddy mix and all. There is nothing profound about “ACTIN UP.” Richman is on his rap shit, dropping his fair share of f-bombs. In the first verse, two fuckin’ things happen: “I gotta stay alive for my fuckin’ soulmate,” and “I’ll tell you, that’s the fuckin’ story.” In the second verse, he drops on bomb at the end: “I gotta cut a tie, baby, fuck for with what it is.” Sure… The second half of the chorus (excerpted at the top) speaks to the vibe:

“Yeah, my bitch is bad as fuck, and I got you mad as fuck

You sayin’ you’re the highest in the club right now (Ah)

I think I’m gon’ forget it, it’s a dub right now.”

“ACTIN UP” is enjoyable without being game changing.

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5. Lucy Dacus, “Ankles”

Forever Is A Feeling // Lucy Dacus / Geffen // 2025

“What if we don’t touch? / What if we only talk / About what we want and cannot have?” Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus establishes a high bar on “Ankles” early on. “And I’ll throw a fit / If it’s all I can do,” she continues singing in the love-oriented first verse. “Ankles” is a promo single and the third track from Dacus’ fourth studio album, Forever Is A Feeling. Dacus penned it, producing alongside Blake Mills.

“Ankles” features an ear-catching, driving, rhythmic strings from the onset. Besides the strings, plenty of excellent rhythmic lines contribute to the colorful vibes of the musical accompaniment. “Ankles” is anchored by a solid groove. The backdrop is perfect for Dacus, who delivers a cool, calm, and collected vocal performance. She never gets too high or too low. She never sounds like she never even thinks of breaking a sweat. Expectedly, the songwriting is top-notch. “Agent of chaos, angel of death / One of three ancient fates,” she sings the poetic lyrics in the second verse, adding, “Playing with your scissors again.” Beyond radiant vocals and elite songwriting, the melodies are tuneful, particularly during the chorus:

“Pull me by the ankles to the edge of the bed

And take me like you do in your dreams

I’m not gonna stop you

I’m not gonna stop you this time, baby.”

The excellence of “Ankles” speaks for itself. Dacus continues to be one of the best songwriters of the 21^st century.

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6. Miguel, “Always Time”

“Always Time” // ByStorm Entertainment / RCA // 2024

“Broken glass, piercing words / It change so fast, yeah, it hurts.” From the beginning of “Always Time” Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Miguel (Miguel Pimentel) ‘keeps it real.’ He is authentic, honest, transparent, and vulnerable. He continues singing in the first verse, “Rocky past, lessons learned / Don’t say it’s too late, I thought there was always time.” Pimentel produced the reflective song alongside Jeff Bhasker, David Andrew Sitek, Ray Brady, and Jerry Duplessis. The second verse is similar to the first, finding Miguel reflective of his experiences. He does not go into details but sings with incredible expression and nuance – you can ‘read between the lines.’ In the chorus, the centerpiece, he sings, “When you love this hard / And you fight this hard / But it’s still not enough / Maybe this time love means / Letting go, letting go, letting go.” Perhaps, Miguel, perhaps. In addition to a strong vocal performance – his upper register is gorgeous, while the vocal effects are cool – and personal lyrics, the musical accompaniment is another selling point. It consists primarily of guitar and programming (strings), with percussion arriving in the final seconds. “Always Time” finds Miguel sounding as fresh as he did when he entered the game years back.

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7. Kehlani, “After Hours”

Crash // TSNMI / Atlantic // 2024

“After Hours” appears on Crash, the fourth studio album by Grammy-nominated R&B artist Kehlani. A terrific groove is established at the onset. Notably, “After Hours” samples “Coolie Dance Rhythm” by Cordel “Scatta” Burrell. Fun fact: “Coolie Dance Rhythm” was also sampled in the 2004 Nina Sky hit, “Move Ya Body”. With an electrifying instrumental supporting them, Kehlani brings the heat. Kehlani serves up clear, sexy vocals. They never over sing, maintaining a cool, calm, and collected approach. Lyrically, “the song isn’t deep but enjoyable – a vibe. “We don’t gotta take it slow / I’ma hit the gas if you’re ready to go,” they sing in the first verse, adding in the second, “We ain’t even know they turned on the lights / We missed the last call ridin’ on a high.” Ooh, we! The section to beat is the tuneful chorus:

“Why don’t you stay?

Stay here after hours

I know you don’t wanna leave

Stay here for after hours.”

All told, “After Hours” is a pleasant, well-rounded, and sexy, pop-oriented R&B cut.

Appears in :

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8. GRANT KNOCHE, “AUTOPILOT”

“AUTOPILOT” // Grant Knoche Music // 2025

“You keep on pulling me close to the passenger side / Don’t think we’ll make it / Let’s put it on / autopilot.” Gen-Z, Dallas-born, LA-based pop singer, songwriter, and producer GRANT KNOCHE is incredibly talented. Knoche (pronounced ka-no-key if this is your “FIRST HELLO” with him) dropped “AUTOPILOT”, which he wrote with Bendik Møller and Jades Goudreault. He produced it.

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A post shared by GRANT KNOCHE (@grantknoche)

“Autopilot / Come and touch on my body / I don’t care who’s watching us.” Ooh-wee! That’s hot! Grant brings the ear candy to “AUTOPILOT,” PERIOD!!! The musical backdrop is fire, with a banging beat, colorful synths, and electrifying keys. This is how modern pop should sound. Vocally, KNOCHE sings calmly, coolly, and collectedly. He never breaks a sweat, even though listening to him sing, makes you sweat. Why? The vocal performance is sensual – titillating to the nth degree. KNOCHE never ‘crosses the line’ from a profanity perspective, but sex is sexing in this fun, three-minute bop: “Pulling up to the [gas] station / Hope there’s nobody home / Cause I’m filling up this tank naked / Let’s get this back on the road.” KNOCHE brings a lot to the table, which is fully displayed on “AUTOPILOT”. Also, that shirtless cover art is hot !

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9. Addison Rae, “Aquamarine”

“Aquamarine” // Columbia // 2024

“Aquamarine / Honey, dive into me / I’m not hiding anymore / I won’t hide.” Addison Rae has a legitimate point in the chorus of “Aquamarine”. Why should she hide who she is? She and everybody else in the world, should be true to who they are. She’s embracing herself while, “transforming and realigning.” Rae penned “Aquamarine” alongside producers Luka Kloser and ELVIRA. “Aquamarine” avoids explicitness but offers up some naughtiness via innuendo. In the first verse, she asserts, “This world is my oyster / Baby, come touch the pearl.” Oh, snap! Beyond that moment, however, she focuses most on living free without constriction. “I’m dancing in my own reflection / I’m the ray of light,” she asserts in the refrain, continuing, “I’m transforming and realigning / I’ll take you with me, high, high, high, high.” “Aquamarine” checks off lots of boxes. The instrumental accompaniment slaps with an infectious, danceable beat and colorful keys and synths. Rae sings well. The personality she exhibits carries the most weight. Sometimes, her vocals are breathy and pitched. At other times, she catches the ears by chanting rhythmically. Ultimately, “Aquamarine” is a surefire vibe. “The world is my oyster / And I’m the only girl.” Woo!

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10. Matt Maltese, “Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow”

“Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow” // Tonight Matthew / The Orchard // 2025

“I picture you naked at the worst time / Eating with my family, playing live / I don’t care for Spain when you’re in Shanghai.” Matt Maltese is crazy about her in his marvelous song, “Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow”. Even at the most inappropriate and inopportune time, he thinks about her particularly physically. The London singer/songwriter composed and produced “Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow.” The song has many positive attributes. The songwriting is terrific. Maltese writes honestly and vulnerably; he’s incredibly relatable. In the centerpiece, the chorus, he sings:

“Anytime, anyplace, anyhow

You’re allowed to call me to your hotel suite

I don’t care who you’re with or where you’ve been

Anytime, anyplace, anyhow

You’re allowed to treat me like a piece of meat

I don’t care if it’s been a year or if it’s been 16.”

Man, oh, man. Beyond the clever songwriting (“I’m apoplectic looking at the stars”), with its dedicated, romantic, and sentimental vibes, Maltese delivers gorgeous, distinct vocals. He sings with incredible expression yet never gets too low or too high. The melodies he brings to life are tuneful from start to finish. The harmonic progression and the musical underpinnings add to the excellence. The production work is stunning; Maltese is backed by gorgeous musical accompaniment. There is a clarinet solo, which you rarely hear in popular music. Matt Maltese ‘put his foot into’ “Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow” capturing longing, love, and lust. Bravo!

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11. Sexyy Red, “Awesome Jawsome”

In Sexyy We Trust // Rebel / gamma. // 2024

“I like dreadheads.” On “Awesome Jawsome”, the bold Sexyy Red expresses her love for those dreadheads and how they ‘do’ her. It doesn’t take long for “Awesome Jawsome,” the 13^th track on In Sexyy We Trust, to get nasty. In the chorus, the St. Louis rapper reveals her cards:

“I like dreadheads (Yeah), I put ‘em on they knees (Ugh)

It’s a barbeque, you got the grill, I got the meat

Gimme that awesome jawsome, suck it, baby, use your teeth (Skee-yee)

Shake your dreads between my legs, do it for a G (Yeah).”

Oh, snap! Holy sugar honey iced tea! The Tay Keith, BlackJackProd, and K RICH produced beat isn’t the only thing Sexyy Red rides! In the first verse, she spits, “Heard the head game was fire, but that dick hella weak / Hate a lame-ass nigga that be fuckin’ offbeat.” Hmm… She goes on to confirm she’s a freak (No shit, Sherlock), asserting, “I ain’t never heard a nigga say that my coochie stink.” Yikes! In the pre-chorus she mentions ‘hair’ down there – we’ll leave it at that! The second verse is kinky too. Sex in the backseat, wood, and blood (“I’m on my period, it’s blood drippin’ down his face”) . Sexyy Red is one of a kind. That is an understatement. As for “Awesome Jawsome”, it’s filthy AF.

Appears in :

Sexyy Red, Awesome Jawsome: Midnight Heat 45 (2024)

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12. bbno$, “antidepressants”

“antidepressants” // bbno$ / Stem // 2025

“I’m on them antidepressants, we feelin’ good today.” Our confident, handsome, and hilarious Canadian rapper/singer bbno$ (Alexander Gumuchian) brings it on “antidepressants”. Gumuchian penned “antidepressants” alongside Ian Roller, Valentine Brunn, and producer dwilly (David Wilson). Brief, it is another ear-catching bop from bbno$.

“Antidepressants” opens lushly, with a fluty, windchime-heavy intro. That is before more intriguing sounds arrive, including menacing synth bass, sickening synths, and pummeling drums. The groove kicks ass and takes names, no cap! As always, bbno$ drops ridiculous, profane rhymes. “Freezing from the ice, I need a peacoat / Yeah, I touch that butt, call me Nеmo,” he raps in the first verse, continuing, “Keep it white outside, Al Pacino / Asics on my feet ’cause I’m a chеap-o.” Ooh-wee! His cadence and flow remain top-notch. His agile rhymes and playful approach are indeed, “the shit,” which he says he is on the infectious chorus:

“I’m on them antidepressants, we feelin’ good today

Watch me make an entrance, yeah, I’m the shit today

Antidepressants, a-a-antidepressants

Watch me make an entrance, yeah, I’m the shit today.”

The second verse is as entertaining as the first, where bbno$ asserts, “She wanna get dick from me, I’m baby no polygamy…” Never change, bbno$. “antidepressants” is not a profound track, nor is it meant to be. But Gumuchian continues to entertain ‘something fierce’ and not take himself too seriously.

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13. Grant & Ash, “A Twink and a Redhead”

A Twink and a Redhead (EP) // ATAARH // 2024

“Name a more iconic duo than / A twink and a redhead.” Word, Grant & Ash. Grant Gibbs is the twink, while Ashley Gill is the redhead. Fittingly, the multitalented duo named this ‘should-be-utterly-cringe’ pop song “A Twink and a Redhead”. It’s not cringe – a bop has been served up! “A Twink and a Redhead” is entertaining from the start. That is an understatement! It is sleekly produced (Drew Louis) and idiomatic of modern pop. The aesthetic is #fabulous! Grant & Ash both wrote this ‘take it with a grain of salt’ song with Louis. Depth is not the modus operandi, but slaying is! This commentary on the single is silly because the song is silly! “There’s just two kinds of personalities / There’s the real, and there’s the fake,” Ash sings in the first verse, with Grant responding sassily, “Pick one, just pick one.” He sings the pre-chorus, stating “It’s simply science.” Ash piques our interest in the second verse, not because of her reference to the Illiad. “Hot people, with hot personalities / Tight pussy and huge cock…” Whoa! In the second pre-chorus, Grant gets his in too – Twink death and a soulless redhead… Maybe his most memorable moment: “You’re the only bitch I’d go straight for.” She must be the shit… The music video ups the ante. It makes you appreciate this novel song even more. Plus, Grant looks fabulous in that crop top – just saying ! If you need a carefree, fabulous, and fun bop, look no further than “A Twink and a Redhead”. This duo is ICONIC!

Appears in :

Grant & Ash, A Twink and a Redhead: Beaming with Pride ️‍ 37 (2024)

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14. Lynks, “ABOMINATION”

ABOMINATION // Heavenly Recordings / [PIAS] // 2024

“I’ve got a confession (Yeah) / And I don’t think it’s likely to land me a place in Heaven.” Uh-oh, Lynks (he/she/they pronouns). What sin could damn the pop artist to hell? “Since age eleven /… I’ve been told I’m a heathen / So you best believe I’m on the guest list for the Armageddon.” Um, can you be more specific on “ABOMINATION” Lynks? “Only lowkey gimp that could make Sean Cody look like a Disney movie.” Yep, it’s sexuality! In this highlight from his 2024 LP, ABOMINATION, church and religion are not his friends. “I walk in the room with the cross and the pews / And my skin burns up like a ginger in June.” Damn. Ultimately, he’s “a godless fool, yeah, it’s pretty old news.” What isn’t old news is how much ass Lynks kicks on “ABOMINATION.” He wrote and produced the track, which thrives because of its electrifying rhymes and sick instrumental. Set in a minor key, the devilishness and sinfulness are alive and well! The big takeaway is about how the LGBTQ+ community finds themselves eternally damned and shunned by churches and religion. Lynks is unhappy with faith-based things, asserting, “It makes me wanna be unsacred.” A ‘holy shit!’ moment occurs when he criticizes God, asserting, “Oh, God, don’t You think it’s a bit hypocritical / You get to love all men,” later adding, “Well, goddamn, my God don’t wanna guard me no more / He said love thy neighbor, but only if they got the opposite genitals.” The British musician also cries foul beyond “Drivin’ evangelicals crazy,” perturbed when:

“Think of a teenager tryna make a blood donation

Turned away based on his orientation

Now every time I see the British Heart Foundation

I’m reminded that I’m an abomination

And my gay blood’s not fit for circulation

Headed face-first straight to damnation

It’s why I try and be sacred (Amen).”

Lynks kills it on “ABOMINATION” which speaks to those who have felt alienated and made to feel less because of their sexual orientation.

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15. Christina Aguilera, “Ain’t No Other Man”

Back To Basics // Sony Music Entertainment // 2006

“I told my mother, my brother / My sister, and my friends / Told the others (Others), my lovers (Lovers) / Both past and present tense (Alright) / That every time I see you, everything starts making sense.” Ooh-wee! Let the church say, YAAS! “Ain’t No Other Man” is the crown jewel of Back To Basics, the 2006 multiplatinum, fifth studio album by five-time, Grammy-winning pop artist, Christina Aguilera. “Ain’t No Other Man” was one of the five Grammys Aguilera received during her career (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). The multiplatinum single peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The primary reason “Ain’t No Other Man” is a bop is the high-flying, gritty vocals by Aguilera. That girl sang her ass off on this one. Sure, Christina has been criticized for over-singing a time or two, but the old-school, neo-soul/vintage pop vibes of “Ain’t No Other Man” (and Back To Basics) are tailor-made for powerhouse pipes. The production by DJ Premier is the sugar honey iced tea, embracing vintage sounds and sampling “The Cissy Thang” by The Soul Seven. The songwriting marks another selling point, with Aguilera and DJ Premier writing alongside Kara DioGuardi, Charles Martin Roane, and Harold Beatty. Christina brings fierceness with her pitch-perfect delivery as well as her personality. “Somethin’ moved me deep inside, yeah / I don’t know what you did, boy, but you had it / And I’ve been hooked ever since.” Oh, snap! The second verse as well as the bridge are electric, but the centerpiece is the chorus. This section alone secured the Grammy for Aguilera:

“Ain’t no other man can stand up next to

Ain’t no other man on the planet does what you do

You’re the kind of guy a girl finds in a blue moon

You got soul, you got class

You got style, you’re badass

Ain’t no other man it’s true

Ain’t no other man but you.”

“Ain’t No Other Man” is one of the best songs in the Christina Aguilera catalog. It is also among the best songs of the 2000s. It’s a BOP-and-a-half!

Appears in :

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16. The Kid LAROI, “APEROL SPRITZ”

“APEROL SPRITZ” // Columbia // 2024

“Ayy, I drink Henn’, she drink Aperol Spritz / Ayy, girl, I promise you ain’t had it like this (Ayy).” She (Tate McRae) was specific in choosing Aperol Spritz as her drink, wasn’t she The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard)? The pop singer also names his brief single “APEROL SPRITZ” (stylized in all caps). Howard penned “APEROL SPRITZ” alongside producers Devin Workman and Nico Baran. As always, he brings ample swagger to the table, asserting, “There’s a whole lotta girls up in here, but / Can’t nobody fuck with my bitch.” The rizz, the rizz, the rizz is on fire! “APEROL SPRITZ” provides a buzz. It is groovy from the beginning. It benefits from a tuneful melody in the chorus. The verses are interesting enough without being earth-shattering. In the first verse, the 21-year-old brags, “And she love me ‘cause I hit it ‘til the sunrise.” Oh, snap! In the second, he asserts, “Take you shoppin’, I’ma spend it on you just for love / I know you told me that you’re scared, but I’ma switch it up ‘cause.” Word. He assures her in the pre-chorus, despite the fineness of her friends, “You don’t gotta worry, baby, you’re mine.” “APEROL SPRITZ” is enjoyable.

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17. Janet Jackson, “Any Time, Any Place”

Janet. // Black Doll Inc // 1993

“In the thundering rain / You stare into my eyes / I can feel your hand / Moving up my thighs.” Oh, snap, Janet Jackson. For good measure, Janet later asserts, “With the lights down low / I was thinking maybe we could / Well, you know.” Yeah, you TOTALLY know! The Grammy-winning pop/R&B artist has long excelled at singing about sex. “Any Time, Any Place”, the 25^th track from her 1993 album, Janet., is a prime example of the sexy, sexual vibes being elevated to the nth degree. On this platinum, no. 2 Billboard Hot 100 hit, co-produced with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, IT can go down anywhere, anytime.

The chorus sums things up perfectly:

“Any time

And any place

I don’t care who’s around

No, no, no, no, no.”

So, Janet is willing to have sex with him anywhere, regardless of privacy? Holy she-it! Prior to the chorus, in the pre-chorus, she makes it clear, “I don’t give a damn what they think,” adding, “You feel so good inside of my love.” Hmm, inside, huh? We’ll leave it at that! As much as a song like “Any Time, Any Place” can be read into, Jackson remains far less explicit than she’d become. Still, she’s certainly not that innocent on this slick, sensual seven-minute record.

Appears in :

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18. Isaac Dunbar, “Apartment A”

Beep Beep Repeat (EP) // RCA // 2024

“Apartment A / I want love, no ricochet / Outside my door / Yeah, Apartment A.” Ooh-wee! “Apartment A” is the opener from Beep Beep Repeat (EP). The talented, underrated Isaac Dunbar has dropped another bop. Even though the Gen-Z musician just turned 21 after releasing “Apartment A” as a single, he’s been active in the music industry since his early teens. Dunbar penned this colorful song with Cary Singer, Matias Mora, and Sizzy Rocket. He also produced it with Mora and Singer.

From the get-go, “Apartment A” is groovy as albeit. This is an energetic, fun, and youthful song. Refreshing, “Apartment A” also recalls the past with funky disco cues. The instrumental accompaniment is the bomb diggity. Dunbar delivers electrifying, personality-filled vocals. This young king slays! The lyrics are a blast. “In Apartment A we found our fame / Taking Polaroid pictures, everybody in frame,” he sings expressively in the first verse. In the second verse, ‘they’ enjoy brunch:

“We woke up at 12:30 and went to the kitchen

He sat on the counter, and I made eggs and bacon

Something about this place is high vibration

Like new religion.”

The lyric to beat occurs in the second pre-chorus, where on a European trip, Isaac asserts, “I want to lose my wallet / Then kiss the bitch who stole it!” “Apartment A” is a song that more people need to be listening to and buzzing about. Also, more people need to ‘get hip’ to the talented, alt-pop force that is Isaac Dunbar.

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19. Ben Platt, “Andrew”

Honeymind // Interscope // 2024

“His hair falls in cool careless waves without tryin’ / Goes days without cryin’ / But still treats me kind.” Oh, “Andrew”! The talented Ben Platt penned the single/third track from his third studio album, Honeymind, alongside Alex Hope. Hope produced the four-minute gem with Dave Cobb. The sound is celestial, giving off folk-pop vibes with instrumentation comprised of guitar, keys, bass, drums, and layered vocals. Platt delivers gorgeous vocals. He sings expressively, with ease, never forcing things. The inspiration is a boy he had a crush on. The songwriting superbly captures Platt’s feelings for him. In the second verse, he sings, “He floats through the air unaware of the damage / A hard right of passage for soft-hearted boys.” The pen game is awesome! See the pre-chorus for more excellence: “One look in his eyes and I’m gone / Helplessly dumb / My senses go numb / My brain is on fire / They say wanting someone is supposed to be fun / That’s because they never loved an Andrew.” The perspective will resonate with many in the LGBTQ+ community, crushing on someone impossible to attain. See the EVERYTHING chorus for clarity:

“Honey, I know there’s no one to blame

But honestly, damn you

It’s just a cruel joke that chemicals play

You don’t wanna kiss me, ‘cause I’m not at all

Like the girls in the posters that hang on your wall

What a time-wasting heartbreak to fall

For an Andrew.”

Notably, the final chorus has a slight variation, but the effect is the same. All told, “Andrew” is a distinct, singer/songwriter pop record by Platt. He deserves plenty of love for this authentic, superbly penned and performed number.

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20. Pastor Mike Jr., “Amen”

“Amen” // Rock City Media Group // 2025

“We gon’ go way, way, way up (It’s up) / I’m so, so full of His love (Full of His love) / I just can’t get, get enough (Yeah).” Gospel musician and minister Pastor Mike Jr. (Michael McClure Jr.) isn’t talking about man’s love, but the love of God in his uplifting 2025 song, “Amen” . McClure Jr., Adia Andrews, David “Dlo” Outing (David Lamar Outing II), and Terrell Anthony Pettus penned “Amen.” Outing, Mr. Wilson On The Beat, and ZAVIER produced it. “Amen” doesn’t sound like your parents’ brand of gospel music. It fuses contemporary urban sounds (rap, hip-hop, and R&B) with gospel cues (keys, organ, choral vocals). But what is unchanged is the positive, spiritual messaging. Pastor Mike Jr. is optimistic throughout “Amen.” Even in arduous situations, he highlights God’s work. “He put you in the dark to see your light work / He died just for you, that’s what your life worth,” he asserts in the first verse, adding, “So go ahead and let your light work, yeah, uh / Just let it shine.” At the end of the second verse, he prudently sings, “I know He may not come when you want Him /… But I’ve lived long enough to know that He’s on time.” The lyrics recall the beloved gospel gem, “On Time God” by Dottie Peoples. The chorus is the centerpiece, where the amens, the confirmation, is abundant.

“So, let the church say

Amen

If you agree with everything He said

… This gon’ be my year (Amen)

I’m blessed (Amen), no stress (Amen)

Everybody around me blessed (Amen)

Say Amen

Amen.”

Pastor Mike Jr. delivers a bop – a meaningful, contemporary gospel bop, that is! “Amen” sound fresh, modern, and most importantly, uplifting!

Appears in :

Pastor Mike Jr., Amen: Music Lifts 4 (2025)

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21. CeCe Winans, “Alabaster Box”

Alabaster Box // Sparrow Label Third Party / Wellspring Gospel // 1999

“The room grew still as she made her way to Jesus /… Some spoke in anger / Heard folks, whisper, ‘There’s no place for her kind.’” Why wasn’t there a place for her kind, CeCe Winans? She was a sinner! Of course, we are all sinners, not just this woman who came to see Jesus. “Alabaster Box” appears on Winans’ 1999 album, also titled, Alabaster Box. It was written by Dr. Janice Sjostran. Christopher Harris produced it. Biblically, the alabaster box appears thrice in the Bible: Matthew 26:7, Mark 14:3, and Luke 7:37. In each scripture, a woman anoints Jesus with an ointment from the alabaster box. Luke specifies she was a sinner. Despite the criticism and ‘side eyes’ she received for being in the presence of Jesus, Jesus acknowledged the devotion and profundity of her act. Winans adds in the first verse, “And though she spoke no words, everything she said was heard / As she poured her love for the Master, from her box of alabaster.”

Mary Magdalene is attributed to the alabaster box. Despite her sin (prostitution), she became a devoted follower of Jesus. In the second verse, Winans speaks of ‘Mary’s’ change because of Him. “And I spent my days, poured my life without measure, into a little treasure box I’d thought I’d found,” she sings, adding, “Until the day when Jesus came to me / And healed my soul with the wonder of His touch.” Mary lived a worldly life, and experienced an awesome change, thanks to Jesus. In the chorus, radiantly, Winans sums up her (Mary’s) love for Him because he is all-knowing, all-powerful, and merciful.

“And I’ve come to pour my praise on Him

Like oil from Mary’s alabaster box

Don’t be angry if I wish His feet with my tears

And dry them with my hair, my hair.”

Winans mentions the sacrifice made, embodying the sinner saved by grace: “You don’t know the cost of the oil / Oh, you don’t know the cost of my praise.” Supported by gorgeous music accompaniment incorporating orchestra (those lush, soaring strings are utterly sublime), CeCe Winans beautifully uplifts us as she testifies about Jesus’ excellence. Perhaps this woman was one of the most sinful ever, but Jesus saved her. And we must all remember that He died for all of our sins. John 3:16 rings true: ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “Alabaster Box” is a Christian music blessing that keeps on giving.

Appears in :

CeCe Winans, Alabaster Box: Music Lifts 46 (2024)

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21 Randomly Curated, Amazing A Songs (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; ATAARH, bbno$, Black Doll Inc, ByStorm Entertainment, Columbia, Concord, gamma., Geffen, Grant Knoche Music, Heavenly Recordings, Interscope, ISO Supremacy., Lucy Dacus, [PIAS], PULSE, RCA, Rebel, Rock City Media Group, Sparrow Label Third Party, Sony Music Entertainment, Stem, SWIMS Int., The Orchard, Tonight Matthew, Top Dawg Entertainment, LLC, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner, Wellspring Gospel; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

21 Randomly Curated, Amazing A Songs | Playlist

Published by the musical hype on March 28, 2025March 28, 2025