911 🚨… | 5ive Songs

On the 14th edition of 5ive Songs, we select five songs that reference the famous (or perhaps infamous) emergency 911 🚨 in their titles. 

On 5ive Songs, we (I) keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff.  There’s a topic, five songs, and a short blurb that doesn’t exceed a paragraph.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On this edition of 5ive Songs, we select five songs that reference the famous (or perhaps infamous) emergency 911 in their titles.

1. Trevor Daniel, “911”

Nicotine • Alamo / Interscope • 2020

“911, it’s an emergency / She on fire, she’s summertime / Like kryptonite, weak in the knees…” Some things are just universal, and that’s exactly what Trevor Daniel captures on “911” from his debut album, Nicotine. There’s an emergency, but it’s not a medical emergency. ‘She’ is the culprit in this case, because she’s got Trevor feeling some type of way.

On the chorus, he continues, “She got me tongue-tied / Is she the type to be down and ride / ‘Til the day I die? Yeah, yeah.” Yep, the man is in his feeling.  But hey, what better way to sing about an emergency than being backed by smooth guitars and a pretty sweet urban beat.

2. Tyler, The Creator, “911 / Mr. Lonely”

Ft. Frank Ocean & Steve Lacy

Flower Boy • Columbia • 2017

“(Call me) / 911, call me some time / (You should call me) …” In 2017, Tyler, the Creator dropped one of the best albums of his career, Flower Boy. Among many highlights from Flower Boy is the two-part record, “911 / Mr. Lonely”. Focusing on “911,” it’s smoother than “Mr. Lonely.”

Tyler is assisted by Steve Lacy and Frank Ocean, yet, remains the star.  On the first verse in particular, he delivers some killer pop culture references and wordplay. As for “Mr. Lonely,” it goes harder.

3. Lady Gaga, “911”

Chromatica • Interscope • 2020

“911” boasts one of the best, most inescapable beats on Chromatica, period.  In the context of the album, it’s a continuation of “Fun Tonight.” Sure, Lady Gaga wasn’t having fun then, and the case is similar here, sigh. On the chorus, the Grammy-winner asserts, “My biggest enemy is me, pop a 911 / My biggest enemy is me ever since day one.”

With the verses providing some insight, and the chorus summing up the singer’s mental health and such, backtrack to the pre-chorus to hear some sick falsetto.  While the melody is simple on the pre-chorus, it works fabulously.

4. R3HAB & Timmy Trumpet, “911”

“911” • CYB3RPVNK • 2020

“911, I’m a fire / This damn place ‘bout to light up / 911, I’m a fire / Evacuate, evacuate.” The brief but scintillating “911” arrives courtesy of R3HAB and Timmy Trumpet. Here, the listener is bestowed with energetic, enthusiastic, and exuberant production. That’s certainly the expectation from a dance/electronic track, not to mention one featuring two producers at the helm. Of course, there are also numerous writing credits, also responsible for the lyrics.

The uncredited vocals are assertive and bright, all the while seeking escape from a ‘disaster’: “My moves are super sick (Hey) / I need a doctor quick (Hey) / This is an S.O.S (Hey) / I need assistance fast.” Disaster indeed! 😏

5. Rick Ross, “911”

God Forgives, I Don’t • The Island Def Jam Music Group • 2012

“I bow my head, I pray to God / Survival of the fittest: help me hold my chopper lord / If I die today, on the highway to heaven / Can I let my top down in my 911?” Unlike the other musicians on this list, Rick Ross is more focused on his Porsche 911 than 9-1-1.

Even so, Ross does reference the emergency number, in addition to the date (September 11) as well. “911” is a must-hear banger from his 2012 album, God Forgives, I Don’t.  “911” features badass production with malicious synths and hard-nosed drum programming anchoring things TF down. It runs a tad long at five-and-a-half minutes, but hey, Rick is on autopilot.

911… 5ive Songs No. 14 [Photo Credits: Alamo, Brent Faulkner, Columbia, CYB3RPUNK, Interscope, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Pixabay]