A Laudable List of L Songs

Reading Time: 31 min read

A Laudable List of L Songs features songs by Adam Lambert, Al Calderon, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Noah Guy, and Tems.

[nx_dropcap]A[/nx_dropcap]h, ‘L,’ the 12^th letter of the alphabet! Following the A through K songs, L gets its time to shine on A Laudable List of L Songs. Each of the 25 songs that appear on A Laudable List of L Songs begins with an L-word. The only exception is THE preceding the L-word, etc. A Laudable List of L Songs features songs by Adam Lambert, Al Calderon, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Noah Guy, and Tems. So, without further ado, let us all embrace the power of L on A Laudable List of L Songs!

The Alphabet Playlist Series 2025 🔻

~ Table of Contents ~

1. Kyle Allesandro, “Lighter”	2. Billie Eilish, “LUNCH”	3. JENNIE & Dominic Fike, “Love Hangover”	4. GloRilla, “LET HER COOK”	5. Ghost, “Lachryma”
6. Reneé Rapp, “Leave Me Alone”	7.Lil Nas X, “Lean On My Body”	8. Zedd & Remi Wolf, “Lucky”	9. Bentley Robles & ZEE MACHINE, “LOCK ME UP!”	10. Tems, “Love Me JeJe”
11. VINCINT, “Lean”	12. Lizzo, “LEFTRIGHT”	13. Morgan Wallen, “Love Somebody”	14. Halsey, “Lonely is the Muse”	15. Omar Apollo, “Less of You”
16. Noah Guy, “LET U LEAD” (with Billy Lemos)	17. Conan Gray, “Lonely Dancers”	18. Shenseea & Megan Thee Stallion, “Lick”	19. ETHAN, “Like It”	20. Honey Bxby, “Laying In his Bed”
21. Adam Lambert, “Lube”	22. Al Calderon, “Lo100to”	23. The B-52’s, “Love Shack”	24. Divine, “Lately”	25. DeWayne Woods, “Let Go”

1. Kyle Allesandro, “Lighter”

“Lighter” » Warner Music Norway AS » 2025

[nx_pullquote]“Golden girl dressed in ice / A heart as dark as night / You got me to dim my light / No more, (no more).”[/nx_pullquote] Kyle Alessandro will no longer sacrifice himself for a toxic lover. He should have listened to others sooner: “And when everybody tried to tell me / I should’ve known that it was time to break free.” On the exuberant, liberating, minor-key pop record “Lighter”, the 19-year-old Norwegian 🇳🇴 singer/songwriter/producer sings, “Your reigns that kept me at your mercy / I’ll burn them to the ground /…I won’t fall again, I’ll be my own lighter.” That’s the spirit, Kyle! This terrific pop record, with various musical style cues, represents Norway in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Alessandro, Adam Christopher Allskog, and Helgesen Villalobos wrote this worthy contender.

“Somewhere along the way, I lost my mind

I had to walk a hundred thousand miles

I’m not afraid to set it all on fire

I won’t fall again, I’ll be my own lighter.”

Beginning with the chorus, Alessandro sings with more oomph while the musical accompaniment ‘picks up steam,’ too. With some gimmicky “eh-eh-eh-eh,” Alessandro further compels us as he rids the toxicity and reclaims himself. “I feel a spark inside me / I don’t need saving,” he sings, describing himself as “my own lighter.” Beyond the verses and chorus, there is a dynamic bridge where our liberated, talented teen drops a sickening run to lead to the closing choruses. Kyle Alessandro ‘kills it’ on “Lighter”. This young performer with a boyish yet remarkably mature voice is sure to make you beam with pride for many years to come.

Appears in:

Kyle Alessandro, Lighter: Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 No. 28 (2025)

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2. Billie Eilish, “LUNCH”

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT » Darkroom / Interscope » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“I could eat that girl for lunch / Yeah, she dances on my tongue / Taste like she might be the one.”[/nx_pullquote] Academy and Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Billie Eilish is honest regarding attraction and sexuality in her song, “LUNCH”. “I’m interested in more than just bein’ your friend,” she adds in the bridge. “LUNCH” is the second track from her critically acclaimed, third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. An authentic, honest, and personal track, Eilish embraces her queerness. In 2023, she came out unintentionally, stating she didn’t know people were unaware of her attraction to women. Early on “LUNCH,” Eilish is transparent about having a relationship with a woman. She adds in the centerpiece, the chorus, “It’s a craving, not a crush.” The lyric legitimizes her desire – it’s no fluke.

In the verses, Eilish ‘opens up’ about her feelings about this girl. All the while, she maintains the lunch metaphor. “Baby, I think you were made for me / Somebody write down the recipe,” she sings in the first verse, adding, “Been tryin’ hard not to overeat / You’re just so sweet.” Things progress, with Eilish offering to help this girl ‘take off her clothes,’ desiring to “get her off.” In the second verse, she’s impressed with her beautiful looks, complimenting her skin. She cleverly concludes the verse by singing, “She’s the headlights, I’m the deer.” What makes “LUNCH” impressive is how vulnerable Eilish allows herself to be. Navigating sexuality is difficult. That is an understatement! Here, with her amazing, distinct voice and the stellar production of her right-hand man, FINNEAS, Eilish conveys her truth, masking nothing. This “LUNCH” is delicious and makes us beam ear to ear with Pride 🏳️‍🌈.

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3. JENNIE & Dominic Fike, “Love Hangover”

Ruby » Columbia » 2025

[nx_pullquote]“We say it’s over (uh) / But I keep fucking with you (Yeah) / And every time I do, I wake up with this love hangover.”[/nx_pullquote]Wow, JENNIE. They say, ‘honesty is the best policy,’ and the pop singer is honest AF throughout “Love Hangover”, a highlight from her debut album, Ruby. She collaborates with the talented Dominic Fike, where ending a relationship for good doesn’t happen. When she says, “I keep fucking with you,” she’s not lying! Fike, Blaise Railey, Cary Gibert, Devin Workman, Ido Zmishlany, and Megan Bülow penned “Love Hangover.” JENNIE and Ido Zmishlany produced it.

The groove and instrumental riffs on “Love Hangover” are incredibly funky. The bass line is the sugar honey iced tea. An uncertain JENNIE excels with her breathy, upper register, and sexy vocals. “Fight me, fight me, fight me / You made me so unlike me,” she sings in the first verse, adding, “I don’t really mind when you play me / Wanna switch it up, go crazy / I ain’t gonna leave ‘til you hate me.” Wow. Interestingly, the melody has some bluesy moments, which are C-O-O-L. Dominic raps instead of singing, spitting ‘real talk’:

“I had woke up in a daze, my sweat was cold, my lip was cracked

I can’t leave this bitch, I had to single, double triple back

She gon’ leave me, but she wants to keep me on, what’s up with that?”

The chorus, excerpted at the top, is quite catchy, speaking to them continuing to be tethered. Even though it is somewhat quirky, “Love Hangover” is an enjoyable, fun song by JENNIE and Dominic Fike.

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4. GloRilla, “LET HER COOK”

GLORIOUS » CMG / Interscope » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Never gave a damn, I ain’t never gave no fuck / Fell out with them hoes, we ain’t never makin’ up.”[/nx_pullquote] Oh, snap, GloRilla (Gloria Hallelujah Woods)! The Grammy-nominated rapper continues spitting on “LET HER COOK”, “Back for everything I ever lost, I’m on a mission / We turned the whole house into a booth, we in the kitchen.” Instead of oh, snap, it’s more like, oh, shit! “LET HER COOK” is the 13^th track from Woods’ 2024 debut album, GLORIOUS. London Jae, Pooh Beatz, Squat, and Coupe produced this kick-ass banger.

London Jae, Pooh Beatz, Squat, and Coupe give GloRilla a malicious musical backdrop. The instrumental features its fair share of looping but packs a mean punch. An Isaac Hayes sample (“Ike’s Mood I”) ups the ante. Atop the production, GloRilla delivers tough, hard-nosed rhymes. In the first verse, she brags, “Ass done got a lil’ fatter, now these hoes a lil’ madder (Okay) / Head done got a lil’ better, I don’t even think that matter.” Ooh-wee! At the end of the verse, she memorably spits, “My nigga ever cheat on me, I bet we break even, uh / Bitch, your nigga still my nigga, bet he can’t leave me, ho.” In the second verse, she doesn’t ease up on these bi-otches! “Gave you hoes the recipe (I did), can’t get this sauce again (Haha),” she bites, continuing, “Gave them hoes a head start this time, slow-ass bitches lost again (Ugh, on the gang, gang).” The cadence and flow are compelling as hell in this brief banger. The chorus, excerpted earlier, is only infectious as hell – it is infectious as fuck! GloRilla continues:

“Uh, let her cook (Woo)

Big Glo come through fryin’ shit (Hey), let her cook (Okay)

Too much cake, I’ll buy a bitch (On God), let her cook (Uh)

All this sauce, I’m tryin’ shit (Hoo), let me cook.”

It’s safe to say that Gloria Hallelujah Woods, aka GloRilla, cooks on the fierce “LET HER COOK”.

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5. Ghost, “Lachryma”

Skeletá » Loma Vista / Concord » 2025

[nx_pullquote]“I’m done crying / Over someone like you.”[/nx_pullquote] Oh, really, Tobias Forge? “I’m done crying / Hope you’re feeling it too now / I’m done.” Declarative! Grammy-winning Swedish metal band Ghost comes through with a banger: “Lachryma” (Latin for tear). The second single from Ghost’s 2025 album, Skeletá, is jam-packed. Things begin with an enigmatic intro, set initially in B minor. Soon enough, the guitars ‘turn up,’ in all of their distorted glory. The key shifts to D minor. Joining those roaring guitars are pummeling drums hitting you right in the chest. The jagged guitar riffs and drum runs are selling points. Forge delivers strong vocals. While commanding, he never sounds like he forces anything. The melodies are tuneful. The first verse continues in D minor, “Ripping through every poem / Like a vampire should.” Most of the pre-chorus that follows is in D minor, but the last line prepares for the modulation (“I can never run, and I cannot hide”). By the chorus, excerpted earlier, the key shifts to B minor. In the post-chorus (“Crying, crying”), we return to D minor, where we remain for the engaging second verse (“Now that sweet’s gone sour / Seeping down the cracks”). Before the final pre-chorus and chorus, we are ‘blessed’ with a jubilant, harmonized guitar solo. Speaking of harmony, the progression is adventurous throughout “Lachryma”. Listening to the second track from Skeletá, there is no reason to shed a tear unless it’s a tear of joy, listening to the superb musicianship on display.

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6. Reneé Rapp, “Leave Me Alone”

BITE ME » Interscope » 2025

[nx_pullquote]“Leave me alone, bitch, I wanna have fun.”[/nx_pullquote] Woo! Reneé Rapp is locked 🔒 in and loaded from the jump on “Leave Me Alone”, the opener from her 2025 album, BITE ME. The brief single catches on the first time you hear it. “I’m a real bad girl but a real good kisser,” she asserts in the first verse, adding, “Wear my jeans so low, show my little back dimple,” and, “Even line my lips just to match my nipples.” Damn! Rapp co-wrote the infectious, naughty gem with Alexander 23 (Alexander Glantz), Julian Bunetta, Omer Fedi, and Steph Jones. Fedi, Bunetta, and Alexander 23 contributed the brilliant production.

“Leave Me Alone” is striking initially thanks to the badass, sickening beat. Matching the energy of the groove and energetic music backdrop is Reneé Rapp, who brings plenty of attitude. She’s feisty and playful as fu—. “Sign a hundred NDAs, but I still say something / Leave me alone, bitch, I wanna have fun,” she sings in the second verse, continuing boldly, “I took my sex life with me, now the show ain’t fucking / Leave me alone, bitch, I wanna have fun.” Rapp’s vocals are tongue-in-cheek, mixing talk-singing and traditional, pitched vocals. Beyond the song’s most memorable line, the titular lyric, the chorus is tuneful:

“Can I tell you a secret?

I’m so sick of it all (Uh-huh)

Come get wet in the deep end

T-t-t-take it off, c-c-c-cannonball.”

Reneé Rapp ‘does the damn thing’ on the spicy, biting “Leave Me Alone”.

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7. Lil Nas X, “Lean On My Body”

“Lean On My Body” » Columbia » 2025

[nx_pullquote]“How you at the front of the motherfuckin’ crowd with a sad face? / Fix your motherfuckin’ face.”[/nx_pullquote] And thus begins the Lil Nas X single, “Lean On My Body”. Montero Lamar Hill is profane and unapologetic in the spoken word intro. The boldness carries over into the verses, where Hill is aggressive as fu—. He is accompanied by an excellent musical backdrop that includes a hard-nosed beat and scintillating synths courtesy of Take A Daytrip and Jasper Harris.

Lil Nas X talks ample shit. The trash talk is legit. “You know I love you, so I say this shit with love,” he asserts in the first verse, “But please tell your fans they need to shut the fuck up.” In the same verse, he also memorably mentions his nephew beating up someone, co-signing it: “Fuck it, yeah, I said it, I condone that shit / Choke that nigga out /… Go corona on that bitch / Walk that nigga like a dog, nephew, own that bitch.” Wow… The second verse continues boldly with more ferocious rhymes: “Y’all my sons, but I might just Marvin Gaye y’all niggas.” Gah-da-yum, Lil Nas X! The chorus is more reverent, featuring gospel-infused vocals and vibes:

“Lean on my body, Lord (Amen, amen, amen)

Bring blessings on my soul (Amen, amen, amen, amen)

And when the war is over (Thank you!)

See it’s time to tell the world the war is won (Yeah).”

Notably, the kick-ass, hard-hitting beat expands in the post-chorus that follows. Going back to the ‘Christian’ sensibilities, Lil Nas X petitions to God in the outro (“Save me, Lord, they schemin’ on me / Save your love, it’s leanin’ on me”). Lil Nas X remains ‘something else’ on “Lean On My Body”. He remains polarizing.

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8. Zedd & Remi Wolf, “Lucky”

Telos » Interscope » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Even though it still hurts a lot / Would’ve been a lot worse if I stayed.”[/nx_pullquote] Oh, snap! Grammy-winning Russian-German DJ and producer Zedd (Anton Zaslavski) enlisted Remi Wolf for “Lucky”, a single from his third album, Telos, released in 2024. He and Wolf penned “Lucky” with dwilly (David Wilson), ellis (Ellis Lawrie), and Ilya Kozich. Zedd, ellis, and dwilly produced it. After the accompaniment begins rhythmically but sparely, it evolves into a bright, picturesque instrumental. The articulation of the synths and crispness during the drop is striking. Remi has a sick backdrop, delivering robust, expressive lead vocals. She sings a pair of verses about a defunct relationship. Even though she’s still hurting (“Now I’m driving, and every word around me looks like you”), she understands her decision to leave was correct. In the chorus, she admits, “I wanted to catch you / But you pulled me like a magnet /… But you dragged me through the fire.” Even so, she has no regrets “because you taught me a lesson / Now I’m feeling so damn lucky.” Besides her commanding and confident lead vocals, the harmonized background vocals are a treat, too. The drop, in all its infectious and repetitive glory, is the sugar honey iced tea, too (“Lucky, I, I / Now I’m feeling so damn lucky”). Although brief, “Lucky” is an engaging, entertaining, and well-rounded dance-pop cut.

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9. Bentley Robles & ZEE MACHINE, “LOCK ME UP!”

“LOCK ME UP!” » Bentley Robles Music » 2025

So, what happens when Bentley Robles (Bruno Pazzi Robles, he/him pronouns) and ZEE MACHINE (Joe Bissell, he/they pronouns) collaborate? Why, TEARS & GEARZ, of course! Also, sheer queer 🌈 musical excellence! TEARS & GEARZ presents a short but sweet ditty entitled “LOCK ME UP!” that’s locked in from the beginning. Robles, Joe Bissell, and producer FLORIO (Dominic Florio) penned “LOCK ME UP!” From a sound perspective, the music backdrop is bright. The keyboards and synths are scintillating, while the groove ‘kicks ass and takes names.’ “LOCK ME UP!” ‘locks up’ the fact you’ll be moving your body and grooving hard to it. Robles kicks things off with fabulous singing, including ripe falsetto. He shows off the rhythmic, tuneful nature of the melody, which is constructed with great contour. “Gonna light a match in your apartment,” he sings, adding, “And then smile at the flames.” Whoa! During the pre-chorus, the melody remains tuneful, growing more rhythmic (“‘Cause I can’t even look up at the city / Knowing it won’t have us”). As for ZEE MACHINE, he ‘brings the heat’ in the second verse. Here, Bissell provides contrast while (1) upping the ante and (2) also impressing with some sickening falsetto (“It doesn’t feel like no coincidence / I’ve been in heaven every day that you’ve been gone”). The section to beat is the chorus:

“Someone lock me up

This heartbreak has got me drunk

Don’t know how to get unstuck

Erasing where it was, giving me some kind of rush

I won’t get enough, ‘til there’s nothing left but dust

Nothing left of us.”

Oh, snap! All said and done, ‘TEARS & GEARZ’ entices our ears with the brief but entertaining and potent “LOCK ME UP!”. Can you say #SLAY?!

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10. Tems, “Love Me JeJe”

Born in the Wild » RCA / Since 93’ » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Hold me in your arms, in your love and your light.”[/nx_pullquote] Ooh-wee! Grammy-winning Nigerian Afrobeats and R&B singer Tems shines on “Love Me JeJe”. “Love Me JeJe,” which samples the 1997 song, “Love Me JeJe” by Seyi Sodimu is the fifth track on her album, Born in the Wild. “Love Me JeJe” is pleasant and well-rounded. The production by GuiltyBeatz is a selling point. The repurposing of the Seyi Sodimu song bodes in Tems’ favor. The sound is chill and smooth. Furthermore, the rhythmic groove that anchors is lit. Tems delivers beautiful, easygoing vocals. Does she ever break a sweat? Nope, it doesn’t seem like it! The melodies and the verses are tuneful making the ears perk up. Matters of the heart drive the narrative – not surprising given the song title. “I need your lovin’, so fresh, so clean / Love me in and out, unfailingly,” she sings in the first verse, asserting in the pre-chorus, “Because I love, and I love, and I love, and I love you only.” That’s a lot of love! The section to beat is the chorus!

“I’m on your wave right now (wave)

I’m on your wave right now, yeah (wave)

I’m on your vibe now, you got me on your side now, yeah

I’m on your wave right now, woah, woah, woah, yeah.”

“Love Me JeJe” = V-I-B-E.

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11. VINCINT, “Lean”

“LEAN” » VINCINT » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“And you think you’re saving yourself dressed up in all your armor / (But the tougher the skin, deeper the cuts) / You’re standing at the edge, can you take it one step farther?”[/nx_pullquote] The talented VINCINT (Vincint Cannady, they/them) thrills on their dance-pop bop, “LEAN”. Not only is this sleekly produced record a catalyst for dance, but it also provides food for thought. On X (formerly known as Twitter), the musician, who identifies as gay and nonbinary, tweeted, “‘Lean’ is one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve written for this project, it talks about the place where I exist between the binary. I hope it opens something inside of you that’s been screaming for a release.” Thoughtful commentary on a thoughtful song, penned by Cannady and Lara Andersson, and produced by RZY and Skywalk.

VINCINT addresses a potential lover on “LEAN” who seems unable to (1) lean into them (a relationship) and (2) lean into their sexuality. “Is it problems from your past? The father that you had,” Cannady asks, continuing, “That led you to believe / Vulnerability is weak.” The reference to vulnerability is striking, something that many gay men will relate to. Cannady suggests their prospect is sacrificing the beauty that is love. The second verse is patterned similarly: “‘Cause for your letting someone in / Feels like a cardinal sin.” Ugh – another superbly penned lyric that hits you right in the chest. VINCENT wants this person to live without boundaries. Of course, they will support them every step of the way. The chorus sums it up best:

“All you need to do is

Lean into me, lean into me

You can do what you do (Do what you do)

And I’ll help you through (I’ll help you)

Lean in to me, lean into me

Put your heart on the line.”

VINCENT puts their foot into “LEAN”. The vocals are sweet, the melodies tuneful, the message on-point and the production is sleek. This is a pop song that everybody needs to hear regardless of sexuality or gender.

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12. Lizzo, “LEFTRIGHT”

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

The sex and bad bitching ways of MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING, the surprise 2025 mixtape by Grammy-winning, multifaceted artist Lizzo (Melissa Jefferson) continues with “LEFTRIGHT”. “Go left, go right / Go left, right, left, right / My back is achin’, my belt too tight / My booty shakin’ from left to right.” Oh, snap, Melissa! Lizzo gives us a booty-shaking banger where she continues to give zero fuhs! Lizzo co-wrote “LEFTRIGHT” with Pop Wansel and John Morris. Wansel and Ricky Reed produced. From start to finish, she’s confident. “Queen Lizzy, bow down / Fuck ‘round and found out,” she spits in the first verse. Regarding sexual matters, Lizzy asserts, “If he a Gemini ♊️, I might take him to pound town.” More striking than pound town is what she feels: “I can feel it through his denim, that’s a hard launch.” Damn! In the second verse, our self-described baddie continues her badass ways. She’s outside with her gay sons and thot daughters, after all! She’s bad because, “Bitch, I’m from Texas.” This badness – horniness and freakiness – finds her rapping, “Take me back to coochie cutters at the Freaknik / I can throw some ass and make a nigga sea sick / I can feel I through the boxers, baby, it’s big.” Holy shit, I mean, holy dick! In the outro, she hella bad: “I’ma work them cheeks, left, right / Goddamn, daddy, left, right / Up, down, up, down, left right / You would be mad if I left, right?” Ooh-wee! Over a minimalist but potent backdrop, Lizzo puts in some serious work on “LEFTRIGHT”.

Appears in:

Lizzo, LEFTRIGHT: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 54 (2025)

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13. Morgan Wallen, “Love Somebody”

I’m The Problem » Big Loud » 2025

[nx_pullquote]“I just wanna love somebody who won’t leave a hole in my heart / I just wanna love somebody that don’t want me fallin’ apart.”[/nx_pullquote]That is a reasonable request, Morgan Wallen! The country superstar brings a different flavor to “Love Somebody”, an early single and the 22^nd track from his fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, released in 2025. There are lots of cooks in the kitchen when it comes to songwriting, including Wallen’s pen. Joey Moi and Charlie Handsome produced “Love Somebody,” which has a pleasant, easygoing sound from the beginning. As always, Wallen shows he possesses a great voice, sounding quite beautiful on “Love Somebody.” Even if this is a ‘less country’ country song, Morgan still brings ample twang and expression. The melodies are rhythmic and tuneful in the verses. “I need someone that I’d be proud / To take on back to my hometown,” he sings in the second verse, concluding, “Honest eyes that just ain’t gonna lead.” Word. In the chorus, the melody is legato and even more tuneful. Besides a strong vocal from Wallen, there’s a lovely, refined instrumental break that precedes the final chorus. Wallen is polarizing for various reasons, but the East Tennessean country musician is talented. He shows off such talent without a hitch on this enjoyable and memorable number.

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14. Halsey, “Lonely is the Muse”

The Great Impersonator » Columbia » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“I spent years becoming cool / And in one single second, you / Can make a decade of my efforts disappear.”[/nx_pullquote] Damn, that sucks, Halsey (Ashley Frangipane). What doesn’t suck, however, is “Lonely is the Muse”, a highlight from the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter’s fifth studio album, The Great Impersonator. She continues singing in the dramatic first verse, “I’m just waiting at the bar / And you rip open all my scars / By saying something like, ‘Didn’t know you were here.’ Once again, damn, that stings! Halsey captures the excruciating pain soundly in this gem co-written with Stuart Price. Austin Corona, Wyatt Bernard, and Brandon Buttner produced this dark, angsty alternative rock cut that shows a different side of Halsey.

In the second verse, Halsey cites her accomplishments yet laments the fact she’s “…Reduced to just a body / Here in someone else’s bed.” The chorus and post-chorus mark the most memorable moments from “Lonely is the Muse.” The lyrics continue to live in the ‘dark’ with Frangipane confirming her status as a martyr (“Always knew I was a martyr / That Jesus was one too”). The lyrics are poetic to the nth degree. She adds in the bridge, with the utmost drama:

“And when you’re done, you can discard me

Like the others always do

And I will nurse my wounds until

Another artist needs me new

And I will always reassemble to fit perfectly in view.”

By the end (outro) of “Lonely is the Muse”, Halsey is at her most angst-laden, with the dynamic musical accompanying fueling the fire. This is one of the best songs of Halsey’s career, hands down 🤘! Four minutes of greatness!

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15. Omar Apollo, “Less of You”

God Said No » Omar Apollo / Warner » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Is this the last time I see you?”[/nx_pullquote] Omar Apollo asks his partner in “Less of You”, the third single from his sophomore album, God Said No. “Is this goodbye?” All indications suggest it’s the end of them. Omar, expectedly, is deeply affected. He sees their bond dissipating, yet, he still lusts after him. Matters of the heart look good on the handsome, Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter. He penned and produced “Less of You” with Teo Halm. The third track from God Said No finds Omar Apollo being true to himself, emotionally and thematically (“I seein’ less of you / I’m still undressing you / Am I depressing you? / Felt like a blessin’, you”). He’s reflective and vulnerable. Where the contrast comes into play is the sound. “Less of You” is an about-face compared to most of his work. He dips into synth-pop, dance-pop, and modern disco. A far cry from his ballads, his bravery to ‘go against the grain’ and ‘shake things up’ is admirable. He continues to sing well, even if his vocals aren’t big, robust, powerhouse vocals. One cool moment is the post-chorus, where his voice is drenched in vocoder (“I still got a lot to say / Don’t wanna end the night this way”). The aesthetic and vibe is sublime, reminiscent of the gay 🏳️‍🌈 club scene. “Less of You” is a fun one.

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16. Noah Guy, “LET U LEAD” (with Billy Lemos)

IT MUST BE LOVE (EP) » is it real LLC » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Oh, I was a leader / Spirit whole but hollow / When I crashed, I cleaned up / Washed it off and followed…”[/nx_pullquote] So, what did handsome and talented Philly-bred R&B singer/songwriter Noah Guy (Noah Guy-Mozenter) do after falling short as a leader? He decided to “LET U LEAD”. In the second track from his 2024 EP, IT MUST BE LOVE, Guy collaborates with Billy Lemos, who produces the track. Additional production is credited to Solomon Fox. Instrumentally, the music sounds smooth, lush, and romantic. Noah has the perfect canvas to paint his voice.

Noah Guy eats! His vocals are sexy, smooth, and soulful. He sounds fresh, youthful, and vibrant. He does a magnificent job of bringing the tuneful melodies to life. Beyond nailing the tune, Guy’s ad-libs are fantastic. Also, the background vocals are sublime too! Matters of the heart guide the narrative in this ear-catching ballad. “Oh, you wear me all down / You guide me through all,” he asserts, adding, “Oh, I was a leader / Now I’ve grown to follow / Though the past it lingers, I fight on.” His fight continues in the outro, as does “my love, my love, my baby.” The chorus is the section to beat, where Guy asserts, “I fill up to love with ya / I fill up to be in ya light.” Although “LET U LEAD” is brief (two-and-a-half minutes), Noah Guy puts his foot into it. A bop, a bop, a surefire bop!

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17. Conan Gray, “Lonely Dancers”

Found Heaven » Republic » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Tonight, you’re mine.”[/nx_pullquote] Noted! “Lonely Dancers” marked the first single of 2024 for the handsome, ultra-talented Conan Gray. This skinny, two-and-a-half-minute song is the fourth single from his third studio album, Found Heaven (arrives April 5, 2024). While “Lonely Dancers” musters up a short duration, it’s ample and sufficient time for Gray to put in work. He penned this ear candy alongside Ilya Salmanzadeh (ILYA), Max Martin, and Oscar Holter. ILYA, Martin, and Holter handle production duties, responsible for a decadent, picturesque backdrop, including some epic, rhythmic synths. The instrumental is potent, but the star of the show is none other than Gray. He serves up commanding, marvelous lead vocals. The first section of “Lonely Dancers” heard is the epic chorus:

“We’re lonely dancers

Join me for the night

We’re lonely dancers, baby

Dance with me so we don’t cry

We’re lonely dancers

There’s no need to hide

I know the answer, baby

Dance we me so we don’t cray

La-la, la-la, la, cry

La-la, la-la, la.”

Self-explanatory what’s going on. But, there’s further clarification on the verse, where he spills the tea: “Your lover left you, broke up tonight / My lover’s busy kissin’ other guys, oh.” Oh, indeed. What else should they do but join each other in their misery and dance it out! “Lonely Dancers” thrives off its tuneful melodies, which recall the 1980s. Another bright spot, beyond the chorus and sole verse, is the bridge, which provides contrast and maintains the engaging nature of the song (“Wait, stop, forget that guy / He don’t know love, I hope he dies…”). Does Conan Gray ever miss? Nope! “Lonely Dancers” is terrific.

Appears in:

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18. Shenseea & Megan Thee Stallion, “Lick”

ALPHA » Rich Immigrants / Interscope » 2022

[nx_pullquote]“Open yuh mouth (Mm-mm-mm-mm) / Put up mi pum-pum (mm-mm-mm-mm) / Make yuh tongue go (mm-mm-mm-mm) / (Ooh) lick, lick, lick.”[/nx_pullquote] Whoa, Shenseea! The Jamaican singer is bold AF early on “Lick”. In case you couldn’t decipher the Jamaican Creole/slang, pum-pum is pussy/vagina 😈. “Lick” is the fifth track from her 2022, debut studio album, ALPHA. Featuring minimalist but sleek production work (Murda Beatz, Joseph L’Étranger, BoogzDaBeast, and Tobias Wincorn), “Lick” samples two songs: “Work” by Denise Belfon and “AKA” by Baka Not Nice. It should be noted that Shenseea gets a naughty assist from Grammy-winning rapper, Megan Thee Stallion.

Shenseea ensures she’s the star of the show early on. Following the bold pre-chorus, in the unforgettable chorus, she encourages, sexually, “Put yuh back in it.” In the first verse, she gives him instructions and shares her preferences. “Lick it well fast but not too much,” she sings, adding, “Love big dick but dat nuh enough.” Also, she informs him she’s ready (“This break’, lunch, and dinner time, my legs are open wide”). Oh, snap! Her vocal performance is unique and filled with attitude and lust. In the second verse, Megan Thee Stallion gives us fast, unapologetic, bold bars – the expectation. “I’m thick, and your face where I wanna sit / The nigga better hope he’s still breathin’ after this.” Woo! She concludes her verse with a bang too: “Pink pussy, pink lips, pink tips (tips) / Slide down on his ski trip (ski trips) / Juicy booty, need the jumpsuit (yeah) / If he ate it quick then call me fast food, ah.” Shenseea also throws in a bridge where she asserts, “Boy when your mouth full, don’t talk.” Good manners, right? “Lick” is a stellar NSFW bop from Shenseea and Megan Thee Stallion. These women keep it a buck.

Appears in:

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19. ETHAN, “Like It”

DIVINE INTERVENTION (EP) » ETHAN » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Pull an all-nighter / Ain’t ‘bout to save it for later / We on that puppy love time / Clean up then we back on site.”[/nx_pullquote] Oh, shit! It’s easy to like “Like It”. ETHAN (Ethan Choryin Luo) adds in this sexy single from DIVINE INTERVENTION, “Drunk on that punch boy / Taste it on your tongue boy, hey.” He penned this naughty gem alongside Maribelle and Alex the Astronaut. Vetta Borne produced this sensational queer sex song. ETHAN sounds amazing – that tone, those sickening runs – as well as amazingly titillating, giving the listeners ‘something they can feel.’ “Make it rain, boy / The way you pour that strawberry chocolate, yuh / You know it fill me up,” he sings, naughtily.

In the bridge, the passion is elevated:

“Ready now, lay me down

Turn it around

Switch it up, me on top

Boy turn me out

Just the right type of dangerous

Don’t talk, savor it.”

Damn! Is hooking up between them becoming more? It’s a concern, as he emphasizes, “I just need a weekend lover, had too many weak ass lovers,” and in the chorus, declares (1) “Don’t try to make it, make it something it’s not,” and (2) “Don’t wanna get together, if it won’t last forever.” Still, whatever this thing is between them, especially in one of the sexiest music videos you’ll ever see, it’s piping hot! The steamy “Like It” is the sugar, honey, iced tea.

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20. Honey Bxby, “Laying In his Bed”

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

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

Appears in:

Honey Bxby, Laying In his Bed: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 43 (2025)

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21. Adam Lambert, “Lube”

AFTERS (EP) » More is More LLC » 2024

[nx_pullquote]“Slip in the room, slip right into you.”[/nx_pullquote] Oh, snap, Adam Lambert! He adds in the first verse of “LUBE”, “Trip to the moon, lavender blue / Drippin’ on you / Oh.” Oh, indeed! “LUBE” is the fifth and penultimate track from his AFTERS (EP). Lambert penned “LUBE” alongside VINCINT, Parson James, and producer NOVODOR. It features an infectious, danceable beat. The clubby feel and gay club scene are alive and well.

[nx_pullquote]“Pick up the pace, give and I take…”[/nx_pullquote] Whoa 😳! Lambert delivers cool, calm, collected, and sexy vocals throughout “LUBE.” He brings explicit lyrics in the pre-chorus and chorus. In the pre-chorus, he asserts, “No, we don’t need no friction / We don’t need to do it dry / Yeah, we can keep it liquid / Slide your body into mine, mine.” In the chorus, he urges him to “Be a real good boy and lube it up,” promising him “Gonna make you nut / Every time I move your body.” Holy smokes 🫣! “LUBE” doesn’t require deep analysis. Neither does lube require deep analysis, for that matter. Adam Lambert raises the temperature on this one 🥵. Not only does he S-A-N-G, making our ears perk up, but he also makes us sweat!

Appears in:

Adam Lambert, LUBE: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 64 (2024)

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22. Al Calderon, “Lo100to”

“Lo100to” » Al Calderon / Create Music Group » 2025

Al Calderon (Alberto Calderon) is… caliente como la mierda 🥵, like, phew 😮‍💨 🤤! Beyond his undeniable fineness, the actor and singer is talented. His talents and looks go hand in hand on the steamy joint “Lo100to” (Lo + 100 (cien in Spanish) + to = Lo siento (I’m sorry)). Throw in sexy Spanish lyrics (“Pase lo que pase / Siempre seré tú bebé / Yo sé que te tengo juqueao”) and a video with sexy frat boys (sometimes sans clothing 🥵), and “Lo100to” is titillating to the nth degree. Translating the excerpted Spanish lyrics, it is something to the effect of, “No matter what happens / I’ll always be your baby / I know I’ve got you hooked.” Damn!

[nx_pullquote]“Pase lo que pase / Siempre seré tú bebé / Yo sé que te tengo juqueao”[/nx_pullquote]

The Long Island-bred entertainer gives us Spanglish! In the centerpiece, the chorus, he sings, “Oooh lo siento / Oh boy, you fuck me up / Yo pensaba en ti / Ya no puedo hacerlo,” which translates as “Oooh sorry / Oh boy, you fuck me up / I was thinking of you / I can’t do it anymore.” Ooh-wee! Notably, matters of the ‘same sex’ heart are alive and well, and we would not have it any other way 🌈! While “Lo100to” is brief, it is electrifying. Calderon sings well. He may not break a sweat vocally, but there is no way you won’t be covered in sweat looking 👀 and listening 👂 to him 🥵. Gah-day-um!

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23. The B-52’s, “Love Shack”

Cosmic Thing » Reprise » 1989

[nx_pullquote]“The Love Shack is a little old place where we can get together.”[/nx_pullquote] Get together, huh? 😈 Is there ever a dull moment with The B-52’s? Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Keith Strickland, and, formerly, Ricky Wilson (1953 – 1985) comprised an innovative, spirited dance-rock, new wave band. One of the biggest hits of their career is “Love Shack”, the fourth track from their 1989 album, Cosmic Thing. The B-52’s wrote “Love Shack” while Don Was produced it. A huge hit, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2024, the Recording Industry Association of America certified it as triple platinum. Notably, Fred, Kate, and Cindy sing throughout “Love Shack.”

In the unforgettable “Love Shack,” it sounds like the band is having an absolute ball. It is anchored by a fabulous, percussive groove. There is a strong presence of guitar (Strickland) and bass. Besides the rhythm section, the ears are blessed with bright, articulated horns (Uptown Horns). Playful, tongue-in-cheek vocals from the beginning set the tone: “If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says / ‘15 miles to the / Love Shack’ /… Looking for a love getaway.” Some of the lyrics are silly but always entertaining. The gist of the situation is a place where they can dance, have fun, and, unsurprisingly, get it on. In the Love Shack, “Everybody’s moving, everybody’s grooving, baby” because it is a “Funky little shack.” Woo! The chorus, excerpted earlier, is the cat’s meow – the crème de la crème. Another sensational part of “Love Shack” is the epic “bang, bang” section:

“Bang, bang, bang on the door, baby

Knock a little louder, baby

Bang, bang, bang on the door, baby

I can’t hear you.”

One of the best lyrics from the song, other than the repeated love shack, or the bang, bang section, is, “Your what? / Tin roof, rusted.” What does it mean? It is subject to interpretation. Fun fact: the real ‘Love Shack’ was Pierson’s cabin in Athens, Georgia, which sadly, burned down in 2004. Ultimately, “Love Shack” is a surefire classic from the late 1980s. It is an enduring oldie that never gets old 🤘!

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24. Divine, “Lately”

Fairy Tales » Modern Entertainment BV » 1998

[nx_pullquote]“Lately (I’ve been watching you) / Been thinkin’ ‘bout you baby / (And everything you do) / Just sittin’ away watching the days go by.”[/nx_pullquote]Oh, the 1990s nostalgia! Short-lived R&B trio Divine – Kia Thornton, Nikki Bratcher, and Tonia Tash – is best known for one song, “Lately”. “Lately” appears on their only album, 1998’s Fairy Tales. “Lately” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in late 1998. Additionally, it earned the trio a platinum-certified single. Chris Kelly and Will Baker penned “Lately” while John Howcott and Donald Parks produced it. Matters of the heart fuel “Lately.” Also, the dramatic organ also infuses the ballad with some oomph. In the opening chorus, the most memorable part of the song, the trio is chill, yet the emotion is perceptible. In the first verse, they highlight the heartache: “I wish that I could weather any storm / But I guess it was a heartbreak from the norm / Was a day I will always remember / The saddest day in sweet November.” It’s a similar situation in the second verse, where prayer – petitioning to God – is necessary (“Baby, I’m on my knees, praying to God help me please / Bring my baby back, right back to me”). The theme is simple, as are the lyrics, but ultra-relatable, particularly from the young collective like Divine. With so many great songs released in the 1990s, perhaps “Lately” doesn’t get its just due. Still, pushing 30 years of age, it’s a marvelous R&B song.

Appears in:

Divine, Lately: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 22 (2024)

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25. DeWayne Woods, “Let Go”

Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet » Zomba Recording LLC » 2006

[nx_pullquote]“I couldn’t seem to fall asleep / There was so much on my mind.”[/nx_pullquote] Contemporary gospel singer DeWayne Woods seeks peace by petitioning God. He continues, “Then He said you don’t have to cry / ‘Cause I’ll supply all your needs.” Amen 🙏! Hallelujah 🙌! The inspiring and uplifting lyrics hail from “Let Go” from his debut album, Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet, released in 2006. Grammy-winner PJ Morton wrote and produced this enduring gem.

“Let Go” is radiant. It features a vibrant arrangement and production. Woods excels with smooth, reverent lead vocals. The songwriting is celestial with its thoughtful, spiritually driven lyricism. The chorus is the centerpiece where fabulous, harmonized background vocals support Woods’ dynamic lead. Woods amps up the ad-libs, digging in more during the second chorus:

“As soon as I stop worrying (Soon as I stop worrying)

Worrying how the story ends (When I let go)

I let go (And I let) and I let God

… Let God have His way

(That’s when things) That’s when things start happening

I’ll stop looking at back then

I let go and I’ll let God have His way.”

Ooh-wee, that chorus makes you wanna shout! Another exceptional verse (“I have to know if I’m to put it in His hands / That everything will be alright”), and an electrifying bridge (“Let go and let God”) help make “Let Go” an awesome and encouraging gospel song 🙌.

Appears in:

The Alphabet Playlist Series 2025 🔻

~ Table of Contents ~ » ~ intro ~

A Laudable List of L Songs (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Al Calderon, Art@War, Atlantic Recording Corporation, Bentley Robles Music, Big Loud, CMG, Columbia, Concord, Create Music Group, Darkroom, ETHAN, Interscope, is it real LLC, Loma Vista, Modern Entertainment BV, More is More LLC, Nice Life Recording Company, Omar Apollo, RCA, Rebirth Ent., Reprise, Rich Immigrants, Since 93’, VINCINT, Warner, Warner Music Norway AS, Warner Republic; Gustavo Fring, Kindel Media, Nina Hill, olia danilevich, zona .exe123ph from Pexels; AcatXIo, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, JL G, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

A Laudable List of L Songs features songs by Adam Lambert, Al Calderon, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Noah Guy, and Tems.

The Alphabet Playlist Series 2025 🔻

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1. Kyle Allesandro, “Lighter”

“Lighter” » Warner Music Norway AS » 2025

2. Billie Eilish, “LUNCH”

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT » Darkroom / Interscope » 2024

3. JENNIE & Dominic Fike, “Love Hangover”

Ruby » Columbia » 2025

4. GloRilla, “LET HER COOK”

GLORIOUS » CMG / Interscope » 2024

5. Ghost, “Lachryma”

Skeletá » Loma Vista / Concord » 2025

6. Reneé Rapp, “Leave Me Alone”

BITE ME » Interscope » 2025

7. Lil Nas X, “Lean On My Body”

“Lean On My Body” » Columbia » 2025

8. Zedd & Remi Wolf, “Lucky”

Telos » Interscope » 2024

9. Bentley Robles & ZEE MACHINE, “LOCK ME UP!”

“LOCK ME UP!” » Bentley Robles Music » 2025

10. Tems, “Love Me JeJe”

Born in the Wild » RCA / Since 93’ » 2024

11. VINCINT, “Lean”

“LEAN” » VINCINT » 2024

12. Lizzo, “LEFTRIGHT”

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

13. Morgan Wallen, “Love Somebody”

I’m The Problem » Big Loud » 2025

14. Halsey, “Lonely is the Muse”

The Great Impersonator » Columbia » 2024

15. Omar Apollo, “Less of You”

God Said No » Omar Apollo / Warner » 2024

16. Noah Guy, “LET U LEAD” (with Billy Lemos)

IT MUST BE LOVE (EP) » is it real LLC » 2024

17. Conan Gray, “Lonely Dancers”

Found Heaven » Republic » 2024

18. Shenseea & Megan Thee Stallion, “Lick”

ALPHA » Rich Immigrants / Interscope » 2022

19. ETHAN, “Like It”

DIVINE INTERVENTION (EP) » ETHAN » 2024

20. Honey Bxby, “Laying In his Bed”

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

21. Adam Lambert, “Lube”

AFTERS (EP) » More is More LLC » 2024

22. Al Calderon, “Lo100to”

“Lo100to” » Al Calderon / Create Music Group » 2025

23. The B-52’s, “Love Shack”

Cosmic Thing » Reprise » 1989

24. Divine, “Lately”

Fairy Tales » Modern Entertainment BV » 1998

25. DeWayne Woods, “Let Go”

Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet » Zomba Recording LLC » 2006

The Alphabet Playlist Series 2025 🔻

~ Table of Contents ~ » ~ intro ~

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Cosmic Thing » Reprise » 1989