Reading Time: 19 min read

A Random Mix of 15 Food, Drink & Hunger Songs (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; AcatXIo, cindy, Engin Akyurt, freestocks-photos, Hans, kan chansathya, https://pixabay.com/photos/poultry-food-new-nature-chicken-3297369 from Pixabay]A Random Mix of 15 Food, Drink & Hunger Songs features songs by Conan Gray, David Archuleta, GloRilla, Grant & Ash, Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé, and ROSALÍA.

Prepare for a merry old time filled with food, drink, and hunger! In most cases, the latter is not in a negative connotation…save for the Bob Marley & The Wailers record that concludes A Random Mix of 15 Food, Drink & Hunger Songs.  Generally, this random playlist mixes songs with food-related things in mind.  If you are checking out this list when it was first published, it was intended as a pseudo-Thanksgiving playlist – emphasis on the pseudo part! If you are checking it out any other time, well, it’s equally effective, in the most randomly constructed way possible, with a little bit of something for everybody! A Random Mix of 15 Food, Drink & Hunger Songs features songs by Conan Gray, David Archuleta, GloRilla, Grant & Ash, Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé, and ROSALÍA. So, without further BS-ing this intro, let’s jump right into the spirited A Random Mix of 15 Food, Drink & Hunger Songs, shall we?!


~ Table of Contents ~ 

1. Conan Gray, “Vodka Cranberry” 2. Hailey Whitters, “Casseroles” 3. Jack Black, “Steve’s Lava Chicken”
4. GloRilla, “LET HER COOK” 5. David Archuleta, “Crème Brulée” 6. Grant & Ash, “Panera”
7. Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé, “Spicy Margarita” 8. ROSALÍA, “Chicken Teriyaki” 9. Fergie, “Hungry” (Ft. Rick Ross)
10. Metteson, “Hunger” 11. Don Toliver, “Tiramisu” 12. Saja Boys, “Soda Pop”
13. The Reverend Horton Heat, “Let Me Teach You How To Eat” 14. R. Kelly, “In the Kitchen” 15. Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)”

 


1. Conan Gray, “Vodka Cranberry”

Wishbone » Conan Gray / Republic  » 2025

Conan Gray, Wishbone [📷: GirlyBoy, Inc. / Republic]

“You say we’re fine, but your brown eyes / Are green this time, so you’ve been crying.”
Uh-oh… those pesky matters of the heart are in play, and it’s giving sad vibes! From the beginning, the gorgeous “Vodka Cranberry” is emotional and heart-wrenching. It marks the second single from Conan Gray’s fourth studio album, Wishbone. Following the queer romantic narrative of the fabulous promo single, “This Song”, “Vodka” sadly sees this relationship fall apart. “It’s in the way you say my name / So quick, so straight, it sounds the same.” The straightness of Gray’s partner, portrayed by Corey Fogelmanis in the music video, plays a sizable role.  Gray co-wrote “Vodka Cranberry” with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/producer Dan Nigro, who also produced it. Once again, one of pop’s more underrated artists delivers a musical home run.

“Vodka Cranberry” is four minutes of musical excellence.  Sound-wise, there is a mix of alternative and folk-pop cues.  The rhythmic acoustic guitar, as well as the strings, are key instruments shaping the backdrop. The handsome, talented Conan Gray is the focal point – the cherry on top. As always, he delivers gorgeous, nuanced vocals.  You can sense the emotion he expresses as we see an all too common narrative where love should be love, but it’s complicated by internal homophobia and heteronormativity.  I love the playfulness of the melody Gray sings during the pre-chorus as he shares their compromised love status (“‘Cause I know what you’re too scared to say, oh-oh-oh”). He sounds particularly exceptional during the chorus as he gives an unfortunate ultimatum:

“Speak up, I know you hate me

Looked at your picture and cried like a baby

Speak up, don’t leave me waiting

Got way too drunk off a vodka cranberry

Called you up in the middle of the night

Wailing like an imbecile

If you won’t end things, then I will.”

Upping the ante on “Vodka” is the bridge, which contrasts the verses and chorus while still emphasizing taking action to end things. That sustained high note at the end of the bridge is insane! “Vodka Cranberry” is sublime.  Elite vocals, thoughtful songwriting, and stellar musical accompaniment and production. I love Conan Gray, and this song (and music video) only confirms it more!

~ Table of Contents ~

2. Hailey Whitters, “Casseroles”

Corn Queen » Pigasus / Big Loud / Songs & Daughters » 2025

Hailey Whitters, Corn Queen [📷: Pigasus / Big Loud / Songs & Daughters]

“Joe lost his wife, he’s lost in the blue,”
Grammy-nominated country singer/songwriter Hailey Whitters sings, continuing, “He wonders what he’s gonna do / When the casseroles stop coming.” “Casseroles” piqued my interest initially because of the song title. The 11th track from Whitters’s 2025 album, Corn Queen, is better than its distinct title.  This is country music storytelling at its finest. Hillary Lindsey, James Slater, and Tom Douglas penned “Casseroles.” Jake Gear produced it. The musical accompaniment is superb – it is classy and incredibly refined. It features traditional country instrumentation, including guitars and pedal steel.  Whitters paints this backdrop gorgeously with her dynamic voice.  She sings authentically and expressively, making you believe every note and every lyric she sings.  Beyond her solo moments, the harmonized vocals add to the excellence. The melody is radiant in the verses and chorus. Whitters is introspective in the second verse, pondering, “What kind of friend have I been / Am I tinfoil and Pyrex, I show up, that’s it.” She determines, “I could do so much better / Wrap you in my arms and a handwritten letter / I’ll hold your umbrella when the rain pours.” I wish I had composed those lyrics – perfect! The chorus is the crowning achievement:

“And those old six strings keep strumming

And those wild-winged hummingbirds keep humming

I don’t know how, but this world keeps on turning

And love keeps on loving

After casseroles stop coming.”

No deep analysis is necessary. “Casseroles” speaks for itself. Whitters ‘put her foot’ into this stunning, ‘must-hear’ dish!

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

3. Jack Black, “Steve’s Lava Chicken”

A Minecraft Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) » Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. » 2025
A Minecraft Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [📷: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.] 

Is 34 seconds a sufficient amount of time for weirdness? Yes! Jack Black brought ample joy to many children’s ears with this brief runtime. He plays Steve in A Minecraft Movie.  The song that children sing-along with to the top of their lungs is “Steve’s Lava Chicken”.  It appears as the seventh track from A Minecraft Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Black and Jared Hess penned this silly record. John Spiker produced it. “Steve’s Lava Chicken” cooks from the get-go. It features a potent, infectious percussive groove. The keyboards add to the ear-catching sound, which has 1980s written all over it.  The star of the show is Jack Black, who serves up playful vocals filled with personality:

“La-la-la-lava, ch-ch-ch-chicken

Steve’s Lava Chicken, yeah, it’s tasty as hell

Ooh, mamacita, now you’re ringin’ the bell

Crispy and juicy, now you’re havin’ a snack

Ooh, super spicy, it’s a lava attack.”

Ooh-wee! Black delivers a lovely falsetto on his final lines (“It’s a lava attack”). Another nice touch at the end is the metal guitar riff.  Ultimately, “Steve’s Lava Chicken” is a blast to listen to. Black broke a Billboard Hot 100 record for the shortest hit song ever. This 34-second song is enjoyable as hell!

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

4. GloRilla, “LET HER COOK”

GLORIOUS » CMG / Interscope » 2024

GloRilla, Glorious [📷: CMG / Interscope]

“Never gave a damn, I ain’t never gave no fuck / Fell out with them hoes, we ain’t never makin’ up.”
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 13th 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”. 

 

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

5. David Archuleta, “Crème Brulée”

Earthly Delights (EP) » Archie Music » 2025 

David Archuleta, Earthly Delights (EP) [📷: Archie Music]

“Oh, no, another man down / Another heart left on the dance floor / Took a bite, now he wants more.”
Oh, snap! I’m gagging! I’m ‘shook!’ Woo! David Archuleta, the ‘short king’ with an amazing voice, is also incredibly easy on the eyes. Since coming out, the world has seen a far more liberal, liberated Archie, and that is H-O-T! Speaking of hot, our Latino hottie finally fulfills our fantasies.  He quenches our thirst with his flirty, decadent single, “Crème Brulée”.  Not only does he sing his cute little ass off, but he also shows off his cuteness in a must-see music video.  Did y’all peep that see-through shirt Archie is wearing 👀? A flirty song deserves flirty cover art ✅, and a titillating music video ✅. Archuleta wrote “Crème Brulée” with Robyn Dell’Unto, and Ryan Nealon. Michael Blum produced it.

David Archuleta is confident from the get-go. Furthermore, he’s gay from the get-go. “Crème Brulée” finds him embracing it unapologetically, with no strings attached.  See the second verse: “Poor you, won’t leave my bedroom / Your serotonin on the nightstand / I’m not even tryin’.” Yes, you read and heard right.  Our innocent David has had a boy over, and the pleasure was sweet as… The rush begins in the pre-chorus, with “three-word phrases, skipping stages,” and is fully realized in the centerpiece, the chorus:

“Oh, no, there goes all of your clothes

Speaking words, you don’t know

Yo te vuelvo loco, loco

Oh, no, you want me in slow-mo

Snap me like a photo

Yo te vuelvo loco, loco

I can’t help but you don’t wanna wait (Okay)

Now you’ve had a taste of crème brûlée (Yo sé)

Oh, no, there goes all of your clothes

Speaking words, you don’t know

Yo te vuelvo loco, loco.”

Archuleta is even finer hearing him flirt and drop those Spanish bars.  As always, his voice is top-notch.  He is accompanied by a sleek musical backdrop that ‘ups the ante’ of the sexiness.  This newly liberated David Archuleta is a beast.  The “Crème Brulée” he serves up is tasty… and makes you feel things 🤭 😈.

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

6. Grant & Ash, “Panera”

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

Grant & Ash, A Twink And A Redhead (EP) [📷: ATAARH]

“Panera, Panera, got fucked in Panera.”
Say what, now?! “Panera, Panera, found love in Panera / Panera, Panera, gave birth in Panera / You pick two, but I pick you!” Oh, snap! Grant & Ash Grant Gibbs and Ashley Gill – said it best themselves: “Name a more iconic duo than / A twink and a redhead”.  The multifaceted duo is incredibly entertaining, highlighted by their brief, NSFW single, “Panera”.  Panera isn’t the first spot that ‘comes’ to mind regarding sex, but, in the hands of Grant & Ash, they turn the delicious eatery into something even more delicious 🤤.  Gibbs, Gill, and producer Drew Louis penned this far more risqué version of our beloved Panera Bread. “Panera” is the third track from the duo’s 2024 EP, A Twink and a Redhead.

Leading the charge is our favorite twink, Grant.  Fittingly, he mentions a signature menu item, Broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl.  Of course, Gibbs cares more about pleasure: “The man at the register asked me, ‘How’s your day?’ / I said pretty good, but I’m feeling kinda gay!” Uh-oh! Rather than a pick two, Grant tells him, “… I pick you.” From there, love is made somewhere in Panera… gay love at that! No worries, though – Ashley gets her lovin’ in, too! “Chicken Caesar salad, come and toss it, okay!” Holy shit! Like Grant, Ashley is asked questions: “The man at the table went and asked me, how’s it taste / I said pretty good, wanna come and lick my plate?”  Come, huh? Lick my plate, huh? Do you remember when Ariana Grande sang those naughty lyrics in “Sweetener”, “I like the way you lick the bowl?” Ash is giving the same vibes 😈.  Grant & Ash forever changed the perspective on the menu at Panera Bread. The most outlandish lyric on the bridge: “The longest baguette, give it to me faggot.” “Panera” is short, but this is a fierce, fun, and unapologetic sex song from Gibbs and Gill.

 

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

7. Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé, “Spicy Margarita”

Nu King » Derulo, Inc. / Atlantic » 2024

Jason Derulo, Nu King [📷: Derulo, Inc. / Atlantic]Who saw a collaboration between Jason Derulo and Michael Bublé coming? No one! Despite this unlikely pairing, Derulo, an R&B-infused pop artist, and Bublé, an easy listening, traditional pop/jazz artist, join forces on the spicy single, “Spicy Margarita”, which appears on Derulo’s 2024 album, Nu King. “Spicy Margarita” keeps things short and sweet.  Notably, this refreshing alcoholic drink – I mean, single – features multiple songwriters.  Even with many cooks in the kitchen on the writing end, there are three producers: duo Mac & Phil, and Stryv. There are plenty of colorful production touches. It commences with a sultry Latin jazz sound. Bublé sets the tone, singing an excerpt of the chorus:

“You’re my spicy margarita, babe

Burn my tongue, make me shake

Mix it up or give it to me straight

Turn me on, make me say.”

“Spicy” turns into Latin-tinged pop, with Derulo taking over lead vocal duties. Like Bublé, Derulo sings with an excellent tone. Lyrically, the innuendo, and sex are pronounced! In the first verse, he sings, “Snuck into the bathroom / She might be a problem / I should probably stay away.” Oh, my! Then there’s the pre-chorus, where he asserts, “Girl, you crazy, couldn’t even wait for the room / Shakin’, shakin’ tryin’ to keep up with you.” Woo! Perhaps the most memorable moment hails from the second verse: “She think I’m Jordan / But she scream, ‘Derulo’ (Derulo) / My ego enormous / Fillin’ up your body, babe.” Oh, snap! Fabulous singing, steamy lyrics, and colorful production make “Spicy Margarita” a fun and sexy pop song. This is the collaboration we didn’t know we needed!

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

8. ROSALÍA, “Chicken Teriyaki”

MOTOMAMI » Sony » 2022

ROSALÍA, MOTOMAMI [📷: Columbia]

“Pa’ ti naki, chicken teriyaki / Tu gata quiere maki, mi gata en Kawasaki!”
Woo! Face it, folks –ROSALÍA is on a creative tear! The Grammy-winning Latin pop standout never seems to release a bad song. She patea traseros y toma nombres (Eng. Kicks ass and takes names) on “Chicken Teriyaki”, the third single from her 2022 studio album, MOTOMAMI. “Chicken Teriyaki” is a surefire vibe.  As always, ROSALÍA amps up the personality – totally badass. Thematically, she flexes throughout the two-minute joint, asserting at one point, “Quiero una cadena que me arruine to’a la cuenta / Como Naomi en los 90” (“I want a chain that ruins my entire account / Like Naomi in the 90s”). Woo! The chorus, excerpted above, is the crowning achievement, sure to easily get stuck in one’s head. Even so, the third verse is awesome too: “De azúcar la mami, todo sin recibo / Leo pentagrama’, pero no lo’ escribe” (“Mami’s sugar, all without a receipt / I read pentagram, but I don’t write it”). “Chicken Teriyaki” isn’t deep, with the music video, in all its silliness, confirming such.  Still, that reggaeton beat (ROSALÍA, El Guincho, Michael Uzowuru, Noah Goldstein, and Sky Rompiendo) is no joke, encouraging listeners everywhere to move and groove.

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

9. Fergie, “Hungry” (Ft. Rick Ross)

Double Dutchess » Retrofuture Productions, Inc. / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC » 2017

Fergie, Double Dutchess [📷: BMG Rights Management]

“To say it’s complicated, understatement of the year / Well, maybe conflict made it the new flavor in your ear.”
An album opener needs to make a statement and be dramatic.  That’s exactly what “Hungry”, the opener from Fergie’s 2017 album, Double Dutchess, does. “Hungry” sets the tone. The Grammy-winner drops hard-nosed rhymes, showcasing her infectious personality. “I make they hands go up,” she raps, and continues, “When I show up and I blow it ‘til I’m full up, wait, hold up.” In the chorus, she ensures everyone knows that she’s “Hungry, starving,” and “Ambitious, still hungry.” Rick Ross gets in on the action during the second verse, “Moonwalkin’ on marble floors” and “fucking up money like he’s Escobar.” D-d-damn! This proves to be a perfect match for the tough-minded production work (Yonni and JP Did This). He plays off the same ambitious and hungry sensibilities as Fergie. All in all, “Hungry” is an enjoyable song. 

~ Table of Contents ~

10. Metteson, “Hunger”

“Hunger” » LEKK » 2025

Metteson, Hunger [📷: LEKK]

“Close enough to breathe you / Close enough to reach around,”
Norwegian 🇳🇴 pop musician Metteson (Sverre Breivik) sings, continuing, “You’re close enough to hold / My blood is running cold / But I hunger.” Yes, the hunger is real for many of us. Honestly, it can be incredibly hard for us to get filled up, sigh. But, the good news is, Metteson enhances our playlist with the brilliant, summery, dance-pop, “Hunger”. Breivik co-wrote “Hunger” with Vetle Junker. He co-produced with Junker and Bendik Hovik Kjeldsberg.

One reason that “Hunger” slays is the striking musical backdrop. The beat is sick while the synths are electrifying, baby! One particular synth that catches the ear is the brassy one that appears during the chorus. Heavenly! As much a$$ as the instrumental kicks, we all know the star of the show is Metteson. Our Norwegian puts in work on “Hunger,” blessing our ears with his fabulous, ripe tenor vocals. With those pipes, he brings the tuneful melodies to life. He also, as the excerpted lyrics suggest, expresses his desires.  In the chorus, he asserts, honestly, “I hunger for you / Close ain’t close enough / Close ain’t close enough.” He has a point! When it comes to those fine men… ooh-wee! Another section where Metteson eats is the bridge (Note: the section names feel interchangeable on this song).

“Is that him? Is that you?

I wanna do that to you

Is that him? Is that you?

Building up a queue

Is that you? Is that him?

Teach me how to swim

In deep water.”

Yasss, Yasss, Yasss 💅! Ooh, wee, that’s hot 🥵 😮‍💨! Anyways, Metteson is locked in, and I’m here for it. I’m also here for his ill vocal ad-libs vocals mixed in the background. You thought I didn’t hear them, didn’t you, Sverre? Ultimately, another bop hath been added to the LGBTQ+ playlist, and da-yummm 🤤, the “Hunger” is real! 

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

11. Don Toliver, “Tiramisu”

“Tiramisu” » Cactus Jack / Donnway & Co / Atlantic » 2025

Don Toliver, Tiramisu [📷: Cactus Jack / Donnway & Co / Atlantic]

“Yeah, call me when you need it late at night, you know I’m slidin’.”
Slidin’, huh? Okay, Don Toliver, I see you. The opening lyrics from the pre-chorus of “Tiramisu” set the tone. Cardo Got Wings and Polo Boy Shawty produced this short but sweet, pleasure-filled single. Toliver is accompanied by a lush, warm-sounding instrumental. Providing an anchor is a souped-up trap beat.  Toliver delivers melodic rap vocals that straddle hip-hop, pop, and R&B.  The lines are blurred.  The best section of the song is the chorus, where Toliver encourages to “Break it like some sticky glue,” and informs the world, her “Pussy taste sweet like it’s tiramisu.” Damn!

Beyond the pre-chorus and chorus, which lay back more, Toliver’s verse features a more agile cadence and flow. The lyrics are sexed-up – freaky to the nth degree.  “My hands all over her throat, she steady takin’ off my fitted,” he raps, and adds, “This shit right here pain, she squirtin’, you thought that it rained.” Ooh-wee! With the pleasure so potent, Don asserts, “I’m so in here down to get it, I’m soiled here, down in her kitty.” We’ll leave that right there.  Ultimately, “Tiramisu” is a pleasant, sexy rap song. Don Toliver enjoys her… You know 😈.

~ Table of Contents ~

12. Saja Boys, “Soda Pop”

KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) » Republic » 2025 

KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix film) [📷: Republic]

“You’re my soda pop / Gotta drink every drop.”
Ooh-wee! “Soda Pop” is the third track from KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film).  The song is attributed to Saja Boys (Mystery, Abby, Jinu, Baby, and Romance), Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, KEVIN WOO, samUIL Lee, and, of course, the KPop Demon Hunter Cast.  Although brief, “Soda Pop” catches the ear the first time you hear it.  24, Dominsuk, and Ian Eisendrath produce a mean-sounding K-pop bop!

By mean, I mean that “Soda Pop” is sleekly produced. The sound is bright and exuberant. This talented collective of singers delivers youthful, energetic vocals, beginning with Jinu in the first verse. “Don’t want you, need you / Yeah, I need you to fill me up,” he sings, and adds, at the end of the verse, “Every sip makes me want your, yeah.” Oh, yeah! The second verse features contributions from Mystery, Romance, and Abby. Mystery concludes, “When you’re in my arms, I hold you so tight / Can’t let go, no, no, not tonight.” Oh, the bubblegum-laden feels! The rhythmic, tuneful melodic lines are alluring. So is the lush pre-chorus that builds up to the infectious chorus. The chorus is the crème de la crème. It is the centerpiece of this pop bop!

“You’re all I can think of

Every drop I drink up

You’re my soda pop

My little soda pop

Cool me down, you’re so hot

Pour me up, I won’t stop

You’re my soda pop

My little soda pop.”

The soda pop remains potent in the third verse, a rap with a darker, more hard-nosed sound. Baby swears by her: “You hit the spot / Every little drip and drop, fizz and pop, ah.” Abby needs a second round: “And pour a lot and don’t you stop / ‘Til my soda pop fizzles out.” The second pre-chorus sets up an epic key change in the final chorus. The fizz is lofty with some sick high-flying vocal ad-libs. Ultimately, “Soda Pop” is delightful.  This K-pop bop is fun, innocent, and inoffensive.

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

13. The Reverend Horton Heat, “Let Me Teach You How To Eat”

Rev » Craft Recordings. / Concord » 2014

The Reverend Horton Heat, Rev [📷: Craft Recordings. / Concord]If you need some psychobilly rockabilly on your playlist, The Reverend Horton Heat is your band!  Jim Heath (James C. Heath), who sings and plays guitar, has been a member of the rock group since 1985. How does ‘Rev’ intend to feed their flock? It is simple: “Let Me Teach You How To Eat”, the wacky but fun sixth track on their 2014 album, Rev.

Jim Heath teaches us four main things throughout “Let Me Teach You How To Eat”: eat, bake, shred, and toast. The approach for the verses is call and response, which is fitting.

“Let me teach you how to eat (Teach you how to eat!)

Let me teach you how to eat (Teach you how to eat!)

How to marinate the meat (Marinate the meat!)

Let me teach you how to eat (Teach you how to eat!)

It’s a culinary treat (Culinary treat!)

Let me teach you how to eat (Teach you how to eat!).”

Educate us, preacher! Between these teachings of eating/baking, and shredding/toasting, The Reverend Horton Heat ‘bridges’ the gap (emphasis on bridge).

“I’ll teach things that you never knew

How to choke a chicken and a make a meat stew

We can cook a taco in the middle of the street

And really feel good

Let me teach you how to eat (Teach you how to eat!).”

What kind of chicken are we choking, Rev? Just curious! The lyrics are a blast – delicious! But is he really talking about food? Probably not, judging by the music video. Moving on the tempo is quick, while the energy is ‘on 10.’  The guitars roar while the drumming kicks ass and takes names.  If you are starving for a distinct, slightly unusual song, look no further than “Let Me Teach You How To Eat”.  You won’t be disappointed!

 

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

14. R. Kelly, “In the Kitchen”

TP.3 Reloaded » Zomba » 2005 

R. Kelly, TP.3 Reloaded [📷: Zomba]

“Girl, I’m ready to toss your salad.”
Yikes.  Yeah, that’s not the best look from a Grammy-winning artist who’s been imprisoned due to his sexual misconduct. R. Kelly is undoubtedly gifted but has allowed pleasure to get him into sticky situations – understatement.  Nonetheless, “In the Kitchen” (TP.3 Reloaded, 2005) is definitely associated with the kitchen… sort of. “Cutting up tomatoes / Fruits and vegetables and potatoes / Girl, you look so sexy while you’re doing the damn thing.” Kelly mentions vegetables, clearly associated with the kitchen, yet the allure of the song is his freakiness – SEX, SEX, SEX! Obviously, the salad IS NOT the standard nutritious dish loaded with veggies… The salacious chorus says it all:

“I want sex in the kitchen, over by the stove
Put you on the counter, by the buttered rolls
Hands on the table, on your tippy toes
Girl, we’ll be making love, like the restaurant was closed.”

Appears in:
~ Table of Contents ~

15. Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)”

Natty Dread » Universal Music » 1974

Bob Marley & The Wailers, Natty Dread [📷: Universal]

“Them belly full, but we hungry / A hungry mob is a angry mob.”
The late, great reggae icon Bob Marley (1945 – 1981) nails it in “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)”. If you are hungry, lacking the nourishment, needs, and sustenance in life, you’ll be angry and do drastic things. Let the uprising begin! Bob Marley & The Wailers are renowned for the socially conscious elements of their music. “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry),” which appears as the third track from their 1974 album, Natty Dread, is a prime example of social consciousness in full effect.  Early on, in this minor-key, reggae gem, the connotation is negative, with the poor getting the short end of the stick.  But, believe it or not, Marley doesn’t dwell in the negative. There is positive to be experienced!

“You’re going to dance to Jah music, dance / We’re going to dance to Jah music, dance.” Who is Jah? Jah in the Rastafari religion is God.  Bob Marley & The Wailers move beyond wallowing in their hunger and insufficient needs and embracing spirituality.  “Forget your troubles and dance / Forget your sorrows and dance,” Marley sings, continuing, “Forget your sickness and dance / Forget your weakness and dance.” Easier said than done, right? Right, particularly if you are a person with weak faith.  Ultimately, with Jah, despite adverse conditions, the poor folks are stronger.  Think about it, and the idea isn’t far-fetched from Christianity as well as other religions. Even though “A pot-a-cook, but the food na nuff,” the “dance to Jah music” is happening on the fabulous reggae classic, “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)”.

Appears in:

 

~ Table of Contents ~ » ~ intro ~

 A Random Mix of 15 Food, Drink & Hunger Songs (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Archie Music, ATAARH, Atlantic, Big Loud, BMG Rights Management (US) LLC, Cactus Jack, CMG, Conan Gray, Concord, Craft Recordings., Derulo, Inc., Donnway & Co, Interscope, LEKK, Pigasus, Republic, Retrofuture Productions, Inc., Songs & Daughters, Sony, Universal Music, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.; AcatXIo, cindy, Engin Akyurt, freestocks-photos, Hans, kan chansathya, https://pixabay.com/photos/poultry-food-new-nature-chicken-3297369 from Pixabay]

 

Categories: EvergreenLGBTQMusicPlaylistsPop Culture

the musical hype

The Musical Hype (he/him) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education and music theory/composition, respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Music and writing are two of the most important parts of his life.