Amazing | 5ive Songs

On the 97^th edition of 5ive Songs (2021), we select five songs that are associated with the word AMAZING in some form or fashion.

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elcome to 5ive Songs, where we keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff! There’s a theme/topic, five songs, and a short blurb.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On the 97^th edition of 5ive Songs (2021), we select five songs that are associated with the word AMAZING in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

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1. Mary J. Blige, “Amazing”

Ft. DJ Khaled

🎵 “Amazing” • 🏷 Mary Jane Productions / 300 Entertainment • 📅 2021

🏆 Grammy-winning R&B superstar 🎙 Mary J. Blige makes a fierce return on 🎵 “Amazing”, featuring fellow 🏆 Grammy winner, 🎙 DJ Khaled.  “Amazing” is energetic from the jump. MJB gets the DJ Khaled treatment on the intro – you know how Khaled does it! Additionally, he’s credited to the banging production work alongside 🎛 Streetrunner, and 🎛 Tarik Azzouz. Giving the production a lift is a 🎙 Dawn Penn sample, 🎵 “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)”.

Although Blige is a vet, she sounds fresh, revitalized, and young on this brief banger (2:40). I love the aggressive approach and attitude that she brings to the table. Furthermore, I love the rhythmic, melodic rap delivery on the verses. The chorus is infectious and feel good – undoubtedly the centerpiece.

“Every day like my birthday, bring the cake in
Bring the cake in, bring the cake in
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Man, I feel amazing, man, I feel amazing
Every day celebrate, not just on occasion
On occasion, not just on occasion
I feel good, I feel great, man, I feel amazing
Feel amazing, man, I feel amazing.”

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2. Omar Apollo, “I’m Amazing”

💿 Apolonio • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2020

“I’m amazing, that’s what they tell me / I don’t think of that too much, it overwhelm me.” Well, the ‘amazing’ characterization of 🎙 Omar Apollo is 100% true.  The handsome 😍, talented, Mexican American musician released an intriguing, mini album, 💿 Apolonio, in 2020.  Apollo kicks off Apolonio with ample swagger on 🎵 “I’m Amazing.” Here, he sounds loose and youthful, serving up a heaping dose of BDE.

That BDE goes beyond a lyric like, “Shit remind me when I used to blow your back out,” by the way.  That said, Apollo doesn’t provide the details of that sexual experience…  Though, worth noting, on the chorus, he asserts, “Don’t make me wish I didn’t / …. We still fuck on the side.” Interesting! Omar doesn’t make a game changing statement on this short, vibe-laden joint per se, but it’s a great start to Apolonio, as well as a promising career.

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3. DaBaby, “Amazing Grace”

💿 Blame it On Baby • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

“A nigga barely read the scripture, but I’m spiritual (Let’s go).” Hmm, sounds like 🎙 DaBaby may be firmly planted in the ‘spiritual but not religious’ realm on 🎵 “Amazing Grace.” The 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper’s spirituality is sketchy but, who am I to judge?

Depending on which version of 💿 Blame it on Baby you listen to, “Amazing Grace” is either the penultimate (Deluxe) or final cut (standard).  At least the rapper is thankful for his come-up: “Seven-figure nigga, thank you, God, it’s a miracle.” That’s “Amazing Grace” for sure, even if it’s not parallel with the beloved hymn…

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Grace: 5ive Songs No. 37 (2020)

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4. Aerosmith, “Amazing”

💿 Get a Grip • 🏷 Geffen • 📅 1993 

“I was so sick and tired of livin’ a lie / I was wishin’ that I would die.” Wow, those are some heavy thoughts, 🎙 Steven Tyler.  Furthermore, the 🎙 Aerosmith song, 🎵 “Amazing” is heavy too, though also, ‘amazing.’  “Amazing” appears on the band’s 1993 album, 💿 Get a Grip. Worth noting, the song was written by Tyler and 🎼✍ Ritchie Supa, with 🎛 Bruce Fairbairn producing.

So, what makes “Amazing” heavy thematically? Well, Steven Tyler seems to explore addiction.  There are several fantastic lyrics, beginning on the opening verse: “I kept the right ones out / And let the wrong ones in / Had an angel of mercy to see me through all of my sins.” Wow! On the second verse, he understands, “You have to learn to crawl / Before you learn to walk,” but goes on to say, “But I just couldn’t listen to all that righteous talk.”  Notably, he raises eyebrows when he asserts, he was “Out on the street / Just tryin’ to survive / Scratchin’ to stay alive.” Hmm, addiction? So, where does the amazement come into play? The chorus, of course – the grandest part of the record:

“It’s amazing
With the blink of an eye, you finally see the light
It’s amazing
When the moment arrives that you know you'll be alright
It's amazing
And I'm sayin’ a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight.”

The resulting record is quite amazing.  Shout out the fantastic music (those guitars!) in addition to the sick vocals by Tyler!

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5. Aretha Franklin, “Amazing Grace”

💿 Amazing Grace • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 1972

Perhaps it’s hard for some people to believe, but the most successful album by ‘The Queen of Soul,’ 🎙 Aretha Franklin, is her 1972 gospel album, 💿 Amazing Grace.   The centerpiece of that album, expectedly, is “Amazing Grace”.  Though the hymn has been covered by many different artists, Franklin’s expressive, extended rendition ranks among if not the best.  The soulfulness and the spirituality are utterly sublime.

As you listen to the 11-minute recording, you can hear the church parishioners and concertgoers taken by the spirit, leaning on Franklin’s every word.  Aretha gets in no rush, milking words for all they’re worth and ensuring she infuses her all.  There’s no way you listen and don’t feel what Franklin is delivering. And what about that support provided by the choir? Marvelous! Moving is an understatement when characterizing this truly ‘amazing’ performance.

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Amazing: 5ive Songs No. 97 (2021) [📷: 300 Entertainment, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Clovis Cheminot, Geffen, Interscope, Mary Jane Productions, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, Warner]

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