Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: October 2020 | Playlist 🎧

1. Omar Apollo, “Bi Fren”

💿 Apolonio • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2020

🎵 “Bi Fren” marks one of the most captivating moments on 💿 Apolonio, the 2020 mini album by the gifted and handsome Mexican-American musician, 🎙 Omar Apollo. Apollo’s style is quite eclectic (R&B, pop, rock, Latin), best characterized under the alternative umbrella. Like the song “I’m Amazing” that commences Apolonio, “Bi Fren” drips in swagger.  Also, obviously, it raises speculation regarding the musician’s sexuality, which he doesn’t really address (nor does he have to). That said, there’s clearly some connection that Omar had with this guy, mumble approach to performing or not.

On the second verse, Omar asserts:

“I still like him, I still like him
I used to drive around your block without no license
Separate you and your bitch, I’m not no hyphen
I hate your bitch, so I dipped out and jumped the high fence
He talking ‘bout hi friend, I’m talkin’ bout bi friend.”

It’s definitely intriguing – incredibly entertaining. That groove is lit. Fancy sufficiently tickled!

2. BLACKPINK, “Bet You Wanna”

Ft. Cardi B

💿 THE ALBUM • 🏷 YG Entertainment / Interscope • 🗓 2020 

🎵 “Bet You Wanna,” arguably, is the song to beat on 💿 THE ALBUM, the 2020 album by K-Pop girl group 🎙 BLACKPINK. “Bet You Wanna” features a ‘clean’ rap verse by Grammy-winner 🎙 Cardi B (yes, she’s tame, but admits it was hard).  Performed exclusively in English, “Bet You Wanna” is a bop from the opening tip.

The production maintains the sleekness of The Album, anchored by beat that packs a mighty punch.  Furthermore, the songwriting is catchy – particularly the chorus below – while the vocals by BLACKPINK #winnning.  Listening to The Album the first time, I found myself wanting to keep “Bet You Wanna” on repeat – it has surefire BOP written all over it. Fancy tickled!

“Something ‘bout me’s taking you higher (Hey, hey)
And you ain’t ever gonna come down (You ain’t ever, you ain’t ever)
I’m lighting your fire (Hey, hey)
And it ain’t even gonna go out (It ain’t ever, it ain’t ever).” 

3. Shawn Mendes, “Wonder”

💿 Wonder • 🏷 Island • 🗓 2020 

After his successful third studio album (💿 Shawn Mendes, 2018), it’s ‘on to the next one’ for Canadian superstar 🎙 Shawn Mendes. That ‘next one,’ 💿 Wonder (arriving December 4, 2020), begins with 🎵 “Wonder”, which proves to well-rounded and incredibly relatable. “Wonder” commences lushly with warm, choral vocals; a welcoming aesthetic. This particular sound that appears on the intro later returns on the chorus.  In the meantime, post-intro, the listeners are treated to gorgeous and vulnerable lead vocals.  Shawn has plenty of questions and hypothetical scenarios on the verses.  “I wonder, wouldn’t it be nice / To live inside a world that isn’t black and white?” he sings on the first verse.  On the second, he gets even more vulnerable and personal, also conveyed vocally: “I wonder, when I cry into my hands / I’m conditioned to feel like it makes me less of a man.”  Man, that’s a powerful moment from Mendes.

Also, powerful, is the chorus, which is epic.  Here, Mendes definitely packs more of a punch.  There’s more oomph, which is extended following the second verse towards the end.  On the chorus, the biggest ‘wonder’ he has is “What it’s like to be loved by you.”

“Right before I close my eyes
The only thing that’s on my mind
Been dreaming that you feel it, too
I wonder what it’s like to be loved by you.”

The biggest takeaway from this fancy tickling single is Mendes’ honesty and how he opens up about things that affect him – it’s a great message.

4.AC/DC, “Shot in the Dark”

💿 Power Up • 🏷 Leidseplein Presse, B.V.• 🗓 2020

“My mission is to hit ignition!” Fair enough 🎙 AC/DC, fair enough! The iconic Australian hard rock band is back with a brand-new studio album, 💿 POWER UP (November 13, 2020).  Promoting the new LP is a fantastic, hard-rocking single, 🎵 “Shot in the Dark”. The tone is set instantly on “Shot in the Dark,” sounding like vintage AC/DC.  Those guitar riffs at the beginning are fantastic, not to mention how the guitars roar and the drums pound (with ample cymbal) throughout. There’s definitely great production by Brendan O’Brien.

Those signature, high-pitched vocals by 🎙 Brian Johnson are potent as always. He’s incredibly assertive, never afraid to dig in. The lyrics are pretty simple and straightforward, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! The best moment comes by way of the epic chorus, which is memorable, with sing-along lyrics:

“A shot in the dark make it feel alright
A shot in the dark all through the whole night
A shot in the dark, yeah, electric sparks
A shot in the dark beats a walk in the park.” 

The veterans may not bring anything ‘brand-new’ or particularly innovative to the table, but “Shot in the Dark” is simply a good, hard rock record. Fancy sufficiently tickled!

5. 21 Savage & Metro Boomin, “Runnin”

💿 Savage Mode II • 🏷 Epic • 🗓 2020

🎵 “Runnin,” the first full-length track from 💿 Savage Mode II, the collaborative album by 🎙 21 Savage and 🎙 Metro Boomin, is nothing short of epic – NO CAP! The production by Metro goes hard, as does 21’s bars. 🎙 Diana Ross contributes to the epic sound, thanks to the sample of her 1976 classic, “I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)”.

As classy as Ross sounds on the sampled intro, 21 Savage truly is in ‘savage mode,’ dropping numerous lit, unapologetic one-liners.  While there’s nothing humorous per se, it’s hard not to chuckle when he asserts, “I was at the Met Gala with my shooter (on God).” The best part of the record is the chorus, which is infectious AF.

“Runnin’, runnin’, runnin’, runnin’
Runnin’, runnin’, I leave all my cars
...all my opps be
...wipe his nose, it was
...Savage never did no.”

6. Lana Del Rey, “Let Me Love You Like a Woman”

💿 Chemtrails Over the Country Club • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2020

🎵 “Let Me Love You Like a Woman” arrives as the promo single for 💿 Chemtrails Over the Country Club, the 7^th studio LP by 🎙 Lana Del Rey. 🎙 Jack Antonoff produces the record, which begins as a piano ballad. More instruments are eventually added but the record never erupts into anything over the top. As always, Del Rey delivers expressive vocals.

On the first verse, Lana is totally ready to leave LA. That said, she wants him to leave with her. On the chorus, she lays out potentially sweet romance, including the titular lyric and “Talk to me in poems and songs.” Once more, on the second verse, she shares her desire to leave, but it asserts it’d be no fun without him.  She brings the nostalgia on the bridge:

“We could get lost in the purple rain
Talk about the good ol’ days
We could get high on some pink champagne
Baby, let me count the ways.”

Additionally, sweetening the bridge is her upper register – some falsetto. The record concludes with the chorus, the centerpiece of “Let Me Love You Like a Woman.”  Let Me Love You Like A Woman” may not eclipse some of the gems she’s given us in the past, but this is another fine offering.  Fancy sufficiently tickled!

7. Trey Songz, “Cats Got My Tongue”

💿 Back Home • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2020

“Oh, I need to eat / Claws, bite, please no teeth / All night between the sheets…” MEOW 😺! Smoking (“Smoke a ‘Backwood’ when the cat good”) and sex play a key role on 🎵 “Cats Got My Tongue,” a highlight from 💿 Back Home, the eighth studio album by R&B standout Trey Songz.

While the title plays off the classic expression/idiom, Trey is being more literal.  The cat he’s referencing is certainly a different sort of pussy 😺…  Sorry – couldn’t resist! This slow jam is freaky but totally enjoyable.  You’ll be ready to purr afterwards, promise! Again, MEOW 😺!

“I can’t even speak when the cat got my tongue
Is that what you want from me to show you my love?
Not sayin’ too much because your cat got my tongue
All night between the sheets, uh
I can’t even speak when the cat’s got my tongue.”

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🔗 🎧 Cats 😺 or Dogs 🐶…

8. Kelly Rowland, “Crazy”

🎵 “Crazy” • 🏷 KTR • 🗓 2020

“Batshit crazy / Knew that you were trouble, and nobody could save me.” 🎙 Kelly Rowland doesn’t hold back that attitude on 🎵 “Crazy”. The Grammy-winning R&B artist is on-point on this three-minute gem. “Crazy” opens with a bold, expressive soul sample.  Initially, it seems as if the listener is about to get a rousing, soulful ballad.  Not the case! Producer 🎙 Ricky Reed helps to flip this record into a dance-soul number of sorts. Rowland sells Reed’s musicianship behind the boards.

She comes loaded with a fierce attitude including some ‘salty’ language (“Hate you, love you, fuck you, pay me”). Additionally, she delivers a fantastic vocal.  She’s expressive without over singing.  The centerpiece is the infectious chorus:

“But if I’m gon’ be crazy
Crazy for anything
I’ll be crazy for you
If I’m gon’ be crazy.”

She doesn’t reinvent the wheel on “Crazy,” but she does make our ears totally perk up. Fancy tickled!

9. Gabriel Garzón-Montano, “Someone”

💿 Agüita • 🏷 Jagjaguwar / Stones Throw • 🗓 2020 

Eclecticism continues to be the modus operandi for 🎙 Gabriel Garzón-Montano on his sophomore album, 💿 Agüita. Among the best songs from the album is the seventh track, 🎵 “Someone.” This is an alternative R&B number, borrowing cues from the soul and funk of old.  This modern take is pretty sweet. The harmonic progression is quite advanced – adventurous just like Gabriel (and us music theory/composition nerds) like it.

This adventurousness only accentuates the colorful nature of the record, with its lushly orchestrated backdrop. This is easily one of Garzón-Montano’s most accomplished performances on the album, not to mention ranking among the crème de la crème from his career as of yet.  Adding to the allure? It’s incredibly sexy. Fancy is definitely tickled!

10. Justin Bieber, “Lonely”

w/ Benny Blanco

🎵 “Lonely” • 🏷 Friends Keep Secrets / Def Jam / Interscope • 🗓 2020 

Grammy-winning pop superstar 🎙 Justin Bieber shines no his authentic, reflective, and vulnerable single, 🎵 “Lonely”, with 🎙 Benny Blanco. Although brief, “Lonely” runs a sufficient duration for Bieber to deliver arguably the most personal song of his career. Benny Blanco and 🎙 FINNEAS ultimately provide him with a reflective, somber backdrop. The production work isn’t rousing but it’s a perfect fit for this particular song by all means.

As always, Justin gives us beautiful vocals; his tone is quite expressive. He reflects on the effects of fame, particularly at a young age. On the first verse, he sings, “Maybe when I’m older, it’ll all calm down / But it’s killin’ me now.” He goes on to drop the f-bomb on the pre-chorus, asserting “But no one’s listening / And that’s just fuckin’ lonely.” The chorus is simple but effective, highlighting the titular lyric. On the second verse, he continues his honesty regarding fame, specifically stating, “And everybody saw me sick / And it felt like no one gave a shit / They criticized the things I did as an idiot kid.”

Admittedly, given Justin’s age and how bad his downward spiral was years back, it’s been tough to like him or relate to him.  That said, on “Lonely,” I appreciate the fact that he is so honest. He sings with incredible authenticity, and this song, albeit it so short, works incredibly well.

11. Stevie Wonder, “Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate”

Ft. Rapsody, Cordae, Chika & Busta Rhymes

🎵 “Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate” • 🏷 UMG Recordings • 🗓 2020

Following a 15-year hiatus, soul icon 🎙 Stevie Wonder returned with a seven-minute, socially and politically ‘woke’ single, 🎵 “Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate”. Assisting him is a star-studded cast comprised of 🎙 Rapsody, 🎙 Cordae, 🎙 Chika, and 🎙 Busta Rhymes.

Rapsody performs the first verse, referencing instances of police brutality, racial injustice, and making a lit allusion to the Academy Award winning Best Picture, 12 Years a Slave (“Many years a slave, took notes from Lupita”). Cordae follows on the second verse, continuing the socially conscious vein of the record, with an incredibly compelling flow. Then, Mr. Wonder enters the fray, shockingly dropping a bomb that’s clearly uncharacteristic of the squeaky-clean music of his career.

“You say that you believe that all lives matter
I say, I don’t believe the fuck you do
You say, ‘All things in time’
I say, ‘That’s why I’m not gonna put it in the hands of fate.’”

Despite the shocking ‘bomb,’ the message is the biggest bomb – definitely pitch perfect.  Later, CHIKA powerfully asserts, “We don’t need no politics to try to justify the plight / It’s a problem of the people, it’s no longer black and white.” As for Busta, he references Colin Kaepernick, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. A lengthy, jam-packed record, there are two big fancy tickling takeaways: (1) Stevie’s back, baby and (2) the message is on-point.

12. Lauv & Conan Gray, “Fake”

🎵 “Fake” • 🏷 Lauv / AWAL • 🗓 2020

Pop standouts 🎙 Lauv and 🎙 Conan Gray join forces to deliver a short, sweet, and totally irresistible bop in 🎵 “Fake”. “Fake” feels right from the start.  The production is pretty sweet, led by acoustic guitar backed by a tight beat.  Additionally, there’s some warm keyboard further sweetening deal.  Vocally, both artists deliver compelling vocals.  Lauv gets things started off on the first verse, dropping a pleasant and balanced performance.  Things are elevated on the best section of the song, the chorus, where we get high energy and a fitting, intensifying f-bomb. Here, he’s joined by Gray as they totally denounce the fakeness!

“You’re so fucking fake, ah
You don’t mean a single thing you say, ah,
If we’ve got a problem, say it to my face, ah
And you’re like all the people that you hate
You’re so fake…”

From there, Gray provides contrast on the second verse, but continues the theme of fakeness that Lauv solidly establishes on the first verse.  Then, we get another iteration of the glorious chorus, a contrasting bridge, and one final chorus that caps off the fakeness. Sigh, when it comes to “Fake” as a duet between Lauv and Conan Gray, there’s nothing fake about it in the least! 

13. Jack Harlow, “Tyler Hero”

🎵 “Tyler Herro” • 🏷 Generation Now / Atlantic • 🗓 2020

“I brought a gang to the party with me / Five white boys, but they not NSYNC.” 🎙 Jack Harlow is ‘instant offense’… at least when it comes to rap.  2020 saw the rapper’s star rise exponentially, and for good reason.  Keeping his game in tip-top shape, Harlow dropped an instant hit, 🎵 “Tyler Hero”, named after Kentucky Wildcat standout and NBA baller, 🏀 Tyler Herro.

“Tyler Herro” may be short (not the player, who is 6’5”), but it’s definitely a sweet banger from Jack.  “My homeboy Tyler, he play in South Beach,” Harlow asserts on the verse, continuing, “He told me this summer he gon’ fix my jumper.” Herro would definitely be the one to do so given his skills from beyond the arc.  Additionally, Harlow shouts out producer Boi-1da, who, alongside a list of producers, stitches up the track nicely.  #BANGER

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14. Clinton John, “Fresh”

🎵 “Fresh” • 🏷 Bless This Mess • 🗓 2020

How about an awesome song from a rising musician? Capping off 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: October 2020 is Nashville pop artist,🎙 Clinton John and his totally ‘fresh’ single, 🎵 “Fresh”.  There’s plenty to rave about “Fresh,” period. Although brief, two-and-a-half-minutes provides ample time for Clinton John to ‘get it done’ and deliver a surefire bop.

Of ‘Fresh,” John asserts:

“After my first break-up it was hard for me to imagine having feelings for someone else again. I found myself comparing any new love interest to my previous experience and how everything after that just fell short. The next time I was interested in someone, it took me by surprise and definitely caught me off guard. It was almost like a light bulb went off in my head, letting me know I was capable of developing feelings again. That realization happened almost instantly, they were exciting and felt so fresh.”

How personal and relatable is that? Love it! Clinton drops his compelling vocals over a sleek, synth-pop production. He never forces things or overindulges, serving up a balanced yet compelling all in all.  He uses the verses to narrativize the ‘fresh’ love and build up to the energetic centerpiece, the catchy chorus! The chorus, like the record itself, is short, but “DAMN, [does] it feels so fresh!” The boxes are totally checked off: strong vocals, sleek production, and alluring songwriting. Fancy totally tickled! #SLAY