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

1. SZA, “Hit Different”

Ft. Ty Dolla $ign

“Hit Different” • RCA • 2020

Grammy-nominated R&B artist SZA enlists the one-and only Ty Dolla $ign, as well as production standouts The Neptunes on the totally poppin’ “Hit Different”. Anytime that The Neptunes are in charge of the backdrop, the record certainly ‘hits different!’ They definitely give “Hit Different” a unique sound from the onset. The beat and chordal backdrop are straight 🔥. Beyond that backdrop, Ty sets the vibe with the chorus at the top of the joint. As always, the distinct tone of his voice is a selling point. He also has soulful ad-libs, which prove to be a perfect fit.

The chorus is repetitive and simple, but highly effective.

“Hit different, hit different
...Hit different when I’m sittin’ here
Alone all by myself
Hit different when I think you might be
With somebody else.”

As always, SZA delivers fine vocals. She sounds clear, sings with agility, and sounds absolutely beautiful. She sings about being in love in what is clearly a non-monogamous relationship where neither her nor her boyfriend are exclusive – woo! She never over sings, yet sounds incredibly compelling, nonetheless. All in all, SZA shines on “Hit Different,” ‘with a little help from her musical friends.’ Honestly, there’s something truly hypnotic about this particular R&B record.

2. Bring Me the Horizon & YUNGBLUD, “Obey”

“Obey” • Sony UK •2020 

Bring Me the Horizon and YUNGBLUD joining forces? Woo! That’s some serious rock right there! 🎸🤘 Oli Sykes and the ever-unapologetic Dominic Harrison collaborate on the hard-hitting “Obey”, a record that goes heavy from the start. Produced by Sykes and Jordan Fish, musically, “Obey” features roaring guitars, rhythmic lines, pummeling drums. Lyrically, the words are dramatic and darkly poetic.  The theme deals with oppression thanks to political corruption. Sounds like perfect inspiration for badass rock joint to me.

Sykes, fittingly, kicks things off. He’s turned up on the first verse, asserting, “I bit off more than I could chew when I looked closer / So I stabbed a fork in my eye.” Charming! The pre-chorus continues the dark, hellish vibes: “Think I’m losing my fucking mind / Don’t know where to turn, now I’m blind / Destroy yourself, it feels so good to fade away…” Of course, the centerpiece is the cynical chorus:

“Obey, we hope you have a lovely day
Obey, you don’t want us to come out and play away now, now
There’s nothing to see here, it’s under control
We're only gambling with your soul
Obey, whatever you do
Just don't wake up and smell the corruption.”

YUNGBLUD performs the second verse and second pre-chorus, matching the energy of Sykes:

“Bite me first, I’ll bite back, melodramatic laughter
I stabbed a knife in my eye.”

He goes on to join Sykes on the chorus, which is nothing short of epic. There’s a breakdown section that follows, continuing the unsettling message.  Of course, there’s another f-bomb for good measure too. After brief bridge, performed primarily by YUNGBLUD, listeners are treated to one final chorus, followed by an outro where we’re urged to “smell the corruption.”

3. Keedron Bryant, “I Just Wanna Live” (Various Mixes)

I Just Wanna Live (EP) • Warner • 2020

“I’m a young black man / Doing all that I can / …I’m being hunted as prey / My people don’t want no trouble / We’ve had enough struggle.” A moving, viral clip can indeed do big things.  Keedron Bryant, a Florida teen R&B/gospel singer is a living testament to this.  The 13-year old (born in 2007) went viral thanks to a song written by his mom (Johnnetta Rayshele Bryant) that perfectly captures the feelings of the black community, particularly black males, given so many incidents of racial injustice, inequality, and police brutality.  Bryant would land a major-label record deal with Warner, which is absolutely impressive given both his age and the impact of “I Just Wanna Live” itself.

His debut EP, I Just Wanna Live, features three versions of his viral hit. The main version commences the album.  Bryant sounds absolutely amazing, much more mature and seasoned beyond his youth.  His tone is gorgeous, while the ad-libs and runs only amplify the authenticity, emotions, and investment into the record.  Additionally, Dem Jointz gives him a soulful backdrop that’s both modern yet throwback. It can fly in both R&B and contemporary gospel circles. Fancy more than sufficiently tickled! “I Just Wanna Live” previously appeared on 11 Intriguing Songs by Young Musicians Born in 2000 & Beyond.

4. Janelle Monáe, “Turntables”

“Turntables” • Bad Boy • 2020

“America, you a lie / But the whole world ‘bout to testify / I said, the whole world ‘bout to testify / And the tables ‘bout to / T-t-tables ‘bout to.” Preach Janelle Monáe – PREACH! The lyrics hail from “Turntables”, an awesome soundtrack single that appears from the Amazon Original Movie, All In: The Fight for Democracy.

Janelle Monáe wrote “Turntables” alongside George “George 2.0” A. Peters II, and Nathaniel Irvin III. The brief cut was produced by Nate “Rocket” Wonder, with superb results.  You know what else is superb? That attitude by Monáe! She incorporates a mix of rapping and singing that’s quite effective, delivering a complete, compelling performance. The lyrics are what you might expect given the title of the film – political and socially charged lyrics. Safe to say, Monáe is very woke. In addition to the wokeness, there are some awesome one-liners throughout, including a gem from the second verse:

“You gaslightin’, ‘bout to meet your match, uh
You fuck up the kitchen, then you should do the dishes.”

An epic outro is a perfect way to cap off this joint.  All in all, she brings the heat. Even better, she’s turning them tables! “Turntables” = must-hear.

5. Ruel, “as long as you care”

Bright Lights, Red Eyes (EP) • RCA • 2020 

“I’m sun-dried, my lips are high on overdrive / I’m so tired,” Ruel sings on the first verse of “as long as you care” (Bright Lights, Red Eyes – EP), continuing, “I’m sorry if I’m low on confidence… / I’m sorry, but my brain is fried.” Honestly, the Australian teen heartthrob has no reason to apologize. Years ago, when he first came onto the scene, the rich, soulful, and expressive nature of his voice was unbelievable – he as a mere teen with the voice of a fully seasoned pro! That is still the case for Ruel Vincent Van Dijk, who writes this standout single alongside producer M-Phazes (Mark Landon).

As is the case in the past, Ruel sounds utterly sublime.  His vocals are soulful to the nth degree. Still incredibly young, it’s still mind boggling that this kid sounds this amazing.  He sings with incredible authenticity, expression, and nuance.  You really believe him because he sells it incredibly well.  As far as M-Phazes production, there are sensational throwback vibes from the R&B of the past, yet the sounds are also fresh.

Matters of the heart take front and center on “as long as you care.” Furthermore, the catchy, memorable chorus serves as the centerpiece:

“But don’t cry, I know that you care
You have no idea
It’s all bright lights and red eyes
Bright lights and red eyes, I’m never there
But as long as you’re here, I’m all bright lights and red eyes
Bright lights and red eyes.”

Ultimately, “as long as you are” proves to be a superb single from an artist clearly on the up and up. Ruel = musical godsend.  “As long as you care” previously appeared on 11 Songs Filled With Care and even more recently, 11 Intriguing Songs by Young Musicians Born in 2000 & Beyond.

6. Alicia Keys, “Love Looks Better”

ALICIA • RCA • 2020

“Love Looks Better”, the 11^th track from ALICIA, finds Grammy-winning R&B artist Alicia Keys writing and producing with some of the biggest names in pop music: Noel Zancanella and Ryan Tedder. The collaboration pays off as “Love Looks Better” contrasts everything she’s released up to this point.  Musically, things are energetic from the jump, with accompaniment including piano bass notes and big drums. This isn’t a R&B exclusive background, but rather one blending the best of R&B and pop.

Eventually on “Loves Looks Better,” more of the piano range enters (right hand), as well as some synths with things growing in scope. As far as her performance, Keys is compelling and quite commanding. Furthermore, she has a nice melody to work with. Throw in catchy sections and a relatable theme, and it’s all good.  Fancy tickled!

7. Omar Apollo, “Kamikaze”

“Kamikaze” • Warner • 2020

Omar Apollo is quite the gifted musician.  Once more, he returns with an intriguing new single, “Kamikaze”. Of “Kamikaze,” Apollo tells NME: “When I made ‘Kamikaze’ I was reminiscing on how I used to feel for someone and realizing those feelings are lost and we’re left with nothing.” Produced alongside Teo Halm, he ‘brings the heat’ on “Kamikaze.”

He references his previous single, “Stayback”, on the intro (appeared on Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: August 2020, by the way).  From there, he goes on to sing about his past feelings, which seem to be about a guy in some form or fashion (“And that pretty boy still hit me up on strange occasions”).  Whatever the extent of their relationship, they no longer have the same feelings (“Now we’re like strangers in this lobby / Like kamikaze”).  At one point, Omar throws out them fighting words: “Fuck you, boy / I’m a leave this state and never come back.” They way it’s written is really clever; it makes you speculate,  yet, you don’t real leave with anything definitive.

Beyond the addition of male pronouns, we also add fun lyrics Omar bestows upon us, with my personal favorite being “I ain’t really know you was freaky though / Ass round like cheerios / And you got a lil’ vimeo / What’s the password? You just froze.”  Beside theme and lyrics, “Kamikaze” is appealing thanks to the production, sound, and of course, Omar’s vocals.

8. Usher, “Bad Habits”

“Bad Habits” • Brand Usher/RCA • 2020

“I’m in love, I’m just bad it / I just can’t escape all of these bad habits.” Relatable – perfect fuel for a great R&B song, right? Right! Furthermore, those excerpted lyrics from the chorus of “Bad Habits” suit Usher to a T, NO CAP! “Bad Habits” features lush production work by Pierre Medor and Lxrd Rossi. The sound hearkens back to the R&B of old (think 80s). Makes perfect sense, of course, given Zapp is sampled (“Computer Love”).  While “Bad Habits” possesses classic R&B cues, it also sounds fresh enough to fly in 2020.  It’s a great balancing act. Following the introduction, the record is anchored by some hard drums, clearly idiomatic of modern times.

While the sound plays a big role in the success of “Bad Habits,” nothing and nobody else plays a bigger role than Usher. First and foremost, we get high-flying, elite vocals from the Grammy winner, who sounds as strong as he did in his heyday. Of course, the other big piece of the puzzle for “Bad Habits” that makes it successful – LOVE.  Usher is at his best when matters of the heart are in plan. Here, he’s bad at it, and that’s music to the listener’s ears.  Also, music to the listener’s ears? The catchy, memorable chorus excerpted at the top! Great vocals, relatable theme, and awesome production make “Bad Habits” a surefire winner.

9. Bruce Springsteen, “Letter to You”

Letter to You • Bruce Springsteen • 2020

71 years young (as of September 23, 2020), Bruce Springsteen is releasing his 20^th studio album, Letter to You, on October 23, 2020.  Making things even sweeter, he unveiled the promo single, “Letter to You”. The results? Pretty great! “Letter to You” appears as the second track off the album. Written by Springsteen, it’s produced by Springsteen and Ron Aniello.

“Letter to You” kicks off with an unapologetic rock intro; there’s definitely some spunk! The production is great overall. I love the musicianship exhibited from start to finish.  That includes strong vocals by Bruce, who doesn’t miss a beat in his early 70s. Two consecutive verses occur before the chorus arrives. As always, the songwriting is solid.  It’s relatively simple but ultimately telling and thoughtful. The chorus is strong, highlighting the titular lyrics four times:

“In my letter to you
I took all my fears and doubts
In my letter to you
All the hard things I found out
In my letter to you
All that I found true
And I sent it in my letter to you.”

An instrumental follows the chorus, which is a nice contrast and great opportunity for the band to flex. One final verse and chorus conclude “Letter to You” successfully. Fancy sufficiently tickled!

10. Sam Smith, “Diamonds”

Love Goes • Capitol • 2020

Sam Smith was one of many musicians to delay their highly anticipated studio album in 2020.  Staying true to their word, their third studio album, Love Goes, arrived October 30, 2020, nearly three years to the date after The Thrill of It All.  His newly released single, “Diamonds”, appears as the second track on the album, and certainly tickled my fancy in the month of September!

“Diamonds” has a lot that bodes well in its favor. It begins with a repetitive intro, which repeats the lyric, “Diamond” 16 times.  From there, we are blessed with lovely vocals by Sam Smith, the expectation from the Grammy winner.  Smith is supported by sleek production work.  It’s not overdone or overproduced in the least yet sounds very characteristic of 2020. As far as form, Smith and their writing team keep it simple and straightforward – nothing extraordinary.

Matters of the heart rule the theme. Sam’s ex- was more about material things where they were about the relationship.  Even with lost love, “Diamonds” is definitely spirited, not downtrodden. Beginning with the first chorus, we’re treated to a danceable groove.  Furthermore, the catchy chorus instantly gets stuck in your head:

“My diamonds leave with you
You’re never gonna hear my heart break
Never gonna move in dark ways
Baby, you’re cruel
My diamonds leave with you
Material love won’t fool me
When you’re not here, I can’t breathe
Think I always knew
My diamonds leave with you.”

The groove continues on beyond the first chorus, which is a win. On verse two, we get more melodic variations, eliminating predictability. Where musicianship is concerned, I like how Smith begins singing in an undertone on the bridge, before rebuilding the intensity heading into the final chorus.  Again, “Diamonds” has plenty that bodes well in its favor.

11. Big Sean, “The Baddest”

Detroit 2 • Def Jam • 2020

“The Baddest” serves as a leading candidate for best banger on Detroit 2, the fifth studio by rapper Big Sean. Sean’s energy is off the charts on “The Baddest,” period. Furthermore, No I.D is beastly behind the boards – understatement!

One of the big lifts to “The Baddest” is the sample.  That’s right, “The Baddest” is fueled by a truly badass piece of music: Gojira Tai Mosura” (Akira Ifukube).  Of course, No I.D adds the killer hip-hop beat and the results are EPIC.  How could Sean Don not be ‘The Baddest’ propelled by angst-laden, angular symphonic brass lines and dramatic strings?

12. Kem, “Lie to Me”

Love Always Wins • Motown • 2020

“Lie to Me” just might be the crowning achievement of Love Always Wins, the long awaited comeback album by R&B artist, Kem. Kem keeps it old-school yet he makes these older sounds and past styles of R&B sound almost brand-new in current times. That definitely speaks to his musicianship.

It’s not the often that the listener gets to totally ‘geek out’ over a groove and bass line. “Lie to Me” certainly encourages that sort of ‘nerdom,’ at least from my personal perspective. Another pro regarding this song is that Kem gives us ‘big,’ expressive vocals.  Kem tends to be more modest at times, but he definitely brings some punch here. BOOM! Fancy tickled!

13. Justin Bieber, “Holy”

Ft. Chance the Rapper

“Holy” • Def Jam • 2020

Who knew we would hear again from Justin Bieber so soon! That’s right, after makings his long-awaited comeback with Changes earlier this year, Bieber has dropped a new single.  On “Holy”, the Grammy-winning pop superstar taps Grammy-winning rapper Chance the Rapper for the assist.  The results are positive overall, at least by my estimations.

At just over three-and-a-half minutes, the length feels right for “Holy.” As is often the case, there are a number of songwriters in addition to Bieber and Chance including Jorgen Odegard, Jon Bellion, Michael Pollack, and Tommy Lee Brown.  Furthermore, five producers are attributed to the record.  Were that many folks needed to construct this tune? There are lots of things to like about “Holy,” particularly the blend of blend of pop, soul with some gospel cues.

It commences with a gorgeous introduction comprised of warm piano chords.  From there, Bieber provides us with beautiful vocals showing off that lovely tone and soulful vibes. He sings two verses, supported by choral vocals on the catchy chorus that follows each:

“The way you hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Feels so holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
On God
Runnin’ to the altar like a track star
Can’t wait another second
‘Cause the way you hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
Feels so holy.”

Prior to the third verse, performed by Chance The Rapper, there’s an intriguing bridge section that provides contrast without being a total about face.  As for Chance, his verse is lengthy, beginning with melodic-driven rap before he opts for straight, agile, un-pitched rhymes.  He’s the perfect fit for this record. One final note, must shout-out how rousing “Holy” becomes towards the end, amplifying the gospel sensibilities even more.