Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: September 2021 | Playlist 🎧

1. Ari Lennox, “Pressure”

🎵 “Pressure” • 🏷 Dreamville / Roc Nation • 📅 2021

“Now I’m on top and now I’m ridin’ sky-high / Don’t need nobody, but I’ll take you down tonight.” Woo! 🎙 Ari Lennox is on fire on 🎵 “Pressure”, period.  Her vocals are sassy and sexy – potent to the nth degree. The big draw is the personality she unleashes, in all its unrepentant sexiness. “So fine and spicy, baby, jump up on this (pressure) / I guess that’s why you like it baby, come and get this pressure,” she sings on the infectious chorus.  Besides the chorus, Lennox ‘does the damn thing’ on the verse, proving she’s a surefire, bad chick.  “Too fuckin’ hot for all these clothes anyways,” she confidently asserts, continuing, “My body drippin’, boy, but you gon’ have to wait / But when you get it, lick it like a candy cane.” Day-um! Clearly, the sex is through the roof, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Although painfully underrated, the R&B singer/songwriter is incredibly talented. The utterly sublime, steamy single was produced by 🎛 Jermaine Dupri, 🎛 Bryan-Michael Cox, and 🎛 Elite. Not only is Ari Lennox is fierce AF on “Pressure,” but so is the backing instrumental, which has a dash of old-school. “Pressure” ranks among the best songs released in 2021.

Also appears on 🔽:
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2. Adam Melchor, “What a Damn Shame”

🎵 “What a Damn Shame” • 🏷 R&R Digital / Warner • 📅 2021

“What a damn shame when it won’t go right / What a damn shame to waste a good shirt on a bad night.” I totally agree 🎙 Adam Melchor.  🎵 “What a Damn Shame” is a ‘damn good’ song.  Melchor penned and produced “What a Damn Shame” alongside 🎼✍ 🎛 Dark Waves. “What a Damn Shame” ticks all boxes.  Melchor is a fine vocalist, singing with authenticity and expression.  Furthermore, the vocal production is – wait for it – ‘damn sweet!’ You know what is ‘damn sweet’? The songwriting, arguably, the crowning achievement.

I heart the references to clothing, as well as more clever references to, say Frank Sinatra that evolve from singing about clothing:

“I heard Sinatra wouldn’t be caught dead without a suit
Well, I know ‘m not him
My hair’s more curly and my eyes a little less blue.”

Furthermore, tying intriguing verses together is the centerpiece – the chorus.  We get to curse (lightly) as we sing along to these fun lyrics (excerpted above).  The final piece of the “What a Damn Shame” pie is the production, which is #winning as well.  There’s an alternative pop/rock sensibility which seems to play to Melchor’s strengths.  Mr. Melchor totally tickled my fancy with this DA-YUM GOOD SONG!

3. Kim Petras, “Future Starts Now”

🎵 “Future Stars Now” • 🏷 Amigo / Republic • 📅 2021

“Ain’t nobody gonna stop me / Don’t you let the music stop now.” 🎙 Kim Petras delivers a surefire bop on 🎵 “Future Starts Now”, the first single from her forthcoming debut album.  “Future Starts Now” is an ear-catching, slickly produced dance-pop joint featuring the production skills of 🎛 Aaron Joseph, 🎛 Vaughn Oliver, and 🎛 Dr. Luke.  The synths sparkle and the groove anchors, fueling Petras’ artistic fire. Though the song runs north of four-and-a-half-minutes, it’s a glorious four-and-a-half minutes.  In addition to those awesome production cues, Petras unleashes tremendous personality.

Petras slays, from the occasional French lyrics (“Le future c’est maintenant / Un, deux, trois, quatre”) to her exuberant, commanding vocals on the chorus, excerpted above and continued as follows:

“You’re more than just anybody
Don’t give up, the future starts now
Worry ‘bout it in the morning
Take it to another level
You’re more than just anybody
Don’t give up, the future starts now.”

Those lyrics are encouraging – positive and uplifting! On the verses, she is also future-minded, essentially urging us to put those worries aside and embrace a new-day with new possibilities. After compelling with her performance, we get an extended instrumental to close things out.  Petras shines on “Future Starts Now” with elite production, strong vocals with ample personality, and memorable, thoughtful songwriting.

4. Troye Sivan, “Angel Baby”

🎵 “Angel Baby” • 🏷 Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd • 📅 2021

“I need a lover to keep me sane / Pull me from hell – bring me back again.” On Instagram, openly gay Australian (via South Africa) pop artist 🎙 Troye Sivan described 🎵 “Angel Baby” as a “surprise gushy juice doting adoring power bottom gay ballad.” Sivan has consistently embraced his sexuality, doing so once again, brilliantly on “Angel Baby.”

“Angel Baby” checks off all boxes.  Sivan gets gorgeous production work from 🎛 Jason Evigan, who embraces a lush, plush, 80s-infused sound. Vocally, Sivan sounds utterly sublime, coming off authentic and honest. I heart the dedication that he exhibits towards his ‘angel.’ “I tell you how I almost died, while you’re bringing me back to life,” he sings on the pre-chorus, before unveiling the epic chorus.  On the chorus, there’s a fuller sound with more punch from a production perspective.  Furthermore, Sivan also performs with more oomph. The chorus is incredibly tuneful, bearing a memorable melody:

“I just wanna live in this moment forever
‘Cause I’m afraid that living couldn't get any better
Started giving up on the world forever
Until you give up heaven so we could be together.”

Troye Sivan excels in the pop lane, unafraid to embrace queerness. Musically, “Angel Baby” showcases a high level of musicianship in all facets: great performance, songwriting, and production work.

Also appears on 🔽:
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5. Badflower, “Johnny Wants to Fight”

💿 This is How the World Ends • 🏷 Big Machine / John Varvatos • 📅 2021

“Yeah, if Johnny wants to fight, let him fight / Let him kick my fucking ass into the ground.” Day-um!  🎵 “Johnny Wants to Fight” appears as the fourth track on 💿 This is How the World Ends, the sophomore album by L.A. rock collective, 🎙  Badflower. As always, front man 🎙 Josh Katz is blunt and brutally honest – we wouldn’t have it any other way. He gives us a compelling story.  Prior to verse, there’s a spoken skit that sets up this narrative, which involves “shit’s been going down with your girl” – Johnny’s girl, of course.

Katz expounds on this on the verses, asserting, “He’s [Johnny] looking for somebody to pound /… He’s fucking mad ‘cause he knows that somebody was with her.”  Of course, later, on the second verse, we find out that Josh was ‘with her,’ hence, why, as the chorus confirms, “Let him break my fucking nose until I’m barely breathing / … Give it everything you got / Because your girlfriend put her body on me / Shallow loser.”  In the process, as you can already see, Badflower and Katz keep those f-bombs flying.  The music = energetic AF.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Fight : 3BOPS No. 61 (2021)

6. Chlöe, “Have Mercy”

🎵 “Have Mercy” • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2021

🎙 Chlöe (Chloe Bailey) of 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B duo 🎙 Chloe x Halle, steps out on her own on her brief, suggestive single, 🎵 “Have Mercy”. “Have Mercy” finds Bailey transitioning and maturing into an adult musician.  She puts aside ‘childish things’ or at least, any inklings of teen-pop gracing the past.

“Have Mercy” is readymade for the club – and listening After Dark 🕛 🌃.  It’s edgy but not too edgy.  On the chorus, Chlöe serves up ample swagger, showing herself to be confident AF.  “All this ass up in my jeans / You can’t get up in between,” she asserts on the chorus, continuing, “You tryna get a piece of me / I can teach you a couple of things (Lord, have mercy, work).” Beyond the chorus, she teases a nameless boy, proclaiming at the end of both verses, “You can’t get this thickness out of your mind.” Woo! Furthermore, on the more aggressive second verse, she asserts, “Body language like speaking Spanglish / I’ll educate ya how to do this shit.” Aiding the sexed-up theme and lyrics is slick, modern production work, courtesy of Bailey, 🎛 Murda Beatz, 🎛 BoogzDaBeast, 🎛 FnZ, and 🎛 Joseph L’Étranger.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 15 Steamy Songs Best Listened to After Dark

7. Halsey, “The Lighthouse”

💿 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power • 🏷 Capitol • 🗓 2021

🎙 Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) pleasantly surprises us with the best album of her career, 💿 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is an album with a darker sound that finds Frangipane reflecting on love, mental health, and childbirth.  She gets a huge lift behind the boards thanks to the 🏆 Academy- and Grammy-award winning production team 🎛 Atticus Ross and 🎛 Trent Reznor.  Among the best songs from If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is 🎵 “The Lighthouse.”

Despite being called “The Lighthouse,” Halsey opts for a dark, ‘minor-key’ path.  Case in point – the chorus: “There is a lighthouse / In the middle of the deep / And I’m still stranded on the shoreline there / And nobody hears me scream.” Yikes! Besides the chorus, Frangipane provides examples of several bad, devilish experiences.  On the first verse, she mentions an ex who “Was tall and mean with venom eyes so green / Wanted reconciliation, but my tongue was in my teeth” (Yes, we can speculate if that’s 🎙 G-Eazy 😜) On the second verse, the sailor she meets is not good – “A sailor ain’t a savior cause they only tell you lies.” Of course, Frangipane also admits her own devilishness on the bridge, while on the outro, “the waves come crashing down.” Yeah, some lighthouse, alright!

Also appears on 🔽:
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8. Mike Taveira, “Sex for Breakfast”

Ft. Allie X

🎵 “Sex for Breakfast” • 🏷 Mike Taveira • 📅 2021

🎙 Mike Taveira delivers a delicious, titillating pop single with 🎵 “Sex for Breakfast”.  While he does awesome getting us ‘hot and bothered,’ so does his partner in crime, featured guest 🎙 Allie X (Alexandra Hughes). “Sex for Breakfast” is as good as advertised featuring slick production by 🎛 Sky Cocco and 🎛 Jordan Palmer ‘put in work.’  Cocco is also credited as a writer alongside Taveira, Hughes, and 🎼✍ Paul Mauer.

Vocally, Mike sings smoothly, showcasing a marvelous tone.  Even so, that doesn’t keep him from delivering a bite, early on, mind you: “How the fuck can we be friends when all we wanna do is / Fuck it if it happens, we already do it.” Woo! Following those eyebrow raising bombs, Taveira backs off the profanity, but keeps it sexy (we wouldn’t have it any other way).  I like the way Allie X both complements and contrasts on the second verse.  She gets her ear-catching lyrics in too, even if she’s not as ‘salty’ as Mike: “It’s a physically sadistic state, I feel so manic / And this body talk, it got so rude.” Of course, the crème de la crème – the centerpiece – is the chorus:

“Sex for breakfast
Aah
If you want it, if you want it, if you want it like that
You can’t wait for a second
Aah
Got you coming, got you coming, got you coming right back.”

Coming, huh? Gotta love sexual innuendo! Mike Taveira delivers a surefire bop with “Sex for Breakfast.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Sex for Breakfast: 3BOPS No. 62 (2021)

9. Kanye West, “Jesus Lord”

Ft. Jay Electronica

💿 Donda • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2021

The song to beat on 💿 Donda, the 10^th studio album by 🎙 Kanye West is 🎵 “Jesus Lord” featuring 🎙 Jay Electronica.  It’s no secret that Donda, named after West’s late mother, had the messiest rollout of his career.  Ultimately, the 27-track, nearly two-hour-long LP has its fair share of rewarding moments, including the song at hand. “Jesus Lord” is nine-minutes-long – ambitious – but it’s well worth it.

The mellow production work is sensational, enlisting 🎛 MIKE DEAN, 🎛 Swizz Beatz, and 🎛 Gesaffelstein behind the boards.  Even though the sound is mellow – reverent and reflective – there’s hard-knocking beat that’s consistent throughout. West delivers a fine verse, reflecting on his life, particularly the loss of his mother: “Mama, you was the life of the party /… When you lost your life, it took the life out the party / That woman road with me like a Harley.”  This is a prime example where you sense the grief West has experienced.  Jay Electronica thrills on the second verse, featuring clever pop cultural and spiritual references.  Two more moments solidify the greatness of this song: West’s spiritual chorus, and the moving outro by 🎙 Larry Hoover Jr. in support of his incarcerated father, Larry Hoover Sr. Worth noting, a lengthier version, 🎵 “Jesus Lord, Pt. 2” concludes Donda, running an ambitious 11 ½ minutes! It adds three verses courtesy of🎙 The LOX (🎙 Sheek Louch, 🎙 Jadakiss, and 🎙 Styles P).

Also appears on 🔽:
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10. Drake & Tems, “Fountains”

💿 Certified Lover Boy • 🏷 OVO / Republic • 📅 2021

“Try to suppress my emotions / They’re bursting like fountains, baby / They take me up, they take me down / I’m getting weak in my knees, oh.” Woo! Despite being overstuffed (nearly 90 minutes in duration), 💿 Certified Lover Boy, the sixth studio album by 🎙 Drake, has its fair share of moments.  Among the best moments arrives later during the album, 🎵 “Fountains.” On “Fountains,” The 🏆 Grammy-winning Canadian rapper/singer gets an assist from rising Nigerian singer, 🎙 Tems (Temilade Openiyi).

🎵 “Fountains” is an ultra-funky B-O-P – PERIOD! The African groove is infectious – totally inescapable.  This is a chilled-out, must-hear banger that feels natural on Drake. From the moment “Fountains” kicks off, it’s a total vibe. Even if you’ve had reservations up to this point in the context of Certified Lover Boy, you simply CANNOT write off “Fountains.”  Tems gets the honors of singing the chorus:

“I got nothing to admire, taste certain
Baby, longing you make me feel something
I got my eyes on you, pull down the curtain
I’ll be patient with you, no more fighting.”

This is a record that’s reminiscent of Drake’s former no. 1 hit, 🎵 “One Dance” from 💿 Views.  Fancy sufficiently tickled y’all!

11. Lil Nas X, “That’s What I Want”

💿 Montero • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2021

One of the toughest choices I had to make for 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: September 2021 is which 🎙 Lil Nas X record to include from 💿 Montero! The debut studio album by the 🏆 Grammy-winning black, queer pop artist is chocked-full of hits, period.  Ultimately, I went with a single, 🎵 “That’s What I Want,” which appears as the fourth track.

“That’s What I Want” keeps things short and ‘pop/rock’ in the context of Montero.  Where the opening trio embraced the ‘urban’ sound more, “That’s What I Want” has more emo/punk touches – a hint of rock. Surprisingly, or maybe not-so-surprisingly, it works out well – don’t underestimate Montero, damn it! What’s on Lil Nas’ mind here? Love and combatting the loneliness he feels.  As always, he keeps things black and queer, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! “Need a boy who can cuddle with me all night / Keep me warm, love me long, be my sunlight.” As always, the best part of the song is the chorus, which is authentic, catchy, and tuneful.

“I want (I), someone to love me
I need (I), someone who needs me
‘Cause it don’t feel right when it’s late at night
And it’s just me in my dreams
So, I want (I), someone to love
That’s what I fuckin’ want.”

Fancy sufficiently tickled! How can it not be with Lil Nas X? 

12. Anthony Hamilton, “Real Love”

Ft. Rick Ross

💿 Love is the New Black • 🏷 My Music Box / BMG Rights Management • 📅 2021

After an excruciating five-year wait, 🏆 Grammy-winning, contemporary soul singer/songwriter 🎙 Anthony Hamilton released a brand-new studio album, 💿 Love is the New Black.  The promo leading up to Love is the New Black suggested Mr. Hamilton, one of the most gifted yet underrated R&B musicians, had another hit LP on his hands.   Sure, he’s independent now, but on Love is the New Black, he remains true to self.  Like Lil Nas X’s masterful Montero, I could’ve selected any number of gems from Love is the New Black.  I settled on one song I’ve had on repeat – 🎵 “Real Love” featuring 🎙 Rick Ross.   

“Real Love” provides a brilliant balance between old-school and new school.  The neo-soul is firmly in play, amplified by an interpolation of 🎵 “Swahililand” courtesy of 🎙 Ahmad Jamal (💿 Jamal Plays Jamal, 1974). Those syncopated, jazzy chords are nothing short of awesome – epic to the nth degree! Besides that kick ass jazz sample, the beat provides a more contemporary anchor, while also recalling the hip-hop soul of the 90s.  As always, Anthony Hamilton is locked in, blessing the soulful, love-oriented track with his anointed, distinct pipes. As for Ross, he excels at a soulful, old-school beat, so like Anthony, he’s in his zone. “Real Love,” produced by 🎛 9^th Wonder, is ‘really’ good, NO CAP!

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Real: 5ive Songs No. 80 (2021)

13. YEBBA, “Paranoia Purple”

💿 Dawn • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2021

“And this paranoia purple turns to green / And nothing is as simple as it seems / What’s happening to me?” Good question, 🎙 YEBBA (Abbey Smith). 🎵 “Paranoia Purple” appears as the 12^th and final track from 💿 Dawn, the debut album by the 🏆 Grammy-winning singer/songwriter. The West Memphis, Arkansas musician doesn’t disappoint in the least!

“Paranoia Purple” commences ambiently and enigmatically, providing an incredible, ear-catching listening experience.  Melodically and harmonically, the record isn’t nearly as predictable as so many pop, R&B (or alternative pop/R&B) records, which is terrific.  Of course, it’s not merely the instrumental or musical underpinnings that make “Paranoia Purple” awesome – what about those vocals? Again, Yebba NEVER disappoints, blessing our ears with her celestial tone.  What is she singing about and referencing exactly? Her deceased mother, Dawn.  “Say now, I feel my color show how,” Yebba sings from her mom’s perspective, “I think it’s almost time for me to go now.” “Paranoia Purple” is a chilling closer on Dawn.

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