Awesome Songs: September 2023 | Playlist 🎧

Awesome Songs: September 2023 features music courtesy of Aaron Frazer, Al Green, Brent Faiyaz, Olivia Rodrigo, and Tyler Childers. 

It’s that time! What time it is? Why, Monthly round-up time, of course! It is the time to select the best songs of the month! All the songs on 🎧 Awesome Songs: September 2023 were released as singles or as an album track in late August 2023, September 2023, or whereabouts (exceptions are possible). Musicians that made our ears perk up in September 2023 include 🎙 Aaron Frazer, 🎙 Al Green, 🎙 Brent Faiyaz, 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo, and 🎙 Tyler Childers among others. The musical styles are all over the map on this musical compendium. So, without further ado, here are those 🎧 Awesome Songs: September 2023! Also, feel free to check out the previous month’s awesome songs! 

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1. Aaron Frazer, “Bring You A Ring”  

🎵 “Bring You A Ring” • 🏷 Dead Oceans • 📅 2023  

“Today I’m gonna bring you a ring 💍/ Today I’m gonna bring you a ring 💍.” Soulful, talented crooner 🎙 Aaron Frazer brings the heat with his lovely, pure vocals on the single, 🎵 “Bring You A Ring”. His approach is chill but incredibly potent. Stylistically, the R&B musician embraces neo- and retro soul. “Bring You A Ring” checks off all the boxes of a contemporary soul record, with its marvelous guitar accompaniment, robust bass line, and, of course, Frazer’s skill on the drums.  Of course, it is his voice that takes the cake – beautiful to the nth degree. The songwriting (courtesy of himself) is authentic, chivalrous, and poetic:  

“You make me float like a feather 

When I’m unsteady like a ship from a storm 

Been through it all together 

Withstood the pressure and this diamond formed.” 

Sigh, beautiful! Also, shout out the flute solo, which ups the ante. All told, 🎵 “Bring You A Ring” marks another incredible performance and song from Frazer, an artist many more folks need to be buzzing about.  

Appears in 🔻:  

• 13 Songs That Totally RING the Bell (2023) 

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2. Brent Faiyaz, “Moment of Your Life” (Ft. Coco Jones)  

🎵 “Moment Of Your Life” • 🏷 ISO Supremacy / UnitedMasters LLC / High Standardz / Def Jam Recordings • 🗓 2023

“You lookin’ better than you ever did,” 🎙 Brent Faiyaz (Christopher Brent Wood) sings in the first verse of his 2023 single, 🎵 “Moment of Your Life”.  He continues, “If you told me the secret, I would spread that shit to every girl that I meet.” Hmm, and why is that, Brent? “So they would know how to be / That shit tastes fresher than a peppermint.”  The big takeaway from the excerpted lyrics of this contemporary R&B joint is L-O-V-E. On “Moment of Your Life,” he taps the talented 🎙 Coco Jones for the assist.  

Produced by 🎛 Mannyvelli, Sparkheem, and Dpat, “Moment of Your Life” samples the 1998 🎙 Nicole Wray song, 🎵 “Boy You Should Listen”.  In fact, that’s where those ‘old-school,’ rhythmic, 90’s R&B sounds originate.  Furthermore, melodically, “Moment of Your Life” lifts off the 90s tune, which is a win for both Brent and Coco.  Following his smooth performance in the first verse and the chorus, Coco Jones takes the reins in the second verse, wowing with her rich, robust pipes (“Tonight, baby boy, you lookin’ better than you ever did / I’ll show you my secrets, can you handle it?”).  The chemistry when both artists perform is incredible, including harmonized vocals and trading lines (the bridge).  Even the contrast between the two is fabulous, particularly how Jones’ ad-libs cut more than Brent’s – she delivers more grit in the final chorus.  The chorus, of course, is the crème de la crème – that realization of love:   

“And I got every other thing that I need and want but you  

And I’ve been wantin’ you, so what you wanna do tonight?  

Make this the moment of your life.”   

🎵 “Moment of Your Life” is a fantastic R&B duet. 

Appears in 🔻:  

• Moment: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 71 (2023) 

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3. Al Green, “Perfect Day” 

🎵 “Perfect Day” • 🏷 Fat Possum • 🗓 2023

“Oh, just a perfect day / I’m glad I spent it with you / Such a perfect day / You just keep me hanging on.” Aww, so sweet, 🎙 Al Green! After an extended hiatus (understatement), one of soul’s greatest musicians returned epically in 2023 with single, 🎵 “Perfect Day”.  Although Green covers the 1972 🎙 Lou Reed gem (💿 Transformer), he makes “Perfect Day” his own with a perfect rendition.

With Al Green at the helm, the soulfulness kicks up a million notches! 🎛 Matthew Johnson and Bruce Watson give the iconic musician soulful, lush production.  The palette of sounds is utterly stupendous, including guitar (🎸Will Sexton), gospel-tinged organ (🎙 Reverend Charles Hodges), and a string quartet 🎻.  Also, shout out 🎙 Raye for those marvelous backing vocals. Obviously, he’s singing a 1970s song, and Green’s heyday in soul circles was the 70s, so, it makes sense the sound is retro.  Even so, hearing authentic soul in 2023 does NOT sound anachronistic but rather refreshing.  As awesome as the sound is, the biggest reason why “Perfect Day” is so perfect is the stellar, true strong vocal performance by Al Green.  Sure, he’s 77, but he doesn’t miss a beat on 🎵 “Perfect Day”, making a classic sound brand-new. 

Appears in 🔻:  

• Lou Reed vs. Al Green: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 39 (2023) 

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4-5. Doja Cat, “Demons” / “Balut” 

💿 Scarlet • 🏷 Kemosabe / RCA • 📅 2023

“Yeah, ayy / How my demons look (How them demons) / Now that my pockets full?” 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Doja Cat raps in the chorus of her single, 🎵 “Demons”. She continues, “How my demons look (Ayy, yeah) / Now that you bitches shook? (Bitch).” Woo! “Demons” is turned up from the start, thanks to the malicious sounding production of 🎛 d.a. got that dope.  Features that stand out include those tape strings (at least, that’s how it sounds) and the horns. Of course, “Demons” is anchored, in all its devilishness, by a banging, distorted trap beat. It’s safe to say, Doja Cat, who wrote this track with d.a. got that dope, 🎼 ✍ Daniel Levin, and Christina Doman, has ample fuel for her fire. She serves up a mean, hard-nosed approach.  Just as the simple, but catchy chorus suggests, she’s incredibly unapologetic. In the first verse, she bites, “If you throwin’ dick at me (Do it, nigga) / That shit should be big at least (Do it, nigga).” Clearly, size matters, boys! Speaking of dick, there’s more of it in the second verse: “I done took the whole dick and blew my back out / I just swallowed all his kids and spit the class out.” Ooh-wee! Clearly moving beyond her pop days, Doja Cat comes out swinging on 🎵 “Demons” with a compelling flow, and clearly exhibiting an IDGAF attitude. 

That’s not the only banger Doja Cat dropped in September 2023, however. Notably, 🎵 “Balut”, the 15th track from 💿 Scarlet (released September 22), commences with a 🤼‍♂️ Ric Flair sample, which reappears at the end. Before she raps one note,  the tone is set. “Balut” features sophisticated production courtesy of 🎛 Yeti Beats and Rogét Chahayed with its sound hearkening back to jazz-rap and boom bap.  Even in the chorus, given the classy backdrop, Doja is kinder and gentler:   

“Ah, uh, yeah, uh  

Wow, uh, yeah, uh  

Wow, uh, yeah,   

It’s like takin’ candy from a baby.”   

Following the chorus, which isn’t deep, Doja goes in on the first verse. In the first, Doja spits, “Dishes on my ass, still I’m thicker than some oatmeal / Glass houses, I don’t really like to keep my stones there / Oh, well, I’ll buy another property for four mill’.”  Um, wow! Later, in the second, she asserts, “Copy this (Copy this), copy that (Copy that) / Every bitch that is her copycat / Copy the greats, that’s my number one strategy / But beware that you can’t copy stats.” All told, 🎵 “Balut” marks another entertaining, worthwhile song from the 🏆 Grammy winner, named balut because “it’s a metaphor for Twitter stans and the death of Twitter toxicity”. WOO! 

  

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6. Omar Apollo, “Ice Slippin”  

💿 Live For Me (EP) • 🏷 Omar Apollo / Warner • 🗓 2023

The handsome 😍, talented 🏆 Grammy nominated singer/songwriter 🎙 Omar Apollo dropped a terrific single, 🎵 “Ice Slippin”, an advance from his EP, 💿 Live For Me (arrives October 6, 2023). Early on in his career, there were questions regarding Apollo’s sexuality. As he’s evolved, he’s clearly become comfortable living his truth, being gay, and sharing it with the world.  “Ice Slippin,” an extremely personal song, deals with his family’s reaction to coming out and moving beyond his home state (lack of acceptance and conservative attitudes).  “Ice Slippin” commences with a minimalist sound initially, featuring unique production by Apollo and 🎛 Teo Halm.  This ballad embraces alternative R&B vibes. As always, he sings radiantly; he has a gorgeous tone.  In the chorus, the first section we hear beyond the intro, “Ice Slippin” is a tender piano ballad:   

“When you comin’ home?   

Home is where you’re supposed to be  

Turn around, it’s not too late, did I hurt you?   

You live too far away  

Are you turnin’ off your phone again?   

If I take back my words, would you return to me?” 

Clearly, home is not a happy place for Omar, given his sexuality. He contrasts his tender vocals with more coarse, bold vocals in the verses. Ice comes into the picture for the first time in the first verse:  “Ice slippin’, swear to God, could’ve hit the brakes, steering wheel locked almost said, ‘Fuck it’ (Fuck, fuck, fuck it).” This seems to capture the sentiment of non-acceptance, as well as literal coldness in Indiana during the winter.  Notably, both pre-choruses have different melodic identities, which add an element of unpredictability – he keeps us engaged by not being complacent. The bridge is unique, with its unique wavy sounds and vocal effects. “Real life, real life, real life / You ain’t got no real friends in your life, your life, your life,” he sings, continuing, “You gon’ feel better by the springtime… / Slippin’ on ice in the meantime.” The depth of 🎵 “Ice Slippin”, as well as the personal nature, particularly from an LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 perspective, truly makes this a special record. 

 

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7. Drake, “Slime You Out” (Ft. SZA) 

💿 For All the Dogs • 🏷 OVO / Republic • 📅 2023  

🏆 Grammy-winning rapper/singer 🎙 Drake unveiled 🎵 “Slime You Out”, the lead single from his highly anticipated LP, 💿 For All the Dogs. There is a sense of nostalgia listening to this R&B joint – the Drake of old, ladies and gentlemen! Drizzy is assisted by fellow 🏆 Grammy recipient, 🎙 SZA, who proves to be an awesome collaborator.  He produces alongside a star-studded team: 🎛 Noel Cadastre, BYNX®, Noah “40” Shebib, and Dalton Tennant.     

  

Following the moody introduction, Drake begins singing. Starting off with a bang, he asserts, “You bitches really get carried away / Makin’ mistakes, then you beg me to stay.” Da-yum! He continues talking about how terrible these exes have been, proclaiming, “Bitch, next time, I swear on my grandmother grave / I’m slimin’ you for them kid choices you made.” Woo! His performance is a prime example of melodic rap, with plenty of rhythmic bars. Notably, the beat, which is on the subtler side, establishes a compound duple meter, definitely characteristic of a slow, bluesy R&B record. SZA enters the picture at the 1:45 mark performing the third verse, and she sounds amazing. Her tone is so beautiful, and similar to Drake, she serves up the melodic, rhythmic rap vibes. SZA is unapologetic lyrically, with her fair share of explicit lyrics: “Got too much pride to let no burnt nigga slime me out,” and , “Frontin’ out here like you diggin’ me out / And I ain’t even cummin’, I’m in and out.” WOO! Drake reenters the fray after the 3-minute mark, where he’s true to self on the lengthy, fourth and final verse.  Ultimately, 🎵 “Slime You Out” can be described as a captivating listen.   

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8. Tawnted, “do the same for me”  

🎵 “do the same for me” • 🏷 Tawnted • 🗓 2023 

“Cry when you left in a puff of smoke / Pain in the left of my chest you know…” 🎙 Tawnted (Jonathan Armswood) has been quite prolific in 2023 releasing multiple singles, including 🎵 “do the same for me”. Two-and-a-quarter minutes is not very long, but it’s ample time for Tawnted to be potent.  It commences with sick, rhythmic synths that appear consistently throughout the track. In addition to the synths, I heart the rhythmic nature of the melodic lines.  While this is pop music, there is a bridge to hip-hop with the way Armswood performs particular lines. Vocally, he has a nice instrument to work with, one that appeals to the ears. One of the biggest selling points, of course, is the honest songwriting.  “Do the same for me” is all about matters of the heart, specifically, heartbreak.  Armswood asserts, “Break my arms but spare my legs / Take my heart cuz it wears your name / I fall apart, did you do the same? / Did you do the same for me?” There is some pointed lyricism – bombs are dropped (“I close my eyes and I fuck your ghost” and “If I had a clone, we would probably fuck”)!  All told, Tawnted brings the heat on 🎵 “do the same for me”.  You hate to hear the talented singer/songwriter be hurt, but, at the same time, his pain is our listening pleasure.   

  

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9. Olivia Rodrigo, “get him back!”  

💿 GUTS • 🏷 Olivia Rodrigo / Geffen • 🗓 2023  

Is there any doubt that 20-year-old, 🏆 Grammy winning pop artist 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo has 💿 GUTS? NOPE! Her sophomore album is arguably even better than her debut. Among the highlights is the sensational 🎵 “get him back!”. You know when those drum stick taps kick things off (courtesy of 🎙 Alexander 23) that this song is sure to be a banger.  Rodrigo truly amps up the personality.  The rhythmic chanted vocals in the verses definitely help showcase a big-time attitude. Exhibit A: “He said he’s six-foot-two, and I’m like, ‘Dude, nice try.’” While there are some parallels to other songs from GUTS, as well as her career up to this point, “get him back!” sounds distinctly different, which is a win.  You can’t mention this bop without highlighting that sung chorus which contrasts the verses: “I wanna get him back / I wanna make him really jealous, wanna make him feel bad.” WORD! 

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10. Kirk Franklin, “Try Love”  

💿 Father’s Day • 🏷 Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA • 📅 2023

“This is your day love / This is your day that you can’t get away / I been waiting all day love (How ya doin’ love) / Waiting for your embrace love…” 🏆 Grammy winning gospel artist 🎙 Kirk Franklin knows just how to pen and deliver inspirational and uplifting songs. The thoughtful, contemporary gospel record 🎵 “Try Love”, released in advance of his 2023 album, 💿 Father’s Day, is no exception.  At the onset, the choir provides amorous, exuberant vocals in the eventual chorus. This sets the tone.  “Try Love” is filled with positivity, emphasizing the power of love: “Get out and touch somebody / Love somebody / Hold somebody / Don’t you know that you just may be the only Jesus that they see.” As far as sound, “Try Love” features sweet melodies and a solid, highly effective harmonic scheme.  Also, there are delightful vocal harmonies, always a pro.  While the chorus is the section to beat, the bridge is notable, providing a distinct change of pace, following the brief second verse. Here, the tempo is quicker, while the message of love remains constant:     

“I been around the world and I-I-I, know it’s going crazy  

I cried so many nights and I-I-I, need someone to save me  

No greater love or sacrifice (Love)  

Love on the cross You paid the price (C’mon)  

That’s why I trust You with my life, and I take the chance and try love  

Don’t say goodbye love.” 

As always, throughout 🎵 “Try Love”, Franklin plays the role of encourager, minister, preaching L-O-V-E. All told, this record has a great message that believers and non-believers can get behind ❤️ ❤️ ❤️.   

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11. Nicholas Dante, “Hellrider” 

💿 Inferno • 🏷 Clouded Diamonds • 📅 2023 

“You wanna be hooked on me / Looking for a little taste…” Yes, 🎙 Nicholas Dante! More like, yaasss!  The handsome musician 😍 is sure to make us all go to hell listening to his titillating single, 🎵 “Hellrider”.  It commences enigmatically, before Nicholas sings one naughty note.  Early on, the backdrop signals that hellishness – infernal ways – are on the horizon! Further adding fuel to the fire is the minor key, fitting for a dark, lustful experience such as “Hellrider.”  The main source of the hellishness is Nicholas, the tease that he is! His delivery is drenched in naughtiness, serving up playful vocals.  He sounds breathy, singing in an undertone in the verses, which is… S-E-X-Y 😈.  Even so, the songwriting thrives off of sexual innuendo rather than explicitly crossing any lines.  This use of suggestiveness makes “Hellrider” hella potent – no obscenities necessary! The centerpiece is the incredibly catchy, tuneful chorus. Here, the edgy artist is more dynamic – turnt up to the nth degree!

“I can tell you want me, baby  

From the way that you look at me  

I drive you crazy  

There’s no way to explain it  

So, let’s ride  

Down the rings of hell tonight.”   

Yaasss, king – “Come and fuel my fire,” you addicting, fella you! Getting a bit nerdy, how about the use of that raised sixth during the bridge section? A dose of Dorian mode is just what the doctor ordered in a pop cut, right? Right! All told, Nicholas Dante proves himself to be fierce AF on 🎵 “Hellrider”.  I don’t know about y’all, but he has me damned to the second circle of hell just listening! 

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12. Peter Ngqibs & Kisos, “tongue tied”  

🎵 “tongue tied” • 🏷 Peter Ngqibs • 📅 2023 

“How do I tell you how I feel? / When the word can’t roll off of my tongue, tongue tied.” 🎙 Peter Ngqibs may be tongue tied adversely but his song, 🎵 “Tongue Tied” is a bop, a bop – did I mention, it’s a BOP?! The South African 🇿🇦 born, USA-based 🇺🇸, Xhosa singer, songwriter, composer and organist 💪 shines – utterly radiates – delivering some of the butteriest smooth vocals you’ll ever hear.  With every note, Ngqibs brings authenticity, heart, and ample passion. An enigmatic intro proves to be incredibly ear catching and sets the tone for “Tongue Tied.” The production is lush, but also anchored by a fabulous rhythmic groove.  Besides epic lead vocals, the vocal harmonies are amazing as well, amplifying the colorful sound palette – upping the ante.  And of course, there’s a strong assist provided on this tongue-tied vibe, courtesy of another talented musician, 🎙 Kisos 🤩.  Notably, Kisos provides contrast to Ngqibs, bringing some bite and punch, vocally towards the end. Again, for the fourth time, “Tongue Tied” is a BOP.      

Appears in 🔻:  

• 15 Tantalizing Tongue 👅 Songs (2023) 

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13. Conan Gray, “Winner”  

🎵 “Winner” • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 2023

“The pots and pans and roaches / They’re glad I’m finally goin’ / ‘Cause, even them, they shudder at your name.” Those are deep, incredibly personal lyrics 🎙 Conan Gray delivers on his single, 🎵 “Winner”.  “Winner” begins as a piano ballad, with Conan Gray singing instantly. As always, his tone is gorgeous. Early on, the sheer excellence of the lyrics – the utterly sublime songwriting – is revealed.  Adding to beautiful vocals and the thoughtfully penned lyrics are tuneful melodies, particularly in the pre-chorus. Gray exhibits poise in the first verse and pre-chorus, not revealing his cards.  Even in the chorus, at first, it seems as if his falsetto is going to be the focal point. Soon enough, he digs in, specifically on the lyrics, “Now you really the winner.”  The chorus, in all its epic glory, plays out a little something like this:   

“Is that there’s no one  

Whoever has done better  

At makin’ me feel worse  

Now you really are the winner  

Yeah, there’s nothing  

That ever did quite kill me  

More than what you did  

Now you really are the winner  

Take a bow ‘cause you’re the winner.”    

Ooh wee, the hurt is real for Gray 😢! The second verse adds drums, vocal harmonies, and generally more vocal presence (shout out 🎛 Greg Kurstin). The songwriting continues to be heavy. Gray ups the ante giving an even more dynamic vocal performance.  Expectedly, the second chorus is instantly more dynamic, with gargantuan guitars, vocals – a wall of sound.  Interestingly, some of the layered vocals in that second chorus give Freddie Mercury vibes, hearkening back to the 1970s and 80s.  The second post-chorus is bigger too, accentuated by the la-la(s), which make everything better! Even after this stupendous record grows so big in its #WINNING ways, I like how the outro brings 🎵 “Winner” down.  It’s a musical move on a track where the musicianship is absolutely incredible.   

  

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14-15. Tyler Childers, “Rustin’ In the Rain” / “Percheron Mules” 

💿 Rustin’ In The Rain • 🏷 Hickman Holler / RCA • 📅 2023 

🏆 Grammy-nominated, Kentucky country musician 🎙 Tyler Childers released a fabulous album in 2023, 💿 Rustin’ In The Rain. Beyond making the praise received for the LGBTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈 friendly 🎵 “In Your Love”, Rustin’ In The Rain, which runs just seven tracks deep, has no shortage of gems. The first is 🎵 “Rustin’ In The Rain”: “I am yours to use / And I sure wish you would use me / Do not let my heart just fall apart / Rustlin’ in the rain.” The track features a marvelous arrangement and production, with the guitar and old-school, Honky Tonk-ish piano standing out the most.  With its epic instrumental riffs, terrific soloing (guitar and piano), and vintage backdrop, “Rustin’ In The Rain” clearly hearkens to the country music of the past.  That said, this neo-traditionalist approach sounds quite refreshing in 2023. The biggest selling point is Childers, who gives his all on this high-energy opener.  He sounds expressive and incredibly nuanced. In addition to his voice, the production, and terrific songwriting, a key modulation only adds fuel to the fire of this masterful track.    

Another standout from 💿 Rustin’ In The Rain is 🎵 “Percheron Mules,” which marks one of the most fun moments. There is a foot tapping groove that’s infectious from the get-go. A quick tempo marks another selling point.  The band wows with its musicianship, including a touch of accordion 💪.  The solos are epic, particularly the pianist 🎹, who is on fire 🔥.  The colorful songwriting is among the biggest reasons for this song’s success.  The best part is the chorus, a true treat with its call and response approach.   

“Mammoth Jacks and Percheron mares (Mammoth Jacks and Percheron mares) 

Grazin’ up and down my dreams 

Nothin’ less than sixteen hands (Sixteen hands, sixteen hands) 

I don’t wanna drag my feet (He don’t wanna drag his feet).” 

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Awesome Songs: September 2023 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Clouded Diamonds, Dead Oceans, Def Jam Recordings, Fat Possum, Geffen, Hickman Holler, Peter Ngqibs, RCA, Republic, Tawnted, Warner; Free Fun Art from Pixabay]

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