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

‘Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2020’ features Bob Dylan, Chloe x Halle, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Mickey Guyton & Shamir.

Ah, it’s time to select the best songs of month: AWESOME SONGS THAT TICKLED MY FANCY: JUNE 2020! All of the songs on Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2020 were released as singles or as an album track in June 2020, or whereabouts (I reserve the right to make exceptions). Musicians that made our ears perk up in the month of June include Bob Dylan, Chloe x Halle, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Mickey Guyton, and Shamir among others. Without further ado, here are 15 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2020!

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1. Lil Baby, “The Bigger Picture”

“The Bigger Picture” • Quality Control Music • 2020

Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Baby has had an incredibly successful year. His best work, comes on the deep, insightful record, “The Bigger Picture”, which is unaffiliated with his chart topping sophomore album, My Turn. “The Bigger Picture” isn’t only arguably the best song by Lil Baby, it’s also among the best songs of 2020. It previously appeared on 13 Powerful Songs Where Black Lives DO Indeed Matter.

“The Bigger Picture” commences with an intro, which sets the tone.  Naturally, the senseless death of George Floyd is the catalyst, as we hear news clips about the protests in Minneapolis.  The intro fittingly concludes with “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe”).  From there, Lil Baby is on autopilot, blending conscious rap with his beloved trap flow.  Throughout the course of a couple of verses, he’s very honest, thoughtful, and quite insightful about the events that have turned the world upside down.  “I find it crazy the police’ll shoot you and know that you dead, but still tell you to freeze / Fucked up, I seen what I seen,” he spits on the first verse, continuing, “I guess that mean hold him down if he say he can’t breathe.”

There are countless instances where Lil Baby nails it.  “I see blue lights, I get scared and start runnin’,” perfectly captures the fears black men and women have of the police, based on an ugly history.  On the second verse, he supports the protest, but is also sensible, acknowledging that “Corrupted police been the problem where I’m from / But I’d be lyin’ if I said it was all of them.”  Also, incredibly ‘woke,’ on the third verse, he spits, “What happened to COVID? Nobody remember.” Dope!

Lil Baby brilliantly sums up “The Bigger Picture” on the chorus:

“It’s bigger than black and white
It’s a problem with the whole way of life
It can’t change overnight
But we gotta start somewhere
Might as well gon’ head start here
We done had a hell of a year
I’ma make it count while I’m here
God is the only man I fear.”

BOOM! A big moment for Lil Baby and the world.  Fancy sufficiently tickled.

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2. Chloe x Halle, “Busy Boy”

Ungodly Hour • Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia • 2020 

Chloe x Halle show incredible versatility on their fun, well-rounded sophomore album, Ungodly Hour. The Grammy-nominated R&B sister duo has ample talent at their disposal.  Throughout Ungodly Hour, they show off their incredible versatility including those celestial vocal harmonies.  One of many awesome songs that totally tickled my fancy was “Busy Boy.”

“It’s four o’clock / You sendin’ me too many pictures of your… (Oh).” Yep, that’s those filthy, horn-dog boys for ya! Ungodly Hour has no shortage of bops, but “Busy Boy” is chief amongst them! The production by NASRI and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman is fresh, yet also hearkens back to, well, contemporary R&B of old.  Chloe x Halle really bring the attitude and sassiness, without having to force things in the least.  The harmonies are sweet, the chorus infectious, and the vibe – LIT (AF).

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3. Bob Dylan, “Black Rider”

Rough and Rowdy Ways • Columbia • 2020

At the ripe young age of 79, Bob Dylan released his 39^th studio album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, his first album of originals since 2012 (Tempest).  Many 79-year olds are retired, but that’s just not Bob’s style.  And judging by just how great Rough and Rowdy Ways is, you hope that the legend never hangs it up.  Among the crème de la crème, with a clear argument for the sole honor of crowning achievement, is “Black Rider.”

Admittedly, it was a close call between this one and several gems from Rough and Rowdy Ways including “I Contain Multitudes” and “False Prophet”.  The chilling, dark, enigmatic, minor-keyed “Black Rider” has an equally strong case.  Here’s the deal about “Black Rider.” Even if the lyrics weren’t potent and Dylan had ‘fallen off’ his storytelling game, the music alone would earn this record accolades. The production is spare, allowing Dylan to be the focal point, yet, the harmonic progression – the chords – are absolutely gorgeous.  Of course, it’s Bob Dylan, lyrical master, so it only requires one lyric to confirm the elite nature: “Black rider, black rider, hold it right there,” he sings on the fifth and final verse, “The size of your cock will get you nowhere.” How awesome is that? “Black Rider” is subject to interpretation, including references to mortality – perhaps Dylan’s own – and perhaps, more subtly, politics.

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4. Mickey Guyton, “Black Like Me”

“Black Like Me” • Capitol Nashville • 2020

“Broke my heart on the playground, mm / When they said I was different…” Let that sink in.  In 2020, a number of black musicians have used their platform to celebrate blackness and fight for racial equality.  Mickey Guyton is a black female in a genre that lacks much black representation – country music.  Country has expanded to include more black artists, but remains a historically white genre where black artists often struggle to gain success, or gravitate to ‘urban’ genres.  Regardless, Guyton drops an incredible country single, “Black Like Me”, that has massive crossover ability, but more importantly, exhibits pride for being black and provides brilliant commentary on race.

The theme and lyrics of “Black Like Me” are the crowning achievement, particularly given the climate of the U.S.A. at this time.  Mickey reflects on the past, as the aforementioned lyrics confirm, and she moves on to the present, as an adult.  She laments the inequalities on the pre-chorus, and truly ‘brings it on home’ what it feels like to experience it, even as an adult:

“It’s a hard life on easy street
Just white painted picket fences far as you can see
If you think we live in the land of the free
You should try to be black like me.”

Guyton continues to provide details regarding her experiences and bringing to light the additional adversities faced by a person of color.  Besides lyrics and theme, other bright spots include high-flying, powerhouse vocals of Guyton and production that does a fine job of balancing the pop/R&B sensibilities, while remaining idiomatic of country.

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5. John Legend, “One Life”

Bigger Love • Columbia • 2020 

“Let’s go everywhere and nowhere / … Let’s bathe in the moonlight / Dance around the stars / Maybe go too far…” In the context of Bigger Love, the sixth studio album by John Legend, “One Life” feels like a perfect fit for the soulful, Grammy-winning musician.  Legend is known for being incredibly ‘woke’ to the music of old, while bringing and bridging it into the 21^st century. Notably, this groovy gem, originally appearing on 13 More Songs Centered on Life, is produced by a Grammy-winner in his own right, Anderson .Paak, as well as Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman. I can’t emphasize enough what wonders they do for Legend.

On “One Life,” there’s a heaping dose of love and dedication – the optimism about marriage and unshakable monogamy is definitely on 10.  On the aforementioned second verse, by the end, Legend goes on to state, that together, it feels “Like even outer space could be attainable.” On the chorus, he sums it up perfectly:

“We’ve got one life
I won’t waste it, one life
I’m gon’ taste the joy in every minute
Beginnin’ ‘til the finish
We’ve got one life
Get lost together, one life
We’ll go wherever, ‘til the ride is over
Everywhere and nowhere, we’ll go.”

Perhaps a younger R&B fan will miss the sleezier side of the genre with something this refined, but they probably aren’t vibing with Legend anyways TBH!  As for me, my fancy is tickled AF.

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6. ROSALÍA, “TKN”

Ft. Travis Scott

“TKN” • Columbia • 2020 

Grammy-winning Latin artist ROSALÍA is an ‘automatic bop’ – she lacks the ability to produce a dud. Perhaps I’m not quite as sold on that same situation for Travis Scott, the Grammy – nominated rapper has definitely put together his fair share of bops, particularly on his best album to date, ASTROWORLD.  So, when you put two hit makers together, the only result is a hit, right? Yes, that’s the case with “TKN”, definitely an awesome song that tickled my fancy in June 2020.

 “TKN” keeps things incredibly short – just over two minutes. No worries – it’s enough! Expectedly, the production is one of the big selling points, with ROSALÍA, El Guincho, Sky Rompiendo el bajo, and Tainy handling the boards.  The sound is true to the Latin superstar as the lead artist but also ends up suiting Travis Scott’s guest spot sufficiently on the second verse.  Worth noting regarding Scott, he does have a couple of Spanish lines before his verse, which is in his native English.

ROSALÍA exhibits a fierce attitude and a sense of toughness throughout the pre-chorus, chorus, and the first verse – definitely boss-oriented. Vocally, she sounds amazing, as always. As for Travis Scott, he’s a bit more sexually charged: “Yeah, she got hips I gotta grip for / A lot of ass, don’t need to have more / I know it’s sweet, I like that /…I got word that it’s wet, well, let’s drown.” Ultimately, ROSALÍA and Travis Scott shine on “TKN,” despite the fact that it is so brief.  What makes it so awesome? Great production, awesome personality asserted through the performance, and of course, razor-sharp vocals.

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7. Shamir, “On My Own”

“On My Own” • Shamir • 2020

“I used to think that love was fleeting / You’ll just end up hurt / But it’s a cosmic game of meetings / That may never work…” A prime example of a gem arriving in the turbulence that is 2020 is “On My Own”,  an intriguing, expressive rock record by Shamir Bailey, better known as Shamir.  The LGBTQ musician, who identifies as nonbinary, is definitely ‘one of a kind,’ with a truly distinct, powerful set of pipes.

Perhaps Shamir is markedly different from anyone that you know personally or have ever met, but the theme and lyrics of “On My Own” are quite relatable.  The theme is, the plight of love/ being alone.  Yep, that’s a theme that always works, and the expressive singer nails it.  Worth noting, when discussing the song, Shamir tells Rolling Stone about a new angle it takes, given the pandemic: “…Considering the pandemic, [“On My Own”] … morphed into an accidental quarantine anthem, especially for the people who live alone like me.”

The aforementioned lyrics kick off “On My Own,” following an energetic intro that sets the tone of the song.  From there, Bailey embraces being alone:

“I don’t mind to live all on my own
And I never did
And I don’t care to feel like I belong
But you always did.”

Independent, following a breakup, Shamir does reflect on the possibilities for love in the future, but he also understands he doesn’t need it, particularly if it isn’t worth it, ultimately.  Of course, he does so with a kick ass, rhythmic, guitar-heavy backdrop (Kyle Pulley does a superb with the production btw), and top-notch, upper-register pipes.

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8. Alicia Keys, “Perfect Way to Die”

Alicia • RCA • 2020

Despite the fact that her seventh studio album, Alicia, was pushed back, Alicia Keys from released numerous singles, nonetheless. The songs that Keys released in 2020 have been very woke to what’s happening socially and politically in 2020, including “Perfect Way to Die”. “Perfect Way to Die” captures the racial inequality and police brutality that has dominated the headlines. On this piano/strings ballad, Keys tugs at the heartstrings as she depicts incidents where innocent black lives were lost.  “Simple walk to the corner store,” she sings on the first verse, continuing, “Mama never thought she would be gettin’ a call from the coroner / Said her son’s been gunned down.”  The second verse is similar, this time with a girl being the victim – the martyr if you will.  Of course, the centerpiece is the chorus, where “the perfect way to die” comes into play.  There is no perfect way to die, but in a sense, it seems Keys is trying to find the positive that can come from such tragedy, including necessary change.

Musically, Keys begins singing lower, eventually ascending into her powerful upper register as the song progresses.  She’s definitely high on the bridge, where the devastation of “Another dream lost / Another king and queen lost / Another broken promise they refuse to make right” is definitely felt. Interestingly, she descends back into her lower register on the final chorus, adding to the somber nature.  Also, she doesn’t complete the final line – another stellar touch. “Perfect Way to Die” is upsetting, but it’s an upsetting song that needs to happen.  Again, Keys is woke to the events plaguing the world, particularly black men and women.  That’s the most important takeaway. “Perfect Way to Die” previously appeared on Deadly Songs Unlikely to Leave You Literally Dead (Vol. 2).

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9. Leon Bridges, “Sweeter”

Ft. Terrace Martin

“Sweeter” • Columbia • 2020

Like so many of his contemporaries, on “Sweeter” (featuring Terrace Martin), Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Leon Bridges takes the opportunity to captures his thoughts about race and racial injustice through music. “Sweeter” features a nice blend of old- and new- school R&B.  Bridges clearly has one foot in the door of the past, yet at the same time, the record is slightly more modern than what’s appeared on his albums.  Ricky Reed and Nate Mercereau do a marvelous job behind the boards, helping to mold this ‘sweet’ sound.  Though the sounds are indeed sweet, Bridges’ vocal performance, and the lyrics he conveys are the centerpiece.

From the start of this somewhat nontraditional number, you feel the weight:

“Hoping for a life more sweeter
Instead I’m just a story repeating
Why do I fear with skin dark as night?
Can’t feel peace with those judging eyes.”

The lyrics honestly speak for themselves.  Leon goes on to say that he “Thought we moved on from dark days,” basically expressing his disappointment over the racial injustices in 2020 without explicitly saying so.  One of the most moving passages:

“The tears of my mother rain, rain over over me
My sisters and my brothers sing, sing over me
And I wish I had another day, but it’s just another day.” 

What really stands out about “Sweeter” is how Bridges, Martin, and the songwriters and musicians poetically approach things.  “Sweeter” is a beautiful song, but it’s a beautiful song with no shortage of emotion and pain.  It’s another excellent addition to the growing list of songs that speak out against racial inequality and injustice. 

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10. Lady Gaga & BLACKPINK, “Sour Candy” 🍬 🍬 🍬

Chromatica • Interscope • 2020

“I’m sour candy / So sweet, then I get a little angry, yeah /Sour candy, yeah, yeah, yeah…” Standout “Sour Candy” arrives courtesy of Lady Gaga, assisted by South Korean girl group, BLACKPINK.  “Sour Candy” appears on Chromatica, the sixth studio album by the Academy- and Grammy award winning musician. Chromatica is easily Gaga’s best album since Born This Way (2011).  Focusing on the awesome song at hand, well, it previously ‘sweetened’ things up on the conceptual food playlist, Time to Eat – Dinner is Served!, as well as the dessert-themed 13 Scrumptious Songs About Candy & Dessert.

“I’m hard on the outside / But if you give me the time / Then I could make time for your love / I’m hard on the outside / But if you see inside, inside, inside…” “Sour Candy” yields positive results – nothing sour in the least! Why is it such a success? Light in calories it may be compared to cookies, cakes, or pies, it’s still rich in sugar given the outlandish nature and artistry of Gaga, the personality exhibited by BLACKPINK, the millionth catchy chorus of the album itself, and superb production.  BloodPop® and BURNS do a fine job constructing this ‘sweet,’ modern, electro-pop banger.

“Come, come, unwrap me
I’ll show you what’s me
Close your eyes, don’t peek
Now, I’m undressing
Unwrap sour candy.”

OF course, the lyrics, as aforementioned are quite playful.  There’s clearly some sexual innuendo in play, but neither Lady Gaga nor BLACKPINK take things too far.  Ultimately, “Sour Candy” is incredibly fun.

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11. Meek Mill, “Otherside of America”

“Otherside of America” • Atlantic • 2020

“I’ve been tryna run from these caskets / All this pain built in me, n***a / You don’t want none of this action / Go get some money and feed your fam / ‘Cause this is a fuckin’ disaster, yeah.” Woo! Grammy-nominated rapper Meek Mill gets socially conscious on the ferocious “Otherside of America”. He’s on autopilot and absolutely goes TF in. “Otherside of America” commences with a sample from an infamous Donald Trump speech, painting a damning picture about urban black life particularly. “58% of your youth is unemployed,” Trump asserts in the sample, continuing, “What the hell do you have to lose?” From there, Meek Mill ‘does the damn thing,’ over banging SHROOM and Butter Beats production. Set in a minor key, the beat is crazy, and the orchestral cues add dramatic flair and intensity (strings, bar chimes).  That said, Meek’s spark was already ignited.

Meek uses the first verse to share his life story – an arduous, dangerous childhood, and eventually experiencing his come up through rap.  Similarly, on the second verse, he reflects on rough-and-tumble times, including the trouble he’s faced, while also acknowledging his success story. Of course, it’s the chorus that paints quite a portrait of the experience some blacks face that are far too often taken for granted, and that those who have privilege never face nor understand:

“...Mama at work, daddy, he dead, n***a we lonely
Stomach growlin’ like a AMG, goin’ to bed, we hungry
Uzi on me, all my friends are dead, n***a, we lonely
Reportin’ live from the other side of America.”

Mill also closes with a bang, sharing an excerpt from his CNN interview as he discusses growing up in “ruthless environments.” Meek tells Michael Smerconish, “You see seven people die a week, though you would probably carry a gun yourself, would you?” Smerconish responds, “Uh, yeah, I probably would.” Just to recap, Meek Mill absolutely slaughters, painting an excellent, unsettling portrait of “the other side of America.” It’s a song that everyone should hear. It previously appeared on 13 Powerful Songs Where Black Lives DO Indeed Matter and 10^th among the 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far).

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12. Beyoncé, “Black Parade”

“Black Parade” • Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia • 2020

Arguably, Juneteenth received much more attention in 2020 than it has in years – maybe ever.   Sure, President Donald Trump tried to take credit, but the amplification of the celebration was propelled by protests, fighting for racial equality and justice.  Beyoncé, woke like so many black musicians during an incredibly tense, released a song celebrating blackness, “Black Parade”, on Juneteenth 2020.

“Black Parade” is characteristic Beyoncé, at least as of late.  On The Lion King: The Gift, we found the artist mixing African, international music with R&B, hip-hop, and pop.  The same happens here, along with the socially conscious sentiment.  If nothing else, “Black Parade” does two things well.  First and foremost, Bey embraces her blackness, and dives even further to ‘her roots. The second thing that “Black Parade” does well is establish a vibe, which is quite a big factor when it comes to pop, R&B, and hip-hop these days.  “Black Parade” uses lots of gimmickry and repetition, but not only is it embracing the minimalist elements of modern, mainstream music, it also revisits the minimalist elements of world music, which makes it so influential on today’s music. 

“Black Parade” isn’t the best Beyoncé song. It certainly doesn’t feature the same latch and infectiousness like “Crazy in Love,” “Halo,” or “Single Ladies”. That said, like “Freedom” and “Formation” from Lemonade, “Black Parade” celebrates being unapologetically black and not giving a [bleep] what anybody thinks or says about it.  “Black Parade,” despite its more simplistic elements, is actually deeper and more transcendent. It’s polarizing, but definitely art and a great conversation piece.  Fancy tickled.

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13. BAEKHYUN, “Candy”

Delight – The 2^nd Mini Album • SM Entertainment • 2020

Who is BAEKHYUN, you ask? Well, if you’re less woke regarding the K-pop world than most, let me fill you in.  BAEKHYUN is a member of K-Pop-Chinese boy group, EXO, as well as a member of South Korean supergroup, SuperM. The song that tickled my fancy, “Candy,” previously appeared on 13 Scrumptious Songs About Candy & Dessert. “Candy,” serves as the opener BAEKHYUN’s second EP, Delight – The 2^nd Mini Album.

“Candy” exemplifies the K-Pop sound. The production is incredibly fresh and quite sleek; it incorporates elements of pop, R&B, and electronic. Vocally, BAEKHYUN sings beautifully, never underwhelming nor over singing.  It’s particularly sweet when he dips into his falsetto, which is a staple of American pop and R&B music.  Though the lyrics are in Korean, the gist of the song is that BAEKHYUN likens love to candy.  Translations can be imperfect, but the sexy vibes given off by listening and reading through the lyrics are indisputable.  The chorus, the most catchy, memorable section of the song exudes sexiness:

“Girl, I’m your candy
Special chemistry
Mature cinnamon
Dorky mint
What else do you want?
Got me feeling like pop rocks, strawberry, bubblegum
When my pocket is full of scent
All I want is you my love
Candy
You will feel better
Tell me what you’re waiting for.”

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14. Pop Smoke, “Make it Rain”

Ft. Rowdy Rebel

Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon • Victor Victor Worldwide / Republic • 2020

“I make it rain on whoever / I make it rain, that Woo weather / Bitch, I’m a dog, a blue devil / I got the hoes like Hugh Hefner.” Pop Smoke is on autopilot on “Make it Rain”, the promo single from his posthumous debut album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. What stands out about the late rapper is how he was a proponent of bring drill music to the mainstream.  The banger “Make it Rain” reflects such.

First and foremost, “Make it Rain” features banging production by Yamaica. It’s definitely LIT. The synths are hellish, while the beat anchors things down superbly.  As the evidenced by the aforementioned chorus, Pop Smoke is tough AF.  His rhymes are hard-nosed and unapologetic.  “Look, ain’t no apology / These n***as doubted me, I keep a pole tucked,” he raps on the first verse, continuing, “Run up, catch a cold cut / Put his head on his shoulder.” Wow… Rowdy Rebel guests on the second verse, which was recorded via phone from prison.  Obviously, the quality isn’t great because of this, but Rowdy is certainly just that – rowdy. It’s really a shame that Smoke is gone. Clearly, he was an artist with ample potential.  Besides the toughness he brings on “Make it Rain,” I love his distinct vocal tone. No doubt “Make it Rain” tickled my fancy in June 2020. RIP Pop Smoke.

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15. Trey Songz, “2020 Riots: How Many More Times”

“2020 Riots: How Many More Times” • Atlantic • 2020

On the ‘uncharacteristic’ “2020 Riots: How Many Times”, Trey Songz puts aside sex and focuses on more important issues. Like so much of the world, he’s perturbed and totally pissed off about the racial injustice which has really come to head in 2020, due to the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.  “2020 Riots: How Many Times” superbly captures the frustration and the pain.

From the beginning, it’s clear that Songz is opting for more of an old-school vibe with a dash of gospel sensibilities.  Rather than rely on modern synths, he’s backed by keyboards primarily. Troy Oliver and Troy Taylor give him fuel for his fire, alongside the many troubling happenings themselves.  After providing some brief insight on the intro, Songz cuts straight to the chase on the somber chorus:

“How many mothers have to cry
How many brothers gotta die?
How many more times?
How many more times?
How many more marches?
How many more signs
How many more lives?
How many more times?”

HEAVY. On the verses, he drives the narrative of injustices, referencing details that occurred to those slain (“Playin’ in a park, takin’ your jog…”) and calling for action.  One lyric that particular hits hard: “You got a problem, ‘cause the city on fire / But you quiet when n***as die…” Of course, Songz is more eloquent at times, such as, “It’s so hard to sing these words out loud / All these beautiful, precious black lives / Lost in the name of senseless white pride / Tears fallin’ from my eyes.” “2020 Riots: How Many Times” is one of 2020’s bests thanks to being authentic, heartfelt, thoughtful and woke.  He does an excellent job singing, and despite the devastation he sings about, the choral vocals definitely add even more excellence and power. “2020 Riots: How Many More Times” previously graced  13 Powerful Songs Where Black Lives DO Indeed Matter as well as landing 17^th among the 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far).

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Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2020 🎧  [Photo Credits: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Capitol Nashville, Columbia, Interscope, Parkwood Entertainment, Pexels, Pixabay, Quality Control Music, RCA, Republic, Shamir, SM Entertainment, The Musical Hype, Unsplash, Victor Victor Worldwide]

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