Behind → 5 Gems

Behind: 5 Gems No. 32 (2026) features songs by Beats By AI, Dixon Dallas, Kelly Clarkson, Paul McCartney, and Slayer.

“No one can erase / The days we left BEHIND.” Noted, Paul McCartney. “Days We Left Behind,” and his album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, were released ahead of his 84^th birthday. As for a then-22-year-old Kelly Clarkson, she asserted, “But you won’t get to see the tears I cry / BEHIND these hazel eyes.” Thrash metal darlings Slayer get into the B-E-H-I-N-D action of Behind: 5 Gems No. 32 (2026). Tom Araya sings, “March on through the rivers of red / Souls drift, they fill the air / Forced to fight BEHIND the crooked cross.” BEHIND is the keyword on this mini playlist, which also features songs from Beats By AI and gay country artist Dixon Dallas. So, without further ado, let’s embrace the power of the behind (🤭) on Behind: 5 Gems No. 32 (2026)!

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~ Table of Contents ~
1. Paul McCartney, “Days We Left Behind”	2. Beats By AI, “Butt Stuff Behind The Dairy Queen”	3. Dixon Dallas, “Leave This All Behind”
4. Kelly Clarkson, “Behind These Hazel Eyes”	5. Slayer, “Behind The Crooked Cross”	5 Gems (2026)

 

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1. Paul McCartney, “Days We Left Behind”

The Boys of Dungeon Lane → MPL Communications Inc/Ltd / UMG Recordings, Inc. → 2026

“Looking back / At white and black / Reminders of my past.” And that past is an illustrious one. Paul McCartney (b. 1942) is a musical legend – an icon.  Pushing 84 years old, the English singer-songwriter unveiled the superb single, “Days We Left Behind”.  “Days” is the third track from his 2026 album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, his first brand-new album in six years. McCartney composed the song. He produced it with watt (Andrew Wotman).

Paul McCartney does not miss a beat on “Days We Left Behind.” His voice sounds amazing, 83 years in. His tone is flawless.  Adding to the beauty of his lead are the background vocals.  McCartney masterfully brings the melodies and reminiscent, thoughtful lyrics to life. In the first verse, excerpted earlier, he poignantly mentions those “Smoky bars and cheap guitars.” In the second verse, he specifically mentions the boys of dungeon lane, the name of the album, asserting, “Some of them will feel pain / But some of them are meant for more.” The chorus is the crème de la crème:

“Nothing ever stays

Nothing comes to mind

No one can erase

The days we left behind.”

Beyond the verses (three of them) and the chorus, the bridge distinguishes itself, all the while remembering the happenings of the past.  Here, Paul stands by a promise made, back at Forthlin Road in Liverpool. Beyond a well-preserved voice and thoughtful songwriting, the production is rock-solid, too.  The guitar accompaniment suits McCartney. Eventually, “Days We Left Behind” adds piano and bass.  The sound is more minimal than maximal, but sufficient, and perfectly suited to McCartney’s self-described “memory song.” Paul McCartney delivers the goods, as he has throughout his legendary career, on “Days We Left Behind”. To sound this awesome well into his eighties is quite a blessing.

Appears in 🔻:

Striking Bops from April 2026 13 Dynamic Day Songs (2026)

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2. Beats By AI, “Butt Stuff Behind The Dairy Queen”

“Butt Stuff Behind The Dairy Queen” → Beats By Ai → 2025

“I park my truck, I scratch my crotch / In the Dairy Queen ice cream parking lot.” Oh, my… The initial lyrics of “Butt Stuff Behind The Dairy Queen” set the tone for the listening experience.  Honestly, the title informs the listener that this country-pop song is ‘something else.’ Courtesy of Beats By AI, “Butt Stuff Behind The Dairy Queen” delivers ludicrous, unapologetic lyrics. There is no shortage of ‘highlights,’ though that might be the wrong word to describe it… “Butt stuff behind the Dairy Queen/ I’m dipping my nuts in a chocolate sea,” the nameless male vocalist asserts, continuing, “Doing butt stuff with my Dairy Queen / It’s a country sweet treat southern thing.” Wow… He does not stop there, folks:

“That Dairy Queen butt stuff will make you scream

That chocolate swirl is my favorite thing

I’m falling in love behind the scenes

Oh baby, I love Dairy Queen.”

I love Dairy Queen®  – the restaurant, that is. During the brief second verse, his nameless female vocal companion asserts, “Lordy, lord, this ain’t no soft serve / I’m just glad today I washed her.” Holy shit… maybe not the best choice of swearing, now that I think about it… If it wasn’t crystal clear, “Butt Stuff Behind The Dairy Queen” is a blush-worthy, cringy, ‘take it with a grain of salt’ song about anal sex.  If you needed a heterosexual song about butt sex, Beats By AI provides it.

Appears in 🔻:

Beats By AI, Butt Stuff Behind The Dairy Queen: Midnight Heat No. 20 (2025) 13 Songs Focused on the Butt (2025) 13 Mostly NSFW Songs Regarding the Bumper (2025)

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3. Dixon Dallas, “Leave This All Behind”

“Leave This All Behind” → Dixon Dallas → 2024

“You went from lover to fighter and threw the gas on the fire / With no concern for me, you’re burning me down.” Dixon Dallas isn’t in a happy space with his boo.  The love is on the rocks on “Leave This All Behind” from talented Alabama singer/songwriter Jake Hill.  Channeling his gay country persona, Dallas serves up gorgeous vocals singing sincere, heartfelt, and relatable lyrics. In the second verse, he goes on to say, “I don’t know how we ended up here / But I wish we didn’t, I wish things were different.” In addition to top-notch vocals and thoughtful, relatable songwriting, the production is solid – a country backdrop that is fresh enough to win over some pop listeners. “Leave This All Behind” marks another instance where Hill isn’t shy about Dixon being gay. The chorus is the centerpiece:

“I need a new boyfriend, that ain’t like you

One that treats me like a queen, no, that ain’t hard to do

Sick of the bullshit, you’re putting me through

But I don’t know how to leave, I don’t know what to do

So, I just, cry some more ‘til you walk in through the front door

Been lying, tell you I’m fine no I swear it’s nothing

Life is short, I don’t want to live it unsure

I think it’s time to leave this all behind.”

Dixon never disappoints. “Leave This All Behind” is a must-hear, queer country song.

Appears in 🔻:

13 Songs Where THIS is Crucial (2024) 15 Songs Filled with ALL (2024)

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4. Kelly Clarkson, “Behind These Hazel Eyes”

Breakaway → 19 Recordings Ltd. / RCA/JIVE Label Group → 2004  

“Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh.” OH, indeed, Kelly Clarkson!  What is the Grammy-winning pop superstar OH-ing about? The universal polarizing topic of love, specifically heartbreak 💔.  How bad is/was it? “‘Cause I can’t breathe / No, I can’t sleep / I’m barely hangin’ on.” NOT GOOD.  What is good is how she S-H-I-N-E-S on the rock-infused “Behind These Hazel Eyes”. “Behind These Hazel Eyes” is the third track from her multiplatinum, Grammy-winning sophomore album, Breakaway.  The single peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.  It was certified platinum in 2008.  Who is responsible for composing this aughts masterpiece? That would be Clarkson and producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin.

“Behind These Hazel Eyes” opens epically, with pummeling drums and boisterous, distorted, juicy electric guitar and bass. The sound doesn’t soar; it ROARS 🤘! Kelly Clarkson blesses the track with her marvelous pipes. Typically, a soulful singer, Clarkson changes course here, doing her best Avril Lavigne, who was huge in the 2000s. She channeled her inner pop-rocker with awesome results.  Of course, those pipes are still powerful and robust to the nth degree! The verses are tuneful, with their fair share of memorable lyrics.  “I told you everything / Opened up and let you in,” she sings in the second verse, and adds, “Now all that’s left of me / Is what I pretend to be.” Big-time bummer, Kelly! The crowning achievement should come as no surprise – the high-flying, sing-along-able chorus!

“Here I am, once again

I’m torn into pieces

Can’t deny it, can’t pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won’t get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes.”

Perhaps the best way to describe “Behind These Hazel Eyes” is Kelly Clarkson doing her best version of Avril Lavigne.  In other words, she channeled her inner pop-rocker with awesome results.  Although it wasn’t the biggest hit of Breakaway, it was certainly in contention, for good reason. “Behind These Hazel Eyes” is a pop banger, PERIODT!

Appears in 🔻:

Ranking the 20 Best Kelly Clarkson Songs (2018) Kelly Clarkson, Behind These Hazel Eyes: Bangerz N Bopz No. 64 (2026) 15 Ear-Catching, Eye-Opening Songs (2026)

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5. Slayer, “Behind The Crooked Cross”

South Of Heaven → American Recordings, LLC → 1988

“March on through the rivers of red / Souls drift, they fill the air,” Tom Araya sings in the chorus of the Slayer classic, “Behind The Crooked Cross”.  He continues, “Forced to fight behind The crooked cross.” What is this crooked cross? The infamous swastika that represented the Nazi Party. In these lyrics, the soldiers seem to regret fighting for a crooked cause. “Behind The Crooked Cross” is the fourth track from the band’s fourth studio album, South Of Heaven.  It is sandwiched between “Live Undead” and “Mandatory Suicide” 👀.  Jeff Hanneman (1964 – 2013) composed it, while Slayer and Rick Rubin produced it. Interestingly, the song was rarely played live by the band.

The chorus sums up the sentiment surrounding Nazism, which was inhumane, racist, and wrong in every facet.  This is not a sympathetic song to Nazis, but one where, rather, those fighting alongside Hitler are aware they are fighting for the wrong thing.  Is this willingly or because they are part of the German military? That is not specified. The verses also shed light on the horror.  “Trapped by a cause that I once understood,” Tom Araya sings in the first verse, representing the soldiers, and adds, “Feeling a sickness building inside of me.” If aware of what was going down, shouldn’t the sickness have dissuaded them, if possible? Food for thought. In the second verse, he asserts, “Blind obedience carries me through it all / ‘Conscience,’ a word I learned to forget.” The third and final verse is similar to the second, with a contrast in the final line: “Do only what is expected of me.” Sometimes, that can be the wrong call, which was DEFINITELY the case during World War II. Beyond vocals and lyrics, the music stands out – that’s an understatement! The opening riffs kick ass and take names, PERIODT! Driving rhythmic passages, pummeling drums (Dave Lombardo), and a shit-ton of hellishness? Hell yeah! The sound is dark, damning, and, frankly, fucking awesome.  Throw in some chromaticism and the crookedness of the music cooks!  Also, shout out to Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King for sickening guitar solos preceding the third verse 😮‍💨.  Although it’s not the first Slayer song mentioned in a conversation, the badass “Behind The Crooked Cross” deserves far more attention and recognition.

Appears in 🔻:

Slayer, Behind The Crooked Cross: Bangerz N Bopz No. 62 (2026)

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5 Gems (2026)
Almost: 5 Gems No. 1	Alone: 5 Gems No. 2	Am: 5 Gems No. 3
Big: 5 Gems No. 4	Break, Breaking, or Broken: 5 Gems No. 5	Can’t!: 5 Gems No. 6
Magic : 5 Gems No. 7	Money: 5 Gems No. 8	Mama: 5 Gems No. 9
Nut: 5 Gems No. 10	Watch: 5 Gems No. 11	Pretty: 5 Gems No. 12
Lube: 5 Gems No. 13	Goodbye: 5 Gems No. 14	Band: 5 Gems No. 15
Rather: 5 Gems No. 16	Job: 5 Gems No. 17	Bring: 5 Gems No. 18
Another: 5 Gems No. 19	Acid: 5 Gems No. 20	Beat: 5 Gems No. 21
Fever: 5 Gems No. 22	Finger: 5 Gems No. 23	Advice: 5 Gems No. 24
Us: 5 Gems No. 25	Hair: 5 Gems No. 26	Word: 5 Gems No. 27
Flesh: 5 Gems No. 28	Lavender: 5 Gems No. 29	Town: 5 Gems No. 30
Than: 5 Gems No. 31	Behind: 5 Gems No. 32

 

~ Table of Contents ~ → ~ intro ~

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Behind: 5 Gems No. 32 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 19 Recordings Ltd., American Recordings, LLC, Beats By Ai, Dixon Dallas, RCA/JIVE Label Group; DANIEL from Pexels; Gordon Johnson, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

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