Bet | 5ive Songs

1. BLACKPINK, “Bet You Wanna”

Ft. Cardi B

💿 THE ALBUM • 🏷 YG Entertainment / Interscope • 🗓 2020

🎵 “Bet You Wanna” is arguably, is the song to beat on 💿 THE ALBUM, the 2020 album by K-Pop girl group 🎙 BLACKPINK. “Bet You Wanna” features a ‘clean’ rap verse by 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 Cardi B (yes, she’s tame, but admits it was hard).  Performed exclusively in English, “Bet You Wanna” is a bop from the opening tip.

The production maintains the sleekness of The Album, anchored by beat that packs a mighty punch.  Furthermore, the songwriting is catchy – particularly the chorus below – while the vocals by BLACKPINK #winnning.  Listening to The Album the first time, I found myself wanting to keep “Bet You Wanna” on repeat – it has surefire BOP written all over it.

“Something ‘bout me’s taking you higher (Hey, hey)
And you ain’t ever gonna come down (You ain’t ever, you ain’t ever)
I’m lighting your fire (Hey, hey)
And it ain’t even gonna go out (It ain’t ever, it ain’t ever).”

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: October 2020

2. Leon Bridges, “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand”

💿 Good Thing • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2018

Soul enthusiasts will feel like they returned to their heyday listening to 🎵 “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand”. The old-school shtick is alive, with harp arpeggios, glockenspiel, strings, and a lush backdrop.  The production is perfect fuel for 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 Leon Bridges’ fire, regardless whether he needed the extra spark or not.  The falsetto is formidable, while his chest voice is incredibly commanding and emotional. Adding to the jubilance is the solid songwriting with an undeniably prudent message.  Short and sweet, “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” proves to be a stellar opener on his sophomore album, 💿 Good Thing.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Recapping 40 Stunning Ballads from 2018

🔗 🎧 15 Songs That Are Totally Worth the Gamble

🔗 🎧 Hand: 5ive Songs No. 61

3. Imagine Dragons, “I Bet My Life”

💿 Smoke and Mirrors • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2015 

“So, I, I bet my life / I bet my life, I bet my life on you,” 🎙 Dan Reynolds sings emphatically on 🎵 “I Bet My Life.” “I Bet My Life” ranks among the best songs (and singles) from 💿 Smoke and Mirrors, the 2015, sophomore album by Las Vegas rock collective, 🎙 Imagine Dragons.  To give you a comparison point, “I Bet My Life” is to Smoke and Mirrors what “Radioactive” was to Night Visions, though not quite as grand or popular. Nonetheless, “I Bet My Life” holds its own, particularly the emotional frenzy that’s achieved by the end.

4. Tinashe, “Bet”

Ft. Devonté Hynes

💿 Aquarius • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2014

On 🎵 “Bet,” R&B singer🎙 Tinashe is assisted by 🎙 Devonté Hynes.  “Bet,” which runs nearly six minutes in duration, appears on her 2014 debut album (and most notable project to date), 💿 Aquarius.  The record is slickly produced and infused with a mix of modern and ‘alternative’ R&B cues.  Besides the sublime sound of the backdrop, Tinashe – the star – shines, particularly when she ascends into her gorgeous upper register.  “Pay no mind to what the doubters all say,” she sings confidently, continuing, “I’mma be around forever, always / You can bet on it.”

5. Chris Brown & Tyga, “I Bet”

Ft. 50 Cent

💿 Fan of a Fan The Album • 🏷 RCA / Young Money / Cash Money • 📅 2015

If it were me, I probably wouldn’t bet much no 🎵 “I Bet” by 🎙 Chris Brown and 🎙 Tyga.  The ‘gamble’ that is the 💿 Fan of a Fan The Album isn’t worth it in my humble opinion.  Focusing on “I Bet,” the best way to characterize it is as a trash-talking, overconfident mess.  Both Brown and Tyga overstep boundaries in utterly tasteless fashion, particularly the end of Brown’s verse.

Here’s Exhibit A ⬇, where he’s frank about the female anatomy:

“Make her lift her skirt up, if she nervous, I’m a pervert
I be in that p***y deep, a n***a f**kin’ up her cervix
Leave the condoms on the bed, man, I do that shit on purpose.”

That’s totally messed up bro! Throw 🎙 50 Cent into the mix, and things certainly don’t improve.  Buzzkill to end this edition of 5ive songs, right? Better luck and substance next time, sigh!