BOY, These Songs Are About You

Reading Time: 17 min read

BOY, These Songs Are About You features music courtesy of Adam Lambert, Joaicon, Mad Tsai, Omar Apollo, Sabrina Carpenter, and Tyler, The Creator.

“Iwas busy thinkin’ ‘bout BOYS, boys, boys.” Yes, it is so easy to do, 🎙 Charli XCX. In fact, years before 🎵 “Boys” had Charli’s head spinnin’, 🎙 Brandy and 🎙 Monica were fighting over a boy in 🎵 “The Boy Is Mine”. Also, did you know, that 🎙 Tyler, The Creator asserted in 🎵 “I Ain’t Got Time!” that he’d “been kissing white boys since 2004?” Mind blowing 🤯… well, considering how the rapper, who also appears on our latest musical compendium, 🎧 BOY, These Songs Are About You, presented himself in the past.

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hot No worries though, on this BOY-driven follow up to 🎧 15 Riveting Songs About Boys (2022), Tyler doesn’t suppress the bisexuality in least! In addition to Tyler, 🎧 BOY, These Songs Are About You features music courtesy of 🎙 Adam Lambert, 🎙 Joaicon, 🎙 Mad Tsai, 🎙 Omar Apollo, and 🎙 Sabrina Carpenter among others. So, without further ado, let’s channel our inner 🎙 Deniece Williams and 🎵 “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” 👨!

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1. Omar Apollo, “3 Boys”

2. Deniece Williams, “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”

3. Mathew V, “My Boy”

4. Joaicon, “boyfriend”

5. Tyler, The Creator, “BOYFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND (2020 Demo)” (Ft. YG)

6. Sabrina Carpenter, “because I liked a boy”

7. JORDY, “Story of a Boy”

8. Thomas Headon, “I Loved A Boy”

9. Tate McRae, “boy x”

10. Greyson Chance, “Hellboy”

11. Mad Tsai, “Boy Bi”

12. Wheeler Walker Jr., “Fucked by a Country Boy”

13. A$AP Rocky, “Babushka Boi”

14. Myylo, “Abercrombie & Fitch Boy”

15. Adam Lambert, “Mad About The Boy”

1. Omar Apollo, “3 Boys”

🎵 “3 Boys” • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2023

“I should take your advice and find someone new / So I could have two.” That number is significant on 🎵 “3 Boys”, the first single of 2023 by 🏆 Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, 🎙 Omar Apollo. On “3 Boys,” Apollo continues to be open about sexuality, something that has always made me respect him. He adds a different wrinkle on “3 Boys,” drifting from monogamous territory to polyamorous territory… to a degree. The thing is, even though the boy that Apollo digs (likely an ex) encourages bringing another into the fold, Apollo isn’t a fan of the idea. “Seems like everything I do take me further from you,” he asserts in the pre-chorus. So, it’s a play between monogamy, polyamory, and unrequited love. Woo!

The centerpiece is the chorus, where he soulfully expresses his issues with polyamory/still being in love with someone he’s not with anymore. He only wants one boyfriend (himself and the boy he loves) and doesn’t want three in the mix. “Three boys would work if I wasn’t so tethered to you,” he sings, continuing, “What should I do? / I can’t even choose / I’m tethered to you.” I find this anti-polyamorous stance quite relatable, as many others will, whether it’s an open heterosexual or homosexual relationship. Also, unrequited love affects everyone too, regardless of sexual preferences. Apollo brings up relevant points about being dedicated to the ONE he loves. He sings well, superbly bringing the lyrics of this co-write with 🎼 ✍ Mustafa, Nathan Phillips, and Sir Dylan (who also produces) to life. It is easy to continue to be in love with Omar Apollo 😍… him and his music, of course! 🎵 “3 Boys” is another wonderful addition to his growing collection of bops

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2. Deniece Williams, “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”

💿 Let’s Hear It For the Boy • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 1984

“My baby, he don’t talk sweet / He ain’t got much to say,” 🎙 Deniece Williams sings in the opening verse from her 1984 hit, 🎵 “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”. By hit, let’s clarify that “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” was a no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. Furthermore, the 🏆 Grammy-winning singer was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Furthermore her 1984 album, also titled 💿 Let’s Hear It For the Boy, was nominated for the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Also, adding to how big of a deal this song is, “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” appeared in an iconic film and soundtrack: 🎦 Footloose! Yup, this Deniece Williams record is DEFINITELY a big deal!

Despite the fact he doesn’t have much to say, Williams is impressed that “He loves me, loves me, loves me.” She’s so taken with him that “Every time he pulls me near / I just wanna cheer,” hence why, she encourages in the chorus, “Let’s hear it for the boy / Let’s give the boy a hand / Let’s hear it for my baby.” Woo! Her passion, coupled with the energetic production – quintessential 1980s – is lit 🔥! “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” was penned by 🎼 ✍ Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford and produced by the late, great 🎛 George Duke. It is safe to say that it’s not just the boy we should cheer for! Williams is in excellent voice. The songwriting is fun, down to earth, and innocent! Honestly, it’s just a surefire vibe, four decades after it first arrived!

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3. Mathew V, “My Boy”

💿 Anything Goes • 🏷 604 Records • 🗓 2023

🎙 Mathew V (Mathew Van Vooght) confirms that jazz is NOT boring on his playful, sassy, tongue in cheek jazzy single, 🎵 “My Boy”. “My Boy” graces his 2023 jazz LP, 💿 Anything Goes. While this original penned and produced by Van Vooght and 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Ben Dunnill channels the past – a Marilyn Monroe-inspired record – it sounds quite refreshing in 2023. First and foremost, Mathew V sounds utterly sublime. He possesses a versatile instrument and has proven his ability to sing any and everything. Beyond that, being backed by a jazz combo is absolutely sick! The string bass! The piano! The light, traditional swinging groove on the drums! EPIC! However, let’s address what separates Van Vooght’s single from the jazz of the past – he’s unapologetically GAY 🌈! Clearly, Van Vooght characterizes about what his boy embodies and who he is NOT! It’s cute, honest, and incredibly authentic.

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4. Joaicon, “boyfriend”

🎵 “boyfriend” • 🏷 IconzRecordz • 🗓 2023

“Can you hold me? / Because I’m fucking sick and tired of being lonely.” Yeah, I totally concur with you 🎙 Joaicon, sigh 😔. The Dominican Republic-bred musician continues, “Tonight (yeah tonight) (tonight is the night) / You can press all my buttons.” Again, I concur, Joaicon. Clearly, like so many of us single, lonely souls in the world, Joaicon wants a 🎵 “boyfriend”. And guess what? It’s not just any boyfriend, this guy he desires is already taken… #SCANDALOUS! But guess what? “I don’t care if you have a boyfriend / Hold me (hold me tight) (so fucking tight) / Let me be your only one.” So, to be fair, Joaicon isn’t pushing for a polyamorous connect – he wants monogamy. Basically, he’s asking the hottie to leave his boyfriend and become his!

Joaicon sounds chill yet potent throughout the course of “boyfriend.” He’s silky smooth, exhibiting ample swagger, particularly when he drops that Spanish in there! “Hola bebé, quiero tocar tu piel / Vente conmigo ahora y volvemo’ al amanecer er”. Woo – it’s getting hot in here 🥵! Is Joaicon desperate? Maybe, but love (and lust) makes you do crazy things. Don’t knock the man because, he constructs a lit fantasy we all envy: “We can lose ourselves in this bed / My lips kissing your skin / My hands grabbing your hips / Oh, baby, you’ll be mine.” To the nameless guy Joaicon addresses on 🎵 “boyfriend”, you should totally take him up on his offer!

Appears in 🔻:

Joaicon, “boyfriend”: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 13 (2023)

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5. Tyler, The Creator, “BOYFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND (2020 Demo)” (Ft. YG)

💿 CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2023

It took a while but eventually, 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper 🎙 Tyler, The Creator opened up about his sexuality. About the time that he embraced sharing his bisexuality, his music also became more mature (beginning with 💿 Flower Boy in 2017). Coincidence? Anyways, once more, on 🎵 “BOYFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND (2020 Demo)”, the 23^rd track from 💿 CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale, Tyler is open about, well, being open to both girls and guys 🌈. Over a groovy backdrop (produced by himself) and featuring 🎙 YG in the first verse (“You should be my bitch / I could be your nigga / Come and get this drunk dick, fuck you off the liquor”), he speaks about his desires: “I just want someone to talk to whenever I start feeling alone.” He proposes, “You should be my boyfriend, girlfriend,” keeping the door open to either sex at any given time. A groovy bi anthem nobody expected, right?

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6. Sabrina Carpenter, “because I liked a boy”

💿 emails I can’t send fwd: • 🏷 Island • 📅 2023

Ah, the love triangle – always an intriguing thing to watch unfold. Disney had a juicy love triangle play out for the ages between 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo, 🎙 Joshua Bassett, and 🎙 Sabrina Carpenter, which The Daily Beast expounds upon. The drama involving these three has been nothing short of a hot mess. Bassett has received plenty of heat, but as Carpenter suggests on 🎵 “because I liked a boy” from her 2022 album, 💿 emails I can’t send, she’s received the ire of fans. In the chorus, she bluntly sings, “Now I’m a homewrecker, I’m a slut / I got death threats fillin’ up semitrucks / Tellme who I am, guess I don’t have a choice / All because I liked…” Wow 😯 – well, that sort of sums it up, doesn’t it?

Besides the chorus, Carpenter cites other instances of the ramifications of her relationship with Joshua Bassett. “Who knew cuddling on trampolines could be so reckless?” Indeed! Far more tied into the triangle are the lyrics, “Was only tryna hold you close while your heart was failing.” Literally, Bassett experienced heart failure, seemingly a result of all this mess, which he himself has sung about on his song, 🎵 “Life Line”. Essentially, Carpenter was trying to be supportive, yet, again, the backlash has been horrific. One thing is for sure, on 🎵 “because I liked a boy”, Carpenter has learned a valuable life lesson: “Dating boys with exes / No, I wouldn’t recommend it.” At least Sabrina delivers a colorful pop bop out of this shee-it, written alongside 🎼 ✍ John Ryan (who also produces), Julia Michaels, and JP Saxe.

Appears in 🔻:

Sabrina Carpenter, “because I liked a boy”: FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘 18 (2023)

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7. JORDY, “Story of a Boy”

💿 Boy • 🏷 300 Entertainment • 🗓 2023

“This is the story of a boy / I’d adore him if I had a choice,” 🎙 JORDY asserts on 🎵 “Story of a Boy” (💿 Boy, 2023) covering the 2000s 🎙 Nine Days classic, 🎵 “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”. According to MTV, the openly gay pop musician is the first person to be granted permission to cover the song! With the blessing of Nine Days front man, 🎙 John Hampson, JORDY transforms the “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” to fit who he is (“He doesn’t know my name / But I could give much more”). “Story of a Boy” is another awesome addition to the ever expanding queer music catalog. In his hands, the record is both reflective and longing. “Moved here from a small town / Fell in with the wrong crowd,” he sings in the first verse, adding, “I don’t blame him ‘cause most people suck / And leave you crushed.” In the second, he frets about Hollywood and says of this guy, “And I watch him on the internet / Trying to be happy / He wouldn’t have to if he knew that he could have me.” JORDY keeps it queer, and who would have it any other way (“And he looks so good / Walking through that door / Oh, I wish I could / Be the ending that he’s looking for”)? It’s incredibly cool he took a 00s hit and reintroduced it to a new generation from a gay perspective.

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8. Thomas Headon, “I Loved A Boy”

🎵 “I Loved A Boy” • 🏷 Such A Good Company Limited • 🗓 2023

“I loved a boy, he hated me / We barely speak, he doesn’t see like I do / But it’s better that one.” Ah, it seems like a case of a breakup, as well as possibly that horrid thing called unrequited love, 🎙 Thomas Headon. Interestingly, the pop singer/songwriter is NOT singing from his perspective on 🎵 “I Loved A Boy”. It wasn’t him that loved a boy but rather a friend who experienced this crappy experience. Regardless, Headon paints a relatable picture for anyone who has found themselves liking someone who doesn’t give a care about them. The first verse continues: “I gave my all, he hated that / Took him a while to text me back, what did I do? / But it’s better anyway.”

Essentially, all this girl wanted was some attention – some time – from this guy. In the second verse, there was some semblance of a relationship, but of course, things went south. By the bridge, speaking from her perspective with his expressive pipes, Headon, sings, “Because it’s easy to say, ‘it wasn’t right’ / Can you admit that you wasted my time?” WORD! The songwriting is a selling point, alongside potent, nuanced vocals by Thomas. Furthermore, the production (🎛 Taka Perry, who plays various instruments) is strong on this short but sweet and honest number. I love the driving instrumental that commences during the chorus. All in all, Headon impresses with 🎵 “I Loved A Boy”. Bad break ups and Unrequited love are popular topics yet never grow old.

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9. Tate McRae, “boy x”

💿 I used to think I could fly • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2022

“Next time you move on / Like I know you’ll do / Tell me you won’t treat her like you did with me and you…” WOO! In 2022, Canadian teen singer 🎙 Tate McRae released her debut album, 💿 I used to think I could fly. It was a fun debut, though ultimately didn’t earn sizable commercial success debuting at no. 13 on the Billboard 200 and spending a mere seven weeks on the charts. Focusing on the boy-driven song at hand, 🎵 “boy x” is the longest record from I used to think I could fly at nearly four minutes. Contextually, Tate takes a more serious tone, urging a nameless boy (boy x) to do right by other girls. “When you get bored, like you always do,” she sings in the chorus, “Tell me that you’ll let her go before you look for someone new.” YEAH – say that Tate! The idea and sentiment behind this record is admirable and respectable. The closing lyric is brilliant: “No, I just couldn’t see / That there was a billion of boy x, but babe, there’s only one of me.”

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10. Greyson Chance, “Hellboy”

💿 Trophies • 🏷 GCM / Arista • 📅 2021

“Velvet on the floor / Writings on the wall / Let me come a little closer, get you elevated.” Ooh la la! From the onset of 🎵 “Hellboy”, 🎙 Greyson Chance delivers sexy vibes, period. The hellish single ultimately appears as the seventh track on Chance’s album, 💿 Trophies, released in 2021. “Hellboy” was written by Chance alongside 🎼 ✍ Mike Robinson and Seth Ennis. It is a suggestive record without being truly explicit – you could say that it doesn’t cross the line. Robinson also serves as the producer on this sleek, sexy joint. The chorus is sure to get you hot and bothered: “Ooh, there’s a fire burning / Baby do you feel it? / Don’t you let it go, let it go out / Ooh, burning a simple blue / It’s like a forbidden fruit / And I want it so, want it so.” Furthermore, the post-chorus continues the irresistible, truly stimulating experience:

“Hands tied, bite your lip
Green light, flip and twist
Dark magic, red boot kick
I’m a hell boy, I’m a hell boy
Your eyes on my hips
Damn right, you want this
All night, yeah, I might give you hell, boy
I’m a hell boy.”

Understandably, Greyson Chance is indeed a ‘hell boy.’

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11. Mad Tsai, “Boy Bi”

💿 homecoming! (EP) • 🏷 Mad Tsai • 📅 2022

“So, do you like girls or do you like boys?” Believe it or not, not everybody in the world is straight – mind blowing 🤯 isn’t it? Perhaps if you are hypermasculine, or obviously, date plenty of girls, you can eschew questions regarding sexuality (“I’m too gay for girls, too straight for drag queens”). Speaking from experience, if you don’t fit the mold, people want to know. Anyways, 🎙 Mad Tsai addresses his sexuality on the cleverly titled, 🎵 “Boy Bi”, which was released as a single in 2020. Ultimately, it appears on Tsai’s 2022 EP, 💿 homecoming!. Following the intro where he is asked about sexual preference, Tsai proceeds to open up about his identity.

“When my friends ask me ‘bout my sexuality / I choke up and joke that the answers not easy,” he asserts in the first verse, adding, “Like I’m watching a Disney movie and the couple gets it on / but who should I look at, is it Shang or Mulan.” Clearly, Tsai acknowledges being a boy that is bi, hence the title. In the chorus, he playfully confirms, “Like boy bi / Girl, hi / New guy / I’m bi? / I cray every time / I try to decide.” Give Mad Tsai credit for his transparency regarding bisexuality. The second verse find him being even more vulnerable, asserting, that “I’m bi just without the sexual / I’m too scared to date so I’ve just been by myself.” Aww 😢. Identity issues run deeper than just bare bones sexual identity as one can feel like they don’t even fit within the group they’re supposed to. Tsai says it best when he states that “Love can be so hard / For someone who doesn’t know what they want.” Although it is a short record, 🎵 “Boy Bi” is a fun, sweet, and thoughtful pop single. Mad Tsai sings well and comes off incredibly authentic.

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Appears in 🔻:

Mad Tsai, “Boy Bi”: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 16 (2023)

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12. Wheeler Walker Jr., “Fucked by a Country Boy”

💿 Sex, Drugs & Country Music • 🏷 Pepper Hill / Thirty Tigers • 🗓 2022

“Trade that dick up in the penthouse / For some cock down in the hen house.” Take comedic country musician 🎙 Wheeler Walker Jr. with a grain of salt. He is known for being crude, outlandish, and totally over the top. On 🎵 “Fucked by a Country Boy”, from his 2022 album, 💿 Sex, Drugs & Country Music, he is unapologetic AF. An incredible sexual record, a lyric like, “But have you ever been smashed / To some old school Conway Twitty” is tame… IT GETS WORSE: “Have you ever been fucked, fucked, fucked by a country boy? / Rammed, rammed, rammed by a redneck? / Spread, spread, spread by an inbred / Who’s kinda got your daddy’s voice?” GAH-DA-YUM! The second half is not much better. The thing is it is satirical – not meant to be taken seriously. Still, lyrics like “Fly down the map and lemme show your flap / Some home-cooked southern-fried meat / We’ll fuck you like family” are, well, disturbing AF.

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13. A$AP Rocky, “Babushka Boi”

🎵 “Babushka Boi” • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2019

“I would like to dedicate / To the scar on my face / All the stars of the globe / This world is yours, Scarface.” Prior to the release of his single, 🎵 “Babushka Boi”, things had been a bit ‘sketch’ for 🎙 A$AP Rocky. In 2018, he released his third studio album, 💿 TESTING, which honestly wasn’t nearly as good as his first two. Beyond the album, there was also the whole Sweden controversy – not a good situation. The good news is, “Babushka Boi” absolutely slaps. The main reason it shines is thanks to the flow of A$AP Rocky. He doesn’t say anything that’s drenched in depth mind you, but his confidence – “Nigga, Flacko Jodye season” – is noteworthy to some extent. Expectedly, he references his luxury babushka in the third verse (“Buck fifty, my babushka”), among other drippy moments. Beyond the flex, “Babushka Boi” thrives off its awesome production work by 🎛 Héctor Delgado and Boys Noize. It should be noted, of course, that “Babushka Boi” gets a lift from 🎙 Da Crime Click. The song 🎵 “You Hoes Gone Get Kidnapped” is sampled, making that babushka swag even more ‘swagalicious.’

Appears in 🔻:

Awesome Songs: September 2019

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14. Myylo, “Abercrombie & Fitch Boy”

💿 Ahh • 🏷 Myylo • 🗓 2022

Whether you’re a gay boy or an envious straight guy, at some point, Abercrombie & Fitch male models have affected your life. Up until 2022, we were lacking a song! 🎙 Myylo filled a need with his pop bop that mentions those hot, perfect A&F boys, fittingly titled, 🎵 “Abercrombie & Fitch Boy”. It graces his debut album, 💿 Ahh. Myylo doesn’t disappoint, penning “Abercrombie & Fitch Boy” alongside 🎼 ✍ Dorian Electra and Christian Fiore. He’s a fabulous vocalist who infuses ample personality into his music. With a steamy topic like A&F boys involved, you know that he’s totally locked in. “Abercrombie & Fitch Boy” may be tongue-in-cheek, but how Myylo crushes on, objectifies, and characterizes the thirst – it’s legit! “You got those V lines / The kind I want to see lines / So come on make a B line / Over to me tonight” isn’t the least bit far-fetched! Furthermore, who can’t relate to “And I’m staring at your poster / Wishing I was closer / To those washboard abs / On the bag?” Even if you identify as heterosexual, admit it – you’ve at least been jealous of the abs and compared your own or lack thereof! Making this thirst trap even more alluring is the fun music video where the artist conjures up Abercrombie boys and finds himself in, I dunno, A&F heaven I suppose! Myylo has given us a musical gift to accompany our thirst (or envy)!

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15. Adam Lambert, “Mad About The Boy”

💿 High Drama • 🏷 More is More, LLC / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC • 🗓 2023

“I’m mad about the boy / I know it’s stupid to be mad about the boy…” So true, so true! Those damn boys! 🎙 Adam Lambert possesses the pipes of a god 💪! The big voiced, openly gay pop/rock star unveiled his fifth studio album, 💿 High Drama, 2023. While it is difficult to get excited about an album of covers generally, Lambert makes High Drama truly engaging from start to finish. Among the best songs is the closing track, 🎵 “Mad About The Boy”. Confident as he is throughout High Drama, “Mad About The boy” marks another cut where he is unafraid to be true to himself. Interestingly, it is the oldest song on the LP. 🎙 Dinah Washington is noted for singing it – big shoes to fill! Even so, it is top tier with its sultry, jazzy vibes. Adding even more punch is the queer, glammy element that Lambert brings to the table 🌈 on this 🎼 ✍ Noël Coward-penned classic (“Lord knows I’m not a fool, boy / I really shouldn’t care / Lord knows I’m not a school boy / In the fury of his first affair”).

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BOY, These Songs Are About You [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 300 Entertainment, 604 Records, Columbia, GCM / Arista, IconzRecordz, Island, Mad Tsai, More is More, LLC / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC, Myylo, Pepper Hill / Thirty Tigers, RCA, Such A Good Company Limited, Warner; Andrea Piacquadio, Bruno Curly, Cxpturing Souls, cottonbro studio, Farhad Irani, K O R A Y B O Z K U R T, Lany-Jade Mondou, Maria Marin, Sujal _ Singh, zaid mohammed via Pexels, ;andresilva5 from Pixabay]

BOY, These Songs Are About You | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on April 12, 2023April 12, 2023