Can’t | 5ive Songs

On the 6^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with the word CAN’T in some form or fashion.  

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elcome to 5ive Songs, where we keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff! There’s a theme/topic, five songs, and a short blurb.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On the 6^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with the word CAN’T in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

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 1. BIA, “Can’t Touch This”

💿 For Certain • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2021

“My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard / And they’re like, it’s better than yours / Damn right, it’s better than yours / I can teach you, but I have to charge.” Does anybody remember this aughts classic? Well, if not, let me fill you in! It’s 🎵 “Milkshake” by 🎙 Kelis.  Why do I mention this R&B song when I’m supposed to write about the 🎙 BIA ‘this’ song, 🎵 “Can’t Touch This” (💿 For Certain, 2021)? Well, BIA sampled the aughts gem in “Can’t Touch This,” featuring that stellar production by 🎛 The Neptunes.

Besides sampling “Milkshake,” BIA also lifts off the chorus, tweaking it to her liking in the second verse: “My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard (Oh) / in the foreign cars / And they’re like, it’s better than yours / Damn right, it’s better than yours.” Woo! It’s not all borrowing though! BIA brings ample personality in the verses and of course, the centerpiece, the chorus.  Over banging production by 🎛 IRoccOnTheBeat, 🎛 London Jae, and 🎛 DJ Young Pharaoh, she spits:

“No stylist, I don’t do repeats

I got money, bitch, I’m knee-deep

All hunnids, drippin’ in CC

Might pop that pussy like FreakNik

No mileage, boy, you can’t touch this

No bodies, boy, you ain’t fuck shit

I’m on islands, whippin’ them Porsches (Skrr)

Run shit, and your nigga endorse it (Sheesh).”

Woo! BIA doesn’t play around in the least! “Can’t Touch This” BE-OTCHES!

Appears in 🔽:

• These 15 Songs are About THIS

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2. DaBaby, “Can’t Stop”

💿 Blame it on Baby • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020 

“Bitch, it ain’t no stoppin’ no nigga like me,” 🎙 DaBaby boasts on 🎵 “Can’t Stop,” the totally humble opener from his third studio album, 💿 Blame it on Baby.  If you’ve been following the rapper, you understand that such lyrics are characteristic of his persona and style.  I mean, 🎵 “SUGE” is a prime example.  But we’re not here to talk about “SUGE” – we’re here to hear why DaBaby can’t be stopped!

As usual, DaBaby’s flow is electrifying, even if he utters nothing the least bit profound.  On another bitchin’ line, excerpted from the cocky and confident first verse, Kirk informs us, “Bitch, you know I turn piss into lemonade.”  It’s outlandish and over the top mind you, but again, characteristic of the rapper.  🎛 Foreign Teck, 🎛 JW Lucas, and 🎛 Lostheproducer ‘stitch up’ the unstoppable opening track.

 

Appears in 🔽:

• 10 Songs Loosely Associated with Playback Controls ⏯  

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3. H.E.R., “I Can’t Breathe”

🎵 “I Can’t Breathe” • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2020

“I can’t breathe / You’re taking my life from me / I can’t breathe / Will anyone fight for me?” Cutting right to the chase, H.E.R. shocked the world at the 🏆 63^rd Annual Grammy Awards.  How so? Well, after several nominations in the ‘big four’ categories, she won, unexpectedly, for 🎵 “I Can’t Breathe.” Written alongside 🎼✍ Dernst “Dmile” Emile II (who also produces) and 🎼✍ Tiara Thomas, “I Can’t Breathe” tackles a history of racist injustice in America, specifically reignited by the murder of George Floyd.

As the chorus lyrics suggest, “I Can’t Breathe” is a heavy record.  Set in a minor key, expectedly, Wilson desires the record to be reflective, somber, and thought provoking.  This isn’t a song you should listen to and not take something away from it. Always a great songwriter, this record is by far her most timely, given the troubling situations inspiring it. Sure, most music critics wrote it off as a possibility to take such a prestigious honor at the Grammys, even if Wilson has been a darling of the Recording Academy early on in her career.  Clearly, we shouldn’t have.  It’s truly a special, meaningful song.

Appears in 🔽:

• Eye 👁 This List of Must-Hear “I” Songs
• ‘Say it Loud,’ Beautiful Black Voices
• H.E.R.: 4GEMZ 💎 No. 2 (2021)

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4. Shawn Mendes, “Can’t Imagine”

💿 Wonder • 🏷 Island • 📅 2020 

🏆 Grammy-nominated pop superstar 🎙 Shawn Mendes closes out his fourth studio album, 💿 Wonder, totally in his feelings ❤. 🎵 “Can’t Imagine” is a stripped record where Mendes accompanies himself on guitar.   When your voice speaks for itself, a simple accompaniment can do wonders.

As you might ‘IMAGINE,’ before even hearing the song, yet hearing the songs preceding it, Shawn tackles matters of the heart: “Can’t imagine what a world would be / Without you.” Hmm, wonder who in the world he could be talking about? *Cough* ❤ Camila Cabello ❤ *Cough*. His dedication [to Camila] is undisputed here.  Of course, worth noting, the couple has broken up.

Appears in 🔽:

• Imagine: 5ive Songs No. 69
• 11 Stellar, Totally Dreamy Imagine Songs

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5. Anthony Hamilton, “Can’t Let Go”

💿 Ain’t Nobody Worryin’ • 🏷 Arista • 📅 2005

When it came time to follow-up 💿 Comin’ From Where I’m From, 🎙 Anthony Hamilton needed another electrifying single.  Honestly, a 🎵 “Charlene” only comes around, say, once in a lifetime.  The good news for Mr. Hamilton, however, is the fact that he showcased a level of consistency only a select few musicians have.  His 2005 album, 💿 Ain’t Nobody Worryin’, matched the quality of Comin’ From Where I’m From, and yielded a moderately successful neo-soul hit in 🎵 “Can’t Let Go.”

By moderate success, I’m referring to the performance on the Hot 100, peaking at no. 71, not the quality of the song itself.  In my eyes, “Can’t Let Go” is on that same, elite level as “Charlene,” even if “Charlene” packed more of a punch on the pop charts (peaked at no. 19).  What makes “Can’t Let Go” exceptional is the throwback soul, channeled vocally as well as instrumentally (🎛 Mark Batson is behind the boards).  The use of organ within the production comes directly from black gospel music – the chuuuch – giving the record a spirited vibe.  Here, Mr. Hamilton asserts, “No matter what the people say, I’m gonna love you anyway / You are my life, I can’t let go.” Matters of the heart and Hamilton are interlocked for sure.

Appears in 🔽:

• Anthony Hamilton: 4GEMZ 💎 No. 8 (2021)

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Can’t: 5ive Songs No. 6 (2022) [📷: Arista, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Clovis Cheminot, Epic, Interscope, Island, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, RCA]

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