Champagne… | 5ive Songs

1. Katy Perry, “Champagne Problems”

Smile • Capitol • 2020

“I wanna see you soon as I wipe the crust from my eyes / ‘Til the day I die, could you be the love of my life?” Maybe? In the context of Smile, “Champagne Problems” keeps the album groovy, upbeat, and sleek AF in the production department.  Although it is set in a minor key, Katy Perry’s ‘champagne problems’ are actually pretty enjoyable on the ears, particularly the strings and namely, the catchy chorus.

“‘Cause, baby all we got (All we got are)
Are champagne problems now (That's all we got)
‘Cause, baby, all we got (All we got are)
Are champagne problems now.”

2. Lady A, “Champagne Night (from Songland)”

“Champagne Night” • Big Machine • 2020

If you haven’t seen the NBC show Songland, well, you are totally missing out! Lady A served as one of the high-profile musical groups to select a song to record in the studio.  Ultimately, Hilary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood settled on “Champagne Night,” written by Madeline Merlo. Of course, by the time “Champagne Night” arrives to the listeners, it ends up with a million songwriters, including the three members of Lady A, the three Songland songwriters (Ester Dean, Shane McAnally, and Ryan Tedder), plus even more writers! Regardless, the end result is quite enjoyable, fun, and well-rounded country record.  The chorus is quite a treat.

“Raisin’ plastic cups to a life of luxury
C’est la vie on a Friday
We get dressed up in a blue jean tux
And we go where we don't hear the highway
Don’t need doubles and bubbles
To get in all kinds of trouble
Out in the country
Don’t need a crystal chandelier
To have a real good time
We’re drinkin’ beer on a champagne night
A champagne night.”

3. Nick Jonas, “Champagne Problems”

Last Year Was Complicated • Island • 2016

“How many times have we been here before? / How many pieces have to break? / So many reasons not to celebrate / But I hate to see you cry, so let’s drink before goodbye…” With Last Year Was Complicated, we get adult Nick Jonas – praise the lord! Sorry for the sacrilege, Father.  Anyways “Champagne Problems,” the second track off the album, continues showcases the edge (and a minor key) following opener “Voodoo”.  A song where misery is best drowned in alcohol (“I hate to see you cry, so let’s drink before goodbye”), “Champagne Problems” is by no means a miserable listen.  Nick sounds looser than ever, despite the tension characterized within the record.

4. Quavo, “Champagne Rosé”

Ft. Madonna & Cardi B

QUAVO HUNCHO • Quality Control Music • 2018 

One of the songs that catches the eyes from a collaboration standpoint on QUAVO HUNCHO, the debut solo album by Quavo is “Champagne Rosé.”  Notably, Madonna appears on the chorus, a repetitive, but memorable portion of the record.  She also appears on her own, delivering a distinct sounding fourth verse.  “It’s my game / Please let me entertain you / Get inside your vein, too / Intoxicate your brain, ooh.” Cardi B also makes rounds, performing the first verse, notably delivering the ‘bullet’ – “I don’t do number two / That’s the type of shit I’m on (woo).” Of course, Quavo, the main attraction, drops a couple of bars himself (“Rose gold mixed with Champagne / End of the night, she David Blaine / Only thing I knew was her name”), though nothing as memorable as Cardi B’s ‘poo’ reference.

5. Ne-Yo, “Champagne Life”

Libra Scale • The Island Def Jam Music Group • 2010

“It’s all about them fast car nights and them big boat days / Living this champagne life, everything’s okay / Let’s toast it up / Let’s toast it up.” Ne-Yo commences his fourth studio album, Libra Scale (2010) with a surefire winner, “Champagne Life.” “Champagne Life” finds the Grammy-winning R&B living it up, and totally channeling the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.  Vocally, he sounds both youthful but also beastly, in the most positive way possible! If you want to know what luxury sounds like on the track, well, “Champagne Life” is a perfect realization.

“Said we play all night and we play all day
Living this champagne life, everything’s okay
Let’s toast it up
Baby, let’s toast it up
Oh, champagne life.”