Reading Time: 5 min read

Comfort: 5ive Songs No. 16 [📷: Brent Faulkner, James Barr on Unsplash, The Musical Hype]On this the 16th edition of 5ive Songs, 2021, we select five songs that are associated with COMFORT or being COMFORTABLE.  

Welcome 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 this the 16th edition of 5ive Songs, 2021, we select five songs that are associated with COMFORT or being COMFORTABLE in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

https://media.giphy.com/media/vjb7Og4uwgk3S/giphy.gif


1. Conan Gray, “Comfort Crowd”

💿 Kid Krow • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020

Conan Gray, Kid Krow [📷: Republic]“The hurt that I’m holding’s gettin’ heavy / But I’ma keep a smile on my shoulders ‘til I’m sweaty…” 🎙 Conan Gray commences his debut album, 💿 Kid Krow thoughtfully with 🎵 “Comfort Crowd.”  “Comfort Crowd” is a relatable record where the lonely protagonist simply needs friends and friendship. He needs a ‘comfort crowd,’ sigh. Don’t we all Conan, don’t we all!

After lying and saying, “‘I’m fine, I don’t really need nobody,’” on the chorus, he expresses the truth: “I just needed company now / Yeah, I just need someone around…” Gray sings beautifully, approaching the record with a calm, cool, and collected approach.

https://media.giphy.com/media/SqTbUitWtCDBexGxkp/giphy.gif

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 15 C Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason


2. Alessia Cara, “Comfortable”

💿 The Pains of Growing • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2018

Alessia Cara, The Pains of Growing [📷: Def Jam]“What happens to a flame when it burns out? / What happens to a love that’s not new?” Good questions to say the least! 🏆 Grammy-winning pop artist 🎙 Alessia Cara returned with her sophomore album, 💿 The Pains of Growing, in Fall 2018. the throwback, soulful vibes of 🎵 “Comfortable” make it a damn good record.  In the context of The Pains of Growing, he ninth track is easily among the crème de la crème.

“Oh, we can’t run away from the comfortable
‘Cause it’s inevitable in love, in love
Oh, it’s time we make way for the comfortable
‘Cause it’s already comfortable in us, in us.”

So, what makes “Comfortable” so comfortable to listen to? Well, the assertiveness of Alessia’s voice definitely gives it an extra edge.  Also, worth noting is strong songwriting (Cara, 🎼✍ Ernest Wilson, 🎼✍ Nate Mercereau, 🎼✍ Steve Wyreman), particularly the choruses, and of course, the production (🎛 No ID, Wyreman).

https://media.giphy.com/media/l3q2CTetutqfe3kME/giphy.gif


3. Lauv, “Comfortable”

💿 I met you when I was 18. • 🏷 Lauv / AWAL • 📅 2018

Lauv, I met you when I was 18 (playlist) [📷: Lauv]Pop/R&B artist 🎙 Lauv showed incredible potential on his love-centric playlist, 💿 I met you when I was 18., Throughout the course of 2017-18, the twenty-something California artist proved he shouldn’t be slept on. In the context of I met you when I was 18., 🎵 “Comfortable” keeps things short and sweet, amplifying R&B vibes.  He delivers one of his strongest vocal performances, flaunting his upper register on the chorus.

“Do you want it bad?
Yeah, she said, baby do ya? (Oh-oh)
Or are you just comfortable? (Oh-oh).”

The production is sleek, embracing the electro-, modern pop/urban palette of sounds.

https://media.giphy.com/media/1imXd2u7uIN8PlFFN2/giphy.gif


4. Future, “Too Comfortable”

💿 High Off Life • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2020

Future, High Off Life [📷: Epic]“Bitch, don’t get too comfortable / Better not get too comfortable.” Hell yeah, 🎙 Future! ‘Course, I suppose you could argue that the 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper gets a bit too comfortable on – wait for it – 🎵 “Too Comfortable.” You could make the same assertion about his music too – he’s been in the game for a while now.  Anyways, “Too Comfortable” appears as the 13th track on his 2020 album, 💿 High Off Life.

“For or five hos, stuff ‘em in a Lamborghini, yeah / Swapped out a Pocahontas, go and get a genie…” Woo… I think!  As to be expected, the ‘comfort’ level for the rapper is through the roof as he flexes hard, gets high AF, “Cut(s) a few niggas and bitches off” – you know things go down, yo! 🎛 Producer Southside definitely creates an interesting backdrop on “Too Comfortable” to say the least, particularly with those nearly inaudible synths mixed in the background. Comfort level lofty, I suppose.

https://media.giphy.com/media/26ufnZqYuu1tQ39kY/giphy.gif


5. Pink Floyd, “Comfortably Numb”

💿 The Wall • 🏷 Sony • 📅 1979

Pink Floyd, The Wall [📷: Sony]“Hello? / Is there anybody in there? / Just nod if you can hear me / Is there anyone at home?”  Long before 🎙Chester Bennington (RIP) and 🎙Linkin Park would ever sing about numbness, 🎙 Pink Floyd would be 🎵 “Comfortably Numb” on 💿 The Wall (1979).

🎙 Roger Waters sang the verses, while 🎙 David Gilmour sang the choruses. Notably, 🎙 Scissors Sisters would transform the late 70s gem into a dance record on their 2004 self-titled debut.

“There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying
When I was a child, I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I’ve got that feeling once again
I can’t explain, you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numb.”

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Prepare to Be Numbed by These 16 Numbing Songs



Comfort: 5ive Songs No. 16 [📷: AWAL, Brent Faulkner, Def Jam, Epic, James Barr on Unsplash, Lauv, The Musical Hype, Republic, Sony]


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.