Conversation | 5ive Songs

In the 57^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with CONVERSATION in some form or fashion.  

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 the 57^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with CONVERSATION in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

1. Muni Long, “Conversation”

💿 Public Displays of Affections: The Album • 🏷 Supergiant / Def Jam • 📅 2022 

“Can we have a conversation? / Just wanna talk, nothing complicated / I wanna know what’s on your mind.” That seems reasonable, 🎙 Muni Long.  Long commences her debut album, 💿 Public Displays of Affections: The Album, with this conversation piece, fittingly titled, 🎵 “Conversation.”  She goes on to sing in the first verse, “It ain’t no rush, baby, take your time /… I can see it written on your face / All the things you wanna say.”  Ooh, wee!

On this lushly produced contemporary R&B track (🎛 Carter Lang and 🎛 Sir Nolan), Muni Long emphasizes the importance of communication.  She has a point. “Tell me how you feel if you can,” and “Tears don’t make you less of a man” are some of the key lines she sings during the chorus.  Men often box things in rather than open up and discuss them.  Muni wants him to talk and express himself: “It’s open door, no right or wrong /… And self-expression doesn’t make you weak.” It’s a great way to commence Public Displays of Affections: The Album.

2. John Legend, “Conversations in the Dark”

💿 Bigger Love • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 2020

🏆 Grammy-winning R&B musician 🎙 John Legend shines on 🎵 “Conversations in the Dark”, the crème de la crème on his 2020 studio album, 💿 Bigger Love. “Conversations in the Dark” is a sound blend of pop and adult contemporary R&B. The crowning achievement of the record is those confident, robust, and incredibly soulful, baritone vocals.  Legend sounds as distinct as ever, delivering an expressive, nuanced, and balanced performance.

Early on, Legend exhibits more restraint.  As the song progresses and percolates, he offers more oomph and grit.  Each chorus adds more of that ‘Legendary’ bite, particularly as he incorporates those ripe, ad-libs. Beyond the vocals, the theme is relatable – everlasting, unbreakable love.  He sings about the depth of love throughout the verses, overtly confirming it in the catchy, memorable chorus. Another stellar moment comes on the bridge section, which pulls back slightly, before rebuilding the intensity. All in all, Legend adds another gem to his illustrious music collections with “Conversations in the Dark,” not to mention contributing one of the year’s very best songs.

Appears in 🔻:

• 17 Thrilling Songs Infused with Darkness
• Awesome Songs: January 2020
• 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Year in Review
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020: 50 – 26
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020

3. FLETCHER, “Conversations”

💿 Girl of My Dreams • 🏷 Snapback Entertainment LLC / UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 2022

According to 🎙 FLETCHER (Cari Fletcher), “I wanna sleep / But not, I’m not tired / My head and my heart are at war, and I’m stuck in the crossfire.” Woo – now that is some type of state! On 🎵 “Conversations,” a record that appears on the pop musician’s 2022 debut album, 💿 Girl of My Dreams, she is in “Existential crisis mode / All alone, feelin’ all my feelings.” Ooh-wee! Complementing these restless, wide-awake feelings is slick production work (🎛 Marshmello) including an intense, driving bass line and, of course, strong vocals.

The first verse of “Conversations” has a cool energy – it’s a bit more poised.  The second verse, however, is a bit more dynamic.  The centerpiece, as to be expected, is the chorus. “All of these conversations / In my head, in my head at night / I make things complicated / For myself, for myself, I’m like,” she sings, adding, “I question everything / No, oh-oh, nobody’s listenin’ / When I have these conversations / In my head, in my head at night.” The chorus ends up being ultra-relatable, catchy, and incredibly tuneful.  Furthermore, it benefits from its assertiveness.  Another great moment is the bridge, which provides contrast to the rest of the record, yet still maintains a driving, rhythmic quality.  There’s no doubt that there are lots of great conversations to be had about FLETCHER’s “Conversations.”

4. Juice WRLD, “Conversations”

💿 Legends Never Die • 🏷 Grade A Productions / Interscope • 📅 2020

“The devil hit my phone, he wanna talk / But I’m not really up for conversations.” Agreed, 🎙 Juice WRLD, agreed! 🎵 “Conversations” arrives as the second track, and first full-length record from  💿 Legends Never Die, the first posthumous album by Juice WRLD. The emo-tinged, melodic rapper tragically passed away at the age of 21 in 2019.  It’s safe to say, that the loss of Juice left a huge void in rap.

“Chillin’ in my head, but it’s hot

Flames everywhere, I see Satan

Demons tryna run up in my spot a lot

Really, really runnin’ out of patience.”

“Conversations” features slick production by 🎛 Ronny J and 🎛 Scheme. The sound of the record perfectly suits Juice’s signature melodic approach.  Fittingly combining a trap backdrop and emo-tinged rhymes (“Feels like I’ma die every second of the day/ So, I gotta get high / Ain’t no coming down, ain’t no coming down, why?”), “Conversations” is exactly what we’ve become accustomed to hearing from him.  R.I.P., Juice WRLD.

5. Jon Bellion, “Conversations with my Wife”

💿 Glory Sound Prep • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2018

🎵 “Conversations with my Wife” kicks off 💿 Glory Sound Prep, the third studio album by alternative pop singer/songwriter/producer, 🎙 Jon Bellion in an intriguing fashion. Like many Bellion cuts of old, “Conversations” features layered vocals, electronic effects, and colorful synths.  The major-key record sounds modern while also incorporating 80s cues. Bellion delivers solid vocals – nothing flashy, but quite effective. The record features a more non-traditional form – more nebulous than concrete – making for an interesting effect.

“Conversations…” commences with the pre-chorus, where Bellion sings:

“I dreamt I slept on a sidewalk, but you still laid with me

I dreamt I fell in a lion’s den, and you still came for me

I dreamt I lost all of my faith, and you still prayed for me

Who the fuck cares about these plaques on my wall?

You’re still the only thing I’ve done right.”

In the chorus, he speaks about the importance of him and his wife’s relationship above everything else – “I don’t want to be some digital Jesus…” The chorus is followed by the bridge, where Bellion asserts, “I’m so ready to run from the spotlight…”

Conversation: 5ive Songs No. 57 (2022) [📷: Armin Rimoldi via Pexels, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Clovis Cheminot, Def Jam, Grade A Productions, Interscope, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, Snapback Entertainment LLC, Supergiant, UMG Recordings, Inc.]