Delightful Songs Sprinkled with CINNAMON, Pt. I | Playlist 🎧

Delightful Songs Sprinkled with CINNAMON, Pt. I feature music courtesy of GUNNAR, Jacob Collier, Lana Del Rey, Mike Taviera, and Ryan Beatty. 

Prepare for a spicy playlist! The spice that fuels the fire is cinnamon! Many songs have been written about or reference cinnamon.  Because there are so many songs about this beloved spice, there will be more than one volume of cinnamon songs. Delightful Songs Sprinkled with CINNAMON, Pt. I feature 11 intriguing cinnamon songs, courtesy of GUNNAR, Jacob Collier, Lana Del Rey, Mike Taviera, and Ryan Beatty among others.  So, without further ado, let’s embrace our love of cinnamon in these 11 Delightful Songs Sprinkled with CINNAMON, Pt. I!  

 

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1. Mujo, “Cinnamon Rolls”

2. HAARPER, “CINNAMON”

3. Jacob Collier, “Cinnamon Crush”

4. Mike Taviera, “Summer Cinnamon”

5. Lana Del Rey, “Cinnamon Girl”

6. Ryan Beatty, “Cinnamon Bread”

7. Hayley Williams, “Cinnamon”

8. GUNNAR, “Cinnamon”

9. cupcakKe, “Cinnamon Toast Crunch”

10. Obsidian Kingdom, “Cinnamon Balls”

11. LANY, “Sugar & Cinnamon”

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1. Mujo, “Cinnamon Rolls” 

Hypnotic Hills // Calm Beats // 2023 

Picture and smell it: decadent cinnamon rolls, warm out of the oven. Mm, yummy 🤤! That’s the image and scent that the brief, instrument cut, “Cinnamon Rolls” paints.  Mujo, a music producer who makes lo-fi, jazzy, and chill beats, constructs smooth, warm, and detuned ear candy that’s the perfect soundtrack to a sweet, calorie-filled treat.  This one-and-a-half-minute vibe speaks for itself!  

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2. HAARPER, “CINNAMON” 

“CINNAMON” // CREW / EMPIRE // 2022 

“Black strap, backpack / With a couple grenades / Throw that safety out the window / Sayonara to ya face.” Is that a threat, HAARPER (Richard McLaughlin)? It sounds like it! Anyways, in the chorus of his 2022 single, “CINNAMON,” the rapper adds, “Succubus on my tip / Diligent with the pace / She chokin’ like it’s cinnamon / I’m a sin until I can’t.” So, let’s get this straight. This female demon is giving him sloppy and choking because he’s so big down there? Ooh wee! There are also colorful verses in this two-minute phonk, rap cut produced by prod. Trulife. Memorably, in the second verse HAAPER spits, “Bringin’ new plague, Defiler gon’ aid / You bouta get played, While I fuck yo dame / She tradin’ yo chamomile / For some Kool-Aid.” The cinnamon is potent, that’s for sure!  

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3. Jacob Collier, “Cinnamon Crush” (Ft. Lindsey Lomis) 

Djesse Vol. 4 // Hajanga / Interscope / Decca // 2024 

“I just want your body, babe / By my side, candlelight inside.” Ooh-la-la, that’s sexy! “Cinnamon Crush” is the fifth track on Djesse Vol. 4, the 2024 LP by the Grammy-winning musical genius, Jacob Collier. Collier is talented to the nth degree, something perceptible on this smooth R&B cut. Honestly, it shows on any Jacob Collier track. Taking first blood vocally, Collier is flirty and playful embracing those romantic vibes.  “And I can’t get you off my mind now / I must’ve tried a hundred thousand times now,” he adds in the first verse, before dropping a sugary, cinnamon-filled chorus: “Oh / You give me a rush now, sugar / Say, oh / You’re my cinnamon crush now, sugar.”  

Assisting Jacob Collier in his romantic endeavors is the talented Lindsey Lomis. Her voice is beautiful, capturing desires coolly and potently.  Like Collier, Lindsey asserts, “I just want you next to me, by my side / Won’t you hold me close? No slippin’ away.”  She performs the chorus the second time, with a few vocals from Jacob. The jazzy bridge section features an adventurous harmonic progression that separates it from the rest of the song. The sound is different, but thematically, the focus remains love, love, love. Post-bridge, there’s an instrumental section that continues to show Collier’s brilliant musical mind, as well as the outro where there’s “Somethin’ ‘bout you laced with cinnamon / Sweet shop, won’t you let me in again?” Jacob Collier shines on  “Cinnamon Crush” which he penned with Lomis and produced himself.  

Appears in 🔻: 

• Jacob Collier, Cinnamon Crush: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 38 (2024) 

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4. Mike Taviera, “Summer Cinnamon”  

“Summer Cinnamon” // Mike Taveira // 2024

“I’ve been having dinner with the voices in my head / While you’re out there breathing in the summer cinnamon.” Ugh, sounds like sad, lonely times, Mike Taveira! Admittedly, the talented pop artist has been feeling sad and lonely per X (formerly known as Twitter). Despite being “fuckin sad as shit,” there is a silver lining: “At least the beat sounds happy.” Correct, Mike! He penned “Summer Cinnamon” alongside Carly Paige and producer, Hubby. Set in a major key, the instrumental sounds summery despite Mike’s loneliness and love pain. “Burning in my mind like a … cigarette,” he continues singing in the memorable, ultra-tuneful chorus, “Keep on finding boys that slip like waters through my hands.”  Those dirty, dirty boys – tsk, tsk, tsk! The pansexual musician cries foul regarding an ex-boyfriend.  Sure, his vocals sound cool, calm, and collected, but it’s clear he’s in a vulnerable spot. “Chasing that medicine / Dripping from his lips, need a fucking fix,” he sings in the first verse, admitting later in the song, “I wanna say I’m over you / But the truth is I’m losing all my cool.” If you’ve listened to Taveira’s music in the past, he has an awesome knack for turning his raw emotions into beautiful music that often sounds more optimistic than it is. “Summer Cinnamon” is a prime example.  With Hubby ‘doing the damn thing’ behind the boards, particularly those awesome electronic music cues, and Mike singing with poise despite his depression, “Summer Cinnamon” is the sugar honey iced tea. We expect no less from Mike! With no musical miscues, there’s just one nitpick – no shirtless cover artwork this go-round! We only get to see the stud’s arm!  

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5. Lana Del Rey, “Cinnamon Girl”  

Norman Fucking Rockwell! // Polydor / Interscope // 2019 

“Cinnamon in my teeth / From your kiss, you’re touching me.” Ooh-la-la, Lana Del Rey! “Cinnamon Girl” stands out from Norman Fucking Rockwell!, arguably the best album by the Grammy-nominated musician. While things seem okay during the first two lines from the first verse, they ‘go south’ in the following lyrics: “All the pills, that you take / Violet, blue, green, red to keep me at arm’s length don’t work / You try to push me out, but I just find my way back in…” Sus, sus, sus! Still, in the second verse, he’s “Kerosene in my hands / You make me mad, on fire again.” Jack Antonoff is credited for the excellent production work. The keyboards and drum programming stand out.  Beyond the backdrop, the chorus shines – how she sings it and the lyrics: “There’s things I wanna say to you, but I’ll just let you live / Like if you hold me without hurting me / You’ll be the first whoever did.” Thought-provoking.  A marvelous post-chorus follows (“Hold me, love me, touch me, honey, / Be the first whoever did”), featuring some fabulous production tricks.  That “Cinnamon Girl,” is sweet!  

Appears in 🔻:  

• Girl 👧: 5ive Songs No. 49 (2020) 
• 20 Amazing Songs About Girls (2020) 
• 50 Awesome Boy & Girl Songs (2020) 

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6. Ryan Beatty, “Cinnamon Bread”  

Calico // Warner Music UK Limited // 2023

Matters of the heart affect Ryan Beatty in the sincere, thoughtfully penned “Cinnamon Bread.” It is worth noting that cinnamon bread is only mentioned once in the song – at the beginning of the first verse.  The context is inviting – who wouldn’t want cinnamon bread after all? “Infinite Jest and cinnamon bread / Why don’t you make yourself at home?” Beatty sings, adding, “When you open me up, you close me in / And cut me to the bone / Close as a kiss on the lip / To the southern tip.”  

Beyond things going south sensually speaking, they seem to also go south regarding the relationship. Beatty is wowed by him initially, accentuated by the Liberace reference in the second verse, but, ultimately, it’s all fool’s gold: “Like all the men you’ve loved / The women you’ve loved / You tell me we’re in this together / When I know it’s not the case.” There is no doubt, however, that “Cinnamon Bread” is one of the best songs from his 2023 LP, Calico.   

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7. Hayley Williams, “Cinnamon”  

Petals for Armor // Atlantic // 2020

“On the walls of my home / There are signs that I’m alone.”  “Cinnamon” is Hayley Williams’ self-proclaimed ‘ode to home’ on her 2020 debut solo album, Petals for Armor.  In the second verse, she speaks more about home: “Eat my breakfast in the nude / Lemon water, living room / Home is where I’m feminine / Smells like citrus and cinnamon.” Word! The Paramore frontwoman penned it alongside Taylor York, who also produced the track. Besides an intriguing theme and lyrics, “Cinnamon” is groovy and thrives from its rhythmic nature.  The backdrop is colorful and creative, exemplifying alternative music sensibilities.  One of the best musical features? The robust bass line. ‘Clever vocals’ throughout help make “Cinnamon” both catchy and quite distinct (“Ah, ah-ooh / Ooh-ah, ah-ah-ah”). In addition to natural singing, vocal effects further accentuate the sound of “Cinnamon.” “Cinnamon” sho’ is sweet!  

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8. GUNNAR, “Cinnamon”  

Best Mistake // GUNNAR // 2023

“Oh, I want your cinnamon hips and the taste of your lips on mine.” Damn, GUNNAR (Gunnar Gehl)! “Cinnamon” is the third track on the Gen-Z’s 2023 LP, Best Mistake.  Gehl doesn’t mask his desires. He’s horny! In the back half of the first verse, he sings, “Now I’m not sayin’ I’m addicted to you / But I’ve been cravin’ you all week / Always best when I touch you, darlin’.” The boy’s got it bad – he needs that cinnamon 😮‍💨 😈! “Cinnamon” was written by Gehl, VVAVES, and Ryan Daly.  It was produced by Brendan O’Brien, Adam Friedman, and Jordan Lewis.  

Adding to the drama is the instrumental. “Cinnamon” is set in compound duple meter (or at least it sounds that way).  The guitars are mean-sounding – beefy and distorted.  During the centerpiece, the chorus, the instrumental is grand, robust, and turned TF up.  Meanwhile, GUNNAR powers up too, delivering a dramatic vocal that bites.  Even so, with the distortion on the vocals too, Gehl also offers some sweet falsetto moments.  Of course, they don’t occur with the likes of, “My innocence is on the line / When I’m biting at the bitch.” Truly, Mr. Gehl “just can’t resist your cinnamon.”  

Appears in 🔻: 

• GUNNAR, Cinnamon: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 37 (2024)  

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9. cupcakKe, “Cinnamon Toast Crunch” 

Ephorize // cupcakKe // 2018 

“I was hungry as hell writing this shit / I don’t even give no fuck / Let’s go.” Those intro lyrics are on brand for cupcakKe, among the most unapologetic rappers in the game.  When she says, I don’t give no fuck, she means it and exhibits it with her biting, explicit bars.  The intro sets the tone for “Cinnamon Toast Crunch,” the sixth track on her 2018 LP, Ephorize.  Following the intro, she drops an infectious, unforgettable chorus:   

“Cinnamon toast crunch, cinna cinnamon toast crunch

Cinnamon toast crunch, cinna cinnamon toast crunch (Yo! Yo!)

I got bitches wanna box me like I’m cinnamon toast crunch

I just pull up and I square up like I’m cinnamon toast crunch.”

Against a banging instrumental produced by Def Starz, cupcakKe goes in. There are one-liners everywhere.  “Bitch, yo money little, so we call you Stuart,” she spits in the first verse, later adding, “Bitches really got it twisted, I’m not talking one liter with a cap / I don’t fuck with none of these bitches, not even Siri on Google Maps.”  She doesn’t like bitches, does she? The second verse is a trip like the first with more anti-bitching: “Bitches be irkin’ me, beat her ‘til burgundy / Went through emergency, now she need surgery.” And, for good measure, given the sexual nature of her music, cupcakKe concludes the verse with “Pussy drippin’ like my nose runnin’.” What more can you say but “Cinnamon Toast Crunch,” bi-otch!  

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10. Obsidian Kingdom, “Cinnamon Balls”  

Mantiis // Season of Mist // 2014 

“She’ll remember this day / As if it just happened / A stain of piss in the snow / Who said joy is a name for a (girl)?” Um, okay, Obsidian Kingdom – if you say so!  “Cinnamon Balls,” the fourth track from the Spanish metal band’s conceptual LP Mantiis (2012, released in the U.S. in 2014) is intense from the onset. That would be an understatement. Set in minor, “Cinnamon Balls” has its fair share of dissonant moments, furthering the darkness.  The instrumental kicks ass and takes names, NO CAP. The jagged, distorted, and uncouth guitars are EVERYTHING, constructing a menacing wall of sound.  Has something so hellish ever sounded more heavenly? The vocals are aggressive, unrefined screamed, and unclean.  Who would have it any other way? There are only a few lyrics but those featured are dark, distinct, and emotional.  “Feel the smell of the boss / It will reek on your skin ‘til you’re old…” Yikes… And there’s also, “Then he snarled like a dog / Left the car while the seats were still warm / Still the windows are covered with frost.” Interesting. Unusual. Obsidian Kingdom and those “Cinnamon Balls” ROCK 🤘! 

 

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11. LANY, “Sugar & Cinnamon”  

A beautiful blur // Sunset Garden // 2023

“Black Harley Davidsons, sugar and cinnamon / Pick up the pieces of my heart, fall in love again.” In the context of the song, “Sugar & Cinnamon” by LANY (Paul Klein and Jack Goss), both sugar and cinnamon are key ingredients! Lyrically, however, neither is mentioned much in the third track from their 2023 LP, a beautiful blur.  Instead, Klein focuses on life and living, even when things are crummy.  In the second verse, he sings, “And when I lose the high, I know it’s okay to cry / Everybody does sometimes.” Facts, Paul, facts.   

The chorus of “Sugar & Cinnamon” speaks to life’s ups and downs but embraces positivity:  

“There will be days you can’t catch a break 

The sun is stuck behind the clouds 

There will be times when you lose your light (Times) 

But don’t you let it get you down (No) 

We’re here right now 

We’re here right now.” 

Again, facts! Things are imperfect, and some goals have yet to be achieved but don’t give in or give up – continue to live!  Don’t get in your head! Besides the uplifting lyrics and easygoing, respectable vocals from Paul, the sound of “Sugar & Cinnamon” is a win.  LANY and Mike Crossey produced this gem. It’s a smooth brand of pop/rock running north of three-and-a-half minutes. A key change toward the end also ups the ante – increases that sugar and cinnamon significantly.   

 

Appears in 🔻:  

• LANY, Sugar & Cinnamon: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 21 (2024)

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Delightful Songs Sprinkled with CINNAMON, Pt. I (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Calm Beats, CREW, cupcakKe, Decca, EMPIRE, GUNNAR, Hajanga, Interscope, Mike Taveira, Polydor, Season of Mist, Sunset Garden, Warner Music UK Limited; Cindy, Ktine01, Leopictures, Tasty Lens, Uwe Baumann from Pixabay]

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