Flesh | 5 Gems

Flesh: 5 Gems No. 28 (2026) features songs by Boards of Canada, Ghostemane, Miguel, The 5th Dimension, and The Killers. 

[nx_pullquote]“I’m a slave to your FLESH / Woman, put me right where I belong.”[/nx_pullquote] Damn, Miguel! FLESH is sexual in his hands, which is on brand for the Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter.  Brandon Flowers of The Killers also gets fleshy… in a different sort of way: “And what are you made of? / Flesh and bone.” Flesh is the main attraction on Flesh: 5 Gems No. 28 (2026), which also features songs by Boards of Canada, Ghostemane, and The 5th Dimension. So, without further ado, let’s hear it for the… FLESH!

1. Boards of Canada, “The Word Becomes Flesh”

Inferno » Warp Records » 2026

[nx_pullquote]“The head of the embryo grows forward, and the gut elongates rearward / The neural folds meet in the brain region but do fuse.”[/nx_pullquote] Those are some cerebral lyrics. Boards of Canada, composed of brothers Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin [Sandison], created a captivating song with “The Word Becomes Flesh”. “The World Becomes Flesh” is the 10^th track from the veteran Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 electronic duo’s fifth studio album, Inferno.  Although it is a lengthy listen at nearly five-and-a-half minutes long, every last second is compelling.

“The Word Becomes Flesh” is epic from the get-go. Enigmatic sounds commence. It thrives on ear-catching and striking synths and programming. Gradually, the record develops more, still maintaining distinct and unusual sounds. Drum programming enters the mix about 35 seconds in. Instrumental for its first two minutes and change. After the two-minute mark, unique spoken word vocals enter the mix, beginning with the lyrics excerpted earlier.  Thematically, “Word” captures embryonic development.  The title of the song references a scripture, John 1:14, which references a different birth, so to speak: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The biological references are in-depth, nerdy, and part of the intrigue of this record. There are also robotic vocals that further enhance the listening experience. Ultimately, “The Word Becomes Flesh” is a captivating, rewarding electronic track. Boards of Canada keep things creative, intelligent, and quite rhythmic.

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2. Miguel, “FLESH”

Wildheart » RCA Records » 2015

[nx_pullquote]“Savage and an angel, we call out in tantrum / I got a grip on your throat, we would ride in tandem.”[/nx_pullquote] Holy $hi†, Miguel (Miguel Jontel Pimentel).  The Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter is bold on “FLESH”, a highlight from his risqué, sexually charged 2015 album, Wildheart (emphasis on the wild part).  Just from those two lines, it should be crystal clear that Miguel and his woman are not vanilla when it comes to sex: “Breathe, breathe, fast.” Miguel is wild about her – he needs her and ‘it’ badly.  See the chorus for confirmation:

“Flesh

I need it, I’m a mess, now

I’m a slave to your flesh

Woman put me right where I belong.”

Oh, snap! The second verse is much like the first, placing emphasis on intimacy. “Wrap yourself around me, do whatever I say,” he sings, continuing, “Kiss me like a cream pie, sweet, sweet control.” Wow! There’s also the third verse, which is naughty and sexy as albeit.  Miguel brings faith into the picture, which involves getting down on her knees… Also, he asserts, “This is body language (kiss me) and deep diction…” Deep diction, huh? I see what you did there Miguel. All told, Miguel delivers another epic song about S-E-X.  He’s awesome at writing and singing songs about matters of the bedroom.  His delivery is ultra-sexy. “FLESH” is one of the better records from Wildheart as well as from his collection.

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3. Ghostemane, “Flesh”

N/O/I/S/E » Blackmage » 2018

Some songs don’t feature a titular lyric. That is the case with “Flesh” by Ghostemane (Eric Whitney).  Flesh is never explicitly mentioned in the third track from his brief 2018 album, N/O/I/S/E.  Ghostemane, Arthur Rizk, and Mark Bronzino composed “Flesh.” Ghostemane, Rizk, Bronzino, and Cayle Sain produced it. It commences with a distorted, harsh-sounding synth.  This is the appropriate soundtrack for the album – N/O/I/S/E being the title, after all – as well as the track itself.  When I envision flesh, it often has a more negative connotation 😈. During the first chorus, the drums pummel ferociously.  Also ferocious is Ghostemane, who asserts, “Stuck in my mind / Get me out.” A nasty-sounding beat provides a mighty anchor during the sole verse.  Here, he shines brightest, bringing a compelling cadence and flow. “I been sad, I been tryna get a grip,” he asserts, and continues, “I been getting mad at shit that don’t make sense to me / If only you knew about my mind right now.” Word.  Two more lines stand out specifically: “Throwing your heart to Ammit” (say what?!) and “Upload my consciousness when I’m deceased.” Word.  The final chorus has the same effect as the first: “Locked in my mind / Get me out.” “Flesh” is a mere one minute and 20 seconds long, but impactful, nonetheless.

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4. The Killers, “Flesh And Bone”

Battle Born » The Island Def Jam Music Group » 2012

[nx_pullquote]“They call me the contender / Listen for the bell / My face flashing crimson from the fires of hell / What are you afraid of?”[/nx_pullquote]Those lyrics = 🔥. Do you know what else is 🔥?  That would be “Flesh And Bone,” the epic opener from The Killers’ 2012 album, Battle Born. Not only does the New Wave sound (those synths and keys) pack a punch, but so does spirited frontman Brandon Flowers, who always sounds exceptional. “Flesh And Bone” begins in an incredibly mysterious way, beginning with ‘80s-inspired electronic sound effects panned right and adding a harpsichord-like minimalist keyboard synth.

After flirting with lofty subject matter on the most mysterious first verse (“…This natural selection picked me out to be /A dark horse running in a fantasy…”), Flowers later goes on to deliver a brilliantly penned chorus:

“And what are you made of?

Flesh and bone

And I’m running out of time

Flesh and bone

And what are you made of?

Flesh and bone

Man, I’m turning on a dime

Flesh and Bone.”

Well produced (Steve Lillywhite and Damian Taylor), the Killers could not have asked for a better start to Battle Born.  Also, it’s one of the best songs from a marvelous catalog.

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5. The 5th Dimension, “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) – From the Musical “Hair”

The Age of Aquarius » Sony Music Entertainment » 1969

[nx_pullquote]“This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius!”[/nx_pullquote] Two-part songs are commonplace in the 2020s, particularly in hip-hop/rap.  They are not brand-new, however.  In 1969, Grammy-winning soul collective, The 5^th Dimension, impressed with a two-parter for the ages: “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)”.  Neither part of the song were original to the group; both are covers.  Where do these songs originate? A controversial and explicit 1960s musical called Hair, which was a BIG DEAL.  The 5^th Dimension took these two songs from this musical and turned them into one of the biggest hits of all time.  “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, spending a total of 17 weeks on the chart.  Furthermore, the record won the collective two Grammys: Record of the Year and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance By A Group.  Their album, The Age of Aquarius, was also nominated for the most highly coveted Grammy, Album of the Year.

“Harmony and understanding

Sympathy and trust abounding

No more falsehoods or derisions

Golden living dreams of visions.”

“Aquarius” arrives first, in all its lush, hippie, and psychedelic glory.  Take one listen and this record is like NOTHING you’ve ever heard (at least, at the time), from a soul collective.  The production and orchestration – horns, strings, and the rhythm section – are stunning.  The voices are picturesque in timbre – electrifying, and playful.  The harmonies are angelic; utterly celestial.  Arguably, “Let The Sunshine In” is the crème de la crème with its repetitive lyrics, and even livelier vibe. “Sunshine” is more driving, energetic, and soulful, running slightly longer than “Aquarius.” Even with the repetitive lyrics, “Let The Sunshine In” is a song that you don’t want to end in the least.  Even well into the 2020s, “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In” is a truly refreshing listen.

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