Give | 3 to 5 BOPS

Give: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 43 (2023), features musical BOPS courtesy of Miguel, Parliament, P!nk, Rick Astley, and Steve Lacy.  

Ah, you know what time it is! It’s 3 to 5 BOPS time – WOO! On 3 to 5 BOPS, it’s all about brevity and sweetness… for the most part! There’s a theme/topic, 3, 4, or 5 songs, and a blurb – two paragraphs or less.  3 to 5 BOPS, hence, is a mini playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  In the 43rd edition of 3 to 5 BOPS (2023), we select songs that are associated with GIVE in some form or fashion. The BOPS arrive courtesy of 🎙 Miguel, 🎙 Parliament, 🎙 P!nk, 🎙 Rick Astley, and 🎙 Steve Lacy. Okay, let’s get into it! 

via GIPHY

1. Rick Astley, “Never Gonna Give You Up”   

💿 Whenever You Need Somebody • 🏷 BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited • 📅 1987   

“Never gonna give you up / Never gonna let you down / Never gonna run around and desert you.” Aww, how sweet and dedicated of you, 🎙 Rick Astley.  Honestly, when it comes to the 1987 pop classic, 🎵 “Never Gonna Give You Up”, little analysis or explanation is necessary. “Never Gonna Give You Up” was massively successful, peaking at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. as well as in multiple countries throughout the world.  To date, the RIAA has certified the single as quintuple platinum, while its parent album, 💿 Whenever You Need Somebody, is double platinum in its own right.  Face it, this is one of those quintessential 80s songs that never grow old, still resonating to this day.   

So, what makes “Never Gonna Give You Up” so iconic? The production, in all its exuberance, is a huge selling point.  It’s incredibly groovy and those keys (synths) pop, including synthesized strings.  Also, supporting Astley’s warm lead vocals are inspired background vocals, which give this record more oomph – more punch.  Does Astley’s performance feel cheesy and dare I say, schmaltzy? Of course, it does! It’s not helped by seeing the compelling music video 🎶📼, which incited rickrolling (it’s the dancing for sure, y’all).  Also, while Astley, who was 21 at the time, was a handsome young man, he also comes off as dorky – no disrespect.  The lyrics in the song do matter, but the big takeaway is that Rick is going to remain dedicated to you FOREVER, it seems.  Furthermore, doesn’t it seem like 🎵 “Never Gonna Give You Up” is the type of song that will last forever?   

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:   

• Rick Astley, “Never Gonna Give You Up”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 110 (2022)  
• 11 Songs U Need 2 Listen UP 🆙 2 (2022) 
• 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 7 (2022)  

2. Miguel, “Give It To Me”  

🎵 “Give It To Me” • 🏷 ByStorm Entertainment / RCA • 🗓 2023 

“Your body on inferno, inferno, your mind on my, my, my / But you deserve to let go, to let go, to let yourself unwind…” Although the 2020s have been extraordinarily quiet for 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, 🎙 Miguel, he whets the listener’s palate with the enjoyable, well-rounded, and sexy single, 🎵 “Give It To Me”. “Give It To Me” runs four minutes and change 🪙, and it’s totally worth every second! The record was penned by Miguel and 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Scoop DeVille, who also produces. It commences with an intriguing intro that is moody and features an unsettled sound.  Listening initially, it is hard to tell what direction Miguel is going. Soon enough, however, the singer’s dynamic, easily recognizable voice takes over.  Instrumentally, the tone of the drums and the use of distorted guitar are #winning.  This gives “Give It To Me,” which is about S-E-X, a fitting raw, animalistic sound.  There are many memorable lyrics including  “You lit, I’m lit, we lit / And I’m ready to fly” in the pre-chorus, as well as the catchy chorus, where Miguel asserts, “Yeah, I like what you got, ‘cause I like what you got / I like what you got, would you give it to me?” Another selling point is the excellent contrast that occurs in the bridge, which includes vocoder effects. All in all, 🎵 “Give It To Me” is a welcome addition to the listening rotation.   

via GIPHY

3. P!nk, “Just Give Me a Reason” (Ft. Nate Ruess)  

💿 The Truth About Love • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2012 

“It’s in the stars / It’s been written in the scars on our hearts…” 🎙 Nate Ruess (of 🎙 fun.) duets with 🎙 P!nk on the fine 🎵 “Just Give Me a Reason.” “Just Give Me a Reason” was written by P!nk, Ruess, and 🎼 ✍ Jeff Bhasker. Bhasker produces the no. 1 hit from P!nk’s 2012 album, 💿 The Truth About Love.  which spent three weeks atop the Hot 100, ultimately charting for 36 weeks.  Furthermore, this awesome record was nominated for two 🏆 Grammys: Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (Note: both Ruess and P!nk are 🏆 Grammy winners, despite not winning for this song).    

“Just give me a reason  

Just a little bit’s enough  

Just a second – we’re not broken,   

And we can learn to love again…”   

Sigh, what a beautiful, memorable chorus! P!nk sings the first verse and chorus, which focuses on L-O-V-E, of course. Ruess sings the second verse, responding to P!nk’s initial verse (“I’m sorry I don’t understand / Where all of this is coming from / I thought that we were fine”).  By the second iteration of the chorus, the vocalists join forces and showcase unbelievable vocal range and chemistry.  The harmonies between the two are a highlight, particularly atop that excellent production.  The reason to play this song over and over again is that it is JUST awesome!   

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:  

• 11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 1 (2022)   

4. Steve Lacy, “Give You the World”   

💿 Gemini Rights • 🏷 L-M / RCA • 📅 2022

“Baby, I want a chance to get you close, right next to me / Said, ‘Girl, I’ll be patient and slow / ‘Cause I got time, shit, maybe forever’.” 🎵 “Give You the World” concludes 💿 Gemini Rights, the 🏆 Grammy-winning album by 🎙 Steve Lacy, differently than the album began. On the opener, 🎵 “Static,” Lacy seemed bitter and clearly perturbed about the end of a relationship. On this lush cut, he is repentant, desiring a reset – a second chance.  “But I’ll give you the world,” he sings in an authentic, nuanced fashion in the chorus.  The outro, in particular, shows a changed Steve, who vows, “This time I’m gonna love you like you would do / And when I love you I’m gonna / Kiss you goodbye.”  All told, it’s a great closer on a very, very strong album. Lacy sounds stupendous! 

Appears in 🔻:  

• 15 Epic Songs Regarding The World (2023)   

5. Parliament, “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” 

💿 Mothership Connection • 🏷 The Island Def Jam Music Group • 🗓 1975 

“Tear the roof off, we’re gonna tear the roof off the mothersucker /  Tear the roof off the sucker.” Woo! 🎙 George Clinton and 🎙 Parliament delivered one of the funkiest tunes ever with 🎵 “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)”. “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” appears on the collective’s 1975, platinum certified album,  💿 Mothership Connection.  The single marks is the highest charting by the band, cracking the top 20 (peaked at no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100) and being certified gold.  “You’ve got a real type of thing going down, gettin’ down / There’s a whole lot of rhythm going round.” Indeed, indeed!   

While Mothership Connection and “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” has a conceptual element, most folks enjoy and judge this song as a crowning achievement of funk music.  The psychedelic sounds within the production, coupled with the groove and active bass line are ear-catching to the nth degree. Furthermore, the lyrics are infectious – simple but memorable upon a first listen.  “Ow, we want the funk / Give up the funk / Ow, we need the funk / We gotta have the funk” marks one of the crème de la crème lyrical moments.  Another top-rate moment: “We’re gonna turn this mother out.” Abso-freaking-lutely, Parliament!  Dig into the conceptual aspects if you will, but ultimately, 🎵 “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” is best enjoyed without extensive analysis.  It’s funky AF! 

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻: 

• Parliament, “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 53 (2023) 

Give: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 43 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; RCA, The Island Def Jam Music Group; Viktoria Slowikowska from Pexels]