Grow… | 5ive Songs

1. NF, “When I Grow Up”

The Search • Capitol • 2019

“When I Grow Up” appears as the eighth track on The Search, the fourth studio album by Christian rapper NF.  On “When I Grow Up,” he speaks about his aspirations as a child of being a rapper.  He captures the struggle of making his dream a reality, the plight of so many talented musicians.  The chorus in particular is on-point, filled with energy.

“When I grow up, I just want to pay my bills
Rappin’ about the way I feel (Oh, yeah)
I just want to make a couple mil’
Leave it to the fam in the will (Oh, yeah)
I just want to sign a record deal
Maybe buy a house up in the hills (Oh, yeah)
Might not be the best in my field
But I guarantee that I’ma die real
When I grow up.”

2. Alessia Cara, “Growing Pains”

The Pains of Growing • Def Jam • 2018

Grammy-winning pop artist Alessia Cara released her underrated sophomore album, The Pains of Growing, in Fall 2018.  The Pains of Growing commences with the honest promo single, “Growing Pains”.  “Growing Pains” features great production work, comprised of a driving synth, rhythmic, urban-infused drum programing, and lovely harmonized backing vocals. Cara serves up clear, nuanced lead vocals, delivered with great authenticity but never forcing things. Her rhythmic, melodic lines are influenced by hip-hop without being pop-rap. The substance of this stands out as she’s honest about her lot in life, singing about real issues.

“And I’ve always been a go-getter
There’s truth in every word I write
But still, the growing pains, growing pains
They’re keeping me up at night.”

3. Ben Platt, “Grow as We Go”

Sing to Me Instead • Atlantic • 2019 

“You can ebb and I can flow / And we’ll take it slow / And grow as we go / Grow as we go.” Ben Platt blesses the listeners with his radiant tone on “Grow as We Go” from his debut album, Sing to Me Instead; dude can sing his butt off! On “Grow,” he’s accompanied by a relatively simple backdrop for most of the song – acoustic guitars, panned respectively to the right and the left.

That’s really all he needs, as his voice is the focal point.  In addition to the core production, there are warm, harmonized backing vocals, and occasional moments where the production grows a bit more robust.  Ultimately, the result is a thoughtfully penned, sincere record.

4. Avril Lavigne, “Here’s to Never Growing Up”

Avril Lavigne • Epic • 2013

“Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs / With the boombox blaring as we’re falling in love / I got a bottle of whatever, but it’s getting us drunk / Singing here’s to never growing up.” Judging by her 2013 song, “Here’s to Never Growing Up,” it seems that Canadian standout Avril Lavigne hasn’t grown up any.

If anything, she prolongs carefree youth, amplified with swear words (“We don’t give a fuck / And we’re never gonna change”)! As spirited and unapologetic as “Here’s to Never Growing Up” is, it sadly didn’t give Lavigne a huge hit, sigh.

5. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Growing Up”

Ft. Ed Sheeran

This Unruly Mess I’ve Made • Macklemore • 2016

This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, the 2016 album by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, had a tough act to follow, specifically the duo’s Grammy-winning album, The Heist (2012). One of the best songs from This Unruly Mess I’ve Made is “Growing Up,” featuring Ed Sheeran. On the touching record, Macklemore wishes to be the best father to his daughter (“Cause your momma’s the toughest person I know / I wanna raise you to be like her”). Sheeran provides a perfect, emotional, soulful assist, particularly as he lets loose towards the end on the chorus.

“I’ll be patient, one more month
You’ll wrap your fingers round my thumb
Times are changing, I know
But who am I if I’m the person you become
If I’m still growing up, still growing up, still growing up.”