Guy | 5ive Songs

On this the 36^th edition of 5ive Songs, 2021, we select five songs that are associated with a GUY or GUYS 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 this 36^th edition of 5ive Songs, 2021, we select five songs that are associated with a GUY or GUYS in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

1. Eric Church, “Break it Kind of Guy”

💿 Soul • 🏷 EMI Nashville / UMG Recordings Inc. • 📅 2021

Among the crème de la crème of 💿 Soul – the second of two 🎙 Eric Church albums released in 2021 – is the electrifying 🎵 “Break it Kind of Guy.”  Between 💿 Heart and Soul, “Break it Kind of Guy” just might be the biggest T-R-I-P! I mean, damn, is this an infectious country joint.  Here, Church is chocked-full of attitude, showcasing immense personality.  As usual, we get that North Carolinian southern twang, but surprisingly, we also see Church dip into his falsetto (“I tell my Eagle where to fly”).

Part of the reason why “Break it Kind of Guy” is so potent is the contrasts Church brings to the table.  I mean, there’s country-funk hybrid in play here, confirmed by the riffs, groove, and the overall aesthetic and vibe.  Honestly, only Church would concoct something like this, and I’m so glad he did!

2. Billie Eilish, “bad guy”

💿 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? • 🏷 Darkroom / Interscope • 📅 2019 

“So, you’re a tough guy / Like it really rough guy / Just can’t get enough guy / Chest always so puffed guy…” The minimalist 🎵 “Bad Guy” serves as the first full-length record on 💿 When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, the compelling debut album by alternative pop artist, 🎙 Billie Eilish.  On the 🏆 Grammy-winning “Bad Guy” (Record of the Year and Song of the Year), Eilish sings in an undertone.  She’s calm, cool, and collected, flaunting off her distinct approach and sound.

Adding to the intrigue of the listening experience are a unique palette of vocal effects, as well as an air of mysteriousness. “Bad Guy” thrives because of its infectious groove, catchy chorus (partially excerpted above, and continued below), and a fun, if dark, playful style.  It easily nabbed the top spot on the 🎧 51 Best Songs of 2019.

“I’m that bad type
Make your mama sad type
Make your girlfriend mad tight
Might seduce your dad type
I’m the bad guy…”

Also appears on 🔽:

• 51 Best Songs of 2019: Year in Review
• 11 Intriguing Songs by Young Musicians Born in 2000 & Beyond (2020)
• 13 B Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason (2020)
• 15 Stellar Good or Bad Songs (2021)

3. Jack Harlow, “Same Guy” (Ft. Adam Levine)

💿 Thats What They All Say • 🏷 Generation Now / Atlantic • 📅 2020

“I can’t keep lettin’ shit slide /Thought that I would change, but I’m the same guy.” Okay… Anyways, the most surprising collaboration on Thats What They All Say, the debut album by Louisville, Kentucky-bred, 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper 🎙 Jack Harlow, is 🎵 “Same Guy.”  Here, Harlow taps 🎙 Adam Levine for the assist (primarily on the chorus). “Same Guy” is an interesting record by all means, and 🎛 jetsonmade definitely delivers some cool production touches (“Oh Lord, Jetson made another one”).

“Same Guy” isn’t a tour de force.  Neither is Thats What They All Say overall. Still, there’s plenty to like about the record.  For one, the riffing falsetto by Levine is win.  Furthermore, the gospel vibes, elevated by an appearance by 🎙 Jason Clayborn & The Atmosphere Changers makes it among the best of Thats What They All Say.

Also Appears On 🔽:

• Same: 5ive Songs No. 33 (2021)
• 12 Captivating Same & Different Songs (2021)

4. $uicideBoy$, “Meet Mr. NICEGUY”

💿 I Want to Die in New Orleans • 🏷 G*59 • 📅 2018

On 🎵 “Meet Mr. NICEGUY”, cousin rap-duo 🎙 $uicideBoy$ (🎙 Scott Arceneaux, Jr. and 🎙 Aristos Pertrou) take a more melodic approach.  Even so, the f-bombs still fly freely on the advance single from the duo’s proper debut, 💿 I Want to Die in New Orleans – they still retain some edge.  For 🎙 NORMAN ATOMIC aka 🎙 Ruby da Cherry aka Petrou, he dabbles in relationship issues, asking at one point, “Where the fuck what I when this relationship dried?” 🎙 ANTHONY MARS aka 🎙 $crim aka Arceneaux, Jr. confirms how deep the pain he feels is, referencing depression, and potentially more troubling, suicide.

Interestingly, on the second verse, MARS contrasts ATOMIC’s first verse by focusing more on coping with life’s hardships with drugs.  He attempts to atone for loneliness from the absence of family “just to numb up.”  The depressing joint ends with the hook, which sums up how crappy things are for the boy$.

“Suicide been on my mind
Pour my heart on the concrete every fucking time.”

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Prepare to Feel the Kindness of These 8 ‘Nice’ Songs

5. Superfruit, “GUY.exe”

💿 Future Friends • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2017

“Oh I, wish I could synthesize / A picture-perfect guy / Oh I, oh I / Six feet tall and super strong / We’d always get along / Alright, alright…” Both members of 🎙 Superfruit, 🎙 Mitch Grassi and 🎙 Scott Hoying – also members of Pentatonix – are openly gay. Notably on “GUY.exe.” (💿 Future Friends, 2017), Mitch and Scott fearlessly lay out what they look for in the perfect MAN.  More and more, pop music has become more open-minded, exploring beyond exclusively heterosexual love scenarios.

What stands out about “GUY.exe.” is that essentially, Superfruit looks for some of the same characteristics as the heterosexual crowd.

“…Oh, he’d pick me up at eight
And not a minute late
Cause I don’t like to wait, no
Kind and ain’t afraid to cry
Or treat his momma right
That’s right, that’s what I like.”

Also Appears On 🔽:

• A Compendium Comprised of 100 Notable LGBTQ+ Songs

Guy: 5ive Songs No. 36 (2021) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Chris Galbraith, EMI Nashville, Generation Now, The Musical Hype, RCA, Sepehr Safari – Sajiam, UMG Recordings Inc., Unsplash]