Hope | 5ive Songs

1. Joji, “High Hopes”

Ft. Omar Apollo

💿 Nectar • 🏷 88rising / 12Tone Music • 🗓 2020 

“High Hopes,” a highlight from Nectar, pairs Joji with one of the most talented, rising musicians in the game, Omar Apollo.  The result is quirky but captivating.  The Donuts and Bēkon handle the production, fueling the creative fire.  Joji dips into his falsetto on the chorus, while employing his middle register on the first verse.  As for Omar, he’s true to self on the second verse – alternative to the nth degree.  There’s some hip-hop, some melody, and a heaping dosage of confidence and swagger.

2. Lana Del Rey, “Hope is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me to Have – But I Have It”

💿 Norman Fucking Rockwell! • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2019

Lana Del Rey comes through on the lengthy-titled ballad, “Hope is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me to Have – But I Have It” from her superb 2019 album, Normal Fucking Rockwell!.  “Hope” features a number of literary and cinematic references. The expressive Del Rey sounds as chilling and enigmatic as ever; her tone is absolutely stunning.  Among her best moments come at the end of the record, when she flaunts her falsetto.   Beyond an inspired vocal, there’s also the stripped, yet gorgeous nature of this five-and-a-half-minute ballad. Even working with such a lengthy duration, it’s perfect fuel for the fire of Del Rey, who manages to keep things colorful with some profane lyrics (“I’ve been tearing up town in my fucking nightgown / Like a goddamn-near sociopath”). Ultimately, with the threat of ‘hope’ in her hands on this particular song, Lana does what she does best – delivers an expressive, moody, well-rounded record.

3. Panic! At the Disco, “High Hopes”

💿 Pray for the Wicked • 🏷 Fueled by Ramen • 🗓 2019

“High Hopes”, by Panic! At the Disco, is the type of energetic, positive, and uplifting record that easily atones and assuages. “High Hopes” ranks among the highlights on the band’s 2018 album, Pray for the Wicked – arguably, it’s the crowning achievement.  It kicks off with driving brassy, exuberant production work, set in a major key. After setting the tone with the intro, Brendon Urie unveils the optimistic, chorus, singing in his powerful upper register.

Following the initial burst excitement, Urie settles into the first verse.  He speaks of destiny, dreams, and “rewriting your history,” as advised by his mom. Later, on the second verse, he speaks about being true to self, personally and musically. “High Hopes” is an anthem for dreamers – encouragement for the non-conformists of the world.

4. Halsey, “Hopeless”

Ft. Cashmere Cat

💿 Hopeless Fountain Kingdom • 🏷 Astralwerks • 🗓 2017

“‘Cause you know the good die young, but so did this / And so it must be better than I think it is / Gimme those eyes, it’s easy to forgive.” Alternative pop artist Halsey concludes her 2017 sophomore album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, ‘hopelessly romantic’ you might say. “Hopeless” featuring Cashmere Cat, finds Halsey capturing ‘hopelessness’ on the dramatic chorus, in which her vocals are drenched in effects (“Oh-oh-oh / Oh-ooh / Oh-oh-oh / I hope hopeless…”).  It’s a unique sound, that’s also polarizing and not for everybody.  But Halsey clearly makes her point regarding matters of the heart on the verses and pre-chorus that precede.

5. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Hope the High Road”

💿 The Nashville Sound • 🏷 Southeastern • 🗓 2017 

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit take on an edgier sound on “Hope the High Road,” a highlight from their Grammy-winning album, The Nashville Sound.  What’s responsible for the edgy sound?  Gritty guitars, not to mention the subject matter of the record itself. Throughout the verses, Isbell depicts a series of unfortunate happenings.  During the second verse, these happenings include the turbulent 2016, which he describes as “a son of a bitch.” That sounds about right. Anyways, despite the adversity, on the chorus, Jason Isbell states, “I hope the high road leads you home again / To a world you want to live in.”