Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 1 features music courtesy of Ariana Grande, Benedict Cork, Joe Simon, Ricky Dillard, ROLE MODEL, and Tems.
LOVE is the perfect fuel for most fire
. No, love wonβt fuel your car. But, love can affect just about everything else, adversely or positively. FACTS! A broad topic, there are tons of love songs. Many love songs donβt feature the universal four-letter word in their song title. Then again, many love songs DO use the word in their title. On the multi-volume musical compendium, Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, love, the word, appears in EVERY song. Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 1 features music courtesy of Ariana Grande, Benedict Cork, Joe Simon, Ricky Dillard, ROLE MODEL, and Tems. So, without further ado, letβs embrace the L-O-V-E, shall we?!
~ Table of Contents ~
1.Ariana Grande, βwe canβt be friends (wait for your love)β
2.Joe Simon, βDrowning in the Sea of Loveβ
4.ROLE MODEL, βDeeply Still in Loveβ
5.The Emotions, βBest of My Loveβ
6.Ricky Dillard, βI Love The Lord (Live)β
7.Bette Midler, βChapel of Loveβ
8.Benedict Cork, βReasons I Loved You (I Canβt Think of One)β
9.Zach Benson, βIβm in love, Iβm in loveβ
10.Silk Sonic, βLoveβs Trainβ
11.Darren Haynes, βLetβs Try Being in Loveβ
12.Gus Dapperton, βWhat You Wonβt Do For Loveβ
13.Percy Sledge, βWhen a Man Loves a Womanβ
1. Ariana Grande, βwe canβt be friends (wait for your love)β
eternal sunshine // Republic // 2024
βI donβt wanna tiptoe, but I donβt wanna hide / But I donβt wanna feed this monstrous fire,β Ariana Grande sings in the first verse of βwe canβt be friends (wait for your love),β a juggernaut from her stupendous seventh studio album, eternal sunshine. She continues singing in the first verse of the second single from the LP, βJust wanna let this story die / And Iβll be alright.β I love the subtlety of the thudding beat (four on the floor), which is part of the tasteful nature of the production. In the chorus, the thuds and the intensity of the backdrop become more dynamic, fitting given the rise to the occasion. βWe canβt be friendsβ features colorful synths and a driving bass line β always a winning formula for the accompaniment! Another part of the winning formula is the violins, which appear at the end. With her elite vocals being her calling card, Grande delivers an honest and memorable chorus:
βWe canβt be friends
But Iβd like to just pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again.β
Lyrically, βwe canβt be friends (wait for your love)β marks one of the cleverest songs of eternal sunshine, making you question if sheβs referencing her ex-husband (Dalton Gomez), the media, or both simultaneously.
~ Table of Contents ~
2. Joe Simon, βDrowning in the Sea of Loveβ
Drowning in the Sea of Love // Ace // 1972
The introduction, with its recurrent riffs, signals a legendary soul classic. One of the biggest hits of the late, great Joe Simon is βDrowning in the Sea of Loveβ. βDrowning in the Sea of Loveβ commences his 1972 album, Drowning in the Sea of Love. Writing and producing this hit is the dynamic tandem of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, renowned for being proponents of the Philly soul movement of the 1970s. The instrumental is lush and refined. The symphonic elements (horns and strings) are everything. Combined with the rhythm section β rhythmic guitar, robust bass, colorful keys, and the drum groove β βDrowning in the Sea of Loveβ is ear-catching to the nth degree. Simon was born in the South and fits into Southern soul circles instead of Northern soul. Simon delivers an awesome vocal performance, showing off his deep, masculine, and soulful pipes. He easily sings on the verses, yet packs a punch, nonetheless. βIβve been down one time / Iβve been down two times,β he asserts, confirming βBut now, Iβm drowning, drowning in the sea of love.β In the chorus, he gets a lift from sensational backing vocals, in addition to the dynamic, illustrious backdrop. In the verses, he sings βthe bluesβ regarding love. βBaby, when you came my way, I thought Iβd found my protection,β he asserts, adding, βBut a strong wind came into my life, surely took me by surprise / And I canβt seem to control these tears thatβs falling from my eyes.β Bummer! He adds, βBut now you gone and deserted me, canβt you see that Iβm in desperation.β Love will make you feel a range of emotions, which Simon captures superbly. The love can βMake me feel alright,β as well as βMake me cry all night long.β The greatness of βDrowning in the Sea of Loveβ, which reached no. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, speaks for itself.
Appears in :
- Joe Simon, Drowning in the Sea of Love: Throwback Vibez
39 (2024)
- Donβt Drown in These 11 Drowning Songs (2024)
- Incredible Songs: 1970s, Vol. 5 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
3. Tems, βLove Me JeJeβ
βLove Me JeJeβ // RCA / Since 93β // 2024
βHold me in your arms, in your love and your light.β Ooh-wee! Nigerian Afrobeats and R&B singer Tems is back with her first single of 2024, βLove Me JeJeβ. Of the songs attributed solely to the Grammy-winning musician, βLove Me JeJeβ follows the 2023 singles βMe & Uβ and βNot An Angelβ. Notably, the record samples the 1997 song, βLove Me JeJeβ by Seyi Sodimu featuring Shafy Bello. βLove Me JeJeβ is a pleasant, well-rounded song. So, what makes βLove Me JeJeβ βthe stuffβ? The production by GuiltyBeatz is a selling point. The repurposing of the Seyi Sodimu song bodes in Temsβ favor. The sound is chill and smooth. Furthermore, the rhythmic groove that anchors is lit. As for Tems, she delivers beautiful, easygoing vocals. Does she ever break a sweat? Nope, it doesnβt seem like it! The melodies and the verses are tuneful making the ears perk up. Matters of the heart drive the narrative β not surprising given the song title. βI need your lovinβ, so fresh, so clean / Love me in and out, unfailingly,β she sings in the first verse, asserting in the pre-chorus, βBecause I love, and I love, and I love, and I love you only.β Thatβs a lot of love! The section to beat comes as no surprise β the chorus!
βIβm on your wave right now (wave)
Iβm on your wave right now, yeah (wave)
Iβm on your vibe now, you got me on your side now, yeah
Iβm on your wave right now, woah, woah, woah, yeah.β
All told, βLove Me Jejeβ is a V-I-B-E.
~ Table of Contents ~
4. ROLE MODEL, βDeeply Still in Loveβ
Kansas Anymore // Interscope // 2024
βGo tell your mother / That she did nothing wrong / βCause you seem happier since Iβve been gone.β Oh, snap, ROLE MODEL (Tucker Pillsbury). The Maine-born and bred singer/songwriter is honest with his pen and vocal performance on βDeeply Still in Loveβ, the second single from his sophomore album, Kansas Anymore. A tone of excellence is set early thanks to a thrilling, pummeling drum riff, driving rhythm guitar, and electrifying tempo. βDeeply Still in Loveβ was written by Pillsbury, Two Inch Punch (Ben Ash), and producer, Noah Conrad.
βWell, I heard you mightβve found somebody new / I still canβt swallow it / But I think Iβm proud of you,β ROLE MODEL asserts in the second verse. Notably, the vocals are playful in both verses, with a hint of tongue-in-cheek and ample personality. Less melodic, this is part of the charm of βDeeply Still in Love.β He continues, βAnd I went out tonight / Shit donβt feel the same / I try and bury it βtil I called her by your name.β Oh, snap! The pre-chorus and chorus are melodic. In the chorus, Pillsbury admits, βIβm sorry, but Iβm deeply still in love / In love with you.β It was obvious without the pop artist explicitly singing it. βDeeply Still in Loveβ has some folksy-pop and classic pop/rock vibes contrasting previous songs heβs released. The change of pace is welcome. The bridge marks another winning moment featuring the most rhythmic intensity. Lovely piano at the end of the final chorus, which spills into the outro, concludes this engaging four-minute record.
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~ Table of Contents ~
5. The Emotions, βBest of My Loveβ
Rejoice // Columbia // 1977
βDemonstrating love and affection / That you give so openly, yeah / I like the way you make me feel about you, baby / Want the whole wide world to see.β Woo! When it comes to renowned R&B/soul collective The Emotions, the first song that comes to mind isβ¦ βBest of My Loveβ. Most often, The Emotions were a trio, originally comprised of siblings Wanda, Sheila, and Jeanette Hutchinson. Notably, their younger sister, Pamela (1958 β 2020), joined beginning with the collectiveβs best-known album, Rejoice (1977). Why is the platinum-certified LP their best-known album? Because it features the Grammy-winning, platinum-certified, no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. βBest of My Loveβ spent five weeks in the penthouse on the pop charts, and four weeks atop the R&B charts. Impressive!
It should be noted that the infectious βBest of My Loveβ was written by Al McKay and Maurice White. White, who also produced the track, is famous in his own right as a member of an iconic funk/R&B/soul collective: Earth, Wind & Fire. With his work behind the boards, catchy songwriting, and tuneful melodies, The Emotions thrived. The minute the bombastic, exuberant introduction is played, βBest of My Loveβ is instantly recognizable β one of the biggest soul records of the 1970s. The groove is electrifying, the horns sound incredibly ripe on the hits and riffs, while the rhythm section is DEFINITELY βin the pocketβ as they say. The vocals are elite, bringing plenty of attitude as the sisters celebrate L-O-V-E. The chorus is the section to beat β DUH! Sing it with me: βWhoa, whoa, you got the best of my love.β The verses are epic too, showing off the best of the group. βBest of My Loveβ is the crΓ¨me de la crΓ¨me of the soul catalog.
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~ Table of Contents ~
6. Ricky Dillard, βI Love The Lord (Live)β
Choirmaster II // Capitol CMG, Inc. // 2024
βI love the Lord, I love the Lord, I love the Lordβ β what a profession of faith! On βI Love The Lord (Live)β, Grammy-nominated gospel musician Ricky Dillard and his anointed choir give all the praise to The Lord. βI Love The Lordβ commences Dillardβs 2024 live album, Choirmaster II. Dillard penned this thoughtful song alongside Terrence J Dooley. He also produces alongside Quadrius Salters. Itβs hard not to be spiritually refreshed listening to this powerful affirmation of faith. The main lyrics continue, in all their glorious praise: βI love the Lord, I really, really love the Lord / I love the Lord, I love the Lord, I love the Lord.β Amen!
Beyond the core lyrics, Dillard and company further amplify the praise with variations. At one point, the Choir affirms, βHeβs been so good, Heβs been so good, Heβs been so Good.β More frequently, they assert, with riffs by Ricky, βYes I love Him / And I adore Him / I lift my hands / I bow before Him / Deep in my heart / I really, really love the Lord / I love the Lord, I love the Lord, I love the Lord.β THANK YA JESUS ! Beyond the spirited lyrics and high-flying vocals, the instrumental is EVERYTHING! The jubilant sounds of the keys! The exalting trumpets! The robust bass line! It all contributes to the spiritual experience. Also, a lit, complex harmonic progression, multiple key changes, and vamps amplify the praise! The musical lift is epic on βI Love The Lord (Live)β!
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~ Table of Contents ~
7. Bette Midler, βChapel of Loveβ
The Divine Miss M // Atlantic // 1972
The Divine Miss M can do no wrong! Bette Midler has had a terrific career, oozing talent with her acting skills and exceptional voice. In 1972, she released the platinum-certified LP nominated for the Grammy for Album Of The Year at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards. On The Divine Miss M, Midler covers the no. 1 hit famously covered by The Dixie Cups, βChapel of Loveβ. With her electrifying pipes and big personality, you can be your dollar that The Divine Miss M slays! Bette is assertive, channeling the 60s soul style with ease. βChapel of Loveβ is bubbly, cutesy, and tongue-in-cheek. Midler βleans inβ and is rewarded for doing so, selling the matrimony vibes superbly. βBells will ring, and the sun is gonna shine,β she sings enthusiastically in the second verse, continuing, βYeah, yeah, yeah, Iβm gonna be his, heβs gonna be mine.β Midlerβs backing vocals do their job awesomely, channeling their inner Dixie Cups with those terrific, soulful harmonies. The harmonies pop most during the chorus, the centerpiece. The production bears many similarities to the original. Still, itβs been updated, differentiating it from the 60s. From a lead vocal perspective, Midler incorporates more ad-libs, taking more artistic license. Also, the ending is strikingly different, with Bette playfully commenting, βThat is the pits ending to a really terrific song!β A man responds: βThat is the worst ending Iβve ever heard!β The ending is a surprise, but thatβs part of what makes βChapel of Loveβ special in the hands of β wait for it β The Divine Miss M.
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~ Table of Contents ~
8. Benedict Cork, βReasons I Loved You (I Canβt Think of One)β
Notes on a Hopeless Romance // Benedict Cork // 2024
βI made a list of the reasons I loved ya / And all of the shit that you did that was wrong.β Well, damn! English singer/songwriter Benedict Cork βcomes out swingingβ on the marvelous βReasons I Loved You (I Canβt Think of One)β, a single from his 2024 album, Notes on a Hopeless Romance. His lead vocals are radiant, characterized by ample expression and nuance. In the intro β the eventual chorus β he gets a lift courtesy of locked-in background vocals. He continues singing, βThe bad came so easy, when I think of the reasons, I want ya, I canβt even think of one.β Word! The songwriting earns high marks, courtesy of Cork and Martin Luke Brown. Driving the narrative is those pesky matters of the heart. βYou were kind, and I was young, how was I supposed to know? / I thought I was a fool to let you go,β Benedict sings in the first verse, later adding, βYou were cruel, manipulating, every move we made / And I took it for love, itβs such a shame / Now I feel like a fool over again.β Love will make you do some stuff. Cork arrives at his senses, something captured superbly. Beyond the lyrics, the melodies are tuneful in the verses and the centerpiece, the chorus. The instrumental also earns high marks, particularly the warmth of the keys β that organ is epic! Cork produces alongside HOOST, yielding top-notch results. Cork βputs his footβ into βReasons I Loved You (I Canβt Think of One)β. Apologies for his love pain, but many thanks for turning that pain into music that makes me/us beam with pride!
Appears in :
- Benedict Cork, Reasons I Loved You (I Canβt Think of One): Beaming with Pride
5 (2024)
- Bops That Pop: February 2024
- 50 Bops from 2024 That Make You Beam with Pride
~ Table of Contents ~
9. Zach Benson, βIβm in love, Iβm in loveβ
music for you and your friends // Zach Benson // 2024
βLast call, theyβre playing our song / Weβre dancing to Britney,β Zach Benson sings on his infectious, queer love song, βIβm in love, Iβm in loveβ from his 2024 album, music for you and your friends. Benson continues singing, enthusiastically, βAnd I flash back to every soundtrack / That played like a film scene / When I knew my feeling for you dearβ¦β The love is potent in this Benson and Allen Miller-penned pop joint. Benson also produces this major-key, love-embracing record, impressing with an authentic and sweet vocal performance. Bensonβs bread is buttered in the best section of the song, the chorus. He asserts, βI knew it on the way home / Knew it in the night time runnerβs high / I knew it in your bedroom (
) / Iβm in love, Iβm in love.β He has a point. When you love someone, it feels and βhits different.β βIβm in love, Iβm in loveβ feels like the perfect, summer love song. He reflects on his experiences and feelings with this person in the verse, noting a missing piece in the second verse: βCrash down, I broke your heart / When I moved to the city / Couldnβt find myself / But knew something was missing / I couldnβt keep feeling empty there / Youβre taking all those feelings when youβre near.β Love confirmed! Benson concocts a beautiful, relatable love song in βIβm in love, Iβm in loveβ.
Appears in :
- Zach Benson, Iβm in love, Iβm in love: Beaming with Pride
οΈβ
8 (2024)
- 50 Bops from 2024 That Make You Beam with Pride
~ Table of Contents ~
10. Silk Sonic, βLoveβs Trainβ
An Evening with Silk Sonic // Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic // 2021
In 2022, Silk Sonic β Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars β added a 10th song to their 2022 LP, An Evening With Silk Sonic: βLoveβs Trainβ. While many folks mightβve assumed this was an original song, itβs not. The original by R&B/funk band Con Funk Shun was released in 1982! Even though Silk Sonic didnβt write this gem, they put their all in on the sensational cover. Mars produces alongside DβMile superbly capturing the essence of the 1982 classic.
After the ear-catching intro, which recalls 80s R&B in all its glory, Anderson .Paak delivers soulful vocals in the first verse. He channels his inner Michael Cooper excelling in his middle register. Paak plays it relatively straight here β few frills β which feels right for the opening verse. Bruno Mars contrasts with his entrance in the refrain, showing off his powerful, ripe upper register. He successfully matches the original, with the contrast being more pronounced with the lead being split between two artists. Paak returns, looser and more nuanced in the second verse. Additionally, he welcomes vocal harmonies. Following another sublime refrain by Mars, Paak gives us what weβve all been waiting for β the beloved chorus!
βIf you are that special lover
And love keeps you tied to another
Thatβs the way it goes on loveβs train
Sometimes, heartstrings can be broken
But you just have to keep on goinβ
Thatβs the way it goes on loveβs train.β
In the third and final verse, there are slight instrumental contrasts, which maintain the engagement. The final refrain by Mars is his best and most powerful. Fittingly, the final chorus, which brings Mars into the mix, is terrific. There are more ad-libs with Silk Sonic introducing βLoveβs Trainβ to a new generation of listeners.
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~ Table of Contents ~
11. Darren Haynes, βLetβs Try Being in Loveβ
Homosexual // Powdered Sugar Productions Ltd. // 2022
βAm I five decades? Am I twenty-four /β¦ Teenage passion, middle-aged despair / All the pregnant thoughts linger in the air,β Darren Hayes sings on the single, βLetβs Try Being in Loveβ, from his 2022 album, Homosexual. Hayes, who is openly gay (and married) never mentions sexuality explicitly on βLetβs Try Being in Love,β BUT it sounds very queer. The accompanying music video is G-A-Y!β―β―From the beginning, βLetβs Try Being in Loveβ draws you in with its hypnotic beat (production courtesy of Matthew Rowbottom).β― Danceable and groovy, Darren Hayes runs with it, emphasizing L-O-V-E.β― The desire is legit, as Hayes sings in the first verse, βItβs in the air, bergamot and humidity / Iβve seen it before in your eyes, adolescent dreams.β Woo! In the second verse, the sensuality is lit too, as Hayes asserts, βI absolve all my responsibilities / If I take your hand in my mouth will I taste the sea? / Eros evolves by the pool, skin inviting me.β It all leads to the centerpiece, the chorus, where Darren states, βLetβs try being in love.β The second time Hayes sings the chorus, he ascends an octave β a welcome musical touch.β― As referenced earlier, the bridge finds Hayes reflecting, playing to the theme and extending, referencing his age, etc.β― Hayes may be in his 50s, but he proves heβs βstill got itβ on βLetβs Try Being in Loveβ.β―
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~ Table of Contents ~
12. Gus Dapperton, βWhat You Wonβt Do For Loveβ
βWhat You Wonβt Do For Loveβ // Gus Dapperton, LLC / Warner // 2024
βI came back to let you know / Got a thing for you and I canβt let go.β Fascinating musician Gus Dapperton covered the Bobby Caldwell classic, βWhat You Wonβt Do For Loveβ in 2024. Dapperton successfully makes Caldwellβs sole top-40 hit his own.
βWhat You Wonβt Do For Loveβ commences with lovely background vocals during the introduction, setting the tone of this classic (βDo for loveβ¦β). The production (Dapperton and Asa Taccone) is more contemporary than the original. Gone are the horns, replaced with guitar covering the famous, melodic riff. Even without the 70s musical cues, there are still fine musical touches in play, including the prominent bass line, played by Gus. Of course, the cover is more about the coverer than the instrumental. Dapperton serves up strong vocals, bringing command and bite to his performance. Adding to the bite of the performance are vocal effects, specifically distortion, which proves to be effective. Gus still brings the magic out of the tuneful melodies of this 1970s gem, particularly in the chorus. Ultimately, Gus does Bobby justice with his take on βWhat You Wonβt Do For Loveβ.
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~ Table of Contents ~
13. Percy Sledge, βWhen a Man Loves a Womanβ
When a Man Loves a Woman // Atlantic // 1966
βWhen a man loves a woman / Canβt keep his mind on nothinβ else / Heβd change the world for the good thing heβs found.β Those lyrics hail from one of soulβs greatest songs, βWhen A Man Loves a Womanβ (When a Man Loves a Woman). The Percy Sledge classic is among the most recognizable songs regardless of genre. The 1966 gem peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Sledgeβs sole top-10 hit. While his expressive, powerful vocals make βWhen A Man Loves a Womanβ a masterpiece, the songwriting is credited solely to Andrew Wright and Calvin Lewis. However, according to Sledge, he is a co-writerβ¦ the narrative and heartbroken nature of this soul staple were based on Sledgeβs own experiences, with the raw draft of the song, performed in Quin Ivyβs sound studio/record store, being improvised and impromptu. Even when reworking the record as the song we know, the late soul singer may be an uncredited writer.
Also interesting is the recording itself. The production is superb and benefits from being non troppo. The accompaniment suits him perfectly, with its soulful stylings. The instrumental includes organ, guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals, and glorious, articulated horns. According to Rhino, two versions were recorded, due to out-of-tune horns. Ultimately, the tapes were mixed up and the first version, with those out-of-tune horns, was the version released. No harm, no foul, all told! Regardless, the backdrop never overshadows Sledge, who is always the focal point, sharing love pain marvelously.
βWhen a man loves a woman
He can do her no wrong
He can never want
Some other girl.β
βWhen A Man Loves a Womanβ β a soul joint for all time!
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~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~
Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 1 (2024) [
: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Ace, Aftermath Entertainment, Atlantic, Benedict Cork, Columbia, Gus Dapperton, LLC, Powdered Sugar Productions Ltd., Republic, Since 93β, Warner, Zach Benson; ]
1 Comment
40 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far) | Playlist
Β· June 29, 2024 at 12:01 am
[β¦] Honorable Mention(s): βthe boy is mineβ and βWe canβt be friends (wait for your love)β [β¦]
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