Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 3 features songs by Anita Baker, Camila Cabello, Central Cee, Queen, Shai, and ZEE MACHINE.
LOVE is the perfect fuel for most fire
. No, love wonโt 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 donโt 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. Following up Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 1 (2024) and Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 2 (2024) is Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 3 (2024) which features songs by Anita Baker, Camila Cabello, Central Cee, Queen, Shai, and ZEE MACHINE. So, without further ado, letโs embrace the L-O-V-E, shall we?!
~ Table of Contents ~
1. Camila Cabello, โI LUV ITโ (Ft. Playboi Carti)
2. Central Cee, โgen z luvโ
3. ZEE MACHINE, โIโm In Love (With Everyone)โ
4. Shai, โIf I Ever Fall in Loveโ
5. Lizzo, โI Love You Bitchโ
7. Anita Baker, โSweet Loveโ
8. clipping., โHot Fuck No Loveโ
9. Queen, โCrazy Little Thing Called Loveโ
10. Sam Smith, โWho We Loveโ (Ft. Ed Sheeran)
11. Shalamar, โThis Is for the Lover in Youโ
12. L.T.D., โ(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Againโ
13. Stevie Wonder, โI Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)โ
1. Camila Cabello, โI LUV ITโ (Ft. Playboi Carti)
C,XOXO // Camila Cabello / Geffen / Interscope // 2024
โSupersonic / In your orbit / And Iโm bad / Diabolicโฆโ Word, Camila Cabello. The Grammy-nominated pop singer enlists Playboi Carti for โI LUV ITโ, the promo single from her fourth album, C,XOXO. โI LUV ITโ was produced by El Guincho and Jasper Harris. One of the best sounds from the instrumental backdrop is the gooey synths. It samples the Gucci Mane gem, โLemonadeโ. The rapperโs ad-libs appear at various moments of the record, while the interpolation/sample is most prominent during the post-chorus (โLemons on the chain with the V-cutsโฆ / Lemons on their face, watch โem freeze upโ). โI LUV ITโ is an energetic and engaging listening experience from start to finish. Cabello never over-sings, nor underwhelms. Her vocals are S-E-X-Y. Furthermore, she has tuneful melodies to bring to life in the verses. The memorable โI go soprano, baby, go down lowโ lyric appears in the first verse. The chorus is repetitive โ not deep โ but catchy as albeit: โI love it, I love it, I love it, I love it / I love it, I love it, I love it.โ Yup, itโs clear that Camila, LOVES IT! Playboi Carti delivers the third verse. Without the lyrics in front of you, itโs hard to decipher what heโs mumbling rapping. Even peeping the lyrics, he doesnโt say much. He does reference Novocain, drugs (weed, lean), foreigns (Lamborghini Aventador SVJ), and women (Clermont twins). The star of the show is Camila Cabello on โI LUV ITโ.
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2. Central Cee, โgen z luvโ
โgen z luvโ // Columbia // 2024
โWhen our children ask us how did we meet, Iโm tellinโ them, โGen-Z love FYP love, IG loveโ.โ If you say so, Central Cee. Later in the single, โgen z luvโ, Cench is true to himself: โSlid up and replied to your story, you ainโt responded, I wanna unsend it.โ Word. He and his girlfriend are Zoomers through and through. โGen z luvโ is brief but features two verses and two choruses. Ambezza and Peter Iskander produced it. โCareer consists of lots of women / How can I convince you Iโm not the villain?โ Legit question Central Cee asks his girlfriend. He asserts, โOut of these girls, youโre top division / Canโt downgrade and lower my standard.โ Keeping it zoomy, in the second verse, he spits, โIf it werenโt for the algorithm, I wouldnโt have found my woman,โ adding, โShe liked my post, I liked her post / Love at first sight, love at first scroll.โ Oh, brother! Cenchโs cadence and flow are sweet. Adding to the sweetness is his British accent. The production is a selling point, sounding amorous and anchored by a rhythmic beat. The โkidsโ should easily relate to โgen z luvโ.
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3. ZEE MACHINE, โIโm In Love (With Everyone)โ
CAN I BE HONESTโฆ? // ZEE MACHINE // 2024
โCan I be honest? / Youโre the prettiest boy Iโve ever seen in my life / For the next five minutes.โ ZEE MACHINE (Joe Bissell) crushes easily. This, fellow boys and gays, is honest and relatable. The talented, non-binary musician continues singing in the first verse of โIโm In Love (With Everyone)โ, โIโm making no promise, but / Iโve been fantasizing someday of being your wife / Nevermind, Iโm finished.โ That wife lyric is genius! Of course, once again, ZEE highlights his short attention span for men. โIโm In Love (With Everyone)โ commences his brief 2024 album, CAN I BE HONESTโฆ?. ZEE is honest on track one, written and produced with Moises Zulaica. The backdrop is as colorful as the lyrics. Also, colorful? ZEE MACHINEโs vocals. They are authentic and expressive from the onset. The first section heard is the electrifying, memorable chorus.
โIโm in love
With everyone I meet but itโs never enough
Like, youโre, the one
Overdosing on you, donโt wake me upโฆโ
To reiterate, the feelings Bissell shares are relatable. While he questions his wiring, boys who identify as gay or straight can sympathize with this temporary high. โPromise I mean it / When I say you taste much better than all of those guys / Baby now Iโm sorry,โ they assert in the second verse. Commitment issues make a relationship a struggle for ZEE MACHINE, but his issues are our listening pleasure on โIโm In Love (With Everyone)โ.
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4. Shai, โIf I Ever Fall in Loveโ
If I Ever Fall in Love // Gasoline Alley // 1992
Sometimes, success comes early for a musical group. For contemporary R&B collective Shai โ Carl Martin, Darnell Van Rensalier, Garfield Bright, Marc Gay โ their first single, โIf I Ever Fall in Loveโ, was gargantuan. The a cappella gem was their biggest hit, reaching no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Beyond its chart peak, โIf I Ever Fall in Loveโ was certified platinum by the RIAA. Furthermore, their debut album, If I Ever Fall in Love, was certified double platinum. Martin wrote and produced the 90s classic. If I Fall in Love features two versions of the song. The best version is the original, a cappella version โ the sixth track. The voices of Shai mesh together seamlessly. Shai are connected, expressive, and playful. Thematically, love and matters of the heart never grow old. The collective touts the importance of friendship and an emotional connection regarding love. โBut I was caught up in physical attraction,โ they assert in the first verse, adding, โBut to my satisfaction / Baby, you were more than just a face.โ Phew
โ
! Lust is not equivalent to love! In the second verse, โThe very next time sheโll be my friend.โ They add, โI just wanna be the one to serve you / Sometimes, I feel as if I donโt deserve you / I cherish every moment with you.โ Oh, the dedication! Of course, the centerpiece โ the section to beat โ is the chorus:
โAnd if I ever (ever fall)
In love again (again)
I will be sure that the lady is a friend
And if I ever (ever fall)
In love so true (so true)
I will be sure that the ladyโs just like you.โ
Prudent words. More than 30 years later, โIf I Ever Fall in Loveโ remains the sugar honey iced tea.
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5. Lizzo, โI Love You Bitchโ
Special // Nice Life / Atlantic // 2022
โI love you, bitch (I love you) / I love you, bitch (Yeah, I love you).โ Itโs never shocking to hear Grammy-winning pop singer Lizzo swear, particularly when that swear word is bitch. No one should be surprised Special has a record featuring the five-letter word in its title. No, โI Love You Bitchโ isnโt a classy, refined pop cut, but, Lizzo makes her point loud and clear. โI realized that I wanted to write a universal love song โ one you could sing to the person youโre fucking and your best friend, to your family, or to someone you just met at a bar.โ Hey, at least Lizzo is transparent when describing โI Love You Bitch,โ right? I mean, the lyrics support her assertion: โUh, yeah, you are the most special-est / Not just that bitch, but you my bitch.โ Woo! โI Love You Bitchโ musters up a catchy chorus (featured at the beginning of this blurb) and great production work courtesy of Omer Fedi and Blake Slatkin. Yeah, itโs โPretty Bitchinโโ, Miranda Lambert!
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6. Al Coffey, โLovesickโ
โLovesickโ // Al Coffey Music // 2024
โDoing all I can to catch your eye / Try to make you jealous, but I fail every time.โ Al Coffey wants him back; heโs โLovesickโ. While we donโt wish love pain on the handsome, talented queer UK pop singer/songwriter, his pain is our listening pleasure on โLovesick.โ It was written by Coffey and producer, Michelangelo.mp3 (Michelangelo Dousis). โDancing with a stranger, am I still on your mind?โ Coffey asks his ex, though he doesnโt appear to get an answer. Later, he sings, โThe world is burning down, and yet, youโre still on my mind.โ The lyrics are self-explanatory, and Alโs emotions are easily perceptible. He ties things all together in the chorus:
โOh, Iโve been lovesick ever since youโve been gone
Oh, holding on cause I thought you were the one
And Iโm never satisfied on the borderline
But I know
Iโve been lovesick ever since youโve been gone.โ
Coffey sings fabulously. Generally, he takes a smooth, easygoing approach, especially during the verses. He ups the ante during the chorus but still never forces things. Heโs supported by sleek production. The musical accompaniment is driving and rhythmic. Al concludes on โLovesickโ, โIโll never get you back.โ Seems true. The good news is, thereโs nothing to be sick about this song because itโs a surefire vibe and relatable.
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~ Table of Contents ~
7. Anita Baker, โSweet Loveโ
Rapture // Elektra // 1986
Although infamous for being a diva, Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Anita Baker is an incredible musician. Her voice is distinct โ truly, one of a kind. Throughout her career, Baker had a successful run including her 1986, multiplatinum masterpiece, Rapture. The song to beat on Rapture is the opening gem, โSweet Loveโ which was composed by Baker, Gary Bias, and Louis Johnson. โSweet Loveโ marks one of two top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at no. 8 on the pop charts, which is impressive for an adult contemporary R&B song. โSweet Loveโ kicks off with a bang thanks to a lush introduction: lovely keys and animated โliveโ drums, which set up a refined, classy R&B experience. In addition to being idiomatic of R&B, the harmonic scheme and approach have some jazz sensibilities. Of course, the biggest draw is the diva herself, Baker. Baker blesses our ears with ultra-sophisticated vocals, serenading us about L-O-V-E (โYour heart has called me closer to you / I will be all that you needโ). She masterfully brings the melodies to life. Additionally, her ad-libs are celestial as well. The chorus, in all its tuneful glory, serves as the centerpiece:
โIโm in love, sweet love (sweet love)
Hear me calling out your name, I feel no shame
Iโm in love, sweet love (Sweet love)
Donโt you ever go away, itโll always be this way.โ
Itโs not just the chorus that stands out. Those verses are tuneful too, not to mention the sheer elegance. Furthermore, what about the bridge? It brings a welcome contrast, separating itself from the verses and chorus. โSweet Loveโ is nothing short of sweet.
Appears in :
- Anita Baker, Sweet Love: Throwback Vibez
๏ธ
14 (2024)
- 11 Songs That Are Incredibly Sweet, Vol. 3 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
8. clipping., โHot Fuck No Loveโ
Wriggle // Sub Pop // 2016
โLet that wet get / On him, rim licking likely, like lollipop / Like you naughty, bitch, donโt act like you forgot.โ Woo! clipping. gets filthy โ straight-up nasty โ on their 2016 song, โHot Fuck No Loveโ. The title speaks for itself, honestly.โฏ And even if the f-bomb wasnโt enough to solidify the role of sex on this highlight from Wriggle, the lyrics more than suffice. Daveed Diggsโ flow simultaneously kicks ass and takes names and stimulates/titillates.โฏ Diggsโ has ass on the brain, and most of the time, the brain he thinks with is more phallic: โDamn, oh, damage to the dental dam / Dentata fine, he like a lot of bite when he grind.โ Woo!โฏ Diggs also performs the third verse, which is arguably, his most impressive showing.โฏ Itโs the speed rapping, not to mention more filthy sex talk (โThe scent is intoxicating, and all the waiting and masturbating / The dick is chafing, whereโs the lotionโ).โฏโฏโฏ
โHot Fuck No Loveโ is not only intended for heterosexual music fans. Cakes da Killa brings a queer lens to table.โฏ โA bitch like me only fuck with freaks / Wooden paddle on bare cheeks,โ he raps in the second verse, and like Diggs, later references oral sex.โฏ Of course, he separates himself, seducing straight boys (โA little amnesia, whereโs your wifey?โ), and telling us about his type: โAnd the niggas that I fuck be the type thatโs tryna bash me / Papa thugs tryna smash me / Look, Iโma make it hot, you a nut on my ass cheeks / โฆ Straight swerve on a nigga if he really tryna gas me.โ # MIC DROP! Shout out to Maxi Wild, who also contributes to the raunchiness with her British accent, on the intro, bridge, interlude, and the titular outro, where in punk fashion, she asserts, โHot fuck (No love)โ twice.โฏ Finally, if we acknowledge Daveed Diggs, we must acknowledge the other members of clipping., William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes, who alongside Diggs drop a seedy-sounding backdrop that matches those sexually charged lyrics.โฏ Perhaps โHot Fuck No Loveโ only explores sex as opposed to love, but this gem deserves ample love.โฏโฏ
โฏAppears in :โฏโฏ
- clipping., Hot Fuck No Love: Midnight Heat
No. 17 (2023)โฏโฏ
- 13 Songs That Exhibit That Midnight Heat
(2023)
- 12 Eyebrow Raising, F
Songs (2023)
~ Table of Contents ~
9. Queen, โCrazy Little Thing Called Loveโ
The Game // Hollywood // 1980
โThis thing called love / I just canโt handle it.โ Facts, Freddie Mercury, facts! Commitment can be frightening! The late, great Queen front man continues singing in โCrazy Little Thing Called Loveโ, โThis thing called love / I must get โround to it / I ainโt ready / Crazy little thing called love.โ Mercury penned this no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, which appeared as the fifth track from The Game (1980). Much simpler than many of Queenโs other classics, due to being composed in the bathtub, and the limited guitar skills of Mercury, โCrazy Little Thing Called Loveโ sounds like it hailed from a previous era of music as opposed to the late 1970s/early 80s. Stylistically, the song can be described as rockabilly, or, at a minimum, inspired and emulating the style.
The chorus marks one of many memorable moments from โCrazy Little Thing Called Love.โ In the first verse, Mercury informs us love โCries (like a baby) / It swings (Woo, woo) / It jives (Woo, woo) / It shakes all over like a jellyfish.โ In the second verse, Freddie states, โI gotta be cool, relax, get hip / And get on my tracks,โ ultimately deciding to โTake a long ride / On my motorbike until Iโm ready.โ Between the two verses, in the bridge, his baby has him feeling some type of way โ crazy, fever, sweaty! Of course, you canโt mention โCrazy Little Thing Called Loveโ without the famous lyric, โUntil Iโm ready (Ready Freddie)โ which appears in the third verse โ a repeat of the second. Mercury plays acoustic guitar on this track, but Brian May plays as well, performing the solo between the second and third verses. Deep analysis isnโt required with โCrazy Little Thing Called Loveโ โ it speaks for itself.
Appears in :โฏ
- Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Throwback Vibez
๏ธ
53 (2024)
- 15 Fantastic, Utterly CRAZY Songs (2024)
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10. Sam Smith, โWho We Loveโ (Ft. Ed Sheeran)
Gloria // Capitol // 2023
Academy- and Grammy-award-winning, nonbinary, and genderqueer musician Sam Smith concludes their fourth studio album, Gloria, radiantly with โWho We Loveโ featuring Ed Sheeran. Both Smith and Sheeranโs voices complement each other sublimely. The lyrics are poetic and thoughtful, the expectation from these two songwriters, as well as fellow writers Jimmy Napes, Fred again.., Johnny McDaid, and Steve Mac, who also produces. โWho We Loveโ is a heartwarming closer, characterized by touching inclusivity as opposed to exclusivity โ โYeah, we love who we love.โ โWho We Loveโ is not explicit in its queerness, but you sense the queer beauty, so to speak. Something is refreshing about this closing cut. When Smith sings, โColour the empty space / Kiss in a crowded place / Stand in a summer rain,โ it feels like the acceptance of same-sex love and relationships โ PDA and all. Notably, in the second half of the second verse, the duo sings, โHolding hands in the street / No need to be discreet / Finally feelinโ free.โ The chorus certainly confirms this acceptance, and the allyship of Smithโs longtime friend, Sheeran: โItโs not wrong / To want the world for someone / Itโs not a feeling you can run from / โCause we love who we love.โ All told, โWho We Loveโ is utterly sublime.
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~ Table of Contents ~
11. Shalamar, โThis Is for the Lover in Youโ
Three For Love // Unidisc Music Inc. // 1980
โThis is for the lover in you / This ring means Iโll always be true.โ Ah, the beauty of monogamy, as well as matrimony, Shalamar. In the chorus of โThis Is for the Lover in Youโ, the sixth track on the trioโs 1980 album, Three For Love, Howard Hewett (lead vocals), Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel continue singing, โThis is how Weโll start love anew / This time, itโs gonna last forever.โ Itโs that forever part that stands out! Hewett penned โThis Is for the Lover in Youโ alongside Dana Meyers. Producing this slick, 80s R&B cut is the legendary Leon Sylvers III. Sylvers IIIโs production, alongside brilliant string and horn arrangements by Gene Dozier, pays off big time. A perfect backdrop for this lover-driven gem, โThis Is for the Lover in Youโ has become a popular sample for more contemporary artists. Hewett sounds elite in both verses, the bridge, and his lead role in the choruses. Furthermore, he conveys the power of love lyrically, through gorgeous melodies. โI know Iโll never find / Another who could match the love youโve given to me,โ he sings in the first verse, adding in the second, โThe meaning of love / Is always shown to me when you are wrapped in my arms.โ In the bridge, he gives us a dash of bedroom spice sans crossing the line. โI could say I never met a girl, no, no / Who satisfies my mental and my physical thing.โ โThis Is for the Lover in Youโ is a stunning ballad by Shalamar. While it didnโt impact the pop charts, it charted on the R&B charts, and the parent album, Three For Love, was certified gold.
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12. L.T.D., โ(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Againโ
Something To Love // A&M // 1977
โEvery time I move, I lose / When I look Iโm in / And every time I turn around / Iโm back in love.โ Woo โ what an incredibly catchy chorus, L.T.D.! โ(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Againโ is easily one of the funkiest soul records of all time โ NO CAP! This top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (peaked at no. 4) appears as the third track from L.T.D.โs 1977 LP, Something To Love. Both โBack In Love Againโ and Something To Love earned gold certification by the RIAA. So, what makes โBack In Love Againโ so effing funky? The groove is electric, the bass line robust, while the guitar and keys are also absolutely sick
. Furthermore, those horns are epic to the nth degree โ the riffs are killer! Beyond the backdrop, among the biggest selling points is the assertive, nuanced lead vocals by Jeffrey Osborne. He shines in the verses. He impresses most in the chorus, the centerpiece of the song. Beyond Osborneโs excellent pipes, heโs aided by superb backing vocals which up the ante. The theme of โ(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Againโ is simple: even though love can be hell, Jeffrey canโt help but find himself falling in love over and over again. The same could be said about any of us, right? Right!
Appears in :
- L.T.D., โ(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Againโ: Throwback Vibez
๏ธ
No. 5 (2023)
- 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 8 (2023)
- Incredible Songs: 1970s, Vol. 1 (2023)
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13. Stevie Wonder, โI Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)โ
Talking Book // Motown // 1972
โI believe when I fall in love with you / It will be forever,โ musical icon Stevie Wonder sings authentically and enthusiastically in the chorus of โI Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)โ. He continues, โI believe when I fall in love this time / It will be forever.โ One of many highlights from Wonderโs Grammy-winning masterpiece, Talking Book, chivalry and dedication are admirable. Wonder penned โI Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)โ alongside Yvonne Wright. He self-produced this beloved non-single. The chorus is the section to beat, but the verses and pre-choruses are also strong. The first verse is incredibly pessimistic โ it sounds defeated. However, the first pre-chorus sees a promising future: โThe many sounds that meet our ears / The sights our eyes behold / Will open up our merging hearts / And feed our empty souls.โ Woo! The second verse and second pre-chorus confirm the formidable love referenced in the chorus. Wonder sounds stunning vocally. Itโs easy to buy what heโs selling. Musically, everything is sound, with a marvelous musical backdrop helping to fuel his fire. โI Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)โ highlights Wonderโs character, musicianship, and talent.
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~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~
Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 3 (2024) [
: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; A&M, Al Coffey Music, Atlantic, Camila Cabello, Capitol, Columbia, Elektra, Gasoline Alley, Geffen, Hollywood, Interscope, Motown, Nice Life, Sub Pop, Unidisc Music Inc.; Cathy B., Jesutobiloba Precious, Kampus Production, Los Muertos Crew, Luis Felipe Pรฉrez, Marcelo Chagas, Pavel Danilyuk, Stephanie Lima from Pexels; eommina, Gordon Johnson, nugroho dwi hartawan from Pixabay]