Karma | 5ive Songs

1. Alicia Keys, “Karma”

💿 The Diary of Alicia Keys • 🏷 J • 📅 2003

“‘Cause what goes around, comes around / What goes up, must come down.” Say that 🎙 Alicia Keys – say that! Sure, the 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B artist had bigger hits off of her blockbuster sophomore album, 💿 The Diary of Alicia Keys (🎵 “You Don’t Know My Name” and 🎵 “If I Ain’t Got You”), but 🎵 “Karma” marked one of the album’s truly elite moments.  Basically, thematically, this dude wronged Alicia, now wants her back, and Keys, rightfully dumps his foolish ass. That’s right – it’s that K-A-R-M-A, bi-otch!

“Weren’t you the one that said that you don’t want me anymore
And how you need your space and give the keys back to your door
...Now you, talkin’ ‘bout a family
Now you, saying I complete your dream.”

Anyways, when The Diary of Alicia Keys arrived in late 2003, the R&B landscape was far different than it is today.  Both contemporary R&B and neo-soul coexisted, and Alicia Keys took advantage.  On “Karma,” the sound is contemporary yet still has one foot in the door of the past.  Keys wrote this karma-laden joint alongside 🎼✍ Kerry “Krucial” Brothers Jr. and 🎼✍ Taneisha Smith (“Krucial” also produces).  The resulting record is one of the best of her illustrious catalog.

2. Cautious Clay, “Karma & Friends”

💿 Deadpan Love • 🏷 Cautious Clay • 📅 2021

“Karma and friends / I’m not so impressed, my love / I know what you’re after / Strawberry Benz,” 🎙 Cautious Clay sings on the chorus of 🎵 “Karma & Friends.”  He continues, “You can’t even expense my love / I know what you’re after.” Definitely intriguing lyrics on this standout from the ascending R&B artist’s debut album, 💿 Deadpan Love.

While karma often has a negative connotation, there is nothing negative about “Karma & Friends” where the quality is concerned.  This well-produced and written number is a product of the skills of Cautious Clay alongside 🎼✍ 🎛 HXNS (Hans Galvez) and 🎼✍ 🎛 Johan Lenox.  The music is gorgeous, thanks to lush strings, and a classy, soulful, throwback R&B sound.  As important as the aforementioned lyrics are, in addition to some great moments on the verses (“You been blushing, but your veins blue / Could really use a toast / With eggs on the side”), plus the stellar production itself, the cherry on top are the Smooth vocals by Clay. He may be unimpressed, but as for us who are listening to him, well, we’re totally feeling this talented artist.

3. Miley Cyrus, “Bad Karma”

Ft. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

💿 Plastic Hearts • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2020

“They say it’s bad karma when you live a double life.” On her 2020 album, 💿 Plastic Hearts, Grammy-nominated pop artist 🎙 Miley Cyrus gets back on track.  Plastic Hearts is an enjoyable, fun pop album that embraces 80s pop/rock – her best album in years. Among the LP’s most intriguing moments is the unlikely collaboration that goes down on 🎵 “Bad Karma.” Cyrus taps 🎙 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts for the assist!

“They say it’s bad karma being such a heartbreaker / I’ve always picked a giver ‘cause I’ve always been a taker.” Woo!  Ultimately, “Bad Karma” ends up being something of an unexpected success.  Bringing in the “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” singer confirms Cyrus’ embracement of the 80s.  The record is definitely fun, even more so given its ‘salty’ language:

“I don’t give a fuck, I don’t believe in luck
That’s why I do what I wanna do, yeah.”

“Bad Karma” was written by Cyrus alongside 🎼✍ Ilsey Juber.  As far as the production goes, 🎛 Mark Ronson and 🎛 Picard Brothers put in work behind the boards.

4. Alec Benjamin, “Outrunning Karma”

💿 Narrated for You • 🏷 Alec Benjamin • 📅 2018

🎵 “Outrunning Karma” appears on 💿 Narrated for You, the debut mixtape by pop singer/songwriter, 🎙 Alec Benjamin.  Benjamin, a grown, twentysomething man, possesses a boyishness and angelic innocence about his voice; it’s quite charming. Amazingly, he was dropped from a major label – seems absolutely and utterly cruel if you ask me.

Anyways, focusing on “Outrunning Karma,” the lyrics are incredibly poetic.

“Outrunning karma
That boy, he’s such a charmer
All the bugs and their larva
Follow him out to Colorado.”

At times, the lyrics also seem open to multiple interpretations.  Alec makes it clear, that ‘you can run, but you can’t hide.’ Of course, he’s referring to K-A-R-M-A. He asserts, “From the church steeple, down to Satan / Karma, there’s really no escape until he dies.” What more can you say but, FACTS!

5. Years & Years, “Karma”

💿 Palo Santo • 🏷 Polydor • 📅 2018

“Karma come over / Lean on my shoulder / Tell me what’s good / I’ve been thinkin’ about ya.” Okay… On 🎵 “Karma,” the fourth track from 2018’s 💿 Palo Santo, British synth-pop collective🎙 Years & Years recreate the sound of 90s and early 00s pop and R&B perfectly. GRADES definitely helps from the production end of things.   Front man Olly Alexander (now the sole member of Y&Y) impresses with his commanding vocals.

Alexander is particularly on-point when he ascends into his falsetto.  Furthermore, he brings ‘that attitude’ to the track.  It’s best evidenced with a biting line like, “Enemies are tryna catch up / But nothing’s gonna fuck with my love.” Ooh wee!