Last | 5ive Songs

1. John Mayer, “Last Train Home”

💿 Sob Rock • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2021

“And if you’re gonna hurt me / Then you gotta hold me next to you.” In 2021, following a hiatus, 🏆 Grammy-winning pop/rock artist 🎙 John Mayer returned.  Mayer released a new studio album, 💿 Sob Rock. The ‘last’ song at hand, 🎵 “Last Train Home” serves as the opener on the EP, reappearing on the full-length.

Mayer penned the pleasant “Last Train Home,” co-producing with 🎛 Don Was.  Here, the listeners are blessed with those distinct, signature vocals by Mayer.  As always, he has a gorgeous tone.  Despite a limited vocal range, John has always made it work superbly. “Last Train Home” possesses a clear 80s influence. There is more synthesizer compared to his past work. No worries, as we still have guitar and Mayer remains one of the elite guitarists of our time. Oh, and besides his skills with the strings, the words work well too, particularly the chorus:

“I’m not a fallen angel, I just fell behind
I’m out of luck and I’m out of time
If you don’t wanna love me, let me go
I’m runnin’ for the last train
I’m runnin’ for the last train home.”

2. Demi Lovato, “Met Him Last Night”

Ft. Ariana Grande

💿 Dancing with the Devil… The Art of Starting Over • 🏷 Island • 📅 2021

“I’ve seen the devil, yeah, I met him last night / Had conversation, yeah, I think he’s alright.”  The devil’s alright, 🎙 Demi Lovato? To each his, her, or their own, I supposed.  Lovato goes on to say on 🎵 “Met Him Last Night” (💿 Dancing with the Devil… The Art of Starting Over), “I think I love him, though I know it ain’t right.” Of course, the devil is a guy, and as you might expect, they spend the night with each other.

Anyways, in the context of Dancing with the Devil… The Art of Starting Over, Lovato follows up 🎵 “Melon Cake” with another bop in “Met Him Last Night,” featuring 🎙 Ariana Grande. This joint is set in the minor key, given it a darker sound. Demi and Ari make a great team – there was no way that we weren’t going to get high flying vocals with these two working together.  I particularly love the way that they harmonize together throughout the record. I like the use of the 808s which gives this more of an urban-pop sound and feel. The best part is the chorus section (excerpted) which is on-point.

3. Shawn Mendes, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”

Ft. Camila Cabello

💿 Handwritten • 🏷 Island • 📅 2015

On the most recent editions of 💿 Handwritten, the debut album by Canadian heartthrob 🎙 Shawn Mendes, 🎵 “I Know What You Did Last Summer” appears as the closing song. “I Know What You Did Last Summer” is an infectious, playful minor-key teen-pop joint.  While Mendes hadn’t yet reached the level of maturity shown on his sophomore album 💿 Illuminate, one hears the potential of what’s to come loud and clear.

Besides an appearance from just one pop standout, we get two. Worth noting, this cute little tune features pre-solo-career 🎙 Camila Cabello.  Like her future boyfriend, Cabello also provided a successful preview of ‘what was to come.’ The chemistry between the two on this summery tune is strong.

Also appears on 🔽 :
🔗 🎧 13 Captivating Summer Songs

4. All Time Low, “Last Young Renegade”

💿 Last Young Renegade • 🏷 Fueled By Ramen • 📅 2017

All Time Low, Last Young Renegade

“You were my last young renegade heartache
It only took one night
Caught in the eye of a hurricane, darling
We had to say goodbye.”

“Last Young Renegade” commences the LP more subdued than what we typically associate with All Time Low. The poise of front man 🎙 Alex Gaskarth is surprising.  The record still has energy, but it’s not until the chorus (lyrics excerpted above) that All Time Low packs its signature punch.  Ultimately, the chorus is worth the wait, with its infectiousness. Still, a newfound maturity is written all over the title track and much of the album overall.  “We said forever but forever wouldn’t wait for us.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧  Renegade: 3BOPS No. 45 (2021)

5. SAINt JHN, “I Heard You Got Too Litt Last Night”

💿 Collection One • 🏷 Godd ComplexX • 📅 2018

“I heard you got too litt last night / Didn’t make it home / Mixin’ purple with your purple sprite / Things you should’ve known / I heard you flexin’ on em’ yeah / You wanna mix it up / But fuck it baby no regret / And never switch it up.” Brooklyn-bred rapper 🎙 SAINt JHN dropped a 🎵 “I Heard You Got Too Litt Last Night”, which appears on his debut LP, 💿 Collection One. “I Heard You Got Too Litt Last Night” sounds easy on the ears.  The production work is smooth, yet energetic and rhythmic.  The choice of synths, anchored by punchy drums, is impressive. SAINt JHN kicks things off with a melodic chorus, matching the ‘chill’ musical backdrop. In addition to the melodic nature of the chorus (excerpted above), it’s also catchy.

The melody continues to be the selling point of “I Heard You Got Too Litt Last Night.”  Even as smooth as it is, SAINt JHN still ‘lives on the edge.’  On the chorus, he references purple drank.  On the first verse, the rapper pop-raps, “Too turnt / Last night you showed me all that ratchet shit that you learned.” On the second verse, he references pills, and maybe more outlandishly, “Me and three bad bitches call it foreplay.” And on the third verse, it’s “Panties on my dash, pictures with no flash.”  Even with all the excess and shallowness, the colorful record allures.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 17 Songs That Were Made for the Night