Leave | 5ive Songs

1. Silk Sonic, “Leave the Door Open”

💿 An Evening with Silk Sonic • 🏷 Aftermath / Atlantic • 📅 2021

🏆 Grammy winners 🎙 Bruno Mars and 🎙 Anderson  .Paak join forces as duo 🎙 Silk Sonic releasing an album, 💿 An Evening with Silk Sonic.  In advance of the album, the duo released an instant classic in 🎵 “Leave the Door Open”. “Leave the Door Open” was written by Paak, Mars, 🎼✍ Christopher Brody Brown, and 🎼✍ Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, with Mars and D’Mile also producing. The four-minute-plus cut features a lush backdrop – we’d expect no less from these two.

We get soulful vocals by .Paak on the first verse: “We should be dancin’, romancin’ / In the east wing and the west wing / Of this mansion, what’s happenin’.” Sexy! He doesn’t stop there, bringing the heat to the second verse as well: “There’s so much love we could be making /… Girl, let’s jump in, it’s bubblin’.” As for Mars, he serves up the pre-chorus and the centerpiece, the chorus:

“I’ma leave the door open
...That you feel the way I feel
And you want me like I want you tonight, baby.”

“Leave the Door Open” is just what the doctor ordered, checking off all of the boxes.

2. twenty one pilots, “Leave the City”

💿 Trench • 🏷 Fueled by Ramen • 📅 2018

“Last year, I need change of pace / Couldn’t take the pace of change / Moving hastily,” Tyler Joseph sings, continuing, “But this year, though I’m far from home / In Trench, I’m not alone / These faces facin’ me.”  Woo! In 2018, 🏆 Grammy winning alternative duo 🎙Twenty One Pilots (Joseph and 🎙 Josh Dun) released their fifth studio album, 💿Trench. The highly conceptual album concludes with the song, 🎵 “Leave the City,” a strong closing statement.

How so, you ask? Well in the midst of the concept of Trench, “Leave the City” represents overcoming the adversity of ‘Dema’ (trust me or read up on the background of the album – your choice).  Also, “Leave the City” seems to be about overcoming mental health issues, something Joseph has been incredibly transparent about throughout his career. Also, it could be a reflection on the end of life – eventually that is.  On the bridge, Tyler sings, “In time, I will leave the city / For now, I will stay alive.”

3. Charlie Puth, “If You Leave Me Now”

Ft. Boyz II Men

💿 Voicenotes • 🏷 Artist Partner Group • 📅 2018

One of the best moments for 🏆 Grammy-nominated pop artist Charlie Puth on his sophomore album, 💿 Voicenotes, is the song 🎵 “If You Leave Me Now”. The sound of the record is throwback ‘contemporary’ R&B.  Sigh, think 1990s when featured guests,🎙 Boyz II Men (!), were in their prime.

Perhaps “If You Leave Me Now” should feel anachronistic, but instead, it’s refreshing because of it captures the glory days of R&B. The vocals from Puth as well as his soulful supporting cast are utterly superb. As the predominate lead, Puth is much more commanding and soulful than he’s been in the past.  In a tweet, Puth cited this as “probably one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written”.  He should be totally proud: the a cappella vocals, the production, and simple, but thoughtful lyrics, and a modulation (key change).

4. Dustin Lynch, “Love Me or Leave Me Alone”

💿 Current Mood • 🏷 Broken Bow • 📅 2017

Throughout his third studio album, 💿 Current Mood, 🎙 Dustin Lynch showcases his talent, as well as a willingness to bend the traditional definitions of country music. Perhaps not everything works seamlessly, but slow jam 🎵 “Love Me or Leave Me Alone”, featuring 🎙 Karen Fairchild (of 🎙 Little Big Town), is a perfect example of ‘excellence exemplified.’

Here, Lynch maintains a sense of traditional country sensibilities, eschewing any gimmicks or contemporary trickery.  “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” delivers the goods with its beautiful, powerful, and thoughtful balladry. Vocally, he impresses, showcasing his ripe set of nuanced pipes. “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” proves to be his best performance – the tour de force of Current Mood. The chorus shines as the crème de la crème moment:

“Love me or leave me alone
Hold me or just let me go
Cause I’ve never felt this fire for so long
So, baby love me, love me
Love me or leave me alone.”

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 13 Captivating Songs About Being Alone or Lonely

5. Sam Smith, “Leave Your Lover”

💿 In the Lonely Hour • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2014

“Pack up and leave everything / Don’t you see what I can bring?” 🏆 Academy award and Grammy winner 🎙 Sam Smith sings on the chorus of 🎵 “Leave Your Lover” from their debut album, 💿 In the Lonely Hour.  Smith assert themselves as a capable and compelling lover – the perfect replacement for their love interest’s current boyfriend. Smith adds, “Can’t keep this beating heart at bay / Set my midnight sorrow free / I will give you all of me / Just leave your lover, leave him for me.”

Possibly the lyrics exaggerates things, but when one is in love, infatuation seems to be amplified and over-amplified greatly.  The heart definitely wants what it wants and at the time, Smith desired this guy who was already taken. There’s an interesting, likely unintended oxymoronic moment when Smith encourages to “Pack up” yet follows up with “…leave everything.” Yes, we know what he means but still, how you gonna pack things and leave everything 😜.