Light 💡 | 5ive Songs

On the 75^th edition of 5ive Songs (2021), we select five songs that are associated with LIGHT in some form or fashion.

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elcome to 5ive Songs, where we keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff! There’s a theme/topic, five songs, and a short blurb.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On the 75^th edition of 5ive Songs (2021), we select five songs that are associated with LIGHT 💡 in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

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1. Halsey, “The Lighthouse”

💿 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power • 🏷 Capitol • 🗓 2021 

🎙 Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) pleasantly surprises us with the best album of her career, 💿 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is an album with a darker sound that finds Frangipane reflecting on love, mental health, and childbirth.  She gets a huge lift behind the boards thanks to the 🏆 Academy- and Grammy-award winning production team 🎛 Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor.  Among the best songs from If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is 🎵 “The Lighthouse.”

Despite being called “The Lighthouse,” Halsey opts for a dark, ‘minor-key’ path.  Case in point – the chorus: “There is a lighthouse / In the middle of the deep / And I’m still stranded on the shoreline there / And nobody hears me scream.” Yikes! Besides the chorus, Frangipane provides examples of several bad, devilish experiences.  On the first verse, she mentions an ex who “Was tall and mean with venom eyes so green / Wanted reconciliation, but my tongue was in my teeth” (Yes, we can speculate if that’s 🎙 G-Eazy 😜) On the second verse, the sailor she meets is not good – “A sailor ain’t a savior cause they only tell you lies.” Of course, Frangipane also admits her own devilishness on the bridge, while on the outro, “the waves come crashing down.” Yeah, some lighthouse, alright!

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2. The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

💿 After Hours • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 2020

The best song from 💿 After Hours, as well as the best song of 2020 is 🎵 “Blinding Lights”.  The former Billboard Hot 100 no. 1 hit is an epic pop song. It commences enigmatically with a minor key (eventually settling into major) and moody synths.  This is before the groove settles in, one of the biggest selling points. There’s plenty to ❤️ about this single, starting with its pop/pop-rock vibe. 🎛 Max Martin and Oscar Holter produce alongside The Weeknd.

“Blinding Lights” features beautiful vocals, the form is straightforward, while the centerpiece should come as no surprise – the chorus:

“I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights

No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch

I said, ooh, I’m drowning in the night

Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one

I trust Hey, hey hey.”

Thematically, The Weekend focuses on love, relationships, and sex – predictable, but always effective. All in all, “Blinding Lights” is superb, showing his versatility on this sick, utterly infectious, pop record.

 

Also appears on 🔽:

• 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: December 2019
• 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Year in Review
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020
• The Weeknd, After Hours: 4GEMZ 💎 No. 4 (2021)

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3. Harry Styles, “Lights Up”

💿 Fine Line • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2019

Did 🎙 Harry Styles ‘come out’ when he released single 🎵 “Lights Up” on 📅 October 11, 2019 (National Coming Out Day)? That is the question surrounding the single. Regardless of how Styles identifies sexually, “Lights Up,” is quite the intriguing record. The British heartthrob went against the grain on his promo single from 💿 Fine Line, and it boded well for him.

“Lights Up” has elements of vintage and retro, led by the robust bass line and the keyboards.  Still, there are also some modern cues, including the sleekness of the vocal production and some programming as well.  The record possesses a great groove, and fine production work courtesy of 🎛 Tyler Johnson. Vocally, Styles remains a force, sounding absolutely marvelous, as he makes it clear he will “Shine, step into the light” and notably, ‘never go back.’  Honestly, it’s the lyrics, the accompanying music video, and the significance of 10/11/19 that add to the speculation regarding Styles’ sexuality.  Does he care? Probably not.  There does seem to be elements of bisexuality implied in the music video, while the lyrics seem to be ‘open-minded’ without specifically addressing sexuality.  But the chorus seems to ‘open the door’:

“All the lights couldn’t put out the dark

Runnin’ through my heart

Lights up and they know who you are

Know who you are

Do you know who you are? (Oh).”

Also Appears On 🔽:

• 11 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy in October 2019
• 12 Interesting Songs That Reference Bisexuality
• A Compendium Comprised of 100 Notable LGBTQ+ Songs
• Listen UP to These 15 Songs

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4. Thomas Rhett, “Be A Light” (Ft. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin & Keith Urban)

🎵 “Be a Light” • 🏷 Big Machine • 📅 2020 

“Yeah, it’s hard to live in color / When you just see black and white / In a world full of ate, be a light.” Those are thoughtful lyrics that 🏆 Grammy-nominated country musician 🎙 Thomas Rhett sings on the uplifting single, 🎵 “Be a Light”. Rhett isn’t the sole superstar to grace the COVID-19 relief record, even if he serves in the capacity as lead artist.  He’s joined by the star-studded cast of 🎙 Reba McEntire, 🎙 Hillary Scott, CCM standout 🎙 Chris Tomlin, and 🎙 Keith Urban.  Honestly, just reading through the names, it’s hard not to be in awe of “Be a Light.”

For the most part, “Be a Light” is a success.  Rhett is the main attraction. “In a time full of war, be peace,” he sings on the first verse, continuing the wisdom, singing, “In a time full of doubt, just believe.”  Yes, Thomas is the ‘head honcho,’ but gets welcome assists from everybody.  Chris Tomlin sings the second half of the second verse for example.  Reba and Hillary split the second chorus.  Urban joins on the third verse, alongside Rhett, Scott, and Reba, with all five singers joining together on the final chorus. “Be A Light” successfully delivers a thoughtful, transcendent message.  The 🎛 Dann Huff produced record, released in a turbulent 2020, is perfectly suited for COVID-19 pandemic relief.

Also appears on 🔽:

• 10 Songs That Capture & Embody the Pandemic

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5. Joji & Diplo, “Daylight”

💿 Nectar • 🏷 88rising / 12Tone Music • 📅 2020

“Right now, laying here alone is heaven.” Hmm, that’s not usually the sentiment when it comes to sleep sans a lover but that’s the case with 🎙 Joji on 🎵 “Daylight”. Collaborating with 🎙 Diplo, “Daylight” is the fourth single from his sophomore album, 💿 Nectar. Diplo taps 🎛 Greg Kurstin and Maximillian Jaeger for the assist with the production.  Those big names all provide Joji with a solid backdrop to fuel his fire.

Joji is on autopilot addressing the topic of love – breaking up/heartbreak. He claims not to care – “I’m not layin’ in bed with a fucked-up head” – but clearly, the breakup has affected him.  He even says so on the pre-chorus prior:

“And I’ve been a hero, helpless

I’m in hell

And I’ve cried up and down in these hallways

Blamed myself.”

Basically, with “Daylight,” it’s the idea that you’re fine that things have ended, yet you still experience pain or at least a bad memory. He makes it clear how different he is from his ex, who’s “Hiding on the FM radio / I sing along just to sing my thoughts at someone.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs: August 2020

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Light: 5ive Songs No. 75 (2021) [📷: 12Tone Music, 88rising, Atlantic, Big Machine, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Clovis Cheminot, Columbia, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, Republic, xegxef from Pixabay]

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