Made | 5ive Songs

1. H.E.R, “We Made It”

💿  Back of My Mind • 🏷  RCA • 📅  2021

Multi-award-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 H.E.R.  gets off to an awesome start on her debut album, 💿 Back of My Mind, with🎵 “We Made It”.  Early on, the instrumental shines, taking nearly a minute to simmer.  I heart the production by 🎛 DJ Camper and 🎛 Flippa. Once Wilson begins singing, she’s ‘on-point,’ never over-singing, delivering expressive and nuanced vocals; the richness of tone is stunning.

Beyond the picturesque backdrop and sweet vocals, there’s also strong songwriting.  Wilson mixes contemporary, love-motivated, reflective, and gratitude within the same song. There are several key moments, including a favorite:

“They said I won’t come up with the family and cop a couple of Grammys
All the things they said I can’t be, revenge taste just like candy.”

To reiterate, “We Made It” is an awesome way to start off Back of My Mind.  Furthermore, it’s awesome standalone record.

2. The 1975, “Love It If We Made It”

💿 A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2018

“We’re fucking in a car, shooting heroin / Saying controversial things just for the hell of it.”  Prior to the first of many incredibly loud, edgy moments from 🎵 “Love It If We Made It”, 🎙 The 1975 do a great job of establishing a driving rhythm on the highlight from their 2018 album, 💿 A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships.  This isn’t a fast cut, but the rhythm helps to keep things moving.

Another selling point is the energy of front man, 🎙 Matthew Healy.  Sure, he’s overindulgent and too loud, but at least he’s exuberant in his execution. This is particularly great on the simple, but effective chorus (“And I’d love it if we made it / Yes, I’d love it if we made it”).  Maybe the record feels crammed with too much – there’s very little breathing space and not enough dynamic variation – but it’s still a worthwhile MADE song.

Also appears on 🔽:

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3. Taylor Swift, “Look What You Made Me Do”

💿 reputation • 🏷 Big Machine • 🗓 2017 

“‘I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now.’ / ‘Why?’ / ‘Oh, ‘cause she’s dead!’” 🎵 “Look What You Made Me Do” (💿 reputation) was unlike anything else that 🏆 Grammy-winning superstar 🎙 Taylor Swift had released – completely left-of-center of the country-pop that made her famous.  “Look What You Made Me Do” marked her at her darkest, making the boldest statement of her career. Vocally, she sounds about the same, but favors a darker tone.  The backdrop features urban-pop production work, comprised of dark synths, drum machines, and a minor key.

Adding to the shock of “Look What You Made Me Do” are her un-pitched, tongue-n-cheek vocals on the titular line:

“Ooh, look what you made me do
Look what you made me do...” 

Swift wasn’t playing around – she was as angry as a four-letter word.  The source of her anger? Well, those rivals who shall remain nameless were prime candidates. If nothing else, revisiting “Look What You Made Me Do,” the attitude and feistiness exhibited are quite respectable.

Also appears on 🔽:

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4. Panic! At the Disco, “Hey Look Ma, I Made It”

💿 Pray for the Wicked • 🏷 Fueled by Ramen • 🗓 2018

🎙 Panic! At the Disco – specifically 🎙 Brendon Urie – flexes in the most alt-pop way possible on single 🎵 “Hey Look Ma, I Made It.” “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” is a highlight from the band’s sixth studio album, 💿 Pray for the Wicked. Essentially, this bright, fun, major-key gem finds Urie celebrating becoming successful in the music industry.

On the horn-filled chorus, he simply lays it out there.

“Hey, look ma, I made it
Hey, look ma, I made it
Everything’s comin’ up aces, aces
And if it’s a dream, don’t wake me
I said, hey, look ma, I made it.”

On the verses, listeners are treated to cleverer, left-of-center lyrics associated with the band. In the context of Pray for the Wicked, this standout keeps the momentum going strong.

Also appears on 🔽:

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5. Marvin Sapp, “Never Would’ve Made It”

💿 Thirsty • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2007 

“Never would have made it / Never could have made it without you / I would have lost it all / But now I see how you were there for me.” It’s incredibly rare that a contemporary gospel song impacts the pop charts.  That’s exactly what happened with the inspirational, spiritually charged, totally uplifting 🎙 Marvin Sapp hit, 🎵 “Never Would Have Made It” (💿 Thirsty).

As Sapp sings, his passion and relentless faith is easily perceptible to the listener.  Among the best moments are the likes of, “I am stronger / I am wiser / And now I am better / so much better.” Sigh, the reading the lyrics alone pack a mighty, reverent, and totally moving punch. Speaking to the pop success of the record, it peaked at no. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Also appears on 🔽:

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