Nobody | 5ive Songs

In the 80^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with NOBODY in some form or fashion.  

Welcome 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.  In the 80^th  edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with NOBODY in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

1. SZA, “Nobody Gets Me”

💿 SOS • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 📅 2022 

“How am I supposed to tell you / I don’t wanna see you with anyone, but me / Nobody gets me like you.” 🎵 “Nobody Gets Me” arrives as the 14^th track on 💿 SOS, the long-awaited sophomore album by 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, 🎙 SZA. On “Nobody Gets Me,” SZA is heartbroken about the end of her relationship. She attempts to atone with sex with other guys – “Hurry now, baby, stick it in / ‘Fore the memories get to kickin’ in” – but ultimately, SZA understands that nobody else feels right for her other than her ex.

“I pretend when I’m with a man, it’s you.” Woo! SZA clearly adored him and now he is out of the picture. Beyond the relatable narrative and lyrics, the music of “Nobody Gets Me” is a selling point too. The rhythmic guitar accompaniment is a nice touch, giving the record a simple, confessional feel.  Though this is R&B, it is R&B with pop sensibilities. The melody is tuneful throughout, particularly the chorus where her vocals utterly slay.

2. Maroon 5, “Nobody’s Love”

💿 JORDI • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2021

“If my love ain’t your love / It’s never gonna be nobody’s love / I’m never gonna need nobody’s love but yours.” 🎵 “Nobody’s Love” arrived in 2020 as an advanced single from 💿 JORDI, the 2021 studio album by 🎙 Maroon 5.  With “Nobody’s Love,” 🎙 Adam Levine shared in an Instagram post, “The entire process of perfecting this song was done with the whole world in mind. I’m hoping that nobody’s love is a song that can give everyone a moment of peace and reflection during this unprecedented moment in our world’s story.” That unprecedented moment, of course, was the COVID-19 pandemic and all of its devastating, life changing effects.

While “Nobody’s Love” isn’t perfect, it does feel like the band’s heart is in the right place. Furthermore, it is one of the best moments on the so-so JORDI.  There are 10 songwriters – that is lots of ‘cooks in the kitchen.’ From a production standpoint, it is successful (🎛 The Monsters & Strangerz, German, Ryan OG, and B Ham). The backdrop is pleasant and quite beautiful, arguably the biggest selling point of the song. As for Adam, he sings well, successful bringing the lyrics to life (“You’re the only hand in my back pocket / If you ever left, I’d go psychotic / Heaven hear me cryin’, cryin’”).

3. Marlon Williams, “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore” (Ft. Aldous Harding)

💿 Make Way for Love • 🏷 Dead Oceans • 📅 2018

New Zealand musicians 🎙 Marlon Williams and 🎙 Aldous Harding make a brilliant pair on 🎵 “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore”, a gem from Williams’ 2018 sophomore album, 💿 Make Way for Love. “Isn’t it strange, impossible to claim your reward,” Harding sings, exhibiting pure, robust vocals. The initial accompaniment is simply guitar, which is sufficient –  ultimately appealing. Williams arrives in the following line, taking command of the verse: “I cannot explain, emotions I can barely afford to contain / You’re the same, you hide away from anything that turns you on / Nobody gets what they want anymore.”

Williams delivers equally glorious vocals.  Eventually, following another verse in a similar vein, the two join forces, in exquisite harmonies, singing the titular lyric.  With combined forces comes expanded production that’s more dynamic and fuller in instrumentation. Williams dominates the end of the song, which contrasts the majority, though in the most positive, musical way.

Appears in 🔻:

• 101 Best Songs of 2018
• A Playlist Comprised of 13 ‘What’ Songs
• 15 N Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason

4. Deborah Cox, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here”

💿 One Wish • 🏷 Arista • 🗓 1998

“How did you get here? Nobody’s supposed to be here / I tried that love thing for the last time.” Those iconic lyrics grace one of my favorite R&B records from the 1990s, 🎵 “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here”.  This mid-tempo ballad marks the biggest hit by Canadian R&B singer, 🎙 Deborah Cox. Not only did it top the R&B charts but “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” just missed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 2.  Of course, the centerpiece of this 1998 gem from 💿 One Wish is the epic chorus. Excerpted above, it continues as follows, in all its glory: “My heart says, ‘No, no,’ nobody’s supposed to be here / But you came along and changed my mind.”

Basically, Deborah Cox was D-O-N-E with love on this 🎼 ✍ Montell Jordan and Anthony “Shep” Crawford co-write.  Despite nearly throwing in the towel, a chance for love has reared its head again, and she can’t refuse it:

“But when I turn around, again, love has knocked me down

My heart got broken, oh it hurts so bad

I’m sad to say love wins again.”

It’s a similar situation in the second verse, where Cox asserts, “Knowing these tears I cry, this lovely black butterfly / Must take a chance, and spread my wings.” Oh, that damn love!  Cox’s pleasure and pain are our listening pleasure – no pain whatsoever for us – particularly her authentic, soulful ad-libs and nuances.  She has a magnificent instrument, which soars over Shep’s production and nails that key change!

Appears in 🔻:

• Deborah Cox, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 32 (2022)

5. Bobby Womack, “Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out”

💿 Facts of Life • 🏷 The Right Stuff • 🗓 1973

🎵 “Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out” marvelously commences 💿 Facts of Life, the 1973 album by the late, great soul artist, 🎙 Bobby Womack.  While it is Womack that brings the lyrics and song to life, “Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out” was written by 🎼 ✍ James (Jimmie) Cox (it is a transformation of the blues standard, 🎵 “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out”). Man, oh, man, did Mr. Cox write an epic track! Womack produces the gem, which features an electrifying soul groove, led by the drums and a robust bass line.  Of course, one of the biggest selling points is none other than the nuanced, playful, and soulful vocals by Womack. It is safe to say that he delivers ample personality on this classic.

What is the premise of this no. 29 pop hit? Honestly, it is just as the title suggests. Once you are lacking success – influence, money, in particular, or whatever it may be – NOBODY wants you.  Womack (the character he portrays) recounts affluence – “I lived the life of a millionaire” and “Drinkin’ that good gin, champagne and wine.” Of course, he came down and his ‘friends’ dried up alongside the money and that bougie alcohol. As the chorus states brilliantly, “Cause, I found out / Nobody wants you when you’re down and out.” Of course, Womack makes a wise observation later: “But just let you get up on my feet again / Here they all come tellin’ you / All are you long-lost friends.” It is true what can be said about fake, Fairweather friends. Ultimately, 🎵 “Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out” ranks among the crème de la crème of the Bobby Womack collection.

Appears in 🔻:

• Bobby Womack, “Nobody Wants You When You’re Down And Out”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 131 (2022)

Nobody: 5ive Songs No. 80 (2022) [📷: Arista, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Clovis Cheminot, Dead Oceans, Edgar Serrano via Pexels, Interscope, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, RCA, The Right Stuff, Sabine Lange, Top Dawg Entertainment]