In the 8th edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 (2024), we highlight “Something Real” performed by Post Malone.
Bring on the bold, fierce songs! Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 serves up background info and insight into songs of various styles, especially songs that raise eyebrows and/or stir the pot. Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 8th edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 (2024), we break down “Something Real” performed by Post Malone.
“Give me somethin’ I can feel / Light a cigarette just so I can breathe / Give me somethin’, somethin’ real / Seven hundred feet off the coast of Greece.” Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and rapper Post Malone desired “Something Real” in 2023. The tuneful song, which appeared on his 2023 album, Austin, was written by him, Louis Bell, watt, and Billy Walsh. Likewise, Post, Bell and watt produced the record. Sadly, this song, the crème de la crème of Austin, was NOT a big hit, spending just one week on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 67. Regardless, this banger was used as the musical anthem for 2023-24 college football season on ESPN, which is hella cool.
“It’s a double-edge sword, cuttin’ off ties with the ones I know / So tell me, how the fuck am I still alive? It’s a miracle, oh.” Word. Beyond its college football anthem status, you know what else is hella cool? This song itself! Post Malone, who has embraced a singer/songwriter spirit, is locked-in, sounding utterly fantastic. Even with a strong vocal performance (and that signature vibrato), more important is the authenticity he exhibits – the pain and vulnerability he expresses lyrically. In the pre-chorus and chorus, Post seeks things to fulfill him, including material (“And I can’t believe, ran through a B at Louis V / It’s what I need right now”),sex (“I could play that pussy like it’s Für Elise”), and drugs (“How much psilocybin can a human eat?”). Ultimately, however, the drip, pleasure, and substances, and perhaps, even fame, aren’t sustainable ‘real’ things – he needs REAL: “I would trade my life just to be at peace.” While the theme and lyrics are arguably the crowning achievement of “Something Real”, the supporting instrumental plays a sizable role, particularly on the titular lyric (the guitars, synths, and even how the backing vocals fit into the backdrop). This song is the sugar honey iced tea – deserving of much more recognition than it’s received!
🎙 Post Malone • 💿 Austin • 🏷 Mercury / Republic • 🗓 2023
Post Malone, Something Real: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 8 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Mercury / Republic; cottonbro studio, Harry Shelton, Kool Shooters, Lucas Pazeta, Mavluda Tashbaeva, Teddy Yang, Wesley Souza from Pexels]