Rescue | 3 to 5 BOPS

Rescue: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 52 (2023), features musical BOPS courtesy of Drake, Fontella Bass, Foo Fighters, Lauren Daigle, and Thirty Seconds To Mars. 

Ah, you know what time it is! It’s 3 to 5 BOPS time – WOO! On 3 to 5 BOPS, it’s all about brevity and sweetness… for the most part! There’s a theme/topic, 3, 4, or 5 songs, and a blurb – two paragraphs or less.  3 to 5 BOPS, hence, is a mini playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  In the 52^nd edition of 3 to 5 BOPS (2023), we select songs that are associated with RESCUE in some form or fashion. The BOPS arrive courtesy of 🎙 Drake, 🎙 Fontella Bass, 🎙 Foo Fighters, 🎙 Lauren Daigle, and 🎙 Thirty Seconds To Mars. Okay, let’s get into it!

via GIPHY

1. Foo Fighters, “Rescued”

💿 But Here We Are • 🏷 Roswell • 🗓 2023   

First and foremost, rest in peace, 🎙 Taylor Hawkins. The loss of the incredibly talented 🎙 Foo Fighters drummer 🥁 was a huge one – devastating and totally unexpected. Despite the loss, 🎙 Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters decided to move forward as a band, releasing their 11^th studio album, 💿 But Here We Are, led by the dynamic lead single, 🎵 “Rescued”.  “Rescued” was produced by the band alongside 🎛 Greg Kurstin. The sound is strong – dynamic, as in LOUD AND IN YOUR FACE LIKE IT’S SCREAMING AT YOU 🤘!!! Grohl is intense on both drumming and vocals.  He seeks to memorialize his late friend and bandmate, as well as carry on the torch.  “It came in a flash, it came outta nowhere,” Grohl sings in the first verse, adding, “It happened so fast, and then it was over.” In the chorus, he asserts, “I’m just waitin’ to be rescued, bring me back to life / …We’re all just waitin’ to be rescued tonight.” The record is a reaction to Hawkins’ unexpected passing, and how it has affected the band. It feels fitting that this song is the first single as well as the opening track from But Here We Are. “Rescued” is an honest and powerful statement by the 🏆 Grammy-winning band: “We’re all just waitin’ to be rescued tonight.”

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: April 2023  
• 13 Songs Filled with Grief, Mourning & Remembrance (2023)  
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far)

2. Drake, “Search & Rescue”

🎵 “Search & Rescue” • 🏷 OVO / Republic • 🗓 2023

“Come and rescue me / Take me out the club, take out the trap.” 🎵 “Search & Rescue” finds 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper 🎙 Drake serving up a chill, melodic performance.  He delivers a sweet flow, never getting too high nor too low.  Supporting his musical endeavors is colorful production touches with the melodic piano, spare synths, drum programming (rhythmic, but non troppo you might say).  Stitching up this track are producers: 🎛 BNYX®, SADPONY, Wesley Curtis, 40, BEAUTIFULMVN, and Lil Yachty. “Search & Rescue” commences with an intro, followed by Drake serving up the chorus and post-chorus (excerpted above). =Drizzy seeks that special lady: “I need someone to be patient with me / Someone to get money with, not take it from me /… I know I’m a Pitbull, but dale, mami…” After the post-chorus, where he’s looking for a woman to be his savior, there is an unexpected interlude performed by 🎙 Kim Kardashian and 🎙 Kris Jenner.  Was it a necessity? NOPE. From there we get the verses – “That’s why I American Expre-e-e-e-e-ss” (verse one) and “Send a boy a P-I-C or ‘see me, baby,’ damn” (verse two).  Notably, during the second verse, there is more production – harder drum programming and more rhythmic synths –differentiating itself from the first verse.  Also, throw in a bridge, an extension of the post-chorus. 🎵 “Search & Rescue”  is interesting.

3. Lauren Daigle, “Rescue”

💿 Look Up Child • 🏷 Centricity• 📅 2018

“I will send out an army / To find you in the middle of darkest night / It’s true / I will rescue you.” In difficult, adverse times, sometimes, it seems like there is no way out.  🎙 Lauren Daigle provides the utmost encouragement on 🎵 “Rescue”, a highlight from her 2018 Christian album, 💿 Look Up Child.  The message that Daigle sends loud and clear, particularly in the chorus: “I, [God], will rescue you.” In other words, this song is from the perspective of God to his discouraged child. The 🏆 Grammy-winner penned “Rescue” alongside 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Paul Mabury and Jason Ingram who produce the lush track (shout out the strings 🎻).

In the verses, Daigle, again portraying God, lifts up the discouraged.  In the first, she sings, “You are not hidden / There’s never been a moment / You were forgotten.” Sometimes, it feels that way, whether you consider yourself to be a believer or not.  Why am I going through this? Will I ever advance past the hardship? Similarly, in the second verse, Lauren asserts, “I’ll be your shelter / I’ll be your armor.” The take away on this ballad, which ascends to great heights, is the power of faith and not giving in. Furthermore, when no one else will help you, God will. “I hear the whisper underneath your breath / I hear you whisper, you have nothing left.” 🎵 “Rescue” is incredibly potent and powerful 🙌.

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:

• Lauren Daigle, “Rescue”: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 34 (2023)

4. Thirty Second to Mars, “Rescue Me”

💿 AMERICA • 🏷  Interscope • 📅 2018

“Rescue me from the demons in my mind / Rescue me from the lovers in my life  Rescue me from the demons in my mind  Rescue me, rescue me, rescue me.” In addition to the chorus, the main attraction of 🎵 “Rescue Me”, an advanced single from 🎙 Thirty Seconds to Mars’ 2018 album, 💿 AMERICA, is 🏆 Academy-Award-winning actor/musician, 🎙 Jared Leto. Leto delivers assertive and gritty lead vocals.  His authenticity is indisputable (“You gotta lose it all if you wanna take control / Sell yourself to save your soul”).  Furthermore, he penned and produced  “Rescue Me” alongside 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Graham A Muron (KillaGraham). Beyond Leto, the bombastic production draws plenty of attention.  There are ample rock cues, particularly on the verses.  The chorus, however, is  characterized by EDM cues.  While some electronic elements throughout, they’re most pronounced during the chorus.  Post-chorus, the signature drop comes into play. These things considered, “Rescue Me” is more pop oriented. Of course, alternative lines are blurred.

5. Fontella Bass, “Rescue Me”

💿 The New Look • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 1966

“Rescue me / Or take me in your arms / Rescue me / I want your tender charms.” One song solidified the musical legacy of 🎙 Fontella Bass (1940 – 2012): 🎵 “Rescue Me”.  The soul classic earned Bass her sole top-10 hit.  Ultimately, “Rescue Me” peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.  Her next highest charting single on the pop charts? 🎵 “Don’t Mess Up a Good Thing” (with 🎙 Bobby McClure), which peaked at no. 33. “Rescue Me,” hence, is special – that once in a lifetime song.  It was written by 🎼 ✍ Carl William Smith and Raynard Miner while 🎛 Billy Davis served as the producer.

So, why did Bass need rescuing? “I need you and your love too.” As is the case with many R&B/soul records, matters of the heart fuel the fire.  Fontella is lonely, and she wants him to save her.  “Come on and take my heart,” she sings in the second verse, “Take your love and conquer every part.” The chorus sums it up perfectly:

“Come on baby, and rescue me

Come on, baby, and rescue me

‘Cause I need you by my side

Can’t you see that I’m lonely?

Rescue me.”

🎵 “Rescue Me” is #ICONIC.  Hearing this nearly sixty-old gem from 💿 The New Look never gets old.  No, R&B and pop don’t sound like this anymore but, this song right here, it endures.

Appears in 🔻:

• Fontella Bass, “Rescue Me” : Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 96 (2023)

Rescue: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 52 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Centricity,  Interscope, OVO / Republic, Roswell, UMG Recordings, Inc.; Klaus Nielsen from Pexels]