Ribbon 🎗️| 3 to 5 BOPS

Ribbon 🎗️: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 25 (2023), features musical BOPS courtesy of Andreas Wijk, Mariah Carey, Rod Wave, Ryan Beatty, and Stevie Wonder.

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 25^th edition of 3 to 5 BOPS (2023), we select songs that are associated with RIBBON🎗️ in some form or fashion. The BOPS arrive courtesy of 🎙 Andreas Wijk, 🎙 Mariah Carey, 🎙 Rod Wave, 🎙 Ryan Beatty, and 🎙 Stevie Wonder. Okay, let’s get into it!

via GIPHY

1. Ryan Beatty, “Ribbons”

💿 Calico • 🏷 Warner Music UK • 🗓 2023

Reflective piano is one of many glorious production touches on 🎵 “Ribbons”, the first 🎙 Ryan Beatty single of 2023, appearing on his third studio LP, 💿 Calico.  Focusing on the production (Beatty and 🎛 Ethan Gruska), in addition to reflective piano, “Ribbons” features more ear catching keys, as well as strings.  In fact, nearly the final minute-and-a-half of the song is instrumental.  Ultimately, the backdrop is one of the big selling points of “Ribbons.” Of course, the best touch regarding “Ribbons” are the vocals by Beatty.  He has a gorgeous tone and excels at balladry. Another pro for is the vocal production, which has consistently amplified his solo music.  A tuneful melody bodes well as Beatty sings about the plight of love/ fleeting love (“It took all of California / To remind you while you came / … Ribbons running down your face / ‘Cause you’ve never known love like that”).  Things grow more depressing in the second verse, where Beatty asserts, “And suddenly you’re older / Spinning the turnstile over and over / Who’s gonna hold you while you sleep? Well, / It’s brave to be nothing to no one at all.” Thought-provoking for sure… and sad 😢. Ultimately, 🎵 “Ribbons” is well written, authentically performed, and thoughtfully produced. Ryan Beatty is a vibe and “Ribbons” is a vibe, too.

2. Mariah Carey, “Ribbon”

💿 Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel • 🏷 Mariah Carey / The Island Def Jam Music Group • 📅 2009

“Lovin’ on my mind / Lovin’ on my mind / Wrapped up, packed up / Ribbon with a bow on it.” WOO! 🎵 “Ribbon” is a slickly produced gem from 💿 Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, the 2009 album by the one-and-only 🎙 Mariah Carey. At this point, Carey had already experienced her career resurgence with The Emancipation of Mimi in 2005.  Memoirs, hence, marked the second album post-Emancipation.  As of September 26, 2022, the album was certified platinum, so, success for Mimi!

Focusing on “Ribbon,” matters of the heart are front and center.  Mariah Carey teamed up with 🎼 ✍ 🎛 The-Dream and Christopher Stewart, which yields a marvelous instrumental and equally enjoyable lyrics.  Basically, thematically, Mariah is infatuated with him! “Wish I had 20 million hours to caress you,” she sings in the first verse, adding, “And undress you, to be continued.” Oh, snap 🫰, Mimi! She goes on, in the pre-chorus, to sing, “Boy you, you don’t know how it feels / When you whisper in my ear / Boy you, you give my body chills whenever you are near.” Da-yum! In the second verse, she’s territorial over her man: “You might think he cute / But everybody knows that I’m his lady.” “Ribbon” is a surefire vibe with Mariah delivering her signature, electrifying vocals.  Still a bop more than a decade later!

3. Stevie Wonder, “Ribbon In The Sky”

💿 Original Musiquarium • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1982

“Oh, so long for this night I prayed / That a star would guide you my way,” 🎙 Stevie Wonder sings adoringly and soulfully, continuing, “To share with me this special day / Where a ribbon’s in the sky for our love.” Ah, that iconic Motown musician is a romantic fella, isn’t he? Interestingly, the ballad 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” didn’t appear on one of his studio albums but rather, a 1982 compilation, 💿 Original Musiquarium. Check out the album cover, and yes, there are fish 🐠 on the music staff 🎼! Anyways, “Ribbon In the Sky,” which was a moderate hit (no. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100), was one of the few new tracks written for this compilation.  Even so, this smooth, jazzy, soul ballad has its fair share of fans. Basically, it’s those positive vibes about love – the dedication is lit 🔥.  And for good measure, how about when Wonder brings G-O-D into the mix in the second verse: “We can’t lose with God on our side / We’ll find strength in each tear we cry / From now on it will be you and I / And our ribbon in the sky.” 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” is a prime example of a song that’s giving monogamy and matrimony 💍.

4. Rod Wave, “Ribbon In The Sky”

💿 Pray 4 Love • 🏷 Alamo • 📅 2020

“Pray to God that I can see the morning.” True dat, 🎙 Rod Wave. The rapper always brings ample emotional and honesty to his music. 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” from his 2020 LP, 💿 Pray 4 Love is no different.  That said, it does strongly contrast what 🎙 Stevie Wonder references in his own “Ribbon In The Sky.” At the beginning, backed by superb production by 🎛 Drum Dummie, Rod exudes toughness: “Picture me rolling in my 500 Benz / I got no love for these niggas, ain’t no need to be friends…” Woo! From there, he dives into trauma and how tough life can be.  This is a theme of much of his music where the environment isn’t the easiest.  Beginning with the reference to prayer, he focuses on not allowing the demons to consume him, and asserts, “I keep my head to the ribbon in the sky.” What ribbon is Rod referencing? Is it a rainbow or is it merely a metaphor of sorts? Ultimately, it’s unimportant, as it is all symbolic for staying on a straight and narrow path: “Ribbon in the sky / Life too short to be living a lie / It’s too much pain to be living just to die / I keep my head to the ribbon in the sky.” 🎵 “Ribbon In The Sky” is a terrific song.

5. Andreas Wijk, “Blue Ribbon”

💿 Season 1 [Episode 01-14] • 🏷 Andreas Wijk • 📅 2018

“Blue ribbon, come and get what you’ve been missing, yeah.” Yeah! Absolutely, 🎙 Andreas Wijk! The Swedish singer is there for her, PERIOD on 🎵 “Blue Ribbon,” which appears on his 2018 album,  💿 Season 1 [Episode 01-14]. According to Wijk, “I’ll be the reason that you fall in love.” Looking at the handsome pop artist, I would venture to say his take is accurate 😍.  “I’ll be your painter / I’ll come and paint the pain away,” he asserts in the second verse.  Yes, yes, yes! He even gets spiritual in second pre-chorus, singing, “Pray, Lord, I want her, want her now.” The infatuation is through the roof.  Vocally, Wijk possesses a distinct instrument, which makes it unsurprising why he secured a major record deal early in his life, though it panned out and ended up being a thorn in his side.  Since releasing this slickly produced pop record (🎛️ Anton Göransson), which also features a rap courtesy of 🎙 Jimi Tents, it is worth noting that Wijk has embraced being queer, led by his 2022 single, 🎵 “If I Was Gay”.  

Ribbon 🎗️: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 25 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Alamo, Andreas Wijk, Mariah Carey / The Island Def Jam Music Group, Motown, Warner Music UK; Alexander Lesnitsky, Silhouette1 via Pixabay]