‘S’ Songs: No Rhyme or Reason, Vol. 2 | Playlist

1. Nick Jonas, “Spaceman”

  Spaceman •   Island •   2021

 “Spaceman”, the promo single from  Spaceman, the 2021 studio album from   Nick Jonas, has ample pros. Start with an elite team of writers: Jonas,   Greg Kurstin, and   Maureen “Mozella” McDonald. The backdrop constructed by Kurstin fits the urban-pop sensibilities that Jonas has consistently exhibited as an adult pop musician.  This is particularly pronounced on the chorus, where the influence of hip-hop can be heard with the banging, souped-up beat.

Beyond the backdrop, Jonas sounds great.  He gives us plenty of middle register during the verses, while flexing more of his upper register (namely falsetto) on the chorus. As far as the songwriting, he sings and reflects about the state of the world with politics, coronavirus, and most of all, feeling isolated – as if he’s in outer space. It’s a relatable theme and ultimately, a highly effective record.

2. Queen Naija & Ari Lennox, “Set Him Up”

  missunderstood…still •   Capitol •   2021

“We ‘bout to set him up, yeah, yeah.” Oh my – that poor guy! Actually, if you listen to the   Queen Naija and   Ari Lennox collaboration from start to finish, you won’t feel the least bit of sympathy for the guy – “He had it coming”! Why? Well, both Naija and Lennox have been dating and ultimately sleeping with him so, whatever comes of their set up on  “Set Him Up”, appearing on the deluxe version of Naija’s debut album, missunderstood…still, is definitely deserved.

Very much a duet, nearly every section of “Set Him Up” is truly collaborative, which is awesome.  This allows both talented singers to develop tremendous chemistry.  Both ladies share their ‘girl talk’ which involves the sexual skills of this certified male hoe.  “The nigga turned me out,” they sing on the first verse, continuing, “When he went down South, I had to change the sheets.” Woo! Of course, the discovery that they are sexing with the same man occurs on the second verse, with the plan being hatched to set him up on the bridge.  The results work out quite well from both a narrative (songwriting) and vocal perspective.  This is the perfect R&B soap opera.  Add lush production by   Pat McManus,   Boston, and   Mike Woods, and things are even better. “Set Him Up” gives both Queen Naija and Ari Lennox a surefire winner.  We get sex, drama, and great vocals by two talented women.  What more could you ask for?

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3. Rod Wave, “Street Runner”

  SoulFly •   Alamo •   2021

Floridian rapper/singer   Rod Wave dropped a hot single in  “Street Runner”, in advance of his 2021 album,  SoulFly. The four-minute-plus number is fueled by a   Ruth B sample,   “Mixed Signals”, which dominates an extended intro. It takes nearly a minute for “Street Runner” to settle in, beginning with the hard beat and piano driven backdrop (  TnTXD,   London Blue, and   Karltin Bankz) following the sample.  As for Wave, he doesn’t join the mix until after the one-minute mark.

While it takes a while to get Rod Wave into the mix, as well as get into “Street Runner,” it’s well worth the wait.  As always, Wave sings well, landing somewhere between R&B and melodic rap.  Interestingly, there’s only one verse, amazing considering the length of the track.  Even so, Wave makes it worth it, referencing love – missing that special somebody.  Her feelings are all over the place, but according to Rod, totally understandable: “She tell me fuck you, I hate you, then I love you, can’t blame you.” Of course, the centerpiece, the chorus focuses on fulfilling his ambitions.

“Street runner, gotta stop running sometimes
I’m in your city tonight
And these lights, make me feel so inspired
Going higher and higher and higher
Taking me higher
Higher and higher and higher.”

Following the chorus, we get an outro that once more, relies heavily on Ruth B. All in all, he delivers on “Street Runner.”

4. Olivia O’Brien, “Sociopath”

  “Sociopath” •   Island •   2021

“How do you feel nothing / When I feel it all?” Pop artist   Olivia O’Brien goes on to characterize her lover as a sociopath on her single,  “Sociopath”.  On this two-and-a-half-minute joint, she paints over a fiery backdrop constructed by    “Downtown” Trevor Brown and   Zaire Koalo.

“Hands on my neck, but you’ve got no regrets / For the marks that you left.” Woo – that’s um troublesome! O’Brien definitely brings attitude to “Sociopath.” Honestly, how couldn’t she? Sociopathy is quite disturbing subject matter, and the lyrics – the clever songwriting –capture it perfectly. Part of the attitude she brings is a perfectly timed f-bomb: “Your empathy’s lacking / and I don’t know how the fuck this could’ve happened.” Even so, she doesn’t have to curse to be effective, with numerous profanity-devoid lines packing a mighty punch. She paints an ugly portrait of her utterly insane boyfriend – “A cold-blooded sociopath” – but blames herself for falling for him: “Well, I guess it’s what I get.” Sociopathy is nothing to be played around with, mind you, but in terms of this particular fancy-tickling song, it definitely superbly fuels the fire.

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5. twenty one pilots, “Shy Away”

  Scaled and Icy •   Fueled by Ramen •   2021

  Grammy-winning alternative duo   twenty one pilots are back with their sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy.  In advance of the LP,   Tyler Joseph and   Josh Dun unveiled promo single,  “Shy Away”.  Like so many of the band’s music of the past, there’s plenty to sink one’s teeth into on “Shy Away.”

Twenty one pilots keep things short and sweet on “Shy Away.” As always, the production is quite intriguing – sleek and well rounded.  Given its rhythmic sound and quick pace, there’s definitely no way to “Shy Away” from this record.  Joseph exudes ample personality as he performs.  As always, the theme and lyrics truly go a long way in making this a successful record. Here, Tyler encourages ditching the shyness and being unafraid to reach for dreams and ambition – shedding modesty and reaching for the stars.

“Don’t you shy away (Ah-ah-ah)
Manifest a ceiling
When you shy away (Ah-ah-ah)
Searchin’ for that feelin’
Just like an ‘I love you’ (Ooh, ooh)
That isn’t words (Ooh, oooh)
Like a song he wrote, that’s never heard (Ah-ah-ah)
Don’t you...”

Once more, twenty one pilots have truly tickled our fancy on “Shy Away.” Great vocals by Tyler, great production, and thoughtful, positive songwriting make this ‘S’ song a surefire winner.

6. Sabrina Carpenter, “Skin”

  “Skin” •   Island •   2021

“Maybe we could’ve been friends / If I met you in another life…” Ah, matters of the heart are always perfect fuel for a pop song.  With her first single of 2021,  “Skin”,   Sabrina Carpenter set the bar high.  Consider our playlists enhanced, albeit by the pain suffered from that thing known as the plight of love (there’s happiness too, though).  The < three-minute was produced by   Ryan McMahon.

The form of “Skin” is straightforward – tried and true. The record commences moodily and somewhat mysteriously (with the aforementioned lyrics), catching the listener’s attention.  Carpenter delivers respectable vocals throughout that are well-suited to this track.  She shows incredible poise on the first verse, singing in her lower register, somewhat in an undertone.  On the pre-chorus, she ascends, and the listener begins to get a better picture of where she’s going. Expectedly, she’s more assertive, dynamic, and powerful on the chorus.

“You can try
To get under my, under my, under my skin
While hе’s on mine
Yeah, all on my, all on my, all on my skin
I wish you knew that even you
Can’t get under my skin if I don't let you in.”

Woo! This memorable section expands in scope even more the second round.  Interestingly, rather than being the biggest on the final go-round, Carpenter does the unexpected – pulls back. Ultimately, “Skin” is quite relatable and well-rounded.

7. Years & Years, “Starstruck”

  “Starstruck” •   Polydor •   2021

Once a three-person collective, Years & Years vis now a solo act by front man Olly Alexander. Despite the changes, Olly has totally got us  “Starstruck” with his new single. “Starstruck” was written by Alexander alongside     Clarence Coffee Jr.,     Mark Ralph, and     Nathaniel Ledwidge.  Ralph and Ledwidge produce this bright sounding, energetic pop cut. With a great backdrop behind him, Olly delivers assertive vocals that are colorful, nuanced, and filled with personality.  His tone is absolutely stunning.

In addition to his singing, Olly ‘puts in some work’ with his pen, delivering some fun lyrics (“If I could bottle you up / I would sip ya like cosmic juice”). Of course, the centerpiece is none other than the chorus which is hella catchy.  Furthermore, the brightness ascends to an even higher level.

“I can’t help it
I get starstruck around you
What can I do baby?”

Quite a relatable sentiment by all means.  In addition to the love-centric lyrics, “Starstruck” is well organized in regard to form.  Years & Years keeps it standard with verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and later, a breakdown section, which serves as a bridge essentially (“Starstruck / Not giving you up”). Down two members? No problem for Years & Years, who continues to bring the heat on “Starstruck.” All boxes are checked off:  strong vocals, catchy songwriting, and ear catching production.

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8. Bebe Rexha, “Sabotage”

  Better Mistakes •   Warner •   2021

  “Sabotage”, a fine single from the 2021  Bebe Rexha album,   Better Mistakes, was written by Rexha,     Jon Hume,     Michael Matosic,     Michael Tighe, and     Greg Kurstin.  Kurstin, of course, also lends his hand in the production department on this minor-key ballad. “Sabotage” begins abruptly with Rexha singing in a breathy tone, singing an excerpt from the chorus: “Why do I sabotage everything I love? / It’s always beautiful until I fuck it up.” Woo! The final line features more cutting vocals, much more characteristic of the eventual chorus.  We get plenty of personality with that f-bomb being unveiled early.

Throughout, Rexha is reflective, examining her shortcomings.  It all culminates on the chorus where she really rises to the occasion vocally.  We hear the full chorus, which continues as follows: “Why do I sabotage everything I love? / The walls are closin’ in because I built them up.” Besides a more assertive vocal, we get more instrumentation.  The pacing of the track is quite nice, with the second verse adding drums, the second chorus adding even more instrumentation, and the bridge being incredibly powerful.  It wouldn’t be far-fetched to characterize the bridge as the crowning achievement. On the final chorus, she pulls back at first, before ‘bringing it on home.’ “Sabotage” is a relatable, must-hear.

9. serpentwithfeet, “Same Size Shoe”

  DEACON •   Secretly Canadian •   2021

“Can’t love no man ‘til I measured his feet,” alternative R&B artist serpentwithfeet (Josiah Wise) asserts on “Same Size Shoe”. “Same Size Shoe” is arguably the best song from his sophomore album,  DEACON.  Later, Wise heeds the advice of his aunt singing, “My auntie’s right, don’t fuck a man / If his shoes are two times the size of your hands.” Woo!

Besides the unique lyricism of the record, serpentwithfeet delivers an expressive, nuanced, and truly refined vocal performance. His best moments include the ad-libs, the bridge where he asks for his trumpet (you just have to hear it for yourself), and of course, the chorus.  The chorus, as to expected, is infectious to the nth degree: “Me and my boo wear the same size shoe.” Additionally, the production (Wise,    Brandon Juhans, and   Batu) allures as well.

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10. Tommy Newport & EARTHGANG, “Stargazer”

“Stargazer” •   Real Dirty Boy / Silk Ivory Inc. •   2021

“Speed racer, heartbreaker / I can feel it comin’,”   Tommy Newport sings expressively on “Stargazer”.  He continues the infectious centerpiece, the chorus, singing, “Maybe start later, stargazer / I can see you runnin’.”  The alternative musician definitely sets the tone marvelously on his new single, which is the epitome – the exemplification – of a vibe.  Oh, and Newport doesn’t go through the process alone! No, he collaborates with the gift that is   EARTHGANG.

Backed by a potent production that mixes some classic cues with contemporary freshness, Newport and EARTHGANG have ample fuel for the fire.  Doctur Dot gets right to work on the first verse, serving up chill vibes and plenty of swagger with his potent flow.  “So, what’s the point in fightin’ nature?” he spits, continuing, “You’d rather get to chuggin’ and say, ‘Fuck it, I don’t blame you.’” Read into things more, and clearly matters of the heart are in play.  Newport follows with a colorful pre-chorus that features some sweet falsetto, contrasting the chorus he unveils at the jump.  Like the chorus and Doctur Dot verse, it’s a vibe as well! Of course, Johnny Venus can’t be left out the mix, dropping some awesome bars in his own right on the second verse.  “Relationships become performative for your enjoyment / Fakin’ the funk, no love,” he raps, adding, “You hit the target audience, you play me like accordion / According to the bro code, I’d be a fool if I took you back.” Woo! 

Man, there’s so much to like about “Stargazer.” Tommy Newport truly puts in work and delivers a surefire gem.  One of his best moves – getting EARTHGANG to join him for the ride.  This record checks off boxes in the production, performance, and songwriting department. This is the one everybody needs to add to their listening rotation.

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11. The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears (Remix)”

  “Save Your Tears (Remix)” •   Republic •   2021

“Save your tears for another day.” The overall sound and vibe are preserved on   “Save Your Tears (Remix)”, the remix of the  After Hours hit,   “Save Your Tears”. “Save Your Tears” remains firmly planted in the 80s, with   Grammy winners   The Weeknd and   Ariana Grande embracing synthpop. Of course, in addition to The Weekend producing, they owe a great deal to   Max Martin and   Oscar Holter.

The Weeknd shines, singing the first verse, refrain, pre-chorus, and chorus.  The chorus – excerpted at the top of this review – is simple but ultimately memorable and definitely tuneful. Where we get contrast on “Save Your Tears (Remix)” is the second verse, which is not only performed by Ariana Grande, but turns out to be a totally new verse.

“Met you once under a Pisces moon
I kept my distance ‘cause I know that you
Don’t like when I’m with nobody else
I couldn’t help it, I put you through hell.”

She sounds exceptional – as refined as ever.  Beyond the verse, she performs a refrain and pre-chorus of her own (directed toward a male, of course), before performing the chorus.  From there, we get collaboration between both, repeating the refrain, chorus, and the outro, an extension of the chorus.  These two definitely always bring the heat when they duet! 

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12. Leon Bridges, “Sweeter”

Ft. Terrace Martin

  “Sweeter” •   Columbia •   2020 

On  “Sweeter”,   Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter   Leon Bridges takes the opportunity to capture his thoughts about race and racial injustice through music. “Sweeter,” (featuring   Terrace Martin), features a nice blend of old- and new- school R&B.  Bridges clearly has one foot in the door of the past, yet at the same time, the record is slightly more modern than what’s appeared on his albums.    Ricky Reed and   Nate Mercereau do a marvelous job behind the boards, helping to mold this ‘sweet’ sound.  Though the sounds are indeed sweet, Bridges’ vocal performance, and the lyrics he conveys are the centerpiece.

“Hoping for a life more sweeter
Instead I’m just a story repeating
Why do I fear with skin dark as night?
Can’t feel peace with those judging eyes.”

From the start of this somewhat nontraditional number, you feel the weight; the lyrics speak for themselves.  Leon goes on to say that he “Thought we moved on from dark days,” basically expressing his disappointment over the racial injustices in 2020 without explicitly saying so.  One of the most moving passages:

“The tears of my mother rain, rain over me
My sisters and my brothers sing, sing over me
And I wish I had another day, but it’s just another day.”

What really stands out about “Sweeter” is how Bridges, Martin, and the songwriters and musicians poetically approach things.  “Sweeter” is a beautiful song, but it’s a beautiful song with no shortage of emotion and pain.  It’s another excellent addition to the growing list of songs that speak out against racial inequality and injustice.

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13. Jeremy Zucker, “Supercuts”

  “Supercuts” •   Republic •   2020 

Love is always fuel for the fire – remember that.   Jeremy Zucker knows it all too well.  He does well in his depictions of matters of the heart, even if they’re unpleasant. Once more, Zucker entertains the plight of love superbly on   “Supercuts”, Jeremy essentially seems to talk himself out of the possibility of a relationship because of the potential negative side effects. He’s upset from the start because of a lack of control where, ultimately, he ends up being “the bad guy.”

On one the catchier choruses of 2020, and definitely the rare one referencing Supercuts, he lays out why love is far too risky:

“‘Cause I don’t wanna be someone who makes you happy
Then lets you down, we’ll both feel crappy
I’ll hate your friends when this shit ends
Well, alright
And I don’t wanna make your mama cry at dinner
And see her at the mall next winter
At Supercuts, she hates my guts
Well, alright.”

His hesitance towards getting serious is further confirmed on the bridge, where he sings, “Find me drowning in this bullshit again / Started something that we’re just gonna end.” It’s pessimistic pop, but hey, at least it’s relatable, pessimistic pop at its finest. Definitely a bop!

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14. Mariah Carey, “Save the Day”

Ft. Ms. Lauryn Hill

  The Rarities •   Columbia •   2020

Celebrating 30 years in the game,   Mariah Carey dropped  The Rarities in late 2020.  Sure, The Rarities comprise of unreleased tracks, but we get a ‘brand-new’ gem out of the mix via  “Save the Day”. Save The Day” not only has one legendary musician, but two: Ms. Lauryn Hill. Hill arrives via sampling – “Killing Me Softly” (Fugees).  While it’s not a traditional, brand-new duet, the way that the sample is wove in is utterly brilliant. Elements of the remake of an iconic classic shine through “Save the Day” consistently. This definitely allows the record to hearken back to Mariah Carey’s own heyday, the 90s, where the majority of her classics can be found.

Carey sounds incredibly strong throughout “Save the Day.” That, my friends, is the biggest takeaway. There has been some criticism of the abilities of her voice as she gets older and past her lucrative prime, but she’s still quite potent here.  Furthermore, this recording doesn’t play it conservative – we get the full range of Carey from the lows to those soaring, dynamic highs. All I’ve got to say regarding “Save the Day” is Mimi, u betta sang gurl!

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15. Migos, “Straightenin”

  Culture III •   Quality Control Music •   2021

Fundamentally,   Grammy-nominated rap trio   Migos are true to self on   “Straightenin”, a single from their highly anticipated album, Culture III. Pulling out all of the bells and whistles, “Straightening” features nine writers and six producers (  DJ Durel,   Atake,   Slime Castro,   Sluzyyy,   Nuki, and   Osiris).  Given the cooks in the kitchen, it’s not surprising the backdrop is pretty sweet. Migos also manage to drop confident, drippy bars.

  Quavo gets first blood, dropping the ultra-repetitive but quite catchy chorus (“Straightenin’, straightenin’ / … You don’t get shit straight, you gon’ straighten it.”). From there, he drops an assertive verse, which includes the lyrical gem, “Turn a pandemic into a bandemic.” Following another iteration of the chorus,   Takeoff arrives on the second verse, referencing The Matrix, Eminem, and Drake among other things. Finally,   Offset drops the final verse, where he references an iconic cartoon character (“Tasmanian Devil, we spin on your block”) and guns (“Qua’ keep a MAC in the back of the Tesla”).  Perhaps the trio doesn’t transform rap with their bars, but they are certainly entertaining.