Safety is the Priority on These 11 Songs | Playlist 🎧

1. Ariana Grande, “Safety Net”

Ft. Ty Dolla $ign

💿 Positions • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020

“I’ve never been this scared before / Feelings I just can’t ignore / Don’t know if I should fight or fly / But I don’t mind.” 🎙 Ariana Grande shocked the world when she released a new album in 2020.  The 🏆 Grammy winner had been keeping up a brisk pace when it came to releasing new music but 💿 Positions was totally unexpected. With 🎵 “Safety net,” she brings in ubiquitous collaborator, 🎙 Ty Dolla $ign.  Here, his unique voice gives this record that little extra something, something (“Put some ice on you, girl, let it thaw out”).

Also, making “Safety net” a sweet gem is the chill, lush production work, courtesy of 🎛 The Rascals, 🎛 Tommy Brown, and 🎛 Keys Open Doors. Other strong suits include the melody, as well as catchy pre-chorus (excerpted above) and chorus sections.

“Mmm
Tripping, falling, with no safety net
Boy, it must be something that you said
Is it real this time or is it in my head?
Got me tripping, falling, with no safety net.”

Adding to the excellence of this standout are the vocal ad-libs incorporated throughout the production.

2. Architects, “Dying is Absolutely Safe”

💿 For Those That Wish to Exist • 🏷 Epitaph • 📅 2020

“With the ravens here to stay / And the doves all flying away.” Well, that’s pretty dark 🎙 Architects, please continue. “Sedation feels so welcoming / … But the devils sing and it’s deafening / … When the leaves fall in the spring.”  Again, dark lyricism from the British rock collective.  That said, there’s certainly degree of poetry on 🎵 “Dying is Absolutely Safe.” “Dying is Absolutely Safe” concludes their 2021 album, 💿 For Those That Wish to Exist.

As awesome as the aforementioned excerpt of the second verse is, what about the chorus?

“May all the beggars be blessed
Like angels with anhedonia
We’re all just doing our best
Repeating, ‘There's nothing left’
That’s why we weed out the wonderers
Maybe there’s virtue in emptiness
But I still drown in distress
When the leaves fall in the spring.”

There’s definitely plenty to unpack, which is part of the reason “Dying is Absolute Safe” shines.  The five-minute cut also shines thanks to awesome production, featuring strings, piano, and acoustic guitars, and of course, clean, expressive lead vocals by front man 🎙 Dan Searle. Furthermore, he has a pretty sweet, tuneful melody to work with, as well as a nice harmonic progression.  The final minute is quite epic musically.

3. Rhye, “Safeword”

💿 Home • 🏷 Loma Vista • 📅 2021

Anytime you listen to 🎙 Rhye, there’s definitely quite the aesthetic; a vibe if you will. Sometimes, it’s easy to mistake the chill, smooth, soft (and sometimes high-pitched) vocals of  🎙 Mike Milosh as a woman.  He asserts in a 2013 NPR feature, “Personally, I don’t view myself as sounding like a woman… I think I just have a soft quality to my voice, and then people immediately associate that with something extremely feminine.” Noted, and totally feel you there, Mike.  I say all that to say that 🎵 “Safeword” definitely has that feminine quality, and we wouldn’t trade it for the world!

“Safeword” was written by 🎼✍ Ian Meltzer, 🎼✍ James Alan Ghaleb, and Milosh, with all three writers also serve as producers.  Interestingly, the song features only one verse, with the chorus occurring at the beginning, after the sole verse, followed by a short refrain and outro.  Like so much of Rhye’s music, there’s a hypnotic quality, delivered by both Milosh’s distinct vocals but also the instrumental itself which is beautiful and quite intriguing.  The songwriting is quite lovely, with reference to the safe word appearing early on within the chorus:

“The more I know your face, oh, hey
The more I push this way
Do you know your safe word?
...The more I get to taste
The more I love this feeling
It’s a safe word.”

4. Sam Smith, “Safe with Me”

💿 Nirvana (EP) • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2013

“‘Cause I was built for you / Yes, I was built to carry all your feelings.” Good to know! In 2013, the world was first introduced to future 🏆 Grammy- and Academy award winning recording artist, 🎙 Sam Smith.  Smith gained ample attention for being featured on the popular Disclosure track, 🎵 “Latch” from their debut album, 💿 Settle.  That same year, the talented nonbinary musician released his debut EP, 💿 Nirvana, which further showcased his potential to be the international superstar he’d eventually become.  While the title track and In the Lonely Hour reprisal 🎵 “Money on My Mind” are arguably the tracks to beat, opener 🎵 “Safe with Me” is quite strong in its own right.

“Safe with Me” is essentially an experimental R&B track. It was written by Smith and 🎼✍ Benjamin Ross Ash (🎙 Two Inch Punch). Ash produces the record as well. It’s characterized by its highly rhythmic, pummeling drums and its overall mysteriousness.   Vocally, Smith sounds exceptional, delivering a nuanced, complete performance – they sho can sang!  The chorus finds Smith’s soulful vocals transformed through vocal effects – specifically pitch effects. “Don’t you know your secret’s safe with me / All your worries can be put to, can be put to sleep,” Smith sings.  Regardless of the experimentation, the identity of the track is steeped in R&B while having crossover abilities.  Those who partook of Nirvana back in ’13 knew Sam was destined to be star.

5. Sara Bareilles, “A Safe Place to Land”

Ft. John Legend

💿 Amidst the Chaos • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2019

🏆 Grammy winning singer/songwriter 🎙 Sara Bareilles returned with a bang in 2019 with her sixth studio album, 💿 Amidst the Chaos.  Amidst the Chaos serves as a contrast from her earlier discography, in a positive way, of course.  Contributing to the contrast is the production by decorated producer 🎛 T-Bone Burnett. Burnett produces the album’s closing cut (penultimate on later editions of the album), 🎵 “A Safe Place to Land”, which was written by Bareilles and highly-respect songwriter 🎼✍ Lori McKenna.

“So, say the Lord's Prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land.” 

Production by T-Bone Burnett and a co-write with Lori McKenna aren’t the only reasons why “A Safe Place to Land” is notable. Bareilles enlists the marvelous Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 John Legend for the assist.  Both musicians have tremendous vocal chemistry on this chilling ballad.  While more tempo wouldn’t have been a bad thing in the context of the sequencing of the album, if you’re going to close with a ballad, this one serves as a fitting coda. Worth noting, Bareilles shared with Apple Music that “I wrote this with Lori McKenna during the height of the border crisis, and it almost didn’t make the record… We wondered if it should be a stand-alone track to drive home the message. Getting to have John as a part of this project made the experience so special.”

6. All Time Low, “Safe”

💿 Wake Up, Sunshine • 🏷 Fueled by Ramen • 📅 2020 

“Safe, better keep that thought to yourself / When you find that place and it only lasts for a minute.” 🎵 “Safe” appears deep into 💿 Wake Up, Sunshine, the 2020 studio album by rock collective 🎙 All Time Low.  By deep I mean it’s the 10^th track on a 15-track album.  Admittedly, when originally reviewing Wake Up Sunshine, I didn’t think much of “Safe” considering it to be just that.  But, after revisiting it, it has its pros.

Of “Safe,” written by front man 🎙 Alex Gaskarth, 🎼✍ Phil Gornell, and 🎼✍ Zakk Cervini, the band describes it to Kerrang as “finding that place that makes you feel whole.”  They’d know better than any of us listeners, so I definitely concur with what they say. Garskath definitely delivers an authentic, expressive vocal performance as he touts the importance to finding that safe place.  He’s most effective and rousing on the centerpiece, better known as the chorus:

“So, put the car drive, and don’t stop runnin’ ‘til you’re long gone
(Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh)
You’re gonna be alright if you just stop thinkin’ it over
...They’ll never slow you down if you don’t look over your shoulder.”

7. Sade, “The Safest Place”

💿 Soldier of Love • 🏷 Sony • 📅 2010

At least since the 1980s, a 🎙 Sade album only comes around every now and then.  The gap between that last two albums by the 🏆 Grammy-winning British singer (🎙 Helen Adu) and her eponymous band was 10 years! That’s right, 💿 Soldier of Love (2010) arrived 10 years after 💿 Lover Rock (2000).  Even now, as this list is being published in 2021, it’s been 11 years since a new album. Yikes! The point? Enjoy the band when they release new music and treasure their classics.  While I wouldn’t consider “The Safest Place,” the closing joint from Soldier of Love, a classic necessarily, it’s certainly beautiful.

“My heart has been a lonely warrior
Who’s been to war, so you can be sure
In my heart your love has found
The safest hiding place.”

“The Safest Place,” interestingly, is the shortest song on Soldier of Love.  It’s the only record that isn’t three minutes or longer.  It doesn’t need excessive length to be successful mind you – it works just fine.  The aesthetic and overall vibe go a long way.  The production (Adu and 🎛 Mike Pela) is beautiful, while the overall sound is moody in quality. The strings, guitar and ukulele stand out in particular. Sade sounds fantastic, delivering chill, clear, and expressive vocals without breaking a sweat.  The songwriting (Adu and 🎼✍ Andrew Hale), particularly the aforementioned chorus, are stellar.

8. Rich Brian, “Drive Safe”

💿 The Sailor • 🏷 88rising/ 12Tone Music • 📅 2019

At age 16, Indonesian rapper 🎙 Rich Brian definitely offended people with the viral, controversial single 🎵 “Dat $tick” (he used the n-word, a no-no).  A misstep, he managed to rebound, eventually releasing a promising debut album in 2018 (💿 Amen).  In 2019, Brian took another step forward artistically on his alluring, eclectic sophomore album, 💿 The Sailor.  The ‘safe’ song at hand, 🎵 “Drive Safe,” marks one of the better moments from The Sailor.  

“Drive Safe” is beautiful, period.  That said, Rich Brian is clearly in reflective mode with memories running abundantly in his mind.  “Thank you for the memories, I don’t know what it means,” he sings, continuing, “It’s broken, don’t know how to fix it, I need a minute.” He’s definitely in his feels regarding the universal four-letter word, LOVE.  His singing vocals are quite lovely, particularly on the chorus.

“All these thoughts I have in my head
Got me blinded from the sunset
I'm tryin’ hard to stop the rain
‘Cause smilin’ doesn't feel the same
I just called to tell you ‘Drive safe’
Will I see you in the mornin’?
‘Cause I just wanna feel your touch
'Cause I don’t think I had enough.”

The deepness and richness of his voice continues to impress. Honestly, the song itself is pretty impressive, showing more range from this young star.

9. Rae Sremmurd, “Safe Sex Pay Checks”

💿 SremmLife • 🏷 Eardruma / Interscope • 📅 2015

“Safe sex, and paychecks / That’s what it’s all about, don’t forget about / Safe sex, and paychecks.” Wow, I’m not quite sure how to respond, 🎙 Rae Sremmurd.  Basically, as 🎙 Slim Jxmmi and 🎙 Swae Lee tell it, life is about having safe sex (condoms required) and making money.  The result, hence, from their 2015 debut album, 💿 SremmLife, is 🎵 “Safe Sex Pay Checks.”  Honestly, you can’t make this shit up.  

Give Rae Sremmurd credit for “wrapping it up” and endorsing condom use. Durex, LifeStyles, Trojan, and ‘rubbers’ companies worldwide had to be thrilled!  According to Slim Jxmmi, he’s into the “Rockstar life, fuck who don’t like it / Party all night, party all night /I came here to have a good time.” He goes onto say on the second verse, “Safe sex, no babies / Everybody go crazy, get wasted.”  As for Swae Lee, not only does he get the aforementioned, safe-sex touting chorus, he also drops party-driven pre-chorus, bridge (“Shots, shots, now let’s fuckin’ party”), and the first verse:

“These girls, they DTF, that drank got ‘em feelin’ they self
This nightlife shit ain’t new to me
Al' the bad bitches get loose for me.”

The shock value isn’t so much that two young men want to make bank and bang – many have similar aspirations.  That said, it’s still incredibly irresponsible, oversimplified, and lacks any sense of profundity. But considering I’m not a partier, guess I’ll be the square who simply can’t relate to the “nightlife shit” Swae Lee references.

10. Capital Cities, “Safe and Sound”

💿 In a Tidal Wave of Mystery • 🏷 Lazy Hooks / Capitol • 📅 2013

“Even if the sky is falling down / I know that we’ll be safe and sound / We’re safe and sound.” It’s always awesome when you can start and album off with a bang.  That’s exactly what 🎙 Capital Cities do on 🎵 “Safe and Sound,” the opener on their 2013 album, 💿 In a Tidal Wave of Mystery. Honestly, there’s no way we have a safe-fueled list without this certified bop written and produced by 🎙 Sebu Simonian and 🎙 Ryan Merchant (Capital Cities, of course). “Safe and Sound” definitely kicks things off in hella groovy fashion. The moment the record kicks off, it screams H-I-T, HIT!

Set in a major key, “Safe and Sound” is enthusiastic AF.  It definitely incites body movement, whether it’s foot tapping, head nodding, or full-on dancing. Adding to the excellence are respectable vocals and memorable lyrics, particularly on the recurrent, crowd-pleasing lines, “I could lift you up / I could show you what you wanna see / And take you where you wanna be.”  Of course, the titular lyrics are key on the chorus too: “Safe and sound / Hold your ground / Safe and sound.”

11. Men Without Hats, “Safety Dance”

💿 Rhythm of Youth • 🏷 UMG Recordings • 📅 1983 

“We can dance if we want to.” That’s right! “I say, we can go where we want to.” Totally agree! “I say, we can act if we want to!” Hell yeah!  Are you catching the drift? Have I illustrated clearly quoting 🎙 Men Without Hats? Men Without Hats give us a bible of sorts. No, not Biblical with a capital B, but definitely a compelling source to listen to regarding nonconformity.

Basically, the Canadian new wave collective encourages us to do whatever the hell we want to on their 1983 classic, 🎵 “Safety Dance.”  The mindset is screw what any- and everybody else says – I’m going to do my own thing.  This, of course, is best exemplified by the chorus where Men Without Hats are going to dance, dammit!

“I say, we can dance, we can dance
Everything is out of control
We can dance, we can dance
We’re doing it from pole to pole
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody, look at your hands
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody’s taking the chance
Safe to dance
Well, it’s safe to dance
Yes, it’s safe to dance.”