Save | 5ive Songs

1. 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, who is 50, 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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2. The Weekend, “Save Your Tears”

💿 After Hours • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020

“Save your tears for another day.” 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B standout 🎙 The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) was royally snubbed by the Grammys for his 2020 album, 💿 After Hours, his best album to date. Everyone is well aware of this.  Nonetheless, that doesn’t take away from the greatness of the album, including single, 🎵 “Save Your Tears.”

In the context of the album, “Save Your Tears” keeps that 80s nostalgia going strong.  Tesfaye embraces the gift that is synthpop, sigh.  Furthermore, vocally, he continues to take a victory lap.  The same could be said regarding the simple, tuneful, and highly effective chorus, which instantly latches. 🎛 Max Martin, 🎛 Oscar Holter, and The Weeknd himself serve as producers.  Man, do they do an awesome job!

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 Tears: 3BOPS No. x (2021)

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3. Sia, “Saved My Life”

🎵 “Saved My Life” • 🏷 Monkey Puzzle / RCA • 🗓 2020

“I know that in darkness, I have found my light / I know that in darkness, I’ve been given sight.” Clearly, 🎙 Sia feels totally indebted to her lifesaver on her 2020 single, 🎵 “Saved My Life”, born out of the coronavirus pandemic. It was debuted during Americares’ COVID is NO Joke livestream fundraiser, according to Rolling Stone. 🎼✍ Dua Lipa, and 🎼✍ Greg Kurstin wrote “Save My Life” with her, with Kurstin unleashing his magic on the production. The record commences with a lovely piano introduction.  One of the selling points is how the song establishes itself and percolates.  Sia begins singing with the memorable lyric, “Boom, boom, boom / Beats my heart,” signaling the first verse. From the start, she delivers excellent vocals; her performance is authentic, beautiful, and expressive.

As far as the songwriting, there’s lots of repetition on the verses.  Even so, they effectively convey the point. Following the enigmatic first verse, the second is more established, with a full complement of instrumentation. The crowning achievement is the soaring, empowering, memorable, and thoughtful chorus. “Saved My Life” keeps things relatively simple, but it’s definitely filled with gratitude – a winner through and through.

Also appears on 🔽:

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4. Twenty One Pilots, “Christmas Saves the Year”

🎵 “Christmas Saves the Year” • 🏷 Fueled by Ramen • 📅 2020

🎙 Twenty One Pilots released their first ever Christmas song, 🎵 “Christmas Saves the Year”, in December 2020. While not even the jolliest holiday of the year can atone for the hellishness coronavirus has unleashed, it is a time for us to spend with family (safely) and be thankful for the most important things we have.  That’s the sentiment that 🎙 Tyler Joseph seeks to emphasize on this thoughtfully penned and tenderly performed number.  Joseph acknowledges the challenges of the pandemic Christmas of 2020 – “Plans are thrown to the wayside / Frozen days of the week” – but also gives a sense of hope.  This is best captured on the centerpiece, the chorus:

“But everybody wants to make it home this year
Even if the world is crumblin’ down
‘Cause everybody’s got somebody who’s got their name on a shelf
With cheap décor and flavored cheer
You rest assured that Christmas save the year.”

Twenty One Pilots come through once again and give people the glorious gift of uplifting music.  It didn’t destroy the virus, but the messaging assuaged by all means.

Also appears on 🔽:

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5. BØRNS, “God Save Our Young Blood”

Ft. Lana Del Rey

💿 Blue Madonna • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2018

🎵 “God Save Our Young Blood” superbly commences 💿 Blue Madonna, the sophomore album by 🎙 BØRNS. The vocals begin relatively low-key, while the sound is cool, yet mysterious. There’s an air of chill, yet BØRNS still exhibits energy. Throughout, 🎙 Lana Del Rey sings alongside him, as opposed to being featured in a substantial solo role.  The pairing of their two distinct voices is incredibly strong 💪.

A true fever pitch occurs on the chorus:

“God save, God save our young blood
God save, God save our young love
Hot pavement, hot pavement, hot wheels in the sun
God save our young blood.”

Here, the enigma grows more enigmatic, with synth-driven production leading the charge. As the ear adjusts and familiarizes itself, the magic is revealed in all its glory.

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