Savor The Greatness of These 13 SAVE Songs

Reading Time: 12 min read

Savor The Greatness of These 13 SAVE Songs features music courtesy of John Legend, Mariah Carey, ROLE MODEL, The Weekend, and Whitney Houston.

So, how many times have forgotten to SAVE a file? Man, oh, man, it’s a major bummer when lose that hard work! How many times have you received a SAVE THE DATE regarding an event you may or may not desire to attend? Also, getting a bit more personal, have you been SAVED? The common word in all three of these questions which really bear little importance to the musical compendium at hand is SAVE – DUH! That’s right, 🎧 Savor The Greatness of These 13 SAVE Songs is all about the word SAVE. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! It features music courtesy of 🎙 John Legend, 🎙 Mariah Carey, 🎙 ROLE MODEL, 🎙 The Weekend, and 🎙 Whitney Houston among others. So, make sure you SAVE your work, and SAVE some time so you can check out this savory, SAVE experience!

via GIPHY

1. Machine Gun Kelly, “god save me”

💿 Mainstream Sellout • 🏷 Bad Boy / Interscope • 📅 2022

“God save me, I’m fucked up / Ignoring my problems,” 🎙 Machine Gun Kelly asserts on 🎵 “God Save Me.” He adds, “You die, you’re iconic / More plaques for their office.” Woo! It’s a bold statement, but in truth, doesn’t the rapper turned pop-punk singer have a point? Also, isn’t it wonderful he’s seeking salvation? Haha!

“God Save Me” arrives as the second track from his second punk-pop LP, 💿 mainstream sellout, released in the year of our Lord, 2022 (I mean, he mentions God, so, it felt right). Kells sings about some serious pain in the record. Does he do so effectively? Eh, it’s so-so, all told. Also, to some degree, he’s predictable with pain, which is a fixture of punk. Still, as stated earlier, he does have a point. What is his point, you ask? Well, he specifically takes a shot at record labels, which can be messy, while also mentioning things like suicidal thoughts, depression, and alcoholism, which aren’t to be taken lightly.

Appears in 🔻:

13 Songs Filled with GOD (2022)

2. 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.” There has been some criticism of the abilities of her voice as she gets older and past her lucrative prime, but she remains 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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3-4. The Weekend, “Save Your Tears” / Remix (Ft. Ariana Grande)

💿 After Hours • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020 // 🎵 “Save Your Tears (Remix)” • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2021

“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!

The overall sound and vibe are preserved on 🎵 “Save Your Tears (Remix)”, which features 🏆 Grammy winning pop superstar, 🎙 Ariana Grande. The Weeknd shines, singing the first verse, refrain, pre-chorus, and chorus. The chorus is simple but ultimately memorable and definitely tuneful. Where we get contrast on the remix is the second verse, a totally new verse performed by Grande: “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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5-6. ROLE MODEL, “save a seat!” / “if Jesus saves, she’s my type”

💿 Rx • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2022

“One, two / One, two, fuck you.” Wow, what a count off 🎙 ROLE MODEL (Tucker Pillsbury) serves up on 🎵 “save a seat!”, the first of two SAVE songs from his debut album, 💿 Rx (2022). Once Pillsbury imparts the tale of the song, you understand where the f-bomb stems. Tucker speaks about a former girlfriend, apparently someone he was really into. He’s bothered, expectedly, when he sees her with someone else. Also, he criticizes her choice in men, something that in the third verse, might be justified (“You speak politely / Every time he speaks he has to yell”). Of course, Tucker still a seat saved for himself, which speaks volumes about his feelings on another intriguing moment.

“If Jesus saves then she’s my type / Kiss her face, fuck all night.” Woo! Clearly, this lady is the sugar honey iced tea to ROLE MODEL on the second SAVE song of Rx, 🎵 “if Jesus saves, she’s my type.” While the title + misusing Jesus won’t please some, it’s hard to deny how clever the song title is. Furthermore, the song is among the best from Rx, with some clever spiritual and not-so-spiritual lyrics. = Pillsbury never forces anything vocally, riding the colorful, driving production with ease. Listening to “if Jesus saves, she’s my type,” there’s an ease – a coolness. A vibe!

7. John Legend, “Save Room”

💿 Once Again • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2006

“Save room for my love / Save room for a moment to be with me / Save room for my love / Save a little, save a little for me.” In the 2000s, 🏆 Academy Award and Grammy Award winner 🎙 John Legend established himself a one of R&B’s most soulful and most talented artists 💪. He excelled in the neo-soul realm, delivering two particularly strong LPs: 💿 Get Lifted (2004) and 💿 Once Again (2006). Focusing on the latter, Once Again found Legend further elevating his skills. 🎵 “Save Room”, which brilliantly samples 🎵 “Stormy” by 🎙 Gábor Szabó shows the Legend at his finest. The modus operandi is simple: love, love, and more love. “Say you’ll be mine / Just a little bit of love / Is worth a moment of time,” Legend sings in the first verse. In the second, he adds, “This just might hurt a little / But, love hurts sometimes when you do it right / Don’t be afraid of a little bit of pain / Pleasure is on the other side.” Hmm 🤔, the question is, how much pain in the name of pleasure Johnny boy? Regardless, “Save Room” for love is a surefire vibe. Sophisticated, classy, and soulful vocals from John Legend, marvelous production from 🎛 will.i.am, and love-oriented songwriting make this an aughts classic!

8. 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, per 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.

via GIPHY

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9. 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.

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10. Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”

💿 Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 1977

“God save the Queen / The fascist regime…” Uh-oh! You cannot talk about a popular queen 🎙 Sex Pistols and NOT expect controversy. Furthermore, characterizing The Queen as fascist? Woo! 🎵 “God Save the Queen”, which appears on the iconic punk rock band’s sole album, 💿 Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols, is considered to be one of the more controversial tunes of them all. And no, we’re not referencing the British national anthem, which this legendary punk anthem mocks. Interestingly, the release of “God Save the Queen” coincided with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, something that only amplified flack received by the band. It’s unapologetic in its criticism of the monarch and the state of England under her reign. Given how younger individuals tend to be more liberal and rebellious, the notion of a strong reaction against the status quo (the monarchy in general) isn’t far-fetched.

“God save the queen

She ain’t no human being

There is no future

In England’s dreaming.”

Not a human being? No future in dreaming because it’s fascist! Bold, 🎙 Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), bold! There’s more of course: “God save the Queen / Cause tourists are money / And our figurehead / Is not what she seems.” The question that should be considered, of course, is this more aimed toward Queen Elizabeth II, who is controversially pictured on the cover art, or the monarchy itself. Lydon has emphasized no ill intent, essentially. Expectedly, “God Save the Queen” experienced ample backlash with no shortage of censorship – looking at you BBC. Interestingly, this single should’ve been no. 1 in the UK, but somehow (*cough, cough*) didn’t reach the no. 1 spot it earned. All told, 🎵 “God Save the Queen” is one of the greatest songs of all time and a supremely, historically important punk rock record.

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11. 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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12. Marvin Winans and The Perfected Praise Choir, “Jesus Saves”

💿 Introducing Perfect Praise • 🏷 Sparrow • 📅 1992

“Dum, dum, dum / Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum.” Those “dums” aren’t dumb in the least, but a memorable feature of 🎵 “Jesus Saves”, performed by 🎙 Marvin Winans and The Perfected Praise Choir on the 1992 album, 💿 Introducing Perfect Praise. Running north of nine minutes, “Jesus Saves” captivates every second of its duration. Here, 🎙 Marvin Winans and company tout the power of Jesus – his surefire excellence and wonder-working power. “I heard a joyful sound, Jesus saves, Jesus saves!” Now, ain’t that great news, y’all 🙌! “Spread the tiding,” Winans continues, “Spread them all around / Jesus saves, Jesus saves.” Yes, yes, yes – say that! Of course, the most memorable, moving lyrics come by way of the chorus, where 🎙 The Perfected Praise Choir give their all, with gritty ad-libs from the pastor: “To the utmost, Jesus saves! / To the utmost, Jesus saves! / He will pick you up and turn you around / Hallelujah, hallelujah, Jesus saves!” Three decades old as of publication, this recording of “Jesus Saves” never grows old. Why? The words ring true and never dare grow anachronistic. Believer or not, you’ll takeaway something special from this radiant black gospel gem.

Appears in 🔻:

Marvin Winans and The Perfected Praise Choir, “Jesus Saves”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 6 (2022)

13. Whitney Houston, “Saving All My Love For You”

💿 Whitney Houston • 🏷 Arista • 📅 1985

“But no other man’s gonna do / So I’m saving all my love for you.” Who sung 🎵 “Saving All My Love For You”? Why, the late, great 🎙 Whitney Houston, of course, on her 1985 album, 💿 Whitney Houston. Correct! Who sung it originally? Believe it or not, it was NOT Whitney Houston. The shock! The awe! Originally, this 🎼 ✍ Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser-penned gem was recorded by wife/husband duo 🎙 Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Yes, that means that the Whitney Houston version, which has become the DEFINITIVE take, is a cover 🤯! That delightful, once in a life time cover ended up being a no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Honestly, when Whitney Houston recorded a song, it became hers. 🎙 Aretha Franklin was another musician who had a reputation for making covers the definitive version. “Saving All My Love For You” is a prime example of that Whitney magic. Her tone is stunning – celestial to the n^th degree. Additionally, even though she didn’t write this song, she sells it with incredible authenticity (“‘Cause tonight is the night for a feeling alright / We’ll be making love the whole night through / So I’m saving all my love”). It’s the personality, the nuances, the runs – the top-notch musicianship. Also, the saxophone (🎷 Tom Scott) doesn’t hurt either! This superbly produced (Masser), incredibly memorable record exemplifies why Whitney Houston was the superstar she was 🤩.

Appears in 🔻:

Whitney Houston, “Saving All My Love For You”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 62 (2023)

Savor The Greatness of These 13 SAVE Songs [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista, Bad Boy, Columbia, Fueled By Ramen, Interscope, Monkey Puzzle, RCA, Republic, Sparrow, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner; Klaus Nielsen, Thirdman via Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Dorothe, Gino Crescoli from Pixabay]

Savor The Greatness of These 13 SAVE Songs | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on April 19, 2023April 19, 2023