Songs Where Musicians Just Can’t, Vol. 1 | Playlist

This random playlist highlights 10 songs where musicians just ‘can’t.’ Featured songs hail from The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, Drake, and many more.

At The Musical Hype, we love playlists – all kinds of playlists! Most of the playlists we serve up are criminal (as in true crime), risqué (we covered paraphilia), or random (this here).  For our latest entertaining waste of time, we cover a list of songs where musicians just “can’t.” The only rule in this list is that the song title has to feature the world can’t.  As you can imagine, there are there’s lots and lots of can’t songs.  For our purposes, we are only featuring 10.  That leaves room for growth in the future…or not.  Whatever, here are Songs Where Musicians Just ‘Can’t,’ Vol. 1.

1. The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”

Album: Beauty Behind the Madness, 2015

“I can’t feel my face when I’m with you / but I love it, but I love it.” For some reason, many listeners mistake the former no. 1 hit as a love song.  It’s not.  “Can’t Feel My Face” dabbles in a topic which The Weeknd has tackled many times throughout his career – drugs.  In fact, The Weeknd speaks on this misconception in his song, “Reminder” from Starboy:

“I just won a new award for a kids show / talking ‘bout a face numbing off a bag a blow / I’m like god damn b*tch I am not a Teen choice / God damn b*tch I am not a bleach boy.” 

2. Justin Timberlake, “Can’t Stop the Feeling”

Album: Trolls, 2016

It’s rare that a soundtrack song makes a big splash that actually transcends the soundtrack that it hails from.  It’s even more rare when the song is from a children’s film soundtrack.  That’s the case with the feel-good, sunny, Justin Timberlake record, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” No, “Can’t Stop the Feeling” isn’t pop music’s second coming, but it’s incredibly fun and infectious.  If nothing else, that falsetto by J.T. is on-point.

3. Drake, “Can’t Have Everything”

Album: More Life, 2017 

Ah “Can’t Have Everything,” a highlight from the playlist-album More Life, courtesy of Drake.  The standout features a stellar beat, which allows Drake to flex effortlessly. As the title suggests, Drake wants it all, but in life you simply “can’t have everything.” At the end, his mom leaves a voicemail in which she’s concerned with his trust issues, a prominent theme of his music.

4. dvsn, “Can’t Wait”

Album: Morning After, 2017 

What exactly is it that R&B duo dvsn can’t wait for on “Can’t Wait?” Love, but in the meantime, sex.  No, sex is never explicitly referenced, but it’s clear that’s what Daniel Daley is getting at. On the chorus, he sings:

“Life’s too short, let’s not waste / Any time, we can’t wait / Cause we might find, that there’s no time / Cause life’s too short / You know that.” 

5. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Can’t Hold Us”

Ft. Ray Dalton

Album: The Heist, 2012

According to the hook, sung by featured guest Ray Dalton:

“Can we go back? This is the moment / Tonight, is the night, we’ll fight ‘til it’s over / So we put our hands up / Like the ceiling can’t hold us / Like the ceiling can’t hold us.”

Essentially, the shine, the ambition, and the success of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis can’t be stopped.  In the bigger scheme of things, this celebratory anthem seems to empower everybody.  If you set your mind to it, if you work hard, “if you can see it, then you can do it,” then nobody can “hold” you back.

6. Shania Twain, “You Can’t Buy Love”

Album: Now, 2017

“You Can’t Buy Love” appears on the highly-anticipated comeback album from Canadian country-pop artist Shania Twain.  On “You Can’t Buy Love,” a standout from an somewhat uneven affair, she goes beyond country, embracing vintage pop and retro-soul.  Furthermore, she incorporating some ‘tongue in cheek’ vibes, “You Can’t Be Love” ends up being one of the most fun, memorable songs from Now. Obviously, no need to expand anymore on what she “just can’t” do – the title says it all.

7. Lecrae, “Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination)”

Album: All Things Work Together, 2017

After a successful run of projects, the latest Lecrae album, All Things Work Together, received less attention for whatever reason.  It even missed the top 10 of the Billboard 200, settling for a no. 11 start.  Nonetheless, diminished numbers and all, it doesn’t matter.  The Christian rapper has bigger, better things in mind that don’t involve money.  On the pre-chorus, Lecrae raps:

“So, tell depression it can fly away / Tell my doubts that they can die today / I’ma catch me a wave, sail away / Can’t stop me now.”

8. Brett Eldredge, “You Can’t Stop Me”

Ft. Thomas Rhett

Album: Illinois, 2015

In 2015, two unique country musicians collaborated together for a duet: Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett.  The result was a bizarre, but appealing record, “You Can’t Stop Me,” the second song from Eldredge’s sophomore album, Illinois.  Groovy and quite different from traditional country, it’s clear that neither can be stopped. From what exactly? Living a “crazy life,” giving “crazy love” …something like that.

“Just like the roof is on fire / So turn up the heat / All my friends are here / But the drinks on me / Pretty girls around / Everywhere you look / It’s right on my face / You can say I’m hooked on / This crazy life I’m living / This crazy love I’m giving / Sit back, just watch, you’ll see / You can try but you can’t stop me / You can’t stop me / No, you can’t.”

9. Miley Cyrus, “We Can’t Stop”

Album: Bangerz, 2013

“It’s our party we can do what we want… / We can kiss who we want / We can screw who we want.”

It’s almost hard to believe there was a time that Miley Cyrus couldn’t be “tamed.” That period actually occurred post-Can’t Be Tamed on her 2013 album, Bangerz.  On Bangerz, Cyrus essentially embraced hip-hop and urban culture to the fullest.  Sometimes it was triumphant, and at other times, shameful and disgraceful.  Regardless, Cyrus superbly captured her unapologetic spirit on the anthem of her supposed short-lived urban phase, “We Can’t Stop.”

“So la-da-di-da-di, we like to party / Dancing with Molly / Doing whatever we want / This our house / This is our rules / And we can’t stop / And we won’t stop / Can’t you see it’s we who own the night? / Can’t you see it’s we who ‘bout that life?”

10. Kanye West, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”

Album: Graduation, 2007

Kanye West has said lots and LOTS of messed up things.  While Justin Bieber denounced the fact that he was an asshole, one wonders… Regardless, West admits himself that you “can’t tell me nothing” on his hit, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” from his third studio album, Graduation.

The infectious hook sums it up:

“La, la, la-la / Wait ‘til I get my money right / La, la, la-la / Then you can’t tell me nothing, right? / Excuse me, was you saying something? / Uh uh, you can’t tell me nothing / You can’t tell me nothing / Uh uh, you can’t tell me nothing.”

Throughout the verses, Kanye flexes, and flexes, and then, he flexes some more.  Also quoting West directly, “No one man should have all that power.”

Photo Credits: Republic, RCA, Cash Money, OVO Sound / Warner Bros., Macklemore, Mercury, Reach, Atlantic, Roc-A-Fella