Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 3

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Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 3 features songs by 21 Savage, beabadoobee, Future, Johnny Nash, and Mary J. Blige.

Can you see 👀 it? Hopefully, the answer is a resounding yes! Cutting straight to the chase, The Musical Hype has another playlist – shocking, right? Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 3 arrives five years after Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 1 (2019) and Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 2 (2019). The sole criterion for this musical compendium: songs must feature some form of the word see. Seen, hence, for example, is acceptable. Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 3 features songs by 21 Savage, beabadoobee, Future, Johnny Nash, and Mary J. Blige. So, without prolonging the intro needlessly, let’s jump into these ‘must-see,’ rather, ‘must-hear’ Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 3!

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1. Johnny Nash, “I Can See Clearly Now”

2. beabadoobee, “Ever Seen”

3. Future & Metro Boomin, “Seen it All”

4. 21 Savage, “see the real”

5. The Three Degrees, “When Will I See You Again”

6. Jude York, “All I See is Him”

7. Kodak Black, “Lemme See”

8. Jack Harlow, “I WANNA SEE SOME ASS”

9. The Dramatics, “Whatcha See is Whatcha You Get”

10. Mary J. Blige, “We Ride (I See The Future)”

11. The Chi-Lites, “Have You Seen Her”

1. Johnny Nash, “I Can See Clearly Now”

I Can See Clearly Now // Sony BMG Music Entertainment // 1972

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone / I can see all obstacles in my way.” Iconic lyrics! “I Can See Clearly Now” was performed, written, and produced by Johnny Nash, who incorporated pop, reggae, and soul into his music. A no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, the single earned Nash his sole gold single. “I Can See Clearly” is the seventh track on his 1972 album, I Can See Clearly Now. So, what makes “I Can See Clearly Now” the bomb diggity? Well, expressive and exuberant lead vocals from Nash play a sizable role. Also, the positive vibes of the songwriting truly put the cherry on top. The first verse, excerpted above, continues: “Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind / It’s gonna be a bright, bright, sun shiny day.” Similarly, in the second verse, Nash speaks about “That rainbow I’ve been praying for,” signaling surefire happiness! If that’s not enough, in the bridge, Nash sees “Nothing but blue skies.” Ooh-wee! The production matches the exuberance of the lyrics and singing, making this easily one of my favorite songs my elementary music teacher played. Sadly, Nash died at 80 in 2020 but his iconic song lives on forever!

Appears in 🔻:

Johnny Nash, I Can See Clearly Now: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 154 (2023)

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2. beabadoobee, “Ever Seen”

This Is How Tomorrow Moves // Dirty Hit // 2024

“And when I get too high, and I can’t breathe / I can’t lie, he has the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen.” Men with pretty eyes – that’s something we can all get behind, beabadoobee (Bea Kristi) 😍. That said, on “Ever Seen”, the eighth track on the Filipino, Gen-Z musician’s 2024 album, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, he first describes the beauty of her eyes (“Said I had the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen”). Oh, love, what a beautiful and glorious thing.

On “Ever Seen,” the singer/songwriter has experienced her fair share of issues. While the literal high of love is part of the equation, beabadoobee has also experienced the high of substances, asserting in the first verse, “Can’t help going through it / Swear it’s just the comedown that made me do it.” Word. She adds, “My mind’s spent and I show it.” In the second verse, the musician is transparent about mental health issues, singing, “I’ve been through this too many times not to notice / It’s been rough, but I’ve felt worse / I’ll pull myself back up.” Bea sings radiantly in the song which she penned herself. Jacob Bugden and Rick Rubin produced it. Their contributions behind the boards are sweet. The accompaniment, much like Bea’s voice, is gorgeous. The backdrop is colorful and rhythmic and sounds optimistic despite the past setbacks the singer has experienced. As “Ever Seen” progresses, the instrumental grows more robust. This song is a surefire bop.

Appears in 🔻:

beabadoobee, Ever Seen: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 87 (2024)

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3. Future & Metro Boomin, “Seen it All”

WE DON’T TRUST YOU // Wilburn Holding Co. / Boominati Worldwide / Epic / Republic // 2024

“Me and my brothers, we puttin’ freaks in rotation / Sometimes they move on, they still can’t replace / I’ll lose a stone and get it replaced the same day.” Those are some intriguing lyrics, Future. They hail from the chorus of “Seen it All,” The 15^th track from his 2024 collaborative album with Metro Boomin, WE DON’T TRUST YOU. “Seen it All” is set in a minor key. As always, Metro Boomin stitches up the track like a champ. The keys, synths, and beat stand out. Allen Ritter and Peter Lee Johnson also produced the song. As for Future, he is true to self. His rhymes are aggressive, while his cadence and overall flow are sick. Does he say anything of substance? Not so much, but he certainly says a lot! He opens the first verse with a bang: “Brodie’s bitch is back out, rocking these platinum chains / She give it to a thorough nigga, that’s my claim to fame.” Woo! He also concludes the second verse with a banger of a line: “Lookin’ up to mobsters as kids, that was us / Teflon Pluto, I’m not the nigga you can touch.”

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4. 21 Savage, “see the real”

American dream // Slaughter Gang LLC / Epic // 2024

In the words of Grammy-winning rapper 21 Savage, “When you tell somebody no, you see the real in ‘em.” Facts 💯! “See the real” is the 10^th track from the rapper’s 2024 album, american dream. In the melodic chorus, the first section heard, 21 is melodic but anything but soft. “Another body get dropped, I don’t feel different / Took some Ls, but I’m still winnin’ / You knew she was a thot, why you still with her?” Beyond the melodic chorus, 21 Savage continues to ‘keep it a buck.’ “Try to take my bitch, you get your neck slit,” he spits in the first verse, continuing, “Call me Santa Claus, ‘cause I’m rich-rich.” Oh, shit! In the second, he “Got your baby mama with me askin’ for the coco / Not Chanel either, nah, she wanna do the blow-blow.” In addition to drugs, 21 informs us that “Pussy good, but I can’t hit without no rubber / She start trippin’, I’ma go and get another.” At least he advocates for safe sex! OG Parker, Smash David, Tenroc, and Dez Wright produced “see the real.” In addition to compelling rhymes by 21 Savage, the song benefits from the warm instrumental with a rhythmic beat.

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5. The Three Degrees, “When Will I See You Again”

The Three Degrees // Assorted Music, Inc. d/b/a Philadelphia International // 1973

“When will I see you again? / When will we share precious moments?” R&B trio The Three Degrees was comprised Sheila Ferguson, Fayette Pinkney, and Valerie Holiday at the time they released their beloved, 1973 classic, “When Will I See You Again”. This no. 2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 appeared as the fourth track on their Philadelphia International debut, simply titled, The Three Degrees. The record was written and produced by iconic Philadelphia soul architects Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. With a lush backdrop (rhythm section, horns, strings), superb songwriting, and the compelling lead vocals of Ferguson, “When Will I See You Again” is epic.

As the excerpted lyrics suggest, matters of the heart drive the narrative of “When Will I See You Again.” This is always a great theme for a soul record. The Three Degrees have questions regarding the state of the relationship… or lack thereof, possibly. “When will our hearts beat together?” Ferguson asks, continuing, “Are we in love or just friends? / Is this my beginning or is it the end?” The lyrics are simple but ultra-relatable. When it comes to someone you like romantically, you want to see them frequently. In this case, the trio isn’t sure exactly where things stand, hence why this utterly sublime joint is titled with a question, “When Will I See You Again”. At just about three minutes in duration, this song right here is the definition of three minutes of heaven 😇.

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6. Jude York, “All I See is Him”

“All I See Is Him” // Yoyo Music // 2023

“Everybody sees him as a million things / But all I see is him.” Sigh, how beautiful, Jude York. Furthermore, this boy is special to the Australian pop artist. The expression and nuance that York sings with in “All I See Is Him” is fitting given his ode to this special individual. This boy is viewed as ‘many things’ by others. However, it is how special he is to Jude that matters. York perfectly paints a gay boy fantasy: “He’s every torso on the sand / He’s every daydream in slow motion that I’ve ever had.” Still, the moments that resonate the most are dedicated and sentimental. Perhaps it’s still partial fantasy, but the at end of the first verse, it sounds incredibly sweet when Jude sings, “And, as he drifts off in the ocean, he whispers my name.”

More colorful and realistic is the second verse, where the boyfriend’s flaws and idiosyncrasies endear him to York. “He’s like drunk dancing in the rain,” he sings at the end of the second verse, “‘Cause, when his laugh makes me dizzy, it heals all the pain.” Of course, it is the chorus that is the centerpiece, where #Relationship Goals arrive in all their glory:

“When he holds me

Wrapped in our bed sheets

Nobody else sees

But he’s got a piece of me

And he knows it

The way he juxtaposes

Everybody sees him as a million things

But all I see is him.”

Honestly, listening to “All I See Is Him” makes me want to find love – oh, the feels, the feels, the feels. Makes sense, given the fact that Jude York penned this as a gay wedding song. And, it doesn’t matter the type of feels – LOVE IS LOVE, BABY! Jude shines, once again!

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7. Kodak Black, “Lemme See”

When I Was Dead // Vulture Love / Capitol // 2023

“Let me see, let me see, let me see, let me see.” Ooh, wee! Fittingly, on his banger, “Lemme See”, rapper Kodak Black repeats the titular lyric throughout. This trap joint, featuring a banging beat and minimalist production by Schife, appears as the sixth track from his 2023 LP When I Was Dead. Listening to “Lemme See” – well, at least the badass instrumental – it’s easy to get hyped TF up! The backdrop fuels the fire. Black deserves credit too. His cadence and flow are on point. He rides the minimalist backdrop well with his agile, rhythmic bars. The rub, however, is the lack of ‘protein’ if you catch my drift. The lyrics require some decoding, and more substance wouldn’t hurt. Still, give Black credit for the many Florida references, and indisputable confidence.

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8. Jack Harlow, “I WANNA SEE SOME ASS”

Sweet Action // Generation Now / Atlantic // 2020

“I wanna see some ass /… Baby, can you do it like that?” Well, shallow lyrics like that leave little to the imagination, Jack Harlow. When a song is titled “I WANNA SEE SOME ASS”, you know it’s intended for the bedroom, nighttime, etc. “She said, ‘I don’t wanna move too fast’ / ‘Til she hit that gas.” Woo! “I WANNA SEE SOME ASS” expectedly lacks depth and profundity. But give the Kentucky-bred, Grammy-nominated rapper credit – he’s honest about what he desires on the third track from Sweet Action, which also features jetsonmade. Jetsonmade produced alongside CuBeatz. The theme is loud and clear – SEX. “I WANNA SEE SOME ASS” exemplifies fuckboy rap. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily considering how often other rappers rap about sex and sexual encounters. Jack is confident AF making it clear, “And I’m still flyer than a bitch / And ya boyfriend, well he just not that.” Hey, it’s a funny lyric. The second verse grows more explicit, with the gem “Strip club, pre-cum off of liquor, fell in love with a stripper…” Oh my! “I WANNA SEE SOME ASS” also wasn’t intended to have much – rather – any substance. We have a cocky, confident rapper who’s thinking with his pants.

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9. The Dramatics, “Whatcha See is Whatcha You Get”

Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get // Concord Music Group, Inc. // 1971

Did you know, “Some people are made of plastic / And you know, some people are made of wood”? According to Detroit-based R&B collective The Dramatics, that is the case! Furthermore, on “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”, the fourth track from their 1972 album, Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get, “Some people have hearts of stone / Some people (Some people) / Are up to no good.” Valid points made on this gem, which peaked at no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Even though “some people” are suspect, The Dramatics ensure you – her – are aware “I’m for real!” “Whatcha” marked the first of two top-ten hits by The Dramatics. It features an epic, soulful groove. Beyond the groove, the production is electrifying with its blend of the rhythm section firing on all cylinders, winds (horns, flutes, oboe), and picturesque strings. The vocals are marvelous vocals, with the collective doing a fabulous job splitting lead vocal duties and providing contrast. The centerpiece is the incredibly catchy chorus which ranks among the crème de la crème of the 1970s:

“Whatcha see (Whatcha see)

Is whatcha get (Is whatcha get)

Whatcha see (Whatcha see)

Is whatcha get (Is what you get)

I said, what you see (Whatcha see)

Is whatcha get now, baby (Is what you get)

And the real thing (The real thing)

Is the best thing yet (The best thing yet)”

The Dramatics gives us sheer authenticity on “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”.

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10. Mary J. Blige, “We Ride (I See The Future)”

Reflections – A Retrospective // Geffen // 2006

“Just can’t help it, I love my hun / All that I need and all that I want.” Back in 2006, when “We Ride (I See The Future)” arrived, Mary J. Blige was happily married. The single, from her greatest hits compilation, Reflections – A Retrospective, speaks about looking forward to growing stronger as a couple. In the chorus, Blige asserts, “From the day to the night / We ride, we ride, we ride /… I see the future, baby / You and I, better with time.” Sadly, her future with husband Kendu Isaacs ended in 2018 after 15 years of marriage, but it doesn’t take away from the bright, uplifting nature of the song. MJB penned “We Ride” alongside Bryan-Michael Cox, Johnta Austin, and Kendrick Dean. Cox and Dean produced it. The smooth piano and sophisticated contemporary R&B vibes catch the ear.

The star of the show is Mary J. Blige. She is authentic, dynamic, expressive, and heartfelt in her performance. She captures a happiness she didn’t believe she would ever find. “Now ladies if you got a man and he treat you real good / Ain’t you gon’ flex every chance that you get,” she sings in the first verse, adding, “Now ain’t you gonna love him just like you should? / Especially when you never thought you would.” In the second verse, she addresses the men: “Now fellas if you got a girl and she treat you right / Ain’t you gonna spend every dollar, every cent? /… Especially when she’s reppin’ you for life.” Aww! Blige amplifies the feels in the bridge when she asserts, “Love is a mountain and we’re at the top.” Sadly, not everybody experiences the love that Blige sings about in “We Ride (I See The Future)”. Some experience it for a while but the ‘honeymoon’ ends. Regardless, just hearing about a love like this makes you want it. It drives you to search and fight for something so substantial.

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11. The Chi-Lites, “Have You Seen Her”

The Ultimate Chi-Lites // Brunswick Record Corp. // 2006

“Well, I know I can’t hide from a memory / ‘Though day after day I’ve tried / I keep sayin’ she’ll be back / But today again, I lied.” Those spoken word lyrics performed by Eugene Record grace one of the greatest soul songs of all time, “Have You Seen Her”. The Chi-Lites were a highly successful soul collective formed in Chicago. “Have You Seen Her,” one of their biggest hits, was a pop hit, peaking at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The record originally appeared on their 1971 album, (For God’s Sake) Give More Power to the People. “Oh, I see her face everywhere I go / On the street and even at the picture show,” Record sings, following the spoken word intro. He continues with the signature lyrics, “Have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her?” The Chi-Lites are searching for their exes and lament that she’s gone and not coming back. “Why, oh why / Did she have to leave and go away,” they sing dramatically, continuing, “Ooh, oh, I’ve been used to having someone to lean on / And I’m lost, baby, I’m lost.” While there’s ample sadness (and falsetto) over the loss and expiration of love, that Eugene Record helmed backdrop is incredibly soulful. Additionally, the iconic frontman penned the record alongside Barbara Acklin. Fittingly, towards the end of this five-and-a-half-minute bop, there’s additional spoken word, finding Record continuing to reflect on the loss. “Oh doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo / Have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her?” #Classic and honestly, what else is there to say? This record speaks for itself.

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~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~

Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 3 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Assorted Music, Inc. d/b/a Philadelphia International, Atlantic, Boominati Worldwide, Brunswick Record Corp., Capitol, Concord Music Group, Inc., Dirty Hit, Epic, Geffen, Generation Now, Republic, Slaughter Gang LLC, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Vulture Love, Wilburn Holding Co., Yoyo Music; Kevin Schmid, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

Songs That Require Sharp Sight to See, Vol. 3 | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on November 22, 2024November 22, 2024