Space | 5ive Songs

1. Nick Jonas, “Spaceman”

💿  Spaceman • 🏷  Island • 📅  2021

🎵 “Spaceman”, the promo single from 💿  Spaceman, the 2021 studio album from 🎙 Nick Jonas, has ample pros. Start with an elite team of writers: Jonas, 🎼 ✍  Greg Kurstin, and 🎼  ✍  Maureen “Mozella” McDonald. The backdrop constructed by Kurstin fits the urban-pop sensibilities that Jonas has consistently exhibited as an adult pop musician.  This is particularly pronounced on the chorus, where the influence of hip-hop can be heard with the banging, souped-up beat.

Beyond the backdrop, Jonas sounds great.  He gives us plenty of middle register during the verses, while flexing more of his upper register (namely falsetto) on the chorus. As far as the songwriting, he sings and reflects about the state of the world with politics, coronavirus, and most of all, feeling isolated – as if he’s in outer space. It’s a relatable theme and ultimately, a highly effective record.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗  🎧  ‘S’ Songs: No Rhyme or Reason, Vol. 2

2. Sia & David Guetta, “Floating Through Space”

💿  Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture • 🏷  Atlantic • 📅  2021

“You made it through another day / You did it, let’s celebrate.” Agreed 🎙 Sia! She collaborates with 🎙  David Guetta on 🎵  “Floating Through Space”, a song that appears on her album/soundtrack, Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture.  Ultimately, the results are positive 👌 . “Floating Through Space” was written by the tandem of 🎼 ✍  Greg Kurstin and Sia – power duo to say the least! As always, she delivers expressive, cutting vocals.  She never has a problem of delivering a commanding performance. The work behind the boards is quite bright and energetic, set in major. The backdrop arrives at the hands of Guetta and Kurstin, as well as 🎛  Mike Hawkins, and 🎛  Tony Green.  The drums are rhythmic and driving, while the synths are warm yet potent. 

Top-rate vocals, check.  Strong production, also, check.  So, that leaves the songwriting.  As always, with Sia’s pen at work, the listener is treated to thoughtfully penned joint.  The verses are definitely sweet, while the pre-chorus does a fine job of building up the crème de la crème – the centerpiece – the chorus! You won’t be able to get this gem of a refrain out of your head:

“So today, baby
Remember it’s okay
We’re floatin’ through space.”

3. Conan Gray, “Astronomy”

🎵  “Astronomy” • 🏷  Republic • 📅  2021

“As much as it seems like you own my heart / It’s astronomy, we’re two worlds apart.” Ah, 🎙  Conan Gray captures the plight of love perfectly on single, 🎵  “Astronomy”. The aforementioned lyrics excerpted from the chorus of this Gray/ 🎼 ✍  Daniel Nigro co-write (Nigro produces as well) show a relationship dying – running its course. Despite having “Seen everything from Saturn to Mars,” keeping the astronomy references going, things have changed, and two people have, regrettably, drifted apart.

A classy record through and through, Gray sings beautifully, expressively, and most notably, sincerely.  His tone matches the singer/songwriter vibe, as he depicts the good times they’ve experienced as couple, yet ultimately admits, “It’s time to go, it’s time to go.” On the second verse, one of the most gut wrenching and poetic lyrics is when he sings, “I thought if I wandered, I’d fall back in love / You said distance brings fondness but guess not with us.” Ouch – that totally stings.  One of the best moments is the bridge, where the intensity is ramped up exponentially relative to the rest of the song.  Here, Gray just lets her rip – more than I’ve ever heard – as he asserts:

“Stop tryna keep us alive
You can’t force the stars to align
When they’ve already died
Oh, we’ve died, ooh.” 

“Astronomy” is intriguing from start to finish.  This is a relatable singer/songwriter styled pop cut that shows the versatility of Gray, particularly the rousing ending from the bridge on.

Also appears on 🔽:

🔗 🎧  ‘A’ Songs: No Rhyme or Reason, Vol. 2

4. Future, “Outer Space Bih”

💿  High Off Life • 🏷  Epic • 📅  2020

In 2020, melodic rap veteran 🎙 Future released 💿  High Off Life, an enjoyable album with its fair share of moments yet failed to move the needle. Of course, this deep into Future’s career, he has little left to prove if anything.  Anyways, the autotune loving rappers goes outer space on the highlight, 🎵 “Outer Space Bih.” Of course, “bih” is slang/short form for bitch – just in case you didn’t catch that!

Musically, “Outer Space Bih” is a total V-I-B-E! The piano coupled with the animated beat is #winning, as is the chorus – overabundance of “woah(s)” and all.  Furthermore, give Future credit for his chiller, mellower vibes in the context of High Off Life.  And I quote: “Rocky icy watches, woah, woah, woah /… Pineapple Tropicana, outer space bitch.”  High Off Life indeed!

5. Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”

💿  1989 • 🏷  Big Machine • 📅  2014

Some artists don’t need introductions.  🎙  Taylor Swift is one of them – PERIOD.  Some songs don’t need introductions either.  🎵  “Blank Space” is one of them – PERIOD.  Some albums had a huge mark on the world.  It shouldn’t surprise you, but 💿  1989, which earned Swift her second 🏆  Grammy for Album of the Year (she since won a third), needs no further explanation either.  But, since a blurb is required for these lists, well, “Here, my dear, here it is.”

“Blank Space” screams hit the first time you hear it.  The production (🎛  Shellback and 🎛  Max Martin) impresses, with its drum programming and synths, as well as acoustic and electric guitars. Hella catchy, the infectious chorus, the centerpiece, ranks among its best moments, with its sweet, harmonized vocals:

“So, it’s gonna be forever
Or it’s gonna go down in flames
You can tell me when it’s over
If the high was worth the pain
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They’ll tell you I'm insane
‘Cause you know I love the players
And you love the game...”

Ultimately, Taylor Swift does the damn thing here.  “Blank Space” is that pop song that so many of her rivals would die for.