Story | 3 to 5 BOPS

Story: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 16 (2023), features musical BOPS courtesy of Conan Gray, Jay-Z, JORDY, Kehlani, and Taylor Swift.

Ah, you know what time it is! It’s 3 to 5 BOPS time – WOO! On 3 to 5 BOPS, it’s all about brevity and sweetness… for the most part! There’s a theme/topic, 3, 4, or 5 songs, and a blurb – two paragraphs or less.  3 to 5 BOPS, hence, is a mini playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  In the 16^th edition of 3 to 5 BOPS (2023), we select songs that are associated with STORY in some form or fashion. The BOPS arrive courtesy of 🎙 Conan Gray, 🎙 Jay-Z, 🎙 JORDY, 🎙 Kehlani, and 🎙 Taylor Swift. Okay, let’s get into it!

1. JORDY, “Story of a Boy”

💿 Boy • 🏷 300 Entertainment • 🗓 2023

“This is the story of a boy / I’d adore him if I had a choice,” 🎙 JORDY asserts on 🎵 “Story of a Boy” (💿 Boy, 2023) covering the 2000 🎙 Nine Days classic, 🎵 “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”. According to MTV, the openly gay pop musician is the first person to be granted permission to cover the song!  With the blessing of Nine Days front man, 🎙 John Hampson,  JORDY transforms the “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” to fit who he is (“He doesn’t know my name / But I could give much more”). “Story of a Boy” is another awesome addition to the ever expanding queer music catalog.  In his hands, the record is both reflective and longing. “Moved here from a small town / Fell in with the wrong crowd,” he sings in the first verse, adding, “I don’t blame him ‘cause most people suck / And leave you crushed.”  In the second, he frets about Hollywood and says of this guy, “And I watch him on the internet / Trying to be happy / He wouldn’t have to if he knew that he could have me.” JORDY keeps it queer, and who would have it any other way (“And he looks so good / Walking through that door / Oh, I wish I could / Be the ending that he’s looking for”)? It’s incredibly cool he took a 00s hit and reintroduced it to a new generation from a gay perspective.

Appears in 🔻:

• JORDY, “Story of a Boy”: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 6 (2023)

2. Kehlani, “little story”

💿 blue water road • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2022

“Oh yeah, I want you to do it again.” Do what again, 🎙 Kehlani? “I want you to pick up the pen / And write me into your story / You know I love the story.” Noted, Kehlani.  On 🎵 “little story” (💿 blue water road, 2022),  the 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B artist seeks a reconnection with an ex. Oh, those matters of the heart! This reconnection isn’t short-term either, as Kehlani goes on to assert, “Tryna meet you at the altar.” Woo! In the second verse, she expresses her regrets and the problems that ultimately ended the relationship.  She takes responsibility, and despite them no longer being an item, she believes there is a future (“Heartbreak targets in my shotgun / But you’re not one, ooh”). Ultimately, “We got one hell of a story,” and Kehlani hopes she’ll take her back.  Besides a great narrative – the expectation given the title – Kehlani sings beautifully with great authenticity and expression, while 🎛 Daoud and 🎛 Pop Wansel support her musical endeavors with a lush, truly satisfying backdrop.

3. Taylor Swift, “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)”

💿 Fearless (Taylor’s Version) • 🏷 Taylor Swift • 📅 2021

“That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles / And my daddy said, ‘Stay away from Juliet.’” The minute you hear 🎵 “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)”, it’s definitely nostalgic, period.  It is a prime example of old 🎙 Taylor Swift, a firmly planted country artist with some pop leanings.  Sure, the 🏆 Grammy winner has long moved on from her Nashville roots (2014 marked the total break), but, hearing her reminisce definitely ‘feels right.’ Hearing “Love Story” 13 years later gives listeners the sentiment that she could release a new country album IF SHE WANTED TO.  The biggest question rerecorded version was how an adult Swift would sound on music originally recorded when she was late teen?  The answer is, fantastic.  While Swift is in a different place compared to 2008, her voice sounds great and more seasoned.  As far as the sound and production of the record, 🎛 Christopher Rowe and Swift do a nice job recreating as well. The original from 💿 Fearless (2008) remains the one to beat, but the 💿 Fearless (Taylor’s Version) definitely recaptures the magic of one of her biggest hits.

“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run

You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess

It’s a love story, baby, just say, ‘Yes.’”

4. Conan Gray, “The Story”

💿 Kid Krow • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2020

“And the movie’s always runnin’ in my head / All the people, all the lovers, all my friends / And I hope that they all get their happy end / In the end.” 🎵 “The Story” is an absolutely stunning record – a truly awesome moment from 💿 Kid Krow, the debut studio album from 🎙 Conan Gray. What makes “The Story” so stunning? It starts with Gray’s angelic voice. He sings with incredible control and expression. Besides his spectacular performance, “The Story” is accomplished when it comes to production and songwriting. 🎛 Dan Nigro handles the production, which begins very restrained and minimalist, placing the emphasis on Gray’s illustrious vocals.  With such adept pacing, the production percolates at the perfect moment, with Conan’s pipes following suit. The songwriting is even more magical.  Written solely by Gray, his ‘story’ encompasses unfortunate suicide and unrealized romance. The ‘sequel’ encompasses two friends trying to make a better life for themselves beyond their evil parents. All boxes are checked off on this totally must-hear, narrative gem, among the best songs from 2020.

Appears in 🔻:

• Awesome Songs: January 2020
• 15 S Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason (2020)
• 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far)
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020: 50 – 26
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020

5. Jay-Z, “The Story of O.J.”

💿 4:44 • 🏷 Roc Nation • 📅 2017 

🎵 “The Story of O.J.” is one of many standouts hailing from the critically acclaimed 🎙 Jay-Z album, 💿 4:44. Somehow, Jay-Z went home empty handed at the 🏆 Grammys despite eight nominations! “The Story of O.J.” accounted for three of those nominations including Record Of The Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.  Despite not winning, I would consider this one of the very best songs from his illustrious catalog.

“The Story of O.J.” incorporates samples from 🎙 Nina Simone (🎵 “Four Women”) and 🎙 Funk Inc. (🎵 “Kool Is Back”). The Simone sample gives “O.J.” a jazzy quality.  The hook emphasizes that black is black, regardless of status or shade: “Light nigga, dark nigga, faux nigga, real nigga / Rich nigga, poor nigga, house nigga, field nigga / Still nigga, still nigga.” Woo! Naturally, the record is controversial, most notably thanks to stereotypical Jewish references (“You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in American? This how they did it”). One of the best songs of 2017, to reiterate, it is also one of the best from the Jay-Z collection. 

Appears in 🔻:

• 27 Contemporary Songs That Capture the Black Experience

Story: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 16 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 300 Entertainment, Atlantic, Republic, Roc Nation, Taylor Swift; 0fjd125gk87 via Pixabay]