Stupid… | 5ive Songs

1. Lady Gaga, “Stupid Love”

Chromatica • Interscope • 2020

Lady Gaga brings fun and energy on dance-pop smash “Stupid Love”, the promo single from Chromatica. Vocally, she’s assertive, showing off her powerful pipes through driving, ‘in your face’ production – synths, pummeling drums – and quick tempo.  Her energy shines brightest on the simple, but potent chorus: “I want your stupid love, love / (Oh-oh-oh…).” Love centric, on the verses, Gaga makes it clear she’s found ‘a mighty love,’ Regardless, she “freaks out” on the refrain where “All [she] ever wanted was love.” “Stupid Love” is actually pretty ‘intelligent,’ all in all.

2. Jon Bellion, “Stupid Deep”

Glory Sound Prep • Capitol • 2018

In the context of Glory Sound Prep, the sophomore album by Jon Bellion, the arrival of “Stupid Deep” provides contrast – thoughtful balladry. The production is bright and optimistic, characterized by its use of keyboards and synths.  Vocally, Bellion sounds beautiful, nuanced, and incredibly tender in his execution, that is until he grows grittier and more dynamic towards the end.  The chorus is the centerpiece, followed by an instrumental feature.

“What if who I hoped to be was always me?
And the love I fought to feel was always free?
What if all the things I’ve done
Were just attempts at earning love?
But the hole inside my heart is stupid deep, oh, stupid deep.”

3. Ashnikko, “STUPID”

Ft. Yung Baby Tate

Hi, It’s Me (EP) • Ashnikko • 2019

Ashnikko is, well, ‘one of a kind.’ In a 2019 Billboard article, Kirsten Spruch, characterizes Ashton Casey as follows: “Blending genres like rap, alternative, and pop, Ashnikko is on a different trajectory than most.” On “STUPID,” assisted by Yung Baby Tate, listeners definitely get the hip-hop vibes with some truly unapologetic bars. “I know you think about me in the shower,” she spits on the first verse, continuing, “Pornhub in your browser, fantasize about the pussy power.” Yikes! She doesn’t stop the hyper-sexed-up vibes there, adding specifically, “I know you salivating over me, sir, nipples through the t-shirt…” Yung Baby Tate provides support for this sleek, risqué, attitude-filled banger on the second verse: “Stupid-stupid, you dumb, you goofy-goofy / This pussy juicy-juicy, ooh yummy, wanna do me?”

4. Polo G, “Go Stupid”

Ft. Stunna 4 Vegas, NLE Choppa & Mike WiLL Made-It

THE GOAT • Columbia • 2020

“Got the feds on my ass in the hood ‘cause they think I’m the one who been buyin’ up Glocks and shit / I’m just focused on music, they say my last tape was a classic, but I got some hotter shit…” Polo G had a very successful year in 2020 with his sophomore album, The Goat, which spent numerous weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.  Furthermore, critics have praised the album. Even so, the 21-year old rapper couldn’t refrain from stupidity, well, at least regarding the banger, “Go Stupid.”  

Polo G gets ‘first blood’ on “Go Stupid,” but he’s not the only rapper ‘doing the damn thing.’ Stunna 4 Vegas segues, dropping a tough second verse that closes with the brilliant, “Them n***as talk, but they won’t play / We let them guns sing like the choir on Sunday.” NLE Choppa can’t be left out either on the third verse, if for nothing else than “Give a n***a ‘temptation’ like he David Ruffin,” an awesome pop cultural reference.  Of course, Mike WiLL Made-It and Tay Keith stitch up some banging production that’s totally fitting for a banger.

5. Rihanna, “Stupid in Love”

Rated R • The Island Def Jam Music Group • 2009

“This is stupid, I’m not stupid / Don’t talk to me, like I’m stupid…” Rated R served as an important, transitional album in discography of pop/R&B standout, Rihanna.  Following the horrific Chris Brown abuse incident, she’d drop edgy music that embodied being risqué AF.  Although “Stupid in Love” is a tamer number within the context of Rated R, it’s still incredibly potent and powerful.

Although written prior to Rihanna’s abuse, the song’s topic of an unhealthy, toxic relationship was a prime fit for Rated R, given the events that unfolded prior to its release. The chorus is excerpted above, and continues perfectly capturing the stupidity of a love where the risk is far greater than the reward:

“...I still love you, but I just can’t do this 
I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.”