The Greatness is Legit on These 11 Great Songs

Reading Time: 12 min read

The Greatness is Legit on These 11 Great Songs features music courtesy of Carrie Underwood, Quavo, Rod Wave, Sia, and Whitney Houston.

Ah, prepare for greatness! The Greatness is Legit on These 11 Great Songs, a truly G-R-E-A-T music compendium from The Musical Hype! The title should be self-explanatory. Every song on this playlist features some form of the word great. Musicians contributing to the greatness include Carrie Underwood, Quavo, Rod Wave, Sia, and Whitney Houston among others. So, prepare yourself for – wait for it – a GREAT experience on The Greatness is Legit on These 11 Great Songs! Enough said, let’s dive in!

1. Rod Wave, “Great Gatsby”

Nostalgia • Alamo / Sony Music Entertainment • 2023

“Late nights, I reminisce about you, it’s hard to forget about you.” A lover or an ex-lover can have that effect on you, emotionally and sexually. “Great Gatsby” appears as the 13th track on Nostalgia, the fifth studio album by Florida rapper/singer, Rod Wave (Rodarius Green) . The record features a team of producers including TnTXD, TrillGotJuice, SephGotTheWaves, FlexOnDaTrack, and Geo Vocals. Yup, that’s common with pop, R&B, and rap. The backdrop is smooth, but rhythmic thanks to dat beat . Rod keeps things brief – under two-and-a-half minutes.

“Great Gatsby” commences with an intro, courtesy of Geo Vocals, which sets the tone (“But I spend my nights alone / By myself, just another lonely day”). On the record, he sings about a woman he, quote, “Can’t live with” and “can’t live without.” That’s a conundrum! In the chorus, he brings the Great Gatsby element to life, paralleling his desire to reconnect to famous character, Jay Gatsby:

“I threw the party of the century

And people came over, no one left sober

And it was all for your

It was all for you

Close the door, don’t let the world in

Let’s go and hide in again

Rekindle our flame and light my fire again

Oh, come light my fire again.”

All told, “Great Gatsby” is a beautiful moment from Nostalgia that finds the artist being authentic and transparent about his feelings.

Appears in :

Rod Wave, Great Gatsby: Bangerz N Bopz No. 12 (2023)

2. Whitney Houston, “Greatest Love of All” 

Whitney Houston • Arista • 1985  

“I believe the children are our future / Teach them well and let them lead the way / Show them all the beauty they possess inside.” The late, great Whitney Houston is known for claiming songs sung by others as her own. The most famous instance where the Grammy winner lays claim to the definitive version is “I Will Always Love You”, which was written and originally performed by Dolly Parton.  That’s not the only instance, however, as few younger listeners are likely aware that her no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Greatest Love of All,” was originally recorded by George Benson in 1977 ! “The Greatest Love of All” easily ranks among the crème de la crème of the Houston catalog.  

Benson shined on “The Greatest Love of All” without a doubt – props deserved.  Whitney, however, takes things to another level – kicks it up a notch on her self-titled, 1985 album.  How so? The voice, the voice, THAT VOICE! She begins calm, cool, and collected, allowing this thoughtfully penned ballad to naturally evolve.  Evolve it does, as by the final chorus, Houston showcases the brilliant, dynamic, and powerful nature of her instrument.

“The greatest love of all 

Is easy to achieve 

Learning to love yourself 

It is the greatest love of all.”

Simply put, the performance by Houston is magical. Hearing it is all the evidence you need.

Appears in :

George Benson vs. Whitney Houston: Head 2 Head No. 26 (2021)

3. Jorja Smith, “Greatest Gift” (Ft. Lila Iké)

falling or flying • FAMM • 2023

“And surely this is love ️ / You are worth it / I promise to make sure you’ll never fall far from your grace.” Ah, good to know, Jorja Smith! The talented, Grammy-nominated, English R&B shines on “Greatest Gift” , the smooth and soulful ninth track on her 2023 LP, falling or flying. “Greatest Gift” features fabulous production courtesy of DAMEDAME* and P2J. The backdrop is locked-in and loaded with the dusty drum groove from the onset. It’s not all percussion though! The guitars sound incredibly warm, the bass line is potent, and the synthesizer + programming are on-point too. Of course, the best thing are the rich, robust vocals by Smith. Her tone is utterly sublime. The best moment is – drum roll , please – the tuneful, memorable chorus:

“You got me, I’m still right

Here with the realest love

You got me, I’ll still ride

Even in the, the wickedest times, yeah

Feel what you wanna feel right now

I know how hard it feels

You got me, I’m still right here.”

WOO! Wait, there’s even more to praise about “Greatest Gift”! Smith gets a fabulous assist from Jamaican musician, Lila Iké in the third/final verse (“‘Cause you’re the greatest gift / Just know that where you are is where you’re meant to be”). This song right here is a BOP, better yet, a GIFT !

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “The Great Apes”

Love Unlimited • Warner • 2022

“I just want the great apes to be free!” Agreed, Anthony Kiedis! “The Great Apes” appears as the sixth track on Red Hot Chili Peppers’ first of two albums released in 2022, Unlimited Love. While the Grammy-winning band mention those apes , this highlight isn’t referencing monkeys but rather, humans. Beyond the apes, where animals are concerned, Kiedis mentions snakes , an eagle , a rain bird, and – wait for it – “a pixelated panther , now let it purr.” That said, the mentions are poetic, metaphorical, etc. The chorus stands out, even beyond the great apes line:

“All of my love and half my kisses

Superstar go do the dishes

I just want the great apes to be free

Come on now, you lazy cowboy

Heads or tails, but now right now, boy

I just want the great apes to be free.”

Besides the intriguing theme and colorful lyrics, the music impresses.  This five-minute joint features some fabulous, rocking moments. That, of course, is the expectation from a veteran rock band .

5. Sia, “The Greatest” (Ft. Kendrick Lamar)

This Is Acting (Deluxe) • RCA • 2016

Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter Sia released an expanded edition of her 2016, multiplatinum album, This Is Acting.  Among the gems appearing on the deluxe is “The Greatest” featuring Grammy-winning rapper, Kendrick Lamar. “The Greatest” is slickly produced ( Greg Kurstin) and features an uplifting, positive message. She delivers a solid vocal performance, sounding powerful and fully invested.  She gets a bonus lift from K-Dot on backing vocals, “I got stamina.” The pre-chorus successfully foreshadows the chorus (“Don’t give up, I won’t give up / Don’t give up, no no no…”) while the chorus is uplifting and catchy:

“I’m free to be the greatest, I’m alive

I’m free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

The greatest, the greatest alive.”

Kendrick Lamar sounds incredibly clear on his verse. He spits, “I transform with pressure – I’m hands-on with effort / I fell twice before my bounce back was special.” WOO! He continues: “Letdowns will get you, and the critics will test you / But the strong will survive, another scar may bless you.” Unsurprisingly, “The Greatest” excelled on the pop charts, peaking at no. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified multiplatinum by the RIAA.

6. Lana Del Rey, “The Greatest”  

Norman Fucking Rockwell! • Interscope • 2019 

Grammy-nominated alternative pop singer/songwriter Lana Del Rey delivered arguably her best album to date with her explicitly titled, sixth LP, Norman Fucking Rockwell!. A truly polarizing musician, Del Rey possesses quite the distinct, beautiful musical instrument.  She shines on “The Greatest,” among the crème de la crème of NFR!. “I want shit to feel just like it used to / When, baby, I was doing nothing’ the most of all.” Ah, “The Greatest” provides some more punch to NFR!, with its spirited guitars and retro-tinged sound. This is one of the late, truly great songs on the album.  Here, Del Rey is reminiscent, missing a past romance (“I miss Long Beach and I miss you, babe”), New York, and rock (“I miss New York and I miss the music / Me and my friends, we miss rock ‘n’ roll”).  The outro is quite scintillating, as Lana lists the current happenings, which include forest fires in LA and Kanye West’s state of mind.

Appears in :

7. Quavo, “Greatness”

Rocket Power • Quality Control Music / Motown • 2023

“My chain ️, my watch ️, my wrist, my motherfuckin’ house , my rise and grind / I’d give away all this shit just to see my dog just one more time.” Who is Grammy-nominated rapper Quavo referencing as his dog? That would be his late nephew, and fellow Migos member, Takeoff . On “Greatness,” the 18th and final track on his sophomore LP, Rocket Power, Quavo pays ode to “the greatest nephew in the world,” as well as “the greatest group in the world,” Migos. In the lengthy verse, Quavo says of both: “Came in, swept the game like a storm with the motherfuckin’ flow, nigga / Take’ did that (On God) / So don’t ask about the group, he gone, we gone, young nigga, it can’t come back.” Throughout, Quavo shows off his electrifying flow – he’s on fire . Furthermore, he gets a lift from reggae-tinged production courtesy of Al Geno. “Greatness” is a fitting tribute to both Takeoff and the now disbanded, hip-hop and pop culture juggernaut that was Migos.

8. Carrie Underwood, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (Ft. CeCe Winans)

My Savior • UMG Recordings, Inc. • 2021  

Country superstar Carrie Underwood recorded an entire country-gospel album, My Savior (2021).  For the most part, Underwood keeps things traditional, opting for familiar hymns.  This bodes well in her favor, particularly on the likes of the beloved hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” arrives as the sixth track on My Savior.  Underwood is incredible on her own with her powerhouse vocals.  Honestly, they’ve only grown more powerful and ripe with age.  Even so, Carrie enlists a surprise collaborator: CeCe Winans. Mic drop!  Honestly, not just anyone can sing with CeCe, who can with restraint or ‘bring the house down.’ On this collaborative take on “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” both vocalists bring their ‘A game’ – understatement! In the first verse, Underwood sings with poise and control, but also incredibly expressively with great sincerity.  In the second, Winans brings more punch and oomph, evolving the performance to a higher, more spiritual level.  You can just sense where “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is going to end up.  Underwood ‘ups the ante’ on the third verse, with both artists trading chilling lines on the chorus:    

“Great is Thy faithfulness 
Great is Thy faithfulness 
Morning by morning new mercies I see 
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided 
Great is Thy faithfulness 
Great is Thy faithfulness 
Great is Thy faithfulness 
Lord, unto me.” 

These two Grammy winners shine, giving praise to The Most High. 

Appears in :

9. Jerry Lee Lewis, “Great Balls of Fire”  

The Essential Jerry Lee Lewis: The Sun Sessions • Sun Entertainment Corporation • 2013  

“Kiss me, baby / Mmm, it feels good / Hold me, baby / Well, I’m off to love you like a lover should.” So, Jerry Lee Lewis, tell us, how exactly should a lover love ?  Judging by the 1950s classic, “Great Balls of Fire”, incredibly passionately. By 21st century standards, “Great Balls of Fire” is incredibly tame.  Yes, the innuendo is ripe – “I’m real nervous, but it sure is fun / Come on, baby / You drive me crazy” – but it’s not as if Lewis explicitly mentions S-E-X.  Still, for the conservative 1950s, “Great Balls of Fire” raised eyebrows, yet peaked at no. 2 (predating the Billboard Hot 100) in the US and no. 1 in the UK . 

Perhaps what is more controversial than this risqué song is Jerry Lee Lewis himself.  Sure, the fact that Lewis asserts “I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs” in either anticipation for sex or just being hot and bothered was progressive for the time, more disturbing are the many controversies the late icon was part of.  The controversy that coincides with the popularity of “Great Balls of Fire,” specifically in the UK, is the revelation that Lewis, at the time 22, married his second cousin, who was 13… YIKES! This of course led to Lewis’ promising career going down the tube.  Furthermore, for some folks, it might change your perception of the hot and bothered “Great Balls of Fire”.  Lewis clearly had his fair share of issues – an understatement – but hard to deny this song right here is a surefire, rock and roll classic.

Appears in : 

10. Taylor Swift, “The last great American dynasty” 

folklore • Taylor Swift • 2020  

“The last great American dynasty” marks another utterly sublime gem from folklore. Folklore, notably, earned Taylor Swift her third Grammy Award for Album of the Year, tying Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder with three wins in the prestigious category.  But enough about the hardware – let’s focus on the ‘great’ song at hand.  

In the context of folklore, “The last great American dynasty” doesn’t miss a beat, placing emphasis on top-notch songwriting.  Here, Swift imparts a compelling narrative where Rebekah essentially ends a great American dynasty, or so is the perception of those who knew Bill.  In the chorus, Taylor sings: 

“And they said 

There goes the last great American dynasty 

Who knows, if she never showed up, what could’ve been 

There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen 

She had a marvelous time ruining everything.”  

Eventually, there’s a plot twist, where Taylor becomes Rebekah, living as she deems fit, yet also being judged as “the loudest woman this town has ever seen.” It’s a fantastic moment on a stacked album – the most deserved of her three wins for AOTY.  

Appears in :

Great Songs by Women: 3BOPS No. 55 (2021)

11. Inez Andrews, “The Greatest Warrior”

More Gospel Soul • UMG Recordings, Inc. • 1994

“The greatest warrior / That ever lived is Jesus.” Those laudatory words hail from the late, great gospel legend , Inez Andrews (1929 – 2012) via “The Greatest Warrior”. Andrews’ voice was incredibly versatile, ranging from her robust lower, mid-register to a dynamic, gritty upper register. Arguably, gospel musicians like Mahalia Jackson or Shirley Caesar get more acknowledgement for their craft but Inez ranks among the best of the best. On this spirited, soulful, minor-key gospel cut, Andrews makes it clear that Jesus is EVERYTHING . With robust, high-flying vocals including remarkable range, there is no disputing Andrew musical talent. Furthermore, there’s no disputing her authenticity – you believe what she is selling.

Inez Andrew firmly establishes that Jesus is the greatest warrior, citing scripture – Oh, the Good Book aka The Bible! “He fought with Joshua at Jericho,” she sings, continuing, “That was a mighty battle / Everybody knows.” Fo’ sho! Specifically, the source is found in the book of Joshua, chapters five and six. Inez cites other professions J-E-S-U-S excels at in this inspiring, powerful gem . Jesus is the greatest healer. Andrews mentions a woman who “touched Him and was healed.” Hallelujah ! Jesus is also the greatest lawyer. She testifies, “I know some lawyers / Who can plead cases well / But only my God / Can plead a soul from hell.” Woo! “The Greatest Warrior” is an awesome, awesome gospel record. Even if you aren’t a believer, you can acknowledge the soul that Inez puts into her music ministry .

Appears in :

Inez Andrews, The Greatest Warrior: Music Lifts No. 60 (2023)

The Greatness is Legit on These 11 Great Songs (2023) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Alamo, Arista, FAMM, Interscope, Quality Control Music / Motown, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, Sun Entertainment Corporation, Taylor Swift, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner; Farhad Irani, Jesus Con S Silbada, Quý Nguyễn from Pexels]

The Greatness is Legit on These 11 Great Songs | Playlist

Published by the musical hype on December 4, 2023December 4, 2023