Reading Time: 18 min read

WHAT is up with These 15 Songs? (2025) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; ADEYEMI HARDECKX, Andrea Piacquadio, Dima Valkov, Ekaterina Belinskaya, Ila Bappa Ibrahim, Leo Chainz, Pavel Danilyuk, from Pexels; AcatXIo, Pete Linforth fromโ€ฏPixabay]WHAT is up with These 15 Songs?  features songs by Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Janet Jackson, New Radicals, Nick Lachey, and Walter Hawkins.

Folks, guess WHAT? WHAT it all comes down to is the wordโ€ฆ WHAT! WHAT is up with These 15 Songs? is comprised of songs that feature the word WHAT in the title.  WHAT is up with These 15 Songs? is a sequel to 13 Totally Ear Catching WHAT Songs (2022), which itself was a sequel to another โ€˜whatโ€™ playlist, A Playlist Comprised of 13 โ€˜Whatโ€™ Songs (2020). WHAT is up with These 15 Songs? features a compelling cast of musicians. It includes songs by Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Janet Jackson, New Radicals, Nick Lachey, and Walter Hawkins.  The list encompasses older and newer songs, as well as various genres of music. So, without further ado letโ€™s dive into โ€˜what isโ€™ WHAT is up with These 15 Songs?!


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1. Billie Eilish, โ€œWhat Was I Made For?โ€ 2. Barrett Strong, โ€œMoney (Thatโ€™s What I Want)โ€ 3. Cloudy June, โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last nightโ€ 4. Hush, โ€œ็•ถๆˆ‘ๅ€‘่ซ‡่ซ–ๆ„›ๆƒ… (What We Talk About)โ€
5. Cardi B, โ€œLike What (Freestyle)โ€ 6. ZAYN, โ€œWhat I Amโ€ 7. Gus Dapperton, โ€œWhat You Wonโ€™t Do For Loveโ€ โ€“ Bobby Caldwell cover 8. Snow Wife, โ€œWhat Do Girls Do?โ€
9. Bryson Tiller, โ€œWhatever She Wantsโ€ 10. Lynks, โ€œ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ€ 11. Janet Jackson, โ€œWhat Have You Done for Me Latelyโ€ 12. Nick Lachey, โ€œWhatโ€™s Left of Meโ€
13. New Radicals, โ€œYou Get What You Giveโ€ 14. The Dramatics, โ€œWhatcha See Is Whatcha Getโ€ 15. Walter Hawkins, โ€œWhat Is This?โ€  

 


1. Billie Eilish, โ€œWhat Was I Made For?โ€

Barbie The Album // Atlantic / Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. // 2023โ€ฏ 

Barbie The Album [๐Ÿ“ท: Atlantic / Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.]โ€œI used to float, now I just fall down / I used to know, but Iโ€™m not sure now / What I was made for / What was I made for?โ€ When Academy/Grammy-winning musicians Billie Eilish and FINNEAS release music, it โ€˜hits different.โ€™ Most of the songs from Barbie The Album are brief, energetic, groovy, and upbeat.โ€ฏ In the case of Eilishโ€™s ๐Ÿคฉ โ€œWhat Was I Made For?โ€ tempo slackens, the duration increases and the tone is much more reflective.โ€ฏ As always, Eilish and FINNEAS concoct magic in the studio, penning this ballad. Producing alongside FINNEAS is Andrew Wyatt and Mark Ronson.โ€ฏโ€œWhat Was I Made For?โ€ is beautiful.โ€ฏ It commences as a piano ballad. As the record progresses, thereโ€™s additional instrumentation that fills things out (the beauty of the synthesizer).โ€ฏ The melody is stunning, amplified more by radiant vocals by Billie Eilish.โ€ฏ Eilish sounds particularly strong in her upper register showcasing her versatility.โ€ฏ Besides her superb vocal performance, the vocal production is also a selling point. From a songwriting perspective, โ€œWhat Was I Made For?โ€ is well-penned. Itโ€™s sad, mind you, but highly successful (โ€œWhen did it end? All the enjoyment/ Iโ€™m sad again, donโ€™t tell my boyfriend / Itโ€™s not what heโ€™s made for / What was I made for?โ€).โ€ฏโ€ฏโ€ฏ 

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2. Barrett Strong, โ€œMoney (Thatโ€™s What I Want)โ€

The Collection // Spectrum Music // 2004โ€ฏ 

Barrett Strong, The Collection [๐Ÿ“ท: Spectrum Music]โ€œThe best things in life are free / But you can give them to the birds, and bees / I need money.โ€ Woo! What a memorable line from the Barrett Strong (1941 โ€“ 2023) classic, โ€œMoney (Thatโ€™s What I Want)โ€. While the Motown legend is most renowned for his pen, he scored a hit on the pop charts with โ€œMoney,โ€ which peaked at no. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 1960.โ€ฏThe chorus is the most famous part of this early soul classic, with Strong singing lead supported by marvelous background vocals: โ€œI need money (Thatโ€™s what I want) / Thatโ€™s what I want (Thatโ€™s what I want).โ€ Still, the verses are infectious, including the second where Strong, showing ample personality, asserts, โ€œYour love gave me such a thrill / But your love donโ€™t pay my bills.โ€ Hence, thatโ€™s why Strong needs M-O-N-E-Y! โ€œMoneyโ€ was penned by another icon, Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford.โ€ฏ Gordy also produced this super catchy joint.โ€ฏ A record that is well into its 60s, โ€œMoney (Thatโ€™s What I Want)โ€ never grows old or sounds the least bit anachronistic.โ€ฏโ€ฏโ€ฏ 

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3. Cloudy June, โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last nightโ€

โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last nightโ€ // Cloudy June // 2025

Cloudy June, if jesus saw what we did last night [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; Cloudy June]โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last nightโ€ฆโ€ Uh-ohโ€ฆ this sounds sketchy, Cloudy June.  The feminist and queer musician (she identifies as bisexual) continues singing in the chorus of โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last nightโ€, โ€œHeโ€™d be cominโ€™ back to life.โ€ Holy shit! She is referencing the resurrection of Jesus, of course. The other miracle cited? โ€œHeโ€™d turn water into wine.โ€ Spirituality is prevalent throughout โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last nightโ€, though the most devout and pious may cry foul.  I doubt Cloudy June cares.  The Berlin singer wrote โ€œJesusโ€ alongside Cy and Maarten Paul. Philip Strand and Paul produced it. 

Sex is the modus operandi of โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last night.โ€ No shit, Sherlock! โ€œWhen you touch me there, itโ€™s a miracle / Biblical affair,โ€ Cloudy June sings in the first verse. Damn! In the second verse, she asserts, โ€œ[I] Canโ€™t escape the feelinโ€™ itโ€™s physical / Youโ€™re my prophecy, baby.โ€ Yep, that is a big, heaping dose of blasphemy! In the chorus, she describes their body as holy, claiming, โ€œIโ€™m floatinโ€™ like an angel / You brought me down to my knees.โ€ Amenโ€ฆ I mean, SACRILEDGE!  Ultimately, โ€œIf Jesus saw what we did last nightโ€ is fun and stirs the pot. Cloudy June sings beautifully, expressing her sufficiently and unapologetically expressing her desires. Sex-positive, she speaks to being unashamed to be with who you choose and โ€˜doโ€™ what you choose.  Backed by a dark, minor key, sleekly produced backdrop, โ€œJesusโ€ sounds celestialโ€ฆ in a dark, twisted way.

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4. Hush, โ€œ็•ถๆˆ‘ๅ€‘่ซ‡่ซ–ๆ„›ๆƒ… (What We Talk About)โ€

โ€œ็•ถๆˆ‘ๅ€‘่ซ‡่ซ–ๆ„›ๆƒ…โ€ (โ€œWhat We Talk Aboutโ€) // Bin Music International Limited // 2025

Hush, ็•ถๆˆ‘ๅ€‘่ซ‡่ซ–ๆ„›ๆƒ… (โ€œWhat We Talk Aboutโ€) [๐Ÿ“ท: Bin Music International Limited]Love is complicated to the nth degree. That, my friends, might be an understatement. The complicated complex nature of love is something that gay Taiwanese singer-songwriter, Hush (Chen Pin-he) captures superbly in his single, โ€œ็•ถๆˆ‘ๅ€‘่ซ‡่ซ–ๆ„›ๆƒ…โ€ (โ€œWhat We Talk Aboutโ€). The Mandopop musician articulates his thoughts poetically.  The English translation doesnโ€™t perfectly capture the Chinese lyrics, but the essence is there (โ€œWe have learned to recognize the tacit understanding in our eyesโ€).  Hush penned this song, which he comments about via IG [translated]:

โ€œIf he had said he loved me then, would he have continued to do so until now? I donโ€™t think so, otherwise I wouldnโ€™t be saying such stupid things here.

That false sense of satisfaction, perhaps in the end, will be the same no matter who gives it.โ€

Passionate love, loving, abnormal love, attachment, unrequited loveโ€ฆwhat are we talking about when we talk about love?

The handsome and talented 40-year-old musician โ€˜brings the heatโ€™ throughout โ€œ็•ถๆˆ‘ๅ€‘่ซ‡่ซ–ๆ„›ๆƒ…โ€ (When we talk about love)โ€.  His voice sounds stunning โ€“ simply beautiful! He sings with authenticity and incredible sincerity about the wide-ranging emotions of love. โ€œOccasionally, I think of the time I spent with him / Iโ€™ve heard a lot about him since then,โ€ he sings [translated] in the first verse.  He continues, โ€œIโ€™ve heard a lot about him, how his heart left him / We talk about the different paths that once belonged to each of us.โ€ Later, he honestly asserts, โ€œIโ€™d rather heโ€™d just lie /โ€ฆ At that time, he couldnโ€™t tell the truth / When he did, he was just like everyone else.โ€ Beyond the elite vocals and love-talk, Hush is supported by radiant music accompaniment (piano, guitars, bass, and drums). Even without understanding the Chinese, the plight of love is easily perceptible. Hush โ€œshines bright like a diamondโ€ on โ€œ็•ถๆˆ‘ๅ€‘่ซ‡่ซ–ๆ„›ๆƒ…โ€ (โ€œWhat We Talk Aboutโ€).

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5. Cardi B, โ€œLike What (Freestyle)โ€

Like What (Freestyle) // Atlantic // 2024

Cardi B, Like What (Freestyle) [๐Ÿ“ท: Atlantic]In 2024, female rap beef was at an all-time high.  Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B got into the action with โ€œLike What (Freestyle)โ€.  True hip-hop heads will instantly recognize the late 1990s songs she samples: โ€œSheโ€™s a Bitchโ€ by Missy Elliott.  Although the iconic instrumental fuels the fire, โ€œLike Whatโ€ still features four producers: DJ SwanQo, Sean Island, OctaneThisThatGass, and Lateef. The rhymes by Cardi B are unapologetic. She appears to diss arch nemesis Nicki Minaj, primarily. โ€œFirst that bitch hate me, then this bitch hate me / And somehow, they link up, and they become friends,โ€ she spits in the first verse.  It seems that JT might also be addressed in that particular shot.  However, lines like โ€œEverything you got, I had five years beforeโ€ (verse one) and  โ€œHer life so trash, think I put a hex on itโ€ (verse two) are aimed at Nicki.  Beyond select intriguing bars, the chorus gives no fucks through and through: โ€œClassy and a cunt (And a cunt) / Blocks and money gettinโ€™ spunt (Gettinโ€™ spunt) / Like (like), like what? (Like what?) / Like a Coach bag, baby, this ainโ€™t what you wantโ€ฆโ€ Itโ€™s worth noting that Cardi B exhibits a compelling cadence and flow with plenty of attitude.  Is โ€œLike What (Freestyle)โ€ an elite track, though? No. Itโ€™s okay, but not game-changing in the least.

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6. ZAYN, โ€œWhat I Amโ€

ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS // Drop Zed Music, LLC / Mercury / Republic // 2024 

ZAYN, ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS [๐Ÿ“ท: Drop Zed Music, LLC / Mercury / Republic]Sometimes, a departure is just what the doctor ordered. For the handsome and talented ZAYN, he takes a departure on โ€œWhat I Amโ€, the promo single from his fourth studio album, ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS.  He penned this โ€˜alternativeโ€™ single โ€“ a blend of pop, country/folk, and R&B โ€“ himself.  He produced it alongside an unlikely producer, Dave Cobb. While itโ€™s a different sound and vibe, the results are stunning. โ€œWhat I Amโ€ commences with a super brief intro before he jumps in. As always, his tone is beautiful. Furthermore, I like the rawness, particularly in the second verse.  Ultimately, he sounds nuanced and soulful.  Initially, heโ€™s accompanied by guitar, the perfect backdrop for his reflective brand of songwriting. In the first verse, he sings, โ€œIโ€™ve had enough of running โ€˜round this board game / You can know your own name, I wonโ€™t give it up.โ€ In the second, he adds, โ€œIโ€™ve been readinโ€™ old shit, and I canโ€™t make sense of it / Ainโ€™t no conspiracy that can save me.โ€ Word.  The pre-chorus is gorgeous, with the initial pre-chorus โ€˜upping the anteโ€™ instrumentally.  Fuller instrumentation and vocal layers arrive in the section to beat the chorus:

โ€œIf I told you I loved you

Would you say that itโ€™s fucked up?

If I told you theyโ€™re flyinโ€™

Would you say that you looked up?

Donโ€™t take me for what Iโ€™m sayinโ€™

Just take me for what I am

โ€˜Cause this is where Iโ€™m stayinโ€™

My two feet are in the sand.โ€

Ah, gotta love it when ZAYN slips in an f-bomb! He brings welcome contrast during the bridge, specifically with the harmonic progression. โ€œWhat I Amโ€ is a winner.

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7. Gus Dapperton, โ€œWhat You Wonโ€™t Do For Loveโ€ โ€“ Bobby Caldwell cover

โ€œWhat You Wonโ€™t Do For Loveโ€ // Gus Dapperton, LLC / Warner // 2024

Gus Dapperton, What You Won't Do For Love [๐Ÿ“ท: Gus Dapperton, LLC / Warner]โ€œI came back to let you know / Got a thing for you and I canโ€™t let go.โ€ Fascinating musician Gus Dapperton covered the Bobby Caldwell classic, โ€œWhat You Wonโ€™t Do For Loveโ€ in 2024. Dapperton successfully makes Caldwellโ€™s sole top 40 hit his own. โ€œWhat You Wonโ€™t Do For Loveโ€ commences with lovely background vocals during the introduction, setting the tone of this classic (โ€œDo for loveโ€ฆโ€).  The production (Dapperton and Asa Taccone) is more contemporary than the original. Gone are the horns, replaced with guitar covering the famous, melodic riff. Even without the 70s musical cues, there are still fine musical touches in play, including the prominent bass line, played by Gus. Of course, the cover is more about the coverer than the instrumental.  Dapperton serves up strong vocals, bringing command and bite to his performance. Adding to the bite of the performance are vocal effects, specifically distortion, which proves to be effective.  Gus still brings the magic out of the tuneful melodies of this 1970s gem, particularly in the chorus. Ultimately, Gus does Bobby justice with his take on โ€œWhat You Wonโ€™t Do For Loveโ€.

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8. Snow Wife, โ€œWhat Do Girls Do?โ€

โ€œWhat Do Girls Do?โ€ // SNOWGLOBE // 2025

Snow Wife, What Do Girls Do? [๐Ÿ“ท: SNOWGLOBE]โ€œGirls / What do girls do? / I like girls who / Look like you.โ€ Woo! Snow Wife (Emily Leann Snow) isnโ€™t shy about her preferences for girls in โ€œWhat Do Girls Do?โ€Jesse saint john, JBACH, STINT, and producers Danna Davell and Slush Puppy penned the brief cut. As always, Snow brings ample personality. Sex is the modus operandi. โ€œI could be theโ€…appetizer, then Iโ€™m gonna make you dinner,โ€ she sings in the first verse, โ€œHave you ever thought about having a girlfriend for the summer?โ€ Ooh-wee! In the second verse, she names specific girls โ€“  Stassi, Tati, and Bobbi โ€“ who catch her eye. Well, Tati touches her waistโ€ฆ The centerpiece is the chorus, where, like Mรถtley Crue, Snow Wife is digging these girls!

โ€œYou got the moves

Make me, โ€˜Oohโ€™

You like girls and girls like

You, smokinโ€™ blue

Mรถtley Crรผe

You like girls and girls like.โ€

Girls like girls, of course! โ€œWhat Do Girls Do?โ€ is intriguing from start to finish.  Beyond an engaging performance from Snow Wife, the musical backdrop is sleekly produced โ€“ itโ€™s on-point.  The songwriting is compelling and, dare I say, girl-centric. Snow delivers the goods!

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9. Bryson Tiller, โ€œWhatever She Wantsโ€

Bryson Tiller // RCA // 2024

Bryson Tiller, Bryson Tiller [๐Ÿ“ท: RCA]โ€œIโ€™ma take her bougie ass to Rode and then let her pick up whatever she want.โ€ Woo! Well, thatโ€™s so generous of you, Bryson Tillerโ€ฆ The key portion of the lyric excerpted from the chorus is the title of the song: โ€œWhatever She Wantsโ€. After a 20-second intro sets the tone, the Grammy-nominated rapper/singer gets busy delivering plenty of rhythmic, melodic lines. In โ€œWhatever She Wants,โ€ we get more of the Louisville, Kentucky-bred musicianโ€™s melodic rap side.  Tiller delivers a great cadence. What does he get in return for spoiling her? โ€œShe piss me off, somehow she still get whatever she want / Talking โ€˜bout her nails, Iโ€™m finna nail her ass at home.โ€ โ€œWhateverโ€ explores this idea of her power over him. And that power, of course, is highly sexual (โ€œI know pussy power got me buyinโ€™ shit againโ€).  He adds, in the first verse, โ€œGot a nigga feelinโ€™ like a sucker yet again,โ€ while in the second, he โ€œSpoil her ass again / Take her to the dealership, the Porsche, it got a twin.โ€ Thematically and lyrically, โ€œWhatever She Wantโ€ is basic, but itโ€™s entertaining too. Besides Tillerโ€™s performance, it features some gorgeous production cues (TylianMTB).  Notably, โ€œWhateverโ€ samples โ€œIntroโ€ by Orion Sun (2022) and is a remix of the original (the demo) from 2023. โ€œWhatever She Wantsโ€ wonโ€™t change your life but itโ€™s a relatively brief, enjoyable record from Tiller.  

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10. Lynks, โ€œ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ€

ABOMINATION // Heavenly Recordings / [PIAS] // 2024 

Lynks, ABOMINATION [๐Ÿ“ท: Heavenly Recordings / [PIAS]]โ€œIโ€™m on the DLR, on my way to fuck a stranger / Know his age, know his height, donโ€™t know his name,โ€ Lynks asserts in the first verse of the colorful โ€œ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ€. They acknowledge the risks in the highlight from their 2024 album, ABOMINATION: โ€œShould be ashamed, all the danger I put myself in in the name of a shag, and a bad one at that / Itโ€™s a matter of fact, to fuck a stranger is rarely a positive act for me / But I still go back โ€˜cause whoโ€™s keeping track.โ€ Lynks penned and produced the unique electro-tinged alternative joint.  It is nothing short of an exhilarating ride.

โ€œ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ€ features intense, noisy-sounding musical accompaniment.  This establishes a high-energy, intense vibe. Lynksโ€™ vocals are unapologetic, often rapped and talked, using a distortion effect at times. He narrativizes an imminent hookup bringing ample personality to the table.โ€œOh, the wonders of technology when youโ€™re horny / Ordering a man like youโ€™d order a curry,โ€ they sing in the second verse, continuing, โ€œCall me up, babe, Iโ€™ll be there in a hurry / Iโ€™m free delivery and all I really need is you to fuck my brains out.โ€ Holy cannoli! Lynks, being young and horny, isnโ€™t picky regarding his sexual rendezvous.  Grindr overdrive! Even though Lynks is receiving pleasure, the satisfaction or deeper connection is missing, which they highlight in the talk-sung chorus:

โ€œRomance isnโ€™t dead, itโ€™s in a coma

Me? Iโ€™m just a dog out, tryna get a boner

I donโ€™t wanna spend my night alone (No)

So, I donโ€™t think about how Iโ€™ll feel when itโ€™s over

โ€˜Cause honestly, Iโ€™ll probably feel the same

No miracle, no epiphanies

And disappointment always is the danger

But what did you expect from sex with a stranger?โ€

โ€œ(WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM) SEX WITH A STRANGERโ€ is a sex-positive song but simultaneously acknowledges the unfulfillment of empty sex.

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11. Janet Jackson, โ€œWhat Have You Done for Me Latelyโ€

Control // A&M // 1986 

Janet Jackson, Control [๐Ÿ“ท: A&M]โ€œI know he used to do nice stuff for you / But what has he done for you lately?โ€ It all comes down to one simple but important question in โ€œWhat Have You Done for Me Latelyโ€, WOO! That is what the R&B/pop superstar Janet Jackson asked on the infectious, no. 4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 from her 1986 album, Control.  Both โ€œWhat Have You Done for Me Latelyโ€ and Control were nominated for Grammys, though Jackson would ultimately win five Grammys for other musical endeavors.  Still, revisiting a dance-pop gem, it deserved a Grammy, dammit! โ€œWhat Have You Done For Me Latelyโ€ has the 1980s written all over it โ€“ those groovy, boxy drums and increased palette of electronic sounds via synthesizers. Iconic producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis give Jackson a marvelous backdrop that fit the lyrics without a hitch. This guy, who was once a catch, is neglecting Janet something fierce. โ€œUsed to be a time when you would pamper me,โ€ she sings in the first verse, later adding, โ€œBut my friends say neglect is on your mind / Whoโ€™s right?โ€ Well, they are given the fact he has done sugar honey iced tea for her lately! Another prime example comes in the second verse, where she asserts, โ€œUsed to go to dinner almost every night /โ€ฆ Good thing I cook or else weโ€™d starve to death / Ainโ€™t that a shame?โ€ Janet Jackson, and any woman being taken for granted deserve better! โ€œWhat Have You Done for Me Latelyโ€ is a certified classic, PERIOD! #GIRL POWER!!!

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12. Nick Lachey, โ€œWhatโ€™s Left of Meโ€

Whatโ€™s Left of Me // Zomba Recording LLC // 2006

Nick Lachey, What's Left of Me [๐Ÿ“ท: Zomba Recording LLC]โ€œโ€˜Cause I want you, and I feel you / Crawling underneath my skin / Like a hunger, like a burning / To find a place Iโ€™ve never been.โ€ โ€œWhatโ€™s Left of Meโ€ by Nick Lachey was an aughts bop. โ€œWhatโ€™s Left of Meโ€ peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, his sole top 40 hit. Whatโ€™s Left of Meโ€ was penned by Lachey, Lindy Robbins, Jess Cates, and producer Emanuel Kiriakou. โ€œI donโ€™t wanna waste another day / Stuck in the shadow of my mistakes.โ€ The aftermath of divorce and heartbreak (Jessica Simpson is his ex-wife) is written all over โ€œWhatโ€™s Left of Me,โ€ evidenced by the excerpt from the first verse. Thereโ€™s more in the second: โ€œIโ€™ve been dying inside / Little by little.โ€ At the end of the verse, he asserts, โ€œRunning from myself until / You gave me a reason for standing still.โ€ Deep. Insightful. Introspective.  Besides dramatic, reflective lyrics, Lachey brings tuneful melodies to life in the verses and chorus.  His voice is beautiful and expressive.  Rather than record bubblegum pop or โ€˜white-boyโ€™ R&B ๐Ÿคญ, Nick chooses more mature, adult contemporary pop.  The backdrop includes piano, strings, and light, tasteful synths.  Adding to the sophisticated nature of this ballad are the key changes.  The verse is F major, while the chorus is G major.  While modulating up a step isnโ€™t far-fetched, โ€œWhatโ€™s Left of Meโ€ doesnโ€™t modulate traditionally, making a common key change sound less common. As a solo artist, Lachey cemented his musical legacy with โ€œWhatโ€™s Left of Meโ€. Even some heartthrobs only get one hit, sometimes.

 

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13. New Radicals, โ€œYou Get What You Giveโ€

Maybe Youโ€™ve Been Brainwashed Too // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1998

New Radicals, Maybe Youโ€™ve Been Brainwashed Too [๐Ÿ“ท: UMG Recordings, Inc.]โ€œOne dance left, this world is gonna pull through.โ€ Perhaps those lyrics meant something different in 1998. However, those words Gregg Alexander sings remain relevant well into the 2020s.  Another lyric that remains potent and thoughtful: โ€œDonโ€™t give up, youโ€™ve got a reason to live.โ€ Yes! New Radicals was comprised of Alexander and Danielle Brisebois primarily. Maybe Youโ€™ve Been Brainwashed Too was their sole LP, released in 1998.  The song to beat is the second track and single, โ€œYou Get What You Giveโ€. It gave the band a top 40 hit, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100.  โ€œGiveโ€ was written by Alexander and Rick Nowels. Alexander produced it.

โ€œYou Get What You Giveโ€ is a feel-good, uplifting pop/rock classic. Yes, the song sounds 1990s, pre-2000 through and through.  That is part of its charm pushing 30 years later.  The encouraging vibes to those reckless, liberal kids are not dated but rather timeless. Gregg Alexander โ€˜brings upโ€™ the youth with his terrific tenor. โ€œWake up, kids, we got the dreamersโ€™ disease / Age fourteen, they got you down on your knees,โ€ Alexander sings in the first verse.  Just like in the 1990s, the kids of the 2020s aspire, which some parents and conservative society desire to snuff out. Beyond battling narrow-minded views, Alexander criticizes the โ€˜bad rich,โ€™ asserting, โ€œGodโ€™s flying in for your trial.โ€ Oh, snap! With a crazy, unpredictable world, Gregg encourages us not to be scared: โ€œThis whole damn world could fall apart / Youโ€™ll be okay, follow your heart.โ€ The chorus is the section to beat:

โ€œYouโ€™ve got the music in you

Donโ€™t let go, youโ€™ve got the music in you

One dance left, this world is gonna pull through

Donโ€™t give up, youโ€™ve got a reason to live

Canโ€™t forget, we only get what we give.โ€

No matter what happens, New Radicals encourage us to give our all โ€“ donโ€™t give up or fall victim to fears.  Live life to the best of your ability. โ€œYou Get What You Giveโ€ remains the sugar honey iced tea, with its thoughtful messaging, itโ€™s seize-the-day, assertiveness, and celebrity shade (โ€œFashion shoots with Beck and Hanson /โ€ฆ Youโ€™re all fakes, run to your mansions / Come around, weโ€™ll kick your ass inโ€).  #CLASSIC!

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14. The Dramatics, โ€œWhatcha See Is Whatcha Getโ€

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

The Dramatics, Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get [๐Ÿ“ท: Concord Music Group]Did you know, โ€œSome people are made of plastic / And you know, some people are made of woodโ€? According to Detroit-based R&B collective The Dramatics, that is the case! Furthermore, on โ€œWhatcha See Is Whatcha Getโ€, the fourth track from their 1972 album, Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get, โ€œSome people have hearts of stone / Some people (Some people) / Are up to no good.โ€ Valid points made on this gem, which peaked at no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Even though โ€œsome peopleโ€ are suspect, The Dramatics ensure you โ€“ her โ€“ are aware โ€œIโ€™m for real!โ€ โ€œWhatchaโ€ 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 crรจme de la crรจme of the 1970s:  

โ€œWhatcha 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).โ€ 

The Dramatics gives us sheer authenticity on โ€œWhatcha See Is Whatcha Getโ€.

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15. Walter Hawkins, โ€œWhat Is This?โ€

The Hawkins Family // Yell // 1980โ€ฏ

Walter Hawkins, The Hawkins Family [๐Ÿ“ท: Yell]โ€œWhat is this / That I feel deep inside / That keeps setting my soul afire?โ€ Well, Walter Hawkins, many refer to it as The Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit, of course, is tied with The Most High aka God aka Jesus โ€“ The holy trinityโ€ฆ Of course, throughout โ€œWhat Is This?โ€ which appears on Hawkinsโ€™ 1980 album, ๐Ÿ’ฟ The Hawkins Family, Hawkins doesnโ€™t make things complicated โ€“ he keeps it simple yet encouraging, spiritual refreshing, and uplifting: โ€œWhatever it is / It wonโ€™t let me / Hold my peace.โ€  Essentially, Hawkins, and anyone who experiences this feeling, canโ€™t just sit still โ€“ they must speak of this joy deep down inside and share it with the world!   

โ€œWhat Is This?โ€ is a soulful, R&B-gospel joint.โ€ฏ Itโ€™s smooth and easy-going, yet potent and powerful.โ€ฏ There are awesome vocals from all parties involved, namely Walter Hawkins himself.โ€ฏ The backing vocals are electrifying too, particularly the female leads that testify to the Holy Spirit.โ€ฏ The tuneful chorus is among the biggest selling points.โ€ฏ Still, moments like, โ€œIt makes me love all my enemies / And it makes me love my friends / And it wonโ€™t let me be ashamed / To tell the world that Iโ€™ve been born again,โ€ truly speak to belief, faith, and a deep connection with God.โ€ฏ As this wonderful record progresses, it only grows more spirited, making the soul feel that much happier and #LIFTED ๐Ÿ™Œ.โ€ฏ There is an awesome cover by Korean Soul ๐Ÿ‘!โ€ฏ  

 

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WHAT is up with These 15 Songs? (2025) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; A&M, Atlantic, Bin Music International Limited, Concord Music Group, Inc., Cloudy June, Drop Zed Music, LLC, Gus Dapperton, LLC, Heavenly Recordings, Mercury, [PIAS], RCA, Republic, SNOWGLOBE, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., Yell, Zomba Recording LLC; ADEYEMI HARDECKX, Andrea Piacquadio, Dima Valkov, Ekaterina Belinskaya, Ila Bappa Ibrahim, Leo Chainz, Pavel Danilyuk, from Pexels; AcatXIo, Pete Linforth fromโ€ฏPixabay]

 

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the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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