Without | 5ive Songs

1. Alicia Keys, “Truth Without Love”

💿 Alicia • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2020

“Such a nuisance tryna kill all the loose ends / Tell me how the truth became so elusive / Them illusions from the fusion, the intrusion / Contusion, you got me confused, man.” Yeah, I’m a bit confused to if I’m being honest! 🎵 “Truth Without Love” gives 💿 Alicia, the 2020 studio album by 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, 🎙 Alicia Keys, a great start.  Sure, “Truth Without Love” is more of an extended intro/interlude than a full-length song, but it is definitely a total vibe.  The production – 🎛 Larrance Dopson and 🎛 Khirye Tyler – is arguably the crowning achievement.

The backdrop is incredibly lush – simply gorgeous! Dopson and Tyler set Keys up for success.  I mean, there are keyboards, dramatic strings, and equally importantly, soulful layered vocal harmonies (highlighting the titular lyric) that remind us of the glorious days of the neo-soul era. Even though the music itself takes top honors, the singing and lyrics are pretty sweet too.

2. The Kid LAROI & Miley Cyrus, “Without You”

🎵 “Without You” • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2021

On 🎵 “Without You,” Australian rapper/singer 🎙 The Kid LAROI concluded the first disc of 💿 F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE) with an emo-infused indie-rock cut, masterfully capturing the ‘fuck love’ sentiment. The addition of 🎙 Miley Cyrus on the remix, 🎵 “Without You (Miley Cyrus Remix)”, only ups the ante, providing additional contrast, perspective, and more to heart.

Early on, Miley appears, singing the hella memorable, EMOtional chorus.  The Kid LAROI follows with the original verse, showing off his youthful, expressive nature vocally.  Cyrus follows with the pre-chorus prior to The Kid delivering the chorus and post-chorus.  Notably, on the pre-chorus, we first hear the lyric, “Can’t make a wife out of a ho.” Cyrus then ‘helps a brother out’ on portions of the post-chorus, before introducing a brand-new verse that totally fits the vibe:

“Feels like sleepin’ with a ghost
I called you up to let you know
I really wish that we coulda got this right.”

From there, we get the original pre-chorus from The Kid, followed by the chorus and outro, where he collaborates at times with Cyrus.  Again, the results are #WINNING.

3. Halsey, “Without Me”

💿 Manic • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2020

“I filled your cup until it overflowed / Took it so far to keep you close… / I was afraid to leave you on your own.” On 🎵 “Without Me”, an early advance single from 💿 Manic, Halsey is authentic, genuine, and ‘true to self,’ per her Zane Lowe interview, on this “stand-alone record,” where she sings from her own perspective – Ashley Frangipane. Obviously, the slick, urban-pop record ended up appearing on Manic, and finds her focusing on a relationship where she was carrying the weight all by herself.

Halsey elevates her man to the heavens. Essentially, he lets it all get to his head while forgetting about and leaving the person who took him to that level. On the chorus, she confirms her role in the pedestal elevation, and wants to know how it feels since she’s no longer in the picture and he’s fallen off.

“Tell me, how’s it feel sittin’ up there?
Feeling so high, but too far away to hold me
You know I’m the one who put you up there
Name in the sky, does it ever get lonely...

4. Perfume Genius, “Without You”

💿 Set My Heart on Fire Immediately • 🏷 Matador • 📅 2020

“It’s a blurry shape / It’s a jumbled tape / But sound…” 🎵 “Without You” continues the very personal nature of 💿 Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, the stellar 2020 studio album by 🎙 Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas).  Also, within the context of the LP, the record serves up contrast.  Essentially an alternative country record, Hadreas reflects on body dysmorphia and self-acceptance.

Both body dysmorphia and self-acceptance are incredibly underrepresented in music, particularly from male artists.  So often, male artists focus on confidence, masculinity, and limit the vulnerability. More often than not, songs like “Without You,” run deeper and tend to be much more relatable.

5. Mariah Carey, “Without You”

💿 Music Box • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 1993

Born out of the mid-80s, many people my age sometimes end up being more familiar with covers of originals or even covers of covers.  My introduction to 🎵 “Without You” wasn’t from 🎙 Badfinger or 🎙 Harry Nilsson – it was from 🎙 Mariah Carey.  Carey covered this gem on her 1993 album, 💿 Music Box. Her recording preceded Nilsson’s death in January 1994, while she’d release it as a single in the same month.

Mariah Carey always gives a great vocal performance.  That’s the case on “Without You.” Like Harry Nilsson, she showcases more poise on the verses. Notably, her lower register is incredibly rich and refined – quite impressive.  Interestingly, on the first half of the first chorus, Carey continues to showcase her lower register, before ascending on the second half into that ever familiar, dynamic upper register.  Of course, on the second iteration of the chorus, she sings all of it up the octave, unleashing more grit and oomph.  The ad-libs are absolutely stunning, coming directly from gospel and soul music.  Compared to the definitive version by Nilsson, the production gets a R&B update, sounding much more like the 90s as opposed to the 70s.

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