We all hate it when a song we start off loving gets overplayed on the radio. All of a sudden this great song is everywhere, and it starts to get annoying, and before you know it you’re changing the station within the first couple of seconds because you’ve already heard it 97 times in the last three hours. I’m always a little sad when I start to hate a song just because I’ve heard it so much, so I like to explore that artist’s other material to see if I can find something that redeems them for me. Below are a few of my new favorites (that hopefully won’t get ruined).
1. Sick of “Take Me to Church”? Try “Jackie and Wilson”
Hozier’s self-titled first album is a triumph altogether, with soulful, old school melodies that mix Motown vibes with more current indie sounds. “Take Me to Church” is his biggest hit so far, and while it’s great, it also tends to be overplayed. I’ll be honest: I kind of ruined this one for myself. The first time I heard it, I fell in love, and proceeded to play it on repeat for the next three days. And now I’m kind of sick of it. So, if you are too, check out “Jackie and Wilson”. It proves that Hozier can be upbeat while still maintaining his soul, and it’s fantastic. Bottom line: it’s a jam. Check it out.
2. If you can’t stand “All About That Bass” or “Lips Are Movin’” anymore, try “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”
Meghan Trainor, like Hozier, is a relatively new artist that has figured out what sound gets hits, and therefore puts out songs that tend to sound exactly the same. After the wildly successful release of “All About That Bass”, she came out with “Lips Are Movin’”, which is great, but sounds almost exactly the same as her first hit. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with either song, but with “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”, Meghan Trainor proves that she can handle more than the earworms that have become so popular. “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” is a modern slow jam that shows off her range, and she’s teamed up with John Legend to make it even more emotional. It’s a little corny, but it’s really beautifully done. It’ll make you want to travel back in time to redo your first slow dance.
3. Too Much “Thinking Out Loud”? Try “Tenerife Sea” or “Take It Back”
Ed Sheeran is a lyrical genius, and that’s evident in every single one of his songs. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t very emotionally dream of the first dance at my wedding the first time I heard “Thinking Out Loud”. I still do, really, but it’s sort of lost that initial emotion since I’ve heard it so much. I had to pick two alternatives for Ed, because while he tends to be known for his emotional, slow dance type songs, he’s also a great rapper. Yes, rapper. That hobbity looking ginger has got flow that rivals artists who market themselves within the rap genre. You might know this if you’ve heard Hoodie Allen’s “All About It”, which features Ed Sheeran’s rap skills. So, if you want to check out a completely different sound from him, go with “Take It Back”, which is my favorite of his raps since “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” from his first album. It’s extremely lyrically clever, and he pairs it with his mad acoustic guitar skills, so it’s a very unique sound. However, if you’re a Sheeran purist and would rather just find a new slow jam, check out “Tenerife Sea”. It’s just as emotionally charged and gorgeous as “Thinking Out Loud”, but with a simpler quality that kind of makes you want to lie in the grass and look at clouds all day. Which I don’t recommend in this weather, but maybe save it for when there’s no snow.