As a singer, I usually spend hours and hours looking for and listening to music. I’m always finding new songs to listen to that are just released or old songs that I’ve been missing out on.
I usually find playlists, listen to them and then add the songs I like to my playlist. To find these playlists, I usually look up a song title, an artist, a mood or just a random word. Sometimes I’ll find TikToks that show playlists the user has curated that they recommend listening to, and to my surprise, I have never been disappointed. Aside from playlists, a lot of songs get popular through TikTok. Constantly listening to a sound will get it stuck in your head, and you’ll eventually want to find the song that it came from.
New music lately hasn’t been the best so I have been focusing a lot on older songs that I haven’t heard in a while or that I never listened to until now. Without further ado, here are my top ten songs for this week and the reasons I love them:
1. Blem – Drake
Lately, I have been listening to Drake religiously, and not because of his latest attention due to his mirror selfies and hot sauce. He has been one of my favorite artists since he came out, and I continue to carry his music over with me as the years go by. I found this song again after not listening to the album for a while, and ever since it made me nostalgic. The beat is so catchy, and you may find yourself relating to some of the lyrics.
2. Good Form (Feat. Lil Wayne) – Nicki Minaj
This song gained lots of popularity from the TikTok trend created from the end of the song that features Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne. If you are a true Nicki fan however, you heard this song on the release of her Queen (Deluxe) album. The song lyrics might not be as relatable as other songs, but it is super catchy and will give you a confidence boost if needed.
3. Luv is Dro (Feat. Static Major and Bryson Tiller) – Jack Harlow
I have been a huge fan of Jack Harlow even before his rise to popularity, and I have to say this is one of my favorite songs he has made. The beat is so catchy/vibey, and the lyrics really portray being in love with someone. It’s something soft and slow for Jack, and the last time there was a song like this it was his first collaboration with Bryson Tiller on “Through The Night,” which was featured on his album Confetti.
4. Happier Than Ever (Cover) – ASTN
I spend the majority of my time listening to RnB-pop music, so I’m not familiar with a lot of Billie Eilish’s songs, as she tends to have a different pop sound than what I’m used to. The singer ASTN, who has been around for a long time but has only recently gained popularity from his TikToks of him flipping radio pop songs into RnB songs, did that to “Happier Than Ever,” and I have been obsessed ever since it was released. It’s more mellow and something I find myself listening to more. I find myself playing it while doing anything.
5. Lost – Frank Ocean
This song is currently trending on TikTok due to a dance challenge, yet as catchy as it sounds, the message is a lot deeper than you might think. It is about a drug dealer who uses his girlfriend as a drug mule, and she gets caught up in the luxurious lifestyle the money brings them. Without knowing the meaning, it is a fun and upbeat song that has been a hit since its release.
6. I Hate U – SZA
This song was originally a snippet on TikTok of an unreleased SZA song, and since it gained lots of attention, she decided to drop it. As always, her lyrics are amazing and incredibly relatable. It’s about how a guy makes her feel insecure about the relationship and how it could not be true. It alludes to a toxic relationship or an uneven one, where one person gives more than the other, and they feel drained from all the effort going to waste.
7. Essence (Feat. Tems) – Wizkid
The song was released in April 2021, yet gained its popularity over the summer from TikTok and the radio. It was considered the “song of the summer” for its beachy/vibey sound. I miss summer, and this song keeps me close to it, especially because it reminds me of how good my summer was. Not only is the beat catchy but so are the lyrics. You might find yourself relating to some of them as well.
8. Clouded – Brent Faiyaz
Brent Faiyaz first became well known through the song “Crew” by Goldlink, in which he was featured singing the chorus. That song made me fall in love with his voice, and I would try to find as much music from him as possible. Not only does this song have a perfect RnB beat, but the lyrics are extremely well written. You can tell it’s super personal and based on how much he cares about how he will be perceived. Yet he tells us his mentality differs from society on superficial things, and he doesn’t really care.
9. The Kiss of Venus – Dominic Fike
I first heard this song when I was visiting my family in Florida. My cousin and I were on the way home from the mall, and this song came on from her playlist. Not only did I fall in love with the musical composition (which was originally Paul McCartney’s song, and just an acoustic guitar with his vocals) but also with the lyrics. McCartney’s version of the song was based on an astronomy book, while Fike replaced certain lyrics to make it a conversation about how divided our society is on the news. It makes you stop and think when you really pay attention.
10. After Last Night (Feat. Bootsy Collins and Thundercat) – Silk Sonic
Last but not least, I had to add a song from Silk Sonic. Their first and only album has been a hit since it was released (November 2021), and I cannot stop listening to it. The song is about how a guy falls in love and wants to change his ways after spending one night with a girl. The music is reminiscent of the 70’s motown jazz/funk and includes bass from Thundercat, who has not only worked with several singers but has also produced a few hits of his own, such as “Them Changes” and “Funny Thing.” To add on, Bruno and Anderson’s vocals on this song are INSANE, and the lyrics are so smooth. It’s an incredibly catchy song that will stay stuck in your head for days.