To highlight the foundational musical contributions of Black artists in music, I have compiled six contemporary songs detailing narratives of joy and heartache. These songs melodiously illustrate experiences and emotions through the transcendent beauty of art.
Honeywheat by VanJess
Honeywheat describes a mutual romantic attraction between intimately connected individuals, alluding to their continual longing and dependability upon each other. Their reliability is pictured through the simultaneous and interchanging yearning between requesting love and vowing to give love. The candied pleasantry blooming throughout the relationship is captured through descriptors of ‘cherry lip balm,’ ‘sugar sweet,’ and the title ‘honeywheat’ — a nickname for endearment.
Lightning by Orion Sun
Sun illustrates strikes of lightning that crack a home apart as analogous to a spark that fractures a romantic bond between individuals, the crumbling of a once sturdy relational home they built together with their love. The contingent nature of love that Sun touches on is that the promise of long-lasting love that is pined after is not guaranteed. Lightning contrasts the state of perennial love with that chapter in time coming to a close.
Do It Again by Evvie McKinney
McKinney emphasizes her happiness and contentment in having a partner that sticks by through thick and thin. Using language hinting at repetition, she stresses her continual faith that her significant other will provide love and care whether she is over the moon or in a dreary place. She even calls into question why she was chosen to be given support, but conclusively circles back to state that she will always find refuge within his affection.
Hey by We Are King
Hey creates lyrical and sonic imagery of space — an airy, floating sensation making an allusion to a daydream-like state of contentment in romantic love. King transitions the symbolism of a star throughout the song; firstly using a shooting star as a tool to wish for love, then describing the romantic partner as the star who brightens the world even through dark days, and culminating in the star representing a spark between lovers that rests in the heart. King continuously iterates the title ‘hey’ which could be interpreted with several meanings. These definitions may include a simple kind greeting, a term to illustrate a growing and surprising excitement that builds throughout a relationship, or a reminiscent daze-like feeling.
Read My Mind by Lianne La Havas
Lianne states the tranquility, freedom, and ability to openly be oneself she experiences in the security of being with her partner. Read My Mind describes the sensual tension and attraction between individuals, in urging the other person to read her intentions as well as the infatuation in her eyes and make the first move. The continual questioning of “what you waiting for” depicts her allure toward a man and the chemistry between them both.
After You Cry by The Anxiety (Willow & Tyler Cole)
After You Cry details an unhealthy romantic relationship that continues due to their dependence on each other. The individuals go through such a vast amount together and feel that they only can rely on each other for comfort, even if that comfort is at the expense of later pain inflicted upon one another. The mental impact of the relationship peaking into one’s personal life is portrayed through restlessness from little sleep and a hazy feeling created by ash in one’s own world. This haziness of memory is seen through the relationship continuing after the tears fade, as if to ignore their suffering. The Anxiety interrogates the other individual, pleadingly questioning why they do not take the initiative to halt the relationship.
Emphasizing the importance of black creatives’ pioneering work in modern music, these songs encapsulate the delicate care and genuine passion of their artistry. From the heavenly joining of lyricism, instrumentals, and vocals in these few songs, I earnestly recommend listening to more of these artists’ discography.