Happy Monday and happy almost-end of Spring 2018– congratulations on surviving another semester! Welcome to HCUH’s weekly segment, Song of the Week, in which I link y’all to a random song that I personally consider a banger, bop, or jam. There is no “current-ness” requirement for these songs so everything is fair game. From the 30’s to two-thousand-and-eighteen and everything before, in-between, and after; every genre from pop to rap and maybe even country (but probably not): I bring you the Song of the Week, Monday 7th May.
This week’s song of the week is All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, which is (in my opinion) one of the best songs of all time. To start off, I loved Black Panther (2018); I saw it a grand total of three times in theaters and another two times not in theaters. The soundtrack was undoubtedly one of the best parts of the movie and I’d go as far as to argue that All the Stars was the best piece in the soundtrack. The composition is impeccable, the timing is perfectly done with just enough abruptness that it doesn’t interrupt the song, and the music video is one of the most visually stunning videos I have ever, ever seen. SZA is an extremely talented artist and her vocals are used in the best way– the emotional delivery in her performance is noteworthy, breathtaking, incredible in every sense of the word. I enjoy this song perhaps more than I should, but it isn’t undeserved. It’s been said before and I’m sure it’ll be said again but: Kendrick Lamar is a genius. Finish off the semester strong with All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar and SZA!
All the Stars
Kendrick Lamar, SZA
Love, let’s talk about love
Is it anything and everything you hoped for?
Or do the feeling haunt you?
I know the feeling haunt you
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
Tell me what you gon’ do to me
Confrontation ain’t nothin’ new to me
You can bring a bullet, bring a sword
Bring a morgue, but you can’t bring the truth to me
Fuck you and all your expectations
I don’t even want your congratulations
I recognize your false confidence and calculated promises all in your conversation
I hate people that feel entitled
Look at me crazy ’cause I ain’t invite you
Oh, you important?
You the moral to the story, you endorsing?
Motherfucker, I don’t even like you
Corrupt a man’s heart with a gift
That’s how you find out who you dealin’ with
A small percentage, who I’m building with
I want the credit if I’m losing or I’m winning
On my momma that’s the realest shit
Girl, let’s talk about love
Is it anything and everything you hoped for?
Or do the feeling haunt you?
I know the feeling haunt you
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
Skin covered in ego
Get to talkin’, I get involved, like a rebound
No control, no off switch in the way that you bringing me down
It’s a turn on, get it away from me
Know you mean wrong, keep away from me
And it’s all wrong, get it away from me, yeah I just cry for no reason, I just pray for no reason
I just thank for the life, for the day, for the hours and another life breathin’
I did it all ’cause it feel good
You could live it all if you feel bad
Better live your life
We are running out of time
Love, let’s talk about love
Is it anything and everything you hoped for?
Or do the feeling haunt you?
I know the feeling haunt you
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
Songwriters: Alexander William Shuckburgh / Kendrick Lamar Duckworth / Mark Anthony Spears / Solana I. Rowe
All the Stars lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.