30-Day Song Challenge: Day 25

DAY TWENTY-FIVE: Song I Like by an Artist No Longer Living

Amy Winehouse – Some Unholy War

I was devastated when Amy died. Her discography wasn’t as massive as many other artists before here because of her untimely death, but to choose one song by her is difficult, to say the least. ‘Some Unholy War’ is top 5 for sure. Amy always sang about love and this song became one of the strongest testaments to love being given that I know of. Loyalty, trust, and dedication is what love means to me, and that’s exactly what she sings about in this song.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 24

DAY TWENTY-FOUR: Song by a Band I Wish was Still Together

NSYNC – Gone

I was always a Backstreet Boys fan when it came to the debate of the boy bands in the 90’s, but after hearing the acapella version of ‘Gone’ randomly scroll across my iPod one day, my whole life changed. The way those boys harmonized, you would’ve thought that they were a young Boys II Men. The physical music of the track really does the song no justice. To be able to hear them do that again would make me so happy!

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 23

DAY TWENTY-THREE: Song I Think Everyone Should Listen to

Noname (feat. Saba, Smino, Phoelix) – Shadow Man

This song touches on a subject that we all must face one day, our deaths. But it’s more significant because every artist on the song is a young black person talking about their funerals. One wouldn’t imagine a person thinking of their funerals at such a young age, but in this America, it has become commonplace. Lives lost too soon by the systematic oppression and violence from the days of slavery up to now is what this song represents, and it stands as a prayer for those who we’ve lost. Everyone should give it a listen.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 22

DAY TWENTY-TWO: Song that Moves Me Forward

Rudimental (feat. Emeli Sandé) – Free

The first time I heard this song was during one of the more difficult times in my life. I was trying to adjust to leaving my hometown, my friends and family, and my boyfriend. Moving would be beneficial for my career, but it weighed heavily on my spirit. Emeli Sandé’s voice literally melted away most of those fears. It’s a song about having doubts regarding everything yet staying true to oneself, and in turn being free because of it. It has gotten me through many a tough day.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 21

DAY TWENTY-ONE: Song I Like with a Person’s Name in the Title

How can anyone choose one song for this category? I find it nearly impossible. When names are added to titles, somehow it just feels more personal. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll never find my name in a song title unless the artist is a friend. But when you hear names, it’s as though you get a personal peek into the artist’s life with the said person.

Dolly Parton – Jolene

When Dolly Parton sang to Jolene, begging her not to take her man, I could see myself crooning right beside her (Why would you do that Jolene? She’s asking you nicely!). Dolly has a voice that rings out and demands attention, some much so that she gave the name Jolene a new appeal to me.

Elton John – Bennie and the Jets 

I was obsessed with ‘Bennie and the Jets’ from the moment I heard it in its entirety. I loved the stutter of the name Bennie. I loved the added artificial audience noise given to the track for a live feel. And I loved the futuristic woman that Elton John sang about.

Rick James – Mary Jane

I remember ‘Mary Jane’ from my childhood, but it didn’t hold any real significance to me until college… when I realized that I was in love with Mary Jane as well. I mean, he did say that he knew that he wasn’t the only one who loved her. And I loved Mary Jane for the same reasons that James did, making the song so much more relatable.

Prince – Darling Nikki

Darling Nikki was probably the first song that I immediately knew was about sex (and I used to sing along to Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’). It felt sexy, even before I watched Prince perform it in Purple Rain. Nikki seemed to be a bad bitch and I really wanted to be able to command the attention of men like Prince as she did, I think I still do. I use it as my confidence-song; whenever I want to turn my inner sex kitten on, I listen to ‘Darling Nikki.’ And even more interesting, THIS SONG was the reason that record labels had to start using warning labels on albums that contained explicit content.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 20

DAY TWENTY: Song that has Many Meanings to Me

Lauryn Hill – Forgive Them Father

Although today’s song and yesterday’s song speak on the topic of forgiveness, Ms. Hill pointed out that people are selfish and stupid. There are backstabbers and cruel people in this world, and although we may forgive them, that doesn’t mean they won’t pay for their transgressions. It stands as a song of karmic justice. Some people wear two-faces and sometimes that ends with you being betrayed by them, but those who do wrong by you will always end up reaping what they sow. I.e. Cain and Abel, Caesar and Brutus, and Jesus and Judas.

Maybe Hill is also asking God not to be too heavy with His punishment, for they know not what they do…

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 19

DAY NINETEEN: Song that Makes Me Think about Life

India.Arie – Wings of Forgiveness

This song is all about forgiveness and learning to forgive. I think that’s one of life’s biggest lessons. I know that if I could forgive more people, and forgiven others sooner than I chose to, life would’ve been different for me – probably better. India.Arie’s Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is all about the lessons that she learned up through the years of her life that influenced those songs. To me, it reads – or sounds – like personal advice from a close friend.

I mean, if Nelson Mandela could forgive his oppression, if Gandhi could forgive persecution, and if Jesus could forgive crucifixion, we can all forgive others for the wrong that they’ve done.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 18

DAY EIGHTEEN: Song from the Year I was Born

Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance

I used to love listening to this song while riding in the car with my dad. I can’t say that I remember it from 1990 (since I was only being born) but at least a decade after its release, it remained one of my favorite songs AND a song that I know all the words to. EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. And I also think that it’s pretty cool that Tupac started his career in this dope ass rap group. Fun rap is what it was, and I have fun every time I hear the song and must sing along.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 17

DAY SEVENTEEN: Song I’d Sing a Duet with Someone on Karaoke

Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald – On My Own

This was the first vinyl that I bought when I was gifted a record player. It wasn’t as if I heard the song often in my childhood but when I did hear it blaring through my grandma’s home, the emotion that she sang matched LaBelle’s fervor. When my mom sang along with it she hit every note. It was more of nostalgia, and I can’t wait for the day that my duet karaoke moment happens and I get to do my rendition of Patti LaBelle. Also, Michael McDonald’s voice is epic to me – it’s the perfect mix of easy rock and soul. If my duet partner could bring that flavor, we’d kill our performance.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 16

DAY SIXTEEN: Song that’s a Classic Favorite

Eagles – Hotel California

Growing up, my grandpa picked us up from school every day. And instead of listening to the station that played the Black oldies, like one would assume, my grandpa listened to Lite 96.1, which played lite classic rock. It was my first introduction to the music of that kind, and although it was different I grew to love it and sing alongside my grampy. Hotel California was one of our favorites. At the time, I didn’t know who The Eagles were or that the song was deemed a classic; I knew that it was a song that made me happy and made my grandpa smile on our daily venture to his home. Whenever I hear it now, I can see my grandpa nodding his head along to the beat and tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. If I could turn back time I would sing a little louder with him and appreciate the music that he found such joy from.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 15

DAY FIFTEEN: Song I Like Covered by Another Artist

Once again, I’m stuck between two songs that I love dearly.

Snoh Aalegra – Don’t Explain 

Snoh Aalegra is a Swedish singer that I learned about from one of our many playlists at H&M. Her song ‘Emotional’ cemented a deep-rooted love for her voice, and from then on, I followed her music as closely as possible. She’s well on her way to superstardom, and I’m grateful enough to say that I’ve kept up from as close to the start as I could manage. Her take on Nina Simone’s ‘Don’t Explain’ by far, by my standards outshines the original. It’s one of my favorite songs to sing in the shower; her take on the piece is as soulful as the first and remains apart of many of my playlists. 

JoJo – Caught Up in the Rapture

Jojo’s ‘Get Out’ was a favorite for me in high school. It was one of those songs that I would sing along to, wishing that I had some sort of love troubles that the song would help me relate to… but alas, I never did. She disappeared from the music scene shortly after, leaving me to wonder what happened to the soulful Jojo. When she returned, she began to put out music that she was unable to make a profit from (it had a lot to do with her management), but she was able to show her range on covers of iconic songs, such as ‘Caught Up in the Rapture.’ The melodic range of Jojo’s version gives Anita a run for her money. It would suffice to say that I only enjoy covers of songs that I dare to argue are better than the originals, and this one does not disappoint on any level (she even outdid Beyonce’s concert rendition… and that’s also saying A LOT).

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 14

DAY FOURTEEN: Song I’d Like to be Played at My Wedding

Prince – Diamonds and Pearls

Simply put, this is our song. Dubbed an artist who only performed rock music by my boyfriend, Prince was multifaceted. He wrote pop, funk, AND R&B. 'Diamonds and Pearls' was my first and the best example of the latter, and after hearing it for the first time my boo fell in love… which just made me love him more. It’s his ringtone when he calls, those are the lyrics that he writes in the cards alongside bouquets of flowers he sends, he hums it as I fall asleep on his chest; it better be the first song we dance to at our wedding.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 13

DAY THIRTEEN: Song I Like from the 70’s

Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It

With such a broad category and so many songs to choose from, I went with one of the most famous artists of all time – Michael Jackson. Off the Wall is the album that set Michael’s solo career in motion, and one of his most understated songs of all time – in my opinion – is “I Can’t Help It.” It’s so soothing and his voice is so melodic, I wish it was played more often. Mike with the afro was a smooth guy. If I was a teenager in the 70’s, I would’ve had a major crush on him!

30-Day Song Challenge:Day 12

DAY TWELVE: Song from My Preteen Years

So, I couldn’t pick just one song for this one. 

Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

I immediately thought of riding in the car with my dad and listening to the Backstreet Boys. It was a shock for me because my dad was an avid oldies guy, his ideal playlist included the Temptations and only came as recent as Arrested Development (at that time). When ‘Everybody’ came blaring through the speakers, my entire musical identity began to morph into a new phenomenon. I liked pop music and boy bands from then on.

B2K - Uh Huh

Name one black girl in their preteen years who did not have a poster ripped from a magazine of B2K or their favorite B2K member plastered to their wall. You can’t do it because we were obsessed! They took over our lives for at least a good 3 years with albums and movies (You Got Served), and it all started with this song. As embarrassing as it may be, I think this song goes HARD, not as hard as the trap music of today, but it served its own purpose during its tenure.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 11

DAY ELEVEN: Song I’ll Never Get Tired of

Smino – Glass Flows

Introduced to me by my bestie, Rashad, Smino has an effortless flow that attracted me to his music immediately. That combined with the sweet melodic voice of Ravyn Lenae make for a song that I could listen to on repeat for hours on it. I don’t get tired of hearing it or singing along with it… other people probably get tired of hearing me sing along though.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 9

DAY NINE: Song that Makes Me Happy

Miri Ben-Ari – Outside the Box

I was in high school when I first heard Miri Ben-Ari play the violin. Kanye West brought her on stage to perform a small set in between his songs. She had the audience enthralled from beginning to end, and I’ve been in love with her talent ever since. I have such an affinity for classical music, but when paired with hip-hop, I always need more. I also have always wanted to learn how to play an instrument, so being envious about watching a badass woman merge the genres together was inevitable. No matter how I’m feeling, anytime I hear this song, I become extremely happy; it’s my happy song.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 8

DAY EIGHT: Song About Drugs or Alcohol

Kendrick Lamar – A.D.H.D

Kendrick rapped about so many different drugs, I had to look some of them up! The song itself always reminded me of those hazy nights at one of the many college house parties that my friends dragged me to. It’s the perfect amount of chill, due to the drugs, with a bit of anxiety due to the abundance of drugs in the vicinity. Drugs, check. Alcohol, check.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 10

DAY TEN: Song that Makes Me Sad

Sam Cooke – A Change is Gonna Come

As uplifting as it was meant to be in the 60's during times of anguish to promote solidarity within the black race, the song Now reminds me of a traumatic past. I hate imagining my ancestors being chased by dogs and shot with high-powered water hoses in an effort to gain equality in a land where it should have been free. Cooke sings that A change is going to come and, probably to his dismay, we're still working towards that change now. Every time I hear it, I cry. I cry because of the past and because I think of all the new police brutality cases and how we're still being treated as less than.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 7

DAY SEVEN: Song to Drive to

Jonathan Butler – Won’t Stop for Nothing

This one is a sentimental one for me, it always reminds me of my dad. He, my brother, and I would drive around the city listening to all types of music. I can actually attribute a lot of the different genres of music I listen to from those rides. From here, I began listening to Corrine Bailey Rae, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, and Duffy.

South African singer-songwriter and guitarist, whose music is classified as jazz fusion, has a discography with many gems, but this song was specifically about a relaxing ride with his lover at his side. This song still makes road trips easy and I’ll always feel like my dad is right by my side, no matter how far away he may be.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 6

DAY SIX: Song that Makes Me Wanna Dance

Justin Timberlake – Don’t Hold the Wall

Don’t let this song catch me while I’m at work, driving in the car, or doing anything that would prohibit me from dancing BECAUSE NOTHING WOULD STOP ME FROM GROOVING. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland together are unstoppable, which made every song from The 20/20 Experience a masterpiece. My workout jam, my bop to play when getting ready to head out, and my song with a set dance routine; thanks to you Justin.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 5

DAY FIVE: Song that Needs to be Played Loudly

The Throne (JAY Z & Kanye West) – Gotta Have It

The first thing Kanye says on this song is to “turn his headphones to up” in the booth, and every time I obey by cranking my volume up ALL THE WAY. The sparring lyricism between JAY Z and Kanye is epic. It makes me miss the good ol days when there were no 20-minute rants and confessions of loans paid. I hope these two can make up one day; until then, I play this song as loudly as humanly possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM6lj5AARxk

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 4

DAY FOUR: Song that Reminds Me of Someone I’d Rather Forget

Robin Thicke – I Need Love

Yeah. It’s about a guy, but isn’t it always? It was the summer of 2007, and the Evolution of Robin Thicke was constantly playing, as I was determined to find my summer love. Looking back, Robin Thicke singing about love was WAY too grown for a 17-year-old girl to use as a roadmap. Even in college Robin Thicke almost got my little too-grown-to-know-better ass in trouble. I’ll never forget the summer, but I could stand to forget him.

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 3

DAY THREE: Song that Reminds Me of Summer

The Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff – Summertime

A bit on-the-nose I’m sure many would say, but when I think of summer, this is the first song that comes to mind. My first summer job was in 2009 and it was at a small former popular clothing store, Body Central. Perhaps the budget for the store’s playlist could’ve been a bit more generous because this was one of the only songs I remember being played multiple times during each of my 5-hour shifts. It became the backbone of every cookout playlist since its release. And, above all, Will Smith rhymed “monotony” with “gotten to be,” thus proving he is one of the superior lyricists of our time.

Most people don’t even know what monotony means…

30- Day Song Challenge: Day 2

DAY TWO: Song I Like with a Number in the Title

Erykah Badu – 4 Leaf Clover

I remember riding in my mom’s car and singing along with Ms. Badu as if I was the one in love. It just always made me feel like if you found love, you were one lucky guy, which is what Erykah meant. If a guy was LUCKY enough to get her to fall in love with him, he would receive all the magic that came along with it. This might have translated to the way that I see love these days, and I still scream the song at the top of my lungs.

YE: Not the Old Kanye, but a Parallel Version

Jackson Hole, Wyoming has been Kanye’s refuge prior to and since the TMZ media fiasco. He has committed to the production of five albums with the time that he’s spent in seclusion. Pusha T’s Daytona was his first release and we’re expected to hear Teyana Taylor, Nas, and Kid Cudi’s 7-track albums soon. Last night, Kanye invited 150 family, friends, and members of news outlets to his Wyoming sanctuary for his album’s listening party.

Centered around a huge bonfire and introduced by Chris Rock, Ye took a step in the direction towards old Kanye. Disregard the fact that Kanye has personally footed the bill for personal jets for most of the members of the news outlets and provided airfare for his friends. And forget about the out-of-the-way listening party location – what it lacked in grandeur in comparison to The Life of Pablo’s listening stage, it made up for in travel time. Kanye is still the arrogant and loud-mouthed rapper, unafraid speak his truth, but in a hushed manner.

In seven songs, Kanye successfully touches on this past “shaky-ass year”, his mental health – more specifically his bipolar disorder, and disappointing Kim with his social media mayhem, while admiring the fact that she’ll stand by him eternally.

The features on the album also work well. For most of the songs, each featured artist meshes so well with the composition of the track it feels as though each overlapping layer is indistinguishable. The composition of each song and the album’s progression reminds me a lot of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and a bit of The Life of Pablo combined. West still maintains control over his expert lyricism and razor-sharp tongue that I remember from Graduation and Yeezus. And the soulful beats of Kanye’s repertoire are very reminiscent of College Dropout and Late Registration.

On ‘No Mistakes,’ I believe, Kanye subtly even addresses his personal rap beef alongside Pusha T and Drake,

“The true soul of Ice Cube/ Too close to snipe you/Truth told, I like you/ Too bold to type you/ Too rich to fight you/ Calm down, you light skin”

It was small, to not give any extra attention to the issue. It was honest in a way that it neither specifically (by name) or brutally harm anyone’s already marred reputation – conceptualizing the idea of ‘loving everyone’. But it sends the message that lets everyone know that Drake’s snub towards Kanye was received yet disregarded.

My favorite song of the entire album is ‘Violent Crimes.’ It’s a song for his daughters. Kanye is finally beginning to comprehend the struggles of having a daughter while praying that his karma doesn’t catch up to himself and his girls. He wants North to stick to playing the piano and learning karate instead of yoga and Pilates. He hopes that they get his body stature instead of Kim’s, because “niggas is savage, niggas is monsters, niggas is pimps, and niggas is playas.” He should know, he’s a nigga too – he’s said so himself. And after seeing what that type of damage he’s done and seen done to women, he now understands that women are to be nurtured.

It’s ironic to note that Kanye confronts his bipolar disorder diagnosis with this album because it appears this has been the key the entire time. There is no “old Kanye” or “new Kanye,” there are just the two parts of himself that he has now accepted. Maybe his self-acceptance is what he needed all along – now that he has his own approval, I think Kanye has opened his limitless potential.

I hate that Kanye is bipolar too, but it does seem to be pretty awesome.

Of course, Kanye drops many noteworthy lines that will shake up social media:

“Russell Simmons wanna pray for me too/ I’m gon pray for him, cuz he got MeToo’d” – ‘Yikes’

“That’s my bi-polar shit nigga, what/ That’s my superpower, nigga/Aint no disability, I’m a superhero” – ‘Yikes’

“Sometimes you gotta back the boss up/ I call that taking Corey Gambles” – ‘All Mine.’

“All these thots on Christian Mingle/ Almost what got Tristan single/ If you don’t ball like him or Kobe/Guaranteed that bitch gonna leave you” – ‘All Mine’

“My wife calling screaming/Sayin we bout to lose it all/ Had to calm her down/ Cuz she couldn’t breathe/ Told her to leave me now/But she wouldn’t leave” – ‘Wouldn’t Leave’

"I hope she like Nicki/ I make her a monster/ Not having ménages/ I’m just being silly/ I answer the door like Will Smith and Martin/ Nigga, do we have a problem?” – ‘Violent Crimes’

‘YE’ is available to stream through most digital streaming platforms – Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal

30-Day Song Challenge: Day 1

DAY ONE: Song I Like with a Color in the Title

Frank Ocean – Pink + White

The joys of being in love mingled with the suspicion that the relationship might have reached its pinnacle with its end very near. It was my favorite song from Blonde due mainly to its composition and the harmonious blend of Frank Ocean and Beyoncé’s voices into the second half of the song. 

30-Day Song Challenge

In an effort to continue my journey to find my favorite song, I’m participating in the 30-Day Song Challenge for the month of June. And I hope that you, my readers, will also do so. I must admit, this is gonna be very difficult for me. My iTunes alone has over 5,000 songs and that’s the sum from when I stopped my musical piracy, I’ve heard SO MUCH MORE music since then. Some of the days might have multiple songs, but for the most part, I think that I can simplify my choice.

Comment your favorite songs for the days as we go through the month. Happy listening!