THINK PIECE: 30 Songs That Invoke My Nostalgia

Sometimes, for better or worse, one listen to a song can take you back to a certain time, event, or period of your life. You’ll play it once, thinking “ah, I used to love that song!” And then, as you listen to it, it feels like you’ve been teleported back to the past, and you’re kind of overcome by nostalgia when you listen.

Okay, I know, some of that felt cliché, but the point is, music can really easily invoke nostalgia. I’ve noticed this a lot when I listen to music, so I went through a lot of songs - some from albums I’ve reviewed, some from albums I haven’t reviewed - and picked out several tracks that take me back to some previous time in my life whenever I listen to them. Here are the songs that bring me back, and the times they bring me back to.

Oh, and spoiler alert, this list is chock full of personal anecdotes because I'm a naturally nostalgic person, so don't worry, I won't give every single minuscule detail of my personal life, but expect a little bit of cheese and cliché imagery here. If that's not your thing, you don't have to keep reading. You've been warned. If you've decided to stay because you don't mind that...well, great, let's get started!

NE-YO - SINGLE

Back around 2015, I started to actually care more about listening to music. At that time, I was a junior in high school, and even though I was in a music school and enjoyed playing music, my first two years of high school saw me not really care to listen to it all that much. Then, in 2015, when I started to get more interested in the medium (and stopped being so stubborn about pop music), I would bump Ne-Yo's music day in and day out. Prime example with this track, “Single.” I never really fell in love with the original version with New Kidz on the Block, but this one really got me, and I still love it to this day. I could’ve also put “Miss Right” here because I love that song, but since “Single” probably got the most plays, I’ll pick it instead.

KURT HUGO SCHNEIDER - HEY THERE DELILAH (COVER)

Okay, I might be cheating a bit by picking a cover, but you know what, we’re gonna do it. The song is in my Spotify playlist, so I’m counting it. Kurt Hugo Schneider has helped make some of my favorite cover songs ever, and I remember when I first heard this cover of the Plain White T’s hit song “Hey There Delilah,” I immediately fell in love with it. Kurt turned an already-sweet song into something so emotional and so beautiful with it, and I remember staying up late nights and always singing that song. Seeing that this was one of my favorites out of his many covers, it takes me back to the days of 2014 and 2015 when I would listen to his covers every late night and just have the best time doing it.

ED SHEERAN - LEGO HOUSE

While “Thinking Out Loud” was the first Ed Sheeran song I heard, and I really enjoyed it, “Lego House” was actually the first song of his that I truly adored and looped. After hearing “Thinking Out Loud” for the first time in the car on a ride home with my mom, I went and decided to listen to a bunch of his other songs, and I remember just destroying the replay button on this one. Something about it just immediately grabbed me, and as I listen to it, I remember back to being 16, staying up late and listening to the song endlessly, more so than any other Ed Sheeran song at the time. Even though it cooled on me a bit over time, I still go back to it and really enjoy it.

SECONDHAND SERENADE - FALL FOR YOU

No, I don’t listen to a lot of this group’s music, but this song came on Pandora one day, and I thought it was so beautiful and so emotional. Slowly, it became another one of those “stay up super late in my room and sing along to it” kind of songs. It was a go-to sad song for me, and it was a song that I always hoped would come on my Pandora stations (and it did, because I had it thumbed-up on probably 3-4 stations). Even though I don’t listen to it as often now, it’s one of those tracks that, whenever it comes on, I fall in love with it all over again, and I just go back to those days of staying up late and feeling all emotional while listening to it.

DRAKE - CONTROLLA

This was my song of the summer from 2016. I remember that year, I was in a Pre-College program at my current college, and I just remember listening to this song all the time when I got the chance to. It wasn’t easy because, with Drake not having his songs on YouTube, I had to rely on Pandora/Spotify to pick it at random, but whenever I hear it, I get flashbacks to those hot summer days, being in a classroom drawing dynamic artwork that goes off of the page and meeting people that would become some of my closest friends. As polarizing of an album as “Views” was, I have to appreciate it for giving me quite a few memorable songs, and especially for gracing me with “Controlla.”

CHILDISH GAMBINO - SOBER

During my freshman year of college, a close friend of mine showed me this song. I hadn’t really listened to Childish Gambino at all beforehand, but we were paired up on a project, and we used this song for said project. I remember listening to it and just immediately digging it, to the point where I would just go on YouTube and listen to it like 4-5 times in a row because it was that good. When I listen to it now, I transport back to that time working endlessly with said friend on said project, hearing it so many times, and literally never getting tired of it. I still haven’t gotten tired of it now, so that’s really something.

LIL UZI VERT FT. OH WONDER - THE WAY LIFE GOES

I know what you’re thinking, “how did this make you feel nostalgic if you reviewed this album less than a year ago?” Well, for starters, “Luv is Rage 2” was my fourth album reviewed, and it was the first album I reviewed right around its release date. Ed Sheeran’s “÷” was my first, and I reviewed it about four months after its initial release. Desiigner’s “New English” came second, and I reviewed that record over a year after its release. And then Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” was my third album review, and that was also about four months after release. Meanwhile, I remember being right there on Spotify at midnight to listen to and review “Luv is Rage 2,” so when I listen to it, it brings me back to that night, where I came home from work and just sat on my couch at midnight listening to this album. That, and the sheer number of repeat listens while walking to school during my first semester of sophomore year (thank you Pandora/Spotify) certainly helped. Luckily, it’s remained a great song even after so many listens, so I can commend that.

THE WEEKND - NOTHING WITHOUT YOU

Get ready for more somewhat cliché imagery, but this song takes me back to the summer of 2017 when I worked a part-time job in retail. During that summer, I worked largely closing shifts, so I would walk from work to the subway and take the subway home. I remember those late-night walks to the subway - and subsequent trips home from the subway - would just consist of me, headphones in ears, listening to The Weeknd. The dark night sky really went with the moody atmosphere of his songs, so it was always nice listening to his stuff when it was dark out. You could interchange this with several tracks off of “Starboy,” but “Nothing Without You” was one that I heard a lot during my walks, and again, at risk of sounding cliché, the song took me to another world. It felt great, I’ll tell you that much.

ED SHEERAN - CASTLE ON THE HILL

Ed Sheeran again? Yeah, I had to, because this one brings me back, too. In July 2017, just days after my 19th birthday, I went with a good friend of mine to see Ed Sheeran in concert, since he was on his “÷” tour at the time. It was really one of the most beautiful nights of my life. This is the song that really brings me back to that night since it was the concert-opener, and it really set the mood for the night, because it was so loud and so beautiful. I also remember, at the time, I wasn’t really all that into the song, but after the concert, I went back and listened to it more and more, and I just fell head-over-heels in love with it. This also kind of brings me back to those late nights walking home from work as well.

CHILDISH GAMBINO - REDBONE

Another artist making the list multiple times! “Redbone” really rang off for me throughout the summer of 2017, I heard it on the radio several times over, on VERY early-morning rides to work (think 4:30 AM) and nighttime car rides. This is a song that really brings me back to those late nights and very early mornings. It was a dark and nocturnal enough track to really work with the darkness of the night sky and the general feel of those late nights. Summer of 2017 may have seen this song become a huge meme, but for me, there was more to it than just the meme: it’s an amazing song, and it's also a nostalgia trip in and of itself.

BACKSTREET BOYS - AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME

Believe it or not, the first time I heard this song was at a Prom I went to in the summer of 2017. I heard it on the ride home, and my friends in the car were talking about the song a bit, but oddly enough, I hadn’t heard it before. While it was playing, I secretly went onto YouTube, found a lyric video, hit like and favorite on it, and then just started looping the song because I just fell in love with it. From there, I can’t lie to you when I say that I would listen to the song multiple times consecutively because I loved it so much, and every time I listen to it, I get goosebumps because I think back to that night - which was easily one of the best nights of my life - and I tell myself, “you know, being in traffic on the way home didn’t suck that bad, because it meant I got to hear this song for the first time!”

STARLEY - CALL ON ME (RYAN RIBACK REMIX)

Once again, a Summer 2017 song. When I worked in retail, I would also work the occasional morning truck shift, thus allowing me to leave around 1:00-3:00 in the afternoon. I remember this song coming on often and putting me in such a good mood all the time. It’s such a feel-good track, so easily danceable and so fun, and even on the days that weren’t so sun-spanked, I would feel good walking home to this. As stressful as it was working at that job during the summer, at least I had this to listen to on my way home.

LUKAS GRAHAM - 7 YEARS

If “Controlla” was my personal song of the summer in 2016, “7 Years” was a close second. “Controlla” was my feel-good, danceable track, and “7 Years” was that song that I remember walking up and down the stairs to during the Pre-College Program that summer, just feeling so emotional. Given that the song was about growing up, and the Pre-College Program was my first taste of the college atmosphere, it felt kind of fitting that I listened to that song a lot during such a transitional period. And it’s a good thing the song has stuck with me ever since because it’s a song I really enjoy!

CALVIN HARRIS FT. RIHANNA - THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FOR

This wasn’t really a song I listened to throughout all of my summer in 2016, but I distinctly remember it for one reason: during my Prom Weekend that year, I was walking on the boardwalk with my date and her friend, and during the walk, I heard the song playing, and now for some strange reason, whenever I hear it, I think back to that night. For some reason, I’m not sure if it was also playing, but the SeeB remix of Mike Posner’s “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” brings me back to that night as well. And thankfully, I’ve continued to listen to both songs since then, so that’s something worth remembering.

TREY SONGZ - CAN’T HELP BUT WAIT

Forget just bringing me to something from a summer vacation, this brings me back to my childhood. I used to listen to this all the time when I was in 3rd/4th grade, and I distinctly remember one day when I went with my mom to the doctor and to run some errands, this song came on the radio AT LEAST four times. Each time, though, my mom was gracious enough to keep it on, and it was from those repeat listens that I just couldn’t stop listening to it and singing along to it. And while I don’t loop it now as I did then, it still gets a listen or two out of me, and it makes me feel like a kid again. Gotta like that.

ALAN WALKER - FADED

I first heard this song as an instrumental not even a year ago, but after hearing said instrumental, I searched up the actual song, and became so in love with it. There was something so uncertain about the song, especially in regards to its lyrics, but the one thing I found certain about it was that it sounded so sad, and I remember times when I would be in one of my classes working on a project with the song playing in the background. I don’t know what it was, but when I hear this song, I just picture myself back in those classes, imagining ideas for music videos. The song itself felt very music video-esque, and beyond just being a great listen, it’s a solid nostalgia burst for me.

ROB THOMAS - LITTLE WONDERS

This is a weird one for me because I only really started listening to the song like a month ago. I was watching the film that it came from, “Meet the Robinsons,” and this song played in the film, and when I heard the hook, and I heard Rob Thomas say “but these small hours, these small hours…,” I had vaguely recognized that hook from my childhood. I remembered that I heard it somewhere when I was just a young child, and now when I hear the song, my heart honestly races. I remember back to just being a carefree kid, and I wonder “what was my younger self thinking when he first heard this? I hope he liked it!” And regardless of whether or not my younger self DID like it, I’m definitely glad the song came back around and made its way into my regular playlist so many years later.

BRUNO MARS - COUNT ON ME

More so than “Just The Way You Are” or “Grenade,” this was the first Bruno Mars song I really fell in love with. Back around 2011, I started becoming a huge night-owl, and I would stay up until 2:00 in the morning just listening to music on my computer. This song appeared on several commercials, so I ended up finding it on YouTube, and I remember I’d just sit there at 1:00 in the morning hitting the replay button and singing along to this all the time. It was such a sweet song and I had so much fun with it!

CLEAN BANDIT FT. JESS GLYNNE - RATHER BE

Let me tell ya, this song brings me back to A LOT of different times. For starters, it played during that Summer 2017 Prom I told you guys about earlier, and I remember singing along to it with quite a few friends because I loved the song so much, but I also remember it used to play all the time when I worked that part-time retail job. There were times where I honestly just wanted to embarrass myself by just going all out and singing the song in front of everyone, that’s how much I loved it. And to this day, it remains one of my absolute favorite songs. It’s one of the few songs where, every time I hear it, I get goosebumps. Thank you, Prom 2017, and former part-time retail job, for helping me appreciate this song that I hadn’t fully gotten to appreciate before.

And speaking of said job, here’s just a short list of songs that remind me of when I used to work that part-time job in retail I was talking about earlier. I won’t be including cover art or descriptions for them, since they would all come down to “I heard this at work and it stuck with me.” Even so, while I have some bad memories of that place, and while my time there didn’t end as well as it started, some really great songs played all the time that I still listen to today, such as:

THE SCRIPT - THE MAN WHO CAN’T BE MOVED
TAYLOR SWIFT - FEARLESS
BBMAK - BACK HERE
NO DOUBT - RUNNING
COLDPLAY - ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
JASON MRAZ FT. COLBIE CAILLAT - LUCKY
LEE DEWYZE - SWEET SERENDIPITY
MALI MUSIC - BEAUTIFUL
JACK JOHNSON - UPSIDE DOWN
PASSENGER - LET HER GO
CÉLINE DION - THAT’S THE WAY IT IS

Well, how about that? I was able to fit 30 songs! Nice! Anyway, those are 30 songs that I listen to now that bring me back to the past. I apologize if I occasionally repeated myself or sounded a bit cliché, it was really hard not to. But what are some songs that make you feel nostalgic? Unless you feel like the reasons will be too personal, let me know some of your nostalgia-burst songs down in the comments!

The Weeknd "My Dear Melancholy," EP Review

Ohhhhh yeah, this is something I’ve been excited for; it’s time for a review of the newest EP from The Weeknd, titled “My Dear Melancholy,.”

This is the latest project from Toronto R&B star Abel Tesfaye, otherwise known as The Weeknd, who is coming off of a 2017 spent promoting his 2016 album “Starboy,” an album I personally loved. In fact, 2017 started with the title track from that album reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I Feel It Coming” also reached the Top 10 (peaking at #4), and the two singles reached #20 and #34 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100. He also spent the year on his “Starboy: Legend of the Fall” tour (I should know, I saw him twice!), and he received features on several noteworthy albums in 2017, such as Future’s “HNDRXX,” NAV’s…"NAV," Lana Del Rey’s “Lust for Life,” French Montana’s “Jungle Rules,” Lil Uzi Vert’s “Luv is Rage 2,” and Gucci Mane’s “Mr. Davis.” He also opened 2018 by collaborating with Kendrick Lamar for the track “Pray For Me” from the “Black Panther” soundtrack, a track that, as of this writing, is still in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite the film “Black Panther” being well over a month old.

It’s clear the Starboy has been on fire, and I’ve been very excited to see where he would go from that album, so here he is with a surprise EP, and given the EP's short length and lack of singles, I get the impression that this isn’t all we’re gonna get from him this year. Perhaps it's a holdover for a new full-length album he'll drop later this year? Maybe he's pulling another "Trilogy" and he's gonna release two more EPs during the year? Who knows, but regardless, there’s been a lot of rumors about this project, and his new album, for that matter, taking things back to his roots, so let’s listen and see what it’s like, shall we?

Call Out My Name: A very light ballad, I can already see what people were talking about with Abel going back to his older sound. This definitely sounds really close to the things Abel offered during the “Trilogy” days, but that doesn’t mean it’s not successful, because it really is. Abel croons on this track about his struggles to let go of a relationship he previously had, and with the heavy but slow drum beat here, I feel like it’s the perfect compromise between his old and new stuff. It’s got the feel and the vibe of the old stuff, but it also has the vocal maturity The Weeknd has shown since the “Trilogy.” Really great start to this EP.

Try Me: This one is really interesting to me because it’s got a very somber feel to it, but it’s also a bit more uptempo than the last one. I feel like it’s a really great, emotional track with some really beautiful vocals from Abel, as he talks on here about how a girl he used to be with should come back to him, instead of being in an unhappy relationship with her current man. The 808-drum beat on this one is head-noddy and fun, and it’s got a really great vibe to it. Another great track!

Wasted Times: A very introspective cut, The Weeknd appears to bare it all on this track by allegedly talking about his two high-profile relationships that he had with Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez. You can kind of infer from his lyrics here that, as he thinks back to his time with Bella, he realizes that his relationship with Selena was a waste of time. All speculation, but that stuff aside, I actually get some neat, somewhat old-school R&B vibes here, and parts of the song feel like a throwback to “Angel” from “Beauty Behind the Madness.” Abel’s vocals, while filtered throughout, are very smooth and pretty, and I like the click-clack percussion on this track. Definitely gonna come back to this one in the future!

I Was Never There (ft. Gesaffelstein): Another track that feels like a lot of Abel’s old-school stuff, I really love his vocals throughout this one, as he croons about how he can’t have a regular relationship with a woman, how his lifestyle at this point simply revolves around sex, and how it will almost feel like he wasn’t there because there was no feeling between him and the girl he talks about. Gesaffelstein helps produce this one, and he makes a track that’s dark and moody with some cool feel changes here and there, and of course, Abel's vocals are fantastic as always. Really enjoyed this one a lot, definitely want to come back to it in the future.

Hurt You (ft. Gesaffelstein): Gesaffelstein also helps to produce this track, as Abel sends out a warning on this one about his struggles with relationships and how he’s not looking for a commitment like that. I feel like I get so many vibes to other Weeknd tracks on this one, and I mean that in a good way. It kinda feels like he mixed his older style with “As You Are” and “Pray For Me” and they hyper-collaborated to make this happen. I feel like it’s a track with that same dark feel of his old stuff, but a head-noddy and fun enough feel to satisfy people like me that got into The Weeknd with his new stuff. Another track I really enjoyed!

Privilege: This final track seems to be a final goodbye from Abel to Selena Gomez, as he alludes to The Matrix’s “red/blue pills” by using the red pill to describe living in reality to take away the false-hope that is provided to him by the blue pill. Given the very dark instrumental here, this continues to remind me of Abel’s old-school stuff. It’s very ethereal, moody, and nocturnal, and while it’s the most minimal track on this project, it’s still a really beautiful cut that leaves me excited to see what comes next from him!

Overall, The Weeknd’s “My Dear Melancholy,” might just be a short EP, but it’s an extremely enjoyable one! Abel goes back to his roots a bit here, but instead of simply resting on his laurels and making something that sounds old-school to shut the “hardcore XO fans" up, it feels like he tries to make something that acts as a perfect “best of both worlds” experience, where we get that dark, moody feel that the “Trilogy” provided, but we also get that head-noddy, fun production, and vocal maturity that Abel has shown throughout his latest albums. It definitely feels like there’s a lot to like about this project, regardless of whether you consider yourself an old-school Weeknd fan or a new fan. And while it’s a really short project, there’s a lot of good things going on here that make me very excited to see what Abel has in store for the rest of this year. Is this the first part of a series of EPs that will combine together much like the “Trilogy” did back in 2011? Or is this a simple holdover until Abel releases one, full-length album later in the year? It’s hard to say, but at least what we’re given here is some damn good stuff.

And you know what? For a man who comes alive in the Fall time…he does pretty damn well in the Spring, too.

Favorite tracks: ALL OF THEM

Least favorite tracks: NAHHHHHHHHHH

Rating: Excellent

Bruno Mars "Unorthodox Jukebox" Album Review

Alright, moving things right along, it’s now time to take a look at Bruno Mars’ 2012 sophomore album “Unorthodox Jukebox.” This second album comes sandwiched between the solidly-enjoyable “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” and the fantastic “24K Magic,” and it also features some of Bruno’s biggest, most well-known singles to date. Let’s see if the rest of the album lives up to those singles, shall we?

Young Girls: A slower, more lovely ballad, Bruno talks on this track about how attracted he gets to the more wild girls. Though some critics have found the lyrics somewhat problematic, I think this song is nonetheless very grand and it’s a good showing of Bruno’s vocal range. The hook is really beautiful, and the very bright, pretty sound keeps this one really interesting. I don’t know why I was ignoring this one for so long, it’s a great track!

Locked Out of Heaven: One of his most iconic singles, Bruno channels The Police on this track, and being the first single he released after “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” it’s vastly different from pretty much anything on that record, and it’s clear Bruno evolved his sound a bit with this one. The result is an upbeat, pumping track with smooth vocals from Bruno and an ear-wormy hook. Originally, I didn’t take to this song all that much, but I don’t know what I was thinking because it’s just so damn great!

Gorilla: Already, this one also really feels a lot different from Bruno’s older stuff, as he spends the track talking about him and a girl making love like gorillas over a 1980’s soft-rock-infused instrumental. It’s a really interesting transition from his other stuff, and while the lyrics are a bit explicit here (I got a chuckle out of hearing Bruno say “give it to me, motherfucker” and then literally saying he and this girl would be “fucking like gorillas”), I love the old-school vibe I get from this one, Bruno’s vocals are quite nice, and the hook was very ear-wormy. Another really enjoyable track!

Treasure: Forget “Uptown Funk” and the entire “24K Magic” album, THIS was the first sign that Bruno was trying to bring back the funk! This disco-infused track is another standout from Bruno, with some very punchy production, a really strong vocal performance from Bruno, a hook that just gets stuck in your head for all the right reasons, and a great vibe that kind of reminds me of old-school Michael Jackson. This one originally cooled on me because of repeat listens, but after coming back to it for this review, I find myself just falling in love with the track more and more. It’s soulful, it’s energetic, and most importantly, it’s brilliant.

Moonshine: Another track with a very retro vibe, I love the really sweet guitar intro on this one, and dammit all, the hook is damn hypnotic on this one! Bruno’s vocals are smooth, as he once again injects a really cool, Michael Jackson vibe onto this song, as he talks about his drinking of Moonshine to help take him away from everything that’s going on. There’s a reason the tour for this album was called the “Moonshine Tour,” and it’s because this song is amazing!

When I Was Your Man: A track that shows us a more vulnerable, emotional side of Bruno, this ballad features Bruno singing over a piano melody about his regret in letting the woman he loved get away, and his hopes that her new man does all the lovely things he just wasn’t able to do. Blame it on me being a hopelessly-romantic 19-year old, but just thinking about the song hits me emotionally. It’s such a beautiful track that really shows off Bruno’s vocal chops and his more sad side that we don’t see much behind the sunglasses. Definitely one of Bruno’s best songs.

Natalie: Here, we have Bruno telling us a revenge story of a gold-digging woman who he wants to pay for her crimes, even if it affects him negatively in the end. He does this over a very uptempo track with some really sweet percussion, and he continues to demonstrate just how great his vocal range is. The hook is also pretty hypnotic and fun, and the song as a whole is head-noddy fun. Definitely really enjoyed this track a lot.

Show Me: A more tropical song, Jamaican producer Supa Dups to help Bruno create a samba-infused track that doesn’t feel watered-down at all. This is Bruno really respecting and appreciating the genre and making something really great out of it. The tropical instrumentals are very beautiful, and the song brings us more of Bruno’s very nice vocals. Part of me wishes he had released this as a single back when this album was making the rounds because it feels different enough that it could’ve been an interesting hit. Even so, it’s a really great track all things considered.

Money Make Her Smile: Another track that feels very throwback-y to me, I love the very pumping percussion on this track and the more electronic feel of it. Bruno’s vocals are lovely as always, the hook is hypnotic, and it kind of feels like Bruno’s creating something that feels like “Michael Jackson meets Black Eyed Peas,” and is all the better for it. Once again, why was this not a single? It’s an amazing track, and it had all the makings of a hit song! Even so, it’s really an incredible song.

If I Knew: Bruno takes on a slow-jam feel on this track, one that finds him speaking to one of his ex-lovers, and basically proclaiming that, had he known that his girl wanted to come back to him, he wouldn’t have done all the things that he did to her (presumably cheating). I don’t know why I used to skip this all the time when it came on Pandora, because wow, it is gorgeous! It’s not a traditional Bruno song, there’s no real hook to it, but it’s another showcase of his really beautiful vocals, and it’s got a really fantastic bass-line to boot. Definitely an amazing end to the album.

Overall, Bruno Mars comes through with something really special on “Unorthodox Jukebox.” It’s once again abundantly clear that Bruno can handle a lot of different styles, but it's also clear that he's evolved his sound here: after much of his debut album featured lighter ballads, this album is filled with tracks that not only feel like throwbacks but they show Bruno’s appreciation for so many different genres. And beyond that, it’s another great showcase of Bruno’s gorgeous vocals and ear for production. I used to say that “24K Magic” was Bruno’s best album by far. I don’t know, though, if this isn’t better than that, it’s definitely the strongest second. “Unorthodox Jukebox” is an amazing album, and if you made the mistake I did and didn’t listen to it when it first came out, do that now!

There’s a lot of stuff I have planned to review in the future now that the Bruno reviews are done, so stay tuned!

Favorite tracks: EVERY SINGLE ONE

Least favorite tracks: NOPE, NOT DOING THAT TODAY

Rating: Excellent

Bruno Mars "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" Album Review

There’s not much I have to review at the moment in terms of new albums, so why not take some time to review some older albums? Starting things off, I want to take a look at Bruno Mars’ 2010 album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans.”

Bruno Mars needs no introduction, he’s a pop superstar, possible future pop icon, and this was his debut studio album. Now, I’ve obviously covered Bruno Mars in the past; as many of you may remember, “24K Magic” remains one of my personal favorite albums. However, outside of some of his bigger singles, a lot of my Bruno knowledge rests with that album, so I figured it would be a cool idea to look back at his past records to see what he had to offer beyond those huge singles. Let’s see, let’s see.

Grenade: Ohhh, I remember when this track was EVERYWHERE back in 2011! And while I definitely loved it then, it’s certainly cooled quite a bit for me. Still, I do think it’s a very emotional track, and it’s definitely a great showcase of Bruno’s vocal chops. That, and after the super sweet first single that was “Just The Way You Are,” it’s interesting seeing him try something more emotional here. Might have to throw this one back in the rotation and re-listen to it, a very good single.

Just The Way You Are: And ANOTHER track that I DEFINITELY remember hearing all the time in 2010 and 2011, this one also cooled on me a bit. Once again, though, re-listening to it made me realize that, sure, it might come off as a bit cheesy to some, but in its own way, it’s definitely a very sweet song that features some really beautiful vocals from Bruno. Overall, a very feel-good, nice track that might return to my usual rotation.

Our First Time: A slow-jam about sex, originally this one felt a bit too rough and demo-esque for me, but after a while, I eventually started to really fall for the song. Sure, you can still tell as you listen to it that Bruno’s grown from this and he’s definitely created songs sexier than this one, but I do like the vibe I get from this, and I think Bruno is still given more than enough room to show off his vocal chops. Will we look back on this as one of his best songs ever? Probably not. Is it still head-nodding fun that I’ll come back to multiple times in the future? Yeah, most likely.

Runaway Baby: A far more up-tempo, rocking track, this one has Bruno basically warning a girl to stay away from him because he’s not looking for something serious in a relationship. I’m not sure how I feel about the lyrics, but I do really like the hook on this one, and I think it has a very ear-wormy charm to it. Might need to give it a few more listens to see if it really clicks with me, though.

The Lazy Song: Another huge Bruno single (and one that he apparently isn’t too fond of, given some of his press comments, as well as the fact that he didn’t perform it during his 24K Magic tour), I can kind of see why he’s not too fond of the track. Yeah, it’s got a nice, ear-wormy hook, some funny lyrics, and a nice vibe, but I feel like it might be a little TOO laid back to the point where it just doesn’t go anywhere interesting for me. An ode to laziness is a cool concept, but it feels like it’s a little out of Bruno’s wheelhouse. Not a terrible track, and it might even get a repeat listen or two out of me off of the sheer power of being head-noddy fun, but I see where the problems lie here.

Marry You: Here, Bruno talks about just how in love with a girl he is that he just wants to immediately marry her in a kind of rebellious and daring way, over a kind of 60’s pop-inspired instrumental. Once again, it’s not one of Bruno’s best songs, but it does have a very sweet vibe to it, I love Bruno’s vocals throughout this one, and it’s nice to see him appreciate an older style of music. Still might need a few listens to see if it grows on me.

Talking To The Moon: A much more stripped-down ballad, this one features Bruno talking of a long-distance relationship, and it features plenty of the same pretty vocals that Bruno has provided throughout the last few tracks. The more stripped-down feel of the track also works to the more emotional feel of the song. I’m shocked it took me this long to really listen to this one, it’s a really great track!

Liquor Store Blues (ft. Damian Marley): One of the few tracks on this album to have a feature, this album sees Damian Marley join Bruno for a more reggae-inspired song that sees Bruno provided more really great vocals, as his voice meshes perfectly with the aforementioned reggae-flavored instrumentals. Damian Marley sticks firmly in his comfort zone on this one, but his short, sort of cameo appearance still injects a little extra dose of fun into the track. It might need a few more listens to grow on me a bit, but I definitely think it was interesting seeing Bruno try something more reggae-inspired, and it works.

Count on Me: Here’s another one that really brings me back, because after hearing this on several commercials, I definitely found myself giving it plenty of repeat listens. And while it’s definitely cooled on me a bit, I definitely enjoyed the smooth acoustic guitar plucking on this one, and the nice bongo-lead percussion, and Bruno’s very nice, charming vocals. Sure, it might again feel just a little bit cheesy, but it’s a really sweet, nice track that might end up returning to my usual rotation.

The Other Side (ft. CeeLo Green and B.o.B.): Rounding things out, we have a track that features B.o.B. (who Bruno previously collaborated with on “Nothin’ On You”) and CeeLo Green…who Bruno hadn’t collaborated with beforehand. Bruno, CeeLo, and B.o.B. all talk on this track about how they’ve crossed over to the “other realm,” which is essentially stardom, and how others won’t really understand what this other side is like unless they’ve been on that same side. I liked Bruno’s vocals throughout this track, the hook is quite ear-wormy, and B.o.B.’s verse has some great flow (even if there are a few cheesy lyrics), but I think CeeLo Green’s verse is the real standout here. I loved his vocals throughout here, and even though his presence isn’t big here, he still does great with what he’s given. Not my favorite track, but it’s an appropriate finishing cut, and it’s a pretty good song that might grow on me in the future.

Overall, Bruno Mars’ debut record, eight years later, still remains a very fun, sweet record. There are plenty of great vocal performances throughout this record, as Bruno shows his knack for a lot of different styles here; from lighter, more acoustic tracks, to more heavy and emotional ballads, to even reggae, Bruno covers a lot of ground on this one. My only big glaring problems are that, for starters, the album may come off as a bit too sweet and too cheesy to a few people, and a lot of the tracks will need to grow on me a bit. It probably helps that I listened to this after “24K Magic,” so I might be thinking too much about how much Bruno has grown since this, but it is nice to see that I can still nod my head and vibe to a lot of the songs on this record. It’s not Bruno’s best, but it’s a very nice album overall.

And yes, I will be looking at “Unorthodox Jukebox” next. Stay tuned!

Favorite tracks: Grenade, Just The Way You Are, Our First Time, Talking To The Moon, Count on Me

Least favorite tracks: Runaway Baby (if I had to pick one)

Rating: Good

Judas Priest "Firepower" Album Review (80th Review)

I know what you’re thinking, I can hear it already: “Matt, you said before that you didn’t want to cover rock albums! And this is a metal album at that! Shouldn’t that make it even worse? And especially as your milestone 80th review! Are you sure you want to do this?” Trust me, I’ve got a good feeling about this one: it’s time for a review of the new Judas Priest album “Firepower.”

Judas Priest is a heavy metal band that has been around for almost 50 years! That’s damn impressive in and of itself. and this is their 18th studio album. EIGHTEENTH!!! That’s really crazy. Now, outside of “Painkiller,” a song I wouldn’t know if not for Guitar Hero and Rock Band, I don’t really know much about the group’s work, and I can say that about a lot of heavy metal bands. However, this album caught my interest because I saw it being described as one of the group’s best albums, and maybe one of the best metal albums of the decade. And, even as someone that has little to no interest in metal music, I listened to snippets of it and really enjoyed myself throughout. Let’s see if those snippets translate into something amazing.

Firepower: This song, to me, is what metal music should be. Thrashing drum beat, incredibly smooth, beautiful guitar melodies and solos throughout, and charismatic, exciting vocal performances that don’t just feel like needless shouting for the sake of shouting. There are also some very neat feel and tempo changes throughout this track that keep it interesting and fun throughout. Really great song, definitely an awesome start to the album!

Lightning Strike: This track leads in perfectly from the last one, and it has a very different feel, which is very nice. I also really loved the hook on this one, I fell in love with the drum beat, and there’s some really great, thrashing guitar riffs as well. Lead singer Rob Halford also once again provides very exciting, powerful vocals on this one, and doesn’t feel like he’s just screaming his head off the whole time. Great track!

Evil Never Dies: A track that has some clever lyrical allusions to “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” this one features a kind of slower and more basic, but still very powerful and exciting drum beat, and a really solid hook. Halford’s vocals once again remain energetic on this one, and the guitar instrumentals and solos are very cool, too. Not one of my personal favorites on the album, but it’s definitely a solid track.

Never The Heroes: I love the way this one starts off! It kind of reminds me of an electronic song from a very futuristic film. After the intro, the song ends up being quite a bit slower than the other tracks on this record, but it has some very beautiful, smooth guitar melodies, and Halford’s vocals remain smooth and gorgeous on here. There’s a lot of great things going on on this track, and it’s definitely one of the most memorable ones on the album.

Necromancer: Taking things back to something closer to what the first track offered, I don’t love the hook on this one, but I do once again really dig the amazing guitar solos, the great drum beat, and Rob Halford’s typical fantastic vocals. It’s not one of my personal favorites on the album, but I feel like this one could grow on me with a little bit of time, it’s still quite good.

Children of the Sun: Slowing things down just a little in comparison to the last song, I found the very beautiful, smooth guitar riffs on this one to be easy to nod your head along to. The drum beat is also pounding and emphatic, and as always, I LOVE Halford’s vocals. He’s got a really strong, deep voice with plenty of range, and I feel like this track once again allows him to explore that, transitioning amazingly between his falsetto and his growl. Great track for sure!

Guardians: Now this is just a one-minute-long instrumental interlude, and while it does feel a bit at odds with a few of the other tracks on the record, I feel like I’ll want to come back to this one in the future because I love the very grand feel of it and the beautiful piano melody, and it transitions so perfectly into the next track. Great interlude!

Rising From Ruins: I love the intro to this track!!! I love the pounding drum beat and the really head-noddy guitar melody on this one. Rob’s vocals once again remain beautiful and very smooth throughout this track, as he continues to provide plenty of energy and excitement on this one! The track as a whole takes thing just a tick slower than some of the others on here, but there are so many really great intricacies to the track (like, the cool drum fills and beautiful guitar solos) that make this one so amazing!

Flame Thrower: Once again, Judas Priest brings the energy on this track and, while it’s again a slightly slower track than some of the others here, it’s no less pounding, and I also really love the hook on this one. There’s some really cool drum fills throughout this one, the guitar melody that leads it is beautiful (as is the guitar solo here), and Halford’s vocals remain as strong as ever. Not a favorite of mine, but I feel like this one has a lot of potential to grow on me with a few more listens.

Spectre: We have another more mid-tempo track here, one driven by some really cool guitar melodies throughout, and some really exciting, charismatic moments from Rob Halford. The solos are also pretty amazing here, and even if the drum beat here is a little more basic, it’s still thumping, head-noddy stuff. I really enjoyed this track a lot, and I definitely think it’ll get plenty of repeat listens from me.

Traitors Gate: I like the rather suspenseful intro to this one, and even though it leads into something that’s far more pounding and loud, I love it for the amazing guitar melodies throughout! The drum fills on this one are some of the best on the album, and I love how Rob jumps into his falsetto throughout the track on this one. Even as one of the longer tracks on the record, it never loses its energy thanks to the really fantastic instrumentation here. Definitely a really amazing song!

No Surrender: One of the shorter tracks on the record, I once again really loved the very bright guitar intro and solos throughout this song. And while I haven’t talked much about the lyrics throughout this record, I have to say that hearing Rob Halford say on the hook that he’s “ready to fight with no surrender” is pretty awesome. That’s just a really great line to me, and his vocals remain really fantastic on this one. Really love this track, too!

Lone Wolf: Once again, I like the way this one starts, as it feels kind of mysterious on the intro. Eventually, though, the song kicks into its more throbbing feel, but that doesn’t make it worse. In fact, the song, while not as uptempo as some of the others here, is really exciting and energetic. The song feels very drum-driven to me, and the fills on here are really awesome! I also have to appreciate that the song has a bit of a cool, swingy feel to it, too. It’s not a favorite of mine, but it’s a really cool, really enjoyable track overall.

Sea of Red: The final track on this album starts off much lighter than any of the others on here, and the guitar intro is really beautiful. The song itself takes a very down-tempo feel in comparison to some of the other songs on the record, but Rob Halford’s vocals are absolutely gorgeous on this one! This definitely feels very slightly stripped back in comparison to some of the other tracks on the record, but that doesn’t stop it from being an absolutely beautiful song! Great guitar solos, beautiful vocals, a simple but pounding drum track, this one has it all, and it’s the perfect end to this amazing album!

Overall, Judas Priest shows with “Firepower” that, even after almost 50 years and a boatload of albums, that they know how to make emphatic, exciting metal music. This album, at least to me, is what metal music should be: energetic and exciting with great drum beats, beautiful guitar melodies, and charismatic vocal performances that don’t just feel like mindless screaming for the sake of mindless screaming. I’ll put it to you guys like this, I’m not even a fan of heavy metal music, and this thing just made me want to headbang the entire time. Of course, I didn’t, or else I’d have gotten a headache, but even so, the album really is that fantastic that it made someone like me, that doesn’t even listen to metal music, really get into it.

To that point, I feel like this is a record that you should listen to, even if you’re not a metal fan. Because I get that there seems to be a reputation that metal music is just “loud, scream-y music about people shouting at the devil.” This, I can tell you, is not that. This is an album that is exciting, not overly scream-y, and filled with so much beautiful instrumentation that the whole “loud” factor shouldn’t really matter. This is metal music done right, and this is the kind of thing that’s easy to get into even if you aren’t a metal fanatic. I walked in not sure what to expect, but I can more than appreciate an album like this; I can also headbang to it.

Well, not really because I’d get a headache, but still, listen to it!

Favorite tracks: Firepower, Lightning Strike, Never The Heroes, Children of the Sun, Guardians, Rising From Ruins, Spectre, No Surrender, Sea of Red

Least favorite tracks: Uhh…can’t really pick one. They all were pretty good to me.

Rating: Excellent

Wendy's "We Beefin?" EP Review

I don’t review EPs as often anymore since they’re so short, but this is a very special exception because it’s a magical time: it’s time for a review of the new Wendy’s EP “We Beefin?”

Wendy’s needs no introduction, they’re a wildly-popular fast-food chain often known not only for their delicious food and their fresh, never-frozen beef but for their delicious social media posts and their fresh, never-frozen Twitter beef. Wendy’s is not only one of the bests in the fast-food game, but they’re one of the best things Twitter has to offer. And I really mean that, I really do love Wendy’s food, but I also love their tweets. The fact that they’ve decided to release an EP is just a glorious moment in music, so let’s see what this thing has to offer, shall we?

Twitter Fingers: An overly-autotuned banger, Wendy’s comes through with hot fire on this trap-flavored track, and while some of the lyrics are hard to decipher, it doesn’t matter because Wendy’s is still ending careers with this track and they’ll come at anyone that tries to tell them otherwise.

Holding It Down: Another upbeat, trap-flavored cut, this track doesn’t really differentiate itself much from the last one, but that doesn’t matter because Wendy’s continues to end the lives of McDonald’s and Burger King on this song. Don’t even try to come back, Mickey D, because it’s not gonna work! And don’t you try, BK, because Wendy’s is over here spitting fire, don’t even try with that!

Rest in Grease: Wendy’s dabbles in some neat, kind of different instrumental sounds on this one, and the rapid-fire flow is really working on this one! And the lyrics are amazing, as you’d expect. Always cool seeing them talking about the ice cream machine always being broken. Dope shit.

Clownin: I shouldn’t need to say it again, but I will because it’s true, this track is hot fire. Wendy’s reminds us here to be careful who to diss, and that’s the most truthful statement, because Wendy’s really isn’t afraid to come at anyone, and that’s what makes them so great. Keeping it real, and keeping it fresh (NEVER FROZEN).

4 for 4$: The final track on this legendary EP is Wendy’s discussing their 4 for $4, which comes with a sandwich (there’s a lot of choices in that one), chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink, all for $4. Done best at Wendy’s, no one can ever do better. And you know what? Even if Wendy’s put the $ after the 4 in the title of this track, it doesn’t matter, because they still spit some insane bars on this one.

Overall, this is some of the hottest fire you’ll ever hear in your damn life. Wendy’s is over here putting these other rappers to shame, and it’s clear their beef is still fresh, and NEVER, EVER EVER EVER frozen! Wendy’s will out-rap Kendrick Lamar, J-Cole, Nas, B.I.G., 2Pac, Eminem, Jay-Z, Rakim, Kanye, and pretty much any other damn rapper that’s ever existed, and no one can tell me otherwise!

But in all seriousness, this was a pretty funny idea. I know it might seem strange to count something like this as my 79th review, but I’m gonna do it. Clearly, as an EP, this is meant to just capitalize on Wendy’s amazing Twitter beef, and as a result, it works. It’s a funny concept, and even if it’s not really the stuff of legends, it will play well into their social media legacy.

Milestone #80 is coming up and it’s…Judas Priest?

Favorite tracks: THE 4 FOR $4 MEAL AT WENDY'S

Least favorite tracks: BURGER KING

Rating: FRESH, NEVER FROZEN

THINK PIECE: Strangest Features From Albums I've Reviewed

Features exist all around music. Artists work together in collaboration to make a really incredible song, it happens all the time. And while there are plenty of great features out there, some of them come off on paper as being so off-the-wall and strange that you wonder what kind of voodoo the artists’ record companies engaged in to get them together on a track.

This list will discuss twelve specific examples of strange features in songs. Each song here comes from an album I have reviewed, and that’s basically the only qualification. These features aren’t here based on how good or bad they are; they are here because they may seem strange at first glance. Whether or not they stick the landing is irrelevant to whether or not they make the list, this is just all about how much sense they make (though I will at least point out if the songs are good or not). With that said, let’s discuss.

KENDRICK LAMAR FT. U2 - XXX.

Kendrick Lamar, one of the biggest rappers out there today, collaborating with a rock band that’s been around since the 70s, and was popular when my Dad was a kid? Something felt really strange about that to me! Hell, even in my review, I mentioned that Kendrick collaborating with U2 was “a strange combo.” The fact that the song also feels so un-U2 to me only makes it an even stranger collab. Even so, the song is definitely one of my favorites off of “DAMN.,” so kudos to Kendrick and U2 for making it work.

THE WEEKND FT. ED SHEERAN - DARK TIMES

Okay, here’s the thing: The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran are pretty much my two favorite artists, so a pairing like this should be a match made in Heaven for me. And, to an extent, it is. However, the thing is, they’re two COMPLETELY different artists, which makes this strange for me. And, truth be told, I wasn’t all that crazy about the track. I felt like Ed and Abel’s vocals lifted the song entirely, as the track generally struggled as a result of some less-than-stellar sonic elements. Still, a part of me kinda wants to see them try again, and see if they can make something more interesting.

BRUNO MARS FT. CARDI B - FINESSE (REMIX)

Okay, I’m kind of cheating a little bit since this wasn’t included on the album, but that doesn’t make it any less of a crack pairing. Cardi B and Bruno Mars couldn’t be any more different as artists, so the idea of her jumping on one of my favorite tracks from “24K Magic” had me saying “what?” The fact that Bruno’s own work doesn’t often have features didn’t help me think differently of the track, either. And certainly, while Cardi B feels kind of tacked-on to the beginning and the end, and not used as well as she could be, I definitely think this is a great remix, and I’m glad it happened because, having loved the original track, it’s nice to see this finally doing well on the charts.

CHANCE THE RAPPER FT. TOWKIO & JUSTIN BIEBER - JUKE JAM

No, I’m not talking about Towkio here. I hardly know who he is, so I wouldn’t know if this is out of his comfort zone. I’m talking about Bieber here, and not because he’s working with a rapper, because he’s definitely had plenty of hip-hop collaborations before (remember “I’m The One?” That had Chance in it, too!). Hell, even in the days of “Baby,” he was collaborating with Ludacris! I’m not shocked he’s WITH a hip-hop artist here, I’m shocked that his appearance just feels like a cameo. You’d think he’d use his popularity and fame to get a little more out of his guest feature on this track. His cameo DOES work here, and I think it does show a willingness to take a backseat despite his heavy popularity, which is great, but part of me kind wishes he got a little more of a chance to prove himself here.

RAE SREMMURD FT. LIL JON - SET THE ROOF

It’s no secret that Rae Sremmurd has had plenty of big features before. Even going back to the days of the first “SremmLife,” the duo was able to get Nicki Minaj and Big Sean on tracks, and “SremmLife 2” saw them grab artists like Gucci Mane and Juicy J, and their recent song “Powerglide” off of the upcoming “SR3MM” also had Juicy J on it, so it’s not like the boys can’t get big features. It came as a shock to me, though, that they got the Party Man himself, Lil Jon. Being kind of “old-school” at this point, I wondered for a minute how they got a veteran like him on this track. However they did it, they should pat themselves on the back for it, because it’s one of the best tracks on “SremmLife 2,” and it’s absolutely infectious and fun. If anything, I just wish they’d released it as a single. I feel like it would’ve done great, but alas, they didn’t, so now we’re just stuck waiting for “SR3MM.” One of these days.

ED SHEERAN FT. BEYONCÉ - PERFECT DUET

Again, this is kind of a cheat because it wasn’t included on the album, but given that it’s a chart-topping single, I feel like I have things to say about it. Beyoncé has proven to me that she can handle several different styles, so she’s definitely not my real surprise here. The reason this came so far out of the blue for me is that none of Ed’s previous songs had any prominent features. While he has been a feature on songs from artists like Taylor Swift and the aforementioned The Weeknd, “+,” “X,” and “÷” all catapulted to success without the aid of features. For Ed to hook up one of his own songs with a prominent feature, and someone as big as Beyoncé, no less, is pretty incredible. And not only does the song totally stick the landing (and honestly sound even better with Beyoncé), but being a song I absolutely love (it’s my future wedding song), I’m happy that this remix helped catapult the song to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 because it deserved it (and also because I said back in my review that it needed to be a chart-topper).

LIL PUMP FT. 2 CHAINZ - ICED OUT

2 Chainz’s feature list reads like the telephone book, so it may not seem weird that he’s a feature on any song at this point. What made this appearance a shock to me is that 2 Chainz is one of the most popular rappers around, and he’s a pretty big name, so it was crazy to see him co-sign a young rapper like Lil Pump so early in his career. While it definitely wasn’t one of my favorite songs on the mixtape, it at least showed me that big rappers aren’t ready to count Lil Pump out just yet, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see him grab even bigger features later on. If he was able to land 2 Chainz before he had a hit, imagine what he can do now that he has “Gucci Gang” under his belt.

MAROON 5 FT. KENDRICK LAMAR - DON’T WANNA KNOW

You know, I could talk about more than a few Maroon 5 tracks with strange rap features. With Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, and Future having appeared on some of the group’s tracks, they are no strangers to having random rap features. I specifically zeroed in on this one because, by the time this was released, Kendrick Lamar was fresh off of “To Pimp A Butterfly.” Perhaps, after that album was so unconventional, this was his first attempt at getting back into more mainstream music before he expanded upon that effort (to an extent) with “DAMN.?” It’s hard to tell, but either way, I’ve admittedly gotten a little bit of longevity out of track even though it doesn’t use Kendrick or Maroon 5 to their fullest potential. Kendrick’s definitely had better features, though.

TAYLOR SWIFT FT. ED SHEERAN & FUTURE - END GAME

It should be obvious, but I’m not talking about Ed Sheeran here. The two of them are close friends, and Ed has been on one of Taylor’s songs before. You guys already know I’m talking about Future. This is the only song with any features on “reputation,” and even though Kendrick Lamar helped catapult “Bad Blood” to success before, she doesn’t work often with features, and Future just seemed out of place, another attempt by Taylor to radically change her sound on this album. Admittedly, it worked; this song did grow on me quite a bit, and Future’s verse is one of his most listenable to me, so I have to give credit where credit is due.

EMINEM FT. X AMBASSADORS - BAD HUSBAND

Come on, was there any doubt something off of Eminem’s latest album would make this list? Everyone remembers the general reaction when Eminem released the tracklist for “Revival” and the features list included Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Kehlani, and X Ambassadors. It was, uhh, not very positive, to say the least. The X Ambassadors feature was the one that arguably received the most criticism (sure, Ed Sheeran did, but in his defense, he has rapped several times before, so for me personally, it wasn’t shocking), and for good reason, because the song itself is one of the album’s worst. Their hook in particular is pretty weak and, much like a lot of the other songs on the record, the production on this one is less than stellar. I’m not opposed to Eminem trying to add in some more unconventional features, but I just hope they stick the landing a bit better next time.

LORDE FT. KHALID, POST MALONE & SZA - HOMEMADE DYNAMITE (REMIX)

Lorde’s “Homemade Dynamite” is a song I absolutely adore but was anyone else just a little bit surprised that the remix featured Khalid, Post Malone, AND SZA? That’s some BIG star power right there, and it’s even more shocking given that Lorde’s “Melodrama” was incredible without any features! But hey, Lorde, Khalid, SZA, and Post Malone all on one track? I’ll take that any day of the week, and I honestly tend to gravitate towards the remix just a little bit more than the original version! Even if it was just a way to give the song a boost on the charts (which it deserved because it’s an amazing song that more people need to listen to), I think all four artists bring some really great performances to the table here to keep it extremely interesting. This could’ve ended up being a bloated, star-studded turkey, but instead, it’s a star-studded gem on an album that’s already chock-full of gems.

CAMILA CABELLO FT. YOUNG THUG - HAVANA

It doesn’t necessarily shock me that Camila collaborated with a rapper. After all, during her time with Fifth Harmony, the group collaborated with artists like Kid Ink, Ty Dolla $ign, and Fetty Wap, and even after her departure, 5H collaborated with Gucci Mane. Seeing her join forces with a rapper is no surprise, but this shocked me a bit more in the context of the rest of the album. “Havana” is one of the few dance-y tracks off of what was primarily a ballad-driven album, so seeing that Young Thug was her one feature was a bit of a shock, especially since she apparently worked with artists like Sia and Ed Sheeran on songs that didn’t end up making the cut. It’s still a great song, and luckily, the Young Thug feature does stick the landing, but I still think it feels a little bit out of place.

So, those are some of the strangest features to me. I ended up going with twelve instead of ten because there was quite a bit to talk about! What are some of the weirdest features you’ve seen in a song? Sound off in the comment section below!