Hey there Insighters! I know I’m a tad late on today’s #FiveOnFridays music post. And by “tad late”, I literally mean two weeks behind. Lately, life has been a cross between the chaotic and the glorious, all while proving to be exhausting. But not to worry, I’m happily back for another installment of ‘Muse Clues!’ (Music Discoveries).
And for those of you who may not be familiar with how ‘Muse Clues!’works, here’s a brief overview.
Yeah, that’s pretty much the gist of Muse Clues. I’ll give a brief backstory of how I discovered said songs, and as always give my depiction of each one.
Ideally, I planned to have this post published from the first Friday of June, but yinno here we are now. That said, a lot of today’s entries and honorable mentions may be a little dated. But hey, time holds no power here on Muse Clues. After all, once the song is new to me, it’s considered new.
Enough chatter though; may the countdown begin!
NUMBER-FIVE [5]
Charli XCX – Blame It On Your Love ft. Lizzo [2019]
From its inception, this song grabs your attention with its pulsing, Pop sonics. Charli’s voice entices you to travel along with her and Lizzo on what’s shaping up to be a banging ride. Lyrically, she wastes no time admitting her affection for her lover, while acknowledging her own consistent flaws.
“You know I like to party/ But you know I love your body/ So many things I shouldn’t do/ I hate myself for hurting you (Yeah)/ Honestly, I’m reckless/ I’m sorry if I’m selfish”, she muses keeping in perfect timing with the tempo. And on the pre-chorus you soon realize that she has commitment issues, yet “really wish that [she] could change”.
Afterwards, the electronic elements of the song come into full effect with a booming, dynamic sound. It just flows effortlessly. And to add to the appeal of the track is Lizzo, who offers a few fun lines.
“I’m give you one chance to fall in love/ Give you one chance, don’t fuck this up (Uh)/ Ah, ah, oh (Uh-oh, Uh-oh)/ I’m tryna catch millions, I ain’t tryna catch feelings (Bitch)”. Ultimately, the two make a very cohesive track filled with meaning, fun, and loads of personality.
NUMBER-FOUR [4]
Vincint – Please Don’t Fall In Love [2019]
Having received this song via recommendation by my mate Sam on WhatsApp, I didn’t know what to expect. Going off of the title alone, I thought I was going to get another cliché dirge. But I was ever so delighted to be wrong. A rattling spunk cooks promisingly during the first few verses.
As the rhythm continues to ensnare you, you can’t help but be further enamored by the telling lyrics. “So many wasted fights/ Was it a waste of time”, Vincint mulls over as he reminisces about a past lover. Steady percussion enters the pre-chorus and sets you up for a pretty epic hook. Which by the way really showcases the beauty and enjoyability of Vincint’s vocals.
The production at this point gives soft electronic and dance vibes. Additionally, its stellar mannerisms do a great job balancing the morose mood the lyrics tend to exude. Moreover, Vincint’s sense of storytelling on the hook is moving and really draws you into the sentiment of the track. “Take him to our spot/ Hold him like me in the dark/ Tell him that he’s all you want”, he lists before belting his heart out on the post chorus.
It all goes over smoothly, giving listeners something to constantly want to return to sonically. It’s honestly hard not to fall in love with such amazing talent.
NUMBER-THREE [3]
Aly & AJ – Don’t Go Changing [2019]
After randomly stumbling across their song ‘Church‘ on my YouTube recommendations, I subscribed to Aly & AJ’s channel. I knew that I’d really be into their sound and aesthetic moving forward. Luckily, I was able to confirm my hunch upon hearing this splendid cut from their 2019 EP ‘Sanctuary’.
‘Don’t Go Changing’ finds the pop duo channeling themes of assurance and acceptance when it comes to one’s uniqueness. Essentially, they’re urging listeners to block-out the negativity spoken about them and find contentment with themselves. The lyrics speak to embracing who you are and not altering parts of yourself to suit the convenience of others.
“Don’t go changing on me, babe/ Typical feeling/ Who ever told you you’re not good enough?/ Just don’t go changing on me, babe/ Physical healing/ Why don’t we dance away your fear of love?/ Don’t go changing”, the pair sings fervently on the chorus. Their serene vocals match the mystical and riveting production of the song.
The more you listen to it, the more empowering it becomes. Soon enough, you would have learned the lyrics and find yourself belting along to them. Altogether, it’s an excellent track that carries out all of its well-intentions.
NUMBER-TWO [2]
Clean Bandit – Solo ft. Demi Lovato [2018]
Despite garnering a major amount of mainstream attention last year, this song still managed to elude my ears. In fact, it wasn’t until I was heading from work with my cousin Marsha that I first encountered it.
It was playing at this bar adjacent to the crab shack where we went to get her fix of crab n’ dough. Not knowing what to do with myself, I quickly used the Shazam app as I bobbed along to the infectious groove.
[*cough-cough* Shazam please sponsor my blog! *cough-cough*]
Ever since that day, roughly a month ago, I’ve been jamming non-stop to this. The electronic flavors of the song beautifully complement Demi Lovato’s spot-on vocals. She really encompasses that feeling of not being completely over your ex. The pain, the onslaught of after-thoughts, the regret, and the anguish of it all explodes in the best way possible.
The dance-driven drop on this track gives me slight Bollywood vibes. So much so that it kinda reminds me of the visuals for the track ‘Lean On’ by Major Lazor ft. MØ. All in all, if you’re feeling a bit stuck on someone from your past, this song is a catchy starting point to your newfound singleness.
**HONORABLE MENTIONS**
- Sin With Sebastian – Shut Up (And Sleep With Me) [2018]
- The Veronicas – Think Of Me [2019]
- Raleigh Ritchie – Time In A Tree [2018]
- Kevin McHale – Help Me Now [2019]
- Cardi B – Press [2019]
*NUMBER-ONE [1]
Kelsey Lu – Poor Fake [2019]
This song is pure MAGIC. Immediately, it sucks you into an artsy scene of grandeur, allure, and deception. Having discovered Kelsey Lu’s music through an IG post from Azealia Banks, I made my way through her debut album ‘Blood’. And eventually, I found this diamond in a field of other gems.
Kelsey’s voice on this track is like going to sleep after a nice shower on fresh bed sheets – it’s DELIGHTFUL! And if you’re like me, you may not pay close attention to the lyrics on the first few listens. Mostly due to the fact that the composition of the track is so enchanting. The vocal arrangements, instrumentation, melody, it all works so seamlessly.
Now, when it comes to the lyrics, they’re rather esoteric and open to interpretation. I surmised that they all allude to a love that initially seemed ideal, but then turned out to be anything but. An illusion of sorts, a situation that seemed all too good to be true.
And don’t even get me started on the bridge! There’s something so lurid and sleek about it. “I lift my magnifying glass to its smooth lines/ Taking a closer look, inspection is key/ What do we have here? Could this be a forgery?”, she speaks soulfully before turning her voice into a human siren at the end. All in all, definitely one of my faves for the year!
Did you enjoy today’s Muse Clues segment? Have you given these songs a listen? If so, which ones do you enjoy the most? Let me know in the comment section below.
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Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you next time on Introverted-Insight!
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Terran Brice
Sidebar: 2019 is shaping up to be a great year for Pop music! 🙂