Hey there Insighters, it’s so amazing to be back! It’s refreshing to be writing about music again, about my favorite songs, to be writing anything at all. The past few weeks have been hectic to say the least.
Surviving the flu, freelance writing, work, home life, every thing has just been rather overwhelming lately. But luckily, I’m still here. Still going strong.
Also, we’ve come near the end of another music-filled year. And I must say, 2019 was an interesting year for music. Not as astounding as the past three years, but a great year nonetheless.
Amidst a lot of mainstream material, there were some truly amazing works of art that sonically blessed the year richly.
Hence, today will be the start of a trilogy posting here on #FiveOnFridays. Just as last year, from here on out the remaining Fridays of 2019 will solely be dedicated to highlighting some of my favorite songs of the music year.
Disclaimers: I am only using 1 song per musical act. All opinions are my own.
Consider the honorable mentions to be songs you thought deserved to make the final cut. The decisions of the judges (i.e. me) are final.
So by all means, let’s jump right into this countdown!
NUMBER-FIFTEEN [15]
Harry Styles – ‘Lights Up’
‘Lights Up’ is jarringly different from any track I’ve heard in 2019. It finds Harry Styles re-entering the musical fold with a uniquely interesting sound, one that’s nostalgic yet, still unfamiliar to the masses.
Tingling guitar and bass strings, hazy horns, and some drums to keep things a tad lively as Harry’s vocals find him clearer, more defined and evolved in his artistry.
Additionally, the lyrical content is symbolic, hinting of acceptance of one’s self in terms of sexuality, insecurities, anxieties and so on.
While the chorus provides room for self-reflection “Lights up and they know who you are/ Know who you are/ Do you know who you are? (oh)”, the bridge welcomes listeners to embrace their inner-most selves.
“Shine, step into the light/ Shine, so bright sometimes/ Shine, I’m not ever going back” , Harry muses with a sterling resolution.
Truly this track is one of liberation. And with a choir, poignant message, and admirably odd arrangement, it’s one of the more interesting songs of 2019.
NUMBER-FOURTEEN [14]
Beyonce – ‘MOOD 4 EVA’ ft. Jay-Z, Childish Gambino, & Oumou Sangare
Without a doubt, ‘MOOD 4 EVA’ finds Yonce once again flossing her fan-favored rap skills in a celebratory fashion over a sweet, sentient afrobeat.
“None of my fears can’t go where I’m headed/ Had to cut ’em loose, now I’m loose, break the levy, yeah” , she spits courageously. Accompanying her bombastic flow is husband Jay-Z.
“Without the God in the XY (Yeah, yeah)/ I’m afraid the whole game would be colonized (Yeah, yeah)“, he delivers masterfully, alluding to God’s hand in his success and overall impact on the music industry.
Thereafter, Beyonce returns with more ferocity than before, reminding all her haters why she remains an unbothered, modern day Queen Sheba.
The smoldering melodies of the song luxuriate, particularly during Gambino’s smooth and settling vocals that add a calming effect.
Overall, the song embodies a feel-good vibe filled with clever lyricism, cultural references, and enough zest to carry over with each replay.
NUMBER-THIRTEEN [13]
Lizzo – ‘Juice’
Sure enough, ‘Truth Hurts’ was deemed one the biggest breakout hits this year. Don’t get me wrong, the song is rather catchy. However, for me it can’t compare to the personality-charged, swag-oozing ‘Juice’.
For starters, this track has a very vintage sound to it. It’s opening is somewhat reminiscent of ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall/ Don’t say it ’cause I know I’m cute (Ooh, baby)”, Lizzo recites vivaciously, channeling the self-empowering intentions of the song.
The song’s disco-like flavors showcase the lyrics in a palatable light. Prodding you to bob to the slew of braggadocios lyrics to come.
My favorite part sounds off on the pre-chorus, “If I’m shinin’, everybody gonna shine (Yeah, I’m goals)/ I was born like this, don’t even gotta try (Now you know)” – the lines perfectly convey the message that we can all be winners.
Overall, ‘Juice’ provides a feel-good sensation from start to finish; it’s a confident-booster, anthem of self-love, and one of the best songs of 2019.
NUMBER-TWELVE [12]
Winona Oak – ‘Break My Broken Heart’
What do get when you take a nihilistic approach to love and pair it with talent? That’s absolutely correct, my number 12 Introverted-Pick!
A glistening production abounds actively throughout the length of this track, delightfully contrasting with Winona’s ominous vocals. Together, a spellbinding atmosphere is created.
Winona croons adamantly on the pre-chorus, gearing listeners up for the big crescendo on the hook. “Fools falling in the dark like crazy/ No, nothing you can do will save me now/ Might as well”.
Her words allude to having been devastated by love so many times, that you kind of grow numb to the impending pain. Then enters a monolithic percussion, which only edifies the song’s dreamy feel.
“Break my broken heart/ Give me all you got, all you got/ Break my broken heart/ Watch me fall apart, fall apart/ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, I’m still breathing/ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, so what’s one more scar?”
It’s a hook that imprints itself on the mind, long after the song is over. There’s this moody presence of hopelessness, this resilience with heartbreak, and this undying urge to hit the replay button.
NUMBER-ELEVEN [11]
Sharon Van Etten – ‘Seventeen’
With a hauntingly beautiful composition, ‘Seventeen’ finds Sharon Van Etten reflecting on her adolescent years in New York City, finding herself and experiencing life as it happens so abruptly.
Throughout the track, she’s reaching out to her lost 17-year-old self, yearning to ensure her that she will (in time) blossom into a wholesome human-being.
And let me just put it out there and say that I love the way she pines on the bridge. “You’ll crumble it up just to see/ Afraid that you’ll be just like me”.
There’s power and agony coursing the veins of her vocals, further highlighted by a smoky, eerie production.
It’s one of those moments you either really detest or fall madly in love with. And happily so, I chose the latter.
All in all, this track sets the stage for reminiscence while providing a joyed sense of hope regarding your future, despite currently feeling lost at any given “Downtown hotspot”.
Click here for Top 15 Songs of 2019 (Part 2)!
Did you enjoy today’s countdown? Which songs are in your Top 5 for 2019? Has your favorite made the list yet? 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: This is just part 1 of 3 of this countdown series. Stay tuned to see who takes the #1 spot. 🙂