Top 15 Songs of 2019: (Part 2)

To see previous part of this music series, click the link: Top 15 Songs of 2019: (Part 1)

Welcome back Insighters to part 2 of our 3 part year-end countdown, here on #FiveOnFridays.

The next five songs on my list secured their spot via their infectious melodies, artisan-like flow, touching lyricism, and surreal atmospheres.

Without further ado, let’s continue with the best songs of 2019.

NUMBER-TEN [10]

Little Simz – ‘Offence’

English Rapper-Singer Little Simz breathes attitude with her slightly funky Rap number ‘Offence’.

This track is just one of many gems of her latest LP ‘GREY Area’ released earlier this year. The opus garnered much critical acclaim and cemented her in my mind as an artist I now adore.

For me, the album has no skips – a rarity in modern music. Every song was something I’d want to listen to repeatedly.

That said, ‘Offence’ finds Simz channeling bodes of female energy over zany, animated production that SLAPS.

On top of that, are her flow and badass lyricism. My favorite lines being , “The biggest phenomenon and I’m Picasso with the pen” and “I’m Jay-Z on a bad day/ Shakespeare on my worst days”.

Such lines speak to the quality of her craft and how these skills become heightened on life’s crappier days.

Lastly, the chorus spoke profoundly to my soul. It rings loudly in this sassy voice, “I said it with my chest and I don’t care who I offend, uh-huh/ Haa“ – ah, the ultimate fuck you.

NUMBER-NINE [9]

Billie Eilish – ‘When The Party’s Over’

Undoubtedly, there were a myriad of tracks to choose from Billie’s super-smash 2019 debut ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’.

But among the albums tracklist of certified bops and ballads, ‘When The Party’s Over’ sealed the deal for me. Billie’s crooning vocals over pleasant piano and blissful bass complement each other extremely well.

Additionally, the lyrics help exude the song’s doleful, yet enraged mannerisms. “Tore my shirt to stop you bleedin’/ But nothin’ ever stops you leavin'”, she coos sweetly, even though her words are nested in pain.

And right before the chorus, there’s this percussion drop that ushers in a split second of silence.

Soon enough, the silence dissipates and in enters airy backing vocals which blend beautifully with the already atmospheric production.

“Quiet when I’m coming home and I’m on my own/ And I could lie, say I like it like that, like it like that/ Yeah, I could lie, say I like it like that, like it like that”.

As your heart melts over the melody of the song, it simultaneously breaks at the hands of its sentiment. Certainly, Billie continues to prove herself capable by vocally conveying emotion in her music – this track being no exception.

Moreover, this song has an emotional intelligence about it; it oozes loneliness and coerces listeners to spam the reply button. Hence, it’s one of the top songs of 2019.

NUMBER-EIGHT [8]

Weyes Blood – ‘Something To Believe’

2019 was my introduction to Natalie Mering, professionally known as Weyes Blood. And I lament the fact that I hadn’t discovered her sooner.

Quite frankly, ‘Titanic Rising’ is an impressively well-composed artwork. There’s this old-timely aesthetic to the entire album. It reminds me of a simpler time, when music was more raw, piercing, and direct.

Hence, I found my ears hearkening to this little number. Within mere seconds, I felt the transience of the melody taking hold of me.

I was swaying effortlessly to the overly-relatable lyrics that allude to losing hope in everything, feeling an overwhelming sense of numbness.

The chorus perfectly captures the essence of this feeling. “I just laid down and cried/ The waters don’t really go by me/ Give me something I can see/ Something bigger and louder than the voices in me/
Something to believe, to believe“.

Soon enough, you find yourself floating in the ether with the spacious melodies, ethereal vocal harmonies, and atmospheric instrumentation.

It’s a cathartic listen, one that posits reflection, realization, and a sense of humanity. Certainly, it’s one for the books.

NUMBER-SEVEN [7]

Wallows – ‘What You Like’

Song-after-song, the band Wallows is increasingly becoming one of my favorite musical acts. And with this stellar cut from their recently-released, debut album ‘Nothing Happens’, who can really blame me?

Like much of the album, ‘What You Like’ offers old-school flavors while still giving consumers a contemporary feel.

The lyrics are simple yet resonating, making for an easy listen the first go-round. Furthermore, they convey a sense of regret the persona is feeling over losing a lover he took for granted and never actually listened to.

It’s kind of a classic case of “give me another chance and I swear I’ll treat you right this time”.

Hence the swooning chorus, “Go ahead, tell me now, what you like/ Maybe this time I’ll listen”.

But what I found extremely engaging about this part were the swelling synthesizers that literally pull you into the magic of this song.

Plus, the kickass guitar rifts, bass lines, and steady drums work harmoniously throughout the track’s brevity.

Altogether, this song offers a simply mellow feel; but it’s certainly interesting enough to keep you coming back for more listens. And it’s one of my personal faves of 2019!

NUMBER-SIX [6]

Kelsey Lu – ‘Poor Fake’

This song is pure MAGIC. Immediately, it’s rich instrumentation sucks you into an artsy scene of grandeur, allure, and deception.

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 fucking human siren!

All in all, this track is majesty dipped in gold, and it’s definitely one of my top faves for the year!

Click here for The Top 15 Songs of 2019: (Part 3) [Songs 1-5]

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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