best of GreatestLoveofAll's 2024: The Oldies and the Newbies- DONE! #1 Album and Song pg 4!!!

[Saddy]

On 12/20/2024 at 10:48 AM, GreatestLoveofAll said:

More Than a Woman- Aaliyah (2001)

 

This classic 

 

On 12/20/2024 at 10:48 AM, GreatestLoveofAll said:

21. Espresso- Sabrina Carpenter

 

Espresso is cute, but can't say the same thing about the album 

[Kiss It Better]

BOAF + Tyrant + SHB + Espresso 

[K$Ellie]

the two Bey songs  Tyrant randomly took ages to grow on me but it's a banger

The Bridgit song is good but I LOVE Atlantis, cute EP too  Ariana, Charli and Billie

[GreatestLoveofAll]

Well... that was a longer break than I anticipated! I had a busy weekend and work of course but I'm not as tired today so lets have our next round. I'll write up the one after this so I can get through 2-3 rounds before the 25th.

 

Round Five

 

Songs I Discovered 

 

 

Call Your Girlfriend- Robyn (2011)

 I usually skip when a song I don't know comes on. But if i'm already half asleep and it comes on when i'm not expecting, I might let it slide by at least for the first minute or so. However, for this song… I was hooked. I don't exactly love the lyrics and what she's saying (im oddly sensitive like that nnn) but I can't deny a good melody and production when it presents itself to me. 

 

 

 

 

Jimmy Lee- Aretha Franklin (1986)

A time skipping bop, Aretha lays out how this man who vanished long time ago still makes her feel giddy inside and with anyone else of her age and musical caliber this might feel juvenile and redundant but Aretha loved her a potential crossover hit and while there were def some duds released in pursuit of that, this top 40 hit is NOT one of them. She injects her own soul and power in this cute high school bop and knowing Aretha's real childhood, I cant imagine this was exactly far off.

 

 

 

 

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)- Adam Lambert and Sigala

 

Fun, gay, sweaty, pumping club music that I need to experience with a mega speaker at some point. Adam's voice shines on anything he sings for the most part but this is the most enjoyable sound I've heard him on since 2020's Velvet. A very worthy cover.

 

 

 

 

Ass Like That- Victoria Monet (2019)

Alongside Ari Lennox, I decided to try newer R&B to see if I could get the hype and… yeah im seeing it for Victoria. "Alright" already took me by storm this year but THIS song? I don't even know why I like it so much but I feel as hot as Victoria when I hear it and that's enough of a reason to bop for me.

 

 

 

 

 

All Cried Out- Allure ft. 112

 I think this came from a Mariah radio suggestion that Spotify always gives and the harmonizing among two groups is actually very well done. Its a sad little ballad and I really wanna praise the female lead/group on this cause I feel like they sold their parts very well. 

 

 

 

 

I Should Be So Lucky- Kylie Minogue

Instantly I was enthralled by this 80s smash. Like this is what I musically STAM- a big bombastic intro, an even bigger hook and chorus and the rush of adrenaline that comes when she sets off the last chorus. The melody is great and I find myself humming and harmonizing with it all the time. This was another song I discovered from Saddy's rate and I'm more excited than ever to see when I'll get my next Kylie smash. 

 

 

 

&

 

 

Songs of the Year

 

 

20. Euphoria- Kendrick Lamar

Im so happy that I caught on to the magnitude of this beef somewhat before this song dropped. I tend to miss cultural moments when they first occur and it can be a little hard to feel enthused once the whole internet has already spelled it out for you. It was mid April and Drake had already pulled a 2015 and dropped two songs nearly back to back to light Kendrick up and goad him to release a track faster. And yet Kendrick waited... like two more weeks. Some random Tuesday morning as Im eating breakfast I get the news... then the link. If im honest since my hip hop knowledge is low I havent been aware of many clear disses. Or maybe there hasnt been any as open and ferocious as this. While other songs may be bigger, creepier, maybe even more imposing, one relisten to Euphoria always reminds me that this is by far the sharpest, most devasting cut down of this beef. Not devasting in terms of the claims Kendrick makes, but how he uses his infinitely powerful pen to craft some of the greatest bars I have ever heard. For many the beef would end just weeks later with the release of other tracks but for me? Drake had lost the moment this came out as nothing he dropped would be a epic of a takedown as this.

 

 

 

 

19. the boy is mine- Ariana Grande

I think from the jump I saw this as the true hit that got away. Ari's omnipresence has faded a little since her 2018 TUN peak but I truly thought this would follow WCBF to the top five- thats how good this is to me. Its a bit of a step away from the softer, somber or more pensive songs that make up the album (a hint for a future update btw) and its more than welcome. She struts all over this, her cool yet sultry tone gliding like caramel syrup over the track, blending in effortlessly with Max Martin's bouncy production. Honestly its only detractor is that its so short- I need to play it like 2 or 3 times in a row to really get the groove it sets up. While I havent revisited it much, the Brandy and Monica (Grammy-nominated!) remix is good. I knew that she was gonna get them involved on the track somehow and while it feels a bit left field what they sing since the topics of both songs dont match like at all, it was a great moment. They looked gorgeous in the video too. 

 

 

 

 

18. Whatcha Doing- Dua Lipa

I hooked. I still cant really tell anyone why but this song was an instant 10 for me the moment I played the album. Its not any lyrical masterpiece or production extravaganza, but its really what Dua does best- a fun bop with a memorable hook. I think its the song with the clearest ties to FN- its bridge in particular reminds me of "Dance the Night" (another 10!)

 

 

 

 

17. Die with a Smile- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

A massive ballad that harkens to the days of the 80s power ballad, two of 21st century's greatest and most versatile artists, singers and performers and lyrics that a drenched in a very final, but endearing and stubbornly hopeful sentiment, its really not a surprise that "Die with a Smile" is arguably the biggest hit of the year. A random collaboration that took the world by storm almost instantly, I always marvel at its technical beauty. Even at times when I wish it wasnt so big with a new Gaga project on the way, I cant even be mad at its success. Its the same formula that made Shallow such a big hit yet this time both performers are equally matched in star power, artistic talent and greatness and passion for music. A song that will define a decade and follow a long legacy of the greatest duets of all time. I dont know a pair that deserves it more. 

 

 

 

 

16. WE PRAY- Coldplay ft. Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini

The strongest single the band has had in ages in my honest opinion. Its lyrics are great and the entire atmosphere of the song feel serious and heartfelt. Little Simz verse is the highlight in mu opinion and the song gives a very "We Are the World" vibe with all those featured artists and the uplifting messaging. I might get some pull for it but I love me stadium anthem and Coldplay excels at that for me. 

 

 

 

\\\

 

Albums of the Year

 

 

11. Whirlwind- Lainey Wilson

So like I said in previous updates I made a lot of online friends over the year and one of them has some of the most diverse music taste i've seen and they are a big fan of older music like I am. Country music happens to be one of her favorites and so I decided to see the new album and artist she was raving about that day. I hadnt (and still havent) heard the music that made Lainey take off about two years ago so I was going into this new album with entirely fresh ears. What came out of those headphones was my favorite country album of the year! I think its not too complex of a project but shes having fun and I love her storytelling- a skill I feel like all country artists should have in abundance unless you only make party songs. Im a new fan and I cant wait to see where she goes next. Highlights: Country's Cool Again, Whiskey Colored Crayon and Hang Tight Honey

 

 

 

 

10. Megan- Megan Thee Stallion

I was sooo hyped for the album- it was arguably the biggest musical release for me during the summer. I had liked all the pre-album singles to varying degrees when they dropped, but they all were enhanced greatly when interwoven in the album. Megan is a confident and powerful as ever and with each adversary she confronts, overcomes and continues to dismiss, her bars of being on top and knowing her worth as a woman and an artist hit harder and harder. I still think lyrically and thematically Traumazine is still her strongest and most alluring album, Megan is a showcase of a rapper who is only getting sharper, only getting wittier and only getting more and more comfortable with her seat at the table, regardless of what anyone around her has to say. All this im saying and I still havent gotten to Act 2 yet... 2025 is gonna be a musical blast for me. Highlights: Where Them Girls At, Boa, Spin, Paper Together and B.A.S

 

 

 

[GreatestLoveofAll]

On 12/22/2024 at 5:16 AM, Kiss It Better said:

BOAF + Tyrant + SHB + Espresso 

oh hey legend 

On 12/22/2024 at 11:42 AM, K$Ellie said:

the two Bey songs  Tyrant randomly took ages to grow on me but it's a banger

The Bridgit song is good but I LOVE Atlantis, cute EP too  Ariana, Charli and Billie

the way she has more songs than anyone on the list and i already cut out like 2-3 songs oh Beylegend

 

On 12/21/2024 at 3:26 PM, Saddy said:

This classic 

 

Espresso is cute, but can't say the same thing about the album 

i knew youd appreciate the aaliyah songs! and damn short and sweet on my list... at the very bottom but still nnnn

[GreatestLoveofAll]

On 12/21/2024 at 2:38 AM, Alldeezy said:

Expresso  I won't lie I hated it at first but it ended up being a song I really enjoy from her now, Apple was one of the songs from Charli's I liked  

we can't be friends is a cute lil bop

tbh i can see why some ppl wouldnt care for it there are times when im like ok enough but clearly those times were rare cause its in my top 10 most streamed songs of the year despite the fact that ion even think its top 3 on the album 

 

On 12/20/2024 at 8:12 PM, Renzo_ said:

Espresso   An example of pop perfection.

Even though I'm not a big fan of this era of Dua Lipa, Training Season is a catchy track.

she has one more song on here pls stan 

 

On 12/20/2024 at 7:06 PM, Mezik said:

I discovered Aaliyah after her prime, and my Gr. 7 & 8 music teacher even had a whole lecture on Aaliyah (even stating the behind the scene businesses - telling us all that she was murdered). 'Try Again' and 'More Than a Woman' always played in that class, and hearing it today takes me back to those lectures. She was a true talent, I believe she was going to be absolutely massive had her time with us not been short.  

 

For songs, We Can't Be Friends is an absolute pop masterpiece. It deserved a nomination or two, but I think because it wasn't as 'big' as previous #1s it was forgotten about. Espresso and Bar Song are bops too, while Apple absolutely grew on me. I felt it was so dated on released, but now it's on repeat.  

 

Harlequin was an ambitious project, but I feel it was an incredible display of talent by Gaga. Her voice is the best it's ever been on it. Too bad it's so boring.  

the aaliyah praise your teacher was so real for that and they might have been on to something knowing how messed up this business is 

 

and yeah you def are right about wcbf getting lost in all the great music that came out this year. i mean heck it got overshadowed by several of the other songs on its parent album imo so. ari tends to have such bad luck she nevers gets a year to herself 

 

and boring hmm.. well idk maybe i can see why youd say that. jazz as important at is isnt exactly booming and this album was just as much traditional pop as it was jazz so that didnt help its case. 

 

On 12/20/2024 at 5:03 PM, Album Leak said:

Probably going to be the only Harlequin nod this entire Best Of 2024 .

 

But us Harlequin's must remain strong! 

indeed we must!

 

On 12/20/2024 at 9:24 AM, gagacasanova said:

Both albums certainly have recognition on my list(s). Normally I include album tracks. But this year I'm only going for singles. Throwing in album cuts IMO would have been oversaturated by certain artists.

oh real lemme go check on your recent updates then

 

On 12/20/2024 at 10:39 AM, Mr. Blue_Shirt said:

Birds of a Feather, Tyrant, Training Season, we can't be friends, Sweet Honey Buckiin, Espresso

 

The way people were gagging at Bridgit serving Erykah Badu in that song on my TikTok FYP I need her back in the studio IMMEDIATELY

 

 

More Than a Woman was so ahead of its time. The way I would go feral if the song is played at the club

OMG NO cause why i thought she was black the whole time until i finally googled the song snneebenfj i was like HER????? from good luck charlie?????

 

On 12/20/2024 at 9:40 AM, TalkThatRihanna said:

BOAF is too low I fear  Espresso iktr

 

Duo sucked all the life out of Training Season I fear. Like where was that anthemic bridge chorus that the Grammys performance had 

 

billie was kinda overshadowed this year for me but if it makes you happy her album will be on my countdown soon!

 

On 12/20/2024 at 12:36 PM, JGibson said:

Discoveries: More Than A Woman + Don't Think I'm Not   

 

Songs: ABS(T) + Espresso + Apple  

YESSS SOMEONE NOTICED DONT THINK IM NOT

 

On 12/20/2024 at 4:51 PM, poki said:

I missed the Aaliyah rate we had a few months ago. First got into her music around 2019 and quickly found out her estate is a headache when it came to music availability. 

 

Based on what I see streams-wise as of today...I think it's time for Shaboozey to make another album because there has been no movement for his other tracks. 

 

I was not aware of this Whitney album! 

i havent heard his recent song so ill go check that out but i read it wasnt rap influenced at all. 

 

and yes its to celebrate 30 years of her iconic africa concert. we fans have been waiting for years for this

On 12/20/2024 at 3:39 PM, rvx said:

Espresso + We Can't Be Friends + A Bar Song (Tipsy) 

taste glad some of yall agree that ABS is good

[gagacasanova]

Whatcha Doing - one of my absolute favorites from Radical Optimism 

 

Die With a Smile - is it normal to define a 2024 song as a classic? 👀

 

the boy is mine - an absolute banger from front to back.

[JGibson]

Songs: Die With A Smile + We Pray 

 

Albums: Lainey 

[Alldeezy]

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

 

 the boy is mine + Whatcha doing

[Mr. Blue_Shirt]

Call Your Girlfriend is classic. I hope i discovered Robyn way sooner

 

the boy is mine & Whatcha Doing are an absolute bops Honestly, out of all Kendrick's diss tracks from 2024, Euphoria is truly the best song. The way 6 minutes just fly by just like that every time I play this song

 

Megan Act 1 might have the best singles she's released in her career but i feel like the album is a bit bloated but Act 2 for me is best album  (even though it's basically a deluxe edition)

[TalkThatRihanna]

I also thought that IBIM would be an easy Top 5, we needed SZA on the Rihmix!

 

DWAS iktr

[prézli]

15 hours ago, GreatestLoveofAll said:

All Cried Out- Allure ft. 112

THIS CLASSIC

[Renzo_]

I'm more into Coldplay's older material, but We Pray sounds good anyway.

[GreatestLoveofAll]

This was supposed to be updated this morning in case there wasnt much action tmr but... oh well. 

 

Round Six

 

Songs I Discovered

 

 

Where My Girls At?- 702 (1999)

One of my top played songs of the year, I think this came on after I just listened to a 90s album from either Mariah or Whitney. Instantly I clicked- the lyrics are sassy and tough and the production, a mixture of the sharp R&B and dance that Missy Elliot would help pioneer in the late 90s would make this mainstay on my casual listens list for months. Like seriously I would be at work and once the opening melodies start playing my whole mood changes. This is one that will stay in rotation for a long time. 

 

 

 

 

Can We Talk- Tevin Campbell (1993)

I been holding off getting into Tevin Campbell cause if im honest I couldn't really get into his main appeal- his voice. It didnt help that during his peak he was so small and all so I just brushed him off as a teen star who was hot for an album or two. Beside one other song, I didnt pay much mind until this year when I finally heard this classic fully for the first time. This paired with an Apollo Theatre performance I saw really helped me finally connect to his voice. The Whitney influence is massive.

 

 

 

 

Faithfully- Journey (1983)

The drama. The on the road lover lyrics (that remind me of the plot of Coco for obvious reasons). The elastic, ringing voice of Steve Perry. I think the 80s soft rock might be my favorite sound of that decade because 9/10 I enjoy any song from it that I come across. Also this song doesn't have a chorus- which is crazy how its sustained such great popularity all these years later. 

 

 

 

 

Whatever You Need- Tina Turner (2000)

Like Aretha, Tina has such an extensive back catalog and some hidden gems littered throughout her 40 years of original recorded music. I was more than happy to jam to a new Tina song especially since we lost her. She was one of my very earliest faves and this song reminds me. It reminds me a bit of "I Dont Wanna Fight" for those interested. 

 

 

 

 

Whipped Cream- Ari Lennox (2019)

oh easily the best song off her debut imo might be my fave of the first two albums overall. I need more of this diva for the next album!!!

 

 

 

 

Heaven Sent- Keyshia Cole (2008)

 My gc was clowning me cause i was so flabbergasted that i heard my first Keyshia cole song… and it was great. I keep telling them i didnt grow up with this kind of music so readily available but whatever. I love this song. The chorus is so easy going and the song in general goes down easy. This should be far more popular than it is tbh. R&B music getting snubbed so early is sick cause this miss the top 20???

 

 

 

&

 

 

Songs of the Year

 

 

15. DOD- JT

Yeah I wont even lie I enjoyed the City Cinderella mixtape more than I expected to. I had some mutuals raveee about JT and I loved her rapping style and the chill, yet clear cadence she has and so I said hey why not? Female rap was already on a roll this year and this honestly added to it. DOD was the instant attention for me- fun, sexy, confident and with memorable one liners which many I cant say without censoring myself anyways. I love the first verse and the chorus is in my mind almost daily and them adlibs damnnn. Idk but she got a tone that I love so bad its hard to explain but its so satisfying to hear in adlibs. If I liked the mixtape more this might even be higher tbh.

 

 

 

 

14. American Requiem- Beyonce

Without a doubt, with no arguments being even considered... this is Beyonce's greatest album opener and truthfully, one of the greatest songs she ever created. Its almost impossible to justify why its not higher but for the mere reason I didnt want one artist to have too many spots and to dominate too fully. But when it comes to pure artistic merit objectively, this might very well be the greatest song of the year. The first 40 seconds alone are some of the most iconic Beyonce melodies and vocal lines ever, setting off countless imitations (both from professional singers and me cause there was no way I wasnt trying that out) and instantly hooks you into the world of genre bending and defining that she is going to take you into. Then the tempo switches, a hard country rock sound thunders in as she forges her way into the world of country dominated now by white folks and racial divided but originated by the hands of the first slaves and their descendants to step foot on the land that she would one day be born in. With this single song she reestablishing not only the general black connection to country that had been dismissed, but her own personal history with the genre and the lifestyle that comes with it. If you ever needed yet another example of Beyonce being the most artistically boundary pushing of her peers and of the century then here you have it.

 

 

 

 

13. Wanna Be- GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion

This is quite literally everything you could want in a collab between these two rap icons. Glo is at home here, beating down on the double sampled track with the same ferocity that she did on her breakthrough hit "F.N.F" except this time shes even sharper, better- just more and more. Megan lowkey was the star here though as while she didnt outright steal the spotlight (Glo too good), her verses are some of the very best of her career so far. Like she delivers the fierce yet cool diva that the song needs and you barely get time to react to her meanest bars cause she already moving onto the next, unbothered and confident as ever. This is another one thats gonna stay on the rotation for a longgg time.

 

 

 

 

12. Taste- Sabrina Carpenter

Its uncanny, almost suspicious how good Sabrina is able to portray such a petty, slightly deranged character in her songs and do it in a way that could almost be glossed over considering just how great at making pop bangers she has becoming in the last few years. She's snotty, unbelievably persistent as she taunts the target of this song and its almost forgiven by how innocent she sounds cooing the lines over a perky guitar driven pop production. Sonically it sort of harkens back to early 2010s radio hits- but only the very best of them. Its the perfect song almost and it has a sort of weird effect of both having all parts of a great pop song (verses, catchy chorus, post chorus, bridge) yet also being far too swift a song.

 

 

 

 

11. Blue Over You- Mason Ramsey

One of the hardest parts of making these year end lists for me is choosing which songs to make the top 10 and which to leave just on the outskirts. With "Taste" I knew I didnt ever intend for it to rank in the upper echelons, but this one?? For a few weeks- maybe even a month- after this song was released I fully saw it as my number one song of the year. Everything was going for it too and it came out in the beginning of the year, the time I usually already find the song that will have been my years favorite. Yet as time passed, the year's music got too good and too crowded for all the songs that defined my year to be in the top 10 and when push came to shove, I decided to leave this one out. Even now a part of me is begging to switch it out with another one, but I am gonna stick with my guts here. With that being said, this ranking doesn't even necessarily mean that this song is so far lesser than the songs above it. Merely the top 10 had a bigger impact on me for some reason or another and this song maybe lacked in that department. Yet what a gorgeous song this is? Its one of few songs where the chorus, as great as it is, isnt nearly the best part. The somberness carries throughout this entire piece, but its in the verses where the melancholy really sets in. With a sort of hazy sincerity to his voice (he's only 17/18 mind you!) that implies a deep loss, Mason really makes you feel like you are in his place of mourning the loss of a relationship long gone. Musically, its so reminiscent of old country music- and the pop sensibilities from the violins to the background vocals give off a very strong callback to the style of Elvis Presley's greatest ballads. 

 

 

 

 

\\\

 

 

 

Albums of the Year

 

 

9. Radical Optimism- Dua Lipa

Ok so what deep defense do I have for possibly the most disregarded album of the year? Nothing really. A lot of the criticism of this album, while I do find it a bit excessive, grudgingly has merit. It doesn't have nearly as much charm as her debut where the songs hit heavier, and the drive felt stronger to make pop perfection. Its rather a far cry from the disco modern classic that Future Nostalgia is which showcases some of her best melodies, crispest vocals and most creative production choices. On Radical Optimism Dua feels less driven, less creative, less meaningful- like one user said it almost feels like the album was hastily put together while on vacation and in the midst of preparing for another one. It sort of floats almost musically, definitely not bad and a stain on her discography but not the step forward we were expecting nor that she needed to sustain her as a pop hitmaker. Nonetheless I still enjoyed the album even if it was largely in parts. For each Maria, we get a Falling Forever, one of Dua's greatest vocal deliveries and lyrics of jumping into a relationship chance and keeping it. For each French Exit we get a Whatcha Doing which showcases some of the albums best production. While this album will probably be seen as a disappointment to many for some time, I hope that one day the tracks worthy of an album placement get the flowers they deserve. Highlights: Whatcha Doin, Falling Forever, These Walls, Houdini

 

 

 

 

8. Alligator Bites Never Heal- Doechii

I must say that this not being pushed as her debut is a bit annoying to me. Not that it matters to both the GP and avid music listeners but I'm going to assume that when she DOES drop the debut it will clear this. Granted with an artist as innately talented as Doechii and with a pen that has a lot to say, I don't think that's going to be impossible for her. Her style is so clear- so visceral in both times of seriousness and times of slight derangement. Her own self examination on this mixtape is my favorite as it takes someone with the intelligence of a powerful writer and the ability to sit with one's self and be honest about who they are and where they are in life. Yet she makes this fun- accessible. Doechii... you can find a new fan in me miss ma'am. Highlights: Boiled Peanuts, Denial is a river, Bullfrog, Bloom

[GreatestLoveofAll]

13 hours ago, Renzo_ said:

I'm more into Coldplay's older material, but We Pray sounds good anyway.

yeah im gonna try and get into more of their 2000s material. its the more heavy rock side of their discography so...

 

14 hours ago, prézli said:

THIS CLASSIC

omg the only one who seen this they did it soooo good

 

16 hours ago, TalkThatRihanna said:

I also thought that IBIM would be an easy Top 5, we needed SZA on the Rihmix!

 

DWAS iktr

i wish she didnt end the era already cause i still think it has more single material

 

and yes! duet of the decade me thinks 

19 hours ago, Mr. Blue_Shirt said:

Honestly, out of all Kendrick's diss tracks from 2024, Euphoria is truly the best song. The way 6 minutes just fly by just like that every time I play this song

THIS PART

 

20 hours ago, Alldeezy said:

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

 

 the boy is mine + Whatcha doing

this taste 

 

On 12/23/2024 at 6:08 PM, gagacasanova said:

Whatcha Doing - one of my absolute favorites from Radical Optimism 

 

Die With a Smile - is it normal to define a 2024 song as a classic? 👀

 

the boy is mine - an absolute banger from front to back.

oh whew i was hoping you liked it 

 

and normally yes but its so clear that thats exactly what it is

 

yesss like i instantly saw the potential. 

[Mezik]

Die with a Smile and The Boy is Mine.  

 

Megan's album was solid too, she really puts out quality each time.

[rvx]

I Should Be So Lucky + Can We Talk 

 

Taste 

[gagacasanova]

AMERIICAN REQUIEM (or really anything from Cowboy Carter)

 

Taste - the earworm that is this song. 

 

Radical Optimism - definitely my favorite pop album of the year 

[Album Leak]

Ugh I LOOOOOVE I Should Be So Lucky! Comapred to many other 80s bops, I think it has aged remarkably well and still sounds absolutely incredible!

[Kiss It Better]

Whipped Cream WHEW  that whole album is amazing now i need to revisit 

 

Ameriican Requiem + RO + ABNH 

[JGibson]

Discoveries: Where My Girls At? 

 

2024: American Requiem + Taste 

 

Albums: Radical Optimism 

[Alldeezy]

Taste

[Mezik]

How did I miss a complete set.  

 

American Requiem is such a brilliant way to open an album, it's haunting, beautiful, immersive, and just a overall demonstration of such high quality talent and control in Beyonce's artistic vision. I also love how 'Amen' closes/ends with the beginning of American Requiem.

 

 

Taste is an 11/10 pop banger as well. She really said "this one is for the gay community" when recording this one.  

 

-

 

Radical Optimism is so iffy for me. I love the first three tracks that we got, and 'These Walls'. I think if the album was all in the same style/energy of these tracks it would have been even better than Future Nostalgia.   I'll still support her, and still try to snag tickets to her concert.. but I really wanted to like this album a lot more than I did.

[Renzo_]

Taste is a banger 

[GreatestLoveofAll]

Ok we back! This is the second to last round everyone and I just want to say thank you to everyone who's commented so far. I appreciate the love 

 

Round Seven

 

Songs I Discovered

 

 

Show Me Heaven- Maria McKee (1990)

 I'm pretty sure I discovered this on one of my artist recommended radio playlist spotify has. I was very taken aback by the rawness of the vocals and the calm acoustic production really helped amplify the longing in the song.

 

 

 

 

Alright- Ledisi (2007)

I cant remember the specific event or reason why but I was prompted to look up and hear at least one Ledisi song for the first time (at least the first time i can remember) a few months back. This is a good song even though musically its not exactly what i am into. 

 

 

 

 

Pump Up the Jam- Technotronic (1989)

Another one I dont visit that often but its a catchy tune that I feel like would still go hard in clubs today and probably does. I dont go to any so that's to be determined! The way the singers sings "pump up the jam yeah pump it up" makes me laugh. 

 

 

 

 

I'll Stand by You- Pretenders (1994)

probably the song I revisit the least out of this section but its still a worthy ballad even if a bit lackluster compared to the other soft rock balladry that I have heard. The band title gives ATRL fave for some reason.

 

 

 

 

Two Occasions- The Deele (1987)

 I had never heard of the song Mariah referenced in "We Belong Together" and while I knew it was just another example of her genius and deep knowledge of music, its always great to actually hear the classic itself. I like the production on this one- it feels very much of its time but it never gets bad or boring and the lyrics are nice and feel very much young love-like. I can see something like this one Janet's first three albums tbh. 

 

 

 

 

Freak like Me- Adina Howard

Do you know how gagged I was when I realized she cussed in this song? Obviously that isnt a big deal and radio for sure edited it out but I'm still shocked at how such a raunchy record became a top five hit in the US. I'm not mad tho. It's such a bop and the chorus is so catchy and the slightly belty aspect of it ("until the dawwwwn") reminds me a bit of "This Is How We Do It". They kinda feel like the same species of song now that I think about it. 

 

 

 

 

In My Mind- Heather Headley (2005)

now THIS is a song. Only last year I had discovered Heather's existence and her song "I Wish I Wasnt" was on my 2023 Discoveries. It was at the top of this year when I think I saw something about 00s R&B on my instagram feed and this was one of the songs in the slideshow and I was like oh wow shes done it again. This song is even better than "I Wish" in my opinion. Here she is as defiant as the other song but isnt mired in sadness even though she could be. She knows he is with someone else but in a cheeky, nearly possessive way she knows that he hasnt truly gotten over her and she hasnt either and its like she's bidding time until he returns. The final chorus is some amazing soul singing and the "yeah yeah yeahs" as the song closes are some of my favorite adlibs of the year. Here's to more Heather in 2025!

 

 

 

 

 

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Songs of the Year

 

 

10. Boa- Megan Thee Stallion

"B*tches doin' all that womp womp womp womp womp womp womp"

 

Easily my favorite rap/hip-hop song of the year. I already praised Megan for her endless bravado and so I dont want to go around in circles but her vocal inflections are even more serious now that the words read at a direct jab at a certain female rapper who's had a not so positive year online. I absolutely love the womp womps and the sample is one of the best Megan's ever done. Another song that is going to be on the rotation for some years after this and its on its way to be my favorite and most streamed Megan song. I hope I find something this good on Act 2. 

 

 

 

 

9. Forever With Me- Conan Gray

"I think I'm gonna love you, you're forever with me" 

 

I really love this song. Everything about it is gorgeous and would have been a surefire smash hit if released even 20 years ago. I dont wanna get into it too deep as I want to save praise for the album when its section comes up (spoiler I guess) but I will say that all three main areas- vocals, lyrics and especially production are all some of his very best. Side note: this song reminds me sooo much of an old spanish Christian song that my stepfather used to play when he first came to the US. I think that makes me love this even more than I do.

 

 

 

 

8. Bed Chem- Sabrina Carpenter

"And I bet we'd both arrive the the same time (bed chem). And I bet the thermostat's set at six-nine (bed chem"

 

Remember when I said she made a largely acoustic album framed with some great pop songs? Yeah this is one of them and in my opinion the very best. This takes the sultriness of Taste and the mischievous glint of Espresso and excels. I love the R&B influence here especially on that bridge and the sparkly production on the verses and chorus always make me feel like im in a movie scene. As a matter of fact, this very much harkens to a 90s movie intro scene or one with young lovers going on dates and getting to know each other. All in all, one of the strongest pop songs I have heard in a really long time.

 

 

 

 

7. II  MOST WANTED- Beyonce & Miley Cyrus

"Yeah I'll be your backseat baby, driving you crazy, anytime you like"

 

As im writing this right now I'm getting chills and on the verge of crying. I dont want to sound dramatic as I know there were many fellow stans who didnt feel the same way that I have felt about this song since the moment I heard it that Friday morning back in March. But I really cant explain how much this song means to me because sometimes words arent enough. At first I just loved the song for what it is- a beautiful country duet between two of the 21st centuries most versatile and enduring pop stars with excellent vocals, simple yet lovely lyrics and the fact that its just overall a quality song. I didnt think that what they were singing about really applied to me since I wasnt in a romantic relationship but that didnt matter- it was my personal favorite song from the album from the jump. As time went on however, I began to understand that the song wasnt meant to be consumed in one way- almost no song is and most definetley not any song on one of the most creative and epic albums of the century. I began to relate the song to the love I have for my family. How despite it all I will always be there to support them, love them and how the memories we share will always bind us together and make them part of me no matter what time and life sends us. Love is truly the most powerful thing in the universe and 2 Most Wanted's simple but poignant lyrics and imagery really tapped into a pool of emotions I never knew was sitting there. And please, one more shoutout to the vocals??? Beyonce is as effortless as ever and Mileys raspy, even gravely tones bring a weathered but strong feel to the song, which highlights the long term theme that the song carries home. 

 

 

 

 

6. Not Like Us- Kendrick Lamar

"Certified boogeyman, I'm the one that up the score with 'em"

 

So what can I say about this song that hasnt already been said almost to death by literally anyone with a platform this year? Drake being so bothered by this song that he filing a lawsuit to counteract its effects (which is more complicated in itself before anyone tries to tell me) will always keep this song and its constant memeable lyrics, adlibs and visceral bars in the minds of the whole music world for a very, very long time. Like with pretty much ever song in this beef we can all remember where we were when this dropped. When "Meet the Grahams" effectively killed any momentum Drake could have hoped to have (which to me was never going to be much since "Euphoria" had done pretty much all the damage needed in my opinion) we all collectively sighed and shook our heads in disbelief. Then as people are finally beginning to maybe try and logically look at the lyrics and maybe try and give Drake the slightest of grace Kendrick drops again. In the middle of the day. On a Saturday- where everyone and their mothers are awake and alert. While Not Like Us lyrically isnt as hard cutting as euphoria or as spooky and disturbing as Meet the Grahams or even 6:16 in LA, it has what was formerly Drake's bread and butter: musical and lyrical virality. This is what makes Not Like Us standout and it served as not just a diss track, but as a summer jam, a collective anthem not just against Drake, but against people like him in every field, profession or even area. If any song is going to be remembered this year, its without a doubt this one.

 

 

 

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Albums of the Year

 

 

7. Hit Me Hard and Soft- Billie Eilish

I dont think it would be considered a worthy list if at any point I didnt include one of the most discussed and beloved albums of the year. My personal favorite and in my humble opinion, her greatest work yet, HMHAS sees Billie in her most mature phase yet- and while this might be obvious as she is no longer a teenager and has been making music for a decade now, its not exactly a given that young entertainers grow gracefully in the spotlight and evolve naturally to their peaks. There is a lot of pressure that comes with making excellent music, music that speaks to not only your generation but people much older and even much younger than you. There is even more pressure when you catch lightning in a bottle at such a young age. How do you top that? Well Billie is a prime example, a masterclass teacher if you will, at being better and better. How does she do it? By primarily staying true to who she is. This album feels like a Billie album in the best way- the cryptic or quirky writing mismatched with perky or melancholy production. A voice that croaks, coos, soars and whispers all in one song and more. Yet none of this makes the album stale because while all these are her trademarks, the content of the album is what people really come for and in it Billie shows her evolution as a writer, producer and singer- but most importantly as a person. Highlights: L'amour de ma vie, Birds of a feather, Skinny, The Greatest

 

 

 

 

6. Timeless- Kaytranada

I caught on to this album quite late. I had seen it on Spotify's New Music tab when it dropped but I hadnt the faintest clue who this man really was (id seen his name before but that was largely it) and I wasnt all that interested in going out of my to discover. Yet at least. Then just about 2-3 months ago, some of the people in my gc bring up his song "Weird" and start raving about how good the song is and how the album is worth a listen to. Not wanting to be out of the loop, I dove right in... and was truly blown away. Timeless lives up to its title in my opinion. The music is some of the greatest dance music I have ever seen and the mixture of hip-hop and R&B married with the sharp club worthy bangs and clashes are far more enjoyable than I was expecting. Whats more, the features here are excellent. From acts with known discographies like Anderson.paak and Childish Gambino laying down some of their best vocal performances to acts with less clout but just as convincing talent like Durand Bernarr and Ravyn Lenae, its pretty star studded to me. I love an album with a main producer at its helm and a collection of artists all coming together to bring forth the vision. Thats music at its greatest. Highlights: Weird, Witchy, Do 2 Me, Video