BILLBOARD GLOBAL 200 SINGLES - SPRING 2021 TOP 20 RANKING (feat. Camz Critiques)
LUX: Pop music in America is just so lame right now
By that I don’t mean that it’s like,, bad or something like that, but it feels like it’s barely moving all that much, and if you take a look at other charts (like the UK) it’s easy to notice all the interesting shit we’re missing out on, and instead we’re just getting a bunch of leftovers from previous seasons and songs that no one will care about in a few months or even weeks
I’m sorry I just don’t feel like talking about Blinding Lights or Mood always halfway through 2021. I want new blood, I want a new experience
Which is why I brought along the exact same person I did this with last time, sup sis
Camz: so true big bro! Do you wanna take advantage of the somewhat new Billboard Global 200 and do a Top 20 ranking using that this time around?
LUX: Honestly yeah, I’m kinda disappointed because this chart has existed for way over half a year now and yet it seems like no one does anything with it
People in the community currently seem to be experiencing a top 20 ranking burnout because of how samey the format has become, which I do agree with, but it’s not so hard to make it interesting if you just look in the right places
Camz: Which is why I prefer to do these in blog-form with Lux without the hassle of spending a month on writing, recording, editing, and dealing with copyright blocks all by myself when I could be doing ThIS while creating other easier videos that are just as fun, like single-song reviews!
LUX: y’know what screw America we’re using the Global 200 single charts this time
Camz: It’s about time! Also, we’re going to be using the same format as we did on our Winter 2021 ranking.
LUX: (this is the part where I copy paste last time’s instructions so I don’t have to type them all again, if you’re not aware you can read it)
Basically the # of points Camz and I will be giving each song will be based on the spot each of us give it on our own rankings
#1 gets 1 point
#2 gets 2 points
….
#20 gets 20 points
We then add up the 2 amounts of points for each song, the song with the least amount of points will end up on top, which means that we’ll start with the song that got the most points
Camz: We’re ranking 20 songs from the Billboard Global 200 Singles Chart (week of April 17th, 2021), but not its exact Top 20. Not only are we excluding all songs we’ve already talked about last time on our Winter ranking (check it out it’s good) and all songs that were already old news from last year that we’ve also already discussed, but also new hits that we doubt are gonna stick around (and have been proven correct by the time we finish writing this)
LUX: It is fun to discuss a new song but for once we wanna focus on the stable stuff that the entire world actually cares about, and after applying this criteria, these are our 20 songs:
- Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
- Justin Bieber ft. Caesar & Giveon - Peaches
- Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak - Leave The Door Open
- Masked Wolf - Astronaut In The Ocean
- Olivia Rodrigo - deja vu
- Giveon - Heartbreak Anniversary
- Cardi B - Up
- Tiësto - The Business
- Kali Uchis - telepatía
- Justin Bieber - Hold On
- Lil Tjay ft. 6LACK - Calling My Phone
- Nathan Evans x 220 KID x Billen Ted - Wellerman
- Travis Scott & HVME - Goosebumps
- Doja Cat - Streets
- Los Legendarios ft. Wisin & Jhay Cortez - Fiel
- The Kid LAROI - WITHOUT YOU
- Riton & Nightcrawlers ft. Mufasa & Hypeman - Friday
- Maroon 5 ft. Megan Thee Stallion - Beautiful Mistakes
- Myke Towers & Juhn - Bandido
- Drake - What’s Next
Camz: We actually had a ton of disagreements this time around. In spite of that, I’m really happy with how our rankdown has turned out regardless. Actually no, because of these varied opinions, we ended up with an interesting rankdown order with a ton of fascinating material to write on that I hope you will enjoy as much as we have writing it! :D
LUX: Wait we still need a thumbnail
Camz: Oh right
LUX: Very nice
Also yeah we’re gonna rank The Business, Pt. II instead of the original got it? Got it let’s go
Camz: #20 (0/5) LUX: #20 (0/5)
LUX: I’m kinda confused as to why this is not nearly as hated as Someone You Loved was back in 2019 given how this is like,, wayyy more annoying
Camz: ,,,now that I think about it, you’re so right. I actually liked this song at first, maybe because of the nice melody or same-generation bias..? But then one day, something weird sort of clicked, and I couldn’t stand Kid Laroi’s voice all of a sudden. And the song as a whole. Like some critic-mode magic.
LUX: I don’t know, there’s just something….really off about this song.
Off as in I really have no idea of what I’m supposed to feel listening to it. The thing with this kind of loud abrasive-ish sad songs is that you get to feel what the performer is conveying even when the song is bad. I’ve really come around on stuff like Robbery because I get it, and I never hated stuff like the aforementioned Someone You Loved because, again, I get it. With WITHOUT YOU I just don’t get it
Camz: RIGHT, this song is the 2021 version of Someone You Loved. Except I guess it’s more justified because it's a cringey 17 year old singing this rather than a grown man. But at the same time Lewis Capaldi’s like an overdramatic nice guy while WITHOUT YOU’s lyrics give me incel vibes tbh.
Also, I just realized how lacking and unmemorable this instrumental is? It stays pretty basic the whole way through and doesn’t evolve very much, which forces you to pay attention to Kid Laroi’s singing and his awful lyrics.
LUX: Yeah there’s not much to appreciate here sonically, it’s just LAROI strumming and singing over a very basic guitar melody, no beats or big changes in instrumentation.
Let me clarify that that’s not a bad thing, a song can be carried by a few elements if they’re strong enough, but what is exactly left here? Just the lyrics that are less actual “raw” emotion being transmitted and more just a guy being angy >:(( at the general concept of women to the point that it sounds like a parody more than anything
Camz: I don’t mind Kid Laroi’s presence in music at all honestly, So Done’s a cute song and it’s great that young people are becoming more in control of what becomes mainstream, but yeah this is easily one of the worst hits of the year so far. WITHOUT YOU has so little to offer in such a great diverse pop scene like this and stands out like a sore thumb because of that.
LUX: 2021 is heading to be a fantastic year for the charts, and that’s generally because I’ve been in a great mood for music as of late, but I really don’t think we need this shit around us
Also yeah this song definitely sounds like the lead single and biggest hit for an album called “FUCK LOVE (SAVAGE)” lmao
Camz: #18 (2/5) LUX: #19 (1/5)
Camz: I just went over to this section of the google doc to change this song’s score to a 3/5, but went to relisten to this just in case, and nah. Astronaut In The Ocean is one of those songs that sound so much better in your head than it does in reality. The hook totally slaps but then you play that nauseating beat and endure this guy’s totally disinterested yet desperate tone that makes this a drag to listen to.
LUX: I think I hear why so many people despise this song more and more with every listen but it’s pretty gradual. I didn’t really understand why that was since this is not the usual type of bad white boy rap and it has some catchy bits I guess… but I dunno man part of me feels like this song is just mocking me
Camz: That “they say that I’m so *beat drop* fine B)” line is definitely mocking me.
LUX: There are a bunch of stupid lines like that but the lyrics aren’t really anything notable either way, yet when I listen to this song I still feel like some random dude that I’d never seen before is stopping me in the middle of the hallway to show off his bars to me. I don’t care dude I need to get to gym class lol
Camz: These “bars” aren’t even delivered well, sure Masked Wolf can rap pretty fast and there are some refreshing diverse flows here and there, but he sounds so disengaged the entire time. This ain’t fun enough to be a banger nor make it a meme.
LUX: I’m not even sure if I actively hate this song all that much it’s just kinda annoying and lame
Camz: #19 (2/5) LUX: #17 (2/5)
Camz: I’m Peruvian-American and have grown up with latin music for as long as I can remember so I’m allowed to say this—
Jesus Christ the latin scene needs diversity, things have definitely been improving with new artists giving this music new flavors (and we’ll get to that later on), but songs like Bandido don’t bring anything to the table that’s interesting to talk about and is why I’d much rather explore latin music from the past than now.
LUX: I’m kinda conflicted on this one.
Yeah the lyrics are about Myke Towers and Juhn wanting to protect their partners from an unnamed “bandit”, which is a sentiment that I like. I just kinda wish that the performers sounded and complemented each other a bit better, and more than anything I always get thrown off by how excessively loud the beat is. This last part frustrates me because I’m able to notice a few good instrumental ideas, but everything is drowned out throughout most of the song by that beat
Camz: I agree, Bandido’s twinkly and spacey intro is really interesting, it sounds kinda like a lullaby sampled into a bittersweet beat, but its potential to be a really solid vibe kinda dies as soon as the percussion comes in, definitely by Myke Towers’ turn on the chorus with the obvious auto-tune. By then it’s a forgettable reggaeton hit and I’m ready to dip.
LUX: It’s not bad it’s just not as good as it could be ig.
Camz: #15 (3/5) LUX: #18 (1/5)
LUX: Bieber >:(
Camz: ;-; tbh, ever since his new Justice album cycle began, we really haven’t given this man much of a chance to redeem himself with an open mind. It’s not like that isn’t fair, his previous album was a trainwreck and we all know it, but I think he’s put out, on average, solid songs since.
We just can’t help but hate Bieber because hating Bieber has always been the cool thing to do.
LUX: …..Bieber sucks >:(
Okay I’m exaggerating a bit, in fact part of me regrets making my distaste for this song a personality trait throughout this past month, mostly because I don’t even hate it, there’s nothing remarkable enough about it to make me hate it
Like my only other 1/5, this is just a very lame song. I understand that many of us (including myself) are suckers for a good bassline, but this doesn’t even do anything with it. The drums just abruptly show up in a very awkward transition to the chorus, it’s not impactful or cohesive, it sounds bad. I didn’t like Justice as an album but even that same album had many songs with better bass
I also gotta point out that Justin doesn’t sound good here at all, he might not be the best singer, but here in particular, if you listen closely you can even hear the exact points where his vocals were altered / stretched to fit with the instrumental
I think the way I’d describe Hold On is as a “manufactured pop song specifically designed to be universally beloved” except that it was handed to the wrong people this time
Camz: ...I never said Hold On was good.
Unlike Anyone there’s not a lot of heart in it, and unlike Holy there’s no ironic enjoyment, and yeah the production and melody might be really impressive at first. But the shock of a Technically Solid single coming from him wears off quickly especially when you realize how, as you said, manufactured this is. I’m getting the same feeling from this as I do from his EDM collab singles from a few years ago like Let Me Love You and Cold Water.
LUX: Bad song I don’t like it >:(
Camz: >:(
Camz: #16 (3/5) LUX: #14 (4/5)
LUX: Yeah one of my 1/5s and one of my 4/5s are back to back from each other that’s this ranking alright
Camz: If you guys thought we had pretty big disagreements so far, just you wait.
LUX: Either way yeah this one’s cute
Just imagine what an Adam Levine x Megan Thee Stallion collab would sound like and this song is exactly that but,,, a tiny bit better. I kinda wish Megan’s vocals were better blended in, but omg I love her singing voice
Camz: On one hand I get pissed off whenever the radio plays the version without Megan’s feature because like… she’s rapping perfectly clean and radio-friendly there’s no reason to disrespect the queen like this.
But on the other hand, when I do listen to her feature,,, wow there’s so much to be desired. She does so well like you said but by the time the final chorus comes, it feels so awkward and anticlimactic because she just went harder than Maroon 5 could ever and then just dips… and we’re stuck with adam levine again………..
LUX: Give her a break sis she’s on a Maroon 5 song lol, it’s 2021 and I have higher standards for Maroon 5 than I do for Bieber, but this does the job. It’s very simple but also very pleasant and catchy :3
Camz: In a music scene as strong as this one, Beautiful Mistakes easily jumps out as lame and forgettable, but I like it and it’s refreshing to see Maroon 5 be competent like most artists’ songs here are. Doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be a radio hit, but it’s also clear there was effort put into this. Beautiful Mistakes just sorta has a nice pleasant existence that I support :)
LUX: This song is pretty much carried by doing all the basics correctly, and I like that!
Camz: #17 (2/5) LUX: #12 (4/5)
LUX: I said this when I talked about Dakiti for the Winter ranking, but Jhay Cortez is an artist that I’d been on the lookout for for a while now. It’s nice to see him getting more recognition, this new song hasn’t crossed over yet, but it’s been stable globally, which I’m fine with because it slaps!
Jhay and Wisin complement each other extremely well over this bouncy well made beat. This song is just very nice to listen to, I’ve been returning to it quite a few times
Camz: I’d be lying if I said I felt the same way, but this beat is pretty intimate and sultry while suiting both performers on here at the same time, especially at the lowkey verses, so yeah this is vibey.
Still one of the most mid songs of the year tho. The immersion doesn’t hold up for very long, especially when veteran rapper Wisin kinda Wisins over the beat…. like imagine Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton rapping one of his aggressive songs like My Shot over a pleasant tranquil beat.
LUX: …...a prepubescent white boy singing about weed over a pleasant tranquil beat
Camz: #9 (4/5) LUX: #16 (3/5)
LUX: Oh. Oh okay.
This song is fine….but barely. Is it as lame as Hold On? Nah, not really. Is it still extremely lame? Absolutely yeah
I do understand this one tho, it has a pretty relaxed vibe to it and the instrumental fits it, I never knew a lot about Caesar but I love how he sounds here, and I personally think the bits where he stretches his vowels (“yorkaaaaaah”) are some of the best moments in the song. As for Giveon, I think he also sounds pretty smooth. I have a bit more to say about the guy but we’ll save that for a bit later.
But yeah, as many have pointed out, the whole thing is dragged down by Bieber who like,,, completely fails to understand the vibe that his own song is going for.
Camz: I Could Not Believe My Ears when hearing Bieber’s adlibs over the chorus for the first time, trying to fit in with the other guys. He totally misses the point of this song and doesn’t know what he’s doing. His parts vs Giveon and Caesar's might as well be two different songs.
But have you considered that, like Holy, Justin Bieber's absolutely hilarious here and should be forgiven for that?
LUX: The time to apologize has ended.
I hope y’all notice how this is already heading to be Justin’s biggest hit in years, it already has far more stability than any other song from Justice (including Holy, which it already outpeaked) and even many songs from Changes. According to chart statistics it’s already the most stable #1 debut we’ve had in months, it actually has a chance of returning to #1.
Camz: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what gdhjbfvndsfbhdnsbvjndksjk
LUX: Call me old-fashioned but I definitely expect the biggest pop artist in the world to know what he’s doing a full decade into his career. Even when the songs are passable, shit like this just does not help.
Even tho it shrunk on me a lot I still really like Anyone, and none of these songs are Intentions-level bad, but come on now guys.
Camz: #7 (4/5) LUX: #13 (4/5)
Camz: There is definitely something magical about how hard Up slaps. This may not be a very interesting Cardi B single (all her other ones have unique distinguishing features), but it’s one I’ll likely return to often. (also i reacted to this song when it first came out on my Twitch channel @camzcer follow me)
LUX: This is a completely regular Cardi B song, which is a good thing for the most part. I used to love it and find it the most infectious thing ever but its magic has kinda worn out after a few months. It’s still really good tho, Cardi uses one of the catchiest flows I’ve heard from her, and this is one of the maybe 1 or 2 songs to ever exist to not annoy the shit out of me with a bed squeaking noise lmao
Camz: So true!! Bed squeaking is uncanny and uncomfortable in most songs because their odd sound can’t blend into most mixes well at all. But here they actually compliment the dark and intense pianos to create a fast, fun, and bouncy beat.
LUX: ….for me it’s more because of the fact that I barely notice it lol but I get your point
Camz: Exactly, that’s how surprisingly well Up is mixed! A lot of thought and experimentation must have been put into this in order to come out with a banger this great.
...Although (and I don’t know if this is a hot take) the clean version is better, especially when you hear the flows. Just ignore the strange lines like “dirty -- dusty -- girl you got pink eye” and “if I had a stick, you'd probably lick it like a lollipop” for a second.
The pre chorus you hear on the radio and on TikTok “Birkin bag—Bardi bag—know how I give it up” flows a lot better than the original’s, it’s a great transition into the chorus. Just ignore that double rhyme lmao
This clean version lifts this up from your run-of-the-mill cardi brag rap to a true banger. I'm really proud of TikTok and the general public for making this a huge hit.
LUX: I kinda just wish the song was as impressive as the first few times I heard it...
You know what is very impressive tho?
EDM smash hits.
For the past few years, I’d seen many people argue that the EDM scene was completely dead in the mainstream, which I understand, but as I got more into the chart watching community, it became pretty obvious that the US was just extremely late to the trends, and sometimes kinda too cool to have a good time
It only takes one little look upon other countries with big markets to realize that EDM is the strongest that it’s been in half a decade around the world, and of course this can be appreciated on the global 200 chart. There were no less than 4 smash EDM hits that we got to discuss in this ranking, all of them with weird ass backstories to them.
So what better way to start discussing these than with some meemz
Camz: #14 (3/5) LUX: #5 (5/5)
Camz: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what lwaejfjekruisdlkdkfvjnrkls;dll
LUX: Yep, combine a 2 year old meme of a guy dancing outside a moving car, a friend hyping him up, an iconic sample, and boom you get an absolute banger, as well as, you know, one of the biggest songs in the world
Camz: ngl, as soon as the song began with the crowd chanting the hook with the sample I threw my hands in the air and cheered along
LUX: This is a complete frankenstein of a song, I don’t think I’ve heard lots of songs like it. Gotta say tho that even then, I wish the song were as interesting as everything surrounding it, but I think that’s part of the song’s magic, it has all these weird elements, it’s so balls to the wall and out there, and yet it’s still a completely normal song somehow
Camz: And unfortunately that’s EXACTLY what holds this song down so much for me. I was so blown away by the intro but then as soon as the production calmed down and the normal female EDM vocalist came in my hype just sorta died.
LUX: I completely get why that’s a problem. Honestly the only reason this isn’t #2 on my personal ranking is because of her.
Camz: She sounds perfectly fine but doesn’t belong in a wacky novelty like this that deserves to be taken to more wild memorable extremes. This had the potential to be a fantastic anthem for Dudes Night Out, but this isn’t ambitious enough to truly achieve that, and this FEMALE with little personality to offer is holding this down >:(
LUX: Camz mysoginistic??? based owo
LUX: The time to apologize has ended.
I hope y’all notice how this is already heading to be Justin’s biggest hit in years, it already has far more stability than any other song from Justice (including Holy, which it already outpeaked) and even many songs from Changes. According to chart statistics it’s already the most stable #1 debut we’ve had in months, it actually has a chance of returning to #1.
Camz: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what gdhjbfvndsfbhdnsbvjndksjk
LUX: Call me old-fashioned but I definitely expect the biggest pop artist in the world to know what he’s doing a full decade into his career. Even when the songs are passable, shit like this just does not help.
Even tho it shrunk on me a lot I still really like Anyone, and none of these songs are Intentions-level bad, but come on now guys.
Camz: #7 (4/5) LUX: #13 (4/5)
Camz: There is definitely something magical about how hard Up slaps. This may not be a very interesting Cardi B single (all her other ones have unique distinguishing features), but it’s one I’ll likely return to often. (also i reacted to this song when it first came out on my Twitch channel @camzcer follow me)
LUX: This is a completely regular Cardi B song, which is a good thing for the most part. I used to love it and find it the most infectious thing ever but its magic has kinda worn out after a few months. It’s still really good tho, Cardi uses one of the catchiest flows I’ve heard from her, and this is one of the maybe 1 or 2 songs to ever exist to not annoy the shit out of me with a bed squeaking noise lmao
Camz: So true!! Bed squeaking is uncanny and uncomfortable in most songs because their odd sound can’t blend into most mixes well at all. But here they actually compliment the dark and intense pianos to create a fast, fun, and bouncy beat.
LUX: ….for me it’s more because of the fact that I barely notice it lol but I get your point
Camz: Exactly, that’s how surprisingly well Up is mixed! A lot of thought and experimentation must have been put into this in order to come out with a banger this great.
...Although (and I don’t know if this is a hot take) the clean version is better, especially when you hear the flows. Just ignore the strange lines like “dirty -- dusty -- girl you got pink eye” and “if I had a stick, you'd probably lick it like a lollipop” for a second.
The pre chorus you hear on the radio and on TikTok “Birkin bag—Bardi bag—know how I give it up” flows a lot better than the original’s, it’s a great transition into the chorus. Just ignore that double rhyme lmao
This clean version lifts this up from your run-of-the-mill cardi brag rap to a true banger. I'm really proud of TikTok and the general public for making this a huge hit.
LUX: I kinda just wish the song was as impressive as the first few times I heard it...
You know what is very impressive tho?
EDM smash hits.
For the past few years, I’d seen many people argue that the EDM scene was completely dead in the mainstream, which I understand, but as I got more into the chart watching community, it became pretty obvious that the US was just extremely late to the trends, and sometimes kinda too cool to have a good time
It only takes one little look upon other countries with big markets to realize that EDM is the strongest that it’s been in half a decade around the world, and of course this can be appreciated on the global 200 chart. There were no less than 4 smash EDM hits that we got to discuss in this ranking, all of them with weird ass backstories to them.
So what better way to start discussing these than with some meemz
Camz: #14 (3/5) LUX: #5 (5/5)
Camz: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what lwaejfjekruisdlkdkfvjnrkls;dll
LUX: Yep, combine a 2 year old meme of a guy dancing outside a moving car, a friend hyping him up, an iconic sample, and boom you get an absolute banger, as well as, you know, one of the biggest songs in the world
Camz: ngl, as soon as the song began with the crowd chanting the hook with the sample I threw my hands in the air and cheered along
LUX: This is a complete frankenstein of a song, I don’t think I’ve heard lots of songs like it. Gotta say tho that even then, I wish the song were as interesting as everything surrounding it, but I think that’s part of the song’s magic, it has all these weird elements, it’s so balls to the wall and out there, and yet it’s still a completely normal song somehow
Camz: And unfortunately that’s EXACTLY what holds this song down so much for me. I was so blown away by the intro but then as soon as the production calmed down and the normal female EDM vocalist came in my hype just sorta died.
LUX: I completely get why that’s a problem. Honestly the only reason this isn’t #2 on my personal ranking is because of her.
Camz: She sounds perfectly fine but doesn’t belong in a wacky novelty like this that deserves to be taken to more wild memorable extremes. This had the potential to be a fantastic anthem for Dudes Night Out, but this isn’t ambitious enough to truly achieve that, and this FEMALE with little personality to offer is holding this down >:(
LUX: Camz mysoginistic??? based owo
Camz: If only this had a DaBaby verse...
LUX: The weirdest part is….I can’t find this girl anywhere? Who is she?? It’s not on Wikipedia or on Genius, she’s just,, Someone, who shows up because Why Not,,, how does a dude in the background yelling “HEY! HEY! LET’S GO! MUFASA! MUFASA! WOOO!!” get credit but not the vocalist lmao
I still love it tho, it’s def one of my favorite renditions of Push The Feeling On by Nightcrawlers
A few months ago I bought a new bluetooth speaker, I’d heard great things about it and I wanted the perfect song to test it, something with a great bombing bass and many small sonic details. I immediately went to this song, and that was the moment that I fully embraced it as the slapper that it is, shit like this just goes OFF man
Camz: #11 (3/5) LUX: #7 (5/5)
LUX: Screw everyone I like nice vibes
Calling My Phone is just so,,, tranquil. Everyone loves a good “late night walks in a city full of lights” song, but this is not really that. Imagine you’re instead walking through a dark alley with poor lighting in the streets, no people, no passing cars, just dead silence. You’re not feeling any adrenaline, you’re not even very happy, you’re just walking, and thinking. You could get robbed, but you’re just too emotionally numb to care, you’re just heading straight looking forward to getting home and going to bed
That’s what this song feels like to me, nothing about this song goes too overboard, it understands the vibe it's going for, and everyone involved pulls it off.
Camz: To me the song feels like it’s oddly mixed and unbalanced with uncanny pianos and too much treble and the percussion too heavy, just like Party Girl StaySolidRocky.
But it also really feels like loneliness and despair, exactly like the scene Lux described. Lil Tjay’s voice and delivery, he sounds like he’s doing through a depressive episode that totally justifies the production’s quirks and makes it hit. just. so so surprisingly hard. Yet there’s a strange sort of peace to be found there in a roundabout away. Brings a tear to my eye,,
In order for Calling My Phone to really use its potential more though, the pitched up “i can’t get you off my mind now” sample had to come in WAY later imo. Like the first half of the song should be dedicated to absorbing you into the vibe so then the sample comes in and surprises you with it and cuts into your soul. It would be nice if Lil Tjay and 6LACK sang along with it at the end like Powfu did with his sample in death bed. More of an extended outro would’ve helped too.
If any of that makes sense.
I'll say it’s decent because of how surprisingly hard this hits despite how little it has going for it on the surface.
LUX: Now let’s talk about a different song with dark and gloomy vibes,, but that I like less…
Camz: #3 (5/5) LUX: #15 (3/5)
LUX: …….wait….
…..wait do I?
I guess writing about Calling My Phone did kinda help me understand about the vibe of this song as well, except it’s different with this one. It’s less calm and laid back and more dark and intense
Camz: Silhouette version’s sample be like “put your head on my shoUL—” *gets sucked into the void*
LUX: I appreciate how this song could potentially pick any old song and turn it into that while also making it work contextually
Camz: I have a lot to say about Streets that I’ll mostly save for another day, but this beautiful deep-bassy atmosphere with a soft haunting vocal performance like a cry for help and heartbreaking lyrics and perfect transitions that can shake you to the core. Even the jarring rap verse that’s been memed to death on TikTok works here, it’s lyrics are surprisingly focused and hit hard when you pay attention to them. It’s Doja putting herself in a vulnerable position while being herself that makes Streets go beyond simply being a vibe.
Instantly a memorable experience. What a beautifully crafted song.
LUX: Meanwhile I barely have anything to say about it overall lmao, I guess there’s just something about it that fails to click with me, tho I will say that me and my irl sister have watched the MV for it multiple times together, and that video perfectly captures the atmosphere that the song is going for
Camz: #5 (5/5) LUX: #9 (5/5)
LUX: I’m a weak man……
Camz: I find it fascinating how white people in this community have collectively been admiring telepatía and I’m only now getting used to it. That’s really neat. I honestly rejected that so hard at first, I called this nothing but mid for a while. But each listen has helped me understand this beauty more and more. It feels catered to my tastes.
LUX: I honestly got completely captured by this song as soon as I heard that intro, a bit of percussion that then immediately blasts you into a cloudy pink sky
Camz: By the time the synths hit, you softly wake up and realize where you are. Then suddenly you see the goddess Aphrodite gazing into your eyes and batting her long eyelashes, speaking directly into your heart so sweetly and intimately.
telepatía’s intro would be the perfect background music for this.
LUX: Kali Uchis sounds fantastic in this, her vocals are so sexy and dreamy, the song is about making love telepathically and yeah she’s def penetrating my mind oh my god
Camz: She’s a talented vocalist and easily expresses her passionate longing here so naturally. But that’s definitely not all, her producer Tainy worked his Tainy magic on here and made her sound all the more breathtaking. He’s HUGE in latin music and was also responsible for Callaita, Un Dia, and,,, Agua,,, he really deserves more credit outside of Latin America for all his contributions
Anyways, Tainy really did his homework learning about what special combination of vocal effects and reverb and synths and percussion and strings and all that produce that perfect blend of sexy Chillwave Comfort (check out the Spring 2021 Spotify playlist I made it’s at the end of this blog)
telepatía is so close to being the best version of itself, but the bridge, where the instrumental is actually quite silent like you’re completely alone in space with Kali Uchis, AKA the most personal and most intimate part of the song, is FAR TOO SHORT. Three lines plus “on repeat”, which alone is a fantastic build-up to the final chorus, but that final chorus ends up sounding pretty tame and anticlimactic in comparison and feels unsatisfying. Maybe a warm cymbal crash in there would’ve fixed it.
LUX: Okay real talk time, Camz and I were originally gonna rank the US Hot 100 top 20, but I convinced her to do this instead last minute for only one specific reason
I’ve been waiting for this all year…..
Camz: #13 (3/5) LUX: #2 (5/5)
LUX: There are extremely few massive hit songs right now whose success makes me happier than this one. You simply do not see shit like this everyday
Okay, in case you live under a rock and have no idea what this is, I’ll try to sum it up as much as I can because jesus one could make a 20 min long video giving a literal history lesson about this song.
So, according to wikipedia: Wellerman is a sea shanty from New Zealand in the 19th century. The lyrics are about a ‘wellerman’ (a whaling supply ship) called the “Billy O’ Tea” and its hunt for a whale. It’s been classified as "a genuine cultural expression by exploited workers for whom 'sugar and tea and rum' provided a much-needed respite from the drudgery and toil of their daily lives".
Early this year the sea shanty trend exploded on TikTok, many users started uploading videos of themselves singing them solo or in duet with their friends, which in my opinion makes a lot of sense. People are bored at home because of the pandemic, and it’s fun to participate in funny and easy trends like these with your crew
In the midst of all this, scottish singer Nathan Evans released a cover of the song which became viral and drew even more attention to this trend. It also spawned a fuckton of remixes, including an upbeat House remix by DJ/producer 220 KID and producer duo Billen Ted, which became by far the most successful version of the song and has already gone to #1 in at least 7 countries
This remix does exactly what you’d expect a dance remix for a TikTok sea shanty to do, it takes the vocals (which are basically just acapella with a bit of hand drumming and a backing choir), puts them over a House beat, layers even more vocals on top and replaces the nah-nah chanting in the original post chorus with a very Spongebob-y accordion solo
Camz: ,,,,,
LUX: Okay you can go now
Camz: I don’t get this.
I mean, I’m really close to, I can almost feel it. I can almost taste the overwhelming joy that comes with Wellerman that you and many others have. But there’s something extremely off here that I can’t get past. It almost makes or breaks this experience.
There is something very “mlg dank meme epic gamer” about remix. I mean it takes a viral TikTok trend. And then makes it faster and gives it modern 2020s (though this really reminds me of 2010s internet culture) production with a drop and everything. Music video has quirky randomness and bright flashing colors and young women dancing happily in front of some green screen
LUX: The MV for this song is pretty underwhelming yeah, not enough pirates
Camz: The producers are literally working with a Sea Shanty here… there’s infinite room for creativity here. They threw in an accordion in the drop which fits it perfectly and I appreciate it a lot, but they didn’t go much farther than that. This remix is also frustratingly short at 1:57, when the original Nathan Evans version is 2:36, with three verses entire verses missing?? This is just the most marketable version of the Wellerman sea shanty possible. Wasn’t meant to do the original as much justice as it could, but to really pander to Zoomers.
This remix still slaps super hard but like. It can only really work if I have my brain turned off when listening to it, which is a struggle atm.
LUX: Yeah this is a total cash grab, that’s not a secret, but you know sometimes things end up grabbing your cash for a reason. This is just such a fun song, it’s short and straight to the point, it starts with intense organ chords playing through the verses, transitioning to an impactful buildup and drop, it’s less than 2 mins long and it still feels like a complete experience
[EDIT] Camz: THIS GREW ON ME SO HARD IT MIGHT BE A 5/5 LMAO
It’s too late to change Wellerman’s score in the ranking at this point but it would be like at uhhhhh #6 for my personal ranking, everything below it would go down a spot.
which would make it #1 for our combined rankings lmao
LUX: Oh and while we’re at it here’s my ranking of all the big covers and Nathan Evans remixes for this song from worst to best lol
8. Santiano & Nathan Evans
7. Nathan Evans x The Kiffness
6. Kidz Bop (yes this exists it’s a banger)
5. The Longest Johns
4. Nathan Evans x ARGULES
3. Sea Shanty (Spinnin Records)
2. Nathan Evans (Original)
1. Nathan Evans x 220 KID x Billen Ted
Well that was an interesting analysis, now onto a more traditional….and yet more inexplicable House remix
Camz: #8 (4/5) LUX: #6 (5/5)
Camz: how many paragraphs you got for us this time Lux?
LUX: Don't worry lol this one’s quicker, spanish DJ/producer HVME releases a House cover / rework of Travis Scott’s 2017 minor hit “goosebumps” in mid 2020, becomes pretty big, then he releases it again as an official remix with Travis’ approval and original vocals in early 2021 and boom it becomes a massive smash hit that’s currently outperforming the original chartwise in most countries
I still love it tho, it’s def one of my favorite renditions of Push The Feeling On by Nightcrawlers
A few months ago I bought a new bluetooth speaker, I’d heard great things about it and I wanted the perfect song to test it, something with a great bombing bass and many small sonic details. I immediately went to this song, and that was the moment that I fully embraced it as the slapper that it is, shit like this just goes OFF man
Camz: #11 (3/5) LUX: #7 (5/5)
LUX: Screw everyone I like nice vibes
Calling My Phone is just so,,, tranquil. Everyone loves a good “late night walks in a city full of lights” song, but this is not really that. Imagine you’re instead walking through a dark alley with poor lighting in the streets, no people, no passing cars, just dead silence. You’re not feeling any adrenaline, you’re not even very happy, you’re just walking, and thinking. You could get robbed, but you’re just too emotionally numb to care, you’re just heading straight looking forward to getting home and going to bed
That’s what this song feels like to me, nothing about this song goes too overboard, it understands the vibe it's going for, and everyone involved pulls it off.
Camz: To me the song feels like it’s oddly mixed and unbalanced with uncanny pianos and too much treble and the percussion too heavy, just like Party Girl StaySolidRocky.
But it also really feels like loneliness and despair, exactly like the scene Lux described. Lil Tjay’s voice and delivery, he sounds like he’s doing through a depressive episode that totally justifies the production’s quirks and makes it hit. just. so so surprisingly hard. Yet there’s a strange sort of peace to be found there in a roundabout away. Brings a tear to my eye,,
In order for Calling My Phone to really use its potential more though, the pitched up “i can’t get you off my mind now” sample had to come in WAY later imo. Like the first half of the song should be dedicated to absorbing you into the vibe so then the sample comes in and surprises you with it and cuts into your soul. It would be nice if Lil Tjay and 6LACK sang along with it at the end like Powfu did with his sample in death bed. More of an extended outro would’ve helped too.
If any of that makes sense.
I'll say it’s decent because of how surprisingly hard this hits despite how little it has going for it on the surface.
LUX: Now let’s talk about a different song with dark and gloomy vibes,, but that I like less…
Camz: #3 (5/5) LUX: #15 (3/5)
LUX: …….wait….
…..wait do I?
I guess writing about Calling My Phone did kinda help me understand about the vibe of this song as well, except it’s different with this one. It’s less calm and laid back and more dark and intense
Camz: Silhouette version’s sample be like “put your head on my shoUL—” *gets sucked into the void*
LUX: I appreciate how this song could potentially pick any old song and turn it into that while also making it work contextually
Camz: I have a lot to say about Streets that I’ll mostly save for another day, but this beautiful deep-bassy atmosphere with a soft haunting vocal performance like a cry for help and heartbreaking lyrics and perfect transitions that can shake you to the core. Even the jarring rap verse that’s been memed to death on TikTok works here, it’s lyrics are surprisingly focused and hit hard when you pay attention to them. It’s Doja putting herself in a vulnerable position while being herself that makes Streets go beyond simply being a vibe.
Instantly a memorable experience. What a beautifully crafted song.
LUX: Meanwhile I barely have anything to say about it overall lmao, I guess there’s just something about it that fails to click with me, tho I will say that me and my irl sister have watched the MV for it multiple times together, and that video perfectly captures the atmosphere that the song is going for
Camz: #5 (5/5) LUX: #9 (5/5)
LUX: I’m a weak man……
Camz: I find it fascinating how white people in this community have collectively been admiring telepatía and I’m only now getting used to it. That’s really neat. I honestly rejected that so hard at first, I called this nothing but mid for a while. But each listen has helped me understand this beauty more and more. It feels catered to my tastes.
LUX: I honestly got completely captured by this song as soon as I heard that intro, a bit of percussion that then immediately blasts you into a cloudy pink sky
Camz: By the time the synths hit, you softly wake up and realize where you are. Then suddenly you see the goddess Aphrodite gazing into your eyes and batting her long eyelashes, speaking directly into your heart so sweetly and intimately.
telepatía’s intro would be the perfect background music for this.
LUX: Kali Uchis sounds fantastic in this, her vocals are so sexy and dreamy, the song is about making love telepathically and yeah she’s def penetrating my mind oh my god
Camz: She’s a talented vocalist and easily expresses her passionate longing here so naturally. But that’s definitely not all, her producer Tainy worked his Tainy magic on here and made her sound all the more breathtaking. He’s HUGE in latin music and was also responsible for Callaita, Un Dia, and,,, Agua,,, he really deserves more credit outside of Latin America for all his contributions
Anyways, Tainy really did his homework learning about what special combination of vocal effects and reverb and synths and percussion and strings and all that produce that perfect blend of sexy Chillwave Comfort (check out the Spring 2021 Spotify playlist I made it’s at the end of this blog)
telepatía is so close to being the best version of itself, but the bridge, where the instrumental is actually quite silent like you’re completely alone in space with Kali Uchis, AKA the most personal and most intimate part of the song, is FAR TOO SHORT. Three lines plus “on repeat”, which alone is a fantastic build-up to the final chorus, but that final chorus ends up sounding pretty tame and anticlimactic in comparison and feels unsatisfying. Maybe a warm cymbal crash in there would’ve fixed it.
LUX: Okay real talk time, Camz and I were originally gonna rank the US Hot 100 top 20, but I convinced her to do this instead last minute for only one specific reason
I’ve been waiting for this all year…..
Camz: #13 (3/5) LUX: #2 (5/5)
LUX: There are extremely few massive hit songs right now whose success makes me happier than this one. You simply do not see shit like this everyday
Okay, in case you live under a rock and have no idea what this is, I’ll try to sum it up as much as I can because jesus one could make a 20 min long video giving a literal history lesson about this song.
So, according to wikipedia: Wellerman is a sea shanty from New Zealand in the 19th century. The lyrics are about a ‘wellerman’ (a whaling supply ship) called the “Billy O’ Tea” and its hunt for a whale. It’s been classified as "a genuine cultural expression by exploited workers for whom 'sugar and tea and rum' provided a much-needed respite from the drudgery and toil of their daily lives".
Early this year the sea shanty trend exploded on TikTok, many users started uploading videos of themselves singing them solo or in duet with their friends, which in my opinion makes a lot of sense. People are bored at home because of the pandemic, and it’s fun to participate in funny and easy trends like these with your crew
In the midst of all this, scottish singer Nathan Evans released a cover of the song which became viral and drew even more attention to this trend. It also spawned a fuckton of remixes, including an upbeat House remix by DJ/producer 220 KID and producer duo Billen Ted, which became by far the most successful version of the song and has already gone to #1 in at least 7 countries
This remix does exactly what you’d expect a dance remix for a TikTok sea shanty to do, it takes the vocals (which are basically just acapella with a bit of hand drumming and a backing choir), puts them over a House beat, layers even more vocals on top and replaces the nah-nah chanting in the original post chorus with a very Spongebob-y accordion solo
Camz: ,,,,,
LUX: Okay you can go now
Camz: I don’t get this.
I mean, I’m really close to, I can almost feel it. I can almost taste the overwhelming joy that comes with Wellerman that you and many others have. But there’s something extremely off here that I can’t get past. It almost makes or breaks this experience.
There is something very “mlg dank meme epic gamer” about remix. I mean it takes a viral TikTok trend. And then makes it faster and gives it modern 2020s (though this really reminds me of 2010s internet culture) production with a drop and everything. Music video has quirky randomness and bright flashing colors and young women dancing happily in front of some green screen
LUX: The MV for this song is pretty underwhelming yeah, not enough pirates
Camz: The producers are literally working with a Sea Shanty here… there’s infinite room for creativity here. They threw in an accordion in the drop which fits it perfectly and I appreciate it a lot, but they didn’t go much farther than that. This remix is also frustratingly short at 1:57, when the original Nathan Evans version is 2:36, with three verses entire verses missing?? This is just the most marketable version of the Wellerman sea shanty possible. Wasn’t meant to do the original as much justice as it could, but to really pander to Zoomers.
This remix still slaps super hard but like. It can only really work if I have my brain turned off when listening to it, which is a struggle atm.
LUX: Yeah this is a total cash grab, that’s not a secret, but you know sometimes things end up grabbing your cash for a reason. This is just such a fun song, it’s short and straight to the point, it starts with intense organ chords playing through the verses, transitioning to an impactful buildup and drop, it’s less than 2 mins long and it still feels like a complete experience
[EDIT] Camz: THIS GREW ON ME SO HARD IT MIGHT BE A 5/5 LMAO
It’s too late to change Wellerman’s score in the ranking at this point but it would be like at uhhhhh #6 for my personal ranking, everything below it would go down a spot.
which would make it #1 for our combined rankings lmao
LUX: Oh and while we’re at it here’s my ranking of all the big covers and Nathan Evans remixes for this song from worst to best lol
8. Santiano & Nathan Evans
7. Nathan Evans x The Kiffness
6. Kidz Bop (yes this exists it’s a banger)
5. The Longest Johns
4. Nathan Evans x ARGULES
3. Sea Shanty (Spinnin Records)
2. Nathan Evans (Original)
1. Nathan Evans x 220 KID x Billen Ted
Well that was an interesting analysis, now onto a more traditional….and yet more inexplicable House remix
Camz: #8 (4/5) LUX: #6 (5/5)
Camz: how many paragraphs you got for us this time Lux?
LUX: Don't worry lol this one’s quicker, spanish DJ/producer HVME releases a House cover / rework of Travis Scott’s 2017 minor hit “goosebumps” in mid 2020, becomes pretty big, then he releases it again as an official remix with Travis’ approval and original vocals in early 2021 and boom it becomes a massive smash hit that’s currently outperforming the original chartwise in most countries
I really don’t have a lot to say
It’s a House remix of Goosebumps
It slaps
That’s about it
I think I love it more than the original
Camz: I actually listened to this remix months before I bothered checking out the original lmao. I’m sure the original is a generation-defining genre-defining artistic masterpiece or whatever but. I find myself returning to this more often.
That feels insulting because the original not only has an amazing Kendrick performance, but also really thoughtful production, a LOT more thoughtful than HVME’s version. This version makes Goosebumps a lot more digestible for the general public and I can totally see why that’s a problem for people…
But unlike Wellerman it’s a lot easier to turn my brain off when I hear soft hand claps and a spacey Lithuanian Bass beat and a warm deep voice that perfectly compliments it.
And a funky lil fella in the center of the official visualizer doing the stanky leg.
LUX: The original does have some epic moments that are missed here (not talking about Kendrick tho, believe it I made an edited version that has him in it and it sounds cursed af), but unlike the other House anomalies that we’ve discussed so far this has a less upbeat and more dark and intense atmosphere that suits the vibe of Goosebumps very well
Camz: #10 (4/5) LUX: #3 (5/5)
LUX: The quintessential great Drake hit, with combined vibes from some of his best hits like Nice For What and Laugh Now Cry Later, very energetic and very triumphant and me like it!
Camz: I wouldn’t go that far, but this is definitely a fun Drake #1 hit that I can see myself coming back to in years to come. There’s something very unique about its beat that it’s hard to put my finger on but I know it will take me back to March 2021 each time.
This beat sounds like soda. Just a soda can of Sprite, with the crystal-like foam bubbling down the sides zoomed in 8K Ultra HD. Actually this beat is more like a sleek green and silver car that’s Sprite themed, diamonds all around it. And you’re driving it through a long silver tunnel in the middle of the night. What’s Next is what you’re listening to in your earbuds at that moment.
LUX: That is so specific
This is gonna be one of my most played songs this year, I’m kinda excited to listen to that new Drake album, I’ve been really warming up on Drake’s output, even looking back I really like most of what he put out around 2016-2018
Except for the one about not paying child support that one’s still pretty shit okay let’s keep going
Camz: #2 (5/5) LUX: #11 (5/5)
Camz: I saw this one premiere on YouTube!! My school laptop was at like 3%, wasn’t paying attention to class whatsoever, but I still enjoyed every second of this song. I would love to relive that experience of initially reacting to it, especially the sudden build-ups and INSANE climaxes that the production creates so memorably
I had high expectations for it because of how much Olivia Rodrigo’s other song drivers license grew on me, but I didn’t really know where she could go from there. Even though she took a similar approach to Drivers License by releasing a song about jealousy and heartbreak. And yet it absolutely hit like a truck and I love it to this day. I can’t say either hit single is better than the other, comparing them is really hard.
LUX: This is a good choice for a follow-up
deja vu takes a less serious and heartbreaking approach than drivers license, it’s a bit more playful and snarky, mocking how everything the other girl gets from the guy is just recycled from what Olivia used to get from him
I think the main reason why I love the sound of this so much is because of how much I love Olivia’s voice. I’m not sure how that buzzing drop fits in conceptually since lyrically it doesn’t feel like the song builds up to much, but it’s interesting for sure and it feels like a great payoff to something that,,, doesn’t really need a payoff
Camz: That payoff is one of my favorite moments of 2021. The bridge triplets aren’t anything interesting, but when she yells into the sky with “YEAH EVERYTHING IS ALL REUSED” and “I KNOW YOU GET DEJA VU” with the ugly, buzzing drums (this is not a criticism but rather something that helps portray Olivia’s jealousy in a negative light because she’s human) it all feels so EXHILARATING. All of these different layers of production and emotions building up so quickly create one of my favorite musical climaxes I’ve heard honestly.
Camz: #12 (3/5) LUX: #1 (5/5)
LUX: In our previous ranking I mentioned how Save Your Tears by The Weeknd was my favorite hit of the year and how I would very likely struggle to find a better one. 2021 turned out to be very strong so far that I could actually name a few that strongly challenge it, this being definitely one of them.
Not sure if I’m able to explain why that is right now, so instead, I’m very curious on why you gave it so low of a ranking and score…..
Camz: Sorry I had to do this to your #1 again bro :oldsadroad:
But yeah while Heartbreak Anniversary is very good in many ways that absolutely sell Giveon’s emotions the way he intends, like its poignant lyrics, vulnerable vocal performance, and all the unique production bits, that’s the thing…
Personally, Giveon sells this so well it’s kinda hard to listen to. The atmosphere whenever you put this song on just gets a lot heavier without becoming more... Exciting. I like my heartbreak songs really interesting and electrifying. They gotta give me a thrilling rush for me to return to their melodrama. Heartbreak Anniversary just doesn’t seem very engaging or interesting, definitely not very relatable to me.
That’s 100% a personal thing that shouldn’t take away from your enjoyment of Heartbreak Anniversary of course, but yeah I guess now you can see how I put deja vu 10 spots higher than this.
LUX: Most of the stuff you mentioned are contributors to why I love it so much, but it's understandable ig… still, to the people who haven’t heard this, please do, I promise you won’t regret it
Now from critic bait to even more critic bait
Camz: #4 (5/5) LUX: #8 (5/5)
Camz: There is definitely something very inherently uninteresting about this…
Leave The Door Open is a beautiful sounding song, the percussion and twinkling were great ingredients to put in this production, it has a very nice warm atmosphere that deserves its welcoming title and hook, and BRUNO MARS IS BACK LETS GOOOOOOO
Though aside from the new Anderson .Paak feature (LETS GOOOOOOO), this definitely fits within the same formula of all the hits from Bruno’s last couple of album cycles, Locked Out Of Heaven, Treasure, 24K Magic, Versace On The Floor…
LUX: I do love this song…..but it’s basically cheating lmao
This is literally just a 70s soul song, a style of music that I don’t even like all that much myself, the only reason it’s so great is because Bruno and Anderson .Paak are great artists….they can’t keep getting away with this
Camz: In Bruno’s case, I’d love to see him experiment outside of his comfort zone instead of just seeing him stay in his comfort zone! If he continues like this for the rest of his career, he’ll make singles good enough for me to sing along to for sure… but aside from perfecting his retro craft however much that’s possible anymore, he’s not going to top his current work.
Except for the one about not paying child support that one’s still pretty shit okay let’s keep going
Camz: #2 (5/5) LUX: #11 (5/5)
Camz: I saw this one premiere on YouTube!! My school laptop was at like 3%, wasn’t paying attention to class whatsoever, but I still enjoyed every second of this song. I would love to relive that experience of initially reacting to it, especially the sudden build-ups and INSANE climaxes that the production creates so memorably
I had high expectations for it because of how much Olivia Rodrigo’s other song drivers license grew on me, but I didn’t really know where she could go from there. Even though she took a similar approach to Drivers License by releasing a song about jealousy and heartbreak. And yet it absolutely hit like a truck and I love it to this day. I can’t say either hit single is better than the other, comparing them is really hard.
LUX: This is a good choice for a follow-up
deja vu takes a less serious and heartbreaking approach than drivers license, it’s a bit more playful and snarky, mocking how everything the other girl gets from the guy is just recycled from what Olivia used to get from him
I think the main reason why I love the sound of this so much is because of how much I love Olivia’s voice. I’m not sure how that buzzing drop fits in conceptually since lyrically it doesn’t feel like the song builds up to much, but it’s interesting for sure and it feels like a great payoff to something that,,, doesn’t really need a payoff
Camz: That payoff is one of my favorite moments of 2021. The bridge triplets aren’t anything interesting, but when she yells into the sky with “YEAH EVERYTHING IS ALL REUSED” and “I KNOW YOU GET DEJA VU” with the ugly, buzzing drums (this is not a criticism but rather something that helps portray Olivia’s jealousy in a negative light because she’s human) it all feels so EXHILARATING. All of these different layers of production and emotions building up so quickly create one of my favorite musical climaxes I’ve heard honestly.
Camz: #12 (3/5) LUX: #1 (5/5)
LUX: In our previous ranking I mentioned how Save Your Tears by The Weeknd was my favorite hit of the year and how I would very likely struggle to find a better one. 2021 turned out to be very strong so far that I could actually name a few that strongly challenge it, this being definitely one of them.
Not sure if I’m able to explain why that is right now, so instead, I’m very curious on why you gave it so low of a ranking and score…..
Camz: Sorry I had to do this to your #1 again bro :oldsadroad:
But yeah while Heartbreak Anniversary is very good in many ways that absolutely sell Giveon’s emotions the way he intends, like its poignant lyrics, vulnerable vocal performance, and all the unique production bits, that’s the thing…
Personally, Giveon sells this so well it’s kinda hard to listen to. The atmosphere whenever you put this song on just gets a lot heavier without becoming more... Exciting. I like my heartbreak songs really interesting and electrifying. They gotta give me a thrilling rush for me to return to their melodrama. Heartbreak Anniversary just doesn’t seem very engaging or interesting, definitely not very relatable to me.
That’s 100% a personal thing that shouldn’t take away from your enjoyment of Heartbreak Anniversary of course, but yeah I guess now you can see how I put deja vu 10 spots higher than this.
LUX: Most of the stuff you mentioned are contributors to why I love it so much, but it's understandable ig… still, to the people who haven’t heard this, please do, I promise you won’t regret it
Now from critic bait to even more critic bait
Camz: #4 (5/5) LUX: #8 (5/5)
Camz: There is definitely something very inherently uninteresting about this…
Leave The Door Open is a beautiful sounding song, the percussion and twinkling were great ingredients to put in this production, it has a very nice warm atmosphere that deserves its welcoming title and hook, and BRUNO MARS IS BACK LETS GOOOOOOO
Though aside from the new Anderson .Paak feature (LETS GOOOOOOO), this definitely fits within the same formula of all the hits from Bruno’s last couple of album cycles, Locked Out Of Heaven, Treasure, 24K Magic, Versace On The Floor…
LUX: I do love this song…..but it’s basically cheating lmao
This is literally just a 70s soul song, a style of music that I don’t even like all that much myself, the only reason it’s so great is because Bruno and Anderson .Paak are great artists….they can’t keep getting away with this
Camz: In Bruno’s case, I’d love to see him experiment outside of his comfort zone instead of just seeing him stay in his comfort zone! If he continues like this for the rest of his career, he’ll make singles good enough for me to sing along to for sure… but aside from perfecting his retro craft however much that’s possible anymore, he’s not going to top his current work.
LUX: Unlike pretty much everyone else I’ve talked to I had next to no knowledge about Anderson .Paak before this besides one Macklemore song from 2016 that I liked a lot. I immediately went to check more of his stuff because I loved his presence here (specially after watching the music video, his performance and delivery,,,,, oh my god)
I’ve replayed this song like a million times and it keeps getting better, which means that I’m falling into the bait…..God I’m so excited for a Silk Sonic full album
Camz: It will be a fun listen 100%. I want to hear more of these gay sex jams of Bruno and Anderson singing about how much they wanna do each other.
…
I could not have asked for a better song to achieve this. There are so many layers to this entire phenomenon to embrace and explore. Even ignoring the context of how Montero owned the Evangelicals with its daring music video that is incredibly artful on its own, there is plenty to admire about the song itself which I am excited to dive into, as a lesbian who’s loved Lil Nas X since his Old Town Road days.
LUX: I actually do wanna mention the MV because I absolutely love it, it’s just so masterfully crafted and aesthetically beautiful, one of my favorite music videos of the year for sure
About the song….I would’ve never expected it would have this much impact, I’d been waiting for this song to get released ever since he posted a snippet on twitter a bit less than a year ago. I love Lil Nas X’s deep voice and how he blends with the guitars and the handclaps, this is a killer beat right here
Camz: ABSOLUTELY! Lil Nas X has never sounded better, his singing is really solid and has definitely shown improvement. He can hit all these notes with all the charisma needed. Him transitioning from the lower to higher register crying the hook “CAAAALL MEEE BYYY YOUR NAAAAAAAME” is one of the many great moments of Montero. I could do a top 5 of these.
LUX: This song is completely full of great moments and lines (“Shoot a child in your mouth” is line of the year)
Camz: So true. But something I might appreciate the most about Montero, is how unfiltered and honest it portrays this gay experience.
Lil Nas X isn’t desperately trying to please LGBT allies by being perfectly pure and unproblematic here so they don’t judge, like how I usually see content with an intended queer demographic. I can tell Montero's lyrics are his real raunchy feelings he's genuinely felt towards a dude. As the song progresses, the lyrics get more and more desperate for Lil Nas X’s love as it continues, with a fantastic climax at the end of the second chorus. He starts off really cool and smooth and then ends up at "I DO NOT CARE IF YOU’RE LYIN" at the end. I am a sucker for this progression of passion. I can feel the gay sex intensifying.
LUX: This was an incredibly good top 20, which is obvious by the fact that this was barely one of my 10 favorite songs from it and I still think it’s one of the best songs of the year
Camz: Absolutely! I put Montero at the top of my personal Top 20 ranking, it’s obviously a phenomenal song, but even so, I’m not sure it’s that much better than my #2 and #3, deja vu and Streets respectively. What an amazing year in music so far.
LUX: I’m now noticing that both of us’ top 3s are completely out by now,,,,
Camz: ……..What does that leave us with for a #1 then?
LUX: I mean if a song has such a strong power that it manages to collectively be our favorite hit song of this season despite not being close to either of us’ favorite individually, it must definitely be a defining classic of our generation, a musical staple of society, and one of the most important pieces of avant garde media ever conceived
Camz: #6 (4/5) LUX: #4 (5/5)
LUX: I’ll start this very important segment by saying that I was wrong
The Business by Tiësto is a good song!
Ever since the song came out late last year I showed a lot of aversion to it, and looking back it might’ve been because of negative bias. I already mentioned this but pretty much all the big EDM smash hits we have right now (including the ones we didn’t discuss like “Get Out Of My Head” by Shane Codd or “Jenny” by Studio Killers) represent some big shit, both negative and positive….and then you had The Business, just, sitting there
I just dismissed it as “that boring and lowkey annoying song by one of the biggest artists in the scene trying to cash in on a new musical trend” and I didn’t get why it got so much praise when it wasn’t doing anything interesting… but that was like,,, factually wrong
Yeah it didn’t break any new grounds, but there are very few Deep House songs rn that feel so tight in control and impactful despite not using that many elements. Listen to the song closely, it has some details that you might’ve not noticed, it’s extremely well constructed
Camz: Agreed, I dismissed it at first too because it definitely seems uninteresting at first. Actually, it still is. But man the bass and claps slaps so hard and mixes with the pitched-down vocals so well.
LUX: So yeah, The Business by Tiësto. Pretty great stuff, solid 4/5.
Now let’s talk about how they made it even better!
Pretty simple actually, they filled in all the empty spaces, to the point where it feels like a completely different song. When I saw that it came out I expected it would be just the original ,\song with a rap verse added somewhere, seemed like a weird idea but I thought well I’ll give it a chance
However what we got instead was Ty Dolla $ign completely replacing the original vocals and adding his own twist and atmosphere to the song. It’s not a phony remix or a cover, it’s a totally different listening experience
Camz: That’s what I really respect about Part II! It’s the same length as Part I yet has so much more going on! Its production still feels low-key, but was clearly heavily adapted for this version to give it its own vibe, one that’s a lot more uplifting and fun. Less bassy and more spacey. Ty Dolla $ign sounds like he’s having as much fun as James Bell (the original vocalist), so this is a party I’d love to go to.
LUX: I’ve always liked Ty Dolla $ign’s singing voice and this is not the first time he’s showed up in an EDM song of this style (see “Midnight Hour” with Skrillex & Boys Noize) but I think this is my favorite performance on an EDM song thus far
Camz: The more we analyze different parts of The Business, Part II the more wholesome it feels. Like it’s own small party that’s a celebration of EDM.
Maybe this does deserve to be #1 on this rankdown
LUX: I’m shocked on how well this song works, the vocals, the beat, the ad libs, the additional instrumental touches, everything combines so effortlessly, I feel like an extremely well good looking shirtless dude is inviting me to get down to business,,,
Camz: is The Business, Pt. II a gay anthem?
LUX: I wanna have that debate
Camz: We’ve mentioned gayness on every song in our rankdown’s top 3,,, they could each be gay anthems in their own right,,,
LUX: I just find it funny how our #1 turned out to be a song that technically isn't even the eligible version to make this list
I guess that’s the important lesson we learned today, music is what you make of it, who cares about what the media tells you, have fun, get emotional, vibe, listen to a song you like and start revolving your entire personality around it, that’s what matters at the end of the day uwu
Camz: well that’s the most Zoomery thing I’ve ever heard you say
LUX: True,,, let’s talk about our scores now
LUX’s SCORE: 0x1 + 1x2 + 2x1 + 3x2 + 4x3 + 5x11 = 77 / 100
CAMZ’ SCORE: 0x1 + 1x0 + 2x3 + 3x6 + 4x5 + 5x5 = 69 / 100
SPRING 2021 FINAL SCORE: 73 / 100
I’ve replayed this song like a million times and it keeps getting better, which means that I’m falling into the bait…..God I’m so excited for a Silk Sonic full album
Camz: It will be a fun listen 100%. I want to hear more of these gay sex jams of Bruno and Anderson singing about how much they wanna do each other.
…
...
…….
LUX: MONTERO is not our #1 lol
Camz: #1 (5/5) LUX: #10 (5/5)
Camz: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
So here is the first chart-topping smash hit to ever be explicitly about gay sex.
…….
LUX: MONTERO is not our #1 lol
Camz: #1 (5/5) LUX: #10 (5/5)
Camz: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
So here is the first chart-topping smash hit to ever be explicitly about gay sex.
I could not have asked for a better song to achieve this. There are so many layers to this entire phenomenon to embrace and explore. Even ignoring the context of how Montero owned the Evangelicals with its daring music video that is incredibly artful on its own, there is plenty to admire about the song itself which I am excited to dive into, as a lesbian who’s loved Lil Nas X since his Old Town Road days.
LUX: I actually do wanna mention the MV because I absolutely love it, it’s just so masterfully crafted and aesthetically beautiful, one of my favorite music videos of the year for sure
About the song….I would’ve never expected it would have this much impact, I’d been waiting for this song to get released ever since he posted a snippet on twitter a bit less than a year ago. I love Lil Nas X’s deep voice and how he blends with the guitars and the handclaps, this is a killer beat right here
Camz: ABSOLUTELY! Lil Nas X has never sounded better, his singing is really solid and has definitely shown improvement. He can hit all these notes with all the charisma needed. Him transitioning from the lower to higher register crying the hook “CAAAALL MEEE BYYY YOUR NAAAAAAAME” is one of the many great moments of Montero. I could do a top 5 of these.
LUX: This song is completely full of great moments and lines (“Shoot a child in your mouth” is line of the year)
Camz: So true. But something I might appreciate the most about Montero, is how unfiltered and honest it portrays this gay experience.
Lil Nas X isn’t desperately trying to please LGBT allies by being perfectly pure and unproblematic here so they don’t judge, like how I usually see content with an intended queer demographic. I can tell Montero's lyrics are his real raunchy feelings he's genuinely felt towards a dude. As the song progresses, the lyrics get more and more desperate for Lil Nas X’s love as it continues, with a fantastic climax at the end of the second chorus. He starts off really cool and smooth and then ends up at "I DO NOT CARE IF YOU’RE LYIN" at the end. I am a sucker for this progression of passion. I can feel the gay sex intensifying.
LUX: This was an incredibly good top 20, which is obvious by the fact that this was barely one of my 10 favorite songs from it and I still think it’s one of the best songs of the year
Camz: Absolutely! I put Montero at the top of my personal Top 20 ranking, it’s obviously a phenomenal song, but even so, I’m not sure it’s that much better than my #2 and #3, deja vu and Streets respectively. What an amazing year in music so far.
LUX: I’m now noticing that both of us’ top 3s are completely out by now,,,,
Camz: ……..What does that leave us with for a #1 then?
LUX: I mean if a song has such a strong power that it manages to collectively be our favorite hit song of this season despite not being close to either of us’ favorite individually, it must definitely be a defining classic of our generation, a musical staple of society, and one of the most important pieces of avant garde media ever conceived
Camz: #6 (4/5) LUX: #4 (5/5)
LUX: I’ll start this very important segment by saying that I was wrong
The Business by Tiësto is a good song!
Ever since the song came out late last year I showed a lot of aversion to it, and looking back it might’ve been because of negative bias. I already mentioned this but pretty much all the big EDM smash hits we have right now (including the ones we didn’t discuss like “Get Out Of My Head” by Shane Codd or “Jenny” by Studio Killers) represent some big shit, both negative and positive….and then you had The Business, just, sitting there
I just dismissed it as “that boring and lowkey annoying song by one of the biggest artists in the scene trying to cash in on a new musical trend” and I didn’t get why it got so much praise when it wasn’t doing anything interesting… but that was like,,, factually wrong
Yeah it didn’t break any new grounds, but there are very few Deep House songs rn that feel so tight in control and impactful despite not using that many elements. Listen to the song closely, it has some details that you might’ve not noticed, it’s extremely well constructed
Camz: Agreed, I dismissed it at first too because it definitely seems uninteresting at first. Actually, it still is. But man the bass and claps slaps so hard and mixes with the pitched-down vocals so well.
LUX: So yeah, The Business by Tiësto. Pretty great stuff, solid 4/5.
Now let’s talk about how they made it even better!
Pretty simple actually, they filled in all the empty spaces, to the point where it feels like a completely different song. When I saw that it came out I expected it would be just the original ,\song with a rap verse added somewhere, seemed like a weird idea but I thought well I’ll give it a chance
However what we got instead was Ty Dolla $ign completely replacing the original vocals and adding his own twist and atmosphere to the song. It’s not a phony remix or a cover, it’s a totally different listening experience
Camz: That’s what I really respect about Part II! It’s the same length as Part I yet has so much more going on! Its production still feels low-key, but was clearly heavily adapted for this version to give it its own vibe, one that’s a lot more uplifting and fun. Less bassy and more spacey. Ty Dolla $ign sounds like he’s having as much fun as James Bell (the original vocalist), so this is a party I’d love to go to.
LUX: I’ve always liked Ty Dolla $ign’s singing voice and this is not the first time he’s showed up in an EDM song of this style (see “Midnight Hour” with Skrillex & Boys Noize) but I think this is my favorite performance on an EDM song thus far
Camz: The more we analyze different parts of The Business, Part II the more wholesome it feels. Like it’s own small party that’s a celebration of EDM.
Maybe this does deserve to be #1 on this rankdown
LUX: I’m shocked on how well this song works, the vocals, the beat, the ad libs, the additional instrumental touches, everything combines so effortlessly, I feel like an extremely well good looking shirtless dude is inviting me to get down to business,,,
Camz: is The Business, Pt. II a gay anthem?
LUX: I wanna have that debate
Camz: We’ve mentioned gayness on every song in our rankdown’s top 3,,, they could each be gay anthems in their own right,,,
LUX: I just find it funny how our #1 turned out to be a song that technically isn't even the eligible version to make this list
I guess that’s the important lesson we learned today, music is what you make of it, who cares about what the media tells you, have fun, get emotional, vibe, listen to a song you like and start revolving your entire personality around it, that’s what matters at the end of the day uwu
Camz: well that’s the most Zoomery thing I’ve ever heard you say
LUX: True,,, let’s talk about our scores now
LUX’s SCORE: 0x1 + 1x2 + 2x1 + 3x2 + 4x3 + 5x11 = 77 / 100
CAMZ’ SCORE: 0x1 + 1x0 + 2x3 + 3x6 + 4x5 + 5x5 = 69 / 100
SPRING 2021 FINAL SCORE: 73 / 100
Camz: ,,,,,,,,,,,, (ノ*゜▽゜*)
The highest score I’ve given was last for Spring with a 71, which was when Blinding Lights and Say So and everything i wanted were new and massive.
But on this rankdown, we have only been reviewing new-ish songs that we haven’t covered last time, so it’s pretty understandable I got a lower score without counting Levitating and drivers license here
This is seriously a promising spring all things considered!
LUX: I kinda just love music rn
There’s a big chance that many of these songs will not cross over to the US which is a big shame, but I was really looking for an outlet to discuss them
Oh and speaking of stuff we’d like to see succeed, instead of just listing 10 random songs from any chart that have potential to be big, we’ll give 5 songs each that we didn’t get to discuss in the ranking and give short commentary (positive or negative) for all of em, Camz you can start!
▷ Doja Cat ft. SZA - Kiss Me More
So you know how I mentioned doing single song reviews at the beginning,,, 👀
▷ Taylor Swift - Fifteen (Taylor's Version)
Wins the Most Improved trophy on Fearless (Taylor’s Version). The original 2008 track already had really solid lyrics but they came off as pretentious when a barely legal adult sang them. Taylor’s mature voice changes EVERYTHING.
▷ The Kid LAROI ft. Miley Cyrus - WITHOUT YOU REMIX
Imagine a musical that follows the life of this good little boy who the audience grows close to. But his antagonist sister corrupts him, and suddenly there’s a time skip where he’s 13 and completely different now.
This remix is the first thing they sing and I can’t unsee it.
▷ Mooski - Track Star
i’ve had this hook stuck in my head for the past 23u843920348 help
▷ whatever Lil Nas X is performing on SNL
IT'S TRUE HE’S PERFORMING A NEW SONG ON THE SEASON FINALE ALONG WITH MONTERO. MARK MAY 22ND ON YOUR CALENDARS!!
LUX: My turn
▷ Rod Wave - Street Runner
Rod Wave is heading to be one of my favorite artists of the new decade
▷ The Weeknd & Ariana Grande - Save Your Tears Remix
I think the only reason why I love this remix so much is because of how much I love the original. Ariana sounds kinda weird on here and she substracts some great elements but I do like her presence. Not sure why so many people who didn't even like the original that much immediately jumped on liking the remix much more when it's just the original but slightly worse
▷ Porter Robinson - Look At The Sky
I've forced most of my friends to listen to Porter's new album Nurture and I need everyone reading this to do it as well
▷ Beach Bunny - Cloud 9
This is one of the best songs to hit the Alt charts in years I can't believe it's already fading out after just barely moving in the BU
▷ Saweetie ft. Doja Cat - Best Friend
:3
Camz: Also here’s this season’s playlist, based on just pure simple vibes! It’s cute and aesthetic show this to your TikToker little sister she’ll like it
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4iDTlxJ9QPNCtFkljJePms?si=419433d2d0cc44df
LUX: We did it again
Camz: Bye bye :D
LUX: We did it again
Thank y’all everyone for getting to the end, and while we’re at it thank y’all for the success of our last collab! (with 400+ views) Wanna plug your channel Cam?
Camz: Here, give me your views and attention if you’re interested :333333
https://www.youtube.com/c/CamzCritiques
https://www.youtube.com/c/CamzCritiques
Rather than doing a 2020 Best List when I feel really burned out on anything relating to last year (sorry guys), I will focus more on the current music scene, with single song reviews and maybe ones for EPs too! I have so much planned right now you guys owo
LUX: As for me,,, well I promise I’ll try to post more stuff to this blog in the coming months, if you’re here from somewhere else remember to follow my twittter @luxtalks
Camz: Bye bye :D
LUX: Special thanks to my crew
@dmoneymusicornr
@ryantheguyan
@ryantheguyan
@oofy_Boof
@K3nzieArrowh3ad
@cliffside_pools
@puffin_captain
@v4mp_n0ktu
@K3nzieArrowh3ad
@cliffside_pools
@puffin_captain
@v4mp_n0ktu
Okay now get out
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