FRIENDS: #Booyahhayoob: Drowning Pool - Bodies
J - So uh… Yall know I’m a metalhead. This is absolutely my shit. Drowning Pool deserved so much better than just this one bit but god am I glad this exists. I unironically love this song despite all the memes and the like.
N - Okay! You’re right, totally NOT what I expected to see this week, but honestly, I get it! I have songs too that mean a lot to past relatives that just wouldn’t make sense at first, but as someone who’s lost a relative this week, I totally get it. Bodies isn’t a huge pick for me altogether, but it is a jam when I need to let out the energy. Given that it’s the first song of our week, I can’t promise you how high or low it’ll be for me.
#Buttercup13: Nic D - Fine Apple
J - I do enjoy a good pun from time to time, and this one put a smile on my face. This is cheesy as hell but there’s nothing wrong with that if there’s something to it and this one has that special something imo that makes it work. This is a good song for sipping martinis with your special someone, or something along those lines. I’m into it!
N - Cierra SLAYING AGAINNNN. Listen, I can’t lie, I think of this song a lot when I think of my best buds on vacay with me somewhere warm. This is is easily avoiding the bottom for me this week.
#Bigbrotherlover7: Post Malone ft. Future & Halsey - Die For Me
J - I don’t think I need to point out the first issue I have here, right? You see that artist’s name in the track listing. As for Posty himself, he’s always been hit or miss for me. He’s put out some of my favorite songs of the last few years, and he’s put out some hot garbage. And honestly… I think this one leans towards the latter. Something about Future just has never connected with me, I didn’t really enjoy anything Posty did here, and I don’t want to discuss the other artist anymore after that goddamn pairs round. Sorry Bryce!
N - You texted me “fuck I sent in a Halsey song” and I knew what this would mean for Julian.. However.. You had me listening to this for a few days. Personally, I’m fine with it. As I mentioned, it is a repeat play for me, but it didn’t wow me. Will I probably contradict Julian’s distaste for it? Yeah, but it won’t be my charttopper.
#JayElVeeIsBack: Eminem - Space Bound
J - Ahh, hitting us with the Em double feature this round! I like this song a lot but if this is a song you dedicate to someone you love then… I hope things are going ok! This is a very complicated song, there’s a lot of love but also a lot of pain and rage here. Then again, isn’t that just how love is? Actually, maybe I do get this after all.
N - I agree with Julian here. When I first listened to it I wasn’t sure if it truly fit the theme of best friend or breakup with all the rageyness… but it’s okay. All best friends argue and say mad shit.. So maybe it does fit, but overall, middle of the pack likely for me.
#Brightongal: Selena Gomez - Rare
J - I know a lot of people in my other circles really don’t like Selena’s recent output but honestly? I’m into this. I wouldn’t call this one of my favorite songs or anything but this is a pretty nice piece. I don’t feel super strongly on it but I do like it!
N - I honestly don’t vibe with Selena Gomez too often… this one just isn’t one I’d see myself queuing up for myself when I think of my best friends. I’m okay with it, but it sounds like a commercial background song or like the ending credits soundtrack for a movie.
#Mrkkkkyle: Marshmallo & Anne-Marie - Friends
J - I’ve always hated this song. There doesn’t need to be a song for EVERYTHING, and there definitely didn’t need to be a “friendzone anthem” like what a miserable concept for a song that is! If someone I considered a friend sent me this and told me this made me think of them I’d be offended regardless of where our friendship was.
N - Ugh this is where Julian and I disagree AGAIN. This is my JAM. I remember queuing this song up ALOT recently but yeah this was a song I expected for this week. My ONLY problem with this song is the predictability.
#Tryphena: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
J - I haven’t heard this song in FOREVER. I don’t remember how I feel about it so this is more or less with fresh ears. There’s not much going on lyrically but I don’t think it NEEDS to if the instrumentals backing it up are nice. And… Yeah, they’re doing A LOT of heavy lifting here. This sounds awesome, this sounds upbeat and just fun as hell. This would make for awesome hiking music, or a road trip or something. Not entirely sure if I’d seek this out but sure, I’m into it!
N - Before the hiatus of this round, you and I discussed how your music taste is so unique. Like Julian, I haven’t heard this song in ages… but for once Miss Tanya, YOU’RE DELIVERING. I can just imagine those cliquey cheesy instagram montages playing with pics and clips of my best buds with this playing behind it all… so not only is it spot on, but it delivers for my theme this week.
#Lukesaur: Utada Hikaru - Tomodachi (Friends)
J - Alright! So what I’m gathering from this is that this is Friends but better in basically every way. The framing does a better job of expressing her feelings, the music doesn’t sound atrocious, and the message as a whole isn’t horrifying. As I said earlier I do like Utada Hikaru, there’s a big positive connotation I have with her name and her music, so this was already something I was excited for going in and, yeah, this lived up to my expectations!
N - So I respected your note to read the english subs… and I did. I get the message of the song… i just don’t… click with it It seems too slow for me. I don’t know why, but when I close my eyes and hear this song, I think of the music they play as you’re unboarding a cruise ship at one of the ports. It’s a nice song, just.. Not my cup of tea today.
#BrianGonzalez - Bruno Mars - Count On Me
J - I hear this all the time at work, and I think this is one I’ve actually been Stockholm Syndrome’d into liking! It’s super inessential and definitely not peak Bruno Mars, but it’s cute. I love the sentiment here! It’s cheesy as hell but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a pile of cheese when the mood hits.
N - Okay.. I like some Bruno Mars songs.. But this one was also just always too slow for me. I get it’s like.. a heartfelt song and directly tells your best friend how you feel.. It just doesn’t match my energy this week. I do like it, but it’s very middle of the pack for me this week.
SUPERBOWL: #Booyahhayoob: Eminem - Lose Yourself
J - I mean, duh. This is an obvious pick because it’s one of the gold standards of rap. Even my generally anti-rap parents get the appeal of Lose Yourself. I wouldn’t say this is my personal favorite Eminem track but that’s mainly just because he has so many fantastic hits. Overall though, of course I love this!
N - Yep, saw this one coming from a mile away. On a week where I myself have felt like I’ve lost myself, it hits even deeper. It is also one of my most played tracks by Eminem, personally… so regardless what Bodies did for you, this will save you from me, in my opinion.
#Buttercup13: Eminem - Superman
J - So this is a very interesting dichotomy of songs you’ve sent in this week. Your first one being about love while this one’s an extremely bitter diss track towards an ex. I think we’ve all had at least one ex we’d dedicate this to, so I get this. I’ve always respected the fact that Marshal doesn’t hold back, and yet he’s also extremely crafty with just how he delivers the killshot so that you never know just what sort of blade he’s about to twist into you.
N - I agree with Julian, you covered the whole emotional spectrum. Superman has always had those lyrics I wish I could craft on someone I’m rid of. A lot of talks with you recently make me feel like this song could go to ANYONE lately though, period. Queen, you slay.
#Bigbrotherlover7: Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)
J - Oh HELL yes. This was the song that made me into a Kendrick fan. The man proves his genius with a theme that SHOULD be super simple, but with a twist. A song warning you of the dangers of alcohol and alcoholism… but it’s also a pretty fantastic song to drink to. After all, the repetition of “drank” can be hypnotizing after a while. You have to really pay attention or you might miss the message here but I got it and I am on board.
N - Not gonna lie, I thought this was your “best friend” song at first because uh hello, yswimmer here. But yeah, this is a song I vibe with, it may not be the charttopper for the week, but it’s likeable.
#JayElVeeIsBack: Eminem - When I’m Gone
J - Eminem is such a fascinating storyteller. I imagine that trying to be a good dad while also being this big celebrity that has to do a bunch of traveling would be pretty hard. He paints a vivid picture here of life and his complicated emotions here and I can feel the pain in his voice and his lyrics here. I enjoyed this a lot!
N - So I’ve seen the official music video before to this song and I’ve loved it. The lyrics though, whew chile. I’m no parent myself, but I do know how caretaking for family while traveling sucks.
It brought the feels back, can’t lie. Good work this week, you’re safe here.
#Brightongal: Mary J Blige - Be Without You
J - Now THIS, on the other hand, IS a song I feel very strongly about. This may actually be my most listened to song of 2022 so far, it’s up there pretty high if it isn’t. I love this song so much. There’s just something about this song that lately I’ve found to be very comforting. That feeling of security in a relationship is something I’ve always wanted and am glad to finally have in my life, and this particular song has been the soundtrack for all of my best moments as of late. I go through phases of wanting to listen to just a few songs on repeat until I get sick of them, and lately this has been that song for me, but I don’t see myself getting sick of this anytime soon because Mary J is also just a fantastic singer. She deserves far more credit than she gets.
N - The first of the queen’s vocals this week, here we go. I’m not as devoted as a fan of it as Julian, but it is good. I do feel like it’s a middle of the pack pick for me this week, but nowhere near the bottom.
#Mrkkkkyle: Dr. Dre ft Eminem & Skylar Grey - I Need A Doctor
J - That’s much better. First off, I love Skylar Grey, always have. I think this is a pretty interesting song for both Dre and Slim to return with, it has a feeling of grandiosity and legacy. This is Em trying to get Dre to get off his ass and return to the game, and by the end of it it sounds like it may have worked. This is a pretty great song overall, I love it!
N - THIS IS A SONG I WANTED TO SEE. It’s not as “expected” as your last pick, like I mentioned, but this one… whew. Okay Kyle! Not gonna lie, Julian providing the history behind the song even helped me learn something this week! Just like this round took, the opening line speaks for itself. I’m about to LOSE MY MIND because I vibe with this song so much. It has the greats literally creating bliss to my ears.
#Tryphena: Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg - Still D.R.E.
J - Hell yeah. I mean, of course. This beat is iconic, everyone knows it, even people who aren’t into rap. And these lyrics, mainly just being flexing and talking about how awesome they are, do a great job of what they set out to do. These are 2 awesome guys, some of the best in the game, and this song only reaffirms that.
N - Yes. Yes. Yes. Tanya you have turned your game AROUND 180 in my opinion because you have WORKED YOUR ASS OFF THIS ROUND! It’s a classic pick, and in my opinion, it’s not as predictable, but it’s such a safe pick because it concretes your safety from the bottom!
#Lukesaur: Mary J Blige - Real Love
J - I’m ashamed of myself for only just now realizing this song is Mary J. I love her! She puts her all into all of her performances, and this is absolutely included in that. Isn’t real love ultimately something we’re all after? This hits on a pretty universal feeling and it doesn’t take too deep of thought to get the appeal here. Good stuff!
N - Initially I was like “have I heard this before?” and then I realized it’s been SO long but it fits. I agree with Julian, this is a song everyone in the world connects to. It provides a different flavor to the week than the rest of these cutthroat and raw songs, but good work Luke!
#BrianGonzalez: Mary J Blige ft. DJ Khaled - Amazing
J - Oh my god. I've been looking for an excuse to give her new album a listen and this is everything I was hoping it would be! Normally I can't stand DJ Khaled but I'll be damned if this isn't some of his all time tightest production! And Mary J is just incredible as per usual, flowing circles around this track. I love it!
N - I gotta agree with Julian. When I hear that “WE THE BEST MUSIC, ANOTHER ONE” before a Mary J Blige song… WHAT!? DJ Khaled honestly kinda.. Weirds me out with the energy sometimes, but Mary came to SERVE this song.
