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Sing for the Moment: January-February 2021



Welcome to the new series. I want to share my favorite songs from the last two months. There are only a couple criteria. The song could not be released over a year ago and this artist has to be unknown to some extent since I like exposing people to lesser-known music. Here they are, alphabetized by artist name.

Baby Queen- Want Me


About the Song/Artist: First, we have this South African newcomer Bella Latham, or Baby Queen. She says she wrote this about a childish crush she had on an actor from a TV show. This immaturity is shown throughout the song. And it's great because of it. Many musicians make serious unrequited love songs, but the topic itself is kind of childish. So why not play it up? It is also backed by a strong rock groove that adds some edge o complete the song.

Lyric I Love: I wanna take you to a rock show and kiss you in a bathroom stall/I wanna tell you that you're mine and put you up against a wall.

Jon Batiste- I Need You

About the Song/Artist: Jon himself is a very accomplished musician. He is the current bandleader of Stay Human, the house band of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and composed the music for the Pixar movie Soul. Now he released this single a month ago to promote his third studio album. This song makes me want to see a jazz revival in mainstream music. He is very convincing as a man in love with his woman. and he gets the tone right by making his love sound fun.  The lyrics are detailed enough for it to sound like a real relationship. 
Lyric I Love: If you was Jenny, I guess I was Forrest.


Jake Bugg- All I Need

About the Song/Artist: Jake is a singer-songwriter from Nottingham, England. He has had moderate success in his homeland but has not made a splash in the US. This song came out in October for his upcoming album. In this song, he brings along a gospel choir to sing backup, while Bugg himself croons about needing a moment of satisfaction. It sounds glorious and vindictive as he finds joy at the moment.

Lyric I Love: Tell me where the fight is, tell me where the high is./ Can you hear me now, can you hear me now?


Pale Waves- She's My Religion

About the Band/Song: Pale Waves is an indie pop band from Manchester, England. It had some notoriety in the UK from its debut album. Now it's on to the second album. This song is about the frontwoman, Heather Baron-Gracie, in love with her girlfriend, and it shows with that hyperbolic metaphor. The band has made a welcoming change to their sound. They started by sounding a lot like the 1975, who produced a couple of their first songs. Now they have made more of an identity for the future.

Lyric I Love: Everybody wants to have their taste/I'm no different, I am just the same/But she helped me find a different kinda love/Made me feel like I was finally enough


Porter Robinson- Look at the Sky

About the Artist/Song: Porter Robinson is a Grammy-nominated electronic artist that's pretty famous in EDM circles, but this is the first song I have heard from him. This song is a glorious-sounding track where the production gives me a feeling of joy and comfort. Plus, Porter has a voice that works with the song, a rarity in EDM. The lyrics are not that interesting, but that is common for the genre.

Lyric I Love: N/A (This song is not here for its lyrics.)


 Yung Gravy- yup!

About the Song/Artist: Now for the embarrassing pick. Yung Gravy is a meme rapper from Minnesota who makes comedy songs. Like many of his peers in this genre, he caters to the preteen boy market with mentions of having sex with their mom. Unlike them, however, he has clever lyrics from time to time. This song has his best production with a nice-sounding flute line. Plus, Gravy is not too stupid with the lyrics. He has decent punchlines that show off his personality with references to Randy Moss, Meet the Fockers, and Papa John's. He may not be your thing, but my inner immaturity cannot help but appreciate it.

Lyric I Love: Gravy got the drip and the cheese like I'm fondue/All of y'all been on one, congrats, I'm on two


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