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Sing for the Moment: March - April 2021


Two more months to find what I like in the "lesser-known" side to the pop crowd. I am not the most "in tune" by any means, but these six songs stuck out from everything else I heard.


The Band CAMINO- 1 Last Cigarette 

About the Song/Artist: First, we have The Band CAMINO. This is a terrible band name. They probably wanted to be Camino, and that name was taken. So they chose a name with a stupid stylization. Besides that, they are a great band from Tennessee. They were called "rock's next big thing" by Billboard and their sound is a fun pop-rock. They released this song to promote the next album. The song tells about the downside of partying. The production sounds like fun, but the lyrics tell that they are miserable and stuck in a cycle. 
Lyric I Love: I can't, I can't, I can't pay the rent' cause I wasted all my money/ I try, I try to laugh off my life but lately, it's not funny 


DREAMERS, Big Boi feat. UPSAHL- Palm Reader

About the Song/Artist: Let's continue with band names bad stylization. DREAMERS is a trio from New York that has been active since 2014. This band caught on fairly quickly  in the alternative crowd with singles like "Sweet Disaster" and "Die Happy." Now they have a new EP with this song on it. This song shows a very imperfect relationship. In the first verse, DREAMERS frontman, Nick Wold, sings about how he feels like he is being controlled by the girl. The rock singer UPSAHL sings about how he calls all the shots (She can't finish the verse without Nick singing.) Then, in the third verse, Atlanta rapper Big Boi, formerly of the duo Outkast, tells both of them to chill out because they are both wrong.
Lyric I Love: Use your third eye, pineal gland/Now that's a bird's eye view to always overstand


Mike Shinoda feat. iann dior and UPSAHL- Happy Endings

About the Artist/Song: Time for the embarrassing pick. Last time, I talked about a stupid meme rapper. This time it goes to a middle-aged nu-metal star. Mike Shinoda originally made a name for himself as the rapper and rhythm guitarist for the group Linkin Park. The track is, honestly, kind of lame and has cheesy lyrics. Mike raps about how he is learning from his mistakes and not caring about others' opinions. UPSAHL sings a catchy hook about how she is her own hero in her head, and iann dior has a pre-chorus (It is not as memorable as anything Mike or UPSAHL says). This song makes me feel really happy and optimistic, and I love it because of that.
Lyric I Love: I don't need the manager, no Karen

The Strumbellas- Greatest Enemy

About the Song/Artist: The Canadian indie-folk group is back with a leadoff single for an upcoming album, hopefully. If you look back to 2016, they had a moderately successful debut with the song "Spirits." The song for today is a glorious-sounding track about mental illness and his attempt to break away from it. I really like and relate to the chorus. One of my biggest critics and haters is always myself. 
Lyric I Love: I found a way out of all these dark lies/Tryin' hard to get to a better place/My demons took me from all those good times.

Wolf Alice- The Last Man on Earth


About the Artist/Song: While on the subject of glorious songs, here is another one. Wolf Alice is an alternative rock band from London. They have other good songs like "Moaning Lisa Smile" and "Beautifully Unconventional." To prepare fans for their upcoming third album, the band released this masterpiece. In the song, frontwoman Ellie Rowsell sings about the arrogance of some guy and aims for the jugular. Over time, the song builds up and tells him to stop it "and the light shines on you." And it sounds amazing. It reminds me of a ballad the Beatles or Elton John would write. This will be a great closer for the upcoming album.
Lyrics I Love: Who are you to ask for anything else?/The thing you should be asking is for help


24kGoldn- Love or Lust

About the Artist/Song: Golden Jones is a rapper from San Francisco. He had a big hit last year with the song "Mood." Even with "Mood" going to #1 on Billboard, I think he will be a one-hit wonder. Let's not let this happen and make this song a hit too. He raps about his relationship with a girl. He is in it for sex, but she has deeper feelings for him. So he breaks up with her. This makes him look like the bad guy, but she is not innocent either. She was fine with the terms and conditions of the relationship until she heard him on the radio (Gold digger). Plus, when you can play the bad guy this well, you deserve the recognition.
Lyric I Love: Would you walk eight thousand miles just to make me smile on a rainy Wednesday?/If so, then you gots to go, it ain't mutual and I'm not pretending.


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