February isn’t just Black history month but it’s the best time to make a playlist that describes all forms of love self love, friendship and relationship) relating to Valentine Day . I wanted to share some of my favorite go to song for this month. The post shares my favorite songs that break down Love, Relationship Issues , self love with love everywhere in between. I name the different artist sound toward the song with continuous flow(artist is speaking fast) or , slow jams(the artist has adds a mellow sound). So, here is a snip it of some of my favorites.
– I put link to the video in the song title and to learn more about the person by tapping their name. Hope you enjoy!
Friendship
1. That’s Alright by Rayana Jay
Genre: R&B / Soul
From: Richmond, Virginia, U.S
Continuous flow
Collage app- Layout (iPhone)
Knowing people for who they are. Nothing changes the outlook of the person and helps you to understand a life is worth living .
“Know I do you bad, know I do you good
But that’s alright (Baby, that’s alright)
Know I keep you high, keep you in the mood
But that’s alright (You know that’s alright)”
-Rayana Jay
“It’s all good with me (It’s all good with me)
You’re too good to me
Alright, that’s alright”
-Rayana Jay
“No more, “Let’s just pretend,” no more, “Let’s just be friends” (I’m with it if you with it now)
I’ll be down if you down to hit me when you in town, you
Know I keep you around (And ’round), and that’s alright (Uh)”
-Rayana Jay
2. Fomo by Sylo Nozra
Continuous flow
Genre: R&B / Soul
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Collage app- Layout(iphone)
This beat is groovy and gives me a summer vibe of a day at the beach surfing. Along with the twist and turns in literature . I love this song because it makes you think of more than the obvious in the lyrics. If I could paraphrase the song it would be “ dazed and in love” . I would call it this because in the song it describes A person that likes someone but doesn’t realize the other person likes them too.
“Real FOMO
By seeing your dumb face
I’m a nervous wreck when you spin round my days”
-Sylo Nozra
“It’s the same back and forth
Leaving out the door
Same, same”
-Sylo Nozra
“I try harder than your boyfriend does
But you will never know, it’s a lonely feeling
My my, I’m a sheep in these wolves clothes”
-Sylo Nozra
3. Get Me by Justin Bieber ft Kehlani
Continuous flow
Genre: R&B
Justin Bieber from: London, Ontario, Canada
Kehlani from: Oakland, California, U.S
A connection with someone that lets you know no one can understand how they fall in love all in one song.
“ See, you’re lookin’ beyond the surface
Can tell by the questions you’re asking
You got me low-key nervous”
-Justin Bieber
“Judgin’ by the way you open up, you get me”
-Justin Bieber
“Ooh, there’s so much chemistry
Like a chemist, how you finishin’ my sentences
In the center, no, we can’t deny this energy”
-Kehlani
Um4. Own2 by April + VISTA
Slow Jams
Genre: Alternative/ Indies
April George (April George (violinist, pianist, vocalist, composer) & mattVISTA (producer, bassist, composer) based in : Washington, D.C.
In my opinion the song is about reaching for yourself and loving yourself. All of the factors that contribute to being a better person. The idea of “Standing on my own two feet” sharing a relationship in public and one person in the relationship ignoring the effects it has on the other person. The beats are mellow reminding me of calming sense of trying to have empathy for the person.
“ This is what I made for
Give me what I paid for
Said I know I am able
Lay it all out on the table
This is what I prayed for”
-April + VISTA
“ Give me blood
Give me strength
Give me power”
-April + VISTA
I’m standing on my own two now
And you can hand it over
Ain’t no better time than now
I got it all figured it out and
I know this is been gone for free
-April + VISTA
“You gonna make me hunt you down
And you know that ain’t good for me
For me”
-April + VISTA
“This is not a game no
I don’t really think so
I don’t do well with labels
No time to break it down
I got to make it myself”
-April + VISTA
5. Regardless by Miraa May
Continuous flow
Genre: UK R&B
Miraa May from: Algerian, UK
This song is about self love and appreciating it even when you are in a relationship. In my opinion she is telling us “ Yes, I am in a relationship but I never need to depend on someone else”. She explains in another line that she is different and unique and that ‘you’ll never meet someone like me’.
“You won’t last a day in my shoes
I’m the one who wins, I never lose
I walk how I want to
I talk how I want to
I don’t care what they say
How they feel about what I do”
-MIRAA MAY
“Can’t buy this from the market
Let me, light up and spark it
Show me action baby I don’t wanna talk, yeah
Show me passion or I swear you’ll watch me walk”
-MIRAA MAY
“I could never take no disrespect
Disrespect me, it’s off with your head yeah, yeah
Most of them are faking for the net, yeah, yeah
I could never fake it”
-MIRAA MAY
Baby, please don’t get upset
Don’t turn around, tell me you’re vex
I told you this on the day we met
Day we met
-MIRAA MAY
Relationship
1. Call me Up by Aolani
Slow Jams
Genre: R&B
Kalyn Aolani from: Los Angles, California, U.S
Collage app- Layout(iphone)
I believe this songs discusses a relationship that is going faster than it needs to. Aolani ask to ‘call her up’ and see where things can go from there. She wants answers.
“I’m Sorry but I need to move slow
And I need you to wait
You’re trying to fill this space”
-Aolani
Baby if you call me up
And I’m just sitting at home
Come over if you want
And we can take things nice and slow”
-Aolani
2. Eyes on Us by Amber Olivier
Slow Jam
Genre: UK R&B
Amber Oliver from: North London, England
In my opinion this song describes a problem one person has in the relationship with public displays of affection. It talks of how the others person thinks their feelings are being ignored . The beats are mellow and make me feel like the person is trying to have empathy for the other person.
“There’re to many eyes on us…. to many people in our business.. ohh but it is what it is.”
“ how don’t you see us ….and I try to tell you”
3. Hide Out by Mahalia
Slow Jams
Genre: UK R&B
Mahalia from: Birmingham, England
Mahalia uses Eartha Kitt as a icon as a secret is being revealed . This song deals with a relationship/ friendship since the song focuses on trust.
“I don’t see no reason for a blowout
I was here the whole time, you were busy chasing
You don’t know what you had, I’m amazing
-Mahalia
“Yeah, you striked out
All the times, thought that I didn’t know ’bout
All the lies you denied, but I know now
‘Bout your hideout
I can’t believe you thought I’d never find out”
-Mahalia
4. Walls by Kaleem Taylor
Slow Jam
Genre: UK R&B
Kaleem Taylor from: West London, England
A question about love. I would describe this as I read through the lyrics of this song. This song reveals a wall that blocks the answers to the questions.
“Maybe your heart needs truth so love can bleed when it wants ,What if my heart gave you a new reason to love”
-Kaleem Taylor
“How it makes you feel don’t keep me in the shadows”
“How it makes you feel don’t keep me in the shadows”
-Kaleem Taylor
5. Been Away by Brent Faiyaz
Slow Jam
Genre: R&B
Brent Faiyaz from :Columbia, Maryland, U.S
One thing I admire about Faiyaz is the emotions he brings in the music is with so much concern. He explains in the songs lyrics the challenges of being an artist and not being able to see your lover. He explains the glitz and glamour is nothing without having a person on your side.
“If I put my trust in you
What would you do?
Would you just step out? (Step out)
Would you thug it out? (Thug it out)
Would you be here to the end?”
-Brent Faiyaz
This penthouse view ain’t as beautiful as you
Won’t ever have time but I can make time for you
-Brent Faiyaz
“Know I used to tell lies but I would never lie to you
Shopping spree on my dime looking all kinds of new”
-Brent Faiyaz
6. 21 Question by 50 cents
Continuous Jams
Genre: Rap
Curtis James (50cent) from: Queens, New York, U.S
Asking questions because you still have love for someone through the ups and downs. Asking if you will still be there no matter happens.
“Like your smile I don’t wanna see you cry
Got some questions that I got to ask and I
Hope you can come up with the answers babe”
-50 cent
“If I fell off tomorrow would you still love me?
If I didn’t smell so good would you still hug me?
If I got locked up and sentenced to a quarter century,
Could I count on you to be there to support me mentally?
If I went back to a hoopty from a Benz, would you poof and disappear like
Some of my friends?
If I was hit and I was hurt would you be by my side?
If it was time to put in work would you be down to ride?
I’d get out and peel a nigga cap and chill and drive
I’m asking questions to find out how you feel inside
If I ain’t rap ’cause I flipped burgers at Burger King
Would you be ashamed to tell your friends you feelin’ me?”
-50cent
“ And when you asked me about it I said it wasn’t me
Would you believe me? Or up and leave me?
How deep is our bond if that’s all it takes for you to be gone?”
-50cent
“If I wrote you a love letter would you write back?
Self Love
1. Wrong by DaniLeigh
Continuous flow
Genre: R&B
Danelle Leigh from: Miami, Florida, US
A confusing situation you don’t know how you got in. I would describe this as knowing what you want and understanding you can’t get it from the person you want it from .
“Know that you gon’ miss me when I’m gone
If I give you all my feelings in this song
Just promise that you’ll never do me wrong”
-DaniLeigh
“I know, I know just what I want”
-DaniLeigh
-DaniLeigh
2. Jungle Fever by Jidenna
Continuous Flow
Genre: Hip Hop , Afrobeat
Jidenna from: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, US
He explains his childhood in Nigeria in one of the many soundtracks in Jidenna the 85 to Africa. The sound is relaxing and peaceful as he relates to his parents.
“Man, my Papa drove a cab, right on Massachusetts Ave
Had to pay for undergrad, M.I.T, studied math
Black funky engineer, like his pants, had that flair”
Jidenna
“Mom, I try to get up early just like you
Pop, I work all night, I’m workin’ just like you”
Jidenna
“Think about you all the time… take my heart plus a ring”
Jidenna
“Mama grew up in the sixties, like a proper hippie
I grew up on Big and Pac and watchin’ Ren and Stimpy”
Jidenna
3. Rice & Stew by Knucks
Continuous flow
Genre: UK Hip Hop/ Rap
Knuckles from: Kilburn, London, United Kingdom
Knucks states that he and his lover always go together like rice and beans or peanut butter and jelly. I love the high notes and the concept is on point .
4.Catch the Sun -From “Queen & Slim: the Soundtrack” by Lil Baby
Continuous flow
Genre: Hip Hop/ Rap
Dominque Jones from: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S
Collage app- Layout (iPhone)
From the Queen and Slim soundtrack it was hard to pick one song . Lil Baby perspective of others being able to resolve conflict with you. Always having people that are supporting you which conmects to the movie Queen and Slim.
“We can’t never let ’em break our mind
We gotta stay strong
Conquer and don’t divide
How come at peace my heart already set on fire?”
-Lil Baby
“Sometimes I just wanna pop out on ’em and flip by
But I put my head on, I pray, I stay from off the route”
-Lil Baby
“On this road to redemption ….. get rocky and it’s wild”
-Lil Baby
“I’m so dumb
That I was thinkin’ that they could
When they really can’t, yeah
I was thinkin’ that they was, when they really ain’t”
-Lil Baby
“My life finally matter ’cause I got up and I’ma stay up
I know it lookin’ like a dream, but it ain’t everything it seem
Ain’t no tellin’ where I be if I ain’t have God or ain’t have my team”
-Lil Baby
5. Heartbreaker by Mariah Carey
Continuous flow
Genre: R&B , pop, soul, hip hop
Mariah Carey from: Huntington, New York, U.S
Collage app– Layout (iPhone)
This is a classic that I had to save for the end. I fall in love with the constant voice changes in Octave sung by Mariah Carey. Its an ultimate throwback because of its beat and playful vibe. Jay Z is just as iconic as Mariah Carey.
February Lovely playlist
- Alright by Rayana Jay
- Fomo by Sylo Nozra
- Get Me by Justin Bieber ft Kehlani
- Own2 by April + VISTA
- Regardless by Miraa May
- Call me Up by Aolani
- Eyes on Us by Amber Olivier
- Hide Out by Mahalia
- Walls by Kareem Taylor
- Been Away by Brent Faiyaz
- 21 Question by 50 cents
- Wrong by DaniLeigh
- Jungle Fever by Jidenna
- Rices & Stew by Knucks
- Catch the Sun -From “Queen & Slim: the Soundtrack” by Lil Baby
- Heartbreaker by Mariah Carey
Love Chic Lifestyle 