1. Flourishing by CHUNG HA
Why didn't anyone tell me that Chung Ha is in her Ariana Grande 'Thank U, Next" era bag??? I fell in love with the lead single,, 'Snapping,' from her latest EP 'Flourishing,' but I hadn't actually listened to the full-length EP until last night. I literally have not stopped jumping off of the walls ever since. She really put her entire FOOT into this album, let alone this track. Flourishing makes me feel like I've just spent the last week taking a mental health break and getting my life back on track. It makes me feel like I've just booked a bunch of important. life-changing meetings and interviews and I've changed my Instagram bio to '#BookedandBusy'. It makes me feel like I'm really reflecting on all of my past blessings, giving thanks for my present, and acknowledging the greatness I'm about to achieve in the future. Flourishing just really makes me feel like my life is turning around for the better and that's exactly the type of music I need to be listening to in such a pivotal time of my life. Chung Ha really did EXACTLY what she needed to do with this track. What's even better is the fact that this song is not only a message to herself, but a song of thanks to her international fans. I hear you, legend! 🗣️ Anyways, this song is a solid 10/10. You'd have to be a whole hater to not be able to bump to it.
2. FOMO by Sylo Nozra
I need y'all to write this down. This is a summer bop. Period. I know we're supposed to be having a hot girl and city boy summer, but this is the perfect song to put you in your feelings and keep you there. This is the type of song that has you dreaming about your crush on a continuous loop knowing that you literally will not do ANYTHING to initiate things between you two. The best part is how smooooooth Sylo's voice is. His voice sounds like a hug even though he is singing over a relatively upbeat alternative r&b track. What's also great about it is that you can play it so many different settings. Do you want to play this at a laid-back hangout where people can be found either drinking till their eyes roll back, mingling with people from high school that they don't really like, making out in the bathroom, or hitting the woah off beat in a corner? This is IT. Or, do you want to add this to your "Songs To Play in the Car " Spotify/Apple Music playlist that you constantly dream of listening to with your crush, but don't know if you'll ever get the chance to? This is ALSO it. Or, do you want to play this while you're alone in your room and hyperfixating on what love really means to you and basking in how happy that vision makes you feel? This is IT!!!! It's honestly perfect. The cherry on top of the cake is the fact that Sylo Nozra is from Toronto, Ontario. The way Canadians just exude talent and excellence is beyond me. Nonetheless, this song is the perfect melancholic summer bop. This is the new 'Get You' by Daniel Caesar and Kali Uchis, so GET INTO IT! 🗣️
3. ZGZG by SAAY
Listen to me carefully. I've had this song on repeat ever since it dropped, but what made me love it even more was when I saw the choreography to it. It's such a funky yet smooth song. It doesn't matter WHERE I am or what I'm doing, when this song comes on, I have to dance. Like, it's literally in the Canadian Charter of Rights for me to have to dance when this song comes on. It's honestly just so fun. It makes me want to whip my hair back and forth like it's 2010 and pray I don't get whiplash. I love how light-hearted and carefree it feels. I'm not overcome with feelings of sorrow or anger when I hear it. I genuinely feel my mood improve for the best when it comes on. What I love the most about SAAY is how she encourages the idea of everyone being able to find their own self-identity, passion, and purpose. In a time when a lot of people are trying to copy the personas of those around them and are (unfortunately) struggling with their own individuality, it's empowering to hear someone constantly promote the idea of following one's dreams, self-discovery, and personal growth. I'm so excited to hear more from SAAY and I am wishing her nothing but success for her solo debut.
4. La Vie en Rose by Gunnar Gunnarsson
I've always loved every single rendition of this song, but this is absolutely my favorite one. It IMMEDIATELY puts me at peace and silences my anxious thoughts. La Vie en Rose makes me feel like an upper-class woman dancing at the exclusive Venice International Film Festival AFTER party with a billionaire. I honestly don't even know if the Venice International Film Festival has an after party for incredibly wealthy people, but let's just pretend for the sake of pretending, okay? Anyways, this song just makes me feel so elegant and prestigious. As if I'm an important figure looking for love at a charity ball in the 50s (minus the anti-black racism, Jim Crow laws, and blatant sexism). This rendition is just so dazzling and I'm glad I came across it because it's a really underrated version. If you ever want to know what it feels like to live as the 1% do and ignore the impeding thoughts of student debt, the failing economy, and the God-awful unemployment rate, listen to this song! :)
5. My Type By Saweetie
Man, if y'all don't get into this Saweetie track as soon as humanly possible, we might actually have to fight. Everything about this song goes hard for no reason. From the Petey Pablo sample to how catchy the chorus is to her bars?!! "Rich n*gga, 8-figure, that's MY type???" PERIOD! Queen of promoting women dating up instead of settling for useless boys. Like, there's really levels to this. But, seriously, this song is just bustling with bad bitch energy. It's such a quick confidence booster. When you wake up in the morning and you are saying your words of positive affirmation, you need to sing the lyrics of 'My Type' at the end too just to really drive the point home. There's not really much else to say except the fact that the girls are coming for the rap game in 2019 and beyond. It's what they deserve. I've been trying to tell you all that female rappers are not coming to play anymore and this is further proof of that. If you aren't an icy grl (or boy or person) after hearing this song, you need to go back, listen to it AGAIN, and behave this time. That's that on that.
Thank you for reading my quick list of songs I'm currently in love with and are in heavy rotation. I'll make sure to keep creating more lists in the future. If you have any song recommendations for me, please feel free to send them to me at SouthSonder@Gmail.com. I listen to all genres of music, from all eras, from any artists, so don't be shy!