When I was the Arts & Culture Editor last year, I wrote a couple “My Music” pieces. I always enjoyed working on these articles the most. I truly adore music of all kinds, and these pieces were a way for me to share the songs that were carrying me through the semester.
In my last year of high school, one of my best friends was fortunate enough to buy himself a car. The day he first drove it to school happened to coincide with the release of the songs “One Dance” and “Pop Style” by Drake. That day at lunch, we scurried over to his new car sitting in the way-too-small student parking lot, unraveled our soggy Subway sandwiches, and began to listen to the two new songs. This turned into a habit of sorts; my friends and I would sit in that car at lunch listening to, debating, and fighting about music for the rest of our high school careers.
For me, these “My Music” pieces are the written equivalent of sitting in the car with my friends at lunch passing around an aux cord. Now, I am about a month away from being done here at Osgoode, and I want to share my musical thoughts with anyone who will listen, one final time. So, without further ado, here are the songs getting me through my last semester.
“Summer Bummer” (feat. A$AP Rocky & Playboi Carti) – Lana Del Rey
What better song to listen to in the dark winter months while we all await the May heat? First of all, someone give Lana Del Ray her flowers. This woman has one of the most beautiful, gut-wrenching voices I have ever heard. On “Summer Bummer,” you can feel that, despite the features, this is a Lana song. Rocky and Carti simply serve to add layers over top of her incredible vocals.
This is one of the more complete songs that I am listening to at the moment. It feels whole despite the somewhat sad tone. The beat is simple—as it should be, when three artists like this collaborate. Each artist is distinct and adds their own unique flavor to the song, and the result is fantastic. Rocky’s braggadocious verse contrasts very well with Lana’s verse and ghostly background vocals. Perhaps most interesting though is the way Carti leaves his mark on the song, providing his signature ad-libs in the background for the entirety of the track. If you don’t listen closely you won’t notice, but Carti’s ad-libs provide a little pop to the beat, making it ever so slightly more bouncy.
“Could be Wrong” – LOSTBOYJAY
Simplicity is underrated in music today, and this song is a great example of doing a lot with a little. The lyrics are not particularly dense, but they are catchy, along with the melody. The beat is nothing special either, but it complements the melody very nicely. The result is a fun, catchy, disco-feeling song that makes you want to bop your head up and down. I fail to see the point of rigorously dissecting this song because it is so beautifully simple, but I recommend listening, no matter your musical taste. Some songs just work for everyone, and this might be one.
“Two Tens” (feat. Anderson .Paak) – Cordae
Cordae is talented, for sure, but by no means a favourite artist of mine. Anderson .Paak, on the other hand, I believe to be one of the most talented musicians alive right now. Regardless, these two tend not to miss when they work together, and this is no exception.
Hip-hop music has become clouded with features over the last decade or so, typically in the form of a guest verse at the beginning or end. As a result, sometimes songs with features can feel overcrowded, almost as if there was too much going on. Features have become so popular that they made songs on their own—people would listen to a song, just to wait for a feature. In this song, Paak and Cordae demonstrate how features should work. The two artists flow interchangeably, working off one another, setting up each other’s punchlines, and finishing each other’s sentences. Instead of a disjointed song where the feature feels distinct from the larger work, Cordae and Paak created what feels like a truly collaborative effort—a song that feels complete and cohesive, while still highlighting each artist’s skills.
“Lost Souls” – Baby Keem
There is a lot to like about this song. First of all, it is catchy and sounds good—which some forget is the only real important thing for a song at the end of the day. Obviously, that is a subjective determination, but “Lost Souls” has a familiar, inoffensive feel—you could play it for your grandmother, or for your friends, and everyone could enjoy it. The lyrics are not too complex and the beat is pleasant to listen to. Additionally, Keem has a very distinct and specific voice, which certainly adds to the “I couldn’t do this myself” aspect of listening to the song. The whole album merits a listen, but “Lost Souls” is a standout.
BONUS: “Just Wanna Rock” – Lil Uzi Vert
I have trouble describing this song effectively. I honestly can’t say much about it. I don’t know if I have the words. Is it hip-hop? Is it EDM? Who knows? Certainly not me.
That being said this song is worth listening to, to make your own conclusion. I am fairly certain that few other songs on the planet sound anything like this one, so give it a listen, and let me know what you think. I am still looking for the words to describe it.
There you have them: The songs that have been getting me through my last semester at Osgoode Hall Law School. My goal for the “My Music” pieces was always the same: for one person to read the article, listen to one of my recommended songs, and come to their own conclusion as to whether they like it or not.
So, for the few that read these passion pieces—thank you, and I hope you liked my suggestions.