13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 4

Reading Time: 17 min read

13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 4 features songs by Artemas, David Archuleta, John Summit & HAYLA, LaBelle, Lauryn Hill, and Noah Guy.

Remember, YOU can make a difference and be influential in many ways. You are a big deal. You, as a second-person pronoun, appears in many songs. That is an understatement. 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 4 follows up three previous YOU lists from 2025: 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus (2025), 13 More Songs Where YOU Are the Focus (2025), and 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 3 (2025). It celebrates the power of Y-O-U! You or some form of the word is the only requirement for songs selected on this playlist. 13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 4 features songs by Artemas, David Archuleta, John Summit & HAYLA, LaBelle, Lauryn Hill, and Noah Guy. So, without further ado, prepare to be wowed by MORE irresistible Y-O-U songs!

~ Table of Contents ~

1. David Archuleta, “Can I Call You”	2. LaBelle, “Are You Lonely?”	3. John Summit & HAYLA, “Where You Are”	4. Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiësto & Dido, “Thank You (Not So Bad)”
5. Lauryn Hill, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – (I Love You Baby)”	6. Noah Guy, “LET U LEAD” (with Billy Lemos)	7. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You”	8. Artemas, “if u think i’m pretty”
9. RYANN, “Boy, Why Don’t You Touch Me?”	10. Glenn Lewis, “Don’t You Forget It”	11. Shirley Caesar, “You Can Make It”	12. Betty Harris, “Nearer to You”
13. Freddie Scott, “(You) Got What I Need”

1.David Archuleta, “Can I Call You”

“Can I Call You” » Archie Music » 2025

“Saw you standing there in a crowded room / I didn’t see anyone but you,” the handsome and talented David Archuleta asserts on “Can I Call You”. Archie is ‘taking action’: “I can see my shot and I’m gonna take it,” he asserts in the first verse. He is optimistic that “it’s more than a crush, maybe it’s love.” Our favorite American Idol runner-up makes our ears perk up with “Can I Call You,” which he co-wrote with Michael Blum and Noah Davis. Blum produced it.

“Can I call you? We don’t even need to talk

Don’t need no volume, you can listen to my heart

Boy, you’re the sweetest like peaches

Even if it’s just you breathing that’ll do, oh

Can I, can I, can I call you?

Can I call you?”

The first verse sets the tone. The chorus, the centerpiece, lays it out there. It’s giving a dedicated relationship and monogamy. Even as Archie notes, “‘Cause I’m missing your body” in the second verse, it’s in the context that they are exclusive and separated by distance (“Now you’re back in Atlanta, and I’m home in LA”). If that’s not enough, you should hear Archie in the post-chorus: “In the morning, in the evening, in the middle of the night / ‘Cause I want you, no I need you (I need you, baby).” Ooh-wee, child! The longing! “Can I Call You” continues the liberation and maturation of Archuleta. He sings authentically and beautifully – you buy what he’s selling on this sleekly-produced, groovy pop ballad. It’s sexy without being explicit.

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2. LaBelle, “Are You Lonely?”

Nightbirds » Sony Music Entertainment Inc. » 1974

“Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you lonely? (Lonely) / Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?” Those inquiring lyrics hail from one-of-a-kind funk/soul collective, LaBelle, which most famously comprised Patti LaBelle (Patricia Louise Holte, 1944 – ), Nona Hendryx (1944 – ), and Sarah Dash (1945 – 2021). The song at hand, “Are You Lonely?”, is the third track from the dynamic trio’s 1974 album, Nightbirds. The Nona Hendryx-penned song is a solid album cut. The late, great Allen Toussaint (1938 – 2015) produced it.

“Are You Lonely?” funkifizes from the beginning. The bass line is sick – one of the best you’ll hear from the funk/soul catalog! The groove ‘grooves hard’ and is potent to the nth degree. Adding to the musical excellence are bluesy, soulful piano riffs and the articulated, exuberant horns. The backdrop is ample fuel for the ladies’ fire. Patti LaBelle delivers a dynamic, powerful vocal performance. Her skills bring the melodies to life, adding extra punch with her vocal ad-libs and riffs. She gets awesome backing vocals from LaBelle, including sensational harmonies. Hendryx put her foot into the songwriting in this minor-key joint. “You’ve been runnin’ around counting teardrops / They said it was rain falling from the sky,” Patti sings, authentically, continuing, “You’ve been wondering why the rain never stops / Only tears your people cry.” Word. The socially conscious lyrics are pronounced: “See the well-dressed preacher, living like a king / Hold the unwed mother, who’s afraid to scream / See the hungry children, posing for a shot / Hear their mothers tell them, that’s all we’ve got.” The centerpiece of the underrated “Are You Lonely?” is undoubtedly the chorus, in all of its lonely glory. LaBelle shines on this unforgettable album track that deserves more recognition.

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3. John Summit & HAYLA, “Where You Are”

Comfort in Chaos » Experts Only » 2024

“Do you dream alone under the moon? / Is it brighter, brighter when I’m with you?” That’s a legit question! DJ/producer John Summit enlists Grammy-nominated British electronic/dance singer/songwriter HAYLA to provide scrumptious ear candy with “Where You Are.” “Where You Are” is the ninth track on Summit’s 2024 debut album, Comfort in Chaos, which debuted inside the top 40 on the Billboard 200.

“Where” features colorful musical accompaniment with a thudding beat and warm but rhythmic synths. I love the nuance of the production by Summit and Eddie Jenkins. HAYLA delivers sultry, warm vocals. “Are you wide awake, countin’ the stars? /Or just lyin’, lyin’ in the dark?” she asks in the second verse. She is more assertive during the chorus and drop. The chorus is incredibly memorable, the expectation from a dance number: “I get this feelin’ / I wanna be where you are.” “Where You Are” is an absolute blast to listen to.

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11 More Engaging Where or Wherever Songs (2025)

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4. Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiësto & Dido, “Thank You (Not So Bad)”

“Thank You (Not So Bad)” » Cheeky » 2023

DJs and producers love a remix/reworked version of a popular song. On “Thank You (Not So Bad),” Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiësto, and W&W join forces for a remake/remix of the Dido classic, “Thank You”. In their hands, “Thank You” gets a more modern sound. The synths are sharp, the beat is sick, and the energy is high. Fittingly, Dido sings the track. How could she not? She made “Thank You” a top 10 hit on the pop charts in 2001 (it peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100). Before things ratchet up, the vocals are barely discernible (“And I can’t see at all / But your picture on my wall / That it’s not so bad, it’s not so bad”). Soon enough, the most iconic and memorable lyrics from “Thank You” are presented clearly by Dido:

“My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why I got out of bed at all

The morning rain clouds up my window and I can’t see at all

And even if I could, it’d be all grey, but your picture on my wall

It reminds me that it’s not so bad, it’s not so bad.”

Does “Thank You (Not So Bad)” supplant the original ‘thankful’ song? No, but it reintroduces it to an entirely new generation. That, my friends, is something to be thankful for!

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5. Lauryn Hill, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – (I Love You Baby)”

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill » Ruffhouse » 1998

“You’re just too good to be true / Can’t take my eyes off of you / You’d be like heaven to touch / I wanna hold you so much.” Grammy-winning R&B/hip-hop superstar Lauryn Hill delivered a surefire classic with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”. But, guess what? Frankie Valli (1934 – ) originally recorded it in 1967 on his album, Four Seasons Present Frankie Valli Solo (“Can’t Take My Eyes off You”). Focusing on Hill’s epic cover, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – (I Love You Baby)” is the 15^th and penultimate track on her 1998, historic, Grammy-winning masterpiece, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Notably, it was a hidden track on the album. It earned the distinction of becoming the first hidden track to receive a Grammy nomination (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 41^st Annual GRAMMY Awards). “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” didn’t impact the pop charts, but it did spend one week on the R&B charts, where it peaked at number 45. Regardless of its lack of chart success, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” is considered one of Hill’s best songs.

Hill makes “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” her own, period. It sounds starkly different from the original, which has a traditional pop sound and vibe. One reason Hill’s version is distinct is the banging hip-hop soul beat. That beat easily carries this ‘67 classic to the late ‘90s. Also, the beatboxing is epic too. The sound is modernized, thanks to the production of Ms. Hill! Besides the beat, a sickening bass line, and colorful keys, ‘up the ante.’ Hill captivates with her stunning voice, blessing our ears with that gorgeous tone. She’s particularly on fire during the chorus. She asserts, expressively:

“I need you, baby, and if it’s quite alright

I need you, baby, to warm a lonely night

I love you, baby, trust in me when I say, ‘It’s okay’.”

Beyond the chorus, Lauryn brings a swagger, solidifying the hip-hop influence (those chill but potent ad-libs). Ultimately, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Lauryn Hill remains the sugar, honey, iced tea to this day. Oh, Lauryn, why couldn’t you have released another album?!

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6. Noah Guy, “LET U LEAD” (with Billy Lemos)

IT MUST BE LOVE (EP) » is it real LLC » 2024

“Oh, I was a leader / Spirit whole but hollow / When I crashed, I cleaned up / Washed it off and followed…” So, what did handsome and talented Philly-bred R&B singer/songwriter Noah Guy (Noah Guy-Mozenter) do after falling short as a leader? He decided to “LET U LEAD”. In the second track from his 2024 EP, IT MUST BE LOVE, Guy collaborates with Billy Lemos, who produces the track. Additional production is credited to Solomon Fox. Instrumentally, the music sounds smooth, lush, and romantic. Noah has the perfect canvas to paint his voice.

Noah Guy eats! His vocals are sexy, smooth, and soulful. He sounds fresh, youthful, and vibrant. He does a magnificent job of bringing the tuneful melodies to life. Beyond nailing the tune, Guy’s ad-libs are fantastic. Also, the background vocals are sublime too! Matters of the heart guide the narrative in this ear-catching ballad. “Oh, you wear me all down / You guide me through all,” he asserts, adding, “Oh, I was a leader / Now I’ve grown to follow / Though the past it lingers, I fight on.” His fight continues in the outro, as does “my love, my love, my baby.” The chorus is the section to beat, where Guy asserts, “I fill up to love with ya / I fill up to be in ya light.” Although “LET U LEAD” is brief (two-and-a-half minutes), Noah Guy puts his foot into it. A bop, a bop, a surefire bop!

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7. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You”

United » Motown » 1967

“Oh, if I could build my whole world around you, darling / First, I’d put heaven by your side.” Marvin Gaye (1939 – 1984) and Tammi Terrell (1945 – 1970) made a formidable team. Tragically, Terrell succumbed to brain cancer at just 24 years old. Still, while she was alive, she and Marvin had undeniable chemistry and recorded sensational duets, including “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You”. “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” is the third track from the duo’s beloved, gold-certified album, United. Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, and Vernon Bullock wrote it. Bristol and Fuqua produced it. “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” impacted the pop charts, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The musical arrangement and production are outstanding! It features sickening drumming, a robust bass line, bluesy piano, fabulous rhythmic guitar riffs, and tasty vibraphone. The first voice heard is the exuberant pipes of Gaye, who sings in a dedicated fashion to his musical partner (lyrics excerpted above). Tammi Terrell delivers assertive, soulful vocals in the second verse: “If I could build my whole world around you / I’d make your eyes the morning sun / I’d put so much love where there is sorrow / I’d put joy where there’s never been none.” I love the duo’s chemistry on the “Doo doo doo doo doo” in the bridge. A great key change, and bluesy, gospel-tinged piano enters the mix in the final verse. Here, Gaye and Terrell trade lines. Both hold their own and sound phenomenal when singing together. “If I could build my whole world around you,” Gaye sings, with Terrell responding, “If I could build my whole world around ya.” Fittingly, they join forces on “And that would be all right, oh yeah.” “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” is an unforgettable classic from a short-lived but vibrant duo.

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8. Artemas, “if u think i’m pretty”

pretty » Artemas » 2024

“If you think I’m pretty, lay our hands on me / Know you can’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout it,” English singer/songwriter Artemas sings on “if u think I’m pretty”, the brief opener from his 2024 album, pretty. He produced the brief cut alongside Daintree. “If…” boasts sleek production work anchored by a heavy-hitting beat and dark synths. Fittingly, the song is set in a minor key. As always, Artemas’ vocals are intriguing. They are effects heavy, finding the alternative pop musician showing off higher pitched (pre-chorus and chorus) and middle register (verse) moments. In both instances, the melodies are tuneful. Lyrically, Artemas ‘keeps it real’ – he does not sugarcoat the prettiness! In the chorus, excerpted above, he continues honestly, “I know that you’re shitty and you’re bad for me / But I can’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout it.” “Won’t you give that shit a rest? / Said you needed love, but you’re only here for sex, and,” he sings in the verse, continuing, “And I’m dyin’ to be next / Kille me once before, I just come back more obsessed with you.” Word.

Appears in:

15 Captivating, Hypothetical If Songs (2025)

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9. RYANN, “Boy, Why Don’t You Touch Me?”

“Boy, Why Don’t You Touch Me?” » RYANN » 2025

“Boy, why don’t you touch me? / Tell me, are you afraid?” Queer Netherlands pop singer/songwriter RYANN has a legitimate question. Dude, what gives? What’s the problem? Feeling fiery (and horny) on “Boy, Why Don’t You Touch Me?”, RYANN continues singing, “Bitch, don’t be lazy / I also want to get laid.” His brutal honesty is part of the charm of a bop, released in April 2025, that has summery vibes written all over it. Well-produced, “Boy, Why Don’t You Touch Me?” is groovy from the get-go. Trying to resist dancing to this one is impossible.

@ryannsounds

#makingmusic #colors #artist

♬ original sound – RYANN

As sickening as the instrumental is, it is our young, horny young man, RYANN, who is the star of the show. Don’t deny the handsome fella – he needs and wants some! As always, RYANN serves up sweet vocals, longing for some good, S-E-X! The boy he desires is anonymous – “I don’t even know your name, but I don’t care.” Risky, mind you, but not far-fetched in gay hookup culture. Also, later, he reveals the guy who won’t touch him, though it’s censored. Anyways, RYANN has made up his mind that he will sleep with him, but he won’t touch him, hence why RYANN must prompt him! The chorus is the section to beat. It is super fun – one of the biggest selling points of this queer little bop. Of course, all of the lyrics are fun, though less so for RYANN, who keeps striking out with this cutie, at least him receiving pleasure: “Still, every time we get home / And the heat starts to rise / Oh, you think about yourself / I’m sorry but I’m forced to stop and ask.” RYANN even gives us a story time about this selfish sex – whatever it is. “And every time we had sex or fooled around / He just didn’t touch me.” Wow – what a dick! Sadly, our hot Dutch boy doesn’t get the quality lay he deserves, but he drops another surefire bop with “Boy, Why Don’t You Touch Me?”.

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10. Glenn Lewis, “Don’t You Forget It”

World Outside My Window » Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. » 2002

“Faraway from that life so young / That’s when you used to know,” Canadian neo-soul singer/songwriter Glenn Lewis sings in the first verse of his 2002 hit, “Don’t You Forget It”. He continues, “Many dreams since then you’ve had / Have come and gone and that time might show.” “Don’t You Forget It” is the third track from his debut album, World Outside My Window. Lewis and Andre Harris wrote it while Harris produced it. “Don’t You Forget It” is Lewis’s only top 40 hit. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the top 10 of the R&B charts.

“Don’t You Forget It” features a lush, enigmatic instrumental intro. The sounds set the tone for the song. Following the intro, “Don’t” evolves into a groovy, mid-tempo track. Lewis delivers silky-smooth vocals. He sings with ease yet packs a mean punch. The chorus is where Lewis’s bread is buttered:

“And don’t you forget it

Don’t you forget your way home

For that little girl

Hold on to your world.”

There are tuneful melodies in the verses. Like the lyrics excerpted from the first verse, the songwriting is poetic and thoughtful. “Nothing but your heavy broken heart,” Lewis sings in the second verse, adding, “The memory of what used to be / With change comes responsibility.” Word. In the third verse, Lewis asserts, “Don’t you be afraid / Cause a heartbeat away / Is all and everything / That’s ever meant me and will mean to you.” They don’t make R&B songs like “Don’t You Forget It”.

Appears in:

Glenn Lewis, Don’t You Forget It: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 19 (2025)

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11. Shirley Caesar, “You Can Make It”

You Can Make It » Word Entertainment LLC » 2000

“No hope it seems, still I believe / That I can make it.” Amen 🙏! Despite feeling a lack of hope and a heaping dose of adversity, Shirley Caesar possesses faith! It seems her faith is even greater than a grain of mustard seed. She sincerely believes that the Lord is on her side on “You Can Make It”. “I am needing, the king and I,” she sings, continuing, “I will survive, and I know / I can make it.” “You Can Make It” is the third track from her 2000 album, also titled You Can Make It. Bearing superb contemporary gospel production, Caesar’s anointed vocals are expressive and nuanced. She sounds authentic and sincere as she encourages during dark times. The chorus is the section that truly warms the soul, as Caesar testifies of resilience, thanks to God. It is her Isaiah 54:17 moment: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.

“I can make it

Through the sunshine and rain

Make it

Through my sickness and pain

Make it

When they scandalize my name

Make it

Just as long as the Lord is on my side, everything I know will be alright

I can make, make it.”

During the second verse of this six-and-a-half-minute music ministry, Caesar continues to share adverse scenarios. Despite the odds seeming to be against you, the Pastor is an optimist because of Him: “But God is going to make us the head and not the tail / All you have to do is make up in your mind to make it.” That is a great message! During the second chorus, Caesar gets a lift from the choir, allowing her to riff and bless us with the sheer power of her instrument. “You Can Make It” is a fantastic, spiritually uplifting number. It speaks to the power of faith when things seem most dire. God can do anything!

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12. Betty Harris, “Nearer to You”

Soul Perfection » Sansu / 43 North Broadway, LLC » 1969

“I may do things you don’t understand.” Oh, really, Betty Harris (1939 – )? The southern soul singer continues singing in the first verse of “Nearer to You”, “But remember, I’m only doing the best I can.” Word. “Nearer to You” is the seventh track on her 1969 album, Soul Perfection. The legendary Allen Toussaint (1938 – 2015) composed it. Toussaint also produced it, alongside Marshall Sehorn. “Nearer to You” oozes with soul – that southern soul, to be precise! Set in compound duple meter, the lilt is real! Betty Harris ‘brings it’ with her robust, gospel-infused vocals. There is no shortage of confidence as Harris belts it out. “I’m sorry if I seem, ooh, yeah, a little bit stubborn sometimes / I hope I’m not being a nuisance to you,” Harris sings in the second verse, continuing, “I know you said that you’d be home soon / I got to be nearer, nearer to you / Yeah.” Harris gets awesome support from background vocals. The section to beat is the chorus. “Everything I do, I’m just trying to get closer to you,” Betty sings, concluding, “I got to be nearer, nearer to you.” Beyond the vocals and memorable songwriting, marvelous orchestration and production go a long, long way. Highlighted within the backdrop are piano, organ, and horns, namely the cutting baritone saxophone. I love the punch that the drums play with (and how loudly they are mixed). Arguably, the organ has the best part. The solo is playful with some sick riffs. Of course, the fellow keyboard instrument, the piano, provides awesome accompaniment. Ultimately, Betty Harris ‘tears it up’ on “Nearer to You”, one of the underrated gems from the soul catalog. Notably, Christina Aguilera sampled “Nearer to You” on the song “Understand” from her 2006 album, Back to Basics.

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13. Freddie Scott, “(You) Got What I Need”

Cry To Me – The Best of Freddie Scott » Sony Music Entertainment » 1998

“Oh, baby you, you got what I need / You got everything I need / You’re like medicine to me, oh baby.” Soul singer/songwriter Freddie Scott (1933 – 2007) recorded a surefire classic with “(You) Got What I Need”. Released as a single in 1968, it failed to chart on the pop charts (bummer) but reached the top 30 on the R&B charts. “(You)” was written and produced by the iconic duo of Songwriting and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Kenneth Gamble (1943 – ) and Leon Huff (1942 -). As always, Gamble and Huff ‘put their foot’ into this one!

“(You) Got What I Need” features soulful production, characteristic of the 1960s. Even early on, Gamble and Huff were ‘sickening’ – the musicianship is top-notch. Among the sounds that stand out is an ‘old-school,’ upright piano, which features one of the most important riffs of the song. Additionally, the sound palette shines thanks to the vibraphone, bright, accented horns, big bass, rhythmic guitar, and an electrifying drum groove. Freddie Scott matches the sweet backdrop, delivering commanding lead vocals. “In a world of salty tears / So afraid and so full of fears / So glad you saved me, dear,” Scott sings in the first verse, asserting in the second, “I was drowning in the sea of love / Going down for the third time / You came and saved me dear.” Scott receives supportive background vocals. At times, there is call and response between him and background vocals (“Don’t ever stop them, dear (Stop ‘em dear)”). The chorus, excerpted earlier, is the section to beat. More popular than “(You) Got What I Need”, a classic that deserved far more attention, is the song that sampled it, the Biz Markie (1964 – 2021) rap hit, “Just A Friend”. Ultimately, Freddie Scott ‘brought it’ on this underrated ‘60s gem.

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~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~

13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 4 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 43 North Broadway, LLC, Archie Music, Artemas, Cheeky, Experts Only, is it real LLC, Motown, Ruffhouse, RYANN, Sansu, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Word Entertainment LLC; Bruno Palace from Pexels; AcatXIo, Niek Verlaan, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

13 Songs Where YOU Are the Focus, Vol. 4 | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on July 7, 2025July 7, 2025