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Bops That Pop: September 2024 [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; agoss, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, cragnetta, Mohamed_hassan, succo from Pixabay]Bops That Pop: September 2024 features music courtesy of Kehlani, Sabrina Carpenter, Tommy Richman, Victoria Monรฉt, and The Weeknd.

Itโ€™s that time! What time it is? Why, monthly round-up time โ€“ time to acknowledge those Bops That Pop, like boom ๐Ÿ’ฅ! Bops That Pop represents the best songs of a given month on The Musical Hype! All the songs on Bops That Pop: September 2024 were released as singles or as an album track in late August 2024, September 2024, or whereabouts. Musicians serving the bops in September 2024 include Kehlani, Sabrina Carpenter, Tommy Richman, Victoria Monรฉt, and The Weeknd. So, without further ado, here are those Bops That Pop: September 2024!


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1. The Weeknd, โ€œDancing In The Flamesโ€

2. Kehlani, โ€œWhen Heโ€™s Not There (Ft. Lucky Daye)โ€

3. Tommy Richman, โ€œTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEโ€

4. Doechii, โ€œBOOM BAPโ€

5. Linkin Park, โ€œThe Emptiness Machineโ€

6. Victoria Monรฉt, โ€œSOS (Sex on Sight)โ€ (Ft. Usher)

7. Coldplay, โ€œWE PRAYโ€ (Ft. Lil Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna & TINI)

8. Megan Thee Stallion, โ€œNeva Playโ€ (Ft. RM of BTS)

9. John Conlin, โ€œKissing Other Girlsโ€

10. Sabrina Carpenter, โ€œBed Chemโ€

11. Jamie xx, โ€œDafodilโ€

12. John Duff, โ€œForgotten How to F*ckโ€

13. Kehlani, โ€œClothes Offโ€ (Ft. kwn)

14. Shawn Mendes, โ€œNobody Knowsโ€

15. ericdoa, โ€œsearch & destroyโ€

16. Geordie Kieffer, โ€œJesus Vanโ€

17. Brooke Candy, โ€œNext Bitchโ€

18. Micah McLaurin, โ€œCall Meโ€

19. Ryland James, โ€œYouโ€™re Still My Manโ€

20. Isak Danielson, โ€œDesperate Guyโ€

21. King Willonius, โ€œTheyโ€™re Eating The Dogsโ€


1. The Weeknd, โ€œDancing In The Flamesโ€

Hurry Up Tomorrow // The Weeknd XO Music ULC / Republic // 2024

The Weeknd, Dancing In The Flames [๐Ÿ“ท: The Weeknd XO Music ULC / Republic]โ€œTraffic dies while we are racinโ€™ home / Melted lights cover the open road.โ€ Poetic, The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye). He continues, โ€œI hope we make it, โ€˜cause Iโ€™ve been chasinโ€™ / Another odyssey, oh.โ€ The Grammy-winning Canadian superstar returned in September 2024, with โ€œDancing In The Flamesโ€, a promo single from his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.ย  Tesfaye, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter penned and produced the slick, mid-tempo, synthpop/R&B cut. The sound of โ€œDancing in the Flamesโ€ suits Tesfaye perfectly.ย  It comprises bright, rhythmic synths, a bouncy bass line, pummeling drum runs, and 80s-sounding drum programming. He delivers strong, pure, and expressive vocals. The melodies are tuneful with great attention paid to the melodic contour. The lyrics focus on driving and crashing, comparing it to love (โ€œWeโ€™re dodginโ€™ headlights, and you say, โ€˜Hold tightโ€™โ€). There are nice use of vocal harmonies during the chorus, the centerpiece.

โ€œI canโ€™t wait to see your face

Crash when weโ€™re switchinโ€™ lanes

My loveโ€™s beyond the pain

But if I miss the brake

Weโ€™re dancinโ€™ in the flames

Itโ€™s indescribable.โ€

Vocoder appears on the word, indescribable during the post-chorus, giving off Daft Punk vibes. The bridge section distinguishes itself from the rest of the song. The spacey, enigmatic instrumental outro is a nice touch. With memorable songwriting, a well-rounded vocal, and ear-catching production, Abel Tesfaye โ€˜does the damn thingโ€™ on โ€œDancing In The Flamesโ€.

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2. Kehlani, โ€œWhen Heโ€™s Not There (Ft. Lucky Daye)โ€

While We Wait 2 // Atlantic // 2024

Kehlani, While We Wait 2 [๐Ÿ“ท: Atlantic]โ€œI come over when heโ€™s not there / He donโ€™t even know that I here.โ€ Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter Kehlani shines on โ€œWhen Heโ€™s Not Thereโ€, from her mixtape, While We Wait 2. โ€œWhen Heโ€™s Not Thereโ€ features Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, Lucky Daye. With numerous songwriters in addition to Kehlani and Lucky Day, it was produced by Ambezza, Dillon, and Nik D. The sound of the record is resplendent.ย  It is bright, lush, soulful, and warm.ย  While โ€œWhen Heโ€™s Not Thereโ€ is idiomatic of contemporary R&B, it also hearkens back to the past.ย  Both Kehlani and Daye sing beautifully.ย  Both lyrics and melodies are memorable.ย  โ€œGirl, does he know youโ€™re yearning, yearning for me?โ€ Kehlani asks in the first verse, adding โ€œDonโ€™t tell none of your homegirls โ€˜cause nobody needs to know, no.โ€ Context: Kehlani and this girl (who has a boyfriend) are hooking up and nobody needs to know! Hence, why in the chorus, โ€œI come over when heโ€™s not there.โ€ Oh, snap! She expounds on their relationship in the second verse, admitting, โ€œLord knows I wonโ€™t end a happy home, but Iโ€™ll leave a condo broken.โ€ Ooh wee! Daye enters the mix in the third verse, playing a similar role to Kehlani and the girl sheโ€™s cheating with: โ€œWell, damn, guess, he wonโ€™t know what he hand until itโ€™s gone / Guess he canโ€™t read between the lines / While he ignore and I explore /โ€ฆ Weโ€™re having hour fun and they ainโ€™t gotta know.โ€ All told, โ€œWhen Heโ€™s Not Thereโ€ is a steamy, irresistibly delicious song about cheating. Kehlani and Lucky Daye put their foot into this one!

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3. Tommy Richman, โ€œTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEโ€

โ€œTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEโ€ // ISO Supremacy / PULSE / Concord // 2024

Tommy Richman, THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE [๐Ÿ“ท: ISO Supremacy / PULSE / Concord]According to Tommy Richman, โ€œI thought you were the one, ah / I thought you were the one that got away.โ€ Word. โ€œTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEโ€ continues a prolific 2024 for the Virginia-bred musician. Richman wrote the highlight. He produced it with Elliot, Limo, and Jonah Roy. โ€œOh, I know you love me / Oh, you push and you shove me out.โ€ Hmmโ€ฆ Like singles โ€œMILLION DOLLAR BABYโ€ and โ€œDEVIL IS A LIEโ€, there is lots to like about โ€œTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEโ€.ย  The sound and instrumental accompaniment is a big selling point. It has a nice old-school vibe.ย  The groove is fabulous, while the rhythmic, detuned synths, keys, and big, infectious synth bass line catch the ears. Furthermore, there is a degree of nostalgia about this cut. The vocals by Richman mark another selling point. The melody is rhythmic and tuneful. The theme is simple yet complicated โ€“ matters of the heart.ย  At the end of the verse, he asserts, โ€œI still know weโ€™re a good fit, baby, good fit / I donโ€™t know what to say, but fuck it anyway / I know weโ€™ll have some good kids, baby, good kids.โ€ Word. All in all, Tommy Richman delivered another winner with โ€œTHOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONEโ€.

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4. Doechii, โ€œBOOM BAPโ€

Alligator Bites Never Heal // Top Dawg Entertainment / Capitol // 2024

Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal [๐Ÿ“ท: Top Dawg Entertainment / Capitol]โ€œI gave my soul for this shit, ate lumps of coal for this shit.โ€ What more can you say but, oh, shit! According to sickening Florida rapper and singer Doechii (Jaylah Hickmon), Alligator Bites Never Heal. Word. ย Leading the charge for the mixtape is the short but potent โ€œBOOM BAPโ€.ย  โ€œBOOM BOPโ€ was written by Doechii, Camper (Darhyl Camper), and DIXSON.ย  Additionally, Camper produced the brief track alongside DJ Miss Milan.ย  The soulful backdrop is one of the biggest selling points and fuels the fire of the fiery rapper.ย  It doesnโ€™t hurt that an interpolation is part of the mix. With a kickass backdrop, Doechii brings the heat.ย  Her flow is compelling, the bars biting, and her personality is through the roof.ย  She brings an innovative spirit to the table.ย  Her approach is non-standard, more alternative, and left-field which makes โ€œBOOM BAPโ€ ear-catching and engaging.ย  She still goes hard asserting in the first verse, โ€œThey want real rap from a bitch like they out-rappinโ€™ a bitch / Yeah, she can clap a lilโ€™ bit, do that, theyย  ainโ€™t sayinโ€™ shit.โ€ย  Maintaining a brash approach, she adds, โ€œEven the moms know what it is, but yโ€™all niggas canโ€™t see what it is.โ€ Word! In the chorus, which is sort of unorthodox, she spits, โ€œGet Top on the phone / Tell him itโ€™s a wrap, nigga / Say itโ€™s real, and itโ€™s rap / And itโ€™s a boom, and it bap / And it bounce, and it clap / And this house, and itโ€™s trap.โ€ The second verse is intriguing too: โ€œ[Iโ€™m] Mugsy Bogues with the shit, might call J. Cole for this shit.โ€ โ€œBOOM BAPโ€ is a surefire bop.

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5. Linkin Park, โ€œThe Emptiness Machineโ€

From Zero // Linkin Park, LLC // 2024

Linkin Park, From Zero [๐Ÿ“ท: Linkin Park, LLC]Thereโ€™s lots to โ€˜heartโ€™ about โ€œThe Emptiness Machineโ€, the comeback single for new-look Linkin Park who welcomes a new co-vocalist (Emily Armstrong), drummer (Colin Brittain), and touring guitarist (Alex Feder).ย  The promo single from From Zero begins with the driving guitar and pummeling drums โ€“ always a recipe for success! The chemistry and contrast between Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong is another selling point. Shinoda sings the first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus, with a cleaner, mellower approach. The melody is memorable, particularly in the chorus:

โ€œLet you cut me open, just to watch me bleed

Gave up who I am for who you wanted me to be

Donโ€™t know why Iโ€™m hopinโ€™ for what I wonโ€™t receive

Fallinโ€™ for the promise of the emptiness machine

The emptiness machine.โ€

After the mellower first chorus, Armstrong sings most of the second verse. She brings assertive, powerful, and impressive pipes. Shinoda joins her in the pre-chorus.ย  Armstrong is electrifying when the second chorus comes around, showing just how dynamic she is.ย  Once more, we get a lovely contrast between Shinoda and Armstrong during the bridge.ย  Emily is locked in on the final chorus, including a well-placed f-bomb (โ€œDonโ€™t know why Iโ€™m hopinโ€™, so fuckinโ€™ naรฏve / Fallinโ€™ for the promise of the emptiness machineโ€). The outro is sweet too, with mellow Mike once more contrasting assertive Emily.ย  All in all, the return of Linkin Park, with all its changes, turns out to be a welcome one. โ€œThe Emptiness Machineโ€ rocks!

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6. Victoria Monรฉt, โ€œSOS (Sex on Sight)โ€ (Ft. Usher)

โ€œSOS (Sex on Sight)โ€ // Lovett Music, Inc. / RCA // 2024

Victoria Monรฉt, SOS (Sex on Sight) [๐Ÿ“ท: Lovett Music, Inc. / RCA]โ€œI need that SOS, sex on sight, baby, itโ€™s urgent / Let me fuck up all your plans, come put this work in.โ€ Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Victoria Monรฉt is honest about her sexual desires in her single, โ€œSOS (Sex on Sight)โ€. On โ€œSOS,โ€ she taps one of R&Bโ€™s sexiest musicians, Grammy-winner Usher for the assist. Monรฉt, Usher, Ant Clemons, Daniel Church, Ido Zmishlany, and producer Camper penned โ€œSOS.โ€ There is plenty to love about โ€œSOS (Sex on Sight).โ€ It benefits from a soulful, old-school sound. Thereโ€™s nothing like lush instrumental accompaniment and a big, robust bass line. Monรฉt takes the reins first. She never gets too high or too low. She delivers a well-rounded, cool-energy performance.ย  After setting the tone in the first verse, she unveils the chorus, which features a tuneful melody and memorable lyrics:

โ€œI am way too sexy

To be alone

Wanna show you what type

Of time that Iโ€™m on (What type of time Iโ€™m on)

Want you to come (Want you to come)

Send me your ETA

And when you lay me down

Pin my legs to the clouds

And I hope youโ€™re ready for the rain.โ€

Oh, snap! Besides the lyrics and tune, instrumentally, there is a welcome addition of synth horns post-chorus (โ€œSOS, please / Let it fall, let it goโ€). Usher enters the mix during the second verse. His performance begins with rap and spoken word.ย  It adds to the character of the song. Soon enough, he finds his pitch, singing the rhythmic, sexed-up vocals. โ€œAnd when I hit it right in the right place / Look me right in the eyes, do what I say,โ€ he sings, adding, โ€œBend it over, throw it back, you and I, tongue-tied / Iโ€™ma kiss it good, good, good night.โ€ Victoria Monรฉt and Usher hit all the right notes on โ€œSOS (Sex on Sight)โ€.

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7. Coldplay, โ€œWE PRAYโ€ (Ft. Lil Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna & TINI)

Moon Music // Coldplay / Parlophone // 2024ย 

Coldplay, Moon Music [๐Ÿ“ท: Parlophone]โ€œAnd so, we pray / For someone to come and show me the way / And so, we pray / For some shelter and some records to play.โ€ Amen! Decorated British alt-rock collective Coldplay returned with their 10th studio album, Moon Music. Chris Martin and the boys bring prayers on โ€œWE PRAYโ€.ย  Coldplay enlists four unique guests on this faith-based single: British rapper Little Simz, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Palestinian-Chilean singer, Elyanna, and Argentinian singer, TINI.ย  โ€œWE PRAYโ€ features numerous credited songwriters. Bill Rahko, Daniel Green, ILYA, Max Martin, and Michael Ilbert produced.ย  The instrumental backdrop is modern, rhythmic, and sleekly produced.ย  The strings, when they enter the mix, and the groove are two of the best features.ย  Fuel for the vocalistsโ€™ fire.

Following a prayerful intro, Martin sings the first verse. The prayer is ample: โ€œI pray that I donโ€™t give up, pray that I do my best / Pray that I can lift up, pray my brother is blessed / Praying for enough, pray for Virgilio wins.โ€ The Virgilio reference is ultra-specific.ย  Martin also sings on the chorus (excerpted at the top), joined at times by Little Simz and Burna Boy.ย  Little Simz takes the reins in the second verse, dropping an uplifting verse asserting, โ€œPray I speak my truth and keep my sisters alive,โ€ adding, โ€œPray when she looks at herself in the mirror / She sees a queen, see sees a goddess.โ€ Thoughtful to the nth degree. Burna Boy performs the bridge, where he prayerfully โ€œKeep a smiling face, only by His grace.โ€ As for Elyanna and TINI, they appear in the final chorus, lending their vocal talents.ย  All told, โ€œWE PRAYโ€ is an entertaining, socially conscious, and thoughtful pop record.

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8. Megan Thee Stallion, โ€œNeva Playโ€ (Ft. RM of BTS)

โ€œNeva Playโ€ // Hot Girl Productions LLC // 2024

Megan Thee Stallion, Neva Play (Ft. RM) [๐Ÿ“ท: Hot Girl Productions LLC]โ€œOne, two, three, four (One, two, three, four) / Five, six, seven, eight (Five, six, seven, eight).โ€ Early on in her single, โ€œNeva Playโ€, Megan Thee Stallion flaunts her counting skills. She continues, โ€œCountinโ€™ zeroes every day (Yeah) / You know that we never play.โ€ Word.ย  โ€œNeva Playโ€ is a flex fest from the Grammy-winning rapper.ย  She enlists the services of an unexpected guest: RM of BTS.ย  The results are P-O-S-I-T-V-E. The unforgettable numeric hook appears at the top of โ€œNeva Place.โ€ Also, making our ears perk up at the onset are ear-catching synths.ย  The loops is infectious.ย  Another cool musical feature is how the tempo accelerates during the introduction.ย  LilJuMadeDaBeat, Shae Jacobs, B Ham, and Peter Fenn drop a sickening, mean-sounding, minor-key instrumental supporting both rappers. Beyond her colorful chorus,ย  Megan delivers an aggressive flow and rhymes. โ€œJust know when itโ€™s time for me to get my lick back / All yโ€™all finna be finished (Hadouken),โ€ she spits in the first verse, adding, โ€œCheck the credits, you know who wrote it / With a flow this hard, this heavy, Kotex (Mm).โ€ Aggressiveness from Megan is the expectation.ย  One of the biggest surprises is RM, specifically how low and masculine he sounds while rapping.ย  Even with his โ€˜manliness at an all-time manly level,โ€™ his flow is chill and relaxed (โ€œFor Asia, man, we paved the wayโ€). The contrast between him and Megan is one of the selling points of โ€œNever Play.โ€ All told โ€œNeva Playโ€ is a total vibe.

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9. John Conlin, โ€œKissing Other Girlsโ€

โ€œKissing Other Girlsโ€ // John Conlin // 2024

John Conlin, Kissing Other Girls [๐Ÿ“ท: John Conlin]โ€œDonโ€™t you know you make me / Cry just a little / Die just a little / Say weโ€™re just DL, noncommittal / So superficial, caught in your middle / It hurts / I know youโ€™re kissing other girls.โ€ That is a bummer, John Conlin. What isnโ€™t a bummer is the authenticity and sheer excellence that is โ€œKissing Other Girlsโ€.ย  It was penned by the handsome and talented Toronto pop singer/songwriter.ย  He produced this must-hear gem alongside Jamesfromtheinternet. The sound is โ€˜to die for.โ€™ The instrumental backdrop includes warm pads and synths that concoct a surefire vibe. Conlin serves up gorgeous vocals, tuneful melodies, and reflective, questioning lyrics.ย  The situation is one where he and his โ€˜boyfriendโ€™ are on two different pages. John seems comfortable with the relationship while the nameless boyfriend is DL and still partakes in heterosexual experiences. โ€œIโ€™ve been on my knees praying / That I take up space inside yourย  head,โ€ Conlin sings in the first verse, continuing, โ€œTwo dimensional, you fuck across the hall, baby.โ€ย  Heโ€™s not fucking other guys, either: โ€œYour rust on the straight blade / It cuts, badly both waysโ€ฆโ€ Conlin, singing angelically, continues to voice his sadness over the state of their โ€˜relationship.โ€™ He asks, โ€œAm I just a phase / Just a body you play.โ€ Understanding his partner, he asserts, โ€œAnd when you, canโ€™t finish [with her, presumably] you picture me.โ€ Ooh-wee! The bridge separates it from the verses and chorus yet continues the theme of Johnโ€™s boyfriend/partner/FWB struggling with his sexuality.ย  The situation isnโ€™t ideal, yet, common where homophobia โ€“ external and internal โ€“ runs rampant.ย  โ€œKissing Other Girlsโ€ is the catโ€™s meow โ€“ the sugar honey iced tea! Get it, John!

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    10. Sabrina Carpenter, โ€œBed Chemโ€

    Short n Sweet // Island // 2024ย 

    Sabrina Carpenter, Short N' Sweet [๐Ÿ“ท: Island]โ€œManifest that youโ€™re oversized.โ€ Sabrina Carpenter is referencing bigness, but specific to the private area ๐Ÿ†, if you catch my drift (โ€œOut of breath, got me goinโ€™ likeโ€ฆโ€).ย  These excerpted lyrics make โ€œBed Chemโ€, the sixth track from Short n Sweet, the 2024 breakout album by Carpenter, โ€˜something else.โ€™ โ€œBed Chemโ€ was written by Carpenter, Amy Allen, Ian Kirkpatrick, John Ryan, and Julia Michaels.ย  Kirkpatrick and Ryan produced. In its sub-three-minute runtime, Carpenter packs a punch โ€“ a sexual punch! In the pre-chorus, it seems like she references her alleged boyfriend, Barry Keoghan (โ€œWhoโ€™s the cute boy with the white jacket and the thick accentโ€). Even if she isnโ€™t referencing the Academy Award-nominated Irish actor, she is referencing a hottie from a different country.ย  The section to beat is the chorus where Carpenter sings, โ€œBut I bet weโ€™d have really good bed chem / How you pick me up, pull โ€˜em down, turn me โ€˜round /โ€ฆ How you talk so sweet when youโ€™re doinโ€™ bad things.โ€ Holy smokes! The second verse is fun too, with Sabrina asking him, โ€œWhere art though? Why not uponeth me? / See it in my mind, letโ€™s fulfill the prophecy.โ€ Ah, the dangers of a wandering mind ๐Ÿ˜ˆ.ย  Carpenterโ€™s fantasies seem endless, and pleasure is front and center.ย  โ€œAnd I bet the thermostatโ€™s set at six-nine.โ€ Hmm, I wonder why itโ€™s set at that number ๐Ÿ˜? โ€œBed Chemโ€ is a blast, all told.ย  Carpenter is honest about her desires, keeping things sex positive.ย  She sings well with her breathy, flirty pipes.ย  Also, sheโ€™s accompanied by a sleek, groovy, sexy instrumental. The chem is chem-ing ๐Ÿงช!

    ย 

    Appears in ๐Ÿ”ป:

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    11. Jamie xx, โ€œDafodilโ€

    In Waves // Young // 2024

    Jamie xx, In Waves [๐Ÿ“ท: Young]โ€œLovely sweetness that filled the air / Came from a daffodil in your hair / I placed it there.โ€ Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Jamie xx (James Smith) is the man when it comes to producing music. Ahead of his second studio album, In Waves, Smith released the ear-catching single, โ€œDafodilโ€, ย assisted by ย Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, and Panda Bear. Also, he collaborated with Rodaidh McDonald on the production.ย  The results are stellar. โ€œIt all started one summer night in London.โ€ Word. โ€œDafodilโ€ is enigmatic from the onset. The intro sets the tone for a distinct, experimental track.ย  โ€œDafodilโ€ is built on spoken word, sang vocals, and makes unique use of samples. Specifically, it samples โ€œTouching Youโ€ by Astrud Gilberto and โ€œI Just Make Believe (Iโ€™m Touching You)โ€ by J.J. Barnes.ย  The assisting musicians nail their respective parts, contributing to this musical tour de force.ย  A great example of โ€˜dream work makes the team work,โ€™ part of the charm of โ€œDafodilโ€ is the fact that there is no star โ€“ everyone does their fair share.ย  Besides the samples, the instrumental accompaniment is tasteful.ย  With a distinct form, the bridge distinguishes itself from everything else, keeping the song engaging (โ€œLost just thinking of someone / Think they met at a party / Thereโ€™s someone for everyoneโ€ฆโ€). โ€œDafodilโ€ is a winner from Jamie xx.

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    12. John Duff, โ€œForgotten How to F*ckโ€

    โ€œForgotten How to F*ckโ€ // Donald Duff // 2024

    John Duff, Forgotten How to F*ck [๐Ÿ“ท: Donald Duff]โ€œItโ€™s been so long since I got some / Soon as you call, Iโ€™ll probably come.โ€ย  Something tells me, John Duff couldโ€™ve spelled the word come differently, given the contextโ€ฆ He continues singing in the chorus of his bold, sexed-up song, โ€œForgotten How to F*ckโ€, โ€œDreaming of your touch without a glove / I think Iโ€™ve forgotten how to fuck.โ€ Honesty is the best policy.ย  Incorporating a big band into the mix gives the song a refreshing, retro sensibility. Because he hasnโ€™t had sex in so long, Duff has forgotten how it works.ย  He uses Biblical/spiritual references throughout, believe it or not.ย  โ€œBorn again, baby / Born again and going crazy.โ€ He adds, โ€œ40 days and 40 nights / Seems like they just flew right by / Am I saved? / Or just depraved?โ€ย  The lyrics play on abstinence and celibacy associated with Christianity, etc.ย  Still, heโ€™s not quite Saint Peter: โ€œStay rock hard / Like Rock Hudson / Long for some lovinโ€™, touchinโ€™, squeezinโ€™ / No hidden meaning.โ€ Perhaps there is no hidden meaning but, Rock Hudson, one of the actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood, was gay, and died of AIDS at age 59.ย  Other intriguing lyrical moments include, โ€œIโ€™m not politically correct / But Iโ€™m literally erect / Just thinking about last season / When it was you and me.โ€ The sexual innuendo is ripe AF on โ€œForgotten How to F*ckโ€ and we wouldnโ€™t have it any other way! The dashing John Duff and his team of producers (Koil PreAmple, Niko The Kid, and Eren Cannata) drop a hot ๐Ÿฅต retro-pop bop.

    Appears in ๐Ÿ”ป:

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    13. Kehlani, โ€œClothes Offโ€ (Ft. kwn)

    While We Wait 2 // Atlantic // 2024

    Kehlani, While We Wait 2 [๐Ÿ“ท: Atlantic]โ€œGirl, the way youโ€™re pushinโ€™ up on my body, huh / Itโ€™s you that do it for me.โ€ Oh, snap, kwn (Khy Wilson)! Kwn assists Grammy-nominated, lesbian nonbinary R&B singer/songwriter Kehlani (Kehlani Parrish) on โ€œClothes Offโ€, the third track from Parrishโ€™s mixtape, While We Wait 2. Wilson and Parrish are enamored with their respective girls on the sensual number. Per kwn, this girl โ€˜makes them feel good.โ€™ Besides singing, Kwn co-wrote and produced โ€œClothes Off.โ€ What a talent! The sex is on fire on โ€œClothes Off,โ€ period. โ€œCan I dare to leave your bed a mess and wet? / โ€˜Cause we sure gonโ€™ sweat,โ€ kwn asserts in the sexy, first pre-chorus. This follows โ€˜Laniโ€™s initial praise of the girlโ€™s skills in bed. She performs the centerpiece, the chorus, the first go-round: โ€œOh, you better take my clothes off, yeah / โ€ฆ Can we, uh? Oh, baby.โ€ With clothes coming off, clearly, โ€˜itโ€™s going downโ€™ in the bedroom. Kehlani brings the heat in the second verse, singing, โ€œGirl, the way you sex me make me feel like / I canโ€™t get with nobody else.โ€ They add, โ€œI just canโ€™t let you get no other bitch involved.โ€ WORD. Not only is the sex good, but, Kehlani wants to lock things down with her.ย  Right on.ย  As always, Parrish shines with their sweet vocal performance โ€“ never over singing, yet potent. The instrumental accompaniment is marvelous too โ€“ idiomatic of contemporary R&B.ย  With awesome vocals, and a longing pleasure and potential beyond the bedroom, Kehlani and kwn shine on โ€œClothes Offโ€.

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    14. Shawn Mendes, โ€œNobody Knowsโ€

    Shawn // Island // 2024

    Shawn Mendes, Shawn [๐Ÿ“ท: Island]โ€œWhen youโ€™re so in love / And your souls touch / But itโ€™s still not enough / Where does it go? / Nobody knows.โ€ Shawn Mendes โ€“ what a handsome, talented man. The short but sweet โ€œNobody Knowsโ€ marked the third single from Shawn, his fifth studio album. His voice is in top-notch form.ย  Also, he wears his feelings on his sleeve, and we wouldnโ€™t have it any other way! Mendes, Mike Sabath, Scott Harris, and Eddie Benjamin penned โ€œNobody Knows.โ€ Mendes, Benjamin, and Sabath produced it. Mendes delivers personal and vulnerable lyrics throughout โ€œNobody Knows.โ€ Likewise, his vocal performance matches the spirit of the lyrics. Love is firmly planted in his mind.ย  In the first verse, he captures a warm, meaningful feeling: โ€œWhen your touch walks me home / When you taste this good.โ€ Aww! In the second, he gets โ€˜saltier,โ€™ dropping a bomb: โ€œYouโ€™re an amateur drunk, and everyone knows it / But, fuck, youโ€™re the one, and I live for those moments.โ€ Word. Backed by a folk-rock backdrop (similar to singles โ€œWhy Why Whyโ€ and โ€œIsnโ€™t That Enoughโ€), Mendes sings authentically, freely, and radiantly. This sound and vibe suits him. Amplifying this beautiful, ear-catching listening experience are celestial vocal harmonies (Sabath and Benjamin). โ€œNobody Knowsโ€ is another strong performance and song from the gifted Canadian.

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    15. ericdoa, โ€œsearch & destroyโ€

    โ€œsearch & destroyโ€ // ericdoa / LISTEN TO THE KIDS // 2024ย 

    Ericdoa, search & destroy [๐Ÿ“ท: ericdoa / LISTEN TO THE KIDS]โ€œItโ€™s a free-for-all / You wanna feast with the team, it ainโ€™t cheap at all.โ€ Word. Ericdoa is an intriguing music artist.ย  He never fails to catch the ears with his often brief but โ€˜left-of-centerโ€™ songs.ย  The Gen-Z standout drops another ear-catching song with โ€œsearch & destroyโ€.ย  Two things make โ€œsearch & destroyโ€ unique. The first is the fact it references a video game: Call of Duty. Itโ€™s not often you hear โ€œYou know there ainโ€™t no respawnโ€ in a song, woo! Even before that lyric, ericdoa asserts, โ€œThrow a flare, we gonโ€™ meet back here.โ€ Other lyrics that stand out include the titular, โ€œYouโ€™re the last one left, search and destroyโ€ from the chorus, as well as, โ€œI gave them my soul, but they still treat me like a boy.โ€ The second reason why it stands out is the sound. Ericdoa penned the track, while Glasear, Zetra, pluko, and mochila produced it.ย  The electronic sounds make โ€œsearch & destroyโ€ futuristic.ย  Sure, the electronic sound palette is being used by all genres to an extent, but in this case, the song doesnโ€™t sound like all the rest (rhythmic, otherworldly synths, and a banging, danceable beat).ย  Even given a brief two-minute runtime, listening to how distinct the music is, itโ€™s understandable how four producers had a hand in this one. The unique โ€œSearch & destroyโ€ is worthy of spinning multiple times!

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    16. Geordie Kieffer, โ€œJesus Vanโ€

    โ€œJesus Vanโ€ // +1 // 2024

    Geordie Kieffer, Jesus Van: Beaming with Pride ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ No. 60 (2024) [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; +1; Elias Souza, Los Muertos Crew from Pexels; CatsWithGlasses, David, Maicon Fonseca Zanco, Square Frog, Sudo from Pixabay]โ€œI got Jesus in the back of my van.โ€ Amen, Geordie Kiefferโ€ฆ I thinkโ€ฆ I mean, Jesus is everywhere โ€“ all-powerful and omniscient โ€“ but the bisexual musician thinks more with his pants than about his soul in his single, โ€œJesus Vanโ€. The most devout Christians would not only consider โ€œJesus Vanโ€ to be sexually charged, but also, blasphemous.ย  There are ample spiritual references, but, how sincere is the โ€˜Agro popโ€™ star? Even if it is a sinful listen, the instrumental backdrop is sweet with its electronic sounds and rock elements.ย  As the excerpted lyrics suggest, Geordie has a big personality.ย  He sings marvelous, infusing the lyrics with no shortage of eyebrow-raising, innuendo-laden moments.ย  At the top, Kieffer sings, โ€œHey pretty babe wanna dance the line / With them cowboy dudes and them southern dimes / I got shagged on the floor of my pony express / Gun on the dash and a cross on my chest.โ€ He may have a cross โœ๏ธ, but it also seems he enjoyed some S-E-X. He doesnโ€™t lie when he says, โ€œThereโ€™s a wild congregation in this holy mobile / So get your ass in the wagon that my friend take the wheel.โ€ Holy, huh? Itโ€™s giving more like โ€˜holy fuckโ€™ than anything else. Sex is the modus operandi. Itโ€™s Kiefferโ€™s gospel: โ€œCan a man move his body like heโ€™s blessed and possessed / Iโ€™m just preaching the gospel of foreplay and sex.โ€ Continuing to be โ€˜religious,โ€™ he asserts heโ€™s a priest and the prophet, with his apostles nearโ€ฆ So, heโ€™s Jesus? Near the end, he informs us, โ€œI got the power of the spirit in the palm of my hand / But I hate to tell ya baby you ainโ€™t coming with me.โ€ Why? โ€œI got Jesus in the back of my van.โ€ It wonโ€™t save your soul, but โ€œJesus Vanโ€ is terrific.

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    17. Brooke Candy, โ€œNext Bitchโ€

    โ€œNext Bitchโ€ // Brooke Candy // 2024

    Brooke Candy, Next Bitch [๐Ÿ“ท: Brooke Candy]โ€œTaste the rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ, take one bite / Bubblegum, yeah, pop tonight.โ€ Foโ€™ sho, Brooke Candy.ย  Give us more of those slick lyrics! โ€œSpecial taffy, pink and white / Cotton candy bed tonight.โ€ That is some sugary sweet sugar honey iced tea! Weโ€™d expect no less from Candy who is โ€œNext Bitchโ€! Thatโ€™s the name of her rainbow-bubblegum-taffy-cotton candied first single from her album, Spiral! That said, the lyrics from the bridge are much tamer than the more explicit, fiercer lyrics that appear on much of this brief but potent single.ย  Candyโ€™s confidence is โ€˜through the roofโ€™ on this Jon Santana-produced bop. Candy, Santana, and Liam Benayon penned this bitchinโ€™ joint. โ€œNext Bitchโ€ features electric musical accompaniment.ย  The rhythm is driving from the onset.ย  The synths are lit, and the anchoring beat goes hard.ย  The backdrop sets up Candy for success and indisputable fierceness. After characterizing her (who is nameless) as wack, in the intro, she asserts in the chorus, โ€œIโ€™m the next bitch / Iโ€™m infectious / Fuckinโ€™ reckless / You gonโ€™ bite this?โ€ Woo! Itโ€™s difficult to catch everything Candy spits in the first verse, but the overall takeaway is that this girl is bad! Not only is she bad enough to โ€œShave my head and then pierce my nips,โ€ she legitimately poses the question, โ€œHow many bitches get down like this?โ€ Sheโ€™s also a โ€˜bad bitchโ€™ when she sings, bragging, โ€œI, when I walk in the room / These bitches in the tomb / Miss Candy, if you pay me, pay me.โ€ย  What more needs to be said? The thirtysomething rapper/singer drops another one!

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    18. Micah McLaurin, โ€œCall Meโ€

    โ€œCall Meโ€ // Micah McLaurin // 2024

    Micah McLaurin, Call Me [๐Ÿ“ท: Micah McLaurin]โ€œYou know what / I came for / So give it to me now / Give me more.โ€ Oh, snap! Something tells me, the โ€˜itโ€™ is S meets E, and then they X, Micah McLaurin.ย  The gifted, Charleston, South Carolina musician (a virtuoso pianist) follows up, inviting us โ€“ rather, โ€˜himโ€™ โ€“ to call him names. What?! โ€œCall me slut / Call me whore / thereโ€™s no shame in a name,โ€ he sings, asserting, โ€œIโ€™m all about the fame / I would like you better if you call meโ€ฆโ€ Honor the manโ€™s wishes, I suppose! McLaurin penned the brief โ€œCall Meโ€ alongside Daniel Padilla, Fernando Garibay, Ramiro Padilla, and Simon Wilcox. Garibay, Padilla, and Padilla produced this sleek, sexy gem.

    In an interview for Paper Mag by Erica Campbell, McLaurin asserts, โ€œโ€˜Call Meโ€™ is more than just the lyrics on the surface. Itโ€™s symbolic of me taking my power back and reclaiming my identity after I felt it was stolen from me in childhood.โ€ย He also states heโ€™s allowed to show a different side of himself. He sings wonderfully, bringing ample personality and sexiness to his performance.ย  His vocals are breathy, playful, and โ€“ wait for it โ€“ sexy ๐Ÿ˜ˆ. Heโ€™s a beautiful, naughty boy: โ€œLook at the way Iโ€™m moving Iโ€™m serpentine / Sliding up against your skin / I know I make you want what you shouldnโ€™t but / Go ahead and let me in.โ€ Beyond the engaging vocal performance, the instrumental accompaniment is sickening. Set in a minor key, the dark, enigmatic pop and dance cues are firmly planted. The groove, which appears during the slutty, whorish chorus, is everything. Running just over two minutes, McLaurin brings the heat ๐Ÿฅต โ€“ the midnight heat โ€“ on โ€œCall Meโ€.

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    19. Ryland James, โ€œYouโ€™re Still My Manโ€

    โ€œYouโ€™re Still My Manโ€ // 21 Entertainment Group // 2024

    Ryland James, Youโ€™re Still My Man [๐Ÿ“ท: 21 Entertainment Group]โ€œYouโ€™re still my man / Nothing can change it / We still belong together.โ€ Canadian musician Ryland James is filled with dedication on โ€œYouโ€™re Still My Manโ€. However, he wasnโ€™t the first to sing those โ€˜tetheredโ€™ lyrics (despite the end of a relationship, mind you). ย Whitney Houston originally sang โ€œYouโ€™re Still My Manโ€ on her 1987 tour de force, Whitney. Covering a Whitney song takes big vocals and a lot of courage. James, who has a commanding instrument, has no issue with tackling this rarely covered song from a male perspective: he identifies as queer.

    James makes โ€œYouโ€™re Still My Manโ€ his own, with more of a โ€˜pop-leaningโ€™ sound.ย  He sings radiantly, showing off his distinct, expressive, and nuanced pipes. The falsetto notes he hits are glorious. He is accompanied by piano initially as he laments the union with his man.ย  โ€œAnd the feelings between us / Will never disappear,โ€ he sings in the first verse, continuing, โ€œHow can you be far away / When youโ€™re spiritโ€™s here?โ€ In the second verse, heโ€™s certain โ€œsoon youโ€™ll be missing me,โ€ adding โ€œThereโ€™s a magic we share together / And no one can break that spell.โ€ As the song progresses, the accompaniment expands including strings, bass, and drums.ย  The most powerful section of the song is the outro, where Ryland shows how dynamic and powerful he is as a vocalist.ย  The ad-libs and riffs are on point. He navigates the key changes soundly, one of the harder aspects of this big, big song. Covering Whitney Houston is no easy task, but Ryland James does a fabulous job with โ€œYouโ€™re Still My Manโ€.

    ย 

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    20. Isak Danielson, โ€œDesperate Guyโ€

    โ€œDesperate Guyโ€ // Isak Danielson // 2024

    Isak Danielson, Desperate Guy [๐Ÿ“ท: Isak Danielson]โ€œIf Iโ€™m your mistake, please make it twice / Iโ€™m just a fool, who just loves you for miles.โ€ Aww, Isak Danielson ๐Ÿฅน.ย  The Swedish ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช musician pours his heart out on his single, โ€œDesperate Guyโ€. Danielson is unafraid to bare his feelings. He penned the brief but potent song with Simon Strรถmstedt. Heโ€™s supported by a radiant accompaniment (keys, guitars, dramatic strings) produced by Kevin Anderson. He delivers gorgeous, nuanced vocals from the onset of โ€œDesperate Guy.โ€ His tone is stunning. Authentic to the nth degree, he sings with incredible sincerity.ย  The lyrics are poetic and heartfelt. โ€œI never pretend when Iโ€™m with you / How can a love, so sweet and so pure,โ€ he sings in the second verse, continuing, โ€œCut me so deep, causinโ€™ me pain / But Iโ€™d do it over, and over again.โ€ The chorus is especially tuneful, where his desperation is most pronounced:

    โ€œI feel the rain on my skin

    Now I know what they mean

    โ€ฆIโ€™ll stay here, stay here

    So, you know where to meet

    Just look for a desperate guy on your street.โ€

    โ€œDesperate Guyโ€ pulls back the final 20 seconds of the song. Danielson is only accompanied by a guitar.ย  He sings the final verse, continuing to share his love and yearning for this man: โ€œIf Iโ€™m late too late, I wish that you knew / Donโ€™t think Iโ€™ll ever find someone like you.โ€ Isak Danielson, you put your whole foot and whole heart into this one!

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    21. King Willonius, โ€œTheyโ€™re Eating The Dogsโ€

    โ€œTheyโ€™re Eating The Dogsโ€ // Delicious Bath Water // 2024ย 

    King Willonius, Theyโ€™re Eating The Dogs [๐Ÿ“ท: Delicious Bath Water]At the ABC Presidential Debate held on September 10, 2024, former President Donald Trump said a lot of outlandish things.ย  Baited by Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Trump took the bait every time, making for an unhinged yet entertaining television experience.ย  The most memorable, outlandish, and racist thing Trump uttered was about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets โ€“ cats and dogs โ€“ in Springfield, Ohio. Rightfully, the former POTUS received criticism from everywhere.ย  Beyond criticism, the memes, reels, shorts, and TikToks have been abundant.ย  From frightened cats and dogs hearing the โ€˜fake news,โ€™ to Gen-Z guys dancing to killer songs remixing Trumpโ€™s words, the internet has won. King Willonius gets into action via AI (artificial intelligence, if youโ€™re living under a rock) with his soulful, 1970s-sounding single, โ€œTheyโ€™re Eating The Dogsโ€. I found myself giggling like a schoolgirl listening to the song. As shocked as everybody was hearing Trumpโ€™s unfounded claims about pets being stolen and eaten, AI storyteller, comedian, and showrunner King Willonius captures it perfectly in this two-minute, old-school-sounding gem.ย  What makes it sound vintage? Itโ€™s the biting, articulated horns, the dusty, soulful groove, the piano and guitar riffs, and the prominent bass line.ย  The vocals rival the big-voiced, gritty soul icons of old, filled with the blues. โ€œTheyโ€™re eating the dogs /โ€ฆ Theyโ€™re eating the cats / What the hell goinโ€™ on? / What the hellโ€™s goinโ€™ on? โ€ Thatโ€™s about the size of it.ย  King Willonius captures our show in the most entertaining way possible. โ€œTheyโ€™re Eating The Dogsโ€ = AI gold.

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    Bops That Pop: September 2024 [๐Ÿ“ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 21 Entertainment Group, Atlantic, Brooke Candy, Capitol, Concord, Delicious Bath Water, Donald Duff, ericdoa, Hot Girl Productions LLC, Isak Danielson, Island, ISO Supremacy, John Conlin, Linkin Park, LLC, LISTEN TO THE KIDS, Lovett Music, Inc., Micah McLaurin, Parlophone, PULSE, RCA, Republic, The Weeknd XO Music ULC, Top Dawg Entertainment, +1; agoss, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, cragnetta, Mohamed_hassan, succo from Pixabay]

     

    Categories: EvergreenLGBTQMusicPlaylistsPop Culture

    the musical hype

    The Musical Hype (he/him) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education and music theory/composition, respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Music and writing are two of the most important parts of his life.