What Songs Are On Your Favorites?

Maybe you don’t have a favorites playlist or album, but you definitely have favorites. Music is a unifying force within both humanity and society. Music is a unifying force between our emotions and subconsciousness. Recently, as I’m writing this, Apple Music came out with a top 100 list of albums of all time. It was rancid, and I personally believe I have better music taste than whatever that thing was. Let me share my favorites and why:

Big Poppa by The Notorious B.I.G. It’s a classic from the best rapper of all time. (Yes, yes I know who Tupac is but my number one is Biggie.) There's not much to say about this track other than it’s a classic that has also left a legacy. There’s no one I know that doesn’t know Big Poppa front to back, sideways, and upside down. Big Poppa is my favorite not because of its lyricism, although it is representative of black aspects, but because of the overall melody and beat. It’s catchy, a summer song, a party song, and once again, a classic. 

Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado. Another musical classic. Nelly Furtado created a pop and club classic with her debut album. To this day she continues to perform the song, and of course it’s still as good as it ever was. Promiscuous hit number one on the Billboard 100 for six continuous weeks by a Portuguese-Canadian woman and also earned a Grammy nomination. While being a pinnacle of the early 2000s, Promiscuous is also a pinnacle of my playlist. Promiscuous is catchy and fun- it makes me feel like I’m Carrie Bradshaw. And trust me, when this song comes on in the club all inhibitions fly out the door. There is no other goal than to just dance and let loose. 

Maine by hallpass. Hallpass is an indie band that doesn’t come up when you Google it. I stumbled across the song on TikTok when the band was trying to promote. They’re from the American South, and the song is a buried gem. The song emulates heartbreak and losslessness while perfectly encapsulating young love. I can’t fully explain the feelings the song makes me feel while also just overall being a good song. The song is a dichotomy in the fact that I love listening to it, and it’s catchy. But on the flip side, I feel seen. It reminds me of those first breakups and tough losses. A time when you’re just trying to figure out what you want in a relationship and who you are. It’s a song I constantly tell friends about, and one that is always on repeat in the car. 

Cobra by Megan Thee Stallion. Personally, I think Megan is becoming one of the greats in music and already one of the greats in the female rapper space. All her songs are good, but Cobra is raw and angry while mixing both rap and rock. Rap and rock? Who can do that! Megan Thee Stallion. Megan’s lyricism and freestyle ability put her on par with greats like Kendrick Lamar. Personally, this is my favorite of hers. It’s not just hip-hop. It’s the black female mind- and she’s coming with a vengeance. When people like Dr. Dre started sampling iconic songs that were revolutionary, but Megan deserves that same amount of praise. She has taken, specifically with this song, two genres that don’t match and made an amazing song. Not only is it lyrically amazing, but it’s the ultimate hype song. Cobra is one of those songs you can play when you’re in your feelings, and also in the gym. Overall, I cannot praise Megan enough.

Como Te Quiero Yo by Kali Uchis. Kali Uchis is probably my favorite artist of all time- I think I have her entire discography downloaded. It was hard to pick a favorite, but this song has sentimental value to me. When the album- Red Moon in Venus- came out I was studying abroad in Florence. I remember sitting under the statue of Dante Allegheri and listening to this song with a book in my hands. The simple Florentine sun, the hustle and bustle of tourists and locals. I remember finding peace with this song while getting to live my life to the fullest. The song by itself is not super popular, but I think it deserves so much more. It feels like Kali Uchis as a song, while also blending English and Spanish. It’s become a more popular tactic in music- and I’m a fan. Latin music is becoming more popular, and the blend of culture is a welcomed change in music.