Songs I Love by Non-American Artists

So...it's the Fourth of July. Today is the day when I should be decked in red, white, and blue, screaming "Party in the USA" at the top of my lungs, and celebrating America and everything it stands for. But truth be told, I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in my country. Of course, the biggest factor in this disappointment is due to the police brutality and racism flooding through America, but there's also the stupidity of many Americans regarding the pandemic we're in. Idiots have made wearing a mask into a political debate and refused to wear them, meaning that the number of COVID cases has skyrocketed. The number of new COVID cases is going down in just about every other country, but not in the US because people are stupid and careless. Frankly, with everything that's going on, I'm infuriated with my country and I'm really not in the mood to celebrate its "greatness." Instead, I've compiled a playlist of songs by artists I love who aren't from America. No limitations regarding genre or anything, although I kept it at one song per artist for diversity's sake. I do kind of feel bad that most of these artists are from the same few countries, but the point is that they're not from the US. 

THE AMERICAS/OCEANIA

Exactly what it sounds like: these artists are from North, Central, or South America. Just not the USA. However, I did have a few songs by artists from Australia and New Zealand that I wanted to highlight, but they didn't really fit into the other two sections. So here they are!

1. "Estoy Aquí" by Shakira

Colombian singer Shakira is one of the most famous singers in the world. She and Jennifer Lopez performed the halftime show at the Super Bowl this year, and according to the Los Angeles Times' Agustin Gurza, she was "the first artist of the rock en español generation to become a star in the U.S." I specifically chose "Estoy Aquí" (meaning "I'm Here" in English) because I had to listen to it a lot in my sophomore year Spanish class. We translated the lyrics and were amused to learn that despite the fact that it sounds very upbeat and happy, the lyrics are actually quite sad. In this song, Shakira's not over her ex and it's driving her crazy. I love songs where the musical tone contrasts with the lyrics. I also really like the "fotos y cuadernos" part where she sings really fast. 

2. "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (and not Justin Bieber)

I'm kind of disappointed that I only have two Latin songs here, considering how much Latin music has taken over. I should probably listen to more Latin music. Oh well. At this rate, "Despacito" is one of the most famous songs of all time, with the music video coming close to 7 billion views. Both Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee are from Puerto Rico, and "Despacito" musically reflects that heritage, featuring the Puerto Rican national instrument, the cuatro, in its intro. The song broke barriers, becoming inescapable the world over and allowing for other Spanish-language songs to become world-famous. I mostly like it because of how catchy and summery it is, and also because the "This Is So Sad Alexa Play Despacito" meme will forever make me laugh. Also, I guess I could put the Justin Bieber remix here, since he is Canadian, but I don't like his parts of it. 

3. "In Your Eyes" by The Weeknd

I've been a casual fan of the Canadian R&B singer The Weeknd, but even with that, the songs from his latest album After Hours have blown me away. "Blinding Lights" is probably my favorite song of the year so far, and "In Your Eyes" is on par with it. It has more of the 80s disco elements that made "Blinding Lights" so irresistible for me, but it differs itself from "Blinding Lights" by having a saxophone solo in the outro. More songs need sax solos. Guitar solos are cool, but sax solos are more unique, so I prefer them. I would love this song on its own, but the sax solo puts it over the top.

4. "Want You in My Room" by Carly Rae Jepsen

Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen is best known for the world-conquering "Call Me Maybe." While she hasn't had anything as popular as that song since, she's only gotten stronger as an artist. Carly doesn't try to do anything crazy or experimental, she's just committed to making pop music, and making it right. "Want You in My Room" is pretty sexual lyrically, but sonically, it's a euphoric, 80s-influenced piece of bubblegum pop. Carly sounds adorable, especially when she says "baby, don't you want me too?" and her enthusiasm is contagious. The song was co-written and produced by Jack Antonoff, formerly of the band fun. The song features some fun little vocoder interjections from him, as well as a great sax solo at the end. 

5. "Find Your Love" by Drake

Drake is probably the single most successful artist of the past decade, for better or for worse. Drake's biggest problem is that he favors quantity over quality. He frequently releases overlong albums/mixtapes/playlists/whatever he calls them, and they're very mediocre. He knows that whatever he releases will rocket to the top of the charts, so he cares more about charting records than actually making good music. However, when he actually feels like trying, he can make a really great song. My two favorite Drake songs are "Hold On, We're Going Home" and "Nice For What," but I've already talked about those a lot, so I chose "Find Your Love" instead. My favorite Drake songs are usually the ones when he sings and focuses less on trying to be a tough, macho badass, because I think those songs tend to fit him more. (He is, after all, a Jewish kid from the suburbs of Toronto who first got famous on Degrassi. Not the first thing I think of when I hear the word "intimidating." "Find Your Love" is sort of the precursor to "Hold On, We're Going Home," and although I prefer the latter due to its more polished production, I still enjoy "Find Your Love." Drake sounds really smooth and it's just a nice song to listen to. 

6. "In My Blood" by Shawn Mendes

I feel like at first, Shawn Mendes was supposed to be, like, the new Justin Bieber. They're both Canadian and they both got discovered on social media at a young age. However, Shawn has definitely broken out from that mold. "In My Blood," the lead single for his 2018 self-titled album, is a pop-rock song that is reminiscent of the band Kings of Leon. This song means a lot to me since it's specifically about Shawn's struggles with anxiety. In 2018, right around the time this song came out, I was having really bad anxiety, so I related to it. I really connected to the lyrics and to the desperation in Shawn's voice, especially when he sings "I need somebody now." I don't love every Shawn Mendes song, but this one will always have a place in my heart. 

7. "Desperado" by Rihanna

Honestly, what is there to say about Rihanna that hasn't already been said? Originally hailing from Barbados, this multi-hyphenate has 14 number one singles, nine Grammys, and an estimated net worth of $600 million to her name. Since she's been busy with non-musical endeavors (most notably her hugely successful Fenty Beauty cosmetics line), she hasn't released new music since 2016. However, her 2016 album Anti featured some of her best work to date. "Desperado" has a brooding, almost old Western vibe to it that is unlike anything Rihanna's ever done. It's smoky, dark, and all-around satisfying for me. 

8. "No Shame" by 5 Seconds of Summer

Now we get to the Australian side of things with 5 Seconds of Summer. I've really loved what 5 Seconds of Summer have been doing lately. I used to hate them since I thought they tried too hard to be "punk," but lately it seems like they've embraced their pop sides. I know selling out is usually looked down upon, but I actually think the poppier songs work really well for the band. "No Shame" isn't total bubblegum, but it's really catchy. My favorite part is the prechorus, the "go on and light me like a cigarette" section. 

9. "Ribs" by Lorde

Lorde's 2013 breakout single, "Royals" was a shock to the system of pop music, as suddenly this teenager from New Zealand was the biggest, most influential name in music. After this song, we saw a lot more minimal, moodier songs topping the charts. The thing about Lorde is that when "Royals" first came out, my mom hated it and would always complain about how much she hated it. As a result, I sort of felt like I had to hate it too, and I had always harbored a weird bias against Lorde that I never really got over. It was stupid and petty and wrong. But then I heard "Ribs" in a random TikTok, liked what I had heard, decided to check out the whole song, and I can now say that I'm completely, 100% over my stupid bias. This is probably the most relatable song I've ever heard, and also one of the best. Considering that it's about Lorde's fear of getting older, it's definitely a song I need in my life at this point in time. I've just graduated high school and am getting ready to go to college, so Lorde's lyrics, specifically "I've never felt more alone, it feels so scary, getting old" really resonate with me. "Ribs" is poignant, nostalgic, and extremely relatable. I can tell it will resonate with me for a long time. 

10. "Riptide" by Vance Joy

This song, by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy, is one of those songs that will never get old for me. I don't listen to it every day, but whenever I hear it, it's a treat. I've always wanted to learn to play the ukulele (it's like a guitar, but smaller and cuter!) and this song is almost entirely the reason why. It's just so laid-back and has always screamed "lazy summer day" to me. I also really love the lyrics. They're kind of a random mishmash of words, but it works for me, especially the opening lyrics of "I was scared of dentists and the dark/I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations." It's such an interesting way to start the song. 

EUROPE:

Most of these songs are from British artists, which I knew would be the case. We cannot possibly overstate the invaluable contributions to music given to us by the Brits. Some of the most iconic bands of all time, such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, and the goddamn Beatles all hailed from the UK. However, my selections are all going to be pretty modern. There's nothing wrong with those classic rock bands, I'm just not as familiar with them as I should be. 

11. "Touch" by Little Mix

Little Mix haven't really broken through into the US, but they're still the biggest girl group in the world (excluding kpop). They formed on the UK's version of The X Factor and were the first group to win. Although their songs can be hit or miss, I do really like these girls. All four of them are amazing singers and they harmonize so well. "Touch" is one of my favorite songs by them because it's just a really solid pop track. It has a great chorus and the girls' vocals and harmonies are spot-on. It doesn't try to be anything more than an excellent pop song, and sometimes, that's all I need. 

12. "Love Again" by Dua Lipa

British pop star Dua Lipa has had a great year so far. Her song "Don't Start Now" was released at the tail end of 2019 and became her biggest hit in early 2020. She also released her second album Future Nostalgia this March, which was a commercial and critical success. Just like the title implies, the songs from the album are a great blend of older disco elements with more modern pop. The album's three singles, "Don't Start Now," "Physical," and "Break My Heart" were all great, but I'd love to see the album track "Love Again" become a single at some point. The song is built around a trumpet motif from the song "Your Woman" by White Town, which is a really catchy hook. I also adore the disco-style strings and the theme of how a new significant other can make you believe in love again. 

13. "Ride It" by Regard

"Ride It" was originally a song by the British singer Jay Sean, best known for the 2009 song "Down." It was originally released in 2008, but then the Kosovan DJ Regard remixed it in 2019. The remix then blew up on TikTok. The original song is very of-its-time 2000s R&B, but the remix turns it into a house song. I definitely prefer the remix, as it's faster and more upbeat. It's another one of those songs that I can just imagine listening to as I drive through a big city at night. I also think it's interesting how instead of pitching the vocals up, they're lowered. I almost always hate chipmunk vocals, but funnily enough, I don't mind deepened vocals at all. I actually think TikTok has been really beneficial for popular music, as it's made songs like "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X, "The Box" by Roddy Ricch, and "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion become number one hits, and it's helped me discover songs like "Ride It" and the aforementioned "Ribs." 

14. "Desire" by Years & Years ft. Tove Lo

This one's another remix. The original song is just by the English synthpop band Years & Years, but the remix features the Swedish singer Tove Lo. Years & Years are known for mixing R&B with 90s house music, and this song is a great example of that. It sounds like something you'd hear in a dark, underground club in some indie movie. I really like the remix featuring Tove Lo. I think she has a really underrated, unique voice, and she elevates the track to the next level. Her interplay with the band's singer Olly Alexander is fantastic. 

15. "Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles

I don't really avidly listen to any male solo artists, but if I were to pick a favorite, it would probably be Harry Styles. I've only heard a handful of songs from him, but every single one of them has been fantastic. "Watermelon Sugar" is his current single, and it's probably my personal song of the summer, even though it came out last November. His music is more influenced by classic rock than many of his peers, which is great, since his naturally raspy voice is perfect for rock. This song also has some great horns that add to its vibrance. The only thing I have to say is, geez, what is it with Harry Styles and fruit? "Watermelon Sugar" mentions both watermelons (obviously) and strawberries, "Adore You" mentions strawberries and lemons, his self-titled album had a song called "Kiwi," and his most recent album, Fine Line, had a song called "Cherry." Does this man have some kind of fruit fetish?

16. "Robbers" by The 1975

The British band The 1975 is one of my favorite bands, even if I've only heard their first two albums. Their 80s-esque, groovy synth-pop-rock style just works for me. "Robbers" from their self-titled debut album has always been my favorite song of theirs, and it always will be an all-time favorite. The song tells a Bonnie and Clyde-esque story, criminals who are also lovers. The thing that makes this song stand out is the emotion in singer Matty Healy's voice. My favorite part is when he sings "Now everybody's dead, and they're driving past my old school." He more-or-less screams it and the imperfections in his voice make the song feel raw and personal. The lyrics also add to the beautifully tragic nature of the song. I love many other songs by this band, especially "Somebody Else," "Chocolate," and "The Sound," but "Robbers" has always been my favorite. 

17. "Magic" by Coldplay

Coldplay are probably the closest thing I have to a "favorite band." While I won't claim to be an obsessive fan, I will say that I like pretty much everything I've heard from them. I'd easily consider songs like "Viva la Vida," "Clocks," and especially "Fix You" to be some of my favorite songs of all time. "Magic" came out in 2014, but I'm just now starting to get into it. The thing I really like about Coldplay is how ethereal their music sounds, and that's certainly the case for "Magic." I'm not the biggest fan of the verses, mainly because I think the way Chris Martin sings "you" in this song is weird and I can't explain why. I mostly like this song for the way it sounds. It's more spare and minimalist than a lot of Coldplay's most famous songs, but it's still pretty, and the way the song flourishes at the bridge is stunning. 

18. "Castle On The Hill" by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is one of the biggest musicians in the world, especially at home in the UK. He's had some of the biggest hits of the decade, like "Shape of You," "Thinking Out Loud," and "Perfect." "Castle on the Hill" is probably my favorite song by him to date. This song is about Ed reminiscing about his youth and it has some fantastic storytelling lyrics. I listen to it and I'm transported to the places Ed talks about, singing off-key with my friends as we race down the country roads. The song reminds me of U2 sonically, especially "Where The Streets Have No Name," a song that I've grown up listening to. This more pop rock style is a great fit for Ed's soaring vocals, and I'd love if he made more songs like it in the future. 

19. "Do I Wanna Know" by Arctic Monkeys

The Arctic Monkeys were one of the first bands to come to prominence via the Internet, and they're one of the most successful British bands of the 21st century. I always known of this song, but I never really listened to it until about a month ago. To me, it's one of those songs that wasn't a chart-topping hit, but still lingers in the public consciousness. I think the entire reason for that is because of the guitar riff, which is just awesome. The song has a very psychedelic style to it that isn't like anything I normally listen to, but I like it. It makes me feel more edgy and alternative than I actually am.

20. "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol

"Chasing Cars" is the most famous song by the Scottish-Northern Irish alternative band Snow Patrol. According to the music licensing body PPL in 2019, the song was the most played song on UK radios in the 21st century. Here in the US, it's mostly famous for appearing in the show Grey's Anatomy. I've never watched Grey's, but it's one of my mom's favorite shows, so I know a lot of the music from it, and "Chasing Cars" is my favorite. It's magical. The production of this song is so serene and transcendent, and the lyrics are very sweet. This is the couple in the story I've been writing's "song." It just makes me want to fall in love. 

ASIA:

All of my songs from Asian artists are going to be kpop, and there's nothing you can do about it! What can I say, I'm on a major kpop kick. However, for the sake of variety, I'm not allowing myself to choose any song I have already talked about. That means I won't talk about any songs from Kpop Crash Course or my Twice album reviews, all of which can be found under the "kpop" tag! 

21. "Knock Knock" by Twice

Twice are my favorite kpop group, and it's not a contest. These nine girls are adorable and their songs are like a sugar rush. I've said before that I definitely prefer their later, more mature singles over their cutesy early work, but I still like a lot of their cutesy songs. "Knock Knock" is one of my favorites in this category. The funny thing is that I didn't necessarily love this song until really recently, when, oddly enough, I had it in my head the entire time I was watching the Avatar: The Last Airbender finale. I'm not sure why I had a cutesy bubblegum kpop song in my head as I watched something so intense, but I've grown to appreciate it because of that. "Knock Knock" is really cute and catchy, and the way Sana says the title of the song is adorable. 

22. "Playing With Fire" by Blackpink

This is my favorite Blackpink song, and it has been since I first heard it. It just has a different feeling from their other songs. It has the confidence and attitude of Blackpink's other songs, like "Ddu-du Ddu-du" and "Kill This Love," but it's not as hip-hop inspired as those two. It's more electropop-leaning, but it's not straight bubblegum either. The production is great (gotta love the piano in the intro!) and I feel like this sound works really well for the girls. Rosé sounds particularly good here, as this song makes an excellent use of her unique vocal tone. I also really love Lisa's rap verse. Her raps always seem to be my favorite part of every Blackpink song. 

23. "Not Today" by BTS

"Blood Sweat & Tears" is still my favorite BTS song, but "Not Today" is a very, very close second. Many of BTS's songs have a larger-than-life, explosive feeling to them, and that's absolutely the case for "Not Today." I can't even describe it, this song just feels massive. The lyrics are about persevering through whatever life throws at you. Combined with the larger-than-life production, I see this song as a call to arms for all the underdogs to rise up against hardships. When I hear this song, I envision them riding in on military tanks, ready to destroy everything in their path. I was a little disappointed that the music video didn't feature any tanks, but it was still a really good video. Even if you don't like their music, you have to admit that BTS videos always have exquisite cinematography and production values. 

24. "Shoot Me" by Day6

I first listened to Day6 for my Kpop Crash Course series. I loved their song "I Wait," and since they seemed like the Korean version of Fall Out Boy to me (that is not a dig at them, I love Fall Out Boy), I decided to check out some of their other work. I also really like "Days Gone By" for its The 1975-esque guitars, but "Shoot Me" is the one I've come back to the most. "Shoot Me" has a bombastic pop punk energy that I love, and the hooks are the best I've heard from the band. The "bang bang" in the chorus is so memorable and gets stuck in my head all the time. Day6 are great and I can't wait to listen to more of their work. 

25. "Automatic" by Red Velvet

Red Velvet continue to impress me with every song I hear from them, and this might be my favorite I've heard. It's a tough call, I really like all of the songs I've listened to from them. Red Velvet is known for their dual concept, with the "Red" half of their name representing more upbeat pop and the "Velvet" half representing more sophisticated R&B-influenced songs. This song is clearly part of the "Velvet" concept, being very sophisticated and sensual. Their vocals are very tightly harmonized, and the production is very minimal, yet does a good job at setting a seductive tone. 

26. "View" by SHINee

My favorite boy group I discovered from Kpop Crash Course was definitely SHINee. I only heard three songs from them, but I liked all of them, so I decided to listen to more of their songs. "View" was released in 2015, making it one of their more recent songs. The song was produced by LDN Noise, who also produced "4 Walls" by f(x), as well as the group's late vocalist Jonghyun. The production of this song is definitely similar to that of "4 Walls." They both have an upbeat deep house vibe and are great summer jams. 

27. "Move" by Taemin

It's pretty common for kpop group members to release music on their own. This doesn't mean they've permanently left the group. Sometimes, they just like to explore new sounds on their own. One example of this is with SHINee's Taemin, who started releasing solo music in 2016. I actually first heard his song "Move" when I saw Momo, Mina, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung from Twice cover it. Despite the fact that Twice are known for the whole cutesy thing, I think they pull off this dark, sensual concept really well, and I'd love to hear more songs like this from Twice, even if it's just a b-side. "Move" is a really slinky dance jam that I love no matter who's performing it. Taemin has also said that with this single, he wanted to break gender norms and find a middle ground between masculine and feminine choreography for the song. I think that's awesome. 

28. "Power" by EXO

When I counted down my favorite songs from Kpop Crash Course, EXO took the top spot with their song "Call Me Baby." While I don't think I'll ever hear a song from them I like more than that, I still really enjoy much of what I've heard from them. "Power" is one of my favorites. The song is an EDM banger, with some of the synthesizers reminding me of video games. All the other EXO songs I've heard have been very smooth and mature, but "Power" shows off a playful, bombastic side to them. I also like the lyrical theme of how the power of music brings us all together. This song has a contagious energy and it's a fun track for EXO. 

29. "Black Pearl" by Sunmi

I like watching a bunch of random kpop-related videos on YouTube, mainly as a way to find new kpop songs. One of them was "Kpop B-Sides That Are Better Than the Title Track" (I can't find the specific video, though). Sunmi's "Siren" was the title track in question, and it's fine. The chorus is nice, but I didn't like the rap breakdown at all, and I'm not huge on some of the synths either. "Black Pearl" is much better. It really reminds me of the Calvin Harris remix of SZA's "The Weekend," a song I've been in love with for the past few months. It has a great groove and some fun instrumental sections, specifically a saxophone! I also like the jazzy guitar part towards the end of the track. Sunmi was formerly a member of the kpop group The Wonder Girls, and funnily enough, I think I like "Black Pearl" more than any song I've heard from her old group. 

30. "Décalcomanie" by Mamamoo

As is the case for many of these groups, I discovered Mamamoo when I listened to them for my Kpop Crash Course. I liked "You're The Best," but nearly every other song I've heard from them has been even better. I also love their song "HIP" for its attitude and confidence, but in the end, I chose "Décalcomanie" because I think it's the best portrait of who these girls are. It has the retro elements that define Mamamoo's sound and the girls' vocals are really powerful and strong. I love the contrast between the seductive, sultry verses and the more explosive chorus. I think my favorite part of the song is the jazzy breakdown, featuring a rap by the group's Moonbyul. I haven't heard that many songs from them, but Mamamoo are quickly becoming one of my favorite girl groups, and they're a great note to end this playlist on. 

Next week, I'm planning to count down my favorite High School Musical songs because I saw High School Musical 2 the other day and thought it would be a fun thing to write about. See you next week. 

Stellar

Current Favorite Songs for February 2020

I was gonna do my Kpop Crash Course thing today, but I decided instead that I wanted to talk about music that I already knew...and just so happened to really like. We're only two months in, but I actually think this year has been pretty great for music so far. I've tried to do a better job of keeping up with music by watching YouTube compilations dealing with the "top songs of the week" or whatnot and then adding the stuff that sounded good to my Spotify. And I have actually found a lot of stuff that I really like, including these songs! I used to do a bunch of these "current favorite songs"-type posts in, like, 2018. I just want to say that I'm not claiming these are "songs you need to listen to" or anything, because everybody has different music tastes. This is more just a place for me to talk about songs I personally love at this moment in time. Two years or so from now, I can look back and reminisce at what my favorite songs were in February 2020. Maybe I'll still be bopping to them, maybe I'll think they're all terrible, who really knows? But at this point in time, these are my jams, in no particular order.

1. "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd
Even as somebody who's liked pretty much every song by The Weeknd I've heard, "Blinding Lights" stands out. This is definitely the song of his that appeals most to my personal tastes. I'm always going to be a fan of this kind of synth-pop, almost 80s sound. This song kind of reminds me of "False Alarm" from The Weeknd's previous album, Starboy, due to how hard-hitting it is, but as much as I liked that song, I think this one is even better. Every time I hear it, I just want to dance, and dance really, really badly. 

2. "Adore You" by Harry Styles
I really find it interesting how, upon releasing solo material, all of the One Direction boys have gone in completely different directions (pun not intended) with their music, but Harry's solo music has been without a doubt my favorite. I've only heard a few songs from him, but every single one of them has been a 10/10, and "Adore You" is the best one yet. Most of Harry's other stuff I've heard has been more classic rock-inspired, but this song is almost disco-ish? This song is just super blissful and the chorus just makes me want to scream along, "I'D WALK THROUGH FIRE FOR YOU! JUST LET ME ADORE YOU!" 

3. "Physical" by Dua Lipa
Man, with these first three songs, it's clear that I really like songs that sound like they're from the 80s. I've been on the Dua Lipa hype train since she first debuted, but even with that in mind, "Physical" blew me away. This is probably my Song of the Year so far, although we're only in February. If we keep getting high-quality songs like we have in these past two months, then who knows what will become my Song of the Year? Anyways, "Physical" is one of those songs where the lyrics don't really matter because it's all about the beat. It's like a modern disco song, with pulsing bass and some string flourishes that make my heart flutter. I love how she cheekily says "Who needs to go to sleep when I got you next to me?" and then that effervescent, soaring chorus comes in. Dua has described her upcoming sophomore record, Future Nostalgia, as "disco-orientated", "nostalgic", and "feeling like a dancercise class", and if it sounds like this and the also-great lead single "Don't Start Now", then I'll just have to give it a listen. 

4. "everything i wanted" by Billie Eilish

I had said before that "when the party's over" was my favorite Billie Eilish song, but then I heard "everything i wanted" and, well, "when the party's over" is still a gorgeous song, but "everything i wanted" surpassed everything I had heard from her. This song is about Billie having a dream about killing herself and all of her friends turn their backs on her, but then she sees her brother and knows he won't let her do that. This song is so special because it shows how close Billie is to her brother, Finneas, but it's universal in its message. Just the thought of the line, "As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you" makes me want to cry. It's such a simple but beautiful sentiment.

5. "Simmer" by Hayley Williams
I remember specifically saying that I needed to listen to more Paramore in 2018. It's been two years and...I have not done that, sadly. Despite that fact, I still instantly gravitated towards "Simmer", the debut solo single from their frontwoman, Hayley Williams. I've always really loved her voice, and while this song isn't a huge vocal showcase, it doesn't need to be. This song is quiet, pent-up rage. I specifically love the way she says "from a f*cker like that man" with so much sheer disgust. I'm excited for what Hayley does next in her solo career, and I hope that sooner rather than later, I'll stop slacking and get into Paramore. 

6. "You should be sad" by Halsey
I like Halsey a lot, even though she can't really sing and can be kind of pretentious. I just like how bold and unafraid she is and how she publicly supports issues like LGBTQ+ and women's rights and mental health awareness. I haven't heard her new album Manic yet, but I really like what I've heard, including the current single, "You should be sad." At first when I saw the title, I thought it was going to be a really weepy, emotional song, but it's actually a song where she belittles her ex for treating her like crap. The lyrics in this song are pretty brutal, with my favorite being "I'm so glad I never ever had a baby with you, 'cause you can't love nothing unless there's something in it for you." I also like how this song has a country style to it. I don't really like country music, but I unexpectedly really like a lot of the country-inspired pop and hip-hop songs to come out recently. Weird. 

7. "The Box" by Roddy Ricch
This has been the #1 song in the country for seven weeks, and I'm not gonna say it's the best song ever written, but I really like it! It got popular on the app TikTok due to an ad-lib where Roddy Ricch makes a sound like a squeaky faucet. I don't use TikTok (I'll probably get an account soon, because there are a lot of almost Vine-like comedy videos that I'd love), but I've noticed that a lot of songs nowadays get popular off of it, and those songs are usually pretty fun. I like the squeaky sound and I like all the different flows Roddy Ricch uses in this song, especially when he says "Imma get lazy." I also like when he says he's "a 2020 president candidate." Genius says that's a reference to his watch, but I can't help but think this rapper that I know nothing about would still make a better candidate than half the people running. Stellar gets political!

8. "Rodeo" by Lil Nas X ft. Nas

I'm not even sure if I love this song or if I just love Lil Nas X. This man is a national treasure and he must be protected at all costs. He was this kid who literally came from nothing but one day, he decided to make a rap song about being a cowboy and proceeded to rule the world. He got everyone talking with his song, asking "Is it rap?" or "Is it country?", and in the middle of all the discussion and popularity of "Old Town Road", he came out as gay. Just think about it: a gay, 20-year-old rapper made a country rap song with Miley Cyrus's dad and it became the biggest song of all time. I can't help but find that pretty awesome. Despite the fact that his song is pretty much legendary, Lil Nas is still down-to-earth and hilarious on Twitter, promising his fans that "when old town road goes diamond i’m sending all my followers a copy of phineas & ferb season 3 on blu ray" and detailing his travel adventures: "in paris and everybody here has 2 legs just like in america." Although I don't like "Rodeo" as much as "Old Town Road" or "Panini", I must do my duty and stream it because I want Lil Nas to succeed because he's funny. 

9. "Good as Hell" by Lizzo
It's odd how despite Lizzo releasing an album last year, all of her most popular songs are from years earlier but are just now gaining steam. "Truth Hurts" came out in 2017 but didn't get big until last summer, and "Good as Hell" was released even earlier, almost four years ago. It started to pick up traction around last fall and eventually peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. I love this song because it's a girl power anthem, but it's not cliche. When I listen to it, it's like Lizzo is personally right next to me, giving me a pep talk and telling me that I'm awesome. Actually, I don't know if "girl power" is the right term, because I feel like the contagious positive energy this song has is universal. 

10. "ROXANNE" by Arizona Zervas

This song got popular off of TikTok, like "The Box". I actually didn't hear it until not too long ago, but I first knew about it because a kid in my class was always singing it. This is just about the epitome of the "Yeah, it's stupid, but it's catchy!" song. This song is really dumb but it has quite possibly the catchiest chorus I've ever heard. Just reading the word "Roxanne" makes me start singing "Roxanne, Roxanne, all she wanna do is party all night" and it ends up stuck in my head for all of eternity. It's a pretty dumb song, but it's such an earworm that it grew on me. 

11. "Circles" by Post Malone

It felt like in 2018, every time I would do one of these "current favorite songs" posts, I always had a new Post Malone song that I was obsessed with. Honestly, I think I've outgrown a lot of those songs, like "Rockstar", "Psycho", "Better Now", they're fine but not my favorites at this point. I still like Post Malone a fair bit, and I actually feel comfortable in admitting that because he's made a bunch of really good stuff lately. It's like, less hip-hop/trap/rap/whatever you want to call it and more pop rock. This song isn't rap at all, it's more of a chill acoustic kind of song, but it's not boring. The chorus is so good.
12. "Lovely" by Billie Eilish and Khalid
This song came out in 2018, actually, but I'm only getting into it recently. I'm not huge on ballads normally, but this song really stands out to me for its cinematic, moody tone. I really like both Billie and Khalid, and I love the contrast between their voices on this song. I actually think Billie does the lower harmonies for a lot of this song, which is surprising because normally, you'd expect the guy to do the lower parts and the girl to do the higher parts. This song was also featured in 13 Reasons Why, a show I liked until I realized how irresponsibly it handles the issues of depression and suicide. But even though I don't like the show at all, I have to commend 13 Reasons Why for having a fantastic soundtrack. Speaking of that...

13. "Teeth" by 5 Seconds of Summer
I didn't watch season 3 of 13 Reasons Why, so I don't know what sort of context this song has in the show or even really how it's supposed to fit at all. Funny thing is, when I was an edgy middle-schooler, I hated 5 Seconds of Summer because I thought they were a boy band trying to be punk, even though I myself had no knowledge about actual punk rock. (And I still don't, but I'm not gonna act like I do.) However, as I've gotten older, I've started to really love a lot of their newer stuff. I'm not sure how to describe their new style. I guess it's sort of synth-bass-industrial-seriously-I-don't-know-what-you'd-call-it, but whatever it is, I'm a fan. This song is so dark and ominous but I really like it. I like the call and response where it's like, "Fight so dirty but your love's so SWEET! Talk so pretty but your heart's got TEETH!" It brings me joy. 

14. "Better" by Khalid
So, when I talked about Twice and their Feel Special EP, I said one of the reasons why I liked that particular EP so much was because it had a night-drive atmosphere. I said specifically: "It's hard to explain, but certain songs just give me the "driving at night in the big city" vibe and it is one of my favorite feelings in music." I bring this up because this song, "Better" by Khalid, is one of the best night-drive songs I've ever heard. The atmosphere this song has puts me in such a tranquil, easy state of mind. Like the other Khalid song I talked about, "Lovely", this song came out in 2018 but I'm just now getting into it. I guess I'm just gonna be late to the party on every Khalid song. But better late then never. 

15. "Stockholm Syndrome" by One Direction
Similar to 5 Seconds of Summer, I hated One Direction when I was an edgy middle schooler. I thought they were just a group of "pretty boys" who made vapid music, but as I've grown, I've realized that they were so much better than I thought. With songs like "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Best Song Ever", they did the teenybopper pop thing incredibly well, but as they matured, their music matured with them and they started making some genuinely fantastic songs. The aforementioned "Best Song Ever" was my favorite One Direction song for years, but it took "Stockholm Syndrome" only a few listens to replace it. This isn't one of their more famous songs, but it 100% should have been a single. It has an incredible chorus and easygoing vibe. Plus I just learned that Harry cowrote this one...yeah, if his amazing solo work didn't solidify my opinion enough, Harry Styles is easily my favorite 1D member.

I don't really have much to say to end this. Next week's post will be on Saturday, March 7, which is my birthday, I'm talking about Pokemon Sun and Moon because I love it, yada yada I've already said this stuff before. With that being said, I'm Stellar in Neverland and I'll see you next week. Peace! 

Stellar's Current Favorite Songs (Summer 2018)

Hi, I'm Stellar, and welcome to Stellar in Neverland. So, last week I said I was doing this post that was "both lengthy and concise". What did I mean by that? I was going to sum up 50 currently popular songs in a single sentence. I'm not doing that, though, because I didn't have enough time to listen to 50 songs. Instead I'm going to make a list of some songs I really like at the moment. During the vacation I went on and was talking about last week, I used a free trial for Spotify Premium. I downloaded a ton of songs I really liked onto my phone, and I listened to those songs all throughout the trip. A bunch of them I've already talked about in other posts, but there are some that I haven't discussed yet! This is gonna be like all the other posts (tagged under "playlists" for your convenience) where I talk about songs I like or am currently obsessed with. Pretty self-explanatory.

#1. "God Is A Woman" by Ariana Grande
This song came out the first day of my trip (July 13). Despite the fact that I would have to wake up early the next morning, I stayed up until midnight like a good Ariana stan to listen to it as soon as it dropped, and I downloaded it instantly. This is my favorite song to come out this year so far, and if the new album Sweetener is anything like it, it will be an amazing record. I'll save my full thoughts for the album review, but for now I'll just say it's a sexy, empowering BOP with amazing vocals and a visually stunning music video.
#2. "Fade" by Kanye West ft. Post Malone & Ty Dolla $ign
I should write a thinkpiece called "Can I Call Myself An Intersectional Feminist And Still Listen To Kanye West?" Oh wait, I shouldn't do that because I would be in way over my head. He's a fantastic producer and true visionary. He also supports Donald Trump, has used misogynistic lyrics in his music many times, and thinks slavery was a choice. It's a battle of "Do I separate the art from the artist and listen to Kanye's music, even though his actions are morally incorrect?" or "Do I 'cancel' him because listening to his music is giving him power to say stupid stuff?" It's a tough question that I'm not sure I'm ready to answer, but I guess I'm leaning towards the former viewpoint. "Fade" came out two years or so ago, but I'm just now reluctantly getting into it. It's got a really cool beat and has some interesting uses of sampling (although I'm not sure what song/s it samples and I'm too lazy to look it up). I also really love all of Post's contributions, especially the part when he's like autotune-yelling "I BEEN ON MY SH*T, WHOLE WORLD ON MY D*CK, I JUST NEED TO KNOWWWWW". That part makes me happy. Also, I could have easily put "Black Skinhead" on here, but I already felt wrong for putting one Kanye song on here, I'm not gonna add a second.
#3.  "Often" by The Weeknd
Okay, I already talked about this one in some other post, but I didn't go into detail much about it. And I'm probably not into go into much detail about it here, either. It's dark and seductive, one of those songs that makes me feel like a stripper every time I listen to it. The lyrics are pretty much about sex and drugs, which are The Weeknd's two favorite topics to sing about, based off of what I've heard from him. I don't really care about what a song's about (unless it's about killing or raping someone or something else I find morally offensive. In that case it makes me hate the song), so I can get into this one easily.
#4. "Consideration" by Rihanna ft. SZA
I know I've been all "AHH 'DISTURBIA' IS RIHANNA'S BEST SONG EVER OMG" in the past, but I think this song's taken its place at the top for me. This song was the opener to Rih's most recent album Anti, and I think it's fantastic. It has a killer laid-back groove and I love how Rihanna and SZA (more on her in a minute) play off each other. There's sort of a reggae hint to it, specifically in the way Rihanna sings it. I also think the lyrics and message are pretty cool. It's about how Rihanna wants to take creative control over her career, and considering she has writing credits on nearly every song on Anti, it's nice that she did get that control. Also worth mentioning, I love the line "Let me cover your sh*t in glitter, I could make it gold". It's basically saying "Let me take your mediocre song you wrote for me and make it a chart-topper", and it's kind of awesome how she's being so blunt. It's also a pretty witty lyric IMO.
#5. "Drew Barrymore" by SZA
Confession time: When it comes to music, I like to say I don't care about lyrics, but it's more that I'm too stupid to understand what makes a "good lyric". I can tell what a bad lyric is (either it's grammatically incorrect, mind-bogglingly stupid, or horribly offensive), but when it comes to good lyrics, I'm lost. Most lines that people cite as "good" usually have metaphors that go way over my head. I guess if you want to have a well-written song in my book, either a.) be straightforward, raw, and relatable, b.) be witty and/or quotable (see that Rihanna lyric above), or c.) just use words I like. I bring this up because "Drew Barrymore" by SZA is a Type A well-written song. The song's about SZA's insecurities, and the lyrics are straightforward and specific but universally relatable. My favorite lines are "You came with your new friends and her mom jeans and her new Vans and she's perfect and I hate it" and "I'm sorry I'm not more ladylike, I'm sorry I don't shave my legs at night". The song also has a chill, laid-back groove that makes it easy to get into. I've heard SZA's album is really good, and if this song is anything like its parent album, I should check it out.
#6. "Under Your Skin" by Seeb ft. R. City
I can't even remember how I found this song, but it's a bop. It's a remix of the song "Make Up" by R. City, a song I vaguely remember getting kind of popular in 2015. The remix spins the original (a catchy, reggae-esque pop ditty) into a tropical house banger that wouldn't sound out of place among big hits from 2016 and 2017. I didn't really care for the original that much for some reason, but this remix is amazing to me. I think it's just because I like the production more. The chorus is still really catchy and it all-around sounds like a summer hit.
#7. "Crew" by GoldLink ft. Brent Faiyaz and Shy Glizzy
I think I found this one in some "Try Not To Rap Along" video and I thought it sounded really good so I added it to my playlist. Apparently this one was a minor hit (peaking at #45 on the Hot 100), but I had never heard of it, or any of the artists on it, until that video. I'd recommend it if you like Drake or Post Malone. The chorus is effortlessly catchy and cool, and both GoldLink and Shy Glizzy have pretty solid rap verses. It's just a really nice song to vibe out to, not much else to say about it.
#8. "The Man" by The Killers
This is probably the number one song I listened to most on the road trip. In some other post, I said I was going to make an effort to listen to more of the Killers' work, and while I haven't really done that much, I have been listening to this song for pretty much the entire summer. The funny thing is, this song doesn't sound like "Mr. Brightside" or "Human" or any other songs from them I've heard, but it's still amazing. For whatever reason, this song reminds me of like...cowboys and old Westerns, and I have no idea why that is, because it isn't country at all. It's this upbeat disco-rock jam that's very egotistical, but in a joking way. You just feel awesome and like you can take on the world while you're listening to it. Plus, it's fun to sing along to and pretty quotable, especially the "USDA CERTI-FIED LEAN!" part. That part is amazing.
#9. "Done For Me" by Charlie Puth ft. Kehlani
I still think it's insane how much Charlie Puth has improved since his career began. He started out with a feature on Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again", a song I initially loved but grew tired of quickly. After that, he released "Marvin Gaye", "One Call Away", and "We Don't Talk Anymore", three songs that were just boring to me. His first album was one of the worst-reviewed ever on Metacritic, so I'm guessing he took the immense criticism he got from it as a message of "Hey, I need to make better music." He started releasing more 80s/90s R&B-inspired songs like "Attention", "How Long", and "Done For Me", and the results were actually pretty great. "Done For Me" is a duet with R&B singer Kehlani, and I love how the two singers play off of each other. Basically Charlie's like, "You cheated on me and treated me horribly" and Kehlani's like, "Um...no I didn't". It works well as a concept for a song and it makes perfect sense as a duet. Combine that with a great, 80s-inspired beat and you get a killer pop song.
#10. "Sad Story (Out of Luck" by Merk & Kremont ft. Ady Suleiman
This may be the single most obscure song in my playlist. I had never heard of any of these artists or any of their songs until I found this one in a video about 50 underrated songs from 2017. I love watching videos containing "underrated songs" because it's a great way to find songs I maybe would have never noticed. This song is an EDM banger, but more on the chill, tropical-house side of the spectrum. It's got this really cool, laid-back guitar riff and the chorus is a complete earworm. It's also one of those songs where the music is happy but the lyrics are downbeat. This song is about some guy who had a bad childhood, didn't have many opportunities in life, killed a man, and ended up in jail at 21. Well...at least it's catchy. Also one last thing worth mentioning: I find the Genius page for this song hilarious because, well, Genius is a resource site, and I don't think resource sites are supposed to be biased. Yet the page for this song (at least the "about" section is, I think the annotations were deleted. I remember them being pretty biased too, though) is completely biased and goes on about how great it is. I quote:

"Great sounds from Italian duo Merk & Kremont! They’re back with a magnificent tune that everybody will enjoy. Sad Story (Out Of Luck) is a beautiful soundscape that brings a delicate beat combined with a smooth guitar lick, glorious basslines and luscious vocals that tell an amazing story."

This is like if the Wikipedia page for, say, The Lion King, was an essay about how it is the greatest Disney movie of all time. Oh well, the song's still a banger.
#11. "Hold Me Tight Or Don't" by Fall Out Boy
That "50 Underrated Songs" video also inspired me to add "Hold Me Tight Or Don't" to my playlist after I first discovered it for the Every Fall Out Boy Single, Ranked Worst To Best post. Initially, I thought it was good but nothing special, but it's grown on me a lot since then. It probably won't make the Top 20 Fall Out Boy songs post I'm doing at the end of the summer, but it is a pretty nice, lightweight summer jam. If you're not a fan of Fall Out Boy's poppier songs, you won't like it and you'll think it's a sellout move, but I'm more open-minded. The chorus is really catchy and the whistling melody is infectious. I also love Patrick Stump's voice on this song, especially the way he sings "down" in the chorus and the way he belts on the bridge. I would bump this up in the ranking post if I were to write it now, and it kind of makes me want to listen to the album Mania in it's entirety. Except I'm not gonna do that, because I don't want to listen to "Young and Menace" ever again.
#12. "Heatstroke" by Calvin Harris ft. Young Thug, Pharrell Williams, and Ariana Grande
Collaborations in music, especially with a larger amount of artists, can be tricky. You have to make sure every single artist on the track is pulling their share, and if even one of them isn't up to par, it can ruin the song. However, "Heatstroke" is a song where every single artist pulls their share and does amazingly well. Pharrell's chorus is pretty repetitive but it's really catchy, and his falsetto sounds light and breezy and pretty wonderful for the song's mood. Ariana's voice sounds buttery and smooth, and even though she just repeats "When you do things like this, and you set me free" throughout the song, she sounds gorgeous. I'd love to see her do more disco-style songs like this. Then we have Young Thug, whom I'm discovering I like quite a bit, considering his vocal stylings are comparable to an autotuned squawking parrot. I love the way he says "darlin'" on the intro, where he has sort of an over-the-top Southern accent. And finally we have Calvin Harris, the glue who holds all three of our performers together with a funky disco beat. I've said it before: every Calvin Harris song released from 2017 onward is perfect for summertime, and I'm quickly discovering that I might like this song more than "Slide", my other favorite Calvin Harris song. Everybody just sounds like they're having so much fun and it's a breezy, light, and fun summer song.
#13. "No Problem" by Chance the Rapper ft. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne
One thing you're going to notice about this playlist is that a lot of these songs are from 2016 and 2017, which is to be expected from me. I usually add songs to my playlist way after they get popular, because there's only so much for me to listen to. In 2016, I was primarily listening to Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco, so I missed out on some pretty great songs from that year, such as "No Problem". This song combines rap with gospel and is about how Chance the Rapper isn't going to sign to a big record label. It's immensely catchy, likable, and fun, and I think it should have charted a lot higher than #43 on the Hot 100. Another side note: I'm not too familiar with his music, but I have nothing but respect for Chance the Rapper as a person. I read that he donated $1 million to Chicago schools, and I think that's awesome.
#14. "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn
There was a stripped-down ballad cover of this song that got popular a few years ago, but I greatly prefer the original. In my humble opinion, the sad lyrics are way more effective when you combine them with upbeat synthpop. I'm such a sucker for songs that contrast happy music and sad lyrics! Robyn sounds utterly heartbroken and the lyrics are the depressing story of watching your ex be happy with something else. However, the beat is so glittering and happy-sounding so you can't tell. I think this is another example of a perfect pop song.
#15. "Better Now" by Post Malone
We started with a newer hit, and we're going to end with one, too. I'm just gonna quote that unpublished post I intended to write this week, the 50 Popular Songs Described In A Sentence thing. I talked about, like, a third of the songs I intended to write about, and "Better Now" was one of them. Basically, all I have to say is "Breaking news: Stellar continues to eat up every song she hears from Post Malone, and she continues to feel guilty about it. 9.5/10."

Okay, that's all I have for this week. Next week, I'm either going to review the Teen Titans Go movie or rank the Disney princesses, but both should be a nice departure from my usual music ramblings. I'm Stellar in Neverland and I'll see you then. Peace!

Stellar

Stellar's Summer Jams 2018!

Hi, it's Stellar. I know I said this post would come last week, and I apologize for it not coming. And I know exactly what's to blame for me not posting: FINALS. I spent most of last week studying for finals and finishing any other schoolwork I needed to before the end of the school year. School let out for me on Friday, so I will be a lot more active. I'm only allowing myself to skip two or three weeks, and I'll make sure to use my skips wisely. Today's post will be an abridged version of my summer playlist. It's abridged because my actual summer playlist currently has around 150 songs on it, although I'm prone to deleting songs I'm not into anymore and adding songs I hear in random places and think sound good. Talking about each and every one of those songs in one post is a horrible idea, because it would take way too long for me to write and it would be tedious for you to read. I'm slimming it down to some of my current favorites, as well as songs that just overall remind me of summer. Also I listed these songs in alphabetical order by artist. It's not based on how much I like them or anything.

#1. "Into You"- Ariana Grande
I know. I've talked about this song millions of times, at least that's what it feels like. But I don't care. I think in the grand scheme of things, this is my favorite Ariana Grande song. More than any other song, it best shows Ari at her fullest potential as a pop queen and it's the first song to come to mind when I hear the phrase "pop perfection". Everything about it is so meticulously crafted, like they set out to make the best pop song of all time. I mean, just listen to the complexity in the backing vocal arrangements! Part of me feels like I should've selected "No Tears Left To Cry" for my Obligatory Ariana Grande Song™, but I couldn't for three reasons:

1. "NTLTC" feels more like a spring song than a summer one to me. That sounds really weird but I interpret the song as being about rebirth and starting fresh, which are more spring sentiments to me. 
2. I'm still salty "Into You" was not the #1 Definitive Summer Song of the summer of 2016 ("One Dance" by Drake was, according to Billboard), so it will be the #1 Definitive Summer Song, more or less, for every other summer from now on.
3. I just plain like it more, and I think it's more summery. It feels like the summer fling of my fantasies, somewhat short but utterly passionate.  

One last thing: Ariana's releasing a new album, Sweetener, sometime this summer. I am majorly excited for it and every new song she releases will promptly be added to my playlist. Plus I'm reviewing the album once it comes out, so get hyped for that :D
#2. "So Good"- B.o.B.
My inclusion of a B.o.B. song may raise a few eyebrows considering his stance as a conspiracy theorist who believes the moon landing was staged, 9/11 was an inside job, and most famously (and bafflingly), the Earth is flat. But dammit, I've always liked this song. It's just a cute little pop-rap tune about how B.o.B. wants to use his fame and fortune to show his girl all the great things in the world. One of my favorite things about summer is getting to travel to various places, and this song (as well as a few others in this playlist) reminds me specifically of that aspect. However, B.o.B. mentions flying first class in this song, which brings up the question that if he's obviously been on countless planes, why does he believe the Earth is flat?
#3. "One Kiss"- Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa
So every year Billboard picks the Song of the Summer, the song that was the most successful from Memorial Day to Labor Day of a given year. Last year the winner of the prestigious title (it really isn't) was "Despacito", in case you were wondering. I'm not sure exactly what it will be this year, but if I had to guess, it would be this one. It's by Calvin Harris, who is one of the most successful producers of the decade, and it features Dua Lipa, who's been huge as of late with the worldwide smashes "New Rules" and "IDGAF", on vocals. It was a massive success in the UK, topping the charts for 7 weeks. Plus I just think it's a good song. It has a very 90s-dance vibe and Dua sounds great. It's really catchy too. This song's only peaked at #32 in the US, but I feel like its chart position will grow as the summer continues.
#4. "Slide"- Calvin Harris ft. Frank Ocean and Migos
I've heard five of the ten songs from Calvin Harris's most recent album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1. Those songs are "Slide", "Heatstroke", "Rollin'", "Feels", and "Cash Out". If those five songs are representative of the album as a whole, then I feel comfortable in saying every song is summer-ready. All of those songs I listed have awesome funk and disco-inspired beats and tons of really famous singers and rappers providing guest contributions. I love pretty much all of those songs, but "Slide" will always be my favorite. I've had this song on repeat for over a year and I have yet to get sick of it. The combination of the disco beat, Frank Ocean's soulful vocals, and Migos's laid-back verses (I love when it switches from Quavo to Offset and it's like, "(OFFSET!) Good gra-cious!") just does it for me. Plus, I'm gonna link this video of Calvin Harris showing how he made "Slide" because I just think it's really cool. I've seen a few other videos of producers showing how they make their songs and I find the process fascinating.
#5. "Run Away With Me"- Carly Rae Jepsen
Stellar, you've slept on this song for way too long. I had heard it in various places, such as in memes and at a sporting goods store. However, I never really thought much of it. Then I got into Carly Rae Jepsen's other song "Cut to the Feeling" and decided, "Maybe I should give this one a try for real." And wow. I thought "Cut to the Feeling" was a perfect pop song, but "Run Away With Me" is even better. Like, dare I say this song is on the level of pop perfection as "Into You" or "Teenage Dream". Just everything about it, from that instantly iconic (and meme-able) sax riff to that jaw-dropping chorus to the gorgeous melodies to Carly's euphoric vocals, it's magical. This song is about escaping your problems and just running away with your lover, and it feels like wanderlust. I've only heard it a few times admittedly, but I want to listen to it forever.
#6. "Bonfire"- Childish Gambino
I discovered this song from Childish Flamingo. What is Childish Flamingo, you ask? So, there's this one meme song my brother showed me called "Flamingo" by Kero Kero Bonito. I thought this song was really weird but I couldn't get it out of my head so I looked it up on YouTube and found Childish Flamingo. I was expecting it to be a mashup of "Flamingo" and some Childish Gambino song, namely "Redbone" or "3005". Nope, "Bonfire" was the other song in question. I listened to this stupid, stupid mashup so many times that I eventually memorized the first verse to "Bonfire" and can rap it perfectly, if needed. It's pretty vulgar, but most of Gambino's bars are hilarious and clever and it's one of my favorite songs to rap along to. Plus bonfires are just a staple part of summer, so it fits in to the playlist in that way.
#7. "Paradise"- Coldplay
A common theme in this playlist is that I discovered a bunch of these songs in weird, interesting ways. This one I discovered in a Mexican tourism ad my Spanish teacher made me watch in middle school. Immediately I was smitten by the beautiful, sweeping instrumentals of "Paradise", which were the perfect accompaniment to the gorgeous scenery in the ad. For a while, "Paradise" was my favorite song. It's not anymore, but I still love it. It speaks to my wanderlust better than any other song, and those violins are just so pretty! I'm now realizing how pretentious I sound in this part, but I don't really care.
#8. "Nice For What"- Drake
Drake is generally hit-or-miss for me. He has his good songs like "Forever" and my favorite "Hold On, We're Going Home", but at times he can just be really boring. However, I liked "Nice For What" instantly and it's only grown on me since. It's kind of a mess, but it makes me happy every time I hear it. The "you said you'd care for me, care for me" part in the chorus was taken from the song "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill, and even if I don't really know the original song, I feel confident in saying it's a great use of the sample. It just makes me smile! Plus the lyrics are basically Drake saying "Hey ladies, you don't have to let any of these dudes take advantage of you because you're your own woman and you are awesome!" I appreciate that. This is my Song of the Year™ thus far, but that'll probably change soon.
#9. "The Last of the Real Ones"- Fall Out Boy
I discovered this one from my last post, where I listened to every song Fall Out Boy has released as a single and ranked each one depending on how much I liked them. I had never heard "The Last of the Real Ones" before writing and once I did, I fell in love. It's just a jam. It's got a fantastic piano line and some killer melodies. That chorus has so much intensity and gusto in it, and the lyrics are pretty solid too. I still am of the opinion that Fall Out Boy's peak was with the album Folie a Deux, but it's nice to see they can still make awesome music this late into their career.
#10. "Uma Thurman"- Fall Out Boy
If you saw the post I did last week, you pretty much get the gist of why I love "Uma Thurman". Aside from the fact that it's just a fantastic pop-rock song, I mainly like it because of 2015 nostalgia, specifically nostalgia for the summer of that year. I spent the summer writing (and eventually giving up on) a story of the Uma Hermans, a rollerblading team whose name was inspired by the song and one of my friends' failed attempts to pronounce it. Every time we would hang out that summer, we would blast it, although I'm willing to bet only half of us actually loved it and the others just went along because of the inside jokes we had. One thing I've never really talked about with Fall Out Boy that I really love is how their music can take me to a specific place in time. For example, "Light Em Up" takes me to watching fireworks after a football game and "Alone Together" takes me to singing it in the car on the way to Thanksgiving. "Uma" takes me to hanging out with my friends in the summer of 2015, and that's why I have to mention it on my summer playlist.
#11. "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)"- Jamie xx ft. Young Thug and Popcaan
Fun fact: NBA 2K games are a great place to discover new music! I don't play the games myself but my brother does, and I hear songs from the soundtrack whenever I happen to be in his gaming area. The most notable song I've discovered from one of these games is "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay because it was what made me a Coldplay fan, but "Good Times" is a close second. It's one of my go-to happy songs that can put a smile on my face instantly. It's quirky, fun to sing along to (that is, if you can actually understand what Young Thug is saying) and has a dancehall-meets-soul vibe that's perfect for summer. This is the song I listen to while chilling on the beach in my fantasies...because I live in the Midwest where there really aren't any beaches. Also one last thing: you may recognize this song from a Coca Cola commercial from last year. My brother and I saw the commercial and we're just like "AYYY that's a good song!"
#12. "Make Me Feel"- Janelle Monae
I didn't know what to think of this song at first, but I kept hearing it in various places and I realized that it was amazing. It's sort of a throwback to the music of the 70s and 80s, specifically that of Prince. I love the funky disco production and how well it complements Janelle's slinky, breathy vocal style. If you're into Bruno Mars's throwback jams like "Uptown Funk" or "Treasure", you'll probably love this song. It's just really catchy, sexy, and fun, which means it's perfect for my summer playlist. Also, this song only peaked at #99 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is really disappointing to me. Like, come on, people! Do you really think that, like, XXXTentacion is better than this? Janelle deserves better.
#13. "King's Dead"- Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake
It feels like every time I do a list of my current favorite songs, I have another Kendrick song to talk about. In February, I had "LOVE." and "DNA.", and in March I had "Pray For Me". Now we have "King's Dead", which is from the Black Panther soundtrack like "Pray For Me". I've actually only heard a few Kendrick Lamar songs, but I love pretty much all of them. "King's Dead" is one of my favorites. Jay Rock's verse is pretty cool, Future's part is hilarious (the "ladidadida, slob on me knob" part is a meme for a reason), and James Blake's part is really short but sounds cool, but the song belongs to Kendrick. His chorus is really quotable and his verse might be my favorite one I've heard from him. He has the final verse, and like on "DNA.", the beat switches up and Kendrick starts spitting fire. Genius says his verse is from the point of view of Killmonger, the villain of Black Panther, and between the intensity and the lyrics it's just...whoa. (Infinity War spoilers, even though I haven't seen it) I know Black Panther dies in Infinity War, but I hope they bring him back to life just so they can make a Black Panther 2 and we can get another Kendrick-curated soundtrack :)
#14. "Guillotine"- Jon Bellion ft. Travis Mendes
Like a lot of these songs, I have an interesting story as to how I found it. Sometimes when I'm bored and want to find new music, I'll watch videos of random vloggers showing you their playlist by playing snippets of songs. Most of the time, they're titled "My Current Favorite Songs" or "Songs You Need In Your Life" or something like that. I can't remember which video I found "Guillotine" in, and I'm too lazy to try to find it, but it was in one of those videos. I decided to give it a try because I thought it sounded cool and I fell in love with it. The bassline kind of reminds me of "Attention" by Charlie Puth, but I think I like this song more. It's just super-catchy and I love the vibe. My favorite part is the bridge, where featured guest Travis Mendes takes the mic. It has a really soulful and infectious melody and I really like Travis Mendes's voice.
#15. "Teenage Dream"- Katy Perry
A good portion of this blog, namely this post, this post, and especially this post, are dedicated to bashing Katy Perry. I think she's incredibly hit or miss. She has a really cringey, problematic personality and she makes some terrible music from time to time. But damn, when she hits, she hits hard. "Teenage Dream" reminds me of "Into You" in the sense that I can make a good case for it being a perfect pop song. It's Katy at her most real, stripping away the corny lyrics and cheesy gimmicks and just making a great pop song. It's also similar to "Into You" in that it feels like the perfect summer love song: effervescent, sweet without being too saccharine, and effortlessly catchy. It's nearly perfect melodically and has one of the most exhilarating hooks of the decade, possibly ever. Literally the only reason why I prefer "Into You" is because "Into You" wasn't produced by a rapist (Dr. Luke). But still, "Teenage Dream" is a killer pop song.
#16. "Stir Fry"- Migos
Migos are something of a problematic fave for me. Like, yeah, they're homophobic, and I'm pretty sure Offset cheated on Cardi B, but I like a couple of their songs. "Stir Fry" is unlike any Migos song I've heard, and I think it's because of the beat. Most Migos songs have very minimalist beats but "Stir Fry" has a weird, complex instrumental that was actually produced by Pharrell Williams. The beat kind of reminds me of "Lemon", by N.E.R.D. and Rihanna, which makes sense because they were both produced by Pharrell. The song is overall pretty weird, but I can dig it. Plus, there's another Animoji commercial featuring this song, which makes me like it that much more.
#17. "Psycho"- Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign
Guys...I finally figured out why I like Post Malone even though I feel like a Basic White Girl™ every time I listen to his music! That reason is, of course, that I think it's scientifically impossible for the dude to make a song that isn't ungodly-catchy! I mean, "Rockstar", "Congratulations", "Candy Paint", every song I've heard gets stuck in my head all the time. Hell, "I Fall Apart", which is his Depressing Breakup Song™, is an earworm for me! But all of those songs pale in comparison to the earworm that is "Psycho" with Ty Dolla $ign. The hook on this one is mind-numbingly catchy and hearing just a snippet of it will leave it in my head for the rest of that week. It's not even an upbeat song, there's just something about that chorus that is insanely catchy. Also fun fact: one time I was waiting for my dad to get in the car so I could practice driving and this song came on the radio and I was jamming so hard I accidentally turned on the windshield wipers. Nice job, Stellar. 
#18. "Riptide"- Vance Joy
I made a list of my favorite songs of 2015 on my old blog, which you can read here (but you probably shouldn't because it sucks). While I've outgrown a few of those tunes, some of them I still really love, like "Riptide". I had somewhat ignored or forgotten about "Riptide" for some time, but I randomly decided to add it back to my playlist on the way to a forensics competition. That was a good decision, because it's such a good song. It's so chill, laid-back, and just kind of pretty. It's like a lazy summer day. I think the only reason why it's on this specific playlist is because it prominently features a ukulele and ukuleles will always scream "summer" to me for whatever reason. Well, that and it's a good song, but you knew that already.
#19. "Obsession" by Vice ft. Jon Bellion
I know I put this song on my March playlist, but when it's this perfect for summer, how could I leave it off? I discovered this one from when I did my First Impressions #5 post in January. I discovered a lot of songs I love in that post, such as "Cut to the Feeling", "LOVE.", and "Quit" by Cashmere Cat and Ariana Grande, but "Obsession" trumps them all. One of the things I said when talking about "Obsession" was that I was mad I didn't discover it in summer because it just sounded like a summer song to me. Luckily, I haven't gotten sick of this song yet (even though I've had it on my playlist since January), so it can be my summer jam too. For whatever reason, this song reminds me of waterparks, even though I've never heard this song at a waterpark. I don't get it either.
#20. "pick up the phone"- Young Thug and Travis Scott ft. Quavo
Besides NBA 2K video games, you know what else is a good way to discover new music? "Try Not To Sing (or rap) Along Challenge" videos! I watch these types of videos all the time when I'm home alone, and there are a surprising amount of songs I've discovered from them. "pick up the phone" (yes, it's supposed to be all lowercase) is one of those songs, and I enjoy it for the same reasons I like most trap-rap songs. It's catchy and it's got a cool beat. Like most rap songs I talk about here, I can understand if you wouldn't be into the style but I like it. I like when Young Thug says "Never will I treat on you, never will I commit treason" because he's saying he loves his girl so much that even suggesting cheating on her would be like committing a capital offense, and come on. That's just cute.

That's all I have for today. I've already started working on next week's post, which is about songs you may have forgotten. Unless something happens, I'll have it ready next Wednesday. I'm Stellar in Neverland, and hopefully I'll see you then. Peace!

Stellar

15 Current Favorite Songs (Because I Felt The Need To Make This Post Again)

Hi, I'm Stellar, and welcome to Stellar in Neverland! I wasn't actually sure if this post was going to get done because I had no time to work this weekend, but I was able to complete it in two days! Hooray! I'm still not sure if I want to switch and post every other Wednesday, but I'll try to decide soon. My original plan was to write the third installment of The Stellar Adventures of Catalina in Neverland, but my limited schedule prevented that from happening. I decided to do another list of my favorite songs instead. If you read my 30-Day Music Challenge, you'll probably know why, but if you didn't:

"I really regret making that one Current Favorite Songs post from a few weeks ago at the time I did because I really struggled coming up with 10 songs I was really into. I should’ve waited a week to write it, because that week I discovered a bunch of songs I LOVE..."

So yeah. I just thought it would be a good idea to list the songs I love here. Some of these I discovered recently, but others I've known about for a while and am just now starting to get into. You may even recognize a few from other posts! That's enough rambling for now, let's get started.

#1. "Pray For Me" by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar

Black Panther made its box-office debut last month and quickly became the biggest superhero movie of all time. Naturally a mega-smash like this deserves an awesome soundtrack, so they got Kendrick Lamar, who is probably the biggest rapper in the world right now, to curate it and appear on many of the songs, including "Pray For Me". Considering that I've liked every song I've heard from both Kendrick and The Weeknd, I had really high expectations when I saw it on the track listing, but my expectations were somehow surpassed. Both artists get their chance to shine and tell about the emotional turmoil superheroes face, and despite the fact that I am not a superhero, I can relate. My favorite part is when they sing "Just in case my faith go, I'll live by my own law" in unison at the end. I'd love to see more collaborations between between these two. Like maybe a full collab album or mixtape. That would be amazing.

#2. "Reminder" by The Weeknd

You know that quote above from the 30-day music challenge? Yeah, it was referencing this song. I had heard snippets of “Reminder” in various places, but I didn’t think much of it originally. Then I heard it again in some “try not to sing along” video I don’t remember, decided to give it a chance, and I’ve had it on repeat ever since. This song’s about how The Weeknd is reminding everyone that he’s here to stay and he’s not going to change, and it has one of my all-time favorite lyrics: “I just won a new award for a kids show talking ‘bout a face numbing off a bag of blow/ I’m like, ‘god****, b*tch, I am not a Teen Choice’”. That line is just so much fun to scream out. Combine that with a cool, relaxed beat and some really catchy melodies and you have a song that will stay on my playlist for a while.

#3. "False Alarm" by The Weeknd

No I don’t like The Weeknd what are you talking about. All kidding aside, I’ve recently become obsessed with these first three songs. In my head I always compare “False Alarm” to “Reminder” because they’re by the same artist off of the same album (“False Alarm” even comes before “Reminder” on Starboy), I discovered them at the same time, and I like them both an equal amount. Seriously, I wouldn’t be able to choose the one I prefer if I had a gun up to my head. The one thing I will say is that “False Alarm” is way ballsier. If you like an adventure in your song, you’ll like this one. It has an unsettling vibe complete with screaming in the chorus, like an upbeat version of The Weeknd’s own “The Hills”. This song is weird, but not weird enough that it’s unlistenable or alienating. It’s still got a really catchy hook and intense beat.

#4. "Candy Paint" by Post Malone

Fun fact: I discovered this song from a The Office meme account on Instagram. Not even joking. Basically, I saw something mention that Post Malone had a song in which he says "I love paper like I'm Michael Scott", and I thought that was funny so I Googled that lyric and found this song. Ever since then, I've been obsessed. I've only heard like, three songs from Post Malone, but I like all of them and this is my favorite. It is insanely catchy and laid-back hip-hop, the kind of thing he usually does and excels at. I kind of feel like a Basic White Girl™ every time I listen to it, but is being basic really that much of a bad thing?

#5. "How Long" by Charlie Puth

When Charlie Puth first came onto the scene, I wasn't a fan. I mean, I liked "See You Again" until I heard it five billion times, but his solo work was mostly pretty mediocre to me. When he changed musical styles with "Attention" last year, I liked it but never really loved it. However, I did begin to see his potential, and the follow-up single "How Long" blew me away. There really aren't many differences between "Attention" and "How Long", it's just that, for whatever reason, the latter is better. It has lots of melodic hooks, a great bassline, and even decent lyrics. Hopefully Charlie continues to make music in this vein, it’s working out for him well.

#6. "Obsession" by Vice ft. Jon Bellion

And here we begin a series of songs I discovered from the First Impressions #5 post. I went pretty in-depth on these, so I’ll keep it short. More than any other song on that list (except for maybe “LOVE.” by Kendrick Lamar), “Obsession” has been a song I’ve just played over and over again. I am (obligatory crappy pun) obsessed with it. It’s so upbeat and fun, just a joy to listen to for me. This is probably my favorite song in that entire post, now that I think about it.

#7. "Cut To The Feeling" by Carly Rae Jepsen

We continue our list of songs from First Impressions #5 with this similarly jovial song from Carly Rae Jepsen. This is probably the happiest song ever written, and considering I’ve been through some dark times lately, it’s definitely one I need. I like to imagine an alternate universe where this is the Carly Rae Jepsen song that became a billion times platinum and was a cultural phenomenon instead of “Call Me Maybe”. Also in that universe, Donald Trump is not president, scientists found the cure for cancer, and my blog has as many views as the “Despacito” video (almost five billion as of writing this!) Can I please transport to that universe?

#8. "Woman" by Kesha

Last one I discovered from that specific post. I love Kesha, but honestly I think this might be my favorite song of hers. It’s the lovechild of her old and new music, combining the attitude and immense personality everyone fell in love with and funky, organic instrumentation. It’s confident and sassy in all the best ways. Besides, sometimes you just need to scream “I’M A MOTHERF***ING WOMAN” at the top of your lungs.

#9. "Motorsport" by Migos ft. Nicki Minaj and Cardi B

I discovered this song from my First Impressions #3 post, and although I originally gave it an 8/10, I was leery about accepting it as one of my favorites. I'm a person who values their morals over anything else, so I kind of feel like I'm committing a sin by liking a Migos song. Because no matter how many bangers they make, I still can't overlook the fact that they are, indeed, homophobic. But one day I just could not get this song out of my head and I was forced to accept that I loved it. It's a banger, with good verses from all three of the Migos (there's this one part in Quavo's verse where he says "Xan, Perky, check, Bill Belichick, take the air out the ball" that just loops over and over in my head), even though the two girls steal the spotlight. Especially Cardi, whom I've discovered has my favorite verse upon repeated listens.

#10. "The Way Life Goes" by Lil Uzi Vert ft. Oh Wonder

I talked about this one in some other post (not gonna link because it’s already linked up there), but I didn’t go super in-depth about it. I probably won’t go in-depth here either, tbh. I’m starting to come around on Lil Uzi Vert, and you can blame my brother for that. I remember I was talking to him about the Grammys one time and he was just like, “How come Lil Uzi Vert didn’t win everything?” “The Way Life Goes” is just really catchy and actually pretty positive. I know it hurts sometimes, but you’ll get over it. That’s just good advice, especially for me, a person who freaks out over everything.

#11. "Lemon" by N.E.R.D. ft. Rihanna

This song is actually really dumb, but screw you I like it. In a time where most hip-hop is dark trap bangers (that I mostly like, for the record), it’s nice to see a fun, energetic, and straight-up weird song like this. This has quite possibly the greatest opening line ever: “The truth will set you free, but first, it will piss you off.” I just find that hilarious. Also: can Rihanna please release a rap album? I normally don’t want my pop stars rapping, but Rihanna’s verse on this is awesome. Just another reason why she is, and always will be, a queen.

#12. "One Foot" by Walk The Moon

Once again: “Shut Up And Dance” by Walk The Moon is my favorite song of all time. Despite my utter adoration for that track, I honestly don’t know any other songs from the band. I heard they had another song, “One Foot”, on the radio and I was excited. No, it’s not as good as “Shut Up And Dance”, but I do indeed like it a lot. It’s a really upbeat and positive song (it feels like there are a lot of those in this list), and it combines modern pop with the sounds of the 80s in a cool way. Hopefully we get more songs like this (and “Shut Up And Dance”, of course) from Walk The Moon in the future. And hopefully my lazy self will actually dive in deeper to their discography.

#13. "Confident" by Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper

Yeah, I like some Bieber songs. Shut up. “Confident” has been out since 2013, but I only got into it last summer. I’ve really been playing it a lot lately. This song flopped pretty hard when it came out, but I’m of the opinion that if it came out today (instead of in 2013, when Biebs was in his juvenile-delinquent phase and the public hated him), it would’ve been a smash. It has R&B production, laid-back vocals from Bieber, a subtle-earworm chorus, and even a verse from Chance The Rapper before he blew up and won a bunch of Grammys. This is probably my favorite Justin Bieber song, and it makes me sad that people don’t really know it.

#14. "Break Your Heart Right Back" by Ariana Grande ft. Childish Gambino

Honest question: can a post even be considered a Stellar in Neverland creation if it doesn’t have a reference to Ariana Grande? No, no it cannot. I’ve talked about her so many times you’re probably getting sick of me praising her, but I don’t care. Her 2014 album My Everything is an album I haven’t actually heard in its entirety. I’m honestly not that big on any of the singles anymore, but the few deep cuts I’ve heard are some of my favorite Ariana songs. “Break Your Heart Right Back” is one I’ve been liking a lot lately. The song is about Ariana breaking up with a guy who cheated on her with another guy, and it’s a fun and sassy throwback hip-hop inspired bop. Ariana sounds great as always, and Childish Gambino’s verse as the guy in question is pretty funny. Should’ve been a single.

#15. "Bad Decisions" by Ariana Grande

And speaking of Ariana Grande songs that should’ve been singles, I’m ending this playlist with “Bad Decisions” from her most recent album Dangerous Woman. I reviewed the album back in November, and while I did that, I had an epiphany: I have totally been sleeping on “Bad Decisions”! At the time I wrote the review, I hadn’t listened to it in awhile, but I realized how good it was then and it’s been on repeat ever since. It blends R&B with pop and is mature yet fun, exactly what I want from Ariana.

That’s all I have for this week. Next post will be either another Stellar Adventures of Catalina in Neverland or another new series I just came up with. It'll either come out next Wednesday (April 4) or the week after (April 11). I’m not sure yet. Either way, I’ll see you then. Peace!

Stellar