Are you ready for some new jams? This week we're covering Florence & the Machine, Veronicas, Marshmello & Jonas Brothers, and more!
Here are our picks for the top 5 songs released this week, May 16–23. From JoBros to Florence & the Machine and more, you're gonna be jamming out this week to the latest hits from the industry's biggest artists!
"Call Me Cruella" by Florence & the Machine
Released: May 21, 2021
Album: Cruella Disney Soundtrack
Highlights:
- Killer lyrics!
- Florence's almost ominous, breathy vocals give a sense of impending danger
- Seemingly innocent, harmless electric guitar strumming through verses to provide delicious juxtaposition to vocals
Standout Lyrics: "Who wants to be nice? / Who wants to be tame? / All of your good guys, they all seem the same / Original, criminal, dressed to kill / Just call me Cruella de Vil"
"Leave Before You Love Me" by Marshmello & Jonas Brothers
Released: May 21, 2021
Album: Unknown
Highlights:
- Fast-paced rhythm perfect for driving down the highway—serves as a striking clash to Joe Jonas's more elongated, dramatic vocals
- Simple, DJ pop ballad musical composition which gives backdrop to power vocal performance
- Inclusion of hand-clapping during the chorus to add another layer of texture to the rock-pop rhythm
Standout Lyrics: "Dancing on the edge, 'bout to take it too far / It's messing with my head, how I mess with your heart / If you wake up in your bed, alone in the dark / I'm sorry, gotta leave before you love me"
"Earth in a Lonely Space" by Simply Red
Released: May 18, 2021
Album: Unknown
Highlights:
- Imagery of the expansive planet Earth interwoven with simpler basic human feelings
- 1970s feel to the song, with unreal sound to mirror a sense of being in space
- Easy, serene melody that doesn't carry any hard edges
Standout Lyrics: "So look at what you have / And try to make it brighter / Look at what you have / And try to make it brighter / Look at your heavy load / And try to make it lighter"
"Walls" by Cher
Released: May 19, 2021
Album: Unknown
Highlights:
- Distorted feel to vocals, which soar powerfully during the chorus
- Few repeated piano notes creating a sense of tension and drama
- Nostalgic feel through sad lyrical content
Standout Lyrics: "I don't wanna say this again / Something's gotta break hard and change, my friend / Everything we'd have way back when / Just faded"
"Savage Good Boy" by Japanese Breakfast
Released: May 19, 2021
Album: Jubilee
Highlights:
- Aggressive swagger in hard guitar chords and puncturing piano notes
- Mid-tempo pace running parallel with mid-tempo sang vocals
- Slight darker turn taken during the chorus that underlines track with edgier meaning
Standout Lyrics: "I've got a five-year plan / I've got a pension and six condos / A billion dollar bunker for two / And when the city's underwater / I will wine and dine you in the hollows / On a surplus of freeze dried food"
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