Valentine’s Day is coming upon us, and love is in the air! I figure there are three types of people right now: those who have a Valentine, those who recently broke up with theirs, and those who could care less about having one. Regardless of which group you belong to, I hope to show you a recently-released song with which you can identify.
- Jeremih ft. J Cole – “Planes”
For those of you looking for a song to put into words the otherwise indescribable chemistry felt between you and your significant other (or those of you just looking for a song to make out to), look no further than the juicy hook of R&B artist Jeremih’s new single “Planes” from his forthcoming LP “Late Nights.” Using imagery associated with flying, Jeremih paints a very seductive picture of what he wishes to do with his lover, and it all comes together in an unusually long and interestingly put-together chorus that is one of the catchiest he has ever crafted. Favorite lines: “Tell her be free, baby spread your wings/Got your legs in the sky like a plane/Let me guide that, I’m the pilot.” The song easily overcomes an unnecessary, T.M.I. verse from Cole as Jeremih’s vocals soar over bouncy, atmospheric production.
- Ciara- “I Bet”
For those of you getting over a tough break-up, give Ciara’s recent release a listen. Her angelic vocals are layered over a simple acoustic guitar riff over hip-hop percussion, allowing her harsh lyrics — likely directed at her former fiancé, rapper Future, whom it is rumored she cut loose after discovering he cheated on her — to take center stage. She plainly puts it that he’ll realize how what he gave up “soon as [she] start[s] loving somebody else.” The cherry on the top of this catchy chorus: “You know that it hurts your pride/But you thought the grass was greener on the other side.” Let the high notes she hits during the song’s breakdown carry you through to that light at the end of the tunnel.
- Charli XCX ft. Rita Ora- “Doing It”
Don’t let the typically cliché innuendo in the title fool you, Charli XCX’s standout track from her 2014 album “Sucker” — which Ora recently hopped on for the radio version of the song — stays far away from sexual themes, and boyfriends altogether. This ode to BFFs everywhere is intended for those of us who don’t need a lover to make our February 14 special, when best friends are in it for the long haul. The production is glittery, and the lyrics are bubbly. Lyrics from Ora’s verse summarize the song pretty well: “Joy like a jewel, let it sparkle/Know that I’ve got your back for life.”
