The Scout staff has compiled a list of its favorite songs to listen to as we welcome May, along with explanations and descriptions.
Latif Love:
“Redemption” by Drake
“Redemption” is an instant hit if you’ve ever been through a breakup and had to balance feeling resentful toward your old partner (especially if they’ve moved on), yet missing the time spent and wanting closure. The sample, Ray J’s “One Wish,” is fitting given the subject matter, and the slow, reverberating production matches Drake’s slower pacing, giving the overall feel of him venting to someone on a call.
“Weston Road Flows” by Drake
“Weston Road Flows” has a reputation that precedes itself. It’s one of Drake’s most legendary songs and a perfect encapsulation of how elite his pen can be when he decides he wants to murder a beat. The effortless, laid-back yet suave flow works perfectly over the production, which samples Mary J. Blige’s “Mary Joint” as he raps about his come-up in the rap game and his status as top dog. From the basketball schemes to the braggadocious bars to the references to things way too expensive for us to understand, this is Drake’s “who’s he” song.
Scarlett Rose Binder:
“drop dead” by Olivia Rodrigo
When Olivia Rodrigo dropped “drivers license” and swiftly rose to pop princess status, I swore I wasn’t a fan. She has since proven me wrong – and that’s not something I often admit. “SOUR” had some undeniable hits. Every song on “GUTS” had me hooked. Now, I can’t help but look forward to her upcoming album, because if “drop dead” is any indicator, it’s going to be a good one. The song turns the giddy feeling of having a crush into art – and, speaking of art, the accompanying music video is a visual masterpiece.
“Angel Of My Dreams” by JADE
This is a song that keeps you on your toes. On first listen, it’s impossible to predict where it might go – and that’s just the beauty of it. “Angel Of My Dreams” opens theatrically before swelling into a soaring pop anthem, only to pivot again, suddenly transporting listeners to the club. JADE perfectly synthesizes these elements into a cohesive style of her own. And just when you think the song is dying down, there’s one final turn – 35 more seconds in which JADE delivers the perfect finish to the addictive hit.
Celine Lamirand:
“WEEDKILLER” by Ashnikko
After seeing this song live, I could never turn my back on it. It was truly an experience I will never forget. “WEEDKILLER” is a song heavily inspired by fantasy novels, specifically Neil Gaiman’s work. Ashnikko took that inspiration and ran with it, making an entire album that paints her own little dystopian world. I would argue that “WEEDKILLER” is my all-time favorite song by Ashnikko, thanks to its science fiction and dystopian-inspired nature. This song opened a world of creativity that I hadn’t considered in the music realm before – it’s weird, but fun, and that’s exactly why it will always hold a spot high on my charts.
“End of You” by Poppy, Amy Lee and Courtney LaPlante
“End of You” is truly everything I could ever want in a song – three female artists who I highly respect combined to make a gorgeous yet fittingly dark song. The vocals in this track are enchanting. Specifically Amy Lee’s vocals in this song are both nostalgic and refreshing. It reminds me of her older music that I used to listen to with my dad, while also acting as a breath of fresh air in an industry full of stale, overplayed music. Poppy and Courtney LaPlante are also highly respectable in the song, of course. I think these three women’s voices blend perfectly together, like the final pieces of a puzzle. The song both represents new beginnings and inspiration for the younger versions of ourselves. If 10-year-old me had heard this song, she would have been so proud to see such talented women singing together.
Injy Wasfy:
“Is It Really You?” by Loathe
I don’t listen to Loathe much, but “Is It Really You?” brings me back every once in a while. The song is a good mix of reminiscent and haunting, and starting it with slower notes definitely helps the later, more aggressive beats land. For me, the main pull is the recognizable guitar riff that comes back in transitions. Whenever I inevitably forget this track, humming that alone brings it all back, and considering it’s about loss, it’s a nice touch.
“Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” by Lady Gaga
The sun is out longer each day, and with warm weather, this song really paints a picture of free time to let go. Even though it’s more about not having to justify yourself, the very tone of it is easygoing, with less focus on Gaga’s character and more on “this is it, this is why, that’s it.” It’s upbeat and repetitive in a good way, and eh, there’s nothing else I can say.
Paul Swartz:
“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield
Perhaps the greatest song of all time, Bedingfield’s vocal melodies in the chorus are some of the most incredible moments in a pop song of the 21st century. The track plays with pace in such a brilliant way, holding back on the best until just the right moment. Each bridge pushes the song to a new height, and Bedingfield’s slight melodic variations take what could be a repetitive sounding song to a place where almost no other pop song can reach. You know how great this is, I don’t have to tell you. It’s a bombastic, energetic track that’s as beloved as it is for a reason.
“Kingdom Hearts Key (feat. redveil)” by JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown
On an album full of insane production, this is one of the tamer beats JPEGMAFIA created for his 2023 collab album with Danny Brown – at least on the surface. But the tempo alterations and beat switches throughout the track more than make up for it. The two rappers trade some of their best lines on the project, all culminating in a spectacular feature from a then-18-year-old redveil, who slides right in onto a beat that could be intimidating for a lesser rapper. It’s the crowning achievement on an album full of innovative, genuinely deranged songs.
Jordan Jones:
“Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley
There’s something almost frustrating about how beautifully curated this song is. It feels too big to just casually listen to. Buckley’s voice moves between control and chaos in a way that makes the song feel constantly on the edge of falling apart, but it never does. The arrangement builds so naturally that by the end, it feels less like a song and more like a weight dropped off your shoulders. It demands your full attention in a way most music doesn’t anymore, which is why it still stands out decades later.
“Flatline” by Justin Bieber
“Flatline” feels quieter than a lot of what Justin Bieber usually puts out, but that’s what makes it stand out. There’s restraint to it; the production stays minimal, letting the vocals carry most of the weight. Nothing feels overdone, and that simplicity gives the song a kind of clarity that sticks with you after it ends. It’s not trying to be a big moment, which is exactly why it works.
Ethan Diamond:
“Homecoming” by Kanye West ft. Chris Martin
With summer on the way, I’m thinking about the amount of time I’ll be spending in Chicago over the next few months. Whenever I think of Chicago I can’t help but think of my favorite Kanye song, that being “Homecoming,” which is essentially Kanye’s love letter to the city he grew up in. I really like how Kanye used the instrumentals, and Chris Martin of Coldplay kills it on the chorus.
“Hysteria” by Def Leppard
The title track of Def Leppard’s 1987 album, there’s something about this song that hooks me every time it comes on. I first remember hearing “Hysteria” at their concert in 2018, and I was instantly hooked on the track. It’s been a staple in my music rotation over the eight years since, and I doubt it’ll ever leave.
Mark Wagner:
“If The World Was Ending” by JP Saxe & Julia Michaels
Sometimes, I just like to sit down and turn on a peaceful song to calm myself down after a stressful day of whatever it is I’m doing. That’s definitely the case for the song “If The World Was Ending.” The soft piano ballad in the background and quiet-ish vocals of the two artists is something that is rarely seen in pop music today, but it’s also a reason why it’ll be on my playlist for at least this month, maybe longer.
“All Night” by Big Boi
“All Night” brings me back to when I was in middle school, when I first heard the song. Despite the obvious mature nature of the song, it still tells a story, which is what I look for in rap. Plus, singing along with it in the car while I’m driving anywhere is probably one of my favorite pastimes, harmonizing along with the bridge and just trying to hit the highest notes I can just as a challenge.
Davis Kinch:
“Young, Wild & Free” by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa ft. Bruno Mars
Well, my time at Bradley is coming to an end soon, also meaning it’s the end of what some like to call “your last years of complete freedom.” So, I’ve decided to pick a song that not only came out when I was young, but a song that I feel perfectly reflects what it means to be young. I won’t be “Young, Wild and Free” for much longer, but it’s still a good listen regardless.
“Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd
It’s the last ever staff pick I’ll be doing here, so I’m picking my favorite song of all time. I don’t go a day without listening to “Save Your Tears” at least three times. The first time I heard this song, the pandemic was well under way, we were all quarantined and I was only a freshman in high school. The song immediately became my favorite, and I couldn’t care less about how much it has been “overplayed.”
Jessica Taylor:
“Staying Still” by Noah Kahan
Noah Kahan surprised everyone by dropping a deluxe version of his “The Great Divide” album just a few hours after it was released. On the deluxe album is four new songs, including “Staying Still.” The tune is about trying to move on from big events, trying to brush them off and keep going, but not being able to. Kahan is great at depicting how hard it can be to face things. Some things can’t just be forgotten, they need to be processed and dealt with.
“picking petals” by Alyssa Grace
Alyssa Grace is a newly popular artist, and “picking petals” is only her third release. She posted a raw cover of the song on TikTok and it quickly became popular. When she finally released it to streaming platforms, it got over one million streams in just the first day. Lyrically, the song is filled with metaphors as a very poetic explanation of toxic relationships. I’ve listened to it so many times, and I still keep finding new layers to the words. Musically, her guitar and vocals are wonderful. I just love everything about it.
