“Just the Way You Are” (2010)
Leila Sassouni
Bruno Mars released the hit single “Just the Way You Are” in 2010. The words to this song are quite romantic as Mars proclaims his feelings to a woman who he says he loves; he loves her beautiful smile and assures her that, no matter what, she is quite simply amazing.
This song is by far one of Mars’s best. As a child at the time of this song’s release, I was still relatively new to concepts of love and romance. I remember being in the car with my sisters while each of us sang this song at the top of our lungs, feeling the overwhelming chill of his every word.
My favorite part of this song, which is repeated throughout, are the lyrics “she’s so beautiful, and I tell her every day.” I think that, while many songs today portray women in a very negative fashion, his song sheds a more positive light on women as Mars tells a woman that he loves her no matter what and thinks she is beautiful inside and out. If you like romance and enjoy this song just as much as I do, come listen to it with me!
“Holocene” (2011)
Oliver Stordahl
“Holocene” is an ethereal masterpiece created from Bon Iver’s falsetto voice set to an exquisitely structured instrumental backdrop. The song is easy to get lost in, and without paying attention it’s difficult to find the seamless transitions between different backing instruments.
This creates an almost dreamlike sound, and the song’s lyrics match this surreal atmosphere. “Holocene” is the name of a geological epoch, a time period marked by significant events. Bon Iver sings about the life events that make up his own personal “epoch” while reflecting upon his relative insignificance in the vast Holocene time frame.
“Str8 Outta Mumbai” (2011)
Oliver Stordahl
In 2011, Jai Paul released two explosive singles and then mysteriously disappeared from the world of music after the leak of his debut album. “Str8 Outta Mumbai” is from that originally leaked 2011 album, but it remains a timeless track.
This song serves as one of the best examples of Paul’s influential style. His method of sidechaining, which is a style of compression that emphasizes the kick, showcased on “Str8 Outta Mumbai,” served as a blueprint for other producers.
The track itself is built around an obscure Bollywood sample that Jai Paul masterfully adds layers to which, when blended, create a beautifully unique song.
“Alright” (2015)
Oliver Stordahl
Inspired by a trip to South Africa where he visited Nelson Mandela’s former prison cell, Kendrick Lamar worked with superstar producer Pharrell Williams to create “Alright,” a song delving deeply into what it means to be black in America.
This song not only managed to get playing time at the Grammys, but it has also been used as a powerful chant during Black Lives Matter protests. Aside from its cultural impact, this song is obviously a musical standout.
Kendrick simplifies complex ideas into succinct eight-bar verses over rich piano chords and triumphant drums. “Alright” is not only massively influential, but also proof that Kendrick Lamar is one of this generation’s greatest talents.
“Nights” (2016)
Oliver Stordahl
Frank Ocean’s “Nights” is a beautiful mix of styles that only a select few artists could pull off. The song begins over bright guitars and a simple drumbeat, and as it continues the guitars slowly fade out and Frank begins to sound morose as fuzzy synthesizers kick in and the beat suddenly switches.
Frank Ocean manages to pack so much into a short five minutes, but he does it in a way that confusingly makes perfect sense.
“Crowns for Kings” (2019)
Oliver Stordahl
On “Crowns for Kings,” grizzled rap veteran Black Thought and up-and-coming Buffalo rapper Benny the Butcher tear apart a simple beat built over an Al Green sample. The four-and-a-half-minute song has no chorus and features just one verse from each artist, each of which is focused around the artist’s experiences with success and the obstacles they faced to get there.
The track’s themes include lack of familial structure, the prison industrial complex and fake friendships. Both rappers are masters of their craft, managing to tightly pack their verses with vivid imagery and complex internal rhyme schemes while easily flowing over the beat.