Christmas Tree Farm is a Christmas single by singer Taylor Swift that was released on December 6, 2019. This is the first Christmas-themed music that the singer has ever put out since her 2007 EP titled The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection.
On the first verse, Swift begins to reminisce about growing up on Christmas tree farm back in Wyoming, Pennsylvania singing:
In my heart is a Christmas tree farm Where the people would come To dance under sparkling lights Bundled up in their mittens and coats
Then, Taylor continues on the chorus with the lyrics:
Under the mistletoe Watchin' the fire glow And tellin' me, "I love you" Just bein' in your arms Takes me back to that little farm Where every wish comes true
I just absolutely love the meaning behind this track about the singer remembering what it was like on a Christmas tree farm when she was a little girl. The lyrics and the production were right on point along with the art cover, which features a young Swift holding a white dog. So cute!
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Senorita is a song by singers Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello that was released on June 21, 2019. The song is included on the deluxe edition of Mendes' self-titled third studio album and also on Cabello's second studio album Romance.
Lyrically, Senorita is a steamy latin pop track that tells the story of two people falling in love with each other. Mendes and Cabello take turns exchanging verses.
Camila opens up the chorus with the lyrics:
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya But every touch is ooh la la la It's true, la la la
Then, Shawn comes in and gets a little sensual on the first verse with:
Sapphire moonlight We danced for hours in the sand Tequila sunrise Her body fit right in my hands, la la la It felt like ooh la la la, yeah
On the chorus, Mendes and Cabello show off their chemistry singing:
Ooh, you know I love it when you call me señorita I wish it wasn't so damn hard to leave you But every touch is ooh la la la It's true, la la la Ooh, I should be running Ooh, you keep me coming for ya
Senorita is my favorite song by Shawn and Camila. I like the Latin music influences and how both of the singers' voices were perfect on this track. If you're a fan of Shawn and Camila's 2015 collaboration "I Know What You Did Last Summer" , then you're definitely going to love "Senorita".
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Badlands (stylized in all caps) is the debut album by singer-songwriter Halsey that was released on August 28, 2015, by Astralwerks. The singer wrote every song on the album when she was just 19 years old, while the production for Badlands was handled by Norwegian producer Lido along with others.
Badlands experiments with different musical genres like electropop, dark pop, alternative pop, synth-pop and also features some industrial music undertones within the album.
Castle
Castle opens the main gates as listeners prepare to enter into the Badlands. A booming metropolis where Halsey talks about her state of mind.
She opens up the first verse with:
Sick of all these people talking, sick of all this noise Tired of all these cameras flashing, sick of being poised Now my neck is open wide, begging for a fist around it
Then, on the chorus, Halsey refers to breaking down the barriers of male domination and wants to be the ruler of her 'kingdom' singing:
I'm headed straight for the castle They wanna make me their queen And there's an old man sitting on the throne That's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean
Hold Me Down
On "Hold Me Down", the singer reminds us that no matter how small people may make you seem, you shouldn't let anyone hold you down.
Halsey sings on the first three lines with the lyrics:
My demons are begging me to open up my mouth I need them, mechanically make the words come out They fight me, vigorous and angry, watch them pounce
The criticism that the singer has faced for being different and her thoughts of self doubt are mentioned here on the chorus singing:
Hold me down, hold me down Sneaking out the back door, make no sound Knock me out, knock me out Saying that I want more, this is what I live for
New Americana
New Americana has been described by Halsey as "a song about a generation that is not afraid of diversity" as she sings on the first verse:
Cigarettes and tiny liquor bottles Just what you'd expect inside her new Balenciaga Vile romance, turned dreams into an empire Self made success now she woes with Rockefellers
Then, Halsey continues on the chorus with the lyrics:
We are the new Americana High on legal marijuana Raised on Biggie and Nirvana We are the new Americana
Drive
On "Drive", the singer touches on a love that lives within boundaries.
Halsey kicks things off on the first verse with the lyrics:
My hands wrapped around your stick shift Swerving on the 405, I can never keep my eyes off this My neck, the feeling of your soft lips Illuminated in the light, bouncing off the exit signs I missed
Then, she moves on to the chorus with:
All we do is drive All we do is think about the feelings that we hide All we do is sit in silence waiting for a sign Sick and full of pride All we do is drive
Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday might be considered as Halsey's most underrated song to date. The track was inspired by the 1953 film of the same name starring Audrey Hepburn and shows the singer reflecting on her real life.
She sings on the first verse:
Do you remember the taste of my lips That night I stole a bit of my mother's perfume? 'Cause I remember when my father put his fist Through the wall that separated the dining room
Then, Halsey continues on the chorus with the lyrics:
And we know that we're headstrong And our heart's gone And the timing's never right But for now let's get away On a Roman holiday
Colors
Colors is an alternative pop song that talks about falling out of love with someone because they have changed so much as a person.
Halsey makes mention of Matt Healy, the lead singer of The 1975 on the first verse singing:
Your little brother never tells you but he loves you so You said your mother only smiled on her tv show
Then, she lets her feelings for her lover be known on the pre-chorus with:
You're dripping like a saturated sunrise You're spilling like an overflowing sink You're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece And now I'm tearing through the pages and the ink
The singer is still remaining true to herself despite the relationship that she is in with the lyrics:
Everything is blue His pills, his hands, his jeans And now I'm covered in the colors pull apart at the seams And it's blue And it's blue
Coming Down
Coming Down is where Halsey mentions the particular characteristics of her lover with the usage of drugs and the topics of religion, just like she did on her previous song "Colors".
On the pre-chorus, she sings:
Now we're lost somewhere in outer space In a hotel room where demons play They run around beneath our feet We roll around beneath these sheets
Halsey moves into the chorus with:
I've got a lover a love like religion I'm such a fool for sacrifice It's coming down, down, I'm coming down It's coming down, down, I'm coming down
Haunting
The song Haunting portrays a much darker side for the album as Halsey wants her former lover to continue to haunt her since she's been cold when he left.
She sings on the first verse:
I was as pure as a river But now I think I'm possessed You put a fever inside me And I've been cold since you left
Before continuing on the chorus with the lyrics:
I'm begging you to keep on haunting I'm begging you to keep on haunting me I'm begging you to keep on haunting I know you're gonna keep on haunting me
Control
Control is the singer's most emotionally song to date as she talks about the personification of her bipolar disorder, which is something that Halsey has been opened about since being diagnosed with it in her teenage years.
The first verse begins to describe the uphill battle taking place in her mind as she sings:
The house was awake, the shadows and monsters The hallways, they echoed and groaned
I sat alone, in bed till the morning I'm crying, "They're coming for me" And I tried to hold these secrets inside me My mind's like a deadly disease
Then, Halsey appears to be in the middle of an episode on the chorus with the lyrics:
And all the kids cried out, "Please stop, you're scaring me" I can't help this awful energy God damn right, you should be scared of me Who is in control?
Young God
On "Young God", Halsey shows herself being in a happy relationship with a man. For some, "Young God" could be interpreted as a sequel to the singer's hit song "Ghost", where she is searching for a passionate romance.
The tracks opens up with a reversed intro:
Tnavresbo eht era evol ni desruc reveroF
Liated eht ot evals a reveroF
But when you put all of the words together, it reveals a special message from Halsey:
Forever cursed in love are the observant
Forever a slave to the detail
She starts things off on the first verse with:
He says, "Ooh, baby girl, you know we're gonna be legends I'm a king and you're a queen and we will stumble through heaven If there's a light at the end, it's just the sun in your eyes I know you wanna go to heaven, but you're human tonight"
On the pre-chorus, the singer is getting deep and personal with the lyrics:
And I've been sitting at the bottom of a swimming pool For a while now, drowning my thoughts out with the sounds
Before Halsey continues on the chorus singing:
But do you feel like a young god? You know the two of us are just young gods And we'll be flying through the streets with the people underneath And they're running, running, running
Ghost
Ghost serves as the final track for the Badlands album. Lyrically, the song is about the loss of a passion that you had with your ex-lover as Halsey sings on the pre-chorus:
You say that you're no good for me 'Cause I'm always tugging at your sleeve And I swear I hate you when you leave I like it anyway
Before she gets into a very catchy chorus on the track with the lyrics:
My ghost Where'd you go? I can't find you in the body sleeping next to me My ghost Where'd you go? What happened to the soul you used to be?
So, here is my take on Halsey's album Badlands. I love how she covered so many topics on this record such as her personal life like bipolar disorder, religion, drugs, current and past relationships, etc. There was not one bad song on the album that stuck out with me. My personal favorites are Colors, Haunting, Drive, New Americana and Hold Me Down.
I recommend that you listen to this album by Halsey from beginning to end because you don't know what you're missing out with this very talented singer right here.
Suga's Interlude (Suga stylized in all upper case) is a song by Halsey that was released on December 6, 2019. It serves as the second promotional single for her upcoming third album Manic along with her other song "Finally // Beautiful Stranger" being released on the same day.
The track features vocals from Min Yoongi, who goes by his rapper name Suga, from the K-pop group BTS. This is the second collaboration between BTS and Halsey with the first one being "Boy With Luv".
Lyrically, Suga's Interlude is a emotional dreamlike song that recounts the experience of falling in and out of love with music. Both of the artists take turns expressing their passionate about their work of art while also dealing with the overtones of the music industry looming over them.
Halsey opens up with the lyrics:
I've been trying all my life To separate the time In between the having it all And giving it up, yeah
Then, Suga comes in on the first verse rapping:
Ayy, this wandering, with only blueness inside my head Self-loathing and pride live in my heart I was full of dreams, then I grew and made all of it come true Yet keeping dreams as dreams would be better I thought, while living at the same time May my leap not be a fall Your convictions, efforts, faith, and greeds It is not of ugliness, I believe it, ayy The dawn before sunrise is darker than anything But never forget the stars you hope for only appear in the dark
On the chorus, Halsey sings:
I wonder what's in store If I don't love it anymore (Hey) Stuck between the having it all And giving it up, yeah
Oh my gosh, you guys. This song by Halsey and Suga is so beautiful. I love the lyrics, production and the whole meaning behind the track. I am glad that the singer released this along with "Finally // Beautiful Stranger" together. Within each song that Halsey releases from the album, we are starting to see another side of her that we have never seen before.
Buy, listen and stream SUGA's Interlude on all streaming platforms now:
Finally// Beautiful Stranger is a song by American singer Halsey that was released on December 6, 2019. It is the first promotional single for the singer's upcoming third studio album Manic. She also released the music video for it on the same day.
The video starts off with the singer in an abandoned bar playing her guitar. And then, she goes intoa dream sequence where she imagines herself performing her song in front of a crowd of people while sporting a 90s like Lilith Flair look.
Finally// Beautiful Stranger is a guitar driven track that tells the story of Halsey meeting a guy for the first time and then immediately starts falling in love with him. This song is most likely about her boyfriend at the time, Yungblud.
She opens up the first verse with the lyrics:
Your eyes, so crystal green Sour apple baby, but you taste so sweet You got hips like Jagger and two left feet And I wonder if you'd like to meet
Think I know a bar where they would leave us alone And I wonder if you'd take it slow
Then, Halsey continues on the chorus singing:
Beautiful stranger, here you are in my arms and I know That beautiful strangers only come along to do me wrong And I hope, beautiful stranger, here you are in my arms But I think it's finally, finally, finally, finally, finally safe For me to fall
I am loving the fact that my girl Halsey wrote and sang her first ever love song. I am so used to her writing songs about her bisexuality, past relationships and bipolar disorder. I believe that Finally// Beautiful Stranger is the singer's best song from the Manic era. Hands down!! And if you don't believe, well, then I guess that you're going to have to listen to for yourselves.
Buy, download and stream Finally// Beautiful Stranger on all streaming platforms now:
Singer Halsey strips down for fans on her latest single "Graveyard". She released the hauntingly beautiful version of this song on November 12, 2019 and then accompanied it with a music video on the same day.
Halsey recorded the cover in Nashville, Tennessee. In the video, the singer surrounds herself with flickering candles, fake roses and antique lamps. She can also be seen playing the acoustic guitar with a little help from guitarist Arianna Powell in the background.
She starts things off nice and slow on the first verse with:
It's crazy when The thing you love the most is the detriment Let that sink in You can think again When the hand you wanna hold is a weapon and You're nothin' but skin
Then, Halsey puts those flawless vocals on the display with the lyrics:
Oh, 'cause I keep diggin' myself down deeper I won't stop 'til I get where you are I keep running, I keep running, I keep running
Before she goes all in on the chorus singing:
They say I may be making a mistake I would have followed all the way, no matter how far I know when you go down all your darkest roads I would have followed all the way to the graveyard
I actually love this version of Graveyard better than the original. It's very calm and soothing when you first listen to it. I also love the fact that Halsey is putting her guitar playing skills to work. You go, girl!
Buy, listen and stream Graveyard (Acoustic) on all platforms now:
Thank U Next is the fifth studio album by singer Ariana Grande that was released on February 8, 2019 through Republic Records. The album was recorded in the midst of personal matters, including the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and her break-up with fiancé Pete Davidson.
imagine
On the R&B song "imagine", Ariana sings about an unattained love that is "now and forever" unreachable. She could making a references to her former boyfriend Mac Miller here on the first verse with the lyrics:
Stayin' up all night, order me pad thai Then we gon' sleep 'til noon Me with no makeup, you in the bathtub Bubbles and bubbly, ooh
We start to see the singer show off a little bit of her sensual side on the pre-chorus with:
Click, click, click and post Drip-drip-dripped in gold Quick, quick, quick, let's go Kiss me and take off your clothes
On the chorus, Grande sings:
Imagine a world like that Imagine a world like that We go like up 'til I'm 'sleep on your chest Love how my face fits so good in your neck
Then, she seemingly talks about the late rapper once again on the second verse singing:
Knew you were perfect after the first kiss Took a deep breath like, "Ooh" Feels like forever, baby, I never Thought that it would be you
needy
Now, Ariana is starting to feel insecure about herself and craves for both emotional support and attention. She opens up on the first verse with:
Lately I've been on a roller coaster Tryna get a hold of my emotions But all that I know Is I need you close
Then, Grande continues on the chorus singing:
And I can be needy Way too damn needy I can be needy Tell me how good it feels to be needed I can be needy So hard to please me I know it feels so good to be needed
NASA
With this song "NASA", Grande is talking about how she wants distance from a man. The intro begins with the rewording of Neil Armstrong's popular moon landing quote from Rupaul's Drag Race star Shangela Laquifa Wadley saying:
This is one small step for woman One giant leap for woman-kind
On the first verse, Ariana begins with:
I'd rather be alone tonight You can say "I love you" through the phone tonight Really don't wanna be in your arms tonight I'll just use my covers to stay warm tonight
Then, she goes into this very interesting chorus on the track singing:
Give you the whole world, I'ma need space I'ma need space, I'ma, I'ma need You know I'm a star; space, I'ma need space I'ma need space, I'ma, I'ma need space (N-A-S-A)
bloodline
bloodline is a pop song that talks about Ari having a sexual relationship with a friend. But really, she just wans to simply "have a good time" without the commitment. The track starts with a word from the singer's grandmother Majorie Grande as she speaks on the intro:
Because I'm trying to do the best I can And they can't find something to satisfy me, ugh
Then, she sings on the first verse with:
Even though you're bad for me, I know You're the one that I'm thinkin' Got me feelin' so incredible Would you mind maybe linkin'?
Before Ariana continues on the chorus with the lyrics:
Don't want you in my bloodline, yuh Just wanna have a good time, yuh Ain't no need to apologize, no But you gon' have to let this s**t go
fake smile
On "fake smile", Grande discusses about the dissatisfaction with her life and how she refuses to hide her emotions for the world. In the beginning, you can hear a little sample of After Laughter (Comes Tears) by Wendy Rene as she sings:
After laughter comes tears After laughter comes tears
Then, Ariana comes in on the first verse with:
Another night, another party, sayin' hi to everybody I'm sorry, it's time to leave, I gotta leave now Got somewhere I gotta be now, I'm starving Can somebody walk me to my car? If I go alone, I'm not gon' make it very far I'm happy for the love and all of the above If I'm being honest I done been through way too much
Grande doesn't seem to hold back any punches on the chorus singing:
Fuck a fake smile, smile Fuck a fake smile, fake smile
bad idea
Ariana discusses several "bad ideas" that she has and wants to do with her lover. But first, she wants him to only "numb the pain" in order for her to forget about all of her exes and then herself.
She opens up on the first four lines with the lyrics:
I've been outta sight I've been worried 'bout you lately Runnin' outta time Wishin' you would come and save me
Then, moves on to the pre-chorus of the song with:
'Cause I don't wanna roll with it (Yeah, yeah) Tryna get control of it (Yeah, yeah) Why can't I let go of it? (Yeah, yeah) Gotta find somebody quickly (Mmm, yeah)
Before Ari continues on the chorus singing:
I got a bad idea How 'bout we take a little bit of time away? I got a bad idea Forget about it, yeah, forget about him, yeah Forget about me (Ari-Chan)
make up
This song is Ariana's most sexually explicit song to date that talks about to intertwine a relationship and beauty cosmetics.
On the first verse, Grande sings:
I like to f**k with you just to make up with you 'Cause the way you be screamin’ my name Make me wanna make love to you I might break up with you just to make up with you
The chorus could be interpreted in two ways. Ari wants the man to make her upset and cry, which would cause her ruin her makeup. Or maybe she is referencing to passionate kissing that can also mess up her appearance with the lyrics:
I love it when we make up (yeah, hey, hey) Go ahead, ruin my make up (yeah, hey, hey) Love it when we make up (yeah, hey, hey) Go ahead, ruin my make up (yeah, hey, hey)
ghostin'
On ghostin', Ariana finds herself being with someone while also loving a different person at the same time. This song is rumored to be also about the late Mac Miller just like "imagine" and Pete Davidson as she sings:
I know you hear me when I cry I try to hold it in the night While you're sleepin' next to me But it's your arms that I need this time (This time)
It almost seems like Grande is apologizing to her ex Pete Davidson on the pre-chorus with the lyrics:
Baby, you do it so well You been so understanding, you been so good And I'm puttin' you through more than one ever should And I'm hating myself 'cause you don't want to Admit that it hurts you
Then, she really bares her soul on the chorus with:
I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again Over him, mmh I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again 'Stead of ghostin' him
in my head
Grande talks about how she fell in love with a version of someone that she created in her head, only to later find out that, in reality, that person is not at all what she thought he would be.
The track starts off with a voicemail from the singer's good friend Doug Middlebrook saying to Ari:
Here's the thing You're in love with a version of a person That you've created in your head That you are trying to but cannot fix Uh, the only thing you can fix is yourself I love you, this has gone on way too long Enough is enough I'm two blocks away, I'm coming over
On the first verse, Ariana sings about her past relationship with her lover with the lyrics:
Painted a picture I thought I knew you well I got a habit of seeing what isn't there Caught in the moment Tangled up in your sheets When you broke my heart I said you only wanted half of me
And then, she continues on the pre-chorus with:
My imagination's too creative They see demon I see angel, angel, angel (angel) Without a halo, wingless angel
Before hitting a very heavenly note on the chorus singing:
But it was all in my head It was all in my head (skrt, skrt)
7 rings
7 rings is a trap-pop song that features Grande boasting about money and many other luxuries, including diamonds and house.
She sings on the first verse:
Yeah, breakfast at Tiffany's and bottles of bubbles Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble Lashes and diamonds, ATM machines Buy myself all of my favorite things (yeah)
Then, Ari starts to go in hard on the next verse with the lyrics:
Been through some bad s**t, I should be a sad b***h Who woulda thought it'd turn me to a savage?
Before moving on to the pre-chorus with:
My wrist, stop watchin', my neck is flossin' Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin' You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (yeah)
thank u, next
Lyrically, thank u, next discusses themes like self-love and empowerment after a breakup. Ari kicks things off on the first verse by name dropping some of her exes with the lyrics:
Thought I'd end up with Sean But he wasn't a match Wrote some songs about Ricky Now I listen and laugh Even almost got married And for Pete, I'm so thankful Wish I could say, "Thank you" to Malcolm 'Cause he was an angel
Then, on the chorus, Grande is grateful that all of her failed relationship has helped her to grow as a person singing:
Thank you, next (next) Thank you, next (next) Thank you, next I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex
break up with your girlfriend, I'm bored
On this hip-hop infused track, the singer is attracted to a boy that she meets a party, only to find out that he has a girlfriend. She tells him to break up with his girlfriend so that Ariana can have him all to herself.
Ari begins on the first verse with:
You got me some type of way (Hmm) Ain't used to feelin' this way (Mmm-mmm) I do not know what to say (Yeah, yeah) But I know I shouldn't think about it
Grande goes into the pre-chorus singing:
Then I realize she's right there And I'm at home like, "Damn, this ain't fair"
And then, she continues on the chorus with the lyrics:
Break up with your girlfriend Yeah, yeah, 'cause I'm bored You can hit it in the mornin' (Mornin') Yeah, yeah, like it's yours I know it ain't right But I don't care (Care) Break up with your girlfriend Yeah, yeah, 'cause I'm bored
Buy, listen and stream Thank U, Next on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Deezer and more now:
