A Wow-tastic Compendium of W Songs

A Wow-tastic Compendium of W Songs features songs by Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Olly Alexander, RAYE, Sabrina Carpenter, and sombr.

BBe prepared to spotlight the letter W! After dropping alphabet-themed playlists in 2025 (A through S), The Alphabet Playlist Series continues in the year of our Lord, 2026! W gets its time to shine on A Wow-tastic Compendium of W Songs. Each of the 20 songs that appear on A Wow-tastic Compendium of W Songs begins with a W-word. The only exception is A or THE preceding the W-word, etc. A Wow-tastic Compendium of W Songs features songs by Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Olly Alexander, RAYE, Sabrina Carpenter, and sombr. So, without further ado, let us all embrace the power of W on A Wow-tastic Compendium of W Songs!

~ Table of Contents ~

1. RAYE, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”	2. ETHAN, “weaker days”	3. Sabrina Carpenter, “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”
4. sombr, “we never dated”	5. Taylor Swift, “Wood”	6. Gunna, “Won’t Stop”
7. Megan Thee Stallion, “Whenever”	8. Drake, “Which One” (Ft. Central Cee)	9. Reneé Rapp, “Why Is She Still Here?”
10. serpentwithfeet, “WRITHING IN THE WIND”	11. Kehlani, “When He’s Not There” (Ft. Lucky Daye)	12. Shawn Mendes, “Why Why Why”
13. Sofi Tukker, “Wet Tennis”	14. Mighty Bay, TisaKorean & three!, “WhiteBoy Wasted”	15. Jusona, “Wild Creatures” (Ft. Michael Soul)
16. Loverboy, “Working For the Weekend”	17. Lorde, “What Was That”	18. Olly Alexander, “When We Kiss”
19. Skatt Bros, “Walk The Night”	20. Teddy Pendergrass, “When Somebody Loves You Back”	The Alphabet Playlist Series 2025-26

1. RAYE, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”

THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. » RAYE / Human Re Sources » 2025

“Baby (Woo-hoo), where the hell is my husband? (Woo-hoo) / What is takin’ him so long to find me?”

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter RAYE (Rachel Keen) never fails to impress! In “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” she’s waiting for a great man to make her his wife. She penned and produced “HUSBAND” alongside Mike Sabath. “Why is this beautiful man waiting for me to get old?” she asks in the first verse, and adds, “Wait till I get my hands on him, I’ma tell him off, too / For how long he kept me waitin’, anticipatin’.” The loneliness has really gotten to RAYE in the second verse, where, “I’m doing lonely acrobatics, unzipping my dress at 2 am / And I’m tired of living like this.” Her loneliness and yearning are our listening pleasure. From start to finish, RAYE wows with her commanding, distinct, expressive, and nuanced instrument. The melodies are rhythmic and tuneful, while the lyrics are engaging, memorable, and in most instances, relatable. Further fueling her fire is a colorful musical accompaniment, which has some jazz, soulful, and vintage touches. Though old-school is easily perceptible, “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” sounds incredibly refreshing. All told, RAYE knocks it out of the park with the promo single from her second studio album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.

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2. ETHAN, “weaker days”

“weaker days” » ETHAN » 2025

“Right now, I’m not in the mood for you / Or you, or you, or you.”

Relatable, ETHAN (Ethan Choryin Luo). Our handsome, talented Kiwi musician keeps it authentic on his single, “weaker days”. ETHAN is the sugar, honey, iced tea, no cap! In an Instagram post, he gave insight into “weaker days,” which he wrote and produced himself. Among the highlights of the post, ETHAN asserts, “I’ve had a lot of ‘weaker days’ these last few months, and they have forced me to confront a lot of deep-rooted demons I’ve been carrying.” Introspective and vulnerable to say the least.

Expectedly, ETHAN captures his emotions superbly on “weaker days.” He sets the tone in the first verse, excerpted earlier. “Oh, hurtin’ me is kinda my foreplay / My therapist is tryna keep up,” he notes in the second verse, and adds, “Turns out no amount of sex can heal me / Whether his eyes are brown or blue.” True, despite how striking those brown and blue eyes can be. In the pre-chorus, varied both times it occurs, ETHAN also relays his issues: “Everybody ‘round me here so fucked up / What do I do now? ‘Cause I hate this club, yeah.” The chorus is the crème de la crème, where he concludes, “‘Cause all these, all these weaker days / Are really addin’ up.” Beyond strong vocals, including ripe falsetto, honest lyrics, and tuneful melodies, the musical backdrop is sleek and striking. The groove is infectious, while those keys and synths are bright and colorful. It feels wrong enjoying ETHAN’s weaker days the way we do, listening to “weaker days” but, all told, this is another intriguing song from this hunky (should never wear a shirt), gifted, LGBTQ musician.

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3. Sabrina Carpenter, “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”

Man’s Best Friend » Island » 2025

“‘Bullshit repeats itself,’ is that how the saying goes? / Been here a thousand times, selective memory though.”

Word, Sabrina Carpenter, word. The Grammy-winning pop artist continues, “I hear it in his eyes, he sees it in my tone / Is what it is, and it’s predictable.” Again, word. Those lyrics comprise the first verse from “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”, the fifth track from Carpenter’s seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, released in 2025. Matters of the heart, particularly matters of the bedroom, play a role in this pop joint. Carpenter penned “We Almost Broke Up…” with Amy Allen and Jack Antonoff. Carpenter and Antonoff produced it.

Like many Sabrina Carpenter songs, there are blunt and humorous moments, as evidenced by the first verse. The innuendo is on point, too: “We almost / Got so close.” Those lyrics, from the post-chorus, reference that almost break up, and, of course, sex itself 😏. In the second verse, Carpenter shares her reluctance to end it, singing, “When I reach to pull the plug / I swear he starts working out.” She adds, “I know how it looks, I know how it sounds / Least we’ll give ‘em something to talk about.” That’s for damn sure! Other highlights lyrically include the bridge, where they aren’t perfect yet don’t appear to be quitting each other, and the centerpiece, the chorus:

“All the ‘I love yous’ and ‘I’m sorry’s’ were said

We had our sex and then we made amends, that’s right

Called it a false alarm to all of our friends

Then we almost broke up again last night.”

Beyond the striking lyrics, Carpenter delivers a nuanced and respectable vocal performance. She marvelously brings those tuneful melodies alive, particularly when she ascends into her upper register. During the outro, she’s on fire as she informs us, “Gave me his whole heart, then I gave him head and then…” Ooh-wee! The musical accompaniment is sweet, particularly the drums, acoustic guitar, keys, and lush strings, which provide fuel for the non-breakup and Sabrina’s fire. There’s also a modulation that amplifies intensity. “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” marks one of many bright spots from Man’s Best Friend.

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4. sombr, “we never dated”

I Barely Know Her » SMB Music LLC / Warner » 2025

“How come we never even dated / But I still find myself thinking of you daily?”

Ugh, that sounds so Gen-Z. While alternative singer-songwriter-producer sombr is firmly part of the Zoomers (born in the middle of the generation in 2005), the concept and theme explored on “we never dated” are applicable and relatable to all generations. Sombr turned this unfortunate, heart-wrenching situation into a fantastic song, which he wrote and produced. “We’ve Never Dated” is the ninth track from his 2025 debut album, I Barely Know Her.

Sombr checks off all the boxes on “we never dated.” The theme and lyrics are on point, as referenced earlier. He and she never dated, but he has feelings about this romance that never was. “You were better in every way by design,” he sings in the first verse, concluding, “You were too good for a man’s confine.” Word. In the second verse, he highlights her physical beauty, but adds, “But you don’t make yourself easy to like,” and, “You dance around the line of what is wrong and what is right.” Even so, in the centerpiece, the chorus, we know and empathize with sombr as he laments the lack of a relationship. If the tuneful chorus, with lovely, expressive vocals weren’t enough to solidify the excellence of the song, the post-chorus ‘gets her done’:

“I can’t make you love me

No, I can’t make you love me

Babe, I can’t make you love me

No, I can’t make you love me.”

No, it is not poetic, but he gets directly to the point. On the bridge, he wishes her well, adding, “But, I hope who’s next sees the rest of you.” Sombr ate and left no crumbs on “we never dated”. The musicianship is impressive from the singing, musical backdrop, and the universally relatable songwriting.

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5. Taylor Swift, “Wood”

The Life of a Showgirl » Taylor Swift » 2025

“Forgive me, it sounds cocky / He ah-matized me and opened my eyes / Redwood tree, it ain’t hard to see / His love was the key that opened my thighs.”

😳 😳 😳 D-d-damn, Taylor Swift. Those lyrics, which hail from the post-chorus of “Wood”, are filled with sexual innuendo. “Wood” is the risqué ninth track from the Grammy-winning pop star’s polarizing 12^th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. In the four excerpted lines, Swift seems to reference her fiancé’s (Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce) penis 🍆, four times… Cocky, ah-matized (aka dickmatized), Redwood tree, and the key that opened my thighs. Did any of us expect to hear this from TS? She penned and produced “Wood” with Swedish hitmakers Max Martin (b. 1971) and Shellback (Karl Johan Schuster, b. 1985).

The post-chorus is striking, given how sexual it is. Taylor Swift, who is beautiful, hasn’t been associated with sexual lyrics or songs. “Wood” isn’t all sexual, either. In the first verse, Swift references things related to superstition, including the penny, stepping on a crack, and the black cat. In the pre-chorus and chorus, Swift mentions wood in a superstitious context, singing such lines as, “A bad sign is all good, I ain’t gotta knock on wood.” In the chorus, she memorably sings:

“(Ah) All of that bitchin’, wishing on a falling star

Never did me any good, I ain’t got to knock on wood

(Ah) It’s you and me forever dancing in the dark

All over me, it’s understood, I ain’t got to knock on wood.”

While the excerpted lyrics show that “Wood” has more substance than manhood size, Swift doesn’t refrain from other instances where the D is key. “The curse on me was broken by your magic wand,” Swift sings in the pre-chorus. Magic wand, eh? Double entendre! How about those “New Heights of manhood?” Yes, New Heights is a podcast by the Kelce brothers, but the length is inescapable. “Wood” is something else. It clearly has Swift enticed… The lyrics are most ear-catching, but, overall, this brief pop record is groovy, memorable, and tuneful.

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6. Gunna, “Won’t Stop”

The Last Wun » Young Stoner Life / 300 Entertainment / Gunna Music, LLC » 2025

“I thought I told you time and time again, this shit won’t stop.”

Now that’s a strong statement, Gunna. He cannot be stopped, PERIOD! Thus begins his single, “Won’t Stop”, the 24^th track from The Last Wun, which he co-wrote with producer, Turbo. Following a brief intro, the chorus is the first major section of “Won’t Stop.” As the opening lyric implies, the rapper flexes hard. He brags, “Booked for at least six figures a show or more from here on out /… Pull up in that ’25 Rolls, all-gray interior for whenever it’s cloudy.” He makes it clear he’s not chasing clout. But also, expectedly, there are “bad bitches under my belt, I cook like a chef, I’m Mr. Chow.”

Following the centerpiece, Gunna drops two verses with a chorus following each. In the first verse, he highlights his jam-packed schedule, lucrative offers, and, of course, the money he’s making. Sex is in the mix, too: “Baby girl slurp it and burp, just like a Perc’, I’m in her mouth.” Woo! The second verse is similar, with Gunna “Beatin’ like a Nextel chirp, two hundred a verse, I don’t need no vouch.” There is more drip (that all-black Range), endless money, and fittingly, he’s a “Rockstar, kickin’ my P, I’m havin’ my feet up on top of the mountain / P-star, P factor, I’m servin’ the streets, we ain’t havin’ no droughts.” It is no secret that Gunna has faced serious adversity, but continues to prove time and time again he is unstoppable – “HIM ALL ALONG”! Gunna delivers an energetic, syrupy, melodic flow over a moody, piano-fueled backdrop, with a dash of strings. “Won’t Stop” is not the second coming or anything of that caliber, but the rapper proves he is in this thing for the long haul.

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7. Megan Thee Stallion, “Whenever”

“Whenever” » Hot Girl Productions » 2025

“It’s whenever, bitch (What’s up?), it’s whatever, ho / We can do it right now, bitch, take it out the door.”

Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion never seems to give a fuck – any fucks for that matter. That is the case on her sub-three-minute single, “Whenever”. In the chorus, she does not play around. Likewise, in the verses, she keeps it 💯 as well. She writes off those pathetic hoes, bragging, sexually in the first verse, “Once he taste this pussy (Ah), you might as well let that go.” Damn! Of course, these ‘hoes’ are jealous and pressed about her. In the second verse, she references someone who is “Locked up, been threw away the key, niggas still stalkin’ me.” Hmm… Bankroll Got It, and Shawn “Source” Jarrett produced “Wherever.” The keys and drum programming stand out. Megan Thee Stallion has a sickening backdrop to ‘talk her shit’ on. As always, Meg brings an electrifying cadence and flow. Her rhymes are confident to the nth degree. She is unapologetic and again, gives-no-fucks. Over the two verses, two choruses, and an outro of “Whenever”, Thee Stallion flexes hard without ever batting an eye.

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8. Drake, “Which One” (Ft. Central Cee)

“Which One” » OVO / Republic » 2025

“All the girls that’s here for the truth, come put your hands on the DJ booth / Then wine your waist to the big man sound.”

Hell yeah! Canadian rap superstar Drake dropped the infectious, summery, dancehall-infused banger, “Which One”, with UK standout Central Cee (Oakley Neil Caesar-Su). O Lil Angel, b4u, and OZ produced “Which One,” which, initially, thrives on a sick, minimal, syncopated dance beat. It also interpolates lyrics from “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls and “Work” by Rihanna featuring himself.

“Fuck anyone that’s bringing you down,” Drake raps in the first verse, and continues, “Sweetheart, you’re doing your thing right now, good God.” The refrain (excerpted above) follows, preceding the chorus, also performed by Drake. Here, he asks, “You want Cench or your ex, which one? / You want friends or success, which one?” Questions, questions. Fittingly, Central Cee arrives in the second verse, embracing the patois too. That British accent is everything! Notably, he spits, “Junk in the trunk, can see it from front / Girl your body is tea, it’s pain, I’m sprung /… Put a coin in the slot, ya just hit jackpot.” Oh, snap, Cench! An unexpected but highly effective beat/production switch precedes Drake’s refrain, and continues in his final verse, where he eloquently informs her, “I wanna fuck out your face and skrrt / You need to throw that ting inna reverse.” Ultimately, Drake and Cench drop a bop with “Which One”.

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9. Reneé Rapp, “Why Is She Still Here?”

BITE ME » Interscope » 2025

“You got me lowering standards.”

Ooh-wee, Reneé Rapp! The R&B-infused, compound-duple ballad, “Why Is She Still Here?”, marked the third advance single from her sophomore album, BITE ME. Rapp, Alexander 23 (Alexander Glantz), Julian Bunetta, Omer Fedi, and Ali Tamposi penned it while Glantz, Bunetta, and Fedi produced it. Only two-and-a-half minutes long, it is an engaging, high-flying, and stunning two-and-a-half minutes of music.

Rapp eats. Her voice sounds beautiful, expressive, and nuanced to the nth degree. She brings the melodies and narrative of “Why Is She Still Here?” to life like a champ. In the first verse, she believes her partner…um… situationship… is still in love with another woman. The signs are everywhere, including “that towel wrapped up around my head / And that note that’s stuck to the mirror I shouldn’t have read.” Even though this situationship is just that, Rapp disliked being introduced as a friend (“And yes, that’s what it is, but don’t you do that shit again”). The narrative is entertaining and relatable. In the first chorus, Rapp asks why the other woman is still in the picture. In the final chorus, she adds, “Why I’m still here? /Say you w-want me like / ‘Why’s she still here.’” This is a prime example of a situationship, given that Rapp seems to be inching towards a relationship. Backed by superb musical accompaniment (Omer Fedi’s bass, guitar, and synths kick ass and take names), Rapp does the damn thing in the short but sweet “Why Is She Still Here?”.

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10. serpentwithfeet, “WRITHING IN THE WIND”

GRIP SEQUEL » Secretly Canadian » 2025

“A mangled heart writing in the wind / Let me mend it, let me mend it.”

Serpentwithfeet (Josiah Wise) takes the initiative to fix this damaged heart. Why? “I’m not who I was then,” he sings, adding, “I wanna make, make amends.” So, he is the culprit of the brokenness on “WRITHING IN THE WIND”? It appears so. “Can you give me a chance?” he asks, pleading, “Boy, give me another chance.” At least Wise seeks to atone for his wrongdoing and heartbreaking ways, albeit briefly. He sings beautifully over gorgeous piano chords, rhythmic, harmonized background vocals, and an active thudding beat. Clocking in under a minute and a half, the fifth track from GRIP SEQUEL is a surefire vibe. Perhaps the biggest flaw of “WRITHING IN THE WIND” is the fact that it doesn’t last longer. Serpentwithfeet has an excellent musical thing going on here, no cap.

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11. Kehlani, “When He’s Not There” (Ft. Lucky Daye)

While We Wait 2 » TSNMI / Atlantic » 2024

“I come over when he’s not there / He don’t even know that I here.”

Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter Kehlani shines on “When He’s Not There”, from her mixtape, While We Wait 2. “When He’s Not There” features Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, Lucky Daye. With numerous songwriters in addition to Kehlani and Lucky Day, it was produced by Ambezza, Dillon, and Nik D. The sound of the record is resplendent. It is bright, lush, soulful, and warm. While “When He’s Not There” is idiomatic of contemporary R&B, it also hearkens back to the past. Both Kehlani and Daye sing beautifully. Both lyrics and melodies are memorable. “Girl, does he know you’re yearning, yearning for me?” Kehlani asks in the first verse, adding “Don’t tell none of your homegirls ‘cause nobody needs to know, no.” Context: Kehlani and this girl (who has a boyfriend) are hooking up and nobody needs to know! Hence, why in the chorus, “I come over when he’s not there.” Oh, snap! She expounds on their relationship in the second verse, admitting, “Lord knows I won’t end a happy home, but I’ll leave a condo broken.” Ooh wee! Daye enters the mix in the third verse, playing a similar role to Kehlani and the girl she’s cheating with: “Well, damn, guess, he won’t know what he had until it’s gone / Guess he can’t read between the lines / While he ignore and I explore /… We’re having hour fun and they ain’t gotta know.” All told, “When He’s Not There” is a steamy, irresistibly delicious song about cheating. Kehlani and Lucky Daye put their foot into this one!

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12. Shawn Mendes, “Why Why Why”

Shawn » Island » 2024

“Opened up my journal to a page / Everything that hurts me’s still the same / Feels like there’s nothin’ new for me to say / Why, why, why?”

The handsome and talented, Grammy-nominated Canadian singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes returned in 2024 with his fifth studio album, Shawn. He ‘brought down the house’ with the promo single, “Why Why Why”, penned and produced by Mendes, Eddie Benjamin, Mike Sabath, and Scott Harris. Mendes excels in the vocal department, as always. His tone is ‘simply beautiful.’ He sings authentically and expressively making some personal revelations. He discusses breaking off a relationship (“But I went off and chose myself instead”), taking a hiatus from touring (“All the lights were fuckin’ with my head”), and not being ready for fatherhood (“I thought I was about to be a father / Shook me to the core, I’m still a kid”). Even as Shawn reignites his music career after a breakup and mental health issues, he still questions, why, why, why? “Why Why Why” is respectable and well-rounded. It’s authentic, rhythmic, and tuneful. Stylistically, it plays to Mendes’ strengths and throws a cool country element into the mix. It’s not a dramatic change of pace for Shawn, but what’s clear is he remains a gifted vocalist (and easy on the eyes).

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13. Sofi Tukker, “Wet Tennis”

WET TENNIS » SOFI TUKKER, LLC » 2022

“Come play with me / It’s about to get freaky / Bring your hips to life.”

Oh, snap! Hmm, “Wet Tennis” must be different from plain old tennis, Sofi Tukker! The electronic, “Fuck They” pop duo (Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern) spice up the sport with sexual innuendo and double entendre. Sofi Tukker composed “Wet Tennis” alongside producer John Hume. Hume produced with Bynon and Andres Levin.

It is not only the lyrics that make “Wet Tennis” intriguing. The music ‘kicks ass and takes names.’ The instrumentation includes a trumpet (Luis Fernándo Chávez) and an organ (Daniel Flores), which adds a mean punch. Furthermore, the percussive groove (Gilmar Gomez) fuels the funky fire. Sophie sets the tone, drawing first blood in the first verse (“Honestly, if somebody knew everything that I know / I think that everybody would be coming to my château”). Then, she unveils the pre-chorus, excerpted at the top. Her and Tucker (parenthesized) collaborate in the infectious chorus:

“So, what are you waiting for?

(It’s your serve)

Won’t you come on over?

(The ball’s in your court)

If it’s one on one, if it’s two on two

I wanna play wet tennis all night with you.”

Has tennis ever sounded more compelling? Memorably, Sophie asks Tucker “What’s the score” in the second verse, to which he memorably responds, “It’s love, love.” Of course, it is 😏. Sofi Tukker delivers an epic bop with “Wet Tennis”.

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14. Mighty Bay, TisaKorean & three!, “WhiteBoy Wasted”

“WhiteBoy Wasted” » Last Bottles / Good Luck Have Fun » 2024

“White boy wasted, finna hit the party (Huh) / White boy wasted, y’all done got me started (I’m on fire).”

Word. “WhiteBoy Wasted” finds Mighty Bay, TisaKorean, and three! collaborating. This 2024 rap banger features a malicious, minor-key musical accompaniment. There are dark keys/synths, and an anchoring, banging, trap beat. The theme and lyrics are silly and lack depth and transcendence. That is the expectation with a cut like this, of course. The first vocalized section of “Wasted” begins with the excerpted pre-chorus, performed by Mighty Bay. TisaKorean then performs the chorus (“Rock with it then you lean (Ayy) / Rock with it then you, rock with it then you lean (Huh)”) and the post-chorus (“If you ain’t talkin’ cash, I ain’t even listenin’ / I ain’t tеxt this bitch back and she ain’t even trip”). Although brief with a two-and-a-half-minute runtime, “WhiteBoy Wasted” is entertaining.

Mighty Bay raps the first verse and keeps it filthy. “White boy wasted, whole body leanin’ out the car,” he spits, and continues, “Them hoes silly, send ‘em over now them hoes ours / Call me cookie monster, I’m tryna put my cookie in her jar.” TisaKorean follows up with the chorus and post-chorus before Three! Makes his sole appearance, rapping the second verse. “Baby, I’m so lifted, got me color blind (Huh),” he spits, and concludes, “I done lost my fat-ass, where my state of mind? (Huh).” TisaKorean then raps the third verse, asserting, “They callin’ me like Dewey, I’m white boy zooted /… I’m playin’ with the white boy status, that liquor consumption was average.” Mighty Bay performs the bridge, the final new section of the song: “If I hit your line, that mean you a freak.” “WhiteBoy Wasted”, in all its whiteboy wasted glory, concludes with Bay’s pre-chorus and Korean’s chorus.

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15. Jusona, “Wild Creatures” (Ft. Michael Soul)

“Wild Creatures” » Jusona » 2024

“Do you think I’m a saint? / Baby, you’ve mistaken much.”

👀 That is quite a statement, Jusona. The Ukrainian 🇺🇦 pop musician, based in Croatia 🇭🇷, sets the tone early in her single, “Wild Creatures”. She enlists the services of Michael Soul. Soul composed the lyrics, while Jusona and Soul produced it. The production is sleek to the nth degree. The sounds of lush, warm keys and punchy drum programming are glorious. A sexy vibe is established by the musical backdrop, matching the sexiness of the lyrics.

With ample fuel for her fire, Jusona brings the heat with her warm, sexy, and nuanced vocals. She’s potent without forcing things. After clarifying she’s no saint, Jusona captures our ears with plenty of dark, unsettling, love and sex-oriented lyrics. “Take a bleeding heart / And squeeze it out of damn love,” she sings to conclude the first verse. Oh, snap! In the second verse, it gets darker. “Ain’t no better way / When you fuck them other girls,” she sings, and continues, “Why do you call my name? / Knowing it’s already cursed.” D-d-damn! Twisted, Jusona concludes, “Did you smell the knife? / Screaming ‘please,’ on your knees / There’s no chance to waive.” Yeah, that deserves a Gah-day-um! The pre-chorus and chorus section is where it’s at! “…Inner soul needed stitches / In this light, we collide like wild creatures.” Okay! There is a great vocal arrangement here in particular.

“(Uh, uh), the sun is going down

(Uh, uh), melting in your arms

(Uh, uh), we need more than a preacher

(Uh, uh), we’re just wild creatures.”

All told, “Wild Creatures” by Jusona and Michael Soul is a sexy, surefire music vibe! Call it what it is, a BOP!

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16. Loverboy, “Working For the Weekend”

Get Lucky » Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. » 1981

In case you weren’t aware, “Everyone’s watchin’ to see what you will do / Everyone’s lookin’ at you.” Woo! Cue up the 👀 emoji, Mike Reno (b. 1955)! No, emojis didn’t exist then, but if they did, that would probably be an ideal choice! The everyone-led lyrics don’t stop in the first verse of “Working For the Weekend”, a hit for the Canadian rock band Loverboy. Reno, the talented lead singer, adds in the second verse, “Everyone’s lookin’ to see if it was you / Everyone wants you to come through / Everyone’s hopin’ it’ll all work out / Everyone’s waitin’, they’re holdin’ out.” Noted, Mike! “Workin’ for the Weekend” is the opener from the band’s 1981 multi-platinum album, Get Lucky. Reno penned the song with Matt Frenette and Paul Dean. Dean and the late Bruce Fairbairn (1949 – 1999) produced it. Notably, “Weekend” peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Working For The Weekend” features a dynamic musical accompaniment comprised of colorful keys, souped-up guitars, driving bass, and hard-hitting drums. The instrumental riffs are nothing short of electrifying. Mike Reno is on autopilot, impressing with his assertive and exuberant lead vocals. Not only are the verses (excerpted earlier) memorable, so are the melodies. Notably, during the second verse, Reno delivers an even more high-flying performance – some insane high notes! Beyond the verses, the chorus and post-chorus are S-W-E-E-T. In the song’s centerpiece, Loverboy shifts from everyone to everybody:

“Everybody’s workin’ for the weekend

Everybody wants a new romance

…Everybody’s goin’ off the deep end

Everybody needs a second chance.”

By the end, the post-chorus is repeated three times. “You want a piece of my heart? / You better start from the start,” Reno sings, and continues, “You wanna be in the show? / Come on, baby, let’s go.” “Working For the Weekend” is a surefire, unforgettable ‘80s classic. More than three decades later, it still rocks!

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17. Lorde, “What Was That”

Virgin » Universal Music New Zealand Limited » 2025

“I cover up all the mirrors / Can’t see myself yet / I wear smoke like a wedding veil.”

Grammy-winning alternative pop singer/songwriter Lorde (Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor) is in the aftermath of a breakup. There is no wedding veil, which might have been her expectation with her ex before they went their separate ways. The Kiwi musician shares her grief, introspection, and reflection beautifully on her comeback single, “What Was That”. Lorde co-wrote the second track from her fourth studio album, Virgin, with Jim-E Stack. Yelich-O’Connor, Jim-E Stack, and Dan Nigro produced it.

Initially, “What Was That” is minimalist in sound. The keys and synths catch the ear. Lorde wows with those signature, raspy vocals. She thrives in her middle and lower registers. In the first pre-chorus, she shares her feelings regarding their end: “Oh, I’m missing you.” In the chorus, she recollects their relationship, which includes drug use (“MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up / We kissed for hours straight, well, baby, what was that?”). During the chorus, “What Was That” begins to pick up more steam instrumentally. Likewise, Lorde brings it more by exploring a range of emotions regarding their now defunct relationship (“Since I was seventeen, I gave you everything / Now we wake from a dream, well, baby, what was that”). The second verse is more developed, featuring more instrumentation. Even so, it never sounds overdone. It is well-produced. Like the first, Yelich-O’Connor tries to process everything, informing him, “Don’t you know you’re still with me / When I’m out with my friends?” She acknowledges, “You weren’t feeling my heat.” Oh, snap! It’s giving unrequited love! One of the best lyrics from the fabulous “What Was That” is “When I’m in the blue light, I can make it alright.” Lorde shines on this one.

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18. Olly Alexander, “When We Kiss”

Polari » Universal Music Operations Limited » 2025

“Lie next to me / We can make a choice, change our destiny (When we kiss).”

The words that Olly Alexander sings that pique the most interest are lie (as in bed) and kiss. Those lyrics from “When We Kiss” suggest an intimate experience. We love sex! “When We Kiss” is the ninth track from Polari, the first album credited under Alexander (formerly Years & Years). The song features incredibly sleek production work by Danny L Harle. The warm, pulsating synths and danceable beat are big-time selling points. Another big-time selling point? The smooth, dare I say ‘sexy’ vocals by Olly Alexander. “When We Kiss” has its sexy moments without crossing the line. The song isn’t primarily about sex, however. Matters of the heart drive the narrative. Yes, kisses are involved, but Olly seems to be trying to salvage the relationship. “Hold onto me / There’s something here worth saving,” he sings in the first verse. In the second, he has questions about the state of their relationship: “Ooh, I can’t tell if this is ending or beginning / Ooh, and I’ll do anything to keep the embers burning / Ooh, how do we come so far from who we used to be?” The centerpiece is the chorus where Olly states the power is in his partner’s hands. “How can we justify / The love we left behind,” he sings, continuing, “How did it ever come to this / Tears in your eyes when we kiss.” To reiterate, there is kissing – an element of intimacy. But, this couple seems to be at a crossroads – they’ve got to figure things out. “When We Kiss” gives Olly Alexander another B-O-P, PERIOD!

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19. Skatt Bros, “Walk The Night”

Strange Spirits » Republic » 1979

Even though some of the past music wasn’t explicitly queer like the music of the 2020s, the gay anthems exist, honey! One of those gay gems is “Walk The Night” by the Skatt Bros, dubbed ‘the sleazier, more extreme Village People’: “Hey, gonna walk the night / Hey, walk the night.” Nightwalking is dangerous, risqué, and sexual, as you can surmise. In the hands of Skatt Bros, it is ‘not that innocent,’ judging by the lyrics, as well as the epic instrumental. “Walk The Night” is the fourth track on the band’s 1979 album, Strange Spirits. David Andez and Richie Fontana wrote “Walk,” while the band, Ian Guenther, and Willi Morrison produced it.

“Walk The Night” catches the ears from the beginning. The driving bass line has a compelling argument as the star of the instrumental. It kicks ass and takes names, setting the tone for the dangerous experience. The guitar and drums also have their fair share of moments, making “Walk The Night” a high-energy and spirited song. Recurring malicious, sinister, and twisted laughs are part of the charm of this sexually charged joint. Playful, low-pitched vocals express the creepy, suspect happenings on “Walk.” “Creeper gonna reaper gonna creep and walk the night,” he sings, adding, “Creeper got mad and angry eyes / One look from him can paralyze / Resist at any time or place / Creeper done slap right ‘cross your face.” Slapped what, Skatt Bros? While Creeper is one aggressive mofo, it is the next verse where things go south.

“Upon his lips the taste of pain

Venom kiss of love insane

He’s got a rod beneath his coat

He’s gonna ram right down your throat

Make you grovel on the floor

Spit up and scream and beg for more.”

Technically, it’s not as explicit as some more modern sex songs. But let’s not lie to ourselves, folks. Oral sex is simulated here. That rod is all natural, and likely a most fulfilling size 🫢 🤭. Ever heard of a gag reflex? The scream, instead of a moan, suggests pain, yet the recipient wants more. It’s giving S&M. And, if there was doubt, Skatt Bros add: “He’ll whip ya and strip ya down / A hot shot / Gotcha!” Holy cannoli! Better yet, holy shit! Maybe unholy shit is the best characterization! What more can you say but, “Da dit dit dit doy doo, da dit dit dit doy doo.” “Walk The Night” is wild, and that is why it goes H.A.M.! Hard rock and disco by a half-gay/half-straight band that is ready-made for the gay club! Yaass, please! Notably, the 12” version of “Walk The Night” is the ninth and final track on the expanded edition of the album.

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20. Teddy Pendergrass, “When Somebody Loves You Back”

Life Is A Song Worth Singing » Sony Music Entertainment » 1978

“It’s so good lovin’ somebody / When somebody loves you back.”

Amen, Teddy Pendergrass (1950 – 2010)! “When Somebody Loves You Back” is one of the many memorable soul classics from the handsome and talented Philly soul singer’s catalog of songs. “Somebody” is the seventh track from his 1978 platinum-certified sophomore album, Life Is A Song Worth Singing. Gamble & Huff (Kenneth Gamble, b. 1943, and Leon Huff, b. 1942) penned and produced this reciprocated love non-single.

As expected from Gamble & Huff, the production work is sleek and exquisite. The sound palette is colorful, representative of the lush, symphonic brand of 1970s soul. Among the instrumentation is the standard rhythm section – keys, guitar, bass, drums, and percussion – and orchestra, featuring strings prominently. There are plenty of memorable riffs upping the ante. The star of the show, fueled by five-star accompaniment, is Teddy Pendergrass. His vocals are dynamic, and he seems to give his all with each note. He brings the memorable, love-centric songwriting to life. “To be loved and be loved in return / It’s the only thing that my heart desires,” TP sings in the first verse, and adds, “Oh, you’re the one who’s got me inspired / Keep on liftin’, liftin’ me higher.” Word. In the second verse, he expresses, “We can build a world of love, a life of joy / Make our goal each other’s happiness.” Oh, the feels! The chorus is crème de la crème – the centerpiece!

“So good, good lovin’ somebody

When somebody loves you back

It’s so good needin’ somebody

When somebody loves you back.”

“When Somebody Loves You Back” features tuneful melodies from start to finish, with the chorus, once more, being the crowning achievement. The mostly spoken word outro is notable too, with Teddy continuing to focus on L-O-V-E (“I think we’ve got something that a lot of people don’t seem to have / Talkin’ ‘bout a 50-50 love, yeah”). Another impactful song from TP, “When Somebody Loves You Back”, showcases just how gifted, talented, and soulful this legend was.