It’s often difficult to parse the good from the bad in popular music. Streaming services make it nearly impossible to sift through the thousands of songs released on any given day. That’s why, here at Charted, we round up some of the latest hottest tracks. You’ll likely recognize a few names here and there, and other times, you might stumble upon your next obsession. Don’t worry, we’ll only serve you the cream of the crop – pop and R&B earworms so good that you’ll completely upend your weekly listening habits.
Here are 4 fresh songs to add to your playlist:
“Delusional” – Kesha
Free to make music on her own terms, Kesha came out swinging with the electrically experimental “Joyride.” A testament to her ongoing evolution, the lead-in to her forthcoming six studio album set the stage for an era already characterized by heroism and redemption. With the follow-up, ” Delusional,” the pop star continues etching out her place as one of the modern era’s most fascinating creatives.
“Packed up my suitcase, a ticket one-way / No tears on my face,” she sneers over a blanket of twinkling lights. “Thanks for the heartbreak, it gets my bills paid.” Her voice distorts into a smeared vocal performance, emitting high voltage that shocks the listener’s skeleton.
Co-written with Zhone and Madison Love, “Delusional” is just the beginning. It adhers to pop standards but permits Kesha to soar through the air and leave the past skittering into oblivion.
“Popular” (from Wicked) – Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande originally performed “Popular” on her 2013 studio album Yours Truly. 11 years later, the, ahem, popular musical number gets a facelift. The pop star revisits the song as part of Wicked, the movie musical currently dominating the box office. Starring as Glinda, Grande boosts the melody with her raw talent – sculpting the bouncy tune to fit her happy-go-lucky, self-aware personality.
“You’re gonna be popular / I’ll teach you the proper ploys,” she sings with a wink and smile, “when you talk to boys / Little ways to flirt and flounce.” Candy confection, “Popular” reaches for the stars and beyond, finding Grande decorating the classic melody with frills and lace. Often lauded for her vocal prowess, she shows off in remarkable ways – in how she flits and flutters over the melody, curling the edges and vaulting into her head voice. It’s the sort of pop track that gives listeners all the warm fuzzies, all the way down to their toes.
“The Mountain” – Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes goes for a Noah Kahan moment with his latest album, Shawn. Among the set’s most incisive is “The Mountain,” in which he addresses headlines and online chatter about his sexuality, among other things. “You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold,” he sings over trickling acoustic guitar. The muted melody gives him license to hone in on the storytelling, rather than for acrobatic vocals.
Through its translucent veneer, Mendes tells the tale about heading out into nature to rediscover himself. “I took a trip to the mountain / I took a trip to the sea,” he whispers. In returning to Los Angeles, the songbird refuses to concern himself with the court of public opinion. He’s humbled himself in a way that’s transformed his very being.
“Drinking of Me.” – Jordy
Bookending his new album, Sex with Myself and It Lasts Longer, rising popstar Jordy sidewinds into the synth-laden cosmos with a dance track that depicts his thoughts over an ex-lover. “You make me anxious / I guess I wasn’t enough,” he sings over a gummy backbeat. The production claws at his vocal cords, leaving him gasping as he spits out the lyrics like flesh-eating acid.
“I know you’re drinking of me, and when you’re thinking of me, I know you’re drinking,” the chorus bursts at the seams, leading into an instrumental spiral. From the moment he parts his lips, Jordy reaffirms his place as one of today’s brightest upstarts. There’s no mistaking that he’s got the chops to unleash an explosive banger – it’s just a matter of time before the mainstream picks up on it.
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