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 5 fresh songs to add to your playlist:
“Old Phone” – Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran finds himself in a tidal wave of wistfulness. After rediscovering his “Old Phone,” Sheeran feels an “overwhelming sadness” as he flicks through the contacts and recalls all the names that have faded from his life. “Nothing good will come from regretting…” he says, before tucking the phone away again. But that suffocating loneliness has now been unleashed, and it’s not easy to let it go. Nostalgia is a helluva drug.
“Talk” – Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco celebrate their love and loyalty for one another on a joint album. A stand-out cut, “Talk” is a python side-winding in the tall grass, bending hip-hop and seductive pop. Each performer gets a moment to shine on the record and offers up their bodies for an alluring musical sun bath. It’s enough to send you into an overwhelming catatonic state.
“French Girls” – Dove Cameron
Dove Cameron uses the famous line “Paint me like one of your French girls” from Titanic as the lyrical reference point for her new song. “French Girls” goes hard with decorative synths, as her voice twirls around the melody with precision. Switching from syrup-thick beats and cinematic strings, it feels like an appropriate update to the sentiment. And it sure makes a perfect banger for the hot summer months.
“Where Have You Been” – Kelly Clarkson
There’s never any doubt about Kelly Clarkson‘s talent. Instead of going full-steam ahead with an uptempo banger, she pulls in the reins with a ballad that fits her voice like a glove. She caresses the melody, as she often does, to allow it to live and breathe on its own. The raw emotion pushes the song forward, leading into a sizzling guitar solo that comes out of nowhere. But that’s the delight in a KC song; you just never know where she’s headed, and you love it anyway.
“Girl in the Moon House” – Matt Jaffe
Often borrowing mid-90s indie elements, Matt Jaffe hits the ground running with his latest vintage-smothered song “Girl in the Moon House.” His voice warbles in the production, as guitars thrash, piano twinkles, and the drums throb. He’s an underrated artist who shows endless promise with every single release. He compresses the lyrics beneath layers of sound that ebbs and flows like ocean waves. It’s addicting and wholly refreshing.
Photo via Petros Studio
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