Five Unusual Songs I Actually Like || Part 1

As a person who listens to many different artists and genres of music, I often come across songs that do not fit the mold of what you'd expect to hear. It could be an unusual melody, interesting lyrics, odd production, or even the way the artist is singing. I came up with a list of five unusual songs that I actually like and decided to share them with you.

1. "Woo" by Rihanna & Travis Scott, Album: ANTi, 2016.

On your initial listen of Woo, you might say it's displeasing to the ear, which would be a fair statement. To put it simply, its production sounds broken and Rihanna's voice on the track is extremely raspy. It's a weird combination, but it works. Woo sounds futuristic and messy, especially with the amount of autotune on both Rihanna's and Travis' voices, but after a few listens, you'll be hooked on it. Go into Woo expecting the unexpected. I promise you, when the song is done, you'll be happy you gave it a chance. The highlight for me is in the third verse when Rihanna sings, "I don't mean to really love you. I don't mean to even care about you." This is where her captivating raspy voice is most prominent.

2. "I Want You To Love Me" by Fiona Apple, Album: Fetch The Bolt Cutters, 2020.

I Want You To Love Me was my first introduction to Fiona Apple. I saw that her album, Fetch The Bolt Cutters, was given a rating of 98% by Metacritic, which is extremely rare, so I knew I had to check it out. I Want You To Love Me was the first song on the album and it was an interesting experience, to say the least. It sounds unusual for two reasons: her voice and the ending of the song. Fiona's voice is very distinct, and in I Want You To Love Me, she flows in and out of falsetto, chest voice, and what sounds like subtle yodeling, effortlessly. Oftentimes, it doesn't even feel like there's a specific melody, which does keep your attention and is one of the reasons I love the song. What makes the end unusual is that she shifts from falsetto into a high-pitched screech, resembling the whistling of a dolphin. I definitely didn't expect to hear that as the song was coming to a close, but as the first track on the album, it prepared me for the ride Fetch The Bolt Cutters was about to take me on.

3. "XS" by Rina Sawayama, Album: SAWAYAMA, 2020.

XS from Rina Sawayama's debut album, SAWAYAMA, seemed to be on every music critic's year-end list for best songs of 2020, and for good reason. XS merges elements from heavy metal and 2000s pop music to create a song that gets stuck in your head 24/7. The intro of XS sounds cinematic, then out of nowhere, a heavy guitar comes in and in less than five seconds, it's an early 2000s pop song. It blows my mind how she was able to pull this off, but it seems to be effortless for her, as her album consists of many different genres of music, yet it still sounds cohesive.

4. "White Dress" by Lana Del Rey, Album: Chemtrails Over The Country Club, 2021.

White Dress opens Lana Del Rey's newest album, Chemtrails Over The Country Club. It starts off with a soft falsetto, which you expect to end by the time she gets to the chorus, but it doesn't. Most of White Dress is sung in falsetto over a mellow piano. I had never heard anyone sing for almost six minutes with a single singing technique and have it work as well as it does in this song. White Dress is so clear that you can hear her voice cracks and even her breathing, which makes it feel more intimate, as it holds onto you until it ends. White Dress is one of my favorite songs of 2021.

5. "Writer In The Dark" by Lorde, Album: Melodrama, 2017.

Writer In The Dark is one of many highlights from Lorde's sophomore album, Melodrama. Lorde tells a story about how her ex-boyfriend will rue the day he kissed her, the writer in the dark, because she's going to write about him as much as her broken heart desires. Writer In The Dark has a great concept, but what makes it so unusual and distinct from any other song in her discography is the chorus. The way she sings the chorus makes it sound like she's crying, as she sings the lines, "I am my mother's child. I'll love you till my breathing stops. I'll love you till you call the cops on me. But in our darkest hours, I stumbled on a secret power. I'll find a way to be without you, babe." This is a really emotional point in the album, where she realizes she must let go of him, but can't because she's a writer and what writers do is write about their experiences. Writer In The Dark is a jarring and heartbreaking listen, but it's definitely one of the best songs she's ever written.

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