2019 just got started and I have already had my eyes set on trying to help our audience find new music they can listen to for various moods. Most of what people listen to is solely influenced by what they happen to hear on the radio, and only once in a while does someone take the time to look for music outside of what is played on the radio. Therefore, I present to you my top five singles released in January. Some artists you might have heard on the radio, others you may not recognize, but I hope you enjoy them just the same!

Number 5:

Firstly, the song “I’m So Tired” by Lauv featuring Troye Sivan earns the 5th spot due to its ability to be a sad song with a still high tempo—a hard balance to successfully make.

The tune can make you a bit sad due to the fact that it is a song about a person who is trying to hangout with friends and keeps hearing love songs, while trying to forget their broken heart. Its tempo, however, still makes you want to sing along and dance.

Its lyrics and meaning are very apparent and simple, but the song itself is not necessarily very special. I would recommend it if you’re in a sad mood, but not ready for a full on cry sesh. I give this tune 3 out of 5.

Other songs by this artist that are excellent: Paris in the Rain, Never Not, Adrenaline

Number 4:

“Baila Baila Baila” by Ozuna secures a commendable 4th spot on my ranking because of its high energy dance vibe. The song is in spanish, so looking at a translation may be in order. If you take spanish, trying to figure out the lyrics on your own first might be an interesting method to help yourself learn the language in a fun, engaging way. Just a thought.

When you do translate it, the song is about a girl who has just been through a heartbreak and never goes out with her friends anymore. The song takes place at the point when she finally decides to go out and how Ozuna is becoming infatuated with her.

Even without knowing the language, the song is just really fun to listen to. I recommend it as a slower dance song, if you are into spanish music and Reggaeton. 3.5 out of 5 paws.

Other songs by this artist that are excellent: Ibiza, Escape, Imposible

Number 3:

It’s only up from here! “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande’s earns the 3rd spot due to it overall upbeat vibe. It is very catchy and would fit perfectly as either a party song, a girl’s night anthem or even a song you would workout to.

The song’s flow is not incredibly original, but that does not prevent the song from having its own style. This would not be the song I look to for deep, meaningful lyrics. Even though it is slightly materialistic, I see it as an empowering tune in the sense that it promotes taking care of and splurging on yourself and close friends.

This song does come during a period Grande’s life where she has been going through a broken engagement, the death of a former partner whom she was close to, and the Manchester bombing where a radical Islamist detonated a bomb killing himself and 22 of her fans during her concert.

“7 rings” helps show how Grande is attempting to cope with the stress, as she focuses on herself and friends, while encouraging others to do the same.

Another bonus that was amusing is that the song was sampled from the song Favorite Things performed by Julie Andrews from the Musical Sound of Music. Due to all of that, I think “7 Rings” rightly deserves 3.5 out of 5 paws.

Other songs by this artist that are excellent: Be Alright, You Don’t Know Me, Breathin

Number 2:

“Dancing With A Stranger” by Sam Smith and Normani is the runner up due to the pairs’ incredible vocal abilities. They both hit those high notes with ease. Furthermore, “Dancing with a Stranger” is a rare slow jam with a good beat.

The song itself is about forgetting an old lover and dancing with a “stranger” to accomplish that. The two R&B voices go so well together, making the song extremely versatile. It could be on a party playlist or even just a song you play when you are relaxing.

Even though it is about forgetting someone, I would not characterize this song as a heartbreaker. The song is more focused on the fact that the singers are surprised that they went out with a new person, despite their emotions about their past love.

I recommend it for almost any mood that needs a slow song with a good beat. This song rightfully deserves 4 out of 5 paws.

Songs by Sam Smith: Promises, Lay Me Down, No Peace, Too Good At Goodbyes, Literally everything.

Songs by Normani Kordei: Waves, Love Lies, Slow Down  

Number 1:

In the number one spot, “Father’s Son” by Celeste deserves this coveted number 1 spot because it is the deepest song on the list.

The song’s meaning may be clear to some, but confusing for others. From my interpretation, the song seems to be about a son whose father does not seem to be in his life. The son has many questions about himself and wonders if his personality comes from his dad or if they are nothing alike.

He wonders about what his father is like and what they have in common as he struggles to figure out exactly how he feels about his absent father. If you want to cry, I invite you to join the sad party.

Of all of the songs on this list, it has the most meaning. That, along with her voice, makes it stand out above the rest. The only downside is that this song fits only one mood—that is sadness. With that being said, I would be completely comfortable giving this tune a 4.5 out of 5 paws.

Other songs by her that WILL make your soul CRY: Lately, Both Sides of the Moon, Not for Me

Honorable Mention: “Moderation” by Florence and the Machine

Definitely a well written song and definitely a strong contender for 5th place, I just don’t see myself listening to it. Very sassy lyrics in a good way, great sounding piano and vocals. I like how the piano is used to punctuate the beat. Makes me want to explore more into their music.

I just discovered by this artist: Hunger, Queen of Peace, Ship to Wreck