The 14 songs that grace this playlist, Songs Where It’s All About the Numbers, numbers serve as a central part of the song and song title in some capacity.

1. The 14 songs that grace this playlist, Songs Where It’s All About the
Numbers, numbers serve as a central part of the song and song title in
some capacity.

2. • Sometimes, numbers make the best, most creative song titles.
• Minimally, the use of a number or numbers can accentuate a title.
• In the case of the 14 songs that grace this playlist, numbers serve as a central
part of the song and song title in some capacity.
• In most cases, the number is the first part of the song title you read.
• These 14 songs are a small, SMALL percentage of songs where it’s all about the
numbers.

3. • With “24K Magic,” Bruno Mars has a gem on his hands. It initiates 24K Magic fiercely,
drenched in swagger.
• He elevates himself as the player of players, spitting mad game.
• If he did lack confidence, it never shows on this slick funk opener, which feels like the
natural follow-up to “Uptown Funk.”
• “24K Magic” is 80s to the core, with the introductory vocoder leading the charge.
• The chorus is infectious: “Players only, come on / put your pinky rings up to the moon
/ Girls, what y’all trying to do? / 24 karat magic in the air / head to toe so player / uh,
look out!”

4. • Within American Teen, “8TEEN” serves as a welcome change of pace following a trio
of brokenhearted songs.
• Up-and-coming R&B artist Khalid continues to show why he’s the next big thing in
R&B.
• The record feels like a companion cut to an earlier track, title track “American Teen.”
• Why? “8TEEN” embraces a similar overall sound, with Khalid reflecting on being
young and dumb.
• The signature line comes on the chorus, as he sings, “So let’s do all the stupid shit that
young kids do.”

5. 3. Trey Songz, “#1Fan”
(Tremaine the Album, Atlantic, 2017)
• “Having sex with my number one fan / So why am I so nervous?” Sigh, the sexcapades
of Trey Songz know no ends.
• “#1Fan” (Tremaine the Album) shows how low the R&B singer will stoop.
• Utterly ridiculous, Trey is concerned about his performance with a groupie!
• On the bridge, he further expands on his anxiousness: “You ready? / Will I live up to
the man she sees? / Will I give her everything she needs? / I just hope that when
we’re done she’s pleased / I hope it’s everything you thought it’d be.”
• Ugh! Ultimately, “#1Fan” is shallow to the nth degree. #GHETTO

6. 4. The Chainsmokers, “The One”
(Memories…Do Not Open, Columbia, 2017)
• By 2017, it’s incredibly easy to identify a song written, performed, and produced by The
Chainsmokers.
• In some respects, the same thing can be said of “The One,” which features many of the same
characteristics of their past work.
• Still, beyond its romantic theme and Andrew Taggart handling lead vocals, “The One” gives
the duo a ballad, something new.
• The record captures an ended relationship, summarized on the chorus: “Down and down we
go / We’ll torch this place we know / Before one of us takes a chance / And breaks this, I
won’t be the one / No, I won’t be the one.”
• “Paris” and “Something Just Like This” are more engaging, but give The Chainsmokers credit
for showing slightly more range on “The One.”

8. 6. Tuxedo, “2nd Time Around”
(Tuxedo II, Stones Throw, 2017)
• The music that Tuxedo – Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One – releases isn’t hip in
the contemporary sense.
• That said, Tuxedo is hip AF, at least in respects to hearkening back to the glory
days of R&B.
• “2nd Time Around” definitely exhibits a high hipness factor, serving as a single
from Tuxedo II.
• Old-school to the core, “2nd Time Around” is infectiously penned, well-
performed, and soundly produced.
• Essentially, the song is about rekindling a relationship and building it up the
right way. After all, “I think it’s gonna be better / the second time around.”

9. 7. Lukas Graham, “7 Years”
(Lukas Graham, Warner Bros., 2016)
• “7 Years” is the rare meaningful, catchy pop song.
• Frontman Lukas Graham Forchhammer possesses a distinct voice perfectly
suited for this emotional, reflective number.
• “7 Years” is realistic, hypothetical, and captivating all-in-one.
• Authenticity is the ultimate selling point for “7 Years.”

10. 8. Kevin Gates, “2 Phones”
(Islah, Breadwinner’s Association, 2016)
• Kevin Gates keeps it pretty simple on “2 Phones.”
• In his own words, he spits, “I got two phones, one for the plug and one for the
load / I got two phones, one for the b*tches and one for the dough.”
• Interpreting the rap-speak, one of Gates’ phones is for hustling, his job.
• The other phone is for his personal use, including hollering at girls. Separation
of work and play.

11. 9. Charlie Puth, “One Call Away”
(Nine Track Mind, Artist Partner Group, 2016)
• Critics panned Nine Track Mind, the debut album from sensitive, up-and-coming pop
artist, Charlie Puth.
• The criticism was founded as the album was sappy, safe, and lacked edginess.
• One of the better moments was “One Call Away,” but don’t call it a classic.
• The biggest deal breaker is a cringe-worthy reference to Superman, a key lyric: “I’m only
one call away / I’ll be there to save the day / Superman got nothing on me / I’m only
one call away.”
• Sigh, even with such a corny line, admit it – “One Call Away” is catchy. Still,
oversensitivity makes this the perfect song one loves to hate.

12. 10. Maren Morris, “80s Mercedes”
(HERO, Columbia, 2016)
• Maren Morris killed it on “My Church,” a record that eventually became a Grammy-
winning county performance.
• Topping the crème de la crème from her Grammy-nominated album Hero is
impossible, but Morris does a fantastic job on “80s Mercedes.”
• “80s Mercedes” represents new-look country, that transcends typical country cues.
• True to its title, the 80s gets a nod here, giving the record a unique, surprisingly
successful sound.
• The lyrics shine from the start: “Still runs good, built to last / Moves like a hula girl on
the dash / She ain’t made for practicality / Yeah, I guess she’s just like me.”

13. 11. Ty Dolla $ign ft. Travis Scott, “3 Wayz”
(Campaign, RCA, 2016)
• Rather than release a new album, Ty Dolla $ign issued a new mixtape in 2016,
Campaign.
• On single “3 Wayz,” lean plays a notable role.
• The sound is mysterious from the jump. The pace is slow and lethargic, embracing a
druggy vibe. Dolla seems to want fans to experience the same high he sings about.
• Travis Scott delivers the faded hook: “One more stop ‘fore the world stop / we gon’
roll this loud it’s prohibited / making money moves off the laptop / codeine, codeine,
codeine, no prescriptions here.”
• “3 Wayz” is the ultimate example of excess. Expectedly, sex is incorporated as well. It
lacks substance, but this slow jam is irresistible.

14. 12. Jon Bellion, “80’s Films”
(The Human Condition, Capitol, 2016)
• On “80s Films,” eclectic, multifaceted pop musician Jon Bellion is going back to his
high school days, and what ‘love’ felt like back then: “We just need a night like this /
take me back to 9th grade / take me back to 9th grade shit.”
• “80s Films” ends up being one of the better moments from his underrated 2016
debut, The Human Condition.
• Bellion superbly captures the 80s sound, vibes, and overall sentiment. Hooking up is
among his goals, much like any teen boy: “Just like the 80s films / we’ll hook up in my
backseat and let my best friend drive.”
• Adding to the 80s vibe, he references the most 80s movie ever (The Breakfast Club) as
well as one of the most 80s artist ever, Cyndi Lauper: “I can’t let go and your lips feel
retro / you’re my Breakfast Club / you’re my song from Cyndi Lauper.../take me back
into the future.”

15. 13. Mac Miller, “100 Grandkids”
(GO:OD AM, Warner Bros., 2015)
• Somehow, Mac Miller is able to blend grandkids and 100 grand on the electrifying “100 Grandkids.”
• “100 Grandkids” is a great balance of Miller’s underground rap and what major labels desire from an
artist.
• Undoubtedly, “100 Grandkids” was the tour de force from Miller’s 2015 album, GO:OD AM (yes, the
title is a stylization of god damn.) Miller starts off with depth: “I made a promise to my mama / that
I’ll bless her with some grandkids, she can spoil them.”
• The depth exits the picture, with him eventually bragging about money and upgraded status: “I
swear to God I put the hero in heroin / these flows, kilos, I could sell snow to a ski slope / I could sell
evil to the devil / Nonbelievers to a temple / shit, I could sell water to a speedboat”
• Continuing to brag, Mac thought he was the shit and a king when he made $100,000: “When I first
made a hundred grand, thought I was the shit / when I first made a hundred grand, thought I was a
king.”

17. Credits & Tags
• Original Article: Songs Where It’s All About the Numbers
• Photo Credits: Atlantic, RCA, Columbia, Jagjaguwar, Stones Throw, Warner Bros., Breadwinner’s Association, Artists
Partner Group, Capitol, Interscope
• Tags: Songs Where It’s All About the Numbers, numbers, playlist, number songs, Bruno Mars, “24K
Magic”, 24K Magic, Khalid, “8TEEN”, American Teen, Trey Songz, “#1Fan”, Tremaine the Album, The
Chainsmokers, “The One”, Memories…Do Not Open, Bon Iver, “33 ‘GOD’”, 22 A Million, Tuxedo, “2nd
Time Around”, Lukas Graham, “7 Years”, Kevin Gates, “2 Phones”, Islah, Charlie Puth, “One Call Away”,
Nine Track Mind, Maren Morris, “80s Mercedes”, HERO, Ty Dolla $ign, Travis Scott, “3 Wayz”,
Campaign, Jon Bellion, “80s Films”, The Human Condition, Mac Miller, “100 Grandkids”, GO:OD AM,
BØRNS, “10,000 Emerald Pools”, Dopamine