Beth’s July Top Artists
Good morning and happy Sunday, B&B readers. I’ve got another monthly top artists & songs for you this week. This time, I’m covering the best month of the year (my birthday month), July! Enjoy, my fellow music lovers!
10. Spoon
Song of the Month: Inside Out
I’ll forever hold this song in a special little corner of my heart because it will always remind me of my boyfriend right before he became my boyfriend. I remember him coming over on Valentine’s Day, flowers in hand of course, and we drank wine in my kitchen, dancing to this song, just before he asked me to officially be his girlfriend. I don’t necessarily believe this song to be a love song; I think it’s more about not having the time to care for other people’s opinions of what they think you should be. In the grand scheme of our love story, this very concept was so important to us. We were so intentional about not stepping into a new relationship with a friend just because others thought we should be. So, it seems kind of full circle that this was a song we enjoyed together before making it official.
9. Sheryl Crow
Song of the Month: Soak Up the Sun
Taking a complete turn in the vibe department, Soak Up The Sun by Sheryl Crow, an absolutely certified Summer banger. This song is about not taking for granted what you’ve got, even if it might not seem like much. The sun is free, so you might as well enjoy it, especially on those days when there’s not much else to enjoy. Sometimes I need this reminder, don’t we all?
8. Shania Twain
Song of the Month: Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
Let’s go, girls! Another certified Summer banger! Last month, I had a perfect little lake weekend with my best friend, and this song just had to be on our “Lakehouse Rot” playlist. There’s something about this song that is just perfect for any occasion to me. Rotting on a mat in a lake? Of course. Pregaming with the girls? Obviously. Karaoke bar? Well, yes. Family barbecue? Absolutely. My funeral? Sure, why not? This is the ultimate female hype up song.
7. Sam Smith
Song of the Month: I’m Not The Only One
July was a huge month for singing in the shower. It was hard to even pick one Sam Smith song to highlight, but thanks to Receiptify, I found out that I’m Not The Only One was, in fact, in my top five songs of the entire month. That is how much I sang it in the shower. 2010’s Sam Smith knew exactly what he was doing in the shower-sing-along-music department. While I’ll never sing a Sam Smith song in a karaoke bar, I do dream of the day I belt some Sam Smith in front of an audience.
6. Fruit Bats
Song of the Month: Humbug Mountain Song
Last month, I bought tickets to see Eric D. Johnson (EDJ), the lead singer of Fruit Bats, perform at the Old Town School of Music, so, of course, I have been listening to them nonstop due to my excitement. I love this song specifically because it reminds me to slow down, remember, and live in the times I’ve realized I was truly alive. Even if you don’t remember the specifics of that moment, you remember how it made you feel; that’s what sticks the most.
5. Norah Jones
Song of the Month: Come Away With Me
I would venture to guess that every woman who contributed to raising me likes Norah Jones, and that makes an unbelievable amount of sense to me. I will raise my daughter on Norah Jones, and I hope she will raise her daughter on Norah Jones, too. This 2002 release is probably one of her most popular, and for good reason. It’s just a beautiful, jazzy song that I think everyone can appreciate.
4. Ravyn Lenae
Song of the Month: Computer Luv (Feat. Steve Lacy)
With her song Love Me Not going viral, everyone is loving Ravyn Lenae right now, and I absolutely love to see it. I also just found out this week that she’s from Chicago, so that makes me love her even more, of course! I really do see her as being the next big pop star, and she truly deserves those flowers. Computer Luv is about a truly modern love story, one totally online. It feels sort of silly listening to a song about literal computer love; it’s kind of like when a song mentions a very current brand or cultural reference, it laminates that song and its meaning in that time period forever. However, with Computer Luv, I think so many people can relate to the concept of an online love story, and will continue to be able to relate to that for the rest of time because, hey, the internet's not going anywhere.
3. Sade
Song of the Month: The Sweetest Taboo
My big three this month…are we really surprised? Honestly, these three might be my top three artists of all time. I rediscovered Sade a few months back, and I have found myself listening to her every day since. The Sweetest Taboo is a favorite of mine. Another love song…sue me! She’s got music to dance to, write to, porch hang to, lounge to, what doesn’t she do? Make music in the year 2025, I guess. Will we ever get another album? I’m truly not sure. I could see it going either way since she does still work in music, but she also appreciates her privacy so much.
2. SZA
Song of the Month: Prom
According to Receiptify, I listened to Prom the most of any SZA song last month, and I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again— Sza just has a way with lyrics, she effortlessly conveys feelings and experiences so familiar yet indescribable. Prom depicts the ever-present thought of getting better as you get older, promising someone that you’ll be better someday if they just stay patient. I love the way SZA is so transparent in her songs, boasting her talents just as much as she admits her faults. The change in tone when she sings “Prolly wanna let me go, but you can’t,” you can literally hear her give a little shoulder shrug smirk combo when she sings “but you can’t.” I love it, it makes the song so fun to sing around my apartment, acting out the lyrics as I sing them.
1. Beyoncé
Song of the Month: Satellites
Criminally underrated Beyoncé song, say what? Satellites: “What?” And I’m serious. This song put me through emotional turmoil this year. It’s about change and growing apart from someone you love when really you just need to communicate your newfound differences. “If we don’t communicate, we’ll exist in our own space, we have all the love we need.” This is a lesson I have only ever had to learn the hard way. We all change; we were always meant to, but that doesn’t always mean you have to change away from people. When there is a foundation of love, all you really need to change and grow together is the ability to communicate and understand. I’m definitely still figuring that communication piece out, but this song gave me a much-needed perspective check.
As always, please let me know if you give any of these artists a listen, and I’d love to hear your top artist of the month. Here’s to the last month of summer. See you for my August wrapped!
Write you soon!
Beth
