10 Songs About Friends, Enemies & Rivals | Playlist šŸŽ§ (2024)

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Playlist ā€œ10 Songs About Friends, Enemies & Rivalsā€ features songs courtesy of Camilla Cabello, J. Cole, and Justin Bieber among others.

Merriam-Webster defines a friend(plural:friends) as ā€œone attached to another by affection or esteemā€ or simply, ā€œacquaintance.ā€ Sounds about right. Naturally, an enemyis the antonym of a friend, while a rivalis considered a ā€˜near antonym.ā€™ An enemy(plural: enemies) at its simplest is described as ā€œa person who hates another.ā€ As for rival(plural: rivals), its ā€œone of two or more striving to reach or obtain something that only one can possess.ā€

Enough definitions already! This playlist features 10 songs about friends, enemies, and rivals.There are five songs about friends, three songs about enemies, and two songs about rivals. Artists appearing on this playlist include Camilla Cabello, J. Cole, and Justin Bieber.

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Camilaā€¢ Epic ā€¢2018

ā€œReal Friendsā€, the seventh track from Camila, is an enjoyable, thoughtful, low-key offering from Camila Cabello. The production work is simple, with few frills. Despite the conservative backdrop, itā€™s an effective, fitting accompaniment. Vocally, thereā€™s more cooingthan an overt, dramatic statement. Cabello sounds beautiful and sincere, but she doesnā€™t pack a huge punch. Even so, the message is strong, and vocal harmonization and subtle cues are enough to carry the record.

Amenā€¢ 88rising / EMPIRE ā€¢2018

ā€œWord on the street, they said that you close to me / Donā€™t like the energy, are we friends or enemies?ā€ā€œEnemiesā€ appears onAmen, the debut album by Indonesian rapper Rich Brian. In the context of the album, itā€™s a respectable listen, though less memorable than the crĆØme de la crĆØme of the album. The idea and overall message is crystal clear. Brian is trying determine whoā€™s a true friend and whoā€™s a fake that ā€œsmile(s) in your faceā€ and ultimately has no loyalty.

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Ft. kiLL edward

KODā€¢ Dreamville / Roc Nation ā€¢ 2018

J. Cole returns his distinct kiLL Edwardalter-ego returns on ā€œFRIENDSā€ with pitch-shifted vocals on the hook. J. Cole speaks about addictions to various substances, the central ā€œdemonā€ of his 2018 album, KOD. Essentially, he goes H.A.M. explaining how and why it happens, encouraging addicts to meditateas opposed to abuse potentially deadly drugs.

Elohimā€¢ BMG Rights Management ā€¢ 2018

Who is Elohim? Glad you asked! Elohim is an up-and-coming electronic artist based in Los Angeles, California. On this particular ā€˜friends, enemies, and rivalsā€™ playlist, she lays claim to the shortest song of them all. Technically itā€™s an interlude, but interlude are people ā€“ err songs too! The lyrics are pretty self-explanatory.

ā€œOh my god Iā€™ve been up since six,I canā€™t catch a break from all this shitI havenā€™t been able to sleep a winkI keep seeing enemies in my dreamsEnemies, enemiesā€¦ā€

Scary stuff those nightmares, not to mention the unsettling sound of this recordā€¦

Speak Your Mindā€¢ Asylum ā€¢2018

Havenā€™t I made it obvious? / Havenā€™t I made it clear? / Want me to spell it out for you? / F-R-I-EN-D-S.ā€ ā€œFRIENDSā€is set in a minor key but sounds exuberant regardless. As a producer, Marshmellois on-point. Even with the semi-darkvibe thanks to the minor key, the guitar conveys a sense of cool ā€“ ā€˜chillā€™ if you will. The first verse is relatively light, carried by guitar, while the drum programming arrives on the chorus. Naturally, the second verse is more robustly produced. As for English singer Anne-Marie, she delivers unapologetic, feisty vocals. In regards to her musical personality, sheā€™s chocked-full of attitude. We wouldnā€™t have it any other way, particularly when she gets a bit salty. Ultimately, the pair makes sweet music together.

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Heartbreak on a Full Moonā€¢RCA ā€¢ 2017

ā€œBut if you could see what my eyes can see / You would see what you mean to meā€¦ / I wouldnā€™t be the enemy / I donā€™t wanna be the enemy.ā€ Thereā€™s a little bit of everything on Heartbreak on a Full Moon, the 45-track (57 in an absurd expanded Cuffing Season ā€“ 12 Days of Christmasedition) album released by Chris Brown in 2017. Safe to say, when this gargantuan effort arrived, it was way too much material ā€“ furthermore too much Chris Brown ā€“ to digest in one setting. Therefore, the 35thtrack, ā€œEnemyā€ in the context of the album is ā€˜just another songā€™ on an exhaustive, overblown album, particularly compared to the likes of . In the nutshell, Brown has regrets about his ex, who he wishes he could reunite with. On ā€œEnemy,ā€ he wishes he could change the perception of himself to her.

From a Room: Volume 2ā€¢Mercury ā€¢2017

Chris Stapletonis a ā€˜bossā€™ in country music, keeping its authenticity alive and well in a pop-dominated age. Though it wasnā€™t as heralded as his first album of 2017, From a Room: Volume 2exemplified why Stapleton is currently the face of traditional, outlaw country. The nine-track From a Room: Volume 2is an incredibly consistent album, and amazingly, there are songs better than the record at hand, ā€œFriendship.ā€That said, what better way to close an album than with ā€œFriendshipā€?This easygoing, feel-good number is a stark contrast to ā€œDeath Row,ā€ the moody closer for From a Room: Volume 1. The exuberance and fire of Stapleton is simply irresistible.

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Rather You Than Me ā€¢ Epic ā€¢ 2017

Rick Ross is reflective on ā€œIdols Become Rivals,ā€ a song from his 2017 album, Rather You Than Me. Ross remembers his rap idols, Cash Money. Despite his recollections, he goes on to list the issues that have plagued Cash Money, specifically the head, Birdman. Ultimately, ā€œIdols Become Rivalsā€ is a diss-track. Chris Rock guests at the top of the track with a skit.

Friendsā€“ Single ā€¢ Republic ā€¢ 2017

ā€œWonderinā€™ if you got a body / To hold you tighter since I left.ā€ Heavily tatted, oft-shirtless, Canadian heartthrob Justin Bieberfurther built upon his monstrous 2017 with the release of his single, ā€œFriendsā€ featuring highly demanded producer, BloodPopĀ®. ā€œFriendsā€ exemplifies the modern pop sound, influenced with dance and electronic cues. Bieber, as always, sounds like heā€™s in command, painting the electro-pop palette with sound, enjoyable vocals.His tone has only improved with age and experience. There are no leering cons to be found, even if this friendly record isnā€™t game changing.

ā€œSo, Iā€™m wonderinā€™Can we still be friends? (ah-ah)Can we still be friends? (ah-ah)Doesn't have to end (ah-ah)And if it ends, can we be friends?Can we be friends?Can we be friends?ā€

Ft. Future

Hard II Love ā€¢ RCA ā€¢ 2016

Usherdelivers quick-paced, pop-rap-like vocals on the verses of ā€œRivalsā€, which is readymade for the airwaves. Guest Futurehas a minimal role, therefore itā€™s not saturated in his autotune babble. Usherā€™s vocals sound terrific ā€“ clearly more youthful than his 38 years. ā€œA great ass, a better mind, what a combo.ā€ Sure, the excerpted lyric seems superficial, but itā€™s actually deeper contextually.

Usher is looking for the one, something thatā€™s clear on the hook:

ā€œWithout you I feel unevenMake every day our love seasonBaby girl youā€™re my riderThat should be enough reasonCall you baby thatā€™s only your titleCause I donā€™t need no more rivalsI put that on the Bibleā€¦ā€

Ultimately, ā€œRivalsā€ isnā€™t the deepest cut of Usherā€™s catalogue by any means, but itā€™s catchy and respectable.

Photo Credits: 88rising, BMG Rights Management, Dreamville, EMPIRE, Epic, Mercury, RCA, Republic, Roc Nation

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10 Songs About Friends, Enemies & Rivals | Playlist šŸŽ§ (2024)

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