Jhene Aiko ~ Sailing Soul(s)

I can’t remember how long ago it was, but it’s been a while. I fell in love with Jhene Aiko’s mixtape Sailing Soul(s) on first listen. Jhene ( @JheneAiko) has a light and airy voice that manages to have a strong source; she doesn’t sound like she’s singing from her nose or throat. She sounds like she’s talking, yet singing…… I don’t know. She’s probably part unicorn. As it usually has it though, I was distracted by who knows what and quite some time had passed since I gave it more than a few initial listens. Who knows what it was that sparked my interest in listening again, but it’s been on repeat for at least a solid week now. Easily. I know it’s time for another album review so the timing is quite appropriate.

Oddly enough, some of the songs I enjoy the lyrics to the most, happen to be the ones I skip most frequently, and some of the songs I listen to most frequently I don’t pay much attention to the lyrics. I appreciate each song for different reasons. These are my top pics.

Stranger

The arrangement and beat on this slay. The story I take from this song, is an all too familiar one to me. Girl meets guy. He swears he’s nothing like any of the other men she’s dated.  Through the progression of the song, you get the feeling that she sees it coming, but ends up entertaining him anyway; just to find in the end she’s been right all along. He ends up just like every other guy. The end. Mathematics.

My Mine

I’m gona keep this short and cute. This, and one other song have ever brought me to tears of accuracy. You know those songs that just speak your truth? This shit here…. My last relationship to the T. This song is a reflection of the downfall of the relationship and the hurt of accepting the fact she can’t have him; he won’t be hers. This part right here?

But what do I care for?

What are you here for?

If you’re not there when I call?
I was not careful,

And that’s all your fault,

You let me fall

That’s the shit that broke me. No explanation needed for that.

Popular

Ok, so I generally skip this one.  I guarantee if it weren’t as much of an upbeat song, and it didn’t have that 50 sample, I’d play it more. But, this is one of the songs I was talking about when I said the lyrics are so dope you HAVE to love the song.

He wanted things that he didn’t need

And I was the one who was trying to make him see

That he had it all cause he had my all,

But he’s a lost cause,

Guess she cannot save them all!

Now he’s at my show

Standing front row,

He don’t know how
He messed up such a good thing

Look who’s popular now!

Ok, so I don’t have a show, but I have had the ex show up at the bar I work at and feel away that I wasn’t in a corner pining away for him. And I guarantee when I DO get my own show (perhaps I’m metaphorically speaking… not sure yet lol) some will pop out the wood. They always do. I hope one shows up with the money I lent him.

Sailing NOT Selling (feat. Kanye)

Before I even started paying attention to what she was saying I loved this song. Again, great beat, arrangement and her vocals are wild dope. But, I looked up the lyrics (I got all the lyrics to her songs from metrolyrics.com btw) and I loved the song SO much more. Here’s the hook

Don’t lose your so-oh-oh-oh-oh,

oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oul Oh-oh,

let go-oh, let go of your ego

Don’t sell your so-oh-oul,

sail your so-oul

Sailing so-oh-oul,

oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

I can do with out Kanye’s verse but overall, the song goes hard.

Do Better Blues (feat H.O.P.E.)

I’m not in love with the song, but it’s super cute. I’m AM here for this though:

In a relationship she wants 3 things:

1. Eyes that wont cry.

2.Lips that won’t lie.

3. Love that won’t die.

Cute song, I always listen to it, but it doesn’t evoke anything but the desire to be in a happy relationship…. Guess I was kinda lying then? I like this one. lol

Higher

This is one of the songs I never skip. I love the arangement and the hook is ridiculous. This is the stuff that makes me wish I didn’t sound so horrible singing. Her vocals on this, on the hook in particular really stand out to me. Just love it.

You vs. Them

Another song I stan for. The message I’m getting here is her being torn between her relationship with the one she loves, and her relationship with her responsibilities. As a rising public figure she’s torn between being in love and enjoying her love of him, with that of her fans and her music career. I’m not remotely famous so I don’t have that problem, but as someone who tries to keep busy I can relate on other levels. I’ve never had to choose my career or my man over the other, but I’ve been on the other side of that decision. I know I’ve had ex’s that put their work ahead of me, but really did love me. Sadly, my story didn’t end like the song, lol but I get it. My experiences aside, I absolutely love this song. Never want to have to make that choice though.

Space Jam

This is another one of the songs I love the lyrics to, but generally skip. Her vocals are great as always, but I just don’t quite care for instrumentals. I can relate on certain levels to this song, this part in particular:

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