V’s New Music Round-Up

Here are some of the best and biggest releases of the week

Hello and welcome! Are you tired and weak? Are you bored? Do you ever wonder- no, that sounds like the opening for one of those cheesy 90s commercials. But, like those commercials, we’re all about the good feels here. Welcome to V’s new music round-up, where we tune you into some of the week’s biggest and best releases, whether they be singles or albums.

Here are this week’s top picks:

Space Jam: A New Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists

Image courtesy of WaterTower Music/Warner Bros.

For a film about basketball in the Tron age, it’s odd to think there would be so many rap songs and trap drum loops on this soundtrack. But it’s fitting for the modern age of movie magic, even if it doesn’t fit with the nostalgia of the Space Jam we once had. Tracks like “Just For Me,” “Mercy,” “See My Fly,” “Goin’ Looney,” and “Hoops” do find that sweet spot, although any chance we get to have the legendary Salt-N-Pepa on the track is one to jump at.

“Permission to Dance” by BTS

Image courtesy of BIGHIT Music

BTS continues on with their disco domination on their third English-language single, an Ed Sheeran co-write that could easily find a place on a poppier version of X. It’s the same kind of euphoric, bright synth and horn-heavy, don’t-care-what-they-say track that has allowed the group to establish a monopoly on the charts that could only be beaten by the likes of…

“NDA” by Billie Eilish

Image courtesy of Darkroom/Interscope Records

Billie Eilish stands in extremely stark contrast to the Bangtan Boys, a lot more melancholy and sparse in her approach, abandoning brass and Sheeran for darker moods and Finneas. Both do share an understanding of how to balance their extreme approaches with some form of appeal, though, like Eilish does on “NDA,” a reminder of how fame can really suck set against a careening beat.

“Motley Crew” by Post Malone

Image courtesy of Republic Records

This is more of a “Post Malone of yore” sort of track, more focused on showcasing his capabilities with wordplay and rap rather than trying to fit into a specific musical eight-count. It’s on the edgier side of his discography, trying to rap his head around (eh? EH?) the motley crew he’s with and showing them off. It’ll be interesting to see how his popularity pervades when he’s not erring on the side of his delicate brand of pop-rap.

“Cambia el Paso” by Jennifer Lopez ft. Rauw Alejandro

Image courtesy of Nuyorican Productions/Sony Music Latin

JLo is really bringing in the summer heat, like the heat wave wasn’t enough. She’s perfectly in her element on the sultry and summery “Cambia el Paso,” pairing up with Rauw Alejandro in what should be a club staple for when clubs start accepting more and more people soon down the line. She barely goes above a talk-sing register and, honestly, works the song better because of it.

“Stay” by The Kid LAROI with Justin Bieber

Image courtesy of Columbia Records

This sort of keyboard synth-driven video game soundtrack sound is something many pop artists are starting to embrace as a sort of happy medium between minimalism and maximalism (sure, let’s say that’s a word). It works just as well for both LAROI and Bieber, with their similar voices and abilities to be the sort of medium between breathy and belt-y, fully fitting in with the energy of the production and giving what may be one of Bieber’s stronger tracks this year.

“Sobrio” by Maluma

Image courtesy of Sony Music Latin

Maluma’s first release of 2021 is more vulnerable than we’re usually accustomed to with songs that are accompanied by a beat like this one. The pop-reggaetón track discusses his feelings of sorrow following heartbreak and getting sober, and when you really start listening to the lyrics, as you’re jiving, you go, “Oh, this may not be as fun as I thought it was.” Although that doesn’t stop it from being good, good at being a more upbeat take on sorrow.

“WHOLE LOTTA MONEY” by BIA ft. Nicki Minaj

Image courtesy of BIA/Epic Records

BIA’s track already exudes this rich, I’m so rich energy that you couldn’t think it could go further. Nope, Nicki Minaj, hip-hop’s rich queen, comes in to up the luxury aspect and even add a little bit of crazy to the track, upping it from the static rhythm that keeps looping throughout. You wouldn’t be wrong if you thought Nicki’s alter ego, Roman, managed to make a rebirth on the track.

“De Museo” by Bad Bunny

Image courtesy of Rimas Entertainment LLC

Bad Bunny’s offering for the Fast and Furious 9 soundtrack is an interesting addition. It’s perfect for the artist himself, perfectly fitting in with the rest of his discography, a grittier reggaetón track with a drum loop that shows off his quick chops while still managing to remain likable enough with his lyrics. But it kind of piques the curiosity when you think of how this track could fit in with the roar of the cars from F9, especially when the track undergoes a tempo change midway. Might have to hit theatres for that one.

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