Songs of the Week: Bieber Peaking, Carly Rae Evolving, and Pharrell Making No Sense

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Silento, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”

This is not a new song. But as of right now, this is the no. 1 rap song in the country. And that will probably be the case through 2017, so just get used to it. (Warning: If you are a stickler about high lyric content, this is your song, your moment, your Ben-Hur.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvdJnev1S10

Lifehack: If you go to Chipotle and do the “SILENTO” scream but replace it with “CILANTRO,” they’ll kindly ask you to leave the line.

Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean?”

This is a new song. This is a good song. We really don’t deserve a world where Bieber and Efron are peaking at the same time. What a perfect time to be alive or something.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Downtown”

This is a new song. And if imagining Russell Wilson’s haircut writing a five-minute musical about Anchorman 2 gives you the chills, you’ll probably like it.

Solange, Dev Hynes, King, and Moses Sumney, “To Be Young, Gifted and Black”

This is not a new song. But it is a new cover. Good things happen when Solange and Dev work together.

Le1f, “Koi”

This is a new video. This is a great video. I can’t stop watching this video. You should watch this video. It screams summer noooooo please don’t end noooooooooo, which I guarantee you need in your life right now.

Future, ft. Drake, “Where Ya At”

This is not a new song. But this is a new video, a video I’m only partially convinced wasn’t shot on my roof. The video is filled with Future, still fully dialed into his Zorro look, Drake doing his cool kid hallway stumble dance, and THE COOLEST DJ IN THE WORLD, DJ ESCO.

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Pharrell Williams, “Freedom”

This is not a new song. But I think I just finished my 50th listen of it, which is the moment you realize you have no idea what Pharrell is talking about.

Lyrics that I’ve convinced myself are in this song:

“Eat all the shrimp / shrimp go a float / float in the sea / race is a myth / live like a queen / eat like a bear / feed all the toads / hats on the shelf.”

Carly Rae Jepsen, “Run Away With Me”

This is a newish song. And whenever I turn on this song, I am a caterpillar. By the time the hook rolls around, however, I am a full-grown butterfly, walking on two legs, trying to find a bodega that sells loosies. LONG LIVE THE ANTISWIFT.

Alessia Cara, “Here”

This is not a new song. But it is a from her new EP, Four Pink Walls. Cara is riding the wave that comes from associating yourself with a Drake song; in her case, a “Hotline Bling” cover. It’s a great cover, because she can really sing. “Here” is the proof she might be the truth.

LeBron James Dancing to Future’s “March Madness”

This is not a new song. LeBron James’s love for Future is not new. But this is simply the latest installment of his public nonstop adoration tour for the song “March Madness,” which he loves like Lee Greenwood loves America.

Filed Under: Music, Songs of the Week, macklemore, Future, Justin Bieber, Solange, Carly Rae Jepsen

Rembert Browne is a staff writer for Grantland.

Archive @ rembert