Unfortified Castle

Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's duo is my favorite of the multiple songs with this title.

That's a question I've had recently as I've gotten to thinking about just one of Janelle Monáe's show-stopping numbers.

You don't sample and rap over Otis Redding and get away with it... right? Unless you're Ye and Jay.

CamelPhat are leaders of the style now, and I saw it coming with this 2015 production.

I didn't realize that until I looked a little closer for this post, which also led me to appreciating the song even more.

Kali Uchis and Tyler, the Creator provide the former feeling, while the latter comes from the space bassist, Bootsy Collins himself.

It's also just a plain good song from a band that, yes, isn't just a meme.

Gladys Knight & the Pips' classic combines outstanding vocals with a compelling lyrical narrative that has a surprising twist in its chorus.

Few pop songs have genuinely surprised me in a positive way on first listen more than today's selection did.

Kelly Jones and Stereophonics call back to the generation before them with their R&B influenced post-Britpop.

Emeli Sandé's praiseful breakthrough hit is as catchy and singalong-friendly today as it was when she burst onto the scene.

Labelle's smash hit is so catchy because nearly every individual element is infectiously memorable on its own.

Alabama Shakes strike a beautiful balance between the deeply personal and the globally applicable in the narrative of their debut single.

Is it pyromania? No, but it's a frantic and psychedelic trip that makes you feel like something's burning inside you.

...and I had to figure out which one version I liked / wanted to write about the most.

His accomplishments are visible throughout one of the Gap Band's signature and most evergreen songs.

Rising above the weight of unrealistic physical expectations, she delivers a soulful, guitar-driven affirmation of her self-worth.

Motown meets wall of sound meets breakup angst meets— wait, this song has an actual ending? Sick!

It doesn't get more 60s than how the Friends of Distinction spun an instrumental classic. And how do Zambia and Jim Brown each play a part?

The simplest tracks sometimes hit you the hardest.