It’s very common to see end of the year lists that do a wrap up of the year’s best songs or best movies but I’ve never see an end of the year list wrap up the year’s best lyrics. Below, are my favorite lyrics of 2018:
3. “You Are A Kaleidoscope” – Get Out by CHVRCHES (Starts at 2:11)
Generally, metaphors are corny, overplayed, or even baseless but for some reason this metaphor hit me hard. It’s just one of the most honest things that I heard this year. Overall, this song is very good but this lyric stands on it’s own. The first time I heard the singer say “So do you want to turn it around? Do you want to show me how you are a kaleidoscope? You are a kaleidoscope.” I straight up stopped in my tracks.
2. “She told me that she love that I make music for God, I told her I would love to see that booty applaud” – No Brainer by DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper and Quavo (Starts at 2:20)
Has there ever been a lyric that so succinctly summarized an artist’s brand? This line, sung by Chance The Rapper, perfectly cuts to the core of everything this artist is about in one fell swoop: The always-cool, church-loving rapper who makes sure to see his grandma in between trips to the club.
1.”Fuck. Shit. Bitch.” – Mo Bamba by Sheck Wes (Starts at 1:39)
Although simple, this line is undeniably impactful. What was initially an accident, a mere ad-lib spoken by the rapper when the beat randomly cut out in the studio, has turned into a crowd pleasing anthem. The most important lyrics don’t always have to be the most clever or well-written. Often the best lyrics are just the ones that have the greatest effect on the audience and when “Fuck. Shit. Bitch” drops in any room in America, that room moves.
