When it comes to music, there are so many things to geek out about. For Claire Hawkins, it’s the behind-the-scenes, the makeup of the band, the well – everything. For me? Lyrics, lyrics, and more lyrics. As someone who spends 99% of their time putting words here and there, it’s no surprise that I’m a sucker for a well-written piece of music that I would immediately get permanently inked on my body. So here they are, the songwriters I crush on…from the ones that got me as a kid to the ones who still make me smile with their creative pen today and the songs of theirs that make my heart fucking flutter.
Alessia Cara “Here”
An introverted hermit since birth, I do not do well in most social situations and I absolutely hate when I have to interact with people I do not know, so of course, when I heard this I was like – MY ANTHEM HAS ARRIVED.
Jetty Bones “Innocent Party”
While loving myself fully will take a lifetime, I’ve made grand strides in recent years.
Mariah Carey “Always Be My Baby”
‘Daydream’ was one of the first cassettes I ever had that was all mine, and I played that little thing to death! She was the first singer I truly loved, and in many ways set the foundation for how much a fucking love and appreciate a perfect pop song.
Jessie Reyez “Figures”
This one is all thanks to my BFF who I tagged along with to a show a couple of years ago. I’d never heard of Jessie Reyez, but I was instantly enamored with every word that came out of her mouth because every line was honest, pure, raw goodness.
Dua Lipa “Boys Will Be Boys”
Obviously, my love of Mariah Carey as mentioned before led me to adore the elite pop found on ‘Future Nostalgia,’ but this song is a beautiful, anthemic track that should be played with the volume turned up to an 11.
Olivia Rodrigo “drivers license”
In high school, we HAD to audition for the musical even if we didn’t want to be in it, and every song on ‘Sour’ makes me wish I was 16 again because I would’ve gone in with ‘drivers license’ and put on a show. Would it have sounded good? Absolutely not, but I would’ve had a ball with it.
Alanis Morissette “Right Through You”
If you are making a list of greats and mention Alanis and ‘Jagged Little Pill,’ no explanation is needed.
SZA “20 Something”
Thank gawd for ‘Insecure’ for putting SZA in an episode back in 2017. I immediately became obsessed and while I’d just left my 20s behind that year, every time I listened then and now – I’m a ball of emotions remembering every low point of that decade and how I felt so fucking lost.
Taylor Swift “Soon You’ll Get Better”
Having spent many days and nights watching someone I love go through cancer treatment, oh yeah – this song hits me in places I didn’t even know existed.
Paramore “Fake Happy”
Paramore definitely grows with their fans and every album reflects that, and I will always appreciate every track of theirs that has gotten me through various chapters in my own story.
Crushgasm 