 Genius Meanings
|
|
James Blake – I Never Learnt to Share
|
|
In an interview with Clash magazine:
CLASH: What inspired the lyrics of “Never Learnt to share”? Was it a lament at being an only child?
JAMES: (Smiles) Possibly, yeah. I mean I
|
|
blackbear (Ft. James Blake) – Blame Them
|
|
[Intro: blackbear] / Ooh, oh / No, no, no / [Verse 1: blackbear] / Take a good look around / And tell me, what do you see? / I've never heard such a sound / It brings me down to my
|
|
Frank Ocean – Song List
|
|
Frank Ocean shared a list of his favorite songs on pages 104–105 of Boys Don’t Cry magazine, published on August 20, 2016, accompanying the release of Blonde. The list features
|
|
James Blake (Ft. Metro Boomin & Travis Scott) – Mile High
|
|
“Mile High,” a collaboration between James Blake, Travis Scott, and Metro Boomin, is about joining the ‘mile high club,’ as asserted on the song’s chorus:
We just be mile high
|
|
|
James Blake – Give Me My Month
|
|
The short piano-vocal ballad “Give Me My Month"—stripping back all instrumental and synthetic complexity—is the most simple, yet still gut-wrenchingly poignant, track off James
|
|
Travis Scott (Ft. James Blake, Kid Cudi, Philip Bailey & Stevie Wonder) – STOP TRYING TO BE GOD
|
|
On “STOP TRYING TO BE GOD,” Travis cautions rappers to not develop a God complex and to remain true to their roots. The song features Kid Cudi’s signature hums, vocals from Philip
|
|
James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream
|
|
“The Wilhelm Scream”, a standout from Blake’s song-centric long-player, is a ballad like so many ballads before it: just a smattering of lines, a hushed, pleading voice going for
|
|
Dave & James Blake – Both Sides of A Smile
|
|
“Both Sides of A Smile” is the ninth cut from Dave’s sophomore album We’re All Alone In This Together and sees James Blake take lead with the subdued strings of his guitar backing
|
|
Metro Boomin (Ft. 21 Savage, James Blake & Travis Scott) – TIL FURTHER NOTICE (Original)
|
|
Early version recorded in 2019, possibly made during early sessions for HEROES & VILLAINS before being taken by Travis. Leaked on May 10th, 2023 with a bunch of Travis Scott tracks
|
|
|
James Blake – To Care (Like You)
|
|
“To Care (Like You)” is mainly a vocal addition to James Blakes' debut album of the same name. The song has an abundance of sharp and sudden screeches which vary from decreasing to
|
|
James Blake – We Might Feel Unsound
|
|
Marking every place I’ve been / Every other place I’ve been / Marking every place I’ve been / Every other place I’ve been / [Instrumental] / We are the sad escape / Too strong a
|
|
James Blake – Lindisfarne I
|
|
“Lindisfarne” is the meditational centerpiece to James Blake’s still-stunning debut full-length and on the album it appears in two parts.
|
|
|
James Blake – Measurements
|
|
Album-ending “Measurements” pulls the sound of a Southern black gospel choir from Blake’s laptop and white-boy coo.
|
|
|
James Blake – Why Don't You Call Me
|
|
This song seems to be about something on the brink of emotional emission. What they are on the brink of finally admitting is subjective and meant to be framed in your own
|
|
|
James Blake – Lindisfarne II
|
|
“Lindisfarne” shows elements of folk, trip hop, and soul music. It has extensive use of auto-tune, vocoders and multi-layered vocals over acoustic guitar playing.
|
|
|
James Blake – Enough Thunder
|
|
The title track from Enough Thunder EP is a piano-and-vocal only song. James Blake said in the interview that “although I’m making this heavy dance music, I sometimes just sit down
|
|
James Blake – Tep And The Logic
|
|
[Instrumental] / Awkward / [Instrumental]
|
|
Drake – 0 to 100 / The Catch Up
|
|
This song features two parts. The first, “0 to 100,” is a typical braggadocio rap song resembling Drake’s smash “Started from The Bottom.” The second, “The Catch Up,” features an
|
|
Killer Mike & André 3000 (Ft. Eryn Allen Kane & Future) – SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS
|
|
[Intro: Eryn Allen Kane & Future] / Ooh, hey-hey-hey, ooh, hey (Yeah) / Ooh, hey, ooh, hey / Standin' in the rain (Standin' in the rain) / Washin' all my sins (Washin' all my
|
|
|
James Blake – A Case of You
|
|
James Blake’s piano and voice acoustic cover of Joni Mitchell’s song “A Case of You”
|
|
|
James Blake – Once We All Agree
|
|
Hands up, head back / We're moving every part that evaded love / Hands up, head back / We're moving every part that evaded love / And at this point I won't say what I have, what is
|
|
James Blake – Limit to Your Love
|
|
Feist cover “Limit to Your Love” works in just enough of dubstep’s bass flutter and snare snap.
This song, originally “The Limit To Your Love” by Feist, was also covered by jazz
|
|
Vince Staples – War Ready
|
|
“War Ready” is produced by British electronic artist James Blake. The song opens and closes with a sample of André 3000’s last verse on “ATLiens.”
A snippet of the track was
|
|
James Blake (Ft. Bon Iver) – Fall Creek Boys Choir
|
|
Bon Iver’s unique use of autotune has turned numerous heads, including Kanye West’s. Here, vocalist Justin Vernon contributes an autotune ballad in the vein of 2009’s “The Woods
|
|
James Blake – Unluck
|
|
“Unluck” features a jarring disjointed beat, see-sawing chords that are gradually eaten away by distortion and largely drowned out by James Blake’s vocal, which for some reason
|
|
Billie Eilish – when the party's over
|
|
The second single from WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, “when the party’s over,” sees Billie putting some distance between her and her lover. It was described by the
|
|
|
James Blake – I Mind
|
|
“I Mind”’s vocals become spinning smears that fall into the background. It’s the only time on the album where the drum clicks, static bursts, and piano splashes become the
|
|
|
James Blake – Not Long Now
|
|
It's red to me / ‘Cause I don't know any different that you're proud of me / It's red to me / And I don't know any different / That you're proud of me / (That you're proud of me
|
|
|
James Blake – You Know Your Youth
|
|
Before our love / Know your youth / Before our love goes / Know your / Time / Before our love / Know your
|
|
James Blake – If You Can Hear Me
|
|
[Intro] / Hmm / Hmm-mm / Hmm-mm / Hmm-mm / Hmm-mm / [Verse] / Dad, if you can hear me / I chased it all too far (Hmm-mm) / I couldn't seem to find my way / Back to the car / I
|
|
|
Dave (Ft. Fredo, Ghetts, Giggs & Meekz) – In The Fire
|
|
“In The Fire” is the fourth cut from Dave’s sophomore album We’re All Alone In This Together and watches him recruit four unlisted surprise features including close collaborator
|
