Male/female pop hits that actually hit
By Serenity Holland
Duets have been around for a long time. Two perspectives, one story: telling the turbulent tales of an ordinary relationship. Through triumphs and tribulation, music is there for it all. We expectedly hear tragic situations through ballads, but what about the upbeat heartache songs our generation has resonated with over the years? What messages do we consume over and over again because they are catchy?
Here is a deep dive into a few songs our generation has clung onto, and would still hit differently if they hadn’t been so overplayed.
I Don’t Wanna Live Forever - Taylor Swift & Zayn Malik
Pop singer, Taylor Swift, and former One Direction band member, Zayn Malik, released I Don’t Wanna Live Forever in 2017 for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack.
With echoed vocals that only partially fill the soundscape, the first seconds of this song lend suspense for what's to come. Malik opens the song with a plea to a past lover he may not be completely over. “Been sitting eyes wide open behind these four walls, hoping you’d call,” he sings. Reaching to a higher register with his voice, Malik portrays a hunger for his lover, claiming he’ll be “living in vain” if not with her. By Swift’s verse, we hear she’s consumed with a series of correlating thoughts, tempting her to believe she’s either made a mistake or “dodged a bullet.” During the second chorus, the 808’s have a stronger presence, guiding us to a bridge that portrays each singer's inner-monologue regarding one another. By the end, it’s almost like the two are fighting to see who can reach a higher note in the most angelic way.
All the sonic chaos ultimately resembles a fickle love story. The back and forth after a breakup, wondering if you’ve made a lasting decision muddled in unsure feelings. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever had an everlasting impact on pop culture; a duet that made total sense, but only after we heard it.
Him & I - G-Eazy & Halsey
Him & I, released in 2020 as a part of G-Eazy’s The Beautiful & Damned album, was a hit that now lingers in various retail stores and radio stations.
The battle-like track conveys the intensity of a commitment vowed to someone you love. “He's out his head, I’m out my mind. We got that love, the crazy kind,” Halsey sings. This song sounds like the ending credits to a Fast & Furious movie, depicting a relationship that quite literally is “ride or die.” G-Eazy’s bars compliment the melodic choices Halsey makes in the chorus, with the pauses and annunciation necessary for the weight of his lines sink in. We see G-Eazy’s ability to mesh frequently in his other female collaborations like Make Me Move with Britney Spears, and Me, Myself & I with Bebe Rexha. Halsey’s voice constantly shines in edgy alternative songs such as Bad at Love or Castle.
The two pair well together to captivate listeners, and produce visual imagery with their descriptive lines and distinctive voices. This song comes in clutch when you need an opening number for your late night summer car ride.
Meant to Be - Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
The country duo formed in 2010 made up of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, hopped on singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha’s EP, All Your Fault Pt. 2 in 2017.
The song depicts a romantic dynamic where one person is ready to try things out, and the other is afraid to based on past experiences. “Who knows where this road is supposed to lead? We got nothin’ but time,” Florida Georgia Line sings. Meanwhile, the track which opens with basic piano chords and a steady beat, sounds almost invitational, like a campfire sing-along. The chorus feels like a hug worth a million “it’ll be okay”s. Entering the second verse, Rexha discloses her insecurities and reservations about getting into a relationship, in which Florida Georgia Line combats with affirmations. By the time the bridge rolls around, it sounds like collective hope, joy and belief in something beautiful.
The pop-country crossover influenced genre crossovers of all kinds and will always be praised for its vocal compatibility and feel-good sound.
The Way - Ariana Grande & Mac Miller
The 2013 collaboration on Ariana Grande’s first album Yours Truly, was the one that unlocks core memories from the early 2010’s and makes you say “this is my song!” The late rapper, Mac Miller was arguably the only right answer for this track in his lyrical choices and laid back vocals.
The recognizable warped synth and playful piano chords at the beginning of the song are instantly recognizable. This song sings about acknowledging the love you are given as a love you won’t receive from anyone else. Grande sings, “I don’t want to hide the way I feel when you’re next to me.” Such a shamelessness is present throughout as Miller raps “I got some feelings for you I’m not gonna get bored of.” Every part of this song done by one of the artists is complemented by the other- that’s what an effective collaboration does.
The Way is a timeless hit, our generation easily gets excited the moment the play button is pressed.
All of these songs share the theme of collective joy, reminding people they have more in common than they think. That’s the thing about male/female collaborations: they’re classics that transport listeners to moments they never wanna let go of.