I like all of these songs. Into You is insanely overrated though. And I think you explained it well. The verses are great but the chorus is not nearly as magical or moving. It's really underwhelming actually.
Kent Jones does Talk Dirty far better than Jason Derulo could in this summery ode to women, retaining all of the message and spirit and ditching the cheese. While the lyrics might be reminiscent of Pitbull, the DJ Mustard-esque production is decidedly not; it features a shimmering synth and airy percussion. Jones is a colorful character, which helps because his range isn't particularly impressive. The cheerful track is fast-paced and chock-full of addicting melodies, and the atmosphere of the song suits him perfectly (perhaps because he wrote and produced it by himself).
This position in 2015: Usher f/Juicy J - I Don't Mind This position in 2014: Rich Homie Quan f/Problem - Walk Thru
This winter, Work's success prompted the question "is dancehall really going to be a thing in mainstream music now?" LUV answers it with an emphatic "yes," as it directly lifts its chorus from a song of that genre. His voice is pitched up a tad bit much, and it might have been wiser to hold off on the autotune a bit, but the song still clicks in a big way. The suave production makes the song sound like it's floating on clouds, its unobtrusiveness a major positive. As for Tory, his performance is convincing, notably more self-assured than it was on Say It. LUV is warm and relaxing, and it can complement a moment beautifully– as such, it's the kind of song I'd want to listen to while watching a gorgeous sunrise.
This position in 2015: Future f/Drake - Where Ya At This position in 2014: Big Sean f/E-40 - I Don't **** With You
Despite Bryson Tiller's narrow vocal range and the relatively uninspired lyrical content of Exchange, the song manages to sound very fresh. The brooding production, especially the sparse trap backdrop, is enthralling, and Tiller's slightly drowned-out vocals fit the moody vibe of the track. All of the verses have their own high points, like his "next time AROUND" line in the opening & his nonchalant "exes change" pun in the second. I wish his flow were a little less lackadaisical to close out the song, but I'm glad he doesn't include another hook there. Making the chorus so short allows the song to feel more cohesive, though, its progression natural and immersive.
This position in 2015: Silentó - Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae) This position in 2014: T.I. f/Iggy Azalea - No Mediocre
Consummate on all fronts, this light track is both snappy and elaborate. DJ Mustard builds a shiny, volatile synth line; he then contrasts this with a sturdy drum beat and throws in a pitched-up vocal sample that is surprisingly useful. In such a well-constructed environment as this, Ty's crooning is difficult to resist. The two-line chorus gets to the point, and his "woah, oh, oh" in the background is a great touch. E-40 contributes a beauty of a verse, bringing a lot of enthusiasm along with his inimitable personality. Saved is thoroughly satisfying, with everyone involved bringing their A-game. It's a subtly intricate effort, trimmed of fat with brilliant flourishes of elegance throughout.
This position in 2015: Drake - Back To Back This position in 2014: Tinashe f/ScHoolboy Q - 2 On
LUV was a bop too.