From Elderbrook to Ruel to Dove Cameron and more
The last weekend of October this year feels like just treats and more treats. After a nearly six-year hiatus, we have Rihanna returning with new material as she headlines the first single from the Wakanda Forever soundtrack with “Lift Me Up.” The powerful ballad is a fitting tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman despite the ABBA-like production. Will the track become a hit on radio? While it likely will explode initially, it will truly test the star-power of the billionaire artist.
Giving RiRi a run for her money is Black Panther O.G. star SZA who returns with “Shirt.” While the song has been on social media for a while, the single and its violence-infused music video will stand out as the singer has been sorely missing from radio.
Beyond the two Wakanda ladies, we have JIN from BTS who teams up with Coldplay for the haunting “The Astronaut.” Chris Martin and company’s stamp is all over the single and that’s a good thing. Likely to become the first big solo hit for any member of the K-pop superstar group, the track is perfect for the fall and the upcoming winter months.
Speaking of groups, one of the last decade’s biggest girl groups, Fifth Harmony, have all had varied success on the charts over the years with, of course, Camila Cabello having famously left the ladies behind for her own headstart. So it’s good to see the much-talented Lauren Jauregui getting another shining moment with “Always Love,” a haunting single she wrote in response to the very public break-up from rapper Ty Dolla $ign.
With that said, while these singles are already generating heat, here are this week’s Hits Of Tomorrow – the should-be hits of the current week that deserve that extra little bit of attention.
The super-talented and, in my opinion, continuously underrated Elderbrook returns with the beautifully penned and superbly-produced “Beautiful Morning.” It should come as no surprise as the talent has gone from high to high and here, working with ODESZA, they brilliantly create a euphoric single that should be lapped up by radio, playlists and the hopelessly romantic amongst us. With his second studio album “Little Love” slated for an early 2023 release, we can’t wait to see what else the artist has up his sleeves. For now, this one is going to be on repeat.
Aussie wonder Ruel is back, and he’s back on the Hits Of Tomorrow column too. While the artist continues to build a rather large following, his music isn’t necessarily making it to the upper echelons of the charts and “Someone Else’s Problem” is just the kind of track that can turn a star into, well, a superstar. The kiss-off anthem is a winner from the get-go and for those who don’t get their fix on TikTok, the single has the power to be a real crossover, multi-format smash. Hit!
How do you top one of the biggest debut singles of the year? It’s challenging to say the least, but Dove Cameron seems to have quickly recovered after the somewhat tepid response to “Breakfast,” the single she released after her smash-hit “Boyfriend.” “Bad Idea” is a superior song in every way and here’s hoping they push the single as strongly as they did her debut single. The former Disney star should follow up perfectly in the footsteps of Olivia Rodrigo and this single should do the trick. Fingers crossed.
A whole subgenre of white rappers has seemingly emerged over the past few years who fall somewhere between satire and soul. Yung Gravy went viral a few times over the last few years, but didn’t score his first big hit on the charts until earlier this year with “Betty (Get Money)” thanks to its clever inclusion of Rick Astley’s classic “Never Gonna Give You Up.” “Dancing In The Rain” follows the similar formula of draping a nostalgic sound with modern trap and is likely to result in another hit for the rapper who is clearly establishing himself as someone who’s in it for the long haul.
From the upcoming EP “Sleep Is Exhausting,” we have the latest from Teddy Swims, “Devil In A Dress,” a gospel-tinged single that would make Adele proud. The talented vocalist has been making waves for some time with his winning streak of cover songs, but this single works to showcase the artist in his own right without any nostalgia to latch onto. The single really deserves a push on radio where it would fit perfectly into any Top 40 rotation, and here’s hoping Swims becomes a regular mainstay on the charts.
We aren’t going to call it a comeback because Ashanti has been around and been laying the foundation for her so-called return for a while now. “Falling For You” is a great re-introduction to the artist. Produced by Yung Bleu (who incidentally just featured on this column for his own music), the single feels perfect for 2022. There is a passing melody resemblance to Snoh Aalegra’s “Lost You” that I’m not sure is intentional, but it actually works to make the track feel even warmer and closer to the current R&B sound. Here’s wishing the singer a successful second inning!
Even More Hits!
Listen To #HITSOFTOMORROW Playlist on Spotify!
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