The Most Perfect Alessia Cara Songs Are

by Simone Gonzalez

Alessia Cara is the kind of artist I’ll always recommend. You may know her know from songs of hers like “Here” and “I’m Yours”. Still, she is a strong force in the music industry today. Pop music, new pop girls and the all that’s been going on in the music industry this year caused me to reflect one of my favorite pop girls, Alessia Cara.

1. Here 2:00 AM Version

   “Here” singlehandedly took over 2015 and a couple years after that. I am not exaggerating when I often compare Alessia’s lyrics and flow here to a skilled rapper. She so vividly tells a story about her not wanting to be at a party, why she doesn’t want to be at said party and what people at the party are up to.

   I think many young people were to listen to this song’s straight to the point music. Plenty of young people aren’t into partying and felt very seen by Alessia. Musically, "Here" has a laid-back vibe with a catchy hook, showcasing her unique sound and vocal delivery. The production is minimalistic, allowing her voice and the message to take center stage. Overall, it’s a song that celebrates authenticity and staying true to oneself, making it a favorite for many listeners. "Here" by Alessia Cara is a powerful anthem about feeling out of place and navigating social situations. The song captures the feelings of being overwhelmed in a party or social setting, expressing the desire to escape the superficiality around her. Alessia's relatable lyrics resonate with anyone who has felt like an outsider or struggled to connect in crowded spaces. You should definitely listen to the 2:00 AM version of this song that Alessia released.

2. Overdose

   This song is perfect. "Overdose" by Alessia Cara is so beautifully crafted song from the vocals, to lyrics and to production. If you listen to this song, the lyrics are a metaphor, Alessia’s use of the word overdose in this song reflects how love can be all consuming and intoxicating. For example, she compares fighting and laughing with the person she’s with as detox and rehab.

   Alessia's well known soulful vocals bring a genuineness and sincerity to this song as well. This song can't help but be a complete and total standout in her discography for me.

3. Stars

   You may not regard this song as one Alessia’s best but I am a sucker for piano ballads. Yet, really is the simple message of this song. Alessia is telling her lover that if she lets down her guard and so does he, they could be stars. Alessia’s voice mixed in with the piano in this song is a simple love letter, confession of love and her also admitting she needs to be just who she is.

4. My Kind

   There is something so joyful about this song. Everyone has their quirks. Everyone has that thing they say they own. In this gem of Alessia’s she’s letting you know who she is and what she owns:

   My kind of time's meant to carelessly spend
   And my kind of nights are the one's that don't end
   My kind of fun doesn't make any sense
   And my kind of love you won't ever forget

   Briefly, Alessia holds on to this feeling of nostalgia in this song you might appreciate it. She recalls playing with trolls and wishing someone told her she’d be alright. This song and it’s lyrics fits in with Alessia’s pain of growing since the pain of growing is growing up from the kids that used to play with trolls.

5. Wherever I Live

   This is a song I find myself going back to often. If you’ve ever felt the loss of home, Alessia has felt that too. However, she claims that home is wherever she lives. I personally believe this is one of Alessia’s best because it’s in a song like this where her rawness, honesty and relatability shine through. Some of us constantly travel. Yet, maybe home is wherever you live. There’s this theme in Wherever I Live that focuses on being content with alone with yourself.

6. Somebody Else

   Well, I just love the production on this song. On the surface, this song seems like a general sad lyrics but upbeat production and it does seem like that. On the other hand, it is hard to not be drawn again to Alessia’s honesty, rawness and relatability in this song:

   There's no grey this time, it's black and white
   I am by myself, you're somebody else
   No, between the lines, it's black and white
   I'm by myself, and you're somebody else

7. Clockwork

   Everyone has parts of themselves they don’t like to recognize. Alessia’s stubborness is due to her father and the guilt she feels she inherited from her mother. Why not try to embrace those parts of yourself using this song? Alessia hypnotically sings it’s like clockwork, she can always depends on those parts of herself to be there. At least, she’s accepting those parts…the same way you can.

8. I Miss You, Don’t Call Me

   There are many layers to loving someone but knowing the truth about them. You know that maybe you aren’t right for each other or you know that person often lies and you don’t. Alessia creates the fine lines in that dynamic and brings that into this song. I miss you but don’t call me. You can miss someone but not want them to reach out. The both of those layers can exist. It could even be more complicated! In parts of this song Alessia does sing ‘I miss you please call me’.

   My favorite part of I Miss You Don’t Call Me:

   You're the light I'm scared to turn on
   You're the bruise I'll never learn from
   Oh (oh)
   I'm the one who's under your thumb
   You're the one I'll never unlove (unlove)

9. Comfortable

   It’s time to switch it up! This is one of my boyfriend’s favorite Alessia Cara songs. In a relationship, you get to a point where you both are comfortable with each other but you are starting to get really comfortable with each other. You know their faults, dreams, and fears. As a result, you fall deeper in love with them then. When I listen to this song, I think it could play in a jazz club. As Alessia uses her voice to tell us how comfortable she is getting, I imagine a band behind her. If you’re into that idea, you should definitely listen to this song for yourself.

10. Nintendo Game

    This song is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. It is such a smart move that in this song, Alessia compares a wishy washy love to a Nintendo game:

    Push and shove, go ahead and take your aim
    We better duck, 'cause right now nobody's safe
    And we could grow up, but it's no fun that way
    And so we treat love like it's a Nintendo game
    But nobody wins

Thanks for reading!