Welcome to Songs You Need to Know, our weekly rundown of the best music right now. The Rolling Stone Philippines team is constantly sharing things to listen to, and each week, we compile a ragtag playlist of songs that we believe every music fan today needs to know. Whether it’s the hottest new single or an old track that captures the state of the present, our hope is that you discover something for your musical canon.
The week’s songs include the much-awaited return of Madonna, highlighting one of Confessions II’s greatest hits, “Danceteria.” Kelela’s return to the 2-step genre alongside PinkPantheress in “the bridge,” Stef Aranas’ anthemic pop single “Flawless,” fitterkarma’s take on the famous fictional character in “maryclaire,” and more.
A pop legend goes disco-house
Everything about Confessions II is nostalgic. The album’s colors, sound, and title all hark back to 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor, but it’s in “Danceteria” that Madonna really pulls from her earlier club days and, in vignettes, lays out her origin story.
Here, she recalls record producer Mark Kamins playing her debut single, “Everybody,” in the titular nightclub. She also namedrops British artist and “boytoy” Martin Burgoyne, famed doorman Haoui Montaug, Debi Mazar, David Byrne, and Jean-Michel Basquiat — people who can attest to Madonna’s long-held icon status. Sonically, however, “Danceteria” doesn’t linger too much in nostalgia. The disco-house elements, —from the synths and drum machine to the groovy bassline — don’t feel dated at all; instead, it’s clean and glossy, as if to declare that Madonna is here to stay. —Pie Gonzaga
A catchy baddie anthem sans the cloying egotism
Filipino pop-R&B artist Stef Aranas is back with her latest single “Flawless,” a pop track that invokes The Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons” or, as a more recent point of reference, Tate McRae’s “Sports Car.” The new song turns to 2000s pop, with a kick-heavy beat, klaxons à la Beyonce’s “Ring the Alarm,” and Aranas’ silk-smooth vocal runs. But my favorite thing about this song is that while the title implies yet another “I’m perfect, untouchable, and better than all of you” pop anthem (which, admittedly, I’m tired of), Aranas subverts expectations and instead sings in the chorus, “‘Di man ako flawless / I’m gorgeous, alam ko yan.” —Pie Gonzaga
Electronic-pop-R&B artist keeps it moving
I thought FKA twigs was done making music for the Eusexua era after last year’s Eusexua Afterglow. But in June, she released “On Your Mind” with Lil Yachty, and followed it up with a music video on July 2.
The track is a celebration of motion despite adversity, and was inspired by twigs’ experience having to cancel her Coachella set because her dancers couldn’t secure visas to fly out. “Is it heavy in your heart? / Why won’t you stop dancing? / Is there something on your mind?” she sings in the chorus. True to the philosophy of twigs’ entire body of work and just dance music as a whole, the thumping club beat of “On Your Mind” induces movement and a sense of release. Lil Yachty’s voice punctuates verses and choruses: “Let it burn.” —Pie Gonzaga
When both R&B queens collide in one track
R&B singer Kelela continues her streak of launching some of the most nocturnal-sounding 2-step garage music this year. In anticipation of her latest album New Avatar, out July 10, she has released her much-awaited collaboration with British pop singer PinkPantheress, “the bridge.”
In the latest single, Kelela and PinkPantheress go back and forth in an ethereal vocal exchange. The production resembles the clunky and jagged stylings of enigmatic producer Burial. Both singers find their natural footing with silky smooth harmonies that are hypnotizing from start to finish. Computah! Make me listen to the new Kelela immediately! —Elijah Pareño
Classic literary reference in rockist mode
Alternative rock outfit fitterkarma has released “maryclaire,” a story inspired by the life of the famous fictional character from Jose Rizal’s classic novel Noli Me Tangere. In the song, vocalist Joao De Leon carries the six-minute track with rising tension, opening with an acoustic guitar before unfolding through his unflinching metaphors of an undying love that rests eternally.
By the time “maryclaire” reaches its second half, fitterkarma goes full throttle with guitar solos and screamo vocals, while De Leon sings alongside dramatic guitar chords. The lyrics continue to talk about how immortality feels like the only answer after losing someone you love. fitterkarma’s still got fuel in the tank to make love songs sound so epic. —Elijah Pareño
The indie sleaze revival’s newest prince
As the indie sleaze revival continues to spread across electronic music scenes everywhere, Tommy Fleece takes that movement in his own direction with “Bounce.” With artists like Slayyyter combining rage hip-hop influences and 2hollis pushing electroclash out of indietronica soundscapes, Fleece builds his own foundation from mall emo and hyperpop influences. “Bounce” is the single that officially kicks off Tommy Fleece Summer. —Elijah Pareño
Frequently Asked Questions
Kelela’s upcoming album New Avatar is scheduled for release on July 10. Her collaboration with PinkPantheress, “the bridge,” serves as one of its latest singles.
The song “Danceteria” looks back on Madonna’s early years in New York’s club scene.
The song was inspired by FKA twigs’ experience canceling her Coachella performance after her dancers were unable to secure visas to travel.
The song is inspired by María Clara, the fictional character from Jose Rizal’s classic novel Noli Me Tangere, reimagined through an alternative rock lens.
The musical movement Tommy Fleece is involved in is called the “indie sleaze revival” that originated in the 2020s.
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