My VINCINT Top 5 Countdown
The Queer Pop Scene right now is bursting at the seams with talent as this blog has tried to make clear over and over again. Yet, VINCINT might just be the best vocalist in the entire Queer Pop scene and even modern pop music in general right now! That's a bold statement to make I know, but that's how great great his voice is!
Now knowing this it would probably not surprise you to learn that VINCINT's father was a gospel singer and VINCINT grew up singing in the church. Those gospel roots shine through on anything he sings and in that way VINCINT reminds me of some of the greatest vocalists in pop music history who also had strong gospel roots such as Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.
That said, unlike Whitney but very much like Mariah Carey, VINCINT does write all his own music as well. In a recent episode of On Track with Jon Ali, VINCINT talks about how when you're a great singer most people don't think you can write songs as well, which is something VINCINT wants to dispel. VINCINT'S music is very personal and heartfelt and you can hear the emotion in his voice knowing that these songs are about his own life and were not handed to him by professional songwriters.
With all that said, VINCINT'S earlier songs were definitely more of a showcase for his voice, which sounded phenomenal but the songs themselves didn't really stick outside his vocals. It took a little time for VINCINT'S songwriting to catch up to his voice, but once it did starting in the Spring of 2019 he started knocking it out of the park. Each song was very melodic, with plenty of hooks and ear grabbing production all made better by VINCINT'S powerhouse vocals. Eventually this all led to the release of his debut EP early this year called The Feeling.
The Feeling EP was VINCINT's formal announcement that he had arrived and was now one of pop music's best artists going into this new decade. So with that in mind let's countdown my top 5 favorite songs by VINCINT but before I do I just mention the fact that VINCINT does a great cover of Radiohead's Creep. If modern Queer pop connects with 90s Alternative in any way I must acknowledge it!
5. Please Don't Fall in Love
As I said earlier VINCINT already felt like a star thanks to his stunning vocals but the songs were not quite there yet until Please Don't Fall in Love. This is the oldest song on his debut EP and it's easy to hear why. The song itself deals with the idea of still loving someone even after you 2 have moved on. VINCINT starts off by reminiscing about an old flame he still has feelings for:
"I thought about us tonight
Feels like another life
So many wasted fights
Was it a waste of time
Maybe we were right
Maybe I was wrong
It don't matter now
'Cause you're gone
If we're the reason why
We can't seem to find
Someone else to hold
Our love."
Eventually VINCINT realizes he still loves this man and hopes his hookups are just casual because he still thinks they have a chance at real love together. This theme of looking back fondly at one's EX will dominate the EP.
4. Save Myself
I really like the production on this one which actually reminds me a lot of Coldplay. I like that with this EP VINCINT has shifted more into upbeat dance pop, because he really excels at it. Lyrically the song deals with the idea that VINCINT will work on himself and is not looking for someone to fix his problems but just to be there for emotional support:
"I'll save myself!
Not asking for devotion
I just need you to care
Not asking for Nirvana
I just want you to be there
Just cause I'm crying rivers
Don't mean I'm asking for help
I'll save myself!
Oooh Ah ha"
Also I know that when he sings Nirvana he means the traditional definition which is a transcendent state of no suffering or desire but I already made one connection to 90s Alternative in this article so I might as well admit that when he sings that line I think of the album art to Nevermind first.
3. Someday
In his interview with Jon Ali for On Track VINCINT said that he doesn't like to look back on his EX's with resentment or anger but rather fondly. His reason being that just because it didn't work out not doesn't mean it can't work out later and it was still a very positive relationship even though it didn't work out in the end. Someday is all about this sentiment:
"Walking in the dark
Getting further from your heart
I can feel the distance pulling us apart
I'd be lying if I said
I didn't miss being your friend
But that night keeps playing in my head
I know what being alone feels like
And I know what it's like to be with you
And if we could do another way
I'd choose to be someday
Back in your arms someday
There's something really uplifting about that and how what you take away from past relationships can be a positive thing for your own self growth going forward. Musically it's another bop that recalls 80s pop. It was a great followup to Say, which was the first song where VINCINT had really dived into 80s style bops which is when I truly became a fan of music. Speaking of....
2. Say
Say is clearly an homage to Boy Meets Girl who were a husband & wife songwriting team from the late 80s. Boy Meets Girl not only had a top 5 hit in 1988 with Waiting For a Star to Fall, but they were also responsible for crafting Whitney Houston's 2 greatest bops How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me). Those 2 Whitney Houston songs have endured as true classics of their era and if anyone was up to the task of delivering a bop worthy of comparison to Ms Houston then it is certainly VINCINT. Like the legendary Ms Houston, VINCINT has an amazing voice that works best on bops. VINCINT had my attention before, but Say was his first song I flat out loved. I've been streaming Say constantly since it dropped last summer and once you hear it I think you will too! Any playlists you have that include How Will I Know or I Wanna Dance With Somebody needs to have Say added to it as well and that's that on that!
1. Miss You
Miss You is the crown jewel off The Feeling EP. I love the way the verses are much more calm and then we switch gears and hit bop heaven during the chorus. The structure and vibe of Miss You reminds me a bit of Cub Sport's 2019 hit Sometimes and that's some good company to be in. I can easily see this being a showstopper live which reminds me, when is VINCINT going in tour because I ready to buy tickets!
