The 10 Best Syleena Johnson Songs of All-Time
Syleena Johnson is an American singer-songwriter. Her parents are notable in their own right. Johnson’s father was Syl Johnson, a singer-songwriter who was much-sampled but often uncompensated. Meanwhile, her mother is Brenda Thompson, the first black woman to become a police commissioner in Harvey, IL. In any case, Johnson entered the music industry in the mid-1990s. She has been making regular releases ever since. Thanks to that, interested individuals can find a sizable body of songs from Johnson. They might want to check it out if they’re interested in R&B and soul.
Here is our opinion of the ten best Syleena Johnson songs released so far:
10. “Stonewall”
This song comes from Chapter V: Underrated in 2011. Stone is far from eternal. For example, it can erode from wind and water. Similarly, it is surprisingly susceptible to the freeze-thaw cycle. Even so, there can be no doubt that stone is a durable, long-lasting material. These characteristics made it a popular choice for building structures meant to stand the test of time. Interested individuals should have no problem thinking of famous examples. “Stonewall” evokes this strength. However, it also projects a sense of vulnerability without being jarring.
9. “Never Been Better”
Post-breakup songs tend to go in one of a limited number of directions. Unsurprisingly, “Never Been Better” conveys a sense of euphoria. It makes excellent use of imagery to reinforce its message. One example would be the mention of discarding two hundred pounds of weight. Another would be the claim that the constant pressure of the relationship has turned the narrator into a diamond that is now shining brighter than ever. “Never Been Better” isn’t novel but capably executed.
8. “Perfectly Worthless”
“Perfectly Worthless” is another post-breakup song. It has some of the same sentiments as “Never Been Better.” For instance, the narrator shares a sense of self-assurance. Still, “Perfectly Worthless” stands out in that its narrator is angrier, which might be because the breakup is rawer. The song’s title expresses those emotions perfectly because it refers to the value of the sundered relationship.
7. “Angry Girl”
“Angry Girl” has the narrator blaming her boyfriend’s ex for making it difficult for him to trust anyone. She is frustrated because this is complicating her relationship. However, this song isn’t entirely about blaming the other woman. The narrator wonders why she is the way she is. There is speculation about whether someone else hurt her the same way in the past. Moreover, the narrator suggests that her boyfriend’s ex let go of her anger because it is ruining her chance for love. In other words, “Angry Girl” is more caring than it might seem on initial impression.
6. “Woman”
Anyone who has listened to “Woman” won’t be surprised to learn it was released in 2020. After all, it is hard to miss its repurposing of a well-known political slogan. Moreover, it refers to police brutality, which has surged to the forefront of the popular consciousness. “Woman” is one of those songs with layers behind layers. Luckily, it is arranged so that it is worth examining to develop a deeper understanding of what is being said.
5. “A Boss”
“A Boss” features a narrator with expectations for what her partner will be like. Essentially, she is wary of someone who will leech off of her, whether in a financial or an emotional sense. Instead, she wants someone as independent as she is while still being capable of fulfilling her emotional and physical needs.
4. “Faithful to You”
“Faithful to You” comes from a much earlier point in Johnson’s career. Specifically, it was released in 2002’s Chapter 2: The Voice, her second studio album. The song did well enough on the charts. It climbed to the number 16 spot on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and the number 68 spot on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. This shows that “Faithful to You” resonated with more than a few listeners in its time.
3. “Another Relationship”
“Another Relationship” isn’t quite as self-assured as the post-breakup songs mentioned earlier on this list. Sadly, the narrator has reason to be distraught. She seems to have just found out that her ex cheated on her. The nasty part is that their relationship had progressed far before this. For instance, she has met her ex’s son and extended family. Indeed, she gets along with them so well that she is still speaking with his uncle. As such, it isn’t exaggerating to say that the end of the relationship might be closer to a divorce than a standard breakup in intensity. The kicker is that everything has gone down while the narrator is pregnant with her ex’s child, which complicates things tremendously.
2. “I Am Your Woman”
“I Am Your Woman” deals with much the same subject. The critical difference is that the narrator seems more interested in fighting to keep her relationship alive by confronting her boyfriend. The song’s title refers to her rightful position in his life, which she uses to admonish him for failing to live up to his responsibilities in their relationship. Critically, the narrator isn’t willing to let him step all over her. She isn’t looking to end the relationship right now, but she does mention the potential for that to happen if things don’t change. “I Am Your Woman” reached the number four spot on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart in 2002.
1. “Guess What”
“Guess What” should be Johnson’s best-known song. After all, it was a number-one hit on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, meaning its closest rival is “I Am Your Woman.” Indeed, it has millions of views on YouTube to support its popularity. Subject-wise, “Guess What” is a song in which the narrator has become fed up with the failure of her long-time significant other to live up to even the most basic of responsibilities. As such, she is the one who has decided to take the initiative to find someone better. Something that seems to have caught on with its intended listeners.
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