Week of February 20, 2026
Let’s jump right into it! This week was a tough week to create the placements for the column’s five selective categories. But don’t worry–I didn’t end up dying in the process of having to choose between so many amazing songs from this week! Still, it’s more than needed to give flowers to the beautiful tracks that were just as equally polished this week. “She Knows Too Much” by Thundercat, which samples a Mac Miller song, is one of the standout tracks that continue to revive Mac Miller’s legacy, even after his passing. It’s a good time and brings you back to that ‘Mac Miller nostalgia’. SZA also wrote a song for Disney and Pixar’s latest movie, Hoppers, which follows a child who becomes an animal, exploring the animal kingdom. SZA’s “Save The Day” is respectful to both her classic style and the cheery soundtrack vibe for the kids’ movie. Other songs I recommend checking out include “Badlands” by Mumford & Sons and Gracie Abrams; “Good Flirts” by Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar, and Momo Boyd; “Your Favorite Toy” by the Foo Fighters; “YDH” by Chloe Qisha; and “letters to my lover” by Natalie Jinju.
1. Most Streamed Song of the Week – “Drag Path” by Twenty One Pilots (6/10)
Unfortunately, while most of the week’s music was more than glamorous, Twenty One Pilots’ newest track, “Drag Path,” delivers overly dramatic gore and repetitive lyrics. The duo group is best known for classic tracks like “Stressed Out” and, most recently, their moderately critically acclaimed album, “Breach.” With such a self-induced high bar, it raises a slight worry about the expectations the artist has created for themselves. If songs like “Drag Path” are what feel more aligned with the band’s personality, it feels that the pressure for groundbreaking songs can prevent authentic expression, as it dilutes any Twenty One Pilots song that doesn’t leap over the expectation bar. What comes off as concerning in the hit-worthy sense is simply the lack of lyrical climax or innovative production throughout the song.
Technically, the song is not bad. It relies on repetition and uses clever instrumentals that provide a light-to-heavy grunge progression. It’s typical of the band while also being experimental, showing the band’s desire to explore new soundscapes. What leaves the listeners in confusion, though, is the level of manufactured ‘mystique’ that’s embedded in the song. Why does the song’s central theme focus on the ‘Drag Path’ created when the band runs into the devil? Why does the first verse feel like a performative version of ‘emo’ lyrics? Some parts of the song feel inauthentic, while mixed with glimmers of the artists’ real passion for creating the song. I think that if the band is continuing to work towards a newer body of work, they should focus on creating lyrics with meaning. The concept of meeting the devil feels edgy, but ends up feeling uncool and performative. The band’s potential has not dimmed, but it has some jeopardy with this newest track.
2. Lyrical Standout – “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter ” by Lana Del Rey (9.75/10)
After multiple album pushbacks on her 10th studio album, rumored to be called “Stove.” Originally intended for a release in 2024, “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter” (WFHTDH) serves as Lana Del Rey’s third single from her newest album. However, the new track, released on Tuesday, feels as if it were the lead single for the newest album. The real lead single, “Henry, come on,” was actually released on April 11th of 2025, marking nearly a year gap between the first and third single. Why WFHTDH feels like a reborn lead single to “Stove” is rooted in its sonic complexity and uniqueness from the first and second singles. While the first two singles are tied in a stronger country influence, this track feels like old Hollywood glamour meeting touches of modernity. It’s similar to cult-classic tracks like “A&W” from her most recent album, “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd?” It feels like walking through a Snow White cartoon and provides a satisfyingly eerie listening experience.
What stands out as lyrically innovative with the song, as is typical with LDR, is that it challenges the typical ideas of what relationships should look like. To an extent, the song glamorizes the concept of conservative marriage, singing scenes of the singer’s husband, Jeremy Dufrene, protecting her while she is occupied in “cooking something for my husband.” The song isn’t negative or political in what could be associated with conservatism, but it provides a picture that is hardly ever seen in today’s more progressive society. Referring to her husband as a “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter” in itself is already humorous, but also invokes the masculine protection Del Rey feels from her relationship. The song also talks the singer’s past “troubles” and how she has found a happy landing in marriage, allowing the song to show the beautiful merits of committing to a loved one.
3. Sonic Standout – “ear to the cocoon ” by WILLOW (9.75/10)
If you had to ask anyone to put on a quirky and beautiful show, WILLOW is your go-to artist. On her newest track, “ear to the cocoon,” WILLOW continues her legacy as the ultimate alt-girl who’s well known but still feels like your next-door neighbor. Straight off her newest album, “petal rock black”, “ear to the coccon” is the closer track of the album and truly feels revolutionary in terms of not only lyrics, but the instrumentals. The song starts off with a slow jazz-style finale, instantly accompanied by the banging of the piano. The messaging that comes from just the production feels obvious. The listener can understand the singer’s subtle pain that is evidently there but hidden and worn as if a beauty statement. The rest of the song is melodic, unique, and attention-grabbing. The piano appears from measure to measure, but is accompanied by buzzy whines, slight-robotic audio layering, all while maintaining the track’s jazz inspiration. It’s a perfect finale song, serving the song’s overall message of entering a ‘cocoon’ of music, and it feels like a slow descent into a heartbreakingly beautiful eternity of music and pain.
4. Hidden Gem – “Blue” by Yaya Bey (7.75/10)
Sometimes, the best things are in the past, and the revival of old-school R&B, mixed with elegant notes of jazz (see the minimal bass and drum set feature with undertones of flute and piano), clearly and graciously pushes the boundaries of music. The song quite literally feels like a swan drifting through a body of water: everything is serene, and all the components of the song work together to create a smoothly satisfying listen. The song is never desperately begging for attention and uses silent beauty to hypnotize its listener. With artists frequently using shock factor to maintain relevance and virality (KATSEYE’s “Gnarly” for example), the truest glamour in the track comes from Yaya Bey’s understanding that more is not always better. Sometimes the simple life is honestly more precious, and this track is a must-listen that elegantly contrasts a media-centric and, frankly, overstimulating era of music.
5. Personal Feature – “Song of the Future” by U2 (9.75/10)
The classic Irish band, U2, makes a comeback with their newest song, “Song of the Future.” The track is a wonderful revival of the band’s most famous soundscape while showing the band’s commitment to adapting to newer sounds that are more popular as of now. The song is a good time and feels like the result you would get from cooking up U2, Green Day, Coldplay, and (ironically) traditional Twenty One Pilots as ingredients. It’s part of the band’s newest EP, “Days of Ash,” and has the ability to become one of the band’s prestigious fan-favorites—a sprinkle to their resume of a discography.
Don’t be fooled, though: behind the happy ‘The Eagles’ vibe is a politically charged tribute that explores issues like freedom of speech, gun violence, and oppression. The song is centered around the Iranian activist Sarina Esmalizadeh, who was a 16-year-old when she was brutally murdered by Iranian forces in 2022. The song praises the activist’s bravery for speaking up against what she thought was injustice, using lyrics such as “Sarina Sarina | She’s the song of the future,” to show that her message and goals are not to be forgotten. Through the music, U2 frames Sarina’s story as a lasting symbol of resistance and remembrance.It’s a hopeful song that shows a possible future of peace and serves as a reminder of the people we’ve lost along the way to achieve a common goal. The entire EP, too, is U2’s way of speaking up against injustice around the world, even featuring the spoken poem “Wildpeace” that questions gun violence, war, and the violation of peace. Similar to other political songs such as “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Bullet the Blue Sky,” it’s an on-brand song that creates inspiration for activists around the world.
