Keeping the celebration of my 100th (now technically 101st thanks to Morgan Wallenđ) concert going, I figured I’d put together a playlist featuring music from every artist I’ve seen live, beginning in summer 1999.
This one’s for the music nerds.
The rules were simple: I picked the first song that came to mind for each artist. I didn’t overthink it, because that’s how you end up spiraling into impossible decisions. Every artist is represented at least once, though not necessarily by the song they performed or the album they were touring when I saw them. A few artists earned repeat appearances, and a stellar opener or two made the cut as well. Shout out to Usher, Sam Smith, H.E.R., Janet Jackson, JOHNNYSWIM, Jon Splithoff, Chris Brown, Maxwell, Jazmine Sullivan, Kehlani and Morgan Wallen for putting on shows so good I had to run them back more than once.
Sticking with the “first thing that came to mind” theme, I approached these notes the same way. I looked at each song and asked myself one simple question: Why this one? Sometimes the answer was obvious. Sometimes it surprised me. Either way, these are the songs that immediately transported me back to that concert, that season of life, or that particular memory.
Originally, I planned to squeeze all 100 songs into one post, but somewhere around song fifty I realized… absolutely not. So this is Part Oneâthe first 50 songs from the playlist. Part Two, featuring songs 51â100 and the stories behind them, is coming soon.
In the meantime, go ahead and hit play. The full playlist is already waiting for you on Apple Music and Spotify. Thanks for readingâand even more for listening.
Editor’s Note
This playlist represents the soundtrack of my first 100 concertsânot an endorsement of every artist who appears in my concert history. In a few cases, I’ve intentionally chosen songs by opening acts or fellow performers whose music better represents the memory while also reflecting my values today. Memory and support aren’t always the same thing, and I wanted this playlist to honor both.
Artist: *NSYNC
Song: âIâll Be Good for Youâ
Why: A deep cut that, to me, symbolized a shift in their sound and the beginning of their separation. It was on their second album, No Strings Attached. To me, it didnât sound like anything they had done before but reflected what was to come on the Celebrity album one year later. It reflects who Justin is in present day.
Artist: Christina Aguilera
Song: Come On Over
Why: This is classic, asymmetrical bob, needs to eat a sandwich Christina. This is finger to her left ear and hand waving to find the note Christina. And donât let it be the video version. Shoutout to streaming media for making that available in present day versus the album version.
Artist: CeCe Winans
Song: Goodness of God
Why: Itâs the song I sing to myself when I canât sleep at night. It embodies my spiritual journey over the last few years. God is incredibly great and I am insanely grateful.
Artist: Point of Grace
Song: Blue Skies
Why: This is quintessential late 90s/early 2000s contemporary Christian pop. I wonât lie that this song and the next one I picked because I recognized them the most. I saw both groups at the same concert at the Carowinds theme park.
Artist: FFH
Song: Found a Place
Why: Like I said, I recognized the title and itâs somewhat familiar from that time in my life when I was knee-deep in the odd culture of a southern Baptist-based, private Christian school.
Artist: Usher
Song: Climax
Why: This is my first repeat artist. My first music crush. Shoutout to my oldest friend for giving me the My Way cd for my 12th birthday all those years ago. I have seen Usher three times over the course of my life. He was amazing every time. I chose Climax because there is something about the yearning, the desperation and the eventual resignation reflected in the bridge of this song. There are so many options for Usher but that bridge gets me every time.
Artist: Janet Jackson
Song: Thatâs the Way Love Goes
Why: Miss Jackson if youâre nasty. My second repeat offender. Iâve seen Janet three times as well. And no matter how old she gets, the vibe is always right. When I was a kid, unlocking the code to MTV on my parents’ living room TV, I would always love it when I got to see the video for this song. Initially, it was because I recognized who I thought was Selena in the video (shoutout JLO). Eventually, however, I loved it because they looked like they were having the best time at that kickback in Janetâs house. This is what I thought adulthood was like and I couldnât wait.
Artist: Carl Thomas
Song: Summer Rain
Why: Because You canât help but cha-cha real smooth as soon as the beat drops. This was the one time that Carl Thomas wasnât wearing a turtleneck sweater. Also, shout out to my God brother out in Seattle. We drank way too much one Friday night at homecoming and waited nearly 2 hours for Carl to come out on stage but it was worth every minute.
Artist: John Legend
Song: Again
Why: My third repeat offender. I saw him on Usherâs Confessions tour in 2004, his first tour in 2005 and on his most recent in 2026. He sang all the songs I love the most. Not this one actually, but itâs always spoken loudly to me. Weâve all been In that cyclical, insane but somehow worth every bit of drama love affair.
Artist: Crime Mob
Song: Rock Yo Hips
Why: Mostly because I didnât want to choose the obvious option. Of course Iâm knuckinâ and buckinâ and ready to fight. But I would be lying if I said I wasnât at somebodyâs free before 11 dripping in New York and Company with fluorescent Xs on my hand and dancing like no one was watching when this song came on.
Artist: Keyshia Cole
Song: Let It Go
Why: Two reasons. First, as mentioned in the editors note, some artists have been removed due to the injustice and wrongs against others attached to their careers. Keyshia opened for R. Kelly in 2007 and weâre not streaming R. Kelly these days. Secondly, I wanted to use âI Rememberâ, but itâs grayed out on the playlist so here we are.
Artist: Tye Tribbett & GA
Song: Bless the Lord
Why: I love it when artists incorporate and revive old hymns in their music. The church kid and me always smiles because it takes me back to a time in place I’m hard-pressed to find these days in church. Also, I used to wonder what type of exercise routine Tye and his singers had. It was like the UniverSOUL Circus up there.
Artist: Fred Hammond
Song: Weâre Blessed
Why: Ainât no gospel like 90s gospel. Specifically, 90s gospel with that subtle R&B/hip-hop vibe. There wasnât a choir in the nation not singing this song at the annual concert.
Artist: Jay-Z
Song: Encore
Why: I love to hear horns and keys on hip-hop tracks. John Legendâs vocals and modulations at the end are top tier. Hovâs flow is unmatched and the Black Album is a classic.
Artist: Mary J. Bilge
Song: All That I Can Say
Why: My first meet and greet. There is no evidence of this because the radio station never sent me my picture. (Iâm looking at you Power 98.) My homegirl called me very early in the morning to tell me that I was on the radio, and I needed to guess the next song that they played by Mary. Apparently, they’d already called two people who had gotten it wrong thanks to the title of the song never being mentioned in the lyrics. I sleepily answered, âAre you for real right now? Thatâs Family Affair.â We won two tickets and a limo ride to see Jay-Z and Mary plus the meet & greet in Greensboro. But the song â I love a bop. I love the ad libs at the end, and the incomparable Miss Lauryn Hill in the background.
Artist: Raheem DeVaughn
Song: You
Why: It reminds me of late night drives in my Mustang with my college boyfriend. Going nowhere in particular and just vibing with each other.
Artist: Kanye West
Song: The New Workout Plan
Why: I was introduced to this song via a basement party at UNC Greensboro in Summer 2004. I knew who Kanye was but College Dropout wasnât out yet. Later that year, Kanye would open for Usher and take and hold his spot as my favorite rapper ever. I miss the old Kanye. For real.
Artist: Boyz II Men
Song: Doinâ Just Fine
Why: Itâs not a real R&B song unless someone is standing near or in some water with their shirt open and singing for their life. Wanye lost a little weight and was walking around with his taco meat out and singing those runs like his life depended on it.
Artist: Gavin DeGraw
Song: Free
Why: I heard this song at High Point University’s fall concert series, and recognized it from an episode of One Tree Hill. Gavin was the honorary cast member of that show. If you know you know. I donât necessarily remember why I loved it so much but when I selected it for the list, it was like I felt exactly what I felt that night in 2009 when I heard it live.
Artist: Maxwell
Song: Bad Habits
Why: Mostly because this was my next meet and greet. He was on the BLACKsummer’snight Tour and this is my favorite song from that album. He smelled like vanilla and was shorter than I thought he would be. Still fine as ever though.
Artist: Kings of Leon
Song: Manhattan
Why: When I hear this song, I see my sister doing some silly dance that I could show you better than I can tell you. We used to play their first album nonstop, and we got to see them in summer of 2010. That was my first rock show. This song plays a very close second to Sex on Fire because, obviously.
Artist: J. Cole
Song: Trouble
Why: Born Sinner is such a dope album. Jermaine Has the ability to portray his fame and his feelings about it in a way that makes it seem almost normal. Of course he loved the attention and the women. Why wouldnât he? But also, it was never the world he lived in and it bought him a myriad of trouble.
Artist: John Mayer
Song: Gravity (Live)
Why: The song can be played in any form but it is so much better when itâs the specific live version recorded for the Where the Light Is album. Itâs the way he plays it in every show. A show Iâve seen twice. John Mayer is one hell of a guitar player. More than that, lyrically, this song is beautiful.
Artist: Michael Bublé
Song: Quando, Quando, Quando
Why: The song features Nelly Furtado. It was cool to hear her singing something other than the top 40 hits she was known to blast. Michael has a timeless and unique tone that our generation didnât really get to hear in real time. We heard about it through the likes Frank Sinatra and similar but he was truly able to embody the charisma and stage presence of a time that most of us didnât get to experience. His shows are funny and filled with so much light.
Artist: The Weeknd
Song: Gone
Why: Before he was scrambling through Raymond James Stadium during the Super Bowl halftime show, Abel was curating slow burn vibes and grooves that I used to ride out to nightly. I can recall many a porch night with a close knit group of friends, middle shelf liquor and his first three albums setting the tone.
Artist: Trey Songz
Song: Red Lipstick
Why: Passion, Pain & Pleasure was a damn good album. Trey Songz is the king of an exaggerated ad lib wrapped in a complicated harmony, and this track is laced with them.
Artist: Miguel
Song: Face the Sun
Why: Another repeat purchase. I LOVED the Wildheart album down. Miguel reinvents his sound with every album, and I appreciated how he merged seamlessly into a gritty rock/soul lane for this album. This track gave Lenny Kravitz in the 90s. I also love a good vamp that feels like speeding down a highway with the wind at your back nothing but good times ahead.
Artist: Maroon 5
Song: Sunday Morning
Why: This is my favorite Maroon 5 song. My number two go-to karaoke tune. (#1 is SWV âWeakâ – ask about međ)Maroon 5 doesnât make music like this anymore. Songs About Jane is unlike any of their other albums. Itâs bluesy, jazzy and raw.
Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Song: Move You
Why: Letâs be honest, Kelly can sing anything. Now while she is one of the greatest voices of our generation, I will admit that I voted against her on American Idol. I had a dangerous infatuation with Justin Guarini. I take nothing back. In present day, however, this track plays on my inner romantic. The idea of meaning this much to someone is nice.
Artist: One Republic
Song: If I Lose Myself
Why: I preferred a track from their debut album, “Say (All I Need)” but was unable to add it to the playlist. I recall bobbing and weaving through a crowd in uptown Charlotte as the band belted this song. They were one of the featured artists for the Rich & Bennett Annual Halloween Bar Crawl and Concert. Thanks to insane crowds of drunken and Halloween-clad partygoers, I never actually saw them on stage. But I could hear them.
Artist: Flo Rida
Song: I Donât Like It, I Love It
Why: I had to pick something I suppose. I enjoy FloRIda the way any millennial enjoys FloRida – in my memory and only if I’ve been drinking. I understand the cultural significance of so many of his hits, but he was never my favorite. This song, however, featured one of my favs, Robin Thicke. The little whimsy whistle and skip-to-my-lou bounce of the chorus didn’t hurt either.
Artist: JOHNNYSWIM
Song: Touching Heaven
Why: My sister and I have seen JOHNNYSWIM every single time they’ve played in Charlotte since 2014. Love these two. They are a husband and wife duo who met singing at church in the early 2000s. Fun fact, the wife, Amanda, is the daughter of the iconic Donna Summer. We secured our meet and greet during their 2022 tour, The JOHNNYSWIM Show. They’re one of the few artists whose tickets I will purchase without ever hearing the new music. I trust their talent and I know it’s going to be good.
Artist: Danity Kane
Song: Key to My Heart
Why: Because “Damaged” is too obvious. Because my friends and I used to belt this song out in my Mustang while on the way to whatever party or club during senior year of college. Because despite the BS, Danity Kane is one of the many things Sean Combs got right.
Artist: Jazmine Sullivan
Song: Lost One (Live)
Why: During covid, and leading up to her album, Jazmine released a series of live performances from her home and this version sends me into a frenzy each time I hear it. I love it for the one I loved and lost. LOMLđ
Artist: Chris Brown
Song: No Guidance
Why: Another repeat offender. There are a few songs that I am going to sing and dance to as long as I’m able. This is one of them. Say what you will about both Christopher Maurice and Aubrey Graham – they made a banger. Say it with me now, “FREAKY! Freakyyyyyyyyyyyy⊔ IYKYKđ
Artist: Tyga
Song: Ayo
Why: Mostly because Iâm pretty sure this song had that same beat that a lot of songs had between 2014 and 2016. It always gave fun, summer vibes. Also, I didnât want to choose the obvious, Rack City. Nothing against it but I try to be a little more original.
Artist: Sam Smith
Song: Latch (Acoustic)
Why: Another repeat offender. Samâs first two albums are gold. I ran In the Lonely Hour into the ground. Latch was always a solid song with Disclosure, but then when he put the acoustic out, it leveled up. I feel like it was meant to be stripped down to the just the piano and his voice. Also, it holds a special place in my heart because thatâs the song that my best friend chose for me to walk the aisle as Maid of Honor in her wedding. Absolutely beautiful.
Artist: Rihanna
Song: Kiss It Better
Why: If I’d known Robyn Rihanna Fenty was NEVER putting out music again, I wouldn’t have been so lit up at this show. I chose Kiss It Better because for whatever reason, that is the song I remember the most from the show. It was her encore song and it sounded so good live. I recall sobering up in those moments and realizing the show was almost over. A shame really.
Artist: James Bay
Song: Move Together
Why: I just liked this one the most. The album was solid, and the show was great. This song stuck with me.
Artist: Pretty Ricky
Song: On the Hotline
Why: Because I couldnât select anything from their first album. And that is absurd. (Looking at you, Apple Music). I preferred either “Shorty Be Mine” or “Ain’t Nothin But a Number.” But here we are. Pretty Ricky was a time indeed. Shoutout to my college boyfriend wherever you are.
Artist: Faith Evans
Song: Love Like This
Why: Per the editor’s note, I gave Sean Comb’s spot to Ms. Evans. She came out on the Bad Boy Reunion Tour and sang like it was still 1998. And anytime this song is played, I am guaranteed to dance and pretend I’m skating backwards.
Artist: BJ the Chicago Kid
Song: Jeremiah/World Needs More Love
Why: He missed that woman real bad. Bad enough to make a biblical reference and squall on the track. That, friends, is my kind of carrying on.
Artist: Chance the Rapper
Song: Finish Line/Drown
Why: Chance’s Coloring Book Tour is in my top five shows. There was something about a sold out venue being captivated by this young man sharing his faith journey through song. I don’t even think some of those concert goers understood this and several other songs from the album or lowkey altar call he held just before performing this song. But so many did feel it. And it was amazing.
Artist: Bruno Mars
Song: Just the Way You Are
Why: Bruno is also in my top five shows. That 24K Magic Tour was fantastic. This was his second to last song and for the most part, the crowd sang it. He turned the lights up and they had a drone flying around to show all the people singing and hugging whoever joined them at the show. I was with my sister, and we sang our hearts out. It was a moment wrapped fully in the cheese and corn of the lyrics. And I loved every single minute.
Artist: H.E.R.
Song: Make It Rain (Live at Austin City Limits)
Why: Just YouTube the performance. My word. I’ve seen her perform it twice now, and it was top tier both times. Her background singers are SINGING, ok?! And she is cutting clean up on that guitar. It’s not even her song. Go off, sis.
Artist: Thirdstory
Song: Still in Love
Why: Man. Talk about gone too soon. Look these guys up on YouTube. Their covers are unmatched. Specifically, their rendition of “Hotline Bling” – is second to none I’ve heard. The chosen song however, is a beautiful acoustic track with Eryn Allen Kane and they are singing something serious. Fun fact, they provided background vocals for Chance the Rapper on his tour. I wish they were still together.
Artist: Grace Weber
Song: More Than Friends
Why: I haven’t necessarily included openers on this list, but I discovered Grace at the Thirdstory concert. She was a whole vibe. She and Elliott from Thirdstory have a beautiful cover of Rihanna’s “Stay” on YouTube.
Artist: Tori Kelly
Song: Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing
Why: I am certain that the entire studio was on their feet, throwing their shoes and carrying on when Tori recorded this cover. I think Stevie even got in the car and drove to the studio himself to hear it. It’s that good. What a voice.
Artist: The Internet
Song: Go with It
Why: Ego Death is such a good album, man. Such a vibe. Syd writes a good song for real. Also, seeing them on tour introduced me to Moonchild, and for that I say thank you.
Artist: Jidenna
Song: Trampoline
Why: Partially because Jidenna is fine. Partially because I love when artists find unique ways to describe strippers. “The lady ain’t a tramp just ’cause she bounce it up and down like a trampoline.”
Stay tuned for Part II coming soon! For now, pick your favorite platform and stream away. Thanks for stopping by.
Relatable Rhythms 