Friday Five: Demi Lovato makes a comeback, Kesha gets 'Kinky,' and more best songs of the week

Every Friday, EW’s music team runs down the five best songs of the week. In today’s edition, Demi Lovato drops an emotional piano ballad, Dua Lipa wants us all to get physical, Lil Wayne is a Sinéad O’Connor fan, Kesha’s alter ego returns, and Porter Robinson addresses dark personal issues.

Dua Lipa — “Physical”

Evidently, it wasn’t enough that Dua Lipa welcomed the new decade with one dance floor jawdropper (2019’s late disco entry “Don’t Start Now”). The English singer just rescued the dog days of January with an instant smash in “Physical” — instant insomuch as it’s immediately, irresistibly catchy, and a smash insofar as it’s equipped with every juicy pop ingredient that should destine it for party permanence this year (or at least Q1 and Q2). If you haven’t already started your 2020 playlist yet, now’s the time to get physical. —Marc Snetiker

Lil Wayne — “Ball Hard”

In a conversation with EW, Lil Wayne said he almost didn’t include this fun, fast-paced, Ben Billions-produced practice of free association, but was swayed when Young Money Records president Mack Maine aggressively campaigned for it. So thank you to Mack for pushing Wayne to provide something fun, something for the summertime, something for the kids to start asking, “Hey, Siri, who is Sinéad O’Connor?” —Marcus Jones

“Anyone” — Demi Lovato

Fame’s lonely side effects are on full display in this isolating and intense return from Demi Lovato. It’s her first new material since 2018’s slow burn “Sober,” in which she admitted to relapsing after six years of sobriety; a month later, she was hospitalized for an overdose. With “Anyone,” Lovato is looking to shed light on the pain she was feeling during that period of her life. By doing so, she reveals some hard truths: “A hundred million stories, and a hundred million songs, I feel stupid when I sing,” she sings over a mournful piano riff. “Nobody’s listening to me.” —Alex Suskind

“Kinky” — Kesha feat. Ke$ha

It’s not a single… yet… but the shiniest album cut from Kesha’s new LP, High Road, sounds like a monster hit in the making. A glistening throwback to the singer-songwriter’s dirty-pop beginnings, “Kinky” sees Kesha flirting with dark desires as she teases a sexy beast out of her lover in an ode to throuples everywhere. The inclusion of a guest spot from the singer’s retired wild-child moniker “Ke$ha” (which she dropped in 2014) adds depth as a simple yet powerful nod to the pop roots that blossomed into the no-nonsense artiste behind 2017’s somber Rainbow. In the end, “Kinky’s” grimy electronic production, provocative themes, and heavily distorted bass are a sonic ménage à trois of pop bliss, collectively contrasting the sugary sweetness of the song’s chorus to spellbinding effect — just like the old Ke$ha would want. —Joey Nolfi

“Get Your Wish” — Porter Robinson

Porter Robinson is no stranger to reinvention, moving from raging dubstep on his 2011 record Spitfire to the synth-heavy, indie-electro choral pop of 2014’s Worlds. With “Get Your Wish,” the lead single off his upcoming effort Nurture, he’s done it again. Over nature samples and distorted vocals, the erstwhile Skrillex protégé addresses dark personal issues like his depression and rediscovering his passion for music. He’s not doing it for himself anymore — he’s now creating music to help others. —Sydney Bucksbaum

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