Songs That Are OKAY Through and Through, Vol. 1

Songs That Are OKAY Through and Through, Vol. 1 features songs by Doja Cat, Joey Valence & Brae, Katy Perry, Tate McRae, and Whitney Houston. 

According to the late, great Whitney Houston, “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”.  Fair enough.  As for Demi Lovato, she lets everyone know that it is “OK Not to Be OK”. True. For Olivia Rodrigo, the hope is that you are okay.  The common word between all three songs is okay. The criterion for Songs That Are OKAY Through and Through, Vol. 1 is that every song must feature okay in the song title.  Many songs meet this criteria, hence why this playlist is the first of forthcoming volumes.  Songs That Are OKAY Through and Through, Vol. 1 features songs by Doja Cat, Joey Valence & Brae, Katy Perry, Tate McRae, and Whitney Houston. So, without further ado, join the ‘more than okay experience’ that is Songs That Are OKAY Through and Through, Vol. 1!

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“He ain’t just a pretty-faced talker /… You’re seein’ one-sided / You got him right now.” Oh, snap, Tate McRae! The Gen-Z musician warns her ex’s new girlfriend to beware in “It’s ok I’m ok”, a single from her 2025 album, So Close To What. In the pre-chorus, she makes it clear she doesn’t miss him because he’s no good! Her exact words: “Take him, he’s yours.” McRae, Ilya, Ryan Tedder, and Savan Kotecha penned the single. Ilya produced it. “It’s ok I’m ok” is relatively brief.  With its quick pace and simple message, that’s enough time for Tate McRae to convey her points.  In the second verse, she drops an f-bomb (“Was such a romantic (Romantic) / You got me like, ‘Fuck that’”). In the chorus, which is uncomplicated save for its rhythm, she asserts, “It’s okay, I’m okay, had him in the first place / it’s okay, I’m okay…” The songwriting isn’t game-changing but works sufficiently. Beyond the lyrics, the accompaniment thrives off a sweet percussive groove – the beat bangs.  Also, the minimalist vibes are successful, specifically tasty keyboard and synths.  The melodies are rhythmic, with the pre-chorus featuring an interesting jump between octaves.  McRae is feisty and playful with her vocal performance, which suits the theme of this enjoyable, mostly inoffensive song (looking at you, f-bomb 😉).

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2. Joey Valence & Brae, “OK”

NO HANDS // JVB // 2024

“What you got? I got it goin’ on (Okay).” Word! Joey Valence and Brae (Braedan Lugue) bring the energy and swagger to “OK”. “OK” is the eighth track on the duo’s colorful 2024 album, NO HANDS. The song features old-school hip-hop production by Valence, Patrick Nissley, and Lucas Banker. This marks one of many selling points regarding the sub-two-and-a-half-minute cut. The biggest selling point is the fun, unforgettable rhymes. Valence draws first blood in the first verse. His confidence is through the roof: “I got the big stacks, I’m pushin’ stacks / Uh, new outfit, you wish you had it on / Omnitrix on the wrist, gotta keep it on.”  Woo! Brae ‘brings the heat’ in the second verse, where he spits, “So much drip I’m slippin’, someone please call a plumber / Baby blue, top hat and cane, Dumb and Dumber (Okay) / Whipped cream-color whips, that’s pimp / White Nissan, that’s a cool whip.” I mean, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii touted a “Nissan Altima”, so, fair assessment of a cool whip. In the third verse, with contributions from both, there are references to Michael Jackson (“I’m too smooth like MJ”), Chick-fil-A (“Got sauce like Chick-fil-A”), and Judge Judy (“Boss bitch like Judge Judy). Ultimately, “OK” isn’t deep or transcendent, but it is highly entertaining, like, OKAY!!!

Appears in 🔻:

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3. Katy Perry, “OK”

1432 // Capitol // 2024 

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay / I’m always gonna be around / No matter if you’re up or down.” Good to know… I think! Following a disastrous album cycle with 143, Grammy-nominated pop artist Katy Perry released a deluxe version, titled 1432. There is one thing working in Perry’s favor, however.  “OK”, the 15^th track from the deluxe is… okay.  Like many pop songs, “OK” has a lots of songwriters (eight), and is produced by Dr. Luke and Vaughn Oliver. The chorus, the first section heard in “OK,” is tuneful.  She continues singing, “Hey, what did I say? / I’m never gonna let you drown / No matter if you’re up or down.” Is the writing the most poetic? No, but Perry makes her point loud and clear.  In the verses, matters of the heart lead through thick and thin.  “Let’s make a toast to / Everything we’ve been through,” she sings in the first verse, adding, “‘Cause I don’t always like you / But I’m always gonna love you.” Similarly, in the second, she sings, “If we just keep goin’ / The road is gonna open.” Vocally, Perry sings well – no qualms there.  The production separates itself from other songs, which is a positive. Ultimately, the groove, prominent bass line, and guitars are pleasant.  Again, “OK” is okay.

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4. Teezo Touchdown, “OK”  

How Do You Sleep At Night? With You // Not Fit For Society / RCA // 2024

“Uh-huh, okay / I’m gonna do it anyway.” Word, Teezo Touchdown! The keyword is okay, which is stylized as “OK” on the opening track from the rapper’s 2024 album, How Do You Sleep At Night? With You. Brief, clocking in under two minutes, “OK” is incredibly fun. It thrives off rock-oriented production  courtesy of Justin Raisen and SADPONY (Jeremiah Raisen). The guitars are sick! Rap-wise, Teezo delivers a compelling cadence and flow.  In the first verse, he memorably raps, “My life is a movie where everybody hand I shake ends up in the credits.” OK! “Sometimes, I wanna scream alone / Sometimes I just wanna be / Subliminal, but that’s not really up to me,” he raps in the second verse, continuing, “Please stay out of my business / Everybody has their own company.” Word! Teezo exhibits plenty of personality on this intriguing intro track.

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5. JT, “OKAY”

City Cinderella // Quality Control Music, LLC / UMG Recordings, Inc. // 2024 

“I’m pretty than a motherfucker, hoes be lookin’ okay (Yeah) / She think that she fuckin’ with me, is this bitch okay?” Ooh-wee, JT.  Once more, the keyword is “OKAY”, which happens to be the title of the 11^th track from the rapper’s 2024 mixtape, City Cinderella. “OKAY” clocks in under three minutes.  It was produced by Akachi and Shawn Ferrari. Notably, the banger samples “Trap or Die” by tough-minded rapper Jeezy featuring H-town rap veteran, Bun B.  “OKAY,” hence, is gritty, hard-nosed, and tough AF.

The musical accompaniment is brassy and malicious sounding.  JT matches the energy with her bold, unapologetic rhymes.  This begins with the intro (“Where my bad bitches at?”) as well as the chorus excerpted above.  Her cadence and flow kick ass and take names. “Down South bad bitch, this skreet shit so ratchet / Call me JT, a.k.a. The Soul Snatcher (Okay).” OK, JT, we hear you talking that shit in the first verse.  One of the most memorable lyrics from “OKAY” occur in the second verse, where she seems to be throwing shade at a fellow female rapper: “She ate crab legs, now her whole tooth missin’ / Cheap ass veneers, you stay talkin’ shit.” Oh, snap! Ultimately, “OKAY” is a winner from JT.  It’s more than okay! Notably, “OKAY (Remix)” concludes the mixtape featuring Jeezy, the artist sampled.

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6. Wallows, “OK”

Remote (Deluxe) // Atlantic // 2021 

Wallows, comprised of Dylan Minnette, Cole Preston, and Braeden Lemasters – dropped a groovy alternative smash with “OK”.  On “OK,” Minnette shows off the beauty of his pipes, including some falsetto, sigh.  Besides the skills of the actor/singer himself, the melody, particularly on the chorus, is quite tuneful.   

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7. Doja Cat, “OKLOSER”

Scarlet 2 CLAUDE // Kemosabe / RCA // 2024

“I say okay, okay, loser (Okay, loser) / We go way, way back, I won’t say, “Okay, boomer” (Okay, okay),” Grammy-winning artist Doja Cat raps in the chorus of “OKLOSER,” the fourth track on Scarlet 2 CLAUDE.  She continues, colorfully spitting, “Ain’t shit sweet, I brush my teeth, but still my tooth hurt (Still my tooth hurt, hey, hey) /You cannot come to the cookout, get your hand up out the cooler (Cooler, bitch).” Clocking in under three minutes, Doja Cat jam packs the record.  Her rhymes are entertaining as hell, namely not being invited to the cookout. “I put the verse in the motherfuckin’ ‘ace / I put the grr in they motherfuckin’ top teeth,” she raps in the first verse. She ‘bites’ in the second verse, “And I said loser, loser, loser / Why the fuck these bitches always comin’ out the woodwork?” As always, her cadence and flow are on point.  Making “OKLOSER” a strong showing beyond the rhymes and personality she infuses is a colorful music backdrop produced by Yeti Beats, Carter Lang, Jasper Harris, Jared Solomon, and Kevo. Ultimately, “OKLOSER” is a confident, super fun joint.

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8. AJR, “OK Overture”

OK ORCHESTRA // BMG Rights Management // 2021 

On their fourth album, OK ORCHESTRA, AJR (Jack Met, Ryan Met, Adam Met) have some enjoyable, intriguing moments and plenty of creative musical ideas.  As is often the case, however, sometimes, their hipster millennial alt pop script is, um, overdone.  That said, “OK Overture” is an intriguing start to the album, as well as an interesting, standalone ‘OK’ cut. “OK Overture” begins introducing instruments and specific song features – you must hear it to fully understand. Regardless, it’s a unique way to commence the album – very AJR. If nothing else “OK Overture” is ambitious and all over the place. Sort of like an orchestral overture from a Broadway musical, it features parts of songs featured on the album, which is creative.  The thing is, if you’re not into the vibe of the overture, you probably won’t be into OK ORCHESTRA either 🤷. 

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9. Olivia Rodrigo, “hope ur ok”

SOUR // Geffen // 2021

“I knew a boy once when I was small / A towhead blond with eyes of salt /… His parents cared more about the Bible / Than being good to their own child…” Olivia Rodrigo witnessed her debut album, SOUR, earned several Grammys, including Rodrigo’s biggest win being the Grammy for Best New Artist.  The teen concludes her debut LP with a thoughtful record, “hope ur ok”. Rodrigo wrote “hope ur ok” with Daniel Nigro, who also produces the record.  

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10. Marshmello & Demi Lovato, “OK Not to Be OK”

“OK Not to Be OK” // Joytime Collective // 2020 

DJ Marshmello collaborates with Grammy-nominated pop singer Demi Lovato on “OK Not to Be OK”. The brief number features a fantastic opening with an enigmatic, almost somber synth. The sound isn’t dark, but sort of reflective in tone. Beyond the opening and first verse, the production is bright by Marshmello, with strong results. Of course, it is those fine, compelling vocals by Lovato that sell “OK Not to Be OK.” Those vocals are perfectly suited given the theme of this song.  

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11. Whitney Houston, “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay”

My Love Is Your Love // Arista // 1998

“It’s not right, but it’s okay / I’m gonna make it anyway / Pack your bags, up and leave / Don’t you dare come runnin’ back to me.” Ooh-wee! The late, great Whitney Houston (1963 – 2012) released the biggest hits of her career in the 1980s and 1990s. “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” arrived as the opening track from her fourth studio/comeback album, My Love Is Your Love, released in 1998.  My Love Is Your Love debuted modestly at number 13 on the Billboard 200, but was eventually certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” was a big hit, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999. In 2019, the single was certified platinum.  Houston won her sixth and final Grammy award for the song (Best Female R&B Vocal Performance) at the 42^nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. Toni Estes, Isaac Phillips, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, and the late LaShawn Daniels penned the gem. Rodney Jerkins produced it. 

“It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” gave Houston a contemporary R&B record. Although firmly planted in R&B, but, like so many Whitney songs, had pop crossover written all over it.  On the spirited third single from  My Love Is Your Love, Houston confronts her man’s infidelity.  Suspicious, she asks of his night out with the boys, “If six of y’all went out, ah / Then four of you were really cheap, yeah / ‘Cause only two of you had dinner / I found your credit card receipt.” Oh, snap! In the second verse, he gets in even deeper trouble when his phone rings: “You said it was one of your friends, down on 54^th street, boy / So why did 213 show up on your caller I.D.?” Whitney is not going to take his BS.  After determining “[He was” making a fool of [her],” she tells sends his trifling ass out the door in the unforgettable chorus. Excerpted earlier, she adds, “I’d rather be alone than unhappy.” Amen, sis! As always, Houston sounds remarkable singing this song.  The melodies are tuneful, and she adds her own spice with her nuances and celestial runs.  The musical accompaniment is classy (it’s the mallet percussion for me). It’s tailored for her once-in-a-lifetime voice – a voice gone far too soon.  Pushing 30 after its release, “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” remains fresh – a bop for the ages!

Appears in 🔻:

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Songs That Are OKAY Through and Through, Vol. 1 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista, Atlantic, BMG Rights Management, Capitol, Geffen, Joytime Collective, JVB, Kemosabe, Not Fit For Society, Quality Control Music, LLC, RCA, UMG Recordings, Inc.; VICO ORTIZO from Pexels; AcatXlo, Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay]