The Best of NF

With the release of Let You Down, NF became “mainstream.” People labeled themselves a fan after they heard the song on the radio and scoured the internet for his music. Some people listen to his music on the account of popularity, others admire his catchy beats and reminiscence of Eminem, but his dedicated fans, that avidly listened to his music on repeat and waited for every new album released, felt a sense of bitter sweetness as their beloved and tormented NF hit it big. He deserved the recognition, but do they really understand and appreciate his music? Many pre-mainstream followers felt the new fans did not. NF’s fan base connects to his music on a deep level to an extent not seen elsewhere, which has gained him a lot of loyal and protective fans. His music addresses hard topics such as hardships, depression, and love. He acknowledges that life isn’t sunshine and rainbows. Life is hard, and it especially has been for him and his fans that connect with his words.

Included in this group, is myself. During my freshman year of college in 2015, I woke up to his song Wait playing on a music channel, and I have been a fan ever since. As a person who suffers from depression and suicidal thoughts since childhood (don't worry I'm medicated and I say that with humor), his songs connect to me in a way no songs before ever have. If you’re a person who doesn’t relate to his music, listening to his songs is still a great way to understand and gain empathy for the people in your life that do. In this ranking of his top songs to listen to, we’ll take into consideration the lyrics and their impact to pinpoint his best and deepest songs.

Number 10 –Lie

If you’ve ever dated someone fake or a liar, you’ll probably relate to this song. The song speaks of a girlfriend who portrays him as the bad guy and acts as if she’s better off without him, but she’s truly the one not letting go. Whether a friend, significant other or enemy, many of us have ran across a person trying to slander our name, so even if you haven’t experienced a deceitful ex (lucky you), you can probably relate to this song in some aspect.

Number 9 –My Stress

We all experience stress and sometimes we wish we could just escape, whether it be monotonous conversations, negative people, the struggles of work, or maintaining relationships. This song is for those times.

Number 8 –Change

Some of us want change because we enjoy it, others don’t enjoy it but need it. If you’re depressed or used to a life of pain, it can be hard to get out of that rut; to a point, you may fear what life would be like without it. Who would you be without your pain? It’s a very real fear. However, many of us with this fear realize it’s not rational and seek change and help because deep down we want happiness just like everyone else. NF shares these feelings of his in Change.

Number 7 –Let Me Go

Do you feel like your own worst enemy at times? If so, NF shares what it’s like in Let Me Go for you to relate to. Sometimes we feel like the world is against us when in reality, the only thing holding us back is our own self.

Number 6 –Time

Do you have someone you really care about or love? Can you be a lot to handle sometimes? I hope everyone answers yes, whether in regards to family, friends or a partner. This song is for those times as an apology and a profession of the love you truly feel.

Number 5 –Trauma

This is one of NF’s slow songs that can make you cry if you relate to it. Those of us who have experienced a lot of pain can have fears of abandonment and fear we’ll never be truly loved. It’s hard for people like this because we tend to care so deeply, but our fears that you will leave or don’t feel the same (which may not be the case but we’ll think it is anyways) tends to drive a wedge in the relationship whether it be from aloofness or dealing with our constant need for reassurance.

Number 4 –Chasing

This is a song for the hopeless. Maybe you’ve been trying, but nothing seems to work. Maybe negativity drags you down no matter how hard you try to maintain a positive disposition. Life can wear you down, and some of us are easily pulled into feelings of despair. A lot of the time, we blame our self for this just as NF does in Chasing.

Number 3 –Let You Down

NF lays out how he feels about his father in this song. As a person with a bad relationship with my father as well, I relate to every aspect of this song based on my experiences growing up. Any person who had a parent who made them feel like a letdown, like they were always in the wrong, or felt unheard can probably relate to this; Honestly, it doesn’t have to be a parent. If someone made you feel these things, you’ll probably relate.

Number 2 –How Could You Leave Us

This is a heartbreaking song dedicated to NF’s mother who died from a drug overdose. He pleads with her, wondering why she chose drugs over her own children. Anyone who has lost someone due to an addiction will probably relate to the pain displayed in NF’s lyrics. The loss doesn’t have to be a death either. My mother (likewise addicted to pills and who I haven’t seen since I was five) is still alive, but the hurt and disappointment of not having her in my life is still felt, and I relate to that in this song. Many of us have lost or know someone who has lost a person to drugs whether from death or vacancy of their presence. That fact makes this a great song for many of us.

Number 1 –Hate Myself

This song is heavy and deep. There’s so much talk about self-love and little addressment of the fact that we all hate parts of our self, if not completely hate our self. It’s sad but true. For people with depression, neuroticism, and general negative thinking, hating yourself almost logically follows in your mind. There’s a feeling of being trapped by your own self. A feeling of defeat, like your life is meaningless or feelings that you are worthless can arise which just leads to more hate for yourself. This self-hate can also lead to suicidal thoughts. It’s a vicious cycle that NF depicts brilliantly in this song. It’s a dark and important topic to address, which is why it takes the number one spot.

As a conclusion, I want to address that NF has many great songs (I’m fan of them all –no joke), but I chose the ones with the most impactful lyrics. If you would like to share your own opinions with me feel free to tweet me. You can also find all the songs listed in this article in this Spotify playlist here. I hope you all enjoy!

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