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That's My Best Friend! Hip-Hop And R&B Songs About The Power Of Friendship

By Jessica Bennett of Vibe

Today (June 8) marks National Best Friend Day, leading many to reminisce over past friendships, show gratitude for those they've maintained, and make plans for the future to further strengthen those bonds.

To soundtrack the day of bestie love, VIBE has compiled a list of tracks all about friendship, ranging from popular R&B faves and Hip-Hop classics to modern day musings over the power of platonic connection.

As some songs are meant to conjure up those warm, fuzzy feelings you get while spending time together, others reflect on the true definition of friendship and why it can be so difficult to form authentic bonds, especially for those in the entertainment biz.

From Destiny's Child to King Von, Whitney to Whodini, here are our favorite songs to celebrate National Best Friend Day.

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© Destiny's Child YouTube

'Yellowjackets' Composers Says Misty's Dream Sequence Song Is 'Punk And Kind Of 'Sweeney Todd'

"Yellowjackets" composers and songwriters Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker jumped at the chance to write the original music and lyrics contender "Sit Right Down" for Episode 7 of the Showtime series.

"We were deep into the blood, fragmentation, descent and sanity-shattering music," Wedren says, referring to the events that the survivors have to endure this season. The producers asked them to write an "MGM, old school standard number meets Bob Fosse."

The dream sequence happens as Simone Kessell's Lottie asks the adult Yellowjackets to choose a therapy option treatment at her "wellness retreat." Misty, played by Christina Ricci, finds herself in a sensory tank after picking "Guidance." She needs it. In the teen timeline, Misty (played by Samantha Hanratty) makes a new bestie in Crystal, a fellow theater lover. Except, Misty's openness with her BFF during a round of rapid-fire secrets comes to a sad end when Misty confesses she sabotaged the flight's black box recorder. Mortified, Crystal asks if Misty will "poison her," to which she replies "I'll fucking kill you." Moments later, Crystal has accidentally fallen off the cliff to her death. Meanwhile, adult Misty is racking up the "deaths" after kidnapping and spiking a reporter's cigarette.

In the fever dream sequence, the sensory tank becomes a musical haven for Misty as her beloved pet bird Caligula has taken human form, played by Broadway star John Cameron Mitchell.

Misty's face is superimposed in the background, watching as Elijah Wood's Walter dances around in a top hat with sketches of a needle, axe and the black box floating in the foreground to the tune.

As '90s veterans — Wedren of the band Shudder to Think and Waronker of That Dog — Waronker calls the project a "dream assignment" because it tapped into their musical songwriting and comedic skills that they had been doing for years. "It was very quick," Waronker says of the songwriting process.

Wedren admits the music theme and the descending line for "Sit Right Down" came to him right away. "I picked up the guitar and started plucking it out." By the time Waronker came over to work on the song, the two began to tweak the melody and swap lyrics back and forth. He says, "By the end of the day, I thought, 'Now that's a show tune.'"

Waronker says their approach for the song, which had lyrics that tell Misty to "bathe in the sound and sit right down," "was to take a song with these classic style melodies and use the lyrics in a 'Yellowjackets' way, so that it was multi-layered with lots of meaning and there has to be a sense of humor but not over-the-top funny and not a gag."

He continues, "We knew that it was a therapy session where Caligula is giving Misty a pep talk about being murderous and just not to hold back and to kill every motherfucker that gets in your way. So, we had a ball writing that because it's punk…it's kind of 'Sweeney Todd.'"

Wedren, who was speaking via Zoom from New York and had just seen the "Sweeney Todd" Broadway revival, says "The whole time I was thinking, 'This is what I love about 'Yellowjackets.' There's blood, horror, humor, strange music, traditional music and it's very irreverent. But there's something grounded and rooted in it, and 'Sit Right Down' had a little bit of that in it."

When the collaborators were penning the song and laying down music, Mitchell was not on board at first — but he became the perfect addition.

Wedren says, "We were relieved because it was clear we would have to add nothing, and he would just add, add and add. His addition was like the whipped cream, caramel and maraschino cherry on top of the sundae."

Mitchell, who penned the Tony Award-winning musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," didn't need much guidance. Says Wedren, "We need to book a studio and see if John can come out." Instead, they sent the multi-hyphenate an instrumental which he recorded at his home. "When we got it back, it was like Liza Minnelli meets 'The Exorcist," jokes Wedren.

In all, Mitchell provided them with six different takes of the tune. Says Waronker, "We had a variation of our favorite moments to take for the final version. I thought, 'This is my job today, cutting John's incredible vocals together.'"

Watch "Sit Right Down" below.

35 Of The Best Wedding Songs That'll Have Everyone Saying 'I Do'

Once the all-important dress has been picked out and the last invitation is in the mail, it's time to decide what music to play at your wedding.

Choosing a first dance song or the tune that plays as you walk down the aisle to isn't easy because the music is as much part of your wedding day as anything else, and the songs you select end up saying lot about you as a couple.

"Picking the music vibe for a wedding, from the ceremony to the last dance, is as important to couples as the flowers, food and venue," Nancy Goldstein, director of creative design at Amazing Celebrations & Events, tells TODAY.Com.

When considering which wedding songs will be included in the soundtrack, it's important to think about how they align with the sentiment and meaning of your big day.

"Many of our clients have planned choreographed first dances, so picking the song becomes more personal rather than thinking about the popularity of the song," Goldstein says.

"Couples are also 'orchestrating' the music for the ceremony prelude and recessional, often mixing live music with recorded music to create the perfect ambiance for their special day," Goldstein adds.

While every song on your wedding playlist should have some sort of significance, we've rounded up a collection of popular wedding songs to help get the ball rolling.

'At Last!' by Etta James

Etta James' iconic song has been played and performed at many weddings (and famously at a presidential inauguration) since its release in 1960, proving that it continues to stand the test of time.

'Always and Forever' by Heatwave

Heatwave's "Always and Forever" has been a favorite slow dance song for couples since its release in 1976 and with sweet lyrics like "We'll share tomorrow together," it will continue to be a popular wedding song.

'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley

"Take my hand, take my whole life, too," Elvis Presley serenades. We can't help but fall in love with this heartwarming classic.

'Everything' by Michael Bublé

This bouncy tune by Michael Bublé is all about finding true love in life's crazy times, making it a great one to add to the reception playlist.

'Make You Feel My Love' by Adele

Adele takes this Bob Dylan song to the next level. "Make You Feel My Love" is tender and just right for that first dance as a married couple.

'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran

"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran is sure to bring a tear or two to your eye during that very first dance, especially since it was written for his wife (and former high school sweetheart), Cherry Seaborn.

'Marry You' by Bruno Mars

Based on the title alone, "Marry You" by Bruno Mars needs no further explanation. With wedding bells chiming throughout the song, it's an upbeat addition to any wedding playlist.

'Just the Way You Are' by Billy Joel

Everyone knows the lyrics to this Billy Joel classic and will be singing alone as he implores his love "don't changin' to try and please me."

'Marry Me' by Train

Just try and say "no" to Train's Pat Monahan as he croons this proposal ballad that's just right for walking down the aisle or slow dancing to.

'I'm Yours' by Jason Mraz

Released in 2008, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz is a light-hearted tribute to true love. It's uptempo beat will have everyone tapping their toes.

'Lucky' by Jason Mraz

"Lucky" is yet another Jason Mraz song that needs to be on the wedding playlist. The acoustic-driven duet with Colbie Caillat is just the right tune for the couple looking to celebrate their friendship along with their love.

'The Way You Look Tonight' by Tony Bennett

More often than not, Frank Sinatra's version of "The Way You Look Tonight" gets all the attention. But we love Tony Bennett's tender version off the "My Best Friend's Wedding" soundtrack, too.

'Amazed' by Lonestar

With lyrics like "I wanna spend the rest of my life with you by my side," you can't go wrong with Lonestar's "Amazed."

'This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)' by Natalie Cole

Enter the quintessential rom-com song. On movie soundtracks like "While You Were Sleeping" and "The Parent Trap," it's guaranteed to get everyone smiling.

'Better Together' by Jack Johnson

Let Jack Johnson's dreamy acoustic song be a charming reminder that through thick and thin, everything is better when we're together.

'Come Away With Me' by Norah Jones

"Come Away With Me" beckons lovers to run through fields, sit atop mountains and never stop being each other's best friend.

'Jar of Hearts' by Christina Perri

One of two "Twilight" songs on this list, Christina Perri's ethereal "Jar of Hearts" was written specifically for the film and plays during Edward and Bella's iconic wedding scene.

'Flightless Bird, American Mouth' by Iron & Wine

The lyrics from "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" may not exactly scream "wedding," even so they're guaranteed to evoke images of a certain prom dance in a white-light bedazzled gazebo (ahem, "Twilight").

'All of Me' by John Legend

Written for wife Chrissy Teigen, John Legend's piano-driven ballad, "All of Me," became an instant classic after its release in 2013.

'Thinking Out Loud' by Ed Sheeran

Although he was just 23 when he wrote it, Sheeran perfectly captures the beauty of everlasting love in this wedding favorite.

'September' by Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire's 1978 disco tune is mandatory on any (and all) wedding playlists. Everyone will dance. The end.

'I Gotta Feeling' by the Black Eyed Peas

The dance floor is sure to be packed when "I Gotta Feeling" comes on. It's undeniably infectious, and the best part? Everyone knows the words.

'Unchained Melody' by The Righteous Brothers

This The Righteous Brothers song has been popular since it was released back in 1965, but it rose to new heights after being featured in the 1990 blockbuster "Ghost."

'Love Me Tender' by Elvis Presley

Recorded by Elvis Presley in 1956, "Love Me Tender' remains one of the greatest love songs of all time.'

'You Are the Best Thing' by Ray Lamontagne

Consider this sweet song by Ray Lamontagne as a loving tribute to the one you love.

'Say A Little Prayer for You' by Dionne Warwick

One of the highlights from the film " My Best Friend's Wedding" is when Rupert Everett breaks out into "Say A Little Prayer for You." Ever since, the song has become a favorite to play at weddings.

'When a Man Loves a Woman' by Percy Sledge

A No. 1 Billboard song back in 1966, "When a Man Loves a Woman" has been covered countless times since by artists like Bette Midler and Michael Bolton.

'Endless Love' by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" is the theme song from the 1981 movie by the same name. While the movie didn't make much of a splash, the song remains a popular wedding ballad.

'From This Moment On' by Shania Twain

Released as both a duet and a solo, "From This Moment On" is one of Shania Twain's most popular songs — and understandably so.

'Still the One' by Shania Twain

The companion piece to Shania Twain's "From This Moment On," this song is a slower, gentler acoustic tune that celebrates enduring love.

'I've Had the Time of My Life' by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley

Even if the happy couple doesn't master the lift at the end, "I've Had the Time of My Life" will still get the whole crowd dancing.

'Stand By Me' by Ben E. King

Simple but effective, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King speaks to what all marriages are built on — being each other's rock in good times and bad.

'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' by Stevie Wonder

Another rom-com favorite, this Stevie Wonder tune is featured in "You've Got Mail," the classic love story starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

'What a Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong

Released in 1967, "What a Wonderful World" didn't make much of a dent in the music world until it was featured in the 1988 film "Good Morning Vietnam." Though it doesn't seem like wedding fodder, it's lyrics about the simple joys in life make it a popular choice.

'Bless the Broken Road' by Rascal Flatts

This Rascal Flatts song is nothing short of a weeper. With lyrics that tell the tale of mishaps and lost dreams leading to your one true love, it's a tribute to how things that go wrong can lead us to something — or someone — that's just right.

Put your best foot forward

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