Tyler Ballgame: Five Essential Songs

Tyler Ballgame is having a winning season. The man's heartening backstory as a Los Angeles-based bar singer who refused to give up on a dream, even when times were dark, led to the crooning triumph of his retro-rainbow of a 2026 debut album, For the First Time, Again on Rough Trade. Ballgame's acrobatic vault of a voice, notably his rocking roller coaster of a falsetto, is augmented by his acute understanding of lessons learned from foundational singer-songwriters like Roy Orbison, Harry Nilsson and Arthur Russell. Ballgame is both an archivist and an adventurer, a potent combo for an emerging musician.

He also had an intuitive production team working with him on For the First Time, Again — Jonathan Rado (Foxygen, The Killers, Miley Cyrus) and Ryan Pollie (Los Angeles Police Department). Rather than tamping down Ballgame's burly rapture and blissed-out enthusiasm, Rado and Pollie leaned into that Ballgame-style alchemy of pop felicity.

Ballgame's FUV Live concert at The Bitter End last year was inspiration enough for the station to invite him back to perform at the WFUV High Line Bash at City Winery NYC on May 7 (and yes, tix are still available). For an annual benefit gala hat thrives on communal joy, Ballgame's got the goods: "I Believe in Love" is the best kind of mantra these days, no matter what challenges lie ahead.

Ballgame's got his own happiness playlist of "Five Essential Songs" that serve as a mini-primer on how to write — and perform — a great song — which he wrote about for FUV with good humor and savvy insight. And yeah, he has a great point about ABBA, doesn't he?

Tyler Ballgame: Five Essential Songs

Leonard Cohen, "Suzanne"
Leonard’s rhythm and word placement are Shakespearean and the perfect palette for this painting. He rides the line of direct speech and mystery and conjures a spell that maintains its power after decades of listening.

Joni Mitchell, "Both Sides Now"
My favorite artists tend to be both a part of and apart from this world, and this is perhaps the ultimate example. To speak from such human understanding and such alien omniscience at the same time is what makes Joni a giant. The best version of this song might be from the Newport Folk Festival a few years ago. 

Juan Gabriel, "Amor Eterno"
This, from my understanding, might be one of the songs of Mexican culture. Juan’s performance from his En Vivo concert is transcendent and is something I watch weekly to ground myself in my own “why.” A rare instance of when a song transcends language and when there is no separation between artist and the essence of their expression. One of the most potent performers to have ever held a microphone! 

Kate Bush, "Wuthering Heights"
This song is so unique in its form, composition, character, and choices, and I think it’s appropriate to point out that Kate Bush wrote this song at the age of 13 or so. For me, it’s a reminder that there are no rules for writing a great song, and all imaginative spark comes from that place of play we all knew so well as children. Dream big, dream strange, dream pure! 

ABBA, "Dancing Queen"
I know you’re probably rolling your eyes but there’s undeniable power in the chorus. The rising melody in “of the tambourine” that leads to the “you can dance, you can jive” —  I mean, come on! It’s pure brain science. Some type of pop string theory that unites all who have ears. This type of moment is what we all should be chasing as artists.

- Tyler Ballgame
April 2026