<?php function get_next_titles() {
global $wpdb;
$querystr ="
  SELECT $wpdb->posts.post_title, $wpdb->posts.post_date FROM $wpdb->posts 
  ORDER BY $wpdb->posts.post_date DESC 
  LIMIT 5";
$pageposts = $wpdb->get_col($querystr);
?>
<?php if ($pageposts): ?>
  <?php foreach ($pageposts as $post): ?>
    <?php setup_postdata($post); ?>
        <?php the_title(); ?>
  <?php endforeach; ?>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php }
?>