A global mega popstar, a fashion icon, an actress, a CEO, and a philanthropist – Rihanna will sure outshine all diamonds in the sky.

We’re pretty sure that all of us are asking, “Where’s the album?” And we cannot blame you. It was 2016 when the icon released the universally loved Anti. After a couple of droplet single, we never really hear from her again.

As we wait for the next album to arrive, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look into the best Rihanna songs of all time (of course, based on our humble opinion). Some of her best songs include the cult classic “We Found Love”, “Umbrella”, “Diamonds”, “Pon de Replay”, and “Disturbia”. Check out the list to see if we got your favorite Rihanna hit covered!

Who is Rihanna as an artist?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two decades, it would be near impossible that you haven’t heard of the name “Rihanna.”

Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in Barbados along the eastern Caribbean – an excellent explanation of the sonic influences of many songs which she released. Despite the glitz and glamor of Rihanna, we know today, her childhood was not necessarily the greatest.

At age 14, she experienced her parents’ divorce due to his father’s problem with alcoholism. During the time, music became her escape and her heavy past was a heavy lyrical inspiration. She eventually got noticed by the American producer Evan Rogers in 2003.

“The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn’t exist,” Rogers said when describing Rihanna’s audition.

She was then invited to the United States to record a handful of tracks – one of which is Pon de Replay. The song and her voice eventually caught the attention of Jay Z and his team, leading to a six-album deal. Pon de Replay was released as the lead single off of Rihanna’s debut album Music of the Sun in 2005, earning her a number two hit in the US – amazing for a debut single!

She continued the Caribbean-infused music in her second studio album A Girl Like Me, which spawned her first of many US chart-toppers SOS. However, the best was yet to come.

In 2007, she released Umbrella from her breakthrough album Good Girl Gone Bad. It topped the US charts and became a signature hit. She eventually went into a hiatus after releasing her eighth and massively successful album, Anti, in 2016.

Today, she is one of the best-selling artists of all time with 250 million records sold. She had earned 14 number one hits, nine Grammys, and a spot in Times most influential people in the world. She is the CEO of Fenty Beauty and is now worth a whopping 1.7 billion dollars.

Best Rihanna Hits of All Time

Choosing only 25 songs to feature was a near-impossible task. Rihanna has released eight studio albums, 52 tracks as a lead artist, and 18 songs as a featured artist – and a huge chunk of them are certified hits.

We chose these songs based on their commercial and critical impact, alongside our subjective taste for lyricism and sound. Well, let’s get started (in no particular order):

1. We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)

Let’s start off this list strong with a cult classic. We Found Love is an up-tempo, electro dance-pop track from Rihanna’s 2011 album Talk That Talk. The immaculately produced track features lyrics on “half-baked” romance exemplified by Rihanna’s repetition of the hook (the song’s title).

Nicole Scherzinger was initially eyed for the song, but later rejected it – and boy, did she miss out big time. The track, at the time of its release, was Rihanna’s biggest hit, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 charts for 10 consecutive weeks. Billboard revealed it to be the 27^th biggest hit single of all time. It also topped the charts of 25 other countries!

You can jam your hearts out to this song here:

2. Umbrella (feat. Jay Z.)

Of course, this one should be a no-brainer – definitely, a signature hit. If you haven’t heard this song, you’ve probably been living in a cave… just kidding.

Featuring a big industry name Jay Z, Umbrella is surely a highlight from the equally iconic 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad. Sonically, the song is an addicting blend of pop, R&B, and hip hop. Lyrically, it talks about how strong a bond is in a relationship (whether that be platonic or romantic is up to your interpretation).

Just like We Found Love, Umbrella was first offered to another artist – this time Britney Spears, herself. The song eventually peaked at number one in the US Hot 100. It also helped Rihanna bag tons of critical acclaim and accolade, including three Grammy – two of which are the sought-after Record of the Year and Song of the Year!

Listen to this bop here:

Read also: The 8 Best Chill Lo-fi Songs for You

3. Diamonds

Rihanna just doesn’t run out of classics in her catalog, does she?

This priceless hit is a single off of Rihanna’s seventh full-length album Unapologetic released in 2012. Unknown to many, the mid-tempo Electropop-R&B ballad track was written by the musical genius, Sia. It featured an odd mixture (but in the best way possible) of orchestral instruments, electronic beats, and heavy 80s synths.

The track talks about love, a stark departure from her darker themes at the time. It eventually topped the US Hot 100 chart as Rihanna’s 12^th number one single. Aside from that, it also clinches the top spot in 19 other countries. The EDM classic is regarded now as one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Jam-along to this track here:

4. Only Girl (in the World)

“Want you to make me feel like I’m the only girl in the world” – we reckon that you’ve either heard that in your head or just plain out sang it.

Only Girl (in the World) is the lead single off of the iconic 2010 album Loud – and was actually one of the first tracks recorded for the album! The cult classic talked about wanting more physical affection from a lover backed up by heavy synths, a deep and strong base, alongside an easily recognizable electro-dance pop beat (reminiscent of what we usually hear from Rihanna).

Just like all the songs listed so far, this track peaked at the number one spot of the US Hot 100 (and was later replaced by another track from Rihanna after two weeks).

You can listen to this song here:

Read also: 10 Best Post-Rock Songs​

5. Love the Way You Lie (with Eminem)

We’ll never get tired of saying that Rihanna would never run out of bops, and this one, in particular, has a strong message behind it.

Unlike the songs listed above, this track is not from a Rihanna album – it is actually in Eminem’s Recovery (2010). What gave the two an amazing chemistry is their shared experiences of abusive relationships, which was the lyrical focus of the song. The mid-tempo song featured a pop chorus backed by elements of ballad and hip hop.

The track claimed critical and commercial success, bagging nominations from the recording academy and topping the US Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks!

Curious? Listen to the song here:

6. Pon de Replay

Now we’re getting into some classic classics.

It would be a crime to not mention the song that put Rihanna on the map. Pon de Replay is Rihanna’s debut single in her 2005 debut album Music of the Sun. the lead single is a fusion of multiple genres – R&B, dancehall, and pop with hints of reggae. It’s a feel-good anthem that talks about having your favorite bop played louder.

For a debut single, the song did exceedingly well, catching the eye of critics and the general public. It received generally positive reviews and eventually topped the charts in New Zealand. It also peaked at number two in the US Hot 100.

Re-experience song here:

Read also: Top 10 Songs About Sisters

7. Don’t Stop the Music

You sure won’t be stopping the music when this jive’s on.

Don’t Stop the Music is the fourth single off of the 2007 full-length album Good Girl Gone Bad. The song is a Rihanna staple that features her signature sonic elements such as a hip-hop beat and thumping dance-pop feels.

Again, the song piqued the interest of critics, earning Rihanna a Grammy nomination. It also reached the top 3 of the US Hot 100 – pretty solid for a fourth single!

Check the song out here:

8. This Is What You Came For (with Calvin Harris)

Let’s now jump into something relatively recent – and let us tell you, the team behind this hit is star-studded!

Unlike everything listed so far, this track was released as a droplet single (basically, not a song off of a full-length album). The hit song was produced by Scottish EDM wizard Calvin Harris and written by the music pop icon Taylor Swift (initially under the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg).

The track featured an EDM sound with dance-pop elements that are reminiscent of Rihanna’s earlier works – and this is to no surprise as Rihanna collaborated with Harris in Loud. To date, it is Harris’ highest-peaking single, clinching the number three spot in the US Hot 100.

Get ready to blast this song all night here:

9. Stay (feat Mikky Ekko)

You’ll surely stay for more once this hits the radio.

Ballad is not new territory for Rihanna, but this track did not fail to end up as one of Rihanna’s most emotional. It was released as the second single off of Unapologetic in 2012, highlighting how difficult it is to say “no” to true love.

The song was regarded as an album highlight by musical critics. It clinched the top three spot in the US Hot 100 and conquered the top 5 of 24 other countries. It became Rihanna’s 24^th top 10 hits at the time!

Listen to the track here:

10. Work (feat. Drake)

Back in 2016, this mega-hit would be inescapable!

Rihanna paid a marvelous tribute to her heritage in this track, which served as the lead single off of her fan-favorite studio album Anti. The track blended elements of reggae, pop, and dancehall. Lyrically, it delved into subjects of working to earn money.

Despite the mixed critical reviews, the track was able to secure two Grammy nominations. It was also a commercial blockbuster, topping the US Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks – which bagged Rihanna her 14^th number one single and only behind The Beatles, Mariah Carey, and Elvis Presley for the most chart-toppers at the time.

Get a good taste of the song here:

Read also: Top 10 Songs About Working Hard

11. SOS

Now, let’s get back to the originals.

Do you know what made this song special? It was Rihanna’s first number one hit, giving the icon an additional boost to stardom. The song is part of the tracklist of A Girl Like Me released back in 2006. It had comparable elements to Rihanna’s debut single Pon de Replay, featuring elements of dance-pop.

It was generally praised by critics. Again, it topped the charts for a consecutive three weeks and was later on certified Platinum by the US RIAA.

Groove to this track here:

12. Take a Bow

Good Girl Gone Bad was definitely a monumental album for Rihanna, spawning hit after hit! This one’s no exemption

The song was part of the re-released of the mentioned studio album in 2008. It delved deeper into the R&B territory without losing a grasp of a pop identity. The song was considered a highlight thanks to its lyricism and sheer emotional power.

The song topped the charts of six countries, including that of the US. This gave Rihanna her third number one at the time, and another Platinum certification under her belt.

Listen to the song here:

13. Where Have You Been

This is one of those tracks that’ll surely play in your head as soon as you’ve read the title.

The track is the fifth single off of the 2011 studio album Talk That Talk. The song was written and produced by a roster of well-respected names in the music industry. Again, this track interpolated Rihanna’s most common genres of dance-pop and R&B with elements of trance, techno-pop, and hip-hop.

It was surely well-loved by both critics and general music listeners. It eventually reached the number five spot in the Hot 100 charts.

Get a taste of this hit here:

Read also: 11 Songs About Growing Up

14. Wild Thoughts (with DJ Khaled, Bryson Tiller)

Now we’re getting into the last few songs Rihanna released prior to her hiatus.

Sampling a 90s song by Wyclef Jean and Carlos Santana, the single from DJ Khaled’s Grateful (2017) surely did captivate the ears of many. It featured sensual lyricism backed by a sexy Latin beat (and acoustic guitar!).

The song, later on, topped the UK charts and peaked at number two in the US Hot 100. At the time, it became Rihanna’s 31^st top 10 single.

Bop to this song here:

15. Needed Me

“I was good on my own, that’s the way it was…” the song’s first line surely summarizes the message of the track well.

Needed Me was released a single off of the well-received studio album Anti (2016). Unlike Rihanna’s past hits, this track was much more mellow while still retaining the electro-R&B flare that Rihanna is very much known for. Lyrically, it talked about rejecting love and being able to be independent.

The track became a modest hit, peaking at number 7 in the US Hot 100. It was also critically loved as it received a Grammy nomination.

Check it out here:

16. Love on the Brain

This, for sure, will give you the feels!

The song was pretty far from tracks that Rihanna did in the past. The Anti track is inspired by 50’s doo-wop with strong elements of a soul ballad. The song put Rihanna’s vocal abilities under a completely different light. It talked about the rollercoasters that is the sweet and bitter of a toxic relationship.

The song earned Rihanna her 22^nd top five hits when it peaked at number five in the US Hot 100. Despite being the final single off of the album, it was still critically praised.

Indulge in the greatness of this song here:

Read also: Top 10 Songs About Jenny

17. Loyalty (with Kendrick Lamar)

Of course, Rihanna has a collab with the equally genius Kendrick Lamar.

The song was a fun highlight of the 2016 critically loved album by Kendrick, DAMN. Despite some pretty questionable lyrics, Rihanna still pushed out a bop thanks to her innate charisma. As the title implies, it focuses on the importance of loyalty and truth in relationships.

The song eventually ended up winning a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance.

Give the track a listen here:

18. FourFiveSeconds (with Paul McCartney, Kanye West)

This song is literally the definition of a collaboration we never knew we needed.

The song incorporated elements of folk, pop, and soul, proving yet again Rihanna’s versatility. It was released as a droplet in a single in 2015. Again, the track featured raw musical instrumentation that was scarce at the time.

Critics loved the song, giving emphasis to Rihanna’s vocal performances. Eventually, the single penetrated the top five of the US Hot 100, peaking at number four.

Listen to the track here:

19. All of the Lights (with Kanye West, Kid Cudi)

Yet again, another Kanye West collab in our list.

This song was nothing but grand – it just featured a marvelous choir studded by stars such as Drake, John Legend, Elton John, Alicia Keys, and more. Rihanna was credited as she sang the song’s chorus. The track was the fourth single from Kanye’s 2010 full-length album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

The song received immense acclaim from critics due to its grandiose feel and attention to detail. Aside from being a commercial success, the song eventually bagged a Grammy nomination.

Give the track a try here:

Read also: Top 10 Songs About Cowboys

20. Man Down

“What started out as a simple altercation turned into a real sticky situation.” This line basically summarizes the rationale behind the track – a story of a crime and regret.

The song was released as a single off of Loud, and was heavily inspired by the 1973 song I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley. The song fused elements of reggae and electropop, a few of the Rihanna staples.

The song was a modest hit, reaching the top 60 of the US Hot 100. What makes the song more memorable is its heavily controversial music video.

Watch the song’s video here:

21. Russian Roulette

The song was released as the lead single off of Rihanna’s 2009 studio album Rated R. It effectively set the sonic expectation for the album, incorporating dark and atmospheric pop and R&B ballad. It incorporated heavy synths, and even a guitar solo prior to the final chorus. Lyrically, it tackled domestic violence.

What made the song much more iconic is its music video – which is much more tense and violent than what’s expected for a pop star.

Check the music video out here:

22. What’s My Name? (feat. Drake)

We know that reggae and dancehall is a Rihanna staple, but Drake’s presence in this track makes it a standout.

The electro-R&B track served as the second single off of 2010’s Loud. The song talks about love and sexual intimacy incorporated into an EDM beat that was prominent in the album. “Sultry” would be an understatement to describe this bop.

The song eventually bagged Rihanna’s third number-one single in the US Hot 100 at the time.

Listen to the track here:

Read also: Top 10 Songs About Ice Cream

23. Disturbia

“It’s a thief in the night to come and grab you.”

From the lyrics, alone, it’s easy to see how the song continued with the darker themes that Rihanna started delving into in 2007. It served as the third single off of the re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad. The up-tempo electropop track talks about anxiety and paranoia.

The song eventually got a Grammy nomination.

You can check out the song here:

24. Hard (feat. Young Jeezy)

And we are back with another Rated R (2009) track!

The hit single incorporated typical hip-hop elements such as sharp beats and synths with a unique touch of military horns. It was released as the second single off of the said album, earning Rihanna her 13^th top ten hit in the US at the time.

Jam out to the song here:

25. Kiss It Better

We will be ending this list with a Grammy-nominated track.

The song was a track from Rihanna’s last full-length album prior to her hiatus, Anti (2016). The song blended synth-pop, rock, and R&B, which is sonically reminiscent to another Anti single, Needed Me.

Despite only peaking at number 62 in the US Hot 100, the song bagged a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song.

Give the song a try here:

Final Thoughts

Ranking Rihanna’s catalog and deciding which songs to put in this list gave us a headache (because, well, she got numerous hits it’s hard to choose!), but we made it possible.

We’ve put so much appreciation to Rihanna’s song and her persona as an artist. Now, we would be shining the limelight on Rihanna as a human.

Amid the sea of pop stars, what makes Rihanna a cut above the rest is her initiative to use her fame, influence, and resources into good use. She founded charitable foundations and pursued campaigns for terminally ill children and the battle against AIDS. She was hailed as a national hero of Barbados – not solely because of her career as a pop star, but also her endeavor as a caring human being.

If you ask anyone out there which bands are among the top three of all time, there’s a huge chance that Queen will be up there on the list. This British band from London was formed in 1970, and throughout the years, they made countless songs and numerous hits.

You will also find multiple films and documentaries about the band. That’s how legendary they are. They’ve been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the UK Music Hall of Fame, and they’ve also received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

If this is the first time you’re listening to them, which we think is quite impossible, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best songs from Queen that you should add to your playlist immediately.

Best Queen Songs

1. “Bohemian Rhapsody”

There’s no better way to start this list than by talking about their most popular song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” There are countless theories as to what the song means. However, we may never know which one is true because Freddie Mercury chose not to burst everyone’s bubble, and the rest of the band promised to respect that.

Some speculate that it’s a metaphor about Mercury’s upbringing and childhood, while others say that it’s about his sexuality. For those who don’t know, Mercury is bisexual, and he eventually died of AIDS-related complications in 1991 at the age of 45.

Whatever the meaning of the song is, we leave it to you to interpret it on your own. Be sure to immerse yourself in the band’s musicality showcased in “Bohemian Rhapsody” while you’re at it.

Fun Fact: “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the first pre-1990s video on YouTube to reach 1 billion views.

Next: 12 Songs with Figurative Language

2. “Under Pressure”

One common characteristic in Freddie Mercury’s songwriting is that most of them focus on love. “Under Pressure” is one of these songs. It’s about how we sometimes have to face overwhelming pressure, but love is what will get us through.

It’s a collaboration with David Bowie, but Mercury wrote most of the lyrics, albeit the band contributed as well. “Under Pressure” is an iconic song because of John Deacon’s bass riff in the intro and verses. Interestingly, we almost weren’t blessed with this bassline.

After Deacon came up with it, Queen exited the studio to grab some pizza. When they got back, Deacon forgot how he played it! Thankfully, Roger Taylor was able to remember it for the recording.

3. “We Will Rock You”

Do you know how sometimes people say that important messages are received in dreams? Well, Brian May received his in the form of a song called “We Will Rock You.” It was after one of their gigs in the Liverpool Football Club.

Before going to bed, May thought that the audience could still clap and stomp their feet even though they were squeezed tightly together. When he woke up, he had the idea for the song. Since then, “We Will Rock You” has been used in countless TV shows and films, perhaps because of its rather simplistic yet catchy rhythm.

Next: 7 Songs with Beats You Can’t Resist

4. “Fat Bottomed Girls”

This song was written by Brian May and it’s about a man who tends to have a liking with girls who have, well, we’ll just say “generous backside.” However, May was actually thinking of Freddie Mercury when he wrote this. No, it wasn’t Mercury who has a generous backside. May said that Mercury appreciated, and we quote, “fat bottomed girls.. or boys.”

“Fat Bottomed Girls” is connected to another Queen song “Bicycle Race.” In the latter, there’s a lyric that goes, “Fat bottomed girls, they’ll be riding today, so look out for those beauties.” On the other hand, “Fat Bottomed Girls” ends with the line “Get on your bikes and ride!”

5. “Killer Queen”

While Freddie Mercury always wanted listeners to come up with their own interpretations of Queen songs, he did mention what “Killer Queen” is about. Basically, it tells the story of a classy, stylish, and elegant girl, who is actually a prostitute.

According to Brian May, he believes that this song is the best one ever written by Mercury. He also says that his guitar solo in the song is one that he’s most proud of. It’s simply the epitome of pop music. “Killer Queen” is also one of the first songs from Queen that leans more on pop instead of heavy rock.

Next: Top 15 Easy Pop Songs on Piano

6. “Tie Your Mother Down”

The surface meaning of this song when you read the lyrics suggests that it’s about the persona rebelling against his/her parents, albeit somewhat extreme. Brian May was the one who wrote this song, and he frequently plays it in different shows, even after the band went inactive.

May and Roger Taylor would often guest with other bands like The Darkness and Foo Fighters. It’s almost always the case that they would play this song.

The music video consists of clips from Queen’s concert in Long Island during their US tour back in 1977.

7. “We Are the Champions”

This song is written by Freddie Mercury and is the counterpart to “We Will Rock You.” Queen is a band formed in England, and we all know how crazy the football industry there is. That’s basically the inspiration for this song.

Mercury wanted to write a participation song for the fans, sort of like in football. However, Mercury, being who he is, decided he would make it a bit more theatrical, which is why the song ended up the way it did.

He also says that it’s his version of “My Way” considering how this song makes you want to tell yourself, after all is said and done, that “yes, I did it my way.” In Mercury’s song, it’s like saying that “Yes, we made it. It certainly wasn’t easy, but in the end, we are the champions.”

Next: 10 Best Walk Up Songs in Baseball

8. “You’re My Best Friend”

This song is another huge hit from Queen. Interestingly, it wasn’t written by Freddie Mercury or Brian May. It was the band’s bassist John Deacon who came up with the words. As cheesy as it may seem to some of you, Deacon wrote this for his wife whom he considered to be his best friend.

Deacon wanted the song to be played on an electric piano, but Mercury playfully refused to do so. He said that he just doesn’t like the instrument. Ergo, Deacon learned the electric piano and wrote the song “You’re My Best Friend.”

Sadly, Deacon is perhaps the most affected member of Queen after Mercury’s death. While he did record a few more songs, he decided to isolate himself from the band. His last contribution was the single “No One But You” in 1997. Nonetheless, May and Roger Taylor still include him in the band’s decision-making process.

May even said that if Deacon doesn’t respond to his email, it simply means that Deacon approves of the decision.

9. “Another One Bites the Dust”

“Another One Bites the Dust” is another hit from John Deacon. If you listen to the song “Good Times” by Chic, you’d hear some resemblance in the bassline and lyric drops. That’s because Deacon used to hang out with the band in their studio.

Bernard Edwards, Chic’s bass player, said that it was totally fine with them that Deacon was sort of inspired by their song. However, what didn’t sit well with him was that the press turned it the other way around, saying Chic ripped off Queen’s song with “Good Times,” which was actually released a year before “Another One Bites the Dust.”

This song wasn’t supposed to be released as a single despite Queen’s producer Reinhold Mack encouraging them to do so. However, Michael Jackson talked to the band after a concert and said that they should, in fact, release it as a single, and the band agreed to do so.

Next: 16 Songs with Good Bass

10. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”

Freddie Mercury has proven time and time again that he knows just how to compose the next number one pop song. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” is a song written by Mercury while he was taking a bubble bath.

He suddenly emerged from the bathroom still wrapped in a towel, got the guitar, and came up with the chord progression. Mercury said that he’s not well-versed in playing the guitar, which he thinks helped him write the song.

He only knew a few chords, so he had a limited framework of notes to work with. That’s how he ended up drafting “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” in less than ten minutes.

11. “The Show Must Go On”

Brian May wrote this song when Freddie Mercury was suffering from AIDS-related complications. Consequently, it was one of the last few songs that Mercury was able to contribute to.

May said that the song was inspired by Mercury’s dedication to his craft. Despite his worsening condition, Mercury never complained, not even a single moan of distress. We guess it was Mercury’s way of telling the band that “The Show Must Go On.”

This song was also performed in an opera-like fashion in the film Moulin Rouge.

Next: Top 10 Famous Opera Songs

12. “Radio Ga Ga”

Each member of the Queen wrote at least one hit song for the band, and “Radio Ga Ga” was Roger Taylor’s. He said that when he wrote this, most of the kids were watching MTV instead of listening to various radio stations.

He believes that this is because radio stations were gradually commercialized and owned by a single company, leading them to play the same songs repeatedly for more revenue, eventually resulting in the tarnished reputations of radio stations.

This is also one of the songs that Freddie Mercury sang in front of 72,000 people at the Live Aid benefit concert while battling laryngitis. In the chorus, Mercury would sing the lyrics while the massive crowd does the clapping part.

The movie Bohemian Rhapsody, a film about Queen’s journey, recreates this magical moment perfectly.

13. “Now I’m Here”

While Queen was recording the album Sheer Heart Attack, Brian May had to stay in the hospital after contracting hepatitis. He said that he was anxious that the rest of the band would replace him, although all of them stated that they didn’t even consider it, leaving spaces in their songs so that May could fill in his guitar riffs once he’s back.

Nonetheless, May said that the anxiety motivated him to recover quicker, and when he was healthy enough, he wrote the song “Now I’m Here.” The strutting patterns in the song were May’s announcement to the world that he’s back stronger than ever.

It was also the band’s attestation that they can still play rock-‘n’-roll, having been released after “Killer Queen,” which was rather light.

Next: 8 Songs About Anxiety You Must Add to Your Playlist

14. “I Want It All”

This song was written by Brian May around the time that Freddie Mercury revealed to them that his health is declining. Additionally, May was also battling depression, having ended his first marriage after an affair with the actress Anita Dobson, who eventually became his wife.

“I Want It All” is inspired by one of Dobson’s expressions, “I want it all, and I want it now.” Additionally, it was also Queen’s way of saying that they are prepared to take on life’s challenges and do everything necessary to come out stronger.

15. “Love of My Life”

This song is about being left behind and getting hurt more than his lover, which is evident in the lyric “Bring it back. Don’t take it away from me, because you don’t know what it means to me.”

It was written by Freddie Mercury and is almost always played acoustically in Queen’s live performances, with Brian May playing a 12-string acoustic guitar. The band regularly includes this song on their setlist, and Mercury would often let the crowd sing different parts of it.

After Mercury’s death, Queen would still perform this song with May singing the vocals. In most cases, the crowd sings almost the entire song, leading May to get quite emotional.

Next: Top 50 Sad Guitar Songs for Beginners

16. “Who Wants to Live Forever”

Brian May was the one who wrote this song after the band was commissioned to compose a track for the film Highlander. May sings the first verse in the song, and Freddie Mercury sings the rest. However, in the film, the entire song is sung by Mercury.

May said that he wrote the title while riding home in a taxi cab. He got the inspiration for the song after watching the draft of the film. In one of the scenes, the main character holds his wife in his arms as she dies. This led May to think of the line, “Who Wants to Live Forever.”

17. “Somebody to Love”

“Somebody to Love” was inspired by Aretha Franklin, and one of her albums is called Amazing Grace, recorded in the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church. She’s critically acclaimed as the Best Soul Gospel singer, which is why this song from Queen has a gospel-like vibe to it.

The gospel- and choir-like sound was achieved by multitracking Brian May’s, Freddie Mercury’s, and Roger Taylor’s voices. It’s about a man reaching out to God and asking why he can’t seem to find someone to love, hence the title. John Deacon’s voice wasn’t included in the record because, according to him, he can’t sing as well as the others do.

Next: 35 Easy Piano Christian Worship Songs

18. “Keep Yourself Alive”

The surface meaning of this song is exactly what the title suggests. It just wants you to stay alive. However, Queen also took a much deeper meaning of the word “alive.” It says that staying alive is not just about surviving, but rather about staying true to your roots despite other people saying otherwise.

“Keep Yourself Alive” is the first-ever single written and produced by Queen. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is where it all started. Unfortunately, it wasn’t received well except for a few areas. Nonetheless, we believe it’s still a masterpiece.

19. “Seven Seas of Rhye”

The main reason why “Keep Yourself Alive” didn’t receive much airplay is that the buildup was too long. It even takes about one minute before Freddie Mercury sings the first verse.

That’s their motivation when they composed the song “Seven Seas of Rhye.” There are a lot of things deliberately and simultaneously happening at the beginning of the song; Mercury going crazy on the piano with the guitars, bass, and drums following suit at the five-second mark.

It’s like an explosion contained in a song. Well, it did work. Radio stations immediately picked it up, and before they know it, this song became Queen’s first-ever hit.

The song is about a fantasy world that Mercury and his sister Kashmira made up. This fantasy world is called Rhye, and Queen regularly featured it in other songs like “My Fairy King,” “The March of the Black Queen,” and “Lily of the Valley.”

Next: Top 10 Disney Ukulele Songs

20. “Brighton Rock”

“Brighton Rock” is another song written by Brian May. There’s not much information about how the song came to be, but there’s one theory that seems to hold ground. In 1947, a movie called Brighton Rock was released in the UK. The film includes a one-sided romance, which is somewhat the tone of the Queen’s song.

This song also featured a more unique sound from May’s guitar-playing skills. He used several echoes to achieve this effect. The “Brighton Rock” is also one of May’s playgrounds where he would play his best solo guitar work.

21. “’39”

Freddie Mercury wasn’t the only one from Queen who likes to ponder up flights of fancy. Brian May also did this in the song “’39.” It’s about an astronaut traveling at the speed of light to reach his destination. Because of the speed, time warps around him and his crew.

When they returned after a year, 100 years had actually passed on Earth, which means almost everyone he holds dear is long gone, and he’s the same age as his grandchildren. This explains the line, “Don’t you hear me calling you? Write your letters in the sand for the day I take your hand in the land that our grandchildren knew.”

If you’re wondering how he came up with this, you might be surprised to know that May actually studied astrophysics. He dropped out of school to pursue a career in music as Queen’s guitarist. Nonetheless, he eventually completed his education, receiving a Ph.D. in astrophysics in 2007.

As [maybe] a result of sheer coincidence, a film called Interstellar was released in 2014 which revolves around pretty much the same theme. “’39” was released in 1975, which means Interstellar premiered exactly 39 years after the Queen song.

Next: 12 Terrific Songs with Numbers in the Title

22. “Don’t Stop Me Now”

“Don’t Stop Me Now” is one of the most massively successful songs from Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury, and it’s about living his life the way he wants to, without a care in the world, throwing caution to the wind.

While some of the lines were completely about feeling unstoppable like “traveling at the speed of light” or “defying the laws of gravity” or “floating around in ecstasy,” we later see that the persona in the song was actually putting his life at risk, especially in the line “I am a satellite, I’m out of control.”

It quickly became the anthem of hedonism for a lot of people, kind of like Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.” However, May was quick to realize that the song was actually about Mercury’s lifestyle.

While he found the song fun and lively, he did worry about the Queen’s frontman, since this was written around the time that Mercury was immersing himself in drugs and sex with various men.

23. “I Want to Break Free”

This song is about the women’s liberation movement, as evidenced by the beginning of the music video, and was written by John Deacon. While numerous people thought that dressing up in drag was Freddie Mercury’s idea, it was actually Roger Taylor’s girlfriend that suggested it. It’s a parody of a TV soap from the UK called Coronation Street.

Unfortunately, the concept wasn’t well-received by some people from the US, leading MTV to ban the song. Fred Mandel, the one who played the synths and the solo (yes, it wasn’t Brian May’s guitar) on the track, explained that it’s the kind of humor that British people enjoy, so he wasn’t surprised that the US wasn’t on the same page.

It also painted a negative picture of Queen in America, causing some of their songs not to be played there.

Next: Top 7 Songs About Freedom

Conclusion

There might not be another band like Queen. Their musicality and mastery of their respective instruments and voices were so unique that people trying to sound like them just can’t get close, let alone cover their songs.

Nonetheless, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon certainly inspired millions of musicians from different generations. Their songs will definitely live forever, so the next time you need a Queen music therapy session, be sure to refer to our list!

The Rolling Stones is one of the biggest rock-and-roll bands of all time. They’ve been around since 1962, and for six decades, they composed some of the most popular songs today.

While their lineup changes now and then, it does not change the fact that the band itself is one of the highest-paid artists in history. They’ve also won countless awards, including three Grammys, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

If you’re getting ready for your next Rolling Stones marathon, here are some of their best songs that you should listen to.

Best Rolling Stones Songs

1. “Mother’s Little Helper”

If this song was released today, The Rolling Stones might end up under fire from countless people from the internet. But then again, they’re also known for their cynicism and unconventional takes on a lot of issues, so maybe they could get away with it.

“Mother’s Little Helper” is about a suburban housewife who tries to get through the challenges of everyday life by abusing her prescription drugs. Yes, the “little helper” is drugs.

It’s also one of the band’s few songs where Keith Richards played a 12-string guitar. Additionally, it’s also one of the first pop songs to use a sitar, with The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” being the first.

2. “Gimme Shelter”

This is one of the most popular songs from The Rolling Stones. It was written at a time fwhen Charles Manson, racism, riots, and the Vietnam war were all over the news. It was the Stones’ guitarist, Keith Richards, who wrote the majority of the song.

“Gimme Shelter” talks about trying to find shelter from the storm, with the storm being the global turmoil a lot of the people are suffering from. Despite being a very popular song, it didn’t reach the music charts. However, that’s only because The Rolling Stones didn’t release “Gimme Shelter” as a single.

The eerie sounds you hear from the beginning and throughout the song are caused by using multiple layers of overdubbing and worn-out amplifiers.

Next: Top 21 Songs About Storms

3. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Did you know that the first-ever draft of this song includes Keith Richards snoring? It was after one of the band’s performances in their US tour in 1965. There was a commotion between a couple of hundred fans and the police officers, which led to The Rolling Stones performing only four songs.

As you can imagine, everyone was so stressed and tired in the aftermath, and they all went back to sleep in their hotel. Richards woke up in the middle of the night with the riff and the main lyric of the song; can’t get no satisfaction. He immediately recorded it and went back to sleep, which ended up recording his snores as well.

Believe it or not, Richards thought the song wouldn’t be a hit because it was too basic. Well, it ended up being one of the most popular songs from the band, reaching the #1 spot in US music charts.

4. “Get Off My Cloud”

The Rolling Stones’ next song that reached the #1 spot in music charts is “Get Off My Cloud.” Ironically, you could say that the band wrote the song out of spite, in some sense. It was right after their song “Satisfaction” became a huge hit.

Almost immediately, people are asking them for another single, despite the fact that they wanted to sit around for a bit and think about gigs and events. So, this song was literally their response to everyone pressuring them for another single; get off my cloud.

It was written by Mick Jagger, with the melody composed by Keith Richards. It’s their message to everyone to stop bothering them for stuff and let them enjoy their victory over “Satisfaction.” Well, if you’re a rock-‘n’-roll band like The Rolling Stones, you could say anything you want without a worry in the world.

Next: Top 10 Songs About Thunder

5. “Love in Vain”

The Rolling Stones went a bit mellower with their song “Love in Vain.” It starts with acoustic guitars, making you think that it’s a ballad, but as soon as Mick Jagger sings followed by Keith Richards’s guitar riffs, you’d know it’s still from the classic rock-‘n’-roll band.

It’s originally a song from Robert Johnson, a classic blues musician, and one of Richards’s inspirations. Jagger and Richards both loved the song and they wanted to record it as some sort of tribute to Johnson. However, they also didn’t want to copy the entire style of the musician, which is why they decided to make it sound like a rock country song.

6. “Ruby Tuesday”

This song is about a groupie, which is very prevalent in the 60s up until the 80s, especially in rock-‘n’-roll bands. While the lyrics of “Ruby Tuesday” is about a groupie, it was inspired by a breakup.

Keith Richards wrote it after a heartbreak with his girlfriend, Linda Keith. He said that it’s one of those songs where you’re experiencing immense emotions and all you have left is a guitar, a piano, and, well, a pair of panties. He even went on to say that songwriters are like that; you break their heart and suddenly there’s a great song that comes out of the experience.

Richards wrote it with Brian Jones, one of the original members of the band, and was initially called “Title B.” It’s one of Stones’ songs that showcased Jones’s musicality, with him playing the recorder. However, Jones struggled with drug addiction, and he also wanted to be the leader of the band.

He was then removed from the band in June 1969. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 27 after an accidental drowning, a month after exiting the Stones.

Next: Top 28 Songs About Missing Someone

7. “Beast of Burden”

The idiom beast of burden refers to an animal used by man for benefit. You might think that The Rolling Stones has a tendency to make controversial statements or songs about women, but their song “Beast of Burden” says otherwise.

It’s a song that encourages people to treat women as equals. Yep, as early as 1978, The Rolling Stones was already singing about women empowerment. They spontaneously came up with it while in the studio. Everyone was jamming and suddenly, they were able to get a groove going.

While doing so, Keith Richards was writing some of the lyrics, but Jagger also contributed some lines so that they’d fit in the rhythm. Because of this, some of the lyrics are not as meaningful and can be rather repetitive.

On the other hand, it’s also allegorical, talking about how Jagger carried the band while Richards was struggling with drug addiction.

8. “We Love You”

In 1967, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Brian Jones were arrested on drug charges. That’s why the first few seconds of the song suggest an ambiance of jail. After the controversy, the trio wrote “We Love You” to thank the fans of the band for their support throughout the entire ordeal.

It’s also their way of saying thank you to bands like The Who, The Beatles, and the newspaper London Times for speaking up in favor of The Rolling Stones. You can also hear Paul McCartney and John Lennon singing the backup vocals to the song. Jagger further repaid them by singing on The Beatles’ song “Baby You’re a Rich Man.”

9. “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?”

In this song, you can hear how The Rolling Stones experiments with their sound by using a multitude of different styles. “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” is actually seven minutes and 14 seconds long, but Mick Jagger is done just under the three-minute mark.

The rest of the song features various artists like Billy Preston playing the organ, Bobby Keys on the saxophone, and Rocky Dijon playing the percussions. It’s best to just focus on the instruments when listening to the song. The lyrics are a bit confusing, and Jagger even said he doesn’t know exactly what he was writing about.

10. “No Expectations”

This song is sort of like a premonition of what was about to happen to the band. “No Expectations” is the last song where Brian Jones made a significant contribution to The Rolling Stones. It was before he succumbed to drug addiction and eventually met his fate.

The group was playing around with their instruments while seated on the floor with their microphones recording. They kept jamming until they were able to write a song, which led to the development of “No Expectations.”

When Jones died, the lyrics “Our love is like our music, it’s here and it’s gone,” took on a whole new meaning.

Next: Top 27 Songs About Friendship

11. “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll”

As with a lot of The Rolling Stones’ songs, “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll” enlisted the help of many artists. It came about when Mick Jagger was having a music session with Willie Weeks, David Bowie, Kenney Jones, and Ron Wood, Faces’ guitarist who would eventually become part of the Stones.

A few weeks after this session, Keith Richards got hold of the recording. He then began plotting his guitar riffs onto the song, but he also made sure to leave Wood’s 12-string guitar work. The song eventually reached a whole new level of stardom, with The Cranberries, Spice Girls, Natalie Imbruglia, Emmylou Harris, and Eurythmics covering it and releasing their own versions.

12. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

As the title suggests, this song is about trying to find happiness but facing difficulties doing so. Additionally, it also talks about how people seem to always want more despite having a lot.

There are two theories as to how this song came to be. The first one is that it was written by Mick Jagger about The Rolling Stones’ former producer, Jimmy Miller. That’s because, in the third verse of the song, there’s a line that goes “I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy, and man, did he look pretty ill.”

The next theory is more interesting. It’s about a local character in Excelsior, Minnesota, where The Stones played their first tour in the US back in 1964. This local character is called Mr. Jimmy. He’s suffering from some sort of mental disability and often talks to himself.

One day, Jagger was trying to purchase a Cherry Coke in a local drug store with Mr. Jimmy behind him in line. Upon finding out that the store didn’t have Cherry Coke, Mr. Jimmy uttered, “Well, you can’t always get what you want.”

Next: Top 10 Songs About Apples

13. “Sympathy for the Devil”

Early in their careers, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles were being perceived as somewhat similar, having been formed in 1960 and 1962 respectively. However, as soon as the Stones released their song “Sympathy for the Devil,” it became clear that they’re not the clean-cut boy band everyone thought they were.

This song was inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov’s book called The Master and Margarita. Mick Jagger owned a copy of it after his then-girlfriend, Marianne Faithfull, gifted it to him. A lot of people assumed that this song is the Stones’ subtle message that they engage in the occult and that they celebrate Satanism.

However, Jagger explained that “Sympathy for the Devil” is actually about the darkness that resides within every man.

14. “Play with Fire”

This song was initially called “A Mess of Fire.” It’s basically about Mick Jagger coming face-to-face with a rich woman, and the former telling her that he’s not intimidated by her wealth.

It was composed after one long session with the band. After the rest went to sleep, Jagger and Richards stayed and they went on to record the song. Phil Spector was the one to play the bass, and Jack Nitzsche filled in for the harpsichord.

Jagger and Richards felt that there was still something missing, and they wanted to add another voice, but there was nobody else awake at the time. So, a janitor from the studio filled in a sang the backup vocals.

Next: Top 10 Songs About Cowboys

15. “Waiting on a Friend”

Billie Joe Armstrong, the frontman of the punk-rock band Green Day, said that “Waiting on a Friend” is the best song to ever come out from The Rolling Stones. he even said that he wants it to play at his funeral.

This song is literally just about waiting for a friend, as the music video suggests. Mick Jagger stands in a doorway waiting. Keith Richards then comes along and the two of them head to the bar where they meet the rest of the band.

16. “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo”

Otherwise known as “Heartbreaker,” this song is about how life is in urban America. While it’s not based on a true story, it still tells the tales of what Americans encounter every day.

“Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo” is divided into two stories. The first one is about a young man who died after getting shot by the police, but he was actually just mistaken for someone else. The next one is about a ten-year-old girl who dies after overdosing on illegal substances.

17. “Start Me Up”

“Start Me Up” is actually one of The Rolling Stones’ first attempts at coming up with a reggae song. However, after recording it 70 times in 1977, they didn’t like the results, so they shelved it. In 1981, however, they needed another song for their album Tattoo You, causing them to revisit the recording.

While sorting through the numerous takes, they found that Charlie Watts and Keith Richards actually tried to play it in rock and roll once, something even the two of them had forgotten about. Upon hearing the rocker version, they saw the potential and recorded it as a rock song.

18. “Miss You”

There are two versions of The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You.” One is three minutes and 33 seconds long, while the other lasts for eight minutes and 36 seconds. It was inspired by the disco scene in the US back then. Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger frequented these places, leading them to write this song.

In fact, the eight-minute edition of the song has the follow-up title (Special Disco Version), with the drums, horns, and bassline giving it a more disco-feel. However, the band thought it was more R&B than it is disco. It was recorded on the same day that they came up with “Start Me Up.”

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19. “Paint It, Black”

The Rolling Stones was once again under the scrutiny of the public eye after they released this song. A lot of people thought that it’s about race, and the Stones were ordering a person of color to paint because of the comma in the title, “Paint It, Black.” However, this was actually just because of a clerical error, which is rather frequent back in the 60s.

“Paint It, Black” is about the death of a lover, albeit it’s not based on a true story. The persona in the song is depressed and all the things he can see are colored in black. Furthermore, he also wanted everything to turn to black. The twangy sound you hear all throughout the song is from a musical instrument called a sitar.

The Stones were in Fiji the time it was written, and everywhere, you could see stores making all sorts of equipment with Indian influences. When they got hold of the sitar, they brought it back to the studio and tried fitting it into the song which worked perfectly.

20. “Midnight Rambler”

Never one to shy away from controversy and gloomy artistry, Mick Jagger writes “Midnight Rambler” while imagining himself as a serial killer, preying on his next victim. The song was released in 1969 and was likely inspired by the Boston Strangler, a real-life serial killer from 1962 to 1964.

This is because of one line in the song that goes, “Well, you heard about the Boston..” He was then cut off by an instrumental stab before he could finish the sentence. When they would play this song in their concerts, it becomes more than just a song. It’s a performance.

The entire band would create a morbid atmosphere on stage and they would use a special light rig for enhanced theatrics, which would then shine a bright red light on Jagger in climactic parts of the song.

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21. “Let’s Spend the Night Together”

The title of this song pretty much sums up what it’s about. “Let’s Spend the Night Together” is about making love with a lady. That’s why we can see lines like “satisfying her every need.” The song got a bit controversial, considering how conservative some radio stations were back in the day. Some stations did not play the song on-air, while others had to censor the word “night.”

Because of this, The Rolling Stones would sometimes play this song to various TV shows while changing the lyrics to “let’s spend some time together,” causing Jagger to roll his eyes in dismay while singing the line.

Instead of relying heavily on Keith Richards’s guitar skills, “Let’s Spend the Night Together” showcases Jack Nitzsche’s keyboard skills. He wasn’t part of the band, but he regularly contributed to their songs like “Paint It, Black” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

22. “She’s a Rainbow”

The Rolling Stones doesn’t always sing about women in a sensual and dark light. In their song “She’s a Rainbow,” they showed that they can also write and sing love songs for the ladies. While it’s not the typical Stones sound with heavy rhythm and rock-‘n’-roll vibes, this song became a fan favorite.

The string section in the song was arranged by Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, a couple of years before he officially became part of the band. The song was used in numerous commercials including Apple’s iMac computers in 1999, Acura’s RDX SUV in 2018, Dior’s Joy with Jennifer Lawrence in the same year, and Adobe’s Photoshop in 2020.

23. “The Last Time”

The last song on our list is “The Last Time.” This was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was one of the earliest songs from the band. It was inspired by a gospel song from The Staple Singers back in 1955 called “This May Be The Last Time.”

While the gospel song is uplifting and spiritual, the Stones modified the meaning and turned it into some sort of an unfriendly message to a girl. “The Last Time” served as Richards’s and Jagger’s gateway into songwriting, having only performed cover songs before.

Next: Top 25 Songs About Time

Conclusion

The Rolling Stones is arguably the most enduring rock band in the industry. They are about to celebrate their 60th anniversary by going on a European tour this summer of 2022.

If you have any plans of going, make sure that you can sing along to some of their best songs. You can begin that by listening to the various songs on this list.

If you love rock and roll, it’s practically impossible to ignore the influence of Aerosmith. These Boston boys first came onto the scene in 1970 with their self-titled debut album. That defining album then set the stage for decades of stadium-sized hits and classic songs that have influenced generations of artists after them. Aerosmith has sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, with their numerous singles still ranking as the most-played songs on classic rock radio today.

Top 28 Aerosmith Songs of All Time

28. Come Together

Many consider Aerosmith’s “Come Together” to be the best Beatles cover ever, as the band gives it a new lease on life that makes the Beatles’ original rendition pale in contrast. This cover is included in the Sgt Pepper Soundtrack, which features many other renditions of the Beatles songs from different artists. Originally, John Lennon wrote “Come Together” as a political rallying cry for Timothy Leary, a writer, psychotherapist, and pro-drugs campaigner.

Next: Top 7 Songs About Freedom

27. I Wanna Know Why

From 1977 through 1980, “I Wanna Know Why” was a staple in the band’s live shows. As one of the standout tracks from the critically acclaimed “Draw The Line” album, it’s hard to think that this fantastic song hasn’t been performed live since 1980. Tyler and Perry wrote only three songs for the album, and this track is one of them. I Wanna Know Why is an incredibly wonderful song, given the circumstances of the band at the time.

26. Draw the Line

The song, written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, was released as the first single (and title track) from the album Draw the Line in 1977. “Draw the Line” reached number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song features many of the trademarks of Aerosmith, such as Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer’s strong rhythm backbeat and guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford’s back-and-forth interplay. Before the song’s climax, it slows down and then builds up towards Steven Tyler’s signature scream. This song was also released as part of their Greatest Hits album.

25. You See Me Crying

This track comes from “Toys in the Attic,” which stands as Aerosmith’s most iconic album. “You See Me Crying” is the only ballad on the record, and it concludes it in a way that makes you want to hear it all over again. The song is a complex piano ballad with heavy orchestration. For this one, Aerosmith and producer Jack Douglas enlisted the help of a symphony orchestra, which was led by Mike Mainieri. Lead singer Steven Tyler and colleague Don Solomon co-wrote the song. Because of the many intricate drums and guitar parts, some band members grew frustrated with the track, which took a long time to finish.

24. Pink

One could say that “Pink” is a rare Aerosmith song that doesn’t have Joe Perry’s name on it. In this track, Steven Tyler collaborated with experienced songwriters Richie Supa and Glen Ballard instead. It was released as the third major single for the album “Nine Lives” in 1997. Steven Tyler’s harmonica performance is a highlight of the song, and the strong bass rhythm and a blend of acoustic and jangling electric guitars in the verses distinguish the tune. “Pink” received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal in 1999. At the time, Aerosmith had won the award four times.

23. The Other Side

“The Other Side,” Aerosmith’s fifth single from Pump, became the band’s third No. 1 Mainstream Rock hit and the fourth song from the album to reach the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40 (it reached No. 22). Holland-Dozier-Holland famously sued Aerosmith over the main hook’s resemblance to The Four Tops’ “Standing in the Shadows of Love.” Holland-Dozier-Holland won the case, and they now share songwriting credit with Steven Tyler and Jim Vallance. In 1991, the song received the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.

22. Toys in the Attic

“Toys in the Attic,” the album’s title track, is a whirlwind of distorted riffs and fast-paced beats. Written by Tyler and Perry, this is a real cage-rattling rocker that thumps hard and fast while still retaining that unique Aerosmith flavor of unmistakable swing. Here, Tyler goes off and screams, “All of the things that you learned from fears/Nothing is left for the years.” The song features crazy, racing riffs and Tyler is singing over them without waning in energy. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “Toys in the Attic” is one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

21. Love in an Elevator

In 1989, after their comeback hit “Permanent Vacation” album kicked off a string of hits, Aerosmith released “Pump,” which produced four top 10 singles. The album’s lead single was “Love in an Elevator,” co-written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. With its smutty lyrics and infectious groove, the song was a musical fusion of many ideas they came up with during a jam session–and even Buddy Miles was an influence. This is a song about elevators, love, and the combination of the two. Aerosmith has some songs with deeper meanings in the lyrics, but they also have a lot of playful lyrics paired with tracks that show off their skills.

20. Angel

Aerosmith is the prototypical American hard rock band, but they had a surprisingly deep well of great ballads. “Angel” is arguably the best of them, with an almost gospel-style refrain and an aching, emotional vocal from Steven Tyler. This song was a ballad about love and loss, becoming one of Aerosmith’s most popular songs. You might hear a similarity between this song and Aerosmith’s early hit “Dream On.” It’s because when Steven Tyler sat down to write with Desmond Child, he played the chord to “Dream On” to get them going. A little later, they had the bones of “Angel” put together.

19. Crazy

Written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child, “Crazy” was released in 1993 as the band’s final single from their hugely successful 1993 album, “Get a Grip.” This song is about a guy who misses his girlfriend after she packs her belongings and goes. It was one of those songs that took off on its own — so much so that it became Aerosmith’s first No. 1 hit in nine years. The track won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1994. It’s also one of their most popular singles outside the United States, having charted at number one in Australia, Iceland, Canada, and Venezuela. The music video for “Crazy” features Alicia Silverstone, who would later star in “Clueless”.

18. Rag Doll

“Rag Doll” was featured on Aerosmith’s “Permanent Vacation” album, released in 1987. Featuring a strong drum intro, the song is one of the first songs that prove that Aerosmith could still be relevant after becoming popular in the 1970s. This song, like many others by Aerosmith, is about sex. Most of the lyrics were written by Steven Tyler and Jim Vallance, a Canadian songwriter whose credits include “Summer Of ’69” and several other Aerosmith songs. The riff was created by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, and the bass line was created by Vallance.

17. Kings and Queens

This was the band’s second single off their fifth studio album, “Draw The Line.” On this track, Aerosmith goes medieval, with Steven Tyler singing about a time of lords and maidens as if he was there in a previous life. It’s hardly a pretty view at this era, with the chorus line “Kings and queens and guillotines” and loads of violent imagery, as he concentrates on the capricious bloodshed and widespread battles at the time. According to Brad Whitford, this was one of the most difficult Aerosmith songs to modify for live performance. As a result, the band doesn’t perform it often, but fans are often surprised when it emerges from the attic.

16. Amazing

“Amazing” is one of the most successful ballads of a hard rock band. This song is about recovering from addiction and climbing back to the top after hitting rock bottom. It was co-written by Steven Tyler and Richie Supa, who worked with the band in the late 1970s and co-wrote the song “Chip Away the Stone.” It was also one of the few Aerosmith songs produced by Bruce Fairbairn, who produced Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet.” The song was a hit, reaching number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Next: 25 Songs About Overcoming

15. Jaded

Aerosmith’s last top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 remains one of their best songs from this century. According to lead singer Steven Tyler, he wrote this song while reflecting on his youngest daughter. He thought about how much he missed her childhood due to his touring schedule. He believes that the jaded her and himself by not being available due to band commitments or drug problems. “Jaded” was released as a single in 2001 and peaked at No. 7. It’s one of the more successful singles from their “Just Push Play” album.

Next: 11 Songs About Growing Up

14. Cryin

Aerosmith went through a serious funk phase in the ’80s, culminating in this 1993 smash that has held up remarkably well over time. The band released it as a single from their eleventh studio album, “Get a Grip,” on June 20, 1993. The song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and it finished the year at number 60 overall. The song’s music video was a major hit on MTV, becoming the most requested video in 1993 and earning the band multiple Video Music Awards nominations.

13. Same Old Song and Dance

Aerosmith released “Same Old Song and Dance” as a single for their third album “Get Your Wings” in 1974. It was written by Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry. It was somewhat revolutionary because it featured an extended guitar solo, which was unusual for hard rock songs at the time. Aerosmith later re-recorded the song and several others from their early albums for their greatest hits album. This version of the song was released as a single in 1994 as part of the promotion for the compilation.

12. What It Takes

Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child write the power ballad “What It Takes.” The song was released in 1989 as the third single from the critically and commercially successful album “Pump”, and it peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song is about breaking up with a girlfriend and figuring out how to get over it. When the band was initially putting the song together, the track sounded like a twangy country ballad. Good thing they added electric guitars, which then made it more reminiscent of the signature Aerosmith sound.

Next: 25 Songs About Regret

11. Livin’ on the Edge

“Livin’ on the Edge” was released as a single from their 1993 album “Get a Grip”. It peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is one of Aerosmith’s signature songs. “Livin’ on the Edge” is about how the world is wild, but people refuse to change because they are trapped in their routines. According to Aerosmith’s autobiography “Walk This Way,” the song was inspired by the Los Angeles riots of 1992, which occurred after white police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney King were acquitted. In 1994, this song won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. It was only Aerosmith’s second Grammy, following their triumph for the same category in 1991 with the song “Janie’s Got A Gun”.

10. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing

If you remember the film “Armageddon,” then it’s hard to not think about this song that prolonged Aerosmith’s reign as the hottest rock band of the 1990s. The ballad, written by Diane Warren and performed by Steven Tyler, is about appreciating every moment spent with someone else. Tyler’s daughter Liv starred in the film, which was one reason Aerosmith was chosen to perform the song. It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, becoming the band’s first and only number-one single in the US. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” has also been the go-to song for weddings, and it still holds up as one of Aerosmith’s best.

Next: Top 28 Songs About Missing Someone

9. Last Child

Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Brad Whitford wrote this swaggering, blues-infused song. It was the lead single from the 1976 album Rocks, and it peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about the band’s lives at the time, and the amount of time they spent on the road. Tyler explores new ground by rhyming “Tallahassee” with “Sassafrasse.” The song was a modest hit, but it rapidly became a live favorite and has remained in Aerosmith’s setlists throughout their tour. In addition, it is frequently used as a showcase song for Whitford at concerts.

8. Mama Kin

“Mama Kin” was the first single to be released by Aerosmith after they signed with Columbia Records. It was also the leadoff track on their 1973 self-titled debut album. It’s a bluesy track, which is why it’s often claimed to be heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones. It’s also been compared to Led Zeppelin, as Tyler has admitted that “Immigrant Song” inspired the song. “Mama Kin” was Steven Tyler’s concept of a spiritual force that drives creativity and pleasure. The lyric “Keep in touch with Mama Kin” means remembering the desires that drive you to excel.

7. Seasons of Wither

Seasons of Wither is one of the band’s most melancholy songs, a minor-key ballad with a simple but beautiful melody. Steven Tyler said he wrote this song during the winter. Believed to be inspired by his then-girlfriend/future wife Cyrinda Foxe, this song was released on the band’s 1974 “Get Your Wings” album. Although it didn’t become a hit until two years later when it was included on the band’s Greatest Hits album, it shot to No. 21 in 1976 and has remained one of Aerosmith’s most popular songs. Tyler’s lyrics are poetic and heartfelt as he sings about love found, love lost and the changing seasons of life.

Next: 7 Songs about Snow to Add to Your Playlist

6. Dude (Looks Like a Lady)

The fourth single from the “Permanent Vacation” album is Aerosmith at its best. This was Aerosmith’s first single after their comeback. After years of drug addiction and poorly selling recordings, they came clean with “Permanent Vacation” and went on to immense success in their second act. For this sing, the band was more concerned about offending the LGBT community than about their masculinity for this song. They didn’t want to come across as jackass rock stars mocking someone different, but songwriter Desmond Child pushed for the song. Throughout the years, the band has consistently rotated this into their setlists. It has long been a mainstay on rock radio and in concert.

5. Back in the Saddle

This hard-rocking song from “Rocks” is one of the first recorded with Brad Whitford, who replaced Joe Perry after he left in 1979. The song is about getting back on top, and it definitely helped Aerosmith get back on top of the charts. So many things make this song stand out: the slow buildup of the drum rhythm and guitar riff, in the beginning, the sound effects of a galloping horse and whips, and Steven Tyler’s shouts and yodeling towards the finale. The song is still played on classic rock radio and in concerts today. It is arguably one of Aerosmith’s strongest Top 40 singles. Rock artists Slash and James Hetfield lists it as one of their favorite rock songs.

Next: Top 10 Songs About Cowboys

4. Janie’s Got a Gun

The first single from “Pump” was released in 1989 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With themes of incest, child abuse, and revenge murder, it was an uncharacteristically dark song for the band. According to Steven Tyler, the lyrics were inspired by a Time magazine cover story about gun violence in America and a Newsweek article about children being molested in affluent areas. This song won Aerosmith their first Grammy in 1991, taking home the award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

3. Sweet Emotion

“Sweet Emotion”, a 1975 single from the album Toys in the Attic, features some of Steven Tyler’s best vocals and some masterful guitar work from Joe Perry. It’s a slice of classic rock that sounds as fresh today as it did when it was first released. The opening bass groove is one of the great lines in rock history. The rest of the song is just as strong, with an unshakable chorus and a fantastic guitar solo from Joe Perry.

2. Walk This Way

“Walk This Way” is a funk-rock hit with a classic blues groove and clever lyrics, performed by Aerosmith with Run-DMC. This song made rap-rock acceptable to mainstream audiences and led to many more examples of this musical hybrid. The track received substantial radio airplay while “Toys in the Attic” was still climbing the charts and became a classic rock radio staple. It also earned Aerosmith their first Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1977. In addition, “Walk This Way” is notable for being one of the first songs to fuse rap with hard rock and being one of many Aerosmith songs that achieved success in cinema soundtracks.

1. Dream On

“Dream On” is by far their most well-known song, and it’s often considered one of the greatest rock songs ever written. It was the leadoff track to Aerosmith’s self-titled debut album in 1973 and has been a staple of their live show ever since. It represents everything great about the band: the extreme dynamics, Tyler’s voice and lyrics, and a perfect blend of hard rock riffs with more melodic elements. Aerosmith’s first big hit remains one of the group’s most affecting tracks, thanks partly to Steven Tyler’s powerful vocal performance and because it’s so nakedly emotional. The group wrote “Dream On” in the early ’70s, and the song feels like a bridge between the band’s blues-rock roots and their later, more pop-oriented sound.

Next: 21 Songs About Hope

Conclusion

For a band that has been around for decades, Aerosmith and their music have certainly stood the test of time. While there will always be room for debate on what is the best Aerosmith song, there are some definitive classics in the band’s discography. From their ultimate classic “Dream On” to the title track of their grueling 1978 comeback album, Draw the Line, Aerosmith has given us some unforgettable musical moments that will live on long after they’re gone.

Edward Joseph Mahoney, otherwise known as Eddie Money, is one of the most popular singers and songwriters during the late 1970s to 1980s. He popularized some of the best hard rock and pop-rock songs that we still listen to today. He used to be part of the police force in New York City but later found that he enjoys making music.

He got into some controversies in the span of his career, as most rock ‘n’ roll personalities did in the 70s. Nonetheless, his husky voice still cemented him in the hearts of a million people around the globe. If you want to know more about him, perhaps his songs will tell his story.

Here are the best Eddie Money songs of all time you should listen to.

Best Eddie Money Songs

1. “Two Tickets to Paradise”

When Eddie Money was still young, he moved to San Francisco to study at the University of California. He met a girl there and fell in love. However, the girl was well-off while Eddie, on the other hand, was financially struggling. The girl’s mother prohibited her from seeing Eddie. In addition to this, Eddie was headed to court one time for a little trouble he got into. While he was on the bus, he thought of taking the girl on a ride and going wherever they could to escape the life they currently have. That’s the main inspiration for “Two Tickets to Paradise.” Sadly, the two of them broke up before Eddie was ever actually able to take her to paradise.

Upon getting Bill Graham as his manager, Eddie signed a record deal with Columbia. He released his self-titled album, and “Two Tickets to Paradise” was one of his first few hit singles. It became such a huge sensation that movies like Grown Ups, Balls of Fury, Good Kill, and Jennifer’s Body used the song. Additionally, TV shows like The Office, Hawaii Five-0, The Simpsons, and King of the Hill also used the track.

2. “Baby Hold On”

“Baby Hold On” was the first-ever hit single from Eddie Money. It was written by Eddie himself and his guitarist Jimmy Lyon. It’s a hopeful song about a couple going through a difficult time and trying so hard to endure it by holding on to each other. This song was also inspired by the same girl whom he wrote “Two Tickets to Paradise” for, and maybe the lyrics also talk about the struggles they had during that time. In essence, Eddie was asking the girl to stay with him despite the challenges they were facing.

The song became a huge hit both locally and internationally, leading Eddie to sell more than two million copies of his album.

3. “Shakin'”

By the time this track was released, Eddie Money was already on his fourth album. “Shakin'” was co-written with Elizabeth Myers and Eddie’s bassist, Ralph Carter. It talks about being with a girl one night driving around town. The girl drives her dad’s car, and she puts the speaker on blast while they get high. She then went on to give the persona in the song a striptease, and all the time, well, there was a lot of shakin’.

The track is also one of the first music videos to feature a souped-up hydraulic car. Yes, Eddie Money was doing it in the 80s before rappers did in the 90s. The bouncing car was also perhaps a reference to the title of the song.

4. “Take Me Home Tonight”

In 1963, a girl group called The Ronettes wrote a song called “Be My Baby.” Songwriters Peter Vale and Michael Leeson took it for a spin and wrote the song “Take Me Home Tonight” for Eddie Money, which has the alternative title “Be My Baby” as well. In the music video, we see Ronnie Spector, The Ronettes’ lead singer who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, in silhouette singing the line “Be my little baby.”

Initially, it was supposed to be Martha Davis on the song. However, with the song being a tribute to The Ronettes’ song, Money called Spector and asked her if she wanted to be part of it. As soon as Spector heard the line, “Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang, be my little baby,” Spector immediately jumped on board.

5. “The Big Crash”

After Eddie Money released his No Control album in 1982, he followed it with Where’s the Party? Unfortunately, it was not a huge success when compared to his previous albums. Nonetheless, if we’re really going to dive into Eddie’s discography, we feel it’s necessary to talk about his songs that didn’t make it into the spotlight.

“The Big Crash” talks about a good girl who’s on her way to self-destruction because of her bad habits, unless someone really gets her to straighten up. It was written by Eddie and Duane Hitchings and was the biggest hit from the Where’s the Party? album.

6. “I Wanna Go Back”

Technically, this song is not from Eddie Money. It was written and recorded by a rock band called Billy Satellite. The song went on to become #78 in the US charts, but unfortunately, that’s the farthest it got. However, Eddie made a remake of the song. He recorded his own version a couple of years after the original’s release and went on to reach #14 on the US charts.

It’s a song about time, getting older, and wanting to go back when the persona was still younger just to experience his youth and joys again. Eddie said that he really felt a genuine connection with the song. He says that back in high school, he remembers feeling in love, and when you’re not on the football team, the next best thing you could do to date a girl is by being in a rock band. That’s why the music video shows Eddie going back to high school and reminiscing about his past.

7. “Walk on Water”

We mentioned that Eddie Money was famous in the late 70s to the early 80s. Well, “Walk on Water” was released in 1988, making it one of his last few singles that made it to the spotlight. While it wasn’t as successful as “Two Tickets to Paradise” or “Baby Hold On,” it still gained traction and placed Eddie in the public eye for a couple of years.

This song was written by Eddie’s keyboardist, Jesse Harms, who toured with him in the Nothing to Lose album. It wasn’t Eddie’s favorite song, especially because of the repetitive “na na na,” which Eddie hated. Apparently, it was supposed to be instrumental with horns, but the musician didn’t show up for the recording. To fill it in, Eddie had to sing “na na na” in the record.

8. “Peace in Our Time”

This song was released in 1989 under the album Greatest Hits: The Sound of Money. It was written by an English poet named Peter Sinfield and an English songwriter named Andy Hill and was originally recorded by Jennifer Holliday in 1988. Eddie’s version of “Peace in Our Time” was a huge hit in the US, reaching #11 in the US Billboard Charts and the 2nd spot on the Mainstream Rock Charts.

It also gained traction in Canada, ranking at #3 by the time of its release. It was also able to reach the UK Charts, but it wasn’t Eddie’s version that got the song there. A British singer named Cliff Richard released his version of “Peace in Our Time” in 1993, reaching #8 in the charts.

9. “Love in Your Eyes”

“Love in Your Eyes” is another one of Eddie Money’s most enduring songs, although it was written by Adrian Gurvitz, Steve Dubin, and David Paul Bryant. It ranked 24th in the Hot 100 of the US Billboard and stole the 1st spot in the Rock Tracks Chart. However, what really drove us to include this song in this list is the fact that it stayed on the Rock Songs Chart for almost four months!

The song is about waiting for someone for so long, and when that person finally shows his/her love to you, you realize that your life is about to change for the better.

10. “No Control”

This is the title track of Eddie Money’s fourth studio album. Even though his song “Shakin'” was one of his most popular tracks in this album, it’s safe to say that “No Control” is what really showcased Eddie’s vocal range. Being the title track of the album, it talks about how Eddie sometimes loses control of his behavior and habits.

While there’s a love twist perspective in the song, there might be a rather darker history as to how the song came to be. Eddie recorded the No Control album after his brush with death. He overdosed on fentanyl, which he thought was cocaine. While he was able to survive, the whole ordeal had put him out of commission for almost two years. He said his complications caused him to use a walker just to get from his bedroom to his music room.

Perhaps “No Control” is Eddie being honest with himself and a valuable lesson that he took with him for the rest of his life about overcoming life’s challenges.

11. “Heaven in the Back Seat”

“Heaven in the Back Seat” was originally written and composed by a rock band from Britain in 1989 called Romeo’s Daughter. On Eddie’s 8th album, Right Here, he included his cover version of the song. After its release in 1991, the song ranked 58th in the Billboard Hot 100 but was able to secure the 6th spot in the Mainstream Rock Chart.

The song starts with finding a girl who’s looking for a ride. It then goes on to suggest that there’s an irresistible connection between the two. This leads the couple to find heaven in the back seat of the car, or in other words; the song is about making love.

12. “Think I’m In Love”

This is another track from one of Eddie Money’s highest-selling albums, No Control. A famous composer named Randy Oda wrote “Think I’m In Love,” and Eddie recorded and released it in 1982. We mentioned earlier that Eddie struggled with addiction after his third album, and he was out of the public eye for years. “Think I’m In Love” was Eddie’s comeback song.

It ranked 16th on the US Billboard Hot 100 but secured the 1st spot in the Top Tracks Chart. The music video is vampire-themed, with the main character being Dracula. While it may sound ridiculous, it actually became a huge phenomenon and was one of the most popular music videos in 1982.

13. “Gimme Some Water”

Ironically, “Gimme Some Water” is one of those songs where Eddie didn’t expect much from. It was originally thought not to become a hit because of its fun and enthusiastic approach, which is the opposite of what the previous Eddie songs were. However, Eddie’s fans loved the single, and it outperformed the two main singles from the Life for the Taking album.

The song got really famous that other prolific singers covered the song, including Johnny Cash. The story and the theme itself are very old western-ey. It talks about a fictitious story where a man lost his path after his father got sick. The man then asks for some water after shooting a man on the Mexican border. The main character in the song then goes on to run on the loose, but conscience caught up that he just wanted to die like a man and own up to his mistakes.

14. “I’ll Get By”

This is another song from his 8th album Right Here, which was released in 1991. It’s a pop-rock ballad written by Eddie, Andy Hill, and Antonina Armato. It’s about having to let go of a past lover and being mournfully hopeful that he will get by and someday be able to love again. The music video was dedicated to Bill Graham, Eddie’s manager.

The song became a hit in both the US and Canada, reaching #7 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary and securing the 15th spot in the RPM Top Singles of Canada. However, it was the last song from Eddie to get into the Top 40 chart.

15. “We Should Be Sleeping”

After his 5th album, Where’s the Party? didn’t make too much noise, Eddie kept on writing and producing songs, leading him to release his 6th album in 1986 called Can’t Hold Back. This rock song is the fourth track from this album and was co-written with Glen Thompson, Kevin Burns, and Greg Lowry. Although the lyrics seem to suggest a love interest, “We Should Be Sleeping” is actually one of those songs about working hard. It talks about Eddie’s and his bandmates’ life as touring musicians.

That’s why we can see lyrics like,

“We’re wide awake
But we’re dead on our feet”

and

“Four in the morning
Still got the lights and the radio on”

Furthermore, the title itself suggests that through all the things they’re going through, sometimes they just need to rest and sleep and regain all the energy they lost. The song reached the 90th spot in the Hot 100 charts of Billboard. Funnily enough, “We Should Be Sleeping” was used in a 2013 commercial by a mattress manufacturer in the US, with the main theme of “beauty rest.”

16. “Maybe I’m a Fool”

From his 2nd album, Life for the Taking, Eddie Money released the song “Maybe I’m a Fool.” It was one of his earlier songs and peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 and #28 on Canadian music charts. Although it’s under the pop-rock genre, we can hear elements of R&B and disco on the track as well.

“Maybe I’m a Fool” is a love song about missing someone, and it talks about still being in love with a past lover. There’s also a hint of confusion and regret in the first few lines where the persona in the song is wondering how they ended up broken apart.

17. “Wanna Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star”

This song was released in 1977 under Eddie Money’s self-titled album. Having been his first-ever studio-recorded album, it was released way before Eddie was indeed a rock ‘n’ roll star. It’s a mixture of punk and rock, which is what you’d expect from a song with a title such as this. It’s a song about growing up, and Eddie talks about how he would sing to various songs on the radio when he was still young. The lyrics go;

“Rock ‘n’ roll melodies drove me frantically
Soon I would be tappin’ on the table
My mother would jump and shout
She’d say, ‘what’s that noise about?’
Finally turn that dial back to her station
But I knew right then I’d turn that dial back again
And I knew right then I would make it”

Eddie is certainly not a psychic or a fortune-teller, but this song is certainly a foreshadowing of his success and how he would change the landscape of rock and roll music for the decades to come.

Conclusion

Eddie Money is one of the most underrated rock ‘n’ roll stars in the 70s and the 80s. While he’s not without controversies, there’s no denying that his music speaks to the hearts of many. If you want to learn more about this rock icon, listening to his best songs will perhaps provide you with tremendous insights into how he formulated his music. So be sure to include him in your playlist!

Morgan Wallen is an American singer and songwriter. Having been born in Tennessee, Wallen is mainly popular for his country music. He rose to stardom after joining the 6th season of The Voice. His first album was released in 2015, called “Stand Alone” under Panacea Records. He then moved to another record label called Big Loud Record in 2016.

He’s one of the most recent names in country music, and if you’re a huge fan of this genre, you should try listening to his songs. Don’t worry. We’ll let you know what you need to put on your playlist. For your next Morgan Wallen Songs marathon, here are his best hits.

Best Morgan Wallen Songs

1. “Up Down”

The song “Up Down” is mainly about having a good time. It was written by CJ Solar, Michael Hardy, and Brad Clawson, which was then recorded by Morgan Wallen and the duo Florida Georgia Line. Wallen went on tour with the duo, and when he called them up asking for advice whether or not he should record his best friend Michael Hardy’s song, the duo said they wanted to meet with Wallen in the studio. It was then that the Florida Georgia Line was featured in the song.

Hardy, Solar, and Clawson all said that they just wanted to write a song about the “redneck lifestyle” of being on a boat and drinking beer. The song went on to be part of the Top Ten of the Country Singles charts, which then earned Wallen a gold record.

2. “Whiskey Glasses”

This next song from Wallen was written by Ben Burgess and Kevin Kadish, who is also the co-writer of “All About that Bass” and many more of Megan Trainor’s songs. “Whiskey Glasses” is about trying to drink away the pain of a breakup, something which Wallen believes that a lot of us have been through. However, the song also plays on the other meaning of “glasses,” which is something you wear on your eyes to see clearer.

“Whiskey Glasses” reached the top of the charts in two of Billboard’s country charts; Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs.

3. “More Than My Hometown”

“More Than My Hometown” is about a young couple from a small town, perhaps loosely based on Wallen and his girlfriend’s story. It was written by Wallen himself along with his best friend Michael Hardy, Ryan Vojtesak, and Ernest Keith Smith, who were also Wallen’s co-writers on his song “This Bar.” The song talks about the couple growing up in the same town but having different dreams in life.

The girl in the song wants to discover and travel the world or achieve something more, which we can see in the line,

“Yeah, you got a wild in your eyes that I just wasn’t born with”

Wallen, who plans to stay in the place he grew up in, then has to bid his girl goodbye because he doesn’t want to leave his hometown.

“But baby, this might be the last time I get to lay you down
Cause I can’t love you more than my hometown”

However, Wallen and the girl in the song have somewhat opposite positions in real life. It was his real-life girlfriend back then that stayed in Tennessee while Wallen moved to Nashville to pursue his career in music.

4. “7 Summers”

This is a heartbreaking song that talks about missing someone and not being able to move on from a past relationship, even though it’s been years since the two of you broke up. Shane McAnally was the one who thought of the title, and she, Wallen, and Josh Osborne wrote the lyrics, which was inspired by Wallen’s experiences in 2013. It was then produced by Joey Moi, who is also the producer of Wallen’s biggest hits like “Up Down,” “More Than My Hometown,” and “Whiskey Glasses.”

Before recording the song, Wallen tested out how the audience would receive it. He shared the first verse and the chorus on his social media, which then became famous on the internet, especially on TikTok. This was his second song to reach number one on the Country chart after “Whiskey Glasses.”

5. “Chasin’ You”

Morgan Wallen said that he knew he could sing, but he didn’t know if he could write songs. After moving to Nashville back in 2016, he met up with Craig Wiseman and Jamie Moore, and the three of them wrote the song. It was the first song Wallen wrote after leaving his hometown, which is why he says it’s rather special to him.

Additionally, it’s also about what he was going through at the time, and writing about it somehow helped him through the experience. After all, “Chasin’ You” is somewhat about losing his girl after leaving. The song talks about thinking about chasing someone from your past, like your ex, even though you are holding someone new.

6. “Sand in My Boots”

The song “Sand in My Boots” is about a beach fling that the persona thought would actually be a lasting relationship. It’s about a girl he met on the beach, and he wanted her to come with him to East Tennessee, which is Wallen’s hometown. However, the girl didn’t show up the next morning.

This was the first track in his album Dangerous. Half of the songs were about Wallen’s past relationships, while the other half was about the redneck lifestyle. Despite the song sounding as if it’s a real-life experience of Wallen, he actually didn’t write or even co-write it. It was written by Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley, and his best friend Michael Hardy, who had the concept of the song saved in his phone for a long time.

Another country singer, Luke Bryan, also expressed his interest in the demo after Hardy had finished it. However, it was already a done deal with Wallen, which is why he was the one who got to record the studio version of it.

7. “Wasted on You”

Never one to shy away from wordplays like what we’ve seen in “Whiskey Glasses,” Morgan Wallen’s song “Wasted on You” also has two meanings. First, it’s about getting drunk and “wasted” because of not being able to get over his ex. The second meaning is about all of the things he “wasted” on his past lover, from time, money, miles on his Chevrolet, and even the matchstick he uses to light his cigarette to maybe reduce his emotional distress.

When Wallen moved to Nashville back in 2015, he got to know Katie Smith after a couple of years. The two of them started dating, but their relationship was rather rocky. Despite that, they got engaged, and Smith gave birth to a baby. However, they had broken up at this point. Wallen’s fans and listeners believe that “Wasted on You” is about Katie Smith.

8. “Somebody’s Problem”

This song was co-written with three of Wallen’s friends; Rodney Clawson, Jacob Durrett, and Ernest Keith Smith. “Somebody’s Problem” is a country love song that talks about meeting a girl at a party and falling in love at first sight. Wallen wonders why the girl does not have a man with her, and he then concludes that whoever the woman’s ex is must have probably seen flaws in her. However, Wallen thinks that the girl deserves better, and if she’s a problem for someone else, he’s certain she wouldn’t be a problem for him, and he will treat her better.

On the 5th day of December 2020, “Somebody’s Problem” reached number three on the Country chart. His song “Still Goin’ Down” was also on the chart, making him the first artist to debut two songs at the same time in the Top 10 ranking.

When the COVID pandemic hit the world in March 2020, Wallen already had about 100 songs which he would then filter for his Dangerous album. He went on to write six more songs, and “Somebody’s Problem” was the last one. It almost didn’t make it to the album, but Wallen loved it so much that he squeezed it in.

Funnily enough, the origin of the song is just a comment from his friend Ernest Keith Smith. When they were driving to a writing session, Wallen saw a pretty girl and said, “I wonder who that is,” to which Smith replied with, “I don’t know, but looks like somebody’s problem to me.”

9. “Spin You Around”

Wallen became famous for his laid-back songs. However, “Spin You Around” will really take you for a spin because it’s a more powerful take on Wallen’s musical characteristics. It also includes an electrifying guitar solo right on the song’s bridge.

The song is from Wallen’s album Stand Alone and is almost a mix of soft rock and country. It talks about meeting a girl and doing all that you can to make that girl fall in love. Unlike a lot of Wallen’s songs that talk about breakups, “Spin You Around” gives us a more blissful take on love.

10. “Cover Me Up”

“Cover Me Up” was originally recorded by Jason Isbell. However, Morgan Wallen’s take on it is also noteworthy. It’s a rather dark song, which first talks about distrust, paranoia, and even delusion, which are sometimes caused by alcohol addiction.

However, towards the latter parts of the song, we see the persona in ruins, while the girl he loves stays by his side and helps him through it all. It’s a song about overcoming your problems, straightening up, and being a better person for the one you love.

11. “Still Goin’ Down”

We mentioned earlier that his track “Somebody’s Problem” reached the Top 10 Country chart with another song. Well, it’s just a testament to how great the song is, which is why we also included it in this list of the best songs from Morgan Wallen. “Still Goin’ Down” is about Wallen’s life when he was still living in Sneedville, a relatively small town outside of Knoxville. Co-written with Charlie Handsome and Michael Hardy, Wallen talks about his roots.

Being from the south and growing up as the son of a Baptist pastor, Wallen sings;

“I’m from a small town, southern drawl crowd
We’re sippin’ clear, drinkin’ beer on a Friday night”

The first verse also explains his upbringing and how his 1,400-population hometown is so small that there’s little to no crime going on in the place that people don’t have to lock their doors.

“The way I talk, I guess I got it from my pops
Product of some kneelin’ down
In a town where the doors don’t lock”

If you want to learn more about where Wallen came from, check out our list of songs about Tennessee.

12. “Dangerous”

Morgan Wallen says “Dangerous” is one of those songs about regret. It’s a letter to himself about trying to be a better man and avoiding getting overly drunk that sometimes leads him to dangerous scenarios. In May 2020, Wallen was arrested in Nashville for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. He and his friend Ernest Smith wrote the song a few weeks after the incident.

While the song is entirely about the arrest, Smith and Wallen added a little twist by writing that the persona was going through a heartbreak.

The song perfectly captures the essence of the album, which was about Wallen’s experiences, the lessons he’d learned, and the things he wanted to tell himself. This led him to make “Dangerous” the title track of the album.

13. “865”

It’s not unusual to have numbers in a song’s title, and Wallen’s “865” is proof of that. It’s about drinking to forget a past lover but leading the persona to drunk dial his ex. The title is from a phone number, which we see in the last two lines of the chorus,

“I know I told you I wouldn’t call, and I tried
But this bottle tastes like 865 (409-1021)”

865 is a real area code, which is what you dial if you’re trying to call a number in Knoxville. 865 (409-2021), on the other hand, is a number for a US company called TelePunch. The title was supposed to be 919, which is the area code for North Carolina. However, when songwriters John Byron and Blake Pendergrass presented it to Wallen, the latter suggested that they change it to 865 because he wanted it to feel more personal and “homey” to him since Wallen came from a small town outside Knoxville. Wallen later apologized and said, “Whoever owns that number [865 (409-20210], I’m really sorry.”

14. “Livin’ the Dream”

Ironically, this song is not as optimistic as you think it would be. It’s a rather brutally honest take on the negative effects of stardom. In 2020 alone, Wallen got arrested, was pulled from a supposed performance on SNL, and revealed he has a son. That’s why he thinks stardom is not always as grand as people assume it is.

“Another day, another venue
There’s trouble to get into”

He says that he’s extremely happy for all the blessings he has received so far, but he’s not always happy. Wallen then went on to say that “Livin’ the Dream” is a song he and his friends co-wrote coming from the “not always happy” part.

15. “Warning”

Written by Ernest Smith, Charlie Handsome, and Ashley Gorley, “Warning” is about giving into temptation and hooking up with a girl. The persona in the song says that things like late-night phone calls, driving to the girl’s place, and buying her a bottle of whiskey should come with a warning that it’s going to be a heartbreak.

Wallen gave his fans a preview of the song via an Instagram post. It was a snippet of the song’s acoustic version, and Wallen asked his fans whether or not the song should be part of his Dangerous album.

16. “Only Thing That’s Gone”

In this song, Wallen enlists the help of another country singer, Chris Stapleton, whom he admires. Wallen sends a few Dangerous tracks to Stapleton and asks if there’s anything from them that he thinks he could be part of. Stapleton then said “Only Thing That’s Gone” stood out, so he recorded it in the studio and song on the chorus and the second verse. Since the song was recorded during the early months of the pandemic, the two of them never actually met while recording the song.

“Only Thing That’s Gone” is about a brokenhearted man drinking in a bar, trying to forget his sorrows.

17. “Silverado For Sale”

Nothing says “country music” than when you’re talking about trucks and love stories. Well, Wallen’s “Silverado For Sale” mixes these two in the song. This track is about how the persona is selling his truck to buy a ring for the girl he wants to marry. The chorus of the song is what the persona want to say in the ad for the Chevrolet Silverado, and how the truck will give the next owner a chance to spend the best moments with his girl.

18. “This Bar”

Early in this article, we mentioned how Wallen and his friends wrote “More Than My Hometown.” The same friends also wrote the last song on this list, “This Bar.” We believe it’s the best way to end this list, as this song talks about how Wallen’s experiences shaped his life and made him who he is today. Whether these experiences are good or bad doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, all of these experiences provided him with valuable life lessons, and who doesn’t love songs about growing up, right?

Conclusion

Morgan Wallen is one of the best country singers you could listen to right now. He sings straight from the heart and writes honestly, based on anything and everything that he experiences. Whether you’re going through a heartbreak or having fun, whip out this list of the best Morgan Wallen songs and listen to the man himself all day long.

Few bands have left behind a legacy as rocking and memorable as Van Valen. In fact, calling Van Halen a rock band would be an understatement. They were THE rock band of the 70s and 80s.

The group was driven by their lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who inspired thousands of kids to pick up their very first guitar. He was accompanied by his brother Alex Van Halen on the drums, and lead singer Eddie Van Halen. The band underwent numerous lineup changes over the years, but Eddie remained a constant part of the group up until his death in 2020.

Today we will be examining the band’s legacy by picking the 15 best Van Halen songs. So let’s get rocking!

15. In a Simple Rhyme

In a Simple Rhyme is the closing track off the band’s 1980 album Women and Children First. The song feels like three or four tracks stitched together and has the vibe of a rock opera. The track notably features a 15-second stomp section that turns up the energy.

In a Simple Rhyme was originally planned to lead into the opening of the band’s next album. However, that did not pan out as planned.

14. Panama

Panama is the third track off 1984 and features one of the band’s strongest riffs. The track propels through its verse section before launching off into an epic chorus that leaves listeners wowed. Singer David Lee Roth stated that he wrote the song about a race car called “Panama Express” he saw in Las Vegas in the 80s.

13. Everybody Wants Some

Everybody Wants Some is the second track off Women and Children First. It was one of the band’s early hits and became a staple in their live performances. The track features a barrage of different tones and melodies, with Eddie showing off his guitar skills at every available opportunity. It is also notable for jungle-themed drums, which drew comparisons to the Tarzan theme.

12. I’m the One

I’m the One is the fifth track off the band’s 1978 debut album Van Halen. It is led by vocalist David Lee Roth and is considered one of the best introductions to the band’s heavy music. It features a brutal drum and bass rush, with the drummer utilizing his double-kick pedal to its full capacity. The guitars also feature a unique blend of jazz, rock, and pop music styles.

11. Romeo Delight

Romeo Delight is the fourth track off Women and Children First. This track is a riff-heavy jam that’s just plain fun. It’s electric guitar blasts off with the volume turned up to 11 and gets your heart racing fast. This track is also notable for setting the stage for the band’s later tracks with heavy lyrical imagery. Romeo Delight is also one of the most popular Van Halen tracks in the video game “Guitar Hero”.

10. 5150

5150 is the second-last track off the 1986 album with the same name. The song pays tribute to Eddie Van Halen’s studio, which was also named 5150. The track is led by vocalist Sammy Hagar, who sings about taking the plunge and falling in love. The instrumental is played exceptionally well and chugs along with a funky vibe. Hagar takes the track to the next level with a mindblowing vocal performance in the chorus.

9. Black and Blue

Black and Blue is the second-land track of the band’s 1988 album OU812. This track peaked at #1 on the Billboard Rock Tracks Chart in the 80s, and it’s easy to see why. The track’s seductive riff gets in your head and never leaves! It is rumored that a New Hampshire high school staff member named Pamela Smart seduced a male student using the track and convinced him to murder her husband. This information glazes the track with an even more dangerous vibe.

8. Somebody Get Me a Doctor

Somebody Get Me a Doctor is the third track off the band’s 1978 album Van Halen II. Its lyrics were arranged by KISS singer Gene Simmons. Despite Simmons being straight-edge, the song talks about being high and experiencing the best damn feeling in the world. The instrumental is driven by an electrically-charged riff by Tony Iommi and a solo by Randy Rhoads. His track certainly gives listeners the best feeling in the world.

7. Little Guitars

Little Guitars is the ninth track off the band’s 1982 album Diver Down. The track is preceded by a 42-second intro that features Eddie playing a gorgeous acoustic flamenco section. This is followed by a rapid rhythm portion with a swift melody that skedaddles over the vocals. Eddie plays a special miniature guitar created by Nashville designer Dave Petschulat on this track. The lyrics are about vocalist Roth sweet-talking a beautiful senorita.

6. Get Up

Just about every Van Halen track makes you want to get up. However, Get Up certainly reminds listeners about this. The third track off 5150 is dense and filled to the brim with sounds, many of which seem disjointed. It radiates the manic energy of a lengthy rock track crammed into just a few seconds. This Eddie Van Halen dominated track also features a stellar vocal performance by Hagar.

5. Mean Street

Mean Street is the opening track off the band’s fourth album Fair Warning. This track might be one of the best openers in the band’s discography thanks to its hyperactive intro. New guitarists gravitate towards Mean Street primarily for this track. Early critics labelled this as a “metal” track, but it’s more akin to a blues-rock track on steroids.

4. On Fire

Many Van Halen tracks give off the feeling of listening to a guitar on fire. However, On Fire cements this mental image with its heavy metal guitars. The closing track on Van Halen references the earlier track Atomic Punk as Roth instructs listeners to throw their headphones on and get on with the show. This is followed by three minutes of guitar madness that leaves listeners reeling in the sonic residue of the album they just finished.

3. When It’s Love

When It’s Love is the second track off OU812. This power ballad opens with distinct keyboards that are ingrained in just about every listener’s memory. Hagar’s lyrics “How do I know when it’s love? / I can’t tell you, but it lasts forever.” was the soundtrack to many romances of the late 80s, and we don’t blame them. The track was also one of the band’s favorites to perform live, and a core part of their setlists for many years.

2. Jump

You already knew this song was going to be on our list. Jump may be the definitive Van Halen song. The second track from the band’s sixth album 1984 is driven by a six-chord keyboard arrangement and is downright flawless. This song is the epitome of cool, and was dedicated to American Martial artist Benny “The Jet” Urquidez.

Jump has also become a sporting anthem in many places, and was the intro theme song for the Chicago Cubs in TV broadcasts between 1984 and 1985. It is possibly THE song that defined the 80s.

1. Eruption

Eruption needs no introduction. Even people who are wholly unfamiliar with the rock-genre have heard this song at some point. The second track off the band’s debut album cemented Eddie Van Halen as one of the greatest guitarists of all time with its face-melting virtuoso playing.

Every kid that picked up the guitar after 1978 has wanted to play this song at some point, but few were ever able to match the technical skill Eddie Van Halen displays on the track. It showed off the true power of the electric guitar and how the instrument could channel the spirit of rock through the airwaves.

Final Thoughts

Van Halen has no shortage of mindblowing tracks, so choosing our top ten wasn’t easy. Consider showing the above list to any of your family or friends that want an introduction to one of rock music’s most iconic bands.

People all over the globe love Taylor Swift’s catchy pop/country songs and approachable character, making her one of the best-selling musicians worldwide. Ever since she started opening for other country musicians, fans everywhere began falling in love with her music–but what are some essential hits that every Swift fanatic should know about?

Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer looking to get familiar with her eclectic musical style, you’re bound to love these top 15 Taylor Swift songs!

15 Taylor Swift Songs You’ll Enjoy

1. “Fearless” – 2008

As anyone who’s even slightly familiar with Taylor’s music knows, she writes a lot about the tough complexities of love–as well as the strength that it takes to pick yourself up after a period of heartbreak. With “Fearless,” the hit single from her album of the same title, Taylor explores the fearlessness that it takes to face the idea of falling in love again after having been hurt in the past.

Interestingly, Taylor was single when she wrote “Fearless,” and her introspection led her to describe her ideal first date.

2. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – 2012

This song is undoubtedly one of the very first that comes to mind for many Swift fans–after all, it sold 623,000 units during its first week out! This insanely popular lead single from her album “Red” takes the often disheartening subject of ex-partners and presents it through a fun lens with an upbeat chorus.

Taylor earned her first #1 spot on the Hot 100 with this song, and for good reasons. Many fans love this song for its touch of mystery, since it’s not completely clear who it’s about. However, many more love the way that it can empower someone to take their life back after a bad breakup.

3. “Our Song” – 2006

Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut studio came out featuring “Our Song,” which she had originally written and performed for a high school talent show. The lighthearted theme of a couple crafting a song together based on events from their own lives conveyed a message that reaches far beyond the usual country music audience. People of all types have found enjoyment in this song, not to mention the inspiring backstory of how a bright teenage girl was able to break into the music industry and become a star.

Taylor also intentionally put this song last on her album as a little hint: The last line of the song says “Play it again!”

4. “Mine” – 2010

Written for “Speak Now,” her third studio album, Taylor Swift’s song “Mine” is another signature romantic piece that addresses the trials and tribulations of young love. As it happened, Taylor had a flood of inspiration and wrote nearly all the songs during her “Fearless” tour–and wrote the entire album by herself.

“Speak Now” is meant to illustrate Taylor’s pattern of running away from love out of a fear of heartbreak. To add a more optimistic note, it’s also about finding that special someone that might make it worthwhile to break the pattern and stick around despite a fear of commitment.

5. “Look What You Made Me Do” – 2017

This lead single from her “Reputation” album shows Taylor taking a more vicious stance towards people who have slighted her as she sings about taking revenge against her wrongdoers. Alongside the aggressive message that contrasts with Swift’s ethereal image, fans also remember this piece for its fast-paced electronic beat that clearly takes after “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred.

People have plenty of theories about who the people are that Taylor goes after in this song. But no matter who they are, she sends them the powerful message that she’s no one to mess with!

6. “Tim McGraw” – 2006

During the early days of Taylor’s career, she released the song “Tim McGraw” in her self-titled debut album. Word has it that she actually came up with the tune and concept for this song in her freshman-year math class as she mulled over the realization that she and her current boyfriend would break up when they parted ways for college.

She quietly hummed and thought of all the things that would later on remind her of their time as a couple after they’d inevitably broken up: And, you guessed it, one of Taylor’s anticipated memory capsules was Tim McGraw’s music!

7. “Shake It Off” – 2014

Taylor dives into the pop side of her musical expression with “Shake It Off,” which appears on her album “1989”–the first album that she marketed as pop instead of country. The lyrics highlight her readiness to let criticism and negativity roll off her back, offering a different take than her earlier single “Mean” from 2011, which takes a stab at critics who give nasty, unhelpful feedback.

The catchy title phrase, “shake it off,” invites listeners to join in as it’s repeated 36 times throughout the song. Taylor specifically stated that she wanted to share this positive message with her fans and move on from directing messages towards critics.

8. “Begin Again” – 2012

Taylor Swift actually first gave her fans a preview of this song during “Good Morning America” on ABC in 2012, offering everyone a glimpse of another piece that explores the feeling of falling in love again after a breakup. This country ballad of loss and newfound love appears on her album “Red” and focuses on that key point of bravery and recovery: Going on a first date after having endured the end of a previous relationship. Additionally, Taylor sings about finding wonderful, new qualities that were lacking before.

9. “Teardrops on My Guitar” – 2006

Those who have felt unrequited love may find solace in this song from Taylor Swift’s debut album, which she wrote with Liz Rose. This song, which broke Taylor into the Mainstream Top 40 as a crossover pop artist, addresses the hurt that she felt when she had a crush on a classmate in school–but he was already in a relationship. To make matters even tougher, he often told Taylor about his girlfriend and the times they spent together! She played this powerful song during her debut “Fearless Tour”.

10. “Wildest Dreams” – 2014

Another hit from her “1989” album, this song shows Taylor taking a more realistic, practical approach to love than she had in the past: She stated that she used to enter relationships with fantastical, idealistic visions of the future, but now she looks at new relationships differently and considers everything from flaws in human nature to the demands of her musical career.

Taylor actually used her own heartbeat as the beat for this song, lending a creative twist of authenticity to the piece. The music video also caught people’s attention, featuring her as a 1950’s actress caught up in an ill-fated romance in Africa.

11. “Back to December” – 2010

This song was written for Taylor’s album “Speak Now” and features a number of graceful orchestral elements alongside her signature country sound. Taylor says that she used this poignant song to deliver her genuine apologies to a real person she used to date, stating that he’d been good to her and that she regrets the way she handled the relationship.

Fans went wild speculating who the song was about, and many of them were sure that it was about the actor Taylor Lautner. Sure enough, he eventually confirmed the theory!

12. “I Knew You Were Trouble” – 2012

Another hit from the album “Red,” this song is well-known just about everywhere. Plus, it acts as a powerful warning for her fans: Taylor wrote this song about the frustration that she felt, both with her circumstances and herself, after pushing ahead with a relationship that was riddled with red flags from the start.

She warns listeners to heed red flags when they see them, instead of hoping to be the exception and fix everything to make it work anyway. Otherwise, Taylor says, you’ll make the same mistakes again and regret it.

13. “Love Story” – 2008 

Taylor based this song off of the real-life experience of falling in love with a guy that her parents didn’t approve of, and she fought hard to get her recording company as hyped about the song as she was. Her persistence paid off, and the song came out on her “Fearless” album, telling the story of a forbidden love that had to stay hidden and referencing the iconic story of Romeo and Juliet. However, Taylor brought her idealistic side into play while writing this song, giving it a much happier ending than Shakespeare had!

14. “You Belong With Me” – 2009 

Another hit from her “Fearless” album that fans can never get enough of, this song came to be after Taylor heard a friend apologizing profusely while his girlfriend yelled at him on the phone. The song is written from the perspective of a girl-next-door who has feelings for a guy she knows well and cares about, but who’s forced to wait on the sidelines while he goes for a more popular girl who treats him poorly instead.

Swift has referred to this song as one of her early pieces that shows her how far she’s come, reminding her of how it felt to write about school crushes without realizing how it would feel to be famous for it.

15. “Red” – 2012

No list of Taylor’s top songs would be complete without the title single of her “Red” album, which sold a jaw-dropping 1.208 million copies during its debut week alone! The song “Red” names several colors as representations of Taylor’s emotions about one of her exes. Various fans have theorized that the song references synesthesia, leading them to wonder if the song is about Taylor’s past relationship with John Mayer.

No matter who the song is about, Swift’s fans appreciate her creative blend of country and pop elements in the sound, alongside the compelling imagery.

Remember:

These excellent Swift hits are just the tip of the iceberg! If you love any of the popular tracks on this list, then you’re bound to enjoy more of Taylor’s music as well. There’s plenty of her work out there to discover, and hopefully some new material coming out in the future as well!

Featured image is a Photo by Raphael Lovaski on Unsplash