Legendary musical rivalries have not only defined eras but also shaped the course of music history, leaving an indelible mark on artists, fans, and the industry itself. The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones epitomized the British Invasion and fueled debates over musical preference. Tupac Shakur vs. The Notorious B.I.G. represented the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud, tragically culminating in the loss of two influential artists. Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West ushered in the era of social media-fueled celebrity feuds. Oasis vs. Blur defined the Britpop movement. Whitney Houston vs. Mariah Carey showcased the diva rivalry of the ’90s. These rivalries have demonstrated how competition and artistic tension can drive creativity and innovation in music.

The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones

“The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones” remains one of the most iconic and enduring rivalries in music history. Emerging during the British Invasion of the 1960s, these two legendary bands captured the hearts of millions, igniting passionate debates among fans. The Beatles, with their infectious melodies and innovative songwriting, represented the embodiment of youthful exuberance and cultural revolution. Songs like “Yesterday” and “A Hard Day’s Night” showcased their musical prowess, setting new standards for pop music. On the other side, The Rolling Stones brought a gritty, rebellious edge to rock and roll. Their blues-infused sound and tracks like “Paint It Black” and “Satisfaction” epitomized rock’s raw energy and hedonistic lifestyle. The rivalry extended beyond music; it reflected societal shifts, with The Beatles seen as the clean-cut icons, while The Rolling Stones embraced a more rebellious image. While the bands’ styles and fan bases differed, they both contributed immensely to the music industry, leaving an indelible legacy that continues to influence and inspire generations of musicians and fans worldwide.

Tupac Shakur vs. The Notorious B.I.G.

The rivalry between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) is one of the most poignant and tragic chapters in hip-hop history. Emerging from the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud of the 1990s, their conflicts went beyond music, culminating in heartbreaking violence. Tupac, a West Coast rapper, embodied the struggles of his generation through tracks like “Dear Mama” and “California Love.” His charisma and provocative lyrics made him a cultural icon. Biggie, hailing from the East Coast, brought a distinctive style with his storytelling abilities and hits like “Juicy” and “Mo Money Mo Problems.” His lyrical prowess solidified his place in hip-hop history.

The feud intensified when both artists released diss tracks aimed at each other, further escalating tensions. Tragically, both Tupac and Biggie were fatally shot in drive-by shootings, leaving the hip-hop world in mourning. Their deaths remain unsolved mysteries, serving as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of rivalries in the music industry, and their legacies continue to influence the genre while sparking ongoing discussions about the role of feuds in hip-hop culture.

Taylor Swift Vs. Kanye West

The Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West feud is a modern-day saga that symbolizes the influence of celebrity rivalries in the age of social media. It all began at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when Kanye West infamously interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech. This incident ignited a feud that played out both in their music and on social platforms. Taylor Swift, known for her chart-topping country and pop hits, channeled her experiences into songs like “Famous” and “Look What You Made Me Do,” addressing her tumultuous relationship with West. Kanye West, a trailblazing rapper and producer, responded with tracks like “Famous” and “Lift Yourself,” fueling the public spectacle. Their feud exposed the power of social media in shaping public opinion and magnifying celebrity conflicts. It also highlighted the intricate dynamics of fame, accountability, and creative expression in the digital age, making it a defining rivalry of the 21st century.

Oasis vs. Blur

 

 

From Humble Beginnings to Hip-Hop Stardom

Cardi B’s journey to the top of the music charts is a story of grit and determination. Born in 1992 in the Bronx, New York, Cardi grew up in a neighborhood known for its hardships and challenges. She has been open about her past, including her time as a stripper, a chapter in her life that she credits for helping her escape poverty and domestic violence. This background laid the foundation for her authentic lyrical style, characterized by its rawness and directness, mirroring her life experiences.

Cardi B’s unique blend of raw, unapologetic lyrics, combined with a charismatic and bold personality, has captivated millions worldwide. She’s more than just a rapper; she’s a movement, a voice for the unrepresented, and a symbol of empowerment, especially for women in a genre often dominated by men. Her story is a vivid example of how talent, perseverance, and being true to oneself can lead to unprecedented success in today’s ever-changing music landscape.

The Meteoric Rise of Cardi B

Her breakthrough came with the release of “Bodak Yellow” in 2017, a track that became a viral sensation and catapulted her to fame. The song’s success was unprecedented, making her the second-ever female rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with a solo output. The track’s gritty lyrics and Cardi’s unapologetic delivery resonated with a broad audience, setting the stage for her debut album, “Invasion of Privacy” in 2018. This album broke several records and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, making her the first solo female artist to win in this category.

Cardi’s rise to fame was not without its challenges. She faced skepticism and criticism, with some questioning her lyrical abilities and authenticity. However, her persistence and talent silenced critics. She continuously proved her mettle with a string of successful collaborations and singles, showcasing her versatility and ability to stay relevant in the ever-evolving music industry.

Breaking Barriers and Setting Trends

Cardi B’s impact extends beyond her music. She has become a cultural icon, known for her outspoken nature and social media presence. Her influence is evident in how she openly discusses topics like politics, women’s rights, and racial issues, bringing a new level of social awareness to her platform.

Her style and fashion have also set trends, with her unique sense of fashion often making headlines. She has been featured on the cover of various high-profile magazines and has collaborated with luxury fashion brands, influencing both high fashion and streetwear.

Moreover, Cardi’s influence in the industry has opened doors for other female rappers. She has been vocal about the challenges women face in the male-dominated hip-hop world, advocating for more representation and respect for female artists. Her success has paved the way for a new wave of female rappers, proving that they can achieve commercial success while being true to their artistic vision.

Cardi B and Offset: A High-Profile Hip-Hop Romance

The relationship between Cardi B and Offset, a member of the hip-hop trio Migos, has been one of the most high-profile romances in the music industry. Their story is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, marked by public displays of affection, surprising revelations, and candid expressions of their struggles. The couple first met in 2017, and their connection was almost instantaneous, leading to a secret marriage in September of that year. This union was a significant step, not only in their personal lives but also as a power couple in the hip-hop community.

Navigating Challenges and Embracing Family Life

Their relationship, however, has not been without its challenges. They have faced numerous rumors and public scandals, including allegations of infidelity. These challenges were often played out in the public eye, leading to a brief separation in 2018. Despite these hurdles, Cardi B and Offset have demonstrated a strong commitment to each other and their family. They welcomed their daughter, Kulture, in 2018, a milestone that Cardi often shares on her social media, showcasing her role as a mother alongside her dynamic career.

Their relationship is a blend of love, resilience, and the complexities of living in the spotlight. Cardi B and Offset’s journey together reflects not just the challenges of celebrity relationships but also the potential for growth and reconciliation. As they continue to navigate their partnership, both in their personal lives and their professional collaborations, they remain a fascinating and influential duo in the world of hip-hop and beyond.

Cardi B’s Legacy and Future Endeavors

As Cardi B continues to dominate the charts and social media, her legacy is already taking shape. She is not just a rapper but a symbol of empowerment and resilience. Her story inspires many who see her as a role model, showing that with hard work and authenticity, it’s possible to overcome adversity and achieve greatness.

Cardi’s future in the industry looks promising. She has expressed interest in expanding her career into acting and business, showing her versatility and ambition. Her participation in films like “Hustlers” has been well-received, and her collaborations with various brands have been successful, demonstrating her ability to transcend music.

In conclusion, Cardi B’s journey from the streets of Bronx to international stardom is more than a success story; it’s a blueprint for breaking barriers and setting new standards in the music industry. Her unfiltered personality, talent, and drive continue to inspire and shape the cultural landscape, making her one of the most influential figures in contemporary music and pop culture. As she continues to evolve and expand her horizons, the world eagerly watches, anticipating her next groundbreaking move.

The birthplace of rap is a topic that delves deep into the cultural, social, and musical landscapes of the 20th century. This blog post aims to explore the origins and early development of rap, emphasizing its roots in New York City, particularly the Bronx, and its subsequent influence on global music and culture.

 

 

 

We all make mistakes in our lives. Some are probably too great that we end up regretting them for so long. What could we have done differently? What would the present look like if we only did the right thing?

We’re certain these questions are really difficult to face. Perhaps we may never find the answers to them, and all we can do is to ponder over or sing about them. Well, we found just the perfect songs to sing along to.

Here are 25 songs about regret that perfectly summarize your emotions.

Songs About Regret

1. Wishing It Was You

Artist: Connie Francis

Album:

Release Date: 1965

If there is ever one song about regretting ever letting someone go, this one would probably win the belt. The song is about getting married to someone you’re with while someone else holds your heart. The lyrics go;

“Tomorrow, when I’m walking down the aisle
I’ll try to hide my heartache with a smile
‘Cause when I look at him and say I do
In my heart, I’ll be wishing it was you”

Imagine that one day in your life when you’re supposed to be the happiest turns out to be the moment you regret the most. What a heartache!

2. Supermarket Flowers

Artist: Ed Sheeran

Album: ÷ (Divide)

Release Date: March 3, 2017

This next song is about regret or guilt and how we can turn it around and instead dwell on the good memories we are left with. Supermarket Flowers is a song Sheeran wrote for his grandmother, who passed away.

3. Never on the Day You Leave

Artist: John Mayer

Album: The Search for Everything

Release Date: April 14, 2017

I believe most of us who know John Mayer also know he dates high-profile celebrities and personalities. That’s why it’s kind of surprising to find that he actually has a few songs about regret. Never on the Day You Leave is perhaps the most heartbreaking one among those.

In fact, it took a while before he was able to perform it live. He says the lyrics are too emotional that it’s hard for him to actually sing them. The line he had a hard time with goes,

“She’ll fight for you like hell, then force herself to like some other man”

It was too hard for John to sing it that it took days for him just to record the vocals of the song.

4. Father and Son

Artist: Cat Stevens

Album: Tea for the Tillerman

Release Date: November 23, 1970

Cat Stevens’s song Father and Son is about trying to avoid making mistakes and regretting them afterward.

“But take your time, think a lot
Think of everything you’ve got
For you will still be here tomorrow
But your dreams may not”

Stevens wrote the song while imagining a conversation between a father and a son in the Russian Revolution. However, it’s safe to say that it’s also inspired by his relationship with his father, as the latter wanted him to continue the family’s restaurant business, but he chose a career in music.

5. Back to December

Artist: Taylor Swift

Album: Speak Now

Release Date: November 15, 2010

Aside from John Mayer, another popular artist whom we know dated a few celebrities is Taylor Swift (the two of them even dated a while back). We’re not being scornful, by the way, as this had blessed us with some of the best songs of all time.

One example of this is the popular track Back to December. It’s kind of surprising, actually, because we often hear Taylor singing about how her past relationships mistreated her. However, this song talks about how Taylor herself was careless with someone who loved her deeply.

6. Sorry

Artist: Justin Bieber

Album: Purpose

Release Date: October 22, 2015

The song title says it all. Justin sings about asking for forgiveness and a second chance. His personal regret over wronging a lover is well-expressed in the lyrics. However, some speculate that the song is more than just apologizing to a woman.

If you’ve been a Belieber since about 2008 to 2009, you’d know that Justin had some pretty rough years from around 2013 to 2014. Some say that Sorry is Justin’s apology to his fans and followers and wanting to start anew.

7. Baby Come Back

Artist: Player

Album: Player

Release Date: October 13, 1977

Baby Come Back is the number one song in the US in the first month of 1978. It talks about real events when Peter Becket’s wife left him to go back to England, and J. C. Crowley was mending a heartbreak. All of these emotions from the two founders of the band were channeled into the song.

8. 25 Minutes

Artist: Michael Learns to Rock

Album: Colours

Release Date: February 25, 1994

Here’s another song about regret at a wedding, but this time, it’s the perspective of a guy who wasn’t able to tell the woman that he loves her at the right time. The saddest part is, he was only 25 minutes too late, hence the title.

9. Lips of an Angel

Artist: Hinder

Album: Extreme Behavior

Release Date: April 3, 2006

A typical soft-rock tune from Hinder, their song Lips of an Angel quickly rose to fame after its release. What’s actually surprising about it is that it only took Austin Winkler and Cody Hanson, the band’s lead singer and drummer, respectively, about half an hour to write the song.

It’s about being with someone else despite the fact that you can’t let go of a former love and you regret ever letting her go. The lyrics on the pre-chorus explain that perfectly.

“My girl’s in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on”

10. Nearly Witches

Artist: Panic! At the Disco

Album: Vices & Virtues

Release Date: March 18, 2011

Panic! At the Disco’s Nearly Witches, otherwise known as Ever Since We Met, actually has a sad backstory about how it’s made. It was the last ever musical idea the band came up with before two of their members, Jon Walker and Ryan Ross, left the band.

If you know the band’s history, you’d know that numerous rumors and speculations arose about the real reason why Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left. Perhaps the lyrics of the song capture what Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith felt about half of the band’s departure?

“Ever since we met
I’ve got just one regret to live through
And that one regret is you”

11. Tears in Heaven

Artist: Eric Clapton

Album:

Release Date: January 14, 1992

In 1993, Eric Clapton received nine Grammy nominations for this song. Out of all of these, he won six, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. However, it’s not the awards that make this song remarkable but the story behind it.

Clapton wrote Tears in Heaven after the death of his son, Conor. Clapton’s son, unfortunately, fell out of the window of an apartment 53 floors up. This makes the lyrics even more heartbreaking than it already is.

“Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?”

After the death of his son, Clapton made a public announcement to encourage parents to install gates to avoid accidents such as this. No regret is more painful than losing someone you love dearly.

12. All Apologies

Artist: Nirvana

Album: In Utero

Release Date: December 6, 1993

Perhaps the only thing we’ll regret about this song is that all of us should’ve treated Kurt Cobain better. In Nirvana’s song All Apologies, people speculated that this is a fake apology from Cobain to numerous people who have contradicting expectations of how he should be.

This song, along with the track Rape Me, was the last single the band released. Four months after, Kurt Cobain committed suicide.

13. Molly

Artist: Lil Dicky feat. Brendon Urie

Album: Professional Rapper

Release Date: July 31, 2015

Maybe the adage stays true to its meaning; regret is always in the end. We tend to put things off, like changing for the better, until it’s too late for us to save what we could’ve had. Molly by Lil Dicky and Panic! At the Disco’s Brendon Urie perfectly sums this up.

“It’s the hardest rule to follow
I really wish that I could call you
You can find another me tomorrow
And that’s the hardest pill to swallow”

If you think those lyrics are painful, you should watch the music video.

14. Best I Ever Had

Artist: Vertical Horizon

Album: Everything You Want

Release Date: January 8, 2000

Here’s another song about feeling regret over losing someone you love. The painful part of it is that person was the best you ever had. The lyrics combined with the melancholic soft rock arrangement make the track a really heartbreaking song to listen to.

15. When I Was Your Man

Artist: Bruno Mars

Album: Unorthodox Jukebox

Release Date: January 15, 2013

Every word in Bruno Mars’s When I Was Your Man describes pain, unlike any other song. Mars even went on to admit that this song is really special and emotional to him as it described a very personal experience when he loved a girl so much, but they still broke apart.

“I should’ve bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should have gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party ‘cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby’s dancing
But she’s dancing with another man”

It’s just really a different kind of pain and regret when the person you loved the most is now happy with another person.

16. How to Save a Life

Artist: The Fray

Album: How to Save a Life

Release Date: March 26, 2006

It’s about a real-life experience of Isaac Slade, the band’s lead singer. He had a quick encounter as a mentor for teenagers who struggle with depression, drugs, or other substances. One kid, in particular, lost his best friend and was suffering from depression.

The kid’s friends and family were trying all sorts of approaches and strategies to help him, but none of them seemed to be able to save the boy since, well, there’s no manual to saving a life. The lyrics of the song hint to regret about losing someone when there was a chance, albeit small, to reverse the results.

“Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life”

17. Stay with Me

Artist: Sam Smith

Album: In the Lonely Hour

Release Date: April 14, 2014

Stay with Me, or in fact, the majority of In the Lonely Hour is about Sam Smith’s love for someone who wouldn’t reciprocate his feelings. He even went on to say, as he received his awards, “Thank you to the man who broke my heart because you got me four Grammys.”

Stay with Me is about his one-night stand with this person. There is a hint of regret in a few lines of the song but the persona, despite knowing the relationship wouldn’t work, wants the other person to stay with him.

18. Photograph

Artist: Nickelback

Album: All the Right Reasons

Release Date: August 8, 2005

Photograph is the anthem for all our childhood memories we can never go back to. It’s about saying goodbye to the people and places you grew up with and in, and a slight twinge of regret of not being able to keep these relationships or connections alive and cherished.

19. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Artist: Elton John

Album: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Release Date: September 7, 1973

Bernie Taupin wrote most of the lyrics of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. He says that it’s about longing for a simpler life. The song talks about living a successful and opulent lifestyle but regretting leaving the simplicity of the rural roots.

According to Taupin, it was largely about his life. He enjoys the success he currently has but sometimes dreads the limelight and the busy style of living. He wishes for a way that these two can coexist.

20. Hotel California

Artist: Eagles

Album: Hotel California

Release Date: February 22, 1977

Don’t be surprised to find this timeless song here. It is, in fact, a song about regret, among others. If you refrain from deciphering its hidden meaning, the surface layer of its lyrics actually regrets going to the place known as Hotel California.

It starts off as having a good time in the hotel with all its dancing and wine and pink champagne on ice. However, towards the end of the song, the lyrics go;

“Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
‘Relax,’ said the night man,
‘We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave!’”

21. Like We Used To

Artist: A Rocket to the Moon

Album: On Your Side

Release Date: October 13, 2009

Going back to the arsenal of break-up songs, we have Like We Used To. It’s about longing for the person and regretting the break-up even now that she’s with someone else. It even goes so far as to ponder whether or not the new guy can love the woman like the way the persona in the song did.

22. Vincent

Artist: Don McLean

Album: American Pie

Release Date: February 1972

There are some things you can still fix in this lifetime, but there are those that you’ll regret for the rest of your life because it requires the impossible act of turning back the time. That pretty much sums up the inspiration for this song.

It’s a song written by Don McLean on a paper bag, of all things, about Vincent Van Gogh. The Dutch painter was often pictured as a social outcast and was sometimes even branded as crazy.

No one can deny the beauty of Van Gogh’s painting, as well as McLean’s song, especially in the lines;

“And when no hope was left inside
On that starry, starry night
You took your life as lovers often do
But I could have told you, Vincent
This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you”

23. Jealous Guy

Artist: John Lennon

Album: Imagine

Release Date: November 18, 1985

Aside from his hit single Imagine, another song from the same album that really pulls the strings of our hearts is Jealous Guy. Lennon was a bit regretful about his behavior with Yoko Ono, as he was very possessive of her.

24. Careless Whisper

Artist: George Michael

Album: Make It Big

Release Date: July 24, 1984

While the story of the song was entirely fictional, it still speaks of regret. It’s about feeling guilty of ever asking someone you admire to dance with you because, well, you don’t know how to dance.

However, a deeper layer of the song is actually about losing someone because the persona had an affair with another woman. Whether you admire the lyricism or not, you have to admit that this song has one of the best saxophone solos you’ve ever heard.

25. The Scientist

Artist: Coldplay

Album: A Rush of Blood to the Head

Release Date: November 11, 2002

Chris Martin explains that this song is about a scientist who spent most of his time working that he wasn’t able to take care of his girlfriend. He went on to say that it’s kind of weird that even though you’re faced with solving economic crises and environmental catastrophes, what would really get you down is if you’re not on good terms with the person you love.

“Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart”

The scientist in the song went on to regret taking his partner for granted and wanting to start again.

“Nobody said it was easy
It’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh, take me back to the start.”

Conclusion

Regret is perhaps one of the most complex emotions we feel. That’s probably because it’s extremely difficult to face it because we can’t do anything about it, given the unidirectional nature of time.

Don’t worry. The next time you feel regret and you don’t know what to do about it, whip out this list of songs we prepared for you and have these amazing artists pour out your emotions for you.

While many musicians sing about problems in relationships or fame, some sing about conquering it all and choosing to do so if they had to do it all over again. Indeed, music can be a great motivator and inspiration to persevere through hard times.

25 songs about overcoming obstacles, adversity, and challenges.

1. “Let It Be” by The Beatles

“Let It Be” is an iconic ballad by the English rock band the Beatles, first released in 1970 as a single for their album of the same name. Paul McCartney was inspired by his mother, Mary, to write this positive song. One night, he saw his mother in a dream, and she spoke to him. She came to him in his time of trouble with words of wisdom that brought him peace. It’s an inspirational song with a powerful message.

2. “Long Promised Road” by The Beach Boys

“Long Promised Road” is a song recorded by the American rock band the Beach Boys. It was from their 1971 album Surf’s Up. The song was written by Jack Rieley and Carl Wilson, who provided lead vocals. When Rieley was asked about the music in a 2013 interview, he said he was writing personal lyrics, like love songs with a sense of poetry. In this song, the band has captured the essence of what it means to overcome challenges and fight off obstacles.

3. “Imagine” by John Lennon

“Imagine,” a 1971 song by John Lennon, is one of the best-selling singles for his solo career. It was created when the Vietnam War was in full swing. This song encourages people to imagine a world without borders, religion, or materialism. This song is one of the most well-known and respected songs worldwide that inspires listeners to embrace peace and unity amidst the world’s challenges.

4. “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkwJ-g0iJ6w

“I Can See Clearly Now” is a song written and recorded by singer Johnny Nash. The hit song was included on his album of the same name, released in 1972. The song was often thought to be about suicide. However, this song about strength and hope is dedicated to people who have experienced adversity and never gave up.

5. “Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston

From Michael Masser and Linda Creed, this song was written for the film 1977 The Greatest, which featured the life of boxer Muhammad Ali. The first version of the song was recorded by George Benson. Eight years later, Whitney Houston’s rendition of the song in 1985 made it even more well-known, topping the charts in the United States, Australia, Canada. The song is about the writer’s wish that children would learn to love themselves and believe in themselves even when faced with challenges or adversity.

6. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey

“Don’t Stop Believin'” was released in 1981 as a single off of Journey’s album, Escape. Although it was not their biggest chart hit, this iconic track is the band’s most enduring song after resurging in the 2000s. The lyrics emphasize the importance of remaining positive when faced with challenges and uncertainty. Steve Perry himself believes in the ideals of believing in yourself and following your passion.

7. “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips

“Hold On” is an inspiring song by Wilson Phillips. It was released in 1990 as the lead single from their debut studio album, Wilson Phillips. This song addresses someone going through some rough times and encourages that person to persevere. They sing that things will get better and give the person some tough love but only to help them achieve success in life. When Chynna Phillips wrote the lyrics to the song, she was inspired by her personal experiences with drug and alcohol addiction.

8. “The Show Must Go On” by Queen

“The Show Must Go On” is co-written by Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury and lead guitarist Brian May. This beautiful song, released in 1991, pays tribute to the resilience of Mercury’s character. While it was essentially written by May based on his experiences with his father’s death, the main focus of the song revolves around Mercury’s struggle to overcome his terminal illness [HIV/AIDS] while recording Queen’s sixth studio album: Innuendo.

9. “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree

Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be” is an R&B and soul song with lyrics about discovering one’s identity. It is included as the third track on Des’ree’s second album, I Ain’t Movin’. In the track, Des’ree encourages others to express their feelings, be true to themselves, and live life fully. The singer became successful worldwide after the single was released in 1994.

10. “Go the Distance” by Michael Bolton

“Go the Distance” is a song from Disney’s 1997 animated feature film, Hercules. Composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel wrote the song, while American actor Roger Bart recorded it for his film role as the singing voice of Hercules. The number is reprised when Hercules declares that he wants to become a true hero and “go the distance” to prove himself.

11. “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child

“Survivor” is a song by American R&B group Destiny’s Child. Beyoncé wrote and composed the song with Anthony Dent and band manager Mathew Knowles. She says this was a defining moment in the career of Destiny’s Child, as they achieved success with the success came a great deal of negativity. The criticism encouraged her to “write them out of the negativity,” which is how she came up with this song.

12. “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera

“Fighter” is a 2002 song by American singer Christina Aguilera included in her fourth studio album, Stripped. The song was written by Aguilera during the promotion of her debut album in 1999. She wanted to create an “emotionally rich and positive empowering” song, especially for women, so that they can speak for themselves and be strong. The lyrics are about resilience in the face of hardships, inspiring listeners to overcome their own challenges in life.

13. “Defying Gravity” by Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth

“Defying Gravity” is a song from the musical Wicked and was originally sung by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in 2003. They won a Tony Award for this performance. The song has become a show-stopper that closes Act I and is considered the signature song of Wicked. The song’s popularity is due mainly to its inspirational message: Elphaba finds power in her outsider status.

14. “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor

Fort Minor’s “Remember the Name” is a tribute to Mike Shinoda’s struggle to defy adverse circumstances and reach his goals. In the lyrics, Shinoda discusses what an artist has to go through to succeed in the music industry. For many listeners, “Remember the Name” is about not giving up against all odds to achieve your dreams.

15. “Keep Holding On” by Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne’s “Keep Holding On” is an inspirational ballad used as the theme song for the 2006 film Eragon. It is also included in her album, The Best Damn Thing. In the lyrics, Lavigne expresses to another person that they won’t be alone in their struggle, and they will make it through together. The song became an empowering anthem that reminds listeners of their strength and courage.

16. “Move Along” by The All-American Rejects

“Move Along” is a song recorded by the American rock band The All-American Rejects. Written by Nick Wheeler and Tyson Ritter, this song was released in 2006 as the second single from their second studio album. Wheeler explained that the song was written as a suicide awareness song about believing in yourself and persevering through tough times. The music video describes the experiences in life that we all face—whether we work as a doctor, librarian, gardener, football player, or in an office. The lead singer’s fictional engagement is called off, and he decides to move on.

17. “Titanium” by David Guetta, Sia

In “Titanium,” David Guetta gets a little help from Sia in encouraging listeners to conquer their fears and reach for their dreams. The song appeared on Guetta’s fifth studio album, Nothing but the Beat, released in 2011. This song is a powerful anthem against the critics and the bullies, equating vicious criticisms to bullets. The piece was built around the metaphor of a study metal resistant to harm.

18. “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato

This song is sung by American singer Demi Lovato. On November 1, 2010, their publicist announced that Lovato had entered a treatment facility for physical and emotional issues, which was subsequently reported to include an eating disorder and self-cutting. On December 18, 2011, the singer released the single “Skyscraper,” depicting their resilience in the face of personal issues. The single’s lyric is about the pain they felt in rehab because of their self-harm and eating disorders.

19. “Shake It Out” by Florence and The Machine

“Shake It Out” is a 2011 song by British indie rock band Florence and the Machine. It was chosen as the first single from their second album, Ceremonials. This song was written within an hour by band member Florence Welch. She said that the lyrics of this song are about some dark moments in life when you feel like you can’t go on, but in reality, those moments are just parts of a much larger picture of your own life, and it will pass one day.

20. “Hall of Fame” by The Script, will.i.am

The Script released a hit single in 2012, “Hall of Fame,” featuring will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. It was also included in the band’s third studio album. The song encourages people to pursue their dreams and make the world better for everyone.

21. “Roar” by Katy Perry

“Roar” is a song by American singer Katy Perry released as the lead single from her fourth studio album Prism (2013). In the song, Perry sings about standing up for yourself and remaining positive in the face of adversity. The cheer-filled music is an anthem for self-empowerment.

22. “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift

The first single of Taylor Swift’s album 1989, “Shake it Off,” encourages listeners to let go of their minor problems. The upbeat song is about how Swift has learned to deal with false rumors about her. She said she cannot let the negativity get to her and has learned to just shake it off. For listeners worldwide, the song is also about taking pride in knowing who you are and refusing to let others bother you.

23. “Rise Up” by Andra Day

“Rise Up” is a motivational protest song that can fit any cause. Released in 2015, Audra Day sings about staying strong in the face of challenges and finding community, even when it seems like you’ll never overcome them. The motivational song is an excellent source of inspiration that can motivate you to prevail over the obstacles you face.

24. “Rise” by Katy Perry

“Rise” is a song by singer Katy Perry who wrote the song after feeling a need for our world to unite. She co-wrote the song with Savan Kotecha, Max Martin, and Ali Payami. She released it as a single in 2016, two years after the release of her last album. The song is about overcoming adversity and honoring one’s self. The title refers to a person’s own self-empowerment and self-worth and the power of compassion, love, and unity.

25. “This Is Me” by Keala Settle

Written for the film The Greatest Showman, “This Is Me” is a song performed by Keala Settle. Told from the perspective of Lettie Lutz, the music is an empowerment anthem for those who are ostracized by society for being peculiar. The bearded lady refuses to be cut down in the film and instead celebrates her difference. The song is positive encouragement for underdogs to those who are different.

Conclusion

One of the prominent universal themes in music is rising above challenges and adversity. Everyone experiences obstacles from time to time, and music artists sing great songs that inspire people to overcome them.

From Whitney Houston wishing for the children to believe in themselves to Taylor Swift choosing not to let the negativity get to her, these songs can motivate you to conquer your personal struggles. Hopefully, these songs will cheer you up when you need a song about overcoming adversity.

The rainy days are just around the corner, and that means whipping out your music playlist and listening to some of your favorite songs while you sip coffee by the window. If you’re open to suggestions, we’d like to show you some of the best songs written about storms.

Whether it’s some good old country music, heavy rock & roll, or an emotional pop song, we’re certain you’ll love listening to the following tracks sooner or later.

Songs About Storms

Here are the best and most popular songs written about storms.

1. Thunder

Artist: Imagine Dragons

Album: Evolve

Release Date: April 27, 2017

A song which is presumably about Dan Reynolds’s, the band’s lead singer, success story, Thunder by Imagine Dragons is our first song about storms on this list. The first lines of the song go:

“I was dreaming of bigger things and
Wanna leave my own life behind
Not a “Yes, sir,” not a follower
Fit the box, fit the mold
Have a seat in the foyer, take a number
I was lightning before the thunder”

People believe this to be a metaphor for being who you really are and reaching for your dreams.

2. Set Fire to the Rain

Artist: Adele

Album: 21

Release Date: July 4, 2011

Can you believe that this song is over ten years old? It seems like it was only yesterday that the whole world was listening to this. Set Fire to the Rain is a powerful song written by Adele that talks about the liberating feeling of freeing yourself of the pain after a relationship ends.

3. Hurricane

Artist: Bob Dylan

Album: Desire

Release Date: January 5, 1976

Bob Dylan is one of the most popular rock artists in the history of music. His song Hurricane, which he co-wrote with Jacques Levy, actually has a rather dark theme. The lyrics go:

“An innocent man in a living hell
That’s the story of the Hurricane
But it won’t be over ‘til they clear his name
And give him back the time he’s done.”

Hurricane is the moniker of Rubin Carter, an American-Canadian boxer who served 20 years in prison after being wrongly charged with murder. Bob Dylan’s song discusses racial discrimination and the overall injustice towards people of color.

4. The Lightning Strike

Artist: Snow Patrol

Album: A Hundred Million Suns

Release Date: January 1, 2008

Snow Patrol may have been famous for their song Chasing Cars, but their song The Lightning Strike is also a feast for the ears. The song goes,

“The perfect halo
Of gold hair and lightning
Sets you off against
The planet’s last dance
Just for a minute
The silver forked sky
Lit you up like a star
That I will follow.”

Gary Lightbody narrates his experience in Glasgow, where he encountered a heavy storm. It’s also a perfect portrayal of how storms can paradoxically be beautiful yet frightening.

5. Umbrella

Artist: Rihanna

Album: Good Girl Gone Bad

Release Date: March 8, 2007

Under my umbrella, ella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh. Ah, yes. Who could forget this iconic song from Rihanna? Despite all the popular songs she released more recently, Umbrella remains to be one of her widest-selling tracks.

In this song, Rihanna portrays the storm or the rain as something negative. She then uses the umbrella as a metaphor to protect someone from the harshness of the weather.

6. Laughter in the Rain

Artist: Neil Sedaka

Album: Laughter in the Rain

Release Date: October 1974

Everyone seems to view the storm as something bad or negative. However, Neil Sedaka paints a whole new picture where a person, maybe Neil Sedaka himself, reminisces a memory of laughing in the pouring rain with his loved one.

“Sharing our love under stormy skies
Oh, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Oh, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside”

It seems like Neil is one of the few artists who enjoy the rain.

7. Wild is the Wind

Artist: David Bowie

Album: Station to Station

Release Date: November 11, 1957

Wild is the Wind was recorded as early as 1957 for a film with the same name, but it was only in 1976 that David Bowie included it in an album. This melancholic song is leaning more on Bowie’s gentle and tender side, and it’s perhaps one of the most emotional songs you’ll ever hear.

8. Storms

Artist: Fleetwood Mac

Album: Tusk

Release Date: October 12, 1979

If you’re looking for a song about storms, perhaps Fleetwood Mac’s Storms is what will get you through. The storm discussed in the song is the personality of someone who is a bit intense, which can also mean uncontrolled and problematic.

“So I try to say goodbye, my friend
I’d like to leave you with something warm
But never have I been a blue calm sea
I have always been a storm
Always been a storm.”

It was rumored that Storms is about Stevie Nick’s relationship with Mick Fleetwood, the band’s lead singer and drummer, respectively, and how it ended.

9. Like a Hurricane

Artist: Neil Young

Album: Decade

Release Date: May 27, 1977

Here’s a fun fact for you; Like a Hurricane is more than eight minutes long and was written after Neil Young’s vocal cord surgery, which means he couldn’t sing or even talk at the moment. What he did was write two lines on an envelope;

“You are like a hurricane
There’s calm in your eye.”

Neil’s band, Crazy Horse, struggled with the song for more than a week before finally coming up with a simpler take on it. The rest, as they say, is history.

10. Shelter from the Storm

Artist: Bob Dylan

Album: Blood on the Tracks

Release Date: January 20, 1975

It seems Bob Dylan really takes inspiration in harsh weather as he wrote and released another hit song called Shelter from the Storm. The song seems to talk about the experiences of a warrior or even a Christ-like person,

“’Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form
Come in, she said
I’ll give ya shelter from the storm”

However, people believe that this is actually a song about a love affair and how it can provide the person with redemption.

11. Thunder Road

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Album: Born to Run

Release Date: August 25, 1975

Bruce Springsteen is undeniably a rock icon in the music industry. The song Thunder Road seems to be a metaphor for life being a rollercoaster ride with all its ups and downs. However, the song is so full of symbolism and metaphors that we can’t say for certain. Nonetheless, Thunder Road should definitely be in everyone’s playlist.

12. Thunderstruck

Artist: AC/DC

Album: The Razors Edge

Release Date: September 10, 1990

Here’s another “old but gold” song from one of the most legendary rock music icons in history. Thunderstruck, from the Australian rock band AC/DC, is a song about celebration and good times. The song talks about being caught out of the blue but in a good way. The song is one of AC/DC’s best tracks, which always earned it a spot on their live setlist.

13. Distant Thunder

Artist: Richard Clapton

Album: Distant Thunder

Release Date: May 5, 1993

Richard Clapton, who got his name from two of his favorite artists, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton, is a musician from Australia. Despite not being known throughout the globe, he’s actually a great singer and lyricist.

His song Distant Thunder talks about life, how we face it, and how we must try and keep moving forward.

“These are the days we have been waiting for so long
But now is the time to set things right
Right here at home
Distant thunder
Down along the front
Don’t surrender
‘Til we set things right at home”

With lyrics such as these, you already know it’s a great song.

14. Riders on the Storm

Artist: The Doors

Album: L.A. Woman

Release Date: June 27, 1971

If you want a song about storms to listen to on a rainy day, this 7-minute track shouldn’t fail you. It even includes sound layers of thunder and rainfall. Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, unexpectedly died on July 3, 1971, just less than a week after the release of Riders on the Storm, making it the last song he ever recorded.

What makes this song even more coincidental, if not eerie, is that the lyrics are somewhat a metaphor for Morrison’s life, making the track a symbolic autobiography.

“Riders on the storm
Into this house, we’re born
Into this world, we’re thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out on loan
Riders on the storm”

15. Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Album: Let It Bleed

Release Date: December 5, 1969

Gimme Shelter is a song about all the turmoil happening at the time it was written. 1969 was the year that the country was at war with Vietnam; there were also race riots all across the globe; and, well, Charles Manson. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger perceived this series of events as a catastrophic storm, and the song talks about trying to find shelter from it, hence the title.

16. Stormy Weather by The Pixies

Artist: The Pixies

Album: Bossanova

Release Date: August 13, 1990

This song from The Pixies is perhaps the one with the most simplistic lyrics on this list.

“It is time
It is time for
It is time for stormy weather
It is time”

That’s basically what Charles Thompson IV, more famously known for the name Black Francis, sang for three and a half minutes. Nonetheless, its simple lyrics amplified the song’s overall vibe and highlighted the powerful vocals and gritty instruments of the band.

17. After the Storm

Artist: Mumford & Sons

Album: Sigh No More

Release Date: January 1, 2010

After the Storm was actually a bonus track in the band’s Sigh No More album. The song talks about life and how frightening it can be. Nonetheless, the persona on the track seems to understand that that’s just how life is, and we must all stand tall and see the beauty after all the hardships or the calm after the storm.

We can see this clearly in the first verse that goes;

“Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won’t rot, I won’t rot
Not this mind and not this heart
I won’t rot”

We can further emphasize the value of perseverance in the chorus that goes;

“But there will come a time
You’ll see, with no more tears
And love will not break your heart
But dismiss your fears
Get over your hill and see
What you find there
With grace in your heart
And flowers in your hair”

These lyrics, combined with the melancholic melody, makes the song a really emotional track to listen to, which is perfect for moments of contemplation during rainy days.

18. It Will Rain by Bruno Mars

Artist: Bruno Mars

Album: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (Movie OST)

Release Date: September 27, 2011

Who else remembers those days when Bruno Mars’s songs were mostly about being a hopeless romantic or broken-hearted? Although It Will Rain was released as a soundtrack for the movie series Twilight, it didn’t stop all of us from listening to the painful lyrics of being so frightened to lose someone. We’ve all been there, right?

Bruno Mars even went on to explain that he wrote the song because the Twilight movies seem to talk about a darker side of love. However, Bruno Mars actually didn’t like the final mix of the song and had to turn off the radio upon hearing it play.

19. It’s Raining Men

Artist: The Weather Girls

Album: Success

Release Date: September 10, 1982

A song title very appropriate for the duo’s (Martha Wash and Izora Armstead) name. Believe it or not, the duo’s name was actually changed because of the song. They were first known as Two Tons O’ Fun, but after recording It’s Raining Men, the duo decided to change their name to The Weather Girls so it’d be better suited for the song.

It became a gay anthem, which all of us are probably very familiar with, and that’s a great thing because the song was actually dedicated to the gay community and was a celebration of their culture.

20. Through the Rain

Artist: Mariah Carey

Album: Charmbracelet

Release Date: September 30, 2002

This song talks about making it through every challenge you’re faced with as long as you believe in yourself. Standing back up every time you fall is the main theme of the song, and it surely did touch the hearts of many.

However, did you know that the music video for this song is actually loosely based on the love story of Carey’s parents? They both faced discrimination and prejudice because they came from different races.

21. Purple Rain

Artist: Prince

Album: Purple Rain

Release Date: June 25, 1984

Prince was inspired by Bob Seger, who wrote slow songs such as Night Moves and Mainstreet. These songs were very relatable, and Prince was amazed at how these songs touched people’s hearts. So, Prince decided to write in the same style and came up with Purple Rain.

Prince also made movies, and Purple Rain was the soundtrack of his very first film. The song also won him an Oscar for Best Original Song Score.

Conclusion

Whether it’s rock, metal, mellow, R&B, country, or any other genre, we all look for the best songs to listen to when it rains. Thankfully, artists seem to take inspiration from this weather, too. So, the next time the rain is pouring on your windowpane, be sure to refer to our list of songs about storms.

Ah, yes. Tennessee; the land of good whiskey and great music. This state, or more specifically, its capital, Nashville, is best known for its country music scene. That’s why it’s not surprising to find numerous songs written about it.

If you haven’t heard of them yet, here are 15 songs about Tennessee that should be on your next playlist.

Songs About Tennessee

1. My Homeland, Tennessee

Artist: Roy Lamont and Nell Grayson Taylor

Album: Official State Song

Release Date: 1925

What better way to start off this list than by introducing you to one of the state’s ten official songs? The lyrics of My Homeland, Tennessee were written by a poet and WWI nurse named Nell Grayson Taylor. On the other hand, the music was written by an instructor in a music conservatorship named Roy Lamont Smith.

The song talks about one’s loyalty and patriotism towards Tennessee and its history.

2. Tennessee Homesick Blues

Artist: Dolly Parton

Album: Rhinestone

Release Date: June 1984

In this song, Dolly Parton talks about feeling homesick or wanting to go back to her simpler life in Tennessee after experiencing New York City and its culture. The first line in the lyrics sums up the song perfectly, which goes;

“New York City ain’t no kinda place for a country girl with a friendly face”

The song was used as a soundtrack for the movie Rhinestone. Despite the film not gaining enough traction, the soundtrack went on to take spots in music charts.

3. Tennessee River

Artist: Alabama

Album: My Home’s in Alabama

Release Date: April 16, 1980

You may find it ironic that a band named Alabama, with an album called My Home’s in Alabama, wrote a song about Tennessee River. Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and Jeff Cook, the band’s founding members, all grew up in Fort Payne. The Tennessee River flows right through this town, which inspired the group to write the song. The lines

“Back to the good life I left behind”

and

“Where peace and love can still be found”

talks about how they yearn for the southern life after moving away.

4. Tennessee Waltz

Artist: Original by Pee Wee King, Popularized by Patti Page

Album:

Release Date: 1952

While most of the previous songs talk about love for the homeland, the Tennessee Waltz gives us a different take as it is about heartbreak. The lyrics were written by Redd Steward and were originally sung by Pee Wee King. It talks about how the persona introduced his/her loved one to a friend, and the two fell in love.

“I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darling
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz”

The song was so raw and authentic that various other artists like Patti Page and Connie Francis recorded their own versions.

5. That’s How I Got to Memphis

Artist: Tom T. Hall

Album: Ballad of Forty Dollars & His Other Great Songs

Release Date: May 1969

Here’s another popular song that’s been re-recorded by multiple other artists, including Charley Crocket, Buddy Miller, Deryl Dodd, and Bobby Bare. That’s How I Got to Memphis was originally written and performed by Tom T. Hall.

It’s about how the persona reached Memphis, Tennessee, trying to find his lost love. The song leaves a few stones unturned, like why the woman was in Memphis or the trouble she got in. Tom T. Hall preferred to leave these to your imagination, perhaps.

6. Back to Tennessee

Artist: Billy Ray Cyrus

Album: Back to Tennessee

Release Date: April 7, 2009

Billy Ray Cyrus made sure to contribute to the long list of legendary southern songs. Billy Ray wrote it after learning that he’s going back to his home state to shoot scenes for the film Hannah Montana: The Movie, which stars his daughter, Miley Cyrus.

Being the musical family that they are, Back to Tennessee and Miley’s The Climb both entered the Hot Country Songs Chart simultaneously.

7. Tennessee Stud

Artist: Jimmy Driftwood

Album:

Release Date: 1959

Tennessee Stud was originally written and composed by Jimmy Driftwood, but you’d often see artists like Doc Watson, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the icon Johnny Cash, with their versions of the track.

It’s about the old western life, and the song specifically talks about a horse and the persona’s experiences after departing Tennessee.

“Back about ’18 and ‘25
I left Tennessee very much alive
I never would have made it through the Arkansas mud
If I hadn’t been riding on the Tennessee Stud”

8. Tennessee Whiskey

Artist: David Allan Coe

Album: Tennessee Whiskey

Release Date: June 1981

The Tennessee Whiskey was written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove and was released in 1981 by David Allan Coe. There have been many renditions of the song, with the latest one just this 2015 from Chris Stapleton with a touch of the blues.

Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove met up in Nashville after the latter’s performance, and it is believed that the two stayed up until four in the morning writing the song. Dean originally asked George Strait to record the song, but Strait passed on it.

9. Southern Comfort Zone

Artist: Brad Paisley

Album: Wheelhouse

Release Date: September 21, 2012

This song from Brad Paisley is quite paradoxical. First, he talks about all the good things about the Southern regions but then asks the people to leave their comfort zone. Paisley seems to recognize that a lot of people take the comfort of the South for granted.

So, he wants them to travel and go to places to learn more about the world, leading them to further appreciate their Tennessee homeland and the comfort it provides.

10. Rocky Top

Artist: Osborne Brothers

Album: Yesterday, Today, and the Osborne Brothers

Release Date: December 25, 1967

The Southern life really just must have a lot to offer because everyone who moves to the city seems to get homesick after a while. The Osborne Brothers perfectly narrate that in their song Rocky Top.

The song was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant after staying in The Gatlinburg Inn in Tennessee. While the rocky top in the song is fictional, there is indeed a place called Rocky Top (one of the peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains). Additionally, Lake City in Tennessee was also renamed in 2014 as Rocky Top.

11. Crazy Town

Artist: Jason Aldean

Album: Wide Open

Release Date: March 2010

While all the other songs on this list talk about leaving Tennessee and missing the place after a while, Crazy Town from Jason Aldean is the contrary. It’s about going to Nashville, Tennessee, and trying to make it as an artist.

He says that the song is about finding what it is about yourself that will let you stand out from everybody else.

12. Tennessee Rose

Artist: Emmylou Harris

Album: Cimarron

Release Date: January 1981

The Tennessee Rose was written by Hank DeVito and Karen Brooks, and instead of missing the homeland of Tennessee, it actually pertains to a person. It’s about those moments when you long so much for the presence of the person you love, and at the same time, you are very thankful that you are in love with one another.

“Well, it’s a sweet dream
That keeps me close to you, dear
And it’s a sad thing
When we’re apart I’m blue, dear”

This love song is a declaration of love for that special person and how you wouldn’t want anything else than to be together.

“I wouldn’t trade, no
The whole world dipped in gold
For a night with my Tennessee rose”

13. Smoky Mountain Rain

Artist: Ronnie Milsap

Album: Greatest Hits

Release Date: September 1980

This track from Ronnie Milsap starts slow but picks up the pace in the chorus before slowing down again in the verses. It’s about a man who went back to Knoxville from Los Angeles only to find, through a phone call, that the woman he loves had left him.

14. Tennessee

Artist: Arrested Development

Album: 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of

Release Date: March 24, 1992

Not all songs about Tennessee should be under the country or blues music genre. One example of that is Tennessee from Arrested Development. The song’s fast-paced lyrics and beat make it a hip-hop track. It has a bit of a sad backstory.

Todd Thomas, otherwise known as Speech and Arrested Development’s frontman, went to Tennessee with his brother for their grandmother’s funeral. His brother went back to college right after, and unfortunately, died the very same week.

The Tennessee’s chorus is like Todd’s prayer to God;

“Take me to another place, take me to another land
Make me forget all that hurts me, let me understand your plan”

15. Congregation

Artist: Foo Fighters

Album: Sonic Highways

Release Date: October 31, 2014

The song Congregation from Foo Fighters does not directly talk about Nashville or even Tennessee. However, the entire album Sonic Highways was recorded in eight different cities (one city for each song in the album), and one of them was Nashville, Tennessee.

While there was no mention of the place, Nate Mendel, Foo Fighters’s bassist, says that Congregation is about artists from the Nashville music scene coming together to learn and improve the art of making music.

They even referenced the Bluebird Café in one line of the song,

“And they’re singing like a bluebird in the round”

The Bluebird Café is a popular place in Nashville, often viewed as a rite of passage that you must experience before making a name in the industry.

Conclusion

It’s not surprising that dozens of songs are written about Tennessee. After all, it’s one of the places where country music really gained traction. So, the next time you visit Tennessee or miss the land or just want to learn more about it, be sure to refer to our list for the best songs to listen to.

Songs about time can take you back to a particular moment or bring back certain feelings. The way music captures the sense of time passing resonates deeply with people, making it powerful. Here is a list of 25 great songs that make reference to time.

Top 25 Songs About Time

1. “Yesterday” by The Beatles

The song “Yesterday” was released in 1965 by the Beatles. It was recorded by Paul McCartney, whose dream of a melody led to the music arrangement with producer George Martin. This song about lost love references the sudden passing of time. The lyric “yesterday” symbolizes the happier times of the past when his “troubles seemed so far away” and when love was an “easy game to play.” This track is one of the most covered songs in history, with over 2,000 versions recorded.

2. “It Was a Very Good Year” by Frank Sinatra

Written in 1961 by Ervin Drake, “It Was a Very Good Year” has become one of Sinatra’s signature songs, with its nostalgic tone and depiction of relationships over the years. The singer reminisces about his past relationships from different years in his life, each of which he calls “very good.” At the end of the song, the singer feels time passing as an older person, but whatever happened in his life was sweet, like a vintage wine from “a very good year.”

3. “The Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell

“The Circle Game” is a poetic song written in 1967. Here, Mitchell alludes to the carousel as a metaphor for the passing years. She points out how we can look back, but we can’t return to our past. The first verse begins with a young boy looking forward to getting older and enjoying his youth. In the following verse, the boy is now aged 16 and driving. The final verse features him at 20 years old, with his dreams tempered a bit, but still with high hopes for his future.

4. “Time In A Bottle” by Jim Croce

Jim Croce wrote this song in 1970 for his wife Ingrid after learning about her pregnancy. Initially, it was not meant to be released as a single, but the song gained even more popularity when Croce died in a plane crash in 1973. The song is about mortality and how we wish we had more time with our loved ones.

5. “Time” by Pink Floyd

“Time” is a famous Pink Floyd song released as a single in 1973, which also appeared on the band’s eighth album, The Dark Side of the Moon. The song talks about time and how you might think you have enough to prepare for something, but before you know it, it’s too late. Roger Waters got the idea for the song when he was 28, after realizing that life is not about preparing for the future but rather enjoying the present.

 6. “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin

“Cat’s in the Cradle” by American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin is a 1974 folk-rock song about a father and son. The lyrics are sung from the perspective of a man who, while he becomes a father at the beginning of the song, cannot spend time with his son. Years later, the son grows up and becomes busy spending time with him. He realizes how much like him his son has become.

7. “Wheel in the Sky” by Journey

This song is performed by the American rock band Journey, originally released on their 1977 album Infinity. It was written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry, and its lyrics are about a man who is on tour with his band and missing his girlfriend at home. The narrator mentions a wheel in the sky throughout the refrain, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for life’s unpredictable twists and turns. Repeatedly during the song, the narrator notes that he doesn’t know where he’ll be tomorrow.

8. “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas

Kansas’s 1977 song “Dust in the Wind” reflects the inevitability of mortality. It also deals with the triviality of individuals within the larger context of things. It was written by band member Kerry Livgren and inspired by an ancient Native American poem with the line “For all we are is dust in the wind.” The songwriter made the music from a picking exercise on guitar that his wife suggested he make into a song.

9. “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper 

Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” is a sweet love song from 1983. Lauper expresses her deep devotion to her boyfriend in the track and promises that she’ll never leave him. The couple has been together for years, and Lauper further explains the depth of their relationship by stating that they have seen each other through the good and bad times.

10. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes

“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” is composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes recorded the song. It was used as the theme song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, which follows the story of a young couple falling in love over the summer. This song was made famous by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze’s final dance.

11. “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston 

Written and performed by Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea, this sentimental ballad is about believing in yourself against all odds. Houston sings about trusting yourself to push forward against all odds and believing in your ability to overcome any challenge. She thinks she can achieve her dreams, and all she asks is just “one moment in time.”

12. “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher

“If I Could Turn Back Time” is recorded by American singer and actress Cher for her 1989 album Heart of Stone. The song focuses on the narrator’s feelings of remorse, as it is evident that she said and did hurtful things to the person she actually cared for. Only when the deed was already done that she realize the level of pain she had caused. Because of this, she wishes to return to the past to undo everything.

13. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor 

A song written by Prince and performed by Sinéad O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” is a hit song in which the narrator knows the exact time it has been since her lover left her. In the opening lyric, O’Connor sings, “it’s been 7 hours and 15 days since you took your love away.” The song is about longing for a former love.

14. “Remember the Time” by Michael Jackson

In 1992, Michael Jackson released the single “Remember the Time” from his album, Dangerous. The song recalls a youthful love affair and the early stages of the relationship. Here, Jackson asks his love if she remembers when they first fell in love as he reminisces about their memories together. This song is about yearning for the good old days with his love.

15. “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” by Green Day

Green Day’s song “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” appears on their fifth studio album Nimrod, released in 1997. Armstrong wrote the song to vent his frustration at his ex-girlfriend moving to Ecuador. The music has become a staple at high school graduation ceremonies. The song’s lyrics may also refer to the experience of ending one’s adolescence at high school graduation and leaving the familiar friends one made during their time there.

16. “Closing Time” by Semisonic

“Closing Time” is performed by the American rock band Semisonic. It was released on their 1998 sophomore album, Feeling Strangely Fine. It was written by Dan Wilson when his girlfriend was pregnant. Although the song is about people leaving a bar at closing time, the band has also indicated that it was written by Wilson in anticipation of fatherhood. In an interview, Wilson stated that he did not immediately realize that the song was also about being born.

17. “100 Years” by Five for Fighting

This song is performed by American singer Five for Fighting. It was released in 2003 as the first single from his third studio album, The Battle for Everything (2004). The lyrics of this song mark key moments in a man’s life: the shock of adolescence, the responsibilities of adulthood and parenthood, the mid-life crisis, and death. The song is popular among many people as it is an excellent description of at least one stage of every person’s life.

18. “Where’d All the Time Go?” by Dr. Dog 

On the track “Where’d All the Time Go?”, Dr. Dog sings about time moving fast until death stops it “in the blink of an eye.” This song is about middle age and how time seems to fly by when we’re younger and then catches up with us later in life. After being lost for years, this Dr. Dog song was re-released in 2021 as a viral TikTok meme. Tiktokers use the platform’s reverse shapeshifting creative feature to morph childhood images of themselves into who they are now.

19. “Stop This Train” by John Mayer

“Stop This Train” is the 7th song on John Mayer’s 2006 album, Continuum. It is about dealing with the inevitable march of time and mortality. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mayer explained that this song about getting older touched on a time when he suffered from a quarter-life crisis in 2001. This song resonates with listeners going through the gradual acceptance of getting older.

20. “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts

In 2009, Clint Lagerberg and American Idol season 6 finalist Chris Sligh teamed up to write a song for a popular country band, the Rascall Flatts. The country music group recorded “Here Comes Goodbye” as the first single from their album, Unstoppable. The power ballad begins with a piano accompaniment. The song is about the realization that a relationship you thought was solid is coming to an end. The narrator sings about “the last time” of being in his former lover’s arms.

21. “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons

“It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons was the band’s breakthrough hit when it was released in 2011. This chart-topper was inspired by Dan Reynold’s personal experiences. In an interview, Reynolds explained that he was dropping out of college when he wrote it. The song, which first started as a poem, helped him cope with his feelings of despair at the time. This hit single urges listeners to accept change and move on when the going gets rough.

22. “Take Your Time” by Sam Hunt 

“Take Your Time” is a song recorded by American country singer Sam Hunt. It was released to country radio by MCA Nashville in 2014 as the second single from his debut studio album, Montevallo. The song is about a man approaching a woman to know her better with the desire to take her time.

23. “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron

English band Lord Huron recorded “The Night We Met” for their second album, Strange Trails (2015). The song was featured in the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” (2017) and became famous worldwide. The song was described as a time machine that sends listeners back to happier times with Hannah and Clay, the show’s characters.

24. “7 Years” by Lukas Graham

“7 Years” is a song written in 2015 by Lukas Graham, a Danish soul-pop band. The band reflected on their lives and wondered about growing older. Nostalgia is explored from ages 7, 11, and 20 before the band wonders about their life in the possible future, specifically, when they’re 30 or 60 or have kids or a wife.

25. “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles 

A song by Harry Styles, “Sign of the Times,” is a slow-paced pop-rock track released in 2017. Styles said in an interview that the song is about a mother giving birth and passing away directly afterward. He also said it was inspired by the saying, “This isn’t the first time we’ve been in a hard time, and it’s not going to be the last time.” In general, the song is about avoiding emotion and reality during grief and hardship. The piece draws inspiration from the music of David Bowie and Queen.

Conclusion

Whether it’s a reckoning of the hours one has wasted or a fond reflection on years gone by, songs about time have the power to conjure up more memories and feelings than any other. Most of these tracks center around the simple concepts of aging and nostalgia, especially to the good old days. Use this list to revisit your favorite classics as you pass into new chapters in your own life.