Play That Song

Historical Facts

Whether written with the intent to uplift, inspire, comfort, or draw awareness, musical lyrics have the power to conjure deep emotions and a sense of connection among listeners. If written well, even <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/english-songs-with-foreign-languages/jason-f-collins">song lyrics in other languages </a>can get stuck in our heads for days at a time.&nbsp;And while we may know every word of our favorite songs, we often don't realize that there are surprisingly <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/stories-behind-song-lyrics/lauren-glen">unexpected stories</a> behind the lyrics we so easily recognize. Whether it's an upbeat tune or a dramatically somber melody, songwriters often draw on historical references to inspire the themes of the ballads they write. Historical references in songs from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-references-in-beatles-songs/gordon-cameron">The Beatles</a> to The Beastie Boys, here are some of the most notable songs with historical references we didn't catch before.&nbsp;

12 Songs With Historical References We Didn’t Catch Before

Song

Real History References In Famous Pop Songs

Lauren Glen

Are you the "music guy" on your virtual trivia team? Read up for some fun facts and little-known info that will score you maj points.

Name That Song

Weird History

Music is a time machine - and you don’t need a hot tub, a flux capacitor, or a TARDIS to get to your destination. Instead, all it might take is an opening chord, the strum of a guitar, or the croon of a familiar voice, and you can transport <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-references-60s-70s-songs/jonathan-kantor">to an entirely different era</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some artists take this power to heart, influenced by real people and situations as they craft their lyrics. The '90s, for example,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/history-references-90s-pop-songs/thomas-west">saw an outpouring</a> of politically-inspired songs by the likes of Sinéad O’Connor, Dave Matthews Band, Sublime, and Elton John. So many other events, from Hurricane Katrina to the Beaconsfield gold mine collapse, have been the subjects of their own odes, and they've been creatively preserved in time by the musicians whose lives were changed by the news.&nbsp;

Pop Songs That Were Ripped Straight From The Headlines

Pop Songs Ripped From The Headlines

Rachel Kupfer

TikTok

Whether you think <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/trending-tiktok-songs-2022/jared-baly">viral TikTok songs</a> are great or just meh, one thing can be said about the platform's ability to breathe new life into a variety of classic sonic gems and introduce them to a completely new audience in a fresh way. From Sade to the Bee Gees, TikTok trends and remixes are bringing back iconic hits in a major way, and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.insider.com/popular-tiktok-songs-from-past-decades-trending-now-2023-4">the data doesn’t lie.&nbsp;</a>The video sharing platform previously known as Music.ally switched its name and became home to harmless prank videos, dance challenges, and most importantly, became a barometer of the most popular music - both new songs and old. Maybe you’ve done the “Billy Joel Zanzibar dance challenge,” or went wild over the Elton John remix with Dua Lipa and PNAU of the former's beloved “Cold Heart.” But what other songs by these artists <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/songs-revived-through-viral-trends/terrance-w-pryor?ref=profile_pub">deserve the same attentive resurrection</a> and potential choreographic challenges?&nbsp;Below are suggestions for other tracks from these pre-2000s viral artists that Gen Z should take a chance on. They may even deserve more attention than those that went viral. Upvote the songs you think are most worthy of knowing. Below, find fifteen Gen Z throwback songs made popular on TikTok and be sure to vote on your favorite.

15 Gen Z Throwback Songs From Pre-2000s Artists Who've Gone Viral On TikTok

15 Gen Z Throwback Songs Popular on TikTok

Whatangiesays

Nostalgia for the movies, TV shows, stars, music, food, fashion, and toys of the decade that was already so long ago.

Revisiting the 2000s

Nostalgia

Do you ever find yourself caught in a wave of nostalgia, reminiscing about the days when life was simpler, crushes felt like the most significant thing in the world, and the highlight of the school year was the upcoming middle school dance? If so, you're not alone. There's something incredibly enchanting about revisiting those <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/embarrassing-middle-school-memories/julia-linger">middle school memories</a>, especially when it comes to the music that served as the backdrop to our first experiences of young love and awkwardly adorable slow dances.We're taking a trip down memory lane to celebrate the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/albums-that-capture-growing-up-in-2000s/chris-cullari_0">enchanting era of the 2000s</a>, a time when flip phones were all the rage, low-rise jeans were a fashion staple, and the music scene was brimming with unforgettable hits. But what truly made this decade special were the sweet and often awkward moments spent swaying to the slow jams of the time, whether it was with your crush, your best friend, or even just while daydreaming about that special someone.Here's a nostalgic trip down memory lane with 17 songs from the aughts that provided the backdrop for those cherished middle school moments. Vote up the tracks that bring back the best middle school memories. &nbsp;

2000s Songs You Awkwardly Slow Danced With Your Crush To In Middle School

Slow jams from the 2000s you slow danced to with your middle school crush.

Michelle Moscuzza

Sometimes, you just want to put on sweatpants, wrap yourself in a blanket burrito, and listen to sad music. Here are the gloomy jams for your sadsack playlist.

Sad Songs You Love Anyway

Accidents

For as long as there’s been popular music, there have been story songs chronicling <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/suspicious-musician-deaths/sean-kelly">lost love and tragic fates</a>. Audiences eat these up, especially when those who perish are young and innocent. Teenagers (bonus points when they’re in love) are perfect victims that become lessons to future teenagers about what happens when they let their guards down.&nbsp;From hot rods and drag races to train wrecks and the real life Dead Man’s Curve, here are fifteen sad songs about car crashes with the most gruesome and depressing lyrics. Vote up the songs whose lyrics you feel are the most tragic and depressing.

Sad Songs About Tragic Teen Car Crashes, Ranked By How Depressing The Lyrics Are

15 Super Sad Songs About Car Crashes

Kelly Carlin

The question of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/surprisingly-controversial-songs/jonathan-kantor">appropriateness of past song lyrics </a>has created a pretty fierce debate. Some people defend the songs, saying they are reflections of the times. Other people say that while it was made in the past, we live in a different cultural climate now, and the questionable lyrics should be changed.&nbsp;Many kinds of songs have fallen victim to this debate, from holiday classics to rock ballads to <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-country-love-songs/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">country love songs</a>. Some of the lyrics in question are pretty nuanced, while others are blatantly sexist, racist, or homophobic.&nbsp;While <a href=" https://www.ranker.com/list/musicians-talk-about-controversial-songs/lauren-glen">some artists will defend their original song's </a>lyrics vehemently, others have decided to change lyrics or retire a song altogether. Sometimes this is after public outcry, and sometimes it's before.&nbsp;

Popular Song Lyrics That Didn't Age Well

Song Lyrics That Did Not Age Well

Emily Mast

Have you ever sung along or danced to a song thinking it's fun and happy, and then gone back to read the lyrics and realized they were<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upbeat-songs-dark-lyrics/elle-tharp"> really dark</a>? If so, you're far from alone. Many songs have <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/songs-we-didnt-know-were-about-sex/will-morgan-1">been misunderstood</a>, from “romantic ballads” that actually have to do with stalking, to supposedly patriotic anthems that in reality are criticizing life in the US.&nbsp;Let's take a dive into the meanings behind the lyrics of some of the most misunderstood hits of the past 50 years. These seemingly normal songs have subversive lyrics, oddball lyrical meanings, surreal lyrical concepts, or just plain weird lyrics - disguised in an otherwise straightforward pop song. Vote up the ones that hit differently after learning about the intentions of the songwriter/s.

16 Normal-Sounding Songs With Not-So-Normal Lyrics

16 Unexpected Lyrics In Normal-Sounding Songs

TGWrites

Play It Again

Many of us tend to get <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/wrong-song-lyrics-wh/melissa-sartore">popular song lyrics wrong</a>, so it's unsurprising that many music enthusiasts get song titles wrong, too. However, in our defense, many song titles don’t seem to match their songs. Often the lyrics of well-known songs do a better job of showcasing what the song is about, so of course, we hyperfixate on them.&nbsp;If you’re interested in learning about a few of the song titles we just now realized we’ve been getting wrong the entire time, you might want to continue reading our list. We’ve discussed some of the most popular song titles in the world that are commonly mistitled by their lyrics.&nbsp;

Song Titles We Just Now Realized We’ve Been Getting Wrong

General

Song Titles we Just Now Realized We’ve Been Getting Wrong

Jason F. Collins

We are the meme-makers. And we are the memers of memes.

Memes and Macros

Memes

For years, songs have come in and out of our lives in various ways. One old tune can be rejuvenated with its inclusion in a box office smash or a hit TV show. Others can return to the scene thanks to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cover-songs-better-than-the-originals/anncasano">popular cover</a>. Through the power of the internet, however, some songs have been <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/trending-tiktok-songs-2022/jared-baly">considered cool again</a>. Whether it's a new dance craze or a meme shared by millions, some tunes worked their way back into the system with newfound energy. Vote for the songs that managed to get a second life through some of the wildest trends seen online.

Songs That Earned A Second Life Through Viral Trends

Songs that got a second chance at popularity through viral trends on TikTok and other platforms.

Terrance W. Pryor

Taylor Swift

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-taylor-swift-songs/voteable">Taylor Swift </a>has been one of the most successful recording artists in the world for nearly two decades; after releasing her debut album in 2006 when she was just 16, she has gone on to become one of the top-selling artists in music history and has amassed numerous accolades, including <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/taylor-swift/15450">12 Grammys</a>.She <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/taylor-swift-songs-paired-with-white-claw/pablo-alvarez">writes or co-writes all of her songs</a> and has become known for her autobiographical lyrics, particularly about <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-taylor-swift-songs-written-about-her-boyfriends/amylindorff">her romantic relationships</a>. But although Swift has spoken often about her writing process and the inspiration behind her singles, she almost never directly spills the tea on whom any of the songs are about. This has led to many theories being thrown out by both her fans and the media.Below is some of the information Swift has shared about her songs over the years.

What Taylor Swift Has Said About The Inspirations Behind Her Songs

Everything Taylor Swift Has Said About What Actually Inspired These Songs

Lists that celebrate the joy and shame of the music industry: the all-male instrument-free vocal group.

Boy Band Parade

Boy Bands

The recent “reunion” of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/boy-band-bands-and-musicians/music-lover">one of the greatest ‘90s boy bands</a> ever has caused massive waves and millennial meltdowns all across the internet. *NSYNC made an appearance at the MTV VMAs in September 2023 with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-members-of-nsync-ranked/ranker-music">all five members</a> - something we haven’t seen in almost 20 years - to present an award to Taylor Swift.&nbsp;The reunion comes ahead of the release of the new movie Trolls Band Together which includes *NSYNC’s newly recorded single - their first in 23 years -<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/1bHnRc60O1N0l3PbHjaKyK?si=fde6a67a05d8473a"> “Better Place</a>." The song, released on September 29, gives fans something new to cherish alongside the group's past hits like “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and “Bye Bye Bye.” But what other songs by *NSYNC are worthy of attention besides the once yearly, heavily memed reminder “It’s Gonna Be May”?&nbsp;Let us take you down the path of *NSYNC deep cuts that deserve the same attention (if not more?) than “This I Promise You” and “I Want You Back” combined. Vote up the band's lesser-known songs you feel are far more deserving of love.

*NSYNC Deep Cuts That Deserve The Same Attention As Their Hits

These lesser praised NSYNC tracks deserve far more attention.

Lists about the Fab Four, who changed the entire world of music starting in 1960 Liverpool.

The Beatles

Whoa Facts

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-beatles-songs">The Beatles</a> made history, but they didn't sing about it much. Even when they did, usually it was an oblique reference to a current event – something that for them was contemporary, but which has since gone into the history books.&nbsp;In this way, larger historical currents did make their way into the band's lyrics – albeit often metaphorically, or as quick one-liners. Here's a sampling of the rare and subtle ways <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-beatles-facts/pierce-nahigyan">the Beatles commented on the world</a> at large, and its past.

10 Historical References In Beatles Songs

Gordon Cameron

Since the dawn of civilization, a lot of important things have happened. Here are lists of about the many winding routes we took to get where we are today.

Historical Contexts

Billy Joel

Anyone who's heard “<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDPnsTRAvIM">We Didn't Start the Fire</a>” by Billy Joel knows it's a song about history. In fact, listen to the lyrics a few times through and you realize just how much history is incorporated into the song. (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LkVKCWL0U4">In 2023</a>, Fall Out Boy even attempted to create a version with events from 1989 to 2023.)When Joel released “We Didn't Start the Fire” in 1989, it was around the time of his 40th birthday. When it came to writing the song, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/arts/music/billy-joel-we-didnt-start-the-fire.html">he told biographer Fred Schruers</a>, “The chain of news events and personalities came easily - mostly they just spilled out of my memory as fast as I could scribble them down.”&nbsp;In 2009, Joel told Billboard magazine that the single was “terrible musically.” Even if that is the case, it's an intense, engaging <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-events-to-learn-in-song/melissa-sartore">lesson in the history</a> that took place between 1948 and 1988. It's chronological in structure and, from start to finish, references <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.britannica.com/list/all-119-references-in-we-didnt-start-the-fire-explained">119</a> people, places, events, and phenomena.&nbsp;With all that history <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-pie-song-references/megan-summers">packed into one song</a>, it's difficult to know exactly what is being referenced. Sometimes, it's not clear what Joel is saying at all. Here's a breakdown of every historical reference in “We Didn't Start the Fire."

Every Historical Reference In 'We Didn't Start The Fire,' Explained

Melissa Sartore

A closer listen to the decade that brought us everything from Run-DMC to Mötley Crüe to Rick Astley.

Oh Yeah, It's '80s Night

1980s

Is there anything better than an&nbsp;&#39;80s song with saxophone? For this list let&#39;s rank the best saxophone songs of the &#39;80s, from smooth jazz hits to pop singles.

Remember the 1984 hit &quot;Smooth Operator&quot; by Sade? The lyrics tell the story of a slick, jet-setting man who may or may not be a pimp.&nbsp;What about &quot;Who Can It Be Now&quot; by Australian rockers Men at Work? The origin to the lyrics are actually slightly frightening, as lead singer Colin Hay used to live next door to a drug dealer whose clients would often knock on Hay&#39;s door by mistake. Another great &#39;80s sax song is of course &quot;Careless Whisper&quot; by George Michael, where the saxophone is literally the best part of the track.

What&#39;s your favorite song from the 1980s that features a saxophone part? Vote up your favorites below, and add your favorite saxy songs to the list if they&#39;re not already here!&nbsp;

The Best '80s Songs With Saxophones

The Best '80s Saxophone Songs You Still Jam Out To (20+ Songs)

Ranker Music

For music fans, a good song holds the power to make them feel connected and understood with words that are easily felt but not always so easily expressed. But while fans may believe they are fully comprehending what their favorite artists are trying to convey, there are a lot of lyrics <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/commonly-misheard-song-lyrics/rebecca-shortall">left misheard</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/popular-songs-with-secret-meanings/rebecca-shortall">topics misinterpreted</a>.&nbsp;To set the records straight, here's what the musicians had to say regarding the real meanings behind some of our favorite yet commonly misconceived songs. Some of the wildly popular songs on this list are upbeat tunes with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/upbeat-songs-dark-lyrics/elle-tharp">surprisingly dark lyrics</a>; others seem to have blatant messages that were just misconstrued by fans and critics over the years.&nbsp;

Musicians Talk About Their Songs That Were Misunderstood

Band/Musician

Musicians Talk About Their Most Misunderstood Songs

The greatest, latest, weirdest, and most unforgettable music videos totally worth 5-10 minutes of your attention.

Must-See Music Videos

Music Videos

It's that time of year. The days are getting shorter. The air is starting to chill. The dead are creeping closer.There's only one way to deal: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/scariest-horror-movies-ever-made">curl up with the scariest movies</a>, the most disturbing TikToks, and the freakiest, nastiest, spookiest horror-themed music videos on the internet. Ever since <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-michael-jackson-music-video-releases/music-videos">Michael Jackson's Thriller</a> popularized the idea that horror and music videos could co-exist, artists have mashed the two together in terrifyingly effective ways.This list of the scariest music videos takes a look at some of the best of the best. They run the gamut, from seemingly pastoral <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-found-footage-movies/ranker-horror">found footage that hints at something much darker</a>, to some of the most blood-soaked imagery in music. So dim the lights, pour a glass of fresh blood, and vote up your favorites.Which ones chill you to the bone? Which ones wouldn't scare a child?&nbsp;

18 Scary Music Videos That Will Give You the Creeps

Chris Cullari

Song lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of song lists and rankings.

Song lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind

Song lists on Ranker

Songs lists on Ranker

Songs

Lose Yourself

N.Y. State of Mind

Still D.R.E

Tainted Love

Come On Eileen

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Wild Honey Pie

Old Brown Shoe

Savoy Truffle

I'm Looking Through You

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

For No One

With a band like The Beatles, it's easy to focus on their abundance of hits. Their catalog boasts some of the biggest songs in music history, but that doesn't mean everything else is chopped liver. Some of most underrated Beatles songs are perhaps some of their best, depending on who you ask, of course. For a band like The Beatles that has so many hit songs, it's easy for other great tracks to get lost in the shuffle and there's a batch of songs that, for one reason or another, have been overlooked. So what are the most underrated Beatles songs? Well, this list can include any song outside of their greatest hits (there are a ton of them) and that means even singles are fair game. You'll see a number of songs you're familiar with, and others you aren't. But that's the joy of this list. There are so many Beatles songs - if you think one song is underrated, then add it! Vote or rerank this list to you how deem it to be fit, based on which of these great Beatles tracks you think are the most underrated.

Ballad of John and Yoko

The Most Underrated Beatles Songs

50+ Underrated Beatles Songs Mainstream Fans Don't Know

Even the most award-winning, generation-changing, and absolute best bands in history turn out bad songs every now and then, and the Beatles are no different. This is a crowdranked list, featuring the worst of the worst of the Beatles. &nbsp; What's the absolute worst song that the Beatles made? That's up for you to decide. This list is votable and rerankable, so go through and listen to these songs so you can make the most knowledgeable votes. Don't see a song that deserves top billing on this list? Feel free to add it, and enjoy... or don't.&nbsp;

These Are For Sure the Worst Beatles Songs Ever

The Worst Beatles Songs

Worst Beatles Songs | List of Bad Beatles Tracks & Singles

Ranking the top songs in every musical genre, from alternative to zydeco. 

The Best Songs in Every Genre

Ranking the top rap and hip hop songs about every subject, from church to weed.

Rap Songs About Everything

Hip-Hop / Rap

Calling all hip hop heads, we're ranking the greatest rap songs&nbsp;ever. From old school classics and&nbsp;2000s&nbsp;gangsta throwbacks to hype tracks and some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-rap-songs-2020/music-lover" target="_blank">most popular rap songs today</a>, this list of good rap songs includes famous chart-topping singles everyone&nbsp;knows and underrated tracks only real fans will know.&nbsp;It's hard to keep track of the names of your favorite rap songs, so this essential hip hop playlist should come in handy. Whether you're looking for the hardest tracks, new and current songs hot on the charts right now, or lyrical hits, this list features a bunch of fire songs that will make anyone get lit.&nbsp;Vote up the best raps based on lyrics, the beat, catchy hooks, cool instrumentals, and everything else that goes into making a legendary hit. Do you agree with our top 100 rap songs? How about the top 10?&nbsp;If not, add your favorites and get those votes in!&nbsp;

The Real Slim Shady

The Best Rap Songs of All Time

The 100+ Greatest Rap Songs Of All Time, Ranked By Hip Hop Heads

Ranker Hip Hop

Lists of bangers to add to your perfect party playlist.

Songs to Turn Up

It was just one hit, but it was a HUGE hit that has stuck in the collective consciousness ever since.

Great Songs by One-Hit Wonders

poll

A list of the greatest Pop Songs by One-Hit Wonders. Are you looking for that special song to play for a special occasion? Browse through this list of the greatest pop songs by one-hit wonders, and you may just find that one special nostalgic song that you haven’t heard in a long time. Ranked in order of the most popular one-hit pop song wonders to the least popular, you can see which pop songs are favorites by viewers just like you. Feel free to place your votes for your favorite one-hit pop songs as well, and see them get raised to a higher position on the list. You can also copy and paste from the list to make your own list of favorite songs.Do you not see your favorite one-hit pop song on the list? Go ahead and add it to the list so that others can listen to it as well. There are many different types of music in the world, and some song artists have fared better than others. Although the artists with one-hit wonders may not have been able to repeat their performance with other songs, many of these great one-hit pop song artists have made a lasting impact on their fans. &nbsp;Sometimes it is hard to believe that these artists only had one big hit. From popular hits like “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor to “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia, these songs and artists are so well know that we would imagine them as having many top hits. However, even though none of their other songs made the top 40 list, they still have some great albums that have been enjoyed by many. So go ahead and look for some new favorite music from the list of greatest pop songs by one-hit wonders.