Music is everyone’s language.
It’s comforting, moving, and powerful enough to take us to different places and times.
From 80s rap to modern pop-rock, music connects with us in unique ways.
But even for music lovers, one of the most challenging tasks is creating an A-Z list of their favorite songs.
We’ve made your work easier with our list of the 30 best songs starting with A.
1. “At Last” by Etta James
Indeed, finding a special someone is a special feeling.
That’s Etta James’ mood in her 1960 classic wedding song.
Etta’s life looks completely different now that she’s finally found her soulmate.
No matter how you rate Etta’s work, her music and legacy will live forever.
2. “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
“A Change Is Gonna Come” is one of the best protest and songs about social justice from the early 60s associated with the Civil Rights Movement.
Throughout the narration, Sam Cooke expresses the desires and frustrations of the oppressed African Americans.
The lyrics were inspired by Sam’s own experience when he was denied entry into a whites-only motel in Louisiana.
Amid the pain and suffering, the singer assures the listeners and marginalized groups that everything will be alright someday.
3. “American Idiot” by Green Day
Another protest song from the mid-2000s.
In “American Idiot,” the American rock band bashes the media for spreading paranoia and idiocy among the general public.
The lyrics are as relevant today as they were back then, with the media still the leading tool for fear-mongering and propaganda.
4. “A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash’s Grammy-winning song is centered on the story of a boy named Sue who harbors anger and detest for his father, who left him at only three years.
He’s even angrier for getting named Sue, which he terms a feminine name that has only brought him pain and shame.
The boy swears to take revenge on his dad by searching for him and killing him.
The song won Grammy awards for Best Country Song, Best Male Country Vocal Performance, and a Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year.
5. “A Hazy Shade Of Winter” by Simon & Garfunkel
Want some winter songs to spice up your playlist?
You can’t go wrong with this masterpiece from the famous American folk-rock duo.
The lyrics reference the changing times in a person’s life, looking back at the good and bad moments as the seasons unfold.
It’s exactly what you’d probably need for self-reflection on your next birthday.
6. “ABC” by The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5’s upbeat song is an ode to learning.
The singer is giving private lessons about love and is optimistic the addressee will take to it like a school kid.
The schooling theme was the perfect fit for then-11-year-old Michael Jackson.
It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970 and stayed atop the soul singles chart for four weeks.
7. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
He might not have reached the levels of his singer-daughter Miley Cyrus, but there’s no denying Billy Ray Cyrus is one of the finest male country singers from the 90s.
“Achy Breaky Heart” is one of his signature songs, expressing the pain of a broken relationship.
The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, topped the Hot Country Songs chart, and was triple platinum certified in Australia.
8. “All Shook” by Elvis Presley
Have you ever experienced love at first sight?
Elvis Presley expresses the pure joy of falling in love and the free-flowing emotions.
His smitten by this one girl to the point he’s even stuttering.
“All Shook” was Presley’s second-best hit song in the US, topping the Billboard Top 100 singles chart for eight weeks.
9. “All of Me” by John Legend
Everybody knows John Legend’s classic hit that made him one of the most popular R&B singers in the 2010s.
The romantic song can be for partners expressing unconditional love.
Some think “All Of Me” is a song about unrequited love.
So, you better listen to it and find out what it means.
10. “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift
Why would Taylor Swift go on a 10-minute rant about a failed relationship?
Oh! Sorry.
The agony of a broken love haunts anybody.
The entire song has Taylor breaking down the painful love story that left her heartbroken.
In case you didn’t know, Taylor Swift dated Jake Gyllenhaal in 2010 and was widely criticized for the massive age gap.
11. “About Damn Time” by Lizzo
There’s no better time to release a banger than the summer.
Lizzo’s 2022 summer song shows us her positive side, which we’ve learned about the Detroit rapper from most of her songs.
The lyrics describe a transformed Lizzo with greater self-awareness and knowledge of everything around her.
Lizzo’s song is about celebrating and embracing who you are, no matter what anyone thinks.
The calming lyrics release all the worries.
12. “Africa” by Toto
While many assume Toto’s “Africa” song was written for a romantic interest, it is actually about the singer’s love for the beautiful continent.
The song was released as part of Toto’s 4th studio album, Toto IV (1982), and received positive reviews from music lovers.
It reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Top 10 in New Zealand, Switzerland, Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
13. “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” by Ilene Woods
Jerry Livingston, AI Hoffman, and Mack David wrote “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” for the popular Cinderella film (1950).
In the song, Illene Woods urges her animal buddies to keep dreaming because that’s their heart speaking to them.
“A dream is a wish your heart makes/When you’re fast asleep/In dreams you will lose your heartaches/Whatever you wish for, you keep.”
14. “A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles
The Beatles’ beautiful song is about the excitement of working hard all day and returning to the woman of your dreams.
The singer professes his love for this special someone and how she makes everything better, even on the bad days.
It’s one of those songs to dedicate to that one person who makes you feel special every day.
See also: Best Beatles’ Songs
15. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
Bill Withers’ song takes a somber mood when describing moving on after a breakup.
And that makes it one of the best songs about overcoming obstacles.
Separating from the one you love is compared to the absence of sunshine for the emptiness and sadness that come with it.
16. “A Little At A Time” by Dolly Parton
“A little at a time is how you live your life.”
The country legend Dolly Parton says about her famous song.
The lyrics describe what we all go through while barely surviving to get by every day.
17. “A Little More” by Alessia Cara
“A Little More” is one of two songs from Alessia Cara’s The Pains of Growing sophomore album.
She wrote the song for a loved one to lessen her insecurities in their relationship.
The acoustic song shows a vulnerable Cara, admitting her insecurities and a desire to control her feelings better.
18. “A Moment Like This” by Kelly Clarkson
“A Moment Like This” is what everybody dreams of; achieving something you’ve worked for your entire life and the accompanying jubilations.
For Kelly, the moment in question is reaching the climax of her career by winning the American Idol.
But for you, it could be anything from grabbing that college degree to landing a dream job or winning the lottery.
19. “A Head Full Of Dreams” by Coldplay
Coldplay’s song describes the endless possibilities and hopes for a better life and future.
The danceable song is inspiring and educative, making it one of the best songs from the band’s album of the same name.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin shows us a positive side after his sad compositions in Ghost Stories.
20. “A Beautiful Lie” by Thirty Seconds to Mars
“A Beautiful Lie” is a song from Thirty Seconds to Mars’ 2nd studio album of the same name.
The lyrics reflect life, portrayed as a game of lies, denials, and everything in between.
Or, in other words, what it means to be human.
21. “A Beautiful Morning” by The Rascals
“A Beautiful Morning” is an upbeat song to listen to when you wake up every day.
It expresses carefree optimism and is one of the best songs by The Rascals.
22. “A Day Without Me” by U2
The next song on our list is mistakenly assumed to be a tribute to Curtis Ian.
For some, it is a song about overcoming ego.
However, “A Day Without Me” is a suicide song with lyrics inspired by an incident involving lead vocalist Bono’s friend.
23. “A Winter’s Tale” by Queen
Queen released this song from their Made In Heaven album to celebrate Freddie Mercury’s life.
Frontman Freddie was approaching the end of his life and succumbed a few weeks after the band released this song.
The lyrics were inspired by Freddie’s view outside the windows and describe a positive outlook on life, even at our lowest moments.
24. “A Woman’s Worth” by Alicia Keys
Alicia Key’s song is a powerful anthem about self-esteem.
The American singer has explained that the lyrics resonate with both men and women, even though the song has become more popular amongst female fans.
“A Woman’s Worth” was an instant success for Keys in the US, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
25. “A Place In This World” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift acknowledges life’s ups and downs in her 2006 country song.
She accepts her lonely path and asserts it will take longer to achieve her goals.
“A Place In This World” describes the phase in our lives characterized by confusion.
During this stage, many young people don’t know where to go, who to turn to, or even what they want.
You’ve to admire Taylor’s honesty in admitting her confusion and letting destiny determine her fate.
26. “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis Presley
Enough talk already; let’s get to action now.
That’s Elvis Presley’s message in his chart-topping 1968 single, “A Little Less Conversation.”
The singer wants passion and excitement in their relationship instead of casual talks.
“A Little less conversation, a little more action, please/All this aggravation ain’t satisfactioning me/A little more bite, a little less bark.”
27. “A Little Bit of Your Heart” by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande’s “A Little Bit of Your Heart” is a beautiful love ballad about a girl stuck in a toxic relationship with a cheating partner.
The sweet but sorrowful ballad showcases Ariana’s matchless vocal abilities (Not for the first time, by the way).
The simple piano chords, matched with the soulful lyrics, make for a powerful combination.
And the message is just as relatable as it’s ever been.
28. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is a powerful message about getting over the tough times, making it one of the best songs for overcoming obstacles.
The lyrics connect us with our source of strength, encouraging everyone to have faith even in the most trying moments.
The song became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and got nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
29. “American Pie” by Don McLean
This iconic song pays tribute to Don McLean’s fallen heroes, including Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, who died in a 1959 plane crash.
The lyrics also reflect the many social changes over time.
“American Pie” was a successful hit, becoming a #1 in song in the US for four weeks, besides topping the charts in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.
30. “Amazing Grace” by John Newton
Completing our list is a traditional hymn and a sincere gratitude to God.
The simple song expresses a strong message of forgiveness and redemption and has been one of the most enduring hymns in history.
John Newton wrote this song to express his gratitude to God for transforming his life’s path.
Best Songs Starting with A – Final Thoughts
Music is a piece of art that connects with us deeply, regardless of race, age, or location.
It evokes emotions, taking us to different moments in life with relatable lyrics.
From sadness to anger, fear, and love, we can express any emotion through the power of music.
The 30 best songs starting with A span multiple genres, generations, and decades.
They have touched millions around the world and can connect with you in a remarkable way.
Whether a classic rock lover or a country fan, we hope you find a perfect tune that resonates with your situation.
Keep discovering, listening, and enjoying good music.
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