In honor of long and joyful friendships, we’ve created the list of most popular songs about friendship. Musicians and songwriters find inspiration in many themes such as love, money, and friendship. We already published an article about the 11 most popular songs about money, therefore, using similar methodology we’ll provide you with the list of most popular songs about a more lovable topic (at least for some).
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Many artists sing about friendship, from pop and hip-hop artists to rock and roll legends. Since there are so many songs about friendship, it’s hard to create the list of only eleven most popular. On the other hand, this is a somewhat easier job then creating the list of best songs about friendship considering how music tastes differ from one person to another. For this list, we just had to find the way to measure the popularity of songs that sing about friendship. Hence, we’ve used already published articles on this theme provided by the Billboard, Song Facts, Fuse and many more. Then, we used YouTube views as a criterion of the song popularity, adding one point for every million views. Next, we added another ten points if the song reached the Billboard “Hot 100” list, and the bonus of 5 points if the song was ranked as number one. After calculating the total results, we’ve compiled our unique list of most popular songs about friendship.
Gather around with your friends and take a look together.
11. The White Stripes – “We’re Going to Be Friends.”
Total Score: 3
American rock band, The White Stripes, is founded by Jack White, and the song “We’re Going to Be Friends” is a single from their album “White Blood Cells” released in 2002. The song speaks of making new friends at the beginning of the new school year and describes a typical teenage fear of rejection. Unfortunately, it didn’t find its place on the “Hot 100” chart, but this song will stay in our hearts for making us remember our school days.
10. The Spice Girls – “Wannabe.”
Total Score: 16
Spice Girls is a famous British pop group that combines various music genres, like hip-hop and rap. The song “Wannabe” speaks about the friendship and girl power, and it is a perfect example of this group’s philosophy. The song was awarded the “Best British-Written Single”, and in 1997 with the “Best Single” at the BRIT Awards.
“Wannabe” reached first place on the “Hot 100” chart and stayed there for four weeks, confirming its popularity all across the world.
9. The Jackson 5 – “I’ll Be There.”
Total Score: 18
The song was originally written by Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, and Willie Hutch. The Jackson 5 version was recorded in 1970 and released by Motown Records. “I’ll Be There” was one of the most popular songs about friendship according to the public. The song also found its way on the Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart ranked No.1 in 1970 and stayed in the first place for five weeks.
8. Queen – “You’re My Best Friend.”
Total Score: 19
The British rock band “Queen” is famous in the world by their all-time hits, and “You’re My Best Friend” is one of them. Written by the band bass player John Deacon, the song found its place on the “A Night at the Opera” album from 1975. It also appeared on other live albums and compilation albums such as “Live Killers” from 1979, “Greatest Hits” (1981),” Absolute Greatest” (2009) and “Queen Forever” from 2014. “You’re My Best Friend” was placed #16 on the Billboard “Hot 100” list, proving its popularity.
7. Vitamin C – “Graduation (Friends Forever)”
Total Score: 20
This is a graduation anthem of many generations, which makes us remember our old friends from high school. The song was ranked 12th in “Top 40 Mainstream” list and 38th on Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart in 2000. This hit single reached Platinum edition in Australia; it was used in a prom night scene in the movie “21 Jump Street” in 2012, and in the film “Scary Movie 2”.
“Graduation (Friends Forever)” is among most popular songs about friendship, according to the public.
6. Destiny’s Child – “Girl.”
Total Score: 24
“Girl” is a song from a famous American group Destiny’s Child. The band formed Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The song was presented by Columbia Records on the group’s fourth album” Destiny Fulfilled” in 2004. This hit single was ranked 27th on the “Pop Songs Chart” and 23rd on the Billboard’s “Hot 100” list. The critics ranked this song very high because of its composition and lyrics quality.
5. The Beatles – “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
Total Score: 26
The Beatles were one of the most popular bands in the world, and they found its place on our list of the 11 most popular songs about friendship with their song “With a Little Help from My Friends“. The song describes how important friendship is, and how much is easier when you have friends to help you. The Rolling Stone magazine ranked this song 311th of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”, and it reached the 71st place on the Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart in 1978.
4. Biz Markie – “Just a Friend.”
Total Score: 27
“Just a Friend” was produced, written and performed by a hip hop artist called Biz Markie. The song was a lead single from his album “The Biz Never Sleeps”. Biz Markie was regarded as a one- hit wonder by the VH1, and “Just a Friend” was ranked 81st on “The Grates One-Hit Wonders” chart in 2000. In 2008, the song was placed #100 on the VH1’s “100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop”.
Billboard ranked “Just a Friend” 9th on the Hot 100 chart in 1990, describing it as Markie’s most successful single.
3. 50 Cent – “Best Friend.”
Total Score: 45
The famous rapper 50 Cent is a hip hop legend and one of the best rappers in the world. In 2005, 50 Cent was involved in the project of the movie “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ “ and the song “Best Friend” featured the film’s original soundtrack. The song was ranked 35th on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, and also found its place on “Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks”.
2. Bruno Mars – “Count on Me.”
Total Score: 96
American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars released his debut album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” in 2010 and the song “Count on Me” was one of the hit singles on it. Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine helped Bruno with the production, and the song was released first as a radio single in Australia and New Zealand. The song was featured in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association commercials; it was incorporated in the cartoon “A Turtles Tale: Sammy” and in the famous TV Show “Suburgatory.”
It didn’t reach Billboards list, but 96 million views on YouTube confirm its popularity.
1. Rihanna – “Umbrella.”
Total Score: 229
Rihanna’s “Umbrella” is surely one the most popular songs, and it deserves the first place on our list of the 11 most popular songs about friendship. This song was ranked No.1 on the 10 Best Singles in 2007 by the Entertainment Weekly, and 3rd on the “100 Best Songs” in 2007 by the Rolling Stone and Time magazines. ”Umbrella” brought Rihanna many acknowledgments such as the MTV Video Music Award, and the Grammy Award in 2008. The song reached Billboard Hot 100 list, ranked No.1 and stayed there for seven weeks.
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