Welcome to the 13 Beats’ first two-part series! I’m going to go through iconic songs that start with each letter of the alphabet (which just so happens to be 26 letters). This week’s 13 Beats will cover songs that start with the letters A-M — stay tuned for N-Z coming soon. Here are my favorite tracks that start with the first 13 letters of the alphabet:
1. “Animal” – Neon Trees (2010)
“Here we go again, I kinda want to be more than friends,” lead vocalist Tyler Glenn sings in the unmistakable opening of this upbeat track. Glenn pours his emotions into the song, describing the intensity and tumult of a relationship.
2. “….Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears (1999)
Spears made a name for herself in the pop world with this song about feeling lonely without a lover. “When I’m not with you I lose my mind,” Spears sings in the catchy chorus emphasizing how she can’t stand being apart from the person she loves.
3. “Complicated” – Avril Lavigne (2002)
“Complicated” showcases Lavigne’s signature pop rock sound with a steady beat and angsty vocals. After listening, I can never stop singing, “Tell me, why’d you have to go and make things so complicated,” after I hear the song!
4. “Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac (1988)
“What you had and what you lost,” Stevie Nicks sings about reminiscing after a breakup. The iconic track has almost 2 billion streams on Spotify and always transports me to another dimension when I play it.
5. “Electric Feel” – MGMT (2007)
MGMT puts their classic electronic, summer sound into this track about a connection to someone being as strong as electricity. Lyrics like “Shock me like an electric eel” show how powerful a human bond can feel.
6. “Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman (1988)
“Fast Car” combines a compelling story with a beautiful guitar line and Chapman’s unique vocals. “We gotta make a decision: leave tonight or live and die this way,” Chapman sings about a couple deciding whether or not to run away and start a new life.
7. Grapejuice” – Harry Styles (2022)
“There’s just no getting through the grape juice blues,” Styles sings, wishing he could raise a glass of wine with his lover. The track is one of my favorites off “Harry’s House” and accompanies other songs about the singer’s intense love and longing.
8. “Hooked On A Feeling” – Blue Swede, Björn Skifs (1974)
You can recognize this track instantly with the “ooga-chaka” being repeated as soon as the song starts to play. “Hooked On A Feeling” is beach-y and a fun show of admiration for a potential lover.
9. “I Will Wait” – Mumford & Sons (2012)
This folk track is fast-paced and full of layered string instruments to bolster the passion that the lyrics hold. “And I’ll kneel down, know my ground,” Marcus Mumford sings about how he’s willing to wait and fight for the person he loves to come back to him.
10. “July” – Noah Cyrus (2019)
“You know I, I’m afraid of change,” Cyrus sings in this emotional track about knowing you need to leave someone but being worried about how you’ll feel afterward. Cyrus’ soft voice is combined with whistles and guitar plucking to give the production a calm but sad feel.
11. “Kilby Girl” – The Backseat Lovers (2019)
“Kilby Girl” is an indie rock masterpiece with catchy lyrics and an iconic guitar riff. The second half of the song is purely instrumental but is dynamic and makes the perfect backdrop to jam out to with your friends.
12. “Long Live (Taylor’s Version)” – Taylor Swift (2023)
Swift dedicates this track to her fans and the memories she’s made with them on tours and at various events. “When they point to the pictures, please tell ‘em my name,” Swift sings about wanting to be remembered for the magic of her music and career.
13. “Ms. Jackson” – Outkast (2000)
“Never meant to make your daughter cry, I apologized a million times,” André 3000 sings in conversation with the mother of an ex-lover. The iconic hip-hop duo wanted the track to reflect real scenarios that listeners experience in relationships and also made an unforgettable beat.
