The Songs canon

Sourced and sung.

Every song chosen by hand, with the recording to play it.
Browse all 2,393 songs or filter by genre, subject, artist, and year.
What's Going OnMarvin Gaye

What's Going On

1971 · From What's Going On

Party chatter, a sax that sighs, and Gaye asking the question Motown begged him not to ask.

★ 9.9

Try a Little Tenderness

1966 · From Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul

A 1932 Tin Pan Alley ballad, rearranged by Isaac Hayes, until Redding and Al Jackson tear the roof off.

★ 8.6
Under PressureDavid Bowie

Under Pressure

1981 · From Hot Space

Bowie lived near Mountain Studios, dropped in, and one evening's jam became a UK number one with a disputed bassline.

★ 8.4

Lean On Me

1972

Withers bought a small piano, ran his fingers up the keys, and found the coal-town kinship he missed.

★ 8.3
We Are the WorldUSA for Africa

We Are the World

1985

Forty-odd stars filed past a sign reading "Check your ego at the door," and Quincy Jones got them singing together.

★ 4.8
Oh! Sweet NothingThe Velvet Underground

Oh! Sweet Nothing

1970 · From Loaded

Reed's parade of characters with nothing to their names, sung by Doug Yule over seven closing minutes of Loaded.

★ 4.6
R&B · Pop

How to Love

2011 · From Tha Carter IV

Wayne named Tupac's "Keep Ya Head Up" as his model, then sang it over acoustic guitar into the top five.

★ 2.5