Quite often, when recommending songs or albums, it’s challenging to explain why you think someone would enjoy a song. Is it because of the beat, is it because the artist is similar to other people they like, or is it because it’s strangely specific to them? And the latter of those options is what I’m trying to recommend in this article. If any of the reasons I recommended a song catches your eye, maybe check it out!
- A song for Nico fans – White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes
Nico’s music has a lovely, unusual sound, and so do the Fleet Foxes. If you like one, I reckon you’ll like the other.
- A song Hozier might like – Lover, You Should’ve Come Over by Jeff Buckley
Hozier has a lot of metaphors in his music, which he has in common with Jeff Buckley. They’re also very respectful songs towards women, and I think that if you like songs like Cherry Wine by Hozier, you should take a listen to Jeff Buckley’s Grace album.
- A song for angry crying – Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Take a listen to the whole song, and I think you’ll understand what I mean.
- A song for falling in love in a foreign country – Futile Devices by Sufjan Stevens
The soundtrack for Call Me By Your Name is beautiful, especially Sufjan Stevens’s songs. Others that are could be categorised here are Mystery of Love and Fourth of July, both by Sufjan Stevens, or È La Vita by Marco Armani.
- A modern song for dadrockers – Peacebone by Animal Collective
If you’re of the opinion that there’s no good music these days, try Animal Collective. Particularly their Strawberry Jam album. Other recommendations would be the B-Room album by Dr. Dog, or The Strokes’s album Is This It.
- A song to listen to whilst reading – These Days by Nico
These Days is a lovely, soft song that isn’t distracting whilst reading a good book. If you’re reading a horror novel, it might not work quite so well though (in that case, I’d recommend Eat Your Young by Hozier).
- A song for Taylor Swift fans – Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac
I think Taylor Swift fans would enjoy most things by Fleetwood Mac, and in particular, Stevie Nicks. Others by Fleetwood Mac that I think you’d like are Dreams, Silver Springs and The Chain.
- A song for melancholic Sundays – Femme Fatale by The Velvet Underground & Nico
A lot of The Velvet Underground’s songs have a melancholic feeling, but this one feels perfect for a Sunday. Or, slightly less melancholic but still for Sundays, Sunday Morning, again by The Velvet Underground.
- A song for those having an existential crisis – Five Years by David Bowie
I don’t think it will ease the crisis, but it might just make it more bearable. Another recommendation for this category is O Superman by Laurie Anderson.
- A song for people that think metal music is just noise – Paranoid by Black Sabbath
The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden, Ace Of Spades by Motörhead, Master Of Puppets by Metallica. You still might not like metal, but it’s not just noise.
- A song for people with dyed hair – Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes
This one I can’t really explain, but something about the song reminds me of someone with colourful hair.
- A song for a long car journey home – Tugboat by Galaxie 500
There’s something nostalgic about Tugboat, and I think it would blend well with a drive home, especially at night.
- A song for people who like Bohemian Rhapsody – Hammer To Fall by Queen
There’s a lot of songs I could recommend for people that only know a few Queen songs, but Hammer To Fall comes to mind first. If you like the Queen songs you know, definitely listen to Hammer To Fall.
- A song for people who like The Breakfast Club – I Fought The Law by The Clash
Again, this one is hard to explain, but most things by The Clash would work here.
- A song for One Direction fans – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2
I’ve had quite a lot of success with suggesting this song to One Direction fans so I’m going to do the same here.
- A song with a great beat and depressing lyrics – Panic by The Smiths
Pretty much anything by the Smiths would work here. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, This Charming Man, or Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.
- A song for an epic love – Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine
This song encapsulates the feeling of all-consuming love, and there are very few songs I think do it as well as Cosmic Love does.
- A song for Halloween – Love Potion No.9 by The Searchers
I’m particularly a fan of older Halloween songs. Others that are similar are My Girlfriend is a Witch by October Country, and Spooky by Dusty Springfield.
- A hugely underrated song – These Things by Violent Iris & Neil Levin
I’m surprised this song isn’t more popular than it is – it’s a great alternative rock song, and the vocals on it are great too.
- A personal favourite of mine – This Is the Day by The The
If I had to pick a song to listen to on repeat for the rest of my life, it would be this one. I’ve been listening to it for years and I’m still not bored of it.
- A song for people in long-distance relationships – Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers
This one is fairly self-explanatory, but I think it works well. It’s also a great song.
- A song for people that hate country music – Southern Nights by Glen Campbell
For the most part, I count myself among you. There are very few country songs that I enjoy, but Southern Nights is one of them. Maybe you’ll enjoy it too.
- A song for Stranger Things fans – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim by Jim Croce
You Don’t Mess Around with Jim is also in the Stranger Things soundtrack, so it’s a great pick for fans.
- A song for people that like Come As You Are by Nirvana (and refuse to listen to anything else) – Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode
I have lots of recommendations for this one. Last Nite by The Strokes, People Are Strange by The Doors, and Every Breath You Take by The Police.
- A song for people that miss their childhood – The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
The Suburbs is about the death of innocence, and reminiscing about a life you left behind. If you like The Suburbs, I think you’d like their 2004 album, Funeral, too.
- A song you can’t stay still for – Hold On, I’m Coming by Sam & Dave
And if you like Hold On, I’m Coming, check out I’d Rather Go Blind by Etta James, and California Dreaming by The Mamas & The Papas.
- A song for people with good taste – Can You Get To That by Funkadelic
It’s just a brilliant song. The Maggot Brain album brings ‘60s psychedelia in combination with rock and soul. If you like Funkadelic, try Sly & The Family Stone or Jimi Hendrix
- A song for looking out of the window of a plane – Take My Breath Away by Berlin
Again, this is fairly self-explanatory, considering that it’s the Top Gun theme tune, but it still feels as if the ideal place to hear it is in a plane or on the back of a motorbike.
- A song for a warm spring day – Budapest by George Ezra
As much as I love music with dark undertones, I think everyone needs a few songs on their playlist that feel like Budapest by George Ezra does. Others by George Ezra include Anyone For You (Tiger Lily) and Paradise. Another one for a good day is ‘love is a black hole!’ by Martin Luke Brown.
- A song to end a playlist – There She Goes by The La’s
There She Goes is a great way to finish listening to something – it feels like an ending you’re ready to embrace.
Thank you for reading my 30 oddly specific song recommendations, I hope you found something new to listen to there, and feel free to let me know what you thought in the comments.
