The best name songs

The Best Name Songs

Some of the best songs written are those about a specific emotion or person, as such many of the best written have a person's name in the title, this list is about those such songs. As always this is a fairly varied list in terms of genre, era and objective musical quality and it's in no particular order. 

1. Jamie T - Sheila

One of my all-time favourite songs, simply an incredible set of 3 tales on the backdrop of Jamie's hometown - London. A song including a sample of poet John Betjeman, stories about a girl drowning, a gangster and an overdose over a fantastic beat, tied together by a faux-jamaican dialect seems like an insane combination... and it is, but it works. 

2. Eminem - Stan

One of the darkest songs written and possibly one of the most masterful, the contrast between the increasingly sickening notes from Stan and Dido's beautiful refrain only works to highlight the insanity that the fan descends into. This track is one of Eminem's most famous and controversial due to the graphic imagery of a man drowning his pregnant girlfriend, and interestingly what spawned the modern slang for super-fan 'Stan'.

3. Sun Kil Moon - Ben's My Friend

Supposedly based on a true story about the lead singer from The Postal Service (another really great band) this track is decidedly odd, lyrics that talk about Panera bread, crab cakes and feeling old backstage at a concert it's really just a great and subtly devastating track all with the backing of an odd but brilliant minimalist instrumental.

4. Dave - Lesley

Heading back towards Hip-hop is what I think is the best song from Dave's Mercury award winning album, Dave narrates a story of abuse with fantastic rhymes, a fairly original hook and an interesting enough beat to keep the 11-minute song from dragging too much. Not exactly the most upbeat track, but really an example of how good the British rapper can be.

5. Emperor X - Erica Western Teleport

A direct contrast to the previous track, a fairly upbeat, glitchy and catchy song about nothing too deep in particular besides trying to get over a girl. This doesn't mean it's not good, the unique blend of electronics, reverberated piano and synthesizers helps turn the fairly generic concept into a memorable song. 

6. Panic! At The Disco - Ballad of Mona Lisa

An iconic song that for me always brings back memories of the fantastic steampunk-inspired music video from the days when Panic! At The Disco didn't make pure crap and were a legitimately good band. I've never understood why this song is about Mona Lisa, but it's a banger and has an incredibly catchy chorus.

7. Beatles - Hey Jude

The legendary song that Paul McCartney wrote for John Lennon's son, which Ed Sheeran awfully switched to 'Hey Dude' in Yesterday, is simply an incredible track, one of the few from The Beatles that I don't find terribly overrated. Not only is it an example of incredible songwriting and has an uplifting message, but that 'Na na na' refrain is one of the most simple and clever earworms written.

8. Bon Iver - For Emma

The title track from Bon Iver's incredible debut album is a not only a fantastic cut in its own right but acts as the centre-piece for the LP, Emma being who the listener presumes is the cause of Justin Vernon's beautiful yet cutting pain. As it is on the majority of the songs on the album, it's Vernon's vocal performance that shines on the song but the closing instrumental shouldn't be overlooked either.

9. The Police - Roxanne

I still find it funny that a band named after law enforcement wrote a song telling a prostitute to stop soliticing sex to men, but that aside Roxanne is one of The Police's best songs, a catchy harmony, easy to remember lyrics and a well-aged vocal performance. A lot of the songs on this list are about affection or admiration for the titular person, but this exception doesn't lessen the entry much.

10. My Chemical Romance - Helena

Perhaps the most iconic Emo song of the 2000s, especially when taking the music video into account, and for good reason Gerard Way puts in an incredibly emotive vocal performance, the instrumentals are top notch and it's just so easy to belt out. Emo might get a bad rap with a lot of people but this song makes even the greatest cynics nod their head and want to grow a fringe. 

11. Simon And Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson

Simon and Garfunkel had far too much to choose from, I couldn't decide between Cecilia, Kathy's Song or go with the solo You Can Call Me Al, but for me it had to be the cut from the soundtrack of The Graduate. The opening acoustic guitar strums are a hint at the warmth that the song brings, the jubilant chorus still sound fresh and celebratory to this day, and this cover serves as a decidedly odd but creative ode to the original.

12. Staind - Zoe Jane

I know someone who named their daughter after this song, and while I don't necessarily encourage that I do understand why he chose to do so, a song that at it's core is about is about the loving connection between father and daughter. Zoe Jane may not be the most incredible or original song to ever be written, but in terms of being a name song it highlights the love for the subject very well. 

13. All Time Low - Dear Maria, Count Me In

A complete classic of the Pop-Punk genre, I've never been sure who Maria is or what the singer want's to be a part of but after a few listens it's hard not to want to be a part of it too. The track rockets from start to finish without letting you catch much of a breath or to stop moshing, making the 3 minute runtime fly by.

14. Suzanne Vega, DNA- Tom's Diner

One of the most iconic melodies of all time, popularised for the current generation through Fall Out Boy's 'Centuries', although this was only brought in second time round after the original vocal performance was recorded by Vega. The bare-bones version may be the original and a bit more raw, but the catchy tune helps the fairly dry but great lyrics become more than just that. 

15. T-rex - Debora

'Debora always lookin like a Zebra' may be one of the more unconventional and odd lyrics to appear in this list, or any song for that matter, but the eternally catchy from the legendary T-Rex (the first band to headline glastonbury) song is still a great song, and will forever remind me of Lily James thanks to Baby Driver

16. The Killers - Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine

I considered Mr. Brightside, Sam's Town and Andy You're A Star for the list but ultimately this is their best name song (Brightside seemed too obvious and isn't technically a name). The opening air-raid sirens, synths, deep guitar chords help to make this cut what is probably the Killers' most rock-based track that comes to mind and is ultimately one of their best. 

17. Stereophonics - Dakota

The Welsh band Stereophonics are one of those groups whose names is known but not always associated with a certain song... until this is played. Somehow so summery and light yet has such a powerful kick to it, a fairly alternative love song that still feels modern and fresh despite being released 15 years ago.

18. SWMRS - Miley

As a band SWMRS are incredibly mixed for me, songs like 'Lose It' and 'Lose Lose Lose' are fantastic with the rest of their catalogue being fairly forgettable. But this ode to Miley Cyrus is one of their better, picturing her as a 'punk-rock queen' (an interesting title for someone who is firmly in the realm of pop) with a fantastic punchy melody to boot. 

19. The National - Murder Me Rachael

One of the earlier, weirder and screamier tracks (and therefore lesser known) from the indie legends The National, Murder Me Rachael is a belter of a track from a band known for fairly sleepy music. I love a song that builds and builds, which this song does to perfection, the closing screams being the absolute climax of 4 minutes of repressed feelings.

20. Beach Boys - Barbara Ann

Who doesn't know that opening 'Bar-bar-bar, Bar-bar-bara Ann'? The song is far too catchy for many people to ever think beyond it into what the song is actually saying about the titular girl, but honestly who cares? One of the best summer songs ever written hands down with a fantastic barbershop quartet sounding vocal performance from one of the best pop bands ever. 

21. Crystal Castles - Alice Practice 

I spoke about this song in my Emo list, the glitchy bleeps and boops do very little to shed light on why the song is named after the lead singer, Alice Glass. If you're to believe legend the song came out of a sound technician secretly recorded the band practicing before a session and released it as a demo, hence the name Alice Practice, no matter whether this is true or not it's an incredible harsh-electronic track.

22. Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah

A sickly-sweet and pure love song about a long-distance relationship and how strong it is, it's incredibly formulaic and basic but ultimately is a sweet and fairly well-written song. The recently produced response song (which serves as part thirst trap and part song) is almost as interesting as the original song to be honest.

23. The Libertines - What Katie Did

While The Libertines quickly became overshadowed by Pete Doherty's drug addiction and in-band squabbles they managed to bang out a few high-quality songs, this being one of them. An uncharacteristically slow and peaceful song for the band this cut still manages to be memorable, mainly for the 'Shoop-Shoop-delangalang'.

24. Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby

My head of house once used this song in an assembly and I think it will forever be scarred for me because of that memory, but anyway this is an absolutely fantastic song from the English band who seem to always find success in the big rowdy bangers. One of the less deep entries on the list, seemingly a regular 'song about a girl' but still a fantastic song.

25. Franz Ferdinand - Michael

The Scottish group quickly began to become known for their named songs so there was plenty to choose from with this band, but I landed on this chaos-filled ode to a man named Michael in what seems to be a gay sex song? It's slightly unclear and a little odd for the band and for a post-punk song but hey, it creates a fantastic tune to bang your head along to. 

26. Tom Jones - Delilah

Heading into the last section of the list these are the songs I'd originally discluded and are fairly well known but are ultimately just such great songs I couldn't not include them, with Delilah kicking this part off. A song that had often been turned into sports chants and is still such a massive song in the UK especially it just had to be included.

27. Dexy Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

I would probably vote this song to be one of the best party songs and songs most likely to get people on the dancefloor of all ages. Again not one of the more deep songs but honestly who could ever genuinely dislike this track from the two-hit-wonder band?

28. Elton John - Benny And The Jets

I knew I needed to get Elton John on this list somehow and why not do so with one of his best cuts, Benny And The Jets? A song that's a lot longer and slower than you realise until you sit down and listen to it to try and make some interesting musical comment on it, trust me, but is still a fantastic song from a classic singer about... who cares?

29. Dire Straits - Romeo And Juliet

On the other hand, this is fairly obvious as to what this one is about and I just had to include it on the list, it's such a well-written song with a genuinely interesting take on the over-told love story. It might drag a little, the 6-minute length starting to become a little tiresome after a few listens but it's an absolute classic and still feels relevant.

30. Dolly Parton - Jolene

A country hit that managed to cross into the mainstream and become a mainstream hit based on the true story of a Jolene 'getting too close to my husband' as she puts it. Another song that you almost forget is as slow as it is because so frequently the main refrain is taken out of context and sped up or changed entirely, but as a song in itself it's a good example of country that doesn't make you want to jump in front of a tractor.

So those are just some of my picks for the best name songs, I had to cut some from this list as it was already long enough and there were plenty by artists already mentioned here that I didn't include: Cecilia, Eleanor Rigby, Andy You're A Star, Abel, Ms. Jackson. 

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