What Is A Friend?: 10 Songs About True Friendship
It’s one of the most powerful words in the English language. It’s something that makes us human. When we have them, life is more enjoyable. When we feel like we don’t have any, life feels depressing. Some of us desire to have many of them, while others are content with just a select few, but everyone is happier when we have someone in our life we can truly call a “friend”.
To honor this profound and meaningful word, I’ve created a playlist that explores what it means to be a true friend to others. What Is A Friend?: 10 Songs About True Friendship
1) Bill Withers – “Lean On Me”
American singer-songwriter and musician, Bill Withers, gives us an absolute classic on what it means to be a true friend with his song “Lean On Me”. Reflecting on the fact that we all go through troubles and difficulties in our lives, Withers helps us understand that a friend is someone who we can lean on in tough times and help us carry on.
2) Andy Mineo – “Friends”
American Christian hip hop artist and producer, Andy Mineo, takes a critical examination of friendship in his aptly titled songs “Friends”. Venting his frustration with the lack of true friends in his life, Mineo raps, “If you knew I was bugging and you stayed quiet. You said I was right when I ain’t right. Well that’s not what friends do…”
3) GAWVI ft. Lecrae – “Fight For Me”
Acclaimed Reach Records music producer and hip hop artist, GAWVI, offers another perspective on friendship in his 2018 hit “Fight For Me”, featuring rapper Lecrae. GAWVI explains we are all going through our struggles in life, but knowing we have a friend who will fight for us helps us get through the challenges.
4) Queen – You’re My Best Friend”
British rock band “Queen” created an anthem friendship that has stood the test of time. Released in 1976, “You’re My Best Friend” taps into some of the more cliche and romantic aspects of friendship that we all aspire for with a close loved one. A friend we dearly love makes life worth living, as Queen sings, “Ooh, you make me live”.
5) Bruno Mars – “Count On Me”
American singer-songwriter, musician, and pop icon, Bruno Mars, gets sentimental on his feel good track “Count On Me”. Generally known for his pop songs about love, dancing, and fun, Bruno Mars taps into the touching topic of friendship by sharing that a friend is someone you can count on when you need something, “you can count on me, like one, two three, I’ll be there…”
6) Randy Newman – “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”
Used as the theme song for the box-office hit movie “Toy Story”, American singer-songwriter and compose, Randy Newman, delivered a classic song about friendship with “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”. Though spoken from the perspective of a childhood toy to a growing adolescent, the song illuminates some of the universal values of a friend we all have, namely, loyalty, reliability, and love. As Newman points out, “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, we stick together and can see it through, ‘cause you’ve got a friend in me.”
7) Martin Kerr – You’re Amazing
Canadian singer-songwriter and musician, Martin Kerr, teaches us an important lesson about true friendship in his feel good song “You’re Amazing”. The contagious chorus states, “I’m not bad myself, but you’re amazing”, showing us that a true friend will always build up their loved one and put others before themselves.
8) TLC – “What About Your Friends”
The iconic pop, RnB, hip hop group TLC expands on some of the important qualities of a true friend in their 1992 song “What About Your Friends”. Emphasizing the importance of trust, truthfulness, and loyalty, TLC sings, “What about your friends? Will they stand their ground… or will they turn their backs on you?”
9) D12 ft. Eminem – “How Come”
Detroit-based hip hop group, D12, including legendary rapper Enimem, shows the painful side of friendship in their 2004 track “How Come”. Losing the connection to a close friend can be an emotionally agonizing process, as D12 and Eminem express, “How come we don’t even talk no more? And you don’t even call no more? We don’t barely keep in touch at all and I don’t even feel the same love when we hug no more.”
10) Colby Jeffers – “True Friend”
In my contribution to the playlist, I remix 50 Cent’s 2005 hit “Best Friend”, in a lyrical remix titled “True Friend”. The track takes a critical look at the question “What is a friend?” and explores the definition of a true friendship.
If you enjoyed “True Friend”, check out the full “LIT” lyrical remix album here.
So what did you think of the playlist? Did it help you understand the meaning of a true friend? Were there any songs about friendship that should’ve been included on the playlist that I missed? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 👇
Thanks
I am enjoying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the playlist, Joe! 🙂