Influence of Music
Music has a unique ability to influence our thoughts, habits, and emotions. Because of this musicians and listeners both have a unique responsibility to consciously think about what they are producing and consuming. There is certainly a place both artistically and socially for music about unhealthy relationships, but musicians and listeners should both acknowledge that these relationships are unhealthy.
Below is a list of songs which highlight healthy aspects of various types of relationships. We tried to include a wide variety of artists, styles, and time periods. If you wish to comment on any of the songs posted or suggest more songs, please contact on Facebook or Twitter.
1.) "1,2,3,4" by Plain White T's
2.) "A Quiet Thing" from Flora the Red Menace
3.) "A Whole New World" from Disney's Aladdin, performed by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
4.) "Ain't Life A Brook" by Ferron
5.) "All I Want" by Joni Mitchell
6.) "Alone" by Heart
7.) "Anyone Else But You" by The Moldy Peaches
8.) "Baby I Love Your Way" by Peter Frampton
10.) "Best Of My Love" by The Emotions
11.) "Better Man" by Clint Black
12.) "Building A Mystery" by Sarah McLachlan
13.) "Cold Fire" by Rush
14.) "Defying Gravity" from Wicked performed by Cristin Chenowith and Idina Menzel
15.) "Do You Love Me?" from Fiddler on the Roof perfromed by Topol and Norma Crane
16.) "Do You Want to Dance?" by Bette Midler
17.) "Dollhouse" by Pricilla Renea
18.) "Fast As I Can" by Great Big Sea
20.) "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes
21.) "Friends of Mine" by The Zombies
22.) "Give A Little Bit" by The Goo Goo Dolls
23.) "Hapiness" by Orson
24.) "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morisette
25.) "Hey, Baby, Hey" by Greg Brown
26.) "Hold My Hand" by Hootie and the Blowfish
27.) "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye?" by Patty Loveless
28.) "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt
30.) "I Love Being Here With You" by Queen Latifah
31.) "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles
32.) "I Will Be There" by Steven Curtis Chapman
33.) "I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You" from Evita performed by Madonna and Johnathan Pryce
34.) "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meatloaf
35.) "I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders
36.) "If I Didn't Have You" by Tim Minchkin
37.) "If It's Love" Train
38.) "Jack and Dianne" by John Mellencammp
39.) "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel
40.) "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars
41.) "Just What I Needed" by The Cars
42.) "Lean On Me" by Bill Whithers
43.) "Let's Live For Today" by The Grass Roots
44.) "Loose Lips" by Kimya Dawson
45.) "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles
46.) "Love's Song" by Michelle Shocked
47.) "Lucky" by Jason Mraz & Colbie Cailat
48.) "Me And Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin
49.) "More Than A Feeling" by Boston
50.) "Mushaboom" by Feist
51.) "My Baby Loves Me" by Martina McBride
52.) "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw
53.) "Naturally" by Selena Gomez & The Scene
54.) "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica
55.) "Nothin' On You" by B.O.B and Bruno Mars
56.) "On The Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady performed by Jeremy Brett
58.) "Options" by Pedro the Lion
59.) "Ordinary Love" by Three Weird Sisters
60.) "Propinquity" by Michael Nesmith
62.) "Richmond" by Joe Bonamassa
63.) "Real Love" by Tex Perkins
64.) "Save The Last Dance For Me" by The Drifters
65.) "She's In Love With The Boy" by Trisha Yearwood
66.) "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind and Fire
67.) "Smoothie King" by Bowling for Soup
68.) "Stand Beside Me" by Jo Dee Messina
69.) "Still Crazy After All These Years" by Paul Simon
70.) "Still In Love With You" by Al Green
71.) "Still The One" by Orleans
72.) "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall
73.) "Take Me Or Leave Me" from Rent Performed by Idina Menzel and Tracie Thoms
74.) "Thank You" by Dido
75.) "The Book of Love" by The Magnetic Fields
76.) "The Hideout" by Sarah Harmer
77.) "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson
78.) "The Way We Met" by Morphine
79.) "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra
80.) "The World" by Brad Paisley
81.) "This Guy's In Love With You" by Herb Alper
82.) "Time In A Bottle" by Jim Croce
83.) "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road" by Elvis Presley
84.) "Truth No. 2" by The Dixie Chicks
85.) "We Belong" by Pat Benatar
86.) "We Just Disagree" by Dave Mason
87.) "You And Me" by Alice Cooper
88.) "You And Me" by The Wannadies
89.) "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes
90.) "You Don't Have To Be A Star" by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.
91.) "You Look Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton
92.) "You Make Loving Fun" by Fleetwood Mac
93.) "Your Song" by Elton John
94.) "You're In My Heart" by Rod Stewart
95.) "You're My Best Friend" by Queen
96.) "You're Not The Boss Of Me" by The Vandals
97.) "You're Still The One" by Shania Twain
98.) "You're The One That I Want" from Grease performed by Olivia Newton John and John Travolta
99.) "You've Got A Friend" by Carol King
100.) "You've Got A Friend In Me" from Toy Story written and performed by Randy Newman
These songs are arranged alphabetically by title. Their order does not reflect any preference to lyrics, artists, or styles.
Most artists and shows featured had multiple healthy relationship songs, but we only included one song from each artist or show.