Top 15 Underrated Gems of Music
To enjoy this World Music Day!
Have you heard Beyoncé? Katy Perry? Pitbull? Linkin Park? Coldplay? Imagine Dragons? Lady Gaga? Taylor Swift? Ackon? I am sure the answer would be a big Yes!
But have you heard Fake Laugh? The Lumineers? Summer Salt? Mild Orange? Taba Chake? Austin Weber? I think in response to this question you would have felt that I am writing random words in the introduction!
Have you ever heard a song and you know from the first time you listen to it that it is going to be your favourite song? Like love at the first tune, lyrics, rhythm or even the moment in which you listen to it?
Have you ever encountered enthraling songs of artists or bands that you have never heard earlier, and when you look at their popularity, you feel “Damn, whyyy!”
Well, I feel that emotion a lot; I feel terrible witnessing such artists being so underrated and hardly having any follower or subscriber base for their talent.
From the past one year, I have developed this habit of discovering songs that soothes my soul rather than my ears.
In this era, it is hard to find something that you can hold on to for long; there is no scarcity of artists and I guess, that is why many amazing songs and artists go undiscovered by the larger population.
On this World Music Day, I thought to do something different, to give something back to Music. Afterall Music has always been there for us to uplift our mood in our downs and dejections, and embellish our happiness and cheerful moments of good times!
I take pride in my song selection and playlist; I am selfish and possessive to share my favourite songs with people as not all would be as interested and passionate about these songs as I am. But I think sharing them with you all would be helpful to these artists to get a better reach and the appreciation and recognition that they truly deserve.
So, without any delay, on this World Music Day, let's dive into the deep ocean of underrated songs and their spellbinding lyrics.
1. Sleep on The Floor by The Lumineers
“If the sun don’t shine on me today
And if the subways flood and bridges break
Will you lay yourself down and dig your grave
Or will you rail against your dying day”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/44uOreAESeRIBaxkuCW4wN?si=Cd2GQQSbQTOhc06_5hgQWA
YouTube: https://youtu.be/v4pi1LxuDHc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelumineers/
2. My Life, My Love by Family and Friends
“Well I’ve been pacing this tile for a while now,
I keep wasting my time wondering,
Why some hearts beat harder,
And two can love in so many different ways,
Or you can love just one your whole life long,
When they don’t feel the same,
Love, I’m only asking,
If it’s funny then why aren’t you laughing?
Love, I’m only asking”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/48bwpIDcMmhQ3B3vO2cvrk
Youtube: https://youtu.be/J4ZC1Ftvx74
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familyandfriendstagram/
3. The One by Wild Child
“We don’t mind staying up all night
‘Cause we talk a lot sweeter with booze
Never can remember even half of the fights
But you’ll never forget when I lose
You’re not the one for me
You’re not the one for me
You’re not the one for me
You’re just the one that I choose”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0Auzn7KMqzh7dhExejMzBy?si=bUlwHx3TeW4MiXjAUP6CA
YouTube: https://youtu.be/aWr0m6xekvs
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildchildsounds/
4. So Sad, So Sad by Varsity
“What if I gave
My ambition for a brain
Only a fool
Would approve that trad
Trying to be a perfect circle
Weak just like I take my drinks
A crumb upon my plate leads to a week of cryin’ sleep
I could never walk away
I could never make you stay”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2DRxcBhnqoFvaSDvYrmprN?si=W7e0Ic1wQQed1O94g9L4uQ
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ydbt39eyE2c
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varsitytunes/
5. My Other Side by Taba Chake
“Happiness I am looking for
In this lonely searching soul
With only music which doesn’t talk to me ever
But tells me what I want to hear
Like an empty glass my life
Like an empty glass”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/22kfxo7JTeqXbmjql43TIi?si=bKRIFTAVSY-gvmlKA0e0gQ
YouTube: https://youtu.be/MVAo-7Kgrxs
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taba.chake/?hl=en
6. Toothpaste Kisses by The Maccabees
“So with toothpaste kisses and lines
Stay with me, I’ll stay with you
Doin’ things that lovers do
Put the stars in our eyes
What else to do?”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/13J9mjAQNq6vmq0ni3PmCA?si=aqS0E8EHRuiQjs6FdOBObQ
YouTube: https://youtu.be/8SJmWSWQgdM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themaccabees/
7. It Wasn’t Easy to be Happy for You by The Lumineers
“I know that you tried
But you’re no friend of mine
Falling apart
You played it the best
A dame in distress, ooh
Yeah, it wasn’t easy to be happy for you
Yeah, wrapped my neck and prayed that you’d feel the noose
I saw the restaurant table for two
Yeah, it wasn’t easy to be happy for you
Yeah, I took the poison, praying you’d feel it too”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/092F4qgjmKNXeMZxWeeQAn?si=Ww5dSb48SS-SKn9L1FujXg
YouTube: https://youtu.be/eGReASgVM1Q
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelumineers/
8. I Don’t Want to Miss You (Like I Do) by Austin Weber
“I don’t wanna think about how to get back together
The last thing I do, is forget you,
But missing you ain’t that much better
Swimming out against the tide feels just the same
These idle moments swept aside from just your name
Wish I could find an attitude, to stop myself from missing you
Like I do
Cause I don’t wanna miss you, like I do”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7CbwFpS099Hsx3UXl4AQXZ?si=BU6lwslfRVyQWRixZG1pGw
YouTube: https://youtu.be/KEvRT4-EApc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austin_weber/
9. Feels Like Home by CAAMP
“Take my name when I’m dead and gone
And throw my ashes in the river
Know that I lived my whole life long
And gave all the love that I could’ve given”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2AQFlNmYMr2LBn5fMh5FqY?si=9irLMdF-Sqa3qp9mkNQqbA
YouTube: https://youtu.be/CHTvqUR_UN0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caamp/
10. Naked As We Came by Iron and Wine
“She says, “If I leave before you, darling
Don’t you waste me in the ground”
I lay smiling like our sleeping children
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
One will spread our ashes around the yard”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1lUdXbhl6u6QMQZRTAhlWW?si=zMNZvH4IS1ylh6qKNmZ2SA
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Nd-A-iiPoLg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironandwinetour/
11. Only for You by The Heartless Bastards
“Been a while since I felt this way about
Someone that really really like to know you
More I know you, more
All your eyes sing the song to me
And I really really like to move to it”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4KwvTXx3yR0FA4LGfxD4xP?si=hao57CNMRWWX_rw5GfAVXg
YouTube: https://youtu.be/gmX-ceF-N1k
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartlessbastards/
12. We’re Not Just Friends by Parks, Squares and Alleys
“I’ve got enough
Don’t wanna know if
It leads to nothing, you won’t give it a chance
Leaving your life
I need to tell it
You could have known it’s gonna be the last dance…
I’ve got a friend
She calls me brother”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0CyRloqqjpeKEAd3cO6J6z?si=URTUJiS2RBaiu9KByoCwWQ
YouTube: https://youtu.be/2gUP1kXuCq4
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkssquaresandalleys/
13. Love Again by Meltt
“Calm down
There’s no need to grieve
We’re both very young for now
Try to get some sleep
Better not be the one who falls in love again
And put this on repeat
It’s a crucial life equation
When will I concede”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1RQQCyuTpUcSd1FHUVldfR?si=Qnd_4PtLSAmYyJswK28pOw
YouTube: https://youtu.be/3-4banibETY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melttmusic/?hl=en
14. Freak in Me by Mild Orange
“Lately, I think of you lots
’Cause my mind’s in circles for you
Please connect the dots
And bring me, bring me to you
’Cause you bring out the freak in me
It’s only for you
Just you”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0lSVBaY7snTII4ottyo3xA?si=MZ8Rt7ZaTg2ulvm3LK_8sg
YouTube: https://youtu.be/RrIV6tnuQG0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mild_orange/?hl=en
15. We All Need Something by Bedroom
“Just this morning
I woke up and realized, we all need love
People need to know
The people need each other
Together we will grow
Tell everyone to gather
The people need to know
We reflect each other
If the people stand as one
The people will be stronger”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0eBm5L1ECJoq7Xbl7Voe9F?si=1GNuub3iReKVNs1ZfoG1pg
YouTube: https://youtu.be/7y72oojppQg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bedroombandnyc/
Bonus Tracks:
Blue Skies by Noah and The Whale
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/24efPXDGMQ1aM56tV3X7yO
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Mj7o45lmZWI
Waiting for My Chance to Come by Noah and The Whale
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5d7IUXxp619Et2vnLpFBln?si=ystNU7kRTSK3BOZQ41FChw
YouTube: https://youtu.be/b1FZtiC5BRk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Noahandthewhale/
Fête de la Musique - World Music Day was started in 1982 in France, but now its a celebration of global artists. Music is when wisdom meets philosophy. Music is love. Music is peace. Music is life. Music is the rain that soothes the hot summer.
Music is above all the mediocrity. Music is the space where you lose yourself to find yourself! In Leo Tolstoy’s words “Music is the shorthand of emotion.”
P.S- This list is not exhausted, there are many more wonderful artists that I listen to but due to the length of this article I could not include them, maybe some other day in some other article I would narrate their realm, too. Till then Hasta la vista baby!
