10 Songs You Can Name by Hearing Just One Word

[@WatchMojo]

Do you “believe” we missed any obvious ones? Let us know in the comments. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roOTp5eDfZ14pbs Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@estebangutierrez160]

Bidi bidi bom bom

[@devingiles6597]

Honorable mention: C+C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams and Martha Wash - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

[@matthewalexander8307]

Well I think Rebecca’s little singing moment was really good. Just saying..

[@abdzire_94]

@WatchMojo Top 10 Best MotoGP Races in History next time especially to Include 2008 United States Grand Prix Laguna Seca Circuit at no 1

[@adrianmendeslopes3244]

Why don't you make a ranking of 20 songs that would have had more views than ''Despacito'' if KZbin had existed at that time?

[@ARIXANDRE]

My wife asked me to stop playing Wonderwall. I said maybeeeeeee...

[@Reaperguy67]

You should hide a speaker and randomly play it 😂.

[@twistedpixie6972]

You are the type of person that my husband would absolutely love! 😂😂😂

[@Prkwon]

More like maybehhh

[@Marty.Robins]

His wife asked him to stop playing wonderwall

[@Reaperguy67]

@@Marty.Robins you don't need to repeat what they say

[@chglubb]

At any given time, the urge to sing "The lion sleeps tonight" is just a whim away. . . . . A whim away, a whim away, a whim away...

[@HeronCoyote1234]

😁

[@maggie_galle7651]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Justice1911A1]

Weeee ooooooo eeeeeeee oooo eeeeee………..

[@julianaylor4351]

Only two problems with the song, lions don't always sleep at night, they often hunt and they don't live in the jungle, they live on the savannah. 😁

[@boxingelfis1499]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👏👏👏👏

[@SlytherinReviews]

Michael Jackson's Thriller, the opening of the song is good, though Vincent Price's monologue at the end is the best give away to Thriller even his laugh too

[@altonpettijohn2189]

That “weeeeeellllll” she did was everything to me 😂 (3:35)

[@louisejohnson6057]

I agree, It was great!

[@erichobbs1900]

People had to dress as a song title for a Halloween party. Girl wore a black shirt with a name tag saying “Eileen”. She made sure the black shirt had white, ahem, stains on it.

[@crashcitygames1592]

The beginning Oooos from Don’t Worry Be Happy would also be considered recognizable.

[@FionaKelleghan111]

This would have been SO much more satisfying if WM had played the single word, allowed us a moment or two to identify it, and THEN given us the background. Of course we know "Tiger" from "Eye of the Tiger." So why not play just "Tiiiger"?

[@adrianamaringrez9461]

But she is right that just hearing the first sounds, no words, makes us recognize eye of the tiger if we are old enough.

[@FionaKelleghan111]

@@adrianamaringrez9461 Yes, ma'am, I agree. I was thinking of it as a game, not a commentary. WM didn't introduce it as a game, so perhaps I was unfair. Thank you for your remark!

[@mervyngreene6687]

​@@FionaKelleghan111 Like "Name That Tune!"

[@do9138]

@@adrianamaringrez9461 But since this video is about WORDS, not sounds, it doesn't belong on the list at all.

[@trinaq]

I can always recognise "Come on Eileen", mainly by hearing the distinctive violins! 😁

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

Yes!

[@tyvulpintaur2732]

Hear me out. Come On, Eileen on kazoos.

[@do9138]

Violins aren't words.

[@arielle8010]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂​@@do9138

[@arielle8010]

Where can i hear it ​@@tyvulpintaur2732

[@AngelWingsYT]

Im amazed "Daaaayyoooo" didnt make the list

[@bryangirod9173]

Should have . Eye of the Tiger was a huge stretch.

[@AngelWingsYT]

@bryangirod9173 right! Like come on you hear dayo you know what song it is 😁

[@MisaelMatute76]

​@@bryangirod9173Glad I'm not the only one that thought that was dumb... 😂 The riff yes, the word tiger not really..

[@dsxa918]

I should have started, like 20 years ago, a running list of all these, and how they've worked for me, because - dare I use the word, in the context of "hilarity" - it's outrageous and sometime takes a degree of explanation t rationalise the associations to anyone else.

[@ghhhp]

😂😂😂

[@camhaugstad4726]

The word remember in September by Earth Wind and Fire always sticks out to me

[@do9138]

LOVE that song so much that I have September 21st marked on my Mac calendar every year with a reminder so I'll remember to post a link to the video on KZbin.

[@gardeniagirl1374]

​@do9138 I put it on my calendar in my phone.

[@ASMR-Arboretum]

"two" in Take On Me by A-ha.

[@andresparry8104]

I think another Queen song should’ve made the list; “Somebody to Love” clicks the moment you hear ‘can AnyBody’ ring out in unison.

[@marlenesunley381]

You don’t even need the ‘anybody’. Just hearing the ‘can’ does it for me

[@wyattangle]

The fact that the word "I" can be the most recognizable word in a song blows my mind! But it's so true! RIP, Whitney.

[@vikinghawk3358]

Her voice - just wow , nothing else to say . Definitely is missed .

[@michaelcolfin8464]

In a song, that was a cover by another famous singer.

[@superbluhedgehog1]

Not only was there a pause in the music just before, the key changed (sometimes called the "Truck Driver's Gear Change") a whole step up from A Major to B Major, something the original Dolly version didn't have.

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

#1 just had to be “Bohemian Rhapsody” for every reason listed.

[@pgraynyc]

Yes. Although I would’ve picked “Galileo” for the one word.

[@NYChica23]

@@pgraynyc Same, because do you know any other songs where the word Galileo is sung multiple times and in an operatic style?

[@rcschmidt668]

A song with too many unique lyrics to list. May as well show the entire song. 😂

[@andrewhaase1826]

Honorable Mentions: *Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio -Cue the choir! *Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) - Harry Belafonte -DAAAAAY-O! *Mother - Danzig *Woman - Wolfmother *Shout At The Devil - Mötley Crüe -Shout! Shout! Shout!

[@michaelcolfin8464]

Jenny - Tommy Tutone All i have to hear is the way he sings the 9 and I'll know the song.

[@Wheelwizardpuff]

Day-o doesn't count as it's part of the official song title.

[@Bintexas]

“Hello” from ELO’s Telephone Line.

[@kriscynical]

I know nobody cares, but The Lion Sleeps Tonight always gives me a good memory of painting my best friend's baby's room. I'm an illustrator, and it was a jungle themed nursery so I painted monkeys and parrots and all sorts of other animals everywhere, and over the baby's crib I painted the lyric _"In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight...."_ That baby will be 14 in November. 🥲

[@ChibiProwl]

Cool. Was the baby a boy or girl, out of curiosity?🤔

[@kriscynical]

@@ChibiProwl A boy. She probably would have gone with an enchanted forest theme for a girl.

[@ChibiProwl]

@@kriscynical Thanks for replying.🙂

[@nuffwahalatrypeacetrini9ja414]

Love this! I'm filing it away in my head till I find somebody with a baby & on the lookout for a baby room decorator, lol.

[@catherinezoller4451]

I care! It reminds me of my father. My bedroom was just above the master bedroom in my parents house and I would hear him sing, "Aweemaway" as he shaved in the mornings!

[@HebbenBeeld]

I'd say 'rain' from Ironic by Alanis Morissette.

[@Sirenscreamx]

Raeeeyaaaiinnn

[@kathrynburleson420]

or "theatre"

[@HebbenBeeld]

@@kathrynburleson420 From 'You Oughta Know"

[@wanibenedith5757]

I didn’t know that Rebecca could sing like that lol

[@dsxa918]

I think she should sing more ;)

[@RinJackson]

Same :)

[@klajate8031]

I was thinking the same thing, I was like okay Rebecca not bad at all 👏🏽👏🏽😊

[@SibusisiweZondi-xz9zb]

Although I saw Freddie Mercury but the "Mamaaaaaa" in the thumbnail made me sing "...you know I love you. Mamaaa, Mama you're the queen of my heart..."

[@GhostFlummi]

Maybe you could've added Michael Jacksons "Aaaaaaahaaaaahaaaaaaaaa" from Earth Song or "Aaaaaooooow" from Smooth Criminal

[@nonijoshi1082]

Vincent price laugh from thriller is enough

[@MaireGraves]

My dad has a habit of starting out stories with, “Somebody…” and then taking a long pause… I ALWAYS jump in with “Once told me…” He didn’t get why…until I showed him this video🤣

[@michelleart6593]

I'd jump in with 'Somebody to love', but that's just me...😁

[@THCya9796]

The world got a little less bright the day we lost Freddie Mercury . He was a musical genius.

[@bradleyj.fortner2203]

The same is true for Whitney Houston. I'm a rock n' roll fan and Freddie is right up there with Steve Perry for the best singer in the genre. But the best singer of all time is probably Whitney.

[@vanderdore]

It went dark my friend... Peace and love. 💜

[@SjoukeP]

@bradleyj.fortner2203 Sorry, my votes go to Ella and Sinéad

[@bradleyj.fortner2203]

@@SjoukeP I don't think so. There are probably some opera singers that I don't know about that are better. But, when it comes to contemporary music, you can't really say anyone is better than Whitney Houston. As good as, maybe. But not better. Yeah, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey...There are a few that you could argue are as good. But I still think Whitney had the prettiest voice.

[@thevelvetrecord]

​@@bradleyj.fortner2203 id recommend 'Barcelona' by Freddie Mercury and Montserat C. Beautiful song with the most incredible vocals. Or "somebody to love" live on the magic tour 1986

[@twistedpixie6972]

6:37 this song holds an awesome and hilarious memory in my heart. I was security at a festival and the shower house had a vaulted and open roof. At one point the men’s side started singing the “oga shocka” and the women started singing the rest (where I was) and we had an absolute blast!

[@christophermerlot3366]

"Hey hey Mama" and I immediately know 'Black Dog' is about to ensue. And I just wait for the riff to kick in.

[@tessabiggs2917]

Should do a collection of songs that can be identified by the introduction riff.

[@QueenOfTheSea101]

Agreed

[@friedpebbles]

yep sweet child o' mine is a good example

[@alexandrakeckmontanari5180]

Thank you for adding Queen 💜

[@THCya9796]

AMEN! Freddie was and STILL is the greatest frontman to ever grace a stage.

[@leesashriber5097]

Great list. I've never listened to Oasis. 😬 Queen definitely earns the top spot!! Thank you my friend!!😊

[@eleanorlyndon865]

It's My Life by Bon Jovi, the opening rift, and thr first line of the song.

[@lacountess]

“Shout!” applies to the Tears for Fears 1984 hit too. Also what happened to the word can’t be the song’s complete title?

[@srayj]

They said the word “well” not “shout” is the recognizable word, so they kept to the rules.

[@lacountess]

@@srayj You're right. My bad. That explains why Tears for Fears wasn't mentioned.

[@twistedpixie6972]

10:57 Bismillah (in the name of God) is the word for me in Bohemian Rhapsody!

[@michaelcolfin8464]

I like Figaro. There are so many from thge Bohemian Rhapsody

[@RainbowFlutterbies]

Fun fact : The whistling in the live version of Elton's "Benny and the Jets" is my Aunt Monica. The story is she was taught how to whistle and went to the show within the next couple days :)

[@noback12]

3:34 Weeeeell well it's the big show

[@xerinairisvielroque3134]

8:38 Allstar only needs one syllable.

[@MaxPS9]

I always remember moms spaghetti from lose yourself

[@ma53jg]

This is a fun list & I enjoyed your singing! Thanks 😀

[@WatchMojo]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@srayj]

You could definitely do a second list of 10 more songs that can be recognized by a single lyric or you could do a genre one, like 10 musical theater songs that could be recognized with one word.

[@Charl_es19]

"Somebody once told me..." that's enough to know 😂

[@ONLYINOHIO--]

Na, that would of reminded me of somebody told me that you had a boyfriend that looked like a girlfriend that I had In February of last year

[@sugarboi8960]

@@ONLYINOHIO--It’s not confidential.

[@Tacktickle]

You need to redo this list and take out the songs with nonsensical words. They can be on a list all on their own. There are thousands of other songs that could be in this list.

[@ONLYINOHIO--]

@@sugarboi8960 I’ve got potential

[@DragonKazooie89]

I can think of another song that starts with “well” that I can recognize right of the bat… “Don’t do it, Cartman!”

[@BlackHatCinephile]

Kyle's mom's a...

[@jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545]

🎵 The biggest... 🎵

[@AlaFrigginBama]

She’s the biggest B in the whole wide world…she’s a B to all the boys and girls! 😂🎶

[@russelljohnson6267]

😂😂😂

[@Sirenscreamx]

In the whole wide world!

[@p.a.stewart5446]

Even though it's not quite a real word, my vote goes to "Pompatus" from the Steve Miller Band song The Joker

[@will2Collett]

WOW!!! Thank you Rebecca, that was so cool!!! 💓💓🙏👍

[@coreyhill681]

10- Mandy Moore- Crush 9- ATC- Around the World (La La La La La) 8- Spice Girls- Stop 7- A-Teens ( Original from Abba) Momma Mia 6- B'Witched- C'est La Vie 5- Arron Carter- Bounce 4- S Club 7- Natural 3- Prozzac- Be As 2- DJ Bobo- Chihuahua 1- Culture Beat- Mr Vain Honoring mentions- Ce Ce Penniston- Finally -Snow- Informer - The Movement- Jump

[@vazrov]

Ahhhh watchmojo... always giving us a list we neva knew we need 😂

[@colleenware8756]

"Oops," I'd say you missed a chance to include Britney Spears' rendition of that word in your list.

[@HolyFlare484]

Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who *ahem* YEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[@BatmanPops]

3:34 kinda caught me off guard 😅😄😄😁

[@saadullah983]

never gonna give you up- rick Astley, it is recognizable on some many levels

[@newgameaaaa]

Right. A student told me that in class the teacher was reinforcing the rules and said, "You know the rules." The student said, "and so do I."

[@kajtuch1]

Thriller in Michael Jackson's Thriller and Annie in Smooth Criminal - significant examples.

[@barrellracer]

Any Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley songs Day-O - Harry Belafonte Stand By Me - Ben E. King My Girl - The Temptations Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue

[@MentallyBorn80sBaby]

Fun Fact: I recently learnd this, But I discovered that Tal Bachman (The singer responsible for the 1991 hit song "She's So High") Is actually the son of the of Randy Bachman who is the lead singer for BTO (Bachman-Turner Overdrive)!!!!!💜💛🩷

[@manchesterunitedno7]

She so hiiiyaaaiigh. High above me, she so lovely

[@59771006]

Tal is now a member of BTO so he now works with his dad

[@thebeatlesloveisallyouneed]

The Beatles song "HELP!" Literally could name the song in an instant if i heard that first initial Help! This could be number #1 The Beatles forever ♾️

[@jamesmcgee4029]

She said it couldn't be the word if it was the one word title of a song.

[@thebeatlesloveisallyouneed]

@@jamesmcgee4029 screw her! The Beatles forever ♾️

[@PhillipBrower-c1j]

Also one word Hey first word in Hey Jude. Instant recognition.

[@lisakaz35]

I was thinking of "Galileo" for Queen's number one.

[@ThisCatholic_Girl]

I knew Whitney would be on here, but I think ANY ONE of the words IN THE WHOLE SONG makes it instantly recognizable. Thanks for the video!

[@86LukeM]

I wonder how many got a song stuck in their head?

[@MrBKelly95]

How about "The One I Love" by R.E.M. The word: "Fire!"

[@JoshuaG]

Rebecca singing caught me off guard 😂❤🤟

[@veronicaferguson8548]

No Doubt's version. Its My Life made me fall in love with Gwen Stefani.

[@ליאורמור-כ6ר]

Help by the Beatles should have been at the top.

[@jamesmcgee4029]

She said it couldn't be the word if it was the one word title of a song.

[@outdamudd.e]

🌬.."🎶STAYING❕️ ALIVE...EEE...EEEEEEE‼️gives me"🎶....🗣 -➿️✍️( THE BEE GEES)

[@Jamal-bl7yh]

Prince Kiss (1986) One Of My Favorite Songs from the late Purple Rain (1982) Actor alongside Little Red Corvette (1983) and 1999 (1983) and others

[@heatherqualy9143]

You don’t even need the “not really a word” disclaimer for Hooked On A Feeling. You would get it from the “I……iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii’m….”

[@mervyngreene6687]

I would have used "Hugachucks!"

[@Waywardwindfall]

I was so so confused when it wasn’t IIIi’m

[@sabelalangton4676]

Hooked on a feeling reminds me of Guardians of the Galaxy

[@susannpatton2893]

I got more of a Viking feeling from the Hooked on a Feeling. Plus they are wearing Renaissance clothing 😂

[@nonijoshi1082]

Thriller 🗿 Beat it 🗿 Billie Jean 🗿

[@Colessolovids]

The line Hello in smells like teen spirit

[@kathrynburleson420]

I'm older and to me "hello" is from Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd.

[@dietotaku]

i feel like using "thunder" for "thunderstruck" is cheating because compound words are still one word.

[@kimberlysimpson3632]

Mine (are you still mine) or need (need your love)- Unchained Melody Baby or lovin - You've Lost That Lovin Feeling.

[@kathryncollins8103]

What about any of Michael Jackson songs?

[@Flamebeard0815]

This reminds me of a game we played back in the day... Putting all the MP3s we had on shuffle and hitting pause after 1 bar. Guess the song. I reckon it would be harder with more recent songs...

[@MuddaFuffa]

Stayin Alive (Bee Gees) Saturday Night Fever.

[@taliesinstreetphotography814]

Singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is just A Whim Away.

[@Svensk7119]

Did you include Blue Swede's Hooked On A Feelin'? Okay. I wrote that during the Benny And The Jets bit.

[@robertdubs9466]

Another Brick in the Wall: Pink Floyd (Teacher) Magic Man: Heart (Try Try Try)

[@TammyLynn2466]

Today is going to be a music 🎶 day, Thanks MoJo!!!❤❤❤

[@Christeenia]

I was not expecting they “WeeeEeeEeelllllllll” very good! 😁

[@yentasnivla]

Ow! Michael Jackson. You can know the song based on the Ow! Wooooo! Or Eheee!😂

[@pinksnapdragons2675]

"AAAWWWLLLLLL ABOARD" FOLLOWED by a crazy maniacal laugh?? Crazy Train by Ozzy!

[@kathrynburleson420]

I, I

[@michaelcolfin8464]

That's two words

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

I’ve spent this whole list just jamming out to the music so I really like this playlist! 😂

[@rossmurray6849]

I suggest a list of songs that are instantly recognisable from just the first note. My contributions for that list are Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale and Pink Floyd's Echoes.

[@Christian988.]

also the dog and hippo the lion sleeps tonight a video from back in a day is ICONIC.

[@andrewvalentine6977]

I'm surprised Benny and the Jets made the list especially since Elton has many more iconic songs such Your Song and Yellow Brick Road to name but a few.

[@JanTheAnimatorActual]

MJ's Bad should've been included. You probably know what I mean... SHAMONE!!!!

[@feliciamcmanus]

Ms mojo has great 👍 music history videos

[@LittleB2007]

You could've included a bunch of Beatles songs that are totally recognizable from the very first word, like "Yesterday" "Help" and...drum roll... "Hey" from Hey Jude. lol

[@spencergoolsby535]

I’m here for the classics to add to my playlist I forgot about

[@kristashafer93098]

“Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” by Quiet Riot. All you gotta hear is that iconic scream that begins the song and you know exactly what you’re listening to! Similarly, “Eyes of a Stranger” by Queensrÿche also begins with screams. “Rock of Ages” by Def Leppard! “Gunter glieben glouchen globin!” I haven’t heard any song start that way!

[@stevegallo8483]

Don't even need words to identify Eye of the Tiger, the opening riff gives it away. Also "Wake up" the way Rod sings it immediately says Maggie May.

[@corgi_dad]

I hear Eye of the Tiger, and I'm instantly taken back to high school marching band where I held the cymbals high hat, for the snare drummers to play on.

[@bardthenascarfanaticdragon]

Mr. Sandman is also worth mentioning, all from that opening.

[@EterPuralis]

It's literally the title, which is against the rules.

[@bardthenascarfanaticdragon]

@@EterPuralis I was referring to the part before they mention the title.

[@EterPuralis]

@@bardthenascarfanaticdragon what part?

[@bardthenascarfanaticdragon]

@@EterPuralis "The part that goes "Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung."

[@EterPuralis]

@@bardthenascarfanaticdragon bung? 😂

[@deonpaylor9840]

Sweet Caroline didn’t make the list? I’m shocked

[@michaelcolfin8464]

What's the word? Hands?

[@tanakasensei3450]

Unrelated to the topic, I actually had a brief freak out when Smash Mouth's lead singer passed, because I honestly thought I was being told that my father-in-law passed.

[@trollinggaming9903]

How about a song you can name/sing base of the starting key?

[@cathyschmidt9803]

One more time -Brittany Spears, bye bye bye -N'sync, everybody -Backstreet boys, livin' on a prayer -bon jovi, free fallin' -Tom pettty, don't shoot me Santa -the killers, some gave all -Billy Ray Cyrus

[@lp-xl9ld]

The first time I heard "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", I thought they were singing " Winga wanga, winga wanga..." I still sing it that way occasionally.

[@sebastiankortmann4689]

I was expecting "Heeeeeeeeey... (sexy lady)" from Gangnam Style in here. And "Thunder!" could also have been easily Nr. 1. But yes, Mamaaaaaaaaaaaaa is absolutely iconic.

[@gevorg1989]

5:53 how can you include a movie scene here but ignore Rocky and Lion King? Or GotG. Or Shrek

[@bennetfox]

If you ask some boomers and some of the older Gen Xers, we will tell you the song Shout is performed by Otis Day and the Knights and we all learned it from watching a movie called Animal House!!

[@HeronCoyote1234]

I instantly went back to the theatre, the first (of many) time(s) I saw Animal House.

[@OaklandNancy]

Another song with tiger in the title. Well Ms Mojo it would be the one and only I Saw Tiger by The Joe Exotic aka The Tiger King.

[@caitlynhoward7792]

"Skydiving" from Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying"

[@arcticwolf137]

Pompadous is a great one word from a song that should make it recognizable instantly.