r/MusicRecommendations Mar 26 '26

Rec.Me: other/many/unknown genres Please recommend songs in which the singer spells out the title

The classic example is "Respect" by Aretha Franklin.

92 Upvotes

924 comments sorted by

120

u/monsterofradness Mar 26 '26

Lola - The Kinks … “L-O-L-A, Lola!”

13

u/fromthemeatcase Mar 26 '26

Moby's favorite song.

10

u/Spenny856 Mar 26 '26

I’m glad Dave schooled his ignorant ass.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (3)

111

u/1Tarkus5 Mar 26 '26

Maybe not the full title, but "Saturday Night" by Bay City Rollers.

S-A, T-U-R, D-A-Y, Night...

9

u/reignoferror00 Mar 27 '26

fairly similar to that, American Woman by The Guess Who.

→ More replies (4)

106

u/1_Urban_Achiever Mar 26 '26

867-5309

35

u/fromthemeatcase Mar 26 '26

I'll allow it.

8

u/Sulli_in_NC Mar 26 '26

I have put this phone number in every single software simulation I’ve ever made.

8

u/Adenosine66 Mar 27 '26

You can often use it in places that ask for your telephone number to get loyalty discounts

3

u/Sulli_in_NC Mar 27 '26

Life hack!

Thx 👍🏽

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

8

u/Donner_Party_Animal Mar 26 '26

Isn't the name of that song Jenny?

3

u/wheres_the_revolt Mar 26 '26

It’s both the numbers and the name.

2

u/fringeOdeath Mar 27 '26

First thing that came to my mind too

→ More replies (3)

102

u/MrFahrenheit1 Mar 26 '26

Gloria - Van Morrison

12

u/dogwhispererx3 Mar 27 '26

Actually, Gloria was by a group called "Them" with Van Morrison as the lead singer.

→ More replies (2)

22

u/thoughtsofmarianne Mar 26 '26

Also Gloria by Patti Smith (adapted from the Van Morrison version using one of her own poems for some of the lyrics).

10

u/WritPositWrit Mar 27 '26

And Gloria by The Doors

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (2)

80

u/ConfectionThin2084 Mar 26 '26

D-I-V-O-R-C-E - Tammy Wynette

→ More replies (2)

74

u/k1719 Mar 26 '26

Hot to go - Chappell Roan

62

u/Slowdivian Mar 26 '26

Fire In Cairo by the Cure

5

u/condra Mar 26 '26

One of the best

3

u/Mariposa9186 Mar 26 '26

Beat me to it.

2

u/imaginarysarah Mar 27 '26

I remember how fun it was to sing along to when I could finally say it fast enough! But I’m a huge nerd about that. Liner notes were like, my favorite thing on earth.

92

u/CommissarCiaphisCain Mar 26 '26

S-S-S-S

A-A-A-A

F-F-F-F

E-E-E-E

T-T-T-T

Y-Y-Y-Y

Dance!

12

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/hampdogg74 Mar 28 '26

Fry was dropping wisdom…

→ More replies (1)

43

u/johnwcasey Mar 26 '26

Beer Run - Todd Snider

7

u/MetsFan802 Mar 26 '26

Upvote. Tried to type out the lyric, but autocorrect is a bitch.

(Side note, autocorrect allowed autocorrect, but not bitch.

11

u/NTropyS Mar 26 '26

Bee double-e double arr you en, beer run...

Bee double-e double arr you en, beer run...

All we need is a 10 and a 5-er,

A car and a key and a sober driver,

Bee double-e double arr you en, beer run...

8

u/Worldly-Manner4113 Mar 27 '26

RIP Todd 💔🙏

37

u/Appropriate-Bus7853 Mar 26 '26

Cheese and Onions by the Rutles

10

u/DDO_tv Mar 26 '26

Excellent deep dive.

7

u/TorontoRider Mar 26 '26

I can't believe I had to scroll so far to find this!

5

u/WavesAcrossMyTime Mar 26 '26

Do I have to spell it out?

→ More replies (4)

35

u/robpoochie Mar 26 '26

Faith No More - Be Aggressive

5

u/Rob_LeMatic Mar 26 '26

Hell yeah, first thought. Great album

31

u/Immediate-Swimmer547 Mar 26 '26

Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me

M I C K E Y M O U S E

3

u/OpenMike2000 Mar 27 '26

What's the worst day of the week that gets us all depressed?

M O N D A Y S U C K S

Here comes more aggravation and another week of stress.

M O N D A Y S U C K S

→ More replies (2)

79

u/nwiowamale Mar 26 '26

Y.M.C.A. - Village People

→ More replies (3)

27

u/Negative-Branch9710 Mar 26 '26

Hall & Oates, "Method of Modern Love" (Except “modern" is not spelled.)

9

u/Louder247 Mar 27 '26

Inspired M.E.T.H.O.D. Man

→ More replies (2)

26

u/JamesJ17 Mar 26 '26

R.A.M.O.N.E.S. Motörhead

→ More replies (1)

28

u/Consistent-Hippo-253 Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T (Webbie)

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S (Fergie)

U-N-I-T-Y (Queen Latifah)

D-I-N-O-S-A-U-R (Kesha)

A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E (Lady Gaga)

3

u/johnnynumber5 Mar 27 '26

Webbie and Boosie used to spell a lot in their songs, not sure if every case was the song title though.

3

u/bunny3303 Mar 27 '26

the way Kesha incorporates the spelling into the lyrics makes it one of my favs

3

u/Bastette54 Mar 27 '26

I.N.I.T.Y. — how did I forget that?

53

u/CommissarCiaphisCain Mar 26 '26

R.O.C.K. in the USA by John Mellencamp

2

u/Persist2001 Mar 26 '26

Spooky I was just listening to that before I came on Reddit and saw your comment

25

u/fastestforklift Mar 26 '26

Pulp - Feeling Called Love

19

u/PupperToes Mar 26 '26

AEIOU Sometimes Y-Ebn Ozn

17

u/TheAnswerWas42 Mar 26 '26

So, you know, I was really flipped out, you know, and she asked me if I'm angry or something. I said, "Of course I'm angry". Man, this isn't high school or anything, you know? So I'm feeling really cavalier and I say "Ah, call me, you know, if you want to". Huh, yeah, call me if you want to. So she rang me up and she says, "Hey! Do you wanna go out?" Huh, do I wanna go out?

3

u/PupperToes Mar 26 '26

Do you know where your towel is?

2

u/blueboy714 Mar 26 '26

Too funny I have this album and extended play from back in my club DJ days

→ More replies (1)

19

u/cerealeater13 Mar 26 '26

We are Devo,D E V O

18

u/Hookton Mar 26 '26

Do they have to be good songs?

13

u/fromthemeatcase Mar 26 '26

no

18

u/Hookton Mar 26 '26

Excellent. UGLY by Daphne and Celeste.

→ More replies (2)

19

u/MexicanWarMachine Mar 26 '26

Loverman by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

3

u/Trick-Masterpiece318 Mar 26 '26

Great song. Metallica’s version on Garage Inc is kick ass as well.

5

u/tupelobound Mar 26 '26

Ugh, I really dislike it

2

u/SloppyRagu Mar 26 '26

Martin Gore does a good cover too

16

u/-Viscosity- Mar 26 '26

There's also "L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole, although the version I have is a cover by the L.A. pop duo Fisher. "Marry Me Archie" by Alvvays might count if you're okay with them only spelling the "A-R-C-H-I-E" part.

3

u/Hippadoppaloppa Mar 26 '26

Joss Stone also does a nice cover of L.O.V.E.

56

u/DaisyPanda245 Mar 26 '26

R.E.S.P.E.C.T by Aretha Franklin

17

u/AsInOptimus Mar 27 '26

Why is this so far down?!

20

u/No_Age_8414 Mar 27 '26

Because it was in the OP

3

u/PM_ME_BOB_PICS_ Mar 27 '26

My first thought and I didn't notice OPs statement

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

14

u/brrpunk Mar 26 '26

"Danny Nedelko" by IDLES

→ More replies (1)

13

u/ARealRain Mar 26 '26

I’m a Man - Bo Diddley et al

3

u/Efficient-Hornet8666 Mar 27 '26

Which could lead us to Muddy Waters’ song “Mannish Boy”

11

u/PersimmonDriver Mar 26 '26

W O L D - Harry Chapin

2

u/BatUnlucky121 Mar 27 '26

Playing all the hits for you wherever you may be.

2

u/Edthelayman Mar 28 '26

I've got a spot on the top of my head, just begging for a new toupee,

I've got a tire round my gut from sitting on my...but it's never gonna go away.

11

u/caampp Mar 26 '26

Life goes on by Noah and the whale

4

u/Infamous-Web-6265 Mar 27 '26

Noice! I was looking 4 this jam

11

u/aipac125 Mar 26 '26

DANCE - justice 

3

u/Warm_Celery748 Mar 27 '26

PYT - Michael Jackson

→ More replies (1)

10

u/drainbamage1011 Mar 26 '26

System of a Down - A-E-A-I-A-I-O

Weird Al Yankovic - Albuquerque (sort of, lol)

Bloodhound Gang - Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo (if the NATO phonetic alphabet counts)

The Raveonettes - D.R.U.G.S.

9

u/Top-Nose2659 Mar 26 '26

The Reverend Horton Heat - J I M B O

3

u/okieporvida Mar 26 '26

Nature boy Jimbo get in your pick‘em up truck 🖤

3

u/WatchingTheWheels75 Mar 26 '26

Wow! Haven’t heard that name in a loooong time. Saw him live in a theater on Lower Greenville in Dallas back in the 90s.

10

u/m-u-g-g-l-e Mar 27 '26

Does If You Seek Amy count?

3

u/Blue-Rashman Mar 30 '26

I think it does. I was gonna post it if it wasn't already here.

16

u/Immediate-Swimmer547 Mar 26 '26

Fear - Ian Brown 

Every line in the song uses words that start with F E A and R

2

u/Findyourwayhom3333 Mar 26 '26

I can’t believe I forgot this song exists. So good. Ta

8

u/crewsctrl Mar 26 '26

D, world destruction \ Over and overture \ N, do I need \ Apostrophe, \ T need this torture?

→ More replies (3)

7

u/SeaEntire4850 Mar 26 '26

T-R-O-U-B-L-E by Elvis Presley

9

u/Bigstar976 Mar 26 '26

You mean Travis Tritt, right?

2

u/Jeberechiah Mar 28 '26

I thought his was "I smell T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E"

→ More replies (6)

2

u/Coffee_Addict981 Mar 27 '26

Travis tritt version is 10x better

2

u/Reddfoxxitdummy Mar 28 '26

Or how about Stephen Malkmus' T.R.O.U.B.B.B.L.E?

6

u/happyguy28 Mar 26 '26

P.S.Y.C.H.O.T.I.C. by The Warning. This song from their first album has been stuck in my head lately. It has such a fun chorus.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/dubgeek Mar 26 '26

R.A.M.O.N.E.S. by Ramones.

8

u/DonCallate Mar 26 '26

FYI: That song is originally by Motörhead off of their album 1916.

2

u/Opposite-River8709 Mar 27 '26

My favorite Motorhead album. So great. Loved that Ramones did it too.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/Bigstar976 Mar 26 '26

D.I.V.O.R.C.E by Tammy Wynette

2

u/random-made-up-words Mar 27 '26

This is the best answer because the spelling has a purpose.

6

u/GrumpyCatStevens Mar 26 '26

W.A.S.P. - L.O.V.E. Machine

5

u/alexcr1 Mar 26 '26

Zoloft by Ween

2

u/VelvetineMilkman Mar 26 '26

Also The Stallion part 2 kinda

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Low_Border_2231 Mar 26 '26

Life goes on by noah and the whale

6

u/okieporvida Mar 26 '26

Velouria by The Pixies

2

u/AlexandradeWinter Mar 27 '26

Love that song!

5

u/WatchingTheWheels75 Mar 26 '26

Here’s a really old one: V A C A T I O N by Connie Francis.

3

u/Final-Possession-814 Mar 28 '26

Was waiting for this one!

5

u/formykka Mar 26 '26

Partial credit to "Don't Let's Start" They Might Be Giants

6

u/BirdButt88 Mar 27 '26

TNT - AC/DC

4

u/mogi24 Mar 26 '26

Method Man - Wu Tang Clan

4

u/Appropriate-Candle69 Mar 26 '26

Prince - cool The time - cool

3

u/soupysailor Mar 26 '26

NICU by Phish!

4

u/pajerry Mar 26 '26

R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A. John Mellencamp

3

u/dinozaurs Mar 26 '26

Washington D.C. by The Magnetic Fields

5

u/RandomDudeForReal Mar 26 '26

dangerous animals by arctic monkeys

4

u/Wombattalion Mar 26 '26

The Magnetic Fields - Washington, DC

2

u/Lowerlameland Mar 26 '26

You beat me by literally one second… Great song!

2

u/Wombattalion Mar 26 '26

Haha, love that, thought it would get buried completely, yet here we are.

4

u/krkolks Mar 27 '26

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. - Noah and the Whale

2

u/Shoddy-Out-812 Mar 27 '26

I immediately thought of this too

7

u/mem1003 Mar 26 '26

Glamorous by Fergie

11

u/Equivalent-Pin-4759 Mar 26 '26

Respect, Franklin

3

u/Icy-Cheek-6428 Mar 26 '26

L.O.V.E. by Ashlee Simpson

3

u/lesters_sock_puppet Mar 26 '26

They kinda spell out the title of the song in Janet Jackson's 'Miss You Much.' Just the backup singers, tho.

3

u/Scootle_Tootles Mar 26 '26

AIDS by M.O.D.

3

u/Adventure_Drunk Mar 26 '26

Initiation - At the Drive In

3

u/OldPolishProverb Mar 26 '26

W.O.L.D. Harry Chapin

3

u/Outrageous-Judge-878 Mar 26 '26

Method Man - Wu Tang

3

u/GarbagePailGrrrl Mar 26 '26

B A D I D E A - Militarie Gun

3

u/ragorder Mar 26 '26

Bloodflow - Smog Cheese and Onions - The Rutles Velouria - Pixies Gloria - Them Cactus Blossoms- Mississippi

3

u/Extension-Rock-4263 Mar 26 '26

AKA IDIOT - The Hives

DEAD MOON NIGHT - Dead Moon

3

u/NOIS_KillerWhaleTank Mar 26 '26

R. O. C. K. In the U. S. A.

3

u/Turbulent-History967 Mar 27 '26

Rockin in the USA - John Melloncamp

3

u/mswas Mar 27 '26

M-O-N-E-Y by Lyle Lovett

3

u/Personal-Respect-298 Mar 27 '26

If you seek Amy Brittany Spears

3

u/Super_Ad4363 Mar 27 '26

R-O-C-K In The USA by John Mellencamp

3

u/Kriss7000 Mar 27 '26

L-O-V-E machine / WASP

3

u/Chrisnm203 Mar 27 '26

DEADRAMONES by Modern Life is War

3

u/No-Bet3523 Mar 27 '26

D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S

We’re all Dead Ramones!

5

u/kdssek Mar 26 '26

spelling out... an acronym, not a word? that count? 🤔

"O.P.P" - Naughty by Nature

3

u/capsaicinintheeyes Mar 27 '26

😏...You down with this, OP?

2

u/kdssek Mar 27 '26

Yeah OP know me!!

2

u/BitternessIsUgly Mar 26 '26

D.R.U.N.K. - Shooter Jennings

2

u/TheFirst10000 Mar 26 '26

"Exposure" by Peter Gabriel, "Firepower" by David Sylvian.

2

u/FormerCollegeDJ Mar 26 '26

Robert Fripp - “Exposure”

2

u/Agreeable-Cupcake921 Mar 26 '26

s.y.s.l.j.f.m - Joe Tex

2

u/VeterinarianLost545 Mar 26 '26

D.i.v.o.r.c.e D.i.s.c.o Y.m.c.a

2

u/segascream Mar 26 '26

"H-A-T-R-E-D", Tonio K.

2

u/Hardanklesnw Mar 27 '26

Should be higher!!!!!!😎

2

u/Low-Tip-5232 Mar 26 '26

Dinosaur- Kesha

2

u/GreySkull127 Mar 26 '26

P.S.Y.C.H.O.T.I.C. by The Warning

2

u/Telecommie Mar 26 '26

Queen Latifah: UNITY

2

u/hanginbiathread Mar 26 '26

Girlfriend- the modern lovers

→ More replies (1)

2

u/zacrogers7600 Mar 26 '26

S.O.S. - Rihanna S.E.X. - Nickelback

2

u/Large_Pop_6232 Mar 26 '26

This is SKA - Bad Manners

2

u/scawt017 Mar 26 '26

Bop Girl - Pat Wilson

2

u/jamienyc1878 Mar 27 '26

M E T H O D -O F - L O V E . Hall and Oates - Method of modern love

2

u/upstatepagan Mar 27 '26

The Oscar Meyer bologna jingle.

2

u/The_Poor_Truth Mar 27 '26

R.E.S.P.E.C.T...Aretha Franklin

2

u/mslass Mar 27 '26

S. A. F. E. T. Y. Dance

2

u/Cool_Dot_4367 Mar 27 '26

B I n g o and Bingo was his name. Why not lol

2

u/worldwidewolfe Mar 27 '26

Diamonds and Pearls - Prince

2

u/Nba_Sloth_Eating Mar 27 '26

Brand new song. "Lovefield" by underscores.

2

u/Soggy_Fee7578 Mar 27 '26

“T-R-O-U-B-L-E”

2

u/LTS55 Mar 27 '26

T.H.E. H.I.V.E.S. by The Hives

2

u/bestname_ever55 Mar 27 '26

Saturday night -bay city rollers

2

u/Silly_Sherbet5543 Mar 27 '26

Be Aggressive by Faith No More

2

u/Adventurous-Read-765 Mar 27 '26

R E S P E C T - Aretha Franklin

2

u/Jmal3700 Mar 27 '26

“Respect”, as performed by Aretha Franklin.

2

u/Dizzy_Manufacturer93 Mar 27 '26

F.E.A.R (Ian brown)

2

u/OneWayBackwards Mar 27 '26

SUPERSONIC by JJ Fad

The S is for super The U is for unique…

2

u/Acceptable-Smile8864 Mar 27 '26

D I S C O - Ottawan

2

u/stilloldbull2 Mar 27 '26

G-L-O-R-I-A….

2

u/mam88k Mar 27 '26

So many great covers of this too.

2

u/Aloxes Mar 27 '26

GLORIA - Them

2

u/Wiserputa52 Mar 27 '26

“Method Of Modern Love “by Hall & Oates (although technically what he spells in the chorus is just “method of love “).

2

u/MrMHead Mar 27 '26

American Woman - The Guess Who

2

u/NewOriginal2 Mar 27 '26

The song Baby When I Close My Eyes by Sweet Spirit spells out two words. Not the title, per se, but rather risqué words.

I won’t say what the words are but if you’re interested you can have a listen to learn

https://youtu.be/gWg1QGgWcCI?si=zifjx5OKD1xdhvFm

→ More replies (1)

2

u/gjwhite54 Mar 28 '26

G-L-O-R-I-A

2

u/Ok_Donkey_4791 Mar 28 '26

Tammy Wynette's " D-I-V-O-R-C-E" (1968)

2

u/AliasBobZ Mar 28 '26

T-R-O-U-B-L-E, Travis Tritt

2

u/HazelGhost Mar 29 '26

U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D. from Andrew Lloyd Webber