Category Archives: 2010s songs

The best 500 songs from the 2010s. Lyrics, meanings and interpretations from your favorite musicians. Adele, Halsey, Sara Bareilles, Grouplove, Sia, The 1975, Harry Styles. Find out our highest ranked music acts of the 2010 decade. It was a great decade for music.

2010s songs, falling in love

#440 River (live)- Vanessa Carlton

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The river flows, it takes ahold and it’s running through/
And we ain’t changing on our own, oh, we change for you.

The best version of this song is the live version on The Spotify Living Room Sessions.

This list is meant to be a celebration of these songs, so let’s talk about what is great about Vanessa Carlton’s “River”. The melody of the chorus is stunning. The vocal on the verses is strong too. I prefer the arrangements where Carlton is just playing with her and a piano, as opposed to the official recording. Though, the official release is great too. Carlton sounds very emotionally connected to this song, and that is hugely important in my book.

River Great Songs Meaning
Vanessa Carlton

The lyric is a little difficult to comprehend. I think she is trying to say something about how love changes us. I wouldn’t have minded a little more clarity but I supposed I can just enjoy it for what it is.

River-Vanessa Carlton-Lyrics

Sailors on the sea, are we heading clear for the edge of the ocean?
There’s no city that keeps you king for a gypsy
And are we guided by some vision?
All our moves adding up to an ancient arc
We are free of the canyon cliff of my heart

The river flows, it takes ahold and it’s running through
And we ain’t changing on our own, oh, we change for you
The river flows, it always flows

And he walks home in another city
Your mind’s stuck in an ancient war
And all you need is the space for the beauty to take you
And she will take you

The river flows, it takes ahold and it’s running through
And we ain’t changing on our own, oh, we change for you
The river flows, it always flows
Flows through you, flows through you

The river flows, it takes ahold and it’s coming through
And we ain’t changing on our own, oh we change for you
The river flows, it always flows
And we’re just sailors on the sea
Yeah, we’re just sailors on the sea
Yeah, we’re just sailors on the sea

Songwriters: Vanessa Carlton

 

2010s songs, relationship problems

#433 Just Give Me A Reason- Pink w/ Nate Ruess

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I’m sorry I don’t understand/
Where all of this is coming from/
I thought that we were fine.

“Just Give Me A Reason” is about two people failing to communicate, thus creating problems in their relationship where there might not otherwise be any. The problems are caused by a seemingly insecure woman.

The girl thinks she hears her guy talking in his sleep about things that he doesn’t talk to her about. Her mind begins to run wild thinking about possible problems between them. Is he hiding something from her? Has he tired of her? He responds with the great line above.

Just Give Me a Reason Meaning
Pink

Luckily, the guy sounds pretty patient. He tells her it’s all in her mind and he feels confident in their love (“my dear we still have everything”). But her suspicions are now causing her to turn away from him. Then she asks him to give her a reason to keep trying in the relationship. She sounds a bit crazy. Or at the very least she catastrophes everything. He seems to remain steadfast. Perhaps we can all relate to both partners at some point or another.

Just Give Me A Reason Meaning
Nate Ruess

The vocals are great and the duet structure works well, as the two are having a conversation and it is appropriate that there be two voices. This song was written by Pink and Nate Ruess, the lead singer for Fun. Great melody, meaning and song structure.

Just Give Me A Reason Lyrics

Right from the start
You were a thief, you stole my heart
And I your willing victim
I let you see the parts of me, that weren’t all that pretty
And with every touch you fixed them
Now you’ve been talking in your sleep oh oh
Things you never say to me oh oh
Tell me that you’ve had enough
Of our love, our love

Just give me a reason, just a little bit’s enough
Just a second we’re not broken just bent, and we can learn to love again
It’s in the stars, it’s been written in the scars on our hearts
We’re not broken just bent, and we can learn to love again

I’m sorry I don’t understand
Where all of this is coming from
I thought that we were fine (Oh we had everything)
Your head is running wild again
My dear we still have everythin’
And it’s all in your mind (Yeah but this is happenin’)
You’ve been havin’ real bad dreams oh oh
You used to lie so close to me oh oh
There’s nothing more than empty sheets between our love, our love
Oh our love, our love

Just give me a reason, just a little bit’s enough
Just a second we’re not broken just bent and we can learn to love again
I never stop, you’re still written in the scars on my heart
You’re not broken just bent and we can learn to love again

Oh tear ducts and rust
I’ll fix it for us
We’re collecting dust, but our love’s enough
You’re holding it in
You’re pouring a drink
No nothing is as bad as it seems
We’ll come clean

Just give me a reason just a little bit’s enough
Just a second we’re not broken just bent and we can learn to love again
It’s in the stars, it’s been written in the scars on our hearts
That we’re not broken just bent and we can learn to love again

Just give me a reason, just a little bit’s enough
Just a second we’re not broken just bent, and we can learn to love again
It’s in the stars, it’s been written in the scars on our hearts
That we’re not broken just bent, and we can learn to love again

Oh we can learn to love again
Oh we can learn to love again oh oh
Oh that we’re not broken just bent and we can learn to love again

Songwriters: Alecia Moore / Jeff Bhasker / Nate Ruess

2010s songs, life is hard

#422 Hello- Evanescence

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Don’t try to fix me I’m not broken/
Hello I’m the lie living for you so you can hide.

“Hello” by Evanescence is a beautifully haunting song that explores how we can deal with childhood trauma. The author appears to witness a horrifying event-perhaps the death of a loved one at an early age. All of the sudden we hear a new voice introduce herself. This is the artist’s subconscious.

Hello Greatest Songs Meaning
Amy Lee

The subconscious tells us she is going to be taking over for a while so that the little girl will be able to handle everything. The subconscious takes over so that she doesn’t break down and die herself. Amy Lee  imagines the subconscious as a guardian angel, an entity that helps her. It is talking to her and telling her things are going to be ok, because she is bringing in the reinforcements.

The song is very touching, and it is a delightful way to imagine how our body works during times of difficulty. Some seek religion, some seek something spiritual within. This song is a slight departure from Evanescense’s other songs: Lee’s voice is more tender. It also has less instrumentation, usually just a piano and strings, though some electric guitar sprinkled throughout.

The unique concept, beautiful piano and lyrics and tender vocals make this a solid contribution to the top 500 songs of all time list.

Hello Lyrics

Playground school bell rings again
Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told you she’s not breathing?
Hello I’m your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello

If I smile and don’t believe
Soon I know I’ll wake from this dream
Don’t try to fix me I’m not broken
Hello I’m the lie living for you so you can hide
Don’t cry

Suddenly I know I’m not sleeping
Hello I’m still here
All that’s left of yesterday

Songwriters: Amy Lee / Ben Moody / David Hodges