I asked several popular current artificial intelligence chatbots if they could give me “a list of popular songs written about music itself. ” Interestingly, each one gave me completely different answers.

I started with Google’s Bard, but none of the songs it listed seem to me to really on point. But at least it tried to organize the list into various genres (though I would take issue with what it thinks are “classics”!).

Google Bard: Here are some popular songs written about music itself, spanning various genres and eras:

Classics:

• “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen: This iconic rock song explores themes of love, loss, and rebellion, all while weaving in complex musical arrangements and theatrical vocals.
• “Imagine” by John Lennon: This timeless ballad envisions a world without war or conflict, all brought to life through a powerful melody and Lennon’s iconic voice.
• “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen: This hauntingly beautiful song has been covered by countless artists and explores themes of love, faith, and doubt, all wrapped in Cohen’s poetic lyrics and poignant vocals.

Rock:

• “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen: This anthemic rock song celebrates the power of music and the open road, with its driving rhythm and Springsteen’s passionate vocals.
• “Back in Black” by AC/DC: This high-energy rock anthem is a tribute to the power of music to bring people together and celebrate life.
• “We Will Rock You” by Queen: This simple yet powerful song is a call to action, urging listeners to stand up and be counted, all driven by a catchy rhythm and singalong chorus.

Pop:

• “Dancing Queen” by ABBA: This infectiously fun song is a celebration of dancing and letting loose, all wrapped in ABBA’s signature disco sound.
• “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor: This empowering anthem is about overcoming heartbreak and finding your own strength, with its soaring vocals and uplifting message.
• “Happy” by Pharrell Williams: This infectiously upbeat song is a reminder to find joy in the simple things, with its catchy melody and positive lyrics.

Hip-Hop:

• “Lose Yourself” by Eminem: This inspirational song tells the story of overcoming adversity and achieving your dreams, all delivered with Eminem’s signature flow and powerful lyrics.
• “Mo Money Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G.: This classic rap song explores the challenges and temptations that come with wealth and fame, with Biggie’s smooth delivery and witty wordplay.
• “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: This uplifting song is about overcoming obstacles and achieving your goals, with its energetic rhythm and positive message.

Other Genres:

• “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong: This classic jazz song is a celebration of life’s simple joys, with Armstrong’s warm vocals and the song’s beautiful melody.
• “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland: This iconic song from The Wizard of Oz expresses a longing for a better place, with its hopeful lyrics and Judy Garland’s unforgettable performance.
• “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” by Talking Heads: This quirky and unique song explores themes of searching for meaning and finding your place in the world, with its infectious rhythm and David Byrne’s distinctive vocals.

This is just a small sampling of the many popular songs written about music itself. Music has the power to inspire, uplift, and connect us, and these songs are a testament to the universal language of music.

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I next tried Microsoft’s Bing, which is said to be powered by ChatGPT 4, and it came up with this:

Microsoft Bing: There are many songs written about music itself, or about the love of music. Some of them are classics, while others are more recent hits. Here are some examples of popular songs about music and singing:

• Thank You For The Music by Abba: This is a song from the Swedish pop group’s 1982 album Super Trouper. It expresses gratitude to the music that has been a source of joy and comfort for them throughout their lives¹.
• Almost (Sweet Music) by Hozier: This is a song from the Irish singer-songwriter’s 2014 album Hozier. It describes his experience of falling in love with a woman who shares his passion for music and makes him feel alive¹.
• Piano Man by Billy Joel: This is a song from the American rock and pop singer’s 1973 album Piano Man. It tells the story of a piano player who entertains people in various bars and clubs, and reflects on his own life and dreams¹.
• Walking in Memphis by Mark Cohn: This is a song from the American singer-songwriter’s 1982 album Walking in Memphis. It pays tribute to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, where he grew up and where he found inspiration for his music¹.
• Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley: This is a song from the American rock and roll legend’s 1957 film Jailhouse Rock. It features Elvis singing and dancing to a catchy rhythm, while also addressing some social issues such as racism, poverty, and crime¹.
• I Love Rock N’ Roll by Joan Jett: This is a song from the American rock singer’s 1975 debut album I Love Rock N’ Roll. It celebrates the power and excitement of rock music, and how it makes her feel free and happy²¹.
• The Music is the Magic by Abbey Lincoln: This is a song from the American jazz vocalist’s 1960 album The Magic Hour. It expresses her admiration for various musical genres and artists, such as blues, gospel, classical, jazz, pop, rock, soul, country, folk, Latin, African, Asian, etc¹.
• Music by Madonna: This is a song from the American pop icon’s 1983 album Like a Prayer. It explores the spiritual dimension of music as a way of connecting with God or oneself¹.

These are just some of the many songs that celebrate music itself or sing about it in different ways. Do you have any favorite songs about music? 😊

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Finally, I asked ChatGPT 3.5 the same question, and it provided a longer list, without links, that seem relevant. I don’t know any of these, but this is what it said:

Chat GPT 3.5: Several popular songs have been written about music itself. These songs often celebrate the power, joy, and influence of music in our lives. Here are some examples:

1. “Sweet Harmony” by The Beloved (1992): This song emphasizes the unifying and uplifting nature of music.

2. “Music” by Madonna (2000): Madonna’s song is a celebration of the power of music to bring people together and make them feel alive.

3. “Turn Up the Music” by Chris Brown (2012): This dance-pop track encourages listeners to turn up the music and let it take control.

4. “Let the Music Play” by Shannon (1983): This freestyle classic tells the story of a relationship in which music plays a crucial role.

5. “Music Sounds Better with You” by Stardust (1998): This electronic track celebrates the magical and transformative effect of music.

6. “Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)” by Reunion (1974): A fun and fast-paced song that lists various musical influences and styles.

7. “Rock and Roll Music” by Chuck Berry (1957): Berry’s classic rock and roll anthem pays tribute to the joy and excitement of music.

8. “We Got the Beat” by The Go-Go’s (1981): While not explicitly about music, this song celebrates the energy and rhythm of music, especially the beat.

9. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen (1975): While the lyrics are often considered enigmatic, the song’s operatic structure and eclectic musical styles make it a celebration of musical creativity.

10. “I Love Music” by The O’Jays (1975): This disco and soul track expresses the deep love and appreciation for music.

These songs capture the essence of the profound impact that music can have on our emotions, experiences, and memories.

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Just a regular Google Search did better than any of the AI chatbots!  Here is what it found and inserted as the top result – actually a human being living in Belgium named Kajsa Makarainen  compiled this list on Quora.com. The site actually has a whole raft of suggestions by a bunch of people, here: https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-good-songs-about-music-itself-e-g-songs-about-the-power-of-music-the-effect-of-music-the-reach-of-music-and-so-on :

• And the Melody Still Lingers On – Chaka Khan
• Do Re Mi – Julie Andrews
• Don’t Take Away the Music – Tavares
• For Those About to Rock – AC/DC
• I Can Hear Music – The Beach Boys
• I Got Rhythm – Ella Fitzgerald
• I Love Music – The O’Jays
• I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
• I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing – The New Seekers
• It Don’ Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) – Louis Armstrong
• It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll – The Rolling Stones
• It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me – Billy Joel
• I’ve Got the Music in Me – Kiki Dee
• Killing Me Softly with His Song – Roberta Flack
• Let the Music Play – Barry White
• Let There Be Rock – AC/DC
• Listen to the Music – The Doobie Brothers
• Lost in Music – Sister Sledge
• Mr. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
• Music – John Miles
• Music Is My Way of Life – Patti LaBelle
• Perfectly Good Guitar – John Hiatt
• Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
• Pop Muzik – M
• Radio Ga Ga – Queen
• Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King – Electric Light Orchestra
• Rockin’ All over the World – Status Quo
• Sing – Travis
• Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
• Song Sung Blue – Neil Diamond
• Songbird – Barbra Streisand
• Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits
• Sweet Soul Music – Arthur Conley
• Thank You for the Music – ABBA
• The Sound of Music – Julie Andrews
• There’ll Be Sad Songs – Billy Ocean
• Tout pour la Musique – France Gall
• Tribute (Right On) – Pasadenas
• TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) – MFSB ft. The Three Degrees –
• Wired for Sound – Cliff Richard
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