Best Songs About Friendship
1. “Anytime You Need a Friend,” Mariah Carey
The fifth and final single off of 1994’s Music Box, Mariah Carey actually wrote “Anytime You Need a Friend” at a time when she was isolated from everyone close to her: Her marriage to Tommy Mottola. She recalled in her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey, “Among all of my songs that one was especially significant, because I was desperately alone, removed from friends and full of fear. My belief in God kept me alive—I wrote that song thinking about what I thought God would say to us in times of fear.” The gospel influences are crystal clear on the tune, which applies as much to a higher power as it does to your ride or die BFF.
2. “Count On Me,” Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
CeCe Winans joins Whitney Houston for “Count On Me” from the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack, a beautifully harmonized ode to the bestie you can rely on through thick and thin.
3. “That’s What Friends Are For,” Dionne Warwick Feat. Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder
Dionne Warwick’s best-known smash features a little help from her own friends, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.
4. “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” Whitney Houston
Another song from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” was a smash for Houston and a testament to the power of friendship in healing a broken heart.
5. “Wannabe” Spice Girls
The ultimate chicks before you-know-whats anthem! Though we have to admit, after all these years, it’s still really unclear exactly what “zig-a-zig-ah” actually means.
6. “I’m Only Me When I’m With You,” Taylor Swift
We all have that one BFF with whom we can let our hair down, cry and be your most vulnerable, silly self. Look for Taylor Swift’s real-life BFF Abigail Anderson, who inspired the song, in the music video!
7. “Army,” Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding wrote “Army” for her real-life best friend, Hannah, who she features in the music video for the sweet track. “I realized that I had focused a lot of writing on past relationships and it hit me I had never written about my best friend,” Goulding wrote of “Army.” “The person I met in college over 10 years ago. The person who was at my very first gig. The person who has seen me at my lowest and the first person I call in muffled sobs when something bad happens. We’ve been deliriously happy together, deliriously tired and deliriously sad together. I wanted to show our friendship for what it really is: honest, real, electric.”
8. “You’re My Best Friend,” Queen
Don’t we all wish we could have been besties with Freddie Mercury?
9. “Always Be Together,” Little Mix
For your forever bestie!
10. “Brave,” Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles’ “Brave” is similar to a pep talk you’d get from your best friend when you’re feeling less than courageous.
11. “Good as Hell,” Lizzo
“I got a bottle of tequila I’ve been saving for you!” Lizzo is the friend we all wish we had after a bad breakup.
12. “The Cure,” Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga wrote “The Cure” for a close friend battling cancer.
13. “Lean on Me,” Bill Withers
Bill Withers delivers the ultimate meaning of friendship with this classic.
14. “Friends,” Nas and Damien Marley
Nas and Damien Marley’s “Friends” is a true ode to your ride or dies.
15. “Real Friends,” Kanye West
Kanye West raps about the struggles of discerning true friends from those chasing clout, as well as making time for real friends while coping with the trappings of his own fame.
16. “I’ll Be There for You,” The Rembrandts
The Friends theme hit No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it The Rembrandts’ biggest hit yet.
17. “Count on Me,” Bruno Mars
Though simplistic, Bruno Mars’ “Count On Me” is also irresistibly sweet.
18. “Because You Loved Me,” Céline Dion
Céline Dion delivers one of her signature power ballads that applies to not just romantic love, but also the inspiration, support and love you get from a good friend who pushes you to be and do your best.
19. “Friends,” Elton John
Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s “Friends” is a sweet song from before their breakout success stateside.
20. “This One’s for the Girls,” Martina McBride
Raise a toast to your girls with this sweet country classic from Martina McBride.
21. “You’ve Got a Friend,” Carole King
James Taylor won a Grammy for his rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend,” and so did its original singer-songwriter, queen of piano and pen, Carole King. Taylor recalled King telling him that the song was a response to his lyric in “Fire and Rain”: “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend.”
22. “Thank You for Being a Friend,” Andrew Gold
The Golden Girls’ theme song goes hard, and it has more verses than you realize!
23. “Stand By Me,” Tracy Chapman
David Letterman loved Tracy Chapman’s rendition of “Stand By Me” so much that he enlisted her to perform it for one of his very final episodes of The Late Show.
24. “All My Friends,” LCD Soundsystem
For when being responsible feels (and often is) much less appealing than partying with your pals.
25. “We’re Going to Be Friends,” The White Stripes
Jack White nails the adorable, optimistic view of a kid on the first day of school, when almost everyone is a potential BFF.
26. “Hymn,” Kesha
Kesha delivers a beautiful tune about finally finding your tribe and your spirituality within it. She explained in a letter to her fans on Mic, “I think that one of the reasons why my music connects with people who feel like they don’t fit in is because I have never fit in either—this is why the song ‘Hymn’ is so special to me. The longer title was ‘Hymn for the Hymnless.’ And when I say ‘hymnless,’ I’m talking about people who feel like they don’t fit in, people who feel like they don’t have a hymn. That’s how I have always felt myself—there was never one group or scene that was entirely mine.”
27. “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers went together like PB&J, and their friendship blessed the rest of us.
28. “Best Friend,” Young Thug
Your best friend doesn’t get mad when you brag.
29. “Waiting on a Friend,” Rolling Stones
Even Mick Jagger gets tired of lovers after a while. Sometimes you just want a buddy!
30. “Friends in Low Places,” Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks knows that when you’re not at your best, your true friends will still be there to lift you up. Bottoms up to that!
31. “Me and My Girls,” Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez delivers the perfect song to listen to while you and your girls get ready to go out!
32. “Best Friend,” Harry Nilsson
You may recognize this tune from Rob & Big.
33. “Girl,” Destiny’s Child
Have a girlfriend who’s going through a rough patch or broken heart? Destiny’s Child has a great script for your pep talk.
34. “Never Had a Friend Like Me,” Tupac Shakur
Your friend will let you get boastful (and in fact, a true friend will hype you up).
35. “Song for a Friend,” Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz sings about friends being the ultimate encouragement to be your best.
36. “Friend Like Me,” Robin Williams (from Aladdin)
You may not be a genie, but good friends are magical.
37. “No New Friends,” DJ Khaled Feat. Lil Wayne, Drake and Rick Ross
It can be hard to know who your real friends are when you’re successful and rich. An easy solution? Stick with your day-ones.
38. “All My Favorite People,” Maren Morris Feat. Brothers Osborne
Maren Morris sings about friends you can get silly with (and with whom you can get tipsy from not-so-fancy drinks without shame).
39. “I’ll Remember,” Madonna
Madonna delivers a beautiful, perpetually underrated ballad about thanking a friend for giving you the courage to be your best self.
40. “With a Little Help From My Friends,” The Beatles
Because, like The Beatles, we all need a little help from our own friends to get by.
41. “Best Friend,” Brandy
Brandy delivered a perfect R&B serenade to your bestie from her self-titled 1994 album with “Best Friend”: “Don’t know what I’d ever do without you / From the beginning to the end / You’ve always been here right beside me / So, I’ll call you my best friend / Through the good times and the bad ones / Whether I lose or if I win / I know one thing that never changes / And that’s you as my best friend.”
42. “I Will Come to You,” Hanson
Ignore the fact, for a moment, that the members of Hanson now have kids close to their ages in this video and just enjoy the sweet sentiment (and, OK, slight adolescent melodrama) of “I Will Come to You.”
43. “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” Tracy Lawrence
You find out who your friends are when you need help, Tracy Lawrence sings: Which pal will lend you money for the bus? Will pick you up when you’re in a fender bender and can’t get home? “Somebody’s gonna drop everything / Run out and crank up their car / Hit the gas get their fast / Never stop to think ‘what’s in it for me?’ or ‘it’s way too far’ / They just show on up with their big old heart / You find out who you’re friends are.”
44. “Gift of a Friend,” Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato showed off her powerhouse pipes on “Gift of a Friend” when she was just 17. The song was featured on the soundtrack to Disney’s Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.
45. “My Old Friend,” Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw delivers a heartwrenching farewell to a friend who’s passed away. Randy Newman’s classic Toy Story tune never gets old.
47. “Kind and Generous,” Natalie Merchant
48. “Oath,” Cher Lloyd Feat. Becky G
Cher Lloyd sings a heartfelt oath to her BFF: “My best friend, best friend ’til the very end / ‘Cause best friends, best friends don’t have to pretend / You need a hand, and I’m right there right beside you / You in the dark, I’ll be the bright light to guide you.”
49. “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine,” LeAnn Rimes
What more do you need?
50. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Cyndi Lauper
When the working day is done, you really do just want to kick back (or party up) with your girlfriends, as Cyndi Lauper put so eloquently in this pop classic.
51. “Friend,” Michael Lanza
Not only is Michael Lanza’s “Friend” a touching song in itself, but the video is also an ode to man’s best friend. “My family brought the dog to the beach, and I was watching all the other people play with dogs,” Lanza told American Songwriter. “It just reminded me that dogs are the most loyal friends we can have. The song is really about friends of all kinds but thinking about the relationship between humans and dogs is what inspired me to write it.”
52. “We Should Be Friends,” Miranda Lambert
We all secretly want to be friends with Miranda Lambert. “We Should Be Friends” is the final song she wrote for her 2016 album, The Weight of These Wings, and one of the only songs for the record that she wrote solo. “I was in my music room, but I didn’t have that one song that I wrote alone, that I feel speaks directly for Miranda Lambert, and who I am," she explained to American Songwriter. “I’m a huge believer in writing by yourself. It’s fun to be pushed by songwriters better than you, but it’s important to keep it close and remind you of the grind of songwriting and the reward.”
53. “Clique,” Kanye West , Jay-Z and Big Sean
We all have a clique, and like Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean, we all love to hype one another (and ourselves) up together.
54. “I’ll Stand By You,” The Pretenders
“I’ll Stand By You” is often regarded as one of the best love songs of all time, but The Pretenders’ ballad is also perfectly applicable to the relationship you have with your best friend.
55. “My Best Friend,” Weezer
Weezer keeps it simple and super sweet with their hook: “You’re my best friend / And I love you.”
56. “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande
Who needs a lover when you have generous friends like Ariana Grande? She boasts of her bank account and her buds, “Wearing a ring, but ain’t gon’ be no ‘Mrs.’ / Bought matching diamonds for six of my b**ches / I’d rather spoil all my friends with my riches.”
57. “FRIENDS,” The Carters
No matter who your pals are, you can relate to the opening line of “FRIENDS” by The Carters (Beyoncé and Jay-Z): “My friends, real friends, better than your friends!”
58. “My Sister,” Reba McEntire
Chances are if you have a sister, she’s your OG best friend. This one is for her!
59. “That’s My Girl,” Fifth Harmony
Hearing tracks like “That’s My Girl,” in which Fifth Harmony hypes up a BFF with a broken heart, makes us really wish these girls would have worked their issues out together. It’s almost impossible to not feel better listening to this!
60. “Graduation (Friends Forever),” Vitamin C
Get teary-eyed and nostalgic with this tune.
61. “Glory Days,” Betty Who
Betty Who captures the feelings of both insecurity and invincibility of spending summer days and nights with your best friends.
62. “Here’s to the Nights,” Eve 6
You know you toasted to this in tears at prom.
63. “F**KING BEST SONG EVERRR,” Wallpaper
We all have (or are) that friend who makes all new best friends after a sip or two. This is for those who can’t help but feel bonded over booze.
64. “Friend Like You,” Andy Grammer
This adorable Andy Grammer tune from Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie gives a pure view of friendship with some yummy similes: “Like rock and roll / Marshalls and tellys / Mac and cheese, PB’s and jelly / Some things are better together, and that you and me.”
65. “Good Morning, Friend,” Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash sings of his savior as simply being a great friend beyond all else.
66. “Best Friend,” Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams raps about having a best friend who can see through your tough exterior to your vulnerable core—and who will encourage you to seek and get help if you need it.
67. “Wind Beneath My Wings,” Bette Midler
Bette Midler delivers the ultimate anthem for a friend who lets you shine, even if it means they’re in the shadows. Grab your Kleenex and try not to cry!
68. “Umbrella,” Rihanna Feat. Jay-Z
Rihanna’s breakout hit that launched Good Girl Gone Bad features some of the best bestie lines ever: “When the sun shines, we’ll shine together / Told you I’ll be here forever / Said I’ll always be your friend / Took an oath, I’ma stick it out ’til the end / Now that it’s raining more than ever / Know that we’ll still have each other / You can stand under my umbrella.”
69. “In My Life,” The Beatles
One of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s best-loved songs is about an enduring love, whether with a lover or friend, that will absolutely make you think of your bestie: “But of all these friends and lovers / There is no one compares with you / And these memories lose their meaning / When I think of love as something new.”
70. “Best Friend,” Saweetie Feat. Doja Cat and Steflon Don
Saweetie teams up with Doja Cat and Steflon Don for “Best Friend,” an irresistibly fun take on your Day One BFF: “I’ma hype her every time, that my motherf**kin’ friend / She been down since the jellies and the Volvos / Got me steppin’ out that Jeep, got Manolos.”
71. “Whenever I Call You ‘Friend,’” Kenny Loggins Feat. Stevie Nicks
Is your best friend your soulmate? Then you’ll love “Whenever I Call You ‘Friend’” by Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks, which starts out as a ballad before becoming a borderline disco track: “Whenever I call you friend / I begin to think I understand / Anything we are / You and I have always been ever and ever.”
72. “Best Friend,” Sofi Tukker Feat. NERVO, The Knocks and Alisa Ueno
Sofi Tukker knows friendship transcends age and combines that wisdom with an infectious beat: “I think that I’ll keep loving you, way past 65 / We made a language for us two, we don’t need to describe / Every time you call on me, I drop what I do / You are my best friend and we’ve got some s**t to shoot.”
73. “Beautiful Day With My Best Friend,” Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World recorded this sugary-sweet tune about a day with your bestie for Yo Gabba Gabba! and made it a cult classic.
74. “What About Your Friends,” TLC
T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli ask the important questions: Will the people you consider your friends be there when the chips are down?
75. “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon and Garfunkel
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel composed one of the most moving pieces of music ever with “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and Garfunkel’s vocals (and, let’s be honest, Elvis Presley’s gospel-infused cover) will give you chills, bring a tear to your eye and make you want to hug your bestie forever.
76. “Girlfriend,” Icona Pop
This take on Jay-Z and Bey’s “’03 Bonnie & Clyde” reminds us that a friend is just as good of a partner as a lover.
77. “My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend,” Demi Lovato
Now single, Demi Lovato sings about her how friends serve as her boyfriend now on this track from her new album Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over. “I found the love of my life, I mean the loves of my life,” she sings. “All my girlfriends are my boyfriend / But they won’t mess up my makeup / Yeah, my girlfriends are my boyfriend / But we’re never gonna break up.” Next, Dolly Parton Shares the Heartwarming Stories Behind 10 of Her Favorite Songs!
