In a world saturated with readily available music, it’s easy to feel like the thrill of discovering a truly new song is fading. Remember the days of a friend excitedly sharing a mixtape, the anticipation building as you listened to it repeatedly? YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify have revolutionized music access, but have they inadvertently dulled the pure joy of musical discovery?
Reflecting on this, I began compiling a list of my all-time favorite songs. These are the tracks that resonate deeply, prompting you to linger in the car until the song finishes or evoking powerful memories tied to specific moments in your life. We all have our personal soundtrack, filled with these uniquely meaningful tunes.
Curating My Undiscovered Playlist
Within my extensive list of beloved songs, there’s a special category I’m eager to share: songs that have likely flown under most people’s radar. My criteria for this curated selection involved a simple yet effective method: checking YouTube views and prioritizing tracks with under 10 million views.
Interestingly, this process revealed a distinct pattern in my taste for undiscovered gems. The resulting list leans towards a relaxed, acoustic vibe, with a few exceptions. (The high-energy, widely popular tracks were naturally excluded). Many of these hidden treasures were unearthed not through friends, but through their appearance in movie or TV soundtracks – a surprising source of musical serendipity.
While not a scientifically rigorous method, this approach allowed me to recapture that childhood excitement of musical discovery, reminiscent of when my friend Ashley brought over that Maxell cassette featuring Juliana Hatfield (While not on this list, her song “My Sister” is worth a listen if you appreciate raw, honest songwriting).
You can explore these handpicked favorites on this Spotify playlist.
10 Hit Songs You’ve Likely Never Heard
#1 All Will Be Well – The Gabe Dixon Band
Parks and Recreation deserves credit for introducing me to this beautiful track. Featured on a mixtape April gifted to Andy for a road trip, “All Will Be Well” is achingly beautiful. It became the soundtrack to my daughter Lola’s preschool year-in-review video, forever associating it with her five-year-old innocence. It’s a song that tugs at the heartstrings, in the best way possible.
#2 Overkill (Acoustic Version) – Colin Hay
Another television-inspired discovery, this time courtesy of Scrubs. While you might be familiar with the original 80s version, Colin Hay’s acoustic rendition is a testament to his artistic evolution. His later acoustic work is truly exceptional. Two vivid memories are linked to this song: my engagement to Kim in New York City, where we, as broke fiancés, stumbled upon a club marquee advertising a Colin Hay performance in Soho. Unable to afford entry, we found a back steel door that amplified the music beautifully. We stood there, amidst a pile of garbage, listening to this song almost perfectly. The second memory? We decided then and there it would be our wedding first dance song.
“Windfall” is my go-to driving anthem. Every time I embark on a road trip exceeding an hour and venture off the main highway into unfamiliar territory, this song becomes my soundtrack. It consistently delivers a sense of wanderlust and freedom. Bonus points if you can play it while cruising through Colorado or the Pacific Coast Highway. May the wind truly take your troubles away.
A bagel run with a friend became the backdrop for my introduction to “Lost Ones.” I distinctly remember hearing this song and instantly recognizing it as the pinnacle of rap music. A fiercely poetic diss track aimed at Wyclef Jean, it showcases Ms. Hill’s unparalleled and often underestimated rapping prowess. It remains, in my view, the G.O.A.T. of the genre.
#5 Eye Of The Hurricane – David Wilcox
David Wilcox, often hailed as the James Taylor of Asheville, remains undiscovered by many. Like Taylor, he hails from North Carolina, and their musical styles share similarities. “Eye Of The Hurricane” is a spirit-lifting song, even though I’m fairly certain it narrates a tragic motorcycle accident. Does this resonate with anyone else? You fall in love with a song’s vibe, only to realize its lyrical content is deeply melancholic, yet the music’s allure overshadows the sadness? “Fire and Rain,” anyone? Glad I’m not alone. Speaking of which…
Okay, David Wilcox may be the James Taylor of Asheville, but James Taylor is James Taylor, period. I’ve been a fan since my parents took me to a concert at age seven (potentially causing minor hearing damage, but worth it). During that concert, he invited five other musicians to join him for “Only One,” amidst an otherwise solo acoustic set. As a seven-year-old, I inexplicably burst into tears. And why do I still recall this memory so vividly? At the same concert, he performed the charming “Mona,” later revealing it was about a pig. Is my memory accurate, or is age finally catching up?
#7 Nessun Dorma – Bruce Sledge
Yes, I appreciate opera when it delivers a powerful punch. In my first job, I actually sang opera for tips at the Macaroni Grill, true story. (Requests were mostly for “Libiamo ne’ lieti” from La Traviata.) “Nessun Dorma” initially caught my ear while watching the mediocre film, The Sum of All Fears. It’s the sole memorable aspect of the movie because the final “Vincero!” sends shivers down my spine. Now, I play this for my son before big basketball games, explaining the translation:
I will win!
I will win!
I will win!
(Now GO WIN THAT GAME, Penn Charles!)
Regina Spektor’s voice is simply extraordinary – raw, unfiltered, and perfectly imperfect. It possesses such a natural quality and incredible range. And Regina, you’re certainly not alone in using headphones to “drown out your mind.” This is the first song I play every time I settle into my airplane seat and activate my noise-canceling headphones.
Imogen Heap and Regina Spektor are tied for my top female vocalists. Imogen Heap might just edge out Regina, primarily due to her unparalleled uniqueness. This song is my second Zach Braff-curated pick – he included it on the Garden State soundtrack, forever linking it to my time living in New York City. It was an exciting yet daunting period as we navigated high-pressure jobs and the challenges of cohabitation in a tiny 600-square-foot apartment. The song’s message of embracing true emotions, regardless of their intensity, deeply resonates. I adore this song, and it would be my all-time favorite if not for…
I challenge you to listen to this song and tell me it doesn’t perfectly encapsulate my feelings for my wife.
Honorable Mentions
These songs initially seemed like they’d fit the hidden gem category, but each boasts over 100 million YouTube views. However, if you haven’t encountered them, they are absolutely worth exploring!
#11 Home – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
#12 Hey Brother – Avicii
#13 Afterglow – Ed Sheeran (Arguably his finest work, yet less commercially celebrated than his other hits.)
Do you maintain a similar list? Please share your undiscovered musical treasures in the comments below!
