It might be hard to believe that the 22nd letter of the alphabet isn’t the most popular letter when it comes to song titles, but there are still a significant number of songs starting with the letter V that must be brought to your attention. So here’s a list of the best songs starting with V.
“Vacation” by The Go-Go’s
Song Year: 1982
“Vacation” is the title track of the Go-Go’s second album, which debuted at number eight on the charts. The catchy 80s hit is about a relationship beginning or ending, depending on your personal mindset. Yet, it stirs up desires to get away and enjoy some fun in the sun. This song’s unique claim to fame is that it has been listed as the first cassette single ever issued in the industry.
“Valentine” by Olivia Newton-John
Song Year: 2022
“Valentine” is a Jim Brickman song that was initially performed in 1997 by Country singer Martina McBride. Brickman enlisted Grease sensation Olivia Newton-John to remake the song for the 25th anniversary. It was released for Valentine’s Day early this year, receiving outstanding accolades. Sadly, Newton-John passed away on August 8, 2022, after a 30-year journey fighting breast cancer. The world loved Newton-John as she serenaded us with treasured love songs like this one.
“Valentine’s Day” by Linkin Park
Song Year: 2007
“Valentine’s Day” is off Linkin Park’s third studio album, Minutes to Midnight. It’s a ballad compared to the rest of the modern rock album, while the lyrics are about losing love on Valentine’s Day. Some fans rumored that the song was written over the loss of lead singer Chester Bennington’s father on the holiday surrounded by celebrating love. However, the rumors were false since Bennington’s father was still alive. Unfortunately, Bennington tragically died in 2017.
“Valerie” by Steve Winwood
Song Year: 1981
Steve Winwood and Will Jennings wrote “Valerie” for Winwood’s third solo album, Talking Back to the Night. In 1987, Winwood released a remix that went to number thirteen on the US Charts. Rumors believed the song was written about singer Valerie Carter. It is about lost love and the hope to find her again someday. “Valerie” has been sampled for several pieces over the last few decades, including the house music track, Call On Me.
“Valerie” by Amy Winehouse
2007
There are two versions of “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse. The original from her second album, Back to Black, is much slower than the popular version with Mark Ronson. After hearing the initial song, Ronson invited Winehouse to contribute to his upcoming album. According to Ronson, Winehouse loved the arrangement for his album. Winehouse tragically died in 2011 from alcohol poisoning right before her last album became one of the highest album sales in UK history.
“Valley Girl” by Frank Zappa
Song Year: 1982
Frank Zappa was known for his eclectic sounds and unique lyrics. His satirical approach to music with the most outstanding musicians lead him to legendary status in the industry. The rumor is that Zappa woke up his daughter, Moon Zappa, in the middle of the night to go to the studio with him. He asked about her conversations with her friends and then proceeded to write the lyrics to “Valley Girl.” Could you imagine your father doing this? As if!
“Valotte” by Julian Lennon
Song Year: 1984
“Valotte” is the title track off Julian Lennon’s second album. It was the first released single in the US for the British heir of John and Yoko, which peaked at number nine on the US charts. The title doesn’t appear in the song, but it was named after the French chateau where the song was written.
“Vanilla Twilight” by Owl City
Song Year: 2009
Owl City isn’t a band but an electronica project by Adam Young. “Vanilla Twilight” was off the second album, Ocean Eyes. The video shows a cameo from Shaquille O’Neal, which was filmed in Pittsburg. The song and video paint beautiful colors of a vanilla twilight. The song charted but never came close to Owl City’s number one hit, “Fireflies.”
“Vegas” by All Time Low
Song Year: 2007
Hailing from Baltimore, MD, All Time Low was formed in 2003. They got their name from a New Found Glory song, and the rest is history. The song “Vegas” can be found on their second studio album, So Wrong. It’s Right. As the song tells the story of a long drive with mile markers and gaining some much-needed distance between each other, he admits that he would have married ‘her’ in Vegas.
“Vegetables” by The Beach Boys
Song Year: 1967
The fun song was written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. It was featured on the album Smiley Smile. The song was more like a humorous public service announcement since Wilson was a health nut in the 60s. He wanted the population to eat more veggies and exercise but didn’t want to be pushy. The song was initially named “Vega-Tables” but was later changed to the proper spelling.
“Ventura Highway” by America
Song Year: 1972
Dewey Bunnell of America wrote the song from a 1963 recollection of a road trip with his family. While his father changed a flat tire, Bunnell and his brother watched the clouds go by as they sat on the side of the highway near the sign for Venture. This memory turned into a hit, reaching number three on the US Easy Listening charts. The song inspired many, like Prince for Purple Rain and Janet Jackson, who used a sample for “Someone to Call My Lover.”
“Venus” by Bananarama
Song Year: 1986
Based in the UK, Bananarama was in the Guinness Book of World Records for reaching the highest chart-topping entries for an all-female group from 1982-2009. Eleven of the fifty singles did reach the US charts, and “Venus” was one of them. The song was a remake of Shocking Blue’s original “Venus.” The lady’s version became an instant international hit. “Venus” is now heard in commercials.
“Venus” by Frankie Avalon
Song Year: 1959
“Venus” was written by Ed Marshall but made famous by Frankie Avalon. It was Avalon’s first number one hit, lasting for five weeks. The song made every teenage girl feel special as the ballad asks the goddess to deliver a charming, beautiful girl his way. The song had a revamp in 1976 when disco was at its height. The single reignited Avalon’s career once again.
“Version Girl: by UB40
Song Year: 1983
“Version Girl” is from UB40’s Labour of Love album, which was the fourth studio album featuring cover songs. The album was famous for the hit song “Red, Red Wine” but had plenty of other great songs, including “Version Girl,” initially performed by ska artist Boy Friday. The song talks about the personality of the unknown girl and the desire to know who ‘she’ is and when she will appear again.
“Vertigo” by U2
Song Year: 2004
“Vertigo” was a hit off U2’s eleventh studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. It soared to number one on the Alternative charts in the US while being used in Apple’s iPod commercial. “Vertigo” won a total of three Grammy Awards in 2005. The song ranked 64th on the 100 Best Songs of the Decade in the early 00s.
“Victim of Love: by Eagles
Song Year: 1976
“Victim of Love” was on the fifth studio album, Hotel California, which was nominated for Album of the Year and won Record of the Year. The album has been certified 26x Platinum and noted as one of the best-selling albums of all time. “Victim of Love” was also featured on the Hotel California disc of the Eagles boxset, which sold for $129.98.
“Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles
Song Year: 1979
“Video Killed the Radio Star” was on The Buggles’ first album, The Age of Plastic. The song charted in sixteen countries yet only reached #40 on the US charts. However, “Video Killed the Radio Star” became one of the most famous one-hit wonders in the US when the video played as the first video ever on MTV. The band Presidents of the United States covered the song for the Wedding Singer soundtrack.
“Vienna” by Billy Joel
Song Year: 1977
Billy Joel released “Vienna” on his fifth studio album, The Stranger. The album spent six weeks at number two on the charts. “Vienna” was certified Platinum even though it was released as a B-side. Joel said Vienna is a metaphor for old age, but it is believed the song was inspired after visiting his estranged father. Still, to this day, it’s one of the top-streamed songs on Spotify.
“Violet Hill” by Coldplay
Song Year: 2008
Coldplay released “Violet Hill” on their fourth studio album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, which is known best as simply Viva la Vida. The phrase means “long live life.” The album won a Grammy for Best Rock Album. “Violet Hill’s” music video originally featured the band in Sicily, but several days later, they released an alternative video labeled Dancing Politicians, mockingly featuring political figures.
“Violin” by Kate Bush
Song Year: 1980
“Violin” was featured on Kate Bush’s third studio album, Never Forever. It was her first number one album in the UK. “Violin” was part of the Tour of Life, but after singing the song for a Christmas Special, Bush never performed the song live again. The piece depicts the anatomy of the violin, but some believe it means something more.
“Vitamin” by Incubus
Song Year: 1997
S.C.I.E.N.C.E. was the sophomore album for Incubus, which was certified Gold. “Vitamin” was the second track on the record, an acronym for Sailing Catamarans Is Every Nautical Captain’s Ecstasy. The band said bands like Faith No More inspired their label-less sound. However, the sound was labeled “weed-and-mushrooms influenced funk/metal freakout” by Revolver Magazine.
“Viva Las Vegas” by Elvis Presley
Song Year: 1964
Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas” was featured in the same-titled film, starring Presley and Ann-Margret. The on-screen chemistry of Presley and Ann-Margret was rumored to have moved off-screen. It was said that Priscilla Presley was concerned about only one woman taking her husband’s heart, and that was Ann-Margret. The two remain close friends up until Presley’s death.
“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay
Song Year: 2012
“Viva La Vida” is off the known same-titled album by Coldplay. The song hit number one in the US and the UK. The song that stands for Long Live Life won Song of the Year. As the song references Christianity, the song’s mission has a political agenda, like most of Coldplay’s lyrics. The song was iTunes’ best-selling song of the year.
“Vogue” by Madonna
Song Year: 1990
From the I’m Breathless soundtrack album, Madonna released “Vogue” as a hit single. It was certified Double Platinum as it became the best-selling song worldwide. The song that gives the nod to the faces of the Golden Age has been performed on six worldwide tours, award shows, and a Super Bowl performance.
“Voices” by Disturbed
Song Year: 2000
Disturbed released “Voices” on the Sickness album, which spent 103 weeks on the charts, and was certified five times Platinum. “Voices” is the first track of the album. A 20th Anniversary of the album show was announced. Unfortunately, the show was canceled due to the pandemic and has yet to be rescheduled.
“Voices Carry” by Til’ Tuesday
Song Year: 1985
“Voices Carry” was off the same-titled album from Til’ Tuesday. The song peaked at number eight on the US charts and gained popularity from the video on MTV, pushing it to last fourteen weeks on the charts. The song is about being the other woman in an affair. It was initially supposed to be sung from one woman to another but changed the lyrics to be more mainstream.
“Volcano” by Jimmy Buffet
Song Year: 1979
Jimmy Buffet released his eleventh album, “Volcano,” featuring the song by the same title. Buffet dedicated the album to his wife and newborn daughter, and the title track reached #66 on the charts. In 1993, it was performed as a duet with Don Henley for a benefit project. “Volcano” is still one of the most favored songs of the fanbase known as Patriot Heads.
“VooDoo” by Godsmack
Song Year: 1999
“VooDoo” was off the self-titled album by Godsmack. It hit number five on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The album was certified Platinum, while the song was best known for being used in MTV’s show Fear. Voodoo is a religion, but “VooDoo” was an eerie song written for the soundtrack, The Serpent and The Rainbow, by Wes Craven.
Best Songs Starting With The Letter V, Final Thoughts
There you have it! The top songs starting with V have ranged from ballads to rock over the decades. Sure, it’s easy to use all the other letters when it comes to song titles, but this robust list has provided incredible artists that have paid homage to the 22nd letter of the alphabet by giving the world a hit song using the letter V.