I love violins. These beautiful sounding instruments have found their way into numerous songs over the years, including many pop ones.
Here are the best pop songs with violins for your listening pleasure.
“Fisherman Blues” by The Waterboys
Song Year: 1998
If you’re looking for a violin song for beginners, you might want to check out this awesome fiddle-backed tune by The Waterboys.
It’s a great song to listen to whether you’re a violin enthusiast or a novice. Either way, you’ll appreciate the sick beats and the sweet sounds of that bow running over the strings. It’s a particular sort of sound.
“Dust In The Wind” by Kansas
Song Year: 1977
Kansas has released its fair share of hits, and more than a few have fantastic violin solos or backdrop beats that make their rock songs unique.
“Dust In The Wind” is one of the more exciting rock songs to include a violin. Robby Steinhardt is the violinist and a backup vocalist, showing off his mad skills in this beautiful, heart-wrenching song.
“I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran
Song Year: 2013
Ed Sheeran wrote and recorded “I See Fire” for an epic fantasy trilogy that followed another epic fantasy trilogy in the early 2000s known as Lord Of The Rings.
The violin in “I See Fire” helps communicate the song’s tone, which falls in a minor key and carries a somber demeanor and dark lyrics.
“I Love You More” by Céline Dion
Song Year: 1993
Céline Dion struck gold when she got Taro Hakase to add slick violin sounds to her song “I Love You More.”
The song is a sweet song that’s a little bit heartbreaking. Dion sings directly to a former lover about how his new woman isn’t going to love him as much as she did.
“Only When I Sleep” by The Corrs
Song Year: 1997
The Corrs sing a great R&B/pop-style song about a man who dreams about the woman he loves. He doesn’t know her but always sees her when he sleeps.
The thing that makes this song work exceptionally well is the violin that plays throughout the entire tune. It adds a lot of personalities that do nothing but good for “Only When I Sleep.”
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
Song Year: 1983
There are a lot of great songs from the 1980s, and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” from U2 is worth mentioning. It’s about actual historical events that plagued Ireland for years.
A crucial part of many rock songs along this vein is the violin. Steve Wickham wasn’t an original member of U2, but he lends his electric violin skills to this song to make it truly outstanding.
“Tripping Billies” by Dave Matthews Band
Song Year: 1993
“Tripping Billies” is about having a good time, enjoying life, and making the most out of every moment because you never know what will happen the next day, month, or year.
The Dave Matthews Band includes violinist Boyd Tinsley, who lends his skills and musical knowledge to help make this song sound like something to sing with your buddies around a campfire.
“Untouched” by The Veronicas
Song Year: 2007
“Untouched” singers The Veronicas tell an intense and slightly risque story about someone who wants one thing and one thing only. The singer doesn’t seem able to focus on anything but the person that they love, and they don’t care who knows it.
The violin is an excellent addition to this song, as it adds a little bit of attitude that the song needs.
“Look At Me Now” by Electric Light Orchestra
Song Year: 1971
Electric Light Orchestra, otherwise known as ELO, produced some of their music’s most wacky, outlandish, other-worldly sounds.
“Look At Me Now” is no exception, and one of the key players in said sounds is the violin. ELO had a few different violinists over the years, and they made good use of their talents.
“Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles
Song Year: 1966
No list of music, especially pop music, is complete if it doesn’t include at least one song from The Beatles. They were innovators and masters of their craft and left a lasting influence on the music industry as a whole.
“Eleanor Rigby” is a great example because of the message, the beat, and the rare appearance of a violin in the background.
“Our House” by Madness
Song Year: 1983
“Our House” is a sweet, wholesome song about a father, mother, brother, and sister who live in their home in peace. They go about their lives, care for each other, and go to church on Sundays.
Madness tended towards pop and ska sounds when they recorded, but it was undoubtedly a win whenever the violin showed up.
“Firework” by Katy Perry
Song Year: 2010
“Firework” is one of the most modern pop songs with violins on this list, and that’s because it features violin in a way that very few songs do. It’s incredibly sound-forward and adds intensity to a song that already carries a lot of weight and power.
“Maggie May” by Rod Stewart
Song Year: 1971
One of the most well-known intros of all time shows up on the mandolin in this Rod Stewart song from 1971. Adding a violin as the song progresses helps make the string-heavy sound of this particular jam feel more like a folk song than a pop/rock song. “Maggie May” is an excellent example of blending strings to create an incredible sound.
“Baba O’Riley” by The Who
Song Year: 1971
The Who is known for incredible rock ballads. “Baba O’Riley” is arguably one of their most famous songs and one of the most potent young-person rock ballads ever produced.
People of all ages can relate to the song’s message, but young folks in particular, find it incredibly relevant.
“Our Song” by Taylor Swift
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb2stN7kH28
Song Year: 2006
Taylor Swift is known now for her angsty pop/indie/alternative albums. But she came into the music scene as a young, innocent country/pop star with upbeat songs and lots of glitter in her stage costumes.
The violin in “Our Song” is probably more in line with fiddle music, but it still lends a necessary twang to make this a real pep anthem.
“Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin
Song Year: 1975
“Kashmir” is one of those songs that most people say they know, even if they’re not the biggest Led Zeppelin fans in the world.
One of the most popular performances of “Kashmir” features the violin genius of Waeil Abu Bakr, an exceptional violinist who makes the song his own with epic violin solos. Give it a listen; you won’t regret it.
“All Of Me” by John Legend
Song Year: 2013
“All Of Me” is a sweet love song that John Legend penned for his wife, Chrissy Teigan. The song features Legend’s signature vibrato and impressive range, singing about how desperately he loves his wife.
It also has a beautiful violin backup track that makes the song a great one to dedicate to that special someone in your own life.
“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
Song Year: 2011
Christina Perri is a famous modern artist who is well-known for writing heartfelt tunes that usually have a twinge of heartbreak in them.
She’s also down to use a violin whenever possible, and it helps songs like “A Thousand Years” land as an epic love story. Check it out to hear how beautifully the violinist communicates this lovely message.
“Epistle to Dippy” by Donovan
Song Year: 1966
If you’ve never heard “Epistle to Dippy,” don’t feel bad. You might not understand what it’s all about, but that’s ok! However, you should do yourself a favor and give it a listen.
Not every song has to have a deep, readily understandable meaning. You’ll be in good shape if you have good vocals, a solid instrumental backdrop, and some sick violin strings.
“Young at Heart” by The Bluebells
Song Year: 2019
Being young is a special kind of experience; it only lasts for a while and often flies by too fast. But there’s a part of being young that you can hold on to if you don’t take yourself too seriously.
The Bluebells talk a lot about that in “Young at Heart.” With the help of a beautiful violin background track, this song is incredible.
“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay
Song Year: 2008
Coldplay penned this song as a musical interpretation of King Louis XVI’s observations on the French Revolution before he, unfortunately, was executed. It’s a unique writing style that not many pop artists would dare venture into.
“Viva La Vida” is a little more of a jam than what Coldplay usually puts out. There’s a great beat, an anthem-like vibe, and an epic violin to bring it all together.
“Come on Eileen” by Dexy Midnight Runners
Song Year: 1982
It’s hard to find just one genre for this particular pop song. It has some indie vibes, alternative aspects, and an Irish-pop influence. “Come on Eileen” is a folk song with all the elements to make that work. The violin is what sells it in the end. You’ll enjoy this song if you’ve never had a chance to hear it.
“Alejandro” by Lady Gaga
Song Year: 2009
Lady Gaga is known for singing some exciting music. She likes to take a lot of creative twists and turns with her lyrics, her musical background, her costumes, and her entire stage persona.
Adding an electric violin isn’t the most innovative thing on her resume, but it’s one of the things that makes “Alejandro” an intense song.
“Closing Time” by Leonard Cohen
Song Year: 1992
Most people have probably heard “Closing Time” by Leonard Cohen, one of two songs that made him incredibly popular.
It’s a great song for anyone looking forward to their shift’s last moments. The moment you can walk out that door and enjoy your evening is extraordinary. Plus, the violin in this song gives it a comforting folk feel.
“Fairytale” by Alexander Rybak
Song Year: 2008
Alexander Rybak is an incredibly skilled violinist and vocalist. “Fairytale” is arguably one of his most famous songs and one that helped him break into the pop scene.
“Fairytale” is fairly violin-heavy, which should be no surprise considering an excellent violinist wrote it.
“Hurricane” by Bob Dylan
Song Year: 1976
It’s hard to go wrong with Bob Dylan. He’s always got something creative, especially in violin or fiddle-centric music.
“Hurricane” is one of his more popular violin-heavy songs and one that’s great to listen to no matter what mood you find yourself in.
“Stay: by Dave Matthews Band
Song Year: 1998
Dave Matthews Band ended up on this list more than once because of that awesome violin player we mentioned earlier.
“Stay” is a bit of a strange song, with a talk of frying eggs on the sidewalk just for fun, but it’s also classic Dave Matthews in many ways.
“Thoughts and Prayers” by Raconteurs
Song Year: 2019
The Raconteurs have been around the block a time or two, and they produced something unique with “Thoughts and Prayers.”
The violin is an exciting choice but lends itself to the song’s heart. Give it a listen and see what you think!
“Wasted Days” by John Mellencamp with Bruce Springsteen
Song Year: 2022
Combining two of the most famous rock/pop artists of the last 30 years is almost a guaranteed recipe for success. It has more folk feel than other Springsteen songs, falling more into the Mellencamp camp. Either way, the violin background is outstanding.
“Lily of Casablanca” by Theo Katzman
Song Year: 2020
Jeremy Kittel on violin for this Theo Katzman song is pure brilliance. It doesn’t overpower the rest of the instrumental moments, but it stands out to let you know it’s there.
Katzman delivers a certain level of musical genius unmatched by other modern artists. His lyrics are interesting, his songs are catchy, and he likes incorporating the violin.
“The Devil Went Down To Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band
Song Year: 1979
Finally, we come to The Charlie Daniels Band, who produced one of the most popular violin-centric songs in the history of violin-centric songs.
This song tells the story of a young man making a deal with the devil in exchange for a violin competition. Surprisingly enough, the devil loses, and the boy gets to keep his soul.
You won’t get tired of the multiple violin solos in this song.
Top Pop Songs With Violins, Final Thoughts
Some of the most exciting pop songs have a violin somewhere in the musical tapestry. They aren’t always the most popular, but they’re always an outstanding addition to your music playlist.
What do you think of these pop songs with violins featured on this list? Did we leave any out? Make sure to let us know in the comments below!