Songs with the Number Five in the Title

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One! Two! Three! Four!
Five!


Okay, yes, I am still going with this list of songs with numbers in the title. They have proven surprisingly popular, so why stop now? And I am glad people are enjoying these flights of fancy that I am delivering. They are fun to write so I am happy you are finding them fun to read and listen to.

Now, this list was the easiest so far. That is because I have ten songs in my collection that I like with the number 5 in the title. And only the number 5. Some songs were times, some were dates and some had 5 and another number in it, but my rules have been consistent so no need to change now. Okay, there was an eleventh – 'Five Little Minutes' by The Borderers, but there is no evidence of that song being anywhere online. It's just in my CD collection. If you can find it, it's good.

Now, if you thought the mix of music has been eclectic up until now… this list is insane! I freely admit that. I like music. All (most?) music. So, I hope that means there is something for everyone here.

Songs with the number 5 in the title – let's go!
'Take Five' by The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959)

Okay, we need to start with jazz. This is an instrumental, but it is one of those tunes that when you hear it you go, "Oh, that song! I've heard that before! Sure!" It is a song everyone knows by ear but very few by name. Cool, laid-back and groovy – jazz the way it was introduced to me when I was a youngster. And there is a reason it is so well-known and used everywhere – it is a really good piece of music.
'5 Minutes To Live' by Johnny Cash (1961)

Country music next. This is the title track from one of Johnny Cash's attempts to be an actor. He was… a really good singer. Look, this film is melodrama posing as crime noir (and I actually watched it while doing this because I had to know), and the clip here is all they included in the film, but also the only version I could find. However, hearing the whole thing on an album, it is a really good song. But it's Johnny Cash. Of course, it is.
'Five Years' by David Bowie (1972)

From the Ziggy Stardust album, one of Bowie's many career highlights. This is a depressing track about the fact the world was headed for imminent death in five years' time. He was off by a bit, but the concept's still there. The track just builds and builds from simple to the full band, with Bowie's voice leading from the front. Still love the man.
'5 Minutes' by The Stranglers (1978)

Early Stranglers, from when they were still in the throes of punk, before becoming New Wave and singing about heroin. This is a great track with those pounding drums, that distorted guitar, the growled singing and lyrics I cannot make out without looking it up online. Well, that was an education. It's a nasty song about death and murder and… yeah. Still, I do like this track.
'Five Miles Out' by Mike Oldfield (1982)

For many years, this was my favourite Mike Oldfield album, but now I am firmly on the Tubular Bells wagon, and Islands as well. Still, this is a great album, and this title track from it is one of the best Oldfield songs. It's basically about Oldfield flying his plane (yes, he flies planes) and getting caught in a storm. That simple, really, but the guitars and the changes in vocal delivery and the female voice (Maggie Reilly) through it make this awesome.
'Dan Takes Five' by The Georgia Satellites (1989)

Known today (if at all) for the single song 'Keep Your Hands To Yourself', Georgia Satellites released so many other great songs. This is from my favourite album of theirs – In The Land Of Salvation And Sin. This song sounds like they're having fun and they are just going all out with a straight ahead rock and roll song. Just a great track from an awesome album.
'Five In A Row' by D-Generation (1989)

Some comedy because… why not? Okay, this song is probably only funny to Australians who were teenagers in the 1980s because the five artists (John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes, LRB, Kylie Minogue, James Reyne) were everywhere at the time. Well… I think it's funny and I like it!
'Five Magics' by Megadeth (1990)

I have not heard the whole album Rust In Peace, just selected tracks (this one is on a heavy metal sampler cassette I own), and they are the standard heavy metal, Megadeth style. Lots of guitar noodling, power-house drumming and a killer bass line . Standard heavy metal lyrical tropes about wizards and magic, but this track is a pure unadulterated head-banging joy. Dave Mustaine had a great band behind him.
'Mambo No. 5' by Lou Bega (1999)

A mambo song with a dance beat! Of course! Look, this song was everywhere when it was released, and when I ran school discos, the Bob The Builder version was also stupidly popular. This is an ear-worm. You cannot get it out of your head no matter what you do. Sorry. Still, it is a fun song, even if it really does not mean much. But it's a mambo/dance track, a remake of a 1949 instrumental. That's something I did not think I would ever be compelled to type…
'Five Colours In Her Hair' by McFly (2004)

I don't remember how I came across this track, but it is infectious pop-rock (pop-punk? indy-pop-rock? I hate modern genre divisions in music) track that is a little bit of fun. It is a simple love song about a girl who doesn't fit in but the singer loves her anyway. I think. Ah, it's a harmless and fun track.
The number 5! So, we had jazz, country, punk, rock, heavy metal, comedy, glam and pop. Can't say I don't give you variety! Of the number lists, this has been my favourite so far. This is so good.

I am really enjoying this list series. I hope you are as well.


#lists
#music
#performing_arts
#pop_culture
#quirky
#vintage_retro
%wneverywhere