27 Top Songs About Being 16
Turning 16 is a milestone that every teen looks forward to, but it's also when you realize that you must start taking care of yourself. That's why we've put together this list of songs about turning 16 and how they can help guide you through the hardships of being a young adult!
Contents
1. Sixteen Candles by the Crests
Song Year: 1958
This song is a great one to listen to towards the end of your fourteenth birthday, as it'll give you perspective about your future. You can also listen to it when you need motivation for your sixteenth birthday. This song is by The Crests and was released in 1959. It's a classic tune that still holds up today!
2. Sweet Sixteen by Destiny's Child
Song Year: 1999
If you haven't heard Sweet Sixteen by Destiny's Child, get on that. The song is about a girl who can't wait to be 16 and how much fun she wants to have when she turns 16.
She wants to be free and date boys but also be herself. It's an anthem for anyone who has felt they need a break from their parents or friends but still loved them.
You can listen to this song whenever you're particularly rebellious, which is often in your teens!
3. Only 16 by Craig Douglas
Song Year: 1980
Craig Douglas is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and musician best known for his hit 16. The song was released in 1980 and peaked at number 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart. The lyrics describe how excited he was about a girl's 16th birthday. He was eager to date her.
4. Sixteen by Ellie Goulding
Song Year: 2019
Sixteen by Ellie Goulding is a very sweet pop song about being young and free. It's catchy and upbeat, but there's something so genuine about it, too—like you can tell that this is how she feels about him. If you're 16 or older, check the lyrics and see if they hit home for you.
5. You're sixteen by Johnny Burnette
Song Year: 1960
This song is a classic rockabilly hit from 1956 that you'll be humming all day. It's about the joy of a young man in love with a sixteen-year-old. He describes her as sixteen and beautiful, her lips like strawberry wine.
6. Sixteen Blue by the Replacements
Song Year: 1984
“Sixteen Blue” by the Replacements is a song about a girl who doesn't know anything sexual. She thinks she may be gay but doesn't want to tell her parents. She doesn't understand what she feels. Sixteen is the hardest age, according to the singer.
7. Sweet Sixteen by Hillary Duff
Song Year: 2003
This song was released in 2004 and was written by Hillary Duff, Kara DioGuardi, and Matthew Gerrard. The song is about being happy that you're turning sixteen because it means that you're an adult now and can do what you want without worrying about your parents telling you no all the time. It would sound really good if played at a birthday party for a 16-year-old girl who just turned 16!
8. You're Sixteen by Ringo Star 1973
Song Year: 1973
This song is about the singer's feelings toward his sixteen-year-old girlfriend and how much he loves her. The chorus goes, “You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and you're mine.”
In other words, he knows she is a young girl who is still learning about life, but she means everything to him now. Play this if your boyfriend or girlfriend has just turned 16, and you want them to know how much they mean to you!
9. Sweet Little Sixteen by Chuck Berry
Song Year: 1958
This country song is about a 16-year-old girl who loves country rock music. The girl's parents, friends, and family have to cope with her craze. She's got hundreds of autographs and tracks her superstars across the states.
10. Always Sixteen by Billy Cyrus
Song Year: 2003
Billy Cyrus is an American country music artist. He was born in 1961 in Flatwoods, Kentucky. He released the song Always Sixteen in 2003. The song was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number nine in both the United States and Britain. In the song, he says that older couples must feel like sixteen deep inside to stay passionately in love.
11. Sixteen by No Doubt
Song Year: 1995
Sixteen is a song by No Doubt, released in 1995. The song is about being sixteen and comes from an album full of songs about being young. This song is great to listen to when you have so much potential and life ahead of you. It's also good if you are trying to remember your first time driving a car or any other exciting moment that happened when you were sixteen years old.
12. Sweet 16 by Green Day
Song Year: 2012
The song is by Green Day, an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The song was released in 2004 and is about the 16th birthday of a girl. It's about the pressure of being 16 — especially when your friends are getting their licenses while you're stuck at home on prom night with your mom. It's also about how everything was better when we were kids when things used to be simple and easy-going.
13. When You Were Sweet Sixteen by The Fureys
Song Year: 1986
This song is about a boy who loves a sixteen-year-old girl. The song is great for reminiscing about high school memories or listening to them if you're having a bad day. It will remind you how love was uncomplicated back then.
14. Good time by Carley Rae Jepsen and Owl City
Song Year: 2012
This song is about a girl about to turn 16 and focuses on having a good time in life. The lyrics talk about how she wants to spend more time with her friends and make memories together, but they don't spend much time together because they're both busy with their own lives.
15. 16 Candles the Crests
Song Year: 1959
16 Candles is a song written by Tony Powers and Bob Crewe and first recorded by the Crests in 1959. The song was a hit in early 1960, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on Billboard's R&B chart. The Beatles' version of the song was released as a single in 1963 and reached number 25 on the U.K. Singles Chart.
16. She Was Only Sixteen (He Was One Year More), Dr. Hook
Song Year: 1975
“She Was Only Sixteen (He Was One Year More)” is a song written by Sam Cooke and originally recorded by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show on their 1973 album Sloppy Seconds. It was also released as a single, peaking at No. 10 on the U.S. country singles charts.
The song is about a woman who was too young to fall in love, but the singer fell in love with her anyway.
17. Sweet Sixteen by Billy Idol
Song Year: 1986
This song is about being young and having a lot of freedom. The narrator mentions all the things kids can do at this age – like going out and having fun with friends, dating someone special, or doing whatever they want because there aren't any rules against it yet.
18. Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
Song Year: 1995
He sings about the daughter who is growing up too fast. She used to kiss him at night and hug him in the morning. She's growing up too fast, and he doesn't want to let her go, but he knows that someday she'll leave home and move on with her life.
The music is beautiful, the lyrics are heartfelt, and the whole thing makes you want to slow dance with the one you love.
19. Wish to Be Sixteen Again by Chaos
Song Year: 2019
This song is about living in the past instead of moving on with your life. The singer has no interest in anything around him because he is stuck in his youth when everything seems easier and less complicated than it does now. Most people feel this way at some point during their lives, but few will admit it openly like this man has done here in his song.
20. Sixteen Going on Seventeen from The Sound of Music
Song Year: 1995
16 Going on 17 is when you're almost grown up but not quite. You're still young and innocent enough to sing songs about boys and dream of what it would be like to go on a date with them. If you're 16 years old and have never had a boyfriend — or even gone on a date — don't worry! There's still plenty of time for that later on in life. Don't be in a rush to fall in love.
21. Into the Night By Mardones
Song Year: 1980
There are two things to love about this song. First, it's so cute and innocent. It makes you think of your childhood and when you would sing along to cheesy songs. The second thing to love about this song is the fact that it's so relatable! The freedom of being a 16-year-old comes with many responsibilities for personal care.
22. Sweet Sixteen by B.B. King
Song Year: 1964
If you're a B.B. King fan and have never heard this song, you're seriously missing out on some great music. B.B. King is one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and this song shows off his skills in a way that few others ever do. It's an upbeat tune that will put a smile on your face when you hear it.
He sings that when he met her, she was only 16 years old, but he fell in love with her, and age didn't matter. He says she had so much love inside her that it made him feel like a kid again.
23. It Hurts To Be 16 by Andrea Carroll
Song Year: 1963
The singer is 16 and lonely but feels too old to cry. She feels trapped. She wants to run away but doesn't know how to do it. She is frustrated because she cannot have what she wants. The melody is slow and sad.
It's a great song to listen to if you are frustrated with your parents or boyfriend and want to dance around in your room.
24. She's Only 16 by Junior Tucker
Song Year: 1990
In this song, the singer talks about a girl he's in love with. She's sixteen. He wants to travel the world with her and spend his nights with her, but it sounds like he will be waiting a long time for that day.
Junior Tucker has a voice reminding you of a young Luther Vandross with a little Michael Jackson thrown in. He has a smooth delivery, and his guitar playing is excellent.
25. Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen by Neil Sadaka
Song Year: 1960
This song is about a girl who is turning 16 and getting ready for her birthday party. The man, an admirer, is excited about it and can't wait for it to happen. Neil Sadaka's song Happy Birthday, Sweet sixteen is a love song aimed at his 16-year-old girlfriend.
He sings happy birthday to her and reminds her that she is not a baby anymore. It's a sweet song that shows how much he loves this girl and wants to be with her forever. Neil Sadaka is a singer and songwriter who has been in the industry for many years. He has also had acting roles on TV shows.
26. Not a Girl, Not a Woman Yet by Britney Spears 2001
Song Year: 2001
Not a girl, not a woman yet by Britney Spears is a song that not only talks about the struggles of being a teenager but also touches on life's general struggles. The lyrics are heartbreaking and relatable to anyone who has ever felt alone or unwanted.
The song is about how Britney feels like she's going through life alone and doesn't feel like she has anyone to turn to for support. She uses the metaphor of being lost at sea as an example of how she feels when trying to find herself as an adult.
She expresses her reluctance to grow up because she doesn't want to lose her innocence and naivety.
27. Sweet Little Sixteen by The Beatles
Song Year: 1977
This song is about a girl in love with her rock idols and follows them everywhere to get an autograph.
The lyrics are very catchy. You want to sing along whenever you hear this song! It also has a great beat that will make you want to dance.
The song Sweet Little Sixteen by The Beetles has been around for over fifty years. The lyrics have changed over time, but the original song was written by Chuck Berry back in 1958.
Best Songs About Being 16, Final Thoughts
Being sixteen is not forever, but these songs about being 16 can help set the tone for your memorable journey into adulthood. Whether you're sixteen now or were sixteen in the past, these songs can help you look back on an experience that is both incredibly nostalgic and bittersweet.
