27 Songs Starting With A

“A Hazy Shade of Winter” by Simon & Garfunkel

Song Year: 1966

Simon and Garfunkel wrote “A Hazy Shade of Winter” about the passage of time and giving up on lost chances. The Bangles covered the song in 1987, and it was a huge hit. The band gave the class guitar melody a rock update, giving the song an edge that resonated with fans.

“Alaska” by Maggie Rogers

Song Year: 2016

“Alaska” is a powerful song about getting over a breakup, but the story of how it got popular is bigger than the song itself. Rogers was an NYU student, and Pharrell came to teach a master class. Her song moved him to tears, and the rest is history.

“ABC” by The Jackson 5

Song Year: 1970

“ABC” was the next single after “I Want You Back,” which was released earlier that year. The song became so popular it displaced the Beatles’ “Let It Be” as number one on the charts. The writers went through many lyrics before settling on the school theme. The main writer was even a former teacher.

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell/Diana Ross

Song Year: 1967/1970

Many consider “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to be a romantic song, but Nick Ashford, one of the songwriters, wrote it about his hope for success. It was a hit for Gaye and Terrell but didn’t have major success until Diana Ross covered it a few years later.

“A-Punk” by Vampire Weekend

Song Year: 2008

Vampire Weekend burst onto the scene in 2008 with their hit “A-Punk.” The song gets its name from the punk riff played in the higher key of A. The song tells a convoluted story of a young woman who steals a ring from an old rich guy and contains references to literature, locations, and music history.

“Abcdefu” by Gayle

Song Year: 2022

If you’ve been on TikTok in the past year, you’ve likely heard the song “Abcdefu.” It was such a hit that it inspired a spin-off, making the song a sweet ballad instead of an angry breakup song. The 17-year-old Gayle wrote the song after a nasty breakup.

“Africa” by Toto

Song Year: 1982

“Africa” is one of the most popular songs of the 80s and even had a resurgence with the release of Kristen Bell and Dax Shepherd’s vacation video set to the tune. While it seems like a love song, the writer composed it after watching a documentary on the continent. It took him ten minutes to get the lyrics down.

“Alexander’s Ragtime Band” by Irving Berlin

Song Year: 1911

“Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was Irving Berlin’s biggest hit. It sold so many copies that Berlin used the royalties to buy a house for his mother. The song was later turned into a film by the same name.

“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus

Song Year: 1992

“Achy Breaky Heart” is one of the biggest country songs of all time and one of the songs that led to many pop-country crossovers. The song was written by Nashville songwriter Don Von Tress and was initially recorded by another group. It was eventually given to Cyrus, and it made him a country music star.

“About Damn Time” by Lizzo

Song Year: 2022

“About Damn Time” was the song of the summer of ’22. Lizzo has made a name for herself by being positive. This song speaks to transformation. She has learned her self-worth and has embraced herself for all that she is. People love Lizzo’s music because she’s relatable.