People are social beings. We don’t live or exist alone; whether we like it or not, we are a part of a family, a community and a society. Even if you say that you are an introvert, your actions still affect the lives of people around you, and you are still affected by their actions.
So, I came up with this list of songs that talk about coming together or may spark the spirit of unity within us. Keep browsing and feel the message of the songs.
Table of Contents
- 21. Waving Flag – K’naan
- 20. One Tribe – Black Eyed Peas
- 19. One Man Change Can the World – Big Sean featuring Kanye West, John Legend
- 18. Together We Can Change the World – Mark Shepard
- 17. People Get Ready – The Impressions
- 16. One Love – David Guetta featuring Estelle
- 15. Lean on Me – Bill Withers
- 14. We Are Unity – Umosia
- 13. U. N. I. T. Y. – Queen Latifah
- 12. Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
- 11. Together – Marshmello
- 10. Come Together – The Beatles
- 9. Happy Together – The Turtles
- 8. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
- 7. Imagine – John Lennon
- 6. We Are One (Ole Ola) – Pitbull
- 5. Where is the Love – Black Eyed Peas
- 4. One Love – Bob Marley and The Wailers
- 3. Black or White – Michael Jackson
- 2. We Are The World 25 for Haiti – Artists for Haiti
- 1. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
21. Waving Flag – K’naan
Sports always bring people together and always draw out unity not only from the athletes but also from the audience. Waving Flag is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K’naan Warsame that was chosen as the official Coca Cola song for the FIFA 2010 World Cup program. It is included in Warsame’s 2009 album Troubadour
20. One Tribe – Black Eyed Peas
There are a lot of things that divide us now just like those things mentioned by Black Eyed Peas in their song One Tribe. This song’s message is very encouraging–no matter where you’re from, we all belong to one tribe, so we should all be united and fight for the same cause, oneness and peace for humanity. This song is from their 2009 The E.N.D. Album.
19. One Man Change Can the World – Big Sean featuring Kanye West, John Legend
Although Kanye West and John Legend were a part of this song, they never appeared in the music video. Big Sean dedicates One Man Can Change the World to his late grandmother who was one of the first female black captains of World War II. This song by Big Sean has won MTV Video Music Awards for Best Video With a Message in 2015.
18. Together We Can Change the World – Mark Shepard
Award winning singer-songwriter Mark Shepard penned this song that is full of hope and positivity inspired by the advocacies of people around him. Released in 2020 from his album Together We Can Change the World, this song that has the same title as the album, was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
17. People Get Ready – The Impressions
People Get Ready is a single from the American music group The Impressions. It is a classic music that became the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. Some may interpret that the lyrics are meant to get people, especially the Black Americans, to get on the streets to fight for their rights. But this song can also be interpreted as encouraging people to prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord.
16. One Love – David Guetta featuring Estelle
We always have that one love that will inspire us to keep fighting for life–just being together will give both of you the will to survive. One Love is a collaboration of French DJ and music producer David Guetta and multi-talented British singer Estelle. This song is his third single from his fourth studio album One Love.
15. Lean on Me – Bill Withers
Bill Withers surely missed the community he came from in West Virginia when he wrote this song in his new place in Los Angeles. Lean on Me is a song we tell our loved ones if they need someone to lean on. This song comes from his album Still Bill which was released in 1972.
14. We Are Unity – Umosia
This is a very moving song from Umosia–Roy Davis Jr. and Marshall Jefferson. This is a straight to the point song; very easy to understand but the message is very universal. The music video says it all. We Are Unity is included in the duo’s 2005 album In the Beginning: Classic Productions and Remixes ‘88-’93.
13. U. N. I. T. Y. – Queen Latifah
U.N.I.T.Y. calls women, specifically black women, to unite and don’t let men trample on their rights. Written during the time when songs that contain derogatory words about women, Queen Latifah focused this song in opposing disrespect of women in the society, domestic violence, harassment and verbal abuse against women in hiphop culture.
12. Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
A value-laden song that parents ought to teach their children. The writer Lori McKenna wrote this song with her children in mind. Tim McGraw was able to justify the lyrics of the song with his country rendition in his Damn Country Music Album released on January 20, 2016.
11. Together – Marshmello
American DJ and music producer Christopher Comstock, aka Marshmello, composed this music without lyrics, but the music video itself tells the story. No matter what your race or origin is, you can still get together and have a harmonious relationship. This electronic dance music is included in Marshmello’s 2018 Joytime II Album.
10. Come Together – The Beatles
Come Together is the first track of the English rock band The Beatles’ 1969 album, Abbey Road. It was written as a campaign song for Timothy Leary when he attempted to go against Ronald Raegan as Governor of California. The song simply urges people from different backgrounds to come together and be united in support of Leary.
9. Happy Together – The Turtles
The American rock band The Turtles sang this song in their Happy Together Album in 1967. The song Happy Together is actually not a happy gathering song, but instead, it is about a man who is trying to persuade a girl to like him. This song has been featured in some American movies and TV shows and has been covered by several artists including Simple Plan.
8. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
There is nothing you can do when you do it with love–this is the straightforward message of this song by The Beatles. “All you need is love” is a popular saying in the anti-war movement during the 60’s. John Lennon wrote this song released as a single by the British rock band The Beatles in July of 1967; the song was never a part of any album.
7. Imagine – John Lennon
Imagine the things that John Lenon mentioned in this song–no heaven and hell, no religion, no possessions, or anything that divides the human race. This mellow song, featured in the movie ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus’, is a product of his collaboration with his wife, Yoko Ono, as part of his solo album with the same title as the song, released in 1971.
6. We Are One (Ole Ola) – Pitbull
This is the FIFA 2014 theme song. Pitbull, together with Hispanic pop star Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian pop star Claudia Leitte, performed We Are One (Ole Ola) at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo, Brazil during the opening ceremony in Arena Corinthians right before the match between Brazil and Croatia.
5. Where is the Love – Black Eyed Peas
Love makes the world go ‘round. Where is The Love is a 2003 hit by the American hip hop group Black Eyed Peas. They wrote and published this song in response to social issues going on in the world, specifically on the 9/11 attacks. The group has remade the song in response to numerous terror attacks that happened in Syria and the US in 2016.
4. One Love – Bob Marley and The Wailers
One Love was released 1965 from Reggae master Bob Marley and his Jamaican band The Wailers in their The Wailing Wailers Album. This song is more religious than political like the other songs in our list. This song is a call for us to get together (one love, one heart) and be one in praising the Lord.
3. Black or White – Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson wrote and produced Black or White together with Bill Bottrell as the first single from his eighth studio album Dangerous in 1991. The music video of this song shows MJ dancing around the world featuring different cultures. There goes the message of this song–racial harmony–it doesn’t matter where you come.
2. We Are The World 25 for Haiti – Artists for Haiti
This very powerful and moving song is a Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie original. It was recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985 as a single for charity purposes. The song was revived by various artists (for Haiti) for the purpose of raising funds for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
1. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
What a Wonderful World was recorded by one of the most influential figures in jazz, Louis Armstrong. He is one person who can gather people of all ages from different races. His unique raspy voice made the song more well-known to listeners. It has won several awards and was recorded and performed by various popular artists.
Who wouldn’t want to live in a wonderful world? I hope we can find that one love to have a heart to make this world a wonderful place to live in. Let’s start with ourselves!