Songs To Tell Your Mum You Love Her
So you’ve worked all day to painstakingly prep that Mother’s Day dinner, but we’re here to tell you that you can still add one more ingredient to your menu to tip the scales: a Mother’s Day soundtrack.
Studies have shown that having the right music enhances a dining experience. But if you don’t know what jams to use in your playlist, we’re here to help you:
"Let It Be" by The Beatles
Sure, The Spice Girls' "Mama" is an obvious choice, but we're kicking off with this one.
Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of The Beatles. Trust us when we say that your mum definitely has.
Paul McCartney has said that he was inspired to write that song after a dream about his late mother Mary, who’d died when he was 14. According to Paul, he’d been stressed about the pressures of being in the world’s biggest band, and in the dream, his mother appeared and told him, “It will be all right, just let it be”.
"Let It Be" was a #1 smash and is one of The Beatles' most memorable ballads – plus, it's a karaoke favourite, so everyone can join in the chorus.
"Hero" by Mariah Carey
Has there been a more vocally dynamic singer in the world than Mariah Carey? (Correct answer: no.)
A #1 hit in the US, "Hero" wasn’t actually written for her mother per se, but this song has been interpreted to be a sort of mother-to-child message, or conversely, a song of affirmation to your mother, with inspirational lyrics like:
“So when you feel like hope is gone / Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth / That a hero lies in you”
If there were any heroes of humanity, we’re pretty sure mothers would be at the top of the heap.
"The Best Day" by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift wrote "The Best Day" as a surprise for her mum, Andrea, who, fun fact, grew up in Singapore!
For each verse, Taylor sings about being a different age, but one thing in the song remains the same – her best days are always with her mother.
Inspired by the experiences they shared when the pop star was a toddler and teenager, Taylor said: “I just think she couldn’t have comprehended that I would write a song about the two of us.”
"Dear Mama" by 2Pac
If rap is your mum’s bag, this is the song you should pick.
While you’d be hard-pressed to find any rap music in a traditional Mother’s Day playlist, this song by 2Pac – aka Tupac Shakur – is a heartfelt tribute to his mother, who had to raise him under trying circumstances.
In "Dear Mama", 2Pac details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother superseded any bad memories.
"Your Mother And Mine" by Sabrina Carpenter and Lang Lang
Originally taken from Disney's Peter Pan, this song explains what a mother's love is all about.
In the original cartoon, Wendy Darling sings this to the Lost Boys, while Captain Hook's pirates are outside. They're getting ready to kidnap Wendy and the Lost Boys, but after hearing her sing, they are moved to tears instead.
This remake by Sabrina Carpenter and classical pianist Lang Lang is a delightful stripped-down version, but it still offers the same emotional punch.
"Mama" by J-Hope
Your mum likes watching K-dramas. You like listening to K-pop.
So what better way to bond than with this song by BTS’ J-Hope? He wrote "Mama" in tribute to his mum, who had to work two jobs to pay for his dance academy fees and always supported his dreams no matter what.
Really, there's nothing a mother won't do for her children.
"Somebody’s Hero" by Jamie O’Neal
Australian country star Jamie O’Neal said she originally wanted to write a song about her daughter.
In the end, she came up with this track that’s a tribute, not only to her mother, but also to other women – maybe even your mother-in-law.
“You start thinking about your own relationship with your mother, and when you were little, how much you looked up to her,” she wrote about the song.
“Then you start thinking it's not just your mother… I think this song is a real tribute to the women in my life."
"Mama," by ABANGSAPAU
For something closer to home, add this song by local rapper ABANGSAPAU to the playlist.
Like 2Pac and J-Hope, this is a tribute to his mum, who, despite facing hardships, still single-handedly looked after the family and supported his dreams of becoming a musician.
He has said that he owes everything to his mother, particularly with lyrics like:
“Still, I'd never need to stress
Even if you had nothing left
Even after Daddy left
Everything I do, I do it all for you
Even if you're grey, rambut kelabu
Even when it comes, you know that I'mma love you, for being you”
We’ve seen ABANSAPAU's mother at every gig we’ve been to, and he dedicates this song to her every time. Aw, you raised that boy right.
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